The practise of chymicall, and hermeticall physicke, for the preseruation of health. Written in Latin by Iosephus Quersitanus, Doctor of Phisicke. And translated into English, by Thomas Timme, minister

An Elixir of our description. A wonderfull remedy to cure inueterate and almost de∣sperate diseases, and to conserue health, and to prolong life, as followeth.

TAke of the roote of Zedoary, of Angelica, of Gentian, of Va∣lerian, Tormentil, or Setfoyle, Goates beard, Galanga, the wood Aloes, and citrine or yeallow Sanders, of each thrée Ounces. Of Baume, of red Mint, Maioran, Basil, Hysope, Ger∣mander, Chamepithis, of each halfe a handfull: of Lawrell Ber∣ries & Iuniper, of the séedes Peony, of Seseli, or Comin, of Anis, of Mugwoort, of Cardus-Benedictus, of each two ounces: the barke of Citrine, of Missel of the oake, and of all the Mirabolans, of each one Ounce. Cloues, Cinamum, Mace, Ginger, Cubebs, Cardamony, Pepper, long and round, Spikenard, of each one ounce and a halfe. Aloes Hepat, Myrrhe, Olebanum, Mastic, of each sixe Drachmes. The flowers of Rosemary, of Sage, of Stechados, of Mary-golds, of Saint Ihons woort, of centaury the lesser, of Betonie, of the Linden tree, of each so many as yée can gripe with two fingers and the thumbe at twise: of the flowers of Chicory, commonly called Suckary, of red Roses, and of Bu∣glosse, of each one gripe in like sort onely, of gruat hony, and of white Suger, of each one pound. Of Aqua-Vitae after the best maner rectified ten pound. Cut that which is to be cut, and beate that which is to be beaten.

All these things being put into a large Matrat, and close stopt that no breath come forth, set in horse-dung meanely hote, by the space of eight or ten dayes, to putrifie.

Being putrified, let them be hard and well pressed or strained, and put the liquor distrained into an Allembic, and distill it by a Cornute, at aconuenient fire.

The first water which commeth forth from the distrained

liquor wil be most cleare: kéepe it by it selfe for it is precious.

Thy Receiuer being of glasse must be of good receit, and must be passing wel closed with the Cornute by the necke, that the least vapour come not forth. And when the Receyuer begin∣neth to bée darkened, and to be filled with white spirits, thou shalt increase thy fire by degrées a little and a little, according to arte, vntil the said whited spirits appeare no more.* 1.1

Then take away the Receiuer, that thou mayst put by it self that water which commeth foorth the second time, and kéepe it wel: it is called the mother of Balsam, being very profitable to roote out many sicknesses, and to conserue health.

Then againe put to thy Receyuer,* 1.2 and increase thy fire by degrées,* 1.3 as thou didst before, so long vntil at the first, there distill foorth a yealow oyle:* 1.4 after that a red oyle, the matters in the Matrat remaining drie: and yet not throughly drie, least the li∣quor which shall distil foorth doe smel of burning.

These things done, take that most cléere water which came forth first of all in good plentie: powre it vpon the feces remay∣ning: and make them to digest together by the space of 6. or 7. dayes, at the heate of Baln-marie, vntil the water be coloured and waxe yellow:* 1.5 that is to say, vntill it hath attracted the more fierie and oylie portion of the matter:* 1.6 and the feces which shall remaine,* 1.7 when they haue yéelded their whole tincture to the fore∣said water, reserue and kéepe apart to such vse as herafter shal be declared.

(But if you think good, you may reserue a portion of euery of the said liquors to such medicinable vses as is before shewed, and vse the rest in the progresse of the foresaid worke, and in the subse∣quent.)

After you haue drawne the foresaid liquors, & that also which tooke last tincture from the feces, thou shalt mixe them together, that from thence thou mayest extract a farre more Elixir of life, than the former, and most precious: procéeding in manner fol∣lowing.

When thou haste mixed the foresaid thrée liquors together,* 1.8 thou shalt distil them by a Corrnute, or by a glasse Allembic, pre∣termitting

al digestion, vsing in other than the sayd mixture: vse and follow the same way & order, which thou diddest before, se∣perating the Elements, and beginnings of liquors.

For thou shalt draw out of the first most cleare water, which thou shalt reserue by it selfe, namely, at such time as thou shalt perceiue the receiuer to be darkened with a cloudie fume: then chaunging the Receiuer, and putting too fire as thou didst be∣fore, thou shalt continue it so long, vntil thou sée the liquor to issue foorth of yealow colour, the which also thou shalt kéepe apart as thou diddest the former.

In the meane time while the foresaide distillations, or sepe∣rations of Elements, that is to say, of the two beginnings, Mercurie and Sulphur, are in hand, thou shalt calcine, at a Reuerberatorie fire, the Feces which thou reseruedst before: out of the which, being brought to ashes, thou shalt extract salt, according to Arte, with thy first most cleare water; the water seasoned with his Salt, shal be mingled with the other two li∣quors which were reserued, that so at the least out of a Try∣angle, thou mayest make a Circle O, as Philosophers speake: that is to say, that out of those thrée seueral waters, by circulati∣on (in a Pellican) made according to Arte, there may come foorth one essence: and so by that meanes that great Elixir of life, and admirable secret shal be made.

And not onely made, but also by so short a way, so easie, and so well knowen to true Philosophers, that they know there∣by, how, and in what order to make Elixirs out of all things.

The vertues of this Elixir are vnspeakable, both to the cu∣ring & also to the preuenting of giddinesses in the head, the Fal∣ling sickenesse, Apoplexies, Palsies, madnes, Melancholy, the Asthma, and diseases of the Lungs, faintings and soundings, traunces, weakenesse of the stomach, and of other parts, con∣sumptions procéeding of an euil disposition of the bodies, passi∣ons procéeding from the gaule, and such like heauie and lamen∣table griefes.

Certaine droppes onely of this, being giuen in some conue∣nient

breath, and fitting for the sicknesse. As for example, against the Epilepsie, with water of Peonie; of Lillyes, Connally, or of flowers of the Linden trée. Against the palsie, with the water Mary goldes: against the pestilence with the water of Goates beard, or of water of Cardus Benedictus: against the Asthma or Tissick, with the water of Scabiose, or of Fole-foote, or such like.

Moreouer this Elixir, is of force to restore and conserue our radial Balsam, if fower or fiue droppes thereof, be giuen in broath, wine, or other conuenient liquor.

But peraduenture thou wilt say, that the preparation of this Elixir, requireth too much labour, & is too tedious. But it is much better and more necessarie to spend the time in things so admira∣ble and of so great importance, than about Medicines that are altogether vnprofitable. And yet to serue euery mans turne, I wil set downe the preparation of an other Eilxir, more easie, and peraduenture more pleasing, to conserue health, and to pro∣long life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The water of 2. degree. Mercurie.
• * 1.2

  An Oyle.
• * 1.3

  Sulphur.
• * 1.4

  Fyer.
• * 1.5

  The Feces.
• * 1.6

  Salt.
• * 1.7

  Earth.
• * 1.8

  A most pre∣cious Elixir.