its operations more potently in any kinde of body then in its own proper body in which it both is and lives Likewise in every body there is nothing more easie to be kindled then the vegetative Soul because that She runs and walks by her self and is disposed hereunto for even as a fire that is covered over and buried doth as soon as it is made bare and hath an accesse of ayre burn up even so likewise doth my phantasie apply and bend it self to the seeing of any thing I cannot direct my eyes with my hands whether I please and would but my Imagination converts them to whatsoever it likes me to behold So also is it as to my journeying for if I have a desire of going any where and do thus propose to my self according as seemeth me good then is my body directed to this or that place thus intended by me And by how much the more it shall have been imprinted in my Imagination and thoughts so much the speedier do I run So then its evident that Imagination is the mover of my course Even after the same manner is it that medicine doth mundifie bodies in whom is a spirituality from whence it comes to pass that that motion is performed the more easily Thirdly Is to be understood the distribution that is made in the body unto all the members out of all such things as are presented unto it either without or within In that distribution is made a mutation whereby the things are so changed that one part serves for the complexion of the heart another part is accommodated to the nature of the brain and so likewise is it with the rest Now the body attracts unto its self two manner of wayes viz. internally and externally Internally it attracts whatsoever is taken in by the mouth Externally it attracteth the air earth water and fire Thus therefore is the businesse to be constituted and defined viz. Those things that are received inwardly are not so necessary to be written for that they are to be known by the foundation of nature viz. these which are distributed thus as we shall speak anon concerning the division But outwardly you are to understand it thus that the body doth attract through the whole skin from the four external elements what is necessary for it which if it should not do the internal nutriment would not suffice for a mans support and because that moisture is so very existent in the body by custome the same body extracts it out of the Element water and so it comes to passe that as long as one shall sit or stand therein he needs not any other quenching of his thirst Now this proceeds not from the waters extinguishing the heat as it quencheth fire but the internal heat attracts the external moisture to it self drinks it just as if it were taken inwardly hence t is that the Cows are able to abide in the Alps without drink an whole Summer for the air is as a drink to them and supplies the place and office thereof The same may be concluded of as to a man Moreover the nature of a man may be sustained also without food if he be set or planted with his feet in the earth So have we seen a man that lived six moneths without food and was sustained onely by wearing a piece or clod of earth upon his ' stomack the which being dry he now and then took a new fresh clod he affirmed that during all that time he was never hungry the cause of which thing we shew in the book of the Appetite of Nature So likewise have we seen a man that sustained himself for many years by a medicine viz. by the quintesence of gold and scarce took half a scruple thereof each day Hence likewise or after this manner have there been many others that have eaten nothing for many years viz. xx years such I remember I have seen in my time Some do attribute this kind of living to the goodness and piety of the persons and some also impute it to God the which we do not in the least desire to gainsay or judg of yet however this thing is even natural for sadness melancholy and fainting or grief of the mind do take away both hunger and thurst so that by the attraction of the body to wit self it is able to sustain it for many years for as much as food and drink are not so ordained or appointed as that we must of necessity eat flesh or bread and drink wine or water but also we may sustain our life with the air and with clods of earth and we are to believe that whatsoever is ordained for food was made that we might try and taste it the which we shall declare more at large in our book of the Monarchy of God Albeit we grant thus much that because of our labours and such like we cannot want temporal and corporal food and that for very many causes and therefore food was ordained for this body as medicine was against diseases Now therefore as to the distinction of things which enter into the body observe it thus that they are distributed throughout all the parts of the body no otherwise then as if vinum ardens or burning spirit were poured into water thereby making it all of the same odour because it is defused throughout the whole body thereof In like manner if ink be put into wine all of it will be rendred black thereby Even thus is it in the body of man the humidity and moisture of life doth presently defuse such things as are received in and that sooner and speedier then what we have proposed unto you by these examples but as to the form that the substance thus took in is transmuted into the nature of this consisteth onely in the members which receive it and digest it into their own likenesse no otherwise then as when bread if conveyed into a man is made mans-flesh and if into a fish t is made fish c. Thus in like manner is it to be understood of the things that are taken in they are transmuted by the virtues of the nature of the members and become appropriated to the nature of the parts receiving them The same is likewise to be understood of medicines viz. that they are transmuted into the members according to the proprieties of them members for they receive their strength and virtues from the proper substances of the medicines according to either the good or evil the subtile or gross dispersing thereof according as the quality of the medicine shall be as for example if it be of a quintessence the transmutation of it will be more strong and potent but if it be a grosse medicine such also it remains even as an Image or picture that hath its ornament from the colours as to fairnesse and deformity the which colours if noble such also will the picture be So therefore that we may collect our experiences in those like things
which we have met withall and may as it were heap them up together for our pozy and better remembrance that so we may have them in a readinesse when wee need them we will write down these nine Books but as for the tenth I will reserve that close in my brain because of the ungrateful Ideots but yet notwithstanding in these 9 is enough declared to our Sons and let no body admire and so much wonder at the teaching of my Doctrine for though it be contrary to the courses and methods of the Ancients yet notwithstanding it is most firmly founded upon experience which is the mistresse of all things and by which also ought all arts to be proved THE Second and Third Book OF THE ARCHIDOXIS Of the Separation of the Elements BEfore we set about the Declaration of the Separation of Elements there are some things which we shall explain seeing that the things written of the Generation of things are not so very consonant with the Separations of the Elements for the better and clearer understanding of that same Separation for every thing is brought to its end and issue the more conveniently where a mature intelligent consideration as to what the event will be precedes For verily thereby the practick becomes the clearer We therefore say that the four Elements exist together in all things out of which doth arise to every one it s Predestinated state But now by what means those four Elements so mutually contrary among themselves are able to agree and abide together without the destruction of themselves you are to understand it thus Whereas the mixion of the Elements is in and by predestination so united and corroborated the case stands thus there is no weight to be accounted in them but the ruling power of one of them is greater in things then anothers power is by which is to be understood that in the digesting or disposition and ferment of the predestination the strongest element will bear rule and overcome and subject the others By which means the other three elements cannot in the least attain their perfection but are in relation to that perfect element as the light or sappy matter in wood is to the firm timber therefore also they are not to be called Elements for as much as they are not all of them perfect but one onely is so when we speak therefore of the four elements wch finally are in all things we are not to understand it so precisely that in them the four Elements are perfect but there is but one onely finished or accomplished element in things the other Elements remaining imperfect by reason of the virtues and puissance of the chief excelling element hence it comes to passe that they can thus accord and consist together because that there is no perfection in three of them upon which account also neither can there be any corruption by the contrarieties to bear rule Moreover that an element is predominant in one kind t is because t is hereunto predestinated and therefore no corruption nor permixion can adhere to them as we mention it in the book of Generations whereas therefore there is onely one element in every thing particularly it is needlesse to seek for four elements in things there being three of them not posited in perfection briefly and finally therefore we must understand that the four elements are in all things but not four complexions actually the case stands thus a substance or matter contains the element water and then it is nenusar or water lilly there is not in it besides this element neither earth nor air nor fire likewise there is not in it any likenesse of heat or drynesse for it hath no peculiar operation but the predestination thereof is water and is the onely element of water under which is neither drynesse nor heat according to its affianced nature But yet although all these things are thus yet notwithstanding the other three elements are in it but the creatures have not their rise out of those three elements which are not brought forth as it were perfect nor have they their beginning or help and assistance from them but out of the predestinated element which is united to and impressed in that stock and kind And albeit that this squares not with the Common Philosophy viz. that the one predestinated element hath of its own nature the other three elements adhereing unto it self yet notwithstanding it is to be believed that the element and substance or matter are different from each other The which is to be thus understood The substance or matter is not from that element which tingeth and elementateth the substance neither also are these elements from the substance but they have an equal like agreement as the body and soul have But now each body as for example The body of some growing thing hath its Complexion and likewise its element Although the element it self is not visible in the growing body nor is it tangible or demonstrable and that for this reason because this element is by reason of its subtilty more strong and subjects the other elements of the growing body And yet all of them are in the body but imperceptibly like as when water is permixed with vinegar it becomes like unto it and although the vinegar shall have changed all in the essence thereof yet neverthelesse the Complexion of the water remains incorrupt nor is it vinegar for that cause but is as much water as afore And although it puts not forth the virtues of water as afore yet it doth not therefore follow but that it hath them still Now therefore by these propositions we are willing to declare by what way the Separations of the Elements are to be made and here shall we meet with two Practicks that require our understanding One is that which the Separation of the Predestinated Element agreeth unto and this we will declare in the book of the Quintessence The other is that which the four Substantial Elements that exist in growing things appertain unto By this we are to understand that the Predestinated Element is the Quintessence nor is it possible to make a separation of the one from the other onely it may be made from the other three Elements as followes hereunder concerning the Quintessence But where we speak of the Separations of the four Elements we mean those four which are essentially in a body from hence hath risen so many various errours because that men have sought after the four Elements and also the Quintessence in the Predestinated Element the which cannot possibly be Moreover you must also know that when the Elements of bodies are not to be separated so that one may be Fire another Water and another like to Ayre and the fourth to Earth according to their Complexions That sometimes the Elements appear with their forms sometimes with their Complexions as the water like water the ayre like ayre the earth like earth and the fire like fire These are to
be subtilly understood and may then at length well be done by a similitude if they are taken for the union of the Elements not visibly or actually neither according to the nature of the Element of fire but as an hot and dry Complexion like fire On this manner hath every Element its nature essence and condition attributed to it the propriety remaining incorrupt for it is not to be supposed that because some hearb is most hot as a nettle it doth therefore contain in it self the more fire no but it is rather to be accounted thus viz. that the Quintessence of it is more hot then the Quintessence of Chamomill the which latter hath a lesser heat But the Elements of the body do receive either lesse or more from their own substance or matter even as wood contains in it self more fire then hearbs do Likewise stones have in them more of dryness and earth than Rozins have In like manner also note that the mulittude and quantity of the degree in the Quintessence doth arise from the Predestinated Element and the intension or exaltation of the degree of the Corporal Elements ariseth from the Species or shape of the substance which is unlike But as to the Practick of the Separation of the Corporal Elements from all the other things Observe that it is twofold One way teacheth to extract the Three Elements from the Pure Elements as from the burning Fire from the invisible Air from the true Earth and likewise from the natural Water the which Elements have not such a like Original as the precedent Elements have The other way is of them of alias in which those Four do exist as we said afore but yet with this difference viz. That this exhibits more of the Element of Fire Water Earth or Air with the similitude of the Form of the essential Elements When they shall be separated after this manner they can never be any more dissolved viz. So as for the Complexions to be corrupted or altered any further alias So as to be eradicated out of their Complexions 'T is also to be considered That the Elements by Separation are found to be formally of the likeness of essential Elements for the Air appears like Air that cannot at all be shut in which some falsly think and that for this cause because it presently exalts it self in the moment of Separation and the Wind doth sometime break forth and ascends upward with the Water sometimes with the Earth and other while with the Fire For verily the exaltation or elevation in the Air is very much wonderful like as if the Air were to be separated from the essential Element of the Water it is to be done by boyling the which beginning to boyl the Air is forthwith separated from the Water and carries with it the most light substance of the Water and by how much the Water is lessened so much also is the Air diminished according to its proportion and quantity There ore it is to be be noted here That no Element can be conceived or had without Air although any of them may be had without another wherefore we undertake not the burden of Separating the Air apart seing it is in the other three as the life is in the body for when it is separated from the body they all perish as we clearly teach in the following Practick of Separations In this place there are Four wayes must be considered One way is in Watery bodies that is in Herbs which have more of Water than of any of the other Elements The Second is in fiery bodies such are Woods Rozins Oyls Roots c. which contain in themselves more of the fiery substance than of the others The Third is to be understood of Earthy bodies such as are Stones Clayes and Earths but the Fourth is of Aierial and this is in all the other three as we mentioned above In like manner also are there so many Wayes to be considered of as to the pure Elements after the same manner as is said afore of the Four fore-going Hence then is it easie to be known what the Elements are and how to be separated amongst which the separations of the Elements from Metals come first to be considered of in which Elements there are peculiar Predestinated virtues which are lacking in the other Elements alias which are forced out of the other Elements for although all the Elements are alike in the form viz. in Heat Coldness Moisture and Dryness yet notwithstanding the Drynesse or Moisture c. the Heat and Coldnesse are not the same in one thing as in another for in some it is Appropriative but in other-some it is Specifick by various wayes after this manner according as in every kind they are each of them naturated peculiarly and essentially for there 's no kind of the Elements like to another in virtues Thus also are we to conceive concerning the Separations of Marcasites the which do likewise differ from the others in the Practick and Elemental Nature for every kind or Lineage is posited in a peculiar Separation and must be practised with in a particular way afterwards we will speak of Gems and Stones and demonstrate their Elements for they appear not at all like the others Furthermore Salts are of a peculiar and most excellent nature and of more properties then are perceived to be in the others There is also a diverse essence in Herbs which have no manner of agreement with the Minerals themselves nor indeed can they be alike as to what belongs unto their nature Likewise the property of Woods Fruits Barks and such-like is singular also the property of Flesh Drink and all edible Food and of things not good and clean but evil and impure which are to be separated into Elements There are Two wayes found to be of that Separation which we mean One whereof is the Separation of each Element shut-in by it self into a peculiar Vessel without the corrupting or losing of its virtues the Air excepted The other way is of the Separation of the pure from the impure in the Four Elements viz. after this manner After that the Elements are separated viz. the one from the other they have as yet a grosse substance for which cause there follows another separation of those same Separated Elements we will therefore declare the Practick of them all for 't is to be known in the first place that the Quintessence of things is to be separated extracted this way because truly the Elements drawn out of bodies in the nature of Quintessence are not subjected but are left with it Therefore it is able to tinge the Elements either stronger or weaker which is to be understood thus That the vigorousness do not because of this perish from the Elements when the Predestinated Element that is the Quintessence is extracted for it is it self likewise Elemental and Separable as to the Elemental form but not as to the differing natures as is evident in the
Discourse of the Quintessence By these like Separations all Elemental Infirmities may be cured by one simple Quintessence viz after this manner If those Predestinations fight against these infirmities as we set down more largely in the Discourse of Predestinations By these things therefore thus spoken we have sufficiently enough disclosed the beginning of the Separations and therefore let us now hasten on to the Practick part of them the variety whereof is Tenfold One is of Metals a Second of Marcasites a Third of Stones a Fourth of Oleaginous things a Fifth of Rozins a Sixth of Herbs a Seventh of Flesh an Eighth of Juyces a Ninth of Vitrified things and the Tenth of Fix things And now as to those Separations of the Elements there are three wayes thereof One by Distillations a Second by Calcinations and the Third by Sublimations To this do belong all the exercises as the applying of the hands to the Fire and Labouring and other necessaries which shall be set down in the following Separations Of the Separations of the Elements out of the Metals AS touching the Separation of the Elements from the Metals there need the best Instruments Labour Diligence and an artificial Experience and an aptitude of the Hands for this Work First of all make an Aqua Fortis thus Take Salinitre Vitriol and Allum equal parts the which you must Distil into an Aqua Fortis pour this Water again upon its feces and again Distil it in a Glasse In this Aqua Fortis clarifie Silver and afterwards dissolve therein Salarnioniack Having so done Take a Metal reduced into Leaves and resolve it there into water that is in the same water then separate it by B. M. pour it on again repeat this so often until there be found an Oyl at the bottom viz. of ☉ or Gold a spadiceous or light red Colour of ☽ a lazure of Mars a red and very obscure of ☿ a white of ♄ a livid wan and leady of Venus an absolute green and of rum a yellow colour But yet note that not all the Metals are thus reduced into an Oyl but such as have been afore prepared as for example Mercury is to be sublimed Saturn to be calcined Venus to be florified or reduced into â—ores Iron to be Crocified and reduced to a Crocus Jupiter to be Reverberated as for Sol and ☽ they will easily submit themselves So then when the Metals shall be on this wise reduced into a liquid substance and thereby disposed themselves to a disjoyning of their Elements the which thing cannot possibly be done in a Metallick nature for every thing is to be afore prepared for the use its agreeable unto and convenient for Afterwards ad to one part of this Oyl two parts of new Aquafortis and being well shut in together in the best glasse set it in horse dung for a moneth then destil it wholly off with a gentle fire that the matter may be coagulated in the bottom And the Aqua-fortis which ascends if it be destilled on this manner in a B. thou shalt fine two Elements together But note that all the mettals will nor leave the very same Elements behind for in Gold the Earth and the Water remains in A. B. but the Air is in all the other three and the Element of Fire abides in the bottom because the Substance and tangible matter of Gold is coagulated by the fire therefore it will come together in a substantial matter and substance In Lune there will remain in the bottom the Element of Water and in a Balâ—y the Elements of the Earth and Fire for the Substance and Corporallity of which indeed is of a six nature and which cannot be elevated is born and springs from coldnesse and moisture In Mercury the Fire remains in the bottom and the Earth and Water are elevated up In Venus the Fire also remains and both viz the Earth and the Water abides in a B. In Saturn the Element of Earth remains in the bottom the Fire and Water are to be had in a B In Jupiter the Air remains in the bottom and the Fire Water and Earth are elevated there from T is therefore to be observed that the Air affords â— body in rum and in no other mettal whatsoever of the which although some part doth also ascend together and remaines inseparably permixt with the other three Elements yet notwithstanding that Air is not Corporeal but is adherent and concurrent with the others and is inseparable from them Furthermore 't is to be noted that that remainder that is the corporeal Element which remained in the bottom must be reduced by a B into an Oyl with fresh Aquafortis and so this Element will be perfected the which thou shalt keep for one Part The rest thou shalt Separate by a B. on this wise Put them in Sand and Urge them gently then first of all the Water will be elevated and will come forth then after that the Fire for you will know by the Colour where those two remain But if the Elements Earth and Water should have remained then the Water will ascend first and after that the Earth But if it be the Earth and Fire then the Earth is elevated first and the Fire afterward But if the Water Fire and Earth should be together then the Water will ascend first the Fire next and last of all the Earth These Elements may be so kept in peculiar Glasses each of them according to its nature as for example in Sol the Hot and Dry without any other property Likewise the Cold and Moist and the Cold and Dry. The like is to be understood of the others But you must know thus much That the Corrosive nature of the Aquafortis is so to be extracted as we have described it in the Book of the Quintessence Of the Separations of the Elements out of Marcasites HAving afore set down the Separations of the Elements out of Metals it remains that we now proceed to those Separations that may be made from Marcasites and they are these Take of any kind of Marcasite as you please whether Bismute or Talk or Granate or Cobolt or any other kind one pound of Salt Nitre as much beat them together very small and draw them out or distil them by an Alembick without a Cucurbite by burning them together and keep whatsoever Liquor shall ascend But as for that which remains in the bottom grind it and resolve it into a Water with Aqua fortis and hereto pour the Water you gather'd afore and Distil it into an Oyl as was aforesaid of the Metals And after the same processe shall you Separate the Elements likewise for thus 't is to be understood viz the Golden Marcasite to be separated like to Gold the Silverish like to Silver the Bismutick like Lead the zinck like Copper the Talk like rum the Cobolt like Iron c. Thus much may suffice for the Separation of all kinds of Marcasues Of the Separation of the Elements from Stones
