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.

OF AƲRƲM POTABILE.

THere is no man that can deny, that the true and ancient Philosophers did study long life, and the conservation of their health. Whence it came to pass that they did diligently seek out the subject of preserving health, and prolonging life: where∣fore by the help of fire they did practise the separations, and proofs of all vegetables, animals, and minerals, seeking out their powers and vertues: Who found out the greatest har∣mony of all things as well in the heavens, as on earth betwixt the Sun and Gold, Man and wine. For it cannot be denyed, that the life of all things proceeds from the heat of the Sun; wherefore they sought to unite gold, the terrestriall sunor bo∣dy fixed and perfect, caused by the rayes of the Sun, with man by the help of spirit of wine.

But haply there will be some, whom this my narration may offend denying that gold is the Son of the Sun, or a metallick body fixed and perfect▪ proceeding from the rayes of the Sun; asking how the Solary immateriall rayes can be made materiall and corporeall? But they are very ignorant of the generation of metals, and minerals. And although I

am not now resolved to write of the generation, and origi∣nall of metals, yet endeavouring to demonstrate that there is a vivifying power of the Sun to be found in gold (destroyed and volatilizated) and to be prepared into a most wholesome medicine for man, I will not omit for the sake of the igno∣rant and incredulous, to demonstrate the truth by one or two examples, which although I could demonstrate by most cer∣tain and firm reasons, yet for brevities sake I am now resolved to omit them, recommending to the searcher of the Nature, and propriety of metals, my treatise De Generatione Metal∣lorum, which without doubt will take away all scruple from him; objecting only against him that opposeth the truth, two questions and reasons which are to be confuted: and the first is, whence comes that increase of both the quantity and quality of any viscous, minerall liquor, that hath been ex∣posed long to the Sun in an open glass vessell? Whether from the Sun or elsewhere? But thou sayst that that increase comes from the air, the vehicle of all things. I answer, if from the air, whether was not that air impregnated by the Sun? and whether there be any thing in the air, which it re∣ceived not from the stars? But place this liquor in a cold cellar in a moist air, and thou shalt by experience know that no weight is added thereto, even as in the Sun, or (in his stead) fire: that liquor will draw some phlegmatick moisture which will be easily separated by heat, the weight of the for∣mer liquor being left. This may be shewed by this example: dissolve some sulphureous metall, as Iron, Copper, or Zinck, with any acid spirit, and at length take away the spirit, make the remainder red hot; yet not too much, but as much as sufficeth to take away the spirits, which afterward (its weight being observed) put in a crucible on the fire, but take heed lest the metall run over, but at length let it darkly glow with the crucible, for the space of three or four weeks, which done, take it away again, and weigh again the metall, and thou shalt finde the evident increase of the metall, which thou shalt perceive more evidently by this way, as follows; put cop∣per, or some sulphureous metall with 16 or 18 parts of lead

in a well burnt cupel; made of the ashes of wood, or bones in a tryed furnace (the weight of the cupel; copper and lead first ex∣actly observed) and cause the copper to evaporate by fire with the lead, which done take the cupel when it shall be cold, and again weigh it, and thou shal find it far more weightly, so that its weight (though much of the lead goes into air in the cupel∣lating) not only exceeds its former weight, but also of the cop∣per and Lead by the said cupellation; therefore it is justly de∣manded whence this increase proceeds, whether the heat of the fire was not coagulated into a metallick body by meanes of that melted metall? Therefore it is probable that if you knew the metallick matrixes in the surface of the earth in which the beams of the Sun and the heat of fire being received may be coagulated, metals may as well be generated in them as in the bowels of the earth.

But thou repliest it is probable the heat of vulgar fire to have some thing metallick in it, which comes by attraction of the melted metall in the Corbill, but not in the Sun-beams.

