found also other baths the power and vertue whereof consists not in any spiritual sulphur nor in any metallick body mixed with salt but only in a certaine spiritual salt mixed with a certaine subtile fixed earth which waters do not run through metallick mines as others do but rather stones of the mountaines calcined with a subterraneal fire whence also they borrow their subtile acidity with their insipid earth And this no man will deny that hath the knowledge of volatile and fixed salts of minerals and metals that which I am able to demonstrate with very many and most evident reasons if time and occasion would permit but it shall be done sometime or other as hath been said in a peculiar treatise Now therefore I will only teach how by salts minerals and metals artificial Bathes may be made which are not only not inferiour to the natural in vertue but also oftentimes far better and that without much cost or labour which any one may use at home in stead of natural for the expelling of diseases and recovering of health And although I am resolved to set forth a book that shall treat largly of the nature and original of Bathes and of their use yet I am willing now also to say something in brief concerning it and that from the foundation seeing that there are so many different opinions of learned men and those for the most part uncertain As concerning therefore the original of the acidity as well volatile as corporeal as also the heart of Baths though that is not one and the same for else each would have the same properties but daily experience testifies the contrary For it is manifest that some Bathes help some diseases and others are hurtful for them which comes from nothing else but from the difference of the properties of the mineral waters proceeding from a diversity of mines impregnating those waters In a word sweet waters attract their powers and vertues in the caverns of mountaines from some metal and minerals of divers kinds that have naturally a most acid spirit of salt as are divers kinde of marcosites containing copper and iron and sometimes gold and silver also kinds of vitriol and allome called by the ancients Misii Rarii Chalcitis Melanteria and Pyritis whereof some are found white like metals but others dispersed in a fat earth of a round figure in greater or lesser pieces which sulphureous salt mines whilest the water runs through and humectates that spirit of salt is stirred up having got a vehiculum and fals upon the mines by dissolving them in which solution the water waxeth warme as if it had been powred on quick lime or like spirit of vitriol or salt mixed with water and powred on iron and other metals where continually and daily that water running through the mines whose nature and properties it imitates carryes something with it wherefore there are so many and such various kinds of Baths as are the mines by which the water is heated Let him that will not believe take any mineral of the aforesaid quality and wrap it up in a wet linen cloth for a little while and he will see it experimentally that the minerall stone will be heated by the water and so heated as if it were in the fire so as thou canst scarce hold it in thy hand which at length also by a longer action will cleave in sunder and be consumed like quick lime I will publish some time or other God willing more fully and cleerly in a peculiar treatise this my opinion which I have now delivered in very few words Although to the sick it be all one and it matters not them from what cause the baths come and whence they borrow their vertues if so be they may use them this controversie being left to natural Philosophers that will controvert it which none of them can better decide then a skilful Chymist that hath the knowledge of minerals metals and salts And first of sulphureous Bathes that have a subtil acidity IN the second Treatise I have demonstrated the manner of distilling subtile volatile sulphureous spirits viz. of common salt vitriol allome nitre sulphur antimony and other salts of minerals and metals and their vertues and intrinsecal properties now also I will shew their extrinsecal use as they are to be mixed with waters for Baths The vertues therefore of Baths coming not from insipid water but from those most subtile volatile sulphureous and salt spirits but these being of themselves not mixed with water unfit for Baths to be used for recovering of health by reason of their too great heat and subtilty the most high God hath revealed to us unworthy and ungrateful men his fatherly providence shewing to us by nature the use of them and the manner of using of them for the taking away of diseases which nature being never idle works uncessantly and like a handmaid executes the will of God by shewing to us the various kinds of distillations transmutatious and generations From which teacher we must learn all arts and sciences seeking a certain and infallible information as it were out of a book writ with a divine hand and filled with innumerable wonders and secrets And this is a far certainer knowledge then that empty and imaginary Philosophy of those vulgar disputing Philosophers Dost thou think that that true Philosophy can be sold for a hundred Royals How can any one judge of things hid in the earth who is wilfully blind in things exposed to the light of the Sun hating knowledge I wish knowledge were sutable to the name how can any one that is ignorant of the nature of fire know how to work by fire fire discovers many things in which you may as in a glass see things that are hid The fire shewes to us how every thing waters salts minerals and metals together with other innumerable things are generated in the bowels of the earth by the reflexion of that central and astral fire for without the knowledge of fire all