THe Separation of the Elements of Stenes and Gems is to be thus understood Take a Stone grind it exceeding well to pouder whereto add twice as much Sulphurvive and being all well mixt together put them into a luted Pot in an Athanor for four hours that the Sulphur may be wholly absumed afterwards let that which remains be washt from the feces and Sulphur and be dried This Stony Calx must also be put into Aqua fortis and he proceeded withal as is aforesaid of the Metals Therefore Stones are compared to Metals as the clear Gems that are not white nor brownish are compared to Gold the white Ceruseous and blewish coloured to silver or ☽ then the more common sort of stones to the other Mettals as Althaster to ♄ Marble to Mars flint to rum but Dulech to ☿ Of the Separation of the Elements from Oleaginous things ALL Oyles Woods Roots Seeds Fruites and such like as have a flaming nature and fit for burning are to be reputed Oleaginous and the Separation of them is two sold viz. of the Oleaginous Bodies and of the Pure Oyles The Separation of the Oleaginous bodies is thus TAke this Body break grind or make it small by any other way you can then wrap it up in a linnen cloath and tye it set it in Hors-dung tell it be wholy putrified the which sooner happens in one body then in another After that it shall be putrefied let it be put in a Cucurbite and let be poured thereon so much common Aqua Ardens or burning water as may overtop it the breadth of four fingers and let be destilled all that can ascend in Sand for all the Elements ascend except the Earth it self the which you shall know by the colours but yet the Aqua Ardens doth first ascend after that the Air then the Water and lastly the Fire and the Earth will remain in the bottom But now as to pure Oyles you are to understand that they do not need putrefactions but are to be destilled alone without addition then afterwards their Elements are to be separated as was said afore of the others the which are likewise destinguishable by their Colours After the same manner must you proceed with Rozins of a liquid substance as Pitch Rozin Turpentine Gums and such like But such Rozins as are Corporal as Sulphur is they must first be prepared on this wise Of the Separation of the Elements in Corporal Rosins TAke Sulphur most finely ground boil it with twice as much Linded Oyl into a Liver the which being beaten to powder and shut up in a bladder must be put into Hors-dung to putrefie for four weeks Then let it be destilled by an Alembick gently upon a naked fire the Air and the Water do ascend first in different and pallid Colours then afterwards by the encreasing of the Fire a little the Fire doth ascend upwards but the Earth abides in the bottom The Colurs appears pure as the Air yellow the Water like to thick milk that it can scarce be distinguished from milk the Fire like a burning Rubie with transparency and all the signes of fire but the Earth is altogether black and adust and the four Elements being thus Separated each Element is perfect in its own Elemental Complexion and without permixion as is above said Of the Separation of the Elements from Herbs SO also in Hearbs the Element of water is of most account when they are cold Hearbs but if they be Aërial then that Element predominates So likewise is it to be understood of the fire The Separation of their Elements is thus Take Sage and beat or bruise the leaves thereof and afterwards set it in putrefaction as is said afore then destill it by an horse-belly and the Element of fire will ascend first So long until the Colours and the thicknesse of the water be changed afterwards the earth will succeed and some part of it likewise will remain in the Bottom the which part is indeed fix Destil this Water in the Sun six dayes and afterwards set it in a B. then the Element of the Water will first ascend which is very little and is perceptible by the tast after that the colour is varied the Element of the fire ascends so long until that tast be likewise altered then at last at a part of the Earth is elevated up but yet it is but very little the which being permixt with the Air is found in the bottom The like is to be understood of Aërial and watery Herbs of which Hearbs the Air ascends first after that the Water and last of all follows the Fire according to the process set down of Sage Of the Separation of the Elements from Fleshly Bodies THE Separation of the Elements from Fleshly Bodies and such as live with blood is to be thus understood that the Predominant Element in them is to be perceived more abundantly and chiefly at the last of all as the Principal Element in Fishes is Water in Worms fire likewise in Fleshly Bodies that are commestible and such as we usually eat is Air according to our discourse in the Treatise of the Generation of Animals The Separation of the Elements from Fishes is thus PUtrefie the Fishes most exceedingly well then destil them by an hors-belly and there will very much Water ascend repeat this Putrefaction and Destillation and so encrease it until there will no more water ascend that which remains destil afterwards by Sand then at length the Fire ascends in the form of Oyle but the earth abides in the bottom Thus the whole substance of the Fishes is Separated into the Elements Here need not any consideration of their fatnesse and marrow but it is to be supposed that every thing is Separated by putrefaction and divided into their Elements In like manner is it to be understood of Worms except that from them there comes not onely Water but more of fire unlesse they be aquaous or watery Worms as Serpents in the destillation of which there are many things obvious and things more wonderful then can be spoken after the same manner is it to be understood of commestible Animals which do also peculiarly disclose their Elements by Separation Of the Separation of Elements from Waterish Things AS to the Separatron of Juycy and Watery bodies into their Elements and of such bodies as have the form of waterinesse as Urine Dung Water c. observe this Processe Take Urine and destil it very well then will ascend the Water Air and Earth together but the fire abides in the bottom afterwards mix all together and destil them again and do thus the fourth time and in the fourth destillation the Water will ascend first then the Air and Fire but the Earth abides in the bottom Take then the Air and Fire in a peculiar Vessel the which set in a cold place and there will be Stria's or Crystals congealed the which are the Element of Fire though indeed they will be likewise congealed in the
destilling but yet in the cold the Congelation will be more Of the Separation of the Elements from Water MAke the water boil by an horse-belly or dunghil and the Earth it self will settle in the bottom putrefie that which ascends for its time and let it be destilled afterwards by a B. and the Water will ascend first and the Fire afterwards Dung or Excrements Vitriol Tartar and such like juyces as Allum Salts and others of that kind are to be destilled by ashes in that heat and so long until they will no more ascend and that the Water and Air have ascended and the Earth aboad in the bottom afterwards by the fire doth the fiery Element ascend T is to be observed in this place that albeit the four Elements are separated yet notwithstanding there do yet remain in the Earth four Occult Elements as being six as in the Caput mortuum of Vitriol the which you must subline with Sal Armoniack and so will an Oyl proceed forth in which the Water and the Fire are and the Earth it self remaines Substantially Separate them wch have ascended up and the Water will ascend again and the Fire will abide in the bottom thus also is it to be understood of Tartar and Salts Now although there are many more Separations of liquors yet we shall make a larger declaration of them where we speak of Transmutations for it is to be observed that there are more Elements in a Corrosive Earth then in Ashes Therefore the Separation is to be made by Sublimation as we shall demonstrate elsewhere Of the Separation of the Elements from Glasses and such things as are Glassy THat which we have set down afore concerning the resolutions of Marcasites the same is to be understood in this place about Glases and is principally to be considered viz. that they be calcined with Sulphur as the stones were then afterwards washed and be dissolved with Salt-Peter and Aquafortis c. as we have mentioned afore c. Their Elements are likewise to be known by the colures in the destillations of them not as they shew themselves to the sight and thus much for them Of the Separation of the Elements in six Bodies THe Separation of the Elements of six things is made by sublimation as we teach of Salts and Liquors but yet with this difference that they are to be calcined with Salt-nitre and to be sublimed afterwards And although there are many other things not set down in this place yet neverthelesse t is to be understood that the Separations of all Bodies are to be made by these thus mentioned ten ways Moreover as to the Separations of the four Elements t is to be observed that each of them may be Separated again viz the Fire as fire the Air as air the Water as water the Earth as earth as it followes concerning their Peculiar Separations Of the Separation of the Fire YOU are also to know that from the Element of Fire may be Separated four Elements after this manner when the Fire is most violently enkindled or ascends receive it in a Recipient or Glass-vessel wch shut exceeding well and set it in horse-dung for a month and thou shalt find in that one Elements our Elements the wch do thus with open the vessel put a Receiver thereto so the vapour or Air will 〈◊〉 into the receiver then afterwards destil that which remains by a B. so the water will ascend then by an heat of ashes the fire will ascend and the Earth will abide in the bottom as to the virtues of these Element what they are and why they are in this place thus described we shall explain more at large in other Books Of the Separation of the Air. HAving received the Element of the Air into a firm glasse and shut it with Hermes his Seal t is to be exposed and directed or turned at the Sun for an whole summer the Air is by the circulation changed into moisture or Water daily encreasing more and more Thou shalt separate this quantity on this wise viz. let it be putrified in horse-dung for four weeks afterwards destil it by B. as you did the Fire Its virtue shall be spoken of more largly in another place Of the Separation of Water THe being put in a glass top-ful and not he least space empty let be shut with Hermes Seal and â—â—t at the warm Sun for a moneth that it may daily have such a heat as if it would boil but by reason of the fulness of the glasse it cannot which time being past putrifie it for four weeks then open it and deful it by an Alembick of three quâ—ls or beaks by this way are the three Alemeâ— Separated and the Earth of that Water abides in the bottom The nature of â—Spa nâ— said to be of very much virâ—â—â—â— in many caseâ— Of the Separation of the Earth THe same process is to be observed with the Earth 〈◊〉 was with the Water except onely the câ—vilation for this destiliation is like to that which is made or done in the fire and is perfected by the same way There is many a reason of our setting down thiâ— Separation of the Elements in this place not only because us very profitable in Philosophy but t is so in Medicine likewise We have now abundantly enough wâ—iâ—â—â—n of the Separations of the Elements and although more might be mentioned thereof yoâ— iâ— is not so very necessary Now we will declare the Separation of the Pure from the In pure according to out determination and purpose The which indeed is done after the self same 〈◊〉 as we teach of Arcana's and Aurum Potabile and therefore not to be 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 that processe is not from its very beginning altogether the same with that which is set down about Arcana's and Magisteries yet neverthelesse I do at the end assume and follow the same way of Preparation by Separation of the Element for asmuch as that here in this place those Elements are to be Separated after that each of them is purged from the desilements that are therein so that no deformed thing or impediment may proceed from them which otherwise might easily be The end of the Second and Third Book of the Archidoxis of the Separation of the Elements THE Fourth BOOK OF THE ARCHIDOXIS Of the Quintessence WE have formerly mentioned the Quintessence that is in all things now we are here in the beginning of this Treatise to consider what it is The Quintessence therefore is a certain matter Corporally extracted out of all the things which Nature hath produced and also out of every thing that hath a life in its self and is separarated from all impurities and Mortality is most subtilly mundified and likewise Separated from all the Elements from hence it is evident that the Quintessence is as if it were the Nature Power Virtue and Medicine shut up and imprisoned heretofore in things but is now free from its dwelling place and extraneous incorporation
Archidoxis may publickly call themselves Theophrastists and acknowledge me to be their Monarch may follow me as to Labouring may frequent my School and may contrariwise cast away their old Fathers under the stall And although they may privily get some Experiment from some miserable simple Country Clown or elsewhere yet they shall not understand the great Arcanaes of Administring my Medicaments and so consequently will purchase more Disgrace then Honour therefrom And therefore although some Old Wiâ—e hath told them That the Chicken or the young of the Swallows that Cranium viscus Quercinus c. are a certain Cure for the Falling Sicknesse as in very deed it is yet shalt thou not herewith Cure it But whence is it or what is the Cause 'T is this because thou understandest not the way of the Administration nor the great Ilech nor wilt thou be able to Learn it of thy Galen unless thou frequentest my School and learnest Philosophy according to Christ and not according to Fiscus or a Promoter Now then seeing that Viscus Quercinus doth not afford thee Help thou supposest it to be too weak by it self and therefore thou Correctest it with other Herbs and Composest a great Mixture of Sixty parts or more these thou dost Digest and Purgest the Excrements by them but thou canst not Expel the Disease therewith because thou understandest not neither the Simple nor the Compound nor the Administration But Would they have thankfully accepted of my Dostrine and cast their Red Cap or Fools Coat that they have received of Galen behind the Door and would withal have submitted themselves under my Discipline I would have put on them a better Cap yea the Cap of even Fortunatus himself in the which doth lie more Art then in all the other Writings besides insomuch that they should not need to put it off in the Presence of any body but be able to Cure Chronical Diseases equally as well as Fortunatus Restored the Kings Daughter But indeed they are unworthy of any better and are to be Accused as culpable of their own harm because they have known nothing of the Magnalia and Misteries of Natures Sanctuary nor of that Coelestial Treasury which is liberally Revealed to me from above in these last Times and Seasons of Grace the which things do make a true Adam and wonderful Physitian according to the Enochian dayes in the understanding and preception of new Generation But those Ignorant braggers have Refused it and therefore I will no farther pitty them but leave them in their Ignorance But because there 's no doubt but that amongst such a great multitude of men concerning whom there 's mention made in the 4th of Esdras the Lord God will reserve some very smal number of some of his Elect who will be desirous of faithfully following my Theophrastical Doctrine and of loving the Truth and of helping their Neighbours in their Necessities and Diseases out of a true unfeigned Christian Love and not for Gain and Ambition but for the pure Love of God And are also desirous That the Wonderful Works of God may be made apparent by the Light of Nature albeit all men are not born under such a Constellation as to apprehend the meaning of our Books without the help of God though they diligently study them Because therefore of the sincere Intention and Love of such and that they may comprehend the true Foundation of our chiefest Writings and Arcanaes concerning Medicine and may arrive to an happy end And that the most precious Treasure of Nature that God hath Revealed unto me may not be wholly buried with me We will therefore Write this little Book for them and will therein cleerly shew the Foundation or Basis of our Archidoxis and Universalities and will Teach the Preparation of the several Arcanaes the Quintessences the First Entities and Magisteries But that this Clear Light may not come to the Ungrateful and the Unworthy I do exhort all such as have the Possession or Understanding of this Book and do bind thee by the most great Sacrament and the Oath thou hast made to God in thy Baptisme that thou even Concealest all these things privily and as the most noble Treasure of Nature and that thou doest not admit any Unworthy Person thereunto but that thou Honourest it as a most blessed Talent and servest the Necessities of thy Neighbour therewithal The Lord God bestow his Blessing and Grace that whosoever Partakes hereof may rightly use it THE Tenth BOOK OF THE ARCHIDOXIS OF THEOPHRASTUS Comprehended in Ten several Chapters CHAP. I. Of the Separation of the Elements THE four Elements are commixt with each other in all things but yet in every thing one onely of those four is perfect and fix and that Element is the Predestinated Element wherein the Quintessence Virtue and Quality doth lodge but the rest are imperfect Elements and as a bare Simple Element wherein there 's no more virtue then is another simple Element and they all are as an habitation of the true fix and perfect Element on which accompt also they are called Things Qualified And whereas some do imagine the body to be the true Element and Quality and that it discovers in some sort the virtue of the true Element the reason thereof is this because the body and likewise the three imperfect Elements is tinged and Qualified each according to its nature by the fix perfect and Predestinated Element or Quintessence as with its Inhabitant For Example In some things the Element of Water bears rule in other bodies the Fire is chief in others the Earth and in othersome the Air So then if you would have the fix Predestinated Element Separated t is expedient that the House thereof be broken open But now this breaking up the House or dissolution is performed by several wayes as is cleerly spoken of in my Metamorphosis in the Book of the Death of Things If the House be dissolved by Aqua Fortis or strong-Strong-Waters Calcinations and such like this alwayes it to be observed that the dissolved be separated from the fix by vulgar distillations for then the body of the Quintessence comes over in the manner of Phlegme but the fix Element abides in the bottom But whereas we take no great Care about the House or Habitation but diligendy Enquire for the Inhabitant only t is needful that we find him in the fix Predestinate Element and from thence extract him according to the manner of a Quintessence and so consequently that fix Element is to be dissolved by other more powerful Artifices then by Calcinations Sublimations c. and the Pure be Separated from the Impure The Pure is the Quintessence but the Impure is the Tartareous Superfluity which is permixt in every Generation Concerning which see the Book of Tartarous Diseases But whereas my Theory is more largely Opened in my other Books of the Archidoxis my Metamorphosis and of the Generations mentioned in our Book Paramirum therefore I will not be
