A description of new philosophical furnaces, or A new art of distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a description of the tincture of gold, or the true aurum potabile; also, the first part of the mineral work. Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the truth. / By John Rudolph Glauber. Set forth in English, by J.F. D.M.

THE SECOND PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

The structure of the second Furnace.

THE Distilling vessel must be made of Iron, or good earth, such as can abide in the fire (whereof in the first part of this Book it shall be taught) and you may make it as big or as little as you please, according as your occasion shall require. That of Iron is most fit to be used for such spirits, as are not very sharpe or corroding, else they would corrode the vessel: but that of earth may be used for such things, as shew their activity upon the Iron, and do make it to melt, as sulphur, Antimony and the like; and there∣fore you ought to have two such vessels, viz. one of iron, and one of earth, to the end that for both sorts of materials (corrosive or not corrosive) you may have proper vessels, and fit furnaces for their distilling, and that they may not be spoiled by things

contrary and hurtful to them. The shape of the vessel is shewed by the figure here annexed, viz. the lower part of it somewhat wider then the upper part, and twice as high as wide; at the top having a hollow space between the two edges or brims, whereinto the edge of the lid may close and enter into an inch deep. The lid must have a ring or handle, by which it may be taken off and put on again with a paire of tongs. The lid must have a deepe edge answering to the hollow space aforesaid. The lower part must have three knobbs or shoulders thereby to rest upon the wall of the fur∣nace; the form whereof is no other, then that of a common distilling furnace with sand Capel, as the figure of it doth shew: but if you will not have the furnace, then it needeth no knobbs or shoulders, if so be the distilling vessel be flat at the bottom, or else have leggs, for to stand upon them: Beneath the edge of the vessel there comes forth a spout or pipe of a span in length, and one or two inches wide, and somewhat narrower before then behinde, through which the spirits are conveighed into the Receiver.

The way or the manner to perform the destillation.

VVHen you intend to distill, then first make a fire in he furnace, that the distilling vessel come to be very hot. But if it be not fastned to the furnace, then set it upon a grate, and lay stones about it, and coales between, and so let it grow hot, and lay melted lead into the space between the two edges or brims, to the end, that the lid, when it is put on, may close exactly, so that no spirit can get through. This done take a little of the matter you intend to distil and cast it in and presently put on the lid, and there will be no other passage left but through the pipe, to which there must be applyed and luted a very big receiver. As soon as the species cast in come to be warm, they let go their spirit, which doth come forth into the receiver: and because there was but little of the matter cast in it hath no power to force through the

lute or to break the receiver, but must settle it self. This done, cast in a little more of your matter, cover it and let it go till the spirit be settled: continue this proceeding so long, untill you have spirits enough: but take heed, that you carry in no more at once, then the receiver is able to bear, else it will break. And when your vessel is full the distillation not being ended, then take off the lidd, and with an iron ladle take out the Caput Mortuum; and so begin again to cast in, and still but a little at a time, and continue this as long as you please.

Thus in one day you may distil more in a smal vessel, then otherwayes you could do in a great retort; and you need not fear the least loss of the subtile spirit, nor the breaking of the receiver by the abundance of the spirits: and you may cease or leave off your distilling and begin it again when you list: also the fire cannot be made too strong so that it might cause any hurt or damage; but by this way you can make the most subtle spirits, which is impossible to be done by any Retort. But if you will distil a subtle spirit through a Retort, as of Tartar, Hartshorn, Salarmoniac, or the like, you cannot do it without prejudice (though there were but half a pound of the matter in it) the subtlest spirits coming forth with force seek to penetrate through the lute if that be not good, but if that be good so that the spirits cannot pass through it, then they break the receiver, because it cannot possibly hold such a quantity of subtle spirits at once. For when they are com∣ing, they come so plentifully and with such a force, that the receiver cannot containe them, and so of necessity must flye asunder, or must pass through the lutum; All which is not to be feared here, because there is but a little cast in at once, which cannot yeeld such a quantity of spirits, as to force the receiver to break: And when there come forth no more spirits, and the former is settled, then more of the matter is to be cast in, and this is to be continued so long untill you have spirits enough. Afterward take off the receiver, and put the spirit into such a glass (as in the fifth part of this book amongst the Manuals

shall be discovered) wherein it may be kept safely without wasting or evaporating.

In this manner all things, Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral, can be distilled in this furnace, and much better then by means of a Retort: especially such subtile spirits (as by the other way of distilling cannot be saved, but pass through the lutum) are got by this our way; and they are much bet∣ter, then those heavy oyles, which commonly are taken for spirits, but are none, being only corrosive waters. For the nature and condition of a spirit is to be volatile, penetrating and subtle, and such are not those spirits of salt, Vitriol, Allome and Nitre, which are used in Apothecary shops, they being but heavy oyles, which even in a warm place do not evaporate or exhale.

But a true spirit fit for Medicinal use, must rise or ascend before the phlegme, and not after; for whatsoever is heavier then phlegme, is no volatile spirit, but a heavy spirit or (ra∣ther called) a sowre heavy oyle. And it is seen by the expe∣rience that the Apothecaries spirit of vitriol will cure no fal∣ling sickness, which vertue is ascribed to that spirit, and indeed justly: for the true spirit of vitriol performeth that cure out of hand. Likewise their spirit of Tartar (as they call it) is no spirit, but only a stinking phlegme or Vinegar.

The way to make such true spirits, I will now shew be∣cause much good may be done by them in all manner of dis∣eases. And this way of distilling serveth only for those which seek after good medicines: but others which care not whether their medicines be well prepared or no, need not take so much pains as to build such a furnace, and to make their spirits themselves, for at any they can buy for a small matter a good quantity of dead and fruitless spirits at the common sellers and Apothecaries.

Hence it is no marvel, that now a dayes so little good is done by Chymicall medicaments, which of right should far outstrip all the Galenical in goodness and vertue. But alas! it is come to that passe now, that a true Chymist and honest son of Hermes▪ is forced almost to blush, when he

heareth men talk of Chymical medicines, because they do no such miracles, as are ascribed unto them. Which infamy is occasioned by none more then by careless Physitians, which though they make use of Chymicall medicines (because they would faine be esteemed to know more then others) yet they do take greater care for their kitchin, then for the welfare of their patients; and so buying ill prepared medicines of un∣skilful stillers, and withall using them undiscreetly (where∣by they many times do more hurt then good to the sick) they do lay such foule aspersions up on the noble Art of Chymistry.

But an Industrious and accurate Physitian is not ashamed to make his medicines himself, if it be possible, or at least to have them made by good and well exercised Artists: whereupon he may better relye and get more credit, then one that know∣eth not whereof, nor how his medicine which he doth ad∣minister to his patients is prepared. But such wicked and ignorant men will one day fal short of their answer before the Judgement of the righteous Samaritane.

How to make the Acid oyle and the volatile spirit of Vitriol.

HItherto I have taught, how to distill in general, and to get the subtle spirits. There remaineth now to describe what manuals or preparations are fitting for every matter in particular; and first,

Of Vitrioll.

TO distill Vitrioll, there needs no other preparation, but only that it be well viewed, and if there be any filth amongst it, that the same be carefully pickt out, lest being put together with the Vitriol into the distilling vessel, the spirit be corrupted thereby. But he that will go yet more exactly to work, may dissolve it in faire water, then filtrate it, and

then evaporate the water from it till a skin appear at the top, and then set it in a cold place, and let it shoote again into Vitrioll; and then you are sure that no impurity is left in it.

Now your vessel being made red hot, with an Iron ladle cast in one or two ounces of your vitriol at once, put on the lid, and presently the spirits together with the phlegme will come over into the receiver, like unto a white cloud or mist; which being vanished, and the spirits partly settled, carry in more Vitriol, and continue this so long, until your vessel be full: Then uncover your vessel, and with a pair of tongs or an iron ladle take out the Caput Mortuum, and cast more in; and continue this proceeding as long as you please, still emptying the vessel when it is filled, and then casting in more matter, and so proceeding untill you conceive that you have got spirits enough. Then let the fire go out, and let the fur∣nace coole; take off the receiver, and powre that which is come over into a retort, and lay the retort in sand, and by a gentle fire distill the volatile spirit from the heavy oil; having first joyned to the retort the receiver, which is to receive the volatile spirit, with a good lutum, such as is able to hold such subtle spirits, the making whereof shall be taught in the fifth part of this book amongst the Manuals.

All the volatile spirit being come over, which you may know by the falling of bigger dropps, then take off the re∣ceiver, and close it very well with wax, that the spirit may not make an escape; then apply another (without luting it) and so receive the phlegme by it self, and there will remaine in the retort a black and heavy corrosive oyle, which if you please, you may rectifie, forcing it over by a strong fire, and then it will be clear; if not, let all coole, then take out your Retort together with the black oyle, and pour upon it the Volatile spirit, which in the rectifying went over first, put the retort into the sand, and apply a receiver, and give it a very gentle fire, and the volatile spirit will come over alone leaving its phlegme behinde with the oyle, which by reason of its dryness doth easily keep it. Thus the spirit being

freed from all phlegme, is become as strong as a meer fire, and yet not corrosive. And if this spirit be not rectified from its own oyle, it will not remaine good, but there doth precipi∣tate a red pouder after it hath stood for some space of time, and the spirit looseth all its vertue, in so much that it is not to be discerned from ordinary water, which doth not happen when it is rectified. The reason of this precipitation is no o∣ther then the weakness of the spirit, which is accompanied with too much water, and therefore not strong enough for to keep its sulphur, but must let it fall: but after it is rectified by its own oyle, it can keep its sulphur well enough, because then it is freed from its superfluous moisture. However the red powder is not to be thrown away, but ought to be kept carefully; because it is of no less vertue then the spirit it self. And it is nothing else but a Volatile sulphur of Vi∣trioll, It hath wonderfull vertues, some of which shall be related.

The use and Dose of the Narcotick sulphur of Vitrioll.

OF this sulphur 1. 2. 3. 4. or more grains (according to the condition of the patient) given at once mitigates all pains, causeth quiet sleep; not after the manner of Opi∣um, Henbane, and other the like medicines, which by stupefying and benumming cause sleep, but it performeth its operation very gently and safely without any danger at all, and great diseases may be cured by the help there∣of. Paracelsus held it in high esteeme, as you may see, where he doth w••ite of Sulphur embryonatum▪

Of the use and vertue of the Volatile spirit of Vitrioll.

THis sulphureous volatile spirit of Vitrioll, is of a very subtle and penetrating quality, and of a wonderful ope∣ration; for some drops thereof being taken and sweated up∣on it, doth penetrate▪ the whole body, openeth all obstructi∣ons, consumeth those things that are amiss in the body, even as fire. It is an excellent medicine in the falling sickness, in that kinde of madness or rage which is called Mania, in the convulsion of the mother, called Suffocatio matricis, in the scurvy; in that other kinde of madness which is called Me∣lancholia Hypochondriaca; and other diseases proceeding from obstructions and corruption of the blood: It is also good in the plague, and all other feavers: mingled with spirit of wine, and daily used, it doth wonders in all external accidents: Also in the Apoplexy, shrinking and other diseases of the Nerves, the distressed limbe rubbed therewith, it doth penetrate to the very marrow in the bones; it doth warm and refresh the cold sinews, grown stiffe: In the Colick, besides the internal use, a little thereof in a clyster applyed, is a pre∣sent help: Externally used in the Goute, by anoynting the places therewith asswageth the pains, and taketh away all tu∣mors and inflammations: it doth heale the scabs, tetters and ringworms, above all other medicines; it cureth new wounds and old sores, as Fistulaes, Cancers, Woolves, and what name so ever else they may have: It extinguisheth all inflammations, scaldings, the Gangrene, dissipateth and con∣sumeth the knobs and excrescencies of the skin. In a word, this spirit, which the wise men of old called Sulphur Philoso∣phorum, doth act universally in all diseases, and its vertue cannot sufficiently be praised and expressed: And it is much to be admired, that so excellent a Medicine is no where to be found.

If it be mingled with spring water, it doth make it pleasant∣ly sowrish▪ and in tast and vertue like unto the natural sowre water of wels.

Also by this spirit many diseases may be cured at home; so that you need not go to bathes afar off, for to be rid of them.

Here I could set down a way, how such a spirit may be got in great abundance for the use of bathing, without distil∣lation, whereby miraculous things may be done; but by reason of the ungratefulness of men, it shall be reserved for another time.

Of the vertue and use of the corrosive oyle of Vitrioll.

THis oyle is not much used in Physick, although it be found almost in every Apothecaries shop, which they use for to give a sowrish tast to their syrups and conserves. Mingled with spring water and given in hot diseases, it will extinguish the unnatural thirst, and coole the internal parts of the body. Externally it cleanseth all unclean sores, apply∣ed with a feather; it separateth the bad from the good, and layeth a good foundation for the cure.

Also if it be rectified first, some metals may be dissolved with it and reduced into their Vitriols, especially Mars and Venus; but this is to be done by adding common water thereunto, else it will hardly lay hold on them. The way of doing it is thus:

How to make the Vitrioll of Mars and Venus.

TAke of your heavy oyle, just as it came over, viz. together with its phlegme (but that the Volatile spirit be drawn off from it first) as much as you please, put it into a glass body together with plate of copper or iron, set it in warme sand, and let it boyle untill that the oyle will dissolve no more of the metal, then power off the liquor, filtre it through brown paper, and put it into a low gourd glass, and set it in sand, and let the phlegme evaporate untill there appear a skin at the top, then let the fire go out, and the glass grow coole; then set it in a cold place, and within some dayes there

will▪ shoote faire green Crystals; if of iron, greenish; if of Cop∣per, then something blewish; take them out and dry them up∣pon filtering paper, the remaining liquor, which did not shoote into Vitriol, evaporate again in sand, and then let it shoote as before; continue this proceeding, untill all the solution (or filtred liquor) be turned to Vitriol. This Vitrioll is better and purer then the common; for it yeeldeth a better Volatile spirit, and for that reason I did set down the way how to make it. There can also be made a good Vitrioll of both these metals by the means of ordina∣ry yellow brimstone; but because the making of it is more tedious, then of this here set down, I think it needless to de∣scribe its preparation in this place.

The way to make a faire blew Vitrioll out of Luna (that is, silver.)

DIssolve the shavings or filings of silver with rectified oyle of Vitrioll, adding water thereunto, but not so much as to Iron and Copper: Or else, which is better, dissolve cal∣cined silver, which hath been precipitated out of Aqua fortis either with Copper or salt water; the solution being ended powre it off and filtre it, and drop into it of spirit of urine or of Sal armoniac, as long as it doth hiss, and almost all the silver will precipitate again out of the oyle, and so there will fall a white powder to the bottome; This precipitated silver together with the liquor poure into a phiall-glass, set it to boyle in sand for twenty four hours, and the liquor will dissolve again almost all the precipitated silver-calx and be∣come blew thereby. Then poure off the solution (or liquor) and filtre it through brown paper, and abstract the moi∣sture till a skin arise at the top; then in a cold place let it shoote to Vitriol. With the remaining liquor proceed fur∣ther, as above in the preparation of the Vitriol of Iron and Copper hath been taught.

By this way you will get an excellent Vitrioll out of silver,

which from 4. 5. 6. to 10. grains used onely of it self, will be a good purge, especially in diseases of the braine.

If you have a good quantity of it, that you may distill a spirit thereof, you will get not only an acide (or sowre) but also a volatile spirit, which in the infirmities of the braine is most excellent; that which in the distilling remains be∣hinde, may be reduced againe into a body, so that you lose nothing of the silver, save onely that which is turned into spirit.

Moreover, the acide (or sowre) oyle of common Vitriol, doth precipitate all metals and stones of beasts or fishes; also pearles and corals, they being first dissolved in spirit of salt or of Nitre, and maketh faire light powders of them (which by the Apothecaries are called Magisteries) much fairer then by precipitation with salt of Tartar is done, especially of corals and pearles, such a faire glistering and delicate powder is made; and likewise also of mother of pearle, and other shels of snailes, that it giveth as fair a gloss to them, as the fairest oriental pearles have; which way hath not been made com∣mon hitherto, but being known only to few, hath been kept very secret by them, as a singular Art. Such magisteries com∣monly were precipitated out of vinegar onely by salt of Tar∣tar, which for lightness, whiteness and fair gloss are not com∣parable at all to ours: But if in stead of the oyle of Vitriol you take oyle of sulphur, then these powders will be fairer then when they are done by the oyle of Vitriol, in so much, that they may be used for painting for a black skin.

Having made mention of Magisteries, I cannot forbear to discover the great abuse and error, which is committed in the preparing of them.

Paracelsus in his Archidoxes teacheth to make Magisteries, which he calleth extracted Magisteries: but some of his di∣sciples teach to make precipitated Magisteries, which are quite different from the former. Paracelsus is clean of another opinion in the preparing of his Magisteries, then others in the making of theirs: doubtless Paracelsus his Magisteries were

good cordiall living medicines, whereas the other were but dead carkases, and although they be never so faire, white and glistering, yet in effect they prove but a gross earthy sub∣stance, destitute of vertue.

I do not deny, but that good medicines may be extracted out of pearles and corals, for I my self also do describe the preparations of some of them; but not at all after such a way as theirs is. For what good or exalting can be expected by such a preparation, where a stony matter is dissolved in corrosive waters, and then precipitated into stone again? Can its vertue be increased thereby? surely no, but rather it is diminished, and made much the worse thereby. For it is well known, that the corrosive spirits (no less then fire) do burn some certain things; for not all things are made better by fire or corrosives, but most of them are absolutely spoyled by them. Some perchance will say, that such pre∣parations of Magisteries are onely for to be reduced into a finer powder, that so much the sooner they may perform their operation. To which I answer, that pearles, corals, and other of the like nature, if they be once dissolved by corrosive wa∣ters, and then precipitated and edulcorated, never or hardly can be dissolved againe by acid spirits. Whence it is evident that by such preparations they are not opened or made better, but rather closed or made worse. And we see also by daily experience that those Magisteries do not those effects; which are ascribed unto them. By which it appeareth cleerly, that to the Archeus of the stomach they are much less grateful then the crude unprepared corals and pearles; whose tender essence being not burnt up by corrosives, do oftentimes produce good effects. For our Ancestors have ascribed unto corals and pearles, that they purifie the impure and corrupt blood in the whole body, that they expel Melancholy and sadness, comforting the heart of man, and making it merry, which also they effectually perform: whereas the Magisteries do not. And this is the reason, why unprepared corals, pearles and stones of fishes have more effect, then the burnt Magisteries. For it is manifest and well known, that the abovesaid diseases

for the most part do proceed from obstructions of the spleen, which obstructions are nothing else, but a tartarous juice or a sowre flegme which hath possessed and filled up the entrals, and coagulated it self within them. By which obstruction not only head-ach, giddiness, panting of the heart, trembling of the limbs, a spontaneous lassitude, vomits, unnatural hunger; also, loathing of victuals; then cold, then hot flushing fits, and many more strange symptomes are caused; but also a most hurtful rottenness and corruption is introduced into the whole mass of blood, from whence the leprosie, scurvy, and other loathsome or abominable scabs do spring.

Of which evil the onely cause (as hath been said) is a crude acide Tartar, from which so many great diseases do rise.

This to be so may easily be proved; for it is notorious, that melancholik folks, hypocondriaques, and others do often cast up a great quantity of acid humor, which is so sharpe that no vinegar is comparable to it, and doth set their teeth on such an edge, as if they had eaten unripe fruit.

What remedy now? take away the cause and the disease is taken away. If you could take away the peccant matter by purgings, it would be well, but it remaineth obstinate and will not yeeld to them. By vomit it may be diminished in some measure. But because that not every one can abide vomiting, it is therefore no wisdome to turn evil into worse. Shall then this tartar be killed and destroyed by contraries, which in∣deed in some sort may be effected; as when you use vegetables or animals, whose vertue consisteth in a volatile salt: such are all species or sorts of cresses, Mustard-seed, horse-radish, scurvy grass, also the spirit of Tartar, of Hartshorn, and of urine and the like, which by reason of their penetrating fa∣culty pass through all the body, finding out the Tartar thereof, destroying the same, as being contrary unto it; and in this combat two contrary natures is kindled, a great burn∣ing heat, whereby the whole body is throughly heated and brought to sweating; and whensoever by these contraries a

sweating is caused, there is alwayes mortified some of this hurtful Tartar. But because that of that acid humor but a little at a time can be mortified and edulcorated by contrary volatile spirits, and that therefore it would be required to use them often, for to kill and expell all the Tartar; and be∣cause also (as hath been mentioned before) a strong sweat al∣wayes is caused by every such operation, whereby the natu∣ral spirits are much weakened, so that the patient would not be able to hold out long thereby, but by taking away of one evil, another and greater one would be occasioned.

And therefore such things must be offered to that hungry acid humor, by which the corrosive nature thereof, may be mortified and grow sweet, with that proviso nevertheless, that those things be such as are not contrary or hurtful to the na∣ture of man, but grateful and friendly, as are corals, pearles and crabs eyes, &c.

For amongst all stones none are more▪ easily to be dissol∣ved then Pearles, Corals, Crabbs-eyes, and other stones of fishes.

But the truth of this, viz. that every corrosive is killed by feeding upon pearles and corals, and thereby can be made sweet; and besides, how a sowre coagulated Tartar, by the help of corals or pearles may be reduced to a sweet liquor (a pleasant and acceptacle medicine to the nature of man) which never can be coagulated again by any means, shall be after∣wards proved and taught when I shall come to treate of Tartar.

Now in tartareous coagulations and obstructions of the internals proceeding from the predominancy of an acid hu∣mor there is no better remedy, then to give the patient every morning fasting from ℈ss. to ʒ i. (more or less, according to the condition of the patient) of red corals and pearles made into powder, and to let him fast two or three hours upon it, and so to continue daily untill you see amendment: By this means the hurtful acid humor is mortified, and dulcified by the corals and pearles so that afterwards it may be overcome by nature, whereby the obstructions are removed, and the body freed from the disease.

This my opinion of the abuse of Magisteries and the good use of Corals I could not conceale although I do know for certain, that it will take but with few, in regard that it will seem very strange to most. However, happily there may be some yet, that will not be unwilling to search into the truth and to consider further of it, and at last will finde this not to be so strange, as it seemed to them at the first: but he that can∣not believe or comprehend it, may keep to his Magisteries.

And if it seem so strange unto any, that corals or pearles made into powder shall be concocted in the stomach, and so put forth their vertue, what will you say then, if I do prove, that even whole pearles, crabs-eyes, and corals being swal∣lowed, are totally consumed by the Melancholy humor, so that nothing cometh forth again among the excrements? and which is more, even the like may be said of hard and corrup∣ted metals, as Iron, and speaucer or Zinck: But this must be understood only of those that are of a Malancholick constitu∣tion but uot so in others, viz, those that are of a sanguine, and those that are of a phlegmatick constitution, to whom such like things are seldome prescribed. For I have seen many times, that against obstructions to strong bodies there hath been given at once from ℈ss. to ʒ i. of the shavings or filings of iron, and they found much good by it, yea more help then by other costly medicines of the Apothecaries, whereof they had used many before, but to no purpose, by reason whereof their excrements came from them black, just as it useth to fall out with those that make use of medicinal sowre waters, which run through iron mines, and thereby borrow a spiritu∣al mineral vertue.

Now if those filings of iron had not been consumed in the stomach, how come it that the excrements are turned black? so then it is sufficiently proved, that even a hard unprepared metal can be consumed in the stomach: and i•• so, why not as well soft pearles and corals?

Which is also to be seen by children, that are troubled with worms, if there be given unto them 4. 6▪ 8. to 12. or 16. grains of the finest filings of steel or iron, that all the worms in the

body are killed thereby, their stomach and guts scowred very clean, and their stools also turned black. But this must be observed by children, when the worms are killed, and yet remaine in the guts (because that the iron in a small quantity is not strong enough for to expell them, but only make the body soluble) that a purge must be used after, for to carry them out; for else if they do remaine there, others will grow out of their substance. But to those that are more in yeers, you may give the Dose so much the stronger, as from ℈ i. to ʒ i. that the worms also may be carryed out, they beeing bet∣ter able to endure it then little children, and although some∣times a vomit doth come, yet it doth no hurt, but they will be but so much the healthier afterward.

And thus Iron may be used, not only against worms, but also against all stomach-agues, head-ach, and obstructions of the whole body, without any danger and very successefully, as a grateful or very acceptable medicine to Nature; for after a powerful magnetical way it doth attract all the ill humors in the body, and carrieth them forth along with it. Of whose wonderful vertue and nature, there is spoken more at large in my treatise of the Sympathy and Antipathy of things. Which some Physitians perceiving and supposing by Art to make it better, they spoiled it, and made it voyd of all vertue: for they taking a peece of steel, made it red-hot, and held it against a peece of common Sulphur, whereby the steel grew subtle, so they did let it drop into a vessel filled with water; then they took it out, and dryed it, and made it into powder, and used it against obstructions, but to no effect almost; for the Iron was so altered by the sulphur and redu∣ced to an insoluble substance (which ought not to have been so) that it could perform no considerable operation: But if they had made the steel more soluble (whereas they made it more insoluble) then it was of it self before, then they had done a good work: for he that knoweth sulphur, doth know well enough, that by no Aquafortis or Aqua Regis it can be dis∣solved; and how could it then be consumed by an animal humor?

Hitherto it hath been proved sufficiently, that in some men, especially in those that are of a Melancholick constituti∣on there is an acid humor, which can sufficiently dissolve all easily soluble metals and stones: and that therefore it is need∣less to torture, and dissolve pearles, corals and the like with corrosive waters before they be administred to patients: but that the Archeus of the stomach is strong enough by the help of the said humors to consume those easily soluble things, and to accept of that which serveth his turn, and to reject the rest.

