away from the Gold again take your Glass out of the Furnace or out of the Sand copel scrape your Gold with the crooked Iron again out of your Retort and you shall find that your Gold is much encreased if you should weigh it the reason is your Gold is the Load-stone which hath attracted the Praecipiolum or your Gold is the Cask wherein the Philosophers Wine hath let fall its Tartar which Paracelsus Helmont calls Praecipiolum Now how shall the Philosophical Tartar or Praecipiolum be separated from our Gold Take your Gold which you have scraped out of the Retort and put it into your Glassen Morter and pouder it very small with your Glass Pestel and mingle your Mercury by degrees as by little and little Your Mercury will hardly mix with the Gold the reason is the Gold is full of the Praecipiolum and then it is time to separate the Praecipiolum from the Gold and Mercury which is a Womans work when her Cloaths are foul she washeth them from their foulness The same way you must cleanse your Praecipiolum from your Gold and Mercury as followeth When you have the sign that your Mercury will hardly mix with your Gold and your Gold will not enter into your Mercurium vivum then power on it the clearest and fairest Water distilled is best that it may go over three Fingers breadth your Gold and Mercury then wash it well stirring it with your Pestel the Gold and the Mercury and the Water together which is in the Morter I say you shall wash it together very well until you see your Water is discoloured blewish black Then is the sign that the Gold doth let fall the Tartarum or Praecipiolum in the Water and maketh it blewish black then power off the Water into a Glass observe that not any Mercury may fall with the powring out the blewish Water then powr more fresh Water upon your Gold and Mercury and wash it again as is mentioned and when your Water is blew again powr off the Water to the former Water in the Glass and thus continue washing till your Water remain white then power this Water to the other Water in the Glass and cover your Glass very close that not any foulness may fall into the Glass Observe that your Gold will go again into the Mercury when that Praecipâ—olum is washed away as Wax goes in melted Butter Take your Amalgama abovesaid make it dry upon warm Ashes very softly with a Spunge and by a little heat that the Amalgama may be dryed and when it is dry put it again in the Retort and distil it as is before mentioned witâ— the Mercury as with cohobating that is to say in distilling your Mercury so often from the Gold that the Gold will hardly mix with the Mercury and this is the sign that the Gold hath attracted enough from the Praecipiolum and then it is time to separate with washing your Praecipiolum from your Amalgama Now observe I gave you Charge that you should keep your Glass wherein you put your blewish Water which will be clear and a Powder settled at the bottom which is some of the Praecipiolum Then power off the clear Water from the Praecipiolum without disturbing the Water as soon as you can into another Glass Now when you have that sign that your Gold will not mix well with your Mercury or not without great Trouble then power the same Water which you powred off from your Praecipiolum into another Glass as it is mentioned upon your Amalgama and wash it again and when your Water is blewish power off the Water to your Praecipiolum into another Glass as it is afore mentioned upon your Amalgama and wash it again till all your Water hath washed away the Praecipiolum and then stop your Glass again that no foulness fall into it then take your Amalgama and dry it again very gently and distil again as is mentioned till you have the sign and then you shall wash it again with the first Water and you shall find that your Praecipiolum will Augment or increase dailyâ— Thus stilling and washing shall you continue till the Mercury is freed from its Mercury coagulated or Praecipiolum Observe if the Water should grow less add to it now and then fresh Water Now the sign is when the Mercurius hath lost all its Sperm or its Tartar or its Mercury coagulate or its Praecipiolum The Mercury and the Gold will mix always well together and if you should distil it a thousand times that Gold and Mercury the one from the other and if you should wash it a thousand times the one from the other with fresh Water the Water will be clear not blewish and so long as the Praecipiolum is in the Mercury the Gold and Mercury will hardly mingle one with another and then when you would have it mix together you must wash it and then it will lovingly mix again when it is washed So I say when your Praecipiolum is all separated from the Mercury if you should a thousand times distil your Mercury from your Gold it will mingle always lovingly together and you will not find any Powder left it will go all into the Mercury and your Water remain clear and white Now further to our intent as to make or prepare your Praecipiolum for a Medicine power your clear Water from the Powder which lyes at the bottom in the Glass that no Water may be left by the Powder Put the Glass upon a little warm Ashes that the Powder may be dryed the Powder will look blewish yellow also put the powder into a little Cucurbit Glass and distil five or six times Spiritus vini from it then your Praecipiolum is made ready for a Medicine The Dose two Grains or three at the most Compositio Aquae Albuminum Ovorum Take a good quantity of Eggs boyl them very hard then take the Whites and cut them very small and distil them per Cineres per Alembicum very softly till you have gotten all the Water from the Whites â—hen take the Egg-shels burn them to Ashes and put those in a Retort and power upon them their own Water and distil it per arenam very strongly and then power this Water upon the Ashes again and distil it again thus continue five or six â—imes the Water is ready for the Praecipiolum the Mercurys coagulated Salt You may remember I gave you Instruction that you should pour off the clear Water from the Praecipiolum and you should make dry the Praecipiolum and that Praecipiolum bring to a Medicinal Powder or you shall bring all Mettals Principally his own Body into his first matter which cannot be done without the Praecipiolum Salt which is hidden in the Water you powred from the Praecipiolum the same Water filter through a gray paper and set the Water to evaporate in a round Glass vâ—ry softly in Ashes when the Water is evaporated away you shall find at the bottom of the Glass a yellow whitish
Salt which is the Salt of the Praecipiolum and the Claviâ— of the Philosophers wherewith they do unlock the Lock of the Praecipioli and bringeth the same to his first matter If you know not this Salt you know nothing of the true Chymistry This Salt doth decrease in the decrease of the Moon and increaseth at the full-Moon and one Grain will Purge very softly all Podagrous Venemous and Hydropical Humors with two Grains of your Praecipioli prepared How to bring the Praecipiolum into his first or slippery matter Take your Salt and twice as much of your Praecipolum when it is made dry first dissolve your Salt in fair warm Water and power it upon the Praecipiolum and evaporate it away very gently in warm Ashes with a gentle Fire then take your Praecipiolum with its one Salt and put it into a little Retort nip the Neck of the Retort very close or melt it together or Seal it with Hermes Seal then put it into Balneum vaperojum and let it stand six Weeks in digestion or to putâ—ifie and it will turn to a slimy Water then take your Retort and open the Neck then lay your Retort in a Sand Furnace and cover your Retort with an Earthen Pan and lay a Receiver well luted and first give a slow Fire then a stronger and this continue till your Spirits be well resolved into Water first your Spirit will come in form of a white Cloud and at last in the form of red Clouâ—s or red Smoak and give Fire so long till all your Spirits be come over into clear white Water and when you have this sign take your Receiver from the Retort anâ— stop the Receiver very well with Wax that no Spirit may fly away Then let your Fire go out then take the matter which remaineth in the Retort out of the Retort and put the same into a Bolthead and stop it well and set it in a warm place then take your Spirits which are in the Receiver and rectifie them once and keep those Spirits very carefully Observe this you may remember when the Praecipiolon hath lost its Mercury that the same Mercury will be so bright as a Venus Lookinglass take the same bright Mercury and dissolve him in your before-mentioned Spirit as now followeth Take one part of your bright Mercury and put it into a Bolthead and power upon it two parts of your Spirit of Mercury and stop it very close and let it stand in a little warmth and the Mercury will dissolve or melt in your Spirit and then distil it together through a Retort in Sand and again take one part of your bright Mercury and put it into a Bolthead and power upon it two parts of your Spirit and set it in a warm place and the Mercury will melt in the Spiritâ— then distil again through a Retort in Sand and it will come over in the form of Water this continue as long until the half part of your bright Mercury is brought to a clear Water when yoâ— have this clear Water keep it very close stopped with Wax and take your Powder which I gave you to keep in a Bolt-head and place it very deep in a Sand Copel and give it a very strong Fire for twenty and four Hours then let the Fire go out of the said Copel and stir the Powder with a Wooden-stick and power upon it the half part of your clean Mercurial Water and stop the Glass or melt the Glass-mouth together then shake it and let it stand in a warm place for three or four days in digestion powr off this into another Glass and powr upon the remainder of the Powder another half of the Water and stop or melt the mouth of the Glass again and let it stand again for three or four days in a warm place in digestion then powr it out to the former Water and stop the Glass or melt the mouth of the Glass very close that no Spirit may fly out or fly away and let it stand in your Balneo Vaporoso eight days and then distil it through a Retort and if any stuff shall remain in the Retort which will be very little powr upon it your Spirit again and distil it over until all is gone over Now is the Salt with his own Spirit mixt together and brought into the first matter keep it very well stopped This