as much of Sulphur of Mars as you shall hear anon when I treat of Mars grinde them together put it in a pure glasse pour on it so much of spirit of Mercury let it stand over it two fingers breadth that the matter in it may be dissolved see to it that all dissolve into a Ruby-like Gold water joyntly drive it over then is it one and were at first of one stem keep it well that nothing of it evaporate put it to separated silver calx being precipitated with pure Salt and afterward well edulcorated and dried fix it together in a fiery fixation that it sublime no more then take it forth and melt it in a wind-oven let it stream well then you have united Bride and Bridegroom and you brought them unto Gold of a high degree Be thankfull to God for it as long as you live I should give further direction how this extracted Soul of Sol should be further proceeded in and to make it potable which ministreth great strength and continued health unto man But it belonging unto Medicinals I delay it to that place where further mention shall be made of At this present I will speak onely how the white Solar body shall further be anatomized and that by Art its Mercurie current and its Salt may be obtained The processe of it is thus Take the white body of Sol from which you have drawn â—nima reverberate it gently for half an hour let it beâ—e corporeal then pour on it well rectified hony-hony-water â—â—h is corrosive extract its Salt in a gentle heat it is â—e in ten dayes space the Salt being all extracted abâ—ct the water from it in Balneo edulcorate the Salt with â—â—ted distillings with common distilled water clarifie it â—n spirit of wine then you have Sal auri of which you shall â—r more in its due place of the good qualities it hath by â—y of Medicine upon man On the remaining matter â—â—r spirit of Tartar of which in another place because it â—ongeth unto Medicinals digest these for a moneths â—â—e drive it through a glasse Retort into cold water then â—n have quick Mercury of Sol many strive to get it but 〈◊〉 vain There is one mystery more in Nature that the white â—lar body having once lost its anima may be ting'd again â—nd brought to be pure Gold which mystery is revealed to â—â—ry few I shall give a hint of it that you may not grumâ—â—e at me to have concealed any point in the work I hope you have considered and taken to heart what I â—ave entrusted you withall about the universal stone of Philosophers in my third part namely how it resteth meerâ—y upon the white spirit of Vitriol and how that all three principles are found onely in this spirit and how you are â—o proceed in and to bring each into its certain stare and â—order Take the Philosophick Sulphur which in order is the second principle and is extracted with the spirit of Mercuâ—ry pour it in the white body of the King digest it for a moneth in a gentle Balmy then fix it in ashes and at last in sand that the brown powder may appear then melt it wth a fluxing powder made of Saturn then will it be malleable and fair Gold as it was formerly in colour and vertue nothing defective But note the Salt must not be taken from the Solar body of which I made mention formerly in a repetition of the xii Key where you may read of There may be pâ—pared yet in another manner a transparent Vitriol 〈◊〉 Gold in the following manner Take good Aqua Regis made with Sal armoniac 1. poâ—â— id est dissolve four ounces of Salmiac in Aquafort then yâ— have a strong Aqua Regis distil and rectifie it often oâ— the helmet let no feces stay behinde let all lascends 〈◊〉 transparent Then take thinly beaten Gold rolls cast fâ—merly through Antimonie put them into a body pour oâ—â— Aqua Regis let it dissolve as much as it will or as you 〈◊〉 dissolve in it having dissolved all the Gold pour into soâ—â— Oyl of Tartar or Salt of Tartar dissolved in fountain waâ—â— it begins to tisse having done tissing then pour in again 〈◊〉 the Oyl do it so long that all the dissolved Gold be fall'n 〈◊〉 the bottom and nothing more of it precipitate the Aqâ—â— Regis clear up This being done then cant off the Aqâ—â— Regis from the Gold calx edulcorate it with common water eight ten or twelve times the Gold calx being weâ— setled cant off that water and dry the Gold calx in thâ— aire where the Sun doth not shine do it not over a fire for as soon as it feeleth the least heat it kindleth and greaâ— damage is done for it would fly away forcibly that no man could stay it This powder being ready also then takâ— strong Vinegar pour it upon boyl it continually over the fire in a good quantity of Vinegar still stirring it that it may not stick unto the bottom for xxiv hours together then the fulminating quality is taken from it be carefull you do not endanger your self cant off that Vinegar dulcifie the powder and dry it This powder may be driven per alembicum without any corrosive bloud-red transparent and fair which is strange and uniteth willingly with the spirit of wine and by means of coagulation may be brought to a Solar body Do not speak much of it to the vulgar if you receive any benefit by and from my plain and open information be thus minded to keep these mysteries secret still to thy dying day and make no shew of it else thou art naked and lyest open to the Devils temptations in all thy wayes â—efore pray give attention to what I shall tell thee for I impart unto thee this Arcanum also and entrust thee 〈◊〉 thy conscience with it Take good spirit of wine being brought to the highest â—â—ee let fall into it some drops of spirit of Tartar then 〈◊〉 thy Gold powder put to it three times as much of the 〈◊〉 and subtilest common flowers of sulphur grinde these â—ether set it on a flat pan under a muffle give to it a â—tle fire let the Gold powder be in a glowing heat put â—hus glowing into the spirit of wine cant off the spirit of â—â—e dry the powder against a heat it will be porous â—ng dried then add to it again three parts of flores sulâ—â—ris let them evaporate under a muffle neal the remainâ— powder in a strong heat and put it in spirit of wine â—â—ate this work six times at last this Gold powder will be â—oft and porous as firm butter dry it gently because it â—lteth easily Then take a coated body which in its â—â—der part hath a pipe lute a helmet to it apply a reâ—â—ver set it freely in a strong sand Capel let your first fire 〈◊〉 gentle then increase it let the body be almost in a â—â—wing heat then put in the softned
it needlesse in this manner and to thaâ— purpose to destroy Metals but you may prepare every thing from or of their first essence and bring them to theiâ— full perfection â—f the Particular of Mars together with the extraction of its Anima and Salt â—Ake of red Vitriol Oyl or Oyl of Sulphur one part and two parts of ordinary Well-water put those toâ—her dissolve therein filings of steel this dâ—ssolution must 〈◊〉 filtred being warm'd let it gently evaporate a third part â—â—t then set the glasse in a cool place there will shoot â—â—stals as sweet as Sugar which is the true Vitriol of â—â—rs cant off that water let it evaporate more set it â—â—in in a cold place more Crystals will shoot neal them â—â—tly under a muffle stirring it still with an Iron-wyar 〈◊〉 you get a fair purple coloured powder on this powder 〈◊〉 distill'd Vinegar extract the anima of Mars in a gentle â—â—my abstract again the Vinegar and dulcorate the anima â—â—s is the anima of Mars which being added to the spirit Mercurie and united with the anima of Sol tingeth Lune â—o Sol as you heard about the Gold 〈◊〉 the Particular of Venus what mysteries there are hid therein and of the Extraction of its Sulphur and Salt TAke as much of Venus as you will and make Vitriol of 〈◊〉 it after the usual and common practise or take good 〈◊〉 digreece sold in shops it effâ—cteth the sameâ— grinde it â—â—ll pour on it good distill'd Vinegar set it in a warmth 〈◊〉 Vinegar will be transparent green cant it off pour on 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ning matter on the bottom new Vinegar iterate 〈◊〉 work as long as the Vinegar taketh out any tincture 〈◊〉 the â—â—â—er of the Verdigreece on the bottom lieth 〈◊〉 black put the ting'd Vinegar together distil the Vinegar from it to a drynesse else a black Vitriol 〈◊〉 shoot thus you get a purified Verdigreece grind it smâ— pour on it the juyce of immature Grapes let it stand iâ— gentle heat this juyce maketh a transparent tincture 〈◊〉 green as a Smarag'd and attracteth the red tincture of â—nus which affords an excellent colour for Painters Lâ—mers and others for their several uses When the juyce extracts no more of the tincture tâ—â— put all the extractions together abstract the moyety of 〈◊〉 juyce gently set it into a cool place there shooteth a vâ— fair Vitriol if you have enough of that then you have mâ—ter enough to reduce the same and to make of it the Phiâ—â—sophers stone in case you should make a doubt to persoâ—â— this great mystery by any other Vitriol Of this preparatâ—â— I have spoken already Parabolicè in the book of the Keâ— in the Chapter of the Wine-vineger where I said that 〈◊〉 common Azoth is not the matter of our stone but 〈◊〉 Azoth or materia prima with the common Azoth 〈◊〉 with the Wine which is the out-prest juyce of untâ—â— Grapes and with other waters also must be prepared thâ— are the waters wherewith the body of Venus must be bâ—â—ken and be made into Vitriol which you must observe vâ—â— well then you may free your selves from many troubles aâ— perplexities But especially note that the way of the Universal wâ—â— this Vitriol is understood in the same manner and is thâ— conditioned as I told you in the third part of the Universâ— and pointed at the common Hungarian Vitriol and even well out of Mars put Particulariter to be dealt upon wâ—â— Venus Therefore know that it may be done with gâ—â—â— profit if you drive forth the red Oyl of Vitriol and dissoâ—â— Mars in it And Crystallise the solution as you were to 〈◊〉 when I treated of Mars For in this dissolution and coaâ—â—lation Venus Mars are united this Vitriol must be neaâ—â— under a muffle unto a pure red powder and must be eâ—tracted further with distill'd Vinegar as long as there is aâ— rednesse in it then you get the anima of Mars and of Vâ—â—â—s doubled of this doubled vertue after the addition of â—â—e anima of Sol which you made in the before quoted â—â—antity take twice as much of Silver calx and fix it as â—â—u heard when I spoke of the Particular of Mars and of â—â—l But note that there must be twice as much of the spirit 〈◊〉 Mercurie then there was allowed in that place but in â—â—e rest the processe is alike The Salt of Venus must be â—â—tracted when the juyce taketh no more of the green â—â—ncture then take the remaining matter dry it pour Hoâ—y water upon it then that Salt goeth in that heat for â—â—e or six dayes and clarifie it with spirit of Wine then is â—â—e Salt ready for your Medicine Of the Particular of Saturn together with the extraction of its Soul and Salt MOst men hold and count Saturn an unworthy and mean Metal and is abused most basely in several exâ—editions whereas if known in its internals more laudable â—xploits would be performed with it and many excellent â—edicines be prepared of it Being it is my intention to â—ut an Elucidation to my former writings to leave it after â—â—e for a legacie unto posterity that simple men of ordinary â—â—pacity might know and conceive also of the things I forâ—erly wrote of which after the resurrection of my flesh my â—â—lf shall bear record unto that I have written more then 〈◊〉 meet which others before me have purposely concealâ—â— it being my purpose to declare fundamentally all such â—â—rticulars which formerly at large I discoursed of in a â—â—ilosophick manner thus that this my Declaration made 〈◊〉 any decrepite age be noted conscionably by those into â—hose hands it comes that this my Revelation which in â—ods providence will be disposed of to be a lamp of truth 〈◊〉 all the world may not be imparted unto unworthy men of Gods mysteries which acknowledge not the Crâ—â—tor of them in a pure humble and penitent heart perâ—vering conversation and a fervent purpose to incline uâ—â— and towards him This present writing I leave as a pâ—â—cious badge with an earnest pâ—oviso that men would loâ— and observe carefully every letter contained in this aâ—â— others of my writings which in all fidelity I hold for unto them And begin now with Saturn who in all prâ—bability after Astronomick rules is the highest and chiefâ— Lord in the coelestial spheres by whose influence the sâ—â—terranean Saturn hath its life and coagulation putting thâ— black colour on it the rest from the best to the worst foâ—low after whose splendour enlightneth that whole firmâ—ment and is incorruptible I should speak something of Saturns Nativity froâ— whence he taketh his off-spring but in this place I 〈◊〉 not hold it requisite being there hath been mention maâ—â— of it in several places in my other books because it is 〈◊〉 no purpose for Novices and to repeat all would increaâ—â— the volume which I do not intend purposing onely to elâ—â—cidate such things which formerly have been delivered iâ— obscure terms Note
which stayeth there must be extracted â—h good Vinegar well boyled in it at last abstract this â—egar the remainder of it must be dulcified with distill'd â—ter and then exiccated Afterward on each pound â—â—st be poured lib. 1. of the best spirit of Wine let it â—nd luted in putrefaction then drive over what may be â—ven first gently then more strongly from that which is â—me over abstract the spirit of Wine per Balneum there â—yeth behinde a fragrant Oyl which is Astrum Mercurii 〈◊〉 excellent remedy against Venereal diseases Seeing the Salt and Astrum of Mercury is of the same Meâ—cinal operation I hold it needlesse to write of each in â—articular will joyn their operation into one and declare â—f it in the last part about the Salt of Mercury because â—hey are of one effect in Medicinal operations Take the â—ade Oyl or Astrum Mercurii which by reason of its â—reat heat keeps its own body in a perpetual running caâ—ing it on the next standing earth from which you formerâ—â— drew the Oyl Set it in a heat the Oyl draweth its own â—alt that being done put to it a reasonable quantity of â—pirit of Wine abstract it again the Salt stayeth behinde â—â—ssolved in the fresh spirit of Wine being dulcified by cohobation Then is the Mercurial Sal ready and prepaâ—â— for the Medicine as shall be mentioned in the last paâ— Mercury is able to do no more neither Particulariter 〈◊〉 universaliter because he is far off from Philosophers Mâ—cury as many are deceived in their fancies to the coâ—trarie Of the Particular of Antimony together with the extraction of its Sulphur and Salt TAke good Hungarian Antimony pulverise it subtilâ— to a meal calcine it over a gentle heat stirring it stâ—â—â— with an Iron wyar and let it be albified and that a last it may be able to hold out in a strong fire Then pâ—â— it into a melting pot melt it cast it forth turn it to a tranâ—parent glasse beat that glasse grinde it subtâ—lâ—y put it in 〈◊〉 glasse body of a broad flat bottom pour on it distilleâ— Vinegar let it stand luted in a gentle heat for a gooâ— while the Vinegar extracteth the antimonial tincture which is of a deep rednesse abstract the Vinegar there remaineth a sweet yâ—llow subtile powder which must bâ— edulcurated with distilled water all acidity must be taken off exiccate iâ— pour on it the best graduated spirit oâ— Wine set it in a â—â—â—tle heat you have a new extraction which 〈◊〉 and yellow cant it off pour on other spirit let it exâ—â—â— aâ— long it can then abstract the spirit of Wine exiâ—â—te you finde a tender deep yellow subtile powdâ—r of an admirable Medicinal operation is nothing inferior unto poâ—able Sol. Take two parts of this powder one part of Solar Sulphur grinde thâ—se small then tâ—ke three parts of Sulphur of Mars pour on it six parts of Spirit of Mercury set it in digestion well luâ—ed leâ— the Sâ—lâ—â—â—ur of Mars be dissolved to aâ—y then carry in a sâ—uâ—â—â— part of â—he ground-matter of of the Sulphur of Antimony and of Sol luâ—â— and digest let all be dissolved then carry in more of your ground Sulâ—rs proceed as formerly iterating it so long till all be â—olved then the matter becomes a thick brown Oyl â—â—e all over joyntly into one leave nothing behinde in 〈◊〉 bottom then pour it on a purely separated Lunar calx it by degrees of fire then melt it into a body separate â—ith an Aquasort six times as much of Sal is precipitated â—n above the ponderosity the compound did weigh the reâ—inder of Lune serveth for such works you please to put unto The Antimonial tincture being extracted totally from its â—â—rum and no Vinegar takes more hold of any tincture â—â—n exâ—ccate the remaining powder which is of a black â—â—lour put it into a melting pot lute it let it stand in a â—â—sonable heat let all the sulphureous part burn away â—â—de the remaining matter pour on it new distilled Vineâ—â—â— extract its Salt abstract the Vineger eduleorate the â—dity by cohobation clarifie so long so that the water be â—â—ite and clear If you have proceeded well in your maâ—als then the lesser time will be required to extract the â—â—timonial Salt as you shall hear of it Whereby you may serve that the Antimonial Sulphur is extracted in the â—lowing manner and is of the same Medicinal operaâ—â—n but is of a quicker and speedier work which is a â—â—tter of consequence and worthy to be taken notice A short way to make Antimonial Sulphur and Salt TAke good Vitriol common Salt and unslaked Liâ—e of each one pâ—und four ounces of Sal armoniac bear them small put them in a glasse body pour on it 〈◊〉 pound of common Vinegar let it stand in digestion â—â—â—'d for a day put it afterward into a Retort apply a receiver to it distil it as usually an aquafort is disâ—â—â— Take of the off drawn liquor and of common Salt 〈◊〉 pound of each rectifie them once more let no muddiâ—â— come over with it all must come clear then take 〈◊〉 pound of pulverised antimonial glasse pour this spirit 〈◊〉 it lute it well digest and let all be dissolved then â—stract the water in Balneo Mariae there remains in the bâ—tom a black thick fluid matter but somewhat dry lay on a glasse Table set it in a Cellar a red Oyl floweth hâ— it leaving some feces behinde coagulate this red Oyl geâ—ly upon ashes let it be exiccated there then pour 〈◊〉 best spirit of Wine on it it extracteth a tincture which 〈◊〉 bloud red cant off that which is ting'd pour other spiâ— of Wine on the remainder let all rednesse be extractâ—â— thus you have the tincture or Antimonial Sulphur which 〈◊〉 of a wonderfull Medicinal efficacie and is aequivalent â—â—potable Gold as you beard in the former processe Aâ— in preparation serveth now to proceed with it Particulaâ—â—ter as I shewed in the former This black matter whiâ— stayed behinde after the extraction of Sulphur must be 〈◊〉 exiccated extract its snow-white Salt with distill'd Vâ—gar edulcorate it clarifie it with spirit of Wine observe iâ— vertues in Medicina of the which in the last part Thus I conclude my fourth part also Other mysteries 〈◊〉 Nature and some augmentations might be here annected but I wave them mentioning onely the chiefest of theâ— and are such which may be wrought easily and in a shâ—â— time and whereby good store of riches may be gotteâ— The rest which are not of that importance and may easilâ— draw Novices into errours bringing no profit for the prâ—sent may in good time by carefull practise be found oâ— and obtained If you onely know those whereby health and wealth 〈◊〉 obtained then these metalline Sulphurs in their coâ—pounds may bring great profit unto you to write of aâ— these circumstantially is impossible to one man it is of aâ— infinite labour Call upon God for grace and mercie Aâ—