But it is not my intent here, that this should be understood of all metals and stones; for I know well, that other metals and stones (some excepted) before they are duly prepared, are not fit for physick, but must be fitted first, before they be ad∣ministred or given unto patients.

For this relation I made only for to shew, how sometimes good things (though with intent to make them better) are made worse and supplyed by those that do not make an exact search into nature and her power.

I hope this my admonition will not be taken ill, because my aime was not vaine-glory, but only the good of my neighbor.

Now let us return again to Vitriol.

Of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

THE Ancients make mention of a sweet and green oyle of Vitriol, which doth cure the falling sickness, killeth worms, and hath other good qualities & vertues besides: and that the Oyle is to be distilled per descensum. To attain unto this oyle the later Physitians took great paines, but all in vaine: because they did not understand at all the Ancients about the preparing of this oyle, but thought to get it by the force of fire, and so using violent distillation, they got no sweet oyle, but such as was very sowre and corrosive, which in taste, efficacy and vertue was not comparable at all to the former.

However they ascribed unto it (though falsely) the same vertues, which the ancients (according to truth) did unto theirs. But daily experience sheweth, that the oyle of vitriol as it is found ordinarily, cureth no falling sickness, nor killeth worms, whereas this Philosophical doth it very quickly. Whence it appeareth, that the other is nothing like unto the true medicinal oyle of vitriol, neither is it to be compared to it.

I must confess indeed, that per descensum out of common vitriol, by the force of the fire, there may be got a greenish oyle, which yet is not better then the other because it pro∣veth as sharpe in taste, and of as corroding a quality, as if it had been distilled through a Retort.

Those that found out this oyle, as Paracelsus, Basilius, and some few others, did alwayes highly esteem it, and counted it one of the foure maine pillars of Physick. And Paracelsus saith expresly in his writings, that its viridity or greenness must not be taken away or marred (which indeed a very little heat can do) by the fire; for (saith he) if it be deprived of its greenness, it is deprived also of its efficacy and pleasant essence. Whence it may be perceived sufficiently, that this sweet green oyle is not to be made by the force of the fire as hitherto by many hath been attempted, but in vaine.

And it is very probable, that the ancients, which did so highly praise the oyle of vitriol, happily knew nothing of this way of distilling, which is used by us now a dayes: for they only simply followed Nature, and had not so many sub∣tle and curious inventions and wayes of distilling.

But however it is certain, that such a sweet and green▪oyle cannot be made of vitrioll by the force of the fire, but rather must be done by purification, after a singular way; for the Ancients many times understood purification for distillati∣on: as it is evident, when they say, Distill through a filtre, or through filtring paper: which by us is not accounted for distillation, but by them it was.

However, this is true and very sure, that a great Treasure of health (or for the health of man) lyeth hidden in Vitriol: yet not in the common, as it is sold every where, and which hath endured the heat of the fire already; but in the Oare as it is found in the earth, or its mine. For as soon as it cometh to the day light, it may be deprived by the heat of the Sun of its subtle and penetrating spirit, and so made voyde of vertue; which spirit, if by Art it be got from thence, smelleth sweeter then musk and amber, which is much to be admired, that in such a despicable mineral and gross substance (as it is deemed to be by the ignorant) such a royal medicine is to be found.

Now this preparation doth not belong to this place, be∣cause we treat here only of spirits, which by the force of fire are driven over Likewise also, there doth not belong hither the preparation of the green oyle, because it is made without the helpe of fire. But in regard, that mention hath been made of it here, I will (though I kept it alwayes very secret) publish it for the benefit of the poor patients, hoping that it will do much good to many a sick man.

For if it be well prepared, it doth not only cure perfectly every Epilepsie or Convulsion in young and old; and like∣wise readily and without faile killeth all worms within and without the body, as the Ancients with truth ascribed unto it; but also many Chronical diseases and such as are held in∣curable, may be happily overcome and expelled thereby, as the plague, pleuresie, all sorts of feavers and agues, what ever they be called, head-ach, colick, rising of the mother; also all obstructions in the body, especially of the spleen and liver, from whence Melancholia Hypochondriaca, the scurvy, and many, other intolerable diseases do arise: Also the blood in the whole body is by the means thereof amended and renewed, so that the Pox, Leprosie and other like diseases proceeding from the infection of the blood are easily cured thereby: Also it healeth safely and admirably all open sores and stinking ul∣cers turned to fistula's in the whole body, and from what cause so ever they did proceed, if they be anoynted

therewith, and the same also be inwardly used be∣sides.

Such and other diseases more (which it is needless here to relate) may be cured successefully with this sweet oyle; espe∣cially, if without the loss of its sweetness it be brought to a red colour; for then it will do more then a man dare write of it, and it may stand very well for a Panacea in all dis∣eases.

The preparation of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

COmmonly in all sat soyles or clayie grounds, especially in the white, there is found a kinde of stones, round or oval in form, and in bigness like unto a pigeons or hens-egg, and smaller also, viz. as the joynt of ones finger, on the out∣side black, and therefore not esteemed when it is found, but cast away as a contemptible stone. Which if it be cleansed from the earth, and beaten to peeces, lookes within of a fair yellow and in streaks, like a gold Marcasite, or a rich gold Oare; but there is no other taste to be perceived in it, then in another ordinary stone; and although it be made into powder, and boyled a long time in water, yet it doth not alter at all, nor is there in the water any other taste or colour, then that which is had first (when it was powred upon the stone) to be perceived. Now this stone is nothing else, but the best and purest Minera (or Oare) of Vitrioll, or a seed of Metals; for Nature hath framed it round, like unto a vegetable seed, and sowed it into the earth, out of which there can be made an excellent medicine, as followeth.

Take this Oare or Minera beaten into peeces, and for some space of time, lay or expose it to the coole aire, and within twenty or thirty dayes it will magnetically attract a certain saltish moysture out of the aire, and grow heavy by it, and at last it falleth asunder to a black powder, which must remaine further lying there still, untill it grow whitish, and that it do taste sweet upon the tongue like vitriol. Afterward put it in a glass-vessel, and poure on so much faire ••aine water,

as that it cover it one or two inches; stirr it about several times in a day, and after a few dayes the water will be colour∣ed green, which you must powre off, and powre on more faire water, and proceed as before, stirring it often untill that also come to be green: this must be repeated so often, until no wa∣ter more will be coloured by standing upon. Then let all the green waters which you poured off, run through filtring paper, for to purifie them; and then in a glass-body cut off short let them evaporate till a skin appear at the top: then set it in a cold place, and there will shoote little green stones, which are nothing else but a pure vitriol: the remaining green water evaporate again, and let it shoote as before: and this evapo∣rating and Crystallising must be continued untill no vitriol more will shoote, but in warm aud cold places there remaine still a deep green pleasant sweet liquor or juyce: which is the true sweet and green oyle of Vitriol and hath all the vertues above related.

But now this green oyle further without fire may at last (after the preparing of many fair colours between) be redu∣ced to a blood red, sweet and pleasant oyle, which goeth far beyond the green both in pleasantness and vertue, and is in comparison to it like a ripe grape to an unripe: Hereof happi∣ly shall be spoken at another time, because occasion and time will not permit me now to proceed further in it. And there∣fore the Philo-Chymical Reader is desired for the present to be contented with the green oyle, to prepare it carefully, and to use it with discretion; and doubtless he will get more credit by it, and do more wonderfull things then hitherto hath been done by the heavy corrosive oyle.

The use and Dose of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

OF this green oyle, there may be taken from 1. 2. 4. 8. to 10. or 12. drops at once, according to the condition of the patient and the disease, in fit Vehicles, in Wine or Beer, in the morning fasting, as other medicines are usually taken: Also the Dose may be increased or lessened, and as often reiterated as the disease shall require it.

This Oyle expelleth all ill humors, not only by stoole and vomits, but also by urine and sweating, according as it doth meet with superfluities; and this very safely, and without any danger at all; whereby many diseases radically or per∣fectly can be cured.

Let no man wonder that I ascribe such great vertues unto this oyle, it coming from such a despicable stone, and its pre∣para••ion requiring no great Art or paynes, as those intricate deceitful processes do, that are every where extant in books quite filled up with them. And it is no marvel, that men are in love with such false and costly processes; for the most of them do not believe, that any good is to be found in things that are not in esteeme; but onely make great account of deer things, far fetcht, and requiring much time and paines for to be prepared.

Such men do not beleeve the word of God, testifying, That God is no respecter of persons, but that all men that fear and love him, are accepted of him. If this be true (which no good Christian will doubt) then we must beleeve also, that God created Physick or the matter of Physick as well for the poor as for the rich. Now if it be also for the poor, then certainly such will be the condition thereof, that it may be obtained by them, and easily prepared for use. So we see that Almighty God causeth not one••y in great mens grounds to come forth good vegetables, Animals and Minerals, for the curing of the infirmities of mankinde, but that the same also are found every where else. Whereby we perceive, that it is also the will of God, that they shall be known by all men,

and that he alone, as the Maker of all good, may be praised and magnified by all men for the same.

I doubt not but that there will be found self-conceited scoffers, that will despise this so little regarded subject, as if no good thing could be made of it, because they could finde nothing in it themselves. But be it known to them, that nei∣ther to me nor them all things have been discovered, but that yet many wonderful works of Nature are hidden to us: and besides that I am not the first that writ of Vitriol and its me∣dicine. For the Ancients our dear Ancestors had alwayes Vi∣triol in very great esteem, as the following Verse doth prove:

Visitabis Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam.

Whereby they would give us to understand, that a true medi∣cine is to be found in it. And the same also was known to the latter Philosophers: for Basilius and Paracelsus have al∣wayes highly commended it, as in their writings is to be found.

It is to be admired, that this Oare or Metallical seed, which may justly be called the gold of the Physitians (in regard that so good a medicine can be made of it) is not changed or alter∣ed in the earth, like other things that grow in it, but keepeth alwayes the same form and shape, untill it cometh to the aire, which is its earth or ground, wherein it putrefieth & groweth. For first it swelleth and groweth like as a vegetable seed doth in the earth: and so taketh its increase & grows out of theaire, just as a seed of an hearb in the earth; and the earth is no•• only its Matrix, wherein it groweth and doth increase like a vegetable, but it is also its Sun which maketh it ripe. For within four weeks at the furthest it putrefieth and groweth black: and about a fourtnight after it groweth white, and then green; and thus far it hath been described here: But if you proceed further Philosopher-like therewith, there will come forth to light at the last the fairest red, and most plea∣sant

Medicine, for which God be praised for ever and ever, Amen.

Of the sulphureous volatile and Acide spirit of common Salt, and of Allome.

THE same way, which above hath been taught for the making of the volatile spirit of vitriol, must be likewise used in the making of the volatile spirits of common salt and allome.

The manner of preparing.

ALlome is to be cast in as it is of it self, without mix∣ing of it, but the salt must be mixed with bolus or some other earth, to keep it from melting: with the spirit volatile, there goeth also along an acid spirit, whose vertue is described in the 1. part. The Oyle of allome hath almost the like ope∣ration with the oyle of vitriol. Also the spirit volatile of both these, is of the same nature and condition with that which is made of vitriol: and the common salt, and allome do not yeeld as much, as the vitriol; unless both, viz. salt and allome be mixed together, and so a spirit distilled of them.

Of the sulphureous volatile spirit of Minerals and Metals, and of their preparation.

SUch a penetrative sulphureous spirit can be made also of Minerals and Metals, which in vertue goeth beyond the spirit of vitriol, that of common salt, and that of allome, viz. after the following manner.

The preparation of the volatile spirits of Metals.

DIssolve either Iron or Copper, or Lead or Tin with the acid spirit of vitriol or of common salt: ab∣stract or draw off the phlegme; then dri••e the acid spirit a∣gaine from the Metal, and he will carry along a volatile spi∣rit, which by rectifying must be separated from the corrofive spirit. And such Metallical spirits are more effectual then those that are made of the salts.

The preparation of the volatile spirit of Minerals.

TAke of Antimony made into fine powder, or of gold-Marcasite, or of some other sulphureous Mineral, which you please, two parts, Mixe therewith 1. part of good puri∣fied Salt nitre, and cast in of that mixture one little quanti∣ty, and then an other, and so forth after the manner above described; and there will come over a spirit which is not in∣ferior to the former in efficacy and vertue; but it must also be well rectified.

Another way.

CEment what laminated or granulated Metal you please (except gold) with half as much in weight of common Sulphur, closed up in a strong melting pot or crucible, such as doth not let the Sulphurgo through, for the space of half an houre, untill that the Sulphur hath penetrated and broken the plates of Metals: Then beat them into powder, mixe them with the like quantity in weight of common salt, and so distill it after the way above mentioned, and you will get a volatile spirit of great vertue: and every such spirit is to be used for such special part or member of the body, as the Me∣tal is proper for it, out of which the spirit is made. So Silver for the braine; Tinne for the lungs, Lead for the spleen, and so forth.

The spirit of Zinck.

OF Zinck there is distilled both a volatile and also an acid spirit, good for the heart; whether it be made by the help of the spirit of Vitrioll, or of salt, or of Allome: or else by the means of Sulphur; for Zinck is of the nature of gold.

The volatile spirit of the Drosse of the Regulus Iron.

THe black scoria of the Regulus Martis, being first faln a∣sunder in the aire, yeilds likewise a very strong sulphu∣reous volatile spirit, not much unlike in vertue unto the former.

The like Sulphureous volatile spirits can be made also of o∣ther minerals, which for brevities sake we do omit, as also in regard, that they are almost the same in vertue.

How to make a white acid, and a red volatile spirit out of salt nitre.

TAke two parts of Allome, and one part of salt nitre, make them both into powder, mix them well together, and cast into the still a little and a little thereof, as above in the ma∣king of other spirits hath been taught, and there cometh ove•• an acid spirit together with the volatile spirit; and so many pounds as there is of the materials, which are to be cast in, so many pounds of water must be put into the receiver, to the end that the volatile spirits may so much the better be caught and saved. And when the distillation is performed, the two spirits may be separated by the means of a gentle rectification made in Balneo; and you must take good heed, that you get the volatile spirit pure by changing the receiver in a good time, so that no flegme be mixed with the red spirit, whereby it will be weakened and turn white. The marke whereby you▪ may perceive, whither the spirit or the flegme doth go forth is this: when the volatile spirit goeth, then

the receiver looketh of a deep red: and afterward when the flegme doth come, the receiver looks white again: and lastly, when the heavy acide spirit goeth, then the receiver to be red again, but not so as it is was, when the first volatile spirit came over.

This spirit can also be made and distilled after another way, viz. mixing the salt nitre with twice as much bole or brick dust, and so framed into little bals to prevent melting: but no way is so good as the first; especially when you will have the red volatile spirit.

Of the use of the red volatile spirit.

THis volatile spirit, which (being quite freed from flegm) remaineth alwayes red, and doth looke like blood, in all occasions may be accounted like in vertue unto the former fulphureous spirits, especially in extinguishing of inflammati∣ons & gangrenes it is a great treasure, the clothes being dipt in it, & laid upon the grieved place; Also it goeth almost beyond all other medicines in the Erysipelas and colick: and if there be any congealed blood in the body (which came by a fall or blow) this spirit outwardly applyed with such waters as are proper for the grief, & also taken inwardly, doth dissolve and expell it: and being mingled with the volatile spirit of urine it doth yeild a wonderful kinde of salt, as hereafter shall be taught.

The use of the white acid spirit of salt nitre.

THe heavy and corrosive spirits of salt nitre is not much used in Physick, though it be found almost in all Apo∣thecaries shops, and there is kept for such use, as above hath been mentioned of the spirit of vitriol, viz. to make their conserves and cooling-drinks tast sowrish. Also it is used by some in the colick, but it is too great a corrosive, and too gross to be used for that purpose; and although its corrosive∣ness may be mitigated in some measure, by adding of water thereto, yet in goodness and vertue it is not comparable at a•••• to the volatile spirit, but is as far different from it, as black

from white, and therefore the other is fittest to be used in Physick; but this in dealing with metals and minerals, for to reduce them into vitriols, calxes, flores, and crocus.

Aqua Regis.

IF you dissolve common salt (which hath been decrepitated first) in this acid spirit of salt nitre, and rectifie it through a glass retort (lying in sand) by a good strong fire, it will be so strong, that it is able to dissolve gold, and all other metals and minetals, except silver and sulphur; and several metals may by the means thereof be separated much better then by that Aqua regia which hath been made by adding of Salt Ar∣moniack. But if you rectifie it with lapis calaminaris or Zinck, it will be stronger yet, so as able to dissolve all metals and Mi∣nerals (silver and sulphur excepted) whereby in the handling of Metals, much more may be effected, then with common spirit of salt nitre or sulphur, as now hereafter shall be taught and first in the preparing of gold.

The preparation of Aurum fulminans or Aurum Tonitruans.

TAke of fine granulated or laminated gold (whither it he refined by Antimony or Aqua fortis) as much as you please: put it in a little glass body, and powre four or five times as much of Aqua regis upon it, set it stopt with a paper in a gourd in warme sand; and the Aqua regis within the space of one or two hours will dissolve the gold quite into a yellow water: but if it have not done so; it is a signe, that either the water was not strong enough, or that there was too little of it for to dissolve it. Then powre the solution from the gold, which is not dissolved yet into another glass; and poure more of fresh Aqua Regia upon the gold: set it again to dissolve in warme sand or ashes, and the remaining gold will likewise be dissolved by it, and then there will remaine no more, but a lit∣tle white calx, which is nothing else but silver, which could

not be dissolved by the Aqua Regia (for the Aqua Regia whi∣ther it be made after the common way with salt Armoniack, or else with common salt, doth not dissolve silver) so in like manner common Aqua fortis, or spirit of salt nitre dissolveth no gold; but all other metals are dissolved as well by strong Aqua fortis as by Aqua Regia. And therefore you must be care∣ful to take such gold as is not mixed with Copper, else your work would be spoiled: for if there were any Copper mixed with it, then that likewise would be dissolved and precipita∣ted together with the gold; and it would be a hindrance to the kindling or fulminating thereof: but if you can get no gold; that is without Copper, then take Ducats or Rose∣nobles, which ought to have no addition of Copper, but onely of a little silver, which doth not hurt, because that it cannot be dissolved by the Aqua Regia, but remaineth in the bottome in a white powder. Make those Ducats or Rose nobles red hot, and afterward bend them, and make them up in roles, and throw them into the Aqua Regia for to dissolve. All the gold being turned into yellow water, and poured off, poure into it by drops a pure oyle made of the Salt of Tartar per deli∣quium, and the gold will be precipitatcd by the contrary li∣quor of the Salt of Tartar into a brown yellow powder, and the solution will be clear. But you must take heed, to pour no more oyle of Tartar into it then is needful for the precipi∣tation of the gold; else part of the precipitated gold would be dissolved again, and so cause your loss. The gold being well precipitated, poure off the cleer water from the gold calx by inclination and poure upon it warm raine or other sweet water, stir it together with a clean stick of wood, and set it in a warm place, until the gold is settled, so that the water standeth cleer upon it again; then poure it off, and poure on other fresh water, and let it extract the saltness out of the gold calx: and this pouring off, and then pouring on of fresh wa∣ter againe, must be reiterated so often, untill no sharpness or saltness more be perceived in the water that hath been poured off: Then set the edulcorated gold into the Sun or another

warm place for to dry. But you must take heed that it have no greater heat then the heat of the Sun is in May or Iune, else it would kindle or take fire, and (especially if there be much of it) give such a thunder clap, that the hearing of those that stand by, would be much endangered thereby, and therefore I advise you to beware and cautious in the handling of it, lest you run the hazard both of your gold and of your health by your oversight.

There is also another way for to edulcorate your precipita∣ted gold, viz. thus, take it together with the salted liquor, and poure it into a funnel lined with brown paper laid double, and so let the water run through into a glass vessel, whereupon the funnel doth rest, and poure on other warm water, and let it run through likewise; do this again, & again untill that the water come from it as sweet as it was poured on. Then take the paper with the edulcorated gold calx, out of the funnel, lay it together with the paperupon other brown paper lying se∣verally double together, and the dry paper will attract all the moystness out of the gold calx, so that the gold can be dryed the sooner. Which being dry, take it out of the filtring pa∣per, and put it into another that is clean, and so lay it aside, and keep it for use. The salted water that came through by filtring, may be evaporated in a little glass body (standing in sand) until to the dryness of salt (ad siccitatem salis) which is to be kept from the aire: for it is likewise useful in physick; be∣cause some vertue of the nature of gold is yet hidden in it: though one should not think it, in regard that it is so faire, bright and cleer; which for all that may be observed by this, that when you melt it in a clean covered crucible or pot, and poure it afterward in a clean Copper morter or bason (being first made warm) you get a purple coloured salt, whereos▪ 6. 9. 12. to 24. grains given in, doth cleanse and purge the stomach and bowels, and especially it is useful in feavers and other diseases of the stomach. But in the crucible, out of which the salt hath been poured, you will finde an earthy substance, which hath separated it self from the salt, and looketh yel∣lowish; this being taken out and melted in a little crucible

by a strong fire, turneth to a yellow glass, which is im∣pregnated with the Tincture of Gold, and doth yeeld a corn (or grain) of silver in every regard like unto common cupel∣lated silver, wherein no gold is found, which is to be ad∣mired: because that all Chymists are of opinion, that no Aqua regia can dissolve silver, which is true▪ The question therefore is from whence or how this silver came into the salt since no Aqua Regia doth dissolve silver? whereupon some perchance may answer, that it must have been in the oyle of Tartar, in regard that many do believe, that the salts like∣wise may be turned into metals, which I do not gainsay▪ but only deny that it could have been done here; for if that silver had been existent in the Aqua Regia or salt of Tartar (whereas Aqua Regia cannot bear any) it would have been preci∣pitated together with the gold. But that it was no common silver, but gold which turned to silver after it was deprived ofits Tincture, I shall briefly endeavor to prove. For that salt-waters (of Aqua Regia and salt of Tartar) out of which the gold hath been precipitated, is of that nature, before it be coagulated to salt, though it be quite clear and white, that if you put a feather in it, it will be dyed purple within few dayes, which purple colour comes from the gold, and not from silver; in regard that silver doth dye red or black: and hence it appeareth, that the salt water hath retained some∣thing of gold.

Now some body peradventure may ask: if that the said salt water hath retained some gold, how is it then, that in the melting no gold comes forth, but only silver? To which I answer that some salts are of that nature, that in the melting they take from the gold its colour and soule; whereof if the gold be truly deprived, it is then no more gold nor can be such; neither is it silver, but remaineth onely a volatile black body, good for nothing, which also proveth much more unfixt then common lead, not able to endure any force of fire, much less the cupel: But like Mercury or Ar••enicum va∣nisheth (or flyeth away) by a small heat. Hence it may be gathered, that the fixedness (or fixity) of gold doth consist

in its soul or Tincture, and not in its body, and therefore it is credible, that gold may be anatomized, its best or purer part separated from the grosser (or courser) and so that a Tingent medicine (or Tincture) may be made of it. But whether this be the right way, whereby the universal medicine of the ancient Philosophers (by whose means all metals can be changed or transmuted into gold) is to beattained unto, I will not dispute; yet I believe that peradventure there may be another subject, endued with a far higher Tincture then gold is, which obtained no more from nature, then it doth need it self for its own fixedness. However, we may safely be∣leeve, that a true Anima or Tincture of gold, if it be well se∣parated from its impure black body, may be exalted and im∣proved in colour; so that afterwards of an imperfect body a greater quantity, then that was from which it was abstracted, may be improved and brought to the perfection of gold. But waving all this, it is true and certain, that if the gold be de∣prived of its Tincture, the remaining body can no more be gold; as is demonstrated more at large in my treatise (de Auro potabili vero) of the true potable Gold: And this I mentioned here onely therefore, that in case the lover of this Art, in his work should meet perchance with such a white corne, he may know, from whence it doth proceed.

I could have forborne to set down the preparation of the sulminating gold, and so save paper and time, in regard that it is described by others: but because I promised in the first part to teach how to make the flores of gold, and that those are to be made out of fulminating (or thundring) gold, I thought, it not amiss to describe its preparation, that the lover of this Art need not first have his recourse to another book for to finde out the preparation, but by this my book may be furnished with a perfect instruction for the making of the flores of gold, and this is the common way for to make Aurum fulminans, known unto most Chymists; but in regard that easily an error may be committed in it, either by pour∣ing on too much of the liquor of Tartar (especially when it is not pure enough, so that not all the gold doth precipitate,

but part of it remaineth in the solution, whereby you would have loss; or else, the gold falling or precipitating into a heavy calx, which doth not fulminate well, and is unfit for to be sublimed into flores.

Therefore I will here set down another and much better way, whereby the gold can be precipitated quite and clean out of the Aqua Regia without the least loss, and so that it cometh to be very light and yellow, and doth fulminate twice as strong as the former, and there is no other difference between this and the former preparation, but only that in steed of the oyle of Tartar, you take the spirit of urine or of Salt Armoniack for to precipitate the dissolved gold thereby; and the gold (as before said) will be precipitated much purer, then it is done by the liquor of the salt of Tartar, and being precipitated, it is to be edulcorated and dryed, as above in the first preparation hath been taught.

The use of Aurum fulminans.

THere is little to write of the use of Aurum fulminans in physick; for because it is not unlockt, but is onely a gross calx and not acceptable to the nature of man, it can do no miracle. And although it be used to be given per se from 6. 8▪ 12. grains to ℈ i. for to provoke sweating in the plague, and other malignant feavers, yet it would never succeed so well as was expected. Some have mixed it with the like weight of common sulphur, and made it red hot (or calcined it) whereby they deprived it of its fulminating vertue, sup∣posing thus to get a better medicine, but all in vaine, for the gold calx would not be amended by such a gross preparation. But how to prepare a good medicine out of Aurum fulminans, so that it may be evidently seen, that the gold is no dead bo∣dy nor unfit for physick, but that it may be made quick and fit for to put forth or shew forth those vertues which it pleased God to treasure up in it, I shall briefly discover it here.

