the Red Elixir and the true Body made spiritual II. Gold is a metalick body citrine ponderous mute fulgid equally digested in the Bowels of the Earth and very long washed with mineral water under the Hammer extensible fusible and sustaining the tryal of the Cupel and Cement III. From this definition you may conclude That nothing is true Gold unless it has all the Causes and Differences of the definition of Gold Yet whatever Metal is radically Citrine and brings to equality and cleanses it makes Gold of it from whence we discern that Copper may be transmuted into Gold by Artisice For we see in Copper Mines a certain water which flows out and carries with it thin scales of Copper which by a long continued course it washes and cleanses But after such water ceases to flow we find these thin scales with the dry Sand in 3 years time to be digested with the heat of the Sun and among those Scales the purest Gold is found Therefore we judge that those Scales were cleansed by the help of the water but equally digested by the heat of the Sun in the dryness of the Sand and so brought to perfection IV. Also Gold is of Metals the most pretious and it is the Tincture of Redness because it tinges and transforms every Body It is calcined and dissolved without profit and is a Medicine rejoycing and conserving the Body in Youthfulness It is most easily broken with Mercury and by the Odour of Lead There is not any Body that in Act more agrees with it in their substance than Luna and Jupiter but in weight deafness and putrescibility Saturn and in colour Venus But indeed Venus in Potency is nearer Luna than either Jupiter or Saturn then Saturn lastly Mars Spirits are also commixed with it viz. Sol and by it fixed but not without great ingenuity and industry which the sloathful Artist shall never attain to the knowledge of V. Of the Nature of Sol. It is created of the most subtil substance of Argent Vive and of most absolute fixedness and of a most small quantity of Sulphur clean and of pure redness fixed clear and changed from its own nature tinging that And because there happens a diversity in colours of that Sulphur the Citrinity or Yellowness of Gold must needs have a like Density VI. That Gold is of the most subtil substance of Argent Vive is most evident because Argent Vive easily retains it for Argent Vive retains not any thing which is not of its own Nature And that it has the clear and clean substance of that is manifest by its splendid and Radiant brightness manifesting it self not only in the Day but also in the Night And that it has a fixed substance void of all burning Sulphureity is evident by every Operation in the Fire for it is neither diminished nor inflamed VII And that it is tinging Sulphur is manifest for being mixt with Argent Vive it transforms the same into a Red color And being sublimed with strong Ignition from Bodies so that the substance of them ascends with them it creates a most Yellow color and that it is yellow is evident even to the sence it self VIII Therefore the most subtil substance of Argent Vive brought to Fixation and the purity of the same and the most subtil matter of Sulpur fixed and not burning is the whole Essential matter of Gold IX But in it is found a greater quantity of Argent Vive than of Sulphur Therefore Argent Vive has greater ingress into it For this cause whatsoever body you would alter alter them according to this Exemplar that you may deduce them to the equality thereof For Gold having a subtil and fixt part those parts would in its Creation be much condensed and this was the cause of its great weight Now by great decoction made by nature a leisurely and gradual resolution of it was made together with good inspissation and its ultimate mixtion that it might melt in the fire X. From what has been said it is evident that a large quantity of Argent Vive is the cause of perfection but much of Sulphur is the cause of Corruption And uniformity of substance which through the mixtion is made by a natural decoction is cause of perfection but diversity of substance is the cause of imperfection Also Induration and Inspissation which is made by a long and temperate decoction is a cause of perfection but the contrary of corruption and imperfection Therefore if Sulphur shall not duly fall upon Argent Vive divers Corruptions must necessarily be inferred according to the diversity of it as if it be all or part of it fixed or not fixed all or part of it adustible or not adustible all clean or half unclean or it be much or little in quantity exceeding or being diminished in proportion neither overcoming nor overcome White or Red or between both From all which Diversities divers Bodies were generated in Nature XI A Solar Medicine of the Third Order It is made by the Additament of Sulphur not burning by way of fixation and calcination prudently and perfectly administred and by manifold repetition of solution until it be rendered clean For by the perfect doing of these things its cleansing by sublimation will be compleated Thus. Reiterate the sublimation of the not fixed part of the Stone with this said Sulphur conjoyning them according to Art till they be first elevated together and then fixed so as to abide in the heat of the fire without ascension The oftner this Order of compleating the Exuberancy shall be repeated the more will the Exuberancy of this Medicine be multiplied and the more its goodness augmented and the augmentation of the perfection thereof highly multiplyed also XII The whole compleatment of the Magistery is thus By the way of sublimation the Stone and its Additament may most perfectly be cleansed and then by the Laws of Art the fugitive must be fixed in them And in this order is compleated the most pretious Arcanum which is above every secret of the Sciences of this World and a Treasure inestimable Dispose your self by exercise to it with great industry and labor and a continued Depth of Meditation for by these you will find it and not otherwise And indeed in the preparation of the Stone the reiteration of the Goodness of Administration upon this Medicine may with industrious wariness be so far a vailable as to enable it to change Argent Vive into an infinite true Solifick and Lunifick without the help of any thing more than its Multiplication XIII The most high God the maker of all things blessed and Glorious be praised who has revealed to us the series and order of all Medicines with the Experience of them which through his goodness and our incessant Labor we have searched out which we have seen with our Eyes and handled with our Hands even the whole compleatment of the Magistery But if we have concealed any thing ye
Medicine of this Order is not diverse in Essence from the Medicines of the second Order but only in respect of Degrees as being more subtilized and exalted to a much higher degree of Purity Tincture and Fixity in the making and preparation thereof with a long continued course of Labour XIX All which degrees in their proper place are declared with fincerity of Speech and the way of preparation Exactly with its Causes and manifest Verity as also the many degrees by which it is brought to Perfection XX. For the Lunar Medicine needs one way of preparation but the Solar another for the perfect preparation of its Tincture with the Administration of Sulphur Tinging it of which we have abundantly Spoken Chap. 46. Sect. 11 12 13. Chap. 47. Sect. 11 12 14. and Chap. 48. Sect. 43 44. aforegoing CHAP. LXI How Ingression is procured I. BEcause it happens that a Medicine will sometimes mix and sometime not therefore we shall here declare the way of permixing i. e. how every thing or each particular Medicine not entering may most profoundly acquire Ingress into a Body II. The way is by dissolution of that which Enters and by dissolution of that which Enters not and by commixing both Solutions for it makes every thing to be Ingressive of what kind soever it be and to be corjoyned through its least parts III. Yet this is compleated by Sublution And Fusion is also accomplished by the same in things not otherwise Fusible whereby they are more apt to have Ingress and to transmute IV. This is the cause why we Calcine some things which are not of the nature of these to wit that they may be the better dissolved and they are dissolved that they may the better receive Impression from them and from them likewise by these be prepared and cleansed V. Or We give Ingress to these which are not suffered to enter by reason of their Spissitude or Thickness with a manifold Repetition of the Sublimation of Spirits not Inflamable upon them to wit of Arsenick and Argent Vive not fixed or with manifold Reiteration of the Solution of that which has not Ingress VI. Yet this is a good Caution concerning things Impermixable viz. That the Body be dissolved which you would have to be changed and altered by these and the things likewise Dissolved which you would have both to enter and to alter VII Nevertheless Solution cannot be made of all parts but of some with which this or that Body not another must be imbibed time after time VIII For by this means it has Ingress only into this or that necessarily but this does not necessarily happen into any other Body IX Every thing then must needs have Ingress by these ways by the benefit whereof it depends on the nature of that to have Ingress as we said before and to Transmute with the Commixtion found out X. By this precedent Discourse is compleated our said number of Ten Medicines with a sufficient Production of them in order to the Great Work it self CHAP. LXII Of the Cineritium I. THE Solar and Lunar substance is on ly permanent in the Tryal by the Cineritium Therefore searching out the true Differences of the Substances of these perfect Bodies and likewise the Causes of the Cineritium we shall make tryal which of the Imperfect Bodies do more and which do less endure or abide in the Examen of this Magistery II. But we have already sufficiently declared the Secret of these two Bodies in the profundity of their substance viz. That their Radix or first Principle of being was a large quantity of Argent Vive and the purest substance of it at first more Subtil but afterwards Inspissate till it could admit Fusion with Ignition III. Therefore whatsoever Bodies diminished from Perfection have more of Earthiness the less abide or endure in this Examen but what have less Earthiness do more endure it IV. Because these do indeed more adhere by reason of the Subtilty of their Parts closely Permixing and Uniting them So likewise Bodies that are of greater Tenuity or on the contrary of greater Spissitude than those which are in Perfection must necessarily be wholly separated from the Commixtion V. For being not of the same Fusion they are for that cause sake separated And indeed Bodies which partake of a lesser quantity of Argent Vive are more easily separated from the said Commixtion VI. 'T is evident then that seeing Saturn is of much Earthiness and contains but a small quantity of Argent Vive and of an easie Tenuity for Liquefaction which are mostly opposite to a Cineritious Examen therefore of all Bodies by the Artifice of the Cineritum it least endures in the Commixtion yea it is separated and vanishes most speedily VII Seeing therefore of all imperfect Bodies it most gives way and receeds by that it is more fit for the Examen of our Magistery and the reason is because it sooner takes its flight and sooner draws every of the imperfect Bodies with its self from the mixture VIII Also by reason of this the greater quantity of the perfect Bodies is preserved for the strong Combustion or mighty devouring force of the Fire of the Examen and therefore by the tryal of Lead it is less burnt and more easily purified IX And because the substance of Jupiter consists more of Argent Vive and partakes of a lesser quantity of Earthiness whereby it is of greater purity and of a more subtil substance therefore it is more safe in the Mixtion than Saturn and Venus because it more adheres in the profundity thereof X. And for this cause a larger quantity of the perfect Body is absumed before Jupiter conjoyned can be separated from the Commixion Venus gives Fusion with Ignition but because its Fusion is slower of a perfect Body therefore it is separated from the Commixtion yet more slowly than Saturn by reason of the Ignition of its fusible Substance XI But because it contains less of Argent Vive and has more of Earthiness and a more thick Substance therefore it is more easily separated from the Mixtion than Jupiter because Jupi ter more adheres in the profundity than Venus XII Mars has not Fusion and therefore is not permixed which is caused for want of Humidity but if it happens that it is permixed with vehemency of Fire then because it has not Humidity enough of its own by imbibing the Humidity of Sol or Luna it is united thereto in its least parts XIII Therefore Tho' it has much Earth and little Argent Vive and wants Fusion yet it can by no slight Artifice be separated from them By this Artifice i. e. of the Cineritium you come to the true rectification of every Body if you understand perfectly what we have writ XIV There are two Bodies perfect abiding this tryal to wit Sol and Luna by reason of their good Composition which results from their good Mixtion and the pure Substance of them XV. The way
Use of Limbs I. IN many people here in England there is a loss of the use of their Limbs the most part caused by taking great Colds and sometimes it is the effect of the Palsie the like may happen in the West Indies but though in those hot Countries it is possible to proceed from such a Cause yet it is oftner and more generally known to proeeed from the Belly-Ach and that kind of Belly-Ach which proceed from dryness and Costiveness of Body II. If it proceeds from taking of Cold though Sudorificks are commonly used yet they ought rather to be used after a Legitimate purging and clensing the Body let the Sick first take our-Pilùlae Mirables from a Scruple to a dram And repeat the same for 2. or three times with due Intervalls between each Purging as of two or three days or more as they are in Age and strength III. After sufficient purging and cleansing the Body let the Patient sweat well with new London-treacle for 3. or 4. times or oftner as you see occasion and be very cautious that the Sick takes no Cold again and in the time of sweating Frictions ought to be used to the helpless Limb with course Cloths that as by the Diaphoresis the nervous juice becomes depurated and clean so also by the rubbing the natural Spirits may be called back again IV. After Sweating the weak Limbs are to be bathed alternatim with Powers of Amber and Powers of Juniper and in strong robust Bodies and where the Skin is very thick with Oyl of Amber pure and simple for some few daies and then afterwards with Powers of Amber c. V. If it be caused from a Palsie there ought to be some gentle Purging but with such things as more particularly carry off the cold glutinous and clamy Humour which has devolved upon the Nerves among which our Vinum Catharticum is none of the meanest if it be a strong Man and in the flower of his years you may with caution give the former Pilulae Mirabiles if he complains of a fulness and heaviness in his Stomach give him One Two or Three Doses of our Impetus Mineralis and you shall find a wonder succeed VI. But during all this you must sweat oftentimes and powerfully by giving our Vinum Catharticum inwardly and provoking the Sweat with Spirit of Wine in Hartman's Chair if you have such a one using Frictions withal as before directed VII Outwardly let the paralytick Limbs be well anointed Morning and Evening with this following Oyntment Take Chymical Oyl of Rosemary and Anniseeds of each an ounce Volatile Sal Armoniac in fine Powder half an ounce Palm Oyl half a pound mix them for use Rub it well in before a good Fire VIII Inwardly let the Sick take every morning this Take our new London Treacle Volatile Sal Armoniack ana Five grains mix it with pulp of Figgs and give it an hour after the taking of it give this Take our Spiritus Cosmeticus half an ounce Powers of Rosemary half a drachm Spiritus Antiastmaticus Twenty Drops mix and give it in a Glass of Sack or Ale and give the same at Night continuing this course for a month together IX But when it proceeds from the dry Belly Ach as for the most part it does in the West-Indies this following method is necessary to be pursued First Give the following Clyster R. Chicken Broth a pint Honey or