nature remaines vailed and occult Fire always had in great esteem by Philosophers is the key for the unlocking of the greatest secrets and to speak in a word he that is ignorant of fire is ignorant of nature with her fruits and he hath nothing but what he hath read or heard which oftentimes is false according to that He easily speakes untruthes that speaks what he hath heard He that is ignorant knows not how to discern betwixt the truth and falshood but takes the one for the other I pray thee thou that art so credulous dost thou think that thy teacher writ his books from experience or from reading other Authors May they not be corrupted and sophisticated by antiquity and frequent description Also dost thou understand the true and genuine sense of them It is better to know then to think for many are seduced by opinions and many are deceived by faith that is without knowledge There are many indeed ambitious of sciences that are
silver copper and iron lye hid the first time mercury draws gold the second silver but copper and iron hardly for the dross but tin and lead easily but easiest of all gold for its purity like to Mercury Another Demonstration by a dry way PUt under a tile the cuple with lead to which adde a grain of very pure gold most exactly weighed for memories â—ake make the gold in the cuple to fulminate and lead will enter the cuple the gold left pale in the cuple of which pale color there is no other cause then the mixture of silver drawn from the lead by gold But thou sayest that thou knowest this that gold fulminated with lead to be made paler and weightier for silver in the lead left with gold in the trial augmenting the weight and thence making it pale to which I reply though lead leave some silver in trying in the cuple mixt with gold added to it the weight of gold augmenting and changing the colour yet it is proved by weight that lead leaves more mixt with gold in the cuple then tryed without gold Hence it is proved that gold in fire draws its like from other metals augmenting its waight and this also gold doth in the moist way for if it be dissolved in its own menstruum together with copper put in digestion it draws gold separated from copper which labor though not done with profit yet witnesseth a possibility But if the menstruum of gold augmenting the attracting power of gold or multiplying the same were known but diminishing the retentive power of copper doublesse some gain were to be expected indeed more if gold and copper together be melted in fire with the drymineral menstruum by which means the weight of gold would be increased according to Paracelsus saying Metals mixt together in a strong fire continued a pretty while the imperfection to vanish and leave perfection in its place Which surely well done is a work not wanting gain For I freely confess that I would sometime incorporate silver with iron when as gold from iron gave me a good increase of pure gold instead of fixt silver sought after And by this means often some not thought on thing happens to Artists as to my selfe with fixt silver uot rightly considering the business Therefore medling with metals be sure when you finde some increase to weigh well what it was at first For many think long trying silver with iron by the Bloud-stone Loadstone Emraud lapis calaminaris red talc granats antimony arsenic sulphur flints c. having mature and crude volatil fixt gold in them finding in the trying good gold that this gold is made of silver by help and use of the foresaid minerals it is false For silver drew that gold out of those minerals in which before it lurked volatile Yet I deny not the possibility of changing silver as being inwardly very like gold but not by help of cementation with the said minerals because that gold proceeds not from silver but those minerals attracted by silver This labour is compared to seed cast into good ground where dying by its owne power it draws the like to it selfe when it is multiplyed an hundred fold And it behoveth in this work now and then to wet the metallick earth with their proper metallick waters dryed with heat which operation is called of the Philosophers inseration else the earth will be barren and it behoveth that this water be neer in kind to earth so that when they are united they yeeld a certain fatness For as it appears from sandy dry earth moistened with rain water not bringing forth fruit agreeable to its seed for the small heat also of the Sun consuming the moisture and burning the seed in the earth which mixt with cows dung or other keeps the water so as that it cannot be soon consumed By the same reason it is necessary that thy earth and water be mixt lest thy seed be burnt up Which work if well handled it wil not be in vain requiring exceeding diligence of nourishing the earth with warmth and moisture when the earth is drown'd with too much moisture and with too little it cannot increase and this is one of the best labours with which I draw forth good gold and silver of baser metals requiring the best vessels retaining seed together with their earth and water in its proper heat I doubt not but this work also in a greater quantity may be performed firmly beleiving that the courser metals especially lead the fittest of all not only to be perfected into gold and silver but also into good medicine which without question is the Philosophers labour granted from God â—s a great comfort to the Chymist but warily to be used For that all and singular Gods gifts he will not have common as indeed I have found to be an inventer of a very excellent work that I shewing it to a friend neither could I afterwards teach it to him nor doe it again for my self Therefore and indeed justly men are doubtfull in writing matters for many seek not at pleasure to detract the