First get such an instrument (as above hath been taught) made for you out of Copper, but not too big, nor with a lid at the top, but only with a pipe, unto which a receiver may be applyed, which must not be luted to it, but it sufficeth, that the pipe enter far into the belly of the receiver; and at the lower part it must have a flat bottome, that it may be able to stand: over the bottome there must be a little hole with a lit∣tle door, that closeth very exactly: and there must be also two little plates or scales of silver or copper, as big as the naile of ones finger, whereupon the Aurum fulminans is to be set in∣to the the Instrument; which is to stand upon a Trevet, under which you are to lay some burning coals for to warm or heat the bottom withal. The Instrument together with the glass re∣ceiver being so ordered, that it stands fast, and also the bottom thereof being warmed or heated, then with little pinsers one of the little scales, containing 2. 3. or 4. grains of Aurum fulminans must be conveighed into the Instrument & set upon the warm bottom, and then shut the little door, and when the gold doth feel the heat, it kindleth and giveth a clap, and there is caused a separation and especial unlocking of the gold; for as soon as the clap is done, the gold doth go through the pipe like a purple coloured smoak into the receiver, and sticks on every where like a purple coloured powder. When the smoak is vanished, which is soon done, then take the empty scale out of the Instrument or Oven, and set in the other with the gold which will likewise fulminate and yeild its flores, Then the first being cooled in the mean time, is to be filled again and put in, in stead of that which is empty, and so forth▪ putting in one scale after another by turns, continue it so long till you have got flores enough: After the sublimation is perform∣ed, let the Copper vessel grow coole, and then sweep or brush the gold▪powder which is not sublimed with a haires foot or a goose feather out of the vessel, which powder serveth for no∣thing, but to be melted with a little borras, and it wil be good gold again, but onely somwhat paler then it was before it was made into fulminating gold. But the flores in the receiver cannot be brushed out thus, especially when they are cast

in with an addition of salt Nitre, as by the flores of silver hereafter shall be taught, because they are something moist, and therefore poure in as much of dephlegmed Tartarised spirit of wine unto it, as you think it to be enough, for to wash off the flores with. This done, pour out the spirit of wine, together with the burnt Phoenix into a clean glass, with a long neck, set it (being well luted first) into a gentle Balneum, or into warm ashes for some dayes, and the spirit of wine in the mean time will be coloured with a faire red, which you must poure off and then poure on other fresh spirit & set it in a warm place for to be dissolved, this being likewise coloured, put both the extracts together in a little glass body, and abstract the spirit of wine (in Balneo) from the Tincture, which will be little in quantity, but of a high red colour and pleasant in taste. The remaining flores from which the Tin∣cture is extracted, may be with water washed out of the glass, and then dryed if they are to be melted; and they will yeild a little pale gold, and the most part turneth into a brown glass, out of which perchance something else that is good may be made, but unknown to mee as yet.

N. B. If you mixe the Aurum fulminans with some salt nitre▪ before fulmination, then the flores will be the more soluble, so that they yeeld their Tincture sooner and more freely, then alone of themselves; and if you please, you may adde there∣to thrice as much salt nitre, and so sublime them in flores, in the same manner, as shall be taught for the making of the flores of silver.

The use of the Tincture of Gold.

THe extracted Tincture is one of the chiefest of those me∣dicines, which comfort and cheer up the heart of man, renew and restore to youthfulness, and cleanse the impure blood in the whole body, whereby many horrible diseases, as the leprosie, the pox, and the like may be rooted out.

But whether this Tincture by the help of fire may be further advanced into a fixed substance I do not know: for I have not proceeded further in i••, then here is mentioned.

Of the flores of silver and of its medicine.

HAving promised in the first part of this book (when I was describing the preparation of flores out of Metals) to teach in the second part to make the flores of gold and sil∣ver, those of gold being dispatcht; there followeth now in order after the gold, to speak also of silver and of its preparati∣on, which is to be thus performed.

Take of thin laminated or smal granulated fine silver as much as you please, put it into a little separating glass body, and poure upon it twice as much in weight of rectified spirit of salt nitre, and the spirit of salt nitre will presently begin to work upon the silver and to dissolve it. But when it will not dissolve any more in the cold, then you must put the glass body into warm sand or ashes, and the water wil present∣ly begin to work again; let the glass stand in the warm ashes, untill all the silver be dissolved. Then put the solution out of the little glass body, into another such as is cut off at the top, and put on a little head or Limbeck, and in sand ab∣stract the moity of the spirit of salt nitre from the dissolved silver; then let the glass body remaine in the sand till it be coole; after take it out, and let it rest for a day and a night, and the silver will turn into white foliated crystals, from which you must poure off the remaining solution which is not turned; and from thence abstract again the moity of the spirit, and let it shoote or turn in a cold place; and this ab∣stracting and crystallising you are to reiterate, until almost all the silver is turned to Crystals; which you must take out and lay them upon filtring paper for to dry, and so keep it for such further use, as hereafter shall be taught. The re∣maining solution, which is not crystallised, you may in a cop∣per vessel by adding of sweet water thereto, precipitate over

the fire into a calx, and then edulcorate and dry it, and keep it for other use, or else melt it again into a body. Or else you may precipitate the same with salt water, and so edulcorate and dry it; and you will have a calx, which doth melt by a gentle fire, and is of a special nature, in the spirit of urine, of salt Armoniack, of Hartshorn, of Amber, of soot, and of haire it doth easily dissolve; and it may be prepared or turned into good medicines, as shortly in our treating of the spirit of urine shall be taught. Or else, you may choose not to pre∣cipitate the remaining solution of silver, but with the spirit of urine to extract an excellent Tincture, as hereafter shall be taught.

Of the use of the crystals of silver.

THese crystals may safely be used in Physick alone by them∣selves 3. 6. 9. 12. grains thereof being mixed with a little sugar, or else made up into pils; they do purge very gently and without danger; but by reason of their bitterness they are somewhat untoothsome to take; also, if they be not made up into pils, they colour the lips, tongue and mouth quite black (but the reason of that blackness belongeth not to this place to treat of, but shall by and by follow hereafter) Also if they touch metals, as Silver, Copper and Tin, they make them black and ugly, and therefore they are not much used. But if you put into the solution of silver (before it be reduced into Crystals) halfe as much quick∣silver as there was of the silver, and so dissolve them together and afterwards let them shoote together, there will come forth very faire little square stones like unto Allome, which do not melt in the aire, as the former foliated ones use to do; nei∣ther are so bitter, and they purge also quicker and better, then those tbat are made onely of silver.

How to subline the Crystals of silver into flores, and then to make a good Medicine of the flores.

TAke of the foliated Crystals of Silver as many as you please, and upon a grinding stone made warm first, grinde as much purified and wel dryed salt nitre amongst it, and lay it into your Iron distilling vessel (to the pipe whereof there is to be applyed and luted a great receiver) coles made into powder two inches high, and make a fire under it, that the vessel every where together with the coles that are in it, be∣come red hot. Then take off the lid, and with a ladle throw in at once of your Crystals of silver ʒ i. yea more or less, ac∣cording as you think that your receiver in regard of its bigness is able to bear. This done, presently put on the lid, and the salt nitre together with the crystals of silver will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottome of the vessel, and there will come forth a white silver fume through the pipe into the receiver, and after a while when the cloud is vanished in the receiver, cast in more, and continue this so long, until all your prepared silver is cast in; then let it coole, amd take off the receiver, and poure into it good Alcolized spirit of wine, and wash the flores with it out of the receiver, and proceed further with them, as above you have been taught to proceed with the gold, and you will get a greenish liquor, which is very good for the braine.

Take the coles out of the distilling vessel, and make them into fine powder, and wash them out with water, to the end that the light cole-dust may be got from it, and you will finde much silver dust (or a great many little silver graines) which the salt nitre could not force over, which you may re∣duce, for it will be good silver.

There can also be made a very good medicine out of the crystals of silver, which will be little inferior to the former, whereby the diseases and infirmities of the braine may be very well remedied, which is done thus:

How to make a green oyle out of silver.

POure upon Crystals of silver twice or thrice as much (in weight) of the strongest spirit of salt Armoniack, put it in a glass with a long neck well closed, into a very gentle warmth for the space of 8. or 14, dayes in digestion, and the spirit of salt Armoniack will be tinged with a very faire blew colour from the silver, then pour it off, and filtre it through brown paper, and then put it in a little glass retort or glass body, and abstract in Balneo by a gentle fire, almost all the spirit of salt Armoniack (which is still good for use) and there will remaine in the bottom a grass green liquor, which is to be kept for a medicine.

But in case, that you should miss, and abstract too much of the spirit from the Tincture of silver, so that the Tincture be quite dry, and turned to a green salt, then you must poure upon it again as much of the spirit of salt Armoniack, as will dissolve the green salt again to a green liquor, but if you desire to have the Tincture purer yet, then abstract all moystness from it, to a stony dryness: upon which you must poure good spirit of wine, which will quickly dissolve the stone, and then filtre it, and there will remaine faeces, and the Tincture will be fairer: from which you must abstract most of the spirit of wine, and the Tincture will be so much the higher in vertue. But if you please, you may distill that green salt or stone (before it be extracted once again with spi∣rit of wine) in a little glass-retort, and you will get a sub∣tile spirit and a sharp oyle, and in the bottome of the retort there remaineth a very fusile silver which could not come over.

It is to be admired, that when you pour spirit of salt Ar∣moniack or spirit of wine upon that stone for to dissolve it, that the glass comes to be so cold by it, that you harldyare able to endure it in your hand, which coldness in my opinion cometh from the silver (being so well unlockt) which natu∣rally is cold.

The use of the green liquor in Alchymy, and for Mechanical ope∣rations.

THis green liquor serveth not only for a medicine, but also for other Chymical operations (for both Copper and glass may be easily and very fairly silvered over therewith) very useful for those that are curious and love to make a shew with fair houshold-stuff; for if you get dishes, trencher plates, salters, cups and other vessels made of glass, after the same fashion as those of silver use to be made, you may very easily and without any considerable charge silver them over there∣with within and without, so that by the eye they cannot be discerned from true silver plate.

Besides the above related good medicines, there may be made an other and especial good one out of the crystals of sil∣ver, viz. dissolving and digesting them (for a space of time) with the universal water, which hath been distilled by na∣ture it self; and is known to every body: and after its di∣gesting for a short time, and change into several colours, there will be found a pleasant essence, which is not so bitter as the above described green liquor, which is not brought yet by heat to ripenesse and matu∣ration.

N. B. In this sweet universal Menstruum, there can also all other metals by a small heat and the digestion of a long time be ripened and fitted for medicines (having first been re∣duced into their vitriols and salts) and then they are no more dead bodies, but by this preparation have recovered a new life, and are no more the metals of the covetous, but may be called, the metals of the Philosophers and of the Physi∣tians.

Besides Physick or physical use.

LAstly there may be many pretty things more effected (be∣sides the medicinal use) by means of the Crystals of sil∣ver, viz. when you dissolve them in ordinary sweet raine wa∣ter, you can dye beards, haire, skin, and nailes of men or beasts into carnation or pinck red, brown & black according as you have put more or less thereof in the water; or else, ac∣cording as the haire was more or less times wetted therewith, whereby the aspect of man and beast (which sometimes in se∣veral occasions may not be contemned) is changed, so that they cannot be known.

This colouring or dye may be also performed with Lead or Mercury no less then with silver, but otherwise prepared, whereof in the fourth part.

Now I have taught how to make flores and tinctures of gold and silver by the help of the acid spirit of Nitre. There may be many other medicines taught to be made out of them, but in regard that they belong not to this place, they shall be reserved for other places of this second, and also for the other following parts.

As by the help of the spirit of Nitre good medicines can be made out of gold and silver; so the like may be done out of o∣ther inferiour metals. But in regard that their description is fitter for other places of this book, I do omit them here. Yet nevertheless I thought good, to describe one preparation of e∣very metal, and after the silver there followeth now the copper.

A medicine out of copper externally to be used.

DIssolve burnt plates of copper in spirit of salt, and ab∣stract the spirit again from thence to a dryness, but not too hard, and there will a green mass remaine behinde, which you may cast in by little and little, and so distil it, as of sil∣ver hath been taught. It doth yeild a strong and powerful

spirit and flores also for outward use in putrid wounds to lay a good ground thereby for the healing.

A medicine out of iron or steel.

IN the same manner you may proceed with iron and steel▪ and there will remaine behinde a good crocus of a great stipticity or astringency, especially out of iron or steele, and may with good success be mixed with oyntments and plasters.

Of Tin and Lead.

IF Tin or Lead be dissolved therein, after the abstracting of part of the spirit, they will shoote into cleer and sweet crystals. But Tin is not so easily dissolved as lead; both may safely be used for medicines. Also there may be spirits and flores got out of them by distilling. The rehearsing of the preparation is needless, for what for the preparing of silver hath been taught, is to be understood also of other metals.

The use of the crystals of Lead and Tin.

THe crystals of lead are admirably good to be used in the plague for to provoke sweating and expel the venome out of the body; they may also with credit be used in the bloody flux. Externally dissolved in water, and clothes dipt therein and applyed they excellently coole and quench all in∣flamations, in what part of the body so ever they do befall. Likewise the spirit thereof used per se (and the flores mixed a∣mong oyntments) do their part sufficiently.

But the crystals of Tin do not prove altogether so quick in operation, though they do act their part also, & they are more pleasant then those that are made of Lead; for in Tin there is

found a pure sulphur of gold; but in Lead a white sulphur of silver, as is proved in my Treatise of the Generation and na∣ture of metals.

Of Mercury.

VVHen you dissolve common Mercury in rectified spi∣rit of Nitre, and abstract the spirit from it again, then there will remaine behinde a faire red glistering precipi∣tate; but when the spirit is not rectified, it will not be so faire, because that the impurity of the spirit remains with the Mercury and pollutes it. This calcinated Mercury is called by some Mercurius praecipitatus, and by others Turbith minerale, wherewith the Surgeons and somtimes one or other unskilful Physitians do cure the pox; they do give at once 6. 8. 10. graines (more or less) according to its preparation and force in operation to the patient; for if the spirit be not too much ab∣stracted from it, it worketh much stronger, then when by a strong fire it is quite separated from it; for the spirits that re∣maine with the Mercury make it quick and active which else without the spirits would not be such.

The other metals also, if they be not first made soluble by salts or spirits, can perform either none or but very smal ope∣ration, unless it be Zinck or Iron, which being easily soluble are able to work without any foregoing dissolution, as hath been shewn above, when we treated of the oyle of vitriol. But that the sharp spirits are the cause of that operation, may hence be perceived and made manifest; that although you take ℥ss. of quick-silver and pour it down into the stomach, yet it would run out again beneath, as above it was poured in. But if it be prepared with the spirits or salts, then but few graines of it will work strongly, and the more it is made soluble, the stronger it worketh, as you may see when it is sublimed from salt and vitriol, that it groweth so strong thereby that one graine doth work more then eight or ten grains of Turbith Mineral, and three or four grains thereof would kill a man by reason of its mighty strength. Also it

worketh extreamly and much more then the sublimate, when it is dissolved in spirit of Nitre and crystallised, so that you cannot well take it upon your tongue without danger. Which some perceiving, evaporate the Aqua fortis by a gentle heat from it, so that the Mercurius remained yellow, which in a smaler dose wrought more then the red, from which the spirits were quite evaporated. And they used it not only external∣ly strewing it into impure sores, for to corrode or fret away the proud flesh, not without great paine to the patient: but also without distinction of young or old gave it inwardly for to purge; which is one of the most hurtful purges that can be used. For this evil guest, however he be prepared, cannot leave his tricks, unless it be reduced into such a substance, as that it never can be brought back to a running Mercury, for then much good can be done therewith in physick without any hurt or prejudice to the health of man, whereof perchance something more shall be said in another place.

I cannot omit for the benefit of young innocent children, to discover a great abuse. For it is grown very common almost among all that deale in physick, that as soon as a little childe is not well before they know whether it will be troubled with wormes or with any thing else, they presently fall upon Mer∣cury, supposing that in regard it hath no taste, it be so much the better for to get the children to take it for to kill the wormes.

But those men do not know the hurtful nature of it, which it doth shew against the sinews and nerves: For some are of opinion, that if they know to prepare Mercury so, that it can be given in a greater dose (as is to be seen in sublimed Mercurius dulcis) that then it is excellently prepared: but they are in a great error, and it were much better, it were not so well prepared, that the less hurt might be done to man, in regard that then they durst not give it in so great a dose. For if that which is prepared with Aqua fortis or spirit of salt nitre be used in the pox to men that are advanced in years, it can∣not do so much hurt, because it is given in a small dose, and doth work with them, whereby nature gets help for to over∣come

and expel that hurtful venome, and its malignity is a∣bated by the strong salivation, which the provident nature hath planted in it, so that not so much mischief can come by it, as by Mercurius dulcis, whereof is given to little weak children from ten to thirty graines at once, which common∣ly (unless they be of a strong nature, and do grow it out) doth cause a weakness and lameness in their limbs, so that (if they do not come to be quite lame at last) they have a long time to struggle withal, till they overcome it.

In like manner those also do err, which do shake Mercury in water or beer so long until the water come to be gray-co∣loured, and so give that water or beer to little children to drink for the wormes, pretending that they do not give the substance or body of Mercury, but onely its vertue. But this gross preparation is no better then if they had ministred the running Mercury it self. Neither have I ever seen, that the use of Mercurius dulcis or of the gray coloured water was seconded with good success in killing of the worms. But it is credible, that it may be done by yellow or red precipitate, in regard of its strong operation. But who would be such an enemy to his childe, as to plague and torture it with such a hurtfull and murthering medicine; especially there being other me∣dicines to be had, which do no harme to the children, as is to be found by iron or steel, and the sweet oyle of vitriol.

And so much of the abuse of Mercury: I hope it will be a good warning unto many, so that they will not so easily billet such a tyrannical guest in any ones house, whereby the ruine thereof of necessity must follow. And that cure deserveth no praise at all, whereby one member is cured with the hurt of two or three other members. As we see by the pox, when one infected member is cured by Mercury, and that but half and not firme at all, that all the rest of the body is endange∣red thereby for the future. And therefore it would be much better that such crude horse-physick might be severed from good medicaments, & such used instead of them, as may firme∣ly, safely, and without prejudice to other parts perform the

cure of which kinde several are taught in this book. But in case that you have patients, which have been spoyled by such an ill-prepared Mercury, then there is no better remedy to restore them, then by medicines made of metals, wherewith Mercury hath great affinity, as of gold and silver: for when they are often used, they attract the Mercury out of all the members, and carry it along with them out of the body, and so do rid the body thereof. But externally the precipitated Mercury may more safely be used, then internally, in case there be nothing else to be had, viz. to corrode or eat away the proud flesh out of the wound. But if in stead of it there should be used the corrosive oyle of Antimony, Vitriol, Allom or common salt it would be better, and the cure much the speedier, and it would be better yet, that in the beginning good medicaments were used to fresh wounds, and not by carlesness to reduce them to that ill condition, that after∣wards by paineful corrosives they must be taken away. But such a Mercury would serve best of all for souldiers, beggers and children that go to schoole, for if it be strewed upon the head of children, or into their clothes, no louse will abide there any longer. In which case Mercury must by his prepa∣ration not be made red, but onely yellow, and it must be used warily, and not be strewed on too thick, lest the flesh be corroded, which would be the occasion of great mis∣chief.

Of Aqua fortis.

OUt of Salt nitre and vitriol, taking of each a like quan∣tity, or (if the water is to be not altogether so strong) two parts of vitriol to one part of salt nitre, a water distilled is good to dissolve metals therewith, and to separate them from one another; as gold from silver and silver from gold, which in the fourth part punctually shall be taught.

The Aqua fortis serveth also for many other Chymical ope∣rations to dissolve and fit metals thereby, that they may be reduced the easier into medicaments: but because the spirit of salt nitre and the Aqua fortis are almost all one and have like operations: for if the Aqua fortis be dephlegmed and rectified, you may perform the same operations with it, which possib∣ly may be performed with the spirit of salt nitre; and on the other side the spirit of salt nitre will do all that can be done with the Aqua fortis; whereof in the fourth part shall be spoken more at large.

Now I know well that ignorant laborators (which do all their work according to custome, without diving any further into the nature of things, will count me an Heretick (because I teach, that the Aqua fortis made of vitriol and salt nitre is of the same nature and condition with the spirit of salt nitre, which is made without vitriol) saying that the Aqua fortis doth partake likewise of the spirit of vitriol, betause vitriol also is used in the preparation of it. To which I answer, that although vitriol be used in the preparation of it, yet for all that in the distilling, nothing or but very little of its spirit comes over with the spirit of salt nitre, and that by so small a heat it cannot rise so high, as the spirit of salt nitre doth: and the vitriol is added onely therefore unto the salt nitre, that he may hinde, its melting together, and so the more facilitate its go∣ing into a spirit. And for the more to be convinced of this truth, the unbelieving may adde to such spirit of salt nitre, as is made by it self, a little of oyle of vitriol likewise made by it self, and try to dissolve silver gilded with it, and he will finde that his spirit of salt nitre by the spirit of vitriol is made unfit to make a separation; for it preyeth notably upon the gold, which is not done by Aqua fortis.

Of the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre.

THere can also be made a spirit of salt nitre with sulphur, which is still in use with many, viz. that they take a strong earthen retort, which hath a pipe at the top, and fasten it into a furnace, and having put salt nitre in i••, they let it melt, and then through the pipe they throw peeces of sul∣phur of the bigness of a pea one after another, which being kindled, together with the nitre doth yield a spirit called by some spirit of salt nitre, and by others oyle of sulphur, but falsely; for it is neither of both, in regard that metals cannot be dissolved therewith as they are done with other spirit of salt nitre or sulphur; neither is there any great use for it in physick, and if it were good for any Chymical operations, by the help of my distilling instrument might easily be made and in great quantity.

N B. But if salt nitre be mixed with sulphur in due pro∣portion, and in the first furnace be cast upon quick coles, then all will be burnt, and a strong spirit cometh over, whose ver∣tue is needless here to describe; but more shall be menti∣oned of it in another place.

Of the Clissus.

AMong the Physitians of this latter age, there is mention made of another spirit, which they make of Antimony, Sulphur, and salt nitre, a like quantity taken of each, which they call Clissus, and which they have in high esteem, and not without cause, because it can do much good, if it be well prepared.

The inventor for the making thereof used a retort with a pipe, as was mentioned by the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre, through which pipe he threw in his mixture. And it is a good way if no better be known: but if the Author had known

my invention and way of distilling, I doubt not but he would have set aside his, that hath a nose or pipe retort, and made use of mine.

The materials indeed are good, but not the weight or pro∣portion; for to what purpose so great a quantity of sulphur, it being not able to burn away all with so smal a quantity of salt nitre. And if it doth not burn away, but only sublime and stop the neck of the retort, whereby the distillation is hindred, how can it then yeeld any vertue? Therefore you ought to take not so much sulphur, but only such a quantity as will serve to kindle the salt nitre, viz. to lb i. of salt nitre four drams of sulphur: but because Antimony also is one of the ingredi∣ents, which hath likewise much sulphur (for there is no Antimony so pure, but it containeth much combustible sul∣phur, as in the fourth part of this book shal be proved:) there∣fore it is needless to add so much sulphur unto Antimonie, to make it burn, because it hath enough of it self. And there∣fore I will set down my composition, which I found to be better then the first.

Take Antimony lb i. salt nitre lb ij. sulphur ℥ iij. the materials must be made into smal powder and well mixed, and at once cast in ℥ ij. thereof, and there will come over a sulphureous acid spirit of Antimony, which will mix it self with the water, which hath been put before in the receiver; which after the distillation is finished must be taken out and kept close for its use. It is a very good diaphoretick (or sweat∣provoking) medicine especially in feavers, the plague, epilep∣sie, and all other diseases, whose cure must be performed by sweating. The Caput Mortuum may be sublimed into flores in that furnace, which is described in the first part.

Of the Tartarifed spirit of nitre.

IN the very same manner there may also be distilled a good sweat-provoking spirit out of salt nitre and Tartar, a like quantity taken of each, which is very good to be used in the plague and malignant feavers.

The Caput Mortuum is a good melting powder for to reduce the calxes of metals therewith; or else you may let it dissolve in a moyst place to oyle of Tartar.

Of the Tartarised spirit of Antimony.

A Much better spirit yet may be made of Tartar, salt nitre; and Antimony, a like quantity being taken of each and made into fine powder, and mixed well together, which though it be not so pleasant to take, is therefore not to be despised. For not only in the plague and feavers, but also in all obstructions and corruptions of blood it may be used with admiration of its speedy help.

The Caput Mortuum may be taken out, and melted in a cru∣cible, and it will yeeld a Regulus, the use whereof is described in the fourth part. Out of the scoria or dross a red Ticture may be extracted with spirit of wine, which is very useful in many diseases. But before you extract with spirit of wine; you may get a red lixivium out of it with sweet water, which lixivium may be used externally for to mend the faults of the skin and to free it from scabbiness.

Upon this lixivium if you poure Vinegar or any other acid spirit, there will precipitate a red pouder, which if it be e∣dulcorated and dryed, can be used in physick. It is called by some Tartar auratum diaphoreticum: but it is no Diaphoretick, but maketh strong vomits, and so in case of necessity, when you have no better medicine at hand, it may be used for a vo∣mitory from 6. 7. 9. to 15. grains.

Also out of the scoria there can be extracted a faire Sulphur with the spirit of urine and distilled over the Limbeck, which is very good for all diseases of the lungs.

Of Stone-coles.