Salt half an ounce Tinctura Aurea One Ounce or instead thereof boil two ounces of the Pulp of the bitter Gourd in the Broth then exhibit the clear Liquor warm if it comes away without any apparent effect repeat it again X. Then purge with our Pilulae Mirabiles two three four or six times as need requires with intervals between each Purge but for poor People who cannot go to the charge of these Pills or if they be not to be had use this Take a large quantity of Peach Leaves bruised viz. about fourty handfuls Pulp of the bitter Gourd Six ounces boil all in a gallon of Water to two Quarts strain and sweeten with Sugar and Honey Dose from half a pint to a pint according to Age and Strength This Purge at due intervals is to be repeated three four five or six times as you see need XI This done the Bowels and all the pained Parts and lamed Limbs are to be bathed with Powers of Amber Morning and Evening or with Oyl of Turpentine two ounces mixed with Hogs-lard Eight Ounces XII Lastly In the loss of the use of Limbs proceeding from what cause soever this following Drink must be constantly used and no other without which a perfect Cure cannot be expected Take Juniper Berries well bruised Seeds and all Four Ounces Fountain Water a Gallon boil all to Three Quarts or Five Pints strain out the clear and put to it of Spirit of Wine Four Ounces sweeten with White Sugar and drink it as your ordinary Drink This Dyet will seldom or never fail the desired end which is to restore the Sick to the perfect use of their Limbs and without which it can scarcely be done Salmon CHAP. XI Of the Cholick or Belly-ach I. To Cure the Belly-ach in a Child Take the best Brandy a Quart Cinnamon Cortex Winteranus ana half an Ounce Annifeeds an Ounce and half Rheubarb very thin sliced or grosly bruised two Ounces mix and in a gentle heat of a Bath make a Tincture Dose from two Spoonfulls to eight alone by it self or sweetned with Sugar but to Children give it sweetned with Sugar and mixed with a little Ale It is a thing not to be 〈◊〉 and which I have proved almost a thousand times Salmon II. Where a continuing and long lasting Belly-ach has been with a 〈◊〉 Flux I have Cured 〈◊〉 by the following Diet Drink Take strong Ale a Gallon choice Brandy a Pint Rheubarb thin sliced four Ounces Anniseeds bruised I Ounce Tie them up in a loose thin Rag with a Stone in it and put them into the Ale and Brandy and let the Sick continually drink of it I have used it in several Cures of Patients and never found it fail Salmon III. For the Cholick accompanied with a Quartane Ague Take Butter of Antimony rectified from Regulus of Mars 'till it is clear You may give of this from two drops to five in our Aqua Bezoartica Salmon IV. For a Pocky Cholick or the Belly-ach in Pocky Habit of Body This is difficult to be remedied and many times not without much trouble and sometimes danger to the Sick this following is of wonderful use Take Crude Antimony Sal Armoniack of each as much as you please reduce them into an Impalpable Powder then sublime so will you have red Flowers Take of these Flowers à Gr. iij. ad vj. Of white Proecipitate well edulcorated à Gr. iij. ad 8. Mix them and with Balsam de Peru a sufficient quantity make a Mass for one Dose of Pills 'T is a wonderful Medicine and not enough to
goodness of Bodies is their abounding with Argent Vive For seeing Argent Vive for no cause of Extermination will be divided into parts in its composition because it either with its whole substance flies from the fire or with its whole substance remains permanent in it it is necessarily concluded to be a cause of Perfection X. Therefore Praised and Blessed be the most Glorious and High God who created it and gave it a Substance and Properties which nothing else in the World does possess besides that this perfection might be found in it by the help of Art as we have found therein with great power For it is that which overcomes Fire and by Fire cannot be overcome but in it amicably rests and rejoyces therein XI Mars is prepared either with sublimation or without sublimation with sublimation we endeavour to unite it with Arsenick not fixed as profoundly as we can that in fusion it may melt with the same but afterwards it is sublimed in a proper Vessel of sublimation the which is the best and most perfect of all other Preparations Mars is also prepared by Arsenick oftentimes sublimed from it until some quantity of the Arsenick it self remain For if this be reduced it will flow out white clean fusible and well prepared Mars is also prepared by fusion of it with Lead and Tutia for from these it flows clean and white XII To Indurate or harden soft Bodies Argent Vive precipitated must be dissolved and the calcin'd Body which you have a design to harden dissolved likewise mix both these solutions together and the calcin'd body mixed with them by frequent imbibitions c. continually grinding imbibing calcining and reducing until it be made hard and fusible with Ignition The very same may also be compleatly effected with the Calx of Bodies and Tutia and Marchasite calcined dissolved and imbibed The more clean these are the more perfectly do they change XIII To soften hard Bodies as Mars c. They must be conjoyned and sublimed often with Arsenick and after sublimation of the Arsenick assated or calcined with their due proportion of fire the measure of which we shall declare in our Discourse of Fornaces Lastly They must be reduced with the force of their proper fire until in fusion they grow soft according to the degree of the hardness of their Bodies All these alterations are of the first Order without which our Magistery is not perfected XIV Medicines dealbating Mars of the first Order That which dealbates it of the first Order is that which makes it to flow The special fusive of it is Arsenick of every kind But with whatsoever it is deal bated and fused it is necessary it be conjoyned and washed with Argent Vive until all its impurity be removed and it be white and fusible Or else let it be red hot with vehement ignition and upon it Arsenick projected and when it shall be in flux cast a quantity of Luna thereon for when that is united with it it is not separated therefrom by any easie Artifice XV. Or thus Calcine Mars and wash away from it all its soluble Aluminosity inferring corruption by the way of solution but now mentioned with Argent Vive then let cleansed Arsenick be sublimed from it and reiterate that sublimation many times until some part of the Arsenick be fixed therewith Then with a solution of Litharge mix imbibe grind and moderately calcine several times And lastly reduce it with the Fire we mentioned in the Reduction of Jupiter from its Calx so will it come forth white clean and fusible XVI Or Only with sublimed Arsenick in its Calx let it be reduced and it will flow out white clean and fusible But here observe the Caution we shall give in the Chapter of Venus concerning the reiteration of the sublimation of Arsenick fixing it self in its profundity from it Mars is likewise whitened after the same manner with Marchasite and Tutia XVII To prepare Mars Grind one pound of the filings thereof with half a pound of Arsenick sublimed imbibe the mixture with the water of Salt Peter and Sal Alcali reiterating this Imbibition thrice then make it flow with a violent fire so will it be white Repeat this so long till it flow sufficiently with a good whiteness XVIII The first White Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Silver calcined 1 pound Arsenick prepared 2 pound Mercury precipitate 1 pound grind them together and imbibe the whole with water of Salt Nitre Litharge and Sal Armoniack in equal parts I suppose there is meant Aqua Regis till it has drunk in its own weight of that water Then dry and incerate with white Oyl as in others until it flow and one part full upon 4 parts of Mars or Venus prepared XIX The second White Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Luna calcined Jupiter calcined and dissolved ana mix dry and increase with double their quantity of Arsenick sublimed until the Medicine flows well XX. The third White Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Luna calcined Arsenick and Sulphur sublimed and ground with it and then sublimed with a like quantity of Sal Armoniack This sublimation repeat thrice and then project 1 pound upon 4 pound of Mars or Venus prepared XXI A Red or Solar Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Tutia 1 pound Calcine or dissolve it in AF then with that water imbibe the Calx of Sol that it may drink in double its own weight of the same water Afterwards by distillation draw off the same water from it cohobating four times Lastly incerate with Oyl of Hair or Bulls Gall and Verdigrise prepared and it will be excellent But be sure to pursue the Operation according to our Directions otherwise you will labour in vain and in your heart understand our Intentions expressed in our Volumes so will you know truth from falsehood XXII To Calcine Mars Mars being filed is calcined in our Calcinatory Fornace until it is very well rubified and becomes a pouder impalpable without grinding And this is called Crocus Martis XXIII The Regimen of Mars Take of the Paste of Mars 2 pound of the Pastes of Venus and of Saturn ana 3 pound mix these without Ferment and decoct the mixture for seven days and you will find the whole dry Fix it and add to it half its weight of Litharge in powder which put into a Reductory Fornace so will you have a Mineral substance very profitable if you be wise CHAP. XLV Of the Alchymie of Venus I. THE Preparation of Venus Lay thin Copper Plates stratum superstratum with Common Salt prepared till the Vessel be full which cover firmly Lute and calcine in a fit Fornace for 24 hours Then take it out scrape off what is calcined and repeat the calcination of the Plates with new Salt as before repeating the Calcination so often till all the Plates are consumed For the Salt corrodes the superfluous humidity and combustible sulphureity and the fire elevates the fugitive
some Lead others Copper and others Tin which happened to them through negligence in the Preparation sometimes of it alone sometimes of Sulphur or of its Compeer Arsenick mix with it But if you shall by Subliming directly cleanse and perfect this Subject it will be a firm and perfect Tincture of Whiteness the like of which is not in being besides VIII Of the Coagulation of Mercury Coagulation is the reducing a Liquid body to a solid Substance by privation of the humidity and is of Service 1. For Indurating Argent Vive which needs one kind of Coagulation 2. For freeing dissolved Medicines from their watriness which requires another Argent Vive is coagulated two ways One by washing away its whole innate humidity from it the other by Inspissation till it be hardned which is a laborious work Some thought the Art of its Coagulation was to keep it long in a temperate Fire who when they thought they had coagulated it after removal of it from the Fire found it to flow as before whence they judged the work Impossible IX Others from natural principles supposing that every humidity must necessarily by heat of Fire be converted into Dryness indeavored by Constancy and perseverance to continue the Conservation of it in the Fire till some of them converted it into a White-Stone others into a Red others into a Citrine which neither had Fusion nor Ingress for which cause they also cast it a way X. Others endeavoured to coagulate it with Medicines but effected it not and so were deluded for that 1. They either coagulated it not 2. Or else it was insensibly extenuated 3. Or the Coagulation was not in the form of a body the reason of which things they knew not XI Others compounding Artificial Medicines coagulated it in projection but that was not profitable because they converted it into an imperfect Body the cause of which they could not see The reason and causes of these things therefore we think fit to declare that the Artificer may come to the knowledg of his Art XII Now as the substance of Argent Vive is Uniform so it is not possible in a short time by keeping it constantly in a continued Fire to remove its Aquosity so that too much haste was the cause of the first Error And being of a subtile substance it receeds from the Fire therefore excessive Fire is the cause of the Error of those Men from whom it flies XIII It is easily mixed with Sulphur Arsenick and Marchasite by reason of Community in their Natures therefore it appears to be Coagulated by them not into the form of a Body but of Argent Vive mixed with Lead for these being fugitive cannot retain it in the Contest of Fire until it can attain to the nature of a Body but through the Impression of the Fire they fly with it and this is the cause of the Error of them who so Coaagulate XIV Also Argent Vive has much humidity joyned to it which cannot possibly be separated from it but by Violence of Fire warily adhibited with conservation of it in its own Fire and they by augmenting this its own Fire as far as it can bear take a way the humidity of Ar gent Vive leaving no part sufficient for Metalick Fusion which being taken away it cannot be Melted which is the cause of their Error who coagulate it into a Stone not fusible XV. In like manner Argent Vive has Sulphureous parts naturally mixt with it yet some Argent Vive has more some less which to remove by Artifice is impossible Now seeing it is the property of Sulphur mixt with Argent Vive to create a Red or Citrine Color according to its measure the ablation of that being Made the property of Argent Vive is by Fire to give a white Color This is the cause of the variety of Colors after its Coagulation into a Stone Likewise it has the Earthiness of Sulphur mixt with it by which all its Coagulations must necessarily be infected And this the cause of the Error of those who coagulate it into an imperfect Body XVI Therefore it happens from the diversity of the Medicines of its Coagulation that divers bodies are Created in its Coagulation and from the Diversity of that likewise what is to be coagulated For if either the Medicine or that has a Sulphur not fixed the body created of it must needs be soft but if fixed the body must necessarily be hard Also if White White and if Red Red and if the Sulphur be remiss from White or Red the Body likewise must be remiss and if Earthy the body must be imperfect if not not so Also every not fixed Sulphur creates a Livid body but the fixed as much as in it lies the Contrary and the pure substance of it creates a pure body the not pure not so XVII Also the same di versity doth in like manner happen in Argent Vive alone without the Commixtion of Sulphur by reason of the diversity of Purifications and preparations of it in Medicines Therefore an Illusion happens from the part of the Diversity of the Medicines so that sometimes in the Coagulation of it it is made Lead sometimes Tin sometimes Copper sometimes Iron which happens by reason of Impurity And sometimes Silver or Gold is made thence which must needs proceed from Purity with conside ration of the Colors XVIII But Argent Vive is Coagulated by the frequent precipitation of it with Violence by the force able heat of strong Fire For the Asperity of Fire easily removes its Aquosity and this Work is best done by a Vessel of a great length in the sides of which it may finde place to Coole and Adhere and by reason of the Length of the Vessel to abide and not fly till it can again be precipitated to the Fiery hottom of the same which must always stand very hot with great Ignition and the same precipitation be continued till it be totally fixed XIX It is also Coagulated with long and constant retention in the Fire in a Glass Vessell with a very long Neck and round belly the Orifice of the Neck being kept open that the humidity may vanish thereby Also it is coagulated by a Medicine convenient for it which we will shew anon which Medicine is of it and is that which most nearly adheres to it in its profundity and is commixed throughly in its least parts before it can fly away Therefore there is a necessity of collecting that from things convenient to it or agreeing with the same Of this kind are all Bodies also Sulphur and Arsenick XX. But because we see not any of the Bodies in its nature to coagulate it but that it flys from them how neerly soever they agree together we have therefore considered that no Body adheres to it in its inmost parts Wherefore that Medicine must needs be of a more subtil substance and more liquid fusion than Metals themselves are Also by Spirits remaining in