of a deep yellow liquor Note that some Metals in this manner may be proceeded withall first a Vitriol may be gotten out of the Metal then a spirit is for her driven from it and joyned in this manner with the Soul dissolved and further digested with spirit of Wine all must enter together into a Medicine as I told of formerly which have their special efficacie The second way to prepare this half aurum potabile which though it be but half an aurum potabile yet in vertue and efficacy is far preferred before the other now spoken of and is done as followeth Take the extracted Solar Soul spoken of above put it into a Viol pour on it the extracted Philosophick Sulphur which is the second principle which is drawn with spirit of Mercury from the Philosophick earth and Mercury or the spirit of Mercury unto an Oleity which now is Sulphur again and must be abstracted gently per modum distillationis Of this Philosophick Sulphur pour on it as much that the Solar Soul may be dissolved let it stand in a gentle Bath let the dissolution be made then pour more of the best spirit of Wine to it digest gently draw these over let nothing stay behinde in the bottom then you have a Medicine which doth not want above two Grains of the right and true â—urum potabile These are the chiefest wayes to make the corporeal aurum potabile this I close and proceed further with a short but true processe how the Silver which is the next to Gold concerning perfection is made potable also this processe must be done in the following manner Take the sky coloured Sulphur or spirit of Lune whicâ— was extracted with distilled Vinegar as I informed you iâ— the Particular of Lune edulcorate it rectifie it with spirit oâ— Wine exsiccate it put it in a Viol pour to it three timeâ— as much of spirit of Mercury which is prepared from thâ— white spirit of Vitriol as I faithfully taught you in thaâ— place lute the glasse firmly set it in putrefaction in the vaporous Bath let all be dissolved and nothing more seen iâ— the bottom then put to it an equal quantity of the besâ— spirit of Wine set it in digestion for half a moneth drivâ—â— all over let nothing stay behinde then you have the true potable Lune which in its efficacie is admirable and dotâ— wonders when it is used A description of the fiery Tartar DIstill of good Wine a spirit of Wine rectifie it with white calcined Tartar let all come over put that which is distilled over into a Viol put four ounces of well sublimed Salarmoniac to one quart of spirit of Wine set a Helmet upon set a great receiver into cold water drive the volatile spirits into gently in Balneo Mariae leave but a little quantity of it behinde Note the Alembic must alwayes be cooled with wet cloaths then the spirits will be dissolved and turn into a liquor Thus is prepared this hot spirit of Wine Of the Salt of Tartar FIrst you must note that the Philosophers Tartar is not the vulgar Tartar wherewith the Lock is opened but it is a Salt which cometh from the root and is the onely mâ—stâ—cal Key for all Metals and is prepared thus make a sharp lixivium of the ashes of Sarments or twigs of the Vine boyl away all its moisture there stayeth behinde a ruddy â—â—tter which must be reverberated for three hours in a flaâ—ing fire stirring it still let it come to a whitenesse which â—â—hite matter must be dissolved in distill'd Rain water let â—â—e feces of it settle filter and coagulate them in a glasse â—â—at the matter in it be dry which dry matter is the Salt of â—artar from which the true spirit is driven Note as I told now of the vertue and qualities of preciâ—â—s stones so there are found also many despicable and â—â—oble stones which are of great vertues and experimenâ—â—lly are known to be of rare qualities which ignorant and â—â—expert men will hardly give credit unto neither can they â—â—nceive of it in their dull reason and understanding the â—ame I will demonstrate with the example of Calx vive â—hich in mens judgement is held of no great value and lieth contemptibly in obscurity however there is a mighty vertue and efficacie in it which appeareth if application be made of it to the most heaviest diseases seing its triumphant and â—â—anscendent efficacie is almost unknown for the generality therefore for the good of such which are inquisitive into natural and supernatural mysteries and to whom I disclose these mysteries in this my book I will for a fare-well discover also this mystery concerning the Calx vive and will shew in the first place how its spirit is driven from it which work indeed requireth an expert Artist who is well inform'd aforehand of its preparation Take uâ—sluk'd Lyme as much as you will beat and grind it on a well-dried stone to an impalpable powder put on it so much of spirit of Wine as the pulverised Calx is able to drink there must not stand any of that spirit upon it apply a Helmet to it lute it well and put a receiver before it abstract the spirit gently from it in Balneo this abstracting must be iterated eight or ten times this spirit of Wine strengthneth the spirit of Calx mightily and is made more fiery hot Take the remaining Calx out of the body grinde it very small put to it a tenth part of Salt of Tartar which is pure not containing any feces As much as this matter weigheth together add as mâ—â— of the additional of Salt of Tartar thereunto namely 〈◊〉 remaining matter from which was extracted the Salt 〈◊〉 Tartar and it must be well exiccated all this must be miâ—â—led together and put in a well coated Retort three pâ—â— of the Retort must be empty take a great receiver or bâ—â— to it very strongly Note the body into which the Râ—â—torts nose is put must have a pipe of a fingers breadâ—h uâ—to which may be applied another body and a quantity 〈◊〉 spirit of Wine in it then give a gentle fire to it at fiâ—â— there comes some of the phlegme which falls into the fâ—â— applied body the phlegme being all come over then iâ—crease the fire there cometh a white spirit to the upper paâ—â— of the body like unto the white spirit of Vitriol whicâ— doth not fall among the phlegme but slideth through thâ— pipe into the other body draweth it self into the spirit 〈◊〉 Wine embracing the same as one fire doth joyn with thâ—â— other Note if the spirit of Calx be not prepared first by the spiâ—it of Wine and drawn off and on as I told then he dotâ—â—ot so but falleth among the phlegme where he is quench'd â—oseth all its efficacie Thus difficult a matter is it toâ—â—â—arch nature throughly reserving many things unto herself â—his spirit being fully entred into the spirit of Wine then â—â—ke off the
corrosive fire There are some saps and gums which if boiled to a hardâ—esse and mingled with unslaked lime kindle and burn 〈◊〉 strongly that they corrode the rock make an hole into 〈◊〉 big and as deep as you will have it so that the water â—ust sink away there must be set a pipe of wood or of â—ther materials as deep as the water rose and must be â—t and sunk to the very bottome and of this Gluten â—ast or stuff must be put into let the hole of the â—ipe be closed with pitch to keep out the water make â—all bullets of this Past kindle them it cateth down â—en out at the Stoll or beams end the bignesse of the hole â—ust be according to the Pipes mouth below which must â—e equally wide with that above when the Pipe is clearâ—d and way made for the water to runne out at the â—ole then all that water-pool under ground will sink aâ—ay and clear the chambers below This is a cuâ—ous skill for to break through rocks if well conâ—ived and well ordered with exact manuals CHAP. XLI Of the Traha or heaving materials used instead of a dray or slead IT is known that breathing and halation and the weather uphold all both artificial and natural things it is apparent in great Edifices that the things exposed to weather cannot hold if neither water nor winde tied the great reparations in such structures signifie so much There is a place in Zips or Sepusium called the Tohâ—schaw where firm steel ascendeth by day and in that place there is no Mine of steel no instrument can get any scale from it but lying in the weather one winter and sommer it gets a scale of two fingers thick Thus it is apparent that the weather heaveth also a stoll or the great beam or metalline body why should it not lift and heave a stone This appeareth further at the falling down of great snow-bals from Mountains about Saltzbuâ—g and in Styria where great pieces of rocks fall down with such snow bals as big as an house is which heat and cold hath thus corroded and loosened Hannibal making the Alos passable for his army poured warmed vinegar on the Rocks whereby he made them so brittle that they soon could be wrought thorow oil doth the like if well prepared Acetum's made of vegetables of wine beer fruits are pretious for such purposes Cistern-waters may be turned into Acetum's if cocted with honey being made warm first this driveth the fire back which is in stones for there are commonly Horn-stones Fire-stones which are made brittle by such means There is made a Petroleum also â—o that you need no falâ—er-oil nor any other no not Naphta neither drawn from Osteinmark or calcined flints such water acetum's being poured upon other frighting waters whereby the hardest â—ints are terrified and made brittle It stands upon natuâ—al reason that such stones must be dealt withall in this manner For behold the Gluten and Aquafort of what efâ—icacie these are Doth it not corrode the Pumice-stone like Bees-wax and the Top-stone like a marble of divers coâ—ours Consider well the white marble and the sliding â—and in which the Pumice is you will finde what manner of lixivium's may be boiled from them CHAP. XLII Of the frost in Mine-works THe greatest troubles that Miners are put unto is to pull and draw up all the filths stones that are naught out of the Mine-works that a way be made to come deeper in Above ground they call it an heap of rubbish It costeth â—o great matter to cleanse dissolve and void these rubâ—ishes with corrosive wares it costeth little if rightly maâ—aged and handled to dissolve first the lightest things these being made riddance of the rest may easily be voided That earth under ground must not be look'd upon as that is above with us adorned with grasse for under ground there is least of the earth there is a mixture of all manner of things as salts juyces minerals stones the least part is earth and yet that part is the noblest for our of it are made all manner of metalline bodies There are sharper things all of which must not be used at once and must be effected with these when that which is above cannot be applied to that which is beneath juyces also are easie in their uses for to corrode and make brittle Sulphur alone performeth the work which is a poison unto juyces and saps Miners and such that are imployed about such works must have knowledge of such things and exercise themselves herein by way of practice for all particulars belonging to these manuals cannot be set down upon white and black experimental knowledge must be joyned hereunto not only a depending from things written CHAP. XLIII Of the flaming fire WHereas there is occasion for great and small fires in Mine-works which must be learned and applied according to the several sorts of metals and not after the manner of their several meltings and finings and the condition of such necessary fires must be known also To set down these in their particulars would require great pains and the writing thereof would rise to a great volume it is the duty of understanding Melters and Finers to order and regulate themselves in their fires according as each metalline condition requireth to further and not to hinder their work and so I commit these to their further and serious thoughts and to take these things into a fuller consideration CHAP. XLIV Of Ignis torrens or of the roasting fire THings inclining to ashes and soot and excrements of metals and the exuviums or hulls of bodies melters suppose may be taken and gotten off safely in a roasting or calcining fire they make a great fire of wood under them roast or calcine the metal that as they suppose they retain nothing thereof or of such offals you heard of now they â—eld their exuvium and copper yields cinders and slacks â—ut if frightened then it rubbeth and consumeth iron â—erefore nealing is more commendable as they do at â—ansfield a great heap of oar is laid together which they â—dle let it stand in a gentle glowing heat and burn aâ—ay that which should come off in that glowing Metals 〈◊〉 Swedland are healed thus at the heat of the Sun in Somâ—er there it runs finely together and purgeth it self so â—atly insomuch that it would be refined if it staid its me in that heat This nealing I do better approve of â—an of the calcining in a fire-flame There is a twofold â—owing fire and metals require a twofold glowing or neaâ—ng one sort of it is used at Mansfield they kindle with â—undles of straw the heaps of slats let them glow of their â—wn accord and they do it like an heap of coals and the â—r is nealed which is put in for that purpose Secondly â—ealing is good also for bodies of stones reducing them inâ—o calxes but those that made metalline calxes in an inâ—osing heat or glowing fire they
this â—e and commit thee to the protection of the Highest End of the third Part. THE â—OURTH PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last TESTAMENT â—he Manuals wherein he treateth how Metals and fitting Minerals may Particulariter be brought to their highest preparation LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE FOURTH PART Of â—articulars from the seven Metals how they may be prepared with profit First of the Sulphur of Sol whereby Lune is tinged into good Gold TAke of pure Gold which is three times cast through Antimony and of well purged Mercury vive being prest through leather six parts make of it an Amalgame to the quantity of this Amalgame grinde twice as much of common Sulphur let it evaporate â—n a broad pan in a gentle heat under a Muffle stirring it â—ll with an Iron hook let the fire be moderate that the matâ—er do not melt together this Gold calx must be brought to â—e colour of a Mary-gold flower then is it right then take â—e part of Salpeter one part of Salarmonie half a part of â—â—inded peebles draw a water from it Note this water â—ust be drawn warily and exactly To draw it after the â—ommon way will not do it he that is used to Chymick preâ—rations knows what he hath to do And note you must â—ave a strong stone Retort which must be coated to hold â—he spirits closely it s upper part must have a pipe upward â—f half a spans length its widenesse must bear two fingers â—readth it must be set first in a distilling furnace which must be open above that the upper pipe may stand out diâ—ectly apply a large receiver lute it well let your first fire â—e gentle then increase it that the Retort look glowing hot put a spoonfull of this ground matter in at the pipe close thâ— pipe suddenly with a wet clout the spirits come rushingâ—â— into the receiver these spirits being setled then carry iâ— another spoon-full in this manner you proceed till yoâ— have distilled all At last give time to the spirits to be seâ—led to turn into water this water is a hellish dissolvinâ— strong one which dissolveth instantly prepared Gold calâ—â— and laminated Gold into a thick solution of which I madâ— mention above in the third part This is that water which mentioned in my second Key which dissolveth not onely Gold but bringeth it to a volatility carrying it over thâ— helmet whose anima may afterward be drawn from its toâ—â— body Note the spirit of common Salt effecteth the same iâ— drawn in that manner which I shall speak of afterward 〈◊〉 three parts of this Salt-spirit be taken and one part of spiritus nitri it is stronger than Salarmonick water and is better because it is not so corrosive dissolveth Gold the sooner carrieth it over the helmet maketh it volatile and fit to paâ—â— with its soul you have your choice to use which you thinkâ— best and may easier be prepared thus Take one part oâ—â— the prepared Gold calx and three parts of the water which you make choice of put it into a body lute a helmet to it set it in warm ashes let it dissolve that which is not dissolved pour three times as much water upon that all dissolve let it cool separate the feces put the solution into a body lute a helmet to it let it stand in a gentle heat day and night to Balneo Mariae if more feces be setled separate them digest them again in the Balmy nine dayes and nights then abstract the water gently to a spissitude like unto an Oyl in the bottom this abstracted water must be poured on that spissitude this must be iterated often that it grow weary and weak remember you lute well at all times To the oleity on the bottom pour fresh water which was not yet used digest day and night firmly closed then set it in a sand Capel distil the water from it to a thicknesse make the abstracted water warm put it into a body lute it â—â—stract it iterate this work and make all the Gold come â—er the helmet Note at the next drawing always the fire must have one â—gree more the Gold being come over into the water â—stract the water gently from it in the Balmy to the oleity 〈◊〉 the glasse into a cold place there will shoot transparent â—ystals these are the vitriol of Gold pour the water â—om it distil it again unto an oleiâ—y set it by for shooting â—ore Chrystals will shoot iterate it as long as any do shoot â—issolve these Crystals in distilled water put to it of purged â—ercury three times as much shake it about many colours â—ill appear an Amalgame falls to the ground the water â—eareth up evaporate the Amalgame gently under a muffle â—irring it still with a wyar at last you get a purple coâ—â—ured powder scarlet like it dissolveth in Vinegar into a â—loud-rednesse Extract its anima with prepared spirit of â—ine mixed with the spirit of common Salt entred togeâ—her into a sweetnesse This tincture of Sol is like a transpaâ—ent Rubie leaving a white body behinde Note without information you cannot attain unto the â—pirit of Salt if it be not sweet it hath no extractive power to the attaining hereof observe these following manuals â—ake good spirit of Salt dephlegmed exactly driven forth in that manner as you shall hear anon Take one part of it add half a part to it of the best spirit of wine which must not have any phlegme but must be a meer Sulphur of wine and must be prepared in that manner as I shall tell you anon lute a helmet to it draw it over strongly leave nothing behinde to the abstracted put more spirit of wine draw it over somewhat stronger than you did the first time weigh it put a third time more to it draw it over again well luted putrifie this for half a moneth or so long as it be sweet and it is done in Balmy very gently thus the spirit of Wine and Salt is prepared lost its corrosity and is fit for extracting Take the Ruby-â—ed prepared Gold powder put of this prepared spirit of Salt and Wine so much that it stand two fingers breadth over it set it in a gentle heat the spirit wâ—â— be red ting'd this red spirit must be canted off pour 〈◊〉 new spirit on that which remained on the bottom set â—â—luted into a gentle heat let it be tinged deeply then cant 〈◊〉 off this work must be iterated that the body of Sol remain on the bottom like calx vive which keep for thereiâ— sticketh yet more of the Salt of Gold which is effectual iâ— wayes of Medicine as shall be showed anon Those ring'd spirits put together abstract them gently iâ— Balneo there will be left a red subtile powder in the bottom which is the true tinctur animated or Sulphur of Gold dulcifie it with distill'd rain water it will be very subtil tender and fair Take this extracted Sulphur of Sol as you were taught and
Saturn is not to be thus slighted by reason of iâ— external despicable form if he be wrought in a due processe after the Philosophers way he is able to requite aâ—â— the pains the Art-seeking Laborers bestow on him and wilâ— acknowledge him rather to be the Lord and not the servant a Lords honour is due unto him not onely in respect of mans health but in respect also of meliorating oâ— Metals the preparation of it is thus Take â—ed Minium or Ceruse these are of several worths the one is better before the other according to their several examinations those that are sold in shops are seldoâ— pure without their due additionals my advise is that every Artist undertake himself the destruction of Saturn thâ—â— processe of it is several of the best I give this hint Take pure Lead which yields to the hammer as much as you please laminate it thinly the thinner the better â—ng these lamins or a large glasse filled with strong Vineâ—â— in which is dissolved a like quantity of the best Salmonie sublimed thrice with common Salt stop the glasâ—â— mouth very closely that nothing evaporate set the glasse 〈◊〉 ashes of a gentle heat otherwise the spirits of the Vineâ—r and Salarmonick ascend and touch the Saturnal lamins 〈◊〉 the tenth or twelfth day you will spie a subtile Ceruse â—â—iging on these lamins brush them off with a Hares foot 〈◊〉 on get enough of this Ceruse provided you buy good â—ates if sophisticated you labour in vain Take a quanâ—â—y of it if you please put it in a body pour strong Vineâ—â—r on it which several times hath been rectified and was â—â—tified at the last rectification with a sixtienth part of â—â—irit of vulgar Salt dephlegmed and drawn over stop â—â—e body well or which is better lute a blende head to 〈◊〉 set the body in ashes to be digested swing it often â—â—out in few dayes the Vinegar begins to look yellow â—â—d sweet as the first iterate it a third time it is sufficient â—he remnant of the Ceruse stayeth in the bodies bottom 〈◊〉 shapely filter the ting'd Vinegar clearly that is of a â—ansparent yellownesse put all the ting'd Vinegar togeâ—â—er abstract two parts of it in Balneo Mariae let the third â—â—rt stay behinde this third part is of a reasonable Rubedo 〈◊〉 the glasse in a very cold water then the Chrystalls will â—oot the sooner being shot take them out with a woodden â—oon lay them on a paper for to dry these are as sweet as â—â—gar and are of great energy against inflamed symptomes â—â—stract the Vinegar further in Balneo in which the Chryâ—â—als did shoot set that distillation aside for the shooâ—ing 〈◊〉 more Chrystals and proceed with these as you did forâ—erly Now take all these Chrystals together they in their apâ—earance are like unto clarified Sugar or Salpeter beat â—â—em in a Morter of glasse or iron or grinde them on a 〈◊〉 Marble unto an uâ—palpablenesse reverberate it in a â—entle heat to a bloud-like rednesse Provided they do not turn to a blacknesse Having them in a Scarlet colour Put them in a glasse pour on a good spirit of Juniper abstracted from its Oyl and rectified several times into 〈◊〉 fair white bright manner lute the glasse above set it in 〈◊〉 gentle heat let the spirit of Juniper be ring'd with a transparent rednesse like bloud then cant it off neatly froâ— the feces into a pure glasse with that proviso that no impuâ—â— thing run along on the feces pour other spirit of Juniper extract still as long as any spirit taketh the tincture keeâ—â— these feces they contain the Salt Take all these ting'd spirits together filter them abstracâ— them gently in Balneo there remaineth in the bottom 〈◊〉 near Carnation powder which is the animae of Saturn poâ—â— on it Rain water often distill'd distil it strongly severaâ— times to get off that which staid with the spirit of Juniper and so this subtile powder will be edulcorated delicately keep it in a strong boyling cant it off then let iâ— go off neatly let it dry gently for safeties sake reverberate it again gently for its better exiccation let all impurity evaporate let it grow cold put it in a Viol put twicâ— as much of spirit of Mercury to it which I told you of iâ— the third part of the Universal entrusted you upon youâ— conscience with it seal it Hermeticè set it in a vapor oâ—â— Bath which I prescribed at the preparation of the spiriâ— of Mercury called the Philosophers fimus equinus let iâ— stand in the Mystical Furnace for a moneth then the animaâ— of Saturn closeth dayly with the spirit of Mercury anâ— both become inseparable making up a fair transparenâ— deeply ting'd red Oyl look to the government of the fire be not too high with it else you put the spirit of Mercurâ— as a volatile spirit to betake himself to his wings foreinâ— him to the breaking of the glasse but if these be well united then no such fear look for for one nature embraceth and upholdeth the other Then take this Oyl or dissolved anima of Saturn out oâ— the Viol it is of a gallant fragrancie put it into a body apply a Helmet to it lute it well drive it over then souâ— â—d spirit is united together and fit to transmute Mercury â—rcipitated into Sol. The precipitation of Mercury is done thus take one 〈◊〉 of the spirit of Salt of Niter and three parts of Oyl of â—â—riol put these together cast into it half a part of quick â—rcury being very well purged set it in Sand put a reaâ—â—able strong fire to it so that the spirits may not fly â—ay let it stand a whole day and night then abstract all â—e spirits then you finde in the bottom a precipitated â—â—tency some what red pour the spirits on it again let it â—nd day and night abstract it again then your precipiâ—â—e will be more red than at the first pour it a third time â—â—n it then abstract strongly then your precipitate is at 〈◊〉 highest rubedo dulcifie it with distill'd water let it â—â—ongly be exiccated Then take two parts of this preciâ—tated Mercury one part of the dissolved Saturnal Oyl 〈◊〉 thâ—e together set it in the ashes let all be fixed not â—e drop must stick any where to the glasse Then it â—ust be melted with due additionals of lead they close â—â—gether afford Gold which afterward at the casting â—ough Antimony can be exalted I have informed you hereof where I treated of Mercury â—ut But note that Mercury must not be precipitated â—lesse with pure Oyl of Vitriol or Oyl of Venus with 〈◊〉 addition of the spirit of Salt of Niter Albeit such â—ercurie cannot be brought to its highest fixation by way â—f precipitating but its fix'd coagulation is found in Saâ—â—n as you heard Be it the abovesaid Mercury small grinde it on a stone put 〈◊〉 in a Viol pour on it the dissolved Saturnal Oyl it entreth â—â—nstantly if so