IF you mixe stone-coles with a like quantity of salt nitre, and distill them, you will get an admirable spirit and good to be used for external sores; for it cleanseth and draweth the wounds together exceedingly, and there will also come over a metallical vertue in the form of a red powder, which must be separated from the spirit, and kept for its use. But if you cast in stone-coles alone by themselves, and distill them, there will come over not only a sharp spirit, but also a hot and blood red oyle, which doth powerfully dry and heal all running ulcers; especially it will heal a scald-head better then any other medicine, and it doth consume also all moyst and spongious excrescencies in the skin, where ever they be: but if you sublime stone-coles in the furnace described in the first part, there comes over an acid metallical spirit, and a great deale of black light flores, which suddenly stanch bleeding, and used in plasters, are as good as other metallical flores.

Of the Sulphreous spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis.

IF you take one part of sulphur, two parts of salt nitre, and three parts of vitriol, and distill them, you will get a gra∣duating Aqua fortis, which smelleth strongly of sulphur; for the sulphur is made volatil by the salt nitre and vitriol. It is better for separating of metals, then the▪ common Aqua fortis.

If silver be put in, it groweth black, but not fixed; some of it poured into a solution of silver a great deal of black calx will precipitate, but doth not abide the tryal. You may also abstract a strong sulphureous volatile spirit from it, which hath like vertue as well internally as externally for bathes, and may be used like unto a volatile spirit of Vitriol or Allome.

Of the Nitrous spirit of Arsenick.

IF you take white Arsenick and pure salt nitre of eacha a like quantity ground into fine powder, and distill them, you will get a blew spirit, which is very strong, but no water must be put into the receiver, else it would turn white, for Arsenick, from which the blew cometh, is precipitated by the water. This spirit dissolveth aud graduateth the copper as white as silver, and maketh it malleable but not fix. The re∣maining Caput Mortuum maketh the copper white, if it be ce∣mented therewith, but very brittle and unmalleable, but how to get good silver out of Arsenick and with profit, you shall finde in the fourth part. In physick the blew spirit ser∣veth for all corroding cancrous sores, which if they be a∣noynted therewith, will be killed thereby, and made fit for healing.

To make aspirit of Sulphur, crude Tartar and Salt nitre.

IF you grinde together one part of Sulphur, two parts of Crude Tartar, and four parts of salt nitre, and distill it Philosopher-like, you will get a most admirable spirit, which can play his part both in Physick and Alchymie. I will not advise any body to distill it in a retort; for this mixture, if it groweth warm from beneath, it fulminateth like gunpowder; but if it be kindled from above, it doth not fulminate, but onely burneth away like a quick fire: metals may be melted and reduced thereby.

To make a spirit out of Salt of Tartar, Sulphur, and Salt∣nitre.

IF you take one part of salt of Tartar, and one part and half of Sulphur, with three parts of salt nitre, and grinde them together, you will have a composition, which fulmi∣nateh

like Aurum fulminans, and the same also (after the same manner as above hath been taught with the gold) can be distilled into flores and spirits, which are not without speci∣all vertue and operation. For the corruption of one thing is the generation of another.

How to make a spirit of saw dust, sulphur and salt nitre.

IF you make a mixture of one part of Saw-dust made of Ti∣lia or Linden-wood, and two parts of good sulphur, and nine parts of purified and well dryed salt nitre, and cast it in by little and little, there will come over an acid spirit, which may be used outwardly, for to cleanse wounds that are un∣clean. But if you mix with this composition minerals or me∣tals made into fine powder, and then cast it in and distill it, there will come not only a powerful metallical spirit, but also a good quantity of flores, according to the nature of the mineral, which are of no small vertue: for the minerals and metals are by this quick fire destroyed and reduced to a better condition▪ whereof many things could be written: but it is not good to reveal all things. Consider this sentence of the Philosophers. It is impossible to destroy without a flame. The combustible Sulphur of the Calx, which the digged Mine doth doe.

Also fusible minerals and metals may not only be melted, therewith, but also cupellated in a moment upon a Table in the hand or in a nut shel; whereby singular proofs of oares and metals may be made and much better, then upon a Cupel, whereof further in the fourth part of this book. Here is o∣pened unto us a gate to high things; if entrance be granted unto us, we shall need no more books to look for the Art in them.

To make metallical spirits and flores by the help of salt-nitre and linnen cloth.

IF metals be dissolved in their appropriated Menstruums, and in the solution (wherein a due proportion of salt nitre must be dissolved) fine linnen rags be dipt and dryed, you have a prepared metal, which may be kindled, and (as it was men∣tioned above concerning the saw dust) through the burning away and consuming of their superfluous sulphur, the mer∣curial substance of the metal is manifested. And after the di∣stillation is ended, you will finde a singular purified calx, which by rubbing coloureth other metals, as that of gold doth guild silver, that of silver over-silvereth copper, and copper calx maketh iron look like copper, &c. which colou∣ring though it cannot bring any great profit, yet at least for to shew the possibility, I thought it not amiss to describe it: and perchance something more may be hid in it, which is not given to every one to know.

Of Gun-powder.

OF this mischievous composition and diabolical abuse of Gunpowder much could be written: but because this present world taketh onely delight in shedding innocent blood, and cannot endure that unrighteous things should be reproved, and good things praised, therefore it is best to be silent, and to let every one answer for himself, when the time cometh that we shall give an account of our stewardship, which perhaps is not far off; & then there will be made a sepa∣ration of good and bad, by him that tryeth the heart, even as gold is refined in the fire from its dross. And then it will be seen what Christians we have been. We do all bear the name, but do not approve our selves to be such by our works: every one thinketh himself better then others, and for a words sake which one understandeth otherwise, or takes in another sense then the other (and though it be no point, wherein salvation

doth depend) one curseth and condemneth another and per∣secuteth one another unto death which Christ never taught us to do, but rather did earnestly command us that we should love one another, reward evil with good, and not good with evil, as now a dayes every where they use to do, every one standeth upon his reputation, but the honor of God and his command are in no repute, but are trampled under foot, and Lucifers pride, vaine ambition, and Pharisaicall hypocri∣sie or shew of holiness, hath so far got the upper-hand with the learned, that none will leave his contumacy or stub∣bornness, or recede a little from his opinion although the whole world should be turned upside down thereby. Are not these fine Christians? By their fruit you shall know them, and not by their words. Woolves are now clothed with sheeps skins, so that none of them almost are to be found, and yet the deeds and works of Woolves are every where extant.

All good manners are turned into bad, women turn men, and men women in their fashion and behaviour, contrary to the institution and ordinance of God and Nature. In brief, tke world goeth on crutches. If Heraclitus and Democritus should now behold this present world, they would finde ex∣ceeding great cause for their lamenting and laughing at it. And therefore it is no marvel, that God sent such a terrible scourge as the gun-powder is upon us; and it is credible, that if this do not cause our amendment, that a worse will follow, viz. thunder and lightning falling down from heaven, whereby the world shalbe turned upside down for to make an end of all pride, self-love, ambition, deceit and vanity. For which the whole creature doth waite, fervently desiring to be delivered from the bondage thereof.

Now this preparation, which is the most hurtfull poyson, a terror unto all the living, is nothing else but a sulmen terrestre denouncing unto us the wrath and coming of the Lord. For Christ for to judge the world is to come with thundering and lightning: and this earthly thunder perchance is given us for to put us in minde and fear of that which is to come; but this

is not so much as thought on by men, who prepare it only for to plague and destroy mankinde therewith in a most cruel and abominable manner, as every one knoweth.

For none can deny but that there is no nimbler poyson, then this gunpowder. It is written of the Basiliske, that he killeth man only by his look, which a man may avoyd, and there are but few (if any at all) of them found: but this poyson is now prepared and found every where.

How often doth it fall out, that a place wherein this pow∣der is kept is stricken with thunder as with its like, in so much that all things above it are in a moment destroyed, and carry∣ed up into the aire? Also in sieges, when an Ordnance is dis∣charged, or mines blown up, all whom it lays hold on, are suddenly killed, and most miserably destroyed. What nimbler poyson then could there be invented? I beleeve there is none, who will not acknowledge it to be such.

And seeing that the ancient Philosophers and Chymists were alwayes of opinion, that the greater the poyson is, the better medicine may be made of it, after it is freed from the poyson, which with us their posterity proved true by many experiences; as we see by Antimony, Arsenick, Mercury, and the like minerals, which without preparation are meer poy∣son, but by due prepartion may be turned into the best and most effectual medicaments, which though not every one can comprehend or believe, yet your Chymists know it to be true, and the doing of it is no new thing to them. And because I treat in this second part of medicinal spirits, and other good medicaments, and finding that this which can be made out of the gunpowder, is none of the least, I would not omit in some measure, and as far as lawfully may be done, to set down its preparation: which is thus performed.

How to make a spirit of Gunpowder.

YOur distilling vessel being made warm, and a great re∣ceiver with sweet water in it, being applyed to it without luting, put a dish with gunpowder, containing about 12. or 15. grains a peece, one after another into it; in the same man∣ner as above was taught to do with gold. For if you should put in too much of it at once, it would cause too much winde and break the receiver.

As soon as you have conveighed it into the vessel, shut the doore, and the gunpowder will kindle, and give a blast that it maketh the receiver stir, and a white mist or steam will come over into the receiver. As soon as the powder is burnt, you may cast in more before the mist is settled, because else the di∣stilling of it would cost too much time, and so you may con∣tinue to do untill you have spirit enough. Then let the fire go out, and the furnace grow coole, and then take off the receiver, poure the spirit with the water that was poured in before (the flores being first every where washed off with it) out of the receiver into a glass body, and rectifie it in a B. through a limbeck, and there will come over a muddy water, tasting and smelling of sulphur: which you must keep. In the glass body you will finde a white salt, which you are to keep likewise in the glass-body. Take out the Caput Mortuum, which remained in the distilling vessel, and looks like gray salt, calcine it in a covered crucible, that it turn white, but not that it melt; and upon this burnt or calcined salt, pour your stinking water, which came over through the limbeck, and dissolve the calcined white salt with it, and the feces which will not dissolve cast away. Filtre the solution, and poure it upon the white salt, which remained in the glass body, from which the sulphureous spirit was abstracted before, and put the glass body (with a limbeck luted upon it) into sand, and abstract the sulphureous water from it, which will be yellowish, and smell more of sulphur then it did before.

This water if it be abstracted from the salt several times, will turn white, almost like unto milk, and tast no more of sulphur, but be pleasant and sweet. It is is very good for the diseases of the lungs. Also it doth guild silver, being anoynted therewith, although not▪firmely, and by digestion it may be ripened and reduced into a better medicine.

The salt which remained in the glass body, urge with a strong fire, such as will make the sand, wherein the glass standeth red hot, and there will sublime a white salt into the limbeck, in taste almost like unto salt Armoniack, but in the the midst of the glass body, you will finde another, which is yellowish, of a mineral taste and very hot upon the tongue.

These sublimed salts, as well the white which did ascend into the limbeck, as the yellow, which remained in the glass body are good to be used in the plague, malignant feavers and other diseases, where sweating is required; for they doe mightily provoke sweating, they comfort and do cleanse the stomach, and cause sometimes gentle stools.

But what further may be done in Physick with it, I do not know yet.

In Alchymie it is also of use, which doth not belong to this place upon the remaining salt which did not sublime you may pour rain water, and dissolve it there in the glass body, (if it be whole still) else if it be broken, you may take out the salt dry, and dissolve and filtre and coagulate it againe, and there will be separated a great deal of saeces. This puri∣fied salt, which will look yellowish, melt in a covered cru∣cible, and it will turn quite blood red, and as hot as fire up∣on the tongue, which with fresh water you must dissolve a∣gain, and then filtre and coagulate; by which operation it will be made pure and clear, and the solution is quite green before it be coagulated, and as fiery as the red salt was before its dissolution.

This grass green solution being coagulated again into a red fiery salt, it may be melted again in a clean and strong cru∣cible, and it will be much more red and fiery.

N. B. And it is to be admired, that in the melting of it many fiery sparks do flye from it, which do not kindle or take fire, as other sparks of coales or wood use to do. This well purified red salt being laid in a cold and moist place, will dissolve into a blood red oyle, which in digestion dissolveth gold and leaveth the silver: this solution may be coagulated, and kept for use in Alchymie.

There may also a pretious Tincture be extracted out of it with alcolized spirit of wine, which Tincture guildeth sil∣ver, but not firmely.

And as for use in Physick, it ought to be kept as a great Treasure. But if the red fiery salt be extracted with spirit of wine before gold be dissolved therewith, it will yeild like∣wise a faire red Tincture, but not so effectual in Physick as that unto which gold is joyned. And this Tincture can also further be used in Alchymie, which belongeth not hither, because we onely speak of medicaments.

Of the use of the medicine or Tincture made of the Gunpowder.

THis Tincture whether with or without gold, made out of the red salt, is one of the chiefest that I know to make, if you go but rightly to work, and prepare it well: for it purifieth and cleanseth the blood mightily, and provoketh also powerfully sweat and urine; so that it may safely and with great benefit be used in the plague, feavers, epilepsie, scur∣vy, in Melancholia Hypochondriaca, in the gout, stone, and the se∣veral kinds of them; as also in all obstructions of the spleen and liver: and in all diseases of the lungs, and it is to be admired that of such a hurtful thing such a good medicine can be prepared. Therefore it would be much better to prepare good medicaments of it, to restore the poor diseased to health there with, then to destroy with it those that are whole and sound.

I know a Chymist, that spent much time and cost to search this poysonous dragon, thinking to make the universal me∣dicine or stone of the ancient Philosophers out of it. Especi∣ally because he saw, that so many strange changes of colours appeared, whereof mention is made by the Philosophers when they describe their medicine and the preparation thereof.

The dragons blood, Virgins milke, green and red lion, black blacker then black, white whiter then white, and the like more needless here to relate, which easily may perswade a credulous man as it hapned also unto him. But afterward he found, that this subject in which he put so much confidence, was leprous and not pure enough, and that it be impossible to to make that tingent stone of it, for to exalt men and metals, and so was glad to be contented with a good particular medi∣cine and to commit the rest unto God.

And so much of that poysonous dragon the gunpowder▪ but that there is another and more purer dragon, whereof the Philosophers so often made mention, I do not deny: for na∣ture is mighty rich, & could reveal us many Arcana by Gods permission: But because we look only for great honor and riches, and neglect the poor, there is good reason why such things remaine hidden from the wicked and ungodly men.

To make spirits and flores of Nitre and Coales.

IF you distill Nitre (well purified from its superfluous salt) mixed with good coals, the Egyptian Sun bird doth burn away, and out of it doth sweat a singular water, useful for men and metals. Its burnt ashes are like unto calcined Tartar, and for the purging of metals not to be despised.

To make flores and spirits of flints, crystals or sand, by adding of coales and salt nitre to them.

TAke one part of flints or sand, and three parts of Linden coales, with six parts of good salt nitre mixed well to∣gether, and cast of it in, and the combustible sulphur of the flints will be kindled by the piercing and vehement fire of the salt nitre, and maketh a separation, carrying over with it part thereof, which it turneth into spirits and flores, which must be separated by filtring. The spirit tasteth as if it had been made of salt Tartar and flints, and is of the same nature and condition; and the remaining Caput Mortuum also yeild∣eth such an oyle or liquor in all like unto that, and there∣fore its condition is not described here, but you may finde it where I shall treat of the spirit made of salt tartar by adding of flints.

To make a spirit and oyle out of Talck with salt nitre.

TAke one part of Talck made into fine powder, and three parts of Linden-coales, mixe them with five or six parts of good salt nitre, cast in of that mixture one spoonful after another, and there will come over a spirit and a few flores, which must be separated as hath been taught above concerning flints.

The spirit is not unlike unto the spirit of sand: the Caput Mortuum, which looks grayish, must be made red hot or burnt well in a crucible, so that it melt, and then powre it out, and it will yeild a white transparent Massa, like as the flints and crystals do, which in a cold moist cellar will turn to thick liquor, fatter in the handling then the oyle of sand. It is some∣thing sharpe like unto oyle of Tartar; it cleanseth the skin, haire and nailes, and makes them white; the spirit may be used inwardly for to provoke sweat and urine: externally usedit cleanseth wounds, and healeth all manner of scabs in

the body out of hand. What further may be done with it, I do not know yet: But how to bring Talck, pebles and the like stony things to that pass, that they may be dissolved with spirit of wine and reduced into good medicaments shall be taught in the fourth part.

To make a spirit, flores, and an oyle out of Tin.

IF you mixe two parts of the filings of Tin, with one part of good salt nitre, and cast it in, as you were taught to do with other things, then the sulphur of Tin will kindle the salt nitre, and make a flame, as if it were done with common sulphur, whereby a separation is made, so that one part of the Tin cometh over in flores and spirit, and the rest stayeth behinde, which if it be taken out, some of it in a moyst place will turn into a liquor or oyle, which externally may be used with good success in all ulcers for to cleanse them. It hath also the vertue, if it be pertinently applyed to graduate and exalt wonderfully all the colours of vegetables and animals, which would be useful for dyers. The spirit of it mightily provoketh sweating: the flores being edulcorated and used in plasters, do dry and heal very speedily.

To make a spirit, flores and a liquor out of Zinck or speauter.

IN like manner as hath been taught with the Tin, you may also proceed with the Zinck, and it will yeild a good deal of flores, and also a spirit and oyle, almost of the same vertues with those made of Tin: and these flores corrected with sale nitre, are better then those which were taught to be made by themselves in the first part of the book.

To make a spirit, flores and oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

MIxe two parts of salt nitre with one part of lapis calami∣aris and cast it in, and it will yield a sharp spirit very useful for separating of metals, and there will come over also a few yellow flores. The rest remaining behinde is a dark green Mass very fiery upon the tongue, like salt of Tartar, and if it be dissolved with raine water, yeildeth a grass green solu∣tion, which being not presently coagulated into salt, the green separateth it self from the fixed salt nitre, and there falleth to the bottom a fine red powder, and if it be edulcorated and dry∣ed, and given in from one grain to ten or twelve it causeth gentle stools and vomits, better then prepared Antimony; for lapis calaminaris and Zinck are of the nature of gold, as in the fourth part shall be proved: the white lixivium or lye, from which the green is precipitated, may be coagulated into white salt, like unto salt of Tartar; but if you coagulate the green solution, before the green be separated from the salt nitre, then you will get a very faire green salt, high in colour and much more fiery then salt of Tartar, whereby special things can be done in Alchymy, which doth not belong hither. And if you desire to make such a green salt for to use it in Alchymie, you need not to take so much pains, as first to distil a spirit out of the mixture, but take three or four parts of good salt nitre, and mixe it with one part of lapis calaminaris, and let this mix∣ture boyle together in a winde furnace, till the salt nitre be coloured green by the lapis calaminaris, then powre it out and separate the green goldish salt from it, and make such good use of it as you thinke fit.

But if you will extract a good Tincture and Medicine, make it into powder, and extract it with spirit of wine, and it will yeild a blood red Tincture, both in Physick und Al∣chymie of good use.

Further you are to take notice, that among all metals and minerals, which I know (except gold and silver) there is

none found, out of which can be extracted a greenness which is of fire proofe, but only out of lapis calaminaris, which de∣serveth to be well considered and further thought upon.

To make a spirit of salt nitre, sulphur and common salt.

TAke one part of fast, two parts of sulphur, and four parts of salt nitre, grinde all together, and cast in one spoone∣ful after another to distill, and it will yeild a sharp yellow spirit, which if it be put among common water, so that the water be not made too sharp of it, it is a good bath, good for many diseases; especially it healeth all scabs very sudden∣ly. The Caput Mortuum may also be dissolved in water and used among bathes, and it is good likewise, but the spirit is penetrating, and doth operate suddenly in shrinkings and o∣ther defects of the nerves, of such kinde of bathes there shall be spoken more in the third part. Also the remaining fixed yellow salt is good to be used in Alchymie: for it graduat∣eth somewhat the silver by cementing.

To make a spirit, flores and oyle out of salt nitre and Regulus Martis.

TAke one part of Regulus Martis setellatus (made of one part of Iron or steele, and three parts of Antimony whose preparation is described in the fourth part) and three parts of pure salt nitre, mix and grinde all together, and cast it in by little and little to distill, and there will come over a spirit together with a white sublimate, which must be sepa∣rated with water, as hath been taught above with other flo∣res and both the spirit and and the flores are good to provoke sweat. The remaining Caput Mortuum (as they usually call it) is not dead, but full of life and vertue, whereby much good may be done both in Physick and Alchymie, as followeth. The remaining Mass, which looks white, and is very sharpe and fiery (if the Regulus have been pure, if not, then it will look yellowish) may be edulcora∣ted

with fresh water, and it will yeild a lixivium or lye in all like unto calcined Tartar, but sharper and purer, and may be used almost in all operations in stead of salt of Tartar (but first the Regulus Antimonii must be precipitated from it by the help of water) and afterward it may be coagulated into salt and kept for its use; the edulcorated, as also that which was precipitated with water is a white and fine powder, useful in the plague, feavers, and other diseases to provoke sweating thereby, and may very safely be used, and although if it be given in a greater quantity then usual, it do cause some vo∣mits also, yet for all that it doth no hurt. It is easily taken because it hath no taste. It is given to children from 3. 4. to 12. grains: to elder folkes from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss. they worke successefully in all diseases, where sweating is needfull. This Antimonium diaphoreticum, may also be melted into glass, and so extracted and dissolved with spirit of salt, and it may be prepared into several good medicaments: and if all that which may be done with it, should be described at large, it would require too much time. The lixivium, if it be coagu∣lated, hath wonderfull vertues, so that if one should describe them, he would hardly be credited by any body, because it is not made of costly things; and truly the life of man is too short to finde out by experience all that lyes hid in it: and it would be but a laughing matter to a proud fool, if one should reveale it: therefore it is better to keep counsel, then to sow strife. Basilius Valentinus in his Triumph of Antimony, where he writeth of the signed star, hinted it sufficiently, but very few take notice of it. Paracelsus also, here and there in his books under an unknown name, makes frequent mention of it; but its true preparation and use, by reason of the unthanke∣ful was never described by the Philosophers, which for in∣struction of good honest men we do here mention.

Before you edulcorate the Regulus (made by fulmination) you may extract of it a good medicinal Tincture with spirit of wine, and if you dissolve it with spirit of salt, there will shoote a white foliated Talck in all like unto the Mineral Talck: whereof a liquor may be made, which coloureth the

skin very white, but if this calx of Antimony, before it be extracted with spirit of wine or dissolved with spirit of salt be made into fine powder, and exposed to the moist aire, it will dissolve into a fat liquor, which though it be something sharpe, yet doth no hurt to the skin, if it be used with dis∣cretion, but rather cleanseth it more then any other thing, and so it doth likewise to the haire and nailes; but as soone as the liquor hath been applyed for that purpose, it must be wash∣ed off again with water, lest it do not onely take away the gross and unclean skin, but also work upon the tender white skin and do hurt, and therefore I give warning, that you use it discreetly: for according to the old proverbe, you may misuse even that which else is good in it self. If you put some of it into warm water and bath your self in it, the gross skin will peele off all the body, so that you will al∣most seem to be another body. And this bath also is good for many diseases: for it openeth the pores mightily, and cleanseth all the blood in the body, by drawing many ill hu∣mors out of it, which maketh a man light and strong, e∣specially if he be purged first, before he useth the bath. It is also good for Melancholy, scurvy and leprosie, especially when the red Tincture drawn out of it with spirit of wine, be used besides. It is also good to be used in a foot bath for those that are troubled with corns and other excrescencies upon their feet, or with nailes that cut the flesh; for it softeneth them and makes them fit for cutting, and as tractable as wax. For there is nothing known under the Sun, which softneth more a hard skin, haire, nailes and other excrescencies, then this oyle. And this I did set down therefore, because I know, that many are so tormented therewith, that they cannot well endure their shoes upon their feet. But if you coagulate this oyle into salt, and melt it in a crucible, and powre it out in∣to a flat brass bason, that it flow at large and may be broken, then you have the best Causticum, to open the skin withal where is need. If you dissolve crude Tartar with it and co∣agulate it again, you will get a salt which is useful in many Chymical operations; and there may be extracted out of it

a blood red Tincture with spirit of wine, which proveth very effectual against all obstructions.

Also every combustible sulphur can be easily dissolved with it, and used among bathes, it acteth his part admirably. If any oyle of spices be boyled therewith, then the oyle will dissolve in it, and they turn together to a balsome, which doth mingle it self with water, and is good to be taken in∣wardly for some infirmities: but women with childe must not meddle with it, because it makes them miscarry. But af∣ter their delivery, it is good to expel after burthen and other reliques. But if you boyle Oleum ligni Rhodii with this liquor and rose water so long till the oyle do incorporate with the liquor and waters and then separate the watery substance from it, you will get a sope as white as snow, which may be used for to wash the hands with it, and it doth smel very wel. You may also wash the head with it; for it strengthneth the braine and cleanseth the head and haire. This sope may be distilled, and it will yeild a penetrating oyle, very good for the sinews and nerves.

Now as this liquor of Regulus Antimonii softneth the skin, nailes, haire, feathers, horns, and the like, and dissolveth them more then any thing in the world: In the like manner also it hath power to dissolve not only metals, but also the hardest stones, but not in that manner which is done by boy∣ling, and was mentioned by the sulphur, but after another way, which is not proper for this place. It sufficeth that I hinted it. The fiery fixed salt nitre can be dissolved with spi∣rit of salt or vinegar, and sublimed into a Terra foliata. What further can be effected with it, doth not belong to this place, and perchance some where else more shall be spoken of it.

To distil Butyrum out of Antimony, Salt and vitriol, like unto that, which is made out of Antimony and Mercury sublimate.

