Otto Tachenius his Hippocrates chymicus discovering the ancient foundation of the late viperine salt with his Clavis thereunto annexed translated by J.W.

Otto Tachenius HIS KEY To the Ancient HIPPOCRATICAL LEARNING.

CHAP. I. Acid and Alcaly, the most Ancient Principles of Things, what they are?

TO know things is to know them by their Causes, as Aristotle Teaches in the first of his Physicks. Now the Causes are Matter, Form, and Efficient; Mat∣ter is that, of which a thing is made, for in Nature there is no thing which is not made of some pre-existent and sub∣ject matter; Form, which gives being or esse to the thing, and by which the thing receives its name, is it self invisible; the Efficient Cause is that, which moves the matter to its proper end.

Hippocrates reduces all these three Causes into two necessary and sufficient Principles, calling them Fire, and Water: Raimund calls them Entia Realia;* 1.1 Basilius Pugiles, and in another place, Gladiatores; others stile them Lis and Concordia; Attraction, and Repulsion; Rare∣faction

and Condensation;* 1.2 Male and Female, &c. But I, for the clearer knowledge and explanation of them, do call those two Principles of Hippocrates, Acid and Alcaly, because all things in the Universe are made up of those two Universal Principles, as I shall gradu∣ally shew by Experience, (so is also, that one only Medicine or Physick of the Ancients) To which yet a third doth Inseparably adhere: Hence arose Sal, Sul∣phur and Mercury, the Three Principles of some Phi∣losophers, and rightly to, as will more clearly appear in the progress. These two, either perpetually burn in Love one towards another, or else are at perpetual va∣riance, are multiplied, and one is contrary to the other; so that the death of one is the life of the other, and that which one produces another destroys; that so from this another more noble thing may again arise.

Hence it is, that Hippocrates with good Reason af∣firms, That these two Elements Fire and Water, or Acid and Alcaly, can do all things, and that all things are in them. From the Acid do proceed two Mascu∣line Qualities, to wit, Hot and Dry, from the Alcaly, as many Female ones, viz. Cold and Moist, all flow∣ing forth for the generation of mixed bodies, for which reason they do concur and are commixed. The two greater Lights do preside over those two as Principle Elements. The Sun, is the Author of the Fire of Nature, and the Moon, the Mistris of Humids. Matter or Hyle is therefore called the Principle of all things, because all things in an invisible manner, are generated of Fire and Water. From those two is made up the innate Ca∣lid of all things, which Hippocrates says, is very much in them, as they increase; the matter will be most clear when we shall speake not only to the ears, but to the eyes also.

CHAP. II. Acid, the most Ancient Principle, as being Spiri∣tual, is not subjected to the Sensure or Judgement of the Senses.

MY Hippocrates Chymicus, in the 10th and 18th Chapter, shews in Wine and Tartar, that the Fire of Hippocrates, the formal Principle of things, can be separated by no Analy∣tick Destruction, nor by any Ingenuity of Art. This the Prince of the Academicks calls Forma. The Anci∣ents (as also the sacred Philosopher) calls it Light,* 1.3 and Sulphur from its Similitude, because that (like Sulphur) it manifests it self to be both occultly Acid, and also pinguous; to This they gave the first place, styling it the Vital and Masculine Spirit, because in it, the seeds of all things are contained (though impercep∣tibly as to our senses:) for we must confess that all things do consist of insensible principles, as Lucretius speaks Lib 2. and all things have their original from it, and there is nothing produced in the whole world, but by it, it hath its seat in the Air;* 1.4 because the Wind carries it in its belly; and the Father of it, says Hermes in Parva Schedula, is the Sun, whence the lofty wit∣ed Lullius in Testament. Chap. 67. We, says he, with many others, call it the Child of the Sun, for first it was generated through the influence of the Sun, by Nature, without the help of Science or Art: And therefore Aristotle called the Sun the Father, and the Earth the Mother of all Vegetables; because the Sun impregnates the Earth with its vivifying heat; which afterwards is turned into natural heat, and this is mul∣tiplied by the help and assistance of the heat of Fire, &c. Hereupon afterwards, it was styled by the Phi∣losophers themselves, The Son of Fire;* 1.5 as appears by Bernard de Tresne in his third part, who calls Gold most

pure Fire So that if Gold be Fire, and Fire the Child of the Sun; and This, the Vital Spirit, which the Wind carries in its Womb, as Hermes witnesses; then without doubt these three must be Brethren and all Chil∣dren of the Sun.

And as the Sun in the Firmament of Heaven, is judg∣ed by Wise Men, to be incorruptible, constant, and perpetual, and by its Author is endewed with so ma∣ny Embellishments, that Himself is said to have placed his Tabernacle in it; for which cause it is called the Form of Forms, or the Acid of Acids (though it be not acknowledged for such by the Vulgar, as neither is Gold) or the Ʋniversal Form, which in the work of generation infuses all Natural Forms, and the seeds of all things into disposed matter; for every individual thing hath hidden in it a spark of this Light of Na∣ture, or Acid, whose Beams do Occultly influence the Seed with an Active and Moving Vertue.

So also Gold, being the Off-spring of the Heavenly Sun, is incorruptible, constant, and perpetual, of an entire Form, or a perfect Acid, and fixed, though, as I said before, it be not owned as such by the ignorant Vulgar: For unless it were a fixed Acid,* 1.6 how could the say∣ing of Philosophers be verifyed and fulfilled: That which is perpetual makes things perpetual, and that which is fixed makes things fixed. And therefore in the beginning Light was created over the Universe and contracted into this Body, being endowed with a vivifying Vertue and secret Faecundity; I call it an entire or compleat Acid fixed and constant, which yet as Raimund saith, will make the empty Brain of one who hath seen nothing in Philosophy, nor is ever like to see, to be altogether sottish and stupid, Yet in my Hippocrates Chymicus, I have demonstrated the Acidity of Gold, by two familiar Examples, which I shall now again recite out of my late Hippocrates, for a solid con∣firmation of the Truth, and the shame of all Zoilusses and Detractors; for if you dip the end of an Iron Rod in Gold melted or put to fusion, the Iron in a moment will be turned into Scoria, or rust, as if it

were burnt with kindled Sulphur;* 1.7 now unless Gold were Occultly Acid and pinguous. as common Sulphur is, it would never corrode Iron. Those superficial and vain Writers, who are enemies to the Doctrine of Hip∣pocrates, cannot comprehend this fixed Acid, who had rather seem wise, than be so; much good may their vain applause do them: I envy them not, for they know no other Acid, but that which they dream to distill from Copper, which they falsly call Spirit of Ve∣nus; because, out of sloth, they deny that there is a fixed Acid in Nature; as if That in Copper were Vo∣latile.

Secondly, The purest Gold is dissolved in Aqua Regia, instill Alcaly of Tartar into the Solution, which will drink up the Acid Spirits, even of the Gold it self (my Hippocrates Chymicus, Chap. 7. shews the Reason, viz. Because the Alcaly of Tartar embraces the Nature, e∣ven of Metals themselves) and the Gold so drunk up, falls into a Powder of a Yellow Colour. Croll us teach∣eth this Preparation in his Cordial; so doth Beguinus, under its proper Title Corannocryson:* 1.8 In this slight Pre∣paration, Gold hath acquired a Fulminating or Thun∣dering force, because its Sulphur, being of its own Nature, acetous (to use the words of Sendivogius) is associated with Artificial Nitre, which association is made in the Alcaly of Tartar, in the very moment wherein it is poured into the Aqua Regia, containing the dissolved Gold. The manner how this is to be done, is laid down in Hippocrates Chymicus, Chap. 7. (for those things which have been spoken elsewhere, and rightly by others, I will not unnecessarily repeat;) so that Gold, unless it were Acid and Pinguous,* 1.9 as common Sulphur is, would never perform Sulphurous Actions with Nitre, as common Sulphur doth, with the same Nitre for Gunpowder.

If then the Sun, according to Hormes, be the Fa∣ther of that Vital Spirit, which dwells in the Air, and Gold and Fire are its Brethren, the Sons must necessarily partake of the quality,* 1.10 dispositions and pro∣perties of the Paren̄t; so that it must needs follow by

Reason and Authority (Experience also a stipulating thereunto) that the Vital Spirit of ours, the Child of the Sun, as also Gold and Fire are Acid and Pingu∣ous; wherefore Acid and Pinguous is a most Ancient Principle, the Life and Fountain of all things: Writers give It several Names, as Fire, Sun, Gold, Spirit, Sulphur, Form, Humid, Calid, Dry, and many o∣ther Appellations, all which are Synonymous, signify∣ing the same thing, but in different respects diversifyed into several Names: But I both here and elswhere, call it Acid.

This Acid doth occultly lurk in all Seeds, because of its self it is a most peaceable and quiet thing, in regard Nature hath implanted more of Alcaly than of Acid in every Compositum (except Sulphurs) and therefore it moves not unless it be excited, as we see plainly in Dough of Bread; which being excited by a very little Acid Ferment, and by Heat, is mov∣ed; and from that Heat and Motion the Acid is mul∣tiplied; and unless it were bridled and restrained by a heat, exceeding the inward (i. e.) by Artificial Fire, it would proceed to Vitality and produce Worms. Hence it appears, That Natural Fire, is quite another thing then Artificial; and that these Two differ much from one another:* 1.11 for the Natural or Soft Fire, ac∣cording to Hippocrates (as I have shewed in Dough) doth Impregnate, Cherish, Infuse Strength, and doth semblably perform all things in its Lesser World, which the Sun, its Parent, doth in the Greater World: Hence we may observe,* 1.12 That the proud Name of Microcosme, doth not belong onely to Man, for every Seed, e∣very Worm, every Member, says Hippocrates, hath its Ventricle, and may be therefore called a Micro∣cosme. But Artificial Fire is an enemy to all Gene∣ration, it lives upon Prey and Rapine, it fubfists by others Ruins, being the Destroyer of Life, and Enemy of Nature.

Wherefore from the Sun, as from a Fountain, Na∣tural, Acid, and Vital Light do flow forth; which, in reality are both one, only distinguished by their Of∣fice;

for it is the Office of the Acid, to pierce into the inwards of Nature, whereas Light doth only dis∣cover the externals of things however the Beams of the Sun do operate both: So that the Sun is the first Natural Organ, by whose Access and Recess all the Operations of Nature are variously governed, intend∣ed and remitted. Hence the Ingenious Cosmopolita, If there were not a Vegetable power in Sulphur (that is a Pinguous Acid, and Child of the Sun) Water would never be Coagulated into Herbs. If therefore the Acid, flowing from the Sun, be infused into Matter (as for Example, Mineral) presently it receives the determi∣nation of the Nature and the Vertue of the Mineral.

The like may be said of other Animals and Vegeta∣bles too, as Lully speaks; and because this Natural A∣cidity is coupled with all Matter in the World, it hath therefore the Name of Mercury given it by the Wise. And though the Eyes of the Vulgar do daily be∣hold this multiplication, and also incorporation of the Natural Acid; yet they do not understandingly consider it. Take the Mine of Salt-petre at Padua,* 1.13 for an Exam∣ple, which is now exhausted, but in Five or Seven years time, will be filled again, for the Earth is its Nurse, as Hermes testifies; whence it is, That this Spirit assumes a Body in it, and becomes inflammable Nitre.

But I have a greater thing to speak off, There's an Island in the Tuscane Sea, commonly called Little Elbe,* 1.14 containing twenty Italian Miles in compass, very Rich in Iron, from which, that Metal hath been dug out for many ages, and is so to this day; so that not on∣ly the Mountains there, but the two Islands also must needs have been dug through and exhausted; yet ne∣vertheless Iron once dug forth in twenty years, renews again, and now more and better than formerly, because the Alcaly, or Mother of the Mineral there, is again exsaturated from the Vital Fountain; and takes the de∣termination of Metal, so becomming Iron. Also the evacuated Mine of Vitriol in Carinthia,* 1.15 first being expo∣sed to the free and open Air, and afterwards covered for some years, is again replenished; so that Calid most

acutely Teaches, That the Roots of things are in the Air.

If these things are so, as Experience proves them to be True, why should not the Acid flowing down from the Sun into the Matter of a Flint,* 1.16 be multiplied in It, and be hardned into the fixation, constancy, and sicci∣ty of the Flint? Since every individual hath treasured up in it a spark of the Nature of Light, by whose Beams the Body will be multiplied, as my Hippocrates Chymicus shews, Chap. 3. and afterwards, when the Flint by Artificial Fire is turned into Lime, or Calx, its Acid doth not therefore perish, which, since it is fixed by External Fire in Vegetables, as I shall shew anon, why may it not be so also in a Flint?* 1.17 So that it is a sot∣tish thing to deny, that there is Acid in Lime: but these are vain Arguments and Subjects, forged in empty Brains: wherefore leaving such false Conjectures, I turn my self to the Lovers of Truth.

CHAP. III. Alcaly, what it is? and how it is made, both by Nature, and by Art? and whence it had that name?

AS in the former Chapter I have shewed out of Hermes, and by Experience, That the Sun is the Father of Acidity, now in this Chapter I will also demonstrate our of the same Hermes and the same Experience, That the Moon is the mother of Alcaly; and as the Acid doth not discover it self but to the Natural Philosopher, so also Alcaly comes not forth to view or light, unless it be detained by the Acid, which she loves: And first, I will alledge the Operations of Nature, and afterwards will Mechanically demonstrate how Art doth ape Them in her Imitations.

Thales, Heraclitus, Hesiod, Hermes, as well as Hippo∣crates, have affirmed, That Water is the first matter of all things; The Writer of Genesis seems to be also of the same mind: For all water is of a feminine nature, because it contains and cherishes in it self the Seeds of things, and clothes it self with various figures. In the Macrocosm 'tis made sometimes Wine, sometimes Vinegar, some∣times Aqua Ardens, Caustick, Oyl, &c. In the Micro∣cosm, 'tis sometimes Choler, sometimes Milk, Sweat, Blood, Urine, &c. The root of all these is water, and that cold, which from the beginning was endued with a tenuious Acid or Light, that so it might be fitter to re∣ceive the form of mixed Bodies; for so, Fire is easily mixed with Fire, Light with Light, Water with Water; for unless it had been endued with this slender Light from the beginning, the Vital Spirit had never been able to as∣sume a body in it: For our better understanding, I now call that little body Alcaly, Experience so directing me, See Hippoc. Chymicus chap. 19.* 1.18 The way which Nature useth in preparing that Alcaly, is taught us by that No∣ble Polonian, the Ingenious Cosmopolita, in these clear and express words, When Rain falls, says he, it takes from the Air, that Vertue of Life (which in the Chapter afore-going, I have shewed to be the Acid Spirit) and con∣joyns it with the Salt-nitre of the Earth, because the Salt∣nitre of the Earth, is like calcined Tartar, by its Siccity, drawing the Air to it self, which Air in it is resolved into wa∣ter. Such a force of Atraction hath that Salt-nitre of the Earth, which also was Air,* 1.19 and is conjoyned with the fat∣ness of the Earth; and by how much the more plentifully the Sun beams do then affect it, so much the greater quantity of Salt-nitre is made, and by consequence a plentifuller crop of Corn is produced; and this is done day by day. Thus far He, whose single Testimony, culled out from many others, is a sufficient authority for me to affirm, That the Acid Vital Spirit in the fatness of the Earth, by the Sun-beams, is fixed into Alcaly, which again covets to be saturated with the Acid Vital Spirit from the Air into Salt, which there is called Nitre of the Earth; the reason thereof will more clearly appear in the progress. Hence it is, that he

says, in another place, That this Spirit hath a Sister (Alca∣ly) which it loves,* 1.20 and is again loved by it, for it is to it as a Mother. What can be more clearly held forth for the pre∣paration of Alcaly, out of the Acid Vital Spirit by the O∣peration of Nature? I add, That if this Spirit be shot down out of the Air upon the Earth by Rain, then it must necessarily fall down also on the Water, and the same Sun-beams, which by Reverberation do fix it on the Earth into Salt-nitre of the Earth, do in like manner fix it in the Water,* 1.21 if not into Salt-nitre, yet at least into Na∣tural Alcaly; with which all waters do abound, except such as are distilled from Cephalick Herbs: the reason whereof you may see in Hippocrates Chymicus, chap. 19. and in some places they fix it into Sea-Salt, other where into Vitriol, and sometimes into Mineral, according to the disposition of its Mother; as I have also shewed out of Lully, in the fore-going Chapter.

Upon this foundation proceeds the spiritual representa∣tion of Plants,* 1.22 concerning which, see Hippoc. Chym. chap. 20. If any one doubt of, or desire to know its Inven∣tor, let him consult and weigh this Ancient True Phi∣losophy, and the sincere Studier of Natures Secrets, maugre the Brawls of Scolding Detractors, will soon ob∣tain his desire.

As concerning the Ignorant, either Allowers or De∣tractors, who write without any sure foundation, I am not solicitous about them; for I know that Calumny (which is not in a Man's own power to avoid) leaves a guilt on him that casts it; He, against whom it is directed, being innocent and faultless: Nay, nothing is more plea∣sing to an Honest-man, then to undergo Reproaches for love of Vertue; for it is undergone in this case, with In∣credible Pleasure and Alacrity, and being never long-lived, It again returns of its own accord without any la∣bour to its Author: But to return,

That Alcaly is found in the Earth,* 1.23 Experience confirms by the Extraction of it, because a Volatile Alcaly is drawn and sublimated out of Earth, which hath not yet attain∣ed any constancy; whence, not enduring to be solitary and alone, it strives to avolate into the Air.

So, That nourishing Alcaly is made out of Water,* 1.24 Paracelsus proves by the accretion of a Flint in a Phyal∣glass; for water is the Liquor and Root of all things, as Hippocrates witnesseth in his Books of Diet: Fire,* 1.25 says he, moves all things, but Water nourishes all things. Hence Lactantius, Water is all things: Democritus also was not ignorant of the Vertues of Water, who therefore affirmed that Truth was hid or immersed in a Well: So Hermes, Water is susceptible and producible of Nutriment in Men and other things, and without Water, Nature operates not: See Hippoc. Chym. chap. 19.

For confirmation of my Assertion, let us hear the No∣ble Cosmopolita; Nature, says he, knows how to produce fruits in the Earth, out of Water, and from the Air to sup∣ply them with life: Which is as much as to say, unless lus sifter (i. e.) Alcaly, were in water, which this Spirit loves, it would not subsist of it self, because it cannot be alone, as Hippocrates informes us; and by consequence, it would produce nothing, but return into its own Soyl and Coun∣trey.

Hence it is that Hippocrates again says, De Naturâ pueri: many things do happen out of a few, because all things produced on the Earth, do Extract a more copious ver∣tue from the Earth, than they brought with them from their Parents or Originals: 'Tis the same thing which C••smopolita said before for the generation of Alcaly, to which he adds Water, coagulated by the force of Vo∣getable Sulphur into Herbs; where it is to be observed, That unless this Spirit or Sulphur (call it as you please) did find something in Water, which it loved, assuredly it would never enter into it, and would coagulate no∣thing; for if Water, by the force of Vegetable Sulphur, be coagulated into Herbs; the same Water by the vertue of Mineral Sulphur, must be coagulated into Minerals: and in like manner the same water by the help of Animal Sulphur into Animals: whence of necessity it must be Nutritive, if it ought to undergo Coagulation elsewhere.

So that Common Water is that Catholick and Univer∣sal Wine, which Animals,* 1.26 Vegetables and Minerals do drink, each of them after their own peculiar manner.

And therefore to deny that Alcaly is in Water, is to fight against the gravest Authors, against Reason, and against Experience. And they which in like sort deny Water to nourish, gain nothing but universal Scorn for their la∣bour; but let us hear Hippocrates speaking in his First Book of Diet, against those who deny water to Nourish, and to be Coagulated by the vertue of Sulphur into Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, yea into Humane Bodies them∣selves, seeing Nature acts every where alike. In those, says he, where Fire is overcome by the presence of Water, some call such persons Sottish, others Amazed Ones, Stupids or Dolts; which Temper is a certain duller species of Madness: Such persons do Weep and Wail, when no man troubles or strikes them; they fear things not to be feared, and are sadned at things not at all belonging to them, and do imagine such things as Wisemen would never do.

Wherefore it is good to Purge such troubled Brains with Hellebore, provided Anticyra have enough to do the Feat: Thus speaks Hippocrates against those who deny that Wa∣ter doth Nourish.

Hitherto I have demonstrated out of the Shop of Wise Nature, how the Child of the Sun, being Reverberated by the Sun-beams, is fixed into Alcaly, and how That Alca∣ly doth again incessantly Attract the Child of the Sun, and so they are both condensed together. To this Natural Operation, I will now subjoyn That which is Artificial, that it may appear how Venerable Antiquity did endea∣vour to imjtate Nature as near as was possible.

Art therefore takes Vegetables of all sorts, Wood, Shrubs, Chips, Loppings, Leaves, &c. all green and fresh (whose moisture here is instead of Rain:) if it be Wood, young Shrubs, or Loppings, which are made use of, They may be burnt in the open Air, or in a Chim∣ney, and so without flaming out, be reduced to Ashes, lest that which we seek for, should return by the motion into Air, or its own Country. If they be Herbs full of Juice, they may be burnt to Ashes in a fired and lighted furnace (Fire here is instead of the Sun Beams, which reverberates the Acid of Vegetables into Alcaly) which, afterwards are agitated with a

quick flame in a reverberating Furnace, fit for this purpose, till they begin to threaten fusion; a sure Argument that the Acid is shut up in the Alcaly, and then they are called Alcalizate or Pot-ashes;* 1.27 out of these Ashes, by means of Common Water Salt, is elicited by Lixivation; then the Water is exhaled, till the Siccity remains, which is called, Fixed Arti∣ficial Sal Alcaly: This Salt, having almost lost its form, remains for the greatest part a Vacuum; and therefore being impatient of inanition, it again desires to be saturated with the Acid into Salt, that it may fulfil the course of Nature; as I have shewed before out of Cosmopolita. And as Nature doth incessantly and daily infuse an Occult Vital Acid out of the Air into the Alcaly made by her, both of which do afterwards (the heat of the Sun concocting them) gradually rise up into Corn and Fruit; so also, Art,* 1.28 in imita∣tion of Nature, doth impregnate her prepared Alcaly, lest it should wax barren, with an Occult Acid; an for Example, Oyl, Fatness, &c. and by a continual heat doth by little and little digest them, till it as∣surge into Sope of a Salt taste; or else it mixes it with things more fixed, either White Sand, or Powder of Flints; which mixture, being agitated in a stronger Fire (viz. of Fusion) rises up to Glass,* 1.29 which must needs be of a Salt taste, because it is made of the Acid of Flint and Fixed Alcaly; yea, Alcaly saturated with so much Acid, as to make it sufficient for it self, is turned into Salt; and if the Alcaly be not saturated with Acid enough to dissolve or slack the Flint, then the Alcaly overcomes the Acid, and the Glass attracts Humidity from the Air, by means of the empty and thirsty Alcaly, and so chinks and is broken. Hence Zoar says, That Glass may be made out of any Herb, viz. when it is Alcalized, as my Hippocrates shews, Chap. 4th. and 5th.

These things being understood; we are again fur∣nished with Arguments against Those who deny,* 1.30 That there is a Fixed Acid in Nature; and as, when the Al∣caly exceeds the Acid, the Glass chinks, and contracts

flaws, so becoming useless; so also (as I have shewed above out of Hippocrates) those persons in whose Brains Water exceeds the Fire, do become so stupid and dull, that by reason of their darkning humidity, they can perceive no Fixed Acid in Nature.

Now Glass is destroyed by the same Fixed Alcaly of which it is compounded and made;* 1.31 a Position contrary to Those who deny, That there is no Alcaly like to Ni∣tre; then which, nothing can be spoken more absurd.

But tis no wonder, If slight Doctors produce light Argumenrs. Therefore let more parts of Alcaly than of Glass be melted together into one lump,* 1.32 which, being exposed to the Air, is wholly resolved into Li∣quor; for out of what Glass is made, into That, and by That, it must needs again be resolved; as Aristotle rightly Teaches. Pour Mineral Acid drop by drop on this Li∣quor, until the hissing noise cease, and the Alcaly be saturated into a Salt taste or sapor, and the pow∣der of Flints sinks to the bottom. Such Endimions, who think themselves never secure, sometimes think that this powder, taken by the Mouth, doth generate Milk; and sometimes they imagine it, though taken the same way, to be a very pernicious thing.

Our Ancestors tell us the way of making this pow∣der, viz. That Red hot Glass should be quenched in the Ashes of Bean Stalks; which speech, though it be not improper, yet it is laughed at by the enslaved and mancipated rout; because they do not first teach how to make a Lie for the quenching or extinction of Glass: as if Rhasis had not expresly taught us, That the Sayings and Writings of Philosophers are always to be understood according to the possibility of Na∣ture, and not according to the simple sound of the Words; for to take notice of every minute thing, to such as are Skilful in an Art, would be too long and tedious. Now the Word Quench, doth neces∣sarily presuppose Liquor, as clearly appears out of Rhasis: but my Answer is this, That the Sayings of Philosophers are hardly understood by those, who like vain persons, seek for praise in Critical Glosses, having

been never enformed in the Operations of Nature, but have spent their time in collecting Receipts here and there, and Those not well understood: And this may be the cause, why it is not given to Plebeians and Vul∣garists, to distinguish Things; as will more clearly ap∣pear hereafter.

After that Art in imitation of Nature, hath extracted Al∣caly out of Vegetables, it presently judges,* 1.33 that Al∣caly must also necessarily lie hid in the Mineral Fa∣mily; especially since Nature is alike in all things: where∣fore It begins to burn and calcine Flints, with a naked Fire, until part of the Aliment be wasted (as it did in the Family of Vegetables;) but not being able, by simple Water, to extract Alcaly out of them, when they are calcined, because the Fixed Acid perished not in the calcination, but again apprehended or catch'd hold of its Sister, viz. Fixed Alcaly; and so both of them were concreted into a rocky substance: therefore she begins to mingle Lime with three parts of the Alcaly of Vegetables, that so the Acid of the Flint,* 1.34 with two parts of Alcaly, might assume a Neutral Na∣ture, and by the help of the third part of Vegeta∣ble Alcaly, one part of the Alcaly of Flint might be elicited; for like hath an easy ingress into like, as Hip∣pocrates teaches, de locis in homine; and so, that most powerful Alcaly for making of Sope,* 1.35 hath been extract∣ed out of the Family of Minerals, as is more largly declared in my Hippocrates Chymicus, Chap. 3. and 4.

Moreover, the word Alcaly,* 1.36 is not new or lately vain gloriously introduced by Me; but it was invented heretofore by Philosophers and Mysterious Sages, for the distinction not only of Things, but of Salts, work∣ing in a way contrary to Acids. For Alphidius, an An∣cient Philosopher, in his Book Entituled, Aurora Con∣surgens; Chap 12. of Mineral Things, saith, As Sal Al∣caly is extracted from unslaked Lime, or Pot-ashes, or from Calcined Tartar it self, by means of a convenient moisture, untll nothing remains of sharpness; so also our Salt, &c. The same thing is affirmed by Senior, a grave Philo∣sopher and Studier of this Ancient Science, De tribus∣lunae

imaginibus. These things, with what I have before alledged out of the ingenious Sendivogius, may suffice to prove, That Salt of Tartar, of unslaked Lime, and of Pot-ashes, and such as are of the like Nature, are rightly called Alcalys by the skilful; and are indeed such (and not meerly Salts, as some sottish Doctors do insipidly affirm:) For as the Natural Alcaly of Sendivo∣gius attracts to its self, out of the Air, a Spirit Occult∣ly Acid to our senses (let it suffice to have hinted this once for all) is impregnated by it, and they both as∣surge into Crops of Corn and Fruit; so also these Ar∣tificial Alcalys, being empty, are impregnated with all sorts of Acids, as the Artificer pleases; and when they are saturated, they take their determination from the Acid, according to the property and nature of the innate Calid, as I shall anon shew mechanically: So that it is not sufficient to dream, that Alcaly of Tartar is purely Salt, but it becomes us to lay down the clear and demonstrable grounds of this Doctrine, other∣wise it will obtain no credit in the School of Truth, but will be proscribed and hissed out, as a wicked and illusive thing.

Let me now produce a Clause out of Botanicks, con∣cerning the Herb Kaly; for they call the Salt of this Herb Alcaly, and commend it for Vitrification; neither did I ever read that Sea-salt, or Pit-salt, were ever used for making of Glass or Sope; because they have been found by experience to be saturated and impregnated with Acid, and not empty; so that, They can imbibe nothing, but their own proper Acid; yea, they dif∣ficultly let go or part with their own Acid: and un∣less the Alcaly did absume in it self the Fixed Acid part of the Flint, Glass could never be made; which is proved by the supernatant fatness, which is no longer Alcaly,* 1.37 but called Fel vitri, which is unfit for Vitrifica∣tion; for This being saturated with Fixed Acid, from the Flint; by reason of its Saltness, represents the na∣ture and appearance of Trencher Salt, and therefore is onely good to be given to Horses and Cattel to sharpen their Stomachs to their Fodder, where Salt is very

dear. And so, the Salts, which absorb the Acid, are called Alcalys by the Ancient Philosophers (and such they are) to distinguish them from that common Trenchet Salt which we eat: In like manner, I shall also call them Alcalys, having Authority, Reason, and Experi∣ence on my side (let Momus's bark never so much; wherefore in a Flint, constant in the Fire, and fixed there dwells Alcaly and Acid, a Lesson, which the Dean and their Fellows never yet Learned; but I shall de∣monstratively shew that the Acid in the Flint is made Glass, and again, that out of the Alcaly of the same Flint is made Sope; and both those Principles by Alcaly alone, are divided into two diverse substances, very necessary for Humane use; and unless there were Hals and Cheo (i. e.) melting of Salt, whence Alchymy hath its name, men must necessarily want both Sope and Glass; see the Preface to my Hippocrates Chymicus.

Wherefore the Acid of Flint,* 1.38 which of it self is of difficult Fusion, doth animate the vacuous Alcaly, which is of easy Fusion (for unless the Alcaly were vacuous, it could not imbibe the Acid of Flint) and both These by colliquation, turn into a dark Mass, which by rea∣son of Fermentation, of its own Nature casts forth, a Salt froth, which being separated, is called by the Skilful Fel vitri. The Mass by little and little is clarifyed in∣to transparent Glass, so that, That which erst was a Vegetable, is now by the Spirit, or Soul of the Flint, turn∣ed into a Mineral, and a rocky or petrous disposition and nature (i. e.) Glass: which consideration is of great weight, For the Soul of the Flint goes forth and en∣ters into the Alcaly (as the Pythagorians speak) or the Vegetable Soul goes forth and re-assumes the Mineral Nature, and the Vegetable is animated with a Rocky Indoles, so that for the future, no Fire or Acid Li∣quor can overcome or hurt it; whence Raimund whis∣pers to his followers, Take away its Soul, and restore it to it agains and though the operation of which he speaks, is not properly concerning vitrification, yet it is of no loss, value, since Nature in every thing is alike; as I shall shew in this Book, to the Prudent and Lo∣ers

of Truth: as for the prophane Vulgar, which nei∣ther is, nor will be capable of the Study of this An∣cient Medicine, I matter them not; I study to please but a few, for that which pleases the many, is not without suspicion; and it is the Advice of Pythagoras, to follow the fewest, if walking in a right path.