inventions of others performed with great costs and labour Therefore it is safer to be silent and to give leave to seek then to publish secrets that they may undergoe the paines and charges to be born in inventing high matters nor any more hereafter may the ingrateful so impudently gape after others Labours Therefore I would entreat all men both of high and low degree that they would not molest and tire me hereafter with their petitions and Epistles and that they would not turn my good will of benefiting others to the ruine of my selfe contented with my writings published with the profit of my neighbour Nor doe you think that I possess and promise golden mountaines For what I have written I have writ to discover nature in these discourses of the perfection of course metals in small quantity For I never made triall in a great quantity trying truth and possibility in a lesser only in small crucibles therefore those things which I have writ are written to that end that the possibility of the Art may appear of perfect metals to be wrought out of imperfect therefore hee who hath occasion may make triall in a greater quantity but aâ— for my part wanting opportunity I expect Gods blessing whereby upon occasion I may make tryall in a greater quantity and so receive the fruit of my labour and great charges Also metallick bodies are transmuted by another means namely by that benefit of a tinging metallick spirit as one may see in aurum fulminans sometimes kindled upon a smooth clean metallick plate fixing a very deep gold tincture upon the plate so that it may bear the touch stone The same also happens in a moist way where plated metals put on a gradatory spirit made of nitreand certain minerals pierc't by the spirit obtain another kinde agreeing to the spirit But if one doubt of the metallick gradation made
the operation is performed better with the flowers of these metals the preparation whereof shall be hereafter taught Take therefore the flowers upon which in a gourd glass pour the spirit of salt and presently the spirit will work upon them especially being set in a warm place filter the yellow solution and abstract the humidity untill there remain a yellow heavy oyle which is proper against pitrid ulcers Oyle of Mercury NEither is this easily dissolved with the spirit of salt but being sublimed with vitriol and salt is easily dissolved Being dissolved it yeelds an oyle very corrosive which must be used with discretion wherefore it is not to be administred unless it be where none of the other are to be had For I saw a woman suddenly killed with this oyle being applyed by a certain Chirurgeon But this oyle is not to be slighted in eating ulcers tetter c. which are mortified by it Oyle of Antimony CRude Antimony that hath never undergone the fire is hardly dissolved in spirit of salt as also the Regulus thereof but the Regulus being subtilly poudered is more easily wrought upon in case the spirit be sufficiently rectified The Vitrum is more easily but most easily of all the flowers are dissolved being such as are made after our prescription a little after set down Neither is Butyrum Antimonii being made out of sublimed Mercury and Antimony any thing else but the Regulus of Antimony dissolved with spirit of salt for sublimed Mercury being mixed with Antimony feeling the heat of the fire is forsaken by the corrosive spirits associating themselves with antimony whence comes the thick oyle whilest which is done the sulphur of Antimony is joyned to the quick-silver and yeelds a Cinnabar sticking to the neck of the retort but the residue of the Mercury remains in the bottom with the Caput Mortuum because a little part thereof doth distill off And if thou hast skill thou maist recover the whole weight of the Mercury again And these things I was willing the rather to shew thee because many think this is the oyle of Mercury and therefore that white pouder made thence by the pouring on of abundance of water they call Mercurius vitae with which there is no mixture at all of Mercury for it is meer Regulus of Antimony dissolved with spirit of salt which is again separated when the water is poured on the antimoniall butter as is seen by experience For that white pouder being dryed and melted in a crucible yeelds partly a yellow glass and partly also a Regulus but no Mercury at all Whence it doth necessarily follow that that thick oyle is nothing else but Antimony dissolved in spirit of salt For the flowers of Antimony being mixed with spirit of salt make an oyle in all respects like to that butter which is made of Antimony and sublimated Mercury which also is after the same manner by the affusion of a good quantity of water precipitated into a white pouder which is commonly called Mercurius vitae It is also by the same way turned into Bezoardicum minerall viz. by abstracting the spirit of nitre and it is nothing else but Diaphoretick Antimony For it is all one whether that Diaphoretick be made with spirit of nitre or with nitre it self viz. corporeal for these have the same vertues although some are of opinion that that is to be preferred before the other but the truth is there is no difference But let every one be free in his own judgement for those things which I have wrote I have not writ out of ambition but to finde out the truth Now again to our purpose which is to shew an oyle of antimony made with the spirit of salt Take a pound of the flowers of Antimony of which a little after upon which pour two pound of the best rectified spirit mix them well together in a glass and set them in sand a day and night to dissolve then pour out that solution together with the flowers into a retort that is coated which set in sand and first give a gentle fire untill the flegme be come off then follows a weak spirit with a little stronger fire for the stronger spirits remaine in the bottom with the Antimony then give a stronger fire and there will come forth an oyle like to the butter of Antimony made with sublimed Mercury and is appropriated to the same uses as follows The flowers of Antimony white and vomitive TAke of this butter as much as you please upon which in a glass gourd or any other large glass pour a great quantity of water until the white flowers will precipitate no more then decant off the water from the flowers which edulcorate with warm water and dry with a gentle heat and thou shalt have a white pouder The Dose is that 1. 