be you proceeded right in the precipitation 〈◊〉 the Viol Hermeticè fix it in ashes at last in sand to its â—ighest fixation then you have bound Mercury with a true â—â—ot and brought him into a fix coagulation which â—rought its form and substance into a meliora ion with an â—bundance of superfluous riches if you carry it on a white â—recipitate then you get onely silver which holds but little â—f Gold One thing more I must tell thee about this processe that there is yet a better way to deal upon Saturn wiâ—â— more profit you seeker that you may not have any causâ— to complain against my not declaring take it thus takâ— two parts of the abovesaid dissolved Oyl or of the Saturnal Soul one part of Astrum Solis and of Antimonial Sulphur whose preparation followeth afterwards two parts half as much of Sal of Mars as all these are weigh theâ— together put all into a glasse Vial let the third part of iâ— be empty set it in together to be fixed then the Salt oâ— Mars openeth in this compound is fermented by it anâ— the matter begins to incline to a blacknesse for ten oâ— twelve dayes it is eclipsed then the Salt returns to its coagulation laying hold in its operation on the whole compound coagulate it first into a deep brown Masse 〈◊〉 it stand thus unstirred in a continued heat it turneth to 〈◊〉 bloud-red body encrease the fire that you may see Astrâ—â— Solis be predomiâ—ant which appeareth in a greenish colour like unto a Rain-bow keep this fire continually leâ— all these colours vanish it turneth to a transparent reâ— stone veâ—y ponderous needlesse to be projected on Mercury but ringeth after its perfection and fixation all white Metals into the purest Gold Then take of the prepared fixed red stone or of the powder one part and foâ—â— parts of any of the white Metal first let the Metal melt half aâ—â— houâ— and let it be well clarified then project the powdeâ—â— upon it let it drive well and see that it be entred into the Metal the Metal begin to congeal then is it transmuteâ— into Gold beat the pot in pieces take it out if it hath any Slacks â—rive them with Saturn then is it pure and maileable If you carry it on Lune then put more of the powder to it than you do upon Jupiter and Saturn as half an ouncâ— of he powder tingeth five ounces of Lune into Sol let tâ—â— be a miracle â—oâ—l not thy Soul with imparting this mystery unto others that are unworthy of it Proceed with Sâ—lt oâ— Saturn as you were informed about Mars and Venus onely distilled Vinegar pâ—â—formeth that which Hony waâ—â—er did by the other and clarifie it with spirit of â—â—e â—f the Particular of Jupiter together with the extraction of its Anima and Salt TAke Pumice-stones sold in shops neal them quench them in old good Wine neal them again and quench â—â—m as you did formerly let this nealing be iterated a third â—â—e the stronger the Wine is you quench withall the â—tter it is after that dry them gently thus are they preâ—â—ed for that purpose Pulverise these Pumice-stones subâ—â—y then take good Tin laminate it stratifie in a cementâ—â—g way in a reverberating Furnace reverberate this matter â—r five dayes and nights in a flaming fire it draweth the â—â—cture of the Metal then grinde it small first scraping the â—in lamins put it in a glasse body pour on it good distilâ—â—d Vinegar set it in digestion the Vinegar draweth the â—â—ncture which is red-yellow abstract this Vinegar in Balâ—â—â— edulcorate the Anima of Jupiter with distilled water â—â—xiccate gently proceed in the rest as you did with the â—nima of Saturn viz. dissolve radically in or with the spiâ—â—t of Mercury drive them over pour that upon two parts of red Mercury precipitated being precipitated with this Venerean sanguine quality then coagulate and fix if done â—uccesfully you may acknowledge Jupiter's bounty that gave leave to transmute this precipitate into Gold which will be apparent at their melting It performeth this also it transmuteth ten parts of Lune into Gold if other Sulphurs be added thereunto force no more upon Jupiter it 's all â—he is able to do being of a peaceable disposition he told all what he could do The processe about this Salt is to extract it with distilled rain-Rain-water clarified with spirit of Wine Of the Particular of Mercury vive and of its Sulphur and Salt TAke of quick Mercury sublimed seven times lib. a baâ— grinde it very small pour on it a good quantity of shaâ—â— Vinegar boyl it on the fire for an hour or upward stirriâ—â— the matter with a woodden spatule take it from the firâ— let it be cold the Mercury setleth to the bottom and thâ— Vinegar cleareth up if it be slow in the clearing let somâ— drops of spirit of Vitriol fall in the Vinegar it doth precipiâ—tate the other for Vitriol precipitateth Mercury vive Saâ— of Tartar precipitateth Sol Venus and common Salt dotâ— precipitate Lune and Mars doth the like to Venus a lixivium of Beech-ashes doth it to Vitriol and Vinegar is foâ— common Sulphur in that way and Mars for Tartar and Salâ— peter for Antimony Cant off the Vinegar from the precipâ—taete you will finde the Mercury like a pure wash'd Sand pour on it Vinegar iterate this work a third time then edulcorate the matter let it dry gently Take two ounces of Anima of Mars one ounce of Anima of Saturn one ounce of Anima of Jupiter dissolve these in 〈◊〉 ounces of Mercurial spirit let all be dissolved then drive it over leave nothing behinde it will be a Golden water like a transparent dissolution of Sol your prepared and edulcarated Mercury must be warm'd in a strong Viol pour this warm'd water gently on it a tissing will be stop the Viol then the tissing is gone than seal it Hermetice set it in a gentle Balmy in ten dayes the Mercury is dissolved into a grasse green Oyl set the Viol in ashes for a day and night rule your fire gently this green colour turneth into a yellow Oyl in this colour is hid the Rubedo keep it in this fire and let the matter turn to a yellow powder like unto Orpiment when no more comes over then set the glasse in Sand for a day and a night give a strong fire to it 〈◊〉 fairest Ruby-rubedo appear melt it to a fixednesse 〈◊〉 a fluxing powder made of Saturn it comes now to a â—ablenesse one pound of it containeth two ounces of 〈◊〉 Gold as deep as ever Nature produced any Beâ—ber the poor do not precipitate thy self into an inferâ—abysse by forgetting thy self in not doing the duties ought to perform in regard of the blessing An Oyl made of Mercury and its Salt TAke quick Mercury being often sublimed and rectified with Calx vive put it in a body dissolve it in a heat in strong Nitrous water abstract the water from the corrosivenesse
quality and is the reason wâ— by its super-abounding calidity it heateth other thingâ— digesteth them and at last it bringeth them to a full mâ—turity the fire being continued for a certain time The things I wâ—ite of Vitriol I have not begg'd nor boâ—rowed from other mens writings but found them so in 〈◊〉 long continued practick whereby nature enabled me become a Sooth-sayer by permission of the Highest Creatâ—â— that that nobly inplanted quality might be avouched bâ— a â—â—thfull and true evidence of one of her devoted Disciâ—es And I speak thus much for a memorandum that if Paris â—n keep safely Helena without troubles that thâ— noble Ciâ— of Troja in Greece be no more ruined and d stroyed and â—riamus together with Menelaus be no more afflicted and diâ—racted thereby then Hector and Achilles will agree well â—ough to obtain that royaâ— Race without going to war â—t it and be Possessâ—rs of â—haâ— Monarchy in their Chilâ—â—ens Children and their off-â—pring and posterity for the â—â—nlarging of their Dominions by increasing their riches â—finitely against which no enemy dareth stir Of common Sulphur THe usual common Sulphur is not so perfectly exalted in it's degree and brought unto maturity as it is found in Antimony and Vitriol There is made of it â—â—er se an Oyl against putrid stinking wounds destroying â—nd killing such worms which grow in them especially if â—at little Salt in it be dissolved from its Sulphur There is made of it a Balsam with Sallet Oyl or Oyl of â—â—uniper in like manner with the white spirit of Terpenâ—â—ne and is of a red colour is made thus take flowers of â—ulphur made with the Colchotar of Vitriol digest them â—r a time in hors-dung or any other way this Balsam may â—afely be used for such that are in a Consumption of the â—ungs especially if rectified several times with spirit of â—â—ne drawn-over and separated that it be bloud red This Balsam is a preservative against corruption and rotteâ—esse The Quint-essence of Sulphur is in a Mineral where a â—ulphureous flint is generated this beaten peebles being â—â—t in a glasse and on it be powred a strong Aquafort made of Vitriol and Salpeter and let dissolve what may 〈◊〉 dissolved abstract that water the remainder must be wâ—â— dulcified and reverberated to a rednesse pour on thâ—â— spirit of wine extract its tincture afterward circulate 〈◊〉 a time in the Pellican let all the essence of Sulphur be â—â—parated it stayeth below the spirit of wine like far Sallâ— Oyl by reason of its ponderousnesse its Dose of six Graiâ— is found to work sufficiently If yâ—u digâ—st in this essenâ—â— of Sulphur Myrrhe Aloes and other Spices it extracâ— their vertues and makes it into a Balsam which suffers 〈◊〉 flesh or other parts that are subject unto putrefaction 〈◊〉 fall into rottennesse for which cause the Ancients have pâ— this name to it Balsamus mortuorum Thus I close to speak any further of combustible Sulphuâ— There may be made an Oyl of it which is found very usâ—full the Sulphur must be sublimed in a high instrumâ—â— with a good heat which sublimation in a long timâ— changeth into a Liquor or Oyl standing in a humid placeâ— but being I do not intend to use any prolixity of words 〈◊〉 let it rest so There may be cocted a Liver out of commoâ— Sulphur which is turn'd unto milk and it may also 〈◊〉 changed into a red Oyl with Lin-seed Oyl many other Mâ—dicinals may be made out of Sulphur Its flowers essencâ— and Oyl are preferred before the rest together with thâ— white and red fixed Cinober which are made of it becauâ—â— in them is found a mighty vertue Of Calx vive THe secrets of Quick-lyme is known to few men anâ— few there are which attained to a perfect knowledgâ— of its qualities but I tell to you a real truth that thougâ— Lyme is contemptible yet there lieth great matters therein and requireth an understanding Master to take out of 〈◊〉 what lieth buried in it I mean to expel its pure spiriâ— which collaterally stands in affiâ—ity wiâ—h Minerals is able to binde and help to make fix the volatile spirits of Minerals for it is of a fiery essence heateth concocteth and bringâ—th unto maturity in short time when in many years they could not be brought to it the gâ—osse earthly body of â—t doth not do the fear but its spirit dâ—th it which is drawn out of iâ— this spirit is of that abâ—liâ—y that he bindeth and fixeth other volatile spirits For note the spirit dissolveth Oculi Canâ—rorum dissolveth Crystals into a lâ—quorâ— these two being duely brought into an â—â—â—ite per monum distillaâ—â—onis I will say nothing 〈◊〉 this time of Diamonds and such â—â—ke stones that waâ—er dissolveth and breaketh the stone 〈◊〉 the bladder and the Gouâ—y Tâ—â—tâ—r settled into the â—oynâ—s of hands and feet suff rs not any Gout to â—ake roo◠〈◊〉 those parts this rare sâ—â—r t l taught one of my faithfull Diâ—ciples and the great Chancellor of the invinciâ—le Caesar â—s still thankfull unto me for it and many great persons â—esides Quick-lyme is strengthned and made more fiery and hot â—y a pure and unsophâ—stâ—cated spirit of wine which is often â—oured on it and abstracted again then the white Salt of â—artar must be grinded wi h iâ—â—ogether with its additioâ—â—ls which must be dead and coâ—tain nothing thâ—â— you â—â—ll draw a very hellish spiri iâ— which great mysteries lye 〈◊〉 How this spirit is gotten I told it observe it keep it â—â—ke it for a fare-well Of Arsenick ARsenick is in the kindred of Mercury Antimony as a Bastard in a Family may be its whole substance is â—bysonous and volatile even as the former two in its exâ—â—rnal colour to the eye it is white yellow and red but â—â—wardly it is adorned with all manner of colours like to 〈◊〉 Metals which it was fain to forsake being forced thereunto by fire It is sublimed per se without addition and also in its subliming there are added several other matters as occasion requireth If it be sublimed with Salt and Mars then it looks like a transparent Crystal but its poyson stayeth still with it unfit to be joyned or added to Metals hath very little efficacie to transmute any Metal The Subterranean Serpent bindeth it in the Union of fire but cannot quite force it that it might serve for a Medicine for man and beast if it be further mix'd with the Salt of a Vegetable stone which is with Tartar and is made like unto an Oyl it is of great efficacie in wounds which are of a hard healing it can make a Coat for deceitfull Venus to trim her handsomly that the inconstancie of her false heart may be disclosed by her wavering servants without gain with her prejudice and damage When Antimony and Mars are made my companions and am exalted by them to the top of Olympus then I afford a Ruby in transparence and colour to that which cometh from
Metals Philosophically The Philosophers Merâ—â—ry and not the vulgar being reduced unto water disâ—lveth the Philosophick Salt together with the purple â—antle by putrefaction and distillation for it is Mercurius â—plicatus Chap. VI. Of Sulphur of Lune 1. THis Lune is made spiritual by means of a water expressed in our second Key and may easily be made into potable silver where by many diseases are cured 2. If you take one part of this spiritual Lune and you feed it with three parts of Virgins Milk and bring it unto fixation then you have an augment of Lune which breedeth monethly young ones these are taken forth and their places are supplied with Mercury vive c. This powder is reduced with Boras then you have an augmentum perpetuum Chap. VII Of Antimonial Vitriol 1. THere is made out of Vitriol of Antimony with distill'd Vinegar a sweet extraction its acetum is separated from it on the remainder is poured spirit of wine must be extracted and the pure from impure separated This sweet extraction is drawn over the spirit of wine by cohobation is often drawn from it and that powder is reduced to a glorious Oyl of Antimony This Oyl cureth all manner of diseases being ministred in a convenient Vehicle This Medicinal Oyl is a great arcanum 2. Further take one part of this Oyl and two parts of the Mâ—rcurial water in which is dissolved a fourth part of Sol purple Mantle then joyn them lute Hermetically coagulate and fix This Tincture tingeth Lune and Mercurie into Sol. This is that pure Sulphur of Antimony the Vitriol of Antimony must be made per se without any addition of Salpeter Salt and Borras Chap. VIII Of Sulphur of Vitriol 1. THere is made of Viâ—riol a lixivium with ashes of Beech-wood and a Sulphur is drawn from this Vitriol and is precipitated with Salt of Tartar Further the Oyl of Sulphur is exâ—racted with Juniper Oyl tâ—us you have a red Oyl putrifie the same with spirit of wine abstract the spirit of wine from it This glorious Oyl of Sulphur is good against maâ—y diseases it is to be used against Consumption Dropsiâ— Plague Gravel and Scabbinesse 2. Vitriol is sublimed with Salmiâ—c also but better is it if done with a lixivium whereby the body of Vâ—t iol is better opened and dissolved This sublimate is dissolved into an Oyl whereby câ—ude Mercury can be coagulaâ—ed and fix'd of the which I shall write more anon when I treat of Vitriol Chap. IX Of common Sulphur 1. THere is a Liver made of yellow Sulphur with Linseed Oyl boyled in Lye with Sol 〈◊〉 puâ—rified and then distill'd pour this water on Tyleâ— wâ—ich newly came out of the Oven imbibe them theâ—ewith distil it per retortam you have a yellow water of it like an aquafort which tingeth Lune Take one part of iâ—â—s water and one part of Lunaâ— calx let it sta d 〈◊〉 dâ—yâ—â— and nights in warm Sand the fouâ—th part of it tuâ—â—e 〈◊〉 unto Gold being reduced separated purged with Saturn and driven 2. Further Sulphur with the anima of Saturn being often driven over and fixed may then safely be used inwardly for a Medicine but projected on Lune in the flux â—t afford good Gold in the Quaâ—t 3. Of the Gray powder and Calx vive equal parts one pound a fourth part of Salmiac grinded among and driven over per retortam affords a glorious red Oyl which is of 〈◊〉 fixing and graduating quality 4. Lastly I tell you take of this Oyl of Sulphur of Venus and of Mars add thereunto the Oyl of Antimonie's Sulphur binde these together with the Oyl or Mercurial water fix it then you have a Medicine for men and Metals viz. to ringe Mercury and Lune into Sol. The second Section Of Vitriols Chap. I. Of Vitriol of Sol and of Lune IN the first place you must have our water of the cold Earth salt and of the Eagle whereby Gold and Silver is made spiritual let it shoot into Crystals this is that Metalline Vitriol out of which is distilled together with spirit of wine and Oyl of Sulphur to be used after the manner of Metals Chap. II. Of Vitriol of Saturn and of Jupiter CAlcine Saturn or Jup ter exâ—ract its anima with distill'd Viâ—egar lâ—t it puâ—rifie 14. dayes and nights let â—he Vitriol shoot This must be driveâ— over with spirit of wine it affords a sweet Oyl and it is the Suâ—phur of Saturn and Jupiter This Oyl coagulateth Mercury and being first precipitated with Oyl of Vitriol it fixeth him Chap. III. Of Vitriol of Mars TAke the filings of Mars and of Sulphur equal parts calcine them in a Brick-kill to a purple colour pour on it distill'd water or Vinegar it extracteth a green colour abstract the third part of that water let it shoot thus you have an artifiical Vitriol distil from it a red spirit or Oyl Take half an Ounce of it add to it Mercurial water in which is dissolv'd Sol take of this Oyl but a fourth part of an Ounce fix this Tincture then you have an excellent Medicine to project upon Lead Silver and Tin which are transmuted thereby into pure Gold O! thou Christian heart return thanks to the Creator of Minerals Metals and other Creatures Chap. IV. Of Vitriol of Venus I Have told you already of the transparent Vitriol to be extracted out of Venus and to distil of it a red Oyl This Oyl dissolveth Mars turneth him into a Vitriol beiâ—â— once more distill'd per retortam forcibly then you have aâ— excellent Tinging-oyl called Salt of Mars This is thâ— Kings excise man which bringeth in his Rents and enricheth the King This Oyl dissolveth the spiritual purple maâ—tle and draweth it over the Helmet Now you have seâ—mented the Celar Sulphur with iâ—s own Sulphur which Philosophers before me have not done they took onely calcined Sol or Sâ—lar Calx set the same to the duplicated Mercury instead of the fermenâ— and attaiâ—ed unto the enâ— they wish'd for as well as I. But according as men do work so is the operation of their Tincture transmuting more or lesse according to the efficacie of the Tincture 2. Out of the Oyl of this Martiaâ— Salt is Mercury of Antimony precipitated is added to the sweet Oyl of Vitriol fix'd this Medicine next unto the Philosophers stone is the best and highest Univâ—rsal upon mans body and tingeth Lune Saturn and Jupiter into good Sol holding in the exameâ— very well 3. There is made also a masse out of Honey Salt and Vinegar and lamins of Venus which are stratified and calcined This calcinate of its own accord turns to a Verdigreece which must be extracted crystallized and distilled to a red Oyl which is used as you heard above Chap. V. Of Vitriol of Mercury VItriol of Mercury is easily made distill'd in aquafort made of Salpeter and Allome being dissolved therein Crystals do shoot which are very like unto a Vitriol these being wash'd with