So that Alcaly is as the Female, in respect of the Ac••d (the Child or Male of the Son) and is its Sister,* 1.39 which it loves, and is reciprocally loved by it, as Cos∣mopolita speaks; moreover, it is as the Moon, which is impregnated with Light and Vertue by the Child of the Sun, whence the Moon is the Mother, as Hermes, and after him, other Interpreters of Natures Recesses and Secrets have phrased her; for they call their Al∣caly Luna. So that the Anonymous Revealer of Natures Mysteries, says rightly, The heat of the Female answers to the Terrestrial heat, whilst it putrifies, cherishes and pre∣pares the seed; but the Fire implanted in the seed, being the Child of the Sun, disposes the Matter, and informes it, so disposed.

If then the Alcaly receives, putrefies and cherishes the Acid (the Child of the Sun, that This again may arise into a new and clarifyed Body (as I have shewed in Glass) it must necessarily perform the Office of a Mo∣ther, and so be vacuous; if otherwise, it must be im∣pregnated by the Child of the Sun, as Hermes and Ex∣perience witness. Hence Hippocrates, in his first Book of Diaet, sighing at and lamenting the ignorance of Those, who amongst their fellows boast themselves Wise, Men, says he, know not how to consider and inferre obscure things out of such as are manifest. Therefore to distinguish It from the Acid of Common Salt,* 1.40 it is called Alcaly, not only by Philosophers, but also by Mechanical Glass Men and Sope-boilers. If therefore Alcaly be vacuous, and Acid an imbiber, as I have shewed, How, and by what reason, can the Alcaly of Tartar be proclaimed to be purely Salt? and how can it be approved for such? Surely so to affirm, is meerly a monstrous thing, and an old Wives Tale, full of fil∣thy ignorance; invented and approved only by shallow

heads, but exploded and derided by the intelligent and learned. Beware therefore, O ye lovers of Truth, of such couzening Chapmen, the matter is far otherwise then those boasters do vain-gloriously pretend. To Me they can do no harm, but I write this for the sake of young and unwary beginners, that they may not give up themselves to false Doctrines, which would lead them out of the way; but that they may know for the fu∣ture whom to avoid, I conclude therefore, with Hip∣pocrates, That all things in the world are constituted of Fire and Water, or of Acid and Alcaly; of these Two Instruments, all things in the Ʋniverse are made up (as al∣so is the Ancient Physick of our fore-fathers) in which yet a Third is inseperably included; which is therefore hinted to us, under the name of Sal Philosophorum:* 1.41 whence They called all bodies compleatly mixed of Acid and Alcaly (viz. when the Fire did not overcome the Water, nor on the contrary) Salt. Hence arose that saying, In the Sun and in Salt, are all Natures Productions: yea, all the Grace, Ornament, Delight and Conten∣tation of Humane Life could not be expressed in a fitter word, and therefore delightful Elegancies, which of∣fend none, are called Sal••s, nay, the appellation of Graces is also given to it Hence St. Paul, Col. 4. Let your speech be always savory, seasoned with Salt, admnistring grace, &c. And the Scripture, not without Reason, often takes Salt for an Emblem of Wisdom, intimating there∣by, that the fundamental Knowledge of the Nature of Salt, and of its composition of the Two Instruments of Nature, is of great Moment. If therefore determinated Common Saline Matter, viz. Alcaly, being informed by the Acid or Child of the Sun, as well in Scripture as in Moral Philosophy, be called Salt, and the de∣nomination of Salt be given to it alone, why should any defraud the highest Masculine, being innocent, and which may be likened to the Sun, and rob it of its proper Name: Receive therefore from me the Salt of Wisdom, and beseech the Lord to give you all, the Spirit of discerning, for no age is too late to learn Truth and good Manners. Let Old Age blush, which

cannot amend it self, yet scorns to learn; for my part I am willing to insinuate and to be complaisant (as Caesar was) that Men may attain to a better Un∣derstanding. Hearken therefore attentively, and give ear to the difference betwixt vacuous Sal Alcaly and Common Salt, which Wise Men, by reason of its per∣fect mixture, have compared with the Sun.

CHAP. IV. Trenchar-Salt, or the Salt which we eat, how much it differs from Vitrifying and Sa∣ponary Alcaly?

The Praise and Renown of Trenchar-Salt is spread over the whole world;* 1.42 so that in Apologizing for it, I undertake as it were the defence of the Sun, a∣gainst a swarm of Flies, endeavoring to ecclipse its Light: Salt, because it is so necessary an Element for Mortals, that Mans Life cannot be sustained with∣out it, therefore Nature exhibited it to us, brought to full perfection, and requires not from us (as in our other Acquist) any Ustion, but only that we dry it from its aqueous Humidity; whether it be Sea Salt or Salt from Pits. Principles, equally poized, do con∣cur to its mixture, which is made in Natures Shop; so that venerable Antiquity hath determined, All Na∣tures Perfections to be in the Sun and Salt; and it is called by Helmont, and that on good ground, the Chief of Salts, and is the Armoniack amongst them all; yet notwithstanding it is praised from the Countrey, whence it comes, as Dioscorides hath it: See Hippo∣crates Chymicus, Chap. 2.

But the Fame of Alcaly hath not yet reached to all People,* 1.43 because Essentially and Corporally it appears not in Nature, unless it be made by Art and Ustion, as well in the Animal as Vegetable and Mineral King∣doms;

yet with this difference, that some Minerals, not equally mixed, contain more of Alcaly than Acid; Sul∣phur, Gold, and Meat-Salt being excepted, which have more of Acid, as I have shewed. Hence it is, that the Ancients have Writ, that this Virgin hath three Fa∣thers, viz. Nature, Fire, and the Philosopher: but here we must Note, that no man by the art of Ustion, in any one of Natures Kingdoms,* 1.44 can prepare any Alcaly ab∣solutely Pure (i. e.) deprived of all mixture of the Acid whatsoever; he that seeks to do it, will lose his labour. Whence Cosmopolita, Burn, says he, Sulphur from incom∣bustible Sulphur, and from its Soul, whose Grain and Fer∣ment, indeed Mercury hath in it, as much as is suffici∣ent for it self; but make, that it may be sufficient for o∣ther things too.

Enough now hath been spoken for the convincing of Those that deny the principles of this Ancient Art, viz. That Mercury hath no Sulphur separable from it: 'Tis altoge∣ther vain, what some Masters and Writers of Vanity have thought (says Geber) for I have seen that It doth emanate from it, &c. Experience also confirms the same.

Common Salt is of a Salt-acid taste (i. e.) the Acid is prevalent in it, therefore it is incorruptible (if the Salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?) Hence being moderately mixed with Meat, it conciliates a grateful taste to them, and excites Appetite.

Sal-Alcaly is contrary to a Salt-Acid taste; hence if it be mixed, though but moderately, with Meats, it gives them an unsavory taste, and blunts the Appetite.

Common Salt, by reason of its Acidity, preserves Flesh and Fish a long time from Putrfaction, and draws out and attracts from them the Volatile Alcaly, which by a Retort is again easily separated, as Hippoc. Chymic. tea∣ches Chap. 14.

On the contrary Sal-Alcaly doth consume the Acid, and promotes Putrefaction. Common Salt doth imbibe nothing of Acid, and therefore being dryed from its A∣queous Humidity, and cast into Butter of Antimony, it disturbs it not; Sal Alcaly being dryed, and cast into the

fame Butter of Antimony, is so far from not disturbing it, that in an instant it quite destrovs it; because it drinks up the Acid Spirits, and the Antimony falls into a white Powder.

Common Salt being mixed with the Quadruple of Bole Armonick, and distilled with an open Fire, yields an Acid Liquor.

Sal Alcaly mixed and distilled with the like quantity of Bolus with an open Fire, yields a bitterish Liquor, by reason of the Bolus, Insipid and Aqueous per se, as Hippoc. Chymic. shews Chap. 10.

In this place I desire the equal Reader to take notice, That the Process concerning the making Volatile Salt of Tartar,* 1.45 inserted into the last Edition of the Reformer, I had almost said Deformed Auspurgh's Dispensatory, f. 247, was stolen out from my above-named 10th. Chapter of Hippocrates Chymicus: And after they had stript it of things unknown to them (as I can shew) what further? they mutilate the Text, then load it with Calumnies, pervert Sentences, and prove manifest Falsaries. God Almighty curb such Plagiary, Falsified, Stoln, and Deformed Labours, which darken the minds of the Studious. In that fore-cited 10th. Chapter, I did Experimentally De∣monstrate, That all things did consist of Eire and Water, and that Water was the Basis and Root, not only of Sweet and Insipid, but also of Igneous Vertues, and of Caustick things, as of Aqua Fortis, Alcalyes, Salts, Oyls, Vine∣gars, Hot Waters, and of all things, in which the Acri∣mony of Fire doth prevail. I say, Water, and that cold, is the root of all those things; for Nature impresses the Vertues of Her things upon a moist Element; Wherefore Moisture is the first Subject of Nature, upon which Her first Labour is spent, as I have shewed in the Third Chap∣ter of this Book, and hereafter will make clear by plain and evident Examples. I say, for this end my Hippocra∣tes Chymicus in the fore-cited place, reduced many things; as also Alcaly of Tartar by Solution and Coagulation, into Simple Elementary Water, of no Taste or Smell; but Fire, and the Child of the Sun (for whose sake the Dance is made in that Operation) returns to its own

Country, and that for this Cause, That Man may not find out the work that God doth, Eccles. chap. 3. v. 2. See also Hippoc. Chymicus Chap. 18. These Surreptitious Doctors have not only stoln out this my Labour, Sweat, and Travel, to advance their own Praises, but have al∣so essayed to reproach the Author with infinite Calumnies, and to suppress the Truth; yea, they boast that this Sim∣ple Elementary Water is Volatile Salt of Tartar in these Rhodomontado words:

And by this means at length, Courteous Reader, thou mayst be sure, That the Vertues of Salt of Tartar have passed through the Lembick, and That, thou hast, in succinct words, received a great Secret, destinated to thy own and neighbours Health, which use happily.

Consider, Friendly Reader, whether any thing could be more plausibly devised by their Mightinesses? What? to rob an Author, and afterwards to Defame Him? and then to depress and detract from the clear Truth? and that they may procure Fame to themselves amongst their Com∣panions, with a lofty Brow to Venditate most Simple Wa∣t••r for Volatile Salt of Tartar, not only to the prejudice of ones Neighbour, but to the reproach of Physick it self; which would certainly be the Noblest of all Arts, unless it were thus treated by such ignorant Brains which are dar more vacuous and emptie than Alcaly. Loe, this is the cause why now it is reputed the vilest and meanest of Arts by the Vulgar. What Candid Person, Ingenious Rea∣der, can be pleased with such Actions, or gull'd with Pre∣scriptions stuffed with manifest Vanities, under the pretence of Physick? Heretofore, he that taught Falsities was ac∣counted Infamous and a Knave: Hence Cicero speaks, Pro Roscio, A man may easily be deceived by a Knave. Their Brain is pre-possessed with so many Absurdities, that they have lost their Remembrance, and have forgot, That Water drawn from Alcaly of Tartar is most Simple; neither are any of those Vertues radicated in it, contained therein, which Raimund, Basilius, Hollandus, Helmont and others Ascribe to Volatils Salt of Tartar. Doth this Water which you have so Distilled from Alcaly of Tartar, dissolve a Metal, or at least the Stones of Crabbs, by a true Solu∣tion? 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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Can only four drops of this your Distilled Water, taken by the Mouth, augment the Vital Spirit when it is weak, with incredible Vigour? To which I add, that Vo∣latile Alcaly may be made, not only from Tartar, but from all Cephalick Herbs, which contain Alcaly in their Ashes (i. e.) without Clavellation. So a Friend of mine extracted Volatile Alcaly out of Lillye Convallye, which was very Restorative: Yea, I my Self have prepared the same (of no less Efficacy in dissolving) from the outward Rinds of Walnuts. But, Basilius, Hollandus, Helmont, and others do extoll Alcaly of Tartar, because it easily is conjoyned to and makes a Coalition with Fire of its own nature: Yet these ridiculous Masters do ungratefully rail upon Helmont too, as well as other Learned Men, falsly accusing Him, for not discovering the way of Prepara∣ring this Salt: But what need have your Masterships of Helmont's help? Since ye your selves are sure that the Vertues of Salt of Tartar have passed through the Lembick, and that you have obtained a great Secret? Why do you reproach a Man who hath faithfully shewed you the right way? as I have done in my Hippoc. Chymic in three places, and also in this Tract; clearly discovering the Preparation of this Alcaly; which, if you do not understand, yet do not Revile, but rather blame your own ignorance, and after∣wards apply Cupping-Glasses, and a sharpe Suppository, left your envious Bowels should burst asunder.

But nothing is more ridiculous than that which is whi∣spered into the ears of his Followers in the same Text, I am induced by this motive to reveal this to thee, lest I should seem to be enviously affected against many Writers of our Age. Plautus would say to such a man Aplauda es nequior, Neither is that less Jocular or Ridiculous, which (in the above-cited place) they demand, viz. that the cu∣rious Investigations of Learned Men, for which they have taken pains, should be openly and plainly discovered to such Masters of Vanity, who know not how to distinguish Water from Salt? as if it were not sufficient that Quid pro quo were often enough prescribed to poor Patients, but that they themselves must likewise have an occasion ad∣ministred to Adulterate and Defame the Inventions of

Philosophers? Do they not know that Hippocrates forbids it in express words, and allows us to divulge only those things which are known to Plebeians? For they do not understand the force and meaning of my words: Take this my Reduction of Alcaly of Tartar into Water, for an Example, they presently, among the Unskilful, Vaunt This to be Volatile Alcaly; and do moreover commend it for a Cordial with their vain yet swelling words. By These, and the like Fables, studious Young-men are im∣posed upon, under pretence of Truth, because they are Licensed and Approved by the Lofty Magnifique Deans and Professors of Physick: Innocent Youth is easily per∣swaded that Truth lyes in the bottom of such Trifles, not knowing any more than their Masters how to di∣scern Truth from Falshood. But what effect such and the like things can have in an Art, is manifest by daily Expe∣rience; so that it is grown, and not without cause, a common Proverb, Mentiris ut Medicus: Which therefore of all the Philosophers, would take pains to instruct such an Indocile, Quarelsome, and Sluggish Rout? he can∣not do it without doing great Wrong to himself, and con∣tracting an indelible stain of Infamy to his Credit. Leave∣ing therefore these processes, which come not forth upon the Stage without the laughter of Learned Men; I convert my speech to the Studies of Truth, and do affirm, That the Ancient Scienceof Physick doth not consist in com∣piling of Processes and Receipts here and there surrpeti∣tiously taken up,* 1.46 and perhaps also but ill understood (of which Personhs the Proverb speaks true,

Cum Charta cadit, tota Scientia vadit.

He that for their Knowledge looks, Finds it not i'th'r Head, but Books.)

But in the true Understanding and Knowledge of Things by their Causes, as Aristotle hath rightly taught, l. 1. Physic. For he that knows Things by their Causes, is not only said to have Experience, but to know and comprehend Them perfectly. This

is the Foundation of the Ancient Physick; and although, all Receipts with their Exscribers, Subscribers, and Ap∣provers, were utterly lost and perished, yet this An∣cient Science would remain unmoveable; whose foun∣dation I have faithfully discovered in my Hippoc. Chy∣micus, by familiar and common Words and Examples; but such putative and empty Doctors, by reason of the blindness of their minds, cannot reach to it (I call it blindness, seeing all Knowledge is Light, and Igno∣rance, Darkness) as being long since excluded from the Knowledge of the Truth: Enough now concern∣ing this disguised Elementary Water. There are many such like trifles packed together in the fore-named Di∣spensatory, which do not only cast a blot upon Noble Physick, but do also redound to the Ruin of our Neigh∣bour; Things ill got, because not understood, will be as badly spent. But these things requiring a Volume by themselves, I shall forbear further speaking of them at present, and return whence I digressed, Common Salt doth not wash out filth, therefore Sope cannot be made of it. Hence it was, that Nausicca the Daugh∣ter of King Alcinous, washed her Linnen out of a Fountain in the Sea-shore, as Homer notes, 6. Odyss. which Aristotle rightly refers to the perfect mixture of this Salt, for seeing it hath no vacuity in it (as Al∣caly hath) it can receive nho filth into it self.

Sal Alcaly is vacuous, and by consequence imbibes filth, and Sope is madeof it; because it absorbs the Occult Acid in the Oyl and Fat, which by a flow Concoction are converted together into Sope, of a Salt taste, as my Hippoc. Chymicus hath it.

Common Salt fortifies and strengthens living Flesh, it cures the Scab, Mangy, and other Diseases of the Skin, as the Sea-fishers can witness; yea being mixed with Oyl, it cures Scalds.

Sal Alcaly doth mortify and putresy living Flesh, as Potential Cauteries do witness; and the History also shews, that it putresyed a whole living Man in a mo∣ment, as it is mentioned in Hippocrates Chymicus, Chap. 4.

Common Salt with Sand, passes not over into Glass, because it is saturated with Acid.

Sal Alcaly, with Sand, it melted into Glass, because being destitute of Acid, it receives into its Bowels the Acid of Flint, and by Fusion, becomes of a Rocky Nature; as I shewed before.

Common Salt, makes Nitre impure, Sal Alcaly, cleanses Nitre from all impurity, as my Hippoc. Chy∣micus teaches, Chap. 8.

So we Read in Holy Scripture, every Sacrifice should be seasoned with Salt, but no mention at all is made of Alcaly there.

So that it is manifest, from the Circumstances a∣bove-mentioned, That Meat Salt, or Common Salt; the Child of the Sun, and the Chiefest of all Salts, differs very much from Inane and Vacuous Alcaly; which therefore I have set one against another, that it may appear to the Learned and Curious, that there is not a grain of Salt in those great Bodies of Innovators, who contend, That Sal Alcaly is a Salsum, and so do igno∣rantly perswade their unskilful followers: For there are no more Salts in the Universe, than Acid and Alcaly; Acids are infinite, all which have one only Alcaly for their foundation, in which they subsist, and are incor∣porated, as I shall Ocularly demonstrate in the 6th. Chapter: So that all Salts, and all Things which are in the World, may, by an easy method, be re∣ferred to Acid and Alcaly; therefore it will not be a miss, yea pleasant and acceptable, before I proceed, to subjoyn the Preparation of Medicinable Salts.

CHAP. V. The Preparation of Medicinable Stals.

HAving shewed before, That there is nothing in the Universe, but Acid and Alcaly, of which Two, Na∣ture composes all her works; to which yet a Third doth also inseparably adhere, as by degrees will be manifested: I shall now proceed to confirm my Proposition of Me∣dicinable Salts, and to shew, what they are; because I have not found Their Nature hitherto described by any Man, and therefore I think it worth my Labour, to transfer the True way of their Preparaton, out of my Hippoc. Chymicus Chap. 21. to this place, which will likewise declare their Essence, and Nature. Most Wise Nature, in the 3. Chap. shews us the way, how het Spirit of the Air is coagulated and fixed, to wit••, by Fire and Water (i. e.) by the Sun Beams and by Rain, for unless they both concur, the Spirit returns to its Original; which They find to be True, who en∣deavour to prepare Salts out of dry Simples, for, in dry∣ing, the greatest part doth exhale; and by how much the dryer they are left, the less quantity of Salt is procured from them; least of all, yea nothing, from rotten Sticks and Wood; which though with great Care you reduce into Ashes,* 1.47 yet you can elicite no Salt from them; but on the contrary, the fresher and newer they are burnt, a greater quantity of Salt, will be extracted there-from. Therefore, for the Prepara∣tion of Salts, our principle Care and Study should be, That the Herbs be fresh (see Chap. 3.) for then, in con∣cremation the innate Acid apprehends the Alcaly, and the Alcaly absorbs, or sucks up the Acid, and they are both fixed according to the property of the concrete; but from that part (which flies away with the flame,

and, not being sufficiently bound in by the Acid, goes to Soot) you may easily extract Volatile Alcaly.

Let Green Wormwood be the Example, Take This, green as it is, and burn it in a Chimney or open Place (but Fumitory, or such like Juicy Herbs, may be cast Green and Fresh, into a Red Hot Furnace, and the Mouth-hole be shut, that it catch its Flame:) flaming out is to be hindered as much as we can, for it is sufficient that it be turned into Ashes, though but black; which Ashes are further to be Caloined in a large Earthen Pot, and low, or upon a large Iron Plate, of a lifted up edge; Coals being kindled under, in the Wind Furnace, to the end that the little Door may be opened or shut, as there is need: The Ashes are always to be stirred with an Iron Spatule, till they be very white. Note that the process made this way is and must be more Sweet and Benigne, than that mentioned, Chap. 3. in the Preparation of Alcaly; for There the Ashes are stirred and agitated with a quick flame, which are therefore called, Clavellated, or Pot∣ashes; but here the Fire must not touch the Ashes, but they must be spread on a large Iron, or Earthen Plate, or Table, which must not enter the mouth of the Fur∣nace (see the Contents of my Hippoc. Chymicus, in the above-cited Chapter.) Lay the Ashes on a Linnen Acumi∣nated Bag, or, if there be few of them, on Acuminated Paper, and pour Common Water on them, which, running through them, being pregnant with Salt, is cal∣led a Lixivium, or Lye; Coagulate this strained Lye, with a quick Ebullition, in a Frying Pan, not greased in the Kitchin, and make it up into a Mass, which, when it begins to thicken like Honey, you must con∣tinually move with a Spatule, and it will be dryed up into a Grey Powder, which you must presently lay in a Pot not Glazed, with a Cover, (the little Door of the Wind Furnace being stopped) and cover them with Small Coals, mixed with the Powder of the same Coals; leisurely heat it, unto Brunity, not making it Red Hot, or melting it; when all is cooled, put the Salt into a Glass Vessel, and dissolve it in a sufficient quan∣tity

of Water, stirring it between whiles, with a Wooden Stick, till the whole be dissolved: afterwards let it rest for two or three dayes, when it is clear, pour it forth from the Lees, without much stirring, and in a Leaden or Glass Vessel placed in Sand, suffer the Wa∣ter to exhale without bubbles, till a Saline Cuticle ap∣pear: Then remove the Vessel, and the next morning gather up the Splendent Grains of Salt, which are to be washed with clear Water, with a quick motion, and dryed; put the remaining Lye again into Sand, that the Water may exhale, as before, unto the Cuticle. Both these Salts are to be kept together joyntly in one Vessel. It is to be observed, that Salts this way sweetly prepared, do resemble the Crasis of their Con∣cretes, the rest of the Lixivium being of an Urine-like taste and stinking smell, is to be lest for washing of Glasses. This is the easie and natural way to prepare Salts of Vegetables, which do never melt of themselves, neither are of an ungrateful taste; for they are com∣pounded of their proper Acid and Alcaly by Concre∣mation: A pound of These Ashes yields almost four Ounces of the purest Salt, but four Pound of the Ashes of dry Herbs will scarce afford one Ounce of Salt.

CHAP. VI. That the Seminal Vertue of all things is Acid, and that Acids lead Alcalyes ad Lubitum, and that every Acid Liquor is a Solution of Acid-Salt in Elementary Water.

I Have shewed before that Water would be coagulated by the force of Vegetable Sulphur, into That, of whose Determination Sulphur was: It is the property of Sulphur to be Occultly Acid and Pinguous, as I have shewed in Chap. 2. which in Vegetables is always Volatile.

Take therefore eitheir Wood, or Meal (whose Spirit these Magnifick Ridiculous Masters do proclaim and approve for Acid Spirit of Sal Mrmoniack) or any simple Vegeta∣ble, whatever it be; yea, or the very grains of Kermes, and Distil through a Report the Pinguous Acid Liquor, which is called, andis, Sulphur of the Grains of Kermes; or any other Vegetable •••• which their Masterships hitherto were ignorant of) upon this Liquor pour alcaly of Tar∣tar (which answers to Water, the Fire being taken away, as my Hippoc. Chymic. teaches Chap. 10.) till the Strepitus cease; strain this Compositum through Paper, and dry it up by degrees into the consistency of Honey, and the Tartar of the Grains of Kermes, or, as some call it,* 1.48 The essential Salt, will concrete in it when it is cold: But if you desire to turn it into Pure Salt, heat it in a Pot not Glazed, scarce to Brunity, only that the exceeding Pin∣guousness may deflragrate; or else put it into a Retort, and distil the Oyl from the empty Cuppel: Dissolve the black Mash with Common Water, let the Solution rest for three days, till it be clear, then poure it out leasure∣ly, and in a Glass Vessel placed in Sand, Exsiccate it to the Cuticle, and the next morning you may collect a Salt of the same Vertue, that the Acid, which you poured on the Alcaly, was off; so that the Alcaly is brought to the will and pleasure of the Alcaly••

As the Acid Liquor distilled from the Grains, doth Im∣pregnate the Alcaly with its Vertue, which from thence receives its determination, so that it may be called, and is Salt of grains of Kermes; So also poure distilled Vinegar on the same Alcaly, as much as it can imbibe (i. e.) to Saturity; which you may know when the Strepitus cea∣seth, and the smell of Vinegar breaths out: Coagulate the Impregnated Alcaly to Siccity, and though the Vi∣negar was distilled and the Alcaly of Tartar most Pure, yet the Coagulum is very Impure, Sordid, and Black, by reason of the Pinguousness of the Vinegar; which being separated, doth therefore catch or conceive Flame. Dis∣solve this black Mass in clear Water; let as much as is dis∣solved, rest for three days, then separate through Paper, the Pure from the Impure; dry the Pure again, as before,

and you shall have Regenerated Tartar;* 1.49 Distil this out of a Retort, as we do Tartar of Wine, and it will afford an Oyl, more or less Fetid (according to the quality of the Wine, of which the Vinegar was made;) and a bitterish Liquor, such as Common Tartar is wont to yield. The Faces, or Caput Mortuum, unless by the vehemency of the Fire it be turned to Glass, yo•••• must again dissolve in clear Water, and strain and coagulate it into true Alcaly of Tartar,* 1.50 as if it were left of the Common; So that the same Alcaly of Tartar being Impregnated with Acid Sul∣phur from the Grains of Kermes, follows the nature there∣of, and becomes Salt of grains of Kermes;* 1.51 and the same Alcaly Impregnated with Vinegar, imitates the nature of the Vinegar, and performs that which Tartar of Wine doth; like as a Woman, who being Married to a Man, loses her Father's Name, and takes that of her Husband: For Nature is alike in all things, as Pythagoras, and af∣ter him, Hippocrates have taught. But I have a greater thing in my mind; yet before I come to it, I must repeat some Experiments out of my Hippocrates Chymicus. Distil therefore out of a Retort, with an open Fire, Common Salt with four parts of Bole Armonick; all of them first re∣duced into a fine Powder (it will succeed more happily if they be mixed and blended together, for then they will easily fall through the Sieve) poure the Acid Liquor which comes forth, on the Pure Alcaly of Tartar, till the Strepitus cease and the Alcaly be Impregnated;* 1.52 Exhale this Mixture in a Glass Vessel, with a gentle heat, or else at the Sun, until the Film or Cuticle concrete a-top, and the next morning, when all is cooled, you shall have splen∣dent grains of Common Salt; So that the spirit of Salt in the Alcaly of Tartar returns into true Common Salt.

As you have done with Common Salt,* 1.53 so in like manner do with Nitre, whose spirit in the Alcaly of Tartar be∣comes true Nitre, conceiving Flame, and is a Remedy for the Quinzey; see Hippoc. Chym. Chap. 21. So also an Acid Spirit is elicited from Allum, with which let the alcaly of Tartar be so far impregnated,* 1.54 as above-said, till the hissing cease; which Liquor in a soft Fire is coa∣gulated into Allum; so that the Acid Spirit, not only of

of all Vegetables, but of all middle sort of Minerals, re-asumes a body in the Alcaly, and becomes the same thing, from whence the Acid Spirit was drawn forth. But the Acid of Sulphur, becomes not Sulphur in the Alcaly, because it hath lost its terreous pinguousness by the Flame; but it is sublimated into True Sulphur, with Sand or Flints ground to Powder, for it finds in them That to which it may associate it self and overcome it, as Hippoc. Chymicus shews, Chap. 21.

These Experiments do evince the Truth of That, which is laid down in the 1. Chapter, viz. That the Spirit of the World, or Child of the Sun, is Acid and Pinguous; and that this Pinguousness or Sulphur doth participate of a third, which, as I have shewed in the said first Chapter, doth inseparably adhere to Fire and Water; which I will now more clearly demonstrate in Vitriol, and in the Anatome thereof; wherefore it is vain, ignorant, and against all Truth, what they scri∣ble, viz, that Acids do not prevail over Alcalys, nor draw them hither and thither, as they please.

To convince such vain Talkers, distill the Spirit.* 1.55 out of dryed Vitriol, the common way, which is Acid Sulphureous, which you must rectify, or distill once more, out of a Retort, placed in an empty Cuppel; on which pour on leisurely, so much of the Alcaly of Tar∣tar, till the hissing and ebullition cease, (for if you pour it in hastily, they will both grow hot, by rea∣son of the fiery Nature in both Subjects:)* 1.56 exhale the superfluous, Insipid, and Aqueous Humour, till you see the appearance of a growing Cuticle. (Here you must observe, that if both the Alcaly and the Acid were not first sufficiently diluted, before their Conjunction, at their very first Meeting and Coalition, the White Pow∣der of Vitriolated Tartar will fall, and there will be no Chrystalline Grains produced:) Then remove the Vessel from the heat, and set it in a cold place, and in the morning you shall find Shining Grains arising and re∣sembling the form of Vitriol, because the Acid Spirit hath drawn the Alcaly to its own pleasure (i. e.) into the form of Vitriol. This White Vitriol, they call Vi∣triolate

Tartar, but I call it Regenerated Vitriol, what∣soever the ignorant multitude do murmur to the con∣trary: for the Acid of Flint in the Alcaly is rege∣nerated into a Pellucid, Frangible, Rocky Substance, which afterwards neither Fire, nor any Acid Liquor can destroy; as I have shewed in its place concerning Flint; and shall shew hereaster, concerning Coral.

The Occult Acid of Oyl, in the Alcaly, is regenerated into Pinguous Salt Sope.

The Acid of Grains of Kermes in the same Alcaly, be∣comes the Son of Kermes (i. e.) Salt.