is the Water that the Philosophers have given divers yea above a hundred Names unto it as their Horse-dung their Balneum Mariae their Calx Vive and in short this is the Philosophers true Fire without this Fire or Water no man can do any true Work in Chimistry The Philosophers having brought forth this Salamander which Salamander will never waste in the Fire the longer the stronger This Water will increase or multiply per Infinitum that is to say if all the Sea should be Mercury it will turn the same into the first matter First you must wash your Mercury with Salt and Vinegar divers times and at last with Water to wash away the Salt then mix this Mercury with Calx Vive and calcined Tartar and distil it in a Retort in a Sand Furnace and lay to it a Receiver filled almost halfâ—full with Water and when your Mercury is dry then squeeze him eight or ten times through Leather and then is your Mercury well purged from his uncleanness This is the Mercury you shall use in multiplying your Spirit â—r Astrum Mercurii Take of this Mercury purged one part and of your Spirit or Astrum Mercurii two parts put them together mixt into a Bolt-head stop well the Bolt-head and let it stand in a warm place one Night and your Mercury will melt in your Spirit or Astrum Mercurii and turn it into Water and then distil it through a Retort and thus you may do by repeating your Water with fresh Mercury as long as you please This Water will bring or dissolve all Stones and Gold and Silver into their first matter Item it will bring Gold and Silver over with him through a Retort and that Gold and Silver will never be separated one from the other The reason is Gold and Silver and all metals be of the same Nature and have beginning from the same Water there is nothing in the World but hath its beginning from it The Vniversal Medicine Take of fine Gold that is made fine Powder that is to say take the same Gold which did remain when you made your Praecipiolum one part of your finest Silver made to fine Powder two parts put every metal by it self into a Glass power upon each your Astrum Mercurii that it may go over it one finger breadth and stop each Glass very close and let it stand in a warm place for eight days together and your Gold and Silver will be almost dissolved into Water then powr off the Water every one by it self in a Glass and power more Water to the Gold and Silver which did remain and let it
stand eight days in a warm place and then powr your Waters off to your former Waters and all your Gold and Silver will be dissolved into Water and there will râ—â—ain some faeces then take of both these Waters of each the fourth part and put them together in a Bolt-head that no more of the Bolt-head be empty then three parts and Seal your Bolt-head or melt your Bolt-head mouth very close and put your Bolt-head into an Athanor with your matter into a continual warm heat until it do come to a fixed red Stone or Powder before it do come to a red Powder will appear in your Bolt-head many Colours as black green yellow and red and when it is red and a Powder then take your Bolt-head and buâ—y it in a Sand Copel very deep and give by degrees Fireâ— and at last a very strong Fire and it will melt as Wax and let it stand one whole week or the longer the better then take it out and let it cool and break your Glass and you will find a fixt Stone or Powder as red as Scarlet I did give you Charge that you should keep three parts of your Gold and Silver which was dissolved into Water out both these Waters together in a Retort disâ—il them and both the Gold and Silver will go with the Water over through the Reâ—ort with which Water you shall multiply your Medicine Now take one part of your Medicine made into fine Powder and put it into a little Bolt-head and poure upon it twice as much of your Water as of Gold and Silver and Seal it again and set it into your Athanor again until it do come into a red Powder and then put it again into the Sand for â—o give him the Fixation that he may melt â—ike Wax Upon such a way you may mulâ—iply your Medicine ad Infinitum and your Powder will dissolve in any Liquor Now as to make your Astrum Horizontale or your Golden fixt Praecipitate Take the Gold that remaineth over in the working of your Praecipiolum and make it â—nto a Powder dissolve it in your Astrum Merâ—â—rii as much as you will distil through the Retort once or twice and your Gold will go over along with your Water and will never be separated one from the other they are â—oth of one Nature Now take your Praecipiolum which is made dry I do not mean your Praecipiolum which is made already dry to a Medicine put iâ— into a little Glass Cucurbit and pour upâ—on it your Golden Astrum Mercurii anâ— distil it from it three or four times very slowâ—ly and at last very strong and your Praecipiolum will be red and fixed if you will yoâ— may do the same with Mercury purged iâ— will fix the same to a red Powder and you may do this work with Silver and with your Praecipiolum or Argentum vivum purgâ—tum No man can find out all those Secretâ— which are hidden in this Philosophical Menstruum The Oyl of Gold Take one part of Gold five or six partâ— of the best Mercury mix them both together and then distil the Mercury from the Gold and then mix the same Mercury again with the Gold and this continue until your Gold will not mix with your Mercury then take the Gold and grind it and put it into a clean Crusible and Calcine it till it be almost red-hot and then extinguish your Gold in the best rectified Spirit of Vineger when it is extinguished pour off your Vineger from the Goldâ— make your â—old dry and then make it hot again then â—gain extinguish it in your former Vineger â—nd this repeat five or six times and then â—â—ke your Gold and make it dry and Amalâ—ame it again with the aforementioned Mercury and distil it again as at the first â—nd this do so long until the Gold will not â—ix with your Mercury and then Calcine â—our Gold again and extinguish it in the â—ormer Vineger five or six times if your Viâ—eger decay or waste you may add to it some more fresh Vineger And this you may conâ—inue until you think there is no strength â—est in your Mercury Then you must take â—resh Mercury and go to work as before and â—o continue till you think you have enough â—rom the Gold Then take your Vineger which is impregnated with the whole Essence of Gold Evaporate it or distil it very softly off and it will lye at the bottom like a yellow Salt which you shall dissolve in fair distilled Rain Water filter it and evaporate it again softly and then put it into a little Retort and place it in Sand with an indifferent large Receiver for it and give a Fire by degrees and it will come over in a white Spirit like Smoak and then iâ— will come over â—ed like Saffronâ— and when it is resolved into a red Liquor let the Fire go out and keep it for use the Dose is three or four drops This is saith the Author one of the greatest Medicines under the Sun and you can hardly get a better Three drops are able to extinguish any sickness and in this Oyl of Gold is the greatest Secret of Nature With this Liquor Reymond Lully figureth Mercury in Exenterata Naturae These Processes was by a German given to Mr. Richard Pratt who lived some time in Hantshire and cured the German of a Sickness for which Kindness the German gave him these Processes protesting that they were some of Van-Helmonts and Mr. Pratt gave them to Mr. Yalden minister of Compton near Godlyman in Surry who sent them to Dr. Salmon to Print which he neglecting some Years they were sent with Dr. Antonies's Recipe of his Aurum potabile to William Cooper to Print for the benefit of the Publick and since I receiv'd them I find Dr. Salmon hath newly Printed them in his Doron Medicum called Liquor Aureus Lib. 2 d. Book 11. Sect. 2. page 520 to 523. As for the Electrum minerale Immaturum which he calls Idea vide Doron lib. 1. Cap. 27. page 315. to 326. But so very much mangled and altered by putting in feigned Names when indeed he receiv'd all of them in their proper known Names as you have them here Printed one purpose to prevent mens being deceived for Mr. Yalden is a Man of so Christian a Temper that he thirsteth to do all the good he could in this World the Truth hereof his poor Parishioners and Neighbours will sufficiently testifie Therefore to undeceive the World and to save men from false Broyleries and Chargeable Expenses I have here Printed the true Copy as Mr. Yalden sent it to me W. C. B. FINIS AVRVM-POTABILE OR THE RECEIT OF Dr. FR. ANTONIE SHEWING His Way and Method how he made and prepared that most Excellent Medicine for the Body of Man LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1683. Dr. Fr. Anthonie's Receit shewing the way to make his most Excellent Medicine called Aurum Potabile TAke Block-tinn and burn it
in an Iron Pan making the Pan red-hot before you put it in and keeping a continual Fire under it and stirring it always till it be like unto Ashes some will look red it will be burning a day or half a day at the least it must be stirred with an Iron Cole-rake a little one the handle two Foot long G. H. M. Made an Iron Pan a Foot and half long and a Foot broad the Brims two Inches deep and made an Oven in a Chimney with Bars of Iron in the bottom whereon he placed the Pan and â— place under to make Fire and it will after this manner sooner be burned viz. half a day the Smoak will not hurt it This Ashes keep in a Glass close covered Take of these Ashes 4 â— and of the strongest red Wine Vineger 3 Pints and put them in a Glass like an Urinal the Ashes being put in first lute the Vessel and let him stand in an hot Balneum 10 days which ended take it forth and set it to cool and let it stand 2 or 3 whole days that the Feces may sink unto the bottom the Glass must be shaken 6 or 7 times every day That which is clear let it run forth unfiltred by 2 or 3 Woolen-threds into a Glass Bason and distil it in a Glasen Still till the Liquor be stilled all forth this distilled Water put upon 4 ounces of fresh Ashes upon the Ashes from which the first Liquor was filtred put also a Quart of strong red Wine Vinegar lute the Glass as before and put him into the Balneum and there let him stand to digest 10 days filter this and distil it as aforesaid thirdly pour on that Ashes one pint of the like Vineger and put it in Balneum 10 Days filter it and distil it as aforesaid after the third Inâ—usion throw away the Ashes Distil all the Infusions