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.

23. The Vegetable Acetum acerrimum, or Ignis Adepti of Ripley, made of Tartar calcined. Pag. 331. Concord. Raym. & Guid.

TAke the Tartar of Wine, and calcine it to whiteness. Take of this calcined Tartar one Pound; and being pul∣verized, put it in a great Glass Cucurbit, and pour to it half a Cup, or a little more of the strongest Spirit of (Philosophical) Wine, stop the Mouth very close, and let them stand in cold Water twenty four Hours, then put a Receiver to it, and distil in Balneo with an easie Fire, yet so as to be distilled; which easie distillation must be continued, till the Phlegm ascend, which must be known by the taste, then let it cool, and again put new Spirit of Wine to the aforesaid Tartar, the same quantity as be∣fore, doing all things as before: which work you must repeat fifteen times, but when the Vessel is opened in every Imbibition, above all things have a care of the suddain fume of this Ignis Adepti: This work being in fifteen times compleat, lay aside three ounces of this fiered Tartar for a part, to multiply the Mercurial Oyl, as lower will appear. Take the other part of this fiered Tartar, and distil it in Sand with a most strong Fire, which Fire being so distilled hath a white Colour, and is our

Natura ignita, our Mercury, our Aqua Vitoe, lastly the Key of our Science.

This Menstruum is the same, as to the Ingredients and Virtue, with the Vegetable Heaven of Lully, but it must be Circulated like that Heaven, in order to lose its milky and duskish Colour, and ac∣quire the diaphaneity and clearness of this. This Receipt hath also Johannes de Rupescissa, which it is convenient to compare with this, especially he varying somewhat in Circumstances, by dissolving per deliquium Tartar impregnated with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine before the distillation of it.