The Acid of Common Salt in the same Alcaly becomes a Salt of the same Nature.

The Acid of Nitre in Alcaly, becomes True Nitre, conceiving Flame, and is a remedy for the Quinzey. The Acid of Allum in Alcaly, becomes True Allum; The Acid of Wine in Alcaly becomes Tartar, and all the other Acids, are regenerated in Alcaly their Mo∣ther: Why should not then the Acid of Vitriol, rege∣nerated in Alcaly,* 1.57 be called regenerated Vitriol? Is it be∣cause it is not blackned with Gauls, as Vitriol of Iron is; or because it cannot be distilled as Common Vitriol may, as some foolishly give forth; but why will you fantasti∣cally put a force upon Nature from those Accidents which are not common to all Vitriol? Surely that Wise Mistriss doth little esteem not only the contumelies of venemous Tongues, but she doth as much under∣value the old doting Fables of Wordy Doctors, who refuse to learn. Attend therefore diligently, that you may be informed, That, as I have shewed a little before of Acids; They bring Alcalyes to their will, so it must needs happen here: For when Natural Acid hath by chance corroded immature Iron, then they are both co∣agulated into Vitriol of Iron; which being mingled with Juice of Galls, yields a black colour, by reason of the Iron, and not by reason of the Acid. And when the same Natural Acid hath by chance corroded immature Cop∣per, then they are both coagualted into Vitriol of Cop∣per; which, though mixed with Juice of Galls, grows not black; yet it is, and is also called both by the Skil∣ful

and Unskilful, Vitriol. That Natural Acid drawn forth by Distillation, when it hath corroded Iron, is co∣agulated again into Vitriol of Iron, of a green colour.

The same Acid when it hath corroded Copper, they are both coagulated into Vitriol of an* 1.58 Azure colour.

So the same Acid, when it hath corroded Alcaly of Tar∣tar, they are both coagulated into Vitriol of a White co∣lour, which is nothing else but regenerated Vitriol, as my Hippocrates shews Chap. 17. Which Book I would wish you to read over before you rail against the Works of Nature.

But why your Common Vitriolate Tartar cannot be distil∣led,* 1.59 I will now clearly demonstrate; That Natural Aci∣dity, which hath corroded Iron, being Healthful, Grate∣ful, and Precious, is sought after by many, but found by few; I say, This is attempted to be extracted out of the corroded and immature Metal, by Art, and the help of Fire in Distillation; but seeing it cannot never be alone (as Hip. de Diaet. hath taught) it easily carries off with it is like (i. e.) the Immature and Volatile Metalline Sulphur, be∣cause the wind carries both in its womb, and it becomes Common Spirit of Vitriol, Austere and Corrosive, by reason of the inseparable immature Metalline Sulphur mix∣ed with it.

This Common and sourish Liquor of Vitriol, however rectified, yet contains in it the Sulphureous Liquamen of the Metal, upon this ground that it can never be alone, as in the progress will clearly appear. If this Spirit, or Li∣quor, be poured on Alcaly of Tartar, untilthe noise cease, The Alcaly is impregnated, but not with a Natural, but a Metalline Acid, the Aust erity of the immature Metal∣line Sulphur, having the dominion; and so a Son is be∣gotten, which must needs resemble the properties of his Father (i. e.) be fixed and constant in the Fire. Lo, here your Doctorships may see the reason why your Vitri∣olate Tartar cannot be Distilled? For in that instant of Coition, when the more powerful is embraced by the Al∣caly, The third, because it is weal••, is strangled and slain; as will appear by little and little to the Reader. This is That, which the barren approvers, with those which went before them, were hitherto ignorant of.

I do call (together with the company of Ancient Phi∣losophers) This Son of Metalline Sulphur,* 1.60 Regenerated Vitriol, because it hath laid down its Iron, or Earthly Bo∣dy, and shines again, re-produced in a brighter form.

Wherefore the soul of the imperfect Metal, hid in the fowre Acid Spirit, forms to it self a Fixed Body in the Al∣caly of Tartar; Whence it clearly appears, That the Spirit is the Vehicle of the Soul, and the Vinculum, binding Soul and Body together; which in the subsequent Discourse will more evidently appear to the Studious Lovers of the Truth.

Let us now hear Basilius Valeminus, speaking of this Two-fold Spirit of Vitriol (not to mention mine own Ex∣perience) in His Book called,* 1.61 Repetitio Lapidis Magnis, in these words, And that you may understand Vitriol, says he, you must know that it hath two Spirits, a White and a Red; the White is white Sulphur, the Red is red Sulphur; He that hath Ears to hear, let him hear; And let him diligently mark and forget it not, for it is a dissicult saying, and every word is of great weight; the White Spirit of Vitriol is Acid, amiable, very grateful to the Stomach, like Nectar to the Bowels, and profitable for Ʋniversal Concoction; but the Red is much more Acid, and more weighty than the White, and therefore requires a longer time to be extracted by Distillation. Hitherto Basilius. He that desires more, let him consult the cited place, the words are of great weight, and for good reason cited and transcribed here.

If therefore the composition of Vitriol be of the Natu∣ral Acid, amiable, and of a sweet smell, like Nectar to the Inwards; in which no sensible biting is perceived by the Tongue, but a spiritual and grateful Acidity (Let B••filius, Acid Waters, and Experience, be all witnesses) and of Immature Sulphureous Metal, which Two cannot possibly be severed by Distillation; for the Natural Acidi∣ty, which is highly Volatile, ascends not without its Com∣panion, the Acid Sulphur of the immature Metal, because it cannot b•• alone, as I have shewn out of Hippocrates, and have also learned by experience; it remains there∣fore that it must be catch'd by crafty hands, and that in a fit time too, when it is asleep.

There are many private ways, which the Studiers of Natures Secrets may take to procure this grateful and much sought for Acid, which though many, yet all con∣duce to one end, as Geber rightly observes; yet This way is not to be despised, though the ignorant do contume∣liously charge it to procure vomiting, and raise many o∣ther Symptoms. Ah unhappy Patients! what Ministers of Nature have you got? I speak not to deaf ones, as being uncapable, but to you who love the Truth, I de∣vote and offer this my work.

Dissolve then Vitriol of Iron (I say of Iron, which hath no smell of Copper; if This cannot be had, prepare That as Nature her self shews the way, Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 28. For That which is Artificial, of the Distil∣led Acid of Vitriol and Iron, will not serve here;* 1.62 see Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 17.) The Roman is the best; Instill into this clear Solution, the purest Alcaly of Tartar, which presently attracts and consumes the Natural Acid; The Acid and Alcaly do not wax hot in this Con∣junction, as before in the Common Preparation of Vitri∣olate Tartar; because the Fire, or the Sulphur of the Immature Metal covets the Fire, and for the greatest part is separated from the Natural Spirit, as by degrees I shall Mechanically demonstrate ad oculum. If this Com∣position seem to thee too thick, so that the Immature Metal cannot fall down, dilute it with Water, and it will the sooner fall. Let it not be tedious to thee, to find the Moment of Saturation, which after the first Filtra∣tion will easily follow; or if the Alcaly do overcome the Acid, it produces no other inconvenience, then the loss of time in digestion, That the Immature Me∣tal may subside (see Hippoc. Chymicus Chap. 10.) Exhale leasurely, unto the Cuticle, the clear Liquor placed in a Bath of Dew in a Glass Vessel (being acuminated un∣der or in the bottom, to the end, that if there be any of the Immature Metal, it may be separated in the heat at the bottom) and when 'tis cold, you shall find Splendent Chrystals, which do neither heat nor turn the stomach, as Common Vitriolate Tartar doth; for they have not the Sowre and Corrosive Sulphureous Liqua∣men

of the Immature Metal, and therefore are much to be prized in Physick. Lo here the Rudiments out of the Hippocratical and Pythagorical School, which are enough for the Ingenious; neither is it lawful to discover All plainly; These and many other Things are to be reserved for Our followers: Concerning the Ver∣tues of this Vitriolate Tartar, see Crollius, and you will act securely: I say no more, for it shews it self to be a most powerful Hercules.

'Tis true indeed, That one Ounce of this Vitriolate Tartar, requires at the beginning about three Ounces of Alcaly, because first it mortifies the Immature Sulphur of the Metal, and afterwards draws forth the Natural Acid. An Example of which Operation I have given Chap. 3. concerning the Lixivium of Sope-boilers, viz. where Vegetable Alcaly doth first mortifie the Acid of the Calcined Flint, which is unfit for the Lye, and doth concrete it into a rocky substance,* 1.63 for contraries are Coa∣gulated by contraries; and afterward the same Vegetable Alcaly doth elicite and draw forth from the Calcined Flint a most powerful Alcaly, because like is dissolved. draw•• and joyned to its like; The same Action is also per∣formed in this our regenenerated Vitriol (or Vitriolate Tar∣tar, call it as you please) yet with this difference, That the Alcaly of Tartar is turned with the Immature Me∣tal into its Coagulum; and afterwards it absorbs the Natural Acid; which difference is to be observed, be∣cause it is useful. See also Hippoc. Chymicus Chap. 3. and 4. where the Example of Sope is not without Cause pro∣pounded, nor is it to be thought useless, as heedless peo∣ple think. This our Vitriolate Tartar is not constant in the Fire, but for the half Volatile, according to the pro∣perty of the Father which begat it, whereas on the con∣trary the Common Tartar remains constant in the Fire, by reason of the Metalline Sulphur, which the Alcaly had imbibed, and therefore it is not Volatile or Distilla∣ble, because it hath not got the Metalline Soul, which per∣severes in Fire,* 1.64 as I have above likewise shewed.

If therefore Spirit of Common Vitriol be informed with the Soul of Copper or Iron, 'tis no wonder if being

poured on these Two perfect Metals, it dissolves Them, and with Them, make a counterfeit shew of Vitriol; for, like is easily joyned to like, fire to fire, water to water Spirit of Vitriol, being distilled, delights in Sulphur; and in its like in Mars and Venus, it is pleas'd with it, it pierceth into their Bowels, it dissolveth both Metals. and again assumes a body, and with Them, resembles Natural Vitriol. But having no Dominion over Them, it cannot perfect the said Metals, because it hath no more than is sufficient for its own sustentation; for if you again separate the Acid from the said Metals, by Distillation, the same Spirit of Vitriol will return as you poured it on, neither perfecter nor better, and the re∣maining Caput Mortuum is melted into the same Copper, that it was, before it was dissolved, or into Crocus Mar∣tis, if it had dissolved the Iron without any alteration; neither doth it come forth better, or worse then other Crocus's, however prepared, as I have shewed, and shall further shew; for Nature is the same in every thing, as both Pythagoras and Hippocrates have taught.

If therefore Spirit of Vitriol make an impression on Copper, by means of Sulphur (as I have shewed) and yet can take away nothing of the Vertue of the Copper, either by Maceration, or Solution, Coagulation and Distillation; much less can other Acids, of what kind soever? It is both admirable and pleasant throughly to search into this Matter, for it is of great concern∣ment, as to the Common-wealth of Medicine, so also to all Virtuosi, and to the Numerous, the Famous, and in our times, the Flourishing Company of Apothecaries.* 1.65 make therefore Aerugo, or Verdigrease, of thin Plates of Copper with Recent Grapes, thin Webs of Linnen or Silk being interposed, adding thereto whatsoever pleases you, in the rude way of operation, Vinegar, ••V;rine, (of Women doubtless, otherwise it would not bear the Name of Venus,) tAllum, and Nitre. The Deans of the Austrian and Norimberg Colledge, with the other Approvers, do affirm, That this miscellany doth not, in time wax sowr, yea that the Acid vapour of the ingre∣dients cannot pass through the thin web to the body of

the Copper to corrode it, but if this can savour (I will not say of Truth) but of Probability, let the Skilful judge: How Aerugo is made, Dioscorides Teaches right∣ly, and without fraud, Five Masterless Theeves and Robbers, fighting under the gross Banner of Ignorance, do assault a frail Female, (let modest youth take no∣tice, that this chaste bashful Female is clad with a thin Vail, that she may not appear naked in the sight of Five such Souldiers) who for a long time makes a stout resistance; but seeing Hercules himself cannot long with∣stand Two, she at last is made a prey, and with one of the Robbers (i. e.) Vinegar, as I shall shew, she is turn∣ed into biting Aerugo, imitating the nature of the Acid. This Matter is called by our Ancestos Green Aerugo, but it hath not been called by the Name of Vitriol, be∣cause it hath not the properties of Vitriol; and there∣fore they called it Aerugo, to intimate that the Five Robbers altogether had not the force or power to ex∣tract the least Vertue from the Copper, or of altering it in the least point,* 1.66 but only of corroding its Corpo∣reity; for they have no dominion over It, neither do they return the richer from It: And though there be many that do boast of such a thing, yet their boast∣ing is vain; for it is established by the Decree of the great Creator, that the more noble should not dege∣nerate into the less noble, or the better, into the worse, and so pass into the servile form of a slave.

Wherefore Copper (or if you will, Venus) is now turn∣ed into Verdigrease biting and rough, and is dissolved in Distilled Vinegar (out of which it was made) and a∣gain is Congealed into Verdigreese, the Faeces being re∣jected, &c.* 1.67 This purged Aerago or eroded Brass, is distilled with an open Fire out of a plated Retort, and afrerwards is rectified out of Sand. Lo here, Thou Mystes of Nature, This is that Spirit of Venus, and ase∣cret menstruum, as Alcahest (see Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 29.) which the Deans and Doctors of the Austrian and Norinberg Physick, with their Fellows, do adore for the Son of Venus, of whom Epictetus sayes well, Many are word-wife, not deed-wise. The pro••city and filthy licen∣tiousness

that Venus is accused of by the many, but vain clamours of false witnesses, viz. that It admits of Five Lovers in one Act, hath drawn Philosophers not only to the admiration, but even to the unbelief thereof; unless they had also known, That in the Court of Accusation, a multitude of Witnesses is many times loathsome, and suspected by the Judges; especially since they are not ignorant, that in Nature Love is so far from admiting Five, that it endures not a Third; whence it is, That they rather give sentence against the Accusers, and say, That as Venus upon Examination, notwithstanding the false Imputations of her Accusers, is found chaste and constant to one Male; so it may likewise happen, that any man may grow Famous from such Accusations, as many have done, who were otherwise unknown. 'Tis known to be True, That indeed Venus is Lascivious,* 1.68 and that she ad∣mits every Male, (that is all, Acids as well Occult as Manifest, as Vinegar, Oyl, Suet, Sugar, Honey, &c. I say, they all wax green with Copper) without any difference into her Imbraces; so that all Males are hot in Love (i. e.) wax green) with Her. But (witness Al∣caly, the Mother of Natural Things) She is never ra∣vished with the delight of any of them, to a del quium, but only with her own Brother. But that this discourse may appear more clear, we will setch the Doctrine of it a little higher, viz. That the Acid of every Ve∣getable, drawn forth either by Fermentation on Di∣stillation, or Expression, whether it be Occult or Ma∣nifest, if it be poured on the Alcaly of Tartar, doth in∣form the fame Alcaly, with the Soul of That, from whence it was taken; and it is made a Salt of the same Acid Nature, as I have shewed in the beginning of this Chapter, by the Graines of Kermes (in which the Deans with their Fellows deny, that there is any Acid (i. e.) any Seminal Vertue) and by Meal (out of which They boast they can distill Acid Spirit of Sal Armoniack•• see also Hippoc. Chymic. Chap 2. and the end of Chap. 17.

So also Vinegar of Wine, distilled and cast upon Al∣caly of Tartar, to fatiety, is Coagulated into Tartar,* 1.69 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the same Nature with the Wine from whence

the Vinegar was taken. This Tartar, if it be distilled out of a Retort, with Fire of Sand, or an open Fire, there comes forth a fat Oyl and bitterish Liquor; as in the Distillation of Common Tartar.

I have also shewed the same thing,* 1.70 in the beginning of this Chapter, concerning Nitre, concerning Salt, con∣cerning Allum, and also concerning Vitriol; for all Acid Liquor joyned with Alcaly, doth impregnate it with the Soul of that Body from which it was reduced, and forms a Body to it self ad Lubitum, (i.e.) like its own proper Nature.

Let us see now,* 1.71 for a Tryal of the Verity and Glory of Noble Physick whether That Vinegar Distilled from Verdigrease (which they do so solicitously endeavour to keep from the Examen of Learned Men) be the Legiti∣mate Son of Venus, or no?

I have shewed, That Acid is the one only Spirit of the World, and the Child of the Sun, which is not found naked upon the earth, but refusing to be alone, It assumes Matter, wherewith it dwells, encreaseth, regerminates, and is multiplied, sometimes as the Artificer pleases, for his proper ends. This when it falls on the seed of Cop∣per (that I may so speak) it cloaths it self with the Nature of Copper in a long and laborious work; There∣fore it is not separable from Copper it self, unless by the total destruction of the Copper, as the example of Salt of Tartar in my Hippoc. Chymic. Chap 10. doth shew; for carrying in it, the least Odor of a Metalline Nature, it cannot descend to the Nature of Vegetables, And the same Spirit falling upon the Seed of a Vine, Clothes it self there with the indoles of the Vine, and in like man∣ner cannot ascend to the Nature of Minerals; as I have demonstrated out of Lully, and by Experience: yea it is not separated from the Disposition or Indoles of the Vine, unless, being dissolved or loosned from its Body by Nature and Art, it return to the Element of Air, whence it came, as Hippoc. Chymic. in the fore-cited 10. and 18. Chapters shews. The same is also to be understood of Salt, of Vitriol, of Nitre, and of all the Things in the World; for this cause, because Art cannot create Seeds;

he that boasts he can do it, Cosmopolita proves him to be a Deceiver; so that every Spirit, either Occultly or Manifestly Acid, hath but one only Soul within it, with which, it being inseparably joyned, doth constitute the Form of That Body, in which it determines to dwell; from which, wehn it is extracted, and again instilled upon a new Alcaly; and is absorbed by it, it takes upon it the like Body, wherewith it was cloathed before, or from whence it was first extracted, but that Body somewhat clearer; an Infallible Argument, That a Spirit either Occultly or Manifestly Acid, is the Vehi∣cle of the Soul, and the Bond uniting Soul and Body to∣gether: And unless the Spirit of all Things in the Uni∣verse were Acid, it could not invisibly carry in its Belly or Womb the Aima or Soul of the Body; as Hermes and Experience Teach.

Let us now return to the Child new born, which the Sworn Servant of Venus have lately begun to nomi∣nate and to commend for the Son or Spirit of Venus, peremptorily also affirming, That, This hath drawn mighty Vertues, from his Mother or Copper; but they con∣sider not, that the Vertues of Things, as also the force of Purgatives, do confist in their Soul; which I have shewed in the first Chapter, to be a Child of the Sun,* 1.72 and to be inseparably joyned to the Spirit of that Thing, both which do constitute that Eximious Vertue, which is in Copper: which Spirit ought again to manifest it self in Alcaly, if it did flow in an Acid form. as I have experimentally shewed to the Eyc, concerning other Spirits, and concerning Alcaly of Tartar. Let us now proceed to Experience, and to make Trial of this Acid, and Rectifyed Spirit of Venus, saturated to Susliciency,* 1.73 with Alcaly of Tartar, as I have formerly taught con∣concerning Salt, Vinegar, and Distilled Nitre; (i. e.) Thus, Pour so much of This Spirit on the Alcaly of Tar∣tar, till the hissing cease (near upon equal parts) suffer the abounding, or exceeding Flegme to exhale, or if you will, distill it carefully to Siceity (distill that Flegm from an high Glass in Balneo, and there will come forth Aqua Ardens, see Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 18.)

and you shall sind regenerated Tartar of the same Nature, Condition and Property, that That was, which was a∣bove generated from Vinegar of Wine; for it is the very same; for if it hid any thing of the Nitre, the Allum, or the Copper hid in it, as they ignorantly give forth, they would all be manifested in the Alcaly of Tartar; as I have Mechanically shewed above. But it must needs be, that This Spirit can have no other Instruments but distilled Vinegar, since it can only make a Body of Tar∣tar for it self: Whence this Spirit hath been presently known by Philosophers,* 1.74 not for the Immortal Son of Venus, or as Alcahest, but for the True Genuine Brother of Vinegar of Wine; and that not Spurious neither, as my Revilers and Reproachers have published to the World, but the Legitimate Son of the Vine, which hereafter will count it an impious thing to be reviled by unskilful Masters; Therefore in this regeneration, He was willing again to discover himself to the Curious, and to the Lovers of Truth, for the True and Natural Brother of Vinegar of Wine (i. e.) for Distilled Vinegar. Now that nothing may be wanting to this Enquiry, but all doubt taken away, viz. that This Spirit, which they dream to be the Child of Venus, hath acquired no Constancy, no Immortality, or excellent Vertues from the Copper, nor that it is, as Alcahest, as the Deans with their Fellows do cant, you may learn by this Experiment. Take this regenerated Tartar (to wit, from the Imaginary Spirit of Venus, and the Alcaly of Tartar) distill It out of a Re∣tort, as you did before, and there will extil an Oyl of a loathsome smell, together with a bitterish Water; as I have shewed a little before from regenerated Tartar, out of simply Distilled Vinegar: Out of what hath been spoken, it appears, that whatsoever is distilled from the Alcaly of Tartar, which is impregnated with Distilled Vinegar (i. e.) the bitterish Water, Aqua Ardens, and the Oyl, taking Flame, the same thing is distilled from Alcaly of Tartar, impregnated with fained Spirit of Venus, to wit, bitterish Water, Aqua Adrens, and Oyl taking Flame:* 1.75 and so, That Spirit of Venus, since it hath all the Properties and Operatious of Vinegar, is

nothing else, nor never will be, than distilled Vinegar, Witness Aristotle and Experience. But leaving this puny, vain, and futile Society, to please themselves in their foolish Detrectings, I convert my Speech to you, O ye fa∣mous Lights of the World, That you may judge of the Truth herein, not that I would trouble you, to vindi∣cate it from the fained and rash Contumelies of such cla∣morous Reproachers, since it appears out of Pliny, That when Frogs croak more than ordinary, it is a sign of a Tempest ensuing: supposing then, but not granting, that one drop of Acid contains only the 8200 part of the Eximious Vertue of Copper, I say, this so small part, ought yet under the heat of Fermentation, to extend it self, and to regenerate, if not in Vegetable Alcaly, yet at least in Metalline, as the order of Fermentation elsewhere shews; so that it would turn, though not much, yet a small quantity of the Metalline Alcaly, into Copper, no otherwise, then the Vertue of Acid Vegetables, and the mid-sort of Minerals doth transmute Alcaly of Tartar into a Salt of its own proper Nature, as I have before said and proved; but as the Antecedent and their Premises are false and favour of gross ignorance, so is the Consequence. Again, supposing, but not granting, That Vinegar did carry off with it, such eximious Ver∣tues from Copper (as they unlearnedly and without truth affirm) yet I could never find, eithe ramongst Philosophers or Physicians, that It was assumed within the Body, but whatsoever was got from the Copper was always used outwardly for Chirurgical Operations. And although mighty Vertues might be drawn forth and distilled out of Copper by Vinegar, which I have shewed to be im∣possible, why is not the same Eximious Vertue drawn forth, with less labour, out of immature Copper, since it is easier to go one Mile, than two? Why should my regenerated Vitriol, prepared from Crude Vitriol of Mars, procure monstrous Vomitings and Suffocations,* 1.76 is if you draw forth such Eximious Vertues from mature Cop∣per by Vinegar; to which you subjoyn these losty, but most false words, This most praise-worthy Spirit, is not only of great use in Physick, seeing in highly Cures and Re∣lieves

the Epilepsy, Appolexy, Histerical and Hypochondri∣atal Listempers, but is as the Liquor Alcahest, and not as other Acid Spirits, which by Solution do suffer and are destroyed, and so turned into another. ens: See Hippoc. Chy. mic. Chap. 29.

Now let the Reader, who loves the Truth, judge, whether any thing could have been devised more sottish, than to affirm That the regenerated Vitriol of Philosophers educed from an Immature Mine of Iron, is pernicious and deadly, when we see, that every year some Myriads of Men do drink, even in great quantity, Acid Waters, saturated with Immature Iron and Natural Spirit, and that with great benefit and advantage; and also That the great Imaginary Vertue, extracted with Vinegar out of Mature Copper (if there were any such) is a Panacea. I may very aptly apply hither, That of Plau∣tus, nothing can be more foolishly, sottishly, or falsly spoken.

It remaines that we bring That most praised Spirit of Venus, which they fay is as Alcahest, by dissolving some Body unto an Examen.

Now Alcahest is described by Helmont to be an Exi∣mious Liquor,* 1.77 (a) 1.78 ti be got by the Art or Labour of So∣phia(b.) 1.79 which doth not only resolve every visible Body into its first Matter,(c.) 1.80 but is moreover Immortaland In∣corruptable(d.) 1.81 it putrifies Nature, and takes away all Diseases(e.) 1.82 but it is not given to putative and empty Doct∣ors, but to well Lined and rich Ʋnderstandings(f.) 1.83 So Helmont: Now let the equal Reader Judge, whether this praised Vinegar of these Prateing and Wordy Doctors, which is Distilled from Copper be alike in Vertue to Alcahest? Truly, if this their foolish Assertion were profoundly examined, and laid before the Eyes of the Readers, it would move Nauseousness and Indignation; and therefore I shall discover their Vanity by Experi∣ence alone.

Dissolve then at least one Drachm of Red Powdered Corral,* 1.84 in This Vinegar, which they proclaim to be the praised Spirit of Venus; dry the Solution in a Bath: In like manner dissolve another Drachm of pounded

Corals, in Vinegar simply Distilled,* 1.85 which likewise Ex∣siccate in Balneo: Diligently gather up those Powders, and weigh them severally in a Ballance, and you shall find the dissolved and dryed Corals to be increased half a Drachm, as well by the Spirit of Venus (which They count as Alcahest) as by the Vinegar Vulgarly Distilled: So that the Corals have imbibed as much Acid Salt from the counterfeit Spirit of Venus, as from the Distilled Vi∣negar. Whence it again appears,* 1.86 That This shews it self to be Vinegar; because it is so indeed, and not the Liquor Alcahest; as the lofty Doctors would impose upon rude and ignorant people.

Again, They urge, That this praised Spirit of Venus, doth dissolve Pearls without bubbles, and leaves the cor∣tices untouched. Truly this may seem a wonder to Men altogether unskilful in the Art of Physick, and who ne∣ver learned the Rudiments thereof; but methinks it should seem a trivial and sleight thing to the Deans, and the rest of the Approvers. For what ordinary, or mean Physi∣cian can be ignorant, that Vinegar simply Distilled, doth perform the same thing (though in a longer tract of time) if you cast whole Pears into It;* 1.87 and therefore your spirit of Venus which you account as Alcahest, will not cease to be distilled Vinegar.

But why the skins, or pellicles of Pearls are not dissol∣ved by either of the Vinegars, the reason is, Their fatness and unitive glew, the feat of the Child of the Sun, which is proper and familiar to all Crustaceous Creatures, to Fishes, and the Membranes of Animals; The counter∣feit Son of Venus, however extolled by vain Approvers, doth never touch this Glew in stones of Crabbs, Pearls, &c. it hath no access to them, it is Leprous in compa∣rison of them, and therefore is not admitted to the Prince∣ly-Seat unknown to Ideots.

But why Vinegar doth corrode the Medulla of Pearls, of the afore-said stones and Corals, &c. The cause is, That Nature hath put least part of Acid into most things (as I have shewed in the second Chapter) which least part, unless it be multiplied by Art or Nature, is easily sup∣pressed, by the more powerful; I will give an Example in

the afore-said dissolved and dried Corals, in which there is the least portion of Natural Acid, which being oppressed by the counterfeit Spirit of Venus is made subject to It; hence they are encreased in weight.

Again, Dissolve these dried Corals in some water, either Distilled, or common clear water; let the Solution rest, that the Turbid may subside (which they improperly call Faces) which nevertheless you must separate, and drop into the clear Solution a little of the spirit of Vitriol of Sulphur, which overcoming the counterfeit Spirit of Ve∣nus, not by its Acidity, but the Nobleness of its Soul, cast out the Vinegar (which they call Spirit of Venus) from its seat and place, and doth assume the possession of the Region of the Spirit of Vitriol, and with the Corals repre∣sents the form of curdled Milk; but the Counterfeit Spi∣rit of Venus being now expelled by the more Noble, is di∣luted and sticks to the supernatant water, and is min∣gled with it.

Wash both these Coagulums as much as you may, and dry them severally in brown Paper, and you shall have Ma∣gistery of Corals, equal in weight, as well from the coun∣terfeit Spirit of Venus,* 1.88 as from the Vinegar simply distilled, because it is the same.

But take that water so washed from the Corals, in which, as I have said, the counterfeit Spirit of Venus, or some simple distilled Vinegar was diluted (if you have otherwise warily poured on the Spirit of Vitriol, for if you have carelesly, and without judgment powred on more than the Coral will imbibe, it will not swim a∣top; but I suppose the affusion was skilfully made) and instill into it Alcaly of Tartar, till the Motion of E∣bullition cease; exhale the abounding Water in a Glass Vessel placed in Sand, and you shall find regenerated Tar∣tar, as I have shewed above, from the Counterfeit Spi∣rit of Venus, or Vinegar, simply distilled, imbibed in Al∣caly of Tartar, for it is the same, by this infallible Ar∣gument, That in the Corals dissolved and dryed in a Bath, there remained only half a Drachm of Acid Salt from the feigned Spirit of Venus. That Acid Salt being sepa∣rated from the Corals, by Spirit of Vitriol, cannot be alone;

wherefore it guards it self again in Elementary Water, as in his Mothers lap, and diffuses it self in her; and be∣comes again Counterfeit Spirit of Venus. And unless Ele∣mentary water did contain Occult Alcaly in its belly, A∣cid Salt could not inhabit in it; because that alone it is not sufficient for it self: as Hippocrates hath taught us, De Diaeta. Simple distilled Vinegar performes also the same thing; so that it now appears; even to the most unskil∣ful-in Physick, that this most celebrated Spirit of Venus, here and every where, is nothing else, and savours of no∣thing else, but Distilled Vinegar, whatsoever Bugbears its Adorers would fright us with. And although Crollius, Be∣guinus, and other Writers of the Elements of Chymistry, in express words do call it, Solvent Vinegar, from whom the process of this Vinegar is stoln word for word, as my Hippoc. Chym. shews Chap. 29. Yet This poyson of Igno∣rance hath infected, not only Austria, but almost all upper Germany; witness these unskilful Approvers and their soolish Partizans with their Rythmes. It would be no wo∣der, if, as the Romans of old, so Magistrates now, would eject out of their Cities and Common-wealths, such Har∣lotry Collegiates, and such a Nest of Bablers, who do scrible of things unknown, even to themselves, to their Neighbours hurt. Low Germany is yet free from this Con∣tagion, so is Italy and France, and for the future, I hope by this Antidote they will be preserved.