2. 3. 8. 10. grains be macerated for the space of a night in wine which is to be drank in the morning and it worketh upward and downward But it is not to be given to children those that be old and weak but to those that be strong and accustomed to vomiting When at any time this infusion is taken and doth not work as sometimes it fals out but makes the patient very sick he must provoke vomiting with his finger or else it will not work but make those that have taken it to be sick and debilitated even to death We must also in the over much working of these flowers drink a draught of warm beer or rather of warm water decocted with chervil or parsly and they will work more mildly But let not him that is able to bear the operation thereof any way hinder it for there is the greater hope of recovering his health thereby for they do excellently purge choler and evacuate flegme in the stomack being humors that will not yeeld to other Catharticks they open obstructions resist the putrefaction of the blood the causes of many diseases such as are feavers headaches c. they are good for them that are leprous scorbutical Melancholical hypochondriacal infected with the French pox and in the beginning of the plague In brief they do work gallantly and do many things After the taking of them the patient must stay in his bed or at least not go forth of his house for to avoid the aire or otherwise they may be mistrusted And because of their violence they are feared and hated I shall in the fourth part of this book for the sake of the sick set down such as are milder and safer such as shall work rather downward then upward causing easie vomits which also thou mayest give to children and those that are old without danger yet some respect being had of the disease and age The flowers of Antimony diaphoretical THE foresaid flowers if they be cast into melted nitre and be left a while in melting are made fixt so as to become Diaphoretical and lose their Cathartical vertue The acid water being separated from the flowers if
dispersed being cast upon the fire are from the fire elevated through the aire and are being refrigerated in the recipients again condensed which cannot be so well done by a close retort He therefore that will make the spirit of the salt of tartar need do nothing else then to cast the calcined tartar into the fire and it will wholly come over in a spirit but then there are required glass recipients because those that are earthen cannot retain it And this is the way whereby most fixed salts are distilled into a spirit by the first furnace In the second furnace viz. in the furnace of the second part it may be done better and easier where together with the preparation shall be taught the use thereof The spirits flowers and salts of Minerals and stones BY this way spirits may be raised from any minerall or stone and that without the addition of any other thing yet so as that the minerals and stones as flints Crystal talke lapis calaminaris Marcasite Antimony being ground be with an Iron ladle cast upon the coales and there will arise together with a certain acid spirit some salt and flowers which are to be washed off from the recipients and filtred and the flowers will remain in Charta bibula for the water together with the spirit and the salt passeth through the filter all which may be separated rectified and be kept by themselves for their proper uses Now this you must know that you must choose such minerals which have not been touched by the fire if you desire to have their spirit How minerals and metals may be reduced into flowers and of their vertues HItherto the flowers of metals and minerals have not been in use excepting the flowers of Antimony and sulphur which are easily sublimed for Chymists have not dared to attempt the sublimation of other metals and fixed minerals being content with the solution of them with Aqua fortis and corrosive waters precipitating them with the liquor of salt of tartar and afterward edulcorating and drying them and being so prepared they have called them their flowers but by which flowers I understand the same water which is by the help of fire without the addition of any other thing sublimed and turned into a most subtile pouder not to be perceived by the teeth or eyes which indeed is in my judgement to be accounted for the true flowers when as the flowers which others make are more corporeal and cannot be so well edulcorated but retaine some saltness in them as may be perceived by the increase of their weight and therefore hurtful to the eyes and other parts But our flowers being by the force of the fire sublimed by themselves are not only without saltness but are also so subtile that being taken inwardly presently operate and put forth their powers viz. according to the pleasure of the Physitian Neither is their preparation so costly as the others Metals also and minerals are maturated and amended in their sublimation that they may be the more safely taken but in other preparations they are rather destroyed and corrupted as experience witnesseth Now how these kind of flowers are to be made I shall now teach and indeed of each metal by it