He that will thus try the truth, let him put the cupel very well burnt in the beams of the Sun, together with copper and lead, to which let him adde a hollow looking-glass, so that it may be operated upon by the Sun-beams gathered into a center and may thence be made hot: But thou must continu∣ally hold the Looking-glass in thy hand that thou maist turn or direct it to the Sun according to the course thereof, lest the cupel wax cold, the beams of the Sun being turned a∣way, but if it be rightly observed, a work shall be done no less than in a furnace of fire with glowing heat.

You must have a looking-glass at least in diameter two feet, nor must it be too deep; but bee in depth the 18 or 20 part of the globe, that so it may the further cast beams: it must be very artificially smoothed, that it may more exactly gather beams to the center. Now the preparation of these Looking-glasses is not of this place, but shall be in the fourth part of our Furnaces, where wee shall teach not only how it is to be made of metals, but also of glass, and how po∣lisht and used.

This demonstration which may be otherwise omitted is therefore set downe that it may be knowne how Gold pro∣ceeds from the Sunne, and is secretly endued with its proper strength and proprieties by Chymistry, reducible into that which it was before its coagulation, namely into a heating and living spirit, communicating its strength and faculties to mans body. Therefore the Ancients used great diligence in the melting of gold, in which nothing is found more excel∣lent then the purest and finest spirit of wine made by distilla∣tion, and they did not use common gold melted out of stones or washt out of sand, but purged by benefit of fire, & Philoso∣phically quickened and unlocked, not by help of corrosive spirits, the usuall way of vulgar Chymists, but by some wa∣ter which Nature freely gives without help of violent distil∣lation; by which they manifest that which is hid in gold, and they have hid what is manifest, and therefore they have made it fit for the separation of its tincture from a gross and black superfluous body. For they knew that the compact body of gold hath no affinity with vitall spirits, therefore they have chosen onely the finest part of gold to their Elixir, viz. its tincture which they have radically joined with the spirit of wine, and being joined have made them spiritual or volatile, so that neither can be separated from each other in the fire, and being in the fire are sublimed or fixed with a longer digestion, and coagulated into a fixt stone, which they count for the greatest treasure in this world. Therefore the ancient Philosophers affirming that there is not a better medicine under the Sun than it, which is made from the Philosophicall union of wine and gold, both by an inseparable recoagulation and fixation; nor without gold can spirit of wine, nor this without it be made a medi∣cine, because gold without spirit of wine cannot be made volatile, nor this be coagulated and fixt without it. We there∣fore their posterity justly follow the opinions of the most fa∣mous men, not for their authorities sake, but for ocular demonstration which is the truest tryall.

Therefore the knowledge of the preparation of this medi∣cine

being bestowed on me from the highest, I have inten∣ded, because a man is not born for himself, briefly to deli∣ver its preparation and use: but I will not cast pearls before swine; but I'le only shew the way to the studious searchers of the work of God and Nature, who doubtless will understand my writing, but not the ignorant and unskilfull; let there∣fore the brevity of the preparation offend no man, because I mean not to prostitute this Art (divinely obtained, not with idleness, but with much watching, labours and pains) nor give to the unworthy a bit before chawed but only to com∣municate it to the pious, who shall see with open eyes that the thing is so. I desire therefore the simplicity of my stile offend no man being not adorned with rhetoricall figures after the wonted manner, for truth wants not many and elegant words, being contented with simplicity and brevi∣ty, with which it is easier and better demonstrated, then with those intricate and sophistick discourses

Before I will begin the preparation, I will briefly describe the qualities of a true spagirick undertaking so great a work, that every one may examine himself, that takes this task up∣on him. For it doth not suffice to know to make fire, or to distill vegetable waters, but the true knowledge as well of the fruits of the superior as inferior elements is required, and espe∣cially piety.