Goodness and purity of each Metal For seeing that Argent Vive for no Causes of Extermination permits it self to be divided into parts in its composition because it either with its whole substance receeds from the fire or with its whole remains permanent in it there is necessarily observed in it a cause of perfection For it is that which overcomes Fire and by Fire is not overcome but it amicably rests rejoycing therein possessing Perfection as we have found with an Approximate Potency XXXIII Of the Purification of Argent Vive It is cleansed two ways either by sublimation of which we have shewed the way already or by way of a Lavament of which the way is this Put Argent Vive into a Stone or Earthen Dish and pour upon it as much Vinegar as is sufficient to cover it Set it over a gentle fire and let it heat so far as you may well hold your Fingers in it and no more Then stir it about with your Fingers until it be divided into most small Particles in the similitude of Powder and continue stirring it until all the Vinegar be wholly consumed After which wash away the Earthiness remaining with Vinegar and cast it away Repeating this washing so often till the Earthiness of the Mercury is changed into a most perfect Coelestine colour which is a sign that it is throughly washed XXXIV Of the Nature of Argent Vive There is a necessity of removing its Superfluities for it has Causes of Corruption viz. an Earthy substance and an adustible watriness without Inflamation yet some have thought it to have no superfluous Earth and Uncleanness but that is vain and not true For we see it to consist of much lividness and not of whiteness we see also a black and Feculent Earth to be separated from it with easie Artifice by a Lavation as abovesaid But because we are by that to acquire a two-fold perfe ction viz. 1. To make a Medicine 2. To perfect it Therefore we must necessarily prepare the same by the degrees of a two-fold purification for two cleansings of Mercury are necessary One by Sublimation for the Medicine which shall be here shewed The other by a Lavament for coagulation which we have shewed at Sect. 33. above XXXV For if we would make a Medicine of it then there is a necessity to cleanse it from the foeculency of its Earthiness by sublimation least it create a livid color in projection and also to remove its sugitive watriness lest it make the whole Medicine fugitive in projection and to keep safe the middle substance thereof sor Medicine of which the Property is not to be burned but to defend from combustion and not to fly it self but to make sixed which is a perfection by manifold Experiences For we see Argent Vive more nearly to adhere to Argent Vive and to be more beloved by the same but next to it Gold has place and after that Silver XXXVI Wherefore bence it follows that Argent Vive is more friendly to its own nature but we see other Bodies not to have so great conformity to or unity with it and therefore we find them in very deed less to partake of the nature thereof And whatsoever Bodies we see more to defend from adustion those we judge to partake more of the nature of it therefore it is manifest that Argent Vive is the perfective and salvative from Adustion which is the Vltimate of Perfection XXXVII The second degree of its Purification is for its Coagulation And the washing away of its earthiness for one day only is sufficient for it the method of which washing we have largely declared at Sect. 33. aloregoing Being therefore so throughly washed project upon it the Medicine of Coagulation and it will be coagulated into a Solifick or Lunifick substance according as the Medicine was prepared From what is now said it is manifest that Argent Vive is not perfective in its nature but that matter is which is produced of it by our Art And so likewise is it in Sulphur and Arsenick Therefore in these it is not possible to follow nature but by our natural Artifice XXXVIII It is also undeniably manifest that bodies containing the greatest quantity of Argent Vive are bodies of perfection Wherefore it is to be supposed that those bodies are more nigh to perfection which more amicably imbibe Argent Vive The sign of this is the easie susception of Argent Vive by a Solar or Lunar body of Perfection For this same reason if a body altered do not easily receive Argent Vive into its Substance it must needs be very remote from this perfection spoken of XXXIX The preparation of Argent Vive Take of it one pound Vitriol Rubified two pounds Roch Alum Calcin'd one pound Common Salt half a pound Nitre four ounces Incorporate all together and sublime Gather the white and Dense and ponderous which will be found about the side of the Vessel and keep it for use Now if in the first Sublimation you shall finde it Turbid or Unclean which may be thro Carlesness sublime it again with the same Foeces and reserve it as before XL. The Regiment of Mercury It is done two ways 1. You must Amalgamate it well washed and purified as under directed 2. You must Distill it and thence make an Aqua Vitae or Spirit of Wine The first wav Take of Mercu ry 40 Ounces of Sol. of Luna of Venus of Saturn ana one Ounce melt these bodies first the Venus and Luna secondly the Sol thirdly Saturn Take all out of the Fire having melted them in a large Crucible and your Mercury in readiness made hot in another and when the said Metals begin to harden pouer in the Mercury Leisurly stirring the mixture with a stick setting it again on the Fire and taking it off untill they be all amalgamated with the whole Mercury This Amal gama put to be dissolved for seven days Extract the water with a Cloth make the residue Volatile giving Fire of Ignition This again imbibe with its whole water and put it to be generated and again to be dryed for forty days and you will finde a Stone which put to be fixed so will you have a Stone augmentable to Infinity In this Book we have expounded all things which we have written in divers Books XLI The sublimation of Mercury If you would perfectly sublime it you must add to every pound of it common Salt two pound and a half Salt-Peter half a pound mortify the Mercury wholly grinding it all together with Vinegar until nothing of the Mercury appear living in the mixture then sublime it according to Art It is a thing profitable XLII The Sublimatioa of Red Mercury Take one pound of it mix and perfectly grind it with Vitroil Nitre ana one pound and sublime it from them Red and splendid XLIII Out of all that has been said it appears with evident Demonstration that our Stone is procreated out
posterity whereby he has demonstrated himself to be not only an inspired Divine but also a deep Philosopher obtaining his Wisdom rather from God than from Man 9. As for some of the next Authors there is not much of their History extant Kalid is reported to be a Persian King and Geber an Arabian King without doubt both of them were throughly learned in the Mysteries of Nature but chiefly in this Philosophick Art Artefius was a Jew of whom it is reported he lived a thousand Years how truly I will not say himself affirms it and very wise Men such as Paracelsus Pontanus and others seem to give Credit to it 10. Flammel was a French Man and originally a poor Scrivener yet left so great Monuments behind him as must convince the most incredulous that he knew the Secret and performed such mighty Works at his own proper Costs and Charges as the most opulent Prince in Europe can never do the like I know a Gentleman who went to view these mighty Buildings and their Records The Archives and Governors of those places he told me own the matter of fact but deny the Means saying that Flammel was a very Pious Man and went a Pilgrimage to St. James of Gallicia for a Reward of which Piety the Holy Saint bestowed that vast Treasure upon him by way of Miracle thereby denying the power of Art by which it was effected to establish it in a Miracle for a Confirmation of the Romish Church 11. Roger Bachon or Bacon was born Anno 1215. near Ilchester a great Town in Somerset shire of an Honourably Family He was brought up in the University of Oxford where he made an incredible Progress in the Arts and Sciences He applied himself to Philosophy and the search of Natures Secrets one of his Tutors being Edmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury and became a Franciscan Fryar in a Convent at Oxford 12. He wholly laid himself out in a diligent search of Nature and the knowledge of the Tongues and Arts was intimate with many Great and Learned Men expending some Thousands of Pounds in trying Experiments most of which were supposed to be those of the Philosophers Stone Nor did he bestow his cost or time in vain for 't is believed he attained to the knowledge of the Secret he sought after 13. By this means he did such great things in Nature and such Wonders that not only the Ignorant but also some Learned Men reputed him to be Magician or Conjurer saying He made a Brazen Head which speak by the help of the Devil Such was the Ingratitude of that Age that he was Persecuted by the very Men of his own Order and Religion For being Accused of Magick and Heresie Pope Nicholas IV. who disliked or understood not his Learning cast him into Prison and kept him close Prisoner many Years 14. He wrote many Books upon several Sciences as Grammar Logick Geometry Cosmography Astronomy Astrology Musick Ethicks Physicks Metaphysicks Perspective Opticks Divinity History Physick Chymistry and Alchymy How many Books be wrote is uncertain 't is to be doubted all are not in being and what have out-lived the injury of time many of them are difficult to be procured as yet lying hid in Manuscript As he was an Universal Scholar so he wrote well in all Arts and Sciences and Johannes Balaeus de Scriptoribus Angliae gives us the Titles of above an Hundred Books which he had wrote in all the choilest and most useful Sciences of which these we have here made English are two of them viz. De radicibus Mundi and Speculum Alchymiae 15. He was the greatest Critick of his Age and complained vehemently of the Ignorance and Ingratitude of his Contempories there being many created then Arte ulla Artium Magistri sine Doctrina Doctores Hê spared not the ignorance or ill Lives of the Clergy for which cause without doubt it was that he was so ill treated by them and complained that not a Man in England besides Grosthead and two or three more of his Acquaintance that understood the Hebrew or Greek Tongues 16. For the reason therefore of his Learning it was that he was Accused of Witchcraft and upon Malicious Pretences they took from him his Books and Writings long before Pope Nicholas cast him into Prison for which cause he complained to Pope Clement IV. his Friend saying The Priests and Fryars have kept me starving in close Prison nor would they suffer any one to come at me And some Ignorant fellows that would have been accounted Learned Men when they could not understand his Books condemned them as Books of the Black Art 17. Leland saith He wrote many Books but that it was as easie to gather the scattered Leaves of the Sybils as to Collect but the Titles of them For which and his siding with Grosthead in opposing the Pope and some other Heresies as they called them he was Accused of Witchcraft and by the said Pope Nicholas seized and kept close Prisoner as aforesaid in which Prison some say he died for Grief or with his hard Usage which was in the 78th Year of his Age in the Year of Our Lord 1292. and was Buried in the Franciscans Church in Oxford 18. George Ripley was a Cannon of Bridlington and flourished in the Year of Our Lord 1470. and about the 10th Year of Our Edward the Fourth much about which time he travelled into Italy and many other Foreign Countries and wrote his Medulla Alchymiae and sent it as a Present to the then Arch bishop of York After all he returned home to England and wrote several other Books as 1. his Epistle to King Edward IV. 2. His Twelve Gates 3. His Breviary of Alchymie or Recapitulation with several other things not yet come to our hands 19. He was an Excellent Man profoundly learned in the Art of Alchymie and an absolute Master without doubt of the Secret and it was the Opinion of a Learned Man in this Study that his Writings are for the fulness of them to be prefered before any others that he had ever read or seen I learned says he the Philosophers Magnet from one the Magical Chalybs from another Diana's Doves from a 〈◊〉 the Philosophers Air or Chamelion from a nother the Preparation of their Menstruum from another and the number of Eagles in another But for the true Matter signs of the true Mercury and the Operation I know none saith he like Ripley though Flammel be Eminent He Dyed Anno Dom. 1490. 20. We come now to the matter of the Book As to the first Book we say it is a Practical Discourse upon some principal Diseases deduced from the Fountain of Experience it self wherein we have delivered a new Hypothesis concerning the Generation of Sand Gravel and Stones in Humane Bodies and now brought to light purely by Reason and Mechanical Operations The thing as it is noval it is rational and without doubt is possible to be improved to many singular advantages if a Prudent Man
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-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
or fifth Day Salmon V. Shortness of Breath cured by Vomiting Experience shews That when a great quantity of impacted Matter lies in the Lappets of the Lungs especially if there be a Sickness at Stomach also that then I say Vomits are of great use and sometimes the Paroxysm is taken off with this Remedy alone Salt of Vitriol may be given from half a Drachm to a Drachm Aqua Benedicta from three to four Drachms or one Ounce to an Ounce and a half if to very strong Persons My Catharticum Argenteum given from one to two Drachms is one of the best of Remedies Salmon VI. Shortness of Breathing Cured by reiterated Clysters Take Mutton-Broth eight Ounces Tincture of Colocynthis half an Ounce Infusion of Croous Metallorum Elixir Proprietatis of each an Ounce mix and give it warm In this case Clysters ought to be given in small quantity lest the Guts too much distended should press upon the Diaphragma and make the Paroxism more vehement and dangerous and they ought also often to be repeated Salmon VII For a vehement shortness of Breath I have often given with great Success my Syrupus Nephriticus see it in my Phylaxa Lib. I. Cap. 34. Sect. I. for that causes the Matter contained in the Cavity of the Breast to be avoided with the Urine through the Bladder the Urine for the most part being much thick and troubled by which the peccant Humours are carried not only from the Breast and places of Respiration but also from the head Veins and other parts I have done wonders in this case by the assiduous use of Spirit of Sulphur per Camp given in pectoral Drinks Salmon VIII A Pectoral Drink Take Raisins of the Sun stoned Figs slit ana Liquorice bruised two Ounces Elecampane Roots bruised one Ounce Spring water a Gallon Boyl all to two Quarts and strain it for use Dose half a Pint three or four times a Day Salmon IX Of the use of Opiates If Rest has been long wanting and there be withal a vehement Flux of Rhoum and Cough though the stopping of the Catarrh cannot be without sensible danger yet you must immediately give an Opiate such as my Laudanum Volatile cum Aloe for otherwise the Obstruction will so increase with the Catarrh that before you are aware the Breath will be stopt which there is no great fear of by giving the Opiates for that all Opiates stop the Flux by no other way than by thickning the Matter whereby it cannot so easily flow to the part the Humour then being thus thickned through the whole Man and not flowing to the Bronchia of the Lungs as formerly it at length finds a vent by other ways and that for the most part by Sweat Urine or Stool either of which ways you must endeavour to promote according as you see the disposition of the Body is inclinable Salmon X. An Inveterate Asthma I Cured an Inveterate Asthma that had been of fifteen or sixteen Years standing by giving my Piluloe Mirabiles twice and then my Family Pills as they are now prepared by me not as Hollier pretends to make them once letting a Day or two be between each and so reiterating this Course two or three times as you see occasion Salmon XI Shortness of Breath in a Woman with Child Truly because I saw the peril of her Life was not small by reason of her