self whereby the artist in the preparation cannot erre and first thus Of Gold and Silver GOld and silver can hardly be brought into flowers because many are of opinion that nothing comes from them in the fire especially from Gold although it should be left there for ever which although it be true viz. that nothing comes from gold in the fire although it should remaine there a long time and from silver but a little except it have copper or any other metal mixed which yet vapours away but by little and little Which I say although it be so yet they being broken and subtilized and scattered upon coales and so dispersed may by the force of the fire and help of the aire be sublimed and reduced into flowers Now seeing the aforesaid metals are dear and of a great price and the furnace with its recipients large I would not that any one should cast them in especially gold because he cannot recover them all but I shall to those that desire to make these flowers shew another way in the second part whereby they may make them without the loss of the metal to which I referr the reader For this furnace serves for the subliming of metals and minerals which are not so pretious the loosing of part whereof is not so much regarded And thus much is said to shew that gold and silver although fixed may be sublimed Now other metals may more easily be sublimed yet one more easily then another neither need they any other preparation but beating small before they be cast into the fire Flowers of Iron and Copper TAke of the filings of Iron or Copper as much as you please cast them with an Iron laddle upon burning coals viz. scatteringly and there wil arise from Iron a red vapour but from Copper a green and will be sublimed into the sublimatorie vessels As the fire abates it must be renewed with fresh coales and the casting in of these filings be continued untill you have got a sufficient quantity of flowers and then you may let all coole This being done take off the sublimatorie vessels take out the flowers and keep them for they are very good if they be mixed with unguents and emplasters and being used inwardly cause vomiting therefore they are better in Chirurgery where scarce any thing is to be compared to them Copper being dissolved in spirit of salt and precipitated with oyle of vitriol edulcorated dryed and sublimed yeelds flowers which being in the aire resolved into a green balsom is most useful in wounds and old putrid ulcers and is a most pretious treasure Flowers of Lead and Tin YOU need not reduce these metals into small crums it is sufficient if they be cast in piece by piece but then you must under the grate put an earthen platter glazed and filled with water to gather that which flows down melted which is to be taken out and cast again into the fire and this so often until all the metall be turned into flowers which afterwards are again the vessels being cold to be taken out as hath been said of the flowers of Mars and Venus And these flowers are most excellent being mixed with plaisters and oyntments in old and geeen wounds for they have a greater power to dry then metals calcined as experience can testifie Of Mercury THis is easily reduced into flowers because it is very volatile but not for the aforesaid reason because it leapes in the fire and seeks to descend And if you desire to have the flowers thereof mix it first with sulphur that you may pulverize it and cast it in mortified And if you cast into a red hot crucible set in the furnace a little quick Mercury viz. by times with a laddle presently it
a Volatile sulphur of Vitrioll It hath wonderfull vertues some of which shall be related The use and Dose of the Narcotick sulphur of Vitrioll OF this sulphur 1. 2. 3. 4. or more grains according to the condition of the patient given at once mitigates all pains causeth quiet sleep not after the manner of Opium Henbane and other the like medicines which by stupefying and benumming cause sleep but it performeth its operation very gently and safely without any danger at all and great diseases may be cured by the help thereof Paracelsus held it in high esteeme as you may see where he doth wâ—ite of Sulphur embryonatum Of the use and vertue of the Volatile spirit of Vitrioll THis sulphureous volatile spirit of Vitrioll is of a very subtle and penetrating quality and of a wonderful operation for some drops thereof being taken and sweated upon it doth penetrate the whole body openeth all obstructions consumeth those things that are amiss in the body even as fire It is an excellent medicine in the falling sickness in that kinde of madness or rage which is called Mania in the convulsion of the mother called Suffocatio matricis in the scurvy in that other kinde of madness which is called Melancholia Hypochondriaca and other diseases proceeding from obstructions and corruption of the blood It is also good in the plague and all other feavers mingled with spirit of wine and daily used it doth wonders in all external accidents Also in the Apoplexy shrinking and other diseases of the Nerves the distressed limbe rubbed therewith it doth penetrate to the very marrow in the bones it doth warm and refresh the cold sinews grown stiffe In the Colick besides the internal use a little thereof in a clyster applyed is a present help Externally used in the Goute by anoynting the places therewith asswageth the pains and taketh away all tumors and inflammations it doth heale the scabs tetters and ringworms above all other medicines it cureth new wounds and old sores as Fistulaes Cancers Woolves and what name so ever else they may have It extinguisheth all inflammations scaldings the Gangrene dissipateth and consumeth the knobs and excrescencies of the skin In a word this spirit which the wise men of old called Sulphur Philosophorum