Not prating, but much knowledge makes a Chymist, there is no man, who can deny, that the Art is long since sought by divers for many years, even untill this day, with much la∣bour and charges; but found by very few. I doe not won∣der that so great a gift of God hath hitherto been communi∣cated to very few; for all modern Chymists (very few ex∣cepted) have gone a wrong way. For some trusted to their riches, thinking violently to get the Art, because they were able to make a fair elaboratory, maintain many journey men and get store of vessels, minerals, and coals, not considering the saying of the Apostle, 'Tis not of him that willeth, or him that run∣neth, but of God only that sheweth mercy.

Others whose learning consisted in divers tongues were

honoured for their elegancy of prating, attributing skill only to themselves, and perswading themselves that they had all the elements at their beck, for their supposed wisdome and learning, not considering the work of Christ, thou hast revealed it to little ones, and hast hid i•• from the great and wise. Who per∣swade themselves, that they see grass grow not knowing the earth its mother, to whom if all things suceed not according to their pleasure, they fear not to slander the most pious Phi∣losophers, and to impeach them of falsehood, and to palliate their ignorance with the nullity of their art; who would judge that the thing is far otherwise if they knew the mystical meaning of the Philosophers, but because they are blinded with pride; no marvell if they take the shell in stead of the kernell, and so come not to the wished end.

The third sort is of covetous slothful men, seeking wealth of those mountebanks, being as ignorant of Chymistery and Nature, as those they teach, having neither knowledg of mine∣rals nor metals, nor understanding the works of the Philoso∣phers, with whom if one dispute of the nature and proprie∣ties of metals, they have nothing to answer, but what they read and hear, viz. it is so writ, and so we have proceeded, and thus we must proceed, and such a matter and no other is required, keeping close to the letter, not considering whe∣ther the Authour of his proceedings be skilfull or not, whether he hath borrowed his writings from the experience or readings of other books, to whom although a true and ge∣nious information of the nature and the knowledge of mi∣nerals and metals, and Chymick secrets should be delivered, yet they would not beleeve, despising plain truth as folly in her simple labors, which are, not chargeable nor tedious. Wealth is sought by such like covetous fellows, spending in some pro∣cess of no worth some hundreds or thousand crowns, sup∣posing the art to be venall, not considering that the Merchant will keep a good and sure art to himself, and not seek mony of others.

I doe not deny that some Artist may be the possessor of some secret, or thing found by his own experience, or disclosed to

him by some friend, which for poverty he cannot effect, and therefore hath need to crave the help of others, for not al∣wayes wealth and skill meet together, which deservedly are helpt by the rich, trusting to Gods blessing.

But this caution is to be taken, lest there be a half-penny∣worth of profit in time of harvest from a crowns worth of corn, both of wealth and credit. Who is so blind, though but with one eye, who doth not observe the trifles of such like covetous boasters? although the Sun by Gods mercy doth shine on both good and bad, yet it was never heard that ever any true Philosopher handling secrets secretly was a prating trifler. And it is much to be wondered at, that the learned of this age have been so blinded, that they would be gulled by such vagabond knaves.

The fourth kind of seekers are men of a different conditi∣on, not seeking wealth and honour but Gods glory and their neighbours profit, contented with mean food and apparell, not proud and vain-glorious, but pious and honest, handling coals in stead of gold rings, not the companions of many men, silent knowers of naturall secrets, seeking and finding by Gods assisting grace, not trusting to the writings of the Ancient Philosophers, but to God the prime teacher of all things, whose mercy is the same now, as it was in the time of those Philosophers, which obtained their Art with earnest prayers from God. Unto these came Arts beyond hope and expectation, and the use and method of using them.

Therefore all that undertake this Art, let them diligently examine themselves, for none of this last number will be fur∣thered by their wealth and conceited learning, because this skill is the gift of God alone, and not man. Therefore the proprieties of a true Chymist, reaping the fruit of the Golden tree being known: I will now begin the preparation of the tincture of Gold, by the hand of a skilfull and excercised workman, and will shew the difference of the true and false tincture, and the physicall use of the true gold, to expell many diseases, as follows.