apart till the Liquor be clean distilled forth Take this distilled Water as often as it is distilled and pour it upon new Ashes keeping the weight and order their Infusions Filtrings and Destillations reiterate 7 times And you shall have of this Water the Menstruum sought for You must take heed that the Vineger be of red Wine and very strong otherwise your Menstruum will not perform your Expectation The Bishop gave Dr. Anthony 30 s. for a quart of Menstruum Take an ounce of pure refined Gold which costs 3 l. 13 s. 4 d. cast into a Wedge and File it into small Dust with a fine File put this ounce of filed Gold into a Calcined Pot and put to it so much white Salt as will near fill the Pot and set it among Charcoals where it may stand continually hot 4 Hours if it stand too hot the Salt will melt which 4 Hours ended take it forth and let it stand to cool then put it on a Painters Stone and grind it very small with a Muller then put it into the Pot and Calcine it and grind it again till you have done it 4 or 5 times iâ— it look red and blew when you take it forth it is perfect good After this calcining and grinding put it into a Glass Bason and put to it the Bason full of scalding hot Water and stir it a good while till the thick part is fully settled to the bottom then pour away that Water and put the like stir it and let it settle as before and so do again till the Water when it is settled have no taste of Salt this will be doing two or three days Of this ounce of Gold there will be hardly above 16 or â—17 Grains brought into fine white Calx but to separate it from the Gold leave a little of the last fresh Water in the Bason and stir it well together the Calx will swim to the top which softly pour from the Gold into another Bason if all the white Calx go not forth put a little more Water and stir it again aud pour it into the Bason to the other Calx then let it settle and pour away almost all the Water and Evaporate away all the rest over a heat till it be throughly dry and so put it up into a Glass Then put the Gold which is not yet Calx to Salt as aforesaid and Calcine it and grind it four times again and then wash it and then take the Calx from it as before and the Gold that remains calcine and wash as before till it be all Calx Take an ounce of this Calx and put it into an Urinal like Glass containing about a pint and put to it half a pint of the Menstruum Set this Glass in a hot Balneumâ— six days being close luted and shake it often every day when the six days are ended let it stand two or three days then pour away that which is clear very gently for fear of troubling the Feces to these Feces put fresh menstruum but not fully so much as at the first and so the third time but not fully so much as at the second then take the dry Feces which is the Calx and keep it lest some Tincture remain in it These coloured Liquors put into a Glass Still and distil them in a Balneum at the first with a very gentle Fire till all that which is clear be run forth and that which remains be as thick as Hony then take it forth and set it to cool then put the Glass into an Earthen Pot and put Ashes about the Glass into the Pot and fix the Pot into a little Furnace fast and make a Fire under so that the Glass may stand very warm till the Feces be black and very dry you may look with a Candle through the Glass Still and see when it is risen with bunches and dry Then take away your Fire and let the Glass be very cold then take out the black Earth this black Earth being taken forth put it into a Glass Bason and grind it with the bottom of another round Glass to Powder then put it into an Urinal-like Glass containing about a pint and to that put a little above half a pint of the Spirit of Wine set this Glass in a cold place till it be red which will be about ten days shake it often every day till within three days you pour it forth Then pour away the clear Liquor gently and that clear put into a Glass-Still or other Glass till you have more then put more Spirit of Wine to that Feces and order it as before and if that be much coloured put Spiritus Vini to it the third time as at the first put all these coloured Liquors together and distil them till the Feces called the Tincture be as thick as a Syrrup Take an ounce of this Tincture and put it into a pint of Canary Sack and so when it is clear you may drink of it which will be about a day and a half The Preparation of the Vineger to make the Menstruum Glasses necessary get 3 or 4
Earth and the pouring of Water upon the Earth so long until the Earth putrifie and be cleansed otherwise it would not bring forth its Fruit. Secondly when he saith mix Water and Air it 's no more then if he should have said mix Water now prepared with Air dissolved or joyn and mix together dissolved Air with Water Judge ye your selves For you know that Air is warm and moyst and ye have the saying of Morienus concerning the dissolution of Air Earth Fire and Water Some when they speak of Dissolution say that the Solution of the Fire is better because whatsoever is dissolved in the Fire that floweth in the Air. And Note that the Fire of the Philosophers is nothing else then the Air dissolved and congealed This you may better comprehend from similitude and suppose that first you have Air dissolved and congealed to which add Fire The Earth ought to be first prepared and the Fire dissolved before they are mixed For the Earth together with the Fire ought to be put into a fit Vessel and after is to be introduced the inextinguishable Fire of Nature which when it descendeth upon the Earth devoureth the whole together with its Gumm and converteth it into its own Nature Wherefore if ye consider well the Sayings and Precepts of the Philosophers and understand their Mystical Sence ye shall come to all the Secrets of the Divine Chymick Art FINIS A Catalogue of certain Chimical-Books Sold by William Cooper at the Pelican in Little-Britain London ROg Bacon of the Cure of Old-Age and Preservation of Youth 1683. 8o Edward Madeira Arrais his account of the Tree of Life 1683. 8o Cardinal Cusa the Idiot of Wisdom and of the Mind Sublime Philosophy for a mental Man 1650. Dominicus de Nuysement of the true Salt and Secret of the Philosophers 1657. 8o Lazarus Erkern of the Refining of Metalls with 44 Figures 1683. Folio Fulke of the Causes of all kind of Stones Metalls Earths c. 1563. 8o Dr. Meverells Answers concerning the Compounding Incorporating Separation and Variation of Metalls and Mineralls 1679. 8o Lirenaeus Philalethes Ripley reviv'd or a Commentary upon Sr. Geo. Ripleys Works of the Philosophers-Stone 1678 Aurifontina Chimica or 14 Treatises of the Philosophers Mercury 1680. 24 s Io. Ioach Bechers Magnalia Naturae of Transmutations done at Vienna c. 1681. Ioh. Ern. Burgravius his Introduction to Astral Philosophy 1664. 8o William Bacons Key to the understanding of Van-Helmonts works 1682. 4o Io. Case his Wards to the Key of Van-Helmont against Dr. Bacon 1682. 4o Rob. Boyle his Aerial Noctiluca or the wonder of this Age. 1680. 8o his Observations upon the Icy Noctiluca 1682. 8o his Antielixir or Degradation of Gold Sr. Ken. Digbies Rare Chymical Secrets as they were presented to him in his Travels through France Spain Italy and Germany by the best Chymists of those Countrys through which he passed and published since his Death by Mr. Hartman his Steward and Operator 1682. 8o Nic. Flammells summary of the Philosoâ—â—ers-Stone 1680. 24. Chr. Glasers compleat Chymist 1677. 8o Geber the Arabian his Works in Chymistry 1678. 8o Hydropyrographum Hermeticum or the true fiery Water oâ— the Philosophers 1680. 24. Rara Avis in Terris or the compleat Miner their Laws Customs c. 1681. 12o Nic. Lemerys's Course of Chymistry 1677. 8o His Appendix to his Course of Chimistry 1680. 8o Reym Lullies's Clavicula or Key to his Works 1680. 24. A strange Letter concerning the vast Treasure of an Adept 1680. 24 s. William Maxwells's 100 Aphorisms of the Body of Natural Magick 1656. 8o The Principles of the Chymists of London 2 parts 1676. 8o A Philosophical Riddle in Verse with Aurifontina Chym. A Brief Preparation of the Philosophers Stone ibid. Paracelsus his Mystical Philosophy written to the Athenians 1657. 8o The Privy Seal of Secrets discovering the first matter of Philosophers 1680. Io. Rays's Account of the melting smelling preparing and refining of the Metalls and Mineralls in England 1674. 8o Sr. George Ripley's Treatise of Mercury 1680. Const. Rodoâ—anacis his Discourse of Antimony and its Vertues 1664. 4o An Account of the Philosophers transmuting Powder found by Winces Seilerus in the Chappel of a Monastery in Germany 1683. 4o David Persons Salamandra or Treatise of the Philosophers Stone 1636. 4o Synesius the Greek Abbot of the Philosophers Stone 1678. 8o Secrets Disclos'd of the Philosophers Stone 1680. 24. William Simpsons Philosophical Dialogues of the Principles of things 1677. 8o The Treasure of Treasures 1680. 24. A Treatise of the Blessed Manna of the Philosophers 1680. Tumba Semiramidis the Wise-men's inexhaustible Treasure 1676. 8o The Touch-stone of Gold and Silver wares by W. B. 1677. 8o A new Touchstone of Gold and Silver wares by Io. Reynolds 1679. 8o G. Kendall's Appendix teaching the way to make Mathew's Pill 1663. 8o Bernard Earl of Trevisan his Epistle to Thomas of Bononia concerning the Secret workings of Nature in the Product of things 1680. 24. William Cooper's Catalogue of Chimical Books in 3 parts 1675. 8o The end THE BOSOME-BOOK OF Sir GEORGE RIPLEY CANON OF BRIDLINGTON CONTAINING His Philosophical Accurtations in the makeing the Philosophers Mercury and Elixirs LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1683. The Bosome-Book of Sir George Ripley The whole Work of the Composition of the Philosophical Stone of the great Elixir and of the first Solution of the gross Body FIrst take 30 pound weight of Sericon or Antimony which will make 21 pound weight of Gum or near thereabouts if it be well dissolved and the Vinegar very good and dissolve each pound thereof in a Gallon of twice distilled Vinegar when cold again and as it standeth in Dissolution in a fit Glass Vessel stirr it about with a clean Stick very often every day the oftner the better and when it is well moulten to the bottom then filter over the said Liquors three several times which keep close covered and cast away the Feces for that is superfluous â—ilth which must be removed and entreth not into the Work but is called Terra damnata The making of our Gum or green Lyon Then put all these cold Liquors thus filtred into a fit Glass Vesâ—el and â—et it into Balneo Maria to evaporate in a temperate heat which done our Sericon will be coagulated into a green Gum called our green Lyon which Gum dry well yet beware thou burn not his Flowers nor destroy his greenness The Extraction of our Menstrue or blood of our green Lion Then take out the said Gum and put it into a strong Retort of Glass very well Luted and place it in your Furnace and under that at the first make sober Fire and anon you shall see a faint Water issue forth let it waste away but when you see a white Smoak or fume issue forth then put too a Receiver of Glass which must have a very large Belly and the mouth no wider then it may well receive into that