Now, Why Vinegar distilled from Verdigrease,* 1.89 in a small quantity, doth more powerfully dissolve Corals, than That which is distilled the vulgar way? I have shewed the reason before, viz. that it happens, because Vinegar distilled the common way, is as yet diluted with much Water; but the Elementary Water is evaporate from That, which is distilled from Aerugo, by gradual Exha∣lation, no otherwise than in the distillation of Green and Humid Vitriol, for then the Acid Salt being long in the Liquor, would be very weak; but when the humid (which they call Phlegm) hath by degrees exhaled and evapo∣rated before distillation, the Acid Salt must needs be more powerful and strong in a lesser quantity of water; for Light by how much more contracted, by so much the

more efficacious. This distilled Spirit of Vitriol, if it a∣gain corrode any thing, either Iron, or Copper, and be coagulated with it, and again be re-distilled from it, the Liquor indeed returns Acid of the same nature, but much more subtle, because that in all Coagulation, every Salt or Saline Spirit loses of its Radical Humid (what that is, I shall shew anon) when of necessity it must lay down its Earth (the Vulgar call it its Faex) and so the Lumen must be more contracted. But from the repeated Coa∣gulation and Distillation, It returns more watery; and at last returns to Elements; as I have Mechanically shewed in Alcaly of Tartar (for Example) in my Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 10.

After the same manner and fashion, Counterfeit Spirit of Venus, by repeated Solution, Coagulation, and Distil∣lation, re-passes into Elements; for as often as it dis∣solves Corals, or any other thing (I began with Corals and will end with Them) and is afterwards Coagulated and Exsiccated with the same Corals, so often it lays down its Earth or Alcaly, and as much Earth as it lays down, so much Acid Salt the Corals do drink up, be∣cause this cannot be alone, and the Vinegar becomes so much the more Aqueous, and by repeated labour, at last returns to Element (i. e.) into Insipid Water; but the Earth and Acid Salt gave weight to the Corals, which also pass out of them by repeated Distillation, and go to their own Country, after the same manner as I have shew∣ed concerning Wine in Hippoc. Chymic. chap. 18.

Now that Vinegar or Spirit of Vitriol, poured on Cop∣per,* 1.90 and re-distilled, do return Acid; but from the Al∣caly of Tartar, Insipid and Aqueous, the reason is, be∣cause Alcaly being a Vacuum, saturated it self with Acid Salt which dwelt in the Aqueous Liquor; whence the Acid Salt converts and transmutes the Alcaly into its own na∣ture. But Copper is not a Vacuum, for the Acid, or Form of Copper doth overcome its Alcaly, and there∣fore it doth not absorb Acid Salts; and though they act, and are busie about It, and do erode its body; yet they can make no impression of any of their Form or Vertues, nor can they destroy It, because Copper hath obtained a

constant Soul from Nature, or to speak in Plautus's Phrase it hath Acid in its breast.

Again,* 1.91 They demand why Vinegar is re-distilled from Copper, even as it was poured on, but from Lead Insi∣pid? Although I am almost ashamed to handle This, or the like Childish Question, yet being moved with com∣miseration towards those unskilful and sluggish Doctors, hoping that this my present answer may be for their fu∣ture amendment, I shall willingly repeat my former an∣swer; I told you that Copper hath a prevailing Acid, whence it is that it resists not only Vinegar, and the Coun∣terfeit Spirit of Venus, but also all Acid Minerals; but Lead hath obtained but a very little particle of It by Nature, and therefore it imbibes every Acid, in hopes of Perfecti∣on (that I may so speak) as I have shewed in Alcalyes. This is the cause why Lead is similitudinarily called by Philosophers, The first matter of Metals, or the Alcaly of Metals, in respect of other Metals, which are more or less richer in Acid. Gold is most Acid, and therefore most perfect, as I have shewed in the 2. Chapter. See how easily I have extricated my self out of these great Difficul∣ties!

Some of Ours may wonder why I spend time in a mat∣ter so plain, for Basilius Valentinus an Age ago hath taught us how to prepare this Vinegar out of Aerugo, in juventure, and he called it not by the name of Spirit of Venus,* 1.92 but Vinegar (for he knew well (so do not the Deans and their Fellows) that it was established by the decree of the Su∣pream Creator, That the more excellent Nature, should not degenerate into the worser) which is proved by the remaining Faex or Caput Mortuum left in the Retort, af∣ter the distillation of this Vinegar, which, with Borax, by an easie Fusion returns into Copper; an evident Argument That Copper lost none of its Substance, or excellent Ver∣tue (as they say:) See more in my Hppocrates Chymicus, chap. 29.

For conclusion of this Chapter, I repeat, That what∣soever the World hath, is begot, preserved, and multi∣plied by the Acid Spirit, either Occult or Manifest, to which it owes its All; And That the Soul dwells in the

Acid, and is inseparably bound to it; and that the Body, or Alcaly, is informed according to the property of the Acid Spirit. If therefore Nature be alike in every thing, and Art doth imitate Nature, as Pythagoras, Hippocrates, and Experience teach, it must needs follow, That when the Acid Spirit of Vinegar, distilled from Verdigrease, hath corroded Corals, and hath been absorbed by Them, and coagulated with them, then the Corals will be endued with the properties and conditions of Vinegar; not that the in∣nate Acid, or Form of Corals doth perish, but only is suppressed by a more powerful Acid, as I have shewed be∣fore in the Magistery. If therefore your celebrated Spi∣rit of Venus, lawfully and duly (as they say) exhibited (though they never yet shewed the way) helps Hip∣pochondriacal, Epileptical, and Hysterical Distempers, &c. the Magistery of Corals (which with a proud and swoln breast, they call Our Soluble Magistery) made with Spi∣rit of Venus, must needs perform much greater things? if otherwise, the Spirit must animate the Body, to whom it is joyned; as I have hitherto clearly and experimen∣tally shewn, and shall hereafter shew.

But as their Spirit of Venus lawfully and duly administred, is the best to season a Vinegar Vessel, so also it hath, and will always retain the nature of Wine-Vinegar, till it become like Alcahest.

But our Master Deans, with the rest of their Colledg-Company, out of the treasure of their Liberality, have lately discovered to us a great Secret, which had lain hid to this very day;* 1.93 viz. That their Counterfeit Spirit of Venus helps the Tooth-ach: neither could we learn it out of Dioscorides his History of Vinegar, unless it had been discovered to the World in a Dream, or by hidden Re∣velation: But as Vinegar doth dissolve Corals, so it scours off, and takes away the hardned Mucus or Filth about the Teeth, that the Gums may be again united to the Teeth; for sound and sharp-pointed Gums admit not Pain, but when they are forced to recede by Filth, and the Teeth are never so little denudated or bared, pre∣sently upon the solution of a continuum, the Blood sours, putrefies, and is coagulated there into an hard Faex (which

some, but improperly, call Tartar) which Faex, when it is abraded or taken off with Vinegar, or Spirit of Salt, or else with an Instrument of Iron, presently the Teeth find relief.

And thus you have, O ye sincere lovers of Truth, the entire Tragoedy, the Rise and Overthrow of this Cele∣brated Spirit of Venus, which, with all its Eximious Ver∣tues, cannot cure the slothfulness of these Approvers and Subscribers; so that it happens to them, as to those mens Children, who hire other mens Farms; for They seeing their Fathers (they themselves being yet but Children) gathering in the fruits, and commanding the labourers, do presently conclude the soil is theirs, and so are very Jocund: but when they grow up, and understand that there was nothing Theirs, but the labour of Tilling the Ground, then their Mirth is turned into Sorrow. Even such are these men, and as we read in Sendivogius, what∣soever the Alchymist would have out of Sulphur, it ended in a snuff, the same happens to these Deans with the other Approvers; Whatsoever Eximious Vertues they would have from Copper, 'tis still naught but Vinegar.

CHAP. VII. That no Matter can be so destroyed, but It will remain under some Form or other.

I Shewed in the fore-going Chapter, that Acids do draw Alcalyes to their own properties, and that Both are changed into Salts. But those which are not fully Alca∣lyes, when a noble Acid supervenes upon them, their in∣ternal Acid is indeed abated, but not so wasted or de∣stroyed, that any other new thing can be Regenerated out of it.

I will now proceed to prove by the following Argu∣ment, and that Mechanically, That all Alcalyes do, after a sort, retain of the Form, with which the Mixta were saturated, before they were reduced by Fire, into Al∣caly;

of which see Hippoc. Chymic. Dissolve half an ounce of Sublimate Mercury, in fifty ounces of Common Water, distilled, or at least a drachm of Sublimate in twelve ounces of Water. Into a part of this clear Solution, in∣still by drops, but with a quick infusion, fixed Alcaly of Tartar in the form of Liquor, or (as they call it) Oyl of Tartar per deliquium; which in a moment separates and absorbs the Acidity, for the greatest part, from the Mercury, and the Mercury falls into the bottom of the Vessel, in the form of Powder obscurely Red. This Ope∣ration is called by Apothecaries, and their Operators, and by all Lovers of Physick, Precipitation; which name I shall also retain and use.

Out of the Faeces of distilled Vinegar, burnt into Ashes, Alcaly of Tartar is elicited by water, and though It be produced out of the same Vine with Wine, yet it Preci∣pitates Mercury, dissolved as before, sparkling and splen∣dent.

But when the same Alcaly is calcined to Redness with a moist fire, then the same Mercury falls like pounded Cinnabar.

To the Tartar being burnt, if you superadd the Calx, and extract the Alcaly with Simple Water, the Mercury is Precipitated Rutilant. Calx of it self, doth not Preci∣pitate Mercury so dissolved, since it is Salt from Acid and Alcaly; and they who against Experience do deny the saltness of Calx, are to be reckoned in the number of Fools. But if the Liquor of Mercury afore-spoken of, into which a piece of Calx hath been injected, be suffered to rest for some hours, so long until the Acid, which contains the dissolved Mercury, can suppress That in the Calx, then indeed Mercury is forced to fall by little and little, and to stick round about the Calx, like Minium; a de∣lightful spectacle to Curious Eyes.

Alcaly extracted from the Herb Kaly, being incine∣rated, doth Precipitate Mercury much more obscure than the former.

The Lixivium, which Sope-Masters call Magistra, which consists of Calx and artificial Alcaly, yields Mer∣cury darkly Yellow.

Out of Spain there is brought an Alcaly (whether Sim∣ple, or Compound, is uncertain?) yet it Precipitates Mercury of a Tauney colour: These Examples concern∣ing Fixed Alcalyes (for Sope, and Glass) which do ad∣mit Reverberation in Ashes neither do easily perish from an acute Flame, may suffice; I will add certain Alcalyes in Physick, which do not bear sharp reverberation in Ashes, unless they be mixed with the former; And These are made of the Herbs called Cephalickes, as of Rosemary, La∣vender, Rue, &c. all Hot, and of a Grateful Smell. I say, all these are indeed Alcalyes, but not fusible in Ashes, for they easily fly away, and are therefore Medicinal. All these, be they never so many, do cast Mercury so dissol∣ved into a Reddish shining Powder.

So also Celandine affords Alcaly, or Precipitates Mer∣cury most red, so that John Isack Holland doth not unskil∣fully, but excellently and learnedly speak, He that knows not Salts, will never perform any thing in Art.

All the foresaid Alcalyes, as well those burnt by a sharp Flame for Sope and Nitre, as the Medicinal ones, from Ce∣phalick Herbs, do Precipitate Mercury so dissolved (as I have said) of a different colour, a manifest Argument, that their Form is not totally consumed by the Fire, but that they preserve some properties of their Simples, from whence they were extracted; as Geber says, Salt retains the property of that thing, from whence it had its Original: To which the Experience, which I have shewn, bears witness.

Heretosore I was of opinion, that the difference of Co∣lours in Sublimate Mercury, dissolved as before, and Pre∣cipitated by Alcalyes, did proceed from the Fire, acting more or less upon the Alcaly, but at length, by frequent Experience, I have found my mistake; for day to day, and night to night sheweth Knowledge we are not all born Masters, nor can we all be Lullies; but Age, frequent Use, and Experience do manifest the Truth. I have ob∣served that Hippocrates, and Galen also, being better in∣formed, did Conrect, their Errors; so that it is no shame for me, a slow witted Person, to amend the mistakes committed in my youth especially, seeing had not Fore∣runners,

from whom I might excerp any thing, as they have, who seek for Glory in gathering together Receipts; niether had I any other guide, save the fountain of all Vertue: so that I have bolted out the Truth (by immense Medi∣tation and Labour, and not a little Expence) from the fountain of Nature, by my own Industry: Wherefore to demonstrate the constancy of Forms, be it known to you, That I can find no better nor shorter way, than that which I have shewed by the alterations of Mercury, upon the affusion of Alcalyes. For when I endeavour to declare the Forms, with the same labour, the Precipita∣tion of Mercury doth voluntarily offer and discover it self; which yet running, being dissolved in Aqua Fortis, up∣on the affusion of Alcaly of Tartar, is precipitated into a colour obscurely Yellow.

All the aforesaid Precipitated Powders of Mercury, are of a Caustick and Corrosive Property, because the Mer∣cury assumes the nature of that thing with which it is first mixed; and the Caustickness is not wasted off by any Artifice, but by fire alone, as Hippocrates Chymicus shews.

In like manner, Mercury dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and evaporated to Siccity, the Fire being encreased, that the bottom of the Vessel may be Red-hot, is made a most Red sparkling Powder, and is called in Physick, the Precipitate of Vigoe, because Johana de Vigoe, a Chyrur∣geen of great Fame, was the Inventor of it; on which Red and sparkling Powder,* 1.94 if you pour Alcaly of Tartar, and leave it for an hour, in a warm place, the whole Powder will become obscurely Yellow, because the Al∣caly hath in part absorbed the Caustick Acid left by the Aqua Fortis.

The Vertue of this red and sparkling Precipitate, is strong∣ly, and almost without any biting Pain, to absume and cat up the thicker Sordes of Ʋlcers, Callous, proud Flesh, Imposthumations in the Fundament, and other like Ex∣crescencies. Yea, it cures all Sordid, Putrid, Mattery, Callous Shingles, sometimes alone, sometime mixed in Plaisters, or Unguents, as necessity requires.

The same Johannes de Vigoe, made a Plainster of Quick-Mercury

with many other Anodine Ingredients, to miti∣gate the Pains of the Joynts, arising from an inveterate Lues Venera, with happy success; which to this day retains the Author's Name, and is called, Vigo's Emplaister of Froggs with Mercury.

So that Johannes de Vigo hath delivered to us, Two Medicaments made of Common Quick-Mercury, one Escarotick and Deterging, the other Anodine and A∣swaging Pains. He, and with him the whole Senate of Chyrurgeons, intimating thereby, That Anodines are whol∣ly contrary to Escaroticks, yet nevertheless, out of Am∣bition, Ignorance, or both, They pervert the Text and Meaning of this worthy Man, proving themselves Fal∣saries in the Law against Him (whose Defence I now take upon me) and they do moreover deride him for Teaching, that the Mercury is to be quenched with Oyl of Bayes according to Art, and with Spittle; but as out of gross Ignorance, leavened with Insincerity of mind, they have mutilated and defamed my Hippocrates Chymi∣cus; so also they have suborned a Sense quite contrary to the intention of the Author;* 1.95 for He boiles this love∣ly Couply, live Mercury dissolved in Aqua Fortis with Vipers Grease and Oyl, till the Aqueous moisture he spent; affirming and giving out, that in boiling, this Caustick is dulcified and made sweet, which is contrary both to Expe∣ence and the manifest Truth.

Now if you desire to have it sweet, 'tis enough to ex∣tinguish it with Oyl and Spittle, according to the An∣thor's Meaning; or else take sweet Mercury, as it s sold in Apothecaries shops, for neither of them are touched by Alcalyes, because they have nothing of acuteness in them, as I shall anon Mechanically shew.

I shewed a little before, That Quick-silver, or Live Mercury (call it as you please) dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and precipitated with Alcaly of Tartar, doth fall in an obscurely Yellow colour, the Alcaly for the most part absorbing from it the Acid Caustick impressed on it by the Aqua Fortis. But in This Plaister, the Mercury dis∣solved in Aqua Fortis, is seethed with Axungia of Vipers, to the consumption of the Aqueous Humid, and the Mass

becomes of a Grey colour; upon which Mass if you pour Alcaly of Tartar, in the space of half an hour, you shall see the Alcaly penetrating the Fat, to consume the Acid Corrosive left by the Aqua Fortis; and so the Mer∣cury to be obscurely Yellow, after the same manner, as it happens in Mercury, and simply dissolved in Aqua Fortis Precipitated according to Vigo's mind. And therefore Mercury so dissolved, and boiled with Axungia, becomes not sweet at all, as the foolish Doctors falsly say, but it remains corrosive, even by their own confession; for they affirm, That Mercury dissolved in Aqua Fortis, by boyl∣ing in Axungia, becomes sweet; yet afterwards they con∣fess, that Imposthumations, Putrid Flesh, and the like, are consumed by it; which two Assertions are diametrically contrary one to another: This is that which made Hip∣pocrates to break forth into a smiling laughter, and to say, They know not what they do. From their Fruits there∣fore, and Works, you shall know them (i. e.) the Works of Fire prove true Fire, and Mercury consuming Impo∣stumes is true Precipitate, because it performes the Ope∣rations of Mercury Precipitate, as I have shewed by their own Confession, and also by the affusion of Alcaly; for they are both obscurely Yellow, as well the Red Preci∣pitate of Vigo, as This boiled with Grease or Axungia.

Truly the condition of Mortals is to be lamented, whilest Physick, which is the Noblest and Famouselst of all Sciences, in our days, is suffered to be directed by Stupid Ignorants, and for this reason it is justly proclaimed the meanest of all Arts.

Do not our Ancestors, those shining Lights of Learn∣ing, teach us, That Terrestrial Mercury is as the Coe∣lestial? And those things which are in the Superior, are also in the Inferior World? And to what Planet Mercury is joyned (i. e.) to what Vertue it is united, it takes upon it the nature of the same, since it is pregnant with the seeds of all things.

Johannes de Vigo did consider Terrestrial Mercury, as Caustick,* 1.96 whence by the advice of his Predecessors, he joyned It with an Earthly Planet, whose Vertue was Fiery and Caustick; it embraced the nature of This, and

became Caustick, according to the Doctrine of the An∣cients, and is called the Precipitate Mercury of Vigo.

The same Vigo wanted a Terrestrial Anodine of Mercury, whence also, following the fame Doctrine of the Anci∣ents, he joyned it with Anodine things, viz. Greases, or Suets, Cyles, Froggs, whose nature it assumed, and be∣came Anodine.

So that Mercury takes the form of That, by which it is dissolved, and it is mingled with it, as I have shewed clearly enough, concerning the Alcalyes of Vegetables He that hath Ears to hear, let him hear.

Hence it appears, That the Inventor of the Precipitate, and also of the Anodyne Plainster (whether it were Vigo, or any one else, it is not my part to enquire in this place) was not only a Man of Experience, but an Understan∣der also of the Causes of Things, and consequently a Wise Man; So that it is a piece of frivolous and absurd Ignorance, and Fanatick Dotage, to go about to reform actions of knowing Persons: Out of my pitty to such Undertakers, I shall do them the best service to bury this their insipid Discourse, in perpetual silence, lest they should be exposed to the laughter and derision of Fresh∣Water Apothecaries, yea of the Vulgar it self: I wish they would learn hereafter, what they know not, before they babble forth their Scurrilities against the Truth, and the Ancient Hippocratical Doctrine of Physick. At this game I confess you are superior to me, for you know how to paint and set forth the fooleries of men, so neatly, that in this art I must needs lay down the Bucklers. But that your disease may not be Chronical, pray have a care how you often vomit out such things?

Moreover Mercury Precipitate, now made Caustick by the Aqua Fortis, for consuming Putrid Flesh, as all Skil∣ful Chyrurgeens acknowledge, may be mixed, as Exigency requires, with any Oyntment. To what purpose then is this Anodine composition with Precipitate? especially in Countries where Vipers grease is sold dearer than Gold? whence this Grease is not only mixed with the Precipitate against the intent of the Inventor, but moreover is odi∣ous and troublesome to Apothecaries (especially since

Hogs-grease will do as well with precipitate) as also un∣profitable to the Sick.

You have now heard, O ye Truth-respecting hearers, on what ground this Plaister of Froggs, with Mercury, hath been reformed. It is your part, to judge whether that ingenious Person, John de Vigo, deserves to be con∣tumeliously Reproached for this? And, whether That barren, insipid, and truthless Doctrine be to be suffer∣ed, which Rails against both the order of Nature, and also the wise institutions of our Ancestors? by which, hopeful Youth in tender years being seasoned, the Poyson of Ignorance and Unskilfulness grows up with them, and so the wound becomes Incurable. But these things, were not of so great moment, if the Health of Man were not endangered thereby; for they prescribe to the Sick, Simple water for Cordial, Vinegar for an Epi∣leptick Remedy, Causticks for Anodines; Poyson of Cop∣per for a wholsome Medicine. Sick and weak Persons can hope for no Cure from such men, but only a foolish profusion of their money, and at length the loss of their lives to boot: Let them then avaunt, and be packing to the farthest Garamantes, with their Spirit of Venus, and their Gounterfeit receits; Let them not trouble the Civil World; Let them there weep, like Women, since here they have not acquitted themselves like Men.

Order now requires,* 1.97 that I should shew what Mercury Sublimated is? since I have laid That down, as an Instru∣ment in the examen of of Alcalyes? How It is Prepared, Hippoc. Chym. shews chap. 29. Where observe, that Vi∣triol Rubefied, or Calcined to Redness, is not added, to encrease the weight of the Mercury (as these magnifick Masters with their Partizans, do suppose) for then it would not be calcined to the highest Red, but to White∣ness only, as is done in the distillation of Vitriol, whose Caput Mortuum, left after distillation of the Spirit, is most fit for this purpose; and therefore-we need not its Spirit to add weight to the Mercury) but it is added, that the Sulphureous Nitre might apprehend the Sulphur of the immature Metal, lying hid in the Rubefied Vitri∣ol; as I have shewed before; and so by their joynt-forces

they may dissolve the Mercury. This is the reason why Rubefied Vitriol is required. But the quantity is Qua∣druple in respect of the Salts, because These are of easie fusion in the Fire, from the which by Rubefied Vitriol, they are preserved: see more in Hippoc, Chymic, in the fore-cited chapter.

The same Mercury once sublimated, needs not again be re-sublimated with new Powders, as the unskilful Ap∣provers think, because it doth not put off or depose the Acid Spirits once absorbed, so as to stand in need to re∣assume the same from new Powders: and suppose that it were sublimated an hundred times with new Powder, yet it would never become purer, as they falsly affirm; the reason is, because this way the External Sulphur is not separated, neither doth Suscipere magis velminus, al∣though (Legitimately, as they fay) a thousand, yea an hundred thousand times it be resublimated; And the word Legitimately in this place, doth discover their gross igno∣rance, and stands for no other use, but to be nausceous to the understandings of Wife-Men; but it receives as much as is enough for its saturation, as they know well, who have sometimes dissolved Mercury in Aqua Fortis; which if it be not sufficiently Powerful, the Gram of Mercury remains untouched and quick, because it could not imbibe That which was not; and on the other side, the water could not dissolve it, because it wanted Acid Salt. Truly this word (Legitimate) with this (purer Mercury) and the rest of their false Receits may well e∣nough be discarded and abandoned even by the Puniest Apothecaries,* 1.98 But when sublimate Mercury is freed from the Acid Spirits by Vegetable Alcaly, and is fetched back quite from the Retort, then indeed it may be mixed with new Powders, and again sublimated; which way the Deans with their fellows are yet ignorant of: yet neverthe∣less it would not become more pure and splendant, because in its first sublimation it neglected all that, which was not of its own nature in the Faeces and Caput Mortuum: but it would come over and return in less quantity, because it would return to Elements by frequent sublimation and revivification, as I have shewed above concerning Alcaly

of Tartar, concerning Spirit of Vitriol, and concerning Vinegar: see Hippoc. Chym. chap. 10.

This foresaid mixture of Mercury with Rubefied Vitriol, Nitre, and Salt, if you sublime it, not by little and little, but in great haste, and more than is fit, the Mercury will concrete, in the top of the Caput Mortuum, into lucid and great Chrystals, like Nitre, and not inferior to a Dia∣mond in lustre, which these Babblers vaunt for a great Secret, and affirm it to be The purest Mercury. For whom the speech of Mercury in Sendivogius may well be applied, That 'tis natural for him to laugh at fools; which Disease, as Cardan says, they may easily Cure without a Cudgel, by eating Hens brains, the Testicles of Doves and Tor∣toises, and by drinking a little White-wine Vinegar every day: If Cardan had had any knowledge of this child of Venus (newly born to these Obstreperous Doctors) per∣haps he would have preferred it before Vinegar, since duly exhibited, it cures Epileptick and Melancholy persons, wit∣ness the Physical Doctors of the Austrian and Norimberg Colledge. In the interim let their humours be purged with black Hellebore, would all Anticyra had enough of it; Let them drink Capon-broth, and smell to the flowers of Nymphaea, which, with their grateful smell do mighti∣ly chear nhe spirits of the Heart; and engrave Aristotle in a Topaze, walking Tempe. Hitherto Cardan, to which I add, that unless these overwise Doctors, with their fel∣lows had approved and owned this child of Venus; the simplest man alive would never have believed there was ever any such thing. But so, I communicate to you, this great Artifice gratis.

To conclude therefore, I affirm, that neither Mercury sublimated, or precipitated, ill handled with Vipers∣grease, and mortified in Aqua Fortis, and also mixed with Alcalyes, and Revivificated with a naked fire out of a Re∣tort, and by consequence, weak and frail, as Alcalyes, nor no other Matter, can be so destroyed, but it will still shew something of its Form.

CHAP. VIII. That Acid doth both Destroy and Perfect, and that the Fire, the Sun, and Acid have the same Vertues and Powers.

I Have shewed in the beginning, Chap. 2d. both by Authority and Experience, That Nature ••••th endued Seeds with the least part of Acidity, because of them∣selves they receive Increase, and are multiplied; as ap∣pears manifestly in a grain of Corn, the quantity of whose natural Acid, is computed to be the 8200. part, in re∣spect of its Body, as the Sages of Natures Mysteries teach us: But if it be macerated with any mollifying Humour, with the addition of a convenient Heat, the innace spark of its Acid, is excited, which doth so di∣stend and enlarge it self, that it seems evidently to be moved out of its place, and by this Expansive Motion it doth compress and overcome its Sister, whom it loves, (i. e.) as well the Alcaly of its own body, as That which it drew from the Water, and turns It into its own Nature) that is, into Acid: I call this motion, as both the Vulgar and Philosophers do, Fermentation; so out of Barley, which according to Hippocrates, is of a cold na∣ture, there is made not only a temperate, but an in∣ebriating Drink, called Ale, or Beer; out of which, by the Art of Distillation, there is elicited Aqua Ardens (which, before Fermentation, was not in the Barley) no∣thing inferior to Spirit of Wine, yea though it be inflamable, as Hippoc. Chymic. shews chap. 18. but the innate Acid is multiplied, either of its own accord, or by Art, viz. by the addition of its like Acid, which by reason of its si∣militude is easily admitted (like being pleased with like) and which, by a common name we call Ferment; but if we would excite that small portion of Acid, innate in the

Grain, by an Acid, not of the same nature but having a mineral Soul; as for Example, by the Acid of Vi∣triol, Nitre, Salt, or the like, then the more generous and Potent would surpass the weaker, and would choake it, which not enduring the yoke of Tyranny, would be quite destroyed and converted into nothing.

So a Pearl possesses, in respect of its body, the 8200. part of innate most precious Acid, upon which, if there supervene a more powerful Acid, taken from another fa∣mily, vsz. from Vinegar distilled from Aerugo (which they ridiculously call a Secret Menstruum) and doth ex∣ercise Tyranny over it, The Rector in the Pearl is sup∣pressed, and that clear and precious light, the Child of the Sun, is slain, which would willingly have relieved the Vital Lumen of the Sick, unless it had been unjustly subjugated by the Vinegar from Verdigrease, that is, the false Spirit of Venus. Pearl therefore, so dissolved, can do no good, unless the weak Stomach of the Patient can subdue and conquer that Acid Salt (as I have before shewed in magistery of Corals) left there by the Vinegar. For as Vinegar distilled from Verdigrease, doth rule over, and subdue the vital light of Pearls, 'tis so in Diseases, viz. The Vital light is suppressed by the more Potent Morbous Acid (as Hippocrates says, De veteri Medicina) which if it be imbibed, as the Acid by the Alcaly, or if it be diluted and separated from the affected place, the Vital light soon recovers: see Hippoc. Chymic. chap. 21. Hence arose that Famous saying, which is no less true in Philosophy, than in Divinity; The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom; which is as much as to say, Do thou not destroy Acids by Acids, against the command of the most High, but sweetly and lovingly cherish them, so shalt thou be Wise, as saith our Lord himself; a grain of Corn falling upon loose and spongy earth (not upon that which is hard bound, which depresses even the innate light (and therefore must be plowed and turned up) is there dissolved and loseth its exterior shape, yet its innate light suffers not, but in its own time produceth fruits like it self; neither is it dissipated, because the Suns Child doth extend it self in spongy earth, and embraces its Sister

Alcaly, which it loves, which being impregnated, attracts Nourishment from That, of which both of them do con∣sist, and so both of them together produce fruits like them∣selves. This natural Operation and Process is the fear of the Lord and the beginning of Wisdom.

But when a grain of Corn is cast into Fire (i. e.) into a more powerful Acid, not agreeable to its own Nature, but taken from another family, or into Sulphurous earth, or into Counterfeit Spirit of Venus; then is there commit∣ted a sin of Disobedience against the command of God; and the Grain, as well in Matter as Form, is corrupted, dissipated, and made unprofitable both for Generation and Fermentation; as I have before shewed in Pearl dissolved in Vinegar: so the fear of God, is not regarded, and in∣stead of the beginning of Wisdom, there grows up the be∣ginning of Folly; where we may observe,* 1.99 that as the A∣cid innate in the Grain, doth act by Fermentation, and multiply it self, either in vertue or number; so also Fire, which is Acid, inflamed, doth act as ferment; and never gives over, till it finds something on which it might act, after the manner of ferment, or might make it like, or equal to it self.