the Members found for thus even the Lungs will be also whole But to avert such Fluxes there to as are more then fitting wee 'l deliver the following Medicine And here 't is equally as well to be observed that the other Members are to be conserved sound lest an occasion of death be given CHAP. XIV AMongst all the Medicines profitable for the Lungs there 's none that excels Chibur therefore let Chibur be taken and be mixed with two sorts of Calxes and Minerals and be sublimed thrice and give thereof to the sick This takes away all the evils of the Lungs encreaseth and doubles its strength and so is a Balsom of the Lungs and of the whole Breast a more potent then which is not to be found in all the virtues of things not is there any thing in which more of the external Lungs is to be found then in Chibur as we have said The End of the second Book of the Virtues of the seven Internal Members in the little World These other Books are not come to light Viz. The third Book of the Virtue of the External Members The fourth of the Virtues of the Members of the Chaos The fifth of the Four Elements how ihey are desended The sixth of the Three Essences of which Nature is composed and how they are considered BITISKIUS his Epistle to the READER FRiendly Reader I have here need again to forewarn thee that these Books according as the Author hath disposed and begun to write them are not to be found with the two former Books because haply he had not â—niched them An this may be conjectured out of the Original for 't was written with an hasty Pen so as onely to exhibit or discover the face of the first delineation or rude Pourtraicture and Rhapsody But these following Titles together with the begining of the Fifth Book because they were found in the same Papers with the two first Books they are here placed for this reason That an occasion might be administred thereby to the studious Inquirers of a nearer attaining the mind of the Author And whereas there 's good reason to suppose that this small Book of the three first Essences is the Sixth here inscribed 't is here annexed to the rest for that reason 'T is but just in thee therefore Reader to enjoy these present things with a contented mind and not to complain and be displeased because of the things that are wanting The Third BOOK Of the Extraneous Members CHAP. I. Of the Stomach and its Coherencies The other Chapters are wanting The Fourth BOOK Of the Virtues of the Members of the Chaos is not to be had The Fifth BOOK Of the four Elements how they are defended CHAP. I. THe Elementary nature which is in us besides the substance of the Members and the other things which we have spoken of have also their interpretations on this wise viz. that we do also conserve the four Elements in us after such a manner as that the Element of the Fire doth not generate the Stone or the Element of the Earth the kinds of Pustules or the Element of the Water the Dropsie or the Element of the Air the Tinipany for by the same means as they generate externally do they also internally CHAP. II. WHereas therefore those four Elements are mixed in us you must know that they are placed in the whole body in that form or species of the four Humors Two Elements lie in us externally and two hidden on this wise The Aire and the Fire are the Flesh and the Skin the interior Elements that is those that are placed in the hollow of the body within the Ribs Brain and Bones are subject to the other Elements viz. of the Earth and Water The Intestines therefore the Matrix â—â— are the Element of the Earth the other members are the Element of the Water CHAP. III. The rest are wanting Of the three first Essences out of which a thing Generated is composed CHAP. I. EVery Generated or begotten thing and every thing produced from its Elements is assigned to three viz to Salt Sulphur and Mercury out of these three is a Conjunction made which Constituteth one body and united Essence As to what appertains here to the Body that is not spoken of but the Internality onely of the body The Operation thereof is threefold One is of the Salt and this acts by Purgation by Mundisication and by a Balsamick property and other waies and ruleth over that which tends to putrefaction Another is of Sulphur and this rules over that which is the overmuchness or superfluity of the other two or is dissolved The third is of Mercury and this removes that which hath its tendency unto a Consumption As concerning these three you must know what the form of each is One is a Liquor and that is the form of Mercury Another is an Oilyness and that is the form of Sulphur The other is an Alkali and this is the form of Salt Mercury is without Sulphur and Salt Sulphur is without Mercury and Salt Salt is without Sulphur and Mercury and by this means and way every thing abideth in its Potency But as for those Operations which are found in permixt diseases you must know that the Separation of things is not perfect but two are conjoined in one as in the Dropsie and such â—â—ke For those sicknesses are permixed which exceed their juice and temperate humidity So sometimes Mercury and Sulphur do take away the Palsey because there 's a concurrance also of corporal Sulphur Or because there 's some hurt in the next and neighbouring Confine You are to consider therefore that every Disease may be either doubly or trebly Commixt and that is a Commixture of the Disease Herein the Physician is to consider when he makes use of a certain Simple what the degree thereof is in Liquor in Oil and in Salt and how it squares with the Disease of the adjoining or neighbouring hurt According as is that degree so must the Liquor Salt and Sulphur be extracted and administred as need requires So therefore this short rule â—â—to be heeded viz. that One Medicine be given to the 〈◊〉 or annoiance and another to the disease CHAP. II. SAlts do purge but yet various waies Some purge by Stool and of these there are two sorts One is the Salt of the thing and this disposeth to the Stool the â—â—ner is the Salt of Nature and that drives forth Withâ—â—â— Salt therefore no excreâ—ion or casting out of superfluities can be done Hence then it follows that the Salt of the Vulgar is helpful to the Salts of Nature Some Salts do purge by Vomit such a Salt is most â—ost the which whereas it cannot pâ—â—ss into digestion â—â—â—seth a strangulation in the stomach inwards some â—â—rge by Sweat such a Salt is a most subtil one for it doseth with the blood the other purgative and vomitive Salts don't conjoin with the blood and therefore they provoke not to sweat and
for they did not sufficiently understand that these four are but two onely and therefore have they falsly ascribed them to the four Elements when as they are nothing less then Elements the which Philosophy doth evidently demonstrate CHAP. II. BVt that those things which I have spoken of as to the two Complexions may be the better known understand thus Whatsoever the Elements have produced in the Nature of things is either Cold or Hot If it be cold it hath in it self a certain imbred individual Humidity Therefore where there is moisture there is cold so where heat is there is driness for driness is in heat alone Nor can it possibly be that cold can be dry and heat moist For these are Elemental Conjunctions which come of the Ares which is evident in the Example of a Man and a Woman the man hath in himself the hot and dry and the woman she hath the cold and moist but they contribute to the Complexions as far forth as in their Degrees First of all then it is to be considered what moisture is what a coagulated is and finally what a resolved dryness is For from thence flows a common Error which is very frequent amongst the chiefest Phisicians For Example Take Christal which appears cold and besides that dry for it dryes but falsly for the most dry virtue of Christal is a moist Coagulum and in its administration it transmutes whatsoever it overcomes and compels it into a coagulated Humidity because it is again resolved like Ice Likewise in Petroleum or Oil of Peetrâ— it is not a resolved Siccity as it appears to be alias 't is a resolved Siccity and not as it appeareth to the fight moist For the dryness is resolved in the substance of its own body Wherefore here by way of in Epilogue or Conclusion I define the Degrees to be observed in a twofold manner viz. Hot and Cold and therefore the dry is twofold and so is the moist viz. the dry perse and the dry resolved the moist perse and the moist congealed What else is in this place desirable may be found in our Philosophy it self CHAP. III. ALthough more things might be spoken in this place about the Degrees then have been hitherto mentioned by me yet notwithstanding because these things are known to such as are after any sort skilled in Medicinal affairs I shall pass them over in this place with silence and onely briefly speake of those things which have been hitherto falsly and erroneously yet commonly uttered the which take and observe in the following manner In the first place the Sum or Number which respects the Elementated Degrees is not only to be noted forasmuch as it only servs to Elementated Sicknesses but also those things which respect Mundificatives Incarnatives Laxatives Constrictives Repercussives Diaphoreticks Narcoticks Cicatrizers and others of that kinde But as for these things there is in the first place required a plenary knowledge of sicknesses and also of the peculiar Degrees of every infirmity For as for wounds their proper Degrees are requisite viz. Of Incarnation As for the Dropsie or Hiposarâ—ha the Degrees of drying up For the Gutta the Degrees of Comforting For the Epilepsie the degrees of Specification For the Chacexia the degrees which are of Commisâ—ion If thou hast well examined and considered all these things then at length set upon or attempt the Composition of Receipts Neither do I think it sit to for bear to demonstrate in this place that for the perfect knowledge as well of sicknesses as of degrees there i◠〈◊〉 onely required the Medicinal Professiâ—n but also the Aâ—â—â—logical and besides them the pegyrual Species oâ— Qualities for all these things deserve a perfect and so consequently a long Experience for even this alone and not a bare continual reading nor a judgement though it be exact unlocks the scope of this Book Lastly If you desire any thing in this place concerning degrees seek it from a daily use whereto we direct and refer you all that ye may know the virtue of Anthera and also of Tereniabin which is eminently enobled xnd lastly of the Flower of Cheiri CHAP. IV. BVt before we come to the degrees themselves there are certain rules of the degrees to be observed viz. By what means the degrees are augmented or diminished Therefore in the first place you are to observe this method Whatsoever is of the Elements of the Earth it possesseth the first degree such as are Lettice the Violet Anthos c. Likewise whatsoever is made by the Ayre as the Plagne the Peripnumonia or Imposiâ—â—me of the Lungs the Causon or most sharp Fever these are in the second degree But that which is begotten of the Element of Water possesseth the third degree as Lead the Saphir the Topaz c. But such things as come from â—he Element of Fire as Ice Crisial Snow they are of the Fourth degree and that either hot or dry Therefore you are to note that whatsoever sensitive thing proceeds off an Element it is the same with the Element as for Example a Frog whose Spenn iâ— in the third Degree Likewise Camphire That which is of the Earth as men is in the first Degree as Rebis Whatsoever comes forth out of Volatile or flying things is in the second Degree as ava alias nvis a Bird. But whatsoever breaks forth from the fire as the Salamander is in the fourth Degree But the means by which one excells another shall be laid open in the following Chapters CHAP. V. MOreover that the Degrees may be more clearly known in their Points consider the present Example Even as the Degrees which respect the Herbs have been hitherto divided into four Degrees so as many of them as ever there be are to be referred to the first Degree but yet not all alike for one is sometimes more strained or exalted then another viz. as to thâ— beginnings middle and end of both but yet so that whatsoever descends from the Element of the Earth remains in the first Degree nor is to be placed without the same For amongst you the Water-Lilly possesseth the fourth Degree and with you Saturn is placed in the third Degree which in its frigidity or cold exceeds the Water-Lilly almost eight Degrees Wherefore they can never be placed or assigned to the same Degrees So whatsoever is here in the second Degree there even the first point overcomes or exceeds the fourth Degree of the Element which is off the Earth And the fourth Point is more sublime by four Degrees then the last Point of the first Degree The like is to be supposed in the third Degree and so of the fourth From thence are collected sixteen points which ascend as it were by stairs unto true Degrees yea even to the six hundreth sixty and third Therefore we have rightly affirmed that those have erred who have comâ—rized Camphire the Sperm of Frogs the Water-Lilly Adums into one Degree from which a certain and true Degree could never
Heat Castor These from the fire are of the fourth Degree The Salamander The following things are of a Cold Nature Those things that are of the Earth possess the first Degree of Cold as Women Maids Cows Menstruums Every Sperm Those of the Ayre the second degree of cold as Pidgeons Storks Those of the Water the third degree as Fishes Worms Tortoises Frogs Those of the fire do possess the fourth Degree of Cold. Gnavi alias Gnani Zommi CHAP. X. BEsides there are other Simples which by means of a composition attain to the second degree these albeit they do not altogether or wholly follow their proper degrees according to the Reason and Nature of the Elements yet such as are in the first degree attain the second those in the second the third and those in the third the fourth as appears in the subsequent figure The SIMPLES The Rose The Violet Nightshade Anthera Water-lilly Chamomel Flowers of Mullein Flowers of Hypericon Flowers of Centaury Flowers of Self-heal The Addition of Composition OYle Burning Wine Crude Vinegre nAnd every fatness Vinegre distilled Moreover although the Nature of it self be not so Cold yet a Composition reduceth â—t to that pass that by an addition the second Degree of heat or cold may break forth and this is evident in Oyle of Roses and in Rosed Vinegre and others of that kind Some things also there are which otherwise are in the third Degree that attain the fourth Degree as Vinegre Campherated the Oyle of Lead c. There are besides some Degrees which by separation Aseend from the first into the fourth Degree and like wise from the third into the fourth and this shall be evidenced in the third Book of Spagyricall Degrees Moreover there are some things which are not at all augmented or advanced forwards as Snow and Ice and that because of the Nature of the Relolleum Some things also there are which unless they are prepared do not draw out their Nature as the Sperm of Frogs Chrysall and Sulphur Likewise some things may be reduced from an hot Degree into a cold as Gems othersome from a cold into an hot Degree as Camphire Corrals c. Lastly there are things which in their preparation loose a Degree as those things which are Congealed or Resolved Likewise such things as in their Corporeal Substance operate nothing at all aâ— the Oyle of juniper and others of that kind What else may be here desired in this place will be taught by Experience FINIS The Third BOOK CHAP. I. IT is to be observed in the Frontespeece of this third Book that besides those Essences which I have mentioned in the former Books there is another Nature or Essence distinct from the former Which is called a fifth Essence or as the Philosophers term it an Elemental Accident or as the Ancient Physicks terms it a Specifick form But it is called a fifth Essence on this Account because four Essences lie hid in the three first Principles Therefore the Elemental accident and that which in this place is called a Quintessence hath a Nature neither hot nor cold and is without all complexion in it self But that I may the more clearly discover it by an Example t is the Quintessence introduceth firm Health alone like that fortitude and vigour or firm Health which is in a man without any complexion and is prolonged and continued to the end or termination of it selfe Thus doth the virtue lye hid in Nature For whatsoever drives out sicknesses is no other thing then a certain comfortative even as the driving out of an Enemy by an acquisition of force and power As for the nature of things 't is to be supposed that there is nothing amongst natural things that is alias but is destitute of virtue unless it be of a laxative nature and that is alias because it is as much as a Quintessence for that it is an Accident without a complexion Although Frigidity doth sometimes loosen and sometimes heat yet 't is preternatural and is by reason of the virtue of the Relolleaceous Nature But whatsoever operates according to Nature is the quintessence of that thing For hereunto is the virtue disposed viz. that it may take the filth away from the body even as Incarnatives do in the healing of Vlcers induce new flesh by this means or on this account that by their interveening virtue the peccant matter may be removed these three things are of a threefold Essence but ' ti but one virtue which by a proper just title may be called a Quintessence CHAP. II. FOR the knowledge of those degrees which are of a Q. intessentiality and especially of those things that comfort there are in the first place requisite four observable things First What ever is of the earth obtains the first degree of Health Secondly Whatsoever is of the Air affects the second degree Thirdly What ever is of the Water possesseth the third degree Fourthly Whatsoever is begotten by the fire claims the fourth degree Moreover he labours in vain whoever he be that thinks to extract a Quintessence out of Terrestrial things equal to that which is extracted out of the Ayre In like sort that thing which is from the Ayre can never be compared to that which hath its rise from the VVater And thus are you also to judge concerning the fourth Element an example you have in the extraction of the Quintessence out of Colondine 'T is in vain to endeavour by the Quintessence of Celondine to attain to or match the Quintessence of the Phoenix and likewise by the Quintessence of the Phoenix to equallize the Quintessence of Gold likewise by the Quintessence of Gold to match the Quintessence of Fire Although that in Celendine Bawm Valerian there is a greater Arcanum then it in the rest Herbs yet is there such an excelling precedency in the degrees that that Arcanum is much transcended by many parts So in every degree one thing is of an higher state then another therefore amongst the Earthly terrene things 't is to be observed whether or no Celondine outstrips Bawm and Bawm Valerian the like Judgement is to bé had concerning the other three Elements CHAP. III. WHatever I have treated of in the former chapters hath been onely to this end that I might descend unto the following signs of Degrees and that so it might be made manifest by what means or order the Degrees in the Elements consist For I am not ignorant of the great dissention of Platearius Dioscorides Serapio from this point and of the others also which have been followers of them who have written many things of a Quintessence but falsly But thou whoever thou art seek the knowledge of this Quintessence from Experience for so shalt thou find out the Degrees in their division But that it may also be manifested by what means Diseases may be driven out by the Quintessence thou must first of all diligently observe the concordance or coherence of things and diseases for some
heal the Fractures of Bones others heal wounds othersome heal common Vlcers others cancrous Aestiomena's From thence proceed four Degrees on this wise 1. Fractures of Bones are healed by Lyons foot Perewinckle Hypericon Sanicle Aristoloch-Rotunda Consolida or Comsry-Serpentina 2. Wounds are healed by Natural Balsom Artificial Balsom the Powders of the Apostles Wound-drinks the Emplasters of the Apostles Apostolical Vnguents Oile of Hypericon Oil of Centaury Oil of Self-heal Oil of Dill Oil of Turpentine Oleam Benedicti Oil of Tiles 3. Aposthumes and common Vlcers are healed by Gâ—mm'd Plaisters Mummigated Emplaisters Apostolick Emplaisters Apostolick Vnguents Cancrous Aestiomenaes are healed by a Composition of Mercury a Composition of Brassatella a Composition of Realgar All ye Chyrurgions come come hither I have not as yet beheld one of ye so much as worthy of the title Come come hither I say hasten all ye Impostors together that ye may once know each Degree apart according to what is prescribed and sorewritten from which you have so far strayed some certain Ages being taken with the allurements of your silly Receipts which even from your childhood as 't were ye have one after another begged but are not worth a Nut Repent I pray repent and now at last cease from your Vnguents Sparadaps and Cataplasmes which are tossed up and down in a confused manner and approach unto the true Order of Curing CHAP IX MOreover there are other things different from the former which do equally as well possess their proper degrees of which sort are Poisons in which the Degrees are even most specially to be observed that they be not admitted into the composition of Receipts according to their Elementated Nature therefore in the first place the quantity of the Poison is to be look't into and then the weight is to be prepared and that by this Rule Poisons in their DEGREES 1. The Simples by themselves Colcothar Allum 2. The Reverberated things Spirit of Iupiter Spirit of Saturn 3. The Calcinated things Tartarum Scissum 4. Sublimated things Arsenick Mercury The other kinds of Poisons as of Spiders Toads Seortions Lyzards Serpents the lesser Dragons and others forasmuch as they are not Ingredients I think good to pass them by except Tyrum or the Tyrian Adder which shall be spoken of in its place Besides there are some things which provoke the Menstruaes wherefore in stopping the Months the things most fitly appropriate shall be related viz. amongst the other Receipts like as the Nature or Order of their Degrees according to the Prescription or Rule of the composition of Receipts Moreover there are things which reâ—ress Humours and provoke Vrine All these things and what else is like them are to be sought for from Experience and Concordancy Thus much of the Degrees As for what else may be desired in this place daily use will declare Now of the Spagyrical Degrees CHAP. X. BY the Spagyrical Industry four Degrees do proceed forth in the same manner with the four Elements which overcome the other Degrees in their quantity Moreover wheresoever the last Degree terminates or ceaseth there the first Point in Spagyrical things begins on this wise 1. The Oil of all Herbs Roots Seeds Oiles Rozins Gumms Fruits Mushroms Mosses By distillation 2. The Oile of the Vultur Dove Heron. Crow Pye 3. The Water of Vitriol the Liquor or juyce of it Mercurial Water Oil of Argentvive Viridity of Salt Alluminous-Waters Calcinated Oils Oiles of Metals Liquors of Gems Potable Gold Essence of Antimony 4. Oile of Christal Oile of the Berill The Tincture The Philosophers Stone All these things are hot for the Spagyrical Degrees do take away the Elementated and tend in their degrees above that which is Elemented Wherefore for the knowledge of these Degrees a plenary and perfect Experience is requisite that you may see the preparation of those things which descend or go out of an Elementated thing to that Degree wherein they overcome and transcend that which is Elementated The things which come from the Earth are of the first Spagyrieal Degree a out of the Seeds of Dill. Iuniper Cardamoms Cloves Roots of Henbane Reâ—pontick Angelica Ostritium Woods of Hehony Iuniper Saunders 2. The things from the Aire are of the second Degree as out of Fruits of Nuba Ilech Terniabin Volatiles or Birds the Phenix Eagle Dove 3. Things of the VVater are of the third Degree as of Metalls Gold Mercury Silver Copper Lotkon Iron Lead Tin Electrum Gems the Sephyr Smaragdine Granate Topaz Ruby Iacynth Amethist Corralls Mineralls Marcosite Kakimia â—aâ—k Realgar Salts Vitriols Allums â—aâ—ts 4 Such as are from the fire claim the fourth Degree As of Beryll Christall Arde alias Arles And those things that descend from the aforesaid four Elements as from the Earth Aqua-vite or Distilled Balsams Circulated water Distilledliquors From the Aire Distilled Birds Teremabin Nuba Ileeh From the Water Potable Gold Liquor of Silver Resolution of Mercury Things Sublimated Calcinated Reverberated Resolved Congealed From the Fire Liquor of Chrystall Liquor of the Beryll Liquor of Aâ—r de or Arâ—â— The Fourth BOOK CHAP. I. EVen as I have earnestly commended in my former Books those things which concern Degrees together with the differences of them so likewise in this place do I again commend unto thee the difference by this Rule Those Herbs which are of a cold Nature and of the Earth are not universally profitable for all the Diseases of an hot Nature nor on the other side are such as be hot for the Diseases of a cold Nature From these things are gathered seven kinds of Diseases and also seven kinds of Heats and Colds of which sort amongst the other Members are those of the Heart This difference is to be even chiefly observed in the beginning of this Book whereto is prefixed a title of the Composition of Receipes that those things which the Liver wants whether it be hot or cold may be sought for from the same-like Herbs So those things in which the Brain is defective require their proper Herbs Moreover although the Herbs are generally either hot or cold yet these Herbs that are for the Spleen do nothing at all benefit the sicknesses of the Reins Wherefore next to the knowledge of the Degrees follows the difference of the Herbs after this wise CHAP. II. YOu must know the difference of Herbs thus First of all the Herbs are divided into seven species together with the rest of the Elements and that according to the Order and Nature of the Astrum or Stars the which is as well as these put or digested into seven species or kinds Besides by the same account or reason that these receive a sevenfold division by the same reason doth the body receive a sevenfold partition and every of them do affect their like as those things that are under the Sun are appropriated to the Heart are twofold But those things that are under the Moon to the Brain and that in the degrees of both those that