rectified spirit of Wine with Salt of Tartar then putrified and reduced into a sweet Oyl this is an excellent Medicine against the French disease old Ulcers Chollick windy ruptures Gouâ—â— expelling many other diseases out of mans body 2. This Oyl is joyned also with Martial Tinctures For â—erâ—ury is the bond of other Metals and may be well used â—ticulariter The chiefest colour of Mercury is red as â—â—u finde in my other writings Chap. VI. Of common Vitriol â— TAke good Hungarish Vitriol dissolve it in distilled water coagulate it again let it shoot into Crystalâ— â—erate it five times then is it well purged and the Salts Allums and Niter are separated from it Distil this purged â—itriol with spirit of wine unto a red Oyl ferment it with â—piritual Sol add to it a due Dose of quick Mercury of Antimony coagulate and fix then you have a Tincture for men and it tingeth Lune also into Sol. Visitando Interiora Terrae Rectificandoque In venietis occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam 2. VItriol is calcined also to a red colour in a close Vessel on which is poured distilled Vinegar and is set in putrefaction for three moneths there is sound in a strong distillation a quick Mercury which you are to keep safe Wonders may be effected therewith upon Particulars and Universals Take three pâ—â—ts of this Mercury and one part of Sol joyn these being fixed it affords a Solar augmentum Make your supplies with its Mercury Laus Deo 3. This calcined red Vitriol is sublimed also with Salmiac thâ— sublimate is dissolved into an Oyl This Oyl fixeth Câ—â—obar whereof may be had Lune and Sol. 4. There is made a fix't water also Salmiac and Alloâ— being added thereunto This water being poured upon Suâ—phur of Jupiter which before was precipitated inâ—o a reâ— powder imbibed and coagulated and an ingresse be maâ—â— with Sol then you have a Tincture whereby câ—ude Antimâ—ny is transmuted into good Lune which may be transmuteâ—â— into Sol. 5. Lastly I tell thee if you extract the Salt out of Vitriol and rectifie it well then you have a work which iâ— short and tingeth Lune into Sol this metalline Salt coagulateth vulgar Mercurie and being transmuted into Lunâ— iâ— may be graduated higher through and with Antimony Thus you have my operations and experiments which may he very profitable unto you Make a good Christian use of it help the poor cure the diseased then God will blesse you Amen Sulphur is Vitriol Antimony is Mercary The third Section Of vulgar Magnet 1. MAgnet contains that which common Mars hath Common Iron may easily be wrought needs not to make many words of it Magnet hath an attractive quality to draw Iron 2. There is made an Oyl of Magnet and Mars which is very effectual in deep wounds 3. With Magnet and Antimony is made Lune fix which with the Oyl of Mars and Venus is graduated and made to Gold it may be performed also with Antimony and Mars Thus I finish'd my course and found many things in my working My fellow brethren turn'd Alchymists all had the Philosophers stone I was the beginner took great â—â—us before I attained to any thing if you read my wriâ—â—gs diligently you will finde the XII Keyes the prima â—â—teria or Philosophers Mercury together with the Philoâ—phick Salt the Philosophick Sulphur I delineated exâ—â—sly Now I close committing you to God and accept in hoâ—â—sty of that you are informed Medium Tenuere Beati FINIS Jod V. R. A Processe upon the Philosophick work of Vitriol HAving gotten this Processe in the foresaid year and and afterward as you shall hear with mine own hands elaborated and wrought the same no man â—ver-looking me I was heartily rejoyced even as if I had â—een new born and returned hearty thanks to Godâ— its â—ractick at the first I have not plainly described because I â—ad erred in the composing of it and was fain to begin the work anew I having miss'd in my work I begun in the â—ear 1605. because the matter of the Earth and the spirit â—f Mercury was not sufficiently purged therefore the earth â—ould not perfectly be united at the composition with the water I let that quite alone and began a new Processe at â—he end of the year 1605. in the Citie of Strasburg used â—ore diligence and exactnesse then my work God be praiâ—â—d prospered better for the which I am still thankfull to God for it In the name of the Hâ—ly Trinity the 1â— October Anno 1605. I took ten pouâ—d of Vitriol dissâ—â— it in distilled Rain-water being warm'd let it stand 〈◊〉 day and a night at that time many feces were setled Iâ—trated the matter evaporated it gently ad cuticulam usâ—â— I set it on a cool place to crystallize this on shot Vitriâ—â— exiccated dissolved it again in distilled rain-Rain-water lâ—â— shoot again which work I iterated so long tiâ—l the Viâ—â— goâ— a coelestial gâ—een colour having no more any feces aâ—â—â— and lost all its corrosivenesse and was of a very pleaâ—â— taste This highly putrified Vitriol thus crude and not â—â—cined I put into a coated Retort distilled it in open fâ— drove it over in 12 hours space by an exact government fiâ—e in a white fume when no more of these fumes caâ—â— and the red corrosive Oyl began to come then I lâ—t the 〈◊〉 go out the next morning all being cold I took off the â—â—ceiver poured the gift in the receiver into a body aâ— some of the lâ—â—e being fall'n into I filter'd it and had a 〈◊〉 menstrual water which had some phlegme because I tâ— that Vitriol uncalcined which I abstracted in a Balmy 〈◊〉 leaving one drop of water in it I found my Chaos in the bottom of a dark rednesse vâ— ponderous which I poured into a Viol sealed it Hermeâ—â— set it on a three-foot into a woodden globe into a vâ—porous hath made of water where I left it so long till 〈◊〉 was dissolved after some weeks it separated into two parâ— into a bright transparent water and into an earâ—â— which setled to the bottom of the glasse in form of a thiâ— black corrosive like pitch I separated the white spiâ—â— from it and the fluid black matter I set in again to be dâ—â—solved the white spirit which was dissolv'd of it I separatâ— again this work I iterated leaving nothing in the bottoâ— save a dry red earth After that I purged my white spiâ—â— per distillationem very exactly it was as pure as the tear thâ—â— falls from the eye the remaining earth I exiccated under Muffle it was as porous and as dry as dust on this I pourâ—â— again my white spirit set it in a digestion this spirit exâ—â—â—ct the Sulphur or Philosophick Gold and was ting'd of a 〈◊〉 yellow I caâ—â—ed it off from the matter and in a body â—bstracted the spirit from the Sulphur that Sulphur stayed â—â—inde in form of an Oyl very fiery nothing like unto its â—â—t as red as a
to this my purpose that I may write so that every one may understand and Gods infinite mercie and that it together with his gracious goodness redemption may seem known acknowledged and continually meditated upon and every one may call on the Great Creator day and night granting to them fervent hearts so to direct all their thoughts that they may make no otherwise of this noble Creature of God and transcendent great mystery of Nature together with the Automie thereof but onely to the great honour of God and the good of all good Children The same grant this Father Son and Holy Ghost in his mercy Amen TABLE The Contents of the first part of the book THe first Chapter treateth of the aetherial liquor of Metals pag. 1. The 2. Chap. treateth of the seed of Metals pag. 4 The 3. Chap. Of Metalline nutriment pag. 6 4. Of the shop or officine of Metals pag. 9 5. Of the egression and ingression of Metals pag. 11 6. Of the dissolution and reduction of Metals pag. 14 7. Of the ascension and descension of Metals pag. 16 8. Of the respiring Metal or quick Oar pag. 18 9. Of the expiring or dying Metal pag. 21 10. Of pure and fine Metal pag. 22 11. Of the impure Metal pag. 25 12. Of the perfect Metal pag. 27 13. Of the imperfect Metal pag. 30 14. Of the Soap Metal pag. 32 15. Of the inhalation or inbreathing pag. 34 16. Of the exhalation and outbreathings pag. 36 17 Of coruscation adhalation or glittering pag. 38 18. Of folium and spolium shimmer and glower pag. 39 19. Of the fuliginous vapours and ashes pag. 40 20. Of the Metalline water or lie pag. 42 21. Of the seed and of the hull of the seed pag. 44 22. Of the shining or fire rod pag. 45 23. Of the glowing rod. pag. 47 24. Of the leaping rod pag. 48 25. Of the furcilla or striking rod pag. 50 26. Of the trembling rod pag. 52 27. Of the falling or neather rod pag. 53 28. Of the superior rod pag. 55 29. Of resting vapours or sediments pag. 57 30. Of the weather salt pag. 58 31. Of the stone salt pag. 59 32. Of the Subterranean Pools pag. 60 33. Of the Metalline Gold or of the Metalline bed pag. 61 Chap. 34. Of Metalline streams pag. 62 35. Of Chalk or stone Meal pag. 63 36. Of the blast pag. 64 37. Of the brittle stuff pag. 65 38. Of the blank fire pag. 66 39. Of the Mine glue pag. 67 40. Of corroding stuff to eat stones thorow pag. 68 41. Of having materials used for a sledd or dray pag. 70 42. Of the frost in the Mine-works pag. 71 43. Of the flaming fire pag. 72 44. Of the roasting fire pag. 72 45. Of the corroding fire pag. 73 46. Of the glowing fire pag. 74 47. Of the Lamp fire pag. 74 48. Of the cold fire pag. 75 49. Of the warm fire pag. 76 The Contents of the second part 1. Chap. OF Mines and Clifts what the middle works of Oars are pag. 81 2. Of the general operations of several Metals pag. 82 3. Of stones rocks flints of Gold their striking courses pag. 84 4. Of the oar of silver and its running or striking passages pag. 86 5. Of Copper oar its stone and striking passage pag. 88 6. Of Iron oar its stoks floats fallings and striking passages pag. 92 7. Of Lead oar it s Mine and striking passage pag. 95 8. Of Tin oar its stoks floats fallings striking passage pag. 98 9. Of Mercurial oar and its passages pag. 100 10. Of Wismuth Antimony Sulphur Salt Salpeter and Talk pag. 101 11. Of a comparison between Gods word the Minerals pag. 102 12. How Jewels are wrought the blessings God bestows on Miners pag. 107 13. Of the essence of Gold pag. 108 The Contents of the third part being a Declaration of the XII Keyes The first is declared pag. 119 The second Key declared pag. 120 The third Key declared pag. 122 The rest are declared according to the course going on in that part pag. 125 The Contents of the fourth part concerning the particulars made of the 7. Metals how they may be prepared with profit First of the Sulphur of Sol whereby Lune is ting'd into Gold pag. 151 The particular of Lune of the extraction of its Sulphur and Salt pag. 158 Of the particular of Mars how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 161 Of the particular of Venus how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 161 Of the particular of Saturn how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 163 Of the particular of Jupiter how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 169 Of the particular of Mercury of its Sulphur and Salt pag. 170 Of the Oyl made of Mercury and its Salt pag. 171 Of the particular of Antimony its Sulphur and Salt pag. 172 A short way to make Antimonial Sulphur and Salt pag. 173 The XII Keyes follow next The Contents of that book are inserted at the beginning of it Next to this is the repetition of the former writings with an Elucidation of them touching the Philosophers stone and a true information annexed concerning the preparations of Mercurie Antimonie Vitriol water common Sulphur unslak'd Lime Arsenic Salpeter Tartar Vinegar and Wine The next are the conclusion and experiments THe first Section treats of Sulphur and the ferment of Philosophers pag. 1. 2. Section Of the Philosophers Vitriol pag. 2 3. Section Of the Philosophers Magnet pag. 3 An allegorical expression betwixt the holy Trinity and the Philosophers stone pag. 5 A treatise of Sulphur pag. 6 Of Sulphur of Jupiter pag. 7 Of the Sulphur of Mars and Venus pag. 8 Of the Sulphur of Sol pag. 8 Of the Sulphur of Mercury pag. 9 Of the Sulphur of Lune pag. 10 Of Antimonial Vitriol pag. 10 Of the Sulphur of Vitriol pag. 11 Of common Sulphur pag. 11 Of Vitriols first of the Vitriol of Sol and Lune pag. 12 Of Vitriol of Saturn and Jupiter pag. 13 Of Vitriol of Mars pag. 13 Of Vitriol of Venus pag. 13 Of Vitriol of Mercury pag. 14 Of common Vitriol pag. 15 Of the vulgar Magnet pag. 16 A Philosophick work upon Vitriol pag. 17 To bring quick Mercury to a Lunar fixation pag. 21 The contents of the fifth and last part TReateth of the great Medicinal vertue of the Metalline and Mineral Salt pag. 1. A description of the fine Tartar pag. 6. Of the Salt of Tartar pag. 7. THE FIRST BOOK Wherein are shewed MINE-WORKS from whence they have their Existence Natures and Properties divided into the ensuing Chapters CHAP. I. â—f the Aetherial liquor of Metals or of the metal Ferch GOd hath created things under ground as well as the things above ground By the things under ground I understand Metalls Minerals and into whom there is implanted also a fertiltie to their seed without which the seed could neither grow nor inâ—ase Seed which is barren hath not that fertiltie by â—ich
the matter after their way indiscreetly and inconsiderately as the greedy Alchymists suppose that when men speak of the mercury of bodies to be the mercury of metals or the salts of bodies to be a â—alt like other common salt Ashes of Saturn are seen here â—eetly before they come or goe any higher and before â—hey do turn unto silver for soon do they imbrace Antimoâ—y the same the congealed water or coagulated Saturn hath likewise and is a pure proof to all metals and groweth deep Then there is a pure Wismuth which is gross containeth a congealed water of Saturn which is found also with great gain about metals when they are reduced to their first matter then it ascendeth into a glass metalline work and the ash-work ceaseth Chymists in old times and now also made themselves very busie with their salt to make all bodies potable thereby having reduced them first into salts but here is an album out of ashes which ashes afford salts which is but in vain for ashes are garments intimating â—nd pointing at the thing which is clad and the oar cloatheth it self with it when it is coming neer the day The condition of Potabilia is otherwise they must be brought into potablenesse and is done in a clean contrary way than they goe to work with But these are served well enough that hoe for nothing but for gold Nature giveth to such these garments it giveth the slip before men are aware of I mean the body therefore look well unto bodies CHAP. XX. Of Scobes and metalline water of the Schlich and lie Lixivium NAture in her work must still have an increase and decrease some things are coming and others are going and as above ground at the melting and at the hammer metals do lose somewhat so it is under ground But how these subterranean decreases are discerned which like crums of bread should be preserved Nature being provident keeps them together also bringing them unto the day light that they might be brought to good and that metal is known also to be under that ground by the Scobs or alkali which it excerneth namely the rocks stones flints which sucked nature drie in her work these are the offals if empty of metals and if some good oar be in it then that may well be called Schlich or sliding because it slideth away from the work it stealeth away where such sliding is take notice of it for it breaks off from the matter in the officina wherein metals are in their work and perform their office and that Schlich or sliding is a sure signe that metals are in that place So the Lixivium also or metalline water is a sure fore-runner of metals and it dissolveth still in the work and looseneth somewhat from the metals in which there is a Schnede and vertue for as I have said when I made mention of minerals where there are fossilia mineralia there is sure a Mine-work And where such minerals are they soon dissolve into a water or lixivium and this is the difference betwixt the water and the lixivium water affords only the mineral and the metals allow the flowers thereunto out of these comes a lixivium the effect of this water and lixivium is well known for they carry in a hidden way flowers or tinctures of oars The cement or lixivium at Schwelnitz in Hungary corrodeth iron into a Schlich or sliding and if that iron sliding is taken again out of the Dray and is cast then is it good mercury There are more of such lixiviums but men regard them not that water also is a sign of a very pure mineral for let us consider the water at Goslar doth it not yield pure white and red vitriol and in several other places there is found good copper silver and lead out of these waters may be had again minerals as you please or intend to have them without any great pains-taking For if a mineral is exsiccated then it hath no more the strength to run forth but groweth tough and is dried up sinking into the ground There are waters in Hungary savouring of sulphur and allom which afford store of gold and copper alluminous water in Misnia afford silver and copper the waters in Bohemia which taste of saliter or iron afford several sorts of metal except gold The Mines in Styria have their special metalline waters and lixiviums besides other excellent Mine-works insomuch that the whole Mines are of meer steel copper gold silver quicksilver and other things mens hearts may wish for The salt waters at Franckenhouse do they not signifie that there are curious Mine-works there which if the inhabitants took more notice of and were more known what gains could they not make of them The more these waters are running the better they serve for many uses if they are standing it is a sign that there are evill and bad minerals at hand and that there are cide maters and minerals that were gone and left behinde in abundance of sediments and fumes Take heed of these CHAP. XXI Of Scoria and Exuvium of the seed hull of the seed THe utmost and last decrease and diminution of metals is cinder which is very good and harmlesse I mean that cinder which metals put off by their Uredines or soapes For the exuvium or husk which the corruscation or by-breathing leaveth behind and is like unto a cinder is another sort of cinder like unto that which comes from the forges of Smiths and Melters for besides that they weigh their bodies they cleanse them also though the lie doth purge the Minerals and colours yet themselves also do purge as is seen by the cenders which every metal leaveth behinde in the fire which however are not like unto this By this cender it is seen also that there are metals at hand for the cenders of Minerals which the corruscation causeth are palpable known and visible Understanding Miners know the same There is a metalline cender among the slacks but not known which is the reason why slacks are so brittle else they would be malleable or else they could be cast compact some have undertaken that work but they could not get off these cenders Touching the Schwaden or husks these do fairly intimate the departing of the seed and of the work of all bodies for when the hull ceaseth to work and hath no more food neither of the minerals nor of the bodies and now the Folium is gone into Spolium then it is at separating and breaketh the band of the leaf and seed which is called the Swaden or husk it is an extream poison it destroyeth all that liveth especially breathing things for it is its intent to return thither again therefore to what place soever it cometh finding things that move and stir the same it destroyeth and it self also and at last it returneth to the â—ficina of the seed helps to glue on and imbibe and turns 〈◊〉 be a band again Where such poison is be sure that â—ere
Rod if it be a Saturnal oar the Rod leapeth the more more than the condition of the body of Saturn is For this Rod doth not stirre the body but that which is the most in that body namely the mercury of the body for it yields good store of it and may put on easily another garment and be a mercury of metals and so forth If in that place be Tin and Wismuth the rod applied leapeth not so quick but more slowly than it doth where Saturn is where a copper or iron oar is there that rod moveth more slowly yet But this must be observed that there is no breathing about metals unlesse they be under ground for when they are there then are they in their works whither they be increasing or decreasing they cannot be without breathing then Thus much of these Rods. CHAP. XXIX Of resting vapours or of their sediments MIne-works meet with many natural obstructions as all other worldly things are subject unto For all â—hings sublunary are in subjection unto corruptiblenesse â—he same happeneth also unto metals they suffer by their â—old and hot fires that they quite evaporate and expire â—s when their vapours and fumes grow ponderous cannot â—apour away upward where such vapours are Miners â—annot brook under ground In a Cellar where new wine or new beer is on workâ—g that vapour suffers no candle to burn by reason of the â—onderous Kho or fume which cannot so soon enter the ground unlesse these fumes be extenuated in their pondeâ—osity This faln matter lieth on close is like warm meal I call it Caries which differs from an Ostiocollum for that â—s in the Rocks naturally and dissolves at last into a fire This doth not so and keeps still a dry powder and is heaâ—ier than Mine-ashes which are light and dissolve into â—alts which this meal doth not but abideth a constant â—ediment which is like an unwholsome stinking vapour choaking the oars turning them to a rottennesse being obâ—tructed in their driving above and below These fumes are caused when there are hard rocks to which fire must be applied which causeth ill fumes which being weakened in its rising lie down in a place grow ponderous and increase for evil and poisonous things will soon gather to an heap It is seen in gold being dissolved in water let it stand a while and the impure minerals separate from the essence of gold and settle to the bottome Excrements of metal are soon brought to that posture for being brought to a glowing by a small heat they cast such a malignant fume which choak men immediately CHAP. XXX Of weather salt halitus Melusus THe Malignant breathing as it is generally so called is a pestilent salt which indangereth not only the Miners but hurts the oars also for it allayeth or maketh the breathings fall which are in the oar being thereby obstructed in their natural working The manner of the setling of these breathings are worthy to be noted It may be compared unto an Eclipse though the beams which ascendeth keepeth its course yet the breathing stayeth it and will not let it goe about that place being in that stay and condition its Ferch and seed parteth at last through its sides or walls it suffers fluid oars to come in thence is the original of such fluid oars of which there are severall sorts But this is to be noted That weather is called a weather because it is not of such clear air as it is above ground with us still carrieth something with it which is grosser hurtful unto man more than the air above with us for men are not commanded to dwell and live under ground but if any ones imployment lieth that way he must be contented to do so commit his condition to God almighty because he must indure and suck in ill fumes and get Mine-diseases This subterranean air growing ponderous by reason of the fume and water-stone which stop and corrupt the cross passage then is it called a Weather-salt this is apparenâ— when a burning candle is brought in these ponderous fumes do quench it like water at last they choak the men also Therefore when that is seen and felt let Miners come out again for they can do no good there CHAP. XXXI Of Cos metallicus or stone-salt THe air being of one piece of pure earth at last turneth to a stone There are severall sorts of stones as â—ere are several bodies in the earth though all of them are â—ut an earth The longer the matter lieth the harder and â—tter it will be Such stones cannot be stirr'd or heav'd â—lesse by fire which seizeth on the earth and consumes 〈◊〉 and turns it to a terrene firmament as scales are in fishâ—s and bones in beasts These also the Lord will have in â—is good time with fire This moved the Ancients to â—onsume their carcases with fire though flesh soon comes â—o rottennesse under ground yet the bones do not conâ—ume so soon the fire consumes them being turned to earth-â—shes This salt is hurtful unto metals taking from them their working without it they cannot continue in their life but â—ust expire and die because nothing can penetrate it The difference betwixt the stone-salt and the stone-meal is this â—he salt heaveth it self when the stone groweth to a hardnesse which formerly hath been a pretious stone and the air could penetrate it but now it begins to turn into a horn-stone when this meal comes to the highth of its age it turneth to a dust Here is it requisite to relate the difference betwixt the nether and upper stone which partly is obstructive and partly a furtherance to the Mine-work they may increase under ground but in the Afterwork no stone is good because they have no nutriment and therefore must perish and be famished for want of food CHAP. XXXII Of the subterranean pooles THere is a most heavy case which befalls clefts passages and structures called water-pools under ground For it is a truth undeniable that clefts passages under ground have their waters both the day-water and the night-water if once opened then are they made passable which prove the utter ruine of Mine-works Therefore my counsell is not to make passages navigable to come to the oars It is just as if one would dig a mans heart out of his body and he would begin to dig at the pulse and so along all the way to the heart would it not be an horrid butchery There is a neerer path to the well what needs to make far fetches about There is a twofold water under ground the day-water and the ground-water the day-water is not hurtful unto the structures but rather helpful soaking away many things and takes away many times from the stages the ground-water Let the ground-ground-water be kept out as much as possible may be for it doth hurt if it cannot passe away neither let it spring from below out of its Catharacts Keepe out the fire also for both are hurtful to metals