being with Child I could not pursue the usual methods of Cure I took the following course I gave her my Volatile Laudanum at Night going to Bed and the Spiritus Antiasthmaticus in all her Drink and by this course in about a Months time she was freed perfectly from her Disease Salmon CHAP. VII Diseases of the Breast I. A Pultess for a Sore Breast Take new Milk and grate white Bread into it then take Mallows and red Rose Leaves I handful of each then chop them small and boyl them together till it be thick then put in Honey and Turpentine of each two ounces white Lead six ounces mix them spread it on a Cloth and apply it II. For an Ague in the Breast Take good Aqua-vitae and Linseed Oyl and warm them together on a Chafing-Dish of Coles dip therein two Cloths made fit for the Breasts and lay them thereon as hot as may be suffered Morning and Evening III. To heal an Inflammation or Ague in the Breast Take the Whites of two Eggs and Housleek two handfuls let the Whites be first well beaten then pound them with the Housleek and three handfuls of Barley Meal and apply it very hot IV. To heal Ulcers in the Breast tho inveterate Take Oyl of Sulphur and touch them with it then apply this following Oyntment Take Yelks of two or three new laid Eggs Turpentine Butter Honey of Roses Barley-Flower ana half an Ounce Grind them all in a leaden Mortar and dress them therewith till they be whole V. Against Pain and Swilling of the Breasts If it proceeds from Gold taken or from a Blow Bath the Place very well Morning and Evening with Powers of Amber for three or four or five Days and the Pain and Swelling will go away Salmon VI. For a Sore Breast If the Sore be recent it may be Cured with our Balsamum Vulnerarium two Ounces Mercurius Dulcis Levigated half an Ounce mix them well and apply it Salmon VII For an Inveterate Ulcer in the Breast Take our Balsamum Ami. cum two Ounces Angelus Mineralis half an Ounce mix and apply it dressing the Sore Morning and Evening It will Cure it in a Short time Salmon VIII For a Painful Swelling in the Breast Take our Balsam of Amber and Anoint therewith Morning and Evening and keep the part warm If it proceeds from Cold or a Blow it Cures Salmon IX For hard Tumors of the Brest Take Gum Ammoniacum strained and made up into a Plaister it cures them to a Miracle much more if it be made up with Juice of Hemlock Or you may use Emplastrum de Ammoniaco cum Cicuta it is a Remedy that hardly ever fails Salmon X. A Cancerated Breast not broken I Cured two Cancerated Brests with the following Take Diapalma six Ounces Oyl an Ounce of our Hercules 3 Ounces mix them over a gentle heat spread it upon soft Leather or Cloth and apply it The Cancers that which was oldest was not above six Months standing The assiduous use of this Medicine eased the Pain in five or six Days time and in the space of four Months time or thereabouts prefectly dissolved the Tumour Salmon XI Soreness of the Nipples cured Take Bees-wax 1 Ounce Fresh Butter two Ounces Venice Turpentine half an Ounce mix melt and anoint with it it will be so much the better if you add to it two Drachms of Oyl of Wax Salmon XII A Tumour of the Breast broken Let the Patient Purge every day or every other day with Elixir Proprietatis according to their Strength and outwardly let it be drest with this Take of our Balsamum
Medicines in a hot Temperament influence the Body as cold Medicines in a cold Temperament chill it and so make the Disease worse VI. Though Opiates are accounted ill in a Deafness yet if the Pain attending be very acute or sharp there will be a necessity to dispense with the Ill for the Good that may ensue And this is an Observation worthy of remarking That though Opiates are apt if not to cause deafness yet to confirm or continue it those ill effects seldom last much longer than the taking of the Medicine I have known some Patients of mine who being a little deaf afore-hand upon liberally taking of Opiates have had their deafness seemingly very much augmented yet upon the giving over the use of the same have had their Hearing return again to satisfaction and that with the advantage of greater acuteness whereby it appears that Opiates do no essential injury to the Organs of Hearing VII If any Matter runs from the Ear looking like the Matter of an Ulcer you must be cautious how you use Repellers lest the Matter strikes inward or be driven to the Brain thereby endangering an Apoplexy or part of the Matter be dried and hardened in the cavity of the Ear whereby not only greater Dangers may ensue but at least the hazard of an incurable Deafness And the same thing is to be understood in a critical Evacuation or where the Matter is thick and tough or there be an Aposteme breeding VIII If the Pain and Deafness proceeds from a cold Cause you may inject Juice of Onions into the Ear or Goats or Sheeps Urine Or this Take Juice of Onions three Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce mix them and drop it into the Ear or inject it with a Syringe Or this Take Boys Urine new-made two Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce in which six Grains of Camphire is dissolved mix and inject it These are excellent Medicines in a cold Cause and seldom fail at least of giving ease IX But if a hot Cause be present though things absolutely cold may be given yet hot things must positively be forborn and things of an equal temperature are to be administred such as these following Take choice Canary four Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce Nitre in Pouder two Drams mix and drop it into the Ear. Or this Take Juice of Plantane two Ounces Juice of Purslane one Ounce Juice of Lettisce half an Ounce Spirit of Wine an Ounce and half mix them Or this Take Juice of Cucumbers two Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce mix them to be dropt into the Ear. X. If with the Deafness and Pain there seems to be an Apostemation Faventinus his Cataplasm of roasted or baked Onions are usual to be applied Or you may apply this Take Pulp of roasted Onions Mithridate ana an Ounce Saffron in Powder one Scruple Spirit of Wine Gut Thirty mix and apply it hot to the Ear. If it proceeds from a cold cause it will warm and comfort the part and hasten the Maturation of the Aposteme if any be If it proceeds from a hot Cause it will open the pores of the parts adjacent and cause a discussion of the Pain and thin Matter offending Or you may apply this Talk Pulp of roasted or baked Onions two Ounces our 〈◊〉 half an Ounce Powers of Amber forty drops mix and apply it XI In a Deafness accompanied with vehement Pain so as the Patient can take no rest it is good to carry off the Matter with proper Medicines I commonly give in this case some Doses of my Family-Pills But if the Pain be extream indeed then two or three Doses of my Pilulae Mirabiles and according as occasion requires repeat the Dose five or six times for they insensibly melt and dissolve the Matter causing the Pain or make it fluid and movable and then carry it off by stool But withal Topicks ought to be applied in the mean season to dispose the Matter in some measure to a Cure such as this Take Mithridate or our Antidote one Ounce Balsam of Sulphur half a Dram mix and apply it XII If the Ear once runs you must promote the running of it which may be done with Externals after this manner Take of our Antidote one Ounce Balsam de Chili two Drams Balsamum Arthriticum one Dram mix and apply it You may also inject this into it which very much promotes the Hearing Take Venice Turpentine half an Ounce Yelk of one Egg grind them together in a Brass Mortar very well then add new Canary eight Ounces Spirit of Wine two Ounces mix for an injection In the mean season let the sick be well purged with our Vinum Catharticum at least five or six times I have found it to be a Specifick in this case and does that which an hundred seeming greater Medicines will not touch or come near XIII I remember I had once a Patient who had a Deafness accompanied with so vehement Pain that ordinary Remedies whether inwards or Topicks would do no good and all Evacuations by internal means rather augmented the Pain I was at length forced to give a Dose of my Volatile Laudanum the sick began with three Grains and increased it gradually 'till it came to seven Grains This brought upon the Patient a large Diaphoresis upon which they had some ease in a day or two's time and in five or six days perfect ease but the Deafness seemed to be greater The Ear was washed with Spirit of Wine twice a day and in about a Weeks time after the giving over the Opiate the Hearing perfectly returned which had been in a manner lost for seven or eight Months before After all I purged the Patient with two or three Doses of Family Pills XIV I had a Patient a Woman about fifty years of Age who had been very deaf for above a year and at times very much afflicted with Pains in her Ears I cured her in about six Weeks time by continually droping into her Ears four or five times a day our Guttae Vitae and sometimes likewise giving her about fifty or sixty drops of it inwardly in a Glass of Wine at night going to bed XV. If an Inflammation be present it may be abated by putting into the Ear Vinegar mixt or ground with Oil And though Vinegar alone would put the Part especially nervous Parts to pain by its Acrimony yet mixt or ground with Oil and in a small quantity it becomes harmless and eases the Pain allaying the heat and fierceness of the bilious Humor XVI An ancient Gentlewoman having a noise and ringing in her Ears and sometimes a little pain was cured by dropping into them once or twice a day our Aqua Bezoartica and stopping them with Cotton dipt in the same it dissipated the flatulent Matter offending and comforted the weakned Nerves XVII Where Deafness is joined with vehement pain and no Internals nor Topicks have yet been able to do good there is a necessity to apply Visicatories for by this
distinguished from it because in the Stone the pain continues 〈◊〉 in one place and in the beginning the Urine is clear but afterwards of a troubled Substance bringing forth with it at length Gravel Stones and such-like whereas in the Colick the Pain is different or in different Parts afflicting for the most part the Colon and in the beginning the Urine is of a troubled Substance afterwards more clear III. How Gravel which is the Progenerator of the Stone is bred there is various Opinions Spigelius by his Discourse seems to believe it to be bred in the Veins for he saith That he has found the Blood in the Veins full of small Gravel and if so it is natural for it to descend with the Substance of the Blood into the emulgent Arteries and from thence with the Serum to the Reins and Bladder IV. But by what Artifice Gravel is generated is another Question II care not greatly if I relate to you a singular Observation which I made whilst I was in the West-Indies In those Countries for clearing of Ground the People commonly lay all the Wood on heaps and burn it I did the like of Wood growing upon a very sandy piece of Land the Substance of the Earth under its upper Crust being a pure white Sand. I had very white and soft Ashes not inferiour in softness to our finest Wheat-flour or white Starch in which not the least appearance of Gravel or Sand could be discerned by any means Of these Ashes I had occasion to make a Lixivium sometimes for Expedition sake by boiling The Lixivum being decanted and the Ashes cast away I had the curiosity to view and by an exact scrutiny found them to be nothing but pure white Sand without any of the small and soft particles of Ashes which before the elixiviating of them made them feel like pure fine and soft Wheat-flour This I did 't is possible an hundred times and always produced the same Sand From whence I deduced these things 1. That those Trees which in those Countries are mostly of a mighty bigness chiefly Pine Oaks Hickeries and such-like Herbs Plants and the like growing upon such sandy ground have all their Nourishment and Substance from that Sand whether white red yellow or of what Colour soever 2. That by the plastick Virtue of the Plant the Substance of the said Sand is dissolved and fitted for the Norishment of the same Plant. 3. That the said Sand is dissolved into a moist Humor and it may be resinous or glutinous or aqucous consonant to the Nature of the same Vegetable the same kind of Sand which produces an Oak makes also a Pine Hickery Ash or other Plant growing upon the same For if they were not generated or produced of Sand the Earth being scarcely any thing else ten or twenry Foot deep in those Places Of what other Matter can they be made 4. That an Analysis being made by burning and elixiviation the whole Substance of the Plant in a manner resumes its prima Materia or first Matter again converting its Body into Sand and not into any other Principle 5. That the Extremity and Violence of the Fire has not power to destroy the Idea of the prime Cause but it still retains the same through all Vicissitudes and Changes even of the strongest Fire it self V. I. made also another Observation of the same kind of Trees Herbs and Plants growing upon the same kind of Land from their rotting Great Pine-Trees four or five Foot in Diametre and others being rotted upon the Ground although the rotten Wood at first become only light and chaffie then a Slime and Mud yet that Slime or Mud and Rottenness gra dually converted from that brown dark or black Colour and soft clammy mucillaginous and rotten Substance into a pure white Sand no ways unlike to the first Substance or that of which they were primarily generated all which things might clearly be discerned in many of them according to the differing Degrees and Times of Rotting or Putrifying as Nature had been several Years in performing that Work and Operation Those which were produced of white Sand reverted into white Sand again those of red Sand into red Sand c. VI. Out of what has been said it clearly appears that Things by resolution naturally return into the Matter of which they were first generated so that according to the Food and the Place or Matter that Food was generated from being again resolved in Man's Body is the Production of Juices Humors Blood Flesh and other Substances of the same So true and faithful is the Work of GOD in the Universe that as He cannot deny Himself so neither can the Things He causes to be produced lose their first Ideas and Potentialities though they never so often change their Forms and Appearances but will after a long race or course of Vicissitudes and Alterations return to their first Matter again VII And thus the first Cause of the Stone is to be sought into farther than the Parts in which it is generated or the natural Spirits possessing the same though I do not deny what Riverius says upon the point but that there may be a petrifactive Spirit which may be assisting in that Generation Both which considered may be the Reason that some People may be troubled with this Disease and some not VIII Gravel subsiding does not nocessarily indicate the Stone but sometimes the material Cause only thereof for multitudes of People that are perpetually free from the Stone do many times make much Gravel yet possibly it may signifie a Disposition to that Disease For if Gravel which used constantly to come away is afterwards suppressed and Pain is felt the Urine being clear and thin there is great danger that the Gravel may concrete into a Stone and when it is made again with Pain and Stranguary it is a sign there is a Stone generated IX Gravel which is bred in the Veins comes away with the Urine and is mixt with the Sediment but what is bred in the Kidneys Ureters and Bladder presently resides as the Urine is made Authors say it proceeds from adustion of the Humors bred in the Liver and Veins and sticks to the sides of the Pot nor does it sink to the bottom as that which comes from the Reins it also breaks by rubbing with ones Fingers and appears of a more saline Substance whereas the other neither yields to the Fingers nor can it easily be dissolved This Gravel of a saline Substance is dissolved in warm Urine and appears not whilst it is yet hot but the Urine being cold it coagulates and sticks to the sides of the Chamber-pot or Urinal not much unlike Tartar in a Cask of Wine or which is dissolved in hot Water which cooling again sticks to the sides of a Vessel so that the very Nature of this Gravel and Tartar seem to be much alike X. And this possibly may in a great measure proceed from the same Cause viz.