℞ of living gold one part, and three parts of quick Mer∣cury, not of the vulgar, but the Philosophicall every where to be found without charges and labour (thou maist also adde living silver of equall weight with the gold, and indeed better then only gold for the greater variety of colours pro∣ceeding from the mixture of male and female: but one per∣swaded that better tincture proceeds from gold alone may mixe gold only, not so, one skilfull of metals, who know∣eth the power of the cordiall union of gold and silver dis∣solved in one and the same menstruum) put them mixt in a Philosophicall vessell to dissolve, and in the space of one quarter of an houre, those mixt metals will be radically dis∣solved by Mercury, and will give a purple colour; after encrease the fire by degrees, and it will be changed into a very fine green, to which taken out, poure the water of dew to dissolve, which may be done in half an houre, filtre the solution, and abstract the water, through a glass a∣lembick in B. which poure out again fresh, and abstract, which doe three times, in the mean time that greenness will be turn∣ed into a black colour like ink stinking like a carkase, and therefore odious: and it behoves sometimes to take away the water reaffused and digested, and that blackness and stink will depart in the space of forty houres, and will produce a pure milky whiteness, which appearing take away all the moisture till it be dry, which will be a white mass and in few houres of a pleasant colour, divers colours first appearing it is turned into a fine greenness better then the former, to which you must affuse the spirit of wine well rectified to the depth of two or three fingers, and that green gold dissolved will draw that spirit of wine for the great amity like a dry spunge drawing water••, and will communicate to it a quintessence as red as bloud, by which meanes the greenness is deprived of its quickning tincture, the superfluous ashy body being left.

You must decant and filtrate the tinged spirit, and in a B. by a glass alembick, abstract it from the red tincture, attracting the fiery essence of spirit of wine, so that they may be very

close and inseparably conjoined, for which an unsavoury wa∣ter only distills, the vertue of the spirit of wine left with the tincture of gold like a red fiery salt, fusile and volatile; of which graine 1. can tinge ℥ i. of spirit of wine, or any other liquor, with a bloud red colour, for it is soluble in any moi∣sture; and therefore may be kept in a liquid form for the Pa∣nacea of most desperate diseases. Now I will communi∣cate the proprieties of the true tincture by which true po∣table gold is known. This tincture next the stone is the best of all medicines, betweene which and that there is but this difference, the soule of gold is volatile nor hath entrance into imperfect metals, & therefore cannot transmute into pure fine gold, which vertue is attributed to the Philosophers Stone. The soul of gold though it be the best part, yet it is not fixt in fire but volatile; but the Philosophers Stone is fixt in fire and remains by reason of a longer digestion. But whether that soul or volatile tincture, and red Lion may be fixt by help of fire, may be turned into the Universal medicine, and tinging stone, that I know not; because hitherto I have not try∣ed, &c. therefore he may who extracts the soul of gold make further tryall, whether he can finde any thing better. For this work treateth of nothing but the best medicine of gold, but other things I know not.

Therefore the deceit of the Distillers of wine, and other vegetable waters, selling potable gold, is not unknowne, being not ashamed to sell any water colored yellow or red to the ignorant, for a great price. And the errour of others, dissolving the body of gold in aqua Regia, or spirit of salt, which again they abstract to a dry remainder, to which for extraction they affuse the spirit of wine: which is not an ex∣traction, but some particular solution of gold, made by help of corrosive spirits left in the gold, tinging the spirit of wine with a yellow colour, which so coloured they call their potable gold, which notwithstanding is reduced into gold, the spirit of wine abstracted, which can doe more then any other Calx of gold, which the Archeus cannot digest, but separates being indigested, with the excrements. And also it is the error

of others, ignorantly deceiving themselves and others, extra∣cting the calx of gold with peculiar menstruums and spirits, knowing not that the menstruum affused to gold to be red of it self by a long digestion, which decanted, they administer in∣stead of potable gold, who if they weighed the remaining calx, would by experience see that nothing departed from the gold; which you may try by setting the spirit or menstruum in a remiss heat, or longer in cold, which of it self doth wax red, as it had been affused to the Calx of Sol. But the cause of this redness is (unknown to them) nothing but a certain nitrous salt and volatile, as of Antimony, Urine, Tartar, Hartshorn, Haire, &c. exalting the colour of any Sul∣phur.