and to all things in the world if they play the masters CHAP. XXXIII â—f Aurum metallicum of the metalline gold or of the Metalline-bed THere is another fatnesse under ground where metals 〈◊〉 grow neither is it the hull of the seed nor the stone â—um Petroleum or Naphta but is like unto an Uredo or â—ne-soap It differs much from soap soap doth not â—n because it containeth a hidden Sulphur not a comâ—stible one but an incombustible one this is the reason â—y it doth not burn in a flame neither doth it seize on aâ— other thing but onely on the pure metal if that should â—t continue with it the metal could not come neither inâ— ascension nor descension it consumeth first of all in the â—etal even as grease doth in the animals This fatnesse is â—t far from the oar when it is predominant it consumeth â—e metal quite and evaporateth Oil is of that vertue put on the top of a drink be it what it will it keeps in 〈◊〉 strength and coolnesse this fatnesse shuts up the oars â—dy that no breathing can passe Fatnesse hath a great â—finity with iron and is one of its next kinde of the â—hich great volumes could be written In the County of Schwartzburg at Wackersberg there is â—ore of such fatnesse looks like quick silver and swimeth â—nd tinctureth red like Bole this colour it took hold on â—nd it may be extracted from it some call it a Mercurial â—ody or a Tin-glasse Lead-glasse Wismuth or Antimony 〈◊〉 seizeth on all those and when this fatnesse doth â—ot turn to a fatnesse of such metals where the seed â—s predominant then it turnes to a volatility and to a great Robber This fatnesse is a greasie earth glitâ—ering like a salve of a red and browne glowing as if it were Quick-silver or beaten Talk or glasse strow into In the Rocks of Bohemia and Transsylvania there great store of it at Goslar and at Slackenwald even as quiâ— silver or lead oars are many of them are found here aâ— there CHAP. XXXIV Of Metalline streames VVHen Ferch and seed must part from their work 〈◊〉 reason of the sediments be they what they wiâ— and expire not naturally then the oars turn to stones whiâ— Miners call Fluxes though they know not from whenâ— they come nothing can be made out of them they are fâ—sible or fluid when melted in fire but nothing can 〈◊〉 brought into them because they are not porous or no 〈◊〉 can get into which maketh them more noble It is strangâ— in Nature if any good thing be driven out of the body will not return thither for if life be gone from man thâ— body receiveth it no more but these are things possible 〈◊〉 God alone My intent is not here to write of miraculoâ— things but onely of things natural I wave the former 〈◊〉 is to be admired that the body of dead metals is so faiâ— whereas other bodies which are dead consume away 〈◊〉 nothing metals also come into a corruption but in a lonâ— time their death is like any glass keeps its colour especiallâ— if it was of a Marcasite hence are learned the colours oâ— Marcasites for green blue white fluxes are found therein as metalline flowers have been which are generated 〈◊〉 three bodies CHAP. XXXV Of Creta Chalk or stone meal VVEE see in this our air that no fume or wind ascendeth in vain it dissolveth again into one thing â—â—other thither resort many meteors the like meteors â—h the earth under ground For the fume which ascendâ— from the fire-halation of the oar or of the metal and â—ords the stone meal Creta wherever it falls or lighteth grindeth more and increaseth abundantly having a danâ—rous salt whereby it hurts those places where metals 〈◊〉 especially when they are in their ascension hindering â—eir colour It is apparent in the slat at Mansfield where â—ieth betwixt the spoaks of the ores and can hardly be â—tten from thence it robbeth and consumeth Folium and â—olium The stone-meal maketh a Kuff with stone-marâ—w turning it to a kind of marble called the Potstone or â—â—lit a double stone and is dark and very firm it striketh â—e being for the most part of fire Hither belong the â—alks but intending to make mention them in another place I wave them here however they so are such a meal and differ from others herein because inclineth more to a cold fire wherein it melteth like â—ow as the others do and dissolveth sooner into water â—an into meal and this turnes sooner to meal than to waâ—r if it be of lesse matter than it hath of the stone-â—arrow then it affords a fair ice or crystal called Vitrum â—lexandrinum or Mary's Ice which cannot be mastred in â—ot fires but it melteth in cold fires is very hurtful unto â—etals insomuch that by reason of it Mine-works fall to â—ine as it happened at Stolberg CHAP. XXXVI Of Spiro or of the Blast THe Spiro or blast in an instrument which bringeth 〈◊〉 right the weather or obstructed air otherwise all wouâ— turn to stone where it is and would be at a stand there the lower fire should enter instead of the air and exicâ—teth though it doth not kindle if a piece be beaten off 〈◊〉 it then it appeareth so and this piece which flieth thus 〈◊〉 side giveth to understand how it maketh the stone hoâ— Nature frameth the oar and metal but jewels and precioâ— stones are from another off-spring out of sweet waters In this instrument there dwell together fire air whicâ— take their power and matter from the malignant weatheâ— where they consume all ponderous matters through firâ— inlightening the remaining matter it hath Make that Spiro or blast into a ball of copper of an heads bignesse sâ—der it bright and light let no air get into it leave a smaâ— hole where a needle may enter attracting the water whicâ— purposely must be made and set for it there must be had pan of coals at hand which must be kindled and the baâ— laid into it turning the little hole toward the coal-fire anâ— it will blow the fire forcibly which being done it groweth hot and maketh the water boil in the ball which fumeth and carrieth it forth with a great fiercenesse blowinâ— on the coals strongly and thus it maintaineth the fire by breathing strongly in the manner of a pair of bellowes driven from without hereby several good things are effected and the condition of this ball is that it sheweth what may be done above ground with the like no use can be madâ— of it behinde that place because Nature herself hath sucâ— a blast for her fire CHAP. XXXVII Of Pulfa or of the Break-stuff or brittle matter THis salt is ingendred usually by a malignant fume which the Mine-fire should have And when the â—nes be very hard then there must be made a fire of wood â—here the fume draweth to the stone-fire and groweth â—ick and if the fumes of Succinum and of other things are
â—yned it turneth then to such poison that the oar must be â—ed else it perisheth for that fume lieth on the oar fuliâ—ous Kobolt which corrode and consume the oar there a â—ll must be applied which is round and hollow having â—ole at a bignesse at which a quill may enter it must be so â—se that no air may either enter or get out this ball must 〈◊〉 filled with gun-powder cover the same with cottenâ—ol boiled in Salpeter then dip it in melted pitch which mixed with some Sulphur kindle that ball let it go down a box or fling it on a Stolln or chamber when the ball â—eth asunder it expelleth that fume not onely by that â—oak but with the blow or report the gunpowder makes â—ch a ball may be applied also to water and be sunk in an â—strument under water in which noisome fishes are feared 〈◊〉 crack will kill the fishes that are there there is a past â—hich giveth no report but onely burneth and destroyeth â—d heaveth this salt but have a care what past you make â—e of and have a respect to the upper Scaffolds whither â—ey be old or new that they be not imbezled and your â—st must be mixed so that it may do no hurt CHAP. XXXVIII Of Clathrum or of the blank fire THis fire needs nothing for its food shineth in darknesse is a special fire for Mine-works quitteth the charges iâ— applied more than the expences do bestowed upon Taâ— or Bromith work For oil in some places may be had cheâ— enough casts no smoak destroyeth fumes it is put into glasse ball which is put into a basket to keep it safe from water and sand which affords a light to the workmen Miners ought to know how to enter their ground for thâ— hight or metalline Speculum which is a singular manuall for the metalline breathings and after-halations joyn anâ— come together require special instruments whereby they may be known for where these do joyn and the diurnaâ— breathing is predominant then it exhaleth by day shinetâ— out of the earth Miners call this a metalline breathing true it is so but they leave out something so it is but half breathing if the after-breathing is predominant then iâ— appeareth by that Speculum and light wherein it maketh it self known She is in work with something and there is at hand such a metal metals do shine though it doth noâ— appear so to our eyes like as rotten wood doth by day they are not quiet as long they are working but there musâ— be a reflexion of their work which is this light It casteth no beams as the day-light or rotten wood doth by night it receiveth one from such a dark or duskish shadowes light Fair and curious breathings are seen therein and thaâ— light of darknesse is a light you may see by it he that is distant from it five or six yards seeth it not nor canst thoâ— neither for it is such a light as is in the eyes of Cats dogs and wolves which can spie thee though thou câ—nst not seâ— â—m for there is a light at night as well as by day which â—pparent in these bodies which receive their light from Nocturnal light for if that power were in themselves 〈◊〉 would ejaculate beams which they do not and exâ—ence evidenceth it that there is a subterranean ignis disâ—s a scattered fire â—his light is twofold the first lighteth being thus preâ—d in a ball of some fishes or worms of juyces of herbs â—saps of wood being distilled and the distilled water beâ— put into it Take a pure Crystalline glasse it casts a cuâ—s light under ground if mercurial water be put into it â—aduateth the waters made of worms and of woods veâ—ighly in this darknesse which is called the Light ir be done and used also by day but much better in subâ—nean darknesse in which the fire lieth hid and must be â—ed and awakened by such material and instrumental 〈◊〉 â—he second light is Speculum which receiveth that light giveth an intimation of such hot or cold fires which every Clown or Miner understands for as it shineth in Speculum so kindleth this fire and is the oar In â—s body they are discerned well enough from whence diseases have their several names but are not searched 〈◊〉 The difference betwixt the ball and the Speculum is same with that which is above ground I can view all members of my body but not my face I can behold â—ight but what the Sun of this light is which miniâ—h the lustre unto it the same I cannot behold or discern CHAP. XXXIX Of the Gluten or Mine-glue â—He best help and remedy which may be applied to subterranean pools are wells for where these break forth they carry that water away a better and neerer is not thaâ— the Gluten to dam up or keep out the day water that theâ— do not run any farther this damning hath great utility it maketh the water not onely slimy and tough but it drâ—veth it backward that it be served for some other issue aâ— be rid of it in that place where it is naught and meerâ— obstructive If the day-water be thus stopped by a Gluten that cannot run and gather at the sink then that ground-waâ— may soon be drawn away at the sink the deeper the sinâ— are cleansed the more these ground-waters or springs aâ— diverted and at last are turned also to day-waters or mâ— be dammed up and made run another way where thâ— may not be obstructive to the Scaffolds and where Dâ—vings of mils are not had at the same places the Glutâ— may be used then the Scaffolds and Structures in the passâ—ges clefts and Mines may be seen the dams and the Glâ—ten are the best helps hereunto CHAP. XL. Of TRUTA or of a Past for to corrode the stâ—â—â— through or through eating THere is almost nothing which is a greater hinderanâ— unto Mine-works than water is and where the Gluâ— is not sufficient to keep it out and in places where it is 〈◊〉 in and must be drawn away with lower buildings as wiâ— Stoln or beams and pipes it is an huge and dangeroâ— work to make these thorow-breathings good and holdiâ— it costeth many mens lives and great expences must made therefore wayes and means must be thought upon make wayes through with burning to make such a fâ— which corrodeth the rock and grinds the stone eaâ—ing small and thin that the water may get thorow and run aâ—ay that the Miners may not lose their lives in that water 〈◊〉 usually it befalls them at such works This fire corroâ—eth great stones in running waters or rivers it is a corroâ—ing fire a Gluten being made which is lined or covered â—ith combustibles poured or cast down through a channel â—r pipe guarded from water that Gluten may be effectual â—ough it be under water many fathoms deep it still corâ—deth further gathering strength by that it eateth upon â—d burneth and presseth still lower it doth not smoak â—eing a running
namely what matâ—â— you ought to take to the Kings Balneum whereby the â—ng is destroyed and its external form broken and its â—â—defiled Soul may come forth to this purpose will serve â—â—e Dragon and the Eagle which is Niter and Sal armonick â—â—th which after their union are made into a Aquafort as â—â—u shall be further informed of in my Manuals where I â—â—all treat in particular of Gold of other Metals and Mineâ—â—ls into which Balneum the King is thrown being first 〈◊〉 in the quoted place you shall hear brought into an Amalâ—me of Mercury and of Sulphur which presently seizeth on â—im corrodeth all his members and is dissolved and is â—resently mortified of this Salt water into a most splendent â—ransparent Oyl You must note that this dissolution is â—ot sufficient and the King is not minded as yet to let go â—is Soul out of his fixed body which you can see when you â—eparate the water from the dissolved body of the King where you shall finde fixed powder of Gold out of which you will hardly get his Soul that is therein Therefore follow my counsel and bear the yoake which I bore before â—ye and learn to know exactly in pains taking further thus as I shall inform you Having dissolved your Gold wholly in the said water and brought it into a pleasant yellow Oyl then let it stand well luted for a day and night in a very gentle Balneum Mariae the feces which are setled must be separated from it then take this pure dissolution put it into a well coated body or Retort apply a Helmet to it with a receiver in the best manner luted to it set it into a sand Capel drive the Gold with the water over the Helmet iterate this a third time then abstract the water in Balneum Mariae you will finde a fair Gold-powder keep this in a glasse for an hour in fire let the remaining humidity be drawn from it The third Key THen take of good spirit of Sal-niter one part and of dâ—â—phlegmed spirit of ordinary Salt three parts pour theâ— spirits together warm'd a little into a body on the forâ— written Gold-powder lute a Helmet and Receiver to iâ— drive the Gold over as formerly in sand several times wiâ—â— an iterated distillation the oftner the better let the Goâ—â— come to be volatile more and more and at last let all coâ—â— over By this repeated driving over its fixed body is divided all its Members are torn asunder and opened anâ— leaveth willingly its Soul to a special Judge of which mâ— third Key will give sufficient information Note further that after this work those salt spirits muâ—â— be abstracted from the Gold which was driven over very gently in Balneo Mariae let nothing of the tincture of the Gold come over that the body suffer not any diminution then take that Gold or rather these Chrystals of Gold from which you have separated the water put it in a reverberating pan set it under a Muffle let its first fire be gentle for an hour let all its corrosivenesse be taken away then your powder will be of a fair scarlet colour as subtile as ever was seen put it in a clean viol pour on it fresh spirit of ordinary Salt first brought to a sweetnesse let it stand in a gentle digestion let that spirit be deeply ting'd and transparent red like a Ruby cant if off pour on fresh extract again iterate the work of canting off and pouring on till no more tincture of it appeareth put all these extractions together separate them in Balneo gently from the Sulphur of Sol then that powder is subtile and tender of great worth this matter is such which in a short processe transmuteth Lune in its tincture to the highest perfection according to the direction of my XII Keyes He that hath some knowledge herein may make this quere whither this extracted dry Soul and Sulphur of the â—â—g be just that Soul of which Philosophers have this â—ng the Philosophick work for the preparation of the â—â—t precious stone requireth three things viz. a wet volaâ— Mercury or a Mercurial spirit a wet volatile sulphurous â—â—l and a dry astral Salt which after its dissolution togeâ—â— with the two first must be apparent and known in a â—erish form which way comes that about because in 〈◊〉 processe nothing is spoken of any Mercurial spirit and â—atile Soul but the Soul of the King appeared in a subâ—â— form of powder The answer hereunto I delay so long 〈◊〉 the Querist learns better to understand the distinction in â—s book and I will perform my promise and set his â—xious and intangled minde at liberty which is so much â—ubled about this doubt and will deal with him as a â—od father may deal with his son in and with this scope â—herein our Mastery lieth have been fooled most of the â—its leading them captive in their erroneous wayes being â—â—d about in a desart of mislead wayes because in their â—â—pposed deep wits they had not conceived so much of the â—anner how all things of the world are generated and that â—very spirit must have a Soul and every Soul a fit spirit and â—hat both spirit and Soul are spirits and spiritual which must â—ave a body in which they may have a dwelling Gold and Silver but chiefly Gold is brought to the highest fixednesse by such degrees as nature did afford insomuch â—ts nature is found very hot and fiery freed from all phlegmatick humidity of which Lune is not so wholly freed though she hath obtained a sulphur-fixed degree and stayeth for the King to warm her cold body with his hot seed which concerns the particulars and belongs unto them which in that place shall be plainly demonstrated In Gold there is no waterish humidity at all unlesse it were reduced again into Vitriol which would be but an uselesse and unprofitable work and would require huge expences in case the Philosophers stone should be of Vitriol of Gold of which there must be had great store indeed in that Vitriol there would be found a convenient spirit which natuâ—â— would desire of a white quality as also a Soul and Salt of glorious essence But what Countreys Goods Lands have been dilapiâ—ted this way I wave to discourse of onely this warning 〈◊〉 give to my Disciples nature having left a nearer way 〈◊〉 keep and to imitate that that they also might take heed 〈◊〉 fall into such extream and inexâ—ricable poverties The solar Mercury Sol being never brought so far undestruction neither did the ancient Philosophers ever makâ— use of that way as being a thing clean contrary unto nature containeth indeed an humidity but it is a meer Elemental waterish humidity after its dissolution and good foâ— nothing water and other principles do not stand in the Elements but the Elements rest in the principles and seeds oâ— Metals of the which I have spoken formerly Therefore let none be so over witty as to make our