keep the Mixture for use Dose from six Drams to an Ounce every Night going to Bed drinking after it three Ounces of the Essence of Speedwel in a Glass of Rhenish-wine and Sugar Salmon XXXII Beverovicius de Calculo Cap. 12. saith That when the ways are loosned I suppose he means with Oily and Mucilaginous things nothing is more effectual to remove the Stone than one Dram of Sal Prunellae to be given in Rhenish-wine warm by which Medicine alone saith he I have often brought away the Stone of the Bladder from Children Crabs-Eyes are of tenuious Parts and Diuretick they break the Stone and force it away by Urine especially the Liquor of them which prepared after this manner is best Take Crabs-Eyes finely poudred two Ounces Acetum Terebinthinatum four Ounces stop and digest for a Night in hot Ashes the next Day decant what is clear and pour on as much more repeating this work so often 'till all the Pouder is dissolved These Liquors filterate and evaporate to dryness and the Salt will remain at bottom which dissolve in a Cellar into Liquor per deliquium Dose gut ten or twelve in Horse Radish Water or some such like This Liquor is much more efficacious than the Crabs-Eyes in substance XXXIII Quercetan his Nephritick-water is of great account and it is thus made Take Juice of Horse-Radish of Limons ana one Pound and a half Waters of Betony Saxifrage Wild Tansey Vervain ana one Pound Hydromel Malmsey ana two Pound Juniper-berries three Ounces Seeds of Millet great Burdock Nettles Onions Anise Fennel ana one Ounoe and a half of the four greater cold Seeds Marsh-mallows ana six Drams burnt Egg-shells Cinnamon ana three Drams Cloves two Drams digest all four or five days in a gentle Balneo then strain out and distill in Ashes He says this Water does wonders in the Stone and against suppression of Urine Dose from two Drams to an Ounce He adds a Dram of two sorts of Lithontriptick Species to the Composition but the smalness of the proportion to the former large quantity signifies but little I am of Opinion the Juice of Limons alone depurated without that specious preparation or given in Malmsey-wine as Guarinonius advises may be as good it is found by experience effectually to purge and cleanse the Reins and to give help to many and that without any harm to the Stomach especially if sheathed with Honey or Sugar XXXIV Brannerus de Calculo commends the following Syrup as an excellent Remedy leaving no calculous Matter behind in the Kidnies if after Purging two Spoonfuls of it be taken at a time in the Morning Fasting Take Juice of Speedwell one Pound Juice of Ground Ivy six Ounces of Purslane three Ounces mix and make a Syrup with Honey one Pound and a half Both Helmont and Faber commend the Liquor of the Birch-Tree which we call Birch-wine as a Remedy that does not only expel the Stone and Gravel but also prevents the Bleeding thereof XXXV Riverius saith The Ashes of Egg-shells given from half a Dram to one Dram in White-wine powerfully expels the Stone lodged in the passages of the Urine So also the Salt of Bean-Cods and Stalks of which half a Dram in White-wine operates after a wonderful manner Also Tartar Vitriolate given in the same Dose Spirit of Salt is also praised some drops of it being taken in the Morning Fasting in Broth or some other Liquor as Wine Decoction of Eringo c. He commends this Potion not a little Take Strawberry and Saxifrage-waters ana two Ounces White wine six Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol one Dram mix for three Doses to be given six Hours one after another Take Sal Prunellae Crystals of Tartar Pouder of Ivy-berries and Leaves of Cresses ana partes equales with some proper Syrup make Pills of which take one Dram every Morning Fasting XXXVI AEtius Sextus Platonicus and Guarinonius do all of them commend a Hare baked in an Oven 'till it is dry then poudred but Poterius saith the Ashes of a Hare given from one to two Drams in Wine is profitable to expel the Stone some say to dissolve it as also to prevent its breeding for the future made into Pills with Turpentine it is indeed of good use The Pouder of Deers-blood given to one Dram is commended to expel the Stone as Hoferus affirms Motherwort and the Roots of Vervain in Pouder or the Essence of those Plants prepared as we have taught in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37. and drank with White-wine or Mead a little warmed are incredible Remedies in removing all things that hinder the passage of the Urine as Hofman and Marquardus say XXXVII For Medicines given Clyster-wise Fontanus commends the Decoction of Millet given to half a Pint but without doubt it may be much more effectual if half an Ounce of Turpentine be added to it being first ground with the Yolk of an Egg to open its body XXXVIII Zecchius in his Consultations commends yea says nothing is better to bring away the Stone in the Kidnies than warm Water or Veal or Mutton or Chicken-broth five or six Ounces being drunk pretty warm Morning and Evening before Eating And the great heat of the Reins will be taken away which is the essicient cause of the pains of the Stone returning if boyled Water to the quantity of seven or eight Ounces be drank before Meals twice a day for nothing renders the Kidnies so free from Recrements and so temperate and their fiery heat is at length extinguished with the warm Water so that they can never after breed the Stone If to what our Author here says you add to each Draught half a Dram of Salt of Tartar or pure Nitre it will in my Opinion be much more effectual because those Salts do in some measure direct the Water to the parts afficted If also it be sweetned with Honey the Medicament will be still the better for that it will less disaffect the Stomach which in some People it will be apt to do Salmon XXXIX Saxonia in prescribing some familiar Purge for such as are troubled with the Stone mightily discommends the use of Cassia whether for Prevention or Revulsion Petrus Pigray Lib. 7. Cap. 4. says That Cassia agrees very ill with those that are troubled with the Stone Others say that Cassia has increased the Disease and that the heat of Urine always followed the taking of it Fabritius Hildanus tells us That two Ounces of Cassia being given one in a continual Fever it raised such a Flux of Urine that for three days together he made his Urine so hot every time that he thought a red hot Wire had been drawn through his Yard XL To all this we answer 1 That very famous Physicians no ways inferior to the former have constantly used Cassia with very good success Platerus scarcely gave any thing in the Stone without it and often gave it mixt with Manna And the learned
the pure body to descend that descending by means of a vehement heat the pure body may be reduced III. Calcine it again with pure Sal Armoniack as you do Jupiter and most subtily grind and dissolve it by the way aforesaid for this is the water of Argent Vive and Sulphur proportionally made which we use in the Composition of the Red Elixir IV. Lead is a Metalick Body livid earthy ponderous mute partaking of a little Whiteness with much paleness refusing the Cineritium and Cement easily extensible in all its dimensions with small Compression and very fusible without Ignition Yet some Men say that Lead in its own Nature is much approximated to Gold these judge of things not as they are in themselves but according to sense being void of Reason and not conceiving the Truth V. It has much of an Earthy substance and therefore is washed and by a Lavament converted into Tin by which it appears that Tin is more assimilated to the perfect It is also by Calcination made Minium and by hanging over the Vapour of Vinegar it is made Ceruse And tho it is not near to perfection yet by our Art we easily convert it into Silver not keeping its Weight in transmutation but acquiring a new Weight which it obtains by our Magistry It is also the Tryal of Silver in the Cupel as we shall hereafter shew VI. It differs not from Tin after repeating its Calcination to the reduction thereof save that it has a more uncleansubstance commixed of a more grose Sulphur and Argent Vive the Sulphur being more burning and adhaesive to the Argent Vive It has a greater Earthy 〈◊〉 than Jupiter which appears by washing of it with Argent Vive and more Faeculency comes from it by washing than from Jupiter and its first Calcination is easier performed than in Tin because of its Earthiness and because its foulness is not rectified as in Jupiter by repeated Calcinations it is a sign of greater impurity in its principles and in its own Nature VII It s Sulphur is not separated from it in fume but is of a Citrine Colour of much Yellowness the like of which is remaining below at the bottom which shews that it has much of a Combustible Sulphur in it and because the Odour of Sulphureity is not removed from it in a short time it shews that it approaches to the Nature of fixed Sulphur and is Uniformly commixed with the substance of Argent Vive Therefore when the fume ascends it ascends with the Sulphur not burning whose property is to create Citrinity VIII And that the quantity of its not burning Sulphur is more than in Tin appears for that its whole Colour is changed into Citrinity in Calcination but of Tin into White Whence the cause appear why Jupiter in Calcination is more easily changed into a hard Body than Saturn the burning Sulphureity being more easily removed from Jupiter than Saturn one of the causes of its softness is removed whence being Calcined it necessarily follows it must be hardened but Saturn because it has both the causes of softness strongly conjoyned viz. much burning Sulphur and much Argent Vive it is not easily hardened IX Bodies having much Argent Vive have much of Extension but such as have little Argent Vive have little Extension Thus Jupiter is more easily and subtily extended than Saturn Saturn more easily than Venus Venus more easily than Mars Luna more subtily than Jupiter And Sol more subtily than Luna X. The Cause of Induration or hardening is fixed Argent Vive or fixed Sulphur but the cause of softness is Opposite The cause of Fusion is also twofold to wit of Sulphur not fixed and Argent Vive of what kind soever Sulphur not fixed is necessarily a cause of Fusion without Ignition This is evident in Arsenick for projected on Bodies difficult to be Fused it makes them of easie Fufion without Ignition and the cause of Fusion with Ignition is fixed Argent Vive But the Impediment of Fusion is fixed Sulphur XI From hence it appears That seeing Bodies of greatest perfection con tain the greatest quantity of Argent Vive Those Imperfect Bodies holding more of Argent Vive must needs be more approximate to the perfect whence it follows that Bodies of much Sulphureity are Bodies of much Corruption XII From hence it is e vident that Jupiter is near to the perfect seeing it participates more of Perfection but Saturn less Venus yet less and Mars least of all And as to the Medicines compleating them it is clear that Venus is the most perfective of Medicine Mars less Jupiter yet less and Saturn least of all XIII Thus according to the diversity of Bodies diversity of Medicines are found out A hard Body that can endure Ignition re quires one Medicine but the soft that abides not Ignition another that one may be softned and attenuated in its profundity and equalized in its substance but the other hardned and its occult parts inspissated XIV There are three degrees which the Imperfect Bodies chiefly Saturn and Jupiter must obtain in order to perfection First Cleanness or Brightness Secondly Hardness or Densness with Ignition in fusion Thirdly Fixation by taking away their fugitive substance XV. They are cleansed viz. Saturn and Jupiter in a threefold manner 1. By Mundifying 2. By Calcination and Reduction 5. By Solution First By things purifying they are cleansed two ways either by reducing them into a Calx or into the Nature of Bodies reducing into a Calx they are purified either by Salts or Alum or Glass Thus when the Body is Calcin'd put upon its Calx water of Alums or Salts or Glass mixed with it and reduce it to a Body which so often reiterate till they look purely clean For seeing Alums Salts and Glass are fused with another kind of fusion than Bodies therefore they are separated from them retaining with themselves the earthy substance the purity of the Bodies being only left XVI Or thus Let Saturn or Jupiter be filed and mix therewith Alums Salts and Glass and then reduced into a body and this so often to be repeated till they be well cleansed They are also cleansed by way of Lavement with Argent Vive of which we have spoken before XVII The second way of cleansing Saturn and Jupiter by Calcination and Reduction with sufficient fire whereby they are freed from a twofold corrupting substance 1. One inflamable and fugitive 2. Another earthy and faeculent because the Fire elevates and consumes every fugitive substance And by reduction the same fire divides every substance of earth with its proportion See Sect. 1 2 3. above XVIII The third way of cleansing Saturn and Jupiter by Solution of their substance and by reduction of that likewise which is dissolved from them for that solution reduced makes them more clean than any other way or kind of preparation whatsoever except that by Sublimation to which this is equivalent XIX Induration or hardning of their
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