the Neck of the Retort which close well together that no fume issue forth of the Receiver Then encrease your Fire by little and little till the fume which issueth be reddish then continue the greater Fire until drops like blood come forth and no more fume will issue forth and when that leaveth bleeding let it cool or asswage the Fire by little and little and when all things are cold then take away the Receiver and close it fast suddenly that the Spirits vanish not away for this Liquor is called our blessed Liquor which Liquor keep close stopped in a Glass till hereafter Then look into the Neck of the Retort and therein you shall find a white hard Ryme as it were the Congelation of a Frosty vapour or much like sublimate which gather with diligence and keep it apart for therein are contained great Secrets which shall be shewed hereafter after the great Work is ended The Creation of our Basis. Then take out all the Feces which remaineth in the Retort and are blackish like unto Soot which Feces are called our Dragon of which feces Calcyne one pound or more at your pleasure in a fervent hot Fire in a Potters or Glass-makers Furnace or in a Furnace of vente or a Wind Furnace until it become a white Calx as white as Snow which white Calx keep well and clean by it self for it is called the Basis and Foundation of the Work and it is now called Mars and our white fixed Earth or ferrum Philosophorum The Calcination of the black Feces called our black Dragon Then take all the rest of the aforesaid black Feces or black Dragon and spread them somewhat thin upon a clean Marble or other fit Stone and put into the one side thereof a burning Coal and the Fire will glide through the Feces within half an Hour and Calcyne them into a Citrine Colour very glorious to behold The Solution of the said Feces Then dissolve those Citrine Feces in such distilled Vinegar as you did before and then filter it likewise three times as before and after make oâ— evaporate it to a Gum again and then draw out of it more of our Mensâ—ruum called now Dragonâ— Blood and â—terate this Work in all points as afore unâ—il you have either brought all or the most part of the Feces into our Natural and blessed Liquor all which Liquor put to the first Liquor or Menstrue called the Green Lyons Blood and set that Liquor then altogether in one Vessel of Glass fourteen days in Putrification and after proceed to the Separation of Elements for now have you all the Fire of the Stone in this our blessed Liquor which before lay hidden in the Feces which Secret all the Philosophers do marvellously hide The Separation of the Elements whereof the first is the Air and is also counted our ardent-Ardent-Water and our Water Attractive Then put all the said putrified Menstruum into a Still of fine Venice Glass fit for the quantity thereof put on the Limbeck and close it to the Still with a fine Linnen Cloth dipt in the White of an Egg and then set it in Balneo Mariae put to the Receiver which must be of a great length that the Spirit respire not out again and with very temperate heat separate the Elements one from another and then the Element of Air will issue forth first which is an Oyl Our Ardent Water or Water Attractive is thus made When all the first Element is distilledâ— then in another Still fit for it rectify it thaâ— is to say distil it over 7 several times and until it will burn a Linnen Cloth clean up that is dipt in it when it is put to thâ— flame which then is called our Ardent Water rectified and is also called our Water Attractive which keep very close stâ—pped for otherwise the Spirit thereof which is very subtil will vanish away By often rectifying the Ardent Water there will come Aer in a white Oyl swimming above the Water and there will remain behind a yellow Oyl which with a stronger Fire will also come over Put Sublimate beaten small upon a Plate of Iron and in the cold it will dissolve into Water and filter it then and put upon it some of the Ardent Water and it will draw to it self all the Mercury in form of a green Oyl swimming aloft which separate and put into a Retort and distil first a Water and afterward will come a green thick Oyl which is the Oyl of Mercury The Flood or Water of the Stone Then draw out the Flood or Water of the Stone by it self in another Receptory which Liquor will be somwhat white and draw â—t with a very gentle Fire of Balneo until â—here remain in the bottom of the Still a â—hick Oily substance like unto liquid Pitch keep this Water by it self in a fit Glass very close stopped Note when the Liquor cometh white you must put on another Receiver for then all that Element is come over two or three drops of this black Liquid Oyl given in Spirit of Wine cureth all Poyson taken inwardly Our Mans Blood is thus made and rectified Then put our Ardent Water upon that Matter black and liquid stir them well together and let it so stand well covered for 3 Hours then decant and filter it put on fresh Ardent Water and repeat this Operation 3 times and then distil it again with a moist lent Fire of Balneo and so do three times and then it is called Mans blood rectified which the Workers in the Secrets of Nature do so seek and so hast thou the Elements exalted in the virtue of their quintessence namely the Flood that is Water and the Air let this Blood be kept for a season The Oyl or Fire or the Earth of the Stone Then put up the Flood or Water upon the black and soft matter or Earth of the Stone let them be well mingled together and then distil the whole until there remain in the bottom an Earth most dry and black which is the Earth of the Stone save the Oyl with the Water for a season close stopt in any wise The Fiery Water Then beat this black Earth into Powder and mingle it with Mans blood and so let it stand 3 Hours after that distil it on Ashes with a good Fire and Reiterate this work 3 times and then it shall be called Water of the Fire rectified and so hast thou three of the Elements exalted into the Virtue of the quintessence namely Water Air and Fire The Earth Then Calcine the Earth black and dry in Furnace of Reverberation until it become very fine white Calx The Water of Life which is our Mercury and our Lunary Then mingle with this white Calx the â—iery Water and distil it with a strong Fire all 〈◊〉 as before and Calcine the Earth again â—hat remaineth in the bottom of the Still â—nd then distil it again with a strong Fire â—s before and again Calcine it and thus
abouts distilled from fresh Urine are to be rejected thâ— tenth part as much as can be extracted iâ— form of Liquor is to be kept from thaâ— dried Urine which remains in the bottoâ— by a gentle Fire which will not cause sublâ—â—mation let the Salt be extracted with Wâ—â—ter so that there be as much Water as haâ— that Urine whence this Feces was dryed whatsoever is imbibed by the Water let it 〈◊〉 powred off by decanting let it be strained 〈◊〉 purged per deliquium then filtre it throughâ— Glass Let fresh Water be powred on anâ— reiterate this Work till the Salt become puâ—â— then joyn this vastly stinking Salt with youâ— last Spirit and cohobate it Praised be the Name of the Lord Amen ARCANUM LIQUORIS IMMORTALIS IGNIS-AQUAE SEU ALKAHEST Ab EIRENAEO PHILALETHA Amico suo Filio ARTIS jam PHILOSOPHO Per Interrogationes ac Responsiones communicatum LONDINI Sumptibus Gulielmi Cooper ad Insigne Pelicani in Vico vulgò dicto Little Britain 1683. ARCANUM LIQUORIS Alkahest Quaest. 1. QUID est Alkahest Resp. 2. Est Universale Menstruum Catholicum uunius verbi Ignis-aqua ens â—implex immortale penetrans cuncta resolvens in primam nempe Liquidam suam Maâ—eriam ejus Virtuti nil resistere valeat agitque absque Reactione patientis nec ab ulâ—a re patitur nisi a solo suo Compari a quo â—ub Jugum trahitur alias autem res quasvis postquam dissolvit integer in sua pristina Natura manet tanâ—úmque â—valet millesima Actione tanquam Prima 3. Q. Cujusnam est Substantiae 4. R. Sal Circulatus est nobilis mira Arte praeparatus usquedum voto respondeat sagacis Artificis neutiquam tamen sal corporalis est nuda Recollatione liquidus at salinus Spiritus qui calore non coagulatur evaporatione humidi sed uniformis est Substantiae spiritualis levi calore volatilis nec quicquam post se relinquens non tamen acidus est Spiritus aut Alkalizatus sed salsus 5. Q. Compar ejus quis est 6. R. Si Par novisti Compar haud difficulter noveris quaere nam vendidêre Dii sudoribus Artes. 