are under Venus heal the Reins those things that are under Saturn comfort the Spleen those under Mercury defend the Liver those under Iupuer do respect the Lungs Lastly the things that are under Mars are referred wholly to accommodate the Gall. Besides although the Herbs together with the Simples are not governed by the Planets not the Planets by them yet is there existing a certain singular Dominion or Ruling in every Element without the commixtion of another CHAP. III. NOw for the knowledge of those Elements which relate to the Heart you are in the first place to observe that whatsoever regenerates is most friendly to the Heart ☉ as Gold Bawm Nuba c. Moreover whatsover absumes or takes away Phlegm by the interveening native fragancy of the thing is referred to the Brain ☽ such as are the Rose Camphyr Musk Ambergreese Also whatsoever quencheth or appeaseth the blood or makes it warm serves for the Liver ☿ That which provokes urin encreaseth the sperm serves for the Reins ♀ that which conserves long life is for the spleen ♄ Whatsoever deoppilates on unstops is for the Lungs ♃ The knowledge of these things consists in Experience and rather in that which is of Philosophy that is of Regeneration then that which is Medicinal that is of Diseases but yet that which is born of or proceeds from transmutation for there both the Philosophical Experience and also the Medicinal do coâ—our and so the proper and Genuine Diathesis or Disposition of every thing is found out CHAP. IV. THerefore the transmutation being known which discovers and shews the seven Species both of Cold and Hot t is to be observed that whatsoever regegenerates and expels that which is waxen old and brings cleanness and renders a thing whole and so uncorrupt is concluded under the same species or king whether it ariseth from the cold or the heat of the Elements Moreover whatsoever in transmutation consumes supersluous Humours as Salt takes away the Leprosie of the Moon is a most present Remedy for the Brain In this place you shall observe that Herbs are not to be administred on this account because they are Lunar but because they reduce and constrain Lunar things into their own power For the Brain is by no means healed by Silver or Luna but rather by those things which contend and sight with these Also whatever fortisies or strengthens against Rust or Putrefâ—ction and conserves things in essentiality as those six things which are found out in the transmutation of Metals doth by the same reason conserve the spleen uncorrupt so whatsoever resolves a Substance or a body into a Liquor comforts the Liver and expels that which is repugnant But whatsoever doth resolve so far as to separate contrarities one from another is imputed to the Lungs such as are the Alkali in Tin Last of all Whatever prepares things and renders them fit for encreasing or augmenting of transmutation such as are the conjunctions of Arcana'es is to be made use of even in the chiefest or first place As for these things seek the experience of them out of the transmutation of Nature Nor do not in the interim tire or weary out your whole life time with your pittiful and deplorable Degrees nor in those cold feeble descriptions of Herbs which the unsavoury and unprofitable Books are full of for these things are not assistants and helpers but are rather tyrannical and full of cruelty against the Lungs CHAP. V. MOreover this which follows will declare in what order or manner the seven aforesaid species or kinds are found to be in the four Elements viz. what is of the Earth of the Ayre of the Water and finally what is of the Fire by the description of which thou shalt judge of the manner of composing Receits and that on this wise Such things as are from the Earth and are of an Hot Nature ☽ The Brain ☉ The Heart ♀ Venus The Reins ☿ Mercury The Liver ♄ Saturn The Spleen ♃ Jupiter The Lungs ♂ Mars The Gall. The Viridity of Salt The Essence of Bawm The Correction of Sivet The Liquor of Brassatella The Mysterie of black Ellebor An Extraction from the Lungs The Quintessence of Celondine the Liquor of Vitriol The Quintessence of Gold The Essence of Satyrion Of Manna Of Valerian From Vsnea  the Liquor of Lunaria   Of Zilo-aloes Of Vervain   Such things of the Earth as are of a Cold Nature Brain Heart Reins Liver Spleen Lungs Gall. Essence of Geloen The Matter of LaudanuÌ„ Materia Sintorum The liquor of Sene. Compositio Cand. The Matter of Dew The Composition of Agresla or Verjuyce viz. the juyce of unripe Grapes Essence of Anthos The Matter of Pearls alias Stintorum Q. of Blood Confectio-Dubelteleph The Matter of Sulphur The Composition of Balaust ium's or Pomegranate flowers alias Anthera The Matter of Saphyrs The matter of Lettice-seed Q. of Gamandrea  The Matter of Ologâ—n     Q. of Cichorea    CHAP. VI. Such things of the Ayre as are of an hot Nature The Brain Heart Reins Liver Spleen Lungs Gaul Nuba Iloch  Cymona Hallereon Thereniabin Such things of the Ayre as are of a cold Nature Halcyon or the king-fishes Ilech Crudum Arles Crudum CHAP. VII Such things of the Water as are of an Hot Nature The Brain The Heart Reins Liver Spleen Lungs Gaul The Oyl of Mercury Aurum Potabile The Essence of Vitriol The Mistery of Mercury The Magistery of Asphaltum The Flos of Jupiter Crocus of Mars Of the ☽ Liquor of the Sun The Q. E. of sulphur The Mistery of Antimonie Rubedo de Nigro or the Red of the black The Extraction of Tin Talk Resolved Topazius éserro or the Topaz out of Iron The Essence of silver The Oyl of the seventh that is of Saturn Flos of Venus     The Essence of the sixth that is of Venus       Such things of the Water as are of a cold Nature Brain Heart Reins Liver The Spleen The Lungs The Gaul The juyce of the Amathist Both Marcasites The Tincture The spirit of Saturn The Mystery ' of Mercury coagulated The Flos of Crude Jupiter Ferrugo de Quinto or the rust of the fifth viz. ♂  The Liquor of Granat's White Talke Lapis de Physico or the Philosophers stone The Essence of Lead The composition of Gems       CHAP. VIII Such things of the Fire as are of an Hot Nature The Brain Heart Reins Liver Spleen Lungs Gauls Nosloch Calidum or hot Nosloch Such things of the Fire as are of a cold Nature Arcana's of Christ all Magistry's of Beryll Liquores Citronei CHAP. IX THE Degrees and the species or kinds of the Degrees being known then at length attempt the composition of Receits according to the prescription of the following Rule Like as there are four Elements so four sorts of Receits are to be prepared thus
Viz. Some kinds of Diseases there are which affect terrene remedies othersome desire Aereal others require Aquaous or Watery and others Ignious or Fiery First of all therefore the sicknesses or distempers are to be taken notice of in the aforesaid seven Members viz. Amongst or to what Elements they have relation for thencefrom are the Simples to be taken with which you would prepare a compound according to the reason and order both of the degrees or species and kinds of them therefore in Elementary sicknesses suppose in earthly ones the Compound is not to be prepared higher then its Degree but is to be left in that self-same Degree The like is to be understood in Aereals that nothing of the other Elements is to be thereto admixed After the same manner are you to judge of the other Elements as of the Water and Fire But that you may accommodate and proportion the several sicknesses to the several Elements this is the Work and this is the Labour For from thence happens that common Error which oftetentimes buds forth in the Gout in Paralitical Diseases and others of that kind because of the preposterous and rash order of Healing which unskilful men set upon An example you have in the Epilepsie the species or kinds of the Epilepsie are subjected to the Element of the Water Wherefore 't is to be healed by those things which are called Minerals and thus are you to judge of the rest CHAP. X. AS for the general Rules of the composition of Receits take them thus All such Receits as are to be prepared for Elemental Diseases do consist of six things whereof two are of the Planets two of the Elements and finally two of the Narcoticks Although they may be composed of but three so as that but one of each may be taken yet these are more infirm and weaker then those that are to be admitted and used to the order and reason of Healing But to return to my former sayings there are two I say which consist of the Planets on this account because they unite commend and correct the Medicine two of the Elements that the Degree of the sickness may be overcome And lastly two of Narcoticks for this reason Because the four aforesaid parts are too weak to prevent the critical day and to expel the Disease before the Crisis Wherefore in this place of Compositions you are chiefly to observe that you prevent the Critical day such Receits therefore as are thus prepared are very fitly availeable in accute very accute and the most accute Diseases the which Receits thou must make use of on every hand CHAP. XI LAstly as for the Weights observe the following Rule In the first place note the Degree least that the Degree be vanquished or exceeded by the Medicine and whether it agrees and squares with its proper degree on every part but so order it that these threefold species or kinds do not corrupt or hurt one another Next to those things dispose of and frame your Weight by this Rule First of all such things as are of the Planets reduce to four parts in the Receit such as are â—f the sâ— lements to three parts such as are of Narcoticks to one part And that my Advice may be the more clearly evinced I will address my self to those compounds which are composed according to this manner of preparation and that on this wise Take the Essence of the Planets the Elementated Essonce and finally a pure Narcotick Otherwise if the substances are admitted into the Weights the Receit becomes depraved For this composition is not to be made of the multitude of Grass or Hey according to the prescription of the Catarractists or blind Doctors but rather of the Native Virtues Thus much for the Composition of Receits in general but as for the order and reason of composing and fitting the several Receits for the several Diseases that shall be declared in the fifth Book THE FIFTH BOOKE CHAP. I. FIrst of all in the description of Receits divide the Disease into four species or kinds then refer or reduce these species into the four Elements and that degree which offers it self do thou take and proceed by the following Rule Moreover if there should happen a transferring of the Disease from one degree unto another take the same degree for thus are healed the sicknesses of the first degree which are of the Earth of the second degree which are of the Ayre of the third which are of the Water And as for that which attaineth to the fourth degree it must be healed by the Tincture only otherwise there is nothing that can be profitably used in this place Besides although I have in the former Book prescribed that a Receit should be prepared with six parts yet can it be done with three parts or the former ones may be doubled and so may be twelve in all or it may be thus described Take of those things which are of the Planets four those of the Elements two of Narcoticks one but so that you may withall according to the order of this Description dispose of the Weight on this manner Take of those things that are of the Planets four drachms of Elementated things three drachms of Narcoticks one drachm For thus stands the business viz. in the Weight and not the Number of Simples Again the force and virtue and consequently the effect of those things that are admitted into the description of this Receit hath its relation to the Dose or Endowment and not to the Weight nor to the Receit as for instance In those things which are of the Planets thou maist perceive that there is a greater energy or power then in the Elementated things but this is from the Dose or giftedness not from the Weight or Receit Wherefore the above-measure is to be observed Last of all In this place is requisite agreater knowledge of the Medicinal Art viz that you set not upon the way of healing before the time but rather handle your affairs so discreetly that where need is of purgation there purge where need is of healing there heal where of consolidation there consolidate on this manner as follows CHAP. II. AS for the composition of Receits which are prescribed for Laxatives there are two things needful which are to be ordered against the Laxation the one to comfort the other to miitigate and being thus ordered this description of Receit'is void of all danger First of all therefore wee 'l speak of that which belongs to comforting Take Spices Cinnamon Cloves Nutmegs and others of that kind But for that which appertains to Mittigation take Anodynes and let them be the least in Weight and by these two things are those other how many soever they are that are in the Receit corrected Nor is it in this place needful to observe this difference viz. What purgeth Choller or what purgeth Phlegm but rather Experience is to be look't into as to what is beneficial according as is
man which we pretend and alleadg to be taken iâ— this place and this for many reasons not here mentioned We also speak of the Blood of Bread which iâ— to be in like manner taken for the same use for there are therein such Virtues as are scarce to be searched ouâ— by us nor will we undertake the burthen of doing iâ— to its highest worth In like manner may it be understood of other nourishments and Commestible Things in all which is Blood to be had although we see it nâ—â— in them no more then in bread the which is notwithstanding made Blood by putrefaction as in the Stomack and the Liver So likewise every thing that is therewith taken for food is changed after the same manner as in the Body We will forbear to Write of this Blood more largly and prolixly especially because we see that it will not prove an acceptable thing to any body but our selves onely and thereâ—â— Gâ—â—â— will sleep in rest and being afterwards awakeâ—â—â— out of our sweet sleep we will proceed on to speak further of this Blood Each thing may be prevalent as far forth as it can in its Virtues and answerable to asmuch as it hath in it for out of a good thing doth much of good proceed this we must alwayes duly consider of Neither will we only speak of the Blood of Commestible things but also of Potable Things which doth simply exhibit Blood unto our Body Likewise there may be extracted out of Blood Quintessences as well as Arcanaes concerning which we do not here speak in the least but have determined to speak of Magisteries onely and to conclude each in this one process Take the Bloud which being shut up in a Pellican let it so long transcend or rise up upon the Horse-belly or Dung-hill until the Third part of the Pellican be filled for all Bloud in its Rectification is dilated according to the Quantity and not according to the Weight This time being finished thou shalt Rectifie it by a B. By this way the Phlegms Separate and the Magistery remains in the bottom the which being shut in a Retort with the Seal of Hermes Distil it nine times as we have Taught in the Book of Preparations By this way shalt thou have the Magistery of Bloud The End of the Sixth Book c. THE Seventh BOOK OF THE ARCHIDOXIS Of Specificks IT now remains that we speak of Specificks in the which there are exceeding admirable and great Virtues which do not derive or take their Original from Nature as in reference to Heat and Cold but they have besides those Qualities one only Nature and Essence as we have hinted in many places That same Specificality taketh its Original and Rise from External Things as when you throw some Wood into the fire and it burns that now is not an Action of its proper Nature but is Wood or a Wood. Essence Therefore also Specificks are generated from a Conjunction as when Mastich and Colophony are framed together an Attractive is produced the which neither of them is per se or simple Or when Turpentine is Coagulated there is made a Stone thence-from which attracteth Iron to itself like the Magnet Many more such like Things there are which have such Virtues but yet 't is from their Compositions and from without Ellebor also is Composed of the Liquor of Stone and Earth by the Composition of those Two doth arise the Specificality So the Oyl of Cherries with Vinegar do after their digestion become a Laxative and yet neither of them doth of its own Nature loosen Wherefore those kind of Specificks are born of their own proper nature by the Composition of their Elements and a proper matter no otherwise then as Tincture or Colour the which doth not arise from Cold and Heat but from the Composition as Galls with Vitriol produce Ink whereas neither of them is black So likwise Sal armoniack and Urine do make a black Colour and yet are both of them white The same is to be understood of Specificks viz. That they do in-likemanner receive their Original but some things which assume those same Virtue from without may be in any Herb but yet not in One kind or property the which is to be thus understood viz. Wheresoever the Magnet grows there is a certain Attractive as Colocynthis is a Purgative and Poppy an Anodine This now proceedeth from the Composition existing in them from whence it comes to passe that every Magnet is attractive and every Colocynthis purgative But the Case stands not thus with the Specificks from without the Condition of them is thus viz. If one Flint should have the Virtues of the Magnet and another like it should have none now this Specificality shall be external or from without but yet t is rare to find a peculiar Condition or Quality to be in One Herb and yet not as well in Another that is like it Furthermore although many such like Specificks do arise from Influences yet neverthelesse we will not much dispute in this place concerning their proceeding or not-proceeding therefrom but will reserve that for its proper place in Physick and rather forbear here Besides There are to be found many Specificks as Odoriferous Specificks which have their Original from Composition and Digestion as the Water of Vitriol Distilled with Sal armoniack resembles the Odour of Musk and yet neither of them have such a smell per se. Many more such things there are that become Odoriferous and were not so afore and do got a noble Odour as a Rose or Lilly in whom there 's no Odour at the beginning but t is at last stirred up by Labour Digestion and Separation In like manner Cow-dung is a stinking Excrement but if it be but Elevated or Distilled it gets an Odour of Ambergreece but the residue of the matter that abides in the bottom stinks more loathsome then mans Ordure Some Specificks are Diaphoretick and provoke Sweat which receive such a Virtue from a Composition as a burning Coal put at top of a fat Earth emits a Vapour So likewise Ginger thrust into or conveyed into the body burns and is to be extinguished as Calx or Lime with the pouring on of Water This Heat happens to the Ginger by reason of that acuity or sharpness which it contains in it self and is Coagulated with an hot Element as a Lime-stone which is brought to such an heat by the fire For every Diaphoretick is the Calx of the Liquour of the Earth even as we mention it in the Book of Generations In like manner do even Purgatives proceed from a Composition as Rhubarb the which also is the Calx of a Liquour but yet with a certain difference and distinction interveening For as Tartar being burnt is Resolved into a Water and together with it all its Liquidity if it shall be laid up in a moist place So is it also with Rhubarb and so may you judge of other Purges which have their Original