their nature we see not a Coagulation of it to be made which is firm and stable but fugitive and of much infection Which indeed happens by reason of the flight of the Spirits but the other from the commixtion of the Adustible and Earthy substance of them XXI Hence then it is manifestly evident that from whatsoever thing the Medicine thereof is extracted that must necessarily be of a most subtil and most pure substance of its own nature adhereing to it and of liquefaction most easie and thin as water and also be fixed against the violence of fire For this will coagulate it and convert the same either into a Solar or Lunar nature Studiously exercise your self upon what we have spoken and you will find the Mystery out XXII But that you may not blame us as if we had not sufficiently spoken thereof we say that this Medicine is extracted from Metalick Bodies themselves with their Sulphur or Arsenick prepared Likewise from Sulphur alone or Arsenick prepared and it may be extracted from Bodies only But from Argent Vive alone it is more easily and more nearly and more perfectly found because nature more amicably embraceth its proper nature and in it more rejoyces than in any extraneous nature and in it is a facility of extraction of the substance thereof seeing it already hath a substance subtil in Act. Now the ways of acquiring this Medicine are by sublimation as is by us sufficiently declared And the way of fixing it follows But the way of Coagulating things dissolved is by a Glass in Sand with a temperate fire until their aquosity vanish XXIII The way of fixing Argent Vive is the same with the way of fixing Sulphur and Arsenick and these waies differ not unless that Sulphur and Arsnick cannot be fixed if their most thin inflamable parts be not separated from them with the subtil Artifice of dividing by this ultimate way of fixation But Argent Vive has not this confideration therefore in this method they need a greater heat than Argent Vive In like manner they are diversified because these Sulphur and Arsenick must be elevated higher by reason of their slowness than Argent Vive and also because they require a longer time to be fixt in and a longer Vessel for their fixation XXIV Of the Medicine Coagulating of Argent Vive It is taken from such matter as the matter it self is viz. as we have before declared and that is because Argent Vive seeing it is easily made to fly without any Inflamation may suddenly adhere to it in its profundity and be conjoyned with it in its least parts and likewise inspissate and conserve it in the fire by its own fixation until it be better able to sustain the force of Fire consuming its humidity and convert it by the benefit of this in a moment into true Solifick and Lunifick according to that for which the Medicine was prepared XXV But seeing we find not any thiug more to agree with it then That which is of its own nature therefore by reason of this we judged that with That the Medicine thereof might be compleated and we endeavoured by Art to make the Form of the Medicine agreeable to the same viz. That it be prepared in the method and way now mentioned with the instance of long continued labour by which all the subtil and most pure substance of it may be rendred perfectly White in Luna but intensly Citrine in Sol. XXVI Now this cannot be compleated so as to create a Citrine Color without the mixtion of a Thing tinging it which is of its own nature But with this most pure substance of Argent Vive the Medicine is perfected by this our Art which most nearly adheres to Argent Vive and is most easily fluxed and coagulates it for it converts it into a true Solifick and Lunifick with Preparation of that always preceeding XXVII The grand Question is from what things this substance of Argent Vive may best be extracted To which we Answer It must be taken from those things in which it is But according to Nature it is as well in Bodies as in Argent Vive it self seeing they are found to be of one Nature In Bodies more difficultly in Argent Vive more nigh or easily but not more perfectly Therefore of what kind soever the Medicine is to be the Medicine of this Pretious Stone must be as well sought in Bodies as in the substance of Argent Vive XXVIII But as to the Fixing of Argent Vive you must know that it may be done without being turned into Earth and likewise fixed with conversion of it into Earth For by hastening to its fixation which is made by precipitation it is fixed and turned into Earth Also by the successive sublimation of it often repeated it is fixed likewise and not changed into Earth but gives Metallick fusion This is manifest to and proved by him who has experienced both fixations thereof even to the Consummation of the Work both by the hasty precipitation and also by the slow with continually repeated sublimations XXIX This therefore is because it has a viscous and dense substance the sign of which is the grinding of it by Imbibition and mixtion with other things For Viscosity is manifestly perceived in it by the much adherency thereof That it has a dense substance he that has but one Eye may manifestly see by its aspect and by poising the vast Weight thereof For while it is in its own Nature it exceeds Gold in weight being of a most strong Composition Whence it is manifest that it may be fixed without consumption of its humidity and without conversion of it into Earth XXX For by reason of the good adherency of parts and the strength of its mixtion if the parts of it be any wise inspissate by Fire it permits it self no farther to be corrupted nor suffers it self by the Ingress of a furious flame into it to be elevated into fume because it admits not of Rarefaction of its self by reason of its density and want of Adustion which is made by combustible sulphureity which it hath not XXXI Hence is seen First The Causes of the Corruption of every of the Metals by fire which is 〈◊〉 From the Inclusion of a burning sulphureity in the profundity of their substance diminishing them by Inflamation and exterminating them also into fume with extream consumption of whatever Argent Vive is in them of good Fixation 2. From a multiplication upon them of an exterior flame penetrating and resolving them with it self into fume of how great fixation soever that which is in them is 3. From the Rarefaction of them by Calcination for that the flame or fire does then penetrate into and exterminate them Therefore if all Causes of Corruption concur such Bodies must needs be exceedingly corrupt But if not all the corruption is according to the number and proportion of the Causes which remain XXXII Secondly The Causes of
be two equal holes one in each so made that a Hens Feather may conveniently be put in XXXVIII The intention of this Concha is That its Cover may be moved at pleasure and that the juncture might be ingenious so that through it though without any luting the Spirits might not pass But if you can better contrive this Vessel you may do so notwithstanding this our description XXXIX Yet in this we have a special intention that the interiour Concha with its sides should enter half way within its Cover for seeing it is the property of Fumes to ascend not to descend by this means they are kept from vanishing Also that the Head of the Aludel should be often emptied left part of what is sublimed being over much should fall down to the bottom again XL. Another intention is that what ascends up in the form of pouder near the hole of the head of the Aludel be always kept apart from that which is found to have ascended fused and dense in small lumps porous and clear at bottom thereof with adherency to the sides of the Vessel for that it is known to have less of Adustion than what is found to ascend nigh to the hole of the Head Now the sublimation is well performed if it be found clear and lucid and not burnt with inflammation This is the perfection of the subliming of Sulphur and Arsenick And if it be not so found the Work must so often be repeated till it is so CHAP. LI. Of Descension and the way of Purifying by Pastils I. THERE is a threefold Cause of its invention 1. That when any matter is included in that Vessel which is called a Chymical Descensory that after its fusion it may descend through the Holes thereof by which descent we are assured it has admitted a fluxing II. 2. That weak Bodies may by it be preserved from Combustion after reduction from their Calces For when we reduce weak Bodies from their Calces we cannot reduce all their whole substance at one time If then that part which is first reduced into a body should lie while the whole is reduced a great quantity would vanish by the force of the Fire so that it was neeessarily devised that one part so soon as it is reduced may fall from the Fire through this descensory III. 3. That the Depuration of Bodies might be so excellently performed as to be freed from every extraneous thing For the body descends in a Flux clean and leaves every thing which is alien thereto in the Concavity thereof IV. Therefore as to the way or method thereof we say that the form of it must be such as its bottom may be pointed and the sides of it without roughness equally terminating in the aforesaid Acuity or point of the bottom And its cover if any be needful must be made in the like ness of a plain or flat Dish and well fitted to it and the Vessel with its Cover must be made of good firm Earth not easie to break or crack in the fire V. Then put in the matter which you would have to descend upon round Rods or Bars made of like Earth and so placed as they may be more nigh the top than bottom of the Vessel Then covering the Vessel and luting the juncture set it into the fire and blow it until it is in Flux and the whole matterdescend into a subjacent Vessel VI. But if the matter be of difficult fusion it may be put upon a Table plain or of small Concavity from which it may easily descend by inclining the head of the Descensory when it is in Flux for by this means Bodies are purified VII But they are yet better purified by Pastils which method of Purification is of the same force with the way of purifying by descension For it holds the foeces of Bodies as well as a Descensory and better the way of which is thus VIII Take the body which you intend to cleanse and granulate it or file it or reduce it into a Calx which is yet better and more perfect Mix it with some other Calx which is not to be melted and then make the body to flow IX By this method often repeated Bodies are cleansed but not with a perfect Mundification which is to perfection yet it is a profitable purifying that Bodies capable of perfection may the better and more perfectly be transmuted X. For there is an Administration always to go before and to proceed such a Transmutation all which shall be declared in its proper place XI The Descensory Fornace is made as before described and is wonderfully useful to the melting of Metals by Cineritiums and Cements For all Calcined Combust Dissolved and Coagulated Bodies are reduced by this Fornace into a solid Mass or Metal XII Cineritiums also and Cements and Tests or Crucibles in which Silver is often melted are put into this Fornace for the recovering the Metal imbibed CHAP. LII Of Distillation Causes Kinds and Fornaces I. DIstillation is the elevating of Aqueous Vapours in their proper Vessel and is of divers kinds 1. Either with fire or without fire Those made by fire is also twofold 1. Ascending by an Alembick 2. Descending by a Descensory II. The Cause why Distillation was invented was the purification of a liquid matter from its filth and conservation of it from putrefaction For we see things distilled by what kinds soever of Distillation are made more pure and more pure to be preserved from putrefaction III. But the special cause of Distillation by Ascent or an Alembick is the separating of a pure Water without Earth or Foecs for water so distilled has no feculency And the Cause of the invention of such pure water was for the Imbibition of Spirits and of clean Medicines lest by the fe culency of the Water our Medicines or Spirits might be defiled or currupted IV. But the cause of the Invention which is made by Descent or a Descensory was the extracting its Oyl pure in its Nature because by Ascent Oyls are not so easily had in their combustible Nature V. And the Distillation which is made without fire or by Filter was invented for this cause sake to clear water whether distilled or not distilled from all manner of Impurities whatsoever VI. Distillation by Ascent is two-fold 1. In Ashes or Sand. 2. In Balneo without Hay or Wool in its proper Vessel so disposed that the Cucurbit or Vesica may not be broken before the Work is finished VII Distillation by Ashes or Sand is done with a greater stronger and more acute fire But that by Balneo with a mild soft or gentle and equal fire for Water admits not the Acuity of Ignition as Ashes or Sand do VIII Therefore by that Distillation which is made in Ashes colours and the more gross parts of the Earth are elevated but by that in Balneo the parts more subtil and without color and more approaching to the nature of simple Water only arise So that a
of working this Tryal is thus Take sifted Ashes or Calx or Pouder der of the Bones of Animals Calcined or a Commixtion of all or some of them moisten with Water and make the mixture firm and solid with your hands and in the midst of it work it into a round flatish lump make a round and smooth hollowness and upon the bottom of it strew a small quantity of Glass beaten to Pouder which lay to dry XVI When dry Put your Metal into the Hollowness thereof which you would try or prove put Coals of Fire upon it and then blow with Bellows upon the Surface till the Metal flows upon which being in flux cast part after part of Lead and blow with a flame of strong Ignition XVII Whilst you see it agitated with a strong Concusssion it is not pure cast wait till all the Lead be Exhaled when that is gon off and the Motion yet ceases not it is not yet pure cast Lead then again upon it and blow as before until the Lead vanish If it do not yet rest repeat the casting in of more Lead and blowing upon it till it be still or quiet and you see it clean and clear in its Su perfices XVIII This done take away the Coals scatter the Fire and put Water upon the Test for you will find it throughly proved and if while you are blowing this proof you cast in Glass the Bodies will be the better and more perfectly purified because that takes away the Impurities and separates them XIX Or Instead of Glass you may cast in Salt Borax or a little Alum This Examen of the Cineritium or Test may in like manner be made in a Crucible of Earth if the fire round about it be blowed and upon the surface also of the Crucible that the Body to be proved may the sooner flow and be perfected CHAP. LXIII Of Cementation and its Causes I. WE now come to the Examen of Cement And whereas some Bodies are more and others less burned by the Calcination of fire i. e. they which contain a greater quantity of burning Sulphur more but they which contain less less Therefore seeing Sol has a lesser quantity of Sulphur than other Metallick Bodies it is not in the midst of all Mineral Bodies burnt by the force of fire II. And seeing Luna also next to Sol partakes of a less quantity of Sulphur than the other four Bodies yet has more Sulphur than Sol therefore it can less bear the strong Ignition of a violent Fire for a long space of time than Sol can And by consequence less bear things burning by a like nature but Venus less than it because it consists of more Sulphur still and of greater Earthiness than Luna and so can less bear the violent force of Fire III. Jupiter also less than Sol or Luna because it partakes of greater Sulphureity and Earthiness than either of them yet it is less burnt by violence of Fire than Venus but more than Sol or Luna IV. Saturn in its Commixtion by nature holds more of Earthiness and Sulphureity than either of these before named and therefore is more burnt by Inflamation or violence of Fire and is sooner and more easily inflamed than all the said Bodies because it has Sulphureity more nearly conjoyned and more fixed than Jupiter V. Mars