7. Q. Ex qua materia proximè fit Alkahest 8. R. Salem esse dixi Salem circumdedit Ignis Ignem absorpsit Aqua nec tamen ei praevalet sic factus est Ignis Philosophicus de quo dicitur Vulgus cremat per Ignem nos per Aquam 9. Q. Sal maximè nobilis quinam 10. R. Hoc si cupis discere descende in teipsum nam tecum circumgeritur tam Sal quam ejus Vulcanus si valeas discernere 11. Q. Quis est dic sodes 12. R. Sanguis Humanus extra Corpus â—â—ve Lotium Humanum est enim Lotium exrementum ex parte maxima à cruore decisum â—trumque dat salem tam volatilem quà m fixâ—m si nôris colligere praeparare praestò tiâ—i erit Balsamum salutis pretiosissimum 13. Q. Esâ—ne proprietas Urinae Humanae major nobilis Urina quorum vis jumentorum 14. R. Multis gradibus etiam licèt Excrementum Sal tamen ejus non habet sibi simiâ—e in tota universa Natura 15. Q. Quae sunt ejus partes 16 R. Volatilis fixior pro varietate tamen tractationis alterantur hae mulâ—ifarià m 17. Q. Suntne aliqua in Urina ab intima ejus Natura Urinacea specifica aliena 18. R. Sunt Phlegma aqueum videlicet Sal marinus in cibis intrò sumptus ac sospes indigestusque in Urina habitans ab eademque per Secretionem divisibilis qui si nullus sit usus satis in cibis per tempus idoneum cessat 19. Q. Phlegma sive Aquea humiditas insulsa unde 20. R. Sunt potus ex parte maxima tamen quaeque habet suum phlegma 21. Q. Explica te planiùs 22. R. Scito Urinam partim per Virtutem ecreticem unà cum haustis ad vesicam transmitti partim ex Teffas humore excrementitio sanguinis aqueo constare unde deâ—isum per fermenti urinacei odorem permeâ—t intimè immutata salsedine nisi quod salsum Sanguineum sit salsum Urinaceum sic quod praeter salem in Urina quicquid contineâ—ur Phlegma est inutile 23. Q. Quomodo patet in lotio Phlegma copiosum contineri 24. R. Hinc puta primò quidem ex Gustu deinde ex Pondere tertiò ex Virtute 25. Q. Esto tibi Mercurius 26. R. Sal Urinae totum essentiale proprium lotio continet cujus odor est peracutus gustus pro tractationis varietate varius ut videlicet nonnunquam quandoque salsus salsedine Urinacea 27. Q. Quid de pondere observasti 28. R. Hoc nimirum quòd Urinae tres duplo plus unciae ab homine sano collectae mediocriter Aquae fontanae circiter Grana 80 praeponderare unde destillatum esse Liquorem eque ponderantem praedictae Aquae vidi unâ—e constat relictum fere fuisse salem 29. Q. Quid de Virtute observasti 30. R. Congelatio Urinae a frigore indicio possit esse quòd Phlegma insit non etenim saâ—i Urinae pauco Liquore etiam aqueo madefacto competit congelatio gelida 31. Q. At hujusmodi Phlegma ut ut exquisitissimè Destillatione separetur sapit Urinam idque tam Naribus quam Lingua judicatum 32. R. Fateor quidem gustu tamen paâ—ùm deprehenditur neutro quoque modo plus quam in Aqua pura a sale Lotii cohobata perciperetur 33. Q. Quid docet Pyrotechnia circa urinam 34. R. Hoc viz. Salem Urinae volatilem reddere 35. Q. Quid tum relinquitur 36. R. Faex terrea nigricans faetulenta 37. Q. Spiritus an totus uniformis 38. R. Sic quoad visum odorem pariter gustum tum diversificatum inter se qualitatibus planè contrariis 39. Q. Quibus 40. R. Ab una coagulatur Virtute propria â—nhabitante ab altera dissolvitur puta Dueâ—ech 41. Q. Quid praeterea 42. R. In coagulatione Lotii sui Spiritus vini deprehenditur 43. Q. Estne talis Spiritus in Lotio 44. R. Est sanè reverà inhabitans quamvis Urinam etiam hominis sanissimi qui Arte praeparari valet 45. Q. Cujusnam est hic Spiritus efficaciae 46. R. Dolendae sanè humano generi commiserandae 47. Q. Quare 48. R. Hinc Duelech hostis atrocissimus suum habet ortum 49. Q. Dabisne exemplum hujus rei 50. R. Dabo Sumatur Lotium in eoque dissolvetur idonea Salis-Petrae quantitas stet per mensem postea destilletur exibit primò Spiritus ardens supra Linguam ac si esset carbo readfundatur Spiritus cohobetur quater vel quinquies non abstrahendo quavis vice ultra partem dimidiam sic fiet Spiritus acutissimus nil tamen acescens ardor qui in prima Liquoris destillatione egreditur postea sensim mitescit tandemque ferè si non omnino silet mitisque secundus Spiritus â—prehenditur tam ad odorem quà m ad guâ—m
â—istil and Calcine 7 times until all the Subâ—â—ance of the Calx be lifted up by the Limbeck â—nd then hast thou the Water of Life rectiâ—ied and made indeed Spiritual and so hast â—hou the 4 Elements exalted in the Virtue of their quintessence This Water will disâ—olve all Bodies and putrify them and Purge â—hem and this is our Mercury and our Lunaâ—y and whosoever thinketh that there is any other Water then this is Ignorant and a â—ool and shall never be able to come to the â—ffect A grand secret or Accurtation of Sr. Georgâ— Ripley for the help of those which have made the Philosophers Mercury and whose Poverty disables them to proceed to either the Red or White Elixir Take the Cerus or Cream of the fineâ—â— and purest Cornish Tinn moulten reduce 〈◊〉 into fine white Calx put it into a fit Glasâ— Still and thereupon pour a convenient quantity of our Mercury when it is our Lunaâ—ry perfect then distil that Mercury from the Calx again and inbibe it therewith again and again distil and reiterate this work until the Calx is become subtil anâ— Oyly yea and so subtil indeed that it wilâ— How upon a Plate of Copper Fiery hot 〈◊〉 Wax and not evaporate which then wilâ— convert Copper into fine Silver for the softness and neshness of the Tinn is taken away by the benefit of our Mercury confixed unto it by Virtue of which it is made indurate anâ— clean that it may agree with hardâ— Bodies in fusion and in Malleation even as pure Silver This work is very gainful and easie to be dealt withal use it therefore until thou be Rich and then I pray thee for our Lords sake go to the great work which â—s hear truly set forth unto thee according as â—y Practice I have wrought and proved the â—ame For the which thank God The Oyl which is the Element of Fire and our red Mercury The Flood with the Oyl afore reserved â—hall be distilled with a most lent Fire of â—alneo and the red Oyl which remaineth in â—he bottom shall be diligently kept by it self â—or it is the Element of Fire and the Water â—hall be rectified again and the same work â—terated until no more of our said red Lunaâ—y will remain in it The work of Putrification When all your Elements be thus separated then take the white Calcined Feces first of all reserved called Mars and put so much thereof into a Chymia as will scarcely fill half the Glass and thereupon pour so much of our Ardent Water rectified as may but well cover the Calx which done incontinent stop close the Glass with a Blind-head and set it into a cold place until the Calx have drank up all the Liquor which it will do in 8 days then imbibe it again with the like quantity of the same Water and let it stand eight days more and so Reiterate the work from 8 days to 8 days untill the same Calx will drink no more but stand Liquid still then Seal up the Glass with Hermes seal and set it in Balneo Mariae in a temperate heat to Putrifaction The digestion of the white Stone Then in that temperate Balneo let your Glass stand unremoved by the space of fullyâ— 150 days and until the Stone within the Glass become first Russet and after whitish green and after that very white like unto the Eyes of Fishes which then is Sulphur of Nature flowing and not evaporating in Fire and our white Stone ready to be firmented Another Secret Accurtation of Sr. George Ripley Take the above said Sulphur of Nature and project a quantity upon a Plate of Glass fiery hot and the Glass shall be converted into a Silver Colour and that Colour shall not be removed by any Art The digestion of the Red Stone Then take out the white Stone and divide it in to two and know the true weight of each half the one half reserve to the white work the other half put into the Glass and seal it up again with Hermes Seal and then remove the Glass into a Cinerition which is somewhat a hotter Fire and let it stand there likewise unremoved in that digestion until it become Red and of a Purple Colour so have you the red Stone also ready to be fermented The Preparation of the Ferment to the white-Stone Then take Silver well purged from all Metalls and other filth that may be joyned with it and dissolve it in as much of our Lunary which is our Mercury as the quantity of your Silver is and in no greater quantity as near as you may and set it upon warm Ashes close covered and when it is throughly dissolved the whole Liquor will be green then rectifie our Mercury clean from it again twice or thrice so that no drop of our Mercury be rest with it then seal up the Oyl of Luna in a Chemia and set it in Balneo to putrifie until it shew all Colours and at the last come to be Christaline white which then is the white Ferment of Ferments The Fermentation of the white-Stone Then put that half of the white Stone before reserved for the white-Work into a fit Glass and know his weight and put so much of the foresaid Lune Ferment into the Glass with the Stone as may contain the 4 th part of the said Stone and in the said Glass well luted fix them together in a fixatory Vessel under the Fire which will be well done in 2 or 3 days The Inceration of the White-stone When they are thus fixed together and become one very fine Powder incerate that is to say imbibe it with the white Oyl of our Stone which is our Lunary by pouring on as it were drop after drop until the Stone be Oylish then congeal it and again imbibe it and in this manner iterate this work until this Stone will flow in Fire like Wax when it is put upon a Plate of Copper Fiery hot and not evaporate and congeal it up until it be hard white and transparent clear â—s Chrystal then it is the Medicine of the â—hird degree and the perfect white Stone â—ransmuting all Metaline Bodies and chieâ—â—y Copper and Iron into pure and perfect Silver The Preparation of the Red-ferment Then likewise take Gold very purely first â—urged from all other Metals that may be joyâ—ed with it with ten parts of Antimony and â—hen dissolve it in our Mercury or Liquor Soâ—â—tive as before you did the Lune and when 〈◊〉 is perfectly dissolved the Liquor will be Citrine then in like manner rectifie from 〈◊〉 again our Mercury or Liquor Solutive and then Seal up the Oyl of Gold Ferment in a Chemia fit for it and set it in Balneo to Puâ—â—ifie which likewise will become black and must stand still unremoved in digestion until it become white which then remove into a stronger Fire without opening the Glass and then keep it until it change Colours and become Citrine which then is also