the Superiour Celestial Bodies or Stars are conjoyned with their Father the Heaven Even so by an equal kin or affinity the Inferiour Terrestrial Minerals and Metals are allyed to the Water their Heaven as being their Mother from thence therefore is the truth of the saying of Hermes evidenced the which we do even commend to our Sons of learning in these expressions viz. that the whole Microcosm as far forth as appertaines to the comprehensible Mass and to the living Moving Corporeal Generating Spirit ought to be gathered as it were and composed of those Inferiour Elements dark Waters their most Noble Essences But as to the Mental Arcanaes by which a sound mind consisteth in a sound Body they are to be Attracted from the superiour Celestial Waters and their Astral Influences spiritually in a Mental manner through the mind of the Image and its Gamahea or if they are not so pleasing to us may be eschewed even as we have largely and cleerly enough demonstrated these things in our books of long life And because we have comprised the Theory of this great Composition in other places but especially in thâ—â— Books of Paramirum therefore we shall content oâ—â— selves with them and rather adjoyn the Practick 〈◊〉 self viz. how the Inferiour World or Heaven ought 〈◊〉 be united and compounded with its Earth or the 〈◊〉 with its Heaven But because we have afore premisâ— the preparation of the Heaven and have taught it under the Arcanum of the Stone we omit it in this place But now whereas of it self alone t is like the male seâ—â— and can bring no benefit in the Body of man but oneâ— restore the Celestial Parts viz. the Radical Moisture 〈◊〉 Balsam of Life therefore it is expedient that it be coâ—â— joyned with its Terrestrial Corporal Mass and bâ— brought into a Concord and Harmony that so even thâ— Fleshy Masse in man may be also refreshed and restored and not onely one Member be restored to health but the whole Body Therefore such a Corporal Maâ— must be taken as is equal in its Nature to the Superioâ— Sun and comprehends in it self the proprieties of aâ—â— the Stars for as much as it is impossible for all the Subterrane Stars and Coagulated Bodies to be comprehended together in the number of Ingredients This Coagulated Essence of the Heaven that is the Sun in its own Essence and Temperate Element is so elevated and graduated that it doth also even six it s own habitation that is the superfluous Elements with it self so that it cannot be destroyed by any Element and the Inhabitant or Corporal Balsam therein hidden is able to continue eternal If therefore as is aforesaid the whole Microcosm is to be truly cured then the Corporal Coagulated Balsam is to be Co-united with the Celestial Spiritual Balsam and the discord betwixt the Elements of the Sun to be reconciled so that the superfluous Elements may be Separated from the fix Predestinated Element and may plainly die and may leave the Eternal fix Element as being their Inhabitant alone If this dead Body of the Sun be afterwards cleaned from superfluities and be brought into â—otatile Spiritual Nature then is perfected the true â—limed and resolved Mercury of Sol not that Horeâ—ntal which many endeavour to prepare with the â—ercury of the Vulgar and Sal Armoniack CHAP. IX Of the Corporal Balsam or Mercury of Sol. THat you may stir up a discord between the Elements of the Sun or of the habitation of Gold it expedient that you draw out or bring Sol in a strong â—olution by a Phlegmatick Fire or Quintessence of Tarâ—â— into its proper heat and fervency By which the â—lement of the Air is most greatly augmented in the Sol and by the assailing or accompanying Air the fix Element of the Sun as being its proper Fire is so much â—raduated that it is able to overcome and destroy the dwelling of the other three Putresie this destruction â—ith the Quintessence of Tartar and with the Ostrich â—onvert it by a proper Sublimation into the Matter of â—ercury and then the fix Mercurial Element of Sol will remain alone without a habitation but because that it as yet permixt with its superfluous Tartar therefore this is to be removed therefrom dissolve it therefore in the Circulated Water of Salt corrupt or break 〈◊〉 and the Tartar will be precipitated Sublime the â—ure in a close reverberation of an Athanor dissolve â— upon a Marble and putrefie it so is the Mercury sublimâ—d Graduated and resolved into the First Matter of Sol â—nd is prepared in the highest degree CHAP. X. Of the Composition of the Spiritual Balsam and the Balsam of the Coagulated Body THis composition as is rehearsed in the Manual made in the Philosophick Egg. And so we put a end to this Great Work in the Name of God to bâ— Praise and Glory The Contents of the Ten Books of the ARCHIDOXIS OF the Mystery of the Microcosm Page Of the Separation of the Elements P. 1â— Of the Separation of the Elements out of Metals p. 2â— out of Marcasites p. 2â— from Stones p. â—â— from Oleaginous bodies p. 2â— in Corporal Rosins p. 2â— from Herbs p. 2â— from Fleshy bodies p. 2â— from Fishes p. 2â— from Waterish things p. 2â— from Water p. 3â— from Glasses p. 3â— in fix Bodies p. 3â— Of the Separation of the fire p. 3â— of the Ayre p. 32 of the Water p. 33 of the Earth p. 33 Of a Quintessence p. 35 Of the Extraction of the Q. E. out of Metals p. 47 from Marcasites p. 49 out of Salts p. 50 out of Stones Gems and Pearls p. 51 out of burning things p. 53 out of growing things p. 54 out of Spices p. 55 from Edible and Potable things p. 56 Of Arcanum's p. 60 Of the Arcanum of the first matter p. 65 of the Phylosophers Stone p. 68 of Mercurius Vitae p. 71 of the Tincture p. 75 Of Magisteries p. 78 Of the Extraction of Magisteries out of Metals p. 82 out of Pearls Corals and Gems p. 84 out of Marcasites p. 87 from Fatty Substances p. 89 out of growing things p. 90 in Wine p. 91 out of blood p. 94 Of Specificks p. 96 Of an Oderiferous Specifick p. 100 Of an Anodine Specifick p. 102 Of a Diaphoretick Specifick p. 103 Of a Purging Specifick p. 104 Of an Attractive Specifick p. 106 Of a Stiptical Specifick p. 108 Of a Corrosive Specifick p. 110 Of a Specifick for the Matrix p. 111 Of Elixirs p. 113 Of Preservation Conservation by Elixirs p. 117 Of the Elixir of Balsam p. 119 Of Salt p. 120 Of Sweetness p. 121 Of Thronus p. 122 Of Quintessences ibid Of Subtilty p. 123 Of Propriety p. 125 Of Extrinsecalls p. 126 A Remedy for Wounds p. 129 For Ulcers p. 130 against Marks or Blemishes p. 13â— Of the Separation of the Elements p. 140 Of a Quintessence p. 142 Of Magisteries p. 144 Of the preparation of Circulated Salt p. 146 Of the first
but Relolleaceous Nevertheless hence it is that on what part soever it is turned or inclined it cannot dye For who can separate or take away that which is an Individual from that under which it lies hid But in this place we speak of cold and hot Cherioes and not Relolleums As for the Rest of what may be here desired You may read it in The Discourse of the Original of Diseases CHAP. V. LIke as I have in the former Book delivered in many and sundry Rules the knowledge of the Nature of those things which is either hot or cold So in this place the present Rule now to be observed iâ— concerning Hearbs the most of which part are cold and dry alias moist yea and such as have in them a certain obscure viridity Now although thâ—â— these are esteemed hot yet are they truly cold is Vervain shepherd purse Othersome are reputed cold whereas they are hot as Bugloss Dill and that on this Account Because the Coagulated Humidity brings by its Congealation a most great driness and the Resolved Siccity doth not resolve without some little moisture because of the Cherionick Nature For 't is evident that otherwise nothing can be begotten of the Element of the Earth but it must be hot nor of the Element of the Water but it must be cold for this is the Order of Nature But that no such thing doth come to pass the External Elementatedness is the reason thereof for it corrupts and breaks the former Nature Wherefore 't is to be heeded and dealt with according as is its Cherionick-nature that is according to the Guidance of Experience Likewise because the same Nature whether it be hot or cold doth not form the body under which it lies hid there 's no need that you should pass so much for the Body but bestow all your Experience upon the three aforesaid Natures according to what we have afore spoken in the first Book CHAP. VI. LAstly the Physician is to observe the bodies of such things as 〈…〉 for all those Bodies in which these things lie hid are nothing else but â— Liquor under which is hidden that which is Cherioniâ—alâ— but the liquor is Congealed in like manner in or with its own Element even as the Iliastes hath brought it forth wherefore the separations of Nature do again resolve that which Nature hath Congealed and in this resolution the two aforesaid Natures are separated Hence 't is evident that the Externall Elementated things of Nature are the Relolleum-accident of Nature and being apart do not partake of any Virtue So likewise 't is clear that the other Nature is fully and most perfectly present in such things as abide in their proper Innated and in their proper Accidental Quality both of them in their separation From these things 't is evident that there 's nothing in-born hot or cold but that which is Innase doth neither profit or disprofit any one Yet besides there is another certain Nature which induceth an heat or cold according to which we judge of the heat or the cold viz. by the Cherionicall Testimony or Touchstone by the mediation of which every sickness is to be healed for that same Frigidity or heat doth upon its ingress or entring in incline to or betake it self unto the sickness or distemper the which its Innate property doth never affect All these things are to be found in the Book Of the Conjunctions of things in the Proprieties of the two Natures according to the three Principles and that according to the prescription of Philosophy Moreover you shall see the Order of the Degrees in the following Chapters and that according to the reason and Nature of their Elements CHAP VII These things following are of an hot nature such things as come forth from the Earth do possess the first Degree of Heat Dittander Lyons foot Anthor or Rosemary flowers Lacca Dadder of Time Fig. Broom Costus Pennyroyal Humulus Lencopiper Hartwort Cretamus Scammony Teazels Basill Horehound Sagapen Agrimony Gâ—ntian Eaecampane Cipress Great spurge Gallingall Philiâ—endala Blouawort Laudanum Claves Moncks Rhubarb Macropiper Fonrel Granes of Paradise Civonia Bawme Chamepitis Badellium Fumitory Thistle Cheiry Mellilot Clary Fiâ—la Calamus Hirundinaria Pâ—oâ—y Ginger Flammula Herb of Paradise Lavender Mustard Calbanum Gamandrea Liquorish Succory Cubebs Cardamoms Marjoram Mother of Time Opopanax Ammoniacum Aireal things do claim the second Degree of Heat Tereniabin Nube Chaos Ilech Such things as proceed forth from the Water are in the third Degree of Heat Vitriol Sulphur The Golden Talck Copper The Topas Carniola Both sorts of Arsenick Red and White The Kakimia of Salt The Granat The Red Marcasite Congealed Salt Sal Gem. Gold Smaragdine Copprose Molten Salt Argent Vive Realgar The Kakimia of Sulphur The Chimeaolae Calcis The Iacynth The Crisolite Ogorum Feathered Allum The Ruby Such things as come forth from the Fire affect the fourth Degree of Heat The Hot Lightning Every Aetna The Hot Hail CHAP. VIII The following things are of a Cold Nature Such things as are produced out of the Earth are Cold in the first Degree DOdder Strawberries Comfrye Brancursine The Mandrake The Rose Acetum Cicâ—nidion Chesnuts Water-Lilly Lentils Eyebright The bitter Veâ—ch Mallows Herb-Mercury The Pomegranate The four greater cold seeds The Flowers of Mulbery Ribes Dates Beans Galls Crispula Ath. The Gourd The kinds of Sanders Tragacanth Nightshade High Taper Lettice Endive Gladwin The flower of bread Corn. Henbane Purslane Citron The kinds of myrabolanes Ripe Apples The fourlesser cold seeds Melon Snapdraggon Pisa. Darnell Lilley of the Valley Cowcumbers The greater Arrow head Fleawort The kinds of Poppies Such things as are produced from the Ayre possess the second Degree of Cold. As Nebulgea Such things as proceed from the Water possess the third Degree of Cold. LEad Camphire The white Kakimia Electrum terrae Thallena alterrea Thallena frigida Antimony Hoematites The 3 sorts of Tin Alumen de glacie The silver marcasite Iron Silver Alumen Entali White talk The three kinds of Corrals Lotho Aqua glariona Such as are produced from the Fire are of the fourth Degree of Cold. Crystall Arles The Baeryll Cold lightening Citrinoeus Cold Hail Citrinula Snow Ice CHAP. IX T IS therefore to be observed that by what reason or consideration every thing proceeds from the Elements by the same Reason also doth it posses the same degree according to the aforesaid Rules Moreover whatsoever sensitive thing exists from the Elements the following figure will discover The subsequent Sensitives which proceed from the Earth do occupy the first degree of Heat as Men. Children or Boys Capricorn or the Goat Leopards Lyons Horses Oxen. Bears Rams Wolves Cocks Foxes And such like The following Animals born from the Ayre do obtain the second Degree of Heat The Eagle Ostritch Phoenex Swallow Sparrow Heron c. And all flying living creatures except such as are in the Water Those which are generated from the Water have the third Degree of
virtues give an assault onely in the Synodoia othersome in the Mania or Madness others in the Aschlyte others in the Lethargy c. And this is to be imputed to the concordant property I esteem it worth knowing in this place that which lyes hidden in Nature as in Gelutta or the Herb Chameleon and Bawm which renovate and convey away the Disease without any virtue of the Degrees viz. in renovating and repairing the former Juvenility or Youthfulness and Lustiness But by what reason or cause and by what virtue these things are done is declared in the Book of Long Life as some certain peculiar Mysteries which besides Arcanum's are in the Nature of things Wherefore I think it expedient to pass them over in this place that so I may prosecute what I have begun concerning the degrees of the four Elements And although here are many and sundry virtues which do overcome and conquer Diseases some by their diaphoretick Nature others by a Narcotick others by other properties yet as for these things I refer them to those that give their mind to Theorems and Speculations CHAP. IV. EVery Confortative it temperate In this place the Substance will impead or hinder nothing be it cold or be it hot yet notwithstanding it will not at all endamage the Quintessence in its work Moreover every Specifick is a Quintessence without any corrupting or breaking of its own body Besides there is nothing temperate but the Quintessence all kinds of bodies are Elementated in nature and in their proper accident The degrees of Health Such things as proceed forth from the Earth do possess the first degree of health as All kindes of Herbs Seeds Roots Sponges Animals Flowers Barks Fruits The things of the Ayre have the second degree as all kinds of Birds Those of the Water have the third degree as All kindes of Metals Marcasites Kakimeaes Salts Minerals Rosinous Sulphurs Fishes Gems Stones The things of the Fire the fourth Degree The Tincture The Stone of the Philosophers Albeit there are some other virtues also so be observed which lye hid in Herbs and not in flying things nor in Metals even as the Vrsina the Carlina or the Carline thistle declare the which admit in themselves other different virtues besides the degree amongst which also is the Smaragdine which besides others admits of another 〈…〉 in it self yet they tend not at all to be 〈…〉 onely external virtues and do not at all 〈…〉 CHAP. V. HItherto we have spoken of 〈◊〉 now for Laxatives and their degrees therefore first of all us to be observed that that division or distinction by which Laxatives are divided into four Natures is not to be observed in this place the which forsooth are described on this wife according to the ancient custom Colequintida and Scammony purge Choller Turbith and Ellebor Phlegme Manna and Capillus Veneris the Blood Lapis Lazuli and black Ellebor Melancholly Besides some things there are which drive out a yellowish or yelky Choller Others an Eruginous Others a yellowish cittrine Hydropical Water And others of that kind there be which are elsewhere described which with us are unworthy of credit and that on this account Because the former things operate by alias upon the peccant matter even in any kinds of Diseases whatsoever And by this Sentiment or Rule the innate Disposition of Coloquintida is to provoke to stool where there is Melancholly So Turbith stirs up stools not unlike to slyme even in choller and so is it with the others Wherefore that Judgement concerning the colours of the Stools or Excrements is not to be taken from the Nature of the Disease but rather from that which stirs up the stools Moreover although the Stools or Excrements do sometimes make an Exit or outpuâ—s according to the disposition by the reason of the sickness from which they are produced yet 't is to be considered without difference with or in what Purgations these stools are to be stopped vlz. not according to the nature of the four Humours but rather according to the nature of the four Degrees which do more powerfully stop the belly O great Alaoscopy by which men determine to call that in question which could not by any means be apprehended as shall be the more clearly evidenced beneath when we speake of Stools CHAP VI. LIke as I have made mention of the Degrees of Laxatives in the former chapters so in this place do I rehearse the same things whereby they may take the deeper Impression in your minda viz. that Laxatives do not wholly observe the degrees of the four Elements but have mixt degrees without any respect to the Elements Wherefore the Nature of the Disease is to be the more diligently look't into least von do too rashly abuse Comfortatives in healing a Disease but rather order and accommodate it so that it may on every side square with the nature of the disease and that thou maist in what place soever apply a degree to the disease But lest we should in this place rush into this order of purging with unwasht hands as the proverb goes this is the Work and this is the Labour 'T is to be observed therefore that sometimes there are unequal parts in the same operation in the fourth degree as sometimes Ellebor takes away that which Tithimal or Spurge cannot Likewise the Catapurias or great Spurges expell that which the other two could never bring to pass sometimes Praecipitate sometimes Esula or the smaller Spurge likewise Cassia Fistula Besides sometimes in Fevers a Laxative purgeth Febrile humors as Centaury sometimes in the Cataleptick disease as Hellebore sometimes in the Ascarides or Worms as Agarick and so in others of that kind the cause whereof is Nature and not the humors the which is here unto destinated that it may take away whatsoever is Melancholy or Cholerick or Phlegmatick or whatever other thing may relate hereto For that which you call Eruginous or rusty â—anker'd Choler may slow out from all these according to the account of humors As for all these things what mysteries each have in themselves apart experience will declare CHAP. VII AS for the Degrees of more Intense or Violent and more Remiss or slow Purging note these things which follow 1. Polypode The tops of Botim Maidonhair Turpentine Sene The tops of Elder Gamandrea Stomachiolum Manna Succory The tops of Danewort Whey 2. Siler montanus Sowbread Turbith Asarabacca Hermodactyl 3. Rhubarb Esula Vitriol Diagridium Agarick Lazulus Scammony Centaury 4. Both Hellebors Colloquinoida Tithymal Serapine Cataputia Praecipitate CHAP. VIII AS for Incarnatives and Consolodatives note and observe these things Incarnatives and Consolidatives have in themselves four degrees but the Consolidatives do exclude the Elements in the some manner as the Laxatives do 'T is therefore observable in the first place in what order or proportion the sicknesses which we would heal have their consistency in the degrees For from hence follows the like degrees of Natural things for some