Wherefore it necessarily follows if Artists, mingle with the spirit of wine in which is a sulphur, such exalting salts, that it will thence be exalted in colour, and wax red! which also happens to them, who use to extract a tincture with distilled oyls having a volatile salt, as are oyl of juice of Lemmons, Cloves, of Soot, &c.

For such like tincture or potable gold is ineffications, as ex∣perience witnesseth But I would not say there is no other tin∣cture to be prepared out of gold, beside this tincture: for being dissolved in sweet menstruums, that it cannot be separated by precipitation, it can doe wonderfull things in many greivous diseases; but alwayes the living metal is to be chosen in stead of dead.

But true potable gold is not so only in name and shew (as are divers waters tinged with a yellow or red color) but also en∣dued with golden faculties & vertues, so that it may actually appear to be made of gold, but irreducible by fire into gold, spirituall and penetrative strengthening the vitall spirits, that they may overcome their enemies. But it must also be endued with this vertue that it may change imperfect me∣tals, chiefly Mercury, Lead, and Silver into pure Gold; not truely like a fixt tincture, tinging with profit baser metals in flux; but only perfecting particularly in a moist way by di∣gestion, where some part of the metall alone is turned into

better. For this tincture or salt of gold is very volatile, so that it cannot resist the fire; but with a gentle heat it melteth like wax, and is sublimed like red salt, soluble in spirit of wine that it may be fit for Physicall uses.

Also true potable gold being tasted, is neither corrosive, nor astringent like other solutions of gold: neither doth it pol∣lute the hands, the nails and hair with black or yellow color; but rather makes them more fine; neither doth it infect cop∣per, iron, tin, lead, with rust or a black colour, but rather maketh them more clear; neither is it a body of gold reduci∣ble by extraction, nor into white gold, which may recover its former colour by Antimony and Aqua Regia, but it is like an earthen wax, and sublimable in a gentle heat like Arsenic, not enduring the tryall of the cuple, which vertues if it have it may be called the true tincture of gold: but if not, not so but rather a sophisticated potable gold, not to be medled withall.

Of the medicinall use of this golden Medicine.

VVE have before demonstrated, the Sun to be the ori∣ginall of gold, or endued with the incredible ver∣tues of the terrestriall Sun. For the strength and vertues of all vegetables, animals, and minerals lie hid in it; which cannot be manifested but by a Philosopher, and that by separation, to wit, of the intrinsecall and pure parts, from the im∣pure.

This speech will happily seem to thee incredible, or not very likely, to say that gold is reducible into a spirituall essence, agreeable to humane nature, endued with the strength of all animals, vegetables and minerals. Surely thou shalt hardly perswade him whom Vulcan hath not made a Philo∣sopher, to beleive it. But who will trouble himselfe so much as with sure reasons to decide all controversies; which if possible, yet for many reasons is here omitted; but for sure∣ties sake I will send back the Reader to the second part of our Furnaces, where he shall finde how out of Antimony and

Sulphur, by a good chymist with the help of fire may be drawn not only the force and facultie of divers vegetables, but also their naturall odour; which yet did not appear in them be∣fore they were radically disolved, which if it may be done by any imperfect and fetid mineral, why not also by a perfect and mature mineral?

