Four books of Johannes Segerus Weidenfeld concerning the secrets of the adepts, or, of the use of Lully's spirit of wine : a practical work, with very great study collected out of the ancient as well as modern fathers of adept philosophy : reconciled together by comparing them one with another, otherwise disagreeing, and in the newest method so aptly digested, that even young practitioners may be able to discern the counterfeit or sophistical preparations of animals, vegetables and minerals, whether for medicines or metals, from true, and so avoid vagabound imposters, and imaginary processes, together with the ruine of estates.

9. The Compounded Aqua Vitae of Ripley, Pag. 343. Viatici.

CIrculate the strongest red. Wine with known Vegetables, for the space of 120 days, with continual Rotation in Balneo, and then draw only the purest Spirit by distillation; to which put the Oyl of the purest Luna, made without a

Corrosive; and let them be circulated together 100 days more, and then is the Water of the nature of the Basilisk, because as a Basilisk kills a man at an instant by the Aspect alone, so this Wa∣ter being put upon Argent vive does without any other Fire, suddenly in a manner congeal it into the purest Silver: And note, if the Fire (Oyl or Essence) of Celandine be put in, or the Fire of the Flowers of Thyme, after the first Circula∣tion, and they circulated together without the Oyl of Luna, the Argent vive will be much better congealed, &c. But that which begets the greater scruple, is the Paraphrase of Lully himself upon this place. We, saith he, would not have you ig∣norant of that you may extract our Argent vive (Veget.) from its Myne another way: The way (my Son) is to take the Herb which is called Portulaca marina, Apium, Squilla, &c. distil the Faeces which remain calcine, draw off the Salt with the distilled water, and abstract the water from it, purifie the Salt by often dissolving and coagulating, and you will have the Salt of the acuating Vegetable Herbs: These (saith he) I meant, when I said, acuate with acuating Vegetables, that is, the Salts, not the simple Herbs: Wherefore you might say, it follows, that this Receipt of the Metallick Soul hath not at all been described, so as to be understood according to the Literal Sense; but I have my Answer ready, namely, that Lully acuated the Spirit of Wine with crude Vegetables also, it is easily proved by the third Distinction of his Book of Essence, in Figura individuorum, al∣ledged by him, where he rehearseth the nearest Individuals, acua∣ting the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, as are red Wine, new Honey, Celandine, Flowers of Rosemary, Herb Mercury, red Lilly, Tartar, Mans Blood, and white Wine. Why he chose these, not others, and these only, it is not my business to answer: that which we learn from thence, is, that he commended two of those Individuals to us before the rest, Tartar and Honey, of which thus. There are some Individuals, in which Mercury (Vegeta∣ble) hath a free Act in some respect, in Tartar it hath one free operation only, and in Honey two, and this an Artist ought to know, that he may be certified in this Art, and the first Truth thereof. He prefers Tartar, not for the sake of the Tar∣tar, but the Alkali made from thence, and that he resolves as the best of Alkalies per deliquium, and circulates it being purified

with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, according to the Doctrine prescribed in prima Tabula individuorum, in the second Expe∣riment, and in other places. The Alkali of Tartar may be sup∣plied with the Alkalies of Honey, Celandine, and the rest of the Individuals named by Lully, with which the Adepts did also some∣times acuate their Spirit of Wine, as shall be declared below in tht Fifth Kind of Menstruums: But these things make also against the Literal sense of our Receipt, and do prove that the Salts of the Ve∣getables, not the crude Vegetables themselves were taken in the Receipt. But though he made choice of Tartar, because of the strongest Alkali to be from thence prepared, yet did he not for the same reason intimate, that Celandine, the Flowers of Rosemary, Herb Mercury, red Lilly, and mans Blood were better than the rest, because with these he proceeds another way; for he separates the E∣lements from them with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, from which he takes only the Fire or Oyl, which he circulates with the Spirit, and so acuates it, as is clearly enough evident in secunda Tabula Individuorum.

But because Honey surpasseth not only its own collateral Indivi∣duals, but also the Tartar it self (for he saith that the Spirit of Wine in Tartar hath one, but in Honey two free Operations) and therefore attributes his peculiar process to Honey, namely, by di∣stilling the whole Comb, the Honey together with the Wax, with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine through an Alembick. Now be∣tween both processes of Honey, and the rest of the Individuals our Receipt keeps a middle station. If Honey be volatilized as to the whole substance, it becomes thereby a Magistery, which being joyn'd to the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, yields us a Menstruum of the Third kind. But the Fires or Oyls of Celandine, of the Flow∣ers of Rosemary, common white and red Wine, &c. are by separa∣tion of the Elements made with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, Essences, which being added to the said Spirit of Wine, do not al∣ter, but multiply it rather, because an Essence is added to an Es∣sence, that is, the second to the first Spirit of Philosophical Wine. But if Celandine, the Flowers of Rosemary, as also the Vegetables of our Receipt be distilled with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, it does extract and elevate all their Ʋnctuosity with it self, reject∣ing the aridity of them, being more simple, subtil, volatile, and less loaded with dry Particles, than the Ʋnctuosity of crude Honey;

