Aurifontina chymica, or, A collection of fourteen small treatises concerning the first matter of philosophers for the discovery of their (hitherto so much concealed) mercury which many have studiously endeavoured to hide, but these to make manifest for the benefit of mankind in general.

THESAVRVS, Sive Medicina Aurea.

MAny and great are the Secrets of Nature, and concerning them and the way to attain them, the wise Philosophers have writ much, but in a very dark and Aenigmatical stile, so that very few are those that attain to any thing of their desires by them; but on the contrary, after much time, labour, and cost in vain expended in the search of them, are forced to give over at last, and surcease their further inquiry, and instead of the desired satisfaction, con∣clude from their lost labours, that the Books of the Philosophers are only fabulous, and writ to deceive

the unwary, and those that thirst after so great a Treasure. But I vow unto thee by Almighty God, that what they have wrote is a real Truth, though delivered in so dark and dubious a way, that few are able to understand and receive benefit from them. I do therefore attest the truth of their Medicines, as well for the transmutation of the baser and imperfect Metals in∣to Gold and Silver, as for the be∣nefit of Humane Bodies, and heal∣ing all Bodily Diseases, till God calls for the Soul; and this above all the Medicines of Galen and Hippocrates. But because many great lovers of Knowledge, and this Science, have so often failed of obtaining the end of their de∣sires in these Mysteries of Nature, and not only failed as to the Ac∣complishment of their desires in full, but also came short of know∣ing the principal subject, and ground of Philosophical Secrets: I have therefore thought fit to help them by this small Script, as

much as I may, and save them the troubles of that search; and by telling them in plain terms and words the true Matter, enlighten and encourage their dubious minds to the farther search after what they desire: for let them assure themselves, it is no small advan∣tage to be assured of the true Matter and ground-work, or Basis of so great Arcana's, and hereon great and innumerable blessings do depend. I do therefore most faithfully assure thee, that the true Subject of this Art is Quick-silver, in a double manner, viz. either Quick-silver Natural, or Quick-silver of Bodies, viz. the Bodies of Sol or Luna, reduced to Mercury vive; for many and strange things may be performed by either, singly of themselves, or else conjoyned. The conjunction of the Mercury of Gold or Silver, with the common Mercury; or the Bodies, or the Oyl of Gold and Silver, dissolved in the Aqua Mer∣curii, doth much hasten the ope∣ration

of Medicines for Metals: But we need not (as absolutely necessary) any more than the common Mercury or Quick-silver, dissolved lightly, either for Elixirs or precious Stones; only small Natural Stones must be dissolved in the Mercurial Water, so shall you have such Stones again as you dissolve, and those of what bigness you please, far exceeding Natu∣ral ones.

The next great Secret of Phi∣losophers, is the preparation of common Quick-silver or Mercury; for common Mercury, as Nature produceth it, is not fit for such operations, nor can they any way be performed by it: for our Mer∣cury is not the common Mercury or Quick-silver, but is made of it, by a true Philosophical skill; it is not the white Mercury or Quick-silver, but its subtle, spiritual, airie and fiery parts, the earthy and watery being prudently sepa∣rated. For the manifestation of our Mercury, the true Mercury of

Philosophers, first prepare the com∣mon Mercury by a due Philosophi∣cal preparation, until thou hast separated and purged him from his two extremes or excrements, Earth and Water: dissolve it then, after its purification, into a Milkie, Crystalline, and Silver Liquor or Water, which in three or four months is to be done: being once dissolved, thou mayst ever after dissolve more and more Mercury in fully fourty days, for Mercury once dissolved, dissolveth it self ever after infinitely. And having dissolved it, distill it perfectly, until it have no Faeces in the Cornuae; after Distillation, bring it again to Putrefaction, and when it is blackish, distill it again: so shalt thou have two Oyls, a white Silver Oyl, and thickish, and at last a very red or Bloud-like Oyl, which is the Element of Fire. The white Oyl serveth for Multiplica∣tion, or multiplying the white Elixir, and for the making of all precious Stones, by dissolving of

small precious Stones in it, for it will presently dissolve them: then in a gentle heat of Ashes congeal them again, and they far exceed any Natural ones, both in lustre, and virtue, and hardness. The red Oyl is for the multiplying the red Elixir, even to an infinite height in projection; which when it is by often multiplying or multiplica∣tion, brought to a fixt Oyl, then thou mayst do several Magical, yet Natural and strange Opera∣tions by it.

To make the Elixirs thou must proceed thus: When thou hast dissolved rightly the common Mer∣cury, which cannot be done before it be duly prepared for such a Phi∣losophical dissolution, when it is dissolved into a Milkie, Silver, Crystalline Liquor, it will in the distillation leave some Faeces, in which remains its more fixt part or Salt, which thou must warily and wisely, after a gentle and Phi∣losophical Calcination, extract and purifie to the highest Purification,

by which means it will be very white and clean: then take seven ounces of the white Mercurial Oyl, and dissolve in it as much of this Salt as it will dissolve, until it will dissolve no more: having so done, put thy Liquor into a Philosophi∣cal Egg, sealing it Hermetically, and by due degrees of Fire con∣geal and fix it: being fixed, it is the white Medicine, which fer∣mented with Silver, may be cast upon purged Venus, which it will transmute into most fine Silver: multiply it with the white Oyl, &c. If thou wouldst have it be a red Elixir, put to it some of the red Oyl, and by requisite degrees of heat congeal and fix it as before: ferment it with Gold; multiply it by the red Oyl, and the aforesaid white Salt dissolve in it: dissolve it, congeal and fix it often, until it will congeal no more, so will it re∣main an Oyl, which in its pro∣jection is almost infinite. Endea∣vour not to multiply it any far∣ther, for fear thou losest it; it is

then so fiery, that it will vanish out through the Glass reddish, or Rubie-like. Make projection with it on what Metal thou wilt, and thou shalt have most fine Gold, better than the Natural Gold. Laus Deo, &c.

Mercurius albus & rubeus ex Mercurio vulgi (per se) soluto fieri potest tanquam ex Mercurio Vniversali: Age Deo & mihi gratias.

E. B. &c.