is not burnt by it self but by Accident for when it is mixed with Bodies of much humidity it imbibes that Humidity by reason of its own want of the same and therefore being conjoyned it is neither inflamed nor burned if the Bodies with which it is joyned or united be neither Inflamable nor Combustible VI. But if Combustible Bodies be mixed with it it necessarily happens according to the nature of the Combustion that Mars is burnt and inflamed Seeing therefore that Cement is made of Inflamable things the necessary cause of its Invention is manifest viz. that all Combustible things might be burned VII And since there is but one only body incombustible that alone or what is prepared according to the nature of it is kept safe in Cement But which abide more and which less are known with their Causes Luna abides more but Mars less Jupiter yet less and Venus less than Jupiter but Saturn least of all VIII The way of Examination by Cement is thus You must compound it of Infla mable things of which kind are all blackening flying penetrating things viz. Vitriol Sal Armoniack Verdigrise Alum or Plumous Alum and a very small quantity of Sulphur with Humane Urine and other like acute and penetrating things All which are made into a Paste with the Urine aforesaid and spread upon thin plates of that Body which you intend to examine by this way of Probation IX Then the said plates must be laid upon a Grate of Iron included in an Earthen Vessel but so as not to touch one another that the power of the Fire may have free and equal access to them Thus the whole must be kept in Fire in a strong Earthen Vessel for the space of 3 days but with this Caution That the plates may be kept Red Fire hot but not melt X. After the third day you will find the Plates cleansed from all impurity if the Body of them was perfect if not they will be wholly corrupted and burnt in the Calcination XI Some expose Plates of Metal to Calcination without a Composition of Cement and they are purified in like manner if the Body be perfect If not they are totally consumed But in this kind of Examen they must have a longer space of time for that they are purified by the only force of Fire than if they were Examined by the help of Cement XII And for that the nature of Luna differs not much from the nature of Sol therefore of necessity it rests with it in the Tryal by Cement and there is no separation of Bodies one from another in these two kinds of Tryal unless that be caused by reason of the Diversity of the Composition of their substances XIII For from thence results the Diversity of Fusion and Thickness or Thinness or Rarity which are indeed the causes of Separation for that by reason of the strong Composition of some their substance is not corrupted by the substance of the Extraneous Body in as much as a mixtion of them cannot be made through their least parts XIV Therefore in such a commixture they must necessarily be separated each from other without the total corruption of their Essences And the perfecting of imperfect Bodies is discerned when they are by Ingenuity of preparation found to be of the same Fusion Ignition and Solidity CHAP. LXIV The Examen by Ignition I. SInce Bodies of greatest Perfection with determinate Ignition are found to receive the Fire before fusion of them therefore we say if our design is to find out the com pleat alteration of them there is a necessity to bring such Bodies to their Fusion II. And before these
Wise Men. IX And that if you think to understand perfectly these Figures and yet shall be ignorant of the Prima materia or first Agents you will undoubtedly deceive your self and never come to the knowledge of the thing X. Therefore blame me not if you do not easily understand me but rather blame your self that you have not rather sought out the first Agent which is the Key opening the Gate into this Learning or initiated your self into the sacred and secret Interpretations of the Idea's of the Prima materia XI Without which it is impossible to comprehend or understand the subtil Conceptions of the obscure Philosophers which they have skreened from your view as within a Vail and not written but in a Language for their own Disciples to read XII Which Principles and first Agents of the Matter they have never plainly declared in any of their Books but rather left it to be revealed to them by God Almighty who opens the Secret to whom he pleases or else by the living Voice of some Adept or Master of this Science who received it by Cabalistical Tradition which thing not often falls out XIII Now then my Son and let me so call thee not only for that I am come to a very great Age but also for that thou maist be a Child of this knowledge hearken seriously to me and give good attention to the words of my Mouth but proceed not if thou beest ignorant of the said Prima materia or first Agents which I pray God to unfold unto thee for his own Honour and Glory XIV The Vessel of Earth represented in the first Figure is called by the Philosophers their Triple Vessel for which in it there is a Flore and upon that a Dish or Pan made of Iron or Clay full of luke-warm Ashes within the which is set the Philosophical Egg which is a Vial containing the Prima materia or first Agents of the Stone XV. That is the Scum of the Red Sea and the Fat of the Mercurial Wind which is painted in the form of a Penner and Inkhorn XVI Now this Vessel of Earth or rather Philosophical Fornace is open above to put in the Dish or Pan and the Philosophick Egg or Vial under which by the open Gate or mouth of the Fornace is put in the Philosophers Fire so here you have the threefold Vessel which is three Vessels viz. 1. The Fornace 2. The Sand Vessel 3. The Philosophick Egg. XVII These the obscure Philosophers have called an Athanor a Sieve Horse-dung Balneum Mariae a Fornace a Spheare the Green Lyon a Prison a Grave an Urinal a Phial and a Bolthead XVIII And I my self in my Summary of Philosophy which I wrote about four Years and two Months last past called it the House and Habitation of the Chicken and the Ashes Chaff But the Common Name is an Oven or Fornace which I had never known if ABRAHAM the Jew had not painted it together with the fire proportionable wherein consists a great part of the Secret XIX For it is as the Belly or Womb containing the true natural heat or fire to animate or give life to our Chicken or young King if this fire be not made Fornace like with Calid ben Jazichus the Persian If it be kindled with a Sword with Pithagoras if you set on fire your Vessel saith Morien whereby it feels the naked heat the matter will fly and the flowers be burnt before they ascend out of the depth of the matter XX. And they will come out Red rather than white whereby your work will be spoiled and yet on the contrary if your fire be too little or small you can never see the end because of the frigid nature of the matter whereby there will want motion sufficient to digest them together XXI The heat then of your Fire in this Vessel must be as Hermes and Rosinus say like the heat of the Sun in Winter but it is to be noted that Hermes liv'd in AEgypt a hot Country whose Winter is as hot as our Summer in England XXII Or rather according to Diomedes like the heat of a Hen with which she hatches her Chickens like the slow ascension of the Sun from the Sign Aries to that of Cancer XXIII For know that the Infant in the beginning is repleat with cold Flegm and a white milky substance and that too great a heat is an Enemy to the cold and moisture of our Embrion And that the two Adversaries viz. the two Elements of heat and cold will never perfectly accord or embrace one another XXIV But by little and little having first long dwelt together in the midst of the temperate heat of their Bath to wit a gentle Balneo or sand heat they are changed by long decoction and digestion into an Incombustible Sulphur XXV Take care therefore that with a just and equal proportion of Fire you manage these proud and haughty Natures for fear that if you should favour one more than another they who naturally are Enemies shou'd grow Angry with you through Jealousie and by their hot and dry choler despise your power and contemn you to your no small disadvantage XXVI You must also keep them in this temperate heat perpetually or continually to wit night and day until the time that Winter to wit the time of the moisture of the Matters be passed away for they make their peace and as it were joyn hands in being warmed and heated together whereas should these natures find themselves but one only half an hour with out Fire they would become irreconcileable for ever XXVII For this cause or reason it is said in the Book of the Seventy Precepts See that their heat or fire continue unweariedly and without ceasing and that all their days may be numbred or accomplished XXVIII And Rhasis saith The haste that brings with it too much Fire is always promoted by the Devil and Errour And Diomedes saith When the Golden Bird shall come just to Cancer and that from thence it shall move or fly towards Libra then you may augment the Fire a little XXIX And when in like manner the rare Bird shall move or fly from Libra towards Capricorn which is the desired Autumn then is the time of Harvest wherein you shall reap the ripe and most desireable fruits of your Labour CHAP. XXIX Of the two Dragons of a yellowish blue and black colour like the Field I. VIew well these Dragons for they are the true Principles or beginning of this which the Philosophers and Wise men would never clearly explicate to their own Children II. That which is undermost without Wings is fixed or the Male That which is uppermost and with Wings is the Volatile or Female black and obscure which strives for the mastery and dominion for many Months III. The first is called Sulphur or heat and dryness the other Mercury Argent Vive or cold and moisture these are Sol and Luna of a Mercurial source a sulphurous original
shall the Tincture be made and more plentiful in quantity and the more perfect it is the more it shall transmute IX In the Fourth Distillation then it shall receive such a Virtue and Tincture that one part shall be able to transmute a thousand parts of the cleansed Metal into fine Gold or Silver better than that which is Generated in the Mines X. Therefore saith Rhasis The goodness or excellency of the Multiplication hereof depends only on the Reiteration of the dissolution and fixation of the perfect Medicine XI For so much the oftner the work is Reiterated so much the more fruitful it will be and so much the more augmented XII So much the oftner you sublime it so much the more you increase it for every time it is augmented in Virtue and Power and Tincture one more to be cast upon a thousand at a second time upon ten thousand at the third time upon one hundred thousand at the fourth time upon a Million And thus you way increase its Power by the number of the Reiterations till it is almost infinite XIII Therefore saith Meredes the Philosopher know for certain that the oftner the Matter or Stone is dissolved and congealed the more absolutely and perfectly the Spirit and Soul are conjoyned and retained XIV And for this cause every time the Tincture is Multiplied after a most admirable and unconceiveable manner CHAP. XLVIII Of the Augmentation or Multiplication of Our Medicine by Fermentation I. OUr Medicine is Multiplied by Fermentation and the Ferment for the White is pure Luna the Ferment for the Red is pure fine Sol. II. Now cast one part of the Medicine upon twenty parts of the Ferment and all shall become Medicine Elixir or Tincture Put it on the Fire in a Glass Vessel and seal it so that no Air go in or out dissolve and subtilize it as oft as you please even as you did for making of the first Medicine III. And one part of this second Medicine shall have as much Virtue and Power as Ten parts of the former IV. Therefore saith Rhasis Now have we accomplished our Work by that which is hot and moist and it is become equally temperate and whatsoever is added or put to it shall become of the same temperament and Vertue with it V. You must then Conjoyn it that it may Generate its like yet you must not joyn it with any other that it might convert it to the same but only with that very same kind of whose substance it was in the beginning VI. For in Speculo Terrae Spiritualis it is written that the Elixir is figured in the Body from whence it was taken in the beginning when it was to be dissolved VII That is to say to dispose Marry or Conjoyn that Earth revived and in its Soul purified by commixtion of its first Body from whence it took beginning VIII Also in Libro Gemmae Salutaris it is said that the White work needs a White Ferment which when it is made White is White Ferment also and when it is made Red is the Ferment of Redness IX And so the White Earth is Ferment of Ferment for when it is Conjoyned with Luna or shall be made a Medicine it is to cast upon Mercury and every imperfect Metaline Body to be converted into Luna X. And to the Red ought Sol to be joyned and it will become a Medicine or Tincture to project upon Mercury or upon Luna XI Rhasis also saith You must now mix it with Argent Vive White and Red after their kind and be so chained that it flies not away XII Wherefore we command Argent Vive to be mixed with Argent Vive until one clear water be made of two Argent Vive's Compounded together XIII But you must not make the mixture of them till each of them apart or separately be dissolved into water and in the Conjunction of them put a little of the matter upon much of the Body viz. First upon four and it shall become in a short time a fine Pouder whose Tincture shall be White or Red. XIV This Pouder is the true and perfect Elixir or Tincture and the Elixir or Tincture is truly a simple Pouder XV. Egidius also saith to Solution put Solution and in dissolutionput desiccation viz. make it dry putting all together to the fire XVI Keep entire the sume or vapour and take heed that nothing thereof flie out from it Tarry by the Vessel and behold the wonders how it changes from Colour to Colour in less space than an hours time till such time as it comes to the Signs of Whiteness or Redness XVII For it melts quickly in the Fire and congeals in the Air. When the fume or vapor feels the sorce of the fire the fire will penetrate into the Body and the Spirit will become fixed and the matter made dry becoming a Body fixt and clear or pure and either White or Red. XVIII This Pouder is the compleat and perfect Elixir or Tincture now you may separate or take if from the fire and let it cool XIX And first part of it projected upon 1000. parts of any Metalline Body transmutes it into fine Gold or Silver according as your Elixir or Tincture is for the Red or the White XX. From what has been said it is manifest and Evident that if you do not congeal Argent Vive making it to bear or endure the fire and then conjoyning it with pure Silver you shall never attain to the Whiteness XXI And if you make not Argent ViveRed and so as it may endure the greatest fire and then conjoyn it with pure fine Gold you shall never attain to the Redness XXII And by dissolution viz. by Fermentation your Medicine Elixir or Tincture may be multiplied infinitely XXIII Now you must understand that the Elixir or Tincture gives fusion like Wax for which cause saith Rhasis Our Medicine ought of necessity to be of a subtle substance and most pure cleaving to Mercury of its Nature and of most easie and thin liquifaction fusion or melting after the manner of water XXIV Also in the Book called Omne datumOptimum it is said when the Elixir is well prepared it ought to be made liquid that it may melt as Wax upon a Plate Red-Fire-Hot or upon Coals XXV Now observe what you do in the White the same you must do in the Red for the work is all one The same Operation that is in the one is in the other as well in multiplication as projection CHAP. XLIX Of the Differences of the Medicine and Proportions used in Projection I. GEBER the Arabian Prince Alchymist and Philosopher in lib. 5. cap. 21. saith That there is three orders of Medicines The First Order is of such Medicines which being cast upon imperfect Bodies takes not away their Corruption or Imperfection but only give Tincture which in Examination flies away and vanishes II. The Second Order is of such Medicines which being cast upon Imperfect Bodies tinge