TAke one part of crude Antimony, two parts of common salt, and four parts of vitriol calcined white, beat all to powder and mix them wel, and so cast it in as you were taught to do with other materials, and there will come over a thick oyle of Antimony like butter, which may be rectified like any other oyle, that is made after the common way with Mercury sublimate, and is also the same with it in use, which use you may see in the first part: the same also can be made better and in a greater quantity in the furnace described in the first part, and also with less coals and time by the help of the open fire, because it endureth greater heat then in the second furnace.

To distil Butyrum of Arsenick and Orpiment.

AFter the same manner as was taught with Antimony, there may also out of Arsenick and Auripigment toge∣ther with salt and vitriol a thick oyle be distilled, which not only outwardly but also inwardly is safe to be used, and may be so corrected, that it shall be nothing at all inferior in ver∣tue unto the butyrum Antimonii, but rather go beyond it: which perchance will seem impossible to many. But he that knows the nature and condition of minerals, will not be astonished at my words, but they will be to him as a light in a darke place.

To make a rare spirit of vitriol.

IF common vitriol be dissolved in water, and you boyle granulated Zinck in it, all the metal and sulphur contain∣ed in the vitriol will precipitate on the Zinck, and the solu∣tion will turn white, the precipitated matter is nothing else, but iron, copper, & sulphur, which the salt of vitriol did con∣taine, and now is drawn from it by the Zinck. The reason why the metal precipitateth out of the salt upon the Zinck, belong∣eth to the fourth part, where you will finde it sufficiently ex∣plained; The white solution, from which the metallical matter is separated, must be coagulated to the dryness of salt, and so by it self a spirit distilled of it, which riseth easily, and is in taste and vertue not unlike unto common oyle of vi∣triol, but only that this is a little purer then the com∣mon.

Here perchance many may object: you take the green from the vitriol, which Paracelsus doth not teach, but bids us to keep it. To which I answer, that I do not teach here to make the sweet red oyle of vitriol, whereof Paracelsus hath written, but the white acid oyle; which is as good, or rather much better then the common, which is made of the common im∣pure vitriol. To what purpose is it that you take green vi∣triol to distil, whereas the green doth not come over, and al∣though that green should come over, why should that oyle be better then the white? for the green in the common vitriol is nothing else but copper and iron, which the salt water running through the passages of Metals did dissolve and take into it self, and as soon as such a green vitriol feeleth the fire, the green turneth into red, which is nothing else but a calcined iron or copper, which in the reducing by a strong fire and by melting is made manifest.

Paracelsus hath not taught us, that we should drive over the green by the force of the fire into a red and sweet oyle, but he hath shewed us an other way, which is found out by few

men, whereof in the beginning of the second part already hath been made mention.

This spirit or acid oyle distilled out of the purified vitriol i•• of a pleasant sowreness, and serveth for all those uses, which above by the vitriol were described. And this process is set down onely for that end, that we may see, that when the vitriol is purified, that then it is easier distilled, and yeildeth a more pleasant spirit, then if it be yet crude and impure.

And that such a purifying of the vitriol i•• nothing else but a precipitating of the metal, which the water (as before said) running through the veines thereof hath assumed, is thus to be proved; dissolve any metal in its appropriate Menstruum, whether it be done with distilled acid spirits or sharpe salts, adding common water to them, or else dry by the fire in a cru∣cible, according as you please, and then put into that solu∣tion another metal, such as the dissolvent doth sooner seize on, then upon that which it hath assumed and then you will finde, that the dissolvent doth let fall the assumed metal or mi∣neral, and fals upon the other, which it doth sooner seise on, and dissolveth it as being more friendly to it; Of which pre∣cipitation in the fourth part shall be spoken more at large.

This one thing more is worthy your observation, that among all metals there is none more soluble then Zinck, and therefore that all the other (as well in the dry as in the wet way) may be precipitated thereby and reduced into light calxes, in so much that the calx of gold or silver precipitated in this manner (if so be you proceed well) retaineth its splen∣dor or gloss, and is like a fine powder wherewith you can write out of a pen.

To make a subtle spirit and pleasant oyle of Zinck.

BEcause I made mention here of Zinck, I thought good not to omit, that there may be made a penetrating spirit and wholesome oyle out of it by the help of vinegar, which is thus to be done. Take of the flores (which were taught to

be made in the first part) one part, put them into a glass (fit for digestion) and poure upon them 8. or 10▪ parts of good sharp vinegar made of honey; or in want thereof take wine vinegar, and set the glass with the flores and vinegar in a warm place to dissolve, and the solution being performed, powre off the cleer, which will look yellow, and after you have filtred it abstract the phlegme, and there will re∣maine a red liquor or balsome, to which you must add pure sand, such as is well burnt, and distill it, and first there will come over an unsavory phlegme, afterward a subtle spirit, and at last a yellow and red oyl which are to be kept by themselves separated from the spirit as a treasure for to heale all wounds very speedily. The spirit is not inferior unto the oyle, not onely for inward use to provoke sweat thereby, but also ex∣ternally for the quenching of all inflammations, and doubt∣less this spirit and oyle is good for more diseases, but because its further use is not known to me yet, I will not write of it, but leave the further triall to others.

To distil a spirit and oyle out of lead.

IN the same manner as was taught of the Zinck, there may be out of lead also distilled a subtle spirit and a sweet oyle, and it is done thus: Poure strong vinegar upon Minium. or any other calx of lead, which is made per se, and not with sulphur, let it digest and dissolve in sand or warm ashes, so long till the vinegar be coloured yellow by lead, and turned quite sweet. Then poure off the clear solution, and poure on other vine∣gar, and let this like wise dissolve, and this repeat so often, till the vinegar will dissolve no more, nor grow sweet, then take all these solutions, and evaporate all the moysture, and there will remaine a thick sweet yellow liquor, like unto ho∣ney, if the vinegar was not distilled, but if it was distilled and made clear, then no liquor remaineth, but onely a white sweet salt. This liquor or salt may be distilled after the same manner as was taught with the Zinck, and there will come over not only a penetrating subtle spirit, but also a yellow

oyle, which will not be much, but very effectual, in all the the same uses, as of the spirit and oyle of the Zinck was taught.

N. B. This is to be observed, that for to make this spirit and oyle, you need no distilled spirit, but that it may be done as well with undistilled vinegar, and the undistilled yeilds more spirit then the distilled. But if you look for a white and cleer salt, then the vinegar must be distilled, else it doth not shoote into crystals, but remaineth a yellow liquor like unto honey, and it is also needless to make the solution in glasses, and by digestion continued for a long time, but it may as well be done in a glased pot, viz. powring the vinegar upon the Mi∣nium in the pot, and boyling it on a coale fire; for you need not fear that any thing of the vinegar will evaporate, in re∣gard that the lead keeps all the spirits, and lets onely go an unsavory phlegme. You must also continually stir the lead about with a wooden spatula, else it would turn to a hard stone, and would not dissolve: the same must be done also when the solution is done in glasses; and the solution after this way may be done in three or four houres: and when both kinde of solutions are done, there will be no difference be∣twixt them, and I think it providently done not to spend a whole day about that which may be done in an houre.

And if you will have this spirit and oyle better and more effectual, you may mix ℥ i. of crude Tartar made into pow∣der with lb j. of dissolved and purified lead, and so distill it after the same manner as you do distill it by it self, and you will get a much subtler spirit and a better oyle then if it were made alone by it self.

To distill a subtile spirit and oyle out of crude Tartar.

MAny think it to be but a smal matter to make the spirit of Tartar, for they suppose, that if they do but onely put Tartar into a retort, and apply a receiver, and by a strong fire force over a water, they have obtained their desire: and they do not observe, that in steed of a pleasant subtle spirit,

they get but a stinking vinegar or phlegme; the pleasant spi∣rit being gone. Which some careful operators perceiving, they caused great receivers to be made, supposing by that means to get the spirit. Now when they after the distillation was done, weighed their spirits together with the remainder, they found, that they had suffered great loss, wherefore they supposed it to be an impossible thing, to get all the spirits, and to lose none, and indeed it is hardly possible to be done otherwise by a retort: for although you apply a great receiver to a smal retort, and that there be also but a little Tartar in it, and the joynts being wel luted, so that nothing can pass through, and though you make also the fire never so gentle, hoping to get the spirit by that way, yet for all that you cannot avoyd danger and loss. For at last the retort be∣ginning to be red hot, and the black oyle going, then and but then the subtlest spirits will come forth, which either steale through the joynts, or else do break the retort or re∣ceiver, because they come in abundance and with great force, and do not settle easily: wherefore I will set down my way of making this most profitable, and excellent spirit.

The preparation and the use of the spirit of Tartar.

TAke good and pure crude Tartar, whether it be red or white, it matters not, make it into fine powder, and when the distilling vessel is red hot, then cast in with a ladle half an ounce and no more at once, and so soon as the spirits are gone forth and setlted, cast in another ℥ ss. and this continue, till you have spirit enough, then take out the remainder, which will look black, and calcine it wel in a crucible, and put it in a glass retort, and poure the spirit that came over together with the black oyle upon it, drive it in sand at first gently, and the subtlest spirits will come over, and after them the phlegme, at last a sowre vinegar together with the oyle, whereof you must get each by it self. But if you desire to have the subtle spi∣rit which came over first, more penetrating yet, then you must

take the Caput Mortuum that stayed in the retort, and make it red hot in a crucible, and abstract the spirit once more from it, and the calcined Tartar will keep the remaining moystness or phlegme, and onely the subtlest spirit will come over, which is of a most penetrating quality, whereof from half a dram to an ounce taken in wine or any other liquor provoketh a quick and strong sweat, and it is a powerful medicine in all obstru∣ctions, and most approved and often tryed in the plague, ma∣lignant feavers, scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, colick, contracture, epilepsie and the like diseases. And not onely these mentioned diseases, but also many others more, which proceed from corrupt blood under God may successefully be cured with it.

The phlegme is to be cast away, as unprofitable: the vine∣gar cleanseth wounds: the oyle allayeth swelling and pains, and doth cure scabs, and disperseth knobs that are risen upon the skin, as also other excrescencies of the same, if it be used timely, and the use thereof be continued.

N. B. If the black stinking oyle be rectified from the cal∣cined Caput Mortuum, it will be clear and subtle, and it will not only asswage very speedily all pains of the goute, but al∣so dissolve and expel the conglobated gravel in the reines, ap∣plyed as a plaster or unguent. In like manner it will dissolve and extract the coagulated Tartar in the hands, knees and feet, so that the place affected will be freed and made whole thereby: because in such a despicable oyle there lyes hid a volatile salt which is of great vertue. But if you desire expe∣rimentally to know whether it be so, then poure upon this black stincking oyle an acid spirit, as the spirit of common salt, or of vitriol or salt nitre, or only distilled vinegar, and the oyle will grow warm and make a noyse and rise, as if Aqua fortis had been powred upon salt of Tartar, and the acid spirit will be mortified thereby, and turne to salt. And this well purified oyle doth dissolve and extract the Tartar out of the joynts (unless it be grown to a hard stony substance) even as sope scowres the uncleanness out of cloths, or to compare it better, even as like receiveth its like, and is easily mixed with

it, and doth love it; but on the contrary, nothing will mixe it self with that wherewith it hath no affinity at all. As if you would take pitch out of cloth by washing it with wa∣ter, which never will be done by reason of the contrary na∣ture; for common water hath no affinity with pitch or other fat things, nor will it ever be taken out therewith without a mediator, partaking of both natures, viz. of the nature of pitch and that of the water, and such are sulphureous salts, and nitrous salts, whether they be fixed or volatile. As you may see at the soape-boylers, who incorporate common water by the help of sulphureous salts with fat things, as tallow and oyle. But if you take warm oyle or any thin fat substance, and put it upon the pitch or rozin, then the oyle easily accep∣teth of and layes hold on its like, and so the pitch is dissolv∣ed and got out of the cloth, and the remaining fatness of the oyle may be fetcht out of the cloth with lye or sope and com∣mon water, and so the cloth recovereth its former beauty and pureness. And as it falleth out with the sulphureous things, so it doth likewise with the Mercurial. For example, if you would take the salt out of powdred flesh or pickled fish with lixivium it would not succeed, because that the ni∣trous and acid salts are of contrary natures.

But if upon the powdred flesh or pickled fish you poure on water wherein some of the same salt (wherewithall the flesh was powdered) is dissolved, that salt water will extract the salt out of the flesh, as being its like, much more then common sweet water, wherein there is no salt.

In this manner the hardest things also, as stones and metals, may be joyned or united with water, whereof more in my o∣ther books are extant; it is needless here therefore to relate. I gave a hint of it, onely for to shew, that alwayes like with like must be extracted. True it is that one Contrarium can morti∣fie another, and take the corrosiveness from it, whereby the paynes for a time are asswaged, but whether the cause of the disease it self be eradicated thereby is a question.

Here may be objected, that I made a difference between the sulphureous and Mercurial salts, whereas neither Mercury

nor sulphur apparently is to be seen in either. It is true, he that doth not understand nor know the nature of salts, is not able to apprehend it. And I have not time now to demon∣strate it, but the same is shewed at large in my book de Natura salium, that some of them are sulphureous, and some Mercurial: but he that looks for a further directi∣on yet, let him read my book de Sympathia & Antipathia re∣rum, wherein he shall finde it demonstrated that from the Creation of the World to the time present, there were alwayes two contrary natures fighting one against the other, which fight will continue so long till the Mediator betwixt God and Man, the Lord Jesus Christ shall put an end unto this strife, when he shall come to separate the good from the bad, by whose lightning and fire flame the proud and hurtful superflu∣ous sulphur shall be kindled and consumed; the pure Mercu∣rial being left in the center.

How to make pretious spirits and oyles out of Tartar joyned with some minerals and metals.

TAke any metal or mineral, dissolve it in a fit menstruum, mix with it a due proportion of crude Tartar, so that the crude Tartar being made into powder together with the so∣lution make up a pap as it were; then at once cast in one spoonful of it, and distil it into a spirit and oyle, which after the distillation must be separated by rectification, for to keep each by it self for its proper use.

The use of the metallized spirit and oyle of Tartar.

THis spirit of a Tartarized metal is of such a condition, that it readily performeth its operation according to the strength of the spirit, and the nature of the metal or mineral, whereof it is made. For the spirit and oyle of gold and Tar∣tar is good for to corroborate the heart, and to keep out its enemies: the spirit of silver and Tartar doth serve for the braine; that of Mercury and Tartar, for the liver: of lead

and tin for the spleen and lungs: of iron and copper for the reins and seminary vessels: that of Antimony and Tartar for all accidents and infirmities of the whole body; and these me∣tallical spirits made with Tartar, provoke sweat exceedingly whereby many malignities are expelled out of the body Like∣wise also the oyle hath its operation, though this of several metals, as of Mercury and copper, is not well to be used in∣wardly, because it causeth salivations and strong vomits. But externally they are very good for to cleanse all putride ulcers, and to lay a good and firme ground for healing them.

The remainder, whereof the spirit and oyle is distilled, you may take out, and reduce it in a crucible into a metal, so that what is not come over, may not be lost, but made to serve againe.

And as you were taught to distill spirits and oyles out of dissolved metals and crude Tartar, so you may get them like∣wise out of common vitriol and Tartar, viz. thus, take one part of Tartar made into powder, two parts of good pure vitriol, mixe them well together, and distill a spirit of them, which though it be unpleasant to take, for all that in all whatsoever obstructions and corruption of blood it is not to be despised, but very successefully performeth its operation; especially when it is rectified from its Caput Mortuum, and so freed from its phlegme; and its best vertue, which consisteth in the volatility, be not lost in the distilling.

N. B. But if you will have this spirit more effectual, then you may joyn Tartar and vitriol by boyling them together in common water, and crystallizing; and then cast it in, and distill it, and there will come over a much purer and more penetrating spirit; because that in the solution and coagula∣tion of both many faeces were separated: but if to one part of vitriol you take two parts of Tartar, and dissolve it together and so filtre and coagulate it, then the Tartar with the vitriol will shoote no more, but there remaineth a thick liquor like unto honey, out of which with spirit of wine there may be extracted a good tincture against obstructions. This liquor

taken from ℈ i. to ʒi. doth purge very gently, and sometimes it causeth a vomit, especially if the vitriol was not pure and good: and it may also be distilled into a spirit not inferior un∣to the former in vertue. Besides the way above taught, there is yet (for to distill a metallized spirit of Tartar) another way, whereby several metals and minerals may be reduced in∣to much pleasant spirits and oyles, and of more vertue, and it is done in this manner.

Take of the Tartar of white Rhenish wine made into pow∣der, powre upon it sweet raine or running water, so that to lb j. of Tartar there come lb x. or lb xij. of water, or so much that the Tartar may be dissolved by it in the boyling, and then boyle the mixture with the water in a tinned kettle, or which is better, in a glased pot, until it be quite dissolved, and in the mean while take off the skum (with a woodden skimmer) still as it riseth in the boyling: and when no more skum riseth, and all the Tartar is dissolved, then powre the solution thus hot through a linen cloth, tyed straight on an earth glased vessel, that the remaining slymigness may be se∣parated. The Tartar water being strained, let it stand for 24. or 30. houres without stirring, and there will stick a crystallised Tartar to the sides of the vessel, which after the water is powred off may be taken out, and washed with cold water, and then dryed. This purified Tartar keep, untill I shall teach you, what further is to be done with it; and this Tartar is pure enough for the above said purpose, viz. to re∣duce metals into oyle with it, as shall follow anone. It is also good taken of it self for an abstersive to make the body solu∣ble. But if you desire to have it yet whiter and fairer and in great crystals, you must proceed thus.

You must know this that all salts, if they shall shoote into great crystals, there must be a great quantity of them, for of little there comes but little. And if you will make great and faire white crystals of Tartar, which will be not better then the former, but only pleasant to the eye, then you must proceed in this manner.

Take of white Tartar made into powder about ten

or thirty lb. powre so much water upon it, as is needful for to dissolve it, and boyle it by a strong fire in a tinned kettle untill all the Tartar be dissolved, which you may know by stirring in it with a woodden ladle, and skim off diligently all the filth rising on the water; and you must take heed, that you take neither too much nor too little water to it; for if you take too little, part of the Tartar will remaine undis∣solved, and so will be cast away and lost among the slime: but if you take too much of it, then the Tartar is too much dispersed in the water, and cannot shoote well, and so will likewise be lost, being cast away afterwards with the water. For I heard many a one complain, that they could get but little of a pound, and therefore supposed the Tartar to have been nought, whereas the fault was not in the Tartar but in the workman, that managed not wel his work, powring away one half which did not shoote with the water: but if you proceed well, then four pound of common Tartar will yeild lb iij. of pure white Crystals. The solution being well made, and one, and no skim more rising at the top, cover the kettle, and let it coole without removing from the warme place it stands in, which will be done within three or four dayes, if the kettle be bigg. But the fire must be taken away from under the kettle, and so let it stand for the time menti∣oned. In the mean while the Tartar will crystallise to the sides of the kettle, which crystals after the time is expired and the water powred off, are to be taken out and washed and boyled again with fresh water, and so skimmed and crystallised; and this proceeding must be still reiterated, untill (which is done the third or fourth time) the crystals are white enough: then take them out, dry and keep them for use; whereof from ʒ j. to ℥ j. made into powder, and taken in wine, beer, warme broth or other liquor, will give some gentle stooles, and ser∣veth▪ for those, which cannot endure strong physick. This Tartar may be sharpened with Diagridium or any other pur∣ging drug, that so you need not take it in so great a quantity at once, but a lesser dose may serve turn. But if you do not look for great crystals, but only for Tartar well purified, then you 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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may use this following manual, and you will get exceeding faire and glistering little crystals, which need no beating into powder, but by the working come to be so pure and fine, as if they had been ground upon a stone, and looking not like a dead powder, but having a gloss, like unto small glistering snow that fell in very cold weather, and it is done thus: when the crystals are come to be pure enough by often dissolving and coagulating, then dissolve them once again in pure water, and pour the solution into a clean vessel of wood, copper or earth being glased; and let it not stand still (as above taught with the crystals) but as soon as it is powred in, with a clean wooden stick stirr about continually without ceasing, till all be cold, which will be done in half an houre. In this stir∣ring the Tartar hath no time to shoote into crystals, but doth coagulate into the smallest glistering powder, pleasant to be∣hold, and like unto frozen snow settleth to the bottom of the vessel; then poure off the water, and dry the powder, and keep it for use. The waters which you powred off, in regard that they containe yet some Tartar, ought not to be cast away (as others do) but evaporated, and the Tartar contain∣ed in them will be saved, and so nothing will be lost, and in this manner not onely white Tartar may be reduced into clear crystals, but also the red being several times dissolved and crystallised, loseth its redness, and turneth white and cleer. Besides the above said there is another way to reduce the Tartar into great white crystals at once by precipitati∣on: but these being good enough for our purpose, viz. to make good medicines out of metals, I hold it needlesse to lose more time by the relation of it, and so I will acquiesce.

The other way to make a metallised spirit of Tartar.

TAke of purified Tartar dissolved and coagulated but once as much as you please▪ poure so much raine or other sweet water to it as will serve to dissolve it; in which soluti∣on you must boyle the plate of metals, until the Tartar have

dissolved enough of it, so that it will dissolve no more; the signe whereof is, when the solution is deep coloured of the metal, and during your boyling you must often supply the e∣vaporated water with pouring on of other, lest the Tartar come to be too dry and burn; and this solution may be done best of all in a metallical vessel; as when you will make the solution of iron, you may do it in an iron pot; and for copper you may take a copper kettle, and so forth for other metals, a vessel made of the same is to be taken. But you must know that gold, silver and crude Mercury, unless they be first prepared cannot be dissolved like iron and copper, but when they are prepared first for the purpose, then they will also be dissolved. In like manner some minerals also must be first prepared, before they can be dissolved with Tartar an water. But if you can have good glasses or glased vessels of earth, you may use them for all metals and minerals for to dissolve them therein, and the solution you may not onely use of it self for a medicine, but also distill it, and make a very effectual spirit and oyle of it as followeth.

To distil the spirit and oyle of Lead and Tin.

TAke the filings of Lead and Tin, and boyle them with the water or solution of Tartar in a leaden or tin-vessel, untill the Tartar be sweetned by the water, so that it will dis∣solve no more, to which pass it will be brought within twen∣ty four hours, for both these metals will be dissolved but slowly, but if you would perform this solution sooner, then you must reduce the metals first into a soluble calx, and then they may be dissolved in less time then an houre. The solution being done, you must filtre it, and in B. abstract all the moy∣sture to the thickness or consistency of honey, and there will remaine a pleasant sweet liquor, which of it self without any further preparation may safely be used inwardly for all such diseases, for which other medicaments, made of these metals are useful. Especially the sweet liquor of lead and tin doeth

much good in the plague, not only by driving the poyson from the heart by sweating, but also by breaking or allaying the intolerable heat, so that a happy cure doth follow upon it: but externally the liquor of lead may be used succesfully in all inflammations, and it healeth very suddenly, not only fresh wounds, but also old ulcers turned to fistulaes; for the Tartar cleanseth and lead consolidates.

The liquor of tin is better for inward use then for outward whose operation is not so fully known yet, as that of lead. But if you will distill a spirit thereof, then cast it in with a ladle by little and little, as above in other distillations often∣times was mentioned, and there will come over a subtle spi∣rit of Tartar, carrying along the vertue and best essence of the metals and therefore doth also prove much more effectual, then the common spirit of Tartar, which is made alone by it selfe, and this spirit as well that which is made of tin, as that of lead, if it be well dephlegmed first, may be used and held for a great treasure in all obstructions, especially of the spleen; and few other medicins will go beyond them; but besides there must not be neglected the use of good purging medicines, if need require them. With the spirit there cometh over also an oyle, which is of a quick operation, especially in wounds and sores of the eye, where other oyntments and plasters may not so fitly be used, for it doth not only allay the heat and inflammation, a common symptome of the eye wounds, but also doth hinder and keep back all other symptomes, which few other medicaments are able to do; and for the residue, if it be driven further by the strongest fire, then there will come over a sublimate, which in the aire dissolveth into oyle, which is also of a powerful operation, not only in physick, but also in Alchymie.

And the Lead runeth together in a fair white Regulus, which is much whiter, purer and fairer then other common lead: but the Tartar retaines the blackness, and raiseth it self to the top as a fusible dross, which is impregnated with the sulphur of lead, wherewith you may colour haire, bones, feathers and the like, and make them to be and remaine brown and black▪

I made tryal once of such a distillation in an iron vessel, whereby the same in the inside was so whitened by the purifi∣ed lead, that it was like unto fine silver in brightness: which afterwards trying againe, it would not fall so faire as at first; whereat none ought to wonder, for I could write something more (if it were fit) of Tartar, knowing well what may be effected with it, if I did not stand in fear of scoffers, which do vilifie all what they do not understand. I durst presume to call Tartar the sope of the Philosophers; for in the clean∣sing of some metals by long experience I found it of admi∣rable vertue; though I would not be understood thus, as if I did count it to be the true Azoth universalis Philosophorum, whereby they wash their Laton: but I cannot deny, but that it is of particular use for the washing and cleansing of several metals: for it is endued with admirable vertues for the use of metals, whereof in other places more shall be said here∣after.

How to make a Tartarised spirit and oyle out of Iron or Steel and Copper.

IF you intend to make a good medicine out of iron or steel or copper joyned with Tartar, then▪ for the iron or steel take an iron pot, and for copper a kettle of copper, make them very clean and put in it the filings of iron or steel or copper, which you please, and twice as much of pure Tartar made into powder, and so much water, that the Tartar may be dissolved well by it in the boyling, and so boyle the metal with the Tartar-water so long, till it be deeply coloured by the metal, as red by the iron, and deep green by the copper; and when the water in the boyling doth waste, you must still supply it with other, that the Tartar may not burn; for there must be alwayes so much water, that no skin of the Tartar may rise at the top, but that it remaine alwayes open, and there must not be too much water neither, lest it be too sweet, and not able to dissolve the metal. The solution of iron or steel being come to be red and sweet, and in taste like

unto vitriol, but green and bitter of copper, powre it off warm by inclination into an other clean vessel, and let it stand so long againe in a very gentle heap of coals, till al∣most all the water be evaporated, and the dissolved metal with the Tartar remaine in the consistency of honey.