If we were good naturalists, and very diligent Chymists, then we need not to fill Elaboratories with so many pots and boxes, nor spend so much cost in fetching in so many for∣reign medicinall species, because without question the strength and properties of all vegetables animals and minerals by an easier way, may be found in some few subjects. And as the true tincture of Sol well fixed is endued with all the vertues of all vegetables, animals and minerals; so also deservedly is ascri∣bed to it the force of curing all diseases; but with a difference. For there are divers kinds of the Gout in hands and feet, as also of the Stone, and Leprosie; which sometimes are invete∣rate and uncurable diseases, sometimes n ew nd curable. Who therefore not madde would promise to cure all and every disease indifferently, by any certaine Medicine? Cer∣tainly no man although he had the very Stone of the Phi∣losophers.

For oft-times the Stone of the bladder is purged away or broken being most hard and insoluble by Aqua Fortis, which not any medicine not corrosive could dissolve; which strength although they ascribe to their medicine, yet they cannot per∣form it. Promises therefore do not suffice, which none can per∣form: for promises become debts, which is observed by few; wherefore by the haters of the Art the truth suffers and the hope of good success of Chymical Medicines dyeth. It is best therefore to performe more then promise, and the work shall praise the workman. How can a medicine penetrate to the extream parts of the body; to wit, the hands and feet, and dissolve the coagulated matter waxing hard, which out of the body no corrosive Medicine can dissolve? It is sufficient if a medicine finding a viscous tartareous and salt matter, not yet coagula∣ted, doe dissolve and expell it. The like is to be understood of

the stone in the reins and bladder. In this manner I wil ascribe the curing of the Gout in the hands and feet, the stone in the kidneys and bladder, to my tincture of Sol, as well in old as young; but so that if need be specifical catharticks may be ad∣ministred, and extrinsecally Bathes for promoting the cure, whereby Nature may the sooner doe its office. But above all things we must not slight Divine Providence: For oft∣times God smites us with a disease incurable by Art, unlesse Divine wrath be first appeased by humhle repentance, which is the best medicine of all. As also the cure of all diseases com∣ing of the corruption of the bloud, as the Leprosie, the French disease, and other impurities; which are taken away by this Tincture, if withall Catharticks and Diaphoreticks are administred, cleansing and renewing the bloud above all o∣ther medicines. This Tincture also takes away all the obstru∣ctions of the Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, and other parts, because it warms, attenuates, weakens, and evacuates, the originall of divers diseases. It also cures all violent and acute diseases, as the Epilepsie, Plague, Feavers, &c.

It provoketh the Menstrues of old and young, chiefly if al∣so extrinsecally it be rightly administred: which way many are well cured, who otherwise are like to perish miserably; it warms and cleanseth the Matrix above all other Medicines, and renders it fit to perform its office: It preserves it also from all accidents of Sterility, & other very grievous diseases, causing death. It expels the water of the Dropsie by urine it rarifieth and▪ dryeth up the superfluous moistures of the internall and externall parts, like the Sun drying and consuming waters, by which means the body recovers its prinstine sanitude: of other diseases to write in particular it is not need, because in all and every one without difference it may be used, as a generall medicine, in old as well as young. This medicine doth not only restore, but also conserve health till the predestinated time.

The Dose is from 3 graines or drop s to twelve or more, but to children 1, 2, or 3, with its appropriated vehicle, or in wine or beer to be administred dayly, which Dose may

be oftener in a day took, respect being had to the sick party.

Thou mayst not be offended with the reproaches of the calumniator of this book (of which the Divell with his fil∣thy lyes is alwayes the Authour) beleeving stedfastly that the time is neer, when at length by the Divine wrath these Goats will be consumed like chaffe, the sheep being not hurt, for their meat recompensing their Master with milk and wool.

And so I make an end, hoping to have pleased my Neigh∣bour: for without doubt, who useth this golden medicine well, shall doe well, chiefly lifting up his heart, (ac∣knowleding his sins) to God the Giver and Creator of all good, in filiall humility, imploring his help and blessing; which Omnipotent God and merciful Father, that he would bestow on us his temporal blessing in this life with sound health, and hereafter life eternal, of his free grace, Let us pray,

Amen.

FINIS.