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.

The first Operation.

TAke Salt prepared, Nitre, and Roman Vitriol, ana lbij. beat them into a small Powder, mix them, and put them into a Pot upon a slow fire, and moving them, cause them to melt, that they may be dryed a lit∣tle. Then take ☿ taken out of the Mine∣ral, lbj, which being put into a Linnen Cloath, squeeze it and pour it upon the hot Matter, moving it with a Rod, until the Mer∣cury is hid in the Matter; incorporate the Mass well when it is cooled, in a Marble Mortar; then dry it all in a Pot very slowly, until it be so dry, that a Sword held over the Po••, receive no moisture from it; then put it into a Sublimatory, and Sublime it first twelve hours, afterwards increase the fire, that all the Mercury may be well Sublimed, white as snow: So the ☿ lacking nothing of its weight, will be associated with the invi∣sible Sulphur of Vitriol, and purged from

the Earth and its blackness; and if you will Experiment that Conjunction, you may se∣parate Sulphur of Vitriol from ☿ thus: Take distilled Vinegar, q. v. quench burning Iron several times in it, let your Sublimate stand therein all Night, afterwards pass it three times through a filtre, then set it upon a slow fire; so a black scum will swim above the Vinegar, which take off; then evapo∣rate all the Vinegar with a slow fire, so you will have an Excellent Sulphur of Vitriol; and the ☿ will remain by it self in the bot∣tom.