and so by being circulated with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine; it is made indeed a Magistery, yet more inclining to the nature of an Essence, and therefore less dry, and less altering the Spirit of Wine, than that of Honey, and so being now deservedly united with the aforesaid Spirit, it makes a Menstruum different from the Men∣struums of the Third Kind. So the Literal Sense of our Receipt does hitherto stand unmoved. But not to derogate from the Au∣thority of the Author, and his own Commentator Lully, it is ne∣cessary to suppose, that, the Spirit of Philosophical Wine being distilled upon the aforesaid Vegetables, he did sometimes out of the remainder prepare an Alkali by calcination, and acuate his Spirit with it, and so make a Menstruum of the Fifth Kind.

From these and the like Receipts, we observe,

1. That Wine, Lunaria, Nigrum nigrius Nigro, the Matter of the Menstruum of Vegetable Mercury or Soul of Metals, is not Common, but Philosophical Wine; nor that the Spirit of this Wine is the Common, but Philosophical Aqua ardens.

2. That a Menstruum of this kind is the unctuous Spirit of Philosophical Wine acuated, that is, tempered with the common Ʋnctuosity of Vegetable Oyls. Mix, digest, and distil any common distilled Oyl with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, and you will obtain a Menstruum of the Second Kind much sooner; yea, you will make the same in a moment, if you mix the Essence (Spirit) of Philosophical VVine with the Magistery of an oyly Vegetable.

3. That one oyly Vegetable (Saffron or Macis) of so many, is sufficient for the acuation of the Spirit of Philosophical VVine; nor yet will you err, if you take Triacle; which Spirit of Triacle, made with this Spirit of Wine, will be a Menstruum of this kind.

4. That these Menstruums are Medecines.

5. That these Menstruums made out of meer Vegetables, are pro∣perly called Vegetable Menstruums, tho' some which we call Vegeta∣ble Menstruums compounded, are by reason of the addition of Me∣tals or Minerals, sometimes by the Adepts called Mineral Men∣struums: so Lully in the 34th. Experiment, calls his Circulatum majus made of Gold and Silver, the true Mineral Menstruum. But we distinguish them from the Mineral Menstruums, because

they are corrosive, being prepared with the acidity of Mi••eral Salts. But these are most sweet, without any Corrosive, and do kindly dis∣solve things that are to be dissolved.

6. That a Menstruum is call'd the Soul of Metals. Soul is di∣versly taken among the Adepts.

First, For perfect Metal, Gold or Silver. So Arnold in Flore Florum: Philosophers call the Soul a Ferment, because as the Body of man can do nothing without its Ferment or Soul, so is it in the thing propounded; for Ferment is a Substance which converts other things into its own Nature. And you must know, there is no Ferment, except Sol and Luna, that is, Gold and Silver appropriated to those Planets, &c. Ferment therefore must be introduced into the Body, because it is the Soul thereof. This is that which Morienus said, except you cleanse the unclean Body, and make it white, and infuse a Soul into it, you conduce nothing to this Magistery.

Secondly, For Metals, and other things, volatilized with a Phi∣losophical Menstruum. So Lully calls Gold and Silver volati∣lized in the preparation of his Circulatum majus, Menstruum, or animated Spirit. Take, saith he, the animated Spirit of Sol, and the animated Spirit of Luna, joyn them together, &c. So the Tinctures of Gold and Silver volatilized by a Menstruum, as also of imperfect Metals, are by him called Souls. So in the 20th. Experiment he hath the Animal Water of Saturn; in the 21th. Experiment, the Soul of Mars. Yea separating the Elements from all things, he calls the tinged distilled Liquors Souls or animated Spirits, because by them is the dead, dry and fixed Earth again revivified, volatilized, and reduced into a Sal harmoniack. See the Revivification of the Salt of Tartar by its own Water, in the Volatization of it given in the Second Experiment.

Thirdly, For Menstruums themselves. For Menstruums are the Souls of Metals, by which the Metals, otherwise dead, are ani∣mated and revivified: so Lully of this our Menstruum, the Soul of Metals, pag. 195. Comp. Anim. Transm. Otherwise, saith he, Metals cannot be dissolved, unless they be animated with a Vegetable Menstruum, by the power of which, Resolution is made in things resoluble. And in Elucid. Testam. pag. 145. Aqua vitoe is the Soul and Life of Bodies, by which our Stone is vivified. So also Ripley in Libro Mercurii, pag. 108. saith, The Sperm of

Metals is also called Metallick Aqua Vitoe, because it administreth life and health to Metals, being sick, dead, &c.