fundamental Theorie affords the practick part from â—nce flow infinite springs all from one head If you go â—â—erwise to work than I entreated you to do by the Creaâ—â— of heaven and earth then all your actions will be retroâ—â—de unto a temporal disaster I should annex here the efficacies of other Minerals â—â—ich are next unto Metals but seeing they are of no abiâ—ty unto transmutation of Metals but are onely Medicinal and are qualified to do their work to the admiration of those that make use of them I leave them at this time The Almighty hath put wonderfull vertues into Metalline Salts which have been found approved several wayes End of the fourth Part. BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS XII KEYES Which is A Treatise about the great stone of Philosophers In which many thousands since the beginning of the World have wrought LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE PREFACE HVman fear coming upon me I fell to consider out of natures frailty the miserablenesse of this World lamented within me the sin which our first Parents had committed and how little of repentance â—â—e was for it men still growing worse an eternal â—â—ishment being set upon all impenitents it made 〈◊〉 to make haste to out-run evil bid farewell to the â—â—rld vowing my self to become Gods servant onely â—â—ving spent some time in my Order after I had done 〈◊〉 appointed devotions to draw my self from idlensse 〈◊〉 sinfull thoughts I took in hand for to imploy my â—â—cessive hours to some purpose to anatomize naâ—â—al things to dive into Natures mysteries a thing â—â—t the spiritual ones I found most comfortable and â—reshing Having found many books in our Moâ—stery which Philosophers had written a long time â—â—ore me which had dived very deeply into Naâ—re's secrets it encouraged me the more to learn â—â—t which they knew though in the beginning all 〈◊〉 very difficult however upon my earnest prayer to God the Lord blessed me in my undertaâ—â—â—gs In our Monastery there was one of my Fellâ—â— who was mightily tormented with the stone was â—â—ten bed-rid sought after many Physicians but 〈◊〉 was able to cure him was left hopelesse taking refuge to Gods omnipotencie Then I began to aâ—tomize Vegetables extracted their Salt and quâ—tessences but none of all these would or could 〈◊〉 my sick fellow made tryals of many of them but 〈◊〉 were too weak to dissolve the stone I took his case iâ— further consideration and intended to know funâ—â—mentally what efficacie the great Creatour had 〈◊〉 into Minerals and Metals the more I sought iâ— them the more I found still one secret issuing foâ— from the other God blessed me herein opened mâ— eyes that I saw marvellous vertues in the Natâ—â— of Minerals and Metals the great Creatour had iâ— planted into them insomuch that it is a hard matâ—â— to believe it Among these I hapned to get one Mineral compâ—sed of many colours which had many and rare veâ—tues in Medicine I drew its spiritual essence frâ—â— it whereby in few dayes I cured my diseased Colâ—â—giate For this Mineral spirit was very strong aâ—â— strengthned the weak spirit of my brother and livâ— a long time after that cure He prayed dayly aâ—â— hourly for me as long as he lived even to his dyiâ—â— moment his and other mens prayers availed so mâ—â—â— with the great Creatour that by his blessing and miâ—â— endeavours were revealed many great matters uâ—to me which he did not reveal unto worldly 〈◊〉 men This Philosophick stone for mans health and suâ—itation of him in this valley of misery I reveal â—o posterity as much as is meet for me to do folâ—â—ing herein the steps of my predecessors these Phiâ—â—phick informations are aenigmatick and short â—â—t are a rock on which Truth may firmly be builded 〈◊〉 wish good successe and blessings from above to the â—â—dertakers herein Amen The Contents of this Book are I. OF the great stone of Ancient Philosophers II. The XII Keyes whereby the doors 〈◊〉 the Philosophers stone are opened and the deep Fountain of health anâ— wealth floweth from thence III. A short repetition of his writings about thâ— Philosophick stone wherein is plainly held forth the true Philosophick light whereunto is annexed an information of Quick-silver Antimony vitriol-Vitriol-water commoâ— Sulphur Calx vive Arsenic Salpeter Salmiac Tartar Vinegar and Wine IV. Of Microcosme or Mans body what it containeth of what it is composed the whole contents thereof and of its issue and end V. Of the great mystery of the World and its Medicinals belonging to man VI. Of the Magisterium of the VII Planets their essence properties vertues operation and revolution and their admirable hidden mystical qualities Of the great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers written by BASILIUS VALENTINUS DEar friend and well wisher unto Art in my Preface I promised to such which are desirous to learn and to dive into Natures condition to shew and to speak of that corner stone as much as I am permitted from above to do out of what the Ancient Philosophers have prepared their stone whereby they prolonged their lives in a continued health and whereby they got their riches also to live comfortably in this miserable world For the performing of my promise not leading you into any tedious sophistick labyrinths but disclosing the very head-spring of all goodnesse you are to note and to take into serious consideration my following expressions if so be your intent is to learn any thing concerning this Art I do not purpose to use any prolixity in words for that were to no purpose I do love few words which are full of pith Note it is given but to few men to attain unto the mastery of this Art though many strive and endeavour to work upon that structure yet the true knowledge and the attaining thereunto the great Creator hath made common but bestoweth it onely on such which hate lies and loveâ— truth and intend seriously and groaningly to get this Artâ— and chiefly such men are fit for it which love God unfainedly and pray earnestly unto him for such a knowledge Therefore I tell you for a meer truth that in case you intend to go about the making of this stone you be a follower of that I inform you of and before all things pray 〈◊〉 the great Creator to bestow his blessing upon you herein and if you have sinned confesse unto him with a full resolution never to do evil again but lead a godly life and that your heart may be enlightned in all good things and remember when ever you are preferred to any honour to be helpfull to the poor and needy to deliver them out of their misery making them glad with thy helping â—anâ— that the Lord may bestow the greater blessings upon you and you may thereby be confirm'd in faith that there is a Throne in Heaven prepared for such a one hereafter to live in eternal blisse My friend despise not to read good and real writings of such men which had the Philosophick stone before
sword into Vulcans the Jaylors hand to â—â—t in execution all that which the Lords had resolved upâ—â— killed Mercurie burnt his bones with fire Vulcan did 〈◊〉 Office very carefully This Executioner having done 〈◊〉 duty there came a white shining woman in a long garb 〈◊〉 a silver piece of several water colours being well viewed â—â—hold it was Lune the wife of Sol she fell down upon her â—ce intreated heartily and weeping that her husband Sol â—ight be set at liberty out of prison Mercurie had cast him â—to by force with deceitfulnesse where both he and Merâ—â—rie upon your honours command were kept imprisoned â—â—t Vulcan gave her a flat denial because he was comâ—anded to do so and went on to do his office in executing â—â—e sentence At last the Lady Venus came in a deep red â—obe lined with green of a most beautifull countenance â—leasant speech and amiable gestures bearing fragrant â—owers in her hand which were a most refreshing pleasure 〈◊〉 the eyes to behold by reason of variety of colours she â—ade intercession in the Chaldaean language unto Vulcan â—â—tting into his remembrance that redemption must come â—â—om a womankinde but his eares were stopp'd These â—wo conferring together Heaven opened it self there came â—â—rth a huge beast with many thousands of young ones deâ—â—oyed the Executioner opening his jaws wide devoured â—he Lady Venus which made the intercession crying with a â—â—ill voice My descent is of women my seed is scattered â—â—r and near by them thereby they replenished the Earth â—heir Soul is kinde to mine therefore my desire is to feed â—â—d to drink of their bloud The beast having spoken thus â—â—oud it went into a room shut the door behinde all its young ones followed it where more food must be proâ—ded for them and they drunk the first incombustible Oâ— that meat and drink they easily digested whereof moâ— young ones were bred which was continued long so thâ— all the World was filled by them All these things thus hapning there was a meeting of â—veral learned men which endeavoured to interpret 〈◊〉 declare what hapned and what had been spoken that thâ— might the better understand these mysteries none of theâ— was able to perform that businesse for all of them had â—â—veral thoughts concerning these things at last there stoâ—â— up an ancient man as white as snow in his hairs clad 〈◊〉 purple from top to toe on his head he had a Crown in 〈◊〉 midst of it was set a precious Carbuncle he was girt wiâ—â— the girdle of life and went bare-footed spoke with a spâ—cial spirit which was hid in him his speech and sayiâ—â— went through his body and life his Soul felt it to the iâ— most This man stept on high desired the Assembly to 〈◊〉 silent and to give diligent attention unto him because 〈◊〉 was sent from above to declare unto them these writing and to make it known unto them in a Philosophick expreâ—sion The Assembly being silent he began to speak thus Awaken O man and behold the light that darknesse mâ— not mislead you the Gods of Fortune and the great God have revealed unto me in a deep sleep How happy is thaâ— man that knoweth a God in their wondrous works anâ— happy is he whose eyes are opened to behold the lighâ— which formerly was a darknesse unto him The Gods hâ—â—â— granted two Stars unto men to lead them unto great wiâ—dom O man view them exactly follow after their Iustreâ— because wisdom is found therein The swift Bird of thâ— South devoureth the heart of the huge beast of the Easâ— Make wings also unto the beast of the East as the 〈◊〉 hath of the South let them be equal one to another so this Eastern beast must be bereaved of his Lyon-skin anâ— his wings must vanish again for both must enter into thâ— great Salt-Sea and come forth again in beauty sink youâ— disciples spirits into a deep Fountain which is never withâ—â—t water that they also may be like unto their mother â—hich lieth hid therein and she came from three into the World Hungary hath fiâ—st begotten me Heaven and Sâ—aâ—s preâ—â—ve me Earth giveth suck unto me Though I must die â—nd be buried however the God Vulcan begets me a seâ—ond time therefore Hungary is my Native Countrey and â—y mother compasseâ—h the whole earth This being hearkened unto by the Assembly he spake â—â—ther thus make that which is highest to be lowest that â—hich is visible to be invisiâ—le and that which is compreâ—ensible to be incomprehensible and provide that the 〈◊〉 most become to be the uppermost mâ—ke the invisible â—â—come to be visible make the incomprehensible a pulpaâ—e thing This is the whole Art and very perfect withâ—â—t any defect but therein dwelleth death and life dying â—â—d rising it is a round Globe on which the goddesse Forâ—â—e lets her Chariot roll about and bringeth salvation of â—isdom unto men of God its true sense is ALL in ALL â—â—t the highest is Judge which judgeth things eternal He that desireth to know what ALL in ALL is let 〈◊〉 make great wings for the earth put her into a great â—â—guish let her soar upward make her flye through the â—â—e and be exalted to the highest place of the uppermost â—â—eaven then burn her wings with a forcible fire that the â—â—th may fall into the Red Sea and be drowned therein â—â—en command the Sea to stand exiccate the water by â—e and aire reduce it unto earth again then I say you â—â—e ALL in ALL if you cannot finde this then feel 〈◊〉 thine own bosom and about thee into all things that 〈◊〉 in the World then you will finde ALL in ALL 〈◊〉 is of an attractive quality of Mineral and Metalline 〈◊〉 descâ—â—â—ing from Sal and Sulphur twice begotten of 〈◊〉 More is not meet for me to speak of ALL in ALL 〈◊〉 ALL comprehended ALL. This speech being made he said further Beloved men I hope you have by hearkning unto my voyce learned wisdom how and in what you are to seek for the great stonâ— of ancient Philosophers which healeth Leprous imperfecâ— Metals revealeth unto them a new birth preserveth meâ—â— in health prolongeth their lives and by his heavenly power and operation hath kept me alive so long that I aâ— weary of life and wish for nothing but death Thanks be to God for his grace and wisdom which hâ— hath granted so graciously unto me so long a time blesseâ— be his holy name for ever Amen Thus he vanish'd awaâ— before their eyes After the finishing hereof every one returned hoâ—â— meditating seriously on these things day and night and every one wrought according to their several gifts they received from Gods bounty and goodnesse c. Hereupon follow the XII Keyes of BACILIUS VALENTINUS Whereby the Doors are opened unto the Ancient stone of Philosophers where is found that everlasting Fountain of health and of wealth The first Key MY friend you must know that impure and defilâ—â— things are not fit
nest alone in the Alpes where her Chickens by reaâ— of the snow are destroyed by frost which is on the tops these Mountains But if you add unto the Eagle the cold Dragon whâ— had his dwelling a long time in stone clifts and Subteâ—â—nean caves where he crept in and out both these beâ— placed on that Hellish stool then Pluto will so stronâ— breath upon expelling a fiery volatile spirit out of 〈◊〉 cold Dragon whose great heat will burn the Eagles feath prepâ—ring a sweating-bank that the snow on the higâ—â— tops of the Mountains do dissolve and turn into water tâ—â— the mineral baâ—h be rightly prepared and riches and heaâ— be bestowed on the King The third Key WAter destroyeth fire quencheth it quite if abundance of water be poured into little fire then fire must yield unto water giving way for the victory unto it Thus our fiery Sulphur must with water be prepared by Art must be conquered if so be that after the separating of the water the fiery life of our Sulphureous fume shall get the triumphing victorie But here no victory can be obtained unlesse the King have bestowed strength and vertue unto his water and have delivered unto it the Key of his Court colour that be be destroyed thereby and be made invisible however at this time his visible form must appear again but with great diminution of his simple essence and great melioration of his condition Limmers carry yellow on white red upon yellow or a purple colour though all these colours are at hand yet the last is predominant being the uppermost in its degree The same order must be observed also in our Magisterium which being done then you have before you the light of wisdom which shineth in darknesse and yet burneth not For our Sulphur doth not burn yet giveth a light afar off neither doth it tinge unlesse it be prepared and tinged freely with its own tincture to give a further tincture unto weak imperfect bodies of Metals This Sulphur hath not a tinging quality unlesse the tincture be given to it in a fixation for a weak one cannot victorise the stronger keepeth down the weaker and weak things must yield unto strong ones The conclusion herein is this a weak and mean thing cannot help another which is in the same frailty neither can it import any furtherance to the operation of it can one combustible protect another which is of the fame condition A Protector must have a greater power than he whâ—m â—e intendâ— to protect so thing combustible must â—e defended by â—uâ—h which in their fixation are incombustible He that will prepare our incombustible Sulphur of Philosophers mâ—st be circumspect tâ— seek our Sulphur in a subjâ—ct wherein it lieth incombustible which cannot be unlesse the Salt-Sea have first swallowed the body and cast it up again freely then â—xalt it to â—â—s degree that it excel with its â—ustre all other Stars in Hâ—aven and be in its substance as rich of bloud as the Pellican is aâ— the opening of her breast nourishing many of her Chiekâ—ns without the weakning of her own body This is the Rose of our Masters of a Scarlet colour and the red blouâ— of the Dragon of which so many have written and is thâ—â— Purple mantle of the highest Commander in our Arâ— wherewith the Queen of salvation is clad and covered and thereby all needy Metals may be waâ—â—'d Keep this honourable Mantle with the Astral Salt very carâ—fully which followeth after this heavenly Sulphur let not any mischance befall it impart to it the birds volatile quality as much as there is needfull then the Cock will dâ—vour the Fox which is drown'd in water or reviveth by fire and is devoured again by the Fox where like is requited with the like or like is reconciled unto unlike The fourth Key ALl flesh begotten of earth must be destroyed and reurn to earth again which it was at first then that terrestrial Salt affordeth a new birth by heavenly resuscitation for if there be nor first an earth there cannot ensue any resurrection in our work For earth containeth that natural Balsam and is the Salt of those which sought for it by a knowledge of all things or universal knowledge the final judgement of the world will be by fire which the great Creator at first made of a nothing must by fire he turn'd to ashes again out of these ashes the Phoenix bringâ—â— forth again her Chickens For these ashes contain realâ—â— the true Tartar which must be dissolved after its disâ—â—lution the firm and strong lock of the royal room is â—â—ened New heaven and new earth are made after that great â—ombustion or burning and the new man will appear more â—â—loriously than he was in the first world because in the â—â—ther he is clarified If ashes and sand be well ripened and digested by fire â—â—en the Artist turneth it into glasse which afterward â—oldeth in the fire in its colâ—ur it is like unto a transparent â—â—one anâ— looks no more like any ashes this is a huge mystery unto ignorant men but not so to knowing men for they found it to be so by their dayly experience and Manuals Men burn Lyme of stones to make use of them for a Cement in buildings before the fire prepareth it thereunto it is a stone and cannot be used for a Cement as long as it is a hard stone fire bringeth stones unto a maturity and receiveth from the fire a very hot degree whereby it is strengthned and groweth so potent that there is almost nothing comparable unto it the fiery spirit of Lyme Every thing being reduced into ashes affords by Art a Salt if you at the anatomizing of it are able to keep apart its Sulphur and Mercury and make restitution thereby unto the Salt according to Aâ—â— â—hen fire will bring it to that again which it was before its Anatomy and destruction worldly wise men call this a folly counting it meer lies call it a new Creature which to do man hath no grant of God themselves understand it not that this Creature hath been formerly so and the Artist sheweth its increase onely by the seed of Nature That Artist which wanteth ashes cannot make any Salt for our Art because our work cannot be made lively without Salt for the coagulation of things worketh meerly the Salt As Salt preserveth things from putrefaction even so the Salt of Philosophers protecteth Metals that they cannoâ— be reduced to a nothing unlesse their Balsom die and the natural Salt spirit be gone then their body would be deaâ— and nothing further could be effected with it because thâ— Metalline spirits are gone and at their natural departinâ— left a dead dwelling into which no more life can bâ— brought again Note further you that intends to learn this Art that thâ— Salt out of ashes is of great effâ—â—cie many vertues are hiâ— therein Yet the Salt availeth nothing unlesse his innermost be turn'd to the out-side For the spirit alone