So that whatsoever is dissolved in an Acid, out of its own family, or more powerful than its innate Acid, pre∣sently its weak Acid is suppress'd, and being dissolved, it must needs take upon it the nature of the Dissolvent; for the Acid in dissolving, is coagulated and imbibed by the innate Alcaly of the Thing, and the weight of the same Thing is encreased by the dissolvent Acid; as I have shew∣ed above concerning the counterfeit Child of Venus, act∣ing upon Corals; and in my Hippoc. Chymicus, concern∣ing Sublimate Mercury. I say, they all encrease in weight from the External Acid, which to the utmost of its pow∣er doth suppress and kill the Internal; and that not on∣ly in the Via humida, as I have shewed, but in the Sicca, fiery, and burning way. An Example whereof may be seen in the following Experiment.

Lead, to the weight of 100 Drachms,* 1.100 being burnt in a reverberatory flame of dry Wood into Powder, which is very Red (for the weak Acid of the Lead is suppressed

by the imperious Acid kindled Flame) and it loses the name of Lead, and the Figure too, and again puts on a fiery Colour, and is called from its shining Redness, by means of the mastering Acid, Minjum. Weigh this in a ballance, and you shall find the Minium encreased ren drachms from the kindled Flame; for as in the moist way, Corals dissolved in salse Spirit of Venus, and coagu∣lated, do receive an augmentation; so also Lead, in the dry and fi••ry way, is encreased and augmented from the Acid in the flame; Hippic. Chymic. chap. 26. For there is the same reason in both, which, the Deans with their Fellows cannot comprehend; and that makes them cry out, That the encrease of ten drachms in the Mini∣um, doth not proceed from the Acid out of the kindled flame, but from the Air. What do your Doctorships say? From the Air! whether will ye go? strait to Anticyra, I advise you, with the company going before you for your Cure. For Philosophers say, that Air is Natures Sieve, through which Vertues and Influences are trans∣mitted, and that it is impatient of a Vacuum, no ways condensable of it self, but an immortal and most subtil Fume, kindled from the heavenly Fire, &c. I have shewed before, that in It, the Sun's Child doth inhabit, which, assumes not a Body, unless with his beloved Si∣ster; The authority and experience both of the Old, and also the Modern true Philosophers bear witness hereun∣to: So that the Air being most subtil and incondensible of it self, can add no weight to the Minium.

The Air it self, is neither light nor heavy, neither is it compressed of its own accord, but by some force, in the barrel of a Gun, from which it again breaks out by force: we see the same thing in that Glassy Organ, which is called a Weather-glass, the Air indeed is compressed in it, by Cold, but is again rarefied and dilated by Heat. If therefore the Air, in a cold season, did add weight to the Minium, it would make it lighter in an hot: But Mi∣nium weighs alike in all Seasons; so that it is not the Air that gives weight to the Minium.

But supposing, though not granting, that the Child of the Sun, dwelling in the Air, did assume a body in

the Minium; yet this would not be, but in some years space; as I have shewed in the Matrix of Nitre and Mines of Vitriol. But Minium, newly drawn out from the Fur∣nace and as yet hot, weighs as much as it will do some years after; so that the Child of the Sun, neither hath a∣ny Tabernacle in the Minium, nor gives any weight to it.

The Air being impatient of a Vacuum, as I have shewed by the authority of Philosophers, is always filled with an Aqueous Humour, which in the cold presently con∣cretes to Water. Take a familiar houshold example, when we drink cold things in the hot Summer-time, out of a Glass, as soon as the Glass is filled with the cold Li∣quor, presently it is troubled, because the Aqueous Va∣por, dispersed through the Air, is condensed by the Cold, and sticks there, in so great quantity, that some∣times drops do fall down: Here they wonderfully lift up their Crests, and cry aloud rejoycingly, Now you are catched; This is that Aqueous Vapor, which is attracted by the Mi∣nium out of the Air, and adds the weight to it; but soft and fair, Your Aqueous Vapor doth concrete in Cold, and again rarefy in hot Weather, which your ridiculous and childish Experiment proves, viz. The Caput Mortuum of Vitriol (i. e. the Faex of Vitriol; out of which the Spirits by one single distillation, have been drawn) being exposed to the Air, is again saturated with Spirit of Vitriol; which, if it be distilled, doth again yiold Spirit.

Lo, O Curious and Truth-loving Reader, This is their Proof (that as the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol is again satia∣ted with Spirit in the Air; so also Minium drawn from the Furnace, is saturated out of the Air with weight.) which is both Childish and Ridiculous; and, as I have shewed all the rest to be false, and ill understood, so I shall like∣wise demonstrate This to be most false, and least of all understood by the whole Colledge of Guessers.

For if Vitriol have once undergone the tyranny of a quick Fire, the Child of the Sun acts no more upon it, than it doth on an Egg boiled, for the hatching of the Chick: Now burnt Vitriol doth attract from the Air by reason of its driness, because it is without moisture, not the Acid

Spirit of Vitriol, but an Aqueous Vapor; which, when the Vitriol grows hot, either by the Sun, or by Fire, a∣gain flies into Air, as it is the property of all Water. For if that Caput Mortuum could again re-assume the na∣ture of Vitriol in the Air, that Famous Distiller of Spirit of Vitriol at Amsterdam, who furnishes not only near the third part of Europe, but also all Ships, and both the Indies therewith, yearly expending many thousands of pounds upon it; if it being once Distilled and Exposed to the Air, would again become Vitriol, he would have luck in a Bag, as we say: but as it is false, that the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol returns to Vitriol, so it is also an untruth, that the Aqueous Vapor adds weight to the Mi∣um; which I prove by this Experiment.

Take at least an Ounce of Minium, such as is common∣ly sold, and in a Glazed Earthen Vessel, large and low, put it for a Night in a Bakers hot Oven, or else expose it to the Noon-day Sun; whose heat as it doth exiccate not only the Humid Minium, but also dries up Marishes, Lakes, and Rivers; so in like manner it would expel the Humidity of the Air, if there were any in the Minium: but the same weight of Minium which was put in, is also drawn forth from the Oven, or heat of the Sun; so that That which gives weight to the Minium, is not the Child of the Sun, nor the Air, nor Water; therefore, against the absurd prateing of the Deans and Approvers, it must needs be the Acidity in the kindled Flame, which, as the false Spirit of Venus exer∣cising tyranny over the Debile Acid in the Medulla of Pearls, or in Coral, adds weight to Them, so also the Acid kindled in the Flame, which by its tyrannical power and force doth keep down and suppress the Debile Acid in the Lead, is fixed into Alcaly, rules over it, and gives weight to it; Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 26.

We may learn from hence, that if the Reader (who∣soever he be, enquiring after the truth, in those infinite doubts, which in long Art do daily occur) should have recourse to these Denns and their Associates, what profit could he get thereby? Surely none, which plainly appears, by that counterfeit and lamentable piece of Science, which they had forth to the whole World; for they call Simple

Water Volatile Salt of Tartar, and moreover judge it an in∣comparable Cordial. Besides, with what pompous and swel∣ling Words, do they shamelesly adorn it? and commend it to their poor Neighbours, and to the Sick? as I have shewed above in the Chapter of the Difference of Salts, in their own Words there quoted: They say also, That Vinegar Distilled is the Son of Venus, that Acid is not in Graines of Kermes, that Gold is not Fixed and Constant in the Fire; that Mercury corroded with Caustick Water is made sweet by boil∣ing with Vipers Grease; that Minium acquires weight from the Air; and infinite other absurdities, which I shall anon discover. Fye for shame, defile not Youth, with these fooleries and falsities: Dispute not de Lana Caprina, and after the dispute ended, you silence your Opponents in a matter of no value, and gain nothing but an em∣pty puff of breath: And then in your silence, Truth, as the Philosopher says, though unsought for, will come to light, if she may. But, leaving these Jejune Interpre∣ters of Physick, who proceed to the Practick Part, as the Ass to his fodder, not knowing to what he lays his Lips; I shall go on to prove, that there is Acid in Fire, by This, no less Noble, than profitable and pleasant Example.

I shewed before, That the Salts of Vegetables do pre∣serve their forms untouched from Common Fire, and that they illude the violence thereof, either more or less: And if such a power be in Vegetables, must not the Mineral family attain a degree thereof, more or less perfect? To make this out, Let Flint be the Example,* 1.101 which is most constant in the Fire, and Corals (the Red are always to be chosen) less constant: A Flint (the White is to be chosen) is corroded by no Acid Liquor, no not by Aqua Fortis it self; because it hath obtained a Tem∣perament equal to its Nature (i. e.) it hath got so much Acid, as in a just Ballance can satisfie and saturate its Alcaly; for if never so little Alcaly did superabound, the Exter∣nal Acid would find an easie ingress; so that a Flint can be dissolved by no Acid, no not by the false Son of Venus, in regard of the equal and perfect mixture of the Acid and Alcaly.

But Corals, not being enriched by Nature, with so much Acid, as can saturate their own proper Alcaly, are therefore less Constant; whence it come to pass, that if you pour any manifest Acid on Them, presently it corrodes them; and such a quanty of the Acid is im∣bibed by them, till it be brought to an Aequilibrium with the Alcaly, and thereupon the dissolved Corals be en∣creased in weight, as I have shewed before in Magistery prepared the common way.

A Flint burnt in the Fire, as it receives not Acid and Humid Liquors, so it is neither encreased nor lessened in its weight from the Acid Flame of the Fire, be∣cause Acid, which may avolate, doth not superabound in it; nor is the Alcaly thirsty, which might imbibe the Acid Salt of the Corals, or Aqua Fortis, 'tis only the Nutritive Glew which dies; which in Pearls and Crabs Eyes (as I have shewed) is like to thin Pellicles or Co∣verings, which are not dissolved by the false Spirit of Venus, because they are Pinguous. But Corals duly burnt, (in the Flame either of Coals or Wood) do en∣crease in weight, because there is an overplus of the thirsty Alcaly in them, which could not be saturated by their proper Acid: hence it is, that they easily ad∣mit the External, either humid or kindled in Flame, and so far, by means of the received Acid, they encrease in weight; as I have shewed before in Magistery.

Flint burnt in Fire, till it chop and gape, becomes Cau∣stick, and turns living or dead Flesh into rottenness.

But Corals in like manner burnt or calcined in the Fire, till they chop, do not affect either living Flesh or dead, because they become a Powder almost insipid.

Flint burnt, until the Glew (i. e.) the Aliment dies, is called Calx or Lime,* 1.102 which, being yet fresh, grows hot with Water poured on it, and its Acid Acts upon its powerful and proper Alcaly; and they are both turned into a stony or petrous substance, which coagulates with it, whatsoever it layes hold off.

Corals duly burnt for six days and nights,* 1.103 till the Ali∣ment die in a flame of Wood, or Coals, do increase in weight; they grow not hot upon the affusion of Wa∣ter,

because they have not so much Acid, as will suf∣fice for a mutual Action or Combate, neither is it coa∣gulated into a stony substance.

Out of Flint, Calcined with Vegetable Alcaly, is ex∣tracted a Lixivium, which boiled with Suet or Fat, be∣comes Sope.

If Alcaly of Vegetables be added to Calcined Corals, The Alcaly extracts from them the Acid drawn from the Flame, and the Corals fall into a White Insipid Powder. Pour Distilled Vinegar on Calcined Flint, and the Vi∣negar dissolves its Alcaly with bubbles and hissing.

But if you pour the same Vinegar on these Calcined Corals, they are wholly dissolved, without either bub∣bles or noise, because being saturated for six days and nights by the Acid Flame, they are no longer Thirsty: on which Solution, pour True Spirit of Vitriol, which (as I have shewed before) doth keep down the weaker Acid of the Distilled Vinegar, and associates to its self the Alcaly of Corals; but the Fire, or Life of the Co∣rals is united with the Vinegar, and so the whole Composition is Red. This Redness is the Life of Corals, according to Paracelsus, which you may learn to se∣parate by the Midwifry of your helping Hand, and you shall have a Cordial not to be despised; of which Plato forbids me to speak any more in this place: See Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 27.

As the Life, or the Acid of Flints, is White, or Dark Colour, or Green, intended according to the innate humid, as Vitrification shews; so of Red Corals it is spark∣ling, which difference of Colours and Vertues proceeds from their first Seed, which Art cannot effect; if any one pretend to it, he is a Lyer. But to bring the Seeds to Maturity, that they may produce the Fruits, this is a priviledge granted to Philosophers, not to Ideots.

So that our Calcined Corals become not a Calx,* 1.104 be∣cause they have not the properties of Calx, as the ri∣diculous and putid Flock of vain Doctors do ignorantly affirm; for Corals are as murh esteemed by the Indians, as Indian Pearls are by us: Wherefore Corals and their Bo∣dies (as all other Jewels, which take their forms from

the Limpid Fountains of the Heaven and the Sun) are made of the purest Drops,* 1.105 impregnated with Coelestial Influences; hence it is, that they contain many and ex∣cellent Vertues in them, which, if any one desire to draw forth, he must approach nearer, and open the locked doors, otherwise than by begging Receipts (and Those ill understood) as it were from door to door, or by pre∣scribing quid pro quo to the Sick, or by a petulant ble∣mishing of the Truth, by raging and unheard off Male∣dicence. But the Ignorant Vulgar hath this sottish pro∣perty, that what it doth not understand at first reading, That it contemns and loads with foetid Calumnies; And yet herein it judges it self not Ignorant, but very Wise; but by this very thing they manifest their folly to the truely Wise, when to their own followers they would-seem to be Wise; for 'tis a wretched thing, in endeavouring to procure a Name to ones self, to be exposed, as a Ridicle, to all understanding Persons.

The Martigenous Hornets provoke and challenge the Eagle. Take notice, Brethren of the woful Combate.

Having hitherto proved that Acid doth both destroy and also perfect,* 1.106 it is a Subject agreeable to this Chapter, to treat of the Destruction of Iron: That Iron differs from all other Mettals, it appears by its terreous Principles, whence the Acid thereof, wanting its Sister Alcaly, dwels in an earthly most inconstant matter; wherefore it va∣nishes of its own accord, or its innate Acid is easily op∣pressed by an external Acid superveneing: and so the whole substance of Iron is turned to rust. Hippocrates took notice of this Volatile Acid of Iron, hence he teaches in his Tract De Diata, that when it is quenched in Water, it acquires Strength; because the Light Alcaly in the Water, is a True Comforter of the Light Acid in the Iron: and Cutlers do strengthen It with the Al∣caly of Animals, which is also Volatile, as Hippocrates Chymic. shews, Chap. 19. For this cause Aristotle the 4. Meteorol. not without Reason, makes a difference betwixt Iron and all other Metals. Gold, says he, Silver, Brass, Tyn, Lead, Quick-silver, belong to Water; but Iron to the earth: and Galen says, 4. de Facult, Simplic. Medi∣cament.

That Iron is a terreous and crass Body, &c.

So that the Acid degenerating or dying of its own ac∣cord,* 1.107 or being separated by the stronger, there remains only the terreous principle (as Hippoc. Chymic. shews of Al∣caly of Tartar Chap. 10.) which by the Ancients and by Pra∣cticers of Physick, as Dioscorides witnesseth, is called Rust.

This Rubigo is also prepared by Art, out of the dust or fileings of Iron, when the sharpest Vinegar is poured on it, and it is dried in the Sun, and again afterwards dipped in Vinegar and dried; then it must be washed with common water and dried; and so kept powdered and small.

And as Vinegar, so also all sorts of Acids,* 1.108 do turn Iron into Rubigo; yea Gold it self doth occultly and presently turn that Acid into Rust, as I have shewed Chap. 2.

Hence we see the Cause why Gold cannot be conglu∣tinated with Iron, unless it first assumes a Cupreous Na∣ture, as Hippoc. Chymic. boldly shews, Chap. 28. concern∣ing the Golden Nail; for the Truth offends none,* 1.109 but those that hate it.

The Lord Anbert, a Noble man of France, in his Natural and Moral History of the American Islands, proves by Eye Witnesses, that the Ʋnicorn is not a four-footed Ani∣mal,* 1.110 but a Fish, that hath an Horn growing in his Fore∣head; yet he grievously offended, not the Lovers of Truth, but those only who made a Monopoly of those Hornes: so I never read that Moralists, or Politicians did envy the Truth, though Hoarse Grass-hoppers chirp against it, and the Cuckows subscribe and approve their Note. He that is affraid of the Truth, is not perfect; for an Adept, or one compleatly Wise, should fear nothing. For which Cause, I was always willing, that my Hippoc. Chymic.* 1.111 should speak the Truth out and not conceal it, not fearing, a∣ny thing nor respecting either the friendship or hatred of any Sect; but that it should give things their proper Names, not being solicitous either to offend or please: in imitation of Thucydides, who perceiving the Writings of Herodotus to be in great esteem, I had rather, sayes he, displease by speaking the truth, than please by relating Fa∣bles; because by displeasing I gain, but by pleasing I hurt. But I return whence I digressed. This most ancient Rust of

Iron,* 1.112 that it might be more pleasant to the Eye, the Curious began to burn it in an acute Flame, into a small Powder, and from its fair redness, they call it Crocus Martis.

But use, age, and experience, being our daily Instru∣ctors, they observed, That This is a long and tedious way of turning Iron into Rust by the aspersion of Viner gar; therefore they burnt the dust or Filings of Iron in an acute Flame, the acidity whereof being set on fire, they found they could make more of this light and rare red Powder in a day, than they could do with Vinegar in a month; so that they rejected the long and tedious, and took to the quicker way of operation: This Powder they called Crocus Martis from its redness.

So that Filings or Scobs of Iron, or its Natural or Arti∣ficial Rust, either with Vinegar eroded, and afterward reverberated in the Flame,* 1.113 or else without Vinegar by Flame simply, or with Vinegar from Aerugo, or False Spirit of Venus, being converted into a red Powder or Li∣quor (for it is all one) and taken by the Mouth, have a strengthening Vertue, so that They are good for the Stomack and for a Loose Liver, for Dysentericks and Lientericks, and all moist or praehumid Diseases; for Womens Flux, for the Gonorrhaea, or incontinency of Urine, and all so∣lutive Distempers. And the same Iron performs also con∣trary operations, for it opens great praehumid Livers and their Obstructions, it promotes Womens Terms (so that it hath restored some Girles (I say not all) who were dis∣coloured by paleness, to their Health and Beauty;) and therefore both Philosophers and Phisicians do unani∣mously teach, that Iron of it self doth both open and bind: Experience also shews as much, which is, and ought to be accounted the Best School-mistriss to us all.

It wants not therefore the suspicion of fraud or igno∣rance, when men shall passionately, yet weakly affirm, That Iron, from its single preparation, is either astringent or aperitive: They should live and die in their ignorance for me, unless sick persons were in danger to be ruined thereby: Learn therefore, not from Me, who have al∣wayes undervalued vain applause, but from the Giver

of all good, for frequent experience, and the compa∣ny of dexterous Philosophers, and true Practicioners are more to be believed than either an handful of Calum∣niators, or a multitude of such, who are ignorant of the Instruments of Physick.

Now they who commend Iron in all Diseases,* 1.114 and do prescribe it in every Dropsie, in the Schirrhus of the Liver, in an inveterate Jaundice, especially joyned with a Eeavor, in Hypochondriack Melancholy, or in Diseases of the Sto∣mach. They do it not, without the extream Peril of the Patient; 'Tis true, Iron is very good for great Li∣vers, loosned with moisture, and tumid, but when they are hardened to a Schirrhus, it is so far from dissolving it, that it rather confirms it, and by consuming its Acid pro∣ducer, drives it to a Lapideous hardness; so that Iron either.* 1.115 Filed or any other way turned to Rubigo, hath been always commended by sure Evperiments, for great and swoln Livers, but never for dissolving a Schirrhus. So Ferreous and Acid Waters are good to attenuate the Spleen, and to open all Obstructions of the lower part of the Belly, arising from Morbous Acid, as yet fluid; as Hippoc. Chymic. shews by clear Experiments, Chap. 16. viz. by consuming the Acid humour, by corroborating the Fibra's, and by contracting Them when loose; that so the inbred heat might arise more strong in the corro∣borated member, and may digest, that which remains: so that they who commend Iron in the dry and acid Di∣seases of the Liver or Milt, and do there either fraudulently or ignorantly call it Aperitive, cannot escape the brand either of Ignorants or Impostors. For Iron administred against the aforesaid Indications, as I have shewn, then indeed it wants not a deletery Vertue, as Avicen teaches well; for it excites the gripings of the Intestines, dryness and roughness of the tongue, siccity of the Body, costive∣ness of the Belly, and pains of the Head; because it doth consume not only the manifest Ferment of the Sto∣mach, but also the occult Acid of the other Bowels, and sucks up the Vital Seed; but the quantity of it being small, viz. the 8200 part of its Body, 'tis no wonder if upon the taking of Crocus Martis (though it should be A∣peritive,

as they ignorantly babble) the Disease become more vehement, to the destruction of the Patient. And in that Case they blame the Apothecary-behind his back, as if he had mistook the Box, and so detract from his ho∣nesty without Cause.

But if they will not hearken to an old faithful Admo∣nition, and to my Experience, but pertinaciously resist good Counsel, it may chance to come to pass, that at last daily Experience and the Death of their Patients, will in spight of their teeth enform them of the Truth.

Otherwise the World would be filled with far fetched, ill understood, false and dubious Receits; and the diligent Observations of our Ancestors would be lightly esteemed: and so a new, unskilful; ambiguous, costly, speculative, infinite, and groundless way of Physick, would take place; which under the disguise of false Words and deep Learning, would be entertained by Ideots; who not knowing the Vertues of Things, hotly contend amongst themselves, and rail one at an other, not only about Aperitive or Astringent Iron, but about many other things; some of which I have spoken of, as much as the nature of the Argument and the good of my Neighbours require: So also by uncertain Conclusions and vain Opinions they re∣vile the Wits of the Studious, and to the hurt of their Neighbour, and the infamy of the Art, they approve and subscribe to Lying Fables: And not at all studying the Truth, they boast themselves to be great Doctors; who yet never will attain to Science, because they follow the herd, that went before, and think they have already attained it, as Seneca rightly speaks; but to return to the matter.

Dioscorides handles Iron two manner of ways, either preparing Ferrugo out of it, or extinguishing It in Water or Wine: yet to both the Preparations, he ascribes an Astringent Vertue; he doth not call the one Astringent and the other Aperitive. For when Iron opens, it comes from the specifick Acid, degenerating in the body, which Na∣ture could not receive into nourishment, and therefore, by reason of its Acid taste, it rushes to the Iron; so the Bowels being strengthened by degrees, Nature expels That

together with the detained excrements by stool. Hence Helmont says, that Iron doth open by a specifick and ap∣propriate Vertue, but it binds by a second quality: so that neither of the Vertues of the Iron, do proceed from the absence or presence of its Mercury (which they boast, but without Truth, that they can extract from it) but from the attraction of the specifick Acid in the Morbous Bodies, as Hippoc. Chymic. shews, Chap. 16. and 28. Thi∣ther I refer the Reader, that I may not clog him with the repetition of things there spoken.

But we may grant, that they can as well extract Mercury from Iron, as Eximious Vertues from Copper: These Vanities are, and always were, nausceous to Me, as well as to the World and the Sick; for they have no foundation in Nature: so that they, and their Masters, are to be banished from the society of good Men; whilest on the other side, I deal with the Doctrine of Truth and the most Ancient Science, which the Ancients found to be agreeable to the Nature of Man, and thought wor∣thy to be ascribed to God, as the School of Truth yet thinks, as Hippocrates hath it, De Veterum Medicina; for He there teaches, that as there is a manifold Acid in the Macrocosme, so also in Mans Body. And in his Book de Arte, every Acid hath its proper Ventricle, which yet the vocal and wordy Colledge is ignorant of, and there∣fore he adds, as they know who study these things; but seeing it is easier to steal blind Receits and to approve them, to suppress Truth and to load It with Calumnies, then to learn the knowledge of the Ventricles of Mans Body, 'tis no wonder, that They are ignorant of the Instruments of Physick, who have no regard to the Ventricles; For if, says the Old Man, they do not know the Constitution from the beginning, and that which is predominant in the body, they cannot prescribe that which is good for a Sick Man. Lo here the Cause, why Crocus Martis being Aperitive in the hands of superficial and ignorant Doctors, becomes A∣strictive, and Vice Versa; because they are ignorant of their proper Instruments: and in the method of Curing, know not how to apply Active things to Passive, because they have not the knowledge of Ventricles, or Sapors:

neither did they ever learn Them out of Hippocrates, of which my Hippoc. Chymic. doth discover very many.

This is the reason, why, as I said before, they come to Practice, as the Ass to his fodder, not knowing to what he extends his Lips, but only as far as his exterior sen∣ses, without understanding, by seeing and tasting, do draw him to his meat. But why do I insist on the decrees of Philosophers, deduced and drawn down from Nature it self, since I have to do with such Persons, who ne∣ver so much as dreamt of the Verity and Excellency of the Art of Physick. Therefore they are to be instructed by Examples, taken out of the Shop of Wise Nature.

Observe then, That in the Stomach and Milt of a sound Animal, there dwels a Vital Acid proper to the Milt, but when That Acid doth degenerate into an unusual taste, or sapor, all the neighbouring parts are also contaminated; and presently the pores are contract∣ed, and the Body, which was transpirable in health, now ceases from action; hence the Milt swels from the mo∣tion of the Ferment, which will not obey purging Me∣dicines, as experience shews: Now Iron taken at mouth, is good for that Ferment and prae-acid Taste, by which the Milt is lessened or dried (call it which you will) but not by reason of the Aperitive force of the Iron, but that Acidity there detained, doth in a special manner love the Iron, as a thirsty Man doth Beer. Let Sil∣ver dissolved in Aqua Fortis be an Example.

Aqua Fortis, hath the smell and property of Sulphur of Iron, because it is made of Sulphurous Nitre, Vi∣triol or Allum; whence by reason of the likeness between them, it loves Copper and Iron, as I have above Me∣chanically shewed: Now as in the Stomachs of Ani∣mals, the hungry Acid desires to be satisfied with its like, and That like (i. e.) food, it dissolves and is de∣lighted with it; 'tis just so in the Matrocosme: For Exam∣ple, The Acidity of Aqua Eortis, is as an empty Stomach, which desires to be satisfied; Silver being given it for food, it dissolves it, and is pleased with it; but when you cast in a Physical Drug (as I may so call it) into this Solution, I mean Copper, with which, for the si∣militude

between them, it is more delighted than with the Silver; presently it deserts the Silver, and again dis∣solves the Copper, and the whole Solution becomes green.

It must needs be so also in the Body of Man, since Nature is in every thing alike, as Pythagoras, and since Him, Hippocrates have taught us.

Again, If you put Iron into Aqua Fortis (which here is as the Stomach or Ventricle) impregnated or loaded with Copper, in regard Copper is of harder Solution and Concoction than Iron, the Water presently leaves the Copper and dissolves the Iron.

And although Aqua Fortis hath already deposed Silver and Copper, yet its Acidity and Property hath still do∣minion over them, until they are freed by a melting Fire; which is to be observed by Our Friends, for it is else where of great use.

But it is objected by such, as are ignorant of this Common and Ancient Order and Consent of Nature, and who out of their small Skill, go about to overthrow the Hippocratical Verity, That I put my Sickle into ano∣ther Mans Corn and Harvest; as if it were a shame for me to know, That which all men should or ought to know in an Art; or, as if. They were the only famous Philosophers, who compile together Surreptitious and ill understood Receits, without the knowledge of the Causes of Things. And as Silver and Copper were troublesome to the Stomach of Aqua Fortis (that I may so speak) which is better, when it is cured with Iron: so also this Morbóus Forrain Ferment, or Humour (call it which you please) being consumed by the Iron, The Ventricle of the Milt and the neighbour parts become botter affected. Take therefore at mouth Stomoma (i. e.) Steel, or its Crocus, either Astringent or Aperitive, with which that Acid Ferment hath a greater agreement than with the Milt; and therefore it hastily rushes in, pervading its Pores from the Ventricle of the Milt to the whole Stomach,* 1.116 that it may associate it self with the assumed Iron, which by that Acid Forrain Ferment is dissolved into a Black or Green Fax, according to the property of the Acid;

as the Excrements of the Belly do testify: and if this Acid be not totally consumed by the Iron, at one turn, it is repeated so often, till the Milt shew some signs of its Exiccation; so the Anima of one ens (i. e.) the Fer∣ment of the Disease, enters into the Iron, and the A∣nima of another goes out, because the Acid, or Anima of the Iron, which constitutes the Iron, goes forth, (Hence Crocus Martis is called by Horatius, Sterilis Ru∣bigo) that the Acidity of the Disease might again enter in, according to the Doctrine of the Pythagoreans. For Nature acts in the Microcosme by the same Instruments as in the Macrocosme: For the Ancients have taught us, That it is every where alike.

Here Ideots and Destroyers of Hippocratical Medicine, will object, That I place a Disease in the Ventricle of the Milt, and yet give Iron by the Mouth? How then can the Morbous Acid come or reach from the Milt to the Iron? as they have also written concerning burnt Harts∣horn: Which Objection is not worth the answering, for one Fool may raise more Questions than an hundred Wise Men can answere; but sithence these sluggish Doctors never understood This out of Hippocrates his Sixth Book de Morbis Popularibus; out of pitty to them I will shew them the place; for he there says, that the whole Body as long as Life is in it, is perspirable and penetrable; see Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 16.

But when the Milt or Liver is gone to a Schirrhus, then indeed the Steel, by consuming the Faber or Operant, would more harden the Bowels, though the Aperitive Crocus Martis of all these Subscribers be never so much taken by the Mouth. He that desires to know more of Iron, let him read Hippocrates Chymicus in the fore-cited Chapter.

So that the Acid, which Iron consumes in the Body of Man, differs very much from the false Spirit of Venus, and from all other Acids in general, because it is a spe∣cifick; and to be found in no other place: for if Iron be not wholly dissolved by It in the Body, the Excrements of the Belly are not tinged into a Black or Green Co∣lour; and then indeed Iron doth Astringe, though the

Aperitive Crocus of these Innovators be administred, as Hip∣poc. Chymic. in the fore-cited Chap. doth experimentally shew: so that Acid is also a Specifick, which burnt Harts∣horn drinks up, in some Feavors; which the sluggish Approvers do judge must needs pass through the intestines to the place affected, and to the seat of the Feavor; if o∣therwise it ought to consume the Acid there generated and detained: They understand not what Hippocrates teaches in the fore-cited place, that the whole Body in Living Per∣sons is permeable, and that a Spirit Acid, more Acid, or most Acid, is the Cause of Diseases, &c. and that it is fer∣mentable, and so flows as well through the Pores adex∣tra by diaphoresis or gentle sweat (as appears in the Crisis) as it goes and rushes to the Intestines unto the Harts-horn, as I have shewed concerning Steel; pro∣vided it find a convenient and specifick Acid in the Bo∣dy. Truly this is a rural clownish Doctrine, and wor∣thy the Approvers; for if Mediciues must needs pass out of the Stomach to the Seat of the Disease, through the Pores, then the Sweat and Urine would wax Red from the Crocus Martis, especially their Aperitive Crocus. Bezoar in Swoonings, doth not pass through the Mem∣branes of the Stomach to the Heart, nor doth it re∣turn from thence, for consuming the Lypothymick Acid: Neither doth Ostiocolla travel to the broken Bone, that it may prohibit or absorb the Specifick Acid there; neither doth the Stone of a Crab go to the Wound; nor doth a grain of Opium taken at Mouth, for the Head-ach, pass up or ascend to the Head. They are ig∣norant, that the Subtile Argute Judge, and equal Weigher of all things (which distinctly knows the Seminal Ver∣tue, not only of Medicines, but also of all other things besides; and accordingly doth either embrace, segregate, or neglect It:) dwels in the Stomach, as I shall shew by Experience, Authority, and Reason, in the fol∣lowing Chap. wherefore this indecent kind of ignorance is to be hissed out of the School of Hippocrates and out of Common Life too, To instruct Block heads, as Lucian says, is a greater and nobler Secret, than the very Philosophers Stone; for it were to transsorm the

understanding, and to make Dolts and Stupid Persons, Teachable.