Which metallical liquor may be used inwardly and outwardly (especially that of iron) which doth purge gent∣ly, and openeth the obstructions of the liver and spleen; cleanseth the stomach and killeth the wormes: externally used it is a good wound balsame, and goes far beyond all such as are made of vegetables. It is a singular treasure, not onely for to cure new wounds; but also for to cleanse and heal old corrupt exulcerated sores, turned to fistulaes: but the liquor of copper is not so safe for to be used inwardly, for it is not only very unpleasant in taste, but also causeth vehement vomits: and therefore I would not advise any one to be for∣ward to use it, unless it be for strong folkes and for to kill wormes in them, for which purpose it is excellent good and surpasseth all other medicines whatsoever; but to little children it ought not to be given at all, in regard that it is of farre too strong an operation for them.

N. B. And if you will use it to strong bodies against the wormes or stomach-agues you must observe that the patient (in case he cannot get it up) thrust his finger into the throat to further the vomiting, that it may not stay behinde, but come forth againe out of the body, which done health follow∣eth upon it; but if it remaine in the body, it causeth a loath∣somness to use it any more. And therefore you must take heed to use it warily: and in regard that this liquor is very bitter, you may mixe it with some sugar, to facilitate the taking thereof: but that of iron needeth no such correction, it being sweet enough of it▪self, and therefore I commend and prefer it before the other. But if you will needs that of cop∣per (becauseth it worketh so strongly) then the patient must keep in from the cold aire, and not presently after the opera∣tion load the stomach with strong drink and superfluity of

meat, contenting himself with some warm broth and a little cup of wine or beer, and the next day his meat and drink will taste the better with him, and do him so much the more good.

But externally this liquor is of the same use with that of iron or steel, yea proveth more effectual and speedier in heal∣ing. It would be good that Surgeons knew how to prepare i••, and would use it instead of their salves, wherewith many fresh wounds are spoyled and turned into horrid ulcers, es∣pecially it requiring so little cost and paines to make it. And if you would have these liquors purer yet, you must poure on spirit of wine, and extract them, and they will easily yeild their Tincture, and leave many faeces behinde which are good for nothing: but the Tincture will be so much the better, purer and more effectual, so that you need but one to four or five drops for purging, whereas of the gross liquor you must have from 4. 6. 8. to 12. or 16. drops: and this extracted Tin∣cture worketh also much better externally and keepeth longer then the balsame or liquor, which in time is corrupted, but the extraction is never spoyled. But if you will distil the li∣quor or balsame, it is needless that it be extracted first, but may be distilled so as the boyling made it, after the same man∣ner, as above was taught for Lead, and there will come over a yellow spirit and oyle from iron or steel, and from copper a greenish spirit and oyle.

The spirit and oyle of iron may safely be used in the plague, feavers, obstructions, and corruption of blood, from ʒ i. to ℥i. It is much better to provoke sweat, then that which is made of crude Tartar, without addition of a metal: the like doth that also which is made of copper and more effectually yet and sometimes causeth a vomit, if it be used in a greater quantity, then is fitting.

N. B. Although the Chymists do perfer copper before iron as a more firme and ripe metal, nevertheless it is found by ex∣perience, that iron or steel by reason of its sweetness is better to be used for an inward medicine then copper. But for exter∣nal use copper (if it be well prepared) hath the preheminence,

being an appropriate medicine for all ulcers and open sores, in all the parts of the body, if the same inwardly be kept clean besides by fitting purges. For not only the now de∣scribed medicine, but also many more besides, are taught to be made out of copper in other places of my books.

A Country-physick and purge I will teach for those, which either live far from Apothecary-shops, or have no money to spare for physick, and it is to be made out of iron and copper, whereby they may cleanse their slymie stomachs, spoyled by a disorderly dyet, whence headaches, wormes, agues and other diseases are occasioned, warning withal those that are either too old or too young, or else decayed and weak, and so not strong enough for such powerful physick, that they will for∣bear to use it, lest besides the wormes they kill and expel life it self also; but those that are of a strong constitution, and a midle age, and of a sound heart, may safely use this purge, whereby stomach-agues, belly-worms, and many other oc∣cult diseases may be cured with good success. The preparation is done thus: Take ℥ ss. of pure Tartar made into powder, and ℥ss. or ℥j. of sugar or honey, and ℥v. or ℥vj. of spring or raine water, put all into a clean copper vessel which is not greasie and boyle it upon a coal fire as long or somewhat longer then you use to boyle an egg, or at the fur∣thest half a quarter of an hour; take off the skum in boyling, let it stand till it be milk warm, so that it may be drunke. This potion tasting almost like warme wine sweetned with sugar, give unto the patient to drink, and let him fast upon it, and within half an hour it wil begin to work upwards and down∣wards: whereat you need not to be amazed, but only keep the body warm, and within an houre it will have done work∣ing. But if you will drive out wormes from little children by purging, then in stead of the copper-vessel, take a clean iron-vessel, and put in a less quantity of Tartar, sugar and water, and boyle it as abovesaid, and give it to them, and it will purge onely downward, but sometimes it will also give a gentle vomit, which will do them no hurt, but rather will cleanse the stomach the better. But if the drink be too weak,

so that it doth not work, it may be used againe the next day (but you must take more of the ingredients, or else let them boyle longer) there is no danger in it at all, if you proceed aright and it is much pleasanter to take, then the bitter worm∣seed, wherewith they usually torment children.

The reason why this decoction works in this manner is that the Tartar and sugar being boyled in metallical vessels with water worke upon the metal, and extract vertue out of it, which causeth vomiting and purging (the Tartar also be∣ing helpful to it.)

How to make a Tartarised spirit of Mercu••y.

VUlgar Mercury cannot be dissolved like the former me∣tals with Tartar and water, without any foregoing preparation; but must be sublimed first with salt and vitriol, or crystallised with Aqua fortis, and then it may be dissolved by boyling with Tartar and water, and reduced into a balsame, like other metals, but it is not to be used inwardly, unless it be digested a sufficient time, so that its fiercenesse be allayed: Externally it may safely be used in all desperate, especially venereal sores, and it is a very effectual and profi∣table medicine for them. But most of all it doth serve for Alchymie, although few do know this guest, because he will not be seen by every one. The spirit which comes over from it by distillation, is an admirable thing not only in physick, but also in Alchymie: yet you must take heed, that in stead of a friend, you do not harbor a great enemy: for its force and vertue is very great and powerful.

How to make a Tartarised spirit of Gold and Silver.

GOld and silver also can by no means be dissolved with Tartar in a wet way: but in a dry way adding its hel∣per to it, it will easily dissolve, which doth not belong hi∣ther; but if you will draw a spirit of it, then the gold and

silver must first by dissolving and coagulating be reduced to crystals, and then dissolved with purified Tartar and water, and of Gold you will get a yellow solution, and of silver a white inclining unto green, which being reduced to the con∣sistency of honey, may be used safely and without fear. The solution of Gold doth loosen and keep the body open, it ef∣fectually strengtheneth the stomach, heart, lungs, and liver, and other principal members: and that of silver purgeth very for∣cibly, according to the quantity given, like another purge, but without harme or danger, so that in all diseases where purging is necessary, it may be used safely from ℈i. to ʒss. but that of gold is used in a smaller quantity: and both the li∣quor of gold and of silver may very suceessfully be used exter∣nally: but because for external uses inferior metals will serve ••he turn, it is needless to use costly things thereto.

The spirit which is forced from it by distillation, is endued with great vertue: for the volatile part of the metal cometh over joyned with the spirit of Tartar, the remainder may be reduced, so as it was taught of other metals. This spirit especially that of Gold is exceeding good in the plague and other diseases, where sweating is necessary: for it driveth not onely by sweating all malignities from the heart, but also doth strengthen the same and preserveth it from all hurtful symptomes. Likewise also that of silver is very commend∣able, especially if it be first dephlegmed from its Caput Mortuum, as above was taught in the preparation of the common spirit of Tartar. For any Physitian expert in Chymistry may easi∣ly guess what the spirit of Tartar well rectified and impreg∣nated with the vertues of gold may effect, and therefore it is needless to make any further mention of it, but it shall be left to the tryal thereof.

To make a Tartarized spirit of Antimony.

CRude Antimony cannot be dissolved in such a manner as above hath been taught: but if it be first prepared into flores, or a vitrum, it yeildeth easily its vertue in boyling, and it is done thus: Take to one part of the flores or of smal ground vitrum Antimonii made per se, three parts of pure Tartar, and 12. or 15 parts of clean water, boyle the Antimony with the Tartar and water in a glased pot for three or four hours, and the evaporated water must be still supplyed with other that the Tartar may not burn for want of water, and the vitrum must be sometimes stirred about with a wooden spatula (which the flores being light do not need) This done, the Tartar water will be deep red coloured by the Antimony, and leave the remaining Antimony settled in the bottom, from which powre off the solution, and after having filtred it, eva∣porate the water from it, and then extract it once more with spirit of wine, and you will get a blood red Extractum, whereof 1. 2. 3. to 10. or 12. drops given at once, causeth gentle vomits and stooles, which may be safely used by old and young people in all diseases that have need of purging, and you need not fear any danger at all: For I know no vo∣mit, which purgeth more gently then this, and if you please you may make it work only (per inferiora) downward, so that it shall cause no vomits at all: and you need do nothing else but make a toste of brown bread, and hold it hot to your nose and mouth, and when this is almost cold, have another hot in readiness, and so use one after another by turns, till you feel no more loathing, and that the vertue of Antimony hath begun to work downward: This is a good secret for those that would use Antimonial physick, but that they are afraid of vomiting, which they are not able to endure. But if you will not spend so much paines, as to make such an Ex∣tract, then do as you was taught above to do with the cop∣per, and take ten or twelve grains of prepared Antimony for

an old body, but for a young one 5. 6▪ grains or more or less ac∣cording to the condition of the person, and ℥ss. or ʒvj. of pure Tartar, and together with ℥iiij. or ℥v. of water put it in a little pipkin, and boyle it a quarter of an houre, then poure the solution onely into a cup, and dissolve a little sugar in i••, whereby the acidity of the Tartar will be somewhat qualified. This decoctum drink warm, and keep your selfas it is fit and it will work much better, then it had been steeped over night in wine, which not every one can abide to take fasting: but this decoctum, because it tasteth like warm and sweet wine, is much pleasanter for to take.

N. B. It is to be admired, that well prepared Antimony is never taken in vaine: for although it be given in a very small quantity, so that it cannot cause either stooles or vomits, yet it worketh in sensibly, viz. it cleanseth the blood, and ex∣pelleth many malignities by sweat, so that mighty diseases may be rooted out thereby without any great sensible opera∣tion. Which many times hapned unto me, and gave me occa∣sion to think further of it: and therefore I sought how to pre∣pare Antimony so, that it might be used daily without cau∣sing of vomits or stooles, which I put in execution according∣ly, and found it good, as afterward shall follow.

Of the solution above described, viz. of the flores of An∣timony with Tartar make a good quantity, and after the eva∣poration of the water distill a spirit of it, and there will al∣so come over a black oyle, which must be separated from the spirit, and rectified per se; and externally applyed it will not onely do the same wonderful operations, which above have been ascribed to the simple oyle of Tartar, but it goeth also far beyond it, for the best essence of Antimony hath joyned it self thereunto in the distilling, and so doubled the vertue of the oyle of Tartar; and this oyle may with credit be used not onely for all podagrical tumors to allay them very readily, but also by reason of its dryness it doth consume all other tumors in the whole body, whether they be caused by winde or wa∣ter: for the volatile salt by reason of its subtlety conveigheth the vertue of Antimony into the innermost parts of the body

in a marvellous and incredible way, whereby much good can be performed in Chyrurgerie.

As for the spirit, you may not onely use it very succesfully, in the plague, pox, scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, feavers and other obstructions and corruptions of blood; but also if you put some of it into new wine or beer, and let it work with it, the wine or beer comes to be so vertuous thereby, that if it be daily used, it doth stay and keep off all diseases pro∣ceeding from superfluous humors and corrupted blood, so that neither plague, scurvy, Melancholia hypochondriaca, or any other disease of that kinde can take roote in those that daily use it, wherein no metal or mineral (except gold) can be pa∣ralleld with it: but in case you have no conveniency for to make that spirit, and yet you would willingly have such a medicinal drink made of Antimony, then take but of the solution made with Tartar, before it be distilled, and put lb i. or lb iss. of it into 18. or 20. gallons of new wine or beer, and let it work together, and the vertue of the Anti∣mony by the fermentation of the wine will grow the more volatile and efficacious to work. And if you cannot have new wine (in regard that it doth not grow every where) you may make an artificial wine of honey, sugar, peares, figs, cher∣ries or the like fruit, as in the following third part shall be taught, which may stand in stead of natural wine.

These medicinal wines serve for a sure and safe preservative, not only to prevent many diseases, but also if they have posses∣sed the body already, effectually to oppose and expel them. Also all externall open sores (which by daubing and plaste∣ring could not be remedied) by daily drinking thereof may be perfectly cured. For not only Basilius Valentinus and The∣ophrastus Paracelsus, but many more before and after them knew it very well, and have written many good things of it, which few did entertain, and (because their description was some∣what dark) most despised and diffamed them for un∣truths.

In like manner and much more may this my writing be lightly esteemed of, because I do not set down long and costly

processes, but only according to truth and in simplicity do labour to serve my neighbour, which doth not sound well in the ears of the proud world, which rather do tickle and load themselves with vaine and unprofitable processes, then hearken unto the truth; and it is no wonder, that God suffereth such men, which only look after high things, and despise small things to be held in error.

Why do we look to get our Medicines by troubling our braines, and by subtle and tedious works, whereas God through the simple nature doth teach us otherwise. Were it not better to let simple nature instruct us? surely if we would be in love with small things, we should finde great ones. But because all men do strive only for great and high things, there∣fore the small also are kept from them; and therefore it would be well, that we could fancy this maxime, that also things of small account can do something, as we may see by the Tartar and the despicable Antimony, and not only so many coles, glasses, materials, and the like, but also the preti∣ous time would not be wasted so much in preparing of medi∣caments: for all is not gold that glistereth, but oftentimes un∣der a homely coate some glorious thing is hid; which must be taken notice of.

Some may object why I do teach to joyn the Antimony first with the Tartar by the help of common water before its fer∣mentation with the wine: whether it would not be as good to put it in of it self in powder, or to dissolve it with spirit of salt (which would be easier to do then with Tartar) and so let it work? To which I answer, that the working wine or drinke, receiveth no metallical calx or solution, unless it be first ptepared with Tartar or spirit of wine. For although you dissolve Antimony, or any other metal or mineral in spirit of salt, or of vitriol, or of salt nitre, or any other acid spirit, and then think to let it work with wine or any other drink you will finde that it doth not succeed; for the acide spirit will hinder the fermentation, and let fall the dissolved metals, and so spoyle the work; and besides, Tartar may be used

among all drinks, and doth more agree with ones taste and stomach, then any corrosive spirit.

In the same manner as was taught of Antimony, other minerals and metals also may be fitly joyned with wine or o∣ther drink, & the use of such Antimonized wine is this, viz. that it be drunk at meals & betwixt meals like other ordinary drink to quench thirst, but for all that it must not be drunk in a grea∣ter quantity, then that Nature be able to bear it. For if you would drink of it immoderately, it would stir vomits, which ought not to be, for it is but only to work in an insensible way, which if it be done, it preserveth not only the body from all diseases proceeding from corrupted impure blood, as the plague, leprosie, pox, scurvy, and the like, but by reason of its hidden heat, whereby it doth consume and expel all evil and salt humors (as the Sun dryeth up a poole) by sweat and urine, & so doth unburthen the blood from all such sharpe and hurtful humors, &c. It doth not only cure the above said dis∣eases but also all open sores, ulcers, fistulaes, which by reason of the superfluity of salt humors can admit of no healing, and it doth dispatch them in a short time in a wonderful manner, and so firmely that there is no relapse to be feared.

This drink is not only good for the sick, but also for the whole (though in a smaller quantity) because that it won∣derfully cleanseth the whole body, and you need not fear the least hurt either in young or old, sick or healthy. And let no man stumble at it, that many ignorant men do diffame An∣timony and hold it to be poyson, and forbid it to be used: for if they knew it well, they would not do so: but because such men know no more, then what they get by reading or by heare-say, they pronounce a false sentence, and it might be replyed unto them, as Apelles did to the Shoe-maker: Ne ••utor ultra crepidam: but what shall we say? Non omnis fert omnia tell us. When an Ass after his death doth rot, out of the carcass there grew beetles, which can flye higher then the Ass from whence they came; In the like manner we wish it may fare with the haters of the royal Antimony, viz. that their posteri∣ty

may get seeing eyes, and what they know not, they may forbear to despise and scoffe at.

I must confess that if Antimony be not well prepared, and besides be indiscreetly used by the unskilful, that it may pre∣judice a man in his health, which even the vegetables also may do. But to reject it by reason of the abuse, would be a very unwise act: If perchance a childe should get into his hand a sharpe-edged knife, and hurt himself or others, because it doth not understand how to use a knife, should therefore the use of a knife be rejected and forbidden to those that are grown up and know how to use it? Good sharpe tooles make a good workman; so good quick working and powerful medicines make a good physitian; and the sharper the toole is, the soon∣er a stone carver or other crafts man can spoyle his work by one cut which he doth amiss: which also must be understood of powerful medicines, for if they be used pertinently in a short time more good may be done with them, then with weak medicaments in a long time. Now as a sharpe toole is not to be handled but by a good workman, so likewise a powerful medicine ought to be managed by an understanding and conscientious physitian, who according to the condition of the person and the disease knows to increase or abate the strength of the medicine, and not by such an one, as doth minister it ignorantly without making any difference at all.

Let no man marvaile, that I ascribe such great vertues unto Antimony, it being abundantly enriched with the primum ens of gold. If I should say ten times as much more of it, I should not lye. Its praise is not to be expressed by any mans tongue; for purifying of the blood, there is no mineral like unto it; for it cleanseth and purifieth the whole man in the highest de∣gree, if it be well prepared first, and then discreetly used. It is the best and next friend to gold, which by the same also is freed and purified from all addition and filth, as we said even now, of man. Every Antimony for the most part agreeth with the gold and its medicine; for out of Antimony, by the clean∣sing Art may be made firme gold, as in the fourth part shall be taught, and which is more, by a long digestion a good part

of the same is changed into gold. Whereby it is evident, that it hath the nature and property of gold and, it is better to be used for a medicine then the gold it self, because the golden vertue is as yet volatile in this, but in the other is grown fix∣ed and compacted, and may be compared to be like an old man to a young child, which you may lead whither you please. Therefore it is my advice, that in the Antimony its medicine should be sought, it being hid therein very richly, and not to trifle away time and cost in vaine and useless things.

Further note, That if you desire to contract neerer together the vertue of Antimony or any other mineral or metal, as above was taught to be done with the Tartar, you must by ex∣halation of the superfluous moystness in Balneo, reduce the solution to a honey thick liquor, and poure spirit of wine upon it for to extract, and within few dayes it will be very red; then powre it off and powre on other, and let this like∣wise extract: continue this proceeding with shifting the spirit of wine, till the spirit of wine can get no more Tincture; then put all the coloured spirit of wine together into a glass with a long neck, and digest it so long in a tepide Balneum, till the colour or best essence of Antimony be separated from the spi∣rit of wine and settled to the bottom like a blood red thick fat oyle, so that the spirit of wine is turned white againe; which is to be separated from the faire and pleasant oyle of Antimo∣ny, which is made without any corrosive, and is to be kept as a great treasure in physick. The spirit of wine retaines some∣what of the vertue of Antimony, and may be used with suc∣cess of it self both inwardly and outwardly. But the Tincture as a Panacea in all diseases acteth its part with admiration and as here mentioned of Antimony, so in the same manner all me∣tals by the help of Tartar and spirit of wine may without di∣stilling be reduced into pleasant and sweet oyles, which are none of meanest in Physick: for every knowing and skilful Chymist will easily grant, that such a metallical oyl, as with∣out all corrosives out of the gross metals is reduced into a pleasant essence, cannot be without great and singular vertue.

How to make good spirits and oyles out of Pearles, Corals, Crabs-eyes, and other light soluble stones of beasts and fishes.

TAke to one part of pearles or corals (made into fine pow∣der) three or four parts of pure Tartar, and so much water as will dissolve the Tartar by boyling; put the corals, Tartar & water together into a glass body, which must stand in sand, & give it so strong a fire, that the water boyle in the glass body with the Tartar, and may dissolve the corals. (This solution may be done also in a clean earthen pot that is glased, and the evaporated water must be supplyed with other, as above was taught to be done with the metals.) The corals being dissol∣ved, let them coole, filtrate the solution, and abstract all the moysture from it in Balneo, and there will remaine a pleasant honey-thick liquor, which may be used in Physick either of it self, or else once more extracted with spirit of wine and puri∣fied, or else distilled, as you please.

The extract or Tincture is better then the liquor, and the spirit is better then the extract or tincture: and all three may well and safely be used; they strengthen the heart and brains; especially those which are made of the pearles and corals, they expel the urine and keep the body soluble. Those of crabs eyes and of pearches and other fishes open and cleanse the pas∣sages of the urine from all slyme and impurity, and they powerfully expel the stone and gravel in the reynes and bladder.

N. B. The distilled spirit of corals being well rectified, is good for the Epilepsie, Melancholy, and Apoplexie. It ex∣pelleth and driveth out all poyson by sweating, because it is of a golden nature and quality, whereof in another place more shall be said.

To distil a spirit out of salt of Tartar and crude Tartar.

IF you take a like quantity of crude Tartar and of salt of Tartar, and dissolve it with clean water, and then evaporate the water still skimming it, till no skim more do rise, and then let it coole, there will shoote white crystals, which being distilled as common Tartar, they will yeild a purer subtler and pleasanter spirit, then the crude Tartar doth, in al to be used as above hath been taught of the simple spirit of Tartar: there∣fore it is needless here to describe its use. Before you distill a spirit thereof, you may use them in stead of Tartarus vitriola∣tus for purging, they will cause gentle stooles, and drive also the urine and stone, and are not unpleasant to take. The dose is from ℈i. to ʒi. in waters fit for your purpose. This salt dis∣solved with water purifieth metals (if they be boyled therein) and maketh them fairer then common Tartar doeth.

How to get a powerful spirit out of the salt of Tartar, by the help of pure sand or peble-stones.

IN the first part of this book I taught how to make such a spirit, but because the materials, which are to be distilled in that furnace must be cast upon quick coales, whereby the remainder is lost, and that also not every one hath the con∣veniency to set up a furnace that requireth more room then this here doth: therefore I will set down how it may be got with ease in this our present furnace, without the loss of the remainder, which is not inferior to the spirit it self, and it is done thus.

Make a faire white salt of calcined Tartar by dissolution, filtration and coagulation, pulverise that salt in a warmed morter, and add to it a fourth part of small pulverised crystal or flints or onely of fine sand, washed clean, mixe it well, and cast one spoonful thereof at once into your red-hot vessel

(which must be made of earth) and so cover it, and the mix∣ture as soon as it is red hot, will rise and boyle (like common Allome doth, when it cometh to a sudden heate) and yeild a thick white heavy spirit; and when it ceaseth to come forth, and then cast in another spoonful, and stay out the time of its settling, and then another part again, till all your mixture be cast in. When no more spirit goeth forth, then take off the lid from the distilling vessel, and with an iron ladle take out that which stayed behinde, whilest it is yet red∣hot and soft, and it will look like unto a transparant cleer white fusible glass, which you must keep from the aire, for it will dissolve in it, till I teach you what you are to do with it.

The spirit which came over, may either be kept as it is, or else rectified per arenam in a glass retort, and used in Physick; it is clean of another taste then the spirit of common salt or vitriol, for it is not so sharp; it smelleth of the flints after a sulphureous manner, and tasteth urine-like, and it is very good for those that are troubled with the goute, stone and Tisick: for it provoketh urine and sweat mightily, and (be∣cause it cleanseth and strengthneth the stomach) it also ma∣keth one have a good appetite to his Victuals. What it can do else is unknown to me as yet, but it is credible that it may act his part in many other diseases, which is left free for every one to tyre. In my opinion (since the spirit of the salt of Tartar is good to be used of it self for the stone, and that here it is strengthned by the sand, which have the signature of the stone of the Mic••ocosme) there is hardly any particular me∣dicine, which can go beyond it, but I leave every one to his own opinion and experience. Externally used it quencheth inflammations and maketh a pure skin, &c. The remainder, which I did bid you to keep, and looks like a transparent cleer glass, is nothing else but the most fixed part of the salt of Tar∣tar and flints, which joyned themselves thus in the heart, and turned to a soluble glass, wherein lyes hid a great heat and fire. As long at it is kept dry from the aire, it cannot be per∣ceived in it: but if you powre water upon it, then its secret heate will discover it self. If you make it to finde powder in

warm morter, and lay it in a moyst aire, it will dissolve & melt into a thick and fat oyle, and leave some faeces behinde. This fat liquor or oyl of flints, sand or crystal may not only be used inwardly and outwardly of it self, but also serveth to prepare minerals and metals into good medicines, or to change them into better by Chymical art. For many great secrets are hid in the contemptible peble or sand; which an ignorant and unexpert man (if they were disclosed to him) would hardly beleeve: for this present world is by the divels craft so far pos∣sessed with cursed filthy avarice, that they seek for nothing but money, but honest and ingenious sciences are not regard∣ed at all; and therefore God doth close our eyes that we can∣not see what lyeth before our eyes, and we trample upon with our feet. That worthy man Paracelsus hath given it us sufficiently to understand, when he saith in his book (con∣taining the vexations of Alchymists) that many times a despi∣cable flint cast behind a Cow is more worth then a Cow, not only because that gold may be melted out of it, but also that other inferior metals may be purified thereby, so that they are like unto the best gold and silver in all tryals; and al∣though I never got any great profit by the doing of it, yet it doth suffice me that I have seen several times the possibility and truth thereof, which in its proper place likewise shall be taught.