Operations of Alchymia are exercised by which we endeavour to perfect the imperfect Bodies and thereby to make them better than the perfect II. And forasmuch as Nature has handed down to us Imperfect Bodies only with the perfect it is our business to take the known matter which we have declared in these Chapters and by much Pains and Industry through the help of our art to make it even more than perfect III. If you be ignorant of the manner of doing or working What is the Cause Truly because that you see not after what manner Nature which sometimes perfects the Metals frequently or commonly operates IV. See you not that in the Mines by the continual heat which is in those Mineral Mountains the gross waters are decocted and so much inspissated as thereby through length of time to be made Argent Vive V. And from the fat of the Earth by the same decoction and heat is generated Sulphur and that by the same heat preserved and continued upon the same from the aforesaid things viz. Argent Vive and Sulphur according to their Purities and Impurities all the Metals are generated VI. And that Nature by a sole or only decoction does make or bring to perfection the perfect Bodies as well as all the Imperfect Bodies or Metals VII O great madness These things which I thus quaery about would you bring to pass and perfect by fantastick strange and imperfect methods VIII Now a certain Wise man saith You must necessarily err who endeavour to out-do Nature and to perfect the Metals yea more than perfect them by new and forreign methods of Operation invented in your dull and insensible Noddles IX And that God has bestowed upon Nature a right method a direct way which is by a continual decoction which the Insipid and Fools through their ignorance despise and scorn to imitate X. Also Fire and Azoth are sufficient for thee Again Heat perfects all things or all the Metals Moreover decoct decoct decoct and be not weary Make your fire gentle and soft which may always burn and endure for many days with a constant equal heat but let it not go out or decay for then you will suffer the loss of all XI In another place continue thy work with patience And again Beat or grind the matter seven times Then again You must know that with one matter to wit the Stone by one way to wit by decocting and in one Vessel the whole Magistery is performed and perfected XII And in another place The matter is ground with fire Also This work is much like or may be compared to the Creation of Mankind XIII For like as an Infant at first is nourished with food easily digested or Milk But for the strengthening of the Bones with stronger Food or Meat So also this Magistery At first you must feed it with a gentle Fire by the force of which Decoction whatsoever you desire is to be done XIV And although we always speak of a gentle fire yet notwithstanding you are always to understand it in this sense that according to the Regimen or mehod of the operation it is by degrees or by little and little to be augmented and increased even to the highest degree CHAP. LVII Of the Quality of the Vessels and Fornaces I. THE limits method way and manner of working we have even now determined it follows that we treat next of the Vessel and Fornace after what manner and with what matter it ought to be made II. When Nature with a natural heat in the metallick Mines does decoct it is true it performs this decoction without any Vessel Now though we propound to follow Nature in decocting yet we cannot do it without a fit Vessel for that purpose III. Therefore let us see first what kind of place that is where Metals are generated It is evidently manifest that they are produced in Mineral places and that the generating heat is in the bottoms of the Mountains where it is perdurable and always equal and whose nature is always to ascend which in ascending continually desiccates every where where it passes and coagulates the spissed or gross water hidden in the Bowels or Veins of the Earth or Mountains into Argent Vive IV. And if a mineral fat in the same place from such a like Earth shall be warmed and gathered together in the Veins of the Earth and it run through the Mountains it becomes Sulphur V. And as you may see in the said veins of the said place that Sulphur generated as is said of the fat of the Earth doth meet also with the Argent Vive as aforesaid in the said veins of the Earth so also it produces a thickning or inspissating of that Mineral Water VI. Also there by the said heat in the bottoms or bowels of the Mountains equal and perdurable through a very long space of time there is generated divers and several Metals according to the nature or diversity of the place VII This also you must know that in the places where Minerals are found there is always found a durable heat VIII From these things then we ought always to note that a Mineral Mountain is every where close to its self externally and also stoney because if the heat should possibly get out no Metals would be generated IX So also if we intend to imitate Nature we must necessarily have such a Fornace as may have some likeness or resemblance of a Mountain not as to its magnitude but as to its continued heat so that the imposed fire when it ascends may not find a way forth but that the heat may reverberate back upon the vessel containing in it self firmly closed up the matter of the Stone X. Which vessel ought to be round with a little neck made of Glass or some certain Earth like in nature or closeness of body to Glass Whose Mouth ought to be so stopped or closed up with Bitumen or other like Emplastick substance or otherwise Hermetically sealed up so as the least Vapour may not come forth XI And like as in the Mines the heat does not immediately touch the matter of the Sulphur and Argent Vive because the Earth of the Mountain is every where between XII So in like manner the fire ought not immediately to touch the Vessel containing in it self the matters aforesaid of our Stone But in another closed Vessel in like manner that is to be put that so the temperate heat may better and more conveniently touch both above and below and every where the matter of our Stone XIII Upon which account Aristotle saith That Mercury in the Light of Lights is to be decocted in a threefold Vessel and that the Vessel be made of the most firm and pure Glass or which is better of Earth having in it self the nature of Glass Of which kind is our late China and Porcelane Ware brought to us out of Persia China and other places of the East-Indies CHAP. LVIII Of the Colours Accidental and
Essential appearing in the Work I. WE have now taught you what the exquisite matter of the Stone is and also the true manner of working by what method and with what order the decoction of the Stone is to be performed whence oftentimes arises divers and various colours in the Philosophick matter II. Concerning which Colours a certain Wise Man saith Quot colores tot nomina so many Colours as it has so many Names According to the diversity of Colours appearing in the operation the Philosophers have given it several Names III. For which Reason in the first operation of this our Stone it is called Putrefaction and our Stone is made black For which reason saith a Philosopher When thou findest that black know that in that blackness whiteness is hidden and now it behoves us to extract that whiteness from its most subtil blackness IV. Now after the Putrefaction or blackness it grows red but not with the true redness of which one of the Philosophers saith It often grows red and it often grows Citrine or Yellow and it oftentimes melts or grows liquid and it is oftentimes coagulated before the true whiteness appears to perfection V. Also it dissolves its self coagulates it self putrefies its self tinges or colours its self mortifies it self vivifies its self denigrates or blackens it self dealbates or whitens it self and adorns it self in the red with the white VI. It is also made green for which reason another saith Decoct it till you see the birth of the Greenness or till the greenness is brought forth which is the Soul thereof And another Know that the Soul doth rule in the Greenness VII Also the colour of the Peacock appears before the Whiteness for which cause saith one Know that all the Colours which are in the World or are possible so be thought of appear before the Whiteness and then the true Whiteness follows VIII Of which a certain Philosopher saith But when the pure Stone is decocted so long till the Eye of the Fish as it were grows very bright a profit or good may be expected from it and then our Stone will be congealed into its roundness IX Another also saith When you shall find the Whiteness supereminent in the Vessel be certain that in that Whiteness the Redness is hidden and then it behoves thee to extract it X. Notwithstanding decoct till the whole Redness be brought forth and perfected XI For it is between the true Whiteness and the true Redness that a certain Ash-colour appears of which we have spoken after the Whiteness appears you cannot err for by augmenting the fire you come to the Ash-colour XII Of which another saith Slight or undervalue not the Ashes for God will return them to thee liquid and then at last the King shall be crowned with his red Diadem Nutu Dei by the good pleasure of God CHAP. LIX Of the manner of projection upon any of the Imperfect Metals I. I Have perfectly compleated the end of the promised Work viz. of our great Magistery for the making the most excellent Elixir as well Red as White It now remains that we shew the method or way of Projection which is the compleatment of the work the long expected and much desired cause of rejoycing II. Now the true Red Elixir tinges a pure and deep Citrine or Yellow to infinity of parts and it transmutes all Metals into most fine Gold III. The true White Elixir also whitens to Infinity likewise and it makes or tinges every Metal into a perfect Whiteness But you must know that one kind of Metal is much more remote or far distant from perfection than some others are and that some are much nearer to the said perfection than others IV. And although every Metal may be brought to perfection by the Elixir yet those which are nearer to perfection are easier sooner and better reduced to that perfection or transmuted into perfect Bodies than those that are more remote V. And when we have found a Metal which is as it were a kin or nearer to perfection we are excused in some measure from making use of or projecting upon those Metals which are more remote therefrom VI. Now what Metals are remote from and near to perfection and what are yet more near and as it were a kin to the perfect Bodies we have taught in these Chapters in which if you be indeed wise you may plainly see and truly determine which they be VII And without doubt he who is lawfully initiated into the Mysteries of this our Art may be able through his own Ingenuity and Industry by studying in this my Speculum 〈◊〉 to find out and know the true matter of our Stone And he will know and understand well upon what Body the Medicine or Magistery ought to be projected for perfection VIII For the Masters of this Art who have invented or found out the Prima Materia and the whole Mystery they have I say plainly demonstrated and as it were indigitated the direct way of working and made all things naked and plain to us when they say IX Nature contains Nature Nature exceeds Nature and Nature overcoming Nature does rejoyce and is transmuted or changed into another Nature And in another place every like doth rejoyce in its like for that the likeness between things is said to be the cause of Sympathy or Friendship of which many Philosophers have written notable things X. Know then that the Soul doth soon enter into its own Body but with a Forreign or Strange Body it can never be joyned or United In another place If you shall endeavour to joyn it with a Forreign or Heterogene Body you shall wholly Labour in Vain Also The nearness of the Body to perfection makes a Transmutation the more Glorious XI For the Corporeal by the Power of the Operation of Nature is made Incorporeal and contrariwise the Incorporeal is made Corporeal and in the compleatment the spiritual Body is made wholly fixed XII And because it is Evidently manifest that the Elixir is Spiritual and so very much exalted beyond its own Nature as well for the White as for the Red It is no wonder that it is not to be mixed with Bodies XIII The Method or way of Projection then is that the Body of the Metal to be transmuted beliquified or melted and then that the Medicine or Elixir be projected or cast upon the melted Metal XIV Moreover you must Note that this our Elixir is of a mighty strong Power and of great Force for one part being projected upon a Million or Ten Hundred Thousand parts and more of the prepared Body it does incontinently penetrate it transfuse it self through the whole and transmute it XV. Wherefore I deliver to you a great and hidden Secret Mix one part of this our Elixir with a Thousand parts of a body near to perfection put all into a proper Vessel inclosing it firmly and then put it into a Furnace of Fixation first with a very gentle fire
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