CHAP. IX. That Acid and Alcaly in Animals is the innate Calid and Radical Humid.

HAving discovered the Properties and Essences of Things, the Rise, Progress, and Death of Seeds, both Theoretically and Practically, by the two Instruments of Nature, viz. Acid and Alcaly: Now the Nature of my Argument requires, that I dis∣course some things concerning the Nature of Animals, very necessary for this work, and that I make them plain by clear Examples.

Now, as from the beginning, I have chosen the Anci∣ents for my Guids, so for the future, I shall respect them, as my Deities; and shall not stir an hairs breadth from the Truth, for fear or favour of any Man: but amongst the Ancients I chuse chiefly in all things to fol∣low Hippocrates, He being to Discourse of Animals, chuses Man as the Noblest of all, saying in his Book of Diet, The Soul of Man is increased in Man, but in no other, and likewise the Soul of other great Animals, &c. The Di∣vine meaning whereof, he gives us in the foresaid Book of Diet, in a Learned and Profound Interpretation; where also he proposes the Universal Generation of all Things, and the Nature of Seeds; which my Hippoc. Chy∣mic. explains according to his meaning: All Things, says he, in the same place, both Animals and Man himself, consists of two Principles, differing indeed in Faculty, but a∣greeing in Ʋse, viz. Fire and Water: Both these together are sufficient both for all other Things and for themselves mutal∣ly; but either of them apart is sufficient neither for it self, nor for any other;* 1.117 and a little after in the same Book, Omit∣ting; other Animals, I shall speak of Man, a Soul creeps into Man, having the mixture or temper ament of Fire and

Water; Fire adorns all things which are in the Body, and can move all things, but Water nourishes all, and through all; because for a need it abounds with Alcaly: as I have shewed before by evident Examples, by which a solid substance is concocted by inspissation; against the opinion of these gain sayers: but the Fire, of which the Old Man speaks in this place, is not culinary Fire, as he shews in the same Book: Man, says he, Threshes, Washes, and Grindes Bread-Corn, and after it is baked in the Fire, he uses it, but with a strong Fire in its Body; it is not made up, but with a soft and gentle one; so that it is a soft Fire, which adorns and moves all things, which in the 2 Chap. of this Book, and here and there besides, throughout the whole Book, I have shewed by many Examples to be Acid; and here∣after shall likewise further shew.

So that Fire and Water, or Acid and Alcaly (call them which you will) is that Balsam, which is given to Bodies for Salt, That they putrefie not; and in very deed it is Salt, as Hippocrates Chymicus shews from the 12 to the 16 Chapter; and it will more fully appear in the progress. This is that innate Calid, which old Hippoc. says, doth abound in things that grow, Aph. 14. S. 1. because it is fermentable and expirable; and, from aliment taken in like it self, it doth incessantly re••erminate; therefore rea∣son perswades that it very much must want Aliment: by which Aphorisme he intended to shew, that unless the innate Ca∣lid (i. e.) Fire and Water in Animals, especially grow∣ing ones, being very Volatile, were restored by its like, the strength of the Body would soon decay. Hence that saying, Ʋbifames, laborandum non est, &c. Now that which is its like, is not that External Body of Flesh or Bread, which we touch, since Man lives not only by Visible Bread, but by the innate Calid of the Aliments; which as soon as ever it is embraced by the Stomach, even before it be heated there, presently the strength of the Body is repaired.

This innate Calid is also in Lettice, so that the Acid of the Stomach after it is consumed by the Aliment, and is passed into Radical Humid or Moisture, immediately the Stomach Contracts it self, and the whole Body Languishes

for want of It. Hence ariseth Hunger and Appetite of Food, so that an hungry Man, though he be weak∣ned by long Fasting or by Labour, yet upon the taking of Food or Drink, yea of one Cup of Wine only, he finds himself immediately refreshed; and that, before the Food begins to be chylified; because the deficient Acid is restored by That which was in the Meat, Drink, Bread or Wine, though imperceptibly, as to our out∣ward Senses. Whence Hippoc. says, Aliment is that, which is turned into Spiritual Vapours; by such as these the Vital Spirits, which are the Authors of the Active, are nou∣rished. For as I shewed before, That as every Acid Spirit carries the Anima inseparably in its belly, and gets dominion over that body, into which it is infused; immediately forming it according to its own nature, as I gave examples, chap. 6. in Spirit of Salt; which being poured into Alcaly of Tartar, presently forms to it self a Saline Body, agreeable to its own Nature, and becomes Salt; and Spirit of Vinegar, or Distilled Vinegar, in the same Alcaly of Tartar, forms to it self a Body, adaequate to its proper nature, and becomes Tar∣tar of Wine: The like may be said of Vitriol, and other Acids: So also the Acid of the Stomack of a Man, when it lays hold on Bread, or any nourishing thing, over which it may have dominion, it doth turn and trans∣mute it into Chyle, and afterwards into humane flesh: and the Acid of a Dogs Stomack converts the same Bread into Dogs Flesh, as we are daily taught also by other Living Creatures; because Nature works by the same Instruments in them all: as I have shewed in the begin∣ning of this Chapter out of Hippocrates, in these follow∣ing words: The soul of Man is increased in no other, but in Man, &c. and from the same things of which it con∣sists; and though Bread be fermented and Acid, as most Aliments are, either more or less; yet the Acid in the Stomack of a Man, though of it self weak, hath yet a vitality joyned with it; whence it can obtain dominion over the same: As Vinegar gets dominion over and suppresseth the Acid innate in a Pearl; and Aqua Fortis subdues the Acid in Silver, so also the Vital Aeidity

of the Stomach subjugates the Acid Ferment of the Bread and other Aliments, and bears such rule over them, as to convert and change them into its own nature: For ex∣ample, When a man eats a Capon, the Acid of his Sto∣mack overcomes the radical moisture of the Capon, and being predominant over it, transforms it into its own nature; on the contrary, if a Capon, or a Fish, could, or did eat a Man, his Vital Acid in the Stomack, over∣powers and kills the radical moisture left after death in mans flesh; which then becomes the flesh of a Capon.

Now that there is a Radical or Vital Moisture remain∣ing in a Dead Carcass, appears by the Worms, which will infallibly breed there; and likewise by the growing of the nails and hair: And this not only Paracelsus, but many other curious Enquirers into Natural Things, have obser∣ved. And unless there were a Radical Moisture remaining in Flesh, and in all Aliments, fit and sufficient nourishment could not be suppeditated to the Living; especially to those, who are growing and encreasing: witness Flesh and Fish salted and dried in the smoak, which have less Radical Moisture than when they were fresh or new; for much of it is eaten up by the Salt (as Hippoc. Chymic. shews chap. 14.) and therefore they nourish less than if they were fresh. Wherefore Acid or Soft Fire, is to be found as well in the Vegetable and Mineral, as in the Animal Family; and it is That, which adorns every thing which is in the World; even as Water is That, which nourisheth it, as Hippocrates rightly speaks. I say, by the presence of this Fire and Water, both which do constitute the Ra∣dical Moisture (as I shall shew) immediately before Chy∣lification, is the Acid of the Stomack enlightned and re∣freshed; in regard it is more or less in all Aliments (as also in other things) as experience shews. There is more radical humidity in one new-laid Egg, than in an whole Pot full of Coleworts; more in one Cup of Wine, than in an whole Bucket of Water. Wherefore Acidity, being deficient in the Stomack (as Hippoc. Chymic. in the pla∣ces fore-cited plainly shews) is restored by the Radical Moisture of Aliments; but chiefly and most of all, by that Gelestial Food dwelling in the Air; for This is the Seed of

Life, without which neither Man, nor other Animals, or any Vegetable can attain to Generation or Life; for that Spi∣ritual Food or Attraction of the External Air, which by often breathing we suck in, doth so much conduce to the Life of Animals, that it hath caused not only Philo∣sophers, but also Plebeians to admire at it: Neither hath Nature Artificially placed her Bellows in the neighbour∣hood of the Heart, onely to cool it, as the Vulgar think, &c. but also that by their frequent Venti∣lation they might suck in the Aethereal Aura, by whose afflatus and in-breathing, the aforesaid Acid is re∣paired, and doth uncessantly regerminate. For, as the Ingenious Cosmopolita shews before in the Third Chapter, as the Rain receives That Vertue of Life, and by the Sun Beams joyns it with the Alcaly of the Earth; so also the same Vertue of Life is attracted into the Microcosme by Inspiration, and is fixed by the Solar Beams of the Heart into the Alcaly, or Radical Moisture of Animals; as I shall by and by Experimentally shew:

This is the True Ancient Learning and Doctrine of Hip∣pocrates, concerning the Soft Fire Adorhing Bodies, which will always hold in despight of Rabious Maledicence, as He testifies in his Book de Carnibus, as well as Cosmc∣polita; saying to the same sense, I will also deliver my O∣pion, That which we call Calid seems to me to be immortal, and to understand all Things; to Adorn, See, Hear, and Perceive all Things, both present and future; the greatest part whereof in the general Perturbation of all Things, retired into the supream Appartiment; which the Ancients seem to me to have called Aether: The other part, obtaining the lowest place, is called Earth, Cold and Dry, undergoing many muta∣tions, wherein there is yet much Calidity: What can be spoken more clearly for the Radical Moisture of Things? For That which Cosmopolita shews in the Macrocosme (see Chap. 3.) the same things according to Hippocrates, are to be understood in the Microcosme; For Mans Body, unless it were required by that Immortal Calid, both by Ali∣ments, and also by Inspiration, being Cold and Dry, would undergo many changes, and at length would crum∣ble to nothing before our Eyes, even as the flame of a

Candle, when the Wax or Tallow is spent, or when it is blown out by the Wind; yet it doth not wholly pe∣rish, as 'tis Vulgarly thought, and as it seems; but be∣ing destitute of its Pabulum, is plucked from it, and so is scattered abroad and vanishes into Air, which is the Abysse and Universal Receptacle of the Lights and Spiri∣tual Natures of the Material World; as Raymund hath it, and as the Text of Hippocrates in his Book de Car∣nibus doth a little before explain. Wherefore the chief Fewel and Food of Life, is supplied out of the Air to all the three Kingdoms: Hence the Ancients said, Jovis om∣nia plena; and Cosmopolita affirms, that the hidden Food of Life is in the Air, which as I have shewed, assumes a Body to it self, in an agreeable and consentaneous root and subject.

Wherefore Innate Calid and Radical Humid differ much one from another, That is wholly Solar and Occultly Acid and Oily, but This is more Corporeous, Constnat, and Saline; That is of a Superior Order, This, of an Inferior; in which is that Country, where Man takes a Wife to himself, as Cosmopolita speaks in his Tract de Sulphur; and it is the Hell, whether Plato is said to have hurried Preserpina; and Cores, her Mother, imploring Jupiters aid for her Redemption, was answered, That she might return, if she had tasted nothing in Hell (i. e.) unless that Celestial Spirit, the Child of the Sun, had not been absorbed by the Alcaly, but as yet had dwelt free in the Air, then she might have easily returned; but she had tasted Grains of a Pomegranate in Elisium (i. e.) in Pleasure; for which Reason she could not return, till six Months were expired (i. e.) till the Pomegranates were consumed; and then Proserpina returns to her Mother, as the Light of a Candle doth to its Source or Country, as I said before. So that They are deceived, who con∣found Innate Calid and Radical Humid in all the Three Families; for they differ no less amongst themselves, than Aqua Caustica doth from Mercury, in which it takes a Body, as appears by the falsified or counterfeit Emplai∣ster, unjustly ascribed to John de Vige. For in mixt Bo∣dies, the Radical Morstar•• is the Seat and Food of the

Celestial Fire, and its Bond uniting it to the Elementary Body: but that Igneous Vertue, is the Form and Soul of mix'd Bodies: more clearly thus, The Spirit being ei∣ther occultly or manifestly Acid, is the Seat and Band which ties the Soul to the Body. Let us then do as Nature doth, whom Art ought to imitate as her Guid in all Things; or otherwise we shall never become Compleat Servants to Nature.

Let Elementary Water be an Example, which being impregnated with the Child of the Sun, that is, with Ce∣lestial heat, falls upon the Radical Moisture or Alcaly of a Vine, and is imbibed by it, and so becomes the same thing with it, as I have shewed in the Second and Third Chapter.

I shall also give an Example in the Counterfeit Spirit of Venus, which from the beginning was Simple Water, which being impregnated with Celestial Calidity, fell up∣on the Radical Humid of the Vine; This in undergoing many Mutations, by Reason of the aforesaid Calid, having a power in it self from Nature to multiply it self, is brought to Maturity, and becomes a Grape, whose Aqueous Juice, being pregnant with Celestial Calid and Radical Humid (These Two beginning Action and Passion one with another) it comes to pass, that from their Mutual Action and Re-action, it conceives Heat (see Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 18.) whence it is said to be Fermented, and it becomes Wine, in which the heavenly Calid overcomes the Radical Humid; and if This at length gain strength, it becomes Vinegar: with this Vinegar and Lees of Wine, now soured, Copper is eroded; which so eroded (as Dioscorides rightly teaches) becomes Ae∣rugo; from which by Distillation, Vinegar, is again drawn forth; which unskilful Persons by a false Name call Spirit of Venus, as I have exactly shewed in its place. This Vinegar is nothing else but Water impregnated with Acid Salt from the Principle of the Vine, and it is the Seed and Radical, Humid of its innate Celestial Fire: now specificated by the Vine (for being pure, it doth not ex∣pose it self to be handled by the impure hands of Igno∣rants, or of the Vulgar) and it is called by a common

name Vinegar: And as the Heavenly Calid had from its first beginning its Seat in the Alcaly of the Water, and afterwards was multiplied in the Vine: Hence also it hath retained the Name of its Original, which it keeps also inviolate in Copper, to the shame of the Norim∣berg and Vienna Doctors and their Colleagues. So that Vi∣negar shall again be an Example to us of the Celestial Calid I say, let This be satiated with Alcaly of Tartar, till the Ebullition and Strepitus cease; in that Ebullition The Spirit binds and unites the Heavenly Fire with the Terr estrial Body (i. e.) with Alcaly: Alcaly in this place represents the Radical Humid, in which the Hea∣venly Calid is bound; and after the Alcaly (i. e.) the Matrix hath received a due Proportion, it casts forth and ejects the rest, to use Cosmopolita's words.

If you would have Proserpina return to her Mother, then distil this Tartar, and there will come forth an Oil and Water which is bitterish by reason of the Oil, the Oil is that Pinguous, by which it was made Vinegar: a∣gain imbibe this Oil and Water in Alcaly, and distil it, as before, and instead of the Oil there comes forth in∣sipld elementary Water; and so Water in the beginning is impregnated with Coelestical Calid, and afterwards 'tis changed by Fermentation into Grapes, then into Wine, then into Vinegar; at length 'tis made Salt in its Mother Alcaly, which is turned into Oil, and at last (as I have said of the Light of a Candle, and of Proserpina) it re∣turns to its Mother (i. e.) to Aether, as Hippocrates spoke a little before. So that the root of the thing, re∣turns into Elementary Water, viz. into that which it was, before it was foecundated with the Indoles of a Vine, by the Child of the Sun: So also the Capu Mortuum which is left, is nothing else but the Alcaly of Tartar, in which the same Spirit inhabites, which I have shewed in Vinegar, but in a way more constant; therefore I shall call it in this place Radical Hun••d, which also by repeated Distillations returns into empty Earth and simple Elementary Water, as Hippoc. Chymio. teaches Chap. 10. Thus the saying of Hermes and others is ful∣filled, That nothing in the World dies, &c.

The absurd Collegiates (as appears by one of their Society) do venditate and boast this Simple Elementary Water, to be a Cordial in desperate Diseases, as I have said above, Chap. 4. but with what advantage to Phy∣sick, let honest Men judge. Wherefore that Igneous and Oily Vertue is the matter of Humid and Calid in mixed Bodies, dispensed into these Inferiora, by Supe∣rior Natures, without which the Earth would again be vacuous and inane; but the Aqueous Humor is the immediate Keeper and Cabinet of that Igneous Spirit incarcerated in the Seed, which abides there so long, till by adventitious heat it be promoted to Generation in a fit Matrix. And as I have shewed in Alcaly with Acid, so also the Radical Humid in every mixt Body, is the Shop and Hearth of Vulcan, into which that im∣mortal Fire flows, and wherein it is kept; which is the first Mover of all the faculties of the Individuum: and because it is the Child, and as it were Vicar, of the Sun, I conclude with Raimund, and by the authority of Hippo∣crates de Carnibus, that it acts all things in every lesser world, which the Sun doth in the greater.

These things being premised,* 1.118 let us now see where the Seat of this Radical Moisture in Man is? which without intermission doth catch and absorb the Child of the Sun, or Proserpina. From the scituation and effectual Vertue of the Sun, we may inferr, that it supplies the place of an Heart to the Universe; for Life flows down into all parts from the Sun, in regard Light is the Vehicle of Life; yea it is the Fountain and next Cause, which in∣spires Life into Things, excepting only the Soul of Man, which is a Beam of super-coelestial uncreated Light.* 1.119 Now as the Sun in the Macrocosme supplies the place of an Heart, and inspires Life into Things; so also the Heart in the Microcosme must supply the place of the Sun; if these Things are True, as they are most True and Ve∣racious, which Hermes hath left us, In his Tabula, viz. That Superior Bodies are as inferior ones, and Vice Ver∣sa: Therefore the Vital Spirit, or Coelestial Calid at∣tracted by the Lungs, and as it were sifted through a Sieve, passed directly to the Heart, where Proserpina is

embraced and detained by the Radical Humid, and there acquires a Body as I above observed out of Hippocrates de Carnibus: and I have noted the same thing also con∣cerning Caustick Water with Mercury, and concerning Vinegar with Alcaly of Tartar: And as Phlegme, or E∣lementary Water, which is the Root of Aqua Fortis and Vinegar, is not coagulated with Mercury, neither with Alcaly, but exhales from heat, and returns into Ele∣mentary Water, as I have shewed; so also the Phlegme and Elementary Aqueous Vapor, which we inspire and suck in with the C••lestial Calid the Child of the Sun must needs again by Expiration return to Water, as every Plebeian knows and is forced to confess: But the Saline Nature of Aqua Fortis is fixed with Mercury, as the Sa∣line Nature of Vinegar into Alcaly with Corals; so also Proserpina, or the Child of the Sun, by Inspiration at∣tracted by the Lungs to the Radical Humid, which hath its Seat in the Heart, is detained there, and is wrought and fixed by the Radii and heat of the Heart (after its manner) into Alcaly, or Radical Moisture: which there∣upon by the same Heat and Pulse, or Protrusion is dif∣fused through the whole, and inspires Life, Actions, and Faculties into Things and Members (for Hippocrates hath said in his fore-cited Book de Carnibus; That It Ʋnder∣stands, Sees, Adorns, Hears, and Perceives all Things: See also the end of the fore-going Chapter.) And as It performs several Actions, so it hath obtained several Names; for in the Eyes it sees, in the Tongue it Tastes, in the Fingers it Touches, &c. And as I have shewed that Acid and Alcaly do constitute Ferments, so also Radical Humid and innate Calid, as well in a Grain of Corn, as in Mans Body, do perform Vital Actions, and therefore may not unfitly be called,* 1.120 The Vital Fer∣ment; for it flows and is diffused from thence into all the Members of the Body: And as that Vital Spirit or Child of the Sun, is multiplicative (that I may so speak) of it self in the Stomach or Ventricle of a Grain of Corn (which is the 8200 part of its Body, as the deep Sages of Natures Mysteries have observed) and from the su∣per-abounding stock of its Wealth, may wax sour, and

be made Ardent and inflameable Water: So also This in Mans Stomach doth regerminate, is multiplied, it sours after the manner of Ferment, and like Aqua Ardens doth illuminate the whole humane Body with vivid Heat and Colour; and because it hath the Operations of Fire,* 1.121 therefore it is called by Hippocrates, a soft Fare; having its Seat in the Stomach. For as the Sun, the heart of the World, doth uncessantly send this Spirit to the Aether, which contains all Things which the World hath in it self; lest the Frame of the World should fail: so also the Heart doth unintermittently send this Spirit to the Aether of the Microcosme (i. e.) to the Stomach, which contains in its Cavity or Venter all Things which the Microcosme hath; and therefore Natures Myxtae have gi∣ven it the Name of Multiventrous Spirit of Mercury. Now because It flows all the days of our Life, and vanishes by reason of the volatility and frailty proper to the Nature of Animals, especially growing ones, as Hippoc. Chymic. demonstrates, Chap 12. It is therefore necessary that It should be repaired by Congruous Food (for we are nourished by the same Things of which we consist) which doth acquire in the Stomach a beginning of volatileness from the fore-said Spirit of the Animal himself; a Species whereof that Spirit was from the beginning (so Meat in the Stomach conceives Ferment from within, as Raymond in his Theory.) Hence of necessity, Bread and Water in the Stomach of a Man, become Humane Aliment; and the same Bread and Water in the Stomach of a Dog, be∣come Canine Aliment, &c. because the Vital Acid of Animals, and the Acid Occult in Aliments, are by Digestion and Concoction turned into Radical Humid: All these have fetch'd and deduced their Original from the Child of the Sun: But the specifick Acid Vertue in the Aliments is overcome by the Vital Acid dwelling in the Stomach of Animals; as the Acid seated in a Pearl, is subdued and brought under by Vinegar; but Aliment doth not fall down from a sound Stomach, till it hath attained the end of Ferment (as I have shewed by many Examples in the 6 Chap. For Nature is alike is all Things) (Hippocrates, the Authority of the Ancients, and Experience, proving the same (hi(i. e.)) till it

hath attained the Foundation of Vitality and Volatility; for since the Radical Humid of all Animals is Vola∣tile, as it is also the very Shop of Vulcan; it is requi∣site, that whatsoever is laboured and wrought out there, should be also frail and volatile. Hence the Flesh of all Animals, Blood, Urine, Sweat, Stones, Sand, Gravel, Schirrhus's, Tophus's. &c. and whatsoever and Animal can generate, do not resist, but are destroyed from their former State and annihilated by Fire, or else are re∣duced into an insipid Calx, as Bones, or into a mor∣dicant Calx, as the shells of Eggs, of Oisters, and the like. &c. But that all These before spoken of, were Occultly Salt, before they were burnt, we may be con∣vinced, not only by the Reason aforesaid, and by the Authority of Hippocrates, but moreover also, by our School Mistriss, frequent Experience: For which, that I may not cloy you with Repetitions, see Hippoc. Chymic. from Chap. 12. to the 16. For whatsoever is distilled from an Animal, by the help of Fire, there goes forth from it a Liquor, pinguous Oil, and flying Alcaly, but the Acid, which bound up the Alcaly in this tyrannical Operation, returns with Proserpina to her Mother, which you may again fetch from thence by Art and subtile Hands, as I shall shew anon: But the Caput Mortuum, even from the hardest Bones, is left vacuous and empty, except Blood; which whilst it is by degrees reduced to a Coal by a gen∣tile Fire in a Retort; then out of it by Common Water is elicited a portion of Salt; but the greatest part is turned into Fugitive Alcaly, not very much stinking: a plain argument, that in the Blood there is a greater part of Occult Acid (binding in the Alcaly, that with a Light Fire it may not fly away) than in the Bones or other parts, Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 12.

But that it is Salt (viz. a Composition of Alcaly and Acid) the Solution of Sublimate Mercury doth prove;* 1.122 for being cast into It it doth not precipitate It as Al∣caly, as above Chap. 7. But the part, which is distil∣led from the Retort, is fugitive Alcaly,* 1.123 and precipi∣tates Mercury of a White Colour, and in to a small spongy Powder. Add fixed Alcaly to Ʋrine, a little coagulated

to the consistence of Hony, that the Alcaly may imbibe the Acid Salt which Man eats, Distill it through a Limbeck, and it will emit a flying Alcaly, having the stinking smell of the Urine from the Ferment of Putrefacti∣on.* 1.124 Urine doth not acquire this putrefactive Ferment in Artificial Putrefactions, as those Deans with their wild Colleagues do imagine, but in that very moment when the Serum passes through the Reins, as through a Syringe; but for want of a Name, I call it Ferment of Putrefaction, to distinguish it from other Ferments; for Alcaly of Sweat doth not stink, as that of Ʋrine doth: neither doth That of Bones nor Horns, but hath a fresh smell, which these vain-glorious Artists, hitherto were ignorant of, though my Hippoc. Chymic. hath taught them it; yet they never understood it: for That Book as it sets forth the difference of fixed Alcalyes and the constancy of Forms by the Precipitation of Sublimate Mercury dissol∣ved; so it distinguisheth the Permanency of the Forms of Volatile Alcalyes by the Ferments acquired in their Native Places; because the same Form walks pari passu to the Fire with them even unto the very Eliments, viz. The Form of the same thing, from which they were taken, as Geber and Experience do witness, as I have above clearly shewed. By this we see the reason, why Alcaly and Viperine Radical Humid, or the Alcaly of other Animals, passing through Actual Fire, as I have said, doth retain the Form of the Animal, whence it was taken, undestroyed; but as the Alcaly or Mother, or first Matter of Metals (which I have before demon∣strated) is variously agitated by the unskilful multitude in Acids and Causticks, and Calx's of Things, not agree∣able to its Nature, with which they oppress and destroy its internal Form, and the spark of Acid Metaline Light, so that it cannot be encreased or multiplied (as I have shewed in a Grain of Corn) so also I find the first Fae∣minine matter of Alcaly of Vipers to be miserably tossed and debased by unskilful Sciolists, sometimes with Calx, sometimes with most Acid Spirit of Salt (see Hippoc. Chy∣mic. Chap. 3. and 11.) Things contrary to its Nature; so that the spark of Light or Internal Form of the Viper,

which ought by a gentle Fermentation to be en∣creased and multiplied, by these Violators of Nature is almost wholly destroyed and annihilated, in like sort as the light of a Pearl remains oppressed and slain by Their Celebrated Spirit of Venus. And as a skilful Artist, taking Nature for his Guide, can multiply the form in Mother of Metals, so also the same Artist, by the same Guide, can multiply the Form in the Mother or Alcaly of Vipers. I have shewed, how wise Nature, by her working, doth perfect Radical Humid for the Family of Vegetables, on which Antiquity hath superstructed Artificial Humid with good success. I have also shewed out of Hippocrates de Carnibus, the method and way that Nature useth in the preparation of Radical Humid in the Animal Family; in imitation of which, I have made the Artificial, not de∣parting an hairs breadth from the Natural Operation.

Hence it will appear to all in general, and every indi∣vidual Man in particular, both present and to come, against the opinion of Calumniators, That This Invention of mine, may be truly and without fraud called Radical humid by Art, as well as Salt of Vipers;* 1.125 for it consists of the Alcaly of Vipers (which, as I have above evinced by Experience and the Authority of Geber, to act the Wo∣man, as in Minerals and Vegetables, so also in this Animal Classis it is wholly of a feminine nature, and hath in it an Occult Viperine form) and of the Child of the Sun; or coelestial Calid, not as yet corrupted; which since it can∣not be alone, is received into and detained in the Alcaly of Water, until it be fermented into Salt (i. e.) into the degree of the perfection of its Nature: Thus you have my mind. For an Example of this Salt, my Hippoc. Chymic. chap. 10. holds forth the way, whereby with Alcaly of Tartar, Vitriolate Tartar may be made out of a Crude Minera of Vitriol of Mars; and it shews also, That Nature is in all things alike, and truly it discovers a great thing. But these barren and unfruitful pretenders to Physick, by reason of the caecity of their minds, are not capable of the evident truth; yea They scarce know the things which are before their eyes; for in Acid Fountains they see not the Child of the Sun diluted by

providen Nature in Water, which never falls; and by flowing by an immature Vein of Iron, it licks and affects it with a sweet Acidity, and aftr it hath flowed down a little it waxes yellow, as Hippocrates Chymi••us shews, chap. 16. An evident argument that the Celestial Spi∣rith flaggs in its action, when seed fails, no otherwise then as Proserpina, having enjoyed her pleasure, returns to her Mother; yet notwithstanding it suffers not it self to be taken by polluted hands, but to intelligent per∣sons, it manifests it self even whilest dormant and asleep: Wherefore there are many wayes conducing to this end which are very craggy and obscure to Detractors: But what ingenious Man would not try the same with crude Natural Vitriol of Mars? Unless perhaps he be afraid of the frequent solution, long digestion, and judicious coa∣gulation.