is it which affordeth power and vertue the naked body is ablâ— to do nothing here if you know to get that then you have the Philosophers Salt and their incombustible Oyl oâ— which many have written before me great Volumes And if of these Artists were ne're so many Whose aime at me is directed onely Yet few of them in their successe were blest To fathom all vertues that lie in my breast The fifth Key THe life of earth maketh spring up Vegetables and he that saith that the earth is dead tells an untruth for a dead thing cannot impart any livelynesse to another and the increase is at a stay in dead things because the spirit of life is fled The spirit is the life and soul of the earth which dwelleth in her receiveth its efficacy upon earthly things from heavenly Astrals for all Vegetables Metals and Minerals receive their power increase and nourishment from the spirit of the earth For the spirit is the life which is fed by Astrals which further imparts a nourishment unto growing things as the Childe lieth hid in the Mothers Womb and is fed there by the Mother so the earth feedeth Minerals also which lie hid in her belly by a spirit which she receiveth from above the earth doth afford no power per se but the living spirit which dwelleth in her doth it and if she should want her spirit then she were dead and could afford no nourishment because from her Sulphur or fatnesse the spirit is taken away which preserveth living powers and driveth forth Vegetables and other growing things by a nutriment Two contrary spirits may dwell together in one subject but are still at variance as in Gun-powder which being lighted these two spirits fly asunder making a great noise fly in the aire are no more discerned no body can tell whither they are gone or what they had been if it were not known experimentally what manner of spirits they were and in what subject they dwelled From hence you may learn that life is a meer spirit and all these things which the ignorant world counteth to be dead must be brought into an incomprehensible visible spiritual life and must be preserved therein if so be that life shall work with life and the spirits which are fed and nourished by a heavenly dew are born of one elemental heavenly and earthly substance which is called materia informis And as there belongeth unto Iron a Magnet which by reason of its own wonderfull invisible love is of an attractive quality so our Gold hath a Magnet also which Magnet is the prima materia of our great stone If you conceive aright of this expression then you may be blessed with riches in this world One Declaration more I must hold forth unto you in this Chapter Man that looketh into a glasse seeth a reflexion of his image but is not palpable save the glasse the party looked into so from this matter must be expell'd a visible spirit which is incomprehensible the same spirit I say is the root of the life of our body and the Mercury of Philosophers out of which the liquid water in our Art is prepared which in its composition you must make again material and must prepare it by certain means from the lowest to the highest degree into a transcendent Medicine For our beginning is an up-shut comprehensible body its middle is a volatile spirit and in the goldish water there is no corrosivenesse at all whereby our Philosophers prolong'd their lives but the end thereof is a superfix'd Medicine for humane and metalline bodies this knowledge indeed fitteth Angels better than man True men attain unto that knowledge also obtaining the same of God by their earnest prayers who are thankfull unto him for it and beneficial to the needy At the closing I tell thee for a certain truth that one work must beget the other for our matter at the beginning of our work must in the best manner be purified then opened broken and destroyed and reduced to dust and ashes All this being done then make of it a volatile spirit as white as snow and another volatile spirit as red as bloud these two spirits contain a third and yet are but one spirit these are the three spirits which preserve and encrease life joyn these together minister to them their natural necessary meat and drink keep them warm in the bed of wedlock to their perfect birth then you will see and finde what the Creator and Nature hath allowed for you to know And know that I never made so plain a revelation God hath incorporated more operation and wonders into Nature than thousands may give credit thereunto There is a Seal and Lock set before me to say no more that others also may write of marvellous things which naturally are permitted by the Creator which ignorant men count to be supernatural For natural things have their first beginning from supernatural ones yet both together are found to be meerly natural The sixth Key MAn without a woman is but half a body and so the woman without the man is but half a body neither â—or each apart can preduce no fruit but living together in a matrimonial way then is their body perfect and by their seed they may expect an increase If too much seed be cast on a ground that that Acre iâ— over-burthened no firm fruit can be expected and if there be too little of the seed then is the fruit thin also the weeds grow then abundantly from thence also no great goodnesse can be expected He that will not burthen his conscience with any sins in selling of wares then let him be just in his dealing having just measures and just weights then he avoideth mens curses and gets the prayers of the poor In deep waters men are easily drown'd and shallow waters are soon dried up by the heat of the Sun and are good for nothing For the obtaining of a wish'd aim and scope care must be had that a certain measure or quantity be taken in the conjunction of the Philosophick liquid substance that the greater quantity do not over-lay the lesser part and be suppress't thereby and the increase and growing of it be obstructed Let the lesser be not too weak for the bigger let there be an equal domination Too much rain spoyleth the fruit and too great drought hindreth true maturity Therefore if Neptune hath prepared a perfect water-Bath then take a just quantity of your aqua permanens have a great care you do neither too much nor too little A double fiery man must be fed with a white Swan these must kill each other and both must revive again and the aâ—â—â— of the four corners of the World must possesse three parts of the up-shut dwelling of the fiery man that the Swans song may be heard when she harmoniously sings her farewell then the roasted Swan will be a food for the King and the fiery King will be in great love with the
do generate a corporeal matter according to that matter 's quality Thus the Astrals together with the Elements may raise a new seed which was never before any which seed by a further putrefaction may be encreased But unto 〈◊〉 is not so much granted as to stir up a new kinde of seed because the operation of the Elements and the â—â—stral substance he hath not at command to fashion what 〈◊〉 pleâ—â—â—â— thâ—â— several sorts of Herbs are generated meerly by putrefaction And whereas the Countrey people holding it a meer custom do not take it into a further consideration nor imagine they any cause for it therefore among the vulgar is it become meerly a customary businesse Buâ— you which ought to know more than ordinary people must consider further of it and learn to know the causâ— and ground thereof how and from what these living Creatures are generated by putrefaction not to know iâ— because it is usual but rather to know it is a mystery iâ— Nature because every life cometh from puâ—â—efaction Every Element per se hath its corruption and generation Let the Artist be inform'd and learn the sufficient ground why in every Element the other three are hid for airâ— containeth fire water and earth which though it seemetâ— incredible yet is it a truth and fire containeth aire water and earth and earth containeth water aire and fire elsâ— they would not generate water also containeth aire earth and fire though every Element is per se yet arâ— they mix'd all which is found true at distillings wherâ— these Elements are thus separated To make this appear to the ignorant which may crâ— out that I speak meerly lies if you intend to learn thâ— Anatomy of natural things and to separate the Elements I tell thee for a truth that at the distilling of earth therâ— cometh first the Element aire being the highest then a a certain progresse there comes the Element water thâ— fire lieth hid in the aire because both are of a spirituaâ— substance love and embrace one another intirely the eartâ— remaineth in the bottom in which lieth hid the gloriouâ— Salt When you distil any water aire and fire cometh oveâ— at first then the water the body of the earth abideth iâ— the bottom The Elâ—ment fire if it be driven into a visible substance by extraction each may be received apart In like manneâ— in the aire the other three Elements do dwell For nonâ— of these can be without aire earth can produce nothinâ— without aiâ—e fire doth not burn nor hath it any life witâ—out aire neither can water produce any fruit without aire Neither can aire consume any thing nor exsiccate any moisture unlesse it be done by a natural heat which is â—n the aire being heat and warmth is found in the aire â—herefore needs must the Element of fire be in the aire For all hot and dry things are proper for the fiery substance â—f things he that denieth this truth understandeth noâ—hing in Natures mysteries neither doth he know any â—round of their properties You must conceive if any thing shall be generated by â—utrefaction it must be in this manner Earth is brought â—y a secret moisture into a corruption which is the beginâ—ing of putrefaction for without moisture which is the Element water no true putrefaction can happen Now if â—ny breed shall come from thence it must come from a â—arm quality as the Element fire must kindle and spread 〈◊〉 self for without a natural heat nothing can be geneâ—ated and if that breed shall have a living breath and moâ—ion the same cannot be without aire for if aire should â—ot be cooperative then the first composition out of which â—he breed should come would be choaked and perish by â—eason of want of aire Thus you see plainly that perfect Creatures cannot be without any of the four Elements the â—ne shewing its operation in the other which they proâ—nce in and at putrefaction for from henceforth nothing â—an be brought to life without the same To make this â—ppear to be true that to a perfect birth and generation â—â—re are requisite all four Elements Then note that as Adam the first man being created by â—he Creator of a Limus terrae there appeared not as yet ane â—â—sible life before God had breathed on him then a lify â—ppeared in that clod of earth in that earth was the Salt â—â—at is the body the inbreathed aire was Mercury the spiâ—â— by this inbreathing the aire presently afforded a due â—â—d convenient calidiry which was Sulphur that is fire â—â—en it stirr'd Adam shâ—wed by this stirring that there was â—â—â—sed into him a living Soul For fire cannot be without aire the water was corporated in the earth because this must be together of necessity else no life and must stand in an equal proportion Thus Adam was first builded and begotten out of earth water aire and fire of a soul body and spirit raised of Mercury Sulphur and Salt So Eveâ— the first woman the Mother of us all was of the same composed being taken from Adam thus Adam and Eve were builded which you must note very well To come now again unto putrefaction the seeker in Philosophy is to know that in like manner no Metalline seed can work nor be augmented unlesse that Metalline seed be first in and of it self without any strange addition or mixture may be brought into a full putrefaction no more than the seeds of Animals and Vegetables can bring their increase without putrefaction The same Metals also must reach unto their perfect operation by the help of the Elements not that the Elements are the seed but the Metalline seed which had its descent from a heavenly astraâ—â— Elemental substance and is come to a corporality and mâ—â—â— by the Elements be further brought into such corruptioâ— and putrefaction Note this also wine containeth a volatile spirit aâ— whose distilling its spirit cometh first and its phlegme at last but wine being by a continued heat turn'd into Vinegar then its spirit is no more so volatile as before and at the distilling of Vinegar its phlegme and aquosity cometh first and its spirit at last though the same matter be in the Vessel yet its condition is altered being no more a wine but by putrefaction is transmuted into Vinegar and that which is extracted from wine is of another nature and operation than that which is drawn from Vinegar For iâ— Vitrum Antimony be extracted with Wine or spirit oâ— Wine it causeth many stools by purging and vomits also because its venom is not yet quite broken nor destroyed but if Antimonial glasse be extracted with distilled Vinegar that extraction is of a deep colour this Vinegar being abstracted in Balâ—eâ— Mariâ— and the yellow remaiâ—â—â— powder being well dulcified with distilled water to get off all its accrosity then you have a sweet powder which causeth no more any stools but is a rare Medicine of admirable efficacies may well be held for miraculum Medicinae
take one part of the best and finest Gold caâ—â— through Antimony laminate it very thinly as possibly 〈◊〉 may be beaten put these together in a Vessel or meltinâ— For at first let your fire be gentle for xij hours then let 〈◊〉 continually be in the melting for three dayes and nightâ— then the purged Gold and Stone is turned into a meer Medicine of a subtile spiritual penetrating qualitie for without the ferment of Gold the Medicine or Stone cannot welâ— make the tincture being too subtile and too penetrative 〈◊〉 but being fermented with its like then the made tincturâ— hath gotten an ingresse to work into the other Then take one part of the prepared ferment to thousand parts oâ— melted Metal which you intend to tinge I tell you for 〈◊〉 certain truth all will be transmuted into perfect fix'd Goldâ— for the one body willingly embraceth the o her though it be not of the like yet joyneth with it by force and must be like unto it and like must be gotten of like He that maketh use of this means to him are revealed all fixations the porches at the ends have their issues no Creature comparable unto this subtility it is ALL in ALL according to its Natural descent containeth and possesseth all what may be found under the Sun O! beginning of the first beginning consider the end 〈◊〉 O! end of the last ends consider the beginning forget not to â—emember the middle in all fidelity God the Father 〈◊〉 and holy Ghost grant unto you things needfull for â—â—r Spirit Soul and Body Of the first matter of the Philosophers Stone THere is found a stone which is not deer Out of it is drawn a flying fire Of which the stone it self is made Of whiâ—e and red togeth'r joyn'd It is a stone and not a stone In it Nature work'th alone Out of it springs a Fountain clearly Which drowns its fix'd Father fully His life and body is both devoured At last his Soul to him is restored To whom his flying Mother is become Like in his own Kingdom Himself also in quality and might Hath gotten a greater strength The Son in old age doth excel The Mother which is made volatil By Vulcans Art but first however By the Spirit must be born the Father Body Soul Spirit consist in two The whole businesse goeth too and fro Comes onely from one which is meerly A thing that fixâ— to flying matters sully They â—â—e two and three and yee but one Conâ— ive of it right else you hit none Set Adam into a water Bath In which Venus her fellow hath Which the old Dragon hath prepared Wher'of his strength could not be ' stored Is nothing else saith one Philosophus But a duplicate Mercurius I say no more you heard its name Blest is he to whom it is well known Search into it spare no pains In the end you will finde the gain's FINIS A short way and â—EPETITION Of former Writings of BASILIUS VALENTINUS With an Elucidation thereof touching the Philosophers Stone Wherein is plainly demonstrated the true light unto Philosophie Whereunto are annexed real informations of the qualities and preparations of Mercury Antimony vitriol-Vitriol-water common Sulphur unflak't Lime Arsenic Sal-peter Tartar Vinegar and Wine LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI be sure to finde the true way unto the sheep-fold I havâ— written no more then I shall bear record unto and own aâ— the day of Resurrection This short way is faithfully shewed in the following instruction in a plain dealing expression waving an elâ—quenâ— stile I have told you formerly that all things are composed oâ— three viz. of Mercury Sulphur and Salt and it is so as 〈◊〉 told But note also that the Stone is made of one two three four and fiâ—e by the word five I mean the Quint-essence by the word four are understood the Elements by three are meant the principles by two is meant the double mercurial substance by one is meant the first principle of aâ— things which proceedeth from the word at the first Creation Fiat Let there be Some may hold these expressions to be very intricate as if there were no sense nor ground for it what hath beeâ— said for the clearing these doubts I will speak briefly oâ— Mercurie secondly of Sulphur thirdly of Salt for these aâ—â— the principles of the matter of our Stone In the first place you must note that common Mercuâ—â— doth not avail here but our Mercurie is made of the beâ—â— of Metals by the spagyrick Art as pure subtile clear aâ— any Well-water of a Crystalline transparence without anâ— impurity make of it a water or incombustible Oyl foâ— Mercuries first beginning was a water as all Philosopher bear record unto my saying in this Mercurial Oyl must be dissolved it 's own Mercury out of which that water waâ— made this Mercury must be precipitated with it's own Oylâ— then you have a double Mercurial essence Note I hold in my second Key that Gold after it is puâ—â—fied according to the Tenor of the second Key must be reduced into a special water and then reduced into a subtill Calx of which the fourth Key doth speak this Calx must bâ— driven over through the Helmet by a spirit of Salt and precipitated again and by reverberating must be brought to powder then it s own Sulphur may enter the better into its own being â—nd essence will be friend with it for these love extreamly one another thus you have two substances in one which is called the Philosophers Mercurie and is but one substance This is the first ferment Now followeth Sulphur to be spoken of FOr this Sulphur you must look in the like Metal that Metal must be purified destroyed in a reverberating fiâ—e extracted from its body not leaving any corrosivenesse in it of which I gave a hint in the third Key this Sulphur must afterwards be dissolv'd in its own bloud from which it self had a fixednesse intimated in the sixth Key after a due quantity which being done then you dissolved and fed the true Lion with the bloud of the green Lion For the fixed bloud of the red Lion is made of the unfixed bloud of the green Lion these are of one Nature the unfixed bloud maketh the fixed one to be volatile and the fixed one maketh the volatile to be fixed even as it was before its dissolution let it stand together in a gentle heat that all the Sulphur be dissolved then you have the second ferment feeding fixed Sulphur with an unfixed one all Philosophers agree with my saying the same is driven over with spirit of wine and is as red as bloud being called aurum potabile where no reduction to any body can be expected any more Now I declare also what the Philosophers Salt meaneth SAlt causeth fixation and volatility according 〈…〉 â—â—lered and prepared For the spiriâ— ou of Salt â—â—d â—artar if the same be drawn forth without additionals by means of dissolution and putrefaction maketh all
to insert it here in thâ—s treatise In Alchimy it is used to set Metals and Minerals into putrefaction It is used also for to extract their essences 〈◊〉 tinctures being fiâ—st prepared thereunto even as the spirit of wine is usual to extract the tinctures from vegetables In Pâ—ysick it deserveth its praise also for it taketh the pure from impure and is a separator and taketh from the Minerâ—l Mâ—dicaments their sharpnesse and corrosivenesse fixeth â—hat which is volaâ—ile and is a great defendant against poyson as I told you when I spoke of the Antimonial glasse Vinegar is used inwardly also and both men and beast are benefited thereby outwardly it is applied to hot inflammations and swellings for a cooler Spirit of wine and Vâ—negar are of great use both in Alchimy and Physick both have their descent from the Urine are of one substance buâ— differ in the quality by reason of putrefaction the Vinegar got there of the which I told you formerly I must acquaint you with one thing which is this thaâ— this is not the Philosophers V negar our Vinegar or acetum is another liquor namely a matter it self for the stone oâ— Philosophers is made out of Azot of Philosophers which must be prepared with ordinary distâ—ll'd Azot with spirit oâ— wine aâ—d with other waters besides and must be reduced uâ—â—â— a certain order Nâ—â—e this for a memorandum if distill'd pure Vinegaâ— be poured upon destroyed Saturn and is kept warm iâ— Marie's-Bath it loseth it's acidity altogether is as sweet as any Suggar then abstract two or three parts of that Vinegar set it in a Cellar then you will finde white transparent stones like unto Crystals these are an excellent cooler and healer of all adust and inflamed Symptoms If these Crystals are reduced into a red Oyl and poured upon Mercury precipitated by Venus and proceeded in further as it ought if that be hit rightly then neither Sol nor Lune will hinder thee from getting riches Of Wine THe true vegetable stone is found in Wine which is the noblest of all vegetables it containeth three sorts of of Salt three sorts of Mercury and three sorts of Sulphur The first Salt sticketh in the wood of the Vine which if burnt to ashes and a lixivium made of it to have it's salt drawn forth which must be coagulated This is the first Salt The second Salt is found in Tartar if that be incinerated then draw its Salt forth dissolve and coagulate it several times and let it be sufficiently clarified The third Salt is this when the wine is distill'd it leaveth feces behinde which are made to powder it 's Salt can be drawn out with warm water each of these Salts hath a special property in their Center they stand in a harmony because they descend from one root It hath three sorts of Mercury aâ—d three sorts of Sulphur The first Oyl is made of the stem the second Oyl is made out of crude Tartar the third is the Oyl of Wine There is a strange property in the spirit of Wine for without it there cannot be extracted any trâ—e tincture of Sol nor can there be made without it any true aurum potabile but few men know how a true spirit of Wine is made much lesse can it's property be found out wholly Several wayes have been tried to draw and to get the spirit of Wine without sophistication as by several instruments and distillings with metalline Serpents and otheâ— strange inventions of Sponges Papers and the like Some caused a rectified aqua vitae be frozen in the greatesâ— frost expecting the phlegme thereof should turn to Ice the spirit thereof to keep liquid but nothing was done to any purpose The true way for the getting of it I told you of aâ— the end of my Manuals for it must be subtile penetrating without any phlegme pure aerial and volatile so that aire in a magnetick quality may attract it therefore it had need to be kept close in it is oâ— a penetrating and effectualâ— operation and its use is several There are three which are the noblest Creatures in the world these three bear a wonderfull affection one to another Among Animals it is man our of whose Mume is made an Animal stone in which Microcosme is contained Among Minerals Gold is the noblest whose fixednesse is a sufficient testimony ol it 's noble off spring and kinâ—red Among Vegetables there lieth hid a Vegetable stone Man loveth Gold and Wine above all other Creatures which may be beheld with eyes Gold loveth man and Wine because it lets go its noblest part if spirit of Wine be put to it being made potable which giveth strength to man and prolongeth his life in health Wine beareth affection to man also and to Gold because it easily uniteth with the tincture of Sol expelleth melancholly and sadnesse refresheth and rejoyceth mans heart He that hath these three stones may boldly say that he hath the stones of the Universal much of it is talk'd and written but what eye hath seen it not one amongst many hundred of Millions These stones renew men and beasts cure Leprous Metals cause barrennesse to become fertile with a new birth humane reason is not able to comprehend it noâ— conceive of it If a rectified Aqua vitae be lighted then Mercury and â—â—e Vegetable Sulphur separateth that Sulphur burns â—ight being a meeâ— fire the tender Mercury betakes him-â—mself to his wings and flieth to his Chaos He that can shut up and catch this fiery spirit he may â—oast that he hath gotâ—â—â— a gâ—eat victory in the Chymical â—â—â—le for this Vegetable fiery Sulphur is the onely Key to â—â—aw the Sulphur from mineral and metalline bodies Thus I close my book the things contained therein are â—ot grounded on opinions as most Physicians rely on the â—uthors that such and such Herbs are cold and moist dry â—â—d warm in the first second and third degree because â—hey heard their Authors affirm it themselves neither â—aw 〈◊〉 nor made tryal of it making meer collections from other â—ens writings patching up volumes The things I wrote â—f I know by a long experimental knowledge to be true â—his my experience I hope will take place and get the viâ—tory as the Amazons did in their prudence The eternal heavenly spirit refresh our Souls that we may â—â—lk in heavenly streets forsaking all false and erroneous by-wayes Amen FINIS â—ONCLUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTS OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS PREFACE I Basilius Valentinus write a short clause upon my former writings and this treatise is instead of a declaration thereof But my Son and Disciple you are to remember that you lift up your eyes to â—he Mountain of God and of the Philosophers from â—hence you expect a help namely Sulphur Vitriol â—nd Magnet of Philosophers must be a great help unâ—o you For Philosophers Sulphur Vitriol Magnet â—s coelestial from whence cometh â—hat Universal and Philosophick Lapis vulgar and ordinary Sulphur Vitriol and Magnet afford meerly