of the Dose 'T is therefore behoveful for a Physician to know what and how much Weight the Disease is loaden withall for so much Weight of Medicine doth the dose likewise require and therefore you are to observe that the Weight is to be administred and not the degree for herein is placed the chief foundation or rule of finding out every Dose This now must proceed from out of the number and not out of the body of those things therefore the first or chiefest thing is this viz. that the Ares of the Microcosm cures it self and not the administred Medicines For as soon as ever the Disease shall be brought to equallity it doth presently follow that Nature her self cures what is contrary unto her Therefore you are to know that every Dose is not to be used beyond that aforesaid number that is taken from the Disease For there are 24. Lots contained in Nature her self in which number the Medicine it self must likewise be taken that so it may attain and reach to each Number The same is to be taken out of the Anatomy of Nature For as I may so say there are herein 24. Minutes of Diseases so are there twenty four Lots in Medicines and therefore by those twenty four Minutes and so many Lots must every Physician know how to administer his Medicines that so he may bring in an equal Number on both sides into the Microcosme this done the virtue of Nature is such as to cure the sick Therefore 't is worthy observation how that it very often happens that very many though their Disease be dead or extinct are neverthelese as yet much like to those that are sickly and that for this reason because the virtue or power of Nature it self agrees not as 't were in a universal Harmony and therefore cannot exhibit or perform the Office of a Physician from the defect whereof and not from the Disease it self doth death befall CHAP. III. BVt to speak on of the 24. Minutes you are to note that in these Minutes the highest or chiefest Equality as well of Nature as of the Disease doth consist and here observe that a complexionated Disease doth divide it self and doth partly descend and also partly ascend from one even to twenty four and that not because 't is onely one Disease but as many as be the Diseases so many different Minutes be there the faculty also or power of Complexions doth contrariwise ascend from the supreamest even to the twenty fourth alias doth descend from the supreamest to the lowest Hence therefore is such and so much ignorance risen in the Physician that he can't know the Disease in its Minutes save onely by the Dose Neither do we intend or is it our meaning that any Disease consisting in the third or fourth Minute can advance or encrease it self but rather this alone must be understood that there are twenty four Lors out of which the Dosis doth proceed As for example In the Caducus or Falling sickness there are twenty four Minutes the which do require even so many Lots and yet notwithstanding 't is but one onely Disease or species and kindes of that-same Disease and therefore to find out the Dose the Theorical part can't exhibit or afford it you but yet Experience can For the Composed Dosis doth proceed from Nature as 't were Hereditarily and must therefore be preserved and administred according to nature and that according to the Dose of Experience But now seeing that this same thing must be referred to experience you must in the first place understand whether or no the Anatomy of that Dose doth well or truly agree with the Anatomy of the disease whence it follows that in this 24th Number each disease affects or requires its own proper Dose to ascend even to an Equality but beware that thou dost not transcend or exceed this Number for verily 't is the office both of the nature of the Microcosin and also of the external Elements when they have an agreement or are harmonious in the body to assord and cause Health And that Conjunction is in like manner as Cinnaber which is too too much graduated Therefore in that kinde of Elementated exallation they assord or give their own exaltations to the virtue of the Microcosin And so the first Grane alias that which at first is but a Grane passeth into a scruple a drachm and Lot and some Granes amount unto a pound some also into a greater quantity viz. Into a Kist and other some also into talents CHAP. IV. HItherto we have spoken of the virtue of a thing and of Nature but now the case is altered if there shall be either a putrefaction or superfluitie or Syndenocha the dose of which is ro be thus administred For such like Syndenochaes must be prevented by Laxatives and that on this wise that every Laxative be accounted for Resolutive and therefore must you take your doso from the Resolution and not from the Laxation or Laxative property For if you shall take or derive it from this there will presently be sueh a change in a man as can neverbe done by the other Withal 't is expedient for ye who are Physicians well to know or distinguish a Resolution presently and at first sight that so with your dose composed of this ye may purge innocently without any hurt the which knowledge must be on this wise manifested viz. What soever resolveth it self into a solid Water consists of ten Grains But whatsoever resolves it self into a perfect Resolution consists of six Grains only But if it abide together with the Material Substance it contains onely three Grains Moreover that which in it self before its resolution passeth into Putrefaction and from hence declines into a solid Vegetable Substance challengeth to it self the fortiâ—th Grain But if it shall abide in Putrefaction or else putrefie after the Animal Resolution then it possesseth the Eighty third Grain But that which abides in its Own Fssence and conserves inseparably in it self the Crude Substance of both Sex is extended and reacheth even to an Ounce And if it descend of the Matrix of the Aire it obtains the double of the number But if from the Matrix of the Water then it gets it self the treble of that Number If of the Fire then the doso doth now come to half the Weight Wherefore observe here such things as are needful for Laxation viz. Some dissolved things that proceed from things coagulated do even purge in half the dose So likewise is it with solid to solid things But some things do loosen from the propriety of another Resolution as Manna purgeth by a virtue which it resolves every day thing by and Siler doth the centuary Now 〈◊〉 loosens from a conjunction or assinity Therefore 't is to be noted from all these things that a Purgation is nothing else then as 't were a certain Tincture but yet void of any shew of colour the which resolves even Minerals and dissolves even
place The number of the Arcanaes and Mysteries of this same Art is infinite and unsearchable and many are the wayes thereof that we meet withal and which require the attentive heed of a mans quickest ingenuity But yet amongst all this number of Arcanaes we will here rehearse Four The First therefore of those Secrets is Mercurius Vitae the Second is the Prima Materia or first matter the Third is the Philosophers Stone the Fourth is the Tincture And although these Arcanaes are as to their revealment rather Angelical then Humane yet nevertheless we will not greatly fear or doubt of them but will rather endeavour to search out the wayes of Nature and even all that which hath proceeded from Nature may in my Opinion be also natureally understood We do therefore profess concerning Mercurius vitae that it is not a Quintessence but an Arcanum because there are in it many virtues and powers which preserve restore and regenerate as we write in our Book of Arcanaes So likewise Prima Materiae doth not onely operate upon living bodies but also on dead bodies after the same manner more then can be imagined to be done naturally In like manner doth the Philosophers Stone shew its efficacy the which tinging the body doth release it of all diseases even as each of the Metals are mundifyed from their Impurities So also is it with the Tincture the which doth as well transmute the disease into health as it doth ☽ into ☉ These things yea and others to do Magisteries and Elixirs accomplish and Aurum potabile each whereof are treated of in their proper books Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Metals NOw then we will in a few words finish the Extraction of Quintessences from Metals for many men have in our time attempted and experienced very many things in them and have met with many things that have as it were even constrained them to enter upon other and those various too wayes Concerning Metals Therefore this is to be understood viz. that they are to be devided into two parts viz. into their Quintessence and into their Body both which are liquid and potable and will not be permixed together but the impure body turns forth the Quintessence to its superficies even as the Colostrum or cream is Separated from the milk By this way are made two fatnesses or viscous liquors out of Metals the which liquors are to be Separated As for the fatnesse of the Body t is alwayes white even of all the Metals but their Quintessence is coloured even as we have explained it afore concerning the seven Metals they likewise have all of them the same process and is this The Mettal must be dissolved into a Water then afterwards must this solution be destilled by a B. and be abstracted or drawn off and putrefied so long until it be reduced into an oyl the which oyl must be destilled out of small Glasse-Cucurbites by an Alembick and one part of the Metal will remain in the bottom let the which be again reduced into an oyl as before and be destilled so long until all the Metal shall ascend then let it be again putrefied for a Moneth and at length be again destilled with a gentle Fire and the vapours will ascend first and fall into the Receiver the which vapours remove Then there will ascend two obscure colours one white and the other answerable to the nature and condition of the Metal and when they shall be wholly comeover they become Separated in the Receiver So that the Quintessence remains in the bottom and the white colour of the Body swims at top Separate these two by a Separating-Glass and put your Quintessence in another Glasse and pour thereto some Purified Burning Wine which let remain so long therewith until it viz. the Wine be plainly acuared then let it be strained or Separated from the Quintessence and more fresh be again poured on this do so often till you perceive no more Acuity or sharpnesse Then at last powr on Water twice destilled where with let it be washed and brought unto its sweetness then keep it by this way is prepared the Quintessence of Metals But as for the white Colour of the body if you reduce it you shall have thencefrom a white Malleable and Metallick body the which cannot be known viz. under what species or kind it is conteined Many other wayes are to be found for the Extraction of a Quintessence which we shall be silent in because we account them not for true extractions of Quintessences but onely as transmutations in which there is no Extraction made or used Of the Extraction of the Quintessence from Marcasites THere are also to be sound various ways as to the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Marcasites but yet we cannot in the least account them for true Quintessences And although they be of a greater virtue then their Quintessence is as we teach discover of Arcanaes Magisteries and Elixers Yet notwithstanding the way and manner that we here use in extracting the Quintessence from all Metalâ—ne Marcasites is like to the true extractions of the Metals And whereas we said before that the Quintessence is the most supream virtue of things and do yet for all that aver the contrary in Arcanaes viz. that they are greater then the Quintessences themselves are the reason is this because all Arcanaes contain in them the Quintessences and are reduced further to such an acuity and subtilty that they do receive thereby a far greater virtue then the Quincessence The same comes also to be by reason of their Appropriate and Specisick faculty The processe therefore of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Marcasites is thus Take of a Marcasite ground most exceeding small one pound of the eating Water two pound being permixt together in a Pellican let them remain in digestion two or three moneths and they will be reduced into a liquor distil this liquor by the Fire wholly and it will come over in an oyl the which thou shalt putresie together in a Belly or Dung sor a moneth then distil it as you did the Metals and there will likewise two colours ascend as did from the Metals one colour white the other the true colour of the Quintessence leave the white except it be of Bismute or a white Marcasite and then you shall know them from each other by the thicknesse Take the undermost and reduce it to its sweetnesse as was afore spoken of the Metals On this wise then hast thou Extracted the Quintessence out of Marcasites without any corrupting of their powers and virtues Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Salts THe manner of Extracting the tho Quintessence out of Salts is done by a peculiar way that so their virtues may not be diminished viz. on this wise Take Salts The which you must Calcine excellently well but if they be volatile Salts burn them afterwards let them he resolved into a Tenuity or thinness and
the same state Those bodies which it penetrates are permanent in the Cineritium or Cupel and cannot in the least be reduced unto nothing or be altered but the stone takes away every superfluous Quality from Sensible and Insensible things as we have afore declared And albeit we have set down a very short way yet notwithstanding it requires a proliae labour difficult and hard by reason of the many Circumstances that attend it and it needs such an Operatour as is not affected with any nauseate or wearisomeness but is highly diligent and expert Of Mercurius Vitae NOw wee 'l write of Mercurius Vitae the virtue of which doth far excel the virtues of the two precedents Arcanaes for its virtue Consists not in the Art nor in the Operation but in the Mercurius Vitae it self nor have we ever known any Simple thing that 's like unto it for as much as that Nature and property is as it were innate therein nor is it from the virtues of the Quintessence nor of the Elements but from the Specifick Quality of its Predestination Neither hath it only the virtues of Transmuting persons and other Essentials but also of renewing every Growing Thing and such like out of the old Quality into a new viz. on this wise The Mercurius Vitae reduceth Mars into its First Matter and doth again so Transmute it into its perfect Matter that Iron is again made thereof After the same manner it reneweth Gold likewise the which it reduceth into its proper Mercury and Tincture and again digesteth it into Gold so as to become a Metal like the former Nor doth it Operate thus in Metals only but also in other things as Herbs c. When their Roots are perfused or moistened therewithal they will bring forth Flowers and Fruits a second time If when the first seed shall fall off they be at that time moistened with the same as above they will produce second Flowers and Fruits without any respect of Time The same is to be understood of Men and Beasts c. to whom if this Mercury be Applyed or administred it Renovates all their Old and Consumed Members and restoreth the deficient and lost Virtues into the Youthful-like Body or Habitation insomuch that the Months and Blood do as Naturally slow in old Women as in the Younger It doth likewise reduce the Aged Wise into the like perfection of Nature as the Younger sort are in Furthermore this also is to be observed concerning the Arcanum vitae or this secret of life that it s so potent Virtues exist in its Specifick Form by which it Separates the Old from the New or Age from Youth the Latter of which two viz. youth is encreased thereby and so the Age renewed From hence it may be gathered that that Youthfulness and the Vigour thereof is not at all defective and lacking to Old Age but is as well and equally in the Old as in the Young But the Corruption that grows up with and encreaseth in youth becomes so fortified and strong that it takes away the Vigour therefrom from whence Antientnesse is known And therefore when that same Corruption is Separated from the Youthfulness this Juvenility doth again manifest it self without Controversy and Impediment The which is to be thus understood viz. When any Body or Carcase putrefies the Quintessence therefore doth not become Rotten but is alwayes fresh and unconsumed and is Separated from the Carcase into the Air or sometimes is scattered and dispersed into the Earth or into the Water and goes unto its place For there can be no destruction made of the Quintessence the which is most worthy noting and highly to be admired as we teach concerning Corruption and Generation So also a Rose putrefied in Dung retains its Quintessence in it self yea even in the Dung And although all of it stink and are putrid yet nevertheless in the Separation of the Pure from the Impure the Quintessence lives without defect or blemish and the Bodies are stinking Carcases Thus therefore say we of Mercurius vitae that it Separates Corruption even as Rotten Wood is Separated from the Sound Timber T is also so powerful in man that after the corruption shall be Separated from him the Quintessence is again stirred and liveth as in its Youth But you are to understand me thus not that the Mercurius vitae excites a New Essence as some may maliciously interpret our meaning and experience but that the Essence and youthful Spirit which the juvenile Virtues proceed and go forth do remain unconsumed although by being oppressed it may be accounted for dead therefore M. V. Separates the Impuritie whereby it comes to pass that the Old Life doth most efficaciously recover its virtues as afore even as in our formentioned Example of the King-Fisher we have declared that that Bird is renewed after death the Reason is this because its Quintessence doth not withdraw from its house and abiding place but if that lodging be dissolved by Putrefaction then is the Quintessence received into that thing which it lies or is cast upon Therefore there are oft-times found wonderful Conditions of Nature in growing Things the which are not of their Nature but of a like Accident as we set down in our Book of Generations This therefore is to be this way understood In Dung there is a Concurrency and an Accumulation of Various Corruptions viz. of Hearbs Roots Fruits Waters and other such like Things from whence it so comes to pass that the Ground is not made Fat and Fertile because of the Corruption but because of the Quintessence that is in the said Dung the which be taking it Self into the Roots Exhibits Virtues to Growing Things but the Body it self vanisheth viz. the Dung and is reduced into nothing and is consumed in its substance And therefore Mans-dung or Excrements hath very great Virtues because it contains in it the Noble Essences viz. of the Food and Drink concerning which Wonderful Things might be Written for the Body receives not any thing there-from save nourishment but it receives not the Essence even as we write of Nourishments But to come nearer to the Praxis of Mercurius vitae which doth as we said afore perfect its Operations after a wonderful manner viz. in casting off the Nailes of the Hands and Feet and by Rooting out gray Hairs it strengthens Youth in so much that Corruption cannot come to that height as to discover old-age by those signes attending it except a following or second Age be again arived unto or setting about the Practise therefore we will tell it the Alchymists in a very few words for t is needless to write much and to Preach Prolixly of these things but as for such as are Foolish pretenders we will Exclude them wholly This then is the way of its Practick Take Mercurie Essentificated the which Separate from all its Supersluities as the Pure from the Impure afterwards Sublime it with Antimony so that they may both of them ascend
many waves as the Calx of the Earth is for some of them do Purge or Dissolve Choler as Rhubarb the which is like to Calcined Tartar Some loosen Phlegm as Turbith This seems to have been inserted Suppositiously because that a WORD was wanting in the Authors own Hand-writing with them Purges Realgar is loosened and nothing else Others Purge Melancholy as Sena the which you are to understand thus viz. 'T is after the manner of Nitre which Resolveth Stones with its power and not any other thing Some purge the Bloud as Manna like to in the manner of Arsenick which Resolves Sublimates On this wise are you to determine of the difference of those things even as they are divided in themselves and as we have now minded you of Likewise some Comfortatives do arise from a Composition as a Sperm destitute of virtues yet notwithstanding out of it a Glandule or Kernel is Generated by Nature by reason of its Predestination So therefore a Comfortative it self is a certain Predestinated Thing arising from the Predestination of the Composition But the Carline which is not born after this manner draws the virtues of other Herbs unto it self and takes their powers from them and doth then alone possesse those virtues even as the Sun draws the moisture out of Wood This we declare more at large in our Book of Generations In like manner also some Mundificatives do acquire by their Composition such a like virtue as to Mundifie even as when a Calx of Earth is Transmuted into another Form by a Liquid Thing as Rozin Honey Gum Pitch c. Those Alterations are like to the Flores of Venus the which are at first a Purgative as it becomes a Calx to be then afterwards they are reduced by the fire into a Stiptick Property so that they lose their purging faculty and do then mundifie In like manner are Corrosives to be accompted of which are Salts and are sometimes Calcined in Earth and agen sometimes Substantionated as I may so speak into one matter as is mentioned by us in the Book of the Generation of Salts There are various and many such like Properties in Things of which we Treat in our Book of the Properties of Things and have sufficiently enough spoken thereof in this place Nor will we here discover why some of them are hard and contrariwise othersome soft Nor doth our Archidoxis Treat of the whole beginning but only of the Composing of Specificks and bringing them to the highest degree of Nature Concerning which we will now at length speak and propose the Experiences we have had thereof and leave behind our backs those that are the Preachers in the corners of the Streets such as speak of God but understand not any thing besides their Hypocritical Ceremonies and such like Fables They are Enemies to those that are addicted to these Arcanaes and Arts and are sunk Head and Ears in the glory of the World They are Bablers and Cavillers and are endued with much Prating which they sustain and bear as the Proverb goes with both Shoulders They are Flatterers and imagine themselves to be wise men whereas they are stupid and follish and are deceivers of men for worldly Riches But le ts now come to the Specificks according to our using of them and give leave to those University Physitians who be the Successe or Issue good or bad do only Read and Imagine to grind and gnash with their Teeth against us as they please Of an Odoriferous Specifick THerefore le ts now speak of Odoriferous Specificks by what way and form they are made and first of all as to what belongs to their Virtues An Odoriferous Specifick therefore is a Matter that takes away Diseases from the Sick no otherwise then as Civet drives away the stinck of Ordure by its Odour for you are to observe That the Specifick doth permix it self with this evil Odour of the Dung and the stink of the Dung cannot hurt not abide there but the stink thereof is here tinged with the good Odour insomuch that by how much the more stinking it was before so much the more is it now endued with a good Odour for there is Nothing can take away the good Odour of Civet or Musk but yet t is Transmuted as we prove in many places whence it comes to pass that somtimes some mans ordour is to be admixed to the Musk for thiâ— penetrates more readily then any Lilly with all its Operations for t is well known that there is to be found more of evil Odour then of good Even as also the Tyrian Viper is put into Triacle for a speedy mâ—st high penetration of all the Members together with the Virtues of the other Things So in like manner may we â—udge of an Odoriferous Specifick Now this you are to Consider here That by Odoriferous Things Diseases are driven away from those who cannot at all bâ—aâ— Medicaments as in the Apoplexy or Epilepsy for verily there are many Odours that ease the Epiâ—eptick many that succour the Apepâ—ectical not that they do Cure them perfectly but yet they prepare the way For the Virtue thereof that is afforded to the body doth by its Odour presently excite the Bloud and by the carrying of this to the Heart doth Refresh it more then can be written Wherefore wee 'l ser down an Odorisick out of which we may take a Foundation 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Odorisicks for all other Diseases The Pâ—ceess whereof is this Take white 〈◊〉 Anthos basii Cardamoms and Roses of each one Handful Spile two Handfuls heat them grossely into a Paste Whereto adde the Juyce of Orange Apples two Quarts put all these together in a Pellican and let them be digested for one month afterwards let them be Separated from their seces with your Hands or with a Press which is better put this again into a Pellican and presently let be added Mice Cloves Cinamome of each one Ounce Ambergreece half an Ounce Musk two drams Civet one ounce grind them most exceeding small and put them into the said Pellican with the other things and digest them in Dung Then adde Gum Arabick dissolved half an ounce of Tragacanth also dissolved one ounce and so let them harden with the Cleer of the White of Eggs in a shut Glasse then presently as soon as you see it to be made of the likenesse of Glasse break your Glasse and take out this Stone and thou shalt have the Odoriferous Specifick of which we have now written enough But yet 't will be good to adde Aurum Potabile Of an Anodine Specifick THere are also many Causes that induce us to write of this Specifical Anodme for we have met with some Diseases in which all sorts of Arcanaes have failed us except a Specifical Anodine only and that hath performed things miraculous Neither let us wonder thereat for as we see that Water quencheth Fire even so doth the Specifical Anodine extinguish Diseases and that for many Causes