Behold here, all ye Candid Assertors of Physical Light, how the first Faeminine matter of Alcaly of Vipers, by a Triumphant and Solemn Marriage with the Child of the Sun, is exalted into the Nature of Salt; whose Marriage is celebrated in the House of Nature, to use Cosmopolita's words; against which, for these twenty years (whilest I have made my abode in this Country) Dogs have barked, Ravens have croked, and unheard of cla∣mors have been made; which I despising, do yet live to triumph over and contemne my Adversaries; but if I had died, some would have accounted those things as Prodigies and Omens of my Death. Oh how much paper have these Grammatical Masters spent about this mat∣ter? what slanders, what infamatory Libels, how ma∣ny Calumnies and filthy Reproaches, have these uncivil Decl aimers against the Works of Nature, vomited forth into their own laps? As for my Self, I have chosen Truth for my faithful Defendress, which though it may be oppressed and exercised with great weight and bur∣den amongst Men, yet it is impossible that it should be wholy extinguished, in regard it is powerful, in∣expugnable, and triumphant above all things in the World, as my Preface to Hippoc. Chymicus proves out of the Holy Scripturs. Therefore I entertain with delight,

the contempts of Pheb••ians, for I can scarce find filth or dirt enough to stop the Mouths of such evil Speakers. I know, that 'tis the part of a fool to contend with un∣skilful persons about things which they understand not, or to think to get any credit, by teaching them; but on the contrary, a Wise Man will silently consider the times, places, and customs of the Ruling Men with whom he is conversant; and besides, he will confide in just actions, and then cheerfully expect an equal event; for hereby accrews great glory and emolument: Let Helwigdidrick be a late Example (I speak not reproach∣ingly, for we should say nothing but good of the dead or of the absent) what stone did not he turn hereto∣fore, together with his Associates, against the Experi∣mental Truth? which was a stranger and unknown to Them all? what did they not infuse into the Vulgar a∣ganst my conversation? (as if that were at all to the purpose) but I derided all the actions of these dancing Camels (to speak proverbially) as knowing, that 'tis the common refuge of vain and wild heads, when they want reasons to oppugne the Truth, to catch at any opportu∣nity to blemish ones manners, as my Answer published in the year 1656 under the Title of Eccho may witness. These furious Deans,* 1.126 with their foul-mouthed Col∣leagues, and their antecedent herd, do commit the same e∣vil at this day; but the best is, they are All Judges conta∣minated with filthy ignorance, and are unjust witnesses, yea falsaries in the Law; as I have hitherto clearly pro∣ved. All whose Writings, as well past as present, though by foolish diligence compacted into a great Volume, yet they are not sufficient to bear down Tachenius, who is supported by the Truth. But these Idlers do but waste their golden and irreparable time in these employments, in thus exercising their lying Genius's, and in fruitless blotting of Paper; Their labour both formerly and here∣after shall be in vain, for if a generous Horse regards not the Barkings of following Curs, I shall as little esteem my present or future Opposers, either single or altogether; you know my meaning, for I live and con∣side in just actions; but enough of This: To return, In

Vitriol there is an Acid most grateful to, pleasant, and desired by humane nature, as Paracelsus and Experience say: This Acid, because it cannot be alone, associates it self with the immature Metal, and with It grows into a Saline Body; free or separate It, and it will be worth your labour; for there lurks in It an Arcanum for the Epilepsy, of which the ingenious Crollius speaks: Paracilsus attributes many Vertues to the volatileness of Spi∣rit of Vitriol,* 1.127 in curing the Ep lepsy; but I could never see any of Them: neither did ever any man affirm to me, that he could cure a confirmed Ep••lepsy, only by Vulgar and simply prepared Spirit of Vitriol. Thus far He. Therefore, for the reasons hinted before, it cannot be elicited by Distil∣lation, as all Candid Operators witness; for this cause, the Searchers into the Secrets of Nature have tried ano∣ther way, which I should willingly have declared in this place, but that I have experience, That 'tis a foolish thing to expose ones self to Ignorants and to the Vulgar, for what they praise is blame-worthy, what they think is vain, what they speak is false, what they disapprove is good, what they allow evil, and what they extol infamous; as I have hitherto proved by clear Examples. Neither doth an Arcanum lie hid in the said Volatility only for the Epi∣lepsie, but also for the Suffocation of the Matrix, for the Palpitation of the Heart, and for the Corroborati∣on of the Spirits, Brain, Heart, and of the whole Indi∣viduum; since it is the Child of the Sun, and the Twin∣brother of our Vital Spirit. But of This I have said e∣nough. I return now to the Vacuous Alcaly of Vipers, which is ill treated by the company of Vulgar pretended Chymists.

As we do not give a Scorpion, or a Piece of Wood, to those that are hungry, and ask for Bread; neither do we give Oil mixed with Gaul to such as are thirsty; but we exhibite to them similary and consentaneous Ali∣ments, of the same family of which the hungry person consists, as Hippocrates teaches: So also the Alcaly of Vipers, being vacuous, hungry, and thirsty, must be sa∣tisfied with That of which it consists, not with Calx or Spirit of Salt, as unskilful Writers give out; for I have

shewed in the 3. Chapter of this Tract, That Nature doth so, and she is every where alike. And if the Alum∣nus and Scholar of Truth in his Operations shall imi∣tate Her, he can never go out of the way, as by and by will appear by a clearer Example: But here I would have all Readers to take Notice, that as all Remedies, proceeding from Animals are weaker for Mans use, than Those that come from Minerals; so we are here to un∣derstand, that Alcaly of Vipers possesses a specifick Form, and is impregnated with Natural Acid supervening, and under a convenient heat of Digestion, it is ripened into one excellent Body: The same Alcaly indeed may arise more efficacious, by reason of its Masculine adjunct, yet it cannot ascend beyond the boundary before alledged out of Raymund; so that the Remedies taken from the Mineral Family, are found to be much more perfect in the Epilepsie, Asthma, Stone, and most Coagulated Dis∣eases (Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 14.) in as much as their Radical Humid is found by Experience to be more con∣stant.

Now Those in general are called Coagulated Diseases,* 1.128 who from Immature Acid, flow from the Stomach to the other Shops of Digestion, and are Coagulated there, or if in these very Shops, through the degenerating of the Occasional Cause, the Acid become more power∣ful, then it suppresses the Innate, and presently the Pores are contracted, and it undergoes Coagulation with the Alcaly of the place, according to the property of the Member; as I have above shewed out of Hippo∣crates. And as in the Macrocosme there dwels an Occult Food of Life in the Air, which because it contains all things which the World hath, is therefore called a Multi∣ventrous Spirit; we must also understand the same in the Microcosme: So that in the Air of Mans Stomach, there inhabits a Multiventrous Spirit, which contains in it what∣soever a Man can do, or hath; as I have shewed out of Hippocrates in his Book de Carnibus. If therefore any of This Spirit, dwelling in the Stomach, shall suck in a more Acid Air of a strange and forraign taste or smell, not agreeing to its own Nature, which it cannot through∣ly

change into Mature or Salt, and it falls into another Shop of Digestion, where Concoction, and Alteration pro∣ceed more sweetly than in the Stomach, then presently the more powerful suppresses the weaker, and they are both Coagulated into a forrain Indoles; whence the in∣dwelling Spirit rages, and as it were disdains, the Member waxes hot, and doth not Concoct its proper Aliment, from whence a Disease is manifestly produced; after the same manner, as when Vinegar suppresses the indwelling Rector of a Pearl, and doth so weaken It, that it loses the form and shape of Pearl; as I have elsewhere clearly shewn.

Wherefore the vivid and manifest Acid, if by mistake it fall from the Stomach, and pass to the Oeconomy of the Bowels, immediately, as forrain and more powerful, it subdues the feeble Operator of the place, and takes the Province to it self; causing either Collick pains, or ma∣king the Belly either loose or costive, or working such like disorders in the Intestines; which I think better, to a∣void Prolixity, to omit in this place, for they require a distinct Tract by themselves. I have only endeavoured to deduce necessary Arguments in this matter, from thence to discover the folly of Those, who have learned to do nothing else but to defame and revile the Truth, which is unknown to them.* 1.129 Now this vivid and manifest Acid (of which I now speak) must not be understood to be a certain Fluid Liquor, which as the vulgar speaks, descends as a swist Torrent, but it is also a vital thing, called by Hippocrates, Aura Levis; by Virgil, Igneus Vigor; by Ho∣ratius, Divina Aura; of it self wanting a Body, but not enduring to be alone (as Hippocrates says, de Diaeta) it incor∣porates it self with Meats and Drinks, and informs Them into the Vital Aliment of the Body, which takes in that Food. Hence again, Hippocrates in his first Book de Diaeta, The Soul of Man is excreased in Man, and in no other, and the like of other great Animals.* 1.130 Now this Aura by Irradi∣ation alone persects its work, but a forrain Aura mixed with it, as Water with Water, Fire with Fire, is alone sufficient to be the cause of Diseases, as our Master teaches de veteram Medicina, because it can easily alter the in∣bred

Operator (for every Male hath its Ventricle) which being altred, presently the Digestion of the place is disturb∣ed,* 1.131 and the very Aliment, otherwise Vivid, is p••••verted into a Mucous Ind••les, according tothe property of thē diseased and affected Member; just as the Occult Sulphurous Odor of Orpiment doth die and denigrate Sal Saturni, though far distant from it, after this manner, Write with Sac∣charum Saturni dissolved in Water, that Writing will not be seen upon the Paper; place that written paper in the Frontispiece of any Book, then have ready an Humid Sul∣phurous Odor, which is made of unslaked Lime and Orpi∣ment, both first severally pounded, and afterwards mixed together; pour Water on this Powder, and make a Lixi∣vium, with which you moisten another Paper, and place it at the end of the same Book; shut the Book, and the next morning you shall find the Writing to appear obscure∣ly black, because the Sulphureous Odor of the Orpiment, being excited by the Alcaly of the Lime, hath pierced through the whole body of the Book unto its own sub∣ject.* 1.132 In like sort (says Hippocrates, de Diaeta; The nature of Man doth operate, with which all Arts and all Artifices do communicate. For if the Operator and Causes of that glewish matter called Synovia in the joynt of the Foot (for Example) were so disposed to receive the vitiated Aura of the Stomach, as Sal Saturni is to entertain the Aura inquinated by the Odor of the Sulphur of Orpiment, then indeed the Aura of the Stomach, being tinged with a forrain Odor, would also inquinate the Synovia in the joynt of the Toe; and this is done only by Odor, that I may so speak, from whence ariseth pain in the joynt of the Foot, which from the place is called Podagra, or the Foot-gout; and immediately the Aliment, otherwise vi∣vid, is perverted into a Mucous Indoles, &c. as I said but now.

This kind, after the manner of the Ancients, Hippocra∣tes in general called Divine, and hath enjoyned every one to take notice of and observe, That if there be any Divine Thing in Diseases, we should have special re∣gard to that, if ever we would be good and admirable Physicians.

Now that Divinum of Hippocrates is the Occult,* 1.133 Ar∣duous, Obscure, Hidden, Cryptical and Admirable Fer∣ment in all the Ventricles, both of the great and lesser World; which cannot be seen with the eyes, neither can it be perceived by any outward sense, but only 'tis known by its effect, and that not without much labour, and no little expence of time; but I have shewed it to be the Child of the Sun, Chap. 2. For whatsoever doth escape the sight of the bodily eye, the eye of the Understanding doth, and can reach it; as in His book of Preccpts.* 1.134

This arduous and obscure Ferment hath so crazed the Brains of the Deans, and their Collegiats, though they think they were solid, strong, and well grounded in Art, That they do altogether dislike that Divinum. as a certain piacular thing, (which my Hippoc. Chymic. ce∣lebrates both in Diseases and Remedies) and they are also ignorant how to distinguish new things from old, latter from former; which the fourth in order of the Vienna Professors, a scurrilous and dicacious prater, doth con∣fess, viz. that he is amazed to find that it should be trea∣ted of by learned men, as being manifestly false and foo∣lish; but he Dreams waking, as the Proverb is.

But our Galen (even when he was old, deriding such mens madness) together with many other fa∣mous Men, had It in great esteem, and (with Hippo∣crates) consesses in his 2. Book of the Differences of Feavors, Chap. 27. That It is placed in a certain secret affection, and that it doth inhere in the very parts, saying of intermittent Feavors, It ceases not to bring abcut the Circuitus of their Fits, as long as the Disposition, in the generating part, is preserved: whence it appears, that in that place he fetches the Cures of Feavors a little higher than he doth in his Books of Method and in his First Book of Art to Glaxcoe; affirming, That the correction of this Disposition, is the principle scope of the Cure; and in the same book, Where heat overcomes the matter, it is called increment. He means nothing else, but what my Hippoc. Chym. hath more clearly explained (for the sake of the studious, viz. Ferment, either occult, or manifest, which speaking to Plebeiasn, he calls heat, and Alcaly mat∣ter;

for if heat do overcome, it must needs have domini∣on over the Matter or Alcaly, as I have abundantly proved by all examples both in the great and lesser world; and then (sayes Galen) Heat is encreased not only in Feavors, but also in all other Diseases and Matters, as I have before shewed in Barly, a seed of the Macrocosme; and now shall likewise shew even ad oculum in Paronychia (i. e.) (and imposthumation under the root of the Nails) a seed of the Microcosm. Now Paronychia, the Mistress or Queen of almost all Diseases, is an Igneous Tumour; so called from the most Acute pain accompanying it; the like whereof is hardly to be found amongst Men; it arises in the root of the Nails (i. e.) in their Ventricle, when the Occult Ferment is by mistake There made manifest and soured; in that very moment the vivid Aliment is perverted, the neighbouring parts are disturbed, and sometimes the Bones themselves are eroded.

But this Disposition is corrected by a more powerful A∣cid descending from a perfecter Family, which can subdue the inflamed Ferment of the Microcosme: For before the Tumour be opened, it must be anointed over, and the whole Nail too, with Acid of Sulphur, as it is gathered Ex Campana, which by reason of its thickness they call Oil, when this Unction causeth pricking and itching a little in the part affected, in that very moment you may observe the corruptive Disposition to be corrected, because the more powerful Anima gets dominion over the weaker, no otherwise than as counterfeit Spirit of Venus subjugates the Occult Acid in a Pearl. Do but wash your Finger with this warm Water, and it is enough. I would have disco∣vered many more of these things, for the benefit of my Neighbours, as also a pleasant, safe and delightsome Re∣medy for the Lues Venerca it self, unless I had been every where prevented by the deep Wisdom of the Vienna Pro∣fessors.

I know Learned Men, not a few, have by long use and experience taken notice of things, that do eradicate certain Dispositions; but by reason of the multitude of Ig∣norants in this woful age, which, with one mouth would raile against them (I am almost ashamed to speak it) they

are afraid to publish Them, because they exceed the un∣derstanding of Gregarious and Talkative Medicks.

So the Vulgar Country People by proper Antidotes (i. e.) such as specifically destroy some Dispositions, or do restrain, absorb, or overcome the Acid and Ferment of the place) do sometimes Cure not only Feavors, but many other Diseases, without Purgation premised; whereby Old Women do sometimes disgrace, even the most able Physicians, and do counterfeit their Art; so Hippocrates teaches in his Book de Affectionibus, If Pa∣tients seem to have no need of Pharmaca, give them Medica∣ments in Drink, by which the Feavor may be either changed or may abate.

My Hippocrates Chymicus, with Galen and Hippocrates, give many Examples of this Correction (as the former calls it) of Transmutation (as the latter) of Dispositions; which being Cryptical, Abstruse, and Magnetical Works of Nature, and besides are the Foundations of the Physick of our Predecessors, The Deans and their Colleagues have indeed read them, as appears, but being above their reach, and above Priscians Grammar Rules, they could not understand Them, as appears by their reproachful can∣ting; for therefore they asperse them, as not having learned to consider obscure things from manifest, as Hippocrates plea∣santly derides them, L. 1. de Diaeta. But if this Spiritual Operation be to be derided,* 1.135 then surely, whole Nature, and the profound Science of True Physick will be also counted ridiculous. For whatsoever Nature works in the greater or lesser world, she always begins and ends it in a Spiritual manner; for the Creator hath given her no other Instruments to work withal: Out of a small Seed of Hemp or Flax, there ariseth a Plant, which having first undergone many vexatious Alterations, at length is made a Sail, by the help whereof, and by the blowing of the Winds, Men are carried up and down the World. This Action, from the beginning to the end, proceeds Spiritually, like Cryptography, as Hippocrates Chymicus shews in the fore-cited place. And also Mans Nature it self, of Bread only and simple Water, doth not only frame for it self the Body, which we touch, but also

the Optick Spirit of incomprehensible Tenuity.* 1.136 None but the Norimberg and Austrian Collegiates and their fellows, would ever have called this Operation of Nature inept, Circum-foraneous, and Mountebank-like. So in the very Science of Physick, neither Rhubarb, Senna, nor Agarick, &c. (their innate Spirit being taken away) can any longer disturb Mans Body; neither, in their full strength, if they could be given to a Carkass of a Man (the Spirit being gone) would they purge It. So that whatsoever is in Medicine, besides the Clamours of the Deans and their Colleagues, like Cryptography, it pro∣ceeds Spiritually; for we must needs confess, that all things do consist of insensible Principles, as Lucretius says, Lib. 2. Moreover one weight or parcel or Galls, and a fourth part of that weight of Vitriol (though neither of them black) yet being joyned together with an Aqueos Liquor,* 1.137 by reason of the innate Spirit, do wax black, because the Alcaly of the Galls doth suck up the Aoid Spirit of the V••triol, and the immature Iron is diluted into Ink, which is in use amongst Kings, Learned nad Unlearned, yea Plebeians themselves: Yet all these, when they han∣dle this Cryptick and hidden Colour, brought thus to light, are accused by these lofty Deans and their Owl∣light Companions, as Circumforaneous and Juglers.

Truly they use their Tongues ill, but their Ink worse. But to make an end, I conclude with Lucretius, That both Learned and Unlearned must needs confess, That whatsoever the World hath, is produced of Cryptical and hid∣den things; Only these talkative Praters, to evidence to the whole World that they are vain and empty Bodies, without Spirit, do laugh at these Works of Nature, to∣gether with their Instruments. They are a company of light, ungrateful, and ludicrous Birds, which I leave to be fed upon by such hungry Stomachs as de∣sire them; and so I return whence I digressed. The Aura of the Stomach, being endued with a forrain o∣dor, can creep to the joynts of the Foot (as the Aura of Common Sulphur can reach Sal Saturni, though far di∣stant from it, as I have experimentally shewed) and there it can so trouble the inhabiting Spirit, that the

Aliment of the place waxes sour, and pain arises, which from the place is called Podagrick. But of what Species this Acidity is, so tinged by the strange or forrain Aura, Mans understanding cannot comprehend: Whence Hip∣pocrates in Fraeceptionum libello, By reason diverse attri∣butes, sometimes Diseases stay a longer while. So that for the particulur Cure, That which is contary to these pains lies hid in the specifick Alcaly, which thirsts after such an Acid; as I have shewed concerning Iron for the Spleen, and concerning Ostio Colla, &. (see Hippocrates Chymic. Chap 28.) But for an external Remedy I have some∣times seen the most vehement pain to have been mitiga∣ted by warm Water of Frogs Spawn,* 1.138 which is rich of Volatile Alcaly, as Hippoc. Chymic. hath it, Chap. 19. Tonzelius also, in his Exegesis hath the same, only adding Allum. This Aura, if it creeps to the Reins, and there suppresses the presiding Spirit, whatsoever it lays hold on,* 1.139 it coagulates with the Alcaly of Urine, into the shape of a Stone: the same also happens in the Bladder, in the Liver, in the Vena Porta, in the Lungs, in the Vesicle of the Gaul, and in all the Shops of Digestion, in which there is found a fluid Nature. For the way, see Hippoc. Chimic. Chap. 14. Stones are preternaturally generated after the same manner, not only in Men, but also in certain Animals, and their parts; and the same Acid which had coagulated them (the order being chang∣ed) doth again dissolve them, as Dame Nature shews in Stones of Crabs; which yet are not Morbous to the Crabs, but arise from their very first Constitutions. I also keep by me Stones taken out of the Kidneys of Cappons, and out of the Gauls of Oxen. There are some, which can shew some taken from Their Bladders and Reins.

So also there is preternaturally bred a stone found in the Gaul of an Histrix or Hedghog,* 1.140 which such Fablers, who are ignorant of the nature and causes of things, do mightily commend; especially Those, who would be accounted by Old Wives and the ignorant Vulgar Canonical Physicians: Whereas the Learned know, That Hypocrati∣cal Medicine is but One, which needs be distinguished but into Internal and External; whereas these Men, out of

their ignorance have parted it into diverse Sects, as my Hippoc. Chymic. hath it in the Preface. I return to the stone growing in the Hedghogs Gaul, to which they ascribe many imaginary Vertues; And out of meer simplicity which is not to be endured in Physick) do affirm, that it is of singular Vertue above the stones of all other Animals; grounding their opinion, on this weak argument, because it is bitter to the taste, not considering that it contracted the bitter tast from the Gaul, part of which hath undergone coagulation with Acid and Alcaly, after the same manner, as the stone of the Kidneys, is many times red from the Blood, and That of the Bladder is white, by reason of the Mucilage mixed with it, which the Bladder doth exsude. For whatsoever the coagulating Acid and Alcaly, do lay hold of in hasty coagulation, being thrust forth from the Vital Regiment, and doth not much receede from the na∣ture of them both, they take It into their society; just as Lime moistened with Water, again becomes a stony or pe∣trous coagulum with things mixed with it, as daily experi∣ence shews. Hence it is, That Hippocrates de Diaeta laments, That Men are ignorant how to know, or collect obscure things from manifest. But why, I pray,* 1.141 is not the stone found in the Gaul of an Oxe, of the same Vertue with that in an Histrix or Hedghog? since in other cases, nothing comes from an Oxe, which is not good for Mans use? The rea∣on is plain, because it is more common. The Deans and their Colleagues do commend the Hedghogs stone, by this just, as wise, as powerful, reason; If it were not of great vertue, Noble Men would not buy it at so great a rate. Fie upon it! do your mighty Masterships so expose your selves to the laughter of the Vulgar? What, are Great and Noble Men the proper Arbitrators and Judges of Phy∣sick in our days? And if they were, yet it is no new thing to approve Distilled Vinegar for the Son of Venus, and Elementary Water for Cordial, and out of meer Ignorance to commend and dedicate It to them for a great Treasure in Physick, and to swear that they are good for our Neighbours Health; whereas they do but appear so, but are really for his destruction. But the multitude of Followers procures no patronage to lies,

though unhappy Mortals are apt to obey and follow gowned sloth and ignorance.

But how came Great Persons to know that the Vertues of this Stone were so excellent, seeing they cannot be learned, but by the knowledge of their Causes, and by manifold Experiences; witness Hippocrates de Lege. But Noble Men, or very few of them, study either, and therefore they must needs by a kind of adoption suck in this their knowledge from such vain Fablers, to whom they subscribe, and who make great but empty vaunts of their Skill in Physick; for they know not how to distin∣guish Vinegar from Salt, as I have proved, as clear as the Sun.

Away therefore with these trifles, which redound so much to the detriment of the Noble Art of Physick, and the misery and damage of ones Neighbour. Such Me∣dicasters are so full of vanities (witness the reformed and vulgarly applauded Auspurgh Dispensatory) that the Name of a Physician is now become the reproach of the Pople, and the jeer of Comoedians; and unless this sordid unskil∣fulness and miserable ignorance be laid aside, I am a∣fraid the day is at hand, that Physicians must turn Country Plow-men. To which doughty principle and design the supplanting of the Ancient Physick of Hippo∣crates, and the defaming of the memorable Doctrine of our Predecessors (God so permitting) will not a little contribute. But to return, at length they pour Water on the Stone, leaving it there so long till it grow bitter; which is done in a short space of time, especi∣ally ••f the Stone be new and fresh; for if it hath been washed oftentimes before, then it must be steeped a longer time in the Water. This Ablution they after∣wards prescribe to the Sick,* 1.142 whose taste is bitter and its vertue heating.

Here Zacutus jestingly and smilingly says, In intense Feavers it is not good to be given, for it mightily heats, in∣slames, and provokes thirst, although it be mixed with cold Cordials, and at last it provikes Sweat (after great trouble straits, and with much ado) and removes obstructions by rea'¦son of its bitterness. The meaning is, that Later angui∣in

herba, for highly to heat, to inflame, and to pro∣voke thirst, are accidents proper in Malignant (so cal∣led) Feavors which properties if they proceed from the Ablution of the Stone, being drunk, as Zacutus testifies, then certainly it is far from taking them away, as our Mr. Deans and their Collegiates do promise.

But let us hear Dioscorides, who ascribes the same Ver∣tues to the Gaul of Animals, which our great Doctors do to the Ablution of their Stone. The Gaul, says he, is bitter, sharp and heating; and therefore the Ablution of the Stone is bitter from the Gaul, because it hath the same Vertues with the Gaul, if we believe Dios∣corides. But we will prescribe this Ablution to great Men, in Maligne and Perillous Diseases, say our Mr. Deans and their Fellows. Why I pray? because it costs dear, ergo, &c. Oh sottish Society! The shame and detriment of Great Men, That it is bitter from the Gaul, the hasty ablution shews, as I said before; and there∣fore if this Stone be Aperitive simply for its bitterness, it must of necessity be granted, That one drop taken from the Gaul of the meanest Fish, is of more avail for opening of Obstructions, than ten Ablutions of this Stone, because the Gauls of all are sharp and hea••ing, witness Dioscorides: see also Hippoc. Chymic. Chap. 14.

But 'tis a mad thing to imagine, that this Stone is bred thus in the Gaul, and that it contracted not its bitter taste therefrom. Sope is boiled and made out of Alcaly and Oil, and becomes a Body of a Salt taste and white, because no forrain thing enters into it: To which, if you add, in boiling, Juice of Beet, it acquires a Green Colour; and if Gaul were likewise added to that Juice, the Sope must needs be bitter.

So the Stones of the Kidneys are of a Red Colour, by reason of the Blood which transudes or soaks thither by little and little out of the Veins, by reason of the Mor∣bous Acid, and entering into the Coagulum tinges and dies the Stones. The Stone of the Bladder is White, by reason of the Slime found in the Bladder; and shall not the Stone bred in the Gaul of an Hedghog or Histrix, acquire a bitter taste from the Gaul? And shall it not also

draw from it, its heating faculties? Why I pray? doth it draw the Cause of the Disease or no? Let us see there∣fore how this happens.

'Tis clear that the Loadstone draws Iron to it,* 1.143 only by Odor, as the distance, through which it draws it, proves; The Radical Humid, or Natural Acid of the I∣ron, being very frall, exhales of its own accord, as Hippoc. Chymic. shews Chap. 19. out of Hippocrates. For unless the Acid of Iron were of this sort, it could not be killed by the Stomach of Animals; and by conse∣quence the filings of it, taken by the mouth would do no good. The Loadstone is the Mother of Iron, which perceives the smell of her Son; because she loves him; but not being sufficiently satisfied with the smell of It, for that cause it attracts and allures Iron to it; as I have shewed concerning Aloalyes and the Mother of things.

But Rubigoe,* 1.144 or Crocus Martis, though that be also the Son of the Magnete, yet it is neglected by it, because its Soul or Acid, is departed from it; and therefore his Mother doth not perceive his smell and odor: Hence it is called by Horatius, Sterilis Rubigo. And by how much the younger and newer the Load-stone is, by so much the more strongly and vigorously it draws; but the A∣blution of it doth not do so: Now as the Ablution of the Magnete doth not attract Iron, so neither doth the Ablution of the Histrixe's Stone draw the Cause of the Dis∣ease? no not although it were the Mother of a certain Morbifick Cause, hitherto un-named.

Whatsoever, attracts any thing from afar off, as the Magnete doth Iron, it attracts it for loves sake, and it always attracts its like; and as Vegetable Alcaly draws Alcaly of Lime for making Sope (for this is a true at∣traction and of a thing like it self) so we have seen that Gold is attracted (yea plainly is dissolved and dies, I say dies, because the Cadaver stunk) by the Mother Alcaly, and this is the Magnete of Albertus Magnus drawing Gold to it (which words a certain foolish Doctor taking in a literal sense, turned into a jeer) for so saith Bernar∣dus in the fourth part of his Book, The Fountain is to it as the Mother; she draws the King and not the King

her: This was Paracelsus's meaning, when he said, that the Magnete (extinguished in Oil of Mars, that is,* 1.145 Gold dissolved in the strongest Metaline Alcaly, its like, then to acquire a ten times greater Vertue) is encreased ten times in his force. For unless there were a consent of things, and a mutual natural Love amongst them, Nature could not subsist; or if it should be interrupted a while; the frame of Nature in a short space of time would be wholly ruined; for the Son onely would be left in a small quantity, neither would he encrease, or be multiplied; so that there is no discord or disagreement in Nature, as some have taught, but whatsoever is done is done in love; for Nature of her own Genius, doth chiefly cover and desire to be in the bottom of the Ele∣mentated Body, in which she operates, by strengthening its Natural heat and Prolifick Vertues, because it is pervious to all Bodies, as Great Raymund witnesses; which Doctrine and Attraction of Natural Love, I shall de∣monstrate by the following Experiment in a Mettaline Example (since our present discourse is of Metals) that it may appear, Nature to be alike in every thing.

Take an Ounce of Silver dissolved by Aqua Fortis; coagulate this Solution into a Saline Powder, and cast this Powder upon Lead melted in the Fire, but not very hot nor quite cold, and in the eighth part of an hour, The Acid Salt of the Aqua Fortis deserts the Silver and corrodes the whole quantity of the Lead, as much as it had lost of the Silver (i. e.) an Ounce, because it performes the Office of Metaline Alcaly in Artificials; it draws and is saturated with the Silver, which by a probatory Cupple returns again to Light Many Learned Men have admired this Experiment, for they have drawn out an Ounce of Silver from the Lead, and have found the Powder of the same form and weight, as they cast it on; whence they doubted in their opinion, whether it were the same Powder of Silver, which they cast on; from which they could gain much, if the way how the Powder might be refunded into the Body could be found out. But as the Loadstone draws Iron, so also Saturn (the Alcaly in Artificials) draws Luna; and when the thirsty Salt of the Aqua Fortis, wanting

Aqueous Humidity, cannot be alone, it attracts so much Lead, as it had lost of Silver. These and the like Operations and Attractions, which I have explained by illustrious Examples, both in my Hippoc. Chymic. and in this Book, have been perhaps erst exploded, because the Metampsychosis of the Pythagoreans hath not been understood.* 1.146

On this foundation, the Stone also of the hairy Ser∣pent, newly found out, is attractive; Kircher describes it, in his Book intitled, The Magnetick Kingdom of Nature, I have plenty of this Stone by me, and to apply it to the bitings of mad Dogs, to which it sticks strongly for a∣bout eighteen hours; and I applied it to another Girl, hurt by a mad Dog, for seven days and nights, and yet the Ablution of this Stone had not done the feat, whatsoever these upstart Doctors do babble. And as the Magnete of all the Things and Metals in the World draws nothing but Iron, and is delighted with its Spirit, (neg∣lecting the Rubigo) and the Stone of the hairy Serpent, rejoyces to attract the Odor of the Poison, infused by the venomous bitings, but it doth not attract Arsnick, Wolfs-bane, nor any other Poison; so also Jasper draws an Exotick Spirit, which makes an Impetus in Mans Bloud. I have known sometimes Eyes troubled with a Suffusion of Blood,* 1.147 to have been cured the next morn∣ing, upon a Jasper Stone being bound to the neck at night. But as the Ablution of the Magnete doth not draw Iron, nor the Ablution of the Serpents-stone, Poison, nor That of Jasper, the Spirit making the assault, from the Blood; so neither doth the Ablution of the Hedghogs or Histrixes-stone draw out any Malignity from Humane Bodies; so teaches Galen in his First Book of Natural Faculties, Chap. 14. Whatsoever things says he, do draw forth the Poison of Serpents, or Weapons; These do shew forth the same Vertue, that the Load-stone hath, but the Ablution of the Magnete shews no such Faculty, and why then should the Ablution of the Porcupine or Hedghogs-stone? so that these are meer Dreams and Old Wives Fables, impo∣sed upon Great Men. It were better for such dreamers, and for the Art of Physick too, if they did philosophize with

the Spade, as Lucian jeeringly speaks of one who was about to dig the ground.