think you will find it in his best forme and of farthest extention when it is in his pâ—p or pulp for his Body is exceeding waterish and vanisheth away to a small subâ—â—ance if you seek to dry it This I write by mine own trial yet peradventure the Goord of Naples which he calleth Cucurbita may bâ— of a differing nature from our Pompions How to save much flâ—werâ— or meal that is lost in all our usual Corn mills that grind either with Wind or Water IF I teach the Miller so to grind his wheat as that neither the starchmaker if I be not deceived shall have stuff to make his starch with except he grind for himself after the aâ—cient manner nor the brown Baker any bran to make horsebread withal I hope that my fault will be pardonable at this time because I hold it much bâ—tter to want flower about our necks then in our bellies and that horses should sâ—â—rve before their masters The conceit is short and easie and I hope without controlment Let every Mill that grindeth corn have also a boulting mill annexed unto it that the same mover may play upon both and by shaking of the boulter make a division of the bran from the flower This bran as soon as it is divided from the flower must be returned again into the hopper amongst the rest of the wheat that is unground and so as fast as you gather any bran you must mix it with more corn And by this means you shall have much less bran and also more flower though you would notwithstanding this course pass the same through a fine boulter again It is an usual manner in the higher part of Germany to boult with these mills but not to grind over their bran again in the first mill for ought that I know or as yet can learn How to make starch without any corn IT is well known that those Aaron-roots beâ—ore mentioned will make a white and delicate starch You must gather them in March or April washing them clean and paring away all the filth or foul skins from them and after slicing them into thin slices and so leaving thâ—m in fair clear water and changing your water every 12. hours for the space of four or five days till they become exceeding white and clean then stamp them and force them through a strainer with clean water and when the substance of the starch is setled in the bottom which will be in a few hours then drein away all the clear water that fleeteth on the top very gently and expose the rest being in flat earthen pans or clean tubs to the Sun which will attract or draw up all the water and leave a hard cake in the bottom But in the winter time when you cannot have the Sun of a sufficient force for this purpose then set your stone pans or pewter basons wherein you have strained out your starch upon a pot with sâ—alding water and so you may dry the same in a sufficient quantity for your own use all the year long And if you would harden the same without charge then place your pan upon your bief pot and so you shall make one fire to perform several actions at once But because these roots are not to be had in all places nor at all times of the year therefore for a second supply I have thought good to set down this receit following Take of the whitest Gum Arabique that you can buy at the Grocers let them beat the same into pieces for you as big as hasel nuts in their great morters then take 3. ounces of this Gum and first wash it in fair Conduit water in a Stone Bason stirring it up and down with your hands to take the filth from it then wash it again with some more water and pour that also away and then to every 3. ounces so washed put a wine pint of fair Conduit-Water stirring it up and down 3. or 4. times aday to procure a speedy solution or dissolving of the Gum Then cover your Pan and when all the Gum is dissolved strein the water through a clean and thin Linnen cloth and reserve the same in Glasses well stopt till you have cause to use it It will last sweet at the least three weeks after it is made When you would use this starch if you desire to have your ruffs to carry a pure and perfect white colour you must mingle some blew with the water stirring it up and down with your finger in a Porrenger and before the blew settle to the bottom wet your ruff therein and presently wring it out again then put it till it be clear and after set it as you do in your common starch I do find by experience that half the time that is lost in the other manner of starching is here gained For by reason that your starch is in a thin water the Lawn and Cambrick will be soon cleared and with much less beating And I think that a second profit will here likewise fall out by the way viz. That your Lawn and Cambrick will last much longer For if I be not deceived the continual patting or beating thereof between the hands in our usual starching worketh a great fretting and wearing of the same And I doubt not but that there be many other sorts of Grain Pulse and Roots which will make as good Starch as Wheat which at this time I leave unto the studious indeavours of those that are careful for the common good It may be that at my better leisure I may handle this subject more at large but now the present times inforce me to deliver that knowledg which I have And thus much for starch Sweet and delicate cakes made without Spice or Sugar SLice great and sweet Parsnep roots such as are not seeded into thin slices and having washed and scraped them clean dry them and beat them into powder here a mill would make a greater dispatch searcing the same through a fine searce then knead two parts of fine flower with one part of this powder and make the same into cakes and you shall find them to taste very daintily I have eaten of these cakes divers times in mine own house Quaere what may be done in Carots Turneps and such like roots after this manner Here I think it not impertinent to the purpose which I have in hand to wish a better survey to be made of my book of Husbandry being a parcel of the Jewel house of Art and Nature Printed an 1594. Wherein sundry new sorts of Marle are familiarly set down and published for the good of our English Farmers amongst the which those waste ashes of the Sope-boylers for such as dwell near unto the City of London or may by easie water carriage convey them unto their hungry and lean grounds have a principal place for the enriching of all cold moist and weeping grounds The book is to be had at the Peliâ—an in Little Britain And if there were
in Mercury of white matter and of white Substance cometh that Mercury For so he is of a pure subtil Earth Sulphur most clear and most subtil commixed with pure Water and with Commixtion and heat these two Elements digesteth with Temperance of heat and so turneth into Mercury the Sperm of Metals therefore Water and Earth is the first matter of Mercury and Mercury is the first matter of all Mettals and when they be put into that Water they all melt and dissolve in him as the Ice doth in warm Water and why do they so because they were first Water coupled by cold and now here is Aristotles's Principle assoyled And although there were two things first yet nevertheless when they be resolved into clear currant Mercury and no palpable thing of the Body seen nor felt but passeth through the Philter clean as Water then is it but one thing upon the which all Philosophers accord and ground them est una Sola res And here now I have shewed you more plainly then it hath been shewed here before And I say to thee for truth this is the very true Key of this Science for Merlin and many others write here of divers ways as in the verse of Merlin dissipare leviter extracta c. and Albertus in the fifth Book de mineralibus de semine Metallorum where he upon a little Gloss teacheth Solution as there ye may see But of all special Books that ever I could read or see Stella Complexionis is the Father of Truth and Doctrine shewing the clear light and the right way of the Preparation of this precious Treasure and he expoundeth all the Figures of the Philosophers openly where I doubt not but God hath his Soul in everlasting â—iss For by the space of thirty years I ever â—udied and busied my self upon the Mystery â—arables Figures and Sayings of old Phiâ—osoâ—hers in the which I was marvellous blinded â—nd overseen and specially by one book which is called the 12 Chapters or 12 Gates â—n Metre in English which was made by a sufâ—â—cient Clerk and well learned but I warn â—very man to beware of him for by him ye â—hall never know the privity but rather he â—eadeth you out of the way for he sayeth it is â—ne Vessel one thing one furnace and no â—ore True it is that it is but one thing as I have before opened and shewed It is one â—orm of a Vessel as Stella Complexionis declareth And I say to you this one thing in the which all â—he Wise Philosophers have grounded themselves on it is after the full putrefying and utter rotting of the Elements then to be separate and every one of them well rectifyed and then reduced again to the Body by Nature in marvellous Sulphur elect And here I Counsel thee to Practise truly and to remember and consider the saying of the great Philosopher Constantius Affricanus in the Book of Elements where heâ— sheweth that man is made by ingression of contrary things which is to be â—â—â—derstood of the four Elements and after this Body reverted to him simple then all his humour is turned into Water the Spirit into Air the heat into Fire and the Bones and Flesh into Earth now mayest thou heaâ— and know by visible Experience and in likewise with our Water one thing by rotting is turned again into his simple Elements and moisture then separate them and the first shall ascend as a Smoak and turn into Air as Water keep that Treasure and then thou shalt distil after that an Air more intentive and thicker and one drop of this will swim and go above Water if thou mix it with Water and in this Air is Fire aud beneath in the bottom of your Cucurbit is your Earth as a dead Body corrupt and infect Note well here be the four Elements reverted into their Simple as before is said by the Authority of Constantius And I assure you that this is as true as ever God made Gold and Silver and all things else and Heaven and Earth and the Sea therefore believe me if thou wilt or chuse thee to thy own folly and leave off true Doctrine of the Philosophers and wander forth in the World as Mist in the Wind and so thou shalt never come to thy purpose but thou must first make the Bodyes water after digest them not burning nor destroying their radical moisture which is the life of Tincture of this precious Treasure and utterly rot them and after divide the Elements and well rectifie thy Earth by due Calcination and with washing of his own Water till it be pure clear bright and white shining and then sublime up all the quintessence again then thou hast the wonderful Earth called Terra foliata Sulphur Elect of the Philosophers more noble more precious then Gold or Silver if â—hou wilt work it up as thou mayest at thy pleasure by continuance of Reiteration and Sublimation then he will become clear as Heaven Christaline shining bright as thou mayest see in the Rosary of the Secrets of all Philosophers in the last work Therefore may you see and understand when your Tincture is perfect which is in the fourth Governance plainly in writing and also mark other Authors of this secret Science for when he is perfect fixt and stable and will not fume then he will run through a Plate of Copper and make it perfect Silver or perfect Gold better then ever was produced out of the Mine by Nature and also the very truth of this Secret is more woâ—th and richer then man can devise for of his own sperm or seed he shall evermore encrease and multiply to the Worlds end for as fire elemental burneth all and overcometh all things and nothing can overcome him even so this Magnesia the Child of Fire shall never be blemished nor vaâ—quished by the Fire but ever standing and abiding bright shining clear so that almost man cannot express the brightness which is incredible to any man except to them that have seen it with their Eyes And thou that art a finder of this Book I charge thee as thou wilt answer to God that thou never shew this but to a vertuous and wise discreet and well disposed man which is ever glad to help the Poor and needy People for with this glorious Science ye may procure many glorious Gifts of the blessed Trinity both in Riches and Soul which shall never fail you everlastingly Da gloriam Deo Amen Magnalium Dei FINIS RAECIPIOLVM OR THE Immature-Mineral-Electrum THE FIRST METALL Which is the MINERA OF MERCVRY By Ioh. Bapt. Van-Helmont LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1683. Electum Minerale Immaturum id est Metallus primus est Minera Mercurii TAKE of the best Argentum vivum which you shall Distil from its own Minera that is of the best Hungarian Minera which shall hold abundance of Argentum vivum one pound will hold twelve thirteen or fourteen ounces of