verily being compared to the Antieâ—â— Corrosives t is even wonderful for it Absumes arâ— wholly Consumes Metals even to a nothingness so thâ—â— in them can there be no body any more sound 〈◊〉 more then is of Wood that is burnt up by the Fire Now although that even by Strong Waters there is made a consuming of the Metals yet notwithstanding theâ— are not diminished in their weight nor changed iâ— their essence but may be again reduced by the Fire into their first Body and Matter the which is impossible to be done after that consumption that is made by the Specifical Corrosive and the Reason is this because there is no matter can be found any more in thiâ— place that can be by any way or means reduced us to a Metalick Nature no more then Wood-ashes câ—â— be reduced into Wood further you are to know thaâ— this Corrosive doth operate so strongly in the flesh thâ—â— nothing can be compared therewithall for it persâ—rates the hand in a moment like an Awl We mention these things for Medicine to this end that so all the putrid and up-grown or proud flesh in the body that doth very much arise in Ulcers iâ— in Fistulaes Cancers Scrophulaes may be removed 〈◊〉 which may be Cured by such Corrosives for there is in â— a Stiptick Virtue of exceeding powers by which it requires peculiar properties of Curing Though indeed 〈◊〉 may be rather called a Fire then a Medicament for it consumes Iron Chains and Bolts more readily then is credible or can be written and therefore we will assign this Receipt hereto and that most briefly thus Take Aqua Fortis rectified from the Caput Mortuum one Pound Of Mercury Sublimate one Quarter of a Pound and half alias half a Quarter Of Sal armoniack two Ounces Mix all these together and let them be Consumed or devoured then admix an equal weight of Mercurial Water and keep it There is no Diamond can resist this Corrosive Though indeed the same may be understood of a Quintessence and Arcanum viz. That the Skin may be taken away from any one by that kind of Cautery and instead thereof may a new Skin be brought thereon as in the Leapry Morphew Serpig Lentigo Pannus c. Against which Diseases this Specifical Corrosive is useful but because of its vehemency we omit it and do take this mixture wherewith the Skin must be washed for so twâ—ll fall off and be bare then afterwards may it be consolidated as the Custome is The Mixture may be thus Take the Juyce of Flammula or Crowfoot one pound Of Cantharides four pounds and an half Of the aforesaid infernal Fire two drams permix them together and do as above Of a Specifick for the Matrix NOW at last we come to speak of a Specifick for the Matrix and that for various Causes and because of the various Affects or Diseases thereof but now we will not at all speak here of the Elements that either heat or cool it for that is to be done by Magisteries and Arcanaes But we here mention Two Specificks One is in the Suffocation of the Matrix the Other is in either Provoking or Restraining the Months You must therefore understand that the Suffocation cannot be removed by any other thing then a Specifick though iâ— be such as is unelementated unprepared yet t is to be administred in the Common Form or Essence as it growâ— in Such is the fig of the Skin as soon as the Fume of this enters in through the Privities the Disease is expelled The which thing verily is highly worthy oâ— Admiration because this is so vile a Simple thing which albeit it should be prepared yet notwithstanding the Essence of its Fume doth not perish for in that alone is the Virtue But as for the provoking of the Months the Specifick Remedy is in the Spleen of a gelded Bull or Ox brought into a Magistery or a Quintessence the provocation property of which is most excellent as well in young solks as in old So also for to Restrain them you must know That the Quintessence of Corrals or the Oyl of Iron or Potable Iron which doth wonderfully Restrain beyond the rest is a most exellent Remedy T is no wayes necessary to write down any more such like Properties for it would prove too Prolix in our Archidoxis yet t is to be noted That under the aforesaid Compositions Specifical Compositions are comprehended as the Incarnative Conglutinative â—axitives and Mundificitives and such like and under the Purgatives themselves so is it concerning the rest are the Deoppilatives viz. under Purgatives and Attractives And â—â— wee 'l Conclude this little Book of Specificks for to succour our Memory that we may not forget them Likewise Comfortatives are rehearsed in all the singular Chapters The End of the Seventh Book c. THE Eighth BOOK OF THE ARCHIDOXIS Of Elixirs HAving written of many most secret Mysteries of Nature we are now also willing briefly to treat of Elixirs and that not in Vain for we perceive that there lies in them the greatest conservation and this doth even constrain us to bend our mind thereto without resting for every Elixir is an Internal preservative of that Body in its essence that takes it even as the Extrinsecal Balsome is the External preservative of all Bodies from putrefaction and corruption the which thing is sufficiently evident in Balsome viz. that it preserveth Bodies so that they abide many hundreds yea thousands of years without corruption or mutation And therefore seeing such a like gift or faculty is in Balsome as to preserve dead Bodies and to conserve them incorruptible you may well conceive that in and by this same gift and Mystery a sound and living Body may be far better and more commodiously preserved But now we have not this according to Nature viz. that these Mysteries of Nature yea and constituted above Nature by which we may conserve the Body inwardly and outwardly from all contrarietie become manifested and known unto us but in them we meet with many Mysteries as are most occult and hid from others Verily as concerning Elixirs this is to be known that they have not their operations from their Nature not from their complexion but are Mysteries rather then Specificks leading us to a most high admiration of the Creatour by many demonstrations Yet they are planted in Nature her self so that they are in her even as may be seen in Balsome if therefore it be possible to preserve dead bodies t is much more possible to preserve living Bodies Nor makes it much to heed the Words or Arguments of our Adversaries but we will disclose our own Arguments and hereby shall endeavour to direct and guide to the true foundation of the Intrinsecal Balsome not regarding the trifling unprofitable sayings of those that talk of a Term or limit of death and its Predestination and conclude or stint it in its determinate points for God our Father gave life unto us
mention made in our Archidoxis of First Entities and whereas the chiefest Foundation is hidden in them we will together therewith briefly adjoyn the preparation of our Water of Circulated Salt which is thereto requisite but was omitted The Preparation of the Sal circulatum OR Circulated Salt WE have sufficiently shewed and declared in our other Books That the Water or Sea is the true Element as being the true Mother of all the Metals and hath received out of its own first Ens the Sperm of the Three Principles of which no body hath made any mention afore me but built their principles from Sulphur and Mercury only they neglected the mentioning of the Third Principle viz. Of Salt which lies in the Sea But Experience being my Tutor I have also in my other Books briefly hinted That the first Ens or the Quintessence of the Element of Water is the Centre of Metals and Minerals and I have elsewhere added That every Fruit must die in that in which its life is that so it may receive a new better life afterwards and so by the deposition or laying off the old body may be reduced into the first Ens We will therefore here adde the. Extraction of the Centre of the Water in which the Metals ought to lose their body Take in the first place the true Element of Water or instead thereof another Salt as is not yet wholly boyled to a drynesse Or even Sal Gem depurated pour there to two parts of Water mixt with a little Juyce of Radish putrefie it in an accorate Digestion by how much the longer so much the better then afterwards let it congeal and putrefie it again for a month then distil it by a Retort Urge the Residue by a strong fire that so it may flow or melt Reverberate it in the Retort with a continued fire Dissolve it on a Marble then take that water that flows from hence and pour it on again and putrefie it distil it again even to an Oylinesse Conjoyn it with Spirit of Wine and the Impure will fall to the bottom the which Separate but the Pure will be Cristallized in the Cold pour on again that which is distilled and Cohobate it so often till a fix Oyl remain in the bottom and that nothing comes over sweet afterwards Then farther digest it for a month and then distil it so long until the Arcanum of the Salt passeth over by an Alembick Let not the length of labouring here-abouts grieve thee for this is the Third part of all the Arcanaes that are hid in Metals and Minerals and without it can nothing fruitful and nothing perfect be accomplishr But although there are more wayes for Extracting the first Ens of Salts yet this is the most profitable and the most ready way and next to this is that other way which we have mentioned under the Title of the Elixir of Salt viz. That new Salt being permixt with the dissolving Water which Water is the Distilled Spirit of Salt be putrefied and distilled so long until the whole substance of the Salt be dissolved and reduced into a perpetual and during Oylinesse the body being removed there-from in the likenesse of Phlegm After this manner likewise is Taught the making of the Arcanum or Magistery of Vitriol and Tartar and out of all other Salts CHAP. IV. Of the First Entities And first of the Extraction of the Quintessence or first Ens of the Common Mercury IF you would Reduce the Mercury of the Vulgar into its first liquid Ens then is it to be first Morrified and brought out of its own form and that is done by various Sublimations with Vitriol and Common Salt that so it may at last be like six Crystal Then dissolve it in its own Matrix viz. in the first Ens of Salt putrefie it for a month corrupt it with new Arcanum of Salt that the Impure thereof may be precipitated to the bottom and that the Pure may be turned into Crystals Sublime the Stones or Crystals in a close Reverberatory when t is Sublimed alwayes turn it up side down until it comes to a redness Extract this Sublimate with Spirit of Wine rectified even to the height Separate the Spirit of Wine dissolve the rest upon a Marble and digest it for a month pour on new Spirit of Wine digest it for a time and distil it Then the Arcanum of the first Ens of Mercury will come over in a liquid substance the which is called by the Philosophers A most sharp Metalline Acetum and in our Archidexis Circulatum Majus The same is to be understood of Antimony Gems and Herbs CHAP. V. Of Arcanums YOu are thus to understand our speaking of Arcanums That they are nothing else but a graduated Quintessence a Magistery or first Ens. And first by the Arcanum of the first Matter we mean the first Matter or first Ens of the Limbus of man likewise the first Matter of the Mercury of Salt for that is neerest conformable Therefore thou must according to the process of the first Ens reduce all things into a liquid substance and then again Conjoyn it with a Monarchy as 't were with the living unreduced body of that thing and promote or set it to distillation As for our Opinion concerning the Arcanum of the Stone it shall be declared in the following Practick But by the Arcanum of Mercurius Vitae we mean a Living Fire so that the Mercury of the Vulgar be Essentificated with the Quintessence of Salt and be vivified with the first Ens of Antimony as 't were with a Coelestial Life but the Arcanum of the Tincture displayes and unfolds it self and therefore we here omit it CHAP. VI. Of the Arcanum of the Stone or of the Heaven of the Metals THat which we have here and there set down Theorically concerning the Arcanum of the Stone we omit in this place and I only say That this Arcanum is not to be sought for in the Rust which many have falsly termed Flores but in the Mercury of Antimony And that Mercury of Antimony when t is brought to its perfection is no other thing but the Heaven of the Metals because its Virtue is alwayes Vital or lively and is no other thing then a perfect pure Quintessence and therefore even in the deludge nothing of its Virtue or Efficacy was taken from it for the Heaven being as 't were Life it self cannot be destroyed by any lesser or inferiour thing The preparation thereof I do here briefly describe Take Antimony purge it from its Scoria or drosse and Realgar in an Iron Vessel until the Coagulated Mercury of the Antimony appear white and fair and although it be the Element of Mercury and hath in it self a true hidden life yet notwithstanding all these things are in power and not in act But if you would bring it unto act then t is expedient that you stir up that life with it own like living Fire or with a Metaline Acetum in or
concluded for even as Alcali mundifies the Leprous Mercury into the best Silver even so the Renovation and Restauration do transmute the body into a good essence as is said before So then Renovation and Restauration drives forth whatsoever is superfluous in the body and contrary to Nature and changeth all that which Nature doth not stand in need of or which shall be of no moment or virtue into good Likewise it restores all things and causeth them to grow again as we said above It reduceth the whole body into youthfulness c. and that for this reason Because Nothing of those things as are in Nature it self is able to resist them But now we come to consider the way by which the body may be restored and renewed viz. 'T is done by that kindling of a renewing and restoring Medicament which it hath in the spirit of Life and in the Radical humidity by the which kindling the aforementioned Operations are made like to the burning vertues of a Nettle Who is so quick-sighted as to be able rightly to search out such kind of virtues when as they do not appear in that action so materially as they art sensibly known to be After this manner also even Renovation and Restauration of nature are as 't were assisting-approaches made by such virtues as we are not able to express Now we evidently know that every visible thing is cleansed and purged by fire for so Nature requires that this very thing be done by fire that is not possible to be done by any other thing And therefore we understand a twofold fire viz. A Material and an Essential Fire the Material operates by a Flame the Essential by the Essence and Virtues like Cantharides that burn the skin and raise blisters like to the most violent fire And yet notwithstanding they are not fire in the â—east nor are they so perceptible to the sight like as fire is The same likewise doth Crowfoot and Nettles do as we have oft times said 'T is in like manner evident unto us that the Renovation and Restauration when they come into the body or are conjoined with it by union do perfect their Operations after this way viz. There is such an operation as is made in the Mercury of Saturn or Mars the which are put into the fire with their Realgars and although neither of them be hot or fiery yet are they burnt like wood and the perfect Metal is found in the bottom though it appeared altogether leporous before Likewise who is there that can search and find out what means it comes to pass by that when Migdalio shall have been most vehemently melted with Vitriul it becomes Copper and in all respects like to true Copper and yet it had not any similitude of Copper afore even so are we to understand concerning Renovation and Restauration viz. That they perfect their Operations like to Lime or Calx which is extinguished or quenched with water and purifies it self and the force and acâ—imony thereof is taken away by the essential fire and extinguished The Renovation and Restauration of our Nature is much resembling that of the Halcyon or King-fisher the which Bird is renovated by his own proper nature Hence then there are many more such like things to be found as have a power of doing that and of them we have made mention sundry wayes in our Archidoxis or much rather in our Secrets from whence a very many might be brought but that their digression from our present Text of Renovation and Restauration would be too much such things as we there demonstrate the same are to be understood in like manner here in this place concerning Renovation in our reiterated assertion viz. That we cannot sufficiently or certainly know how the fire operates although we see that it consumes the wood for it overcomes and absumes all other things by the vehemency of its heat But omitting this wee 'l betake our selves to another thing So then having abundantly enough spoken hitherto concerning the beginning of Renovation and Restauration let us now go on to discover those things which dâ—renovate and restore We have indeed taught the prepreparation of them in our Archidoxis and have given them their proper Names by which they may be known and heeded Now wee 'l set down the Compositions of them but in the first place their process Now when we speak of and teach you concerning simple Medicines and Arcana'es 't is to be understood that the operations thereof are done diversly for there are some things to be found which do even violently cleanse the Leprosie and do drive away no other Disease so well as they do that and yet nevertheless are as to Renovation and Restauration perfect besides which in the distinctions of Diseases of this kind are the Quintessence the Magistery and Element of Antimony the which doth so cleanse the body from the Leprosie even as it doth purge Gold and Silver melted therein in whom it leaves no footsteps of Impurity So likewise the Element of Sol and its Quintessence as also its Oile and Aurum Potabite do take away the Leprosie together with all Diseases and do renovate and restore so likewise the Quintessence of Hellebor of Colandine of Bawm Valerian Saffron Manna and Betony do renew the body those Diseases abovementioned being excepted for they do not drive them away Likewise the quintessence of Pearls or Vniâ—'s of the Smaragdine the Saphir Ruby Granate Jacynth do renovate and restore the body into all perfection they take away tartarous Diseases as the Stone Sand Feet-Gout Hand and Joint-Gout and the things that are congealed and coagulated and all such like Diseases as arise from Tartar so likewise the Qnintessence and Magisteries of Minerals and of Liquors do renovate and restore the whole body without any defect and free it from the â—alling-sickness Swounding Suffocations and all such Diseases as happen with a deprivation of the senses as â—adness the Vitista or Laughing Diseases and such like The Magisteries and Essence of Tartar and of Alcali do also renovate the body with the perfection of Restauration they take away all Aposthumes and amend the putrefactions and grossness of the Humors In like sort the Essences Extractions and Magisteries of the greater remedies do renovate and restore the whole body as for example They remove Feavers as Quotidian Quartan the Syncchus or continual the Epheâ—â—ra Feaver c. Likewise the first Ens of Margarites are able to renew and restore the whole body and to take away all Womens Diseases together with their Accidents and to render both the Man and Woman fruitful so likewise those same Arcana's do take away all long and incurable Diseases by the renewing and restoring of the body into its supreme Virtues Thus also doth the Quintessence drawn out of Balsom renovate and restore the body and take away Pleurifies and the Pestilence by the admirable operations and virtues of its prefecting property There are many more such like things