This liquor of the flints is of that nature toward the me∣tals, that it maketh them exceeding faire, but not so, like women do scowre their vessels of tin, copper, iron, &c. with lye and smal sand, till all filth be scoured off, and that they get a bright and faire gloss: but the metals must be dissolved therein by Chymical art, and then either after the wet or dry way digested in it for its due space of time; which Paracelsus calleth to go into the mothers wombe, and be born again: if this be done rightly, then the mother will bring forth a pure child. All metals are engendred in sand or stone, and therefore they may well be called the mother of metals, and the purer the mother is, the purer and sounder child she will bear, and among all stones there is none found purer then the peble,

crystal or sand, which are of one nature (if they be simple and not impregnated with metals:) And therefore the peble or sand is found to be the fittest bath to wash the metal withal. But he that would take this bath to be the Philosophers secret Menstruum, whereby they exalt the king unto the highest purity, would be mistaken; for their Balneum is more friend∣ly to gold by reason of its affinity with it then with other metals, but this doth easier dissolve other metals then gold. Whereby it is evident, that it cannot be Bernhards his fountaine (Bernhardi fontina) but must be held only to be a particular cleanser of metals. But omitting this and leaving it to the further practise and tryal of those that want no time nor con∣veniency for to search what may be done with it, let us take notice of the use of this liquor in physick, for which uses sake this book is written. That which hath been said, was onely done to that end, that we may observe, that we must not al∣wayes look upon dear and costly things, but that many times even in mean and contemptible things (as sand and pebles) much good is to be found.

How to extract a blood-red Tincture with spirit of wine out of the liquor of peble-stones.

IF you will extract a Tincture out of peble-stones, for use in Physick or in Alchymie, then in stead of the white take a faire yellow, green or blew peble, or flint, whether it hold fixed or volatile gold, and first with salt of Tartar distil the spirit thereof, or if you do not care for the spirit, then melt the mixture in a covered crucible into a transparent, so∣luble and fusible glass, and in a warme morter make it into fine powder; put this powder in a long necked glass, and powre upon it rectified spirit of wine (it needeth not to be de∣phlegmed, it maters not if it be but pure) let it remaine upon it in a gentle warmth, till it be turned red (the glas with the pre∣pared peble or flints must be often stirred about, that the peble be divided and the spirit of wine may be able to work upon it)

then powre off the coloured spirit of wine, and powre on o∣ther, and let this likewise turn red: this powring off and on must be iterated so often, till the spirit of wine get no more colour out of it. All the tinctured spirit of wine put toge∣ther, and abstract in a Balneum through a Limbeck from the Tincture which will remaine in the bottome of the glass body like a red juyce; which you must take out and keep for its use.

The use of the Tincture of pebles or flints in Physick.

THis Tincture if it be made of gold pebles or sand, is to be held for none of the least medicines, for it doth pow∣erfully resist all soluble Tartareous coagulations, in the hands, knees, feet, reins and bladder; and although in want of those that hold gold, it be extracted but only out of common white p••ble, it doth act its part however, though not altogether so well as the first. Let no man marvel, that sand or pebles made potable, have so great vertue; for not all things are known to all; and this Tincture is more powerful yet, if first gold have been dissolved with the liquor of pebles before the extraction. And let no man imagine that this tincture comes from the salt of Tartar (which is taken to the preparing of the oyle of sand) because that of it self also doth colour the spirit of wine for there is a great difference betwixt this Tin∣cture and that, which is extracted out of the salt of Tartar: for if you distil that of the salt of Tartar in a little glass body or retort, there will come first a cleer spirit of wine, then an unsavory phlegme, and a salt will remaine behinde, in all like unto common salt of Tartar, wherein after its calcining not the least colour appeareth, and because none came over neither, it might be questioned where it remained then?

To which I answer, that it was not a true Tincture, but only that the sulphur in the sprit of wine was exalted or graduat∣ed by the corporeal salt of Tartar, and so got a red colour,

which it loseth as soone as the salt of Tartar is taken from it, and reassumeth its former white colour: even as it hap∣neth also, when the salt of urine, or of hartshorn or soot or any other like urinous salt is digested with spirit of wine, that the spirit turneth red of it, but not lastingly, but just so as it fals out with the salt of Tartar, for if by rectification it be separated again from the spirit of wine, each (viz. both the salt and also the spirit of urine) doth recover again its former colour, whereby it appeareth, that (as above said) it was not a true Tincture. He that will beleeve it, let him dissolve but ℥i. of common white salt of Tartar in lb i. of spirit of wine, and the spirit will turn as red of it, as if it had stood a long time upon several pounds of blew or green calcined salt of Tartar; and if I had not tryed it my self several times, I should have also been of that opinion: but because I found it to be otherwise, therefore I would not omit to set down my opi∣nion: though I know I shall deserve smal thanks of some, e∣specially of those which rather will err with the greater num∣ber, then to know and confess the truth with the less num∣ber. However I do not say, that the supposed tincture of the salt of Tartar is of no vertue or useless; for I know well e∣nough that it was found very effectual in many diseases: for the purest part of the salt of Tartar hath been dissolved by the spirit of wine, it being thus coloured thereby, and there∣fore that tinctured spirit of wine may very fitly be used. But as for the Tincture, which is extracted out of the prepared pebles, it is clean of another condition: for if you abstract the spirit of wine from it, though it also cometh over white, yet there remaineth a deep tinctured salt, whose colour is lasting in the strongest fire, and therefore may be counted a true Tincture.

How by the help of this liquor out of Gold its red colour may be extract∣ed so that it remains white.

THis oyle or liquor of pebles is of such a condition, that it doth precipitate all metals which are dissolved by cor∣rosives, but not after that manner as the salt of Tartar doth; for the calx of metals which is precipitated by this liquor, (because that the pebles do mingle themselves therewith) is grown much heavier thereby, then if it had been only precipi∣tated with salt of Tartar.

For example, dissolve in Aqua Regia as much Gold as you please, and powre of this liquor upon it, till all the Gold fall to the bottome like a yellow powder, and the solution turn white and cleer, which you must powre off, and edul∣corate the precipitated Gold with sweet water, and then dry it (as you was taught to do with the Aurum fulminans) and you need not fear that it will kindle and fulminate in the drying, as it useth to do, when it is precipitated with salt of Tartar or spirit of urine, but you may boldly dry it by the fire, and it will look like yellow earth, and will weigh as heavy again as the Gold did weigh before the solution; the cause of which weight are the peble stones, which did precipitate themselves together with the Gold. For the Aqua Regia by its acidity hath mortified the salt of Tartar, and robbed it of its vertues so, that it could not choose but let fall the assumed pebles or sand: on the other side, the salt of Tartar which was in the liquor of pebles, hath annihilated the sharpeness of the Aqua Regia, so that it could not keep the dissolved gold any longer whereby both the gold and the pebles are freed from their dissolver.

This edulcorated and dryed yellow powder put into a clean crucible, and set it between live coals, that it begin to be red hot, but not long, and the yellow will be changed into the fairest purple colour, which is pleasant to behold, but if you let it stand longer, then the purple colour vanisheth, and it

turns to a brown and brick colour: and therefore if you de∣sire to have a faire purple coloured gold, you must take it off from the fire, as soon as it is come to that colour, and let it not stand any longer, else it loseth that colour again.

This faire gold-powder may be used by the rich (which are able to pay for it) from ℈i. to ʒss. in convenient vehicles; and in all diseases, where sweating is need••ul: for besides the provoking of sweat, it comforteth not onely the heart, but also by the vertue of the peble it expelleth the stone in the reines and bladder (if it be not grown to the height of hardness) like sand together with the urine: so that it may be safely used as well to prevent, as to cure the plague, gout and stone.

How to make further out of this purple coloured gold a soluble Ruby for medicinal use, shall be taught in the fourth part: for in regard that it must be done by a strong fire in a crucible, it doth not belong hither, but to its pro∣per place, where other like medicaments are taught to be made.

If you will extract the colour out of this precipitated gold, then powre upon it (before it be put into the fire for to calcin) of the strongest spirit of salt, and in a gentle heat the spirit will dissolve part of the gold, which will be much fairer and deeper in colour then if it had been done with Aqua Regia: upon this solution powre five or six times as much of dephlegmed spirit of wine, and digest both together its due time, then by the digestion of a long time part of the Gold will fall out of the solution to the bottome like a faire white powder, which may be reduced with Borax or salt nitre and Tartar; it is white like silver and as heavy as other gold, and may easily get its colour again by the help of Antimony. The residue out of which the white gold is faln, viz. the spirit of salt mingled with the spirit of wine, must be abstracted from the Tincture, and there will remaine a plea∣sant sowre liquor coloured by the gold, upon the bottome of the glass body, which is almost of the same vertue, which

above hath been ascribed to other tinctures of the gold. E∣specially this liquor of gold strengthneth the heart, braine and stomach.

N. B. Sometimes there comes over with the spirit of wine a little red oyle, which the strong spirit of salt hath separa∣ted from the spirit of wine, and it is impregnated with the Tincture of gold. It is an excellent cordial, few are found like unto it, whereby weak people decayed by sickness or age may be kept alive a long time, they taking daily some drops of it, who else for want of the humidum radicale would be forced to exchange their life for death.

Here some body may ask, whether this Tincture is to be counted or taken for a true Tincture of gold; or whether there be another better to be found?

To which I answer, that though many hold it to be such, and I my self do call it so here, yet that after due examination it will not prove to be such: for although some vertue is taken from the gold by this way, yet it doth stil keep its life, though it be grown weak and pale, because it can so easily recover its former sound colour by a contemp∣tible mineral: if its true Tincture or soul were gone from it, surely an inferior mineral could not restore it to life, but of necessity there would be required such a thing for to do it, which hath not onely so much, as it hath need of for itself, but hath a transcendent power to give life unto dead things. As we may see by a man or any sensible beast, that if they have lost their vigor by adversities, in that no life more is perceived in them, yet by medicines fit for the purpose, they may be refreshed and brought to their former health, so that their former disease appeareth no more in them; but if their soul be once gone, the dead body can by no medicines be re∣stored unto life again, but must remaine dead so long, till he in whose power it is to give and to take life, have mercy up∣on it. So likewise it is to be understood of the gold, when its colour is taken from it, and yet its life is left, which by the help of Antimony, being its medicine, as also by the help of iron or copper can be restored unto it so that it recovereth its

former faire colour, so that you cannot see at all, that it ailed any thing before. But if its life be gone from the body, it is impossible for any ordinary metal or mineral to restore it to life, but it must be done by such a thing, which is more then Gold it self hath been: for even as a living man cannot give life unto a dead man, but God must do it, who hath created man, so Gold cannot restore to dead gold the life which hath been taken from it, and how could it then be done by an un∣fixt mineral? but there is required a true Philosopher for to do it, such a one as hath good knowledge of gold and its composition.

Now as we heard that like cannot help its like, but he that shall help must be more then he that looks for help from him; Hence it is evident that the Tincture, whose remaining body (from which it is taken) is still gold, can be no true Tin∣cture; for if it shall be a true Tincture, it must consist in its three principles, and how can it consist therein, the body from whence it came being yet alive, and possessing indivisi∣bly all its three principles? How can a mans soul be taken from him, and yet the body live still? some will say, that for all that, this may be counted a true tincture, although the body still remaine gold, and have kept its life: even as man may spare some blood out of his body, which though it will make him somewhat pale, yet he liveth still, and the lost blood may be supplyed again by good meat and drinke. But what lame and senseless objecti∣ons are these? who would be so simple as to think, that a handful of blood may be compared to a mans life? I believe no wise man will do it. Although life goeth forth with the blood, yet the blood is not the life it self; else the dead could be raised thereby, if a cup full of it were poured into a dead body; but where was such a thing ever heard or seen? With such groundless opinions some did presume to censure the truth, set down in my treatise de Auro Potabili vero, saying, Geber and Lullius were also of opinion, that a true tincture can be extracted out of gold, the same nevertheless remain∣ing good gold: but it may be asked, what it hath lost then

for to yeild a true Tincture, since it remained good gold? Here no body will be at home for to answer I doubt. What are the writings of Geber or Lully to me? what they have writ∣ten I do not despise, they were highly enlightned and expe∣rienced Philosophers, and would defend their writings suf∣ficiently, if they were alive: and what I write, I am also able to maintain.

Do those men think, that the writings of Geber and Lully are to be understood according unto the bare letter? shew me a tincture of gold which was made by the writings of Geber or Lully? if it were so, then every idiot or novice, that could but read Latine, would not only by their writings be able to make the Tincture of gold, but also the Philosophers-stone it self, whereof they have written at large; which doth not follow, because it is seen by daily experience, that the most worldly learned men spent many yeers, and have been at vast charges, and taken great paines and studied in their books day and night, and found not the least thing in them.

Now if such Philosophers were to be understood literally, doubtless there would not be so many poor decayed Alchy∣mists. Therefore the writings of such worthies are not to be understood according to the letter, but according to the my∣stical sense hid under the letter.

But because the truth is eclipsed in their books by so many seducing and sophistical processes, there will hardly any man be able to pick it out from so many seducements, unless a light from God be given to him first, whereby he may be able so to peruse the darke writings of those men, that he know how to separate the parabolical speeches from those that are true in the letter it self: or if an honest godly Chymist by the grace of God in his labours do hit upon the right steps, and yet do doubt, whether he be in the right way or no, then by reading of good and true Philosophers books, he may at last learn out of them the firme and constant truth: else hardly any ones desire may be obtained out of their books, but rather after the pretious time spent, means and health wasted, a man shall be forced to fall a begging at last.

In like manner, if the true tincture be taken from copper the rest is no more a metal, nor by any Art or force of fire can be reduced to a metallical substance.

N B. But if you leave some tincture in it, then it may be reduced into a brittle gray body, like unto iron but brittle.

Another way to extract a good Tincture out of gold by the help of the liquor of sand or pebles.

TAke of that gold calx (which was precipitated with the oyle of sand) one part, and three or four parts of the li∣quor of crystals or of sand, mix the gold calx in a good cru∣cible with the liquor, and set this mixture into a gentle heat so that the moystness may evaporate from the oyle of sand which is not easily done; for the peble or sand, by reason of their dryness keep and hold the moysteness, and will not let it go easily; it riseth in the pot or crucible, as borax or Allome doth when you cal••ine them; therefore the crucible must not be filled above half, that the liquor together with the gold may have roome enough, and do not run over the pot: and when it riseth no more, then strengthen the fire, till the pot be red-hot. The mixture standing fast, put a lid upon it, which may close well, that no coals, ashes or other impuritie may fall into it, and give it so strong fire in a winde furnace, that the liquor together with the gold-calx may melt like water; keep it melting so long, till the liquor and gold together be like unto a transparent faire ruby, which will be done in an houres time or thereabouts; then powre it forth into a clean copper morter, let it coole, and then make it into powder, and powre spirit of wine upon it for to ex∣tract, which will look like unto thin blood: and it will prove more effectual in the use, then the above described Tin∣cture.

The residue from which the Tincture is extracted, must be boyled with lead, and precipitated and driven off as you do oares, and you will get the remaining gold, which went not

into the spirit of wine: but it is very pale and turned like unto silver in colour, which if it be melted through Antimo∣ny, it recovereth its former colour without any considerable loss in the weight. How the melting in crucibles, and boy∣ling of the remaining gold is to be done shall be more pun∣ctually set down in the fourth part, I know several other fine processes, for to extract the colour easily out of the gold, but because the gold must be first made fit for it by melting in the crucible, and that it is not pertinent to speak of that opera∣tion here in this second part, therefore▪ it shall be reserved for the fourth, where you shall be informed at large, not onely how to prepare gold, Antimony and other minerals, and make them fit for extraction, but also how to reduce them into a transparent, soluble and fire-proof ruby (which are none of the meanest medicines) and as it was done here with the gold, so you may proceed likewise with other metals and minerals for to extract their colours. And therefore being needless to describe each metals tincture by it self, all the pro∣cesses of them shall be disclosed in one, viz. in that of the gold. The book would grow too big, if I should describe them severally, which I count needless to do. Let this suffice for this second part, that we be taught▪ how to extract out of the gold its colour after a common way. Which indeed are good medicines, but for ought I know of no use in Alchymie. But he that seeketh to have a true Tincture out of the gold, let him endeavor first to destroy the gold by the universal Mer∣cury, and to turn the inside outward, and the outside inward, and proceed further according unto art, then the soul of gold will easily joyn it self with the spirit of wine, and come to be a good medicine, whereof more in my treatise de auro potabili is handled. If one know the Chalybs of Sandivogius, which is well to be had, he might with little labour quickly get a good medicine: but because we shew our selves still ungrateful children unto God, therefore it is no marvel, that he withdraw∣eth his hand from us, and leaveth us in errors.

What further may be done with the liquor of pebles.

MAny more profitable things, as well in Alchymie, as in medicine may be compassed by the oyle of sand: as for example, to make faire painting colours out of metals, which abide in all Elements: Also to frame all sort of transparent hard stones out of crystal, which in beauty are like unto the natural, yea fairer sometimes: also how to make many fair Amauses and the like profitable arts: but they belonging not to this second part, shall be reserved for the fourth, where all such shall be taught very punctually with all the circumstan∣ces thereunto relating.

How by the help of this liquor to make trees to grow out of metals; with their colours.

Although this process in Physick may be of no great use: yet in regard that to a Chymical Physitian it gives good information of the con∣dition of natural things, and their change. I thought it not amiss to set it down here.

TAke of the above described oyle made of sand pebles or crystals as much as you please, mixe therewith a like quantity of the lixivium of Tartar, shake both well together, so that the thick liquor may not be perceived in the lixivium, but be throughly incorporated therewith, both being turned to a thin solution, and then your water is prepared, wherein the metals do grow.

The metals must be first dissolved in their proper corrosive Menstruum, and the Menstruum must be quite abstracted from thence again, but not too hard, that the calx of the metal may not grow red-hot, whereby its growing vertue would be taken from it. Then take it out of the little glass-body, and break it in peeces about the bigness of a pulse, and lay them

in the above described liquor in a cleer bright glass, that the growing of the metals may be discerned through it, and as soon as the prepared metals are taken out of the glass body, they must be kept from the aire, else th y lose their growing vertue. Therefore thus drye they must be broken in peeces, and laid in the bottome of the glass (where∣in the liquor is) a fingers breadth one from another asunder, and must not be laid together on a heap: The glass must stand still in a quiet place, and the metal will presently swell in it and thrust forth some bulks, out of which branches and twigs do grow, so finely that one shall admire at it: and let none think that this growing serveth onely for to please the eye, for some speciall thing is hid in it: for all sand or pebles, al∣though they be white, invisibly containeth a hidden tincture or goldish sulphur, which none without experience will be able to believe; for if for a time you digest the pure filings of lead in it, there will gold come to stick to the outside thereof (which gold may be washed off with water) and lead will look as if it were gilded. Which gold came from no where else but from sand or pebles, although they were white and clear, so that it could not be perceived in them It sheweth also its meliorating vertue, when the metals do grow there∣in, and for a certain space of time are digested therewith. For it may be seen apparently, that the metals in the growing do increase from this liquor, and attract what is for their turn; which hence also may be perceived, that when but as much as the bigness of a pea groweth therein, it will grow twice or thrice as big, which is worthy to be considered of. Also the pebles or sand-stones are the natural matrixes of me∣tals, and there appeareth a great sympathy between them, e∣specially between the unripe metals and them; as if nature should say to such raw or unripe metals, return into thy mo∣thers wombe, and stay there the due time, till you have attain∣ed there to perfect ripeness, for you were taken thence too soon against my will. Further out of this liquor there may be made a good borras to reduce the metals thereby. There may be made also with this liqour faire glased and firme colours

upon earthen vessels like unto Porcellan or China. Also by boyling it with water, a tender impalpable snow-white earth may be precipitated out of it, whereof there can be made ves∣sels like unto Porcellan.

Many other useful things may be brought to pass thereby in mechanical businesses, needless here to relate.

Also the unripe and volatile minerals may be tyed and ripened thereby, so that not only they may be the fitter to be used in Physick, but also the volatile gold and silver contain∣ted in them may be saved thereby, whereof more in the fourth part.

N. B. Hither belongs also the process of the spirit of lead, virgins-milk and Dragons blood.

Of the spirit of urine and of the volatile spirit of salt Armoniack.

OUt of urine or salt Armoniack a powerful and penetra∣ting spirit may be made several wayes, which not only is to be used in physick for many diseases, but is also found very useful in mechanical and Chymical operations, as followeth.

Take of the urine of sound men living chaste gather a good quantity together in a wooden vessel, let it stand for its time to putrefie, and distil a spirit thereof, which afterward in a great glass retort with a wide neck must be rectified over cal∣cined Tartar, and still that which cometh over first, may be saved by it self, and so the second and third also▪ the strong∣est may be used for the preparing of metallical medicines and the weaker for a medicine alone by it self, or else mingled with fit vehicles: and the stronger may serve for the prepara∣tions of metallical medicines: the salt which in the rectifica∣tion cometh over with the strongest spirit; may be put to the weakest, to make it the stronger, or else it may be saved by it selfe in a good strong glass.

But because the spirit of urine is tedious to make, therefore I will shew, how to get it easier out with salt Armoniack. The preparation is thus:

Take of salt Armoniack, and lapis calaminaris, ana, make each

by it self into powder, and then mixe them together, and cast of it into the red hot vessel at once no more then ℥ss. or ℥i. Unto the vessel there must be applyed a great receiver: for this spirit goeth with such a force and power, that it were impos∣sible to distil it in a retort without danger or loss, for I broke more then one receiver with it, before I did invent this instru∣ment. The spirits being wel settled in the receiver, cast in more of your mixture; this continue so long till all your matter is cast in; then take off the receiver, and powre the spirit into a strong glass, which must be well closed at the top, but not with wax and a bladder, because it softeneth the wax and doth penetrate through the bladder; but first stop it with paper, then melt Lacca or sulphur and powre it upon it, so that it come to be very well closed, and then it will not be able to exhale, or thou mayest get such glasses made, as in the fifth part shall be taught, for to keep all the subtle spirits in them, for more security sake. And this spirit if no water have been mixt with it in the receiver needeth no rectifying: but he that will have it stronger yet, may rectifie it through a glass retort, and so keep it for use.

And this is the best way to make a strong spirit out of salt Armoniack: the same may be done also, by taking of filed Zinck, in stead of lapis calaminaris: also by adding of salt of Tartar, salt made of the Lee of wood ashes, unquencht lime, and the like: but the spirit is nothing neer so strong (al∣though all those things may be done with it, that are done with the former) as that which is made with lapis calaminaris or Zinck.

The process or the manner of making it is this.

TAke lb i. of salt Armoniack made into powder, and as much of salt of Tartar, mixe both together by the help of a lye made of Tartar, or only with common water, so that all come to be like a pap, and cast in one spooneful there∣of at once, into a distilling vessel, then cast in more till you have spirit enough.

N. B. The salt of Tartar may also be mixed drye with the salt Armoniack without any lye or water, and so distilled: but it is not so good, as when the mixture is tempered with lye or water: for if it be cast in dry, the spirit will come over in the form of a volatile salt: but if the mixture have been moystened, then most part thereof will come over like a fiery burning spirit: in like manner also the mixture of lyme and salt Armoniack may be tempered moist, and it will yield more spirit then if it be distilled dry.

It may be asked: why lapis calaminaris, Zinck and unquencht lyme, calcined Tartar, salt of pot-ashes, fixed salt nitre or the like things prepared by the fire, must be added unto salt Armo∣niack, and whether it be not as good to add some bolus, or o∣ther earth▪ (as usually is done to other salts) and so to distill a spirit of it? To which I answer, that there are two sorts of salts in salt Armoniack, viz. a common acide salt, and a vola∣tile salt of urine, which without mortifying of one of them, cannot be separated: for as soon as they feel the heat, the vo∣latile salt of urine carrieth the acid salt upwards, and they both together yeild a sublimate, of the same nature and es∣sence with common salt Armoniack which is not sublimed, salt Armoniack is purer then the common. And no spirit would come over from it, if it should be mingled with bole, brick, dust, sand, or any other strengthless earth, and so di∣stilled, but the whole salt as it is of it self (leaving its earthy substance behinde) would sublime thus dry: but that it falleth out otherwise with the lapis calaminaris (which is also like an earth) so that a separation of the salts is wrought thereby, and a volatile spirit commeth over, the reason is that the lapis ca∣laminaris and Zinck are of such a nature, that they have a great affinity with all acid things, and do love them, and are loved by them likewise (whereof some mention hath been made in the first part) so that the acide salt sticks to it in the warmth and uniteth it self with it, and the salt volatile is made free, and distilled into a subtle spirit; which could not have been done, if the acide salt had not been kept back by the lapis calaminaris or Zinck. But that a spirit is distilled off by

addition of fixed salts, the reason is because that fixed salts are contrary unto acid salts, and (if they get the upperhand) do kill the same, and rob them of their strength, whereby those things which are mixed with them are freed from their bond: and so it fals out here with salt Armoniack, that when by addition of a vegetable fixd salt the acidity of the salt Ar∣moniack is killed, the salt of urine, which formerly was bound therewith, gets its former freedom and strength, and sublimated turnes into a spirit. Which could not have been done, if common salt had been added to the salt Armoniack in stead of salt of Tartar; for the salt of urine would there∣by (as by a far greater enemy be killed and kept back, so that it could yield no spirit. I thought it fit to give notice hereof to the ignorant (not for those, who knew it before) and to the unknowing it will do much good, and that they may have a light for other labours: for I have many times seen, and see i•• still by daily experience, that the most part of your vulgar Chymists, whatsoever they do (having got it either by read∣ing, seeing or hearing) they hurle it over like botchers, and are not able to give any solid reason, why this or that must fall out in such or another manner, not labouring to finde out the natures and conditions of salts, minerals and other ma∣terials, but contenting themselves onely with the Receipt, say∣ing this or that Author hath written so, and therefore it must be so, whereas many times such books are patcht up out of all sorts of authors. And those that stick to so many books, will hardly ever come to get any good, but are lead out of one Labyrinth into another, spending their life miserably in watching and cares: but if they would first seriously consider things, and learn to know nature, and then take their worke in hand, then they would sooner attaine unto true know∣ledge; and so much of this matter by the way. I hope that he that hath been in error will be pleased with it, and the knowing will not grudge to have it imparted to the ig∣norant.