doth act universally in all diseases and its vertue cannot sufficiently be praised and expressed And it is much to be admired that so excellent a Medicine is no where to be found If it be mingled with spring water it doth make it pleasantly sowrish and in tast and vertue like unto the natural sowre water of wels Also by this spirit many diseases may be cured at home so that you need not go to bathes afar off for to be rid of them Here I could set down a way how such a spirit may be got in great abundance for the use of bathing without distillation whereby miraculous things may be done but by reason of the ungratefulness of men it shall be reserved for another time Of the vertue and use of the corrosive oyle of Vitrioll THis oyle is not much used in Physick although it be found almost in every Apothecaries shop which they use for to give a sowrish tast to their syrups and conserves Mingled with spring water and given in hot diseases it will extinguish the unnatural thirst and coole the internal parts of the body Externally it cleanseth all unclean sores applyed with a feather it separateth the bad from the good and layeth a good foundation for the cure Also if it be rectified first some metals may be dissolved with it and reduced into their Vitriols especially Mars and Venus but this is to be done by adding common water thereunto else it will hardly lay hold on them The way of doing it is thus How to make the Vitrioll of Mars and Venus TAke of your heavy oyle just as it came over viz. together with its phlegme but that the Volatile spirit be drawn off from it first as much as you please put it into a glass body together with plate of copper or iron set it in warme sand and let it boyle untill that the oyle will dissolve no more of the metal then power off the liquor filtre it through brown paper and put it into a low gourd glass and set it in sand and let the phlegme evaporate untill there appear a skin at the top then let the fire go out and the glass grow coole then set it in a cold place and within some dayes there will shoote faire green Crystals if of iron greenish if of Copper then something blewish take them out and dry them uppon filtering paper the remaining liquor which did not shoote into Vitriol evaporate again in sand and then let it shoote as before continue this proceeding untill all the solution or filtred liquor be turned to Vitriol This Vitrioll is better and purer then the common for it yeeldeth a better Volatile spirit and for that reason I did set down the way how to make it There can also be made a good Vitrioll of both these metals by the means of ordinary yellow brimstone but because the making of it is more tedious then of this here set down I think it needless to describe its preparation in this place The way to make a faire blew Vitrioll out of Luna that is silver DIssolve the shavings or filings of silver with rectified oyle of Vitrioll adding water thereunto but not so much as to Iron and Copper Or else which is better dissolve calcined silver which hath been precipitated out of Aqua fortis either with Copper or salt water the solution being ended powre it off and filtre it and drop into it of spirit of urine or of Sal armoniac as long as it doth hiss and almost all the silver will precipitate again out of the oyle and so there will fall a white powder to the bottome This precipitated silver together with the liquor poure into a phiall-glass set it to boyle in sand for twenty four hours and the liquor will dissolve again almost all the precipitated silver-calx and become blew thereby Then poure off the solution or liquor and filtre it through brown paper and abstract the moisture till a skin arise at the top then in a cold place let it shoote to Vitriol With the remaining liquor proceed further as above in the preparation of the Vitriol of Iron and Copper hath been taught By this way you will get an excellent Vitrioll out of silver which from 4. 5. 6. to 10. grains used onely of it self will be a good purge especially in diseases of the braine If you have a good quantity of it that you may distill a spirit thereof you will get not only an acide or sowre but also a volatile spirit which in the infirmities of the braine is most excellent that which in the distilling remains behinde may be reduced againe into a body so that you lose nothing of the silver save onely that which is
together with the coles that are in it become red hot Then take off the lid and with a ladle throw in at once of your Crystals of silver Ê’ i. yea more or less according as you think that your receiver in regard of its bigness is able to bear This done presently put on the lid and the salt nitre together with the crystals of silver will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottome of the vessel and there will come forth a white silver fume through the pipe into the receiver and after a while when the cloud is vanished in the receiver cast in more and continue this so long until all your prepared silver is cast in then let it coole amd take off the receiver and poure into it good Alcolized spirit of wine and wash the flores with it out of the receiver and proceed further with them as above you have been taught to proceed with the gold and you will get a greenish liquor which is very good for the braine Take the coles out of the distilling vessel and make them into fine powder and wash them out with water to the end that the light cole-dust may be got from it and you will finde much silver dust or a great many little silver graines which the salt nitre could not force over which you may reduce for it will be good silver There can also be made a very good medicine out of the crystals of silver which will be little inferior to the former whereby the diseases and