Particulars and Medicaments In the Treatise of the Philosophers stone I have set â—own expresly in a parable the Philosophers Sulphur â—n the XII Keyes but the Philosophers Mercury or â—he true Philosophick Magnet I gave a hint of in few words however I treated of the same in the XIâ— Keyes of the prima materia I spoke in my Rythmâ— or Verses I leave a light for a farewell unto the seeking Diâ—ciples whereby they may see the clear day in a daâ—â— night and do describe the vertue and operation of thâ— vulgar Sulphur Vitriol and Magnet the rest yoâ— may finde in the Treatise which followeth next thâ— XII Keyes which if you finde the true way of working you may get sufficiently of health and wealth iâ— this world Make use of in the name of God and unto his glorie and do good unto the poor and be helpfull untâ— them otherwise thy earthly Paradise may be turn'd iâ— the end into a damnable Hell from which O Lord deliver all good people Amen The First TREATISE Of Philosophers Sulphur Vitriol and Magnet First Section Of Sulphur and ferment of Philosophers LOving seeker of Chymical mysteries I have written a Treaâ—ise about the Philosophers stone and have set down expresly the materia of the Philosopherâ— Sulphur in the first Key and taught you in the second Key how you ought to distil our water of the Eagle and cold Dragon who had his dwelling a long time in Rocky Clifts and crept in and out in Subterranean concave and hollow places pour this spirit or aqua upon purged and fined Gold lute it well and set it into a dissolution in fimo for 14. nights to putrifie it then draw it over the Helmet pour the water upon Gold Calx whole make all the Gold come through the Helmet set this again under a Helmet abstract the water gently leave a third part of it in the bottom then set it into a Cellar let it coagulate and Crystallize wash these Crystals with distill'd water precipitate them with Mercury vive evaâ—â—rate the Mercury gently then you have a subâ—ile powâ—â— put it in a glasse lute it reverberate it for three dayes aâ— nights do it gently thus is the Philosophers Sulphur wâ— prepared for your work and this is the purple mantle 〈◊〉 Philosophick Gold keep it safely in a glasse for your coâ—junction The second Section Of the Philosophers Vitriol I Have told you plainly how Philosophers Sulphur 〈◊〉 made which loco masculi is to make the King or maâ— now you must have the female or wife which is the Mâ—â—curie of Philosophers or the materia prima lapidis whiâ—â— must be made artificially for our Azoth is not commâ—â— Vinegar but is extracted with common Vinegar and theâ— is a Salt made of materia prima this Salt is called the Pâ—losophers Mercurie which is coagulated in the belly of tâ—â— earth When â—his matter is brought to light it is not deâ—â— and is found every where Children play with it it is poâ—â—derous and hath a sent of dead mens bones for two Gâ—â—ders you may buy this matter for the work Therefore taâ—â— this matter distil calcine sublime reduce it to ashes for an Artist want ashes how can he make a Salt and he thâ—â— hath not a Metalline Salt how can he make the Philosâ—phers Mercurie Therefore if you have calcined the matter then extraâ—â— its Salt rectifie it well let it shoot into the Vitriol whicâ— must be sweet without any corrosivenesse or sharpnesse oâ— Salt Thus you geâ— the Philosophers Vitriol or Philosoâ—phick Oyl make further of it a Mercurial water thus yoâ— have perform'd an artificial work this is called the Philâ—sophers Azoth which purgeth Laton but is not yet wash'd Foâ— Azoth washeth Laton as the Ancient Philosophers have 〈◊〉 two or three thousand years ago For the Philosophick 〈◊〉 or Laton must with its own humidity or its own Merâ—â—al water be purg'd dissolv'd distill'd attract its Magnet 〈◊〉 stay with it And this is the Philosophers Mercury or â—â—curius duplicatus and are two spirits or a spirit and â—â—r of the Salt of Metals Thâ—n â—his water beareth the me of succus Lunariae aqua caelestâ— acetum Philosophorum â—â—a Sulphuris aqua permanens aqua benedicta Take â—â—t or ten parts of this water and one part of your â—menâ— or Sulphur of Sol set it into the Philosophers Egg â—â—e it well put it in the Athanar into that vaporous and â—t dry siâ—e govern it to the appearance of a black white â—d râ—â— colour then you get the Philosophers stone and â—u enjoy this noble dear and blessed Medicine and Tinâ—â—re and you may work miracles with it The third Section Of the Philosophers Magnet HErmes the father of Philosophers had this Art and was the first that wrote of it and prepared the stone our 〈◊〉 Mercurie Sol and Lune of the Philosophers whom maâ—y thousand laboraâ—ors have imitated my self also did the â—ke and I speak râ—ally that the Philosophers stone may be â—â—mposed of two bodies the beginning and ending of it â—ust be with Philosophick Mercury And this is now prima materia alias praeda materia priâ—a belongs onely to God and is coagulated in the entraâ—s â—f the earth first it turneth to Mercury then to Lead then 〈◊〉 Tin and Copper then to Iron c. Thus the coagulated Mercury must by Art be turn'd into its prima materia or water that it Mercurial water This is a stone and no â—â—ne of which is made a volatile fire in form of a water which drowneth and dissolveth its fix'd father and its voâ—tile mother Metalline Salt is an imperfect body which turneth Philosophick Mercury that is into a permanent or blessâ— water and is the Philosophers Magnet which loveth Philosophick Mars sticketh unto him and abideth with hiâ— Thus our Sol hath a Magnet also which Magnet is the fiâ—â— root and matter of our stone If you conceive of and uâ—derstand my saying then you are the richest man in tâ—â— world Hermes saith you must have three speciesies for the worâ—â— first a volatile or Mercurial water aqua coelestis then virâ—dis Leo green Lion which is the Philosophick Lune thirdâ—â— aes Hermetis or Sol or ferment Lastly note Philosophers had two wayes a wet onâ— which I made use of and a dry one herein you must proceed Philosophically you must purge well â—he Philosophers Mercury and make Mercury with Mercury addinâ— the Philosophick Salt ferment or Sulphur of Philosophers and proceed therein as you heard formerly then you havâ— the Philosophers Magnet that is the Philosophers Mercury Secondly the Metalline Salt or Philosophick Salt Thirdly aes Hermetis or Philosophick Sulphur Thus I have deliâ—eated the whole Art if you do not uâ—derstand it then you will get nothing nor art thou predestinated thereunto Allegorical expressions betwixt the Holy Trinity and the Philosophers stone DEar Christian Lover and well wisher to the blessed Art how graciously and miraculously hath the Holy Trinity created the
hear-say but the things I do write of I know experimentally to be true Therefore if Gâ—d doth blâ—sse thâ—e with a true knowledge hereof that you would keep this secretum in silence and privacy least you turn Gods blessing into a curse because the prâ—paration of this and of the stone is one both have their original and first generation and birth from the true seed and Astrologick primum mobile called the spirit of Mercury of which formerly I have written more largely For I speak the highest â—ruâ—h unto thee that neither the Uâ—iversal â—or Particular Tincture neither aurum potabile nor other Universal Medicine without this heavenly and spiritual essence which hath its original from the starry heaven taketh and receiveth the same from thence may be had and prepared therefore be silent till death at your departing lay down again your talent as I have done for if I had not informed you faithfully you would know but little of that mystery and continue still with the vulgar in folly blindnesse and madnesse and you would have sent a Recipe into the greasy and salvy shops of Apothecaries but whither would thy Soul have gone after thy departure into Galen's lâ—p to â—he utmost depth of darknesse where the Dâ—vils have their dwelling places even thither both thy soul and body wâ—uld have been sent in case thou shouldst have divulged aâ—y of thâ—se secrets To â—urn to my intended businesse I will in the first place inform you what is that true and highest aurum potabile and Universal Medicine after this in order there followeth another aurum potabile made of the fixed red Sulphur or Soul of the corporeal Gold most highly purged aâ—d is prepared with the conjunction of the Universal Spirit of Mercurie After this there followeth another Particular Mediciâ—e which is half an aurum potabile shewing its efficacie aâ—d power in many tryals Then I will add thereunto a descrâ—ption of aurum potabile because it traceth the steps of Gold and it sheweth wonderfully its great energy and verâ—ues The highest and chiefest aurum potabile which the Lord God hath laid into nature is the excocted prepared and fixed substance of our stone before it is fermented A higher greater and more excellent Universal Medicine and aurum potabile cannot be found nor had in the circumference of the whole World for it is a heavenly Balsam because its first principles and original cometh from heaven made formal in earth or under ground and is afterwards being exactly prepared brought into a plus quam perfection of which first principle and Nativity of this heavenly substance I have already written sufficiently and count it needlesse to be repeated here Now as this excocted and perfect substance is the highest chiefest and greatest Universal Medicine unto man even so on the other side the same matter after its fermentation is a Tincture also and the chiefest greatest and most powerfull Universal Medicine upon all Metals whatsoever and thereby may be transmuted into their highest melioration and health namely into the purest Gold This is the first chiefest and greatest aurum potabile and Universal Medicine of the whole World of which alone great volumes could be written whose preparation was set down circumstantially in the third part needlesse to be repeated here again At this present I will speak of the true and full processe how a true aurum potabile is to be had and prepared from Gold which in the best manner is most exactly putrified Take the extracted Soul of Gold drawn forth with the sweet spirit of common Salt as I inform'd you about the Particular of Gold where the body of Gold appeared very white abstract the spirit of Salt from it edulcâ—rate the anima of Sol ten or twelve times at last let it be purely exiccated weigh it pour on it four times as much of spirit of Mercurie lute it well set it in the vaporous Baâ—h putrify it gently let the anima of Sol be quite dissolved and be turn'd into water or its prima materia both will turn into a blouâ—red liquor fair and transparent no Ruby on the earth comparable unto it But thus much you must note when the anima of Sol begins to be dissolved and brought into its prima materia that at the first on the side round the glasse where the matter lieth there be seen a green circle on it a bâ—ue theâ—â— a yellow afterward all the colours of a Rain-bow joyn and make appearance which do last but a little while The anima of Sol being wholly dissolved into the Mercurial spirit and nothing is seen in the bottom then pour to it twice as much of the best rectified spirit of wine brought to its highest degree the glasse must be luted exactly digest and putrify gentle for twelve or fifteen dayes together then abstract per alembicum that matter cometh over in a bloud-red transparent colour this abstracting must be iterated nothing must be left in the bottom which is corporeal then you have the true aurum potabile which can never be reduced into a body But note the Gold before its destruction and extraction of its Soul must be purged in the highest degree There is made another aurum potabile artificially prepared which though it cannot be said or set down in writing to be the full true potable Gold yet is it more than half an aurum potabile counted because it is transcending effectual in many diseases in which nature might have stood in great doubts This half aurum potabile is made in a twofold manner where the latter is better and more effectual than the former and asketh more pains and time than the former Take this extracted Soul of Gold drawn forth with the sweet spirit of common Salt edulcorate it most purely and exactly at last exiceate it put it in a spacious Viol or body of glasse pour on it red Oyl of Vitriol which was dephlegmed and rectified per retoâ—tam that it be transparent clear and white and you may see that it seizeth on the Gold and dissolveth it and is tinged deeply red Put so much of this Oyl to is that in it may be dissolved Sulphur or the Soul of Gold let it putrifie in Balneo Mariae put a reasonable fire to it that you may see that the Soul of Gold is quite dissolved in the Oyl of Vitriol the feces which it hath setled must be separated from it then put twice as much of the best rectified spirit of Wine to it which rectification you shall be inform'd of in this part seal the glasse â—et no spirits of the Wine evaporate set it again in putrefaâ—â—tion in the Balmy let it be there for a moneth then the â—upresse of Vitriol is mitigated by the spirit of Wine and â—oseth its acidity and sharpnesse both together make an excellent Medicine drive both over let nothing stay behinde in the bottom then you get more than half an aurum â—â—tabile in form and colour
If glorified Elias were present and the Aâ—â—â—als could â—peak and silent nature had a tongue to expresse hereof â—hen I needed not to bring in any further evidence to perâ—wade the incredulous who considered not judiciously this â—y saying for a man possessed with blindnesse cannot passe â—y judgement upon my writings bâ—â— understanding â—udgeth impatience and wisdom separateth herself from folâ—â— by her own experience This Vital spirit nourisheth feedeth and preserveth hâ—self by the Oleâ—â—y of mans Sulphur which is predominanâ— the bloud and with or through it doth work in â—he whâ— body that the substance may be perfect This Vital sâ— is Mercury which is found in man and is preserved by Oleity of its likenesse besides these two Mercury and Sâ—phur there is a third thing in man namely Salt which hâ— in the flâ—sh body and bones The Salt ministreth its noblest spirit for a nourishmâ— unto the bloud which saltnesse is found therein by taste and disperseth it self â—hroughout the body preâ—veth mans body like a Balsam from puâ—efaction and is the band and copulation whereby Meâ—cury or the Vâ— spirit continueth the longer with the Balsam in the flâ—â— dwelleth together in one For in the Salt there lieth a sâ—rit which must protect all other Balsams in their worth a dignity The remainder found in the flesh if these thâ— be taken from it is a dead thing as I told formerly and good for nothing nor can it be used for any thing As this Union Dominion and Government is in Maâ— the like are in Metals Minerals and Vegetables whâ— make up their perfect body do live keep and are preservâ— in the like manner as man is As the one followeth up the other in Man according to order in the like conditiâ— are other Animals after their kiâ—de and property As a Câ— is an Animal her food as grasse is Vegetable this Vegâ—table by the heat of the Cows body is putrified in that pâ—trefaction is made a separation which is the Key of all dâ—solutions and separations separation being made then goeâ— the subtile spirit the subtile Sulphur and the subtile Salt the Vegetable's substance of the grasse into all Members the whole body of the Cow the spirit ruleth the beast tâ— Sulphur nourisheth it and the Salt preserveth it This being done then nature distributeth her gifts fuâ—ther making a new separation as of the superfluouâ—nessâ— which the Cow doth not assume by way of assimilation aâ— must part with it and distributeth the same further and th◠〈◊〉 Milk this Milk is an Animâ—l substance transmuted from the Vegeâ—able In this Milk is made another separation by fire which must be kept gently For the subtilest spirit of the Milk together with the Sulphuâ— sublimeth is taken off and turned to a coagulated farâ—â—sse which is butter The â—est is separated by other means and precipitated and â—â—hereby is made another separation this is a second coaguâ—ation out of which men make their food of the overpâ—us â—s made another separation by fiâ—e not so far as the former â—wo at last there remâ—ineth an aquosity and is of no greaâ—â—sâ—fulnesse because the spirit and its nutriment â—s taken â—rom it by the sâ—veral separations After this nature maketh to a further putrefaction aâ—other â—nd grosse excretion of a Sulphureous and Salt â—ubstance which generateth afresh a living spirit which is the â—xcreâ—ent this serveth for the earth to be manured withall maâ—ing the earth fertil by its Sulphur and Salt as being of a â—osse and fat substance whereby new fruits are produced â—ere is another nutriture from an Animal into a Vegetable â—his maketh Wheat and other Fruits and Grains to grow â—roducing again a nutriment from the Vegetables unto Aâ—imals Thus one nature doth follow after the other by â—ulgar people not so much comprehended or search'd into â—ot caring to learn natures qualities so much which mâ—xeth â—ach natural things seem to be incredible To return again to the structure of Man the noblest spiriâ—â—f life hath its dominion and seat for the most part anâ—t â—ost strongly in the heart of mans body as in the noble â—art and the Sulphur of man â—iveth unto thaâ— spirit a nuâ—iment and spiritual accesse for its preservation by the aâ—reâ—or if aire be taken away from man then spiriâ— of liâ—e is hoak'd up departeth invisibly and death is at hâ—â—d The noble Salt spirit is a conserver of both its noblâ—st spiâ—t penetrateth throughout the grossest matter of 〈◊〉 Sa â— is â—ast into the bladder and that hath a spiâ—it of a peâ—ial â—peration That which goeth from the Salt throuâ—hâ— the â—adder is wrought upon by a hear ministreth a nâ—w â—â—cesse or increase so that this increase of Salt in man is iâ— exhaustible unlesse it die quâ—te and the body be burnâ— to ashes and the remainder be extracted As for an eâ—ample Take the Salts from Minerals let these grow agaiâ— coagulate and extract the Salt again by water the like seen in nitrous earths also and other common Salts aâ—â— there needs not to quote any further examples The spirit of life hath its processe into other Member from the heart into bones arms and the rest of the boâ— that are stirring In diseases and symptomes he is weaâ— and man by reason of such symptomes cannot perform hâ— businesse in that full strength as at other times when he in health feedeth and cherisheth his body with Vegetâ—ble spirits which come from feeding on bread meaâ— and drinking of wines then his body groweth strongeâ— and his Vital spirit groweth potent by such nutriments iâ— his superfluity disperseth himself into all Members anâ— sheweth his operation If the heart groweth faint theâ— is it a signe that the Vital spirit is not nourished upoâ— which there ensue speedily deadly diseases because thaâ— fire is not at liberty and falls into an extinction or choalâ—ing The fire in the heart and the natural heat is preserveâ— and supported by the aire of that aire the Lungs stanâ— most in need of the Liver also must have aire else it caâ—not laugh the Spleen must have aire else it will be oppress 't with stitchings and great pains the true seat for thâ— most part oâ—â—â—â—aire is necessary for the Lungs if these faâ— into any weâ—kâ—essâ— the cause thereof is because the Salâ— doth noâ— shâ—w its true and meet help and must go intâ— rottennesse casting up bloud and matter then there is aâ— hand a corruption of the aire from which the Vital spiriâ— cannot finde any true nourishment but must be starved because the Salt doth not effect its conserving quality thâ— Sulphur and the increase of the nourishment is obstructed and is not perfect whereby are caused Consumptions witherings of the body consuming of the flesh and exiccation of the bloud and of the marrow The substance of Salt oâ— the Salt spirit which preserveth the body hath its â—eat for the most part in the bladder where all humidities have their issue the remâ—ining grosse Salt is separated and excerned