thou have no need to drink out of the pits of the Philosophers nor shalt thou have any thing to do with the dead-buryers but shalt be able to serve thy Neighbour well and bring praise and honour to God He that is a master of Hares dung even so let him remain with him is neither help nor counsel These things I was willing briefly to set down in this my little Book of the Philosophers Stone least men might imagine that Theophrastus cures many Diseases by Diabolical means If thou followest me aright thou shalt do the same and thy Medicine shall be like unto the Ayre which pierceth through all open things and is in all things driving forth all six Diseâ—ses and immixing it self Radically whereby health â—â—â—y succeed in the place of the Disease For out of this Fountain doth True Aurum potabile abundantly flow nor can better be any where found Accept of these Instructions as a faithful Admonition and do not reject and vilisie Theophrastus before thou knowest what he is I am â—â—willing to set down any thing else in this Book though it would have been necessary to say somewhat of Aurum potabile and to speak of the Liquor of 〈◊〉 philosophically But I shall onely hint at these things the which if they are but rightly prepared are not to be contemned in their virtues But because my other books do â—eat much and declare sufficiently enough as to these things viz. What a true Physician ought to know I will even here forbear hoping that this little Book will not be altogether fruitless but rather be a sufficient Counsellor to the sons of Learning The Lord bestow his Grace for his Own glory and honour Amen Paracelsus his way of Extracting Mercury out of all METALS TO extract a Mercury out of Metalline Bodies is nothing else but to resolve them or reduce them into their first Matter that is into Running-Mercury viz. such a Mercury as it was in the Centre of the Earth before the Generation of Metals viz. a moist and viscous Vapour containing in it the Mercury and Sulphur of Nature invisibly which are the principles of all the metals such a Mercury is of unspeakable Virtues and possesseth Divine Secrets This Reduction is made by a Mercurial Water which neither Iohn de Rupescissa nor others what ever boasts they have made thereof ever knew It is therefore by much diligence to be known and to be handled or improved with unwearied Labour On this wise therefore is the said Mercurial Water to be prepared Take Mercury seven times sublimed with Vitriol Salt-nitre and Allum three pounds Of Sal Armoniack clear and white thrice sublimed from Salt one pound and an half Both of them being ground together and Alcaolizated sublime them in a Sublimatory in Sand for nine hours Let all cool then take off the Sublimate with a Feather and sublime it with the remainder as before Repeat this operation four times until it will sublime no more and the Masse remain black in the bottom and flowing like to wax cool it and take it out and grind it again and put it in a Glass-Dish and imbibe it oftentimes with the Water of Sal Armoniack but let it be the prepared Water and let it Coagulate of its own accord and then again imbibe it and dry it even till nine or ten times until it will be almost no more coagulated Then grind it subtilly upon a Marble dissolve it in a moist place into a fair Oyle the which you must rectifie by distillation in Ashes from all fece and residence Diligently keep this most chief and principal Water of the which Take eight Ounces and put thereinto one Ounce and a half of most purely mundisied Leaves or Plates of the best Sol or Luna set it a digesting in hot Ashes in a shut Glass for eight hours Thou shalt see thy body in the bottom of the Vessel transmuted into a subtile Vapour or Mercury The Solution being made of the whole Mercurial water separate it from the first Matter by Sublimation in an Alembick with a gentle fire and keep it in a glass vessel diligently By this means shalt thou have the most true Mercury of a body the use whereof in desperate Cases provided it be wisely used is miraculous and caelestial and therefore not to be revealed to the unworthy The Sulphur of Metalls by Theophrastus The Sulphur of Metalls is an Oilyness extracted out of them the which is endued with abundance of virtues for the health of Man One Sulphur is extracted out of Metalls afore they have endured the fire as for example Out of golden or silver Marcasites c. according to the nobility of the Mineral so is the Sulphur noble and excellent So likewise out of the Mineral of a Marcasite and Cobolt each as its nature and propriety is The more common way of the extraction thereof is this viz. You must take Vineger excellently well distilled such as hath stood for 24 hours upon a caput mortuum of Vitriol Salt Nitre and Allum distilled and been distilled by an Alembick thence from This I say must thou powr upon the pulverized metalline body in a glass that it may overtop it seven singers and set it to digest in a Horse-belly for nine daies then take the coloured Vineger and distill it in ashes even to the Sulphureous oil the which you must rectifie in a B. or at the ☉ so shalt thou have a most true Sulphur of the metalline body the which thou must rightly make use of according to thy discretion An extraction may likewise be made by a sharp and well-depurated Lixivium But these other Sulphurs are not so profitable as to the inward use of the body because of the Alkali of the Ashes out of which we make a clavellated gnawing Salt and because of the Calx or Limyness which such Lixiviums are made withall The Sulphur that is thus extracted may be washt with sweet water and be Precipitated but the digestion afterwards requires twice the time The Lixivium also is to be rectified by the sublimation thereof froÌ„ all terrestrial residence lest that such Sulphurs being incorporated with it become corrosive to the destruction of the sick the which to prevent the said separtion is to be made And so much concerning the Crude Sulphurs But now as for the melted and depurated Metalls you may extract their Sulphur too There is not given a more certain a more noble and better way then by the water of Salt or its Oile prepared on such wise as I have evidently described in my books of Alchimy for such a Water doth sundamentally and radically extract out of all Metalline bodies their natural liquor or Sulphur and most excellent Crocus as well for Medicinal as for Chymical operations it resolveth and breaketh every mettal bringing it out of its Metalline nature into another according to the different intention and industry of the workman The Crocus or Tincture of Mettalls The Crocus of
Metalls is four-fold viz the Crocus of Sol Venus Mars and Chalybs that of Chalybs or Steel is the better 't is extracted by Reverberation or Calcination reducing the said bodies into a powder So Iron filed is consumed by Rust the Consumption of the Rust is made by the inhibition of those things which cause Rust and by a decoction extracting the colour of the Rust. Take old Vrine powred off from its residence viz. some Cups of it in which dissolve three handfuls of Salt ground strain it boil it and scum it well Herein again dissolve an handful of Vitriol beaten and two Ounces or three of Sal Armoniack beaten and scum it again very well With this Liquor imbibe the silings and boil them until they are pulverisable the which powder you must reverberate with a strong fire continually stirring it with an Iron rod until it pass from one colour to another and at last into a most lucid Violet colour out of which thou maist easily extract the Tincture by spirit of Wine or distilled Vineger and by the separation of the Elements gather the abstraction left in the bottom of the vessel with which thou maist effect wonderful works as well within the body as without As for the making of Crocus Veneris do thus Take one pound or two of the best Copper-rust or Vordigrease alcoolizated powr thereto plenty of distilled Vineger and stir it well thrice every day Pour off the colour'd Vineger gently and totally sublime or distill it in ashes even to a dryness Let this powder be afterwards washed nine times with warm water from all the sharpness and be dried so shalt thou have the prepared Crocus of Venus or the Flos of Brass out of which thou maist if thou wilt easily extract an Oil according to the precepts delivered in the great Chirurgical work where also its use is explained The Crocus of ☉ is to be extracted by the water of Salt by which the Metalline nature thereof or Malleation is broken the residence is to be washed with hot water and the Crocus to be extracted with spirit of Wine the which being again separated the Crocus will remain in the bottom the which by elevation by the degrees of fire in five times sublimation is changed into a Liquor or the most true Quintessence of Sol. With this thou maist perform miraculous things but hereto is required not a putatitious but an industrious and skilful Artist FINIS Theophrastus of Hohenheim OF THE Virtues of the Members The First Book treats of the Vertues of the Spiritual Members The Second of the Vertues of the Inward The Third of the Vertues of the Outward Members The First BOOK Of the Vertues of the Spiritual Members CHAP. I. Of the SPIRIT of LIFE THE Spirit of Life is a Spirit planted in all the members of the Body whatever Distinction they are denominated by It dwelleth in them all and in each of them and is the One or sole Virtue of them all promiscuously 'T is it that is the supreme and most noble Grain by which all the whole members live But according as 't is extended or disâ—used so doth it become various answerable to its various Seats For in the Heart it is so acted as to assume the Virtues of the Heart which property it is not fraught with in the other members So likewise in the Liver it gets the virtues of it and performs that Office there onely and not in the other parts The like is to be judged of the Marrow but although that these Virtues are either perceptible or not perceptable yet the virtues of all the members are uniform nor are they any otherwise to be understood then thus viz. That the virtues of the Heart do in some sort onely differ from those of the Bones whereas the virtues are but One notwithstanding For the Virtues that sustain and conserve the Bones are not weaker then those are which refresh and strengthen the Heart for there 's as much of importance scituated in the Bones as is in the Heart So in like manner the virtues of the Spirit of Life in the Brain are not of more excellency then those in the Marrow And although by reason of the use and necessity of that in the Brain the contrary seems true yet the necessity of the Marrow is as much as that is of the Brain and the virtues of them both are alike The like consideration is to be had of all the members of the which though some seem worthier then other some yet 't is but one onely Spirit of Life that is the Governor the Virtue the Efficacy and Operation of them all CHAP. II. THE Spirit of Life ariseth from external Causes or Generations and not from Natural according to the Flesh For as the Generation of the other members iâ— twofold so the Generation of the Spirit is simple and is united with the body and the members as we have said this likewise is the cause why as in reference to its own Virtues it cannot be strengthened unless the members themselves be healthy and strong for by how much the stronger healthier and chearfuller a Member is by nature by so much stronger and more refreshingly doth the spirit shine forth And therefore we must not by any means attempt to conserve strengthen and advance it as 't is a Spirit of Life but onely thus viz. by conserving and strengthening the members which have their birth from Nature in their first Integrity and Original Healthfulness this being done the Spirit doth in it self become more enlarged and more strong But yet there 's One thing that appertains to the Spirit onely and 't is this viz. That it be occupied in the Open Passage and kept unstopt Concerning which Oppilation or stopping if it chance to happen we will here annex a peculiar Treatise then after we have so done we will annex two little Books of the Members that govern themselves as shall anon follow You must therefore know that the Spirit of Life may be so stopped that unless the wayes and pores of its passages be opened it may be strangled for the second Generation is nothing else but a Vapour and the Spirit of Life lives in us in the form of a Vapour as the Nature of the second Generation which is made without Nature or Externally therefore the Pores are to be immediately opened even at the very beginning viz. In the Marrow in the Flesh in the Veins in the more principal Members in the Bones in the Ligaments in the Nerves in the Joints in the Bladder in the Diaphragme in the Matrix in all the members none excepted for this Spirit is likewise placed in the Brain as well as in the Flesh and passeth through the Brain upwards downwards and penetrates the Pia Mater and Dura Mater and runs through the Heart and its Case and the Chest of the Gall and the Regions of the Reins and the Centre of the Bladder and possesseth as wel the place
from its impurity and afterwards let it be permixed with the Circulated water and be digested for twenty four hours in a moderate fire then the Oil will flow forth which will swim on the top of the water gather it and drink it with Aqua Vitae nothing is more excellent then this In like manner must thou proceed with Pearls doing onely this Add the Calx of Cheb and Cohobate them with distilled Vineger so long untill they pass into a Liquor take likewise your Corralls and resolve them in burning Wine permixt with Hell if then you abstract the burning Wine from the putrefaction thou shalt have the Liquor of Corral So likewise as forother diseases that assault the heart by reason of the condition or elemental humors the Essences of Saffron Celondine Mace Cosius and Bawm the manner how to prepare them is this First take the best Saffron cohobate in the best Aqua vitae hang is in a fost cloth that it may not touch the bottom and sealing it with Hermes seal this must be done by thee twelve times and the Saffron will become an Oil of a most strong odour Administer one drop of this in the Wine of Life This medicine is a most high refresher and rejoicer of the heart in old men in infirm melancholy and sad men After the same manner must you proceed with Mace only you must go on in the Cohobation of it twenty four times this Essence doth in some virtues exceed the Saffron thou must cohobate the Celondine Hawm and such like in themselves four days space then afterwards separate the pure from the impure by straining it take away its Phlegme and add thereto the Wine of life and Cohobate it even to a Liquor on this wise thou shalt operate with all Herbs that are to preserve the Heart and to comfort the Spirit of life CHAP. III. Of the Virtues of the BRAIN AS there are two Hearts so likewise two Brains One is External the other is Internal The Nature of the Internal is unchangeable that is to say the Brain it self cannot of it self purge away the faultiness that is in it for as it is framed such doth it remain nor is it changed But if it be invaded by some external effects or if that offending matter proceed from the Body or from the Spirit of Life that Effect is to be wholly cast out by another Brain which God hath implanted in the Herbs nor do the members themselves acquire a certain power whereby to fight against the Disease and expel it but themselves remain quiet and commit the wrestling and chasing it away to the external Brain If then this gets the victory the Internal Brain grows wel but if it be mastered then the other feels the loss You must therefore know that External Brain that strives against all such things as may annoy the Internal Brain Of which kind are the Oyle of ☽ the Liquor of the Saphir of Musk and the Liquor of Vitriol CHAP. IV. THE Brain is to be conserved in its strength so at that nothing may endamage it and that it self may be wholly Brain But it sometimes any infirmity be tide it then the Hurts and Distempers are to be removed by the External Brain that the whole Brain may remain Of those sorts of Brains one is the Liquor of ☽ and is thus made First calcine it then cohobate it with the Wine of Life for seven dayes so the Calx of ☽ will be resolved into a soft or clamming Liquor Digest this in a Balneo for a Moneths space then 't will be resolved and be in the form of a Green Liquor This is the highest Arcanum by which the substance of the brain is cherished and a new or extaneous brain implanted Like unto this is the Arcanum extracted out of Gilla on this wise Distil the Gilla in an equal Weight of the Wine of Life circulate it so long till it touch not the bottom administer it with Falernum Wine or Muskadine It doth so powerfully strengthen the brain that no Vertigo Phrensie or Madness can offend it The Liquor of the Saphir and of Musk do the same and is on this wise prepared If the Saphir be reduced into an Alcoadamantine Nature and be dissolved afterwards by Chybur into its own powder and the Wine of Life be added by six dayes Cohobation to this Powder then at length the Liquor becomes potable and heals the Choraea viti or laughing Disease and the Madness and Phantasie of such as incline to hang or otherwise destroy themselves A like Medicine is extracted out of Musk It is to be decocted in a Cloath by the Wine of Life into the form of a Juyce like to Storax Herewith is the Vertigo the Scotemia or running round of the Head and whatsoever induceth as wounding or Giddiness cured as also the beginning of the Falling-Evil Madness and Phrenzie CHAP. V. Of the VIRTUES of the LIVER THE Liver it self of the Body hath likewise need of an external Liver to succour it Neither is i◠such a Warrier and of such a Military ingenuity or capacity as to be able to defend it self On this accompt these are called spiritual members for no spirit goes a warring but the body But now the Liver onely and of it self is a spirit but the flesh thereof which bears the Name of the Liver that is a Member of the Body wherein there is not so very much placed If therefore at any time the Liver is to wage war then 't is behoveful that some other certain thing do fight for it that is to say A certain Body that hath its proper Hands and Feet with the which he produceth and employeth his Weapons against the corporal Disease for if the body suffereth it suffers materially 'T is therefore sitting that such a like Medicine be applied that so by this means Matter may proceed against Matter and Like may act upon its like Such a one now is this Take the Essence of Spodium Likewise if the Liver he broken or marred with an Hyposarcha then the virtue or property of it is thus If with the Iaundice its Virtue is so If Feavers then so If with an Aposthume then is its virtue so c. CHAP. VI. THere is nothing more excellent or conducible then Cheiri for procuring Healthfulness to the Liver so that it receive no detriment nor be hurt The Preparation is this Take Cheiri and let it be sublimed from its blackness into whiteness this Whiteness is to be drunk with the Wine of Life With this Drink the Apostematical Nature and putrefaction of the Liver is removed and all its corruption is amended insomuch that thenceforth it doth well digest and rightly dispence the Blood nor doth it onely produce much but such as is good and laudable and not so capable of being subiect to any Diseases It doth likewise renew the old and exalete blood and doth so amend it as to cause even the Leprosy to vanish The Yellow
of an Athanar the four and twentieth In resolved sixt things a scruple and haâ—â—â— In coagulated things a Golden Crown of 〈…〉 In Alkalieâ— the yeâ—â— of an Egg is the weight In transmuted things 〈…〉 our Countrey Beans In 〈…〉 without the grain In Waters the Shell of a 〈◊〉 In 〈◊〉 reduced from their first matter the 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 tree or a drop of the Rosin thereof In things transmuted from the first matter the Locusta or tender bâ—d of the Poplar In all Corrosives the equal or just breadth of its place In Precipitates the weight of 〈…〉 piece of money In Liquors of the Earth the weight of the stalk wherein 〈◊〉 duâ—a hâ—ngâ— In Liquors of the Water half a Pomegranat In the â—â—ereniabin of the Air as it were the spirit of a 〈◊〉 breath In Liquors of the Fire Like the Frost-grâ—nes or Hoare-frost From the â—â—ee of the Sea One Kist From the Rosin of the Earth a Kist and an half From swimming creatures an 〈◊〉 and â—â— half Of Hâ—â—â—â—uli the bigness of a â—â—â—â—ra Nut. These are the Doses that proceed out of Fix things and to be thoâ—â— are the Karenaes of Drops and contain their own body without damage For this â—â—use the Dose here is to be understood of Fix things CHAP. IX THose things which we have hitherto delivered concerning Doses 〈…〉 so very certainly comprehend all those things 〈…〉 were necessary for universal Medicine yet notwithstanding however the case stands 't is certain that the Centre and consequently the Root its self is contained therein But furthermore let every Physician diligently consider that 〈◊〉 knowledge which he ought studiously to employ not for his own profit but for the benefit of the sick must proceed onely from the Spagyrical Art but even in all his businesses he must act Ephallâ—â—herâ—ll Albeit all these things do require a well Experienced man who as the Proverb goes hath not onely filled a sluggish and blind unprofitable Heâ—d but hath filled even the eye and mind and doth not minde himself onely but even all 〈…〉 conâ—â—â—sant For all these both thy 〈◊〉 and they make a Physician of thee Forasmuch as the Archeus and its â—aphnaeuâ— and their whole off spring 〈…〉 and the rest cannot be known by a â—ude and 〈◊〉 Physician for whosoever will know such things 〈◊〉 of necessity be well and very perfectly 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 and all the 〈◊〉 For 't is be 〈◊〉 ful that a Physician do exercise his 〈…〉 well in the mind as in the external 〈…〉 the Feet the Eyes and the Tongue do 〈…〉 Mâ—â—â—over 't is needful that the whole 〈…〉 by the 〈◊〉 For believe me in 〈…〉 the â—â—culty the power and finally 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 of Medicine The Seventh BOOK CHAP. I. BVt aâ— for those thing◠〈…〉 foresaid Degrees into a composition every Receit must be directed and brought to that pass as to have virtues Equal with the Disease from hence therefore you may observe that in composing of Receipts Simples alone by themselves are too too weak and not sufficient enough this being truly so t is expedient that the Physician be so instructed as exceedingly well to know and that very readily the reasons thereof thus viz. One and the same Arcanum is many times distributed into three hundred Herbs more or less all which if thou bringest into One then at length it becomes a perfect and consequently an Entire Arcanum Forasmuch as every perfect Medicament is an Arcanum the which sort I teach in the Book of the Original of Diseases and the Nature of things and do moreover demonstrate it to you by this Example Even as there are almost above two huÌ„dred kinds of Fevers and yet 't is but one and the same Feaver throughout them all From which you are to consider that the cure itself thereof is to be in like manner distributed into so many kinds for as often as there is a kind or species of a Disease so often is there on the contrary a simple for it From hence two kinds of Physicians do arise one kind is of Natural the other of Experimental Physicians In this Book therefore there is nothing so worthy of consideration as that alone viz. That the virtue and efficacy of those things pass into an Arcanum and that as often as there is a Disease so often may there be an Arcanum and that nothing at all be done in the several kinds and species unless haply the Naturalist hath a most thorough understanding what the acting or prevalenty on both sides viz. of the Disease and of the Simple iâ— CHAP. II. MOreover this is to be observed that this manner of composition consisteth in the virtues onely viz. that they be made perfect and entire for Centaury drives away Feavers and so in like manner doth the Alhuginous Nâ—ctar so likewise doth Harmel the lesser and so do many more besides them But yet verily in the well-composing a Receit t is necessary that these virtues be brought into one viz. that as many Simples at there are framed by Nature against Feavers may all of them be converted and contracted into one Arcanum and this then at length is an Arcanum against Feavers Even thus also is it in other Diseases even after the same manner are the degrees of diseases to be considered thus The Composition proceeds out of the Doses that is out of the virtues Besides in the Palsey Lavender is a most chief Magistery and so likewise Bawm is one but yet is lesser then that other Moreover it comes to pass in another case and that even in the Palsey it self that Bawm is better then Lavender and is much more powerfully virtuous Hence it often falls out that one and the same simple may in one and the same disease help 〈◊〉 man and not another Sometimes also it may take away something from the disease and yet not cure all the whâ—le disease For in the Palsey even Gold it self if you administer it rightly is a Medicine so is Viticella or white Brâ—ony Betony Masoreâ— and many others For sometimes Bâ—â—â— being taken is profitable sometimes not sometimes if you use Castor it helpeth but use it at another time and it will not profit at all Sometimes Pepper availeth when all the râ—st are defective Oftentimes also when Pepperâ— too weak the Oile of Sulphur being administred helpeth Furthermore it happenetâ— sometimes that Faâ—nâ—sseâ— being made use of are profitable all the others being used in vain You must therefore know that the virtues of Arcanums are chiefest of all to be sought after as well in the Palsey as in 〈◊〉 diseases and neither the Heat oâ— the Cold but onely that natural inbred property sprung from the Iâ—â—aâ—â—er CHAP. III. EVen thus also is it in â—â—e Falling-sickness in which likewise theâ—â— are 〈◊〉 species o◠〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 exhibit even so many species 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—â— kness one whereof is the 〈◊〉 availeable 〈…〉 another time Likewise â—ome of these are profitable to