infirmities of the braine may be very well remedied which is done thus How to make a green oyle out of silver POure upon Crystals of silver twice or thrice as much in weight of the strongest spirit of salt Armoniack put it in a glass with a long neck well closed into a very gentle warmth for the space of 8. or 14 dayes in digestion and the spirit of salt Armoniack will be tinged with a very faire blew colour from the silver then pour it off and filtre it through brown paper and then put it in a little glass retort or glass body and abstract in Balneo by a gentle fire almost all the spirit of salt Armoniack which is still good for use and there will remaine in the bottom a grass green liquor which is to be kept for a medicine But in case that you should miss and abstract too much of the spirit from the Tincture of silver so that the Tincture be quite dry and turned to a green salt then you must poure upon it again as much of the spirit of salt Armoniack as will dissolve the green salt again to a green liquor but if you desire to have the Tincture purer yet then abstract all moystness from it to a stony dryness upon which you must poure good spirit of wine which will quickly dissolve the stone and then filtre it and there will remaine faeces and the Tincture will be fairer from which you must abstract most of the spirit of wine and the Tincture will be so much the higher in vertue But if you please you may distill that green salt or stone before it be extracted once again with spirit of wine in a little glass-retort and you will get a subtile spirit and a sharp oyle and in the bottome of the retort there remaineth a very fusile silver which could not come over It is to be admired that when you pour spirit of salt Armoniack or spirit of wine upon that stone for to dissolve it that the glass comes to be so cold by it that you harldyare able to endure it in your hand which coldness in my opinion cometh from the silver being so well unlockt which naturally is cold The use of the green liquor in Alchymy and for Mechanical operations THis green liquor serveth not only for a medicine but also for other Chymical operations for both Copper and glass may be easily and very fairly silvered over therewith very useful for those that are curious and love to make a shew with fair houshold-stuff for if you get dishes trencher plates salters cups and other vessels made of glass after the same fashion as those of silver use to be made you may very easily and without any considerable charge silver them over therewith within and without so that by the eye they cannot be discerned from true silver plate Besides the above related good medicines there may be made an other and especial good one out of the crystals of silver viz. dissolving and digesting them for a space of time with the universal water which hath been distilled by nature it self and is known to every body and after its digesting for a short time and change into several colours there will be found a pleasant essence which is not so bitter as the above described green liquor which is not brought yet by heat to ripenesse and maturation N. B. In this sweet universal Menstruum there can also all other metals by a small heat and the digestion of a long time be ripened and fitted for medicines having first been reduced into their vitriols and salts and then they are no more dead bodies but by this preparation have recovered a new life and are no more the metals of the covetous but may be called the metals of the Philosophers and of the Physitians Besides Physick or physical use LAstly there may be many pretty things more effected besides the medicinal use by means of the Crystals of silver viz. when you dissolve them in ordinary sweet raine water you can dye beards haire skin and nailes of men or beasts into carnation or pinck red brown black according as you have put more or less thereof in the water or else according as the haire was more or less times wetted therewith whereby the aspect of man and beast which sometimes in several occasions may not be contemned is changed so that they cannot be known This colouring or dye may be also performed with Lead or Mercury no less then with silver but otherwise prepared whereof in the fourth part Now I have taught how to make flores and tinctures of gold and silver by the help of the acid spirit of Nitre There may be many other medicines taught to be made out of them but in regard that they belong not to this place they shall be reserved for other places of this second and also for the other following parts As by the help of the spirit of Nitre good medicines can be made out of gold and silver so the like may be done out of other inferiour metals But in regard that their description is fitter for other places of this book I do omit them here Yet nevertheless I thought good to describe one preparation of every metal and after the silver there followeth now the copper A medicine out of copper externally to be used DIssolve burnt plates of copper in spirit of salt and abstract the spirit again from thence to a dryness