Fourthly, For the Ʋnctuosity as well of the Metal as Menstruum. Of both saith Ripley, pag. 150. Medulloe Phil. There is some cer∣tain Similitude of the Trinity to be perceived in the Body, Soul and Spirit (of our Work.) The Body is the substance of the Stone; the Spirit is the Virtue (that is, the Quintessence, which excites Natures from Death) and the Soul is to be taken for the Ferment, which cannot be had but out of the most per∣fect Body (Gold) in Sulphur (of Gold;) there is a Terrestreity for the Body, and in Mercury (Menstruum) an aereal serenity for the Spirit; and in both a natural Unctuosity for the Soul: For they are all fermentable in the Unctuosity of the Body, be∣ing mix'd and inseparably united with it throughout its most minute parts, by which Soul is the Stone formed, because no∣thing can be any way formed without it.

7. That this Menstruum, is called Vegetable Mercury, produced from red or white Wine. The Adepts have many Mercuries.

The First is, Common Argent vive, running or sublimed.

The Second is, The running Mercury of Bodies, extracted out of Metals by the Spirit of Philosophical Wine.

A Third is, Any Salt Alkali, especially fixed with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine.

Lully calcines Celandine, and from thence extracts a Salt; of which thus; Repeat this Magistery so often, till you have ex∣tracted all the Salt, which is the Mercurial Part of that Indivi∣dual (Celandine.) These things therefore being done, take all these Dissolutions (Lixivia's) and transmit them through a Fil∣ter, or Linnen-Cloth, that they may be purged from Terre∣streity; then distilled by Balneo congeal, and the moisture be∣ing gone over, in the bottom of the Vessel will remain a Mer∣cury or Salt, of a white colour; and by this means you will have extracted out of this Matter a Mercury, which hath almost innumerable Virtues of acuating the Vegetable Spirit, drawn from (Philosophical) Wine, so as to have the power of dissol∣ving all Metals with the conservation of the Vegetative and Germinative Form.

In Magia Naturali, He calls Tartar calcined, and impregnated with the Vegetable Menstruum, by being four times distilled, then

resolved per Deliquium, and coagulated by the Name of Mercury. And saith he, pag. 379, you wil have the Salt of Art, or Te∣stamentary Mercury, without which is nothing done. Some∣times the Salt, or Caput Mortuum, in the separation of the Ele∣ments, called exanimated Earth, he calls Mercury. So in Exp. 6. The inanimated Earth of Ʋrine, dissolved in Water, filtred and co∣agulated, he calls Mercury: Then, saith he, Keep our fixed Sal ar∣moniack, our animal Sulphur, our fixed animal Mercury. Lay a little of which, upon a Fire-hot-plate, and if it melt as Wax without fume, it is a sign you have Argent vive fixed and per∣fectly depurated, wherewith you will be able to produce many Experiments. This is that Mercury, which hath afforded us most convenient relief.

The Fourth Mercury, is either Vegetable or Animal; of which saith Ripley in Pupilla, pag. 300. There are more Mercuries than the two above-said (Mineral the red and green Lyon) name∣ly, the Vegetable and Animal Mercury, because both may be extracted out of some Liquors, as out of Blood and Eggs. Lully Distinct. 3. Libri Essentioe in Figuris & Tabulis Individuorum, de∣scribes the Vegetables and Animals, in which are found these Mer∣curies most readily. There is, saith he, lastly this other Secret of Nature, for the Artist of this Art to know, and really have the knowledge of the Individuals, in which our Mercury is found most easily. Wherefore let the Artists of this Art know, that our Mercury is found in every Elemented Body, yet in some so remote, as to anticipate the Life of Man, before the Artist of this Art can possess it, being extracted, as is expedient: Where∣fore we do in that place reveal those things which contain it most nearly. Of this Mercury, saith Lully, Libro Mercuriorum, pag. 8. VVhen we say common Mercury, we speak of that which the Philosophers understand; and when we say vulgar, we speak of that which the Rustick understands, and which is sold in Shops: Which Ripley in the 326th pag. of his Concordance, thus expresseth; VVhen I speak of Mercury, understand Mercury more common than common.

The Fifth is, The Spirit of Philosohical VVine, which Lully in Exp. 3. calls Vegetable Mercury. So, saith he, will you have a Vegetable Salt extracted from this Individual (Honey) which Salt is most precious, and hath the power of acuating the

Vegetable Mercury, and dissolving the two Luminaries, &c. in Exp. 5. Salts he prepares out of Portulaca, Apium, Squilla, &c. with all which, saith he, you may acuate the Vegetable Mercury ex∣tracted out of VVine, either joyntly or severally; of which low∣er in the fifth kind of Menstruums.

The Sixth is, The Philosophical Menstruum it self; for our pre∣sent Menstruum is called Vegetable Mercury, produced from white or red Wine.

The Seventh is, The animated Spirit or Air of every Body, in the separation of the Elements, which Mercury being a Fire or Oyl, is called Sulphur in almost all Receipts.

The Eighth is, Sal armoniack Vegetable, Animal or Mineral, the Sulphur of Nature, which is also called our Mercury, Mercury Sub∣limate, and Philosophers Mercury. Necessary it is we should observe these things in the following Descriptions of Menstruums, except we would some times confound the things themselves with the Names.