bright permanent pure and shining of a Celestical Colour And if Water did not enter into our Medicine it could not purifie nor mend it self and so thou couldst not obtain thy desire But that which doth mend it is Sol for the Water cannot be made better without it For without Sol and his shadow a tinging Poyson cannot be generated Whoever therefore shall think that a Tincture can be made without these two Bodyes to wit Sol and Lune he proceedeth to the Practicâ— like one that is blind For Body doth not Act upon Body nor Spirit upon Spirit Neither doth Form receive an Impression from Form nor Matter from Matter when as like doth not Exercise either Action or Passion upon its like â— For one is not more worthy than an other wherefore there can be noâ— Action betwixt them when as like doth not bear Rule over like But a Body doth receive Impression from a Spirit as Matter doth from its Form and a Spirit from its Body because they are made and created by God that they mayâ— Act and suffer each from other For Matter would flow infinitely if a Form did not retard and stop its Flux Wherefore when the Body is a Form informing it doth inform and retain the Spirit that it afterwards cannot flow any more The Body therefore doth tinge the Spirit and the Spirit doth penetrate the Body whereas one Body cannot penetrate an other Body but a subtil Spiritual congealed Substance doth penetrate and give Colour to the Body And this is that Gummy and Oleaginous Stone proportioned in its Natures containing a Spiritual Nature occulâ—â—y in it self together with the Elements purifyed Therefore the Philosophers-Stone is to be wholy reduced into this Gumminess by the last Reiteration or Inceration of a certain gentle Flux resolving all the Elements that they flow like Wax But when it is the Stone it appeareth like Copper whereas notwithstanding it is a certain Spiritual Substance penetrating and colouring or tinging all Metallick Bodys From hence thou mayst easily guess that this doth not proceed from the crasâ—itude and grossness of the Earth but from a Spiritual Metallick Substance which doth penetrate and enter Wherefore it behoveth thee to resolve the Body into a subtil Metallick Spirit and afterwards to congeal and fix retain and incerate it that it may flow before â—it tinge For Gold doth Colour nothing besides it self unless first its own Spirit be extracted out of its own Belly and it be made Spiritual And know that our Mercurial Water is a living Water and a burning Fire mortifying and tearing in pieces Gold more than common Fire And therefore by how much more it is better mixed rubbed and ground with it by so much more it destroyeth it and the living fiery Water is more attenuated But now when three are made one in the Form of a congealed Substance then it hath in it a true Tincture which can endure the Violence of the Fire Therefore when the Body is so tinged it can tinge another and it hath in it self all Tincture and Virtue And from hence all they who tinge with Sol and his Shadow viz. with the Poyson that is Argent vive do perfectly compleat our Stone which we call the great and perfect Gumm And know for certain that it is not necessary that our Stone or Gumm lose its first Mercurial Nature in the Sublimation of its crude and first Spirit for the Oyl and Gumm pertaining to this Stone are nothing else then the Elements themselves Mercurialized and made equal together shut up and coagulated resoluble and living retained or bound in the viscosity of the Oyly Earth and inseparably mixed And we ought to know that that Gum or Oyl is first drawn out of the Bodys which being added it is reduced into a Spirit until the superfluous humidity of the Water be turned into Air drawing one Element out of another by digestion until the Form of Water be converted into the Nature of Oyl and so our Stone in the end getteth the Name of Gumm and Sulphur But whosoever hath brought the Stone thus far that it appear like a mixing Gumm and suffereth it self to be mixed with all imperfect Bodies he verily hath found a great Secret of Nature because that is a perfect Stone Gum and Sulphur This Stone then is compounded of a Body and Spirit or of a volatile and fixed Substance and that is therefore done because nothing in the World can be generated and brought to light without these two Substances to wit a Male and Female From whence it appeareth that although these two Substances are not of one and the same species yet one Stone doth thence arise and although they appear and are said to be two Substances yet in truth it is but one to wit Argent-vive But of this Argent vive a certain part is fixed and digested Masculine hot dry and secretly informing But the other which is the Female is Volatile crude cold and moyst and from these two Substances the whole may easily be known and the whole Stone intirely understood Wherefore if our Stone did only consist of one Substance in it there could be no Action and passion of one thing towards the other for one would neither touch nor come nigh or enter into the other As a Stone and piece of Wood have no Operation on each other since they do consist of a different matter and hence they can by no means no not in the least be mixed together and there is the same reason for all thingâ— that differ in matter Wherefore it is evident and certain that it should be necessary for the Agent and Patient to be of one and the same Genus but of a different species even as a man differeth from a Woman For although they agree in one and the same Genus yet nevertheless they have diverse Operations and Qualities even as the Matter and Form For the Matter suffereth and the Form actethâ— assimulating the Matter to it self and according to this manner the Matter naturally thirsteth after a Form as a Womaâ— desireth an Husband and a Vile thing a precious one and an impure a pure one so also Argent vive coveteth a Sulphur as that which should make perfect which is imperfect So also a Body freely desireth a Spirit whereby it may at length arrive at its perfection Therefore Learn thou the Natural Roots and those that are better with which thou oughtest to reduce thy Matter whereby thou mayst perfect thy work For this blessed Stone hath in it all things necessary to its perfection The Practick of the same Author If we well consider the Words of Morienus that great Philosopher in Alchimy who saith Mix together Water Earth Air and Fire in a due weight without doubt thou wilt obtain all the Secrets of this Divine Science And first when he saith put into the Water or putrifie the Earth in Water this signifieth nothing else then the Extraction of Water out of
Ferment of Ferments for the Red-work The Fermentation of the Red-stone Then to the other half of the Stone before rubified digested and reserved for the Red-work put so much of the foresaid Gold Ferment as may contain the 4 th part of the said Stone and then fix them as you did the white-Stone under Fire in a fixatory Vessel which will be then very well done in two or three days The work of Inceration for the Red. When they are thus fixed together and thereby become one very fine Powder incerate that is imbibe it with the Red Oyl oâ— our Stone then congeal it again and again imbibe and congeal and iterate this work so often until it will flow in Fire as Wax â— but not evaporate when it is put upon a Plate of Copper Fiery hot which then congeal up until it be clear transparent hard red in Colour like a Ruby or Jacinth which then is the Medicine of the third Degreeâ— and the perfect Red Stone transmuting all Bodies and especially Mercury Lead and Silver into pure Gold as any of the Natural Mine Thus have you the making of the Philosophers Stones both White and Red which is the great Secret of Philosophers These Stones must be kept by themselves in several Glasses or fair Boxes in a warm place or dry at the least as you would keep Sugar because they are of so tender and Oyly Substance as they are apt to dissolve in every moist place which therefore preserve as is here shewed The Multiplication or Increase of the Vertue and Goodness of the aforesaid white and Red Stone If you list to exalt your Medicine or Stone in quantity or goodness then put your aforesaid white or red Stone or part of each into a several Vyol of Glass fit for the quantity close well the Viol then hang your Glass or Glasses in Balneo Mariae vaporoso so that it touch not the Water in this warm fume or breath the Stone which was congealed before in the Glass will now be dissolved which then congeal again upon warm Ashes and again thus dissolve and congeal and so iterate this work of dissolution and congelation until at last the Stone within the Glass dissolved will be congealed assoon as he cometh out of the Pot or Balneo and feeleth the cold Air without any other manner of Congelation to be used and note that how often in this work you do dissolve and congeal your said Medicine or Stone so many times doth he increase his Virtue ten times in projection so that if at the first one ounce will convert 100 ounces after the second Solution the same one shall convert 1000 after the third 10000 after the fourth time 100000 and after the fifth 1000000 parts of any imperfect Metal unto pure and true Gold and Silver