which touch with a smooth iron and light with a handle being hot the ring taken first out of the furnace with tongs pressing the glass well to the type and then place it under a hot iron or earthen vessel to coole and being cold take image from the type which answers to it in all things if thou hast aright proceeded exactly representing the Carvers art or a seale impressed to a jewel which excellent work is most fit to faigne and represent antiquities and rarities The colouring of the aforesaid mass follows in which it is made most like to Gemmes IT behooveth that colours be taken from metals and minerals namely from copper iron gold silver Wismuth Magnesia and Granate of other colours I know nothing of certainty copper commonly makes a colour green like the Sea copper of iron grass-green Granate smaragdine colour iron yellow or Iacynth Gold the best skie colour Wismuth common skie colour Magnesia Amethystine mixt they give other colours E. gr Gold mixt with Silver gives an Amethyst colour Iron and Copper a pale green Wismuth and Magnesia a purple Silver and Magnesia various colours like an Opal Images are also made of diverse colours if the masses of diverse colours be broken into bits and mixt be put upon the type c. And if thou desirest an opac mass green red skie colour c. add a little calx of Tin darkning on which as on a Basis the colours insist For example in making a Turcoise stone or a Lazulus mingle to the Azuremade of the silver Marcasit or Zafora to colour the mass the calx of tin that they may melt together and before the impression be made put upon the type some prepared gold then spread and put upon this the aforesaid glass and the fusion and impression being made let be made thence having golden veines like lapis Lazulus very delightful But there must be calx gold is not loosing its splendor in the fire such as is made by Mercury or that which better is precipitated out of Aqua regia of which above Of the preparation of the colours for colouring the mass of flints and Crystals THe plates of copper often heated are quenched in cold water of which more in the fifth part from three to six grains of it may be mixed to â„¥ j. of the mass for a sea green colour Iron is reduced into crocus by reverberation of which from four to ten grains are added to the mass for a yellow or Iacynth colour Silver is dissolved in Aqua fortis and precipitated with the liquor of flints after it is edulcorated and dryed whereof from one to six grains added to â„¥ j. of the mass they make mixt colours Gold is dissolved in Aqua regia edulcorated and dryed precipitated first with liquor of flints whereof from grain four to ℈ ss mixt with one ounce of the mass make a most elegant Saphire And if from three to six of that soluble ruby made of the nitrous gold and silver of iron be added to â„¥ j. of the mass they make a very polite ruby Magnesia pulverised whereof from six to fourteen grains to â„¥ j. of the mass make an Amethyst Marcasit dissolved in Aqua regia precipitated with the liquor of flin â—s let be edulcorated and dryed whereof from one to five grain to â„¥ j. of the mass give a Saphire but not comparably so polite as one made with gold But being unwilling to calcine Marcasit let him take Zafora and mingle to â„¥ j. from five to ten graines Granates of Bohemia or Oriental pulverised add from six grains to ℈ j. to â„¥ j. of the mass for little green stones like to the natural smaragd or emrald other things which remaine of the mixture of the colours are to be learned by experience To what uses coloured flints and crystals are appointed is not here to be treated of one use being excepted which I set down for the eys which are weakened by too much watching the heate of fire and smoake see thou have a waxen type circularly round of the bigness of a dish or trencher The Optiques are wont to call such lentes to which put the best clay well mixed with haire anoint the waxen type with oyle and exactly apply the best prepared earth of crucibles and durable in the fire the thicknes of a finger which dryed perforate in some part that the waxe being melted by the fire may flow forth afterward burn the type in an earthen furnace being burnt fill it with prepared glass and place it in a winde furnace till the glass melt which at length cooled take off the type by attrition and there shalt thou have the crystal resembling the force of the type which afterward thou must make and polish like spectacles in an iron dish on both sides and take cover it wrought with a strong iron wier and thou shalt have a good crystalline lent bought for smal price which otherwise is scarce made of crystal of so great a bigness And if thou wilt thou mayest colour the glass green very pleasant to the sight and fit the foot to it for greater benefit And the glass doth not only make in this for the multiplication of light in the night time that you may see a thing afar off in a chamber but also for the fixing and calcining minerals by the sun beams and melting of metals multiplying of pictures like a hollow glasse and also so to compare it for other uses with a hollow looking glass which doth the same of an equal bigness which the hollow glass nor is there any other difference of them but reflexion This glass instrument is made likewise another way and by less cost labor if it be of a polisht looking-glass if 2. great orbes are cut out with a diamond and if they are somewhat softened with fire and are left there so long in the heate untill they shall stick like waxe very close to the stone which done let them be cooled again which afterward taken out will represent the forme of a hollow glass to which it behooves to fixe a leafe on the convex part And these glasses do the same that a hollow metallick looking glass doth the reflexion excepted which is not so strong as of the hollow glass And although the glasses are sooner broke yet they are very fit for the making of the following instrument And they are bound together by strong wier applyed across on the concave part and a hole is cut in the brim with a diamond on one side of the bigness of a pea to which is put an Ascent then the crevises are exactly closed in every place with the best lute which done a silver or copper ring is to be tyed about it holding those glasses straightly so that the instrument may be fitted to the foote all which well done those strong wiers are separated or cut off with which the glasses were bound at first namely neer the copper ring afterward it