I have said, That the Magnetick perceives Iron at a distance from it, and attracts it by its odor only, pro∣vided it be taken out of its Native Oil, for otherwise where it grows, it attracts nothing, because there, in its Native Place, there is no want of the Odor of Iron.

The Island Elbe is fruitful of Lead-stones, yet it was never seen nor heard off, that it did incommode Ships passing by, nor injure the Needle of the Compass, be-because the Mother Magnete is there saturated with Spi∣rit of Iron; so also the Stone of the hairy Serpent, being saturated with the Odor of the Poison which it drew from the biting of the Mad Dog,* 1.148 receives not beyond its measure, it neglects the rest, and spontaneously falls from the Wound; so that this Stone, according to Ga∣lens sense, hath an Attractive Faculty with the Magnete, but no such Faculty is found in the Hogs-stone, and therefore, sayes Galen, it hath no Magnetick Vertue: so that it is clear, that whatsoever is devised against the dangerous Diseases of Great Men from the Abluti∣on of this Stone, hath no existence, but in the Brains of the Inventors, but sinks down into a meer Nulli∣ty, and a dark Chymera of ignorance.

But when it is given in Powder, then without doubt, like other Stones, it would attract any Acid agreeable to its Nature; as Crabs Eyes draws forth that other Acid which putrefies the Wound: A Sponge-stone, the Acid which Coagulates the Struma: The Stones of Perch∣ce, the Acid of Urine in the Strangury; Bezoar-stones, the Lypothymick Acid, ar••••ng about the heart; The Stone Ostio Colla, That Acid which hinders the Conglutina∣tion of the Bone, &c. All these aforesaid do imbibe the Specifick Morbous Acid.

So also the Hedghog or Histrixes S••ones, taken by the Mouth, would imbibe its Specifick Acid, which was yet never described or taken notice of by any of these Approvers.

But what that Specifick Acid is, which I have spoken

of,* 1.149 and which is the Cause of Diseases, it cannot be explained in words, as my Doctor says, De Veteri Me∣dicinae; who after he had demonstrated that the Cause of Diseases was Acid, yea and most Acid; he goes on in these words, There is none of them can be seen or known by our Bodily Eyes, and therefore they are called by Me Obscure; not that they alwayes remain so, and exceed our understandings, but because they are not found out, but with much labour and in a long time; for those things which are above and beyond the sight of our Bodily Eyes, The same may be reached and fetched in by the Mental Eyes (viz. of us Chymists.)

Hitherto Hippocrates, his meaning is, that we must gradually ascend from known things to unknown, as my Hippocrates Chymicus shews, which doth proceed as it were by steps, from Artificials to the Fabrick of Hu∣mane Nature; for as I have shewed, that the Acid of Iron, though it be scarce perceived by the sense, and is found no where but in Iron, being of a singular kind, yet the Loadstone perceives It and attracts it even at a long di∣stance; so also there are many, yea infinite Acids in Mans Body, some of which are made by the degenera∣tion of the Morbous Cause, which are not perceived, nor attracted, by other then their own proper Magnetes; as the Morbous Acid in the Spleen is attracted by no other thing but the Rubigo of Iron; the Morbous Acid gene∣rating The Struma, is perceived and drawn forth by no other (that I know of) but a Sponge-stone. They may be called Magnetes, because they scent and attract the fore-said Spirits, as the Magnete doth Iron; and unless the aforesaid Acid Spirits were in readiness, and were smelt or scented by their Magnetes, they would not be attracted nor absorbed by Them: So Gold is inodorous to our senses, yet it is smelt even afar off, by its own Mag∣nete or Mother, for she draws the King, says Bernhard, and not the King her Upon which occasion of Occult Odors, a convenient opportunity is offered to me to speak of the manifest Odors of things,* 1.150 for, as I have shewed, that the former come from Acid; so I shall also experientally shew, that these latter also proceed from Acid or Ce∣lestial

Calid: Odors are quiet and at rest till they be rouzed up or stirred; and they are stirred, as soon as a proper and consontaneous Humid acts upon the Odorous thing; for then its Odor is presently spread far and near, more or less stinking or sweet, according to the Se∣minal Vertue of the innate Calid: which Paradox, be∣fore I proceed, I shall make plain, by clear Examples, taken out of the Shop of Nature.

Lime is inodorous of its self, but when it is dissolved in simple Water, for the building of Walls, the Acid acts upon the Alcaly, and on the contrary. This Action and Commotion diffuses and scatters a smell not agreea∣ble to Mans Nature; and therefore before a Man can dwell safely in an House, newly built, a yeare time had need pass over, in which time the Action of the Humid upon the Acid will be at an end.

Barley also of it self is almost of no smell, but when its Meal is boiled and fermented for Beer; that is when the constituting parts do begin to act one upon another, then they afford an inebriating smell; which though it be not noisome, yet it so disturbs the Spirits, that it preju∣dices the Memory. A Grape hath little smell, but the Juice expressed under the Action of Fermentation, yields a smell afar off; so doth Bread under the Action of Fer∣mentation (i. e.) when the Humid acts upon the Galid, or the Acid on the Alcaly.

Acid Fountains themselves, yet bubbling forth in their Native Soil, do expire a most grateful Odor, because the Agent it self is a Celestial Acid, friendly to Mans Na∣ture.

So Vinegar, when it corrodes any thing, as Coral, for Example, smells more strongly than when it was at rest.

Amber is pinguous and of a most sluggish smell,* 1.151 you can scarce tell that it gives forth any smell at all, be∣cause its Calid or Acid is the least part in respect of the Radical Humid or Alcaly; but when it is stirred up and excited by Solution, with a just proportion of Odors and convenient Fat, v. g. Zibeth (the purer and sincerer it is,* 1.152

the more acute and ingrateful is its smell) then the tor∣pid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of, the Amber, being excited by the Zibeth, begins to act upon the Humid, and upon that Action there ariseth a most sweet smell; as for Example, Pound ten Grains of Amber, and three Grains of Zibeth in a Mortar, and the Amber presently melts; upon which, for encreasing the Acid, instil a drop or two of Juice of Lemmons, and by this means you will have an unguent of an admirable suavity, which rubbed upon the Skin yields an incredible Odor.

So Musk,* 1.153 by how much the purer and simpler it is, it smells strong indeed, but 'tis a bad scent, or at least not a very good one; but when it is dissolved with some drops of Ardent Spirit of Rosos, which I have pro∣ved to be Acid, 'tis to be admired what a feagant smell it will afford. Three Graines of this Musk so dissolved, being added to the aforesaid Solution of Amber, and Zi∣beth, you will hardly find a more odoriferous thing; but I have shewn, that the harsh smell of Lime, Beer, &c. is noxious to many Men, so also this sweet smell is an enemy to many both Men and Women: Those that are troubled with Uterine Distempers, or Diseases of the Lungs, cannot endure it; which Diseases, according to Hippoocrates proceed from Acidity;* 1.154 for when the smell, though sweet qu reaches from the Nose to the Womb, presently the Dormant Morbous Acid, which is in the Womb, is excited by meanes of the Ferment, for like hath an easie ingress into like, as Fire to Fire; as we see in a Candle newly blown out, whose pinguous fume easily takes flame again, which is nothing but kindled fume; for also Diseases of the Womb are more easily excited and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Odors which are fermentable:* 1.155 which fer∣mentation in the Womb, may again be allayed and over∣come by those Odors which are stronger, and prevail over those which are excited, as the greater flame o∣vercomes and extinguishes the less, and the less Light is put out by the greaten; as I have before clearly de∣monstrated in Acid Minerals, which overcome Those of Vegetables, and These again do suppress Those of Ani∣mals:

So also Womb, diseases being excited by suaveo∣lent, Odors, begin to ferment and to boil up with great violence; and These again are suppressed and killed by graveolent things, In Physical Practice, it is observed, that the Matrix, of its own Nature, at the smell of sweet things, is turned upwards or downwards, if the same sweet Odor be applied below; if then it be elevated up∣wards, and its capacity be blown up, and distended by flatulent vapours excited in it, then the Diaphragma is straitned; which being compressed by much wind, hin∣ders Respiration and Speech, so that the Patient is at Deaths door; for a Cure in this case all sweet-smelling things are carried out of the Chamber (lest their smell should arrive at the Nostrils of the Sick Woman) and they are applied to the Vulva of the Matrix, that by the sweetness of the Odor it may return down again; (which arises from hence, that the Womb is delighted with and greedily turns it self to sweet smelling things:) and Odors are applied to the Nose, which by their ve∣hemency may over-power, or wholly kill the, sweet Odor attracted, (as I have a while ago shewed of A∣cid Liquors) as Assa Foetida, Castoreum, Oppoponax, Sa∣gapenum, Oleum Petrae, Oleum Tartarl Distillatam, and the like; or else such things as being drawn in and smelt to by the Nose, can mortifie the inward sweet Acid of the Ferment by its contrary,* 1.156 and these are Volatile Alcalyes absorbing the suave-acid Odors of the Womb: As for Ex∣ample, the smoak of things burned, taken from the Ani∣mal Family, for they being burned, do breath forth no∣thing but Volatile Alcaly, which is destructive to and a consumer of Acids. But Women (led rather by super∣stition than reason) chuse Partridge Feathers, and Goats Horns (perhaps, because taken from Salacious Creatures) Hairs, Leather of Old Shoes, or Urine of a stinking Chamber Pot, all expiring Volatile Alcalyes (which I have shewed to be contrary to and destructive of Acid Fermentation) the least part of which Odors being at∣tracted by the Nostrils, presently the Sick Woman re∣vives, and begins to be better, because the Uterine

Ferment is restrained by its contrary; for Fermentable Odor, as it is easily mixed and makes Ebullition with its like; so by its unlike, it ceases from the Ebulliti∣on. This is the meaning of that of Hippocrates, De Diaeta; when he says, out of Pythagoras his School, He that believes not one Soul to be mixed with another, is besides him∣self.

The smell of a Rose is acceptable to some, but per∣nicious to many; hence a Rose is said by Pliny to be of an Angust Odor, Lib. 21. Chap. 41. I knew an honest Citizen of this place, who, as often as he scented a Rose, though afar off, his Breast was not only griped and strait∣ned, but he was troubled with a Coryza many days after.

Syrup of Roses solutive, inconsiderately taken by the Mouth,* 1.157 how often hath it caused Deliquia's, or Swoon∣ings? especially in such Women whose Noses are quick∣scented; yea, it hath caused their Bowels to tremble inwardly, as Practicioners have observed.

There are some who cannot digest the Herb Selenum, some that cannot concoct Spices, but resist their con∣coction by continual belchings: All which things my Wise Master observing, advises those who practice Phy∣sick, Aph. 28. Sect. 5. In this manner, The smell of A∣romatical things draws the Muliebria, and it would often be good for other things too, unless it occasioned the heaviness of the Head; where we must observe out of Columella, Lib. 12. chap. 20. That he takes Odors, and Aromata for the same things. Hence Lucret••us speaks of himself, I per∣ceive diverse Odors of Things, yet I could never see them com∣ming to the Nostrils, Lib. 1. chap. 60. Our Acute Galen com∣prehending all these things in his Book, De Victus Ratione, thus concludes, Odours do both good and hurt; which Sen∣tence of Galen, I have a little before shewed to be exactly True in Uterine Diseases, as the Female Sexe can testi∣fie. For Fermentable Odour, which all Aromaticks do expire, and which is multiplied by Fermentation, hurts many; and on the contrary, Alcalizate Odour, and That which is excited from the burnt parts of Animals,

because it is destructive of the Ferments, profits and does good to many; as we see by daily experience and use; so that every smell is to be distinguished and redu∣ced to its proper Classis. This was Hippocrates his mean∣ing de Virginum Morbis, 'Tis not possible (says he) to know the Nature of Diseases (if they are knowable by Art) unless a Man knew Nature in indivisibility, from which in the beginning they were distinguished.

All these things being considered, it appears, why Venerable Antiquity hath prescribed to us for a weak and languid Stomach, that compound Inodorous Medi∣cine, called Syrup of Wormwood,* 1.158 that it might be of use to every individual? This, because it is made up of sim∣ples, as of Pontick Wormwood, which is of an Aro∣matick and Astringent Taste, of Roses, Indian Spike, most Odorous Plants, of Old Wine, of Juice of Quin∣ces likewise binding, and Sugar, therefore they com∣manded them all to be boiled in an Earthen Vessel being open, That so the Volatile Spirit of the Old Wine might carry off the Aromatick Odors, both of the Spike, as also of the Wormwood and Roses; and so the Odors, as Galen says, can do no hurt to those, who otherwise are not able to bear them (words in my Hippocrates Chymicus Chap. 30. either not understood, or malig∣nantly changed) and their Syrup may help a weak Sto∣mack, not by the Odorous Spirit of Wine, but by a mo∣derately Astringent Faculty. This is the reason why such a Syrup was found out, as the Text witnesses: From whence we learn the deep Judgment and diligent Observation of our Predecessors in compounding of Me∣dicines, and why they appointed this Syrup to be Ino∣dorous? See for this the Tetras of Quercetan, consult all Practicioners, and the Truth of the thing will appear; which, by how much the more it is oppressed, by those that hate it, so much the more gloriously it triumphs and treads down falsity under her feet. For it is not e∣nough, out of meer ignorance to condemn the memo∣rable Observations of the Ancients faithfully made, by long study and many watchful lucubrations, and so trans∣mitted

to us, and farther by unusual clamours, without any known reason and cause to Reform them; defaming also all such who tread in their steps: but Men had need to demonstrate the contrary, if not by Authority and Experience, yet at least by reason; otherwise all their ridiculous and inept approbations, together with their absurd clamours, will not only be judged to be false and vain, by Wise and Understanding Persons; and there∣fore worthy to be sent packing from whence they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but will also be reckoned by the Vulgar amongst futile and sordid devices and fogeries and the highest levities; for so indeed they are. 'Twas never read in the Wri∣tings either of the Old or New Interpreters of Nature, that They taught, That Distilled Vinegar was Celebrated Spirit of Venus, or was as Alcahest; That the Poison of Copper, extracted by Vinegar, was an Epileptick, or Hysterick Remedy; That Elementary Water was Vola∣tile Salt of Tartar, and a Panacaea for disperate Dis∣eases; or That Corals, which both by Wise Men and by Ideots too, are reckoned amongst Gemmes; should be compared to Common Corrosive Calx, and pronounced unuseful; or That the Vinegar distilled from Meal was Acid Spirit of Sal-Armoniack; or That Minium could condense the Air into a Ponderous Body; and many hundreds more of such falsities, destructive to Man∣kind, and worse than the dotages of frantick Persons; which besides the corruption of good manners, can hard∣ly be read without tediousness: such things I say, and others like them, were never taught by our Ancestors, and yet though they are found most false, by Experi∣ence, Reason, and Authority, and to be to the detri∣ment of Physick and Mankind: nevertheless They are approved and cryed-up by our fore-said Magnifick Do∣ctors. Hence it is, that Aristotle in a passion commands. Sciolists, to dip their Pens in their Minds, before they do it in Ink, least one inconvenience being granted, a thousand false conclusions do follow: As not only the Studiers of Ancient Physick do find to their great detriment, but Physick it self (and that which is more to be lamented, the Sick)

suffers under such things, as manifestly appears in the Sy∣rup of Wormwood, which the Ancients appointed to be made without any smell, that it might be given for an Astringent to every individual; as clearly appears by the Reasons and Experiences just now alleaged: but These men, against the institutions and precepts of Medicine, yea against the order of Nature her self, do mixe it with Aromatized Spirit of Wine and that most odoriferous, and do so prescribe it, being induced thereunto, by this false and vain opinion, That Odors are good indif∣ferently for all, both Men and Women. But with what fruit or profit they so think, Let Practicioners speak, and let those judge who have but the Spirit of a Man in their Breasts, and who have ever seen the Female Sexe troubled with Uterine Distempers. I confess in a pedantick slavish Writer, this error were tolerable, and need only simple correction; but it is an abominable wickedness, and not to be endured in the Deans and their Colleagues, who sore at such High things, and boast that they can teach others Skill, themselves being in the mean time ignorant of the common and safe way of healing, prescribed by Galen, as I have shewed. For if, the Ancients (whom they insult over) could find out Syrup of Worm∣wood, and Syrup of Quinces, as we see in Dioscorides, what difficulty had it been for them to add odoriferous Spike and Roses, if Odors and Spirit of Wine had been useful in this Compound? It appears by this, that They knew well a Dog from a black Sheep (to speak prover∣bially) and could distinguish things, that smelt of Garlick, of the Hogsty, of the Sow and Goat mixed together. I have sometimes admired, why not only Hippocrates enjoyned that we should only speak of Those Things, which are known to Plebeians, but that Ar∣nold, Holland, and many others have so industriously concealed the Ancient Foundations of this Art? Yea, heretofore It was confined only within the Family of Aesculapius; but my wonder ceases, when now adays I see the Truth judged, condemned, and cast out of doors, by Those who are bound to advance it, for their

Neighbours good; and this not by choice of Doctrine or Science, but by a meer fit of foolish temerity, be∣fore they understand the cause of the matter, as I have evidenced in this whole Tract from the beginning to the end very copiously; not by opinion only, as South∣sayers do, but by clear Reasons, Authority, and Ex∣perimental Operations. Wherefore let such Putative and Insipid Doctors be hissed out of the Theatre of Wis∣••om, and cast forth unto their sluggish Colleagues, together with their emendicated and inept Receits, ill ••nderstood and falsly approved; That so the Ancient and True Hippocratical Physick, the Noblest of all Arts, may be redeemed from the contempt of the Vulgar, and by degrees may recover its Ancient estimation and lustre.

Take therefore in good part,* 1.159 O ye Curious Readers and Lovers of the Ancient Truth, this my Clavis, which I sincerely and faithfully offer to you, by the help where∣of you may unlock and open the Ancient Cabinet of Hippocratical Medicine. Sluggish Doctors, who by their ulcerous, yet reforming Doctrine, do endeavour to per∣vert Natures order, and to hinder the progress of Hip∣pocratical Physick, to their Neighbours detriment, are conversant in thick darkness, far from the Light of Truth; who not being able to get out from thence by their own strength, do study how to lacerate and revile the fame of their Predecessors, yea the works of Nature it self, that they may obtain a Name and Praise amongst such as are like themselves. 'Tis wonderful to consider, how far this mad rage of evil speaking hath extended it self (by occasion whereof the unshaken Wisdom of the An∣cients shines forth with greater lustre, and the fundamen∣tal Verity and Excellency of the most Noble Hippo∣cratical Physick doth the more appear:) so as laying a∣side all modesty, Men dare petulantly to rise up against the minds of Hippocrates and Galen, yea against the Truth it self, against Experience and the Law of Nations, and openly, to their perpetual shame, to extol, subscribe,

and approve, miserable fooleries and false receits, to the damage of their Neighbours and their Posterity.

Wherefore let the unprejudiced Reader weigh with an equal ballance and indifferent mind, This Ancient Do∣ctrine of Truth, and Firm Foundation of our Fore-Fa∣thers, which are laid and established in my Hippocrates Chymicus and in this Comment upon it, according to their mind and opinion; and then I doubt not but he will pass an equal Sentence: for he will find all my Expe∣riments deduced from the same Fountains from whence the Venerable Ancients and the more Novel Interpreters of Natures Secrets have drawn Theirs, and therefore in no fort ••allacious; yea he will find a necessary connexi∣on of Causes amongst themselves, so as some depend on others, the last on the first, the inferior on the supream, the less on the greater, the weak on the stronger, ac∣cording to the Wise Series of Nature; and that all things are increased, preserved, and destroyed by mutual com∣mutation, digestion, and sermentation; and again how they ••ise up into new beings before our eyes, as saith Hippocrates de Diaeta. And as I have shewed Mechani∣cally, that such things must infallibly be in the Macro∣cosme;* 1.160 so I have concluded by just reason according to the Opinion of the Ancients, and by evidence of Ex∣periments, that they must be so in the Microcosme; so that Diseases are caused by this method, and by the same method they are cured, since Art imitates Nature, and Nature Art, according to Hippocrates; whose An∣cient Doctrine, underpropped by the firm Principles of Fire and Water, I hope as long as I live, to defend by my self alone, against all unjust invasions and assaults; for in doing hereof, I shall not need in a meretricious way, the assistance of many flattering woers, as the de∣stroyers of this Noble Medicine do.

But if any Man accuse the Inelegancy of my Stile it shall not trouble me at all; I give leave to every Ig∣norant Fellow to bark, prate, and raile; for I sear not the buzzing of such Hornets: indeed for their greatness and multitude they are terrible, but their Stings are out,

and let them do what ever they will or can, yet they shall never get the victory.* 1.161 Let me tell thee this one thing, O Man; such as thou art, so think thy self to be; and as far as thou art remote from the turpitude of Things, stand at the same distance from the Licentiousness of Words; and moreover, speak not that falsly against ano∣ther, which, when it is answered, may cause thee to blush.* 1.162 I know how to defend my self (to speak without boasting) as well as another, yea I know how to re∣turn opprobrious speeches to others, if I so pleased, and would indulge my self that liberty. But here, friendly Reader, I conclude, since my Book may not justly be extended to a greater Iength; but hereafter I shall speak to thee in a graver Tone.

FINIS.

Shew me better, if thou canst (before thou carp at mine) and I shall give thee thanks.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fire and Wa∣ter.
• * 1.2

  The Principles of Hippocrates, Acid and Alca∣ic
• * 1.3

  L••••••.
• * 1.4

  A Child of the Son.
• * 1.5

  The Son of Fire
• * 1.6

  Gold a fixed A∣cid.
• * 1.7

  Cro••us Mart••••
• * 1.8

  Aurum Fulmi••∣na••s,
• * 1.9

  Gold is Sul∣phur.
• * 1.10

  Fire Acid.
• * 1.11

  Natural Fire Acid.
• * 1.12

  A Microcosme what.
• * 1.13

  The Mother of Nitre.
• * 1.14

  Elbe the Me∣ther of Iron.
• * 1.15

  Mother of Vi∣triol.
• * 1.16

  The Mother of Flint fired and constant in the Fire.
• * 1.17

  Fixed Acid in a Flint.
• * 1.18

  Alcaly in Wa∣ter.
• * 1.19

  Alcaly the Child of th•••• Sun.
• * 1.20

  The Child of the Sun loves his Sister Alcaly.
• * 1.21

  Alcaly in Wa∣ter.
• * 1.22

  Regeneration of Plants pro∣ceeds from Hippocratical Learning.
• * 1.23

  Alcaly in the Earth.
• * 1.24

  Alcaly in Wa∣ter.
• * 1.25

  Water doth Nourish.
• * 1.26

  A Catholick Wine.
• * 1.27

  Artificial Alca∣ly.
• * 1.28

  Alcaly with Oyl is made Sope.
• * 1.29

  Alcaly with Flint is made Glass.
• * 1.30

  Fix'd Acid.
• * 1.31

  Destruction of Glass.
• * 1.32

  Glass made Li∣quor.
• * 1.33

  Flint is made Alcaly.
• * 1.34

  Alcaly of Cal∣cin'd Flint.
• * 1.35

  Alcaly for Sope.
• * 1.36

  Alcaly what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is.
• * 1.37

  Fel Vitri.
• * 1.38

  Flint and Al∣caly are fer∣mented into Glass.
• * 1.39

  Alcaly a Fe∣male.
• * 1.40

  Alcaly of Tar∣ar.
• * 1.41

  Sal Philosopho∣rum.
• * 1.42

  Salt a known thing.
• * 1.43

  Alcaly un∣known to most.
• * 1.44

  Artificial Alca∣ly never Pure, or destitute of any Form.
• * 1.45

  A false Pro•••• of Vola••ile Salt of Tartar.
• * 1.46

  To know, what?
• * 1.47

  Rotten Wood hath no Salt in its Ashe••.
• * 1.48

  Tartar of Ker∣mes.
• * 1.49

  Regenerated Tartar of Wine.
• * 1.50

  Alcaly of Tar∣tar made Salt of Kermes.
• * 1.51

  Alcaly of Tar∣tar made Tar∣tar of Wine.
• * 1.52

  Alcaly of Tar∣tar made Com∣mon Salt.
• * 1.53

  Alcaly regene∣rated into Ni∣tre.
• * 1.54

  Alcaly regene∣rated into Al∣lume.
• * 1.55

  Spirit of Vitri∣ol.
• * 1.56

  Alcaly rege∣nerated into Vitriol.
• * 1.57

  Measuring the Wisdom of Nature by their own folly.
• * 1.58

  Coeles••i••i.
• * 1.59

  Why Vitriolate Tartar, made the Common way, is not Distillable?
• * 1.60

  Alcaly made Regenerated Vitriol.
• * 1.61

  Spirit of Vi∣triol two-fold.
• * 1.62

  Tartar Vitrio∣late of great 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.63

  Contraries co∣agulated by Contraries.
• * 1.64

  Artificial Vi∣triol of Mars and Venus.
• * 1.65

  Aerugo made. of Plates of Copper and Grape••.
• * 1.66

  Copper is not destroyed by Acid Liquors or Vapors.
• * 1.67

  Spirit of Venus made.
• * 1.68

  Copper growe green from all Acids.
• * 1.69

  Artificial Tar∣tar.
• * 1.70

  Artificial Silt.
• * 1.71

  Spirit of Venus ••reduced to an Examen.
• * 1.72

  The Vertue of Purgatives whence?
• * 1.73

  Spirit of Venus in Alcaly made Tartar.
• * 1.74

  Spirit of Venus which is as Al∣cahest, is known to be Vinegar.
• * 1.75

  Spirit of Venus is Distilled Vi∣negar.
• * 1.76

  This sained, yet pr••sed, Spirit of Venus, is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a counter •••• P••••acta and Alcahist.
• * 1.77

  Alcahest what?
• (a) 1.78

  Pharm. 14
• (b.) 1.79

  Im••g. Form. S. 8.
• (c.) 1.80

  Verb. ex∣plic.
• (d.) 1.81

  Arcana Paracels.
• (e.) 1.82

  Potesl. Medic. S. 4. 2.
• (f.) 1.83

  Arboravi∣ta in sine.
• * 1.84

  Spirit of Venus dissolves Coral.
• * 1.85

  Vinegar dis∣solves Coral.
• * 1.86

  Spirit of Ve∣nus is Vinegar, not Alcahest.
• * 1.87

  Spirit of Venus is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vinegar.
• * 1.88

  Spirit of Venus is distilled vi∣negar.
• * 1.89

  Vinegar from & Eruga, why more Acid than Simple?
• * 1.90

  Why Vinegar returns Acid from Copper, and not from Alcaly.
• * 1.91

  Why from Lead insipid?
• * 1.92

  Spirit of Ve∣nus is Vinegar.
• * 1.93

  Vinegar clean∣seth.
• * 1.94

  The Precipitate of Vigo.
• * 1.95

  The Anodine Plaister of Vigo deform'd into a Caustick.
• * 1.96

  Precipitate Mercury, Cau∣slick,
• * 1.97

  Sublimate Mercury.
• * 1.98

  The Revivisi∣cation of Sub∣limate or Pre∣cipitate Mereu∣ry.
• * 1.99

  Fire is the in∣flam••tion of the Acid Ferment.
• * 1.100

  Preparation of Minium.
• * 1.101

  An Enquiry how Flint dis∣sers from Cor∣rals.
• * 1.102

  Burnt Flint is called Lime.
• * 1.103

  Remember that They grow in the bottom of the Sea.
• * 1.104

  Corals calcined become not a Calx.
• * 1.105

  The Vertues of the Tincture of Corals.
• * 1.106

  Iron what?
• * 1.107

  Rust is natural Crocus Martis.
• * 1.108

  Gold rurns Iron into Crocus or Rubige.
• * 1.109

  A Golden Nail.
• * 1.110

  The Unicorn.
• * 1.111

  Hippoc: Chymic. a Truth-speak∣ing Book.
• * 1.112

  The invention of Crocus Mar∣tis.
• * 1.113

  Crocus Martis curiously pre∣pared, doth o∣pen and a∣stringe.
• * 1.114

  What Diseases Crocus Mart is is not good for
• * 1.115

  For what it is?
• * 1.116

  Horat'us his Sterilis Rubigo.
• * 1.117

  Fire adorns, Water nou∣rishes.
• * 1.118

  The Seat of Radical Moi∣sture.
• * 1.119

  Uncreated Light.
• * 1.120

  Vital Ferment.
• * 1.121

  Why 'tis called Ignis Mollis?
• * 1.122

  Salt of Blood
• * 1.123

  Alcaly of Blood.
• * 1.124

  Ferment of Putrefaction what?
• * 1.125

  The Viperine Salt of the Au∣thor is Radical Humid by Art.
• * 1.126

  Eccho to vindi∣cate Chyrosophus,
• * 1.127

  Pasilius V••l••••••. his White Spi∣rit of Vi••••iol what?
• * 1.128

  Coagulated Diseases.
• * 1.129

  Viral Aura.
• * 1.130

  A••••a the Cause of Diseases.
• * 1.131

  A way of Cryp∣tography.
• * 1.132

  Art imitates Nature and this Art.
• * 1.133

  The Divi••um of Hippocrates.
• * 1.134

  The Vie•••••• Professors gross and Contume∣lious Opinion of the founda∣tion of Anci∣ent Physick.
• * 1.135

  Wonderful are thy works O Lord &c. Psa. 91.
• * 1.136

  Bread and Wa∣ter are made Spirits.
• * 1.137

  Ink produced of Occult things.
• * 1.138

  Water of Frogs Spawn, rich in Alcaly, takes away Gowty inflamations.
• * 1.139

  The Original of the Stone.
• * 1.140

  The Stone of an Histrix.
• * 1.141

  Stone in the Gall of an Oxe.
• * 1.142

  Zaculus Ideg.
• * 1.143

  Load stone.
• * 1.144

  Rubigo Sterili••.
• * 1.145

  Oil of Mars what?
• * 1.146

  Metampsychosis.
• * 1.147

  Jasper.
• * 1.148

  Serpen's-stone.
• * 1.149

  The Cause of Diseases Acid.
• * 1.150

  The Odor of Things.
• * 1.151

  Amber
• * 1.152

  Zibeth.
• * 1.153

  Musk.
• * 1.154

  De Veteri Me∣dicina.
• * 1.155

  Uterine Disea∣se.
• * 1.156

  Volatile Alca∣lyes.
• * 1.157

  Syrup of Roses.
• * 1.158

  Syrup of Wormwood.
• * 1.159

  The Conclusi∣on.
• * 1.160

  Hermes in Sche∣dul••.
• * 1.161

  Cicere.
• * 1.162

  Horace.