Paracelsus, his Archidoxis comprised in ten books : disclosing the genuine way of making quintessences, arcanums, magisteries, elixirs, &c : together with his books of renovation & restauration, of the tincture of the philsophers, of the manual of the philosophical medicinal stone, of the virtues of the members, of the three principles, and finally his seven books of the degrees and compositions, of receipts and natural things / faithfully and plainly Englished, and published by J.H., Oxon.

CHAP. II. Of the Quintessence.

ABstract the Volatile (which comes over in the Se∣paration of the Elements) from the fix, often∣times, that so the Quintessence which partly ascended with the Phlegm, may be again Co-united. Take then the fix Element that remained after the Separation of the Three Imperfect Elements (what kind soever it be of) and dissolve it in its appropriated Water; each according to its Nature, as we have spoken of in the Ar∣chidoxis concerning a Quintessence; keep it in the greatest puterefaction, distil it by Cohobation, the rest per Descensum; Putrifie it yet a little more, distil and con∣joyn all, and distil it in B. M. even to an Oylinesse;

Then corrupt or break it with the Subtil Spirit of Wine by boiling, then the Impure will settle to the bottom, and the Pure will Swim at top, Separate it by a Tritory, or Separating Glass, and that it may there∣withal loose the Nature of the Aqua Fortis, pour on a greater Quantity of the Spirit of Wine, the which ab∣stract often until the Quintessence becomes Sweet; Lastly wash it off with Common Cold Water; After the like manner are you to conceive, of Marchasites, Stones, Rosins, Hearbs, Flesh, Excrements and Fix Things, viz. that (first of all) the three imperfect Elements be Separated, and that the fix Element be farther proceeded with according to the Doctrine of the Book of the Quintessence.

When we speak of an Eating or Coroding Water, understand Acetum mixed with the Spirit of Wine, and such a Spirit as being often abstracted from the Spirit of Salt Nitre, becomes an Acetum. The fix Elements of Marcasites are to be dissolved, therein to be putre∣fied and Elevated by an Alembick, and then at length be corrupted or broken with Spirit of Wine, that the Impure may fall to the bottom, and Separate it self from the Pure.

As concerning the Essence of Gems, where we speak of Radicated Vinegar, understand us thus, viz. that you have a sharp Acetum Corrected with Tiles or Bricks, and oftentimes Abstracted from the Tartarised Matrix of A∣cetum. Your Gems are to be first Calcined by Sulphur, then dissolve them therein, and Putrefy them, and then Separate the Pure from the Impure by breaking them with Spirit of Wine.

An Essence is easily perfected out of Fruits, Hearbs and Roots; so that you dissolve the Imperfect Elements, by the highest Secret Putrefaction of the highest heat. Then shalt thou putrefie them in Dung, and drive out per descensum, all that is able to go out, and from

thence Abstract by a Destillation in a B. all the huttfull imperfect Body of the moisture, then will the Predesti∣nated Element remain in the bottom; this must be not Separated from the Superfluous Impurity, by corrupt∣ing or breaking it with its own Spirit, or with the Spi∣rit of Wine, the which Spirit draw off, and thou shalt have the Quintessence pure.

The Extraction of the Quintessence out of Salts, as Vitriol, Common Salt, Salt Nitre, Venus or Antimony, &c. is done thus, viz. Cohobate them with their own pro∣per Liquor or Water, oftentimes Putrefie them with the Phlegm, and abstract the Body thencefrom in the manner of Phlegm, even to the fix Spirit. This then dislove in Water, or in their own proper Water, and (in the heat) Saparate the Pure from the Impure with Spirit of Wine.