in all Examinations as any of the Natural Mine The way of Projection Because it is very combersom to melt a thousand thousand parts of any Body when you will make Projection thus do Take 100 ounces of Mercury first washed with Salt and Vineger and put it into a Crusible and set it over the Fire and when that doth begin to Wax hot put in one ounce of your Elixir or Medicine thus prepared as afore taught you upon that hundred parts of the cleansed Mercury and all the said Mercury shall become Medicine project one ounce of that Medicine upon another 100 â„¥ of other washed Mercury and it shall all also be converted into Medicine again the 3 time project one ounce of this congealed Mercury upon another 100 ounces of washed Mercury and all shall be converted into Medicine then project the 4 th time 1 ounce of this last congealed Mercury upon another 100 ounces of other washed Mercury and all that shall be converted into Gold or Silver according as â—our Stone was prepared to the white or â—ed praised be God Accurtation of the great Work which saveth half the Work and Labour in the Work revealed by Sr. George Ripley The white Frosty Ryme or Powder whereof I told you in the beginning being found â—n the Neck of the Retort after the drawing of the Menstrue is like Sublimate and is perfect Sulphur of Nature and therefore needeth neither Putrifaction nor Digestion unto white of this Sulphur take either the half or the whole if you list and also take so much of Lune Ferment when it is Firment of Ferments as may contain the 4 th part of the said Sulphur seal them up both together in a Chemia and fix them together under the Fire in a fixatory Vessel which will be well done in three days and when they are become one very fine White Powder then Incerate that is to say Imbibe it with the White Oyl of our Stone which is our Mercury congealed and imbibe and iterate this Work and in all points do as you did in the White Work in the grâ—at Elixir before for this Sulphur is of the same Nature and thus shall you have the white Work perfectly made and the Stone in half the time and with half the Labour which is not only a precious Jewel but a great secret also The like Accurtation of the Red-work done by the aforesaid Sulphur Take either the one half or the whole of this abovesaid Sulphur of Nature and dissolve it once with our red Mercury congeal it again and then Seal it up in Chymea and set it in Cinerition or Ashes till it be throughly digested and until it hath put on his Purple Colour or Fiery Chariot then put thereunto so much of the Ferment of Soll when it is Ferment of Ferments as may contain the 4 th part of the said Sulphur then fix them together under a Fire in a fixatory Vessel which will be well done in 3 days and whâ—n they be become one very fine Red Powder then Incerate that is Imbibe it with the red Oyl of our Stone which is our red Mercury and red Lunary and Fire of the Stone and continue in doing in all points as in the great Work aforesaid until the Stone be hard transparent in Colour like a Ruby or Iacinth â—lowing in Fire and not evaporating then have you with less Labour and Expence of time the perfect Red-Stone for the which tha God This is the pleasant and dainty Garden of the Philosophers which beareth the sweet smelling Roses white and red abbreviated out of all the Work of the Philoâ—ophers containing in it nothing superfluous or diminished teaching to make infinitely Gold and Silver according as the Medicine was prepared having Vertue to heal also all Griefes and Sicknesses as well proceeding of cold as of hot Causes through the subtilty of his Nature above all other Medicines of Phisitians for it comforteth the Healthy strengthneth the weak and maketh the Aged seem Young and driveth away all Grief and putteth venom from the Heart it moysteth the Arteries and joynts it dissolveth all things in the Lungs it cleanseth the Blood it purgeth the Pipes
such plenty as I could wish of those shavings or cuttings of Horn whereof those that work for Lanthorâ—s only make the greatest store I would then in respect of the infinite extention thereof commend that before any other manuring of ground whatsoever and for the only Garden-dung that I know although for arable ground I must needs confess that I have one secret not as yet made known or common to the world that would prove more general and more easie of price then any other whatsoever that I as yet have either heard or read of but for some reasons best known unto my self I do as yet forbear the discovery thereof There is also a certain victual in the form of hollow pipes or wafers wherewith as also with a deâ—ensative oyl for his armours peices and other Weaponsâ— I furnished sir Francis Drake in his last Voyage which hath been well approved and commended by sundry of his followers upon their return for England whereby I was the more encouraged to make a second trial thereof in the Bear which went lately for CHINA This food I am bold to commend in this place both because it argueth ad propositum and for that I know that if the Masters Owners or Mariners of Ships would advisedly look into it they should find it one of the most necessary and cheap provisions that they could possibly make or carry with them The particular commendation whereof resteth upon these few branches following 1 ¶ First it is very durable for I have kept the same both sweet and sound by the space of 3. years and it agreeth best with heat which is the principal destroyer of Sea victual 2 It is exceeding light For which quality Sir Francis Drâ—ke did highly esteem thereof one man may carry upon any occasion of land service so much thereof as will be sufficient to relieve two hundred men aday 3 It is speedily dressed for in one half hour it is sufficiently sodden by which property it may also save much fewel and firing which occupieth no small room in a Ship 4 It is fresh and thereby very pleasing unto the Mariner in the midst of his salt meats 5 It is cheap for in this dearth of corn I dare undertake to feed one man sufficiently for 2 pence a meal 6 It serveth both in stead of bread and meat whereby it performeth a double service 7 Not being spent it may be laid up in store for a second Voyage 8 It may be made as delicate as you please by the addition of Oyl Butter Sugar and such like 9 There is sufficient matter to be had all the year long for the composition thereof 10 And if I might once find any good incouragement therein I would not doubt but to delivâ—r the same prepared in such sort as that without any farther drâ—ssing thereof it should be both pleasing and of good nourishment unto a hungry stomach ¶ All those which are willing to victual their Ships therewith if they repair unto me I will upon reasonable warning furnish them therewith to their good contentment A speedy or present drink which Travellers may make for themselves extempore when they are distressed for want of good Beer or Ale at their Inn. TAke a quart of fair water put thereto five or six spoonfuls of good Aqua composita which is strong of the Annis-seeds and one ounce of Sugar and a branch of Rosemary brew them a pretty while out of one pot into another and then is your drink prepared Or if you leave out Sugar it will be pleasing enough I have been credibly informed that divers Gentlemen of good credit when they travel abroad and cannot like the tast or relish of their drink that they use no other then the aforesaid composition and find the same both to refresh â—nd cool them very well neither are they troubled with the rawness of cold water by reason that it hath received some correction by the Aqua composita and that the Annis-seeds do give a delicate tast unto it It were not amiss for all Seamen to carry some store of Aqua-vitae with them that when their Wine Cider Peâ—ry and Beer are spent they may transmute their water into the said drink A cheap liquor for poor men when Malt is extream dear IF a poor man in the time of flowring do gather the tops of Heath with the flowers which is usually called and known by the name of Linge in the Northerly parts of this Realm and is that plant whereof our common Heath Brushes are made and lay up sufficient store thereof for his own provision being well dried and careâ—ully kept from putrefying or molding he may at all times make a very pleasing and cheap drink for himself by boiling the same in fair water with such proportion thereof as may best content his own tast And this liquor is commended unto me by one of the most sufficient professors of Physick of our times and that upon his own and often experience for a most wholesome and medicinable drink as well for the Liver as the Spleen It may be graced with a little Licoras in the decoction if he see cause ¶ I have also heard Sir Francis Drake affirm that fair Water and Vinegar mixed in a due proportion doth make a fine cooling and refreshing drink in hot weather which he esteemed for a rare secret at the Sea And I have also known them that have made a voluntary drink thereof on the land when they have had sufficient choice of others before them How to brew good and wholsome Beer without any Hops at all SInce my profession in this Book is in some sort to Anatomize both Art and Nature without any regard of private mens profits whom it either may essentially or accidentally touch I am bold therefore without craving any leave to do good To renew or rather to confirm and ratifie an ancient opinion and practice which long since in the great dearth and scarcity of Hops many brewers of this land have been inforced to put in use for the better supportation of their weak and declining estates But because they failed in proportion without the which there can be nothing compleat or absolute they suffered a good conceit to die in the Birth And no marvel then if Wormwood notwithstanding it be a Simple so highly commended of all the ancient and new Hâ—â—bâ—rists for his great and singular effects in Physick be in a manner â—â—terly abandoned of all the Brewers in our time except a few that can make a difference between five Shillings or 5 pound charge when Hops are sold for 50. s. an hundred seeing as yet not any one of them hath so clerkly wrought upon this Simple as to cover and hide the tast thereofâ— from the well mouthed Ale-cunners of our Common-wealth which weakness of theirs because it consisteth wholly in the want of a due proportion between the Malt and other beercorn in respect of Wormwood I have thought good to set down