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.

55. The sweet Spirit of Mercury of Basilius. Cap. 3. Libri de rebus nat. & supernat.

TAke of Natural Cinabar, or Oar of Mercury, and of the best Oar of Gold equal parts, to which being pulveriz∣ed and mixed, pour the Oyl of Mercury made of Mercury subli∣med, and putrifyed (that is, Oyl of Mercury sublimed alone, no other Ingredients being added, except the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, or some Vegetable Menstruum, without which it cannot be made) digest them for a Month, and you will have a Celestial rather than Terrestrial extraction, draw off the extraction in Balneo, and the Phlegm being taken away, in the bottom will remain a ponderous Oyl, dissolving all Metals in a moment; to which add of the Spirit of Wine (Philosophical, or Fiery Spirit

of Wine of Basilius) three parts, Circulate in a Pellican to a Blood redness, and incomparable sweetness; being Circulated, pour it upon Tartar calcined to whiteness, and distil the Spirit of Mercury with a strong Fire, the Spirit of Wine remaining with the Tartar.

We must distinguish between this Spirit, and another of the same Name, lest one be taken for the other: For Basilius prepared also a Spirit of Mercury from the white Spirit of Vitriol, of which you may read in several places, in the Book de particularibus, especially in the particular of Luna; a Description of which Spirit is lower among the Mineral Menstruums, because it is acid: But the other, namely, this our Spirit of Mercury, is most sweet and fragrant, which you have also in the particular of Luna, as also in the seventh Chapter of the Book de rebus nat. & supernat. where he dissolves the Crocus of Luna in the white Spirit of Vitriol, as also in the most fragrant Spi∣rit of Mercury.

Parisinus for Alchymical Tinctures made a Mercurial compounded Menstruum, of his Circulatum majus, and the first or middle sub∣stance of common Argent vive, thus: