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HE took but lbj. of Tartar well Calci∣ned, and dissolved it in the Air, free from the Sun, then filtred, and congealed in a Glass Vessel, then he Calcined it as the Dutch-man doth (in the next Process) to keep it glowing hot for six or eight hours, then dissolved it again in the Air, and filtred,
congealed, and calcined as before. He re∣peated this ten times, then dissolved it in di∣stilled Vinegar (he used Spanish and French Vinegar;) the whole Secret (as he saith) consisteth in well distilling of the Vinegar, which must be done in B. M. but it must be so gentle, that you may receive the flegm by it self; and as soon as you perceive that the drops come Acid, change the Recipient, putting on another, and then distill the Spi∣rit with a stronger fire, so that you may tell eight or nine between every drop: Conti∣nue distilling until it become like a Syrup, then change the Recipient again, and distill with a stronger fire until it begin to smell of the fire, and that it be almost dry. Recti∣fie this last and strongest part by it self, and put it to the weaker part, (keeping the flegm by it self for another use) and recti∣fie it together so often until there remain not the least spot at the bottom of the Glass after the distillations, which must be to dry∣ness every time, and every time in a clean Retort: This is not a strong Spirit of Vine∣gar, nor needs it be, but this will do the Work. Then take ℥vij. or viij. of your Salt of Tar∣tar, and dissolve it in as much of the said Spirit, or more, as will dissolve it; let it stand, and it will settle some black feces; then filter it, and congeal, and calcine it as
before, but not with so strong a fire; it must be scarce red-hot, and one hour will suffice; grind it while it is hot, and dissolve it again in new distilled Vinegar as before, let the feces settle, then filter it, congeal and cal∣cine again as before. Repeat this, till it leave no feces behind, which will be in Seven or Eight times, if you have wrought well; then when it is very dry, take ℥j. of it to make a tryal, put it into a clean Glass body, and pour upon it so much high rectified Spirit of Wine, as will not only moisten it, but that it be very thin; let it stand thus twenty four hours close stopped in a very gentle heat, that it may be but Blood-warm; then distill with a gentle fire. If the Spirit stays, and the flegm come away, then proceed with the whole parcel; but if not, you must con∣tinue the dissolution in distilled Vinegar, Filtration, Coagulation, and Calcination, as before, until you find (by trying) that the Spirit stayeth with the Salt, which it will do in a few times: Then proceed with the rest of the parcel in the same manner as you did with the Ounce; continue the imbibition and distillation with Spirit of Wine so often, till the Spirit of Wine come away as strong as it was put on. Then here lyeth the Se∣cret, to Sublime it: Dissolve the said Salt of Tartar impregnated in the flegm of your
distilled Vinegar, or in a very weak Spirit of Wine, using no more of the dissolvent than will dissolve it; shake them well toge∣ther, and it will instantly dissolve all the best and finest part of the Salt of Tartar, and leave the course part of it, for that will not so easily dissolve, Pour off the dissolution, and filter it, then put it into a Cucurbite, and distill off the flegm off the Vinegar, or the weak Spirit of Wine, and then will the dry Spirit, or Aqua Sicca ascend like the purest Isickles dry that ever you saw; and this is the true Volatile Salt of Tartar, and Spirit of Wine, in forma Salis, and is the Vegetable Menstruum, which will dissolve leaf ☉ into an Oylish Substance in a very gentle heat.
The Tartar which remaineth in the bot∣tom of this Sublimation you must put to that which was left undissolved by the flegm of Vinegar, or weak Spirit of Wine, and Proceed to fix more Spirit of Wine upon that, being first Calcined, but not so long, nor with so strong a fir•• as formerly; and then dissolve it once in the Ai•••• and it will leave more feces at this time than at any time before; then filter and congeal, and dissolve it in distilled Vinegar•• as before. And now you shall do more in three times than you did all the times before, for the Tartar is
altered in its Nature; then proceed with it as before, imbibing with S. V. And thus you may fix as much S. V. as you please, and Sublime as many pure and clear Crystals as you please.
Note, That when your Spirit of Wine is fixed on the Tartar, it will be as sweet as Sugar; but when it is separated, as above-said, the Tartar will be of its old Nature, but fit to be impregnated again with much less trouble.