That which remaines after the distillation is done, is also good for use; if the addition have been of salt of Tartar, a

melting powder may be made of it, to reduce metals. Of lapis calaminaris or Zinck, yeilds per deliquium a clear, white and heavy sharpe oyle; for the sharper part of salt Armoniack, which did not turn to spirit, hath dissolved the lapis calamina∣ris, and is almost of the same vertues for external use in Chy∣rurgury with that, which above in the first part which was taught to be made out of lapis calaminaris and spirit of salt, save onely that this in the distilling doth not yeild so strong a spirit as the other, but onely yeilds a sharpe sublimate.

Of the use and vertue of the spirit of salt Armoniack.

THis spirit is of a sharppenetrating essence, and of an airie, moyst and warm nature; and therefore may with credit be used in many diseases, 8. 10. 12. (more or less) drops thereof used in a convenient vehicle, doe immediately pene∣trate all the body over, causing suddaine sweating, opening the obstructions of the spleen, and dispersing and expelling many malignities by sweat and urine, it cureth the quartane, colick, the suffocation of the Matrix, and many more diseases.

In brief, this spirit is a safe, sure and ready medicine for to disperse and expel all tough, gross and venemous humors. Also, this spirit acteth his part externally, quenching all in∣flammations, curing the Erysipelas and Grangrene; it allayeth the pains of the gout, clothes being dipt in it and applied: and although it draw blisters, it matters not; laid to the pulse, it is good in ardent feavers, it asswageth swellings and paines; discusseth congealed blood, helpeth strayned limbs, and be∣nummed nerves: onely smelled unto it cureth the me∣grim and other Chronical diseases of the head: for it dissol∣veth the peccant matter & evacuateth it through the nostrils; it restoreth the lost hearing, being externally laid on with a little instrument fit for the purpose. Also in the obstructions of womens courses applyed by a fit instrument in a spiritual way, openeth presently and cleanseth the wombe and maketh

women fruitful, &c. Mingled with common water, and h••••d in the mouth, asswageth the tooth-ach, proceeding from sharp humors which are faln into the teeth. A little of it applyed in a glister, killeth the wormes in the body, and allayeth the colick.

This spirit can also further be used to many other things, especially by means thereof many pretious and effectual me∣dicaments may be made out of metals and minerals, whereof some shall be described as followeth.

N. B. There is yet another matter, which is found every where and at all times, and is to be got by every one without distillation and charges, and is as good for the abovesaid dis∣eases, as the distilled spirit, and if all men knew it, there would not be found every where so many sick people, nor so many Doctors and Apothecaries.

To distil a blood red oyle of vitriol by the help of the spirit of urine.

DIssolve Hungarian or other good vitriol in common wa∣ter, and let it run through a filtring paper, powre of this spirit upon it so much, till all the green be vanisht, and the water be made cleer, and a yellow sulphur be settled: then powre off the cleere, and the rest which is muddy, powre to∣gether in a filtrum, that the moysture may run off, and the earth of the vitriol remaine in the paper, which you must dry, and distil to a blood-red oyle, which will open the ob∣structions of the whole body, and perfectly cure the epilepsie. The cleere water must be evaporated dry, and there will re∣maine a salt, which being distilled, yields a wonderful spirit. Before it be distilled, it is a specificum purgans, whereof 8. 10. 12. to 24. grains taken, may safely be used in all dis∣eases.

The tincture of Vegetables.

SPices, seeds or flowers being extracted therewith and di∣gested and distilled, the essence of them will come over with it, in the form of a red oyle.

Vitriol of copper.

IF you powre it upon calx of copper, made by firing and quenching it againe, it will extract within an houres time a faire blew colour, and having dissolved as much there∣of as it could, powre it off and let it shoote in a cold place, and you will get a fair sky coloured vitriol, a smal quanti∣ty whereof will cause strong vomits; the rest of the vitriol re∣maineth a blew oyle, good to be used in ulcers.

The Tincture of crude Tartar.

IF you take common crude Tartar, and powre of this spirit upon it, and set it in digestion, the spirit will extract a blood-red Tincture, and if the spirit be abstracted from it, there will remaine a pleasant red oyle, of no small vertue and power.

To make the oyles or liquors of salts.

THis spirit also dissolveth crystals and other stones, they be∣ing first dissolved, precipitated and reduced to impalpable powders, turning them into oyles and liquors, good to be used in Alchymy and Physick.

To precipitate all metals with it.

ANy metal being dissolved in an acid spirit can be precipitated better and purer therewith, then with the liquor of the salt of Tartar; for Aurum fulminans which is

precipitated with it fulminateth far stronger then if it were done with oyle of Tartar.

℞. Some juyce of Lemon with the solution of gold, before it be precipitated, and then not all the gold will precipitate, but some of it will remaine in the solution, and in time ma∣ny small green stones (not unlike unto common vitriol) will appear; which in a small dose will purge all noxious hu∣mors.

The oyle and vitriol of silver.

IF you dissolve silver in Aqua fortis, and powre so much of this spirit into it till it ceaseth to make a noyse, some of the silver will precipitate in the form of a black powder, the rest of the silver remaineth in the liquor: the phlegme abstracted from it in Balneo, till it get a skin at the top, and then set into a coole place, there will grow white cry∣stals in it, which being taken out and dryed are a good purge in madness, dropsie, feavers and other diseases, safely and without danger to be used to young and old. The rest of the liquor which did not crystallise may be extracted with spirit of wine, and the saeces being cast away the extraction will be pleasanter. The spirit of wine abstracted from it, there will remaine a medicine of no small value in all diseases of the braine.

To extrast a red Tincture out of Antimony or common sulphur.

BOyle sulphur or Antimony made into powder in a lye of the salt of Tartar, till the lye turn red, and powre this spirit upon it, and distil gently in a Balneum, and there will come over a faire Tincture with the volatile spirit, silver anoynted therewith will be guilt, though not lastingly. It serveth for all diseases of the lungs.

How to ripen Antimony and common sulphur, so that several sorts of such smels, as vegetables have, arise from thence.

DIssolve Antimony or sulphur in the liquor of pebles or sand, coagulate the solution to a red mass; upon this mass powre spirit of urine, and let it extract in a gentle warmth. The spirit being coloured red, powre it off, and powre on o∣ther spirit, let it extract likewise, and this you must iterate so often, till the spirit will extract no more tincture; then powre all the extracts together and abstract the spirit of urine from it in Balneum through a limbeck, and there will remaine a blood red liquor, and if you powre upon this spirit of wine it will extract a fairer tincture then the former was, leaving the saeces behinde, and this tincture smelleth like garlick: and if it be digested three or four weeks in a gentle warmth, it will get a very pleasant smel, like unto the yellow prunes or plums: and if it remaine longer yet in digestion, it will get a smel not inferior to musk and ambar; This Tincture having been di∣gested a long time, and got several smels, is not only notably by the fire increased in pleasantness of smel and taste, but also in vertue: for so many and various sweet smels are perceived in it, that it is to be admired, which variety and exaltation proceedeth onely from the pure and ripening spirit of urine for there is hid in it a fire, which doth not destroy but preserve and graduate all colours, whereof in another place more shall be said.

N. B. Betwixt the spirit of urine and the animal and mi∣neral Copper there appeareth a great sympathy; for it doth not onely love copper above all other metals, and mingleth easily with it, and maketh it extraordinary faire and of good use in Physick, but it prepareth it also to such a medicine, whereby all venereous sores (both by inward and outward use) how deep so ever they took roote in the blood, without the use of any other medicaments, are perfectly cured; it maketh fruitful and barren according as it is used; it clean∣seth the matrix, hindreth the rising thereof, and miraculously

furthereth womens courses that have been stayed, above all other medicamenes of what name so ever.

If this spirit be mingled with the volatile (but not corro∣sive) spirit of vitriol or common salt there will come a salt out of it, which is inferior to none in fusibleness, and useful both in Alchymy and Physick.

N. B. The liquor of the salt of Tartar, and the spirit of wine do not mixe without water, this being the mean parta∣king of both their natures, and if you add unto it spirit of urine it will not mingle but keep its own place: so that these three sorts of liquors, being put in the same glass, and though they be shaked never so much will not encorporate for all that: the liquor of the salt of Tartar keepeth to the bottome, next to it will be the spirit of urine, and on the top of that is the spirit of wine: and if you powre a distilled oyle upon it, they will keep uppermost of all, so that you may keep four sorts of liquors in one glass, whereof none is ming∣led with the other.

Although this be of no great profit, yet it serveth for to learn thereby the difference of spirits.

Of the spirit and oyle of Hartshorn.

TAke Hartshorn, cut it with a saw into peeces, of the big∣ness of a finger, and cast in one of it at a time in the a∣foresaid distilling vessels, and when the spirits are fettled, then another; and continue this untill you have spirits e∣nough; and the vessel being filled with the peeces that were carryed in, take them out with the tongs, and cast in others, and do this as often as is needful. The distilling being fini∣shed, take off the receiver, and powre into it dephlegmed spirit of wine, which will cleanse the volatile salt: powre the oyle with the spirit and salt volatile through a filtring paper made wet first & lying in a glass funnel, and the spirit of wine toge∣ther with the spirit of Hartshorn and the volatile salt will run through the paper, and the blackish oyle will stay behinde, but it must quickly be powred out, else it will through after

them. The spirit together with the volatile salt rectifie through a retort, and the best part of the spirit will come o∣ver together with the spirit of wine and volatile salt: and when the phlegme is coming, take off the spirit, which is come over, that the naughty phlegme may not come amongst it; keep it wel, for it is very volatile, the oyle may be mingled with salt of Tartar, and rectified through a glass retort, and so it wil be cleer; if you will have it fairer, you must rectifie it with spirit of salt.

The first, which is done with salt of Tartar, is of more vertue; it cureth the quartane, proveketh sweating extream∣ly, cureth all internal wounds and pains, which were caused by fals, blows, or other wayes: 6. or 8. 10. to 20. drops of it taken in wine and sweated upon it in the bed. The spirit is very good for all obstructions of the whole body, from ℈ss. to ʒss. thereof taken in a fit vehicle, provoketh urine, and forceth down womens courses, it cleanseth the blood and maketh sweat mightily. In the Plague, Pox, Leprosie, Scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, malignant feavers and the like where sweating is necessary, it proveth a rare medicine.

To make the spirit of mans haire an excellent medicine.

AFter the same manner you may make spirits out of all kinde of horns and claws of beasts: but since by reason of their ill smel the use of them is not liked of (though in se∣veral heavy diseases, as in the fits of the mother and Epilepsie, they do admirably well:) therefore I will acquiesce. How∣ever it is worth observing, that the spirit made of mans▪haire is not to be rejected in metallical operations; for it dissolveth the common sulphur, and reduceth it into a milk, which by further ripening may be turned into blood, the like whereun∣to no spirit is able to do. The same spirit may also of it self, without addition of sulphur be fixed into a ruby; but that which is ripened with sulphur is the better: and if it be brought so far by the fire, that it have lost its stink and be made fixe,

then it will be able sufficiently to pay for the paines and coals bestowed upon it.

N. B. Hither belongeth the Process to powre dissolved metals upon filed hartshorn, and so to distil them.

Of the oyle of Ambar.

AMbar yeildeth a very pleasant oyle and of great vertue, especially the white Ambar: the yellow is not so good and the black is inferior to this: for by reason of its impuri∣ty it cannot be well used inwardly: and there cometh over al∣so along with it a volatile salt and an acid water, which must be separated: the water (for ought that I know) is of little vertue: the salt if it be sublimed from the salt of Tartar and purified, is a good diuretick, and in the stone and the Gout, and may successefully be used both inwardly and outwardly. The oyle if it be rectified, especially that which comes over first, is an excellent medicine against the plague, epilepsie, ri∣sing of the mother and megrim, 6. 8. 10. to 20. drops being taken thereof at once, and the nostrils also being anoynted therewith for to smel to it: and it is to be observed, that when it is rectified through spirit of salt, it proveth much cleerer, then done by it self without addition: but if it be rectified with salt of Tartar, it is of much more vertue: though it fall not so cleer, as that which is done by spirit of salt.

N. B. If it be rectified over a strong Aqua Regia having be∣fore once already been rectified with spirit of salt, it will turn so subtle, that it is able to dissolve iron or copper in some sort, and to reduce them into good medicines: and in this se∣cond rectification by Aqua Regia all will not come over, but part of it will be coagulated by the corrosive water, so that it turneth thick, like unto mastick, which in the warmth is soft, and may be handled with ones fingers like wax: but in the cold it is so hard, that it may be broken and made into powder, and glistereth like gold.

Of the oyle of soot.

OF the soot, which is taken from Chimneys, where no∣thing is burnt else but wood, there may be distilled a sharp volatile salt and a hot oyle. The salt is in vertue not unlike unto that which is made of hartshorn or ambar; and it quen∣cheth inflammation, from what cause so ever it do proeeed: The oyle may without rectification externally be used very successefully for all loathsome scabs and for a scald head, &c. But if it be rectified, as hath been taught to be done with the oyle of Tartar, of Ambar, and of Hartshorn; then it may safely used inwardly, as the above written oyles are used; for it be doeth prove, as good as these, yea better in some special cases.

How to make a good oyle out of soot without distilling.

BOyle the soot in common water, till the water turn blood-red (urine is better then water) and set this solu∣tion (being in an earthen pot) in winter time into the greatest frost so long till all in the pot be frozen into one peece and turned white: then brake the pot and the ice, and in the midst thereof you will finde the hot oyle unfrozen and liquid in colour like blood, which is not much inferior in vertue un∣to that which is distilled, yet afterward it may be rectified, and so exalted in its vertue, when you please, and is to be no∣ted, that this separation doeth only succeed in the greatest frost and cold, and not else.

Of the spirit and oyle of haney.

OF honey there may be made a subtle spirit and a sowre vinegar, if it be mingled with twice as much of pure cal∣cined sand and so distilled; and it falleth muchbetter yet if it be made with the flores of Antimony, which were taught to be made in the first part, whereby the spirit is increased in its

vertue, and its running over hindred thereby; and so distilling it, there will come over a pleasant spirit, a sharp vinegar and some red oyle also, which must be separated: the spirit after the rectification inwardly used is good in all diseases of the lungs. It openeth and enlargeth the breast, strengthneth the heart, takes away all obstructions of the liver and spleen: it dissolveth and expelleth the stone, resisteth all putrefaction of the blood; preserveth from and cureth the plague; all agues, dropsies, and many other diseases, daily used from ℈j. to ʒj. taken with distilled water proper for the diseases: the sowre vinegar coloureth haire and nayles as yellow as gold: it cureth the itch and scabs of the skin; it cleanseth and healeth old and new wounds, they being bath∣ed and washed therewith.

The red oyle is too strong to be used of it self, it may be mingled with the subtle spirit which came over first and so used, and the spirit will be exalted thereby in its vertue.

Of the oyle and spirit of sugar.

IN the same manner as hath been taught of honey, there is also made a spirit and oyle of sugar, viz. adding pure sand to it; or (which is better) of the flores of Antimony, and then according to the rules of Art one spoonful after the o∣ther of this mixture cast in, it will yeild a yellow spirit, and a little red oyle, which after the distillation must be digested in Balneo so long together, till the spirit have assumed the oyle and be turned thereby very red colour; it needeth not to be rectified, but may daily be used either by it self, or with such vehicles as are proper for your purpose: in all it is like in vertue unto that which was made of honey: yet this of sugar is more pleasant then the other: it reneweth and resto∣eth all the blood in man, in regard that it received great ver∣tue from the diaphoretical flores of Antimony; and this spirit may fitly be used in all diseases, it can do no hurt, neither in cold nor hot diseases: it doth help nature mightily, and doth so much good, that it is almost beyond belief. Especially if

for a time it be daily used from ℈j. to ʒj. The residue of it is black, and may be kept for the same use again, viz. for an ad∣dition to other honey or sugar, or else you may sublime it again into flores in the furnace described in the first part, or in the furnace described in the fourth part of this book with an addition of iron or Tartar or salt nitre into a Regulus, &c.

To distil an excellent spirit and a blood red tincture of corals and sugar.

IF you mix sugar with red corals made into powder and di∣stil it, there will besides the spirit come over a blood-red Tincture like a heavy oyle, which is to be joyned with the spi∣rit by digestion in Balneo, and it will be as vertuous as that which was made with Antimony diaphoreticum. It doeth perfectly and lastingly cure epilepsie in young and old; it cleanseth the blood▪ from all filth, so that leprosie together with its several species may be cured thereby, &c. Its use is the same as was taught above of the Antimonized spirit of sugar.

Of the spirit of Muste or new wine.

TAke sweet Muste or juyce of grapes, as soon as it is squeez∣ed out, boyle it to the consistency of honey, and then mix it with sand, corals, or (which is better) with flores of Anti∣mony, and so distil it, and it will yield such another spirit as that which is made of honey or sugar: onely that this is somewhat tarter then that of honey. With honey, sugar and the juyce of grapes several metals may be dissolved in boyling and so prepared and made up into divers medicaments, both with and without distillation, after the same manner as was taught above with Tartar: for honey, sugar and the juyce of grapes, are nothing else but a sweet salt, which by fermentation and addition of some sowre thing, may be changed into a sowre Tartar, in all like unto that which is gathered in the wine vessels. There can be made also a Tartar

out of cherries, pears, apples, figs, and all other fruit, yielding a sweet juyce: as also of rye, wheate, oates, barley and the like, whereof in the third part more shall be said.

For every sweet liquor of vegetables, if it be turned inside out, by fermentation may be changed to a natural sowre Tartar; and it is utterly false, that (as some do suppose) onely wine yeilds Tartar, which by daily use made of it by those that have very hungry stomachs (like Woolves) indistinctly together with the nourishment went into the limbs, and the••e turned to a stony matter. If this were true, then in cold countries, where no wine groweth, men would not be troub∣led with the gout or stone; the contrary whereof is seen dai∣ly: though I must confess, that among all vegetable none yeildeth more then the vine, the concurrent acidity being cause thereof; for it turneth the sweetness into Tartar: for the sowrer the wine is, the more Tartar it yeildeth; and so much the sweeter, so much the less Tartar. By this discourse an industrious Chymist may easily come to know the origi∣nal nature and proprieties of Tartar, and in default of wine, how to make it out of other vegetables, the common salt or the salt of Tartar may be distilled with honey, sugar, or sodden wine (sapa) and it will yeild as strong spirits, as that metals may be dissolved with them, and they are not to be despised in Physick and Alchymie.

Of oyle Olive.

OUt of oyles made by expression (as oyle olive, rape oyle, wallnut oyle, hempseed oyle, linseed oyle and the like) there may be distilled a penetrating oyle, useful both out∣wardly and inwardly, which is done thus: Take common potters clay not mingled with sand, frame little bals of it, as big as a pigeons or hens-egg, burn them (but not too strong) to a hard stone, so that they may attract the oyle; and when they are no more quite red-hot, but pretty hot, then throw them into oyle olive which is the best; let them lye in it, till they be quite ful and drunk of the oyle, which will be done

in two or three hours (some cast them red hot into the oyle, but amiss, because the oyle contracts thence an Empyreuma) Then take them out, and cast in one or two of them at once into your distilling-vessel made red-hot, and let it go; and within a while after carry in one or two more, and continue this till you have oyle enough. If the vessel be full of the bals, take them out with the tongs or ladle, that you may proceed without let in your distillation, & in this maner you need not fear the breaking of your retort or receiver, or the burning of your oyle. The distillation being performed take off your receiver, powre the oyle that came over into a glass retort, and rectifie it from calcined Allome or Vitriol, and the Allome will keep back the blackness and stinck, and so the oyle will come over cleer, which must be yet rectified once or twice more with fresh calcined Allome, according to the in∣tensness of penetrating which you look for: that which com∣eth over first, ought still to be caught by it self, and you will get a very faire, bright and clear oyle, which is very subtle; but that which cometh after is somewhat yellow, and not so pe∣netrating neither as the first; and therefore it is but for exter∣nal use to extract flowers and hearbs therewith, and to make pretious balsames for cold and moyst sores. Also you may dissolve with it ambar, mastick, myrrhe and the like attra∣ctive things, and with wax and Colophony reduce it to a plaster, which wilbe very good in venemous sores and boyles, for to attract the poyson and to heal them out of hand. If you dissolve in it common yellow sulphur made into powder, you will get a blood red balsame, healing all manner of scabs, and other like defects of the skin; especially when you add to it purified Spanish green, and in hot sores Saccharum Saturni, which in a gentle heat and by continual stirring about do easily melt and mingle therewith. It needeth not to be done in glasses, but may be done in an ordinary earthen pot or pipkin.

The use of the blessed oyle.

THe first and cleer is of a very penetrating nature: some drops thereof given in some Aqua vitae, presently stayes the colick, proceeding from windes that could not be ven∣ted; as also the rising of the mother, the navil being anoyn∣ted therewith: and a cold humor being faln upon the nerves, whereby they are lamed; if you do but anoynt them with this oyle, and rub it in with warm hands, it will quickly restore them, and therefore in regard of its present help may well be called Oleum sanctum. If you extract plate of iron or copper with this oyle, it will turn deep red or green, and is a sove∣raigne remedy for to warm and dry up all cold and watery sores. It consumeth also all superfluous moysture in wounds and ulcerous sores, as also all other excrescencies of the skin: it healeth tettars and scald-heads and other like defects proceed∣ing from superfluous cold and moysture. You may also dis∣solve in it Euphorbium and other hot gums, and use them a∣gainst great frost, for what limb so ever is anoynted therewith no frost how great so ever can do it any hurt. The balsames made with gum or sulphur may be also distilled through a re∣tort, and in some cases they are more useful then the undistil∣led balsame.

Of the oyle of Wax.

IN the same manner may be distilled also the oyle of wax, the use whereof is in all like unto the former; and for all cold and infirmities of the nerves, this is found more effectu∣al yet then the former.

A Spirit good for the Stone.

OUt of the stones which are found in grapes, there may be distilled a sowre spirit, which is a certain and specifical

remedy for the stone in the kidneys and bladder, and also for all paines of the goute. It is not onely to be used internally but also externally, wetting clothes in it, and applying them to the places affected, and it will asswage and drive away the paines.

Of the spirit or acid oyle of Sulphur.

TO reduce sulphur into a sowre spirit or oyle hath been sought hitherto by many, but found by few. Most of them made it in glass-bels, but got very little that way; for the glasses being quickly hot, could not hold the oyle, so that it went away in a smoak. Some thought to get it by distilling, others by dissolving, but none of all these would do the feat. Which is the reason why nowadayes it is found almost no where right and in the Drugsters and Apothecaries shops they usually sell oyle of Vitriol in stead of it, which by far is not to be compared in vertue to the oyle of sulphur. For this is not onely of a far pleasanter sowre taste, but in efficacy also much exceeds the other. And therefore being of so great use both in Physick and Alchymie, as in all hot diseases, mingling the pa∣tients drink therewith, till it get a pleasant sowre taste, for to quench the intolerable drowth, to strengthen the stomach, to refresh the lungs and the liver: Also externally for to cure the gangrene: Also for to crystallise some metals thereby and to reduce them into pleasant vitriols, useful as well in Alchy∣mie as Physick; I thought good to set down the preparation, though it be not done in this our distilling furnace, but in another way by kindling and burning it as followeth.

Make a little furnace with a grate, above which a strong crucible must be fastned resting on two iron bars, and it is to be ordered so that the smoake be conveighed (not above by the crucible, but) through a pipe at the side of the furnace: the crucible must be filled with sulphur even to the top; and by a cole-fire without flame be brought to burn and kept bur∣ning. Over the burning sulphur, a vessel is to be applyed of good stony earth like unto a flat dish with a high brim, where∣in

is alwayes cold water to be kept, and whereunto the bur∣ning sulphur do flame: Which thus burning its fatness con∣sumeth, and the acid salt is freed and sublimed to the cold ves∣sel, where it is dissolved by the aire, and in the form of a sharpe oyle runs from the hollow vessel into the receiver, which must be taken off sometime, and more sulphur supply∣ed in stead of that which hath been consumed, to the end that the sulphur may still burn in the crucible: and beat with the flame to the cold head: and within few dayes you will get a great quantity of oyle, which else by the (campana) glass-bell in many weeks could not have been done.

N. B. Such a sowre spirit or oyle may also be got by di∣stillation together with the flores, viz. thus: If you take pieces of sulphur as big as hens eggs, and carry them one after another into the hot distilling vessel, a sowre oyle together with flores will come over into the receiver, which must with water be separated out of the flores and the water abstracted from it againe in a cucurbit and in the bottome of your glass body you will finde the oyle, which in vertue and taste is equal to the former, but you get nothing neer so much in quantity by this way, and if you do not look for the oyle, you may leave it with the flores, which by reason of their pleasant acid taste are much toothsomer to take then the ordinary ones.