A choice collection of rare secrets and experiments in philosophy as also rare and unheard-of medicines, menstruums and alkahests : with the true secret of volatilizing the fixt salt of tartar / collected and experimented by the honourable and truly learned Sir Kenelm Digby, Kt., Chancellour to Her Majesty the Queen-Mother ; hitherto kept secret since his decease, but now published for the good and benefit of the publick by George Hartman.

A Work with ☉ and ☿ that Monsieur Dandre helped to work in Piedmont, in great quantity: Given me by him, June 1660.

MOnsieur Dandre saith, he wrought thus: Make carefully an Amalgama of ℥j. of ☉ in Calx, with 7 or 8 of Purified ☿, then squeeze out so much ☿, that their remain ℥iij. of ☿, and so there be ℥iv. in the Globe: To this add ℥j. of Sulphur-vive, which is clear and transparent in pieces, (in Italy, where he wrought this) and grind all very well toge∣ther, (in this consisteth the main part of the Secret, for at every time you are to em∣ploy three or four hours in grinding) then put the Matter into a Matrass, and give a gentle heat, the Glass unstopped, till the moisture and smoak is exhaled out. Then let the Fire go out, and when the Matrass is cold, seal it Hermetically, and set it to Sub∣lime by degrees of Fire, till all that will, be Sublimed, which will be done in 20 or 24 hours. Then the Vessel being cold, break it, and take out the Matter, and grind all together a long time, both that which is Sublimed, and that which is in the bottom, adding ℥j. of new Sulphur-vive, then Sub∣lime in the same Method as before; repeat this seven times at the least, adding ℥j.

of Sulphur-vive every time, and the mat∣ter will become a brown yellowish reddish Powder, which will be very fusible, and even in the grinding it will relent, as though it grew moist: You will have ℥iv. of fixed Matter, which project (in parcels) upon ℥x. of ☽ in good Fustion, then put it to the Coppel, and separating {water} and you shall have ℥iv. of pure ☉.

You can work but ℥j. of ☉ in one Glass, but you may put fifty, or more Glasses in one Sand Furnace with a large Bason of Copper in Sand.