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.

63. The Menstruum of Sericon of Ripley. In Vade Mecum, commonly called the Bosom-Book.

TAke of Sericon or Antimony thirty Pounds, out of which you will have twenty Pounds or thereabout of Gum, if the Vinegar be good; dissolve each pound of that Sericon in two measures (a Gallon) of Vinegar twice distilled, and having stood a little while in digestion, stir the matter often every day, the oftner the better, with a clean stick, filtre the Liquor three times, throw away the Faeces, to be taken away as superfluous, being no Ingredient to the Magistery, for it is the damned Earth: Then evaporate the filtred Liquors in Balneo Marioe with a temperate heat, and our Sericon will be coagulated into a Green Gum, call'd our Green Lyon, dry that Gum well, yet with care, lest you burn the Flowers, or destroy the Greens of it: Then take the said Gum, put it in a strong Glass Retort well luted, and with a moderate Fire distil a weak Water to be cast away: But when first you perceive a white fume ascending, put to it a Glass Receiver large, and of sufficient capacity, whose Mouth is exactly joyned to the Neck of the Retort, which must be very well luted, lest any of the fume be lost or evaporate out of the Receiver: Then increase the Fire by degrees, till a red fume as∣cends, and continue a stronger Fire, till bloody drops come, or no more fume appears: Then abate the Fire by degrees, and all being cold, take away the Receiver, and forthwith stop it, that the Spirits may not exhale, because this Liquor is called our blessed Liquor, to be kept in a Glass Vessel very close stop∣ped: Then examine the Neck of the Retort, where you will find a white and hard Ice, in the form of a congealed Vapour, or Mercury sublimate, which gather carefully, and keep, be∣cause it contains great Secrets, of which lower: Then take the Faeces out of the Retort, being black as Soot, which are called our Dragon, whereof calcine one Pound, or more, if you please, in a Potters, Glass-makers, or Philosophical Furnace, into a white Snowy Calx, which keep pure by it self, it being called the Basis and Foundation of the Work, Mars, our white fixed Earth, or Philosophers Iron: Now take the residue of the

Faeces, or black Dragon, and sift it on a Marble, or any other Stone, and at one of the ends light it with a live Coal, and in the space of half an Hour the Fire will run over all the Faeces, which it will calcine into a very Glorious citrine Colour; these citrine Faeces dissolve with distilled Vinegar, after the aforesaid manner, filtre also three times as before, then evaporate the dis∣solution into a Gum, and distil the Menstruum, which is now cal∣led Sanguis Draconis, or Dragons Blood, and repeat this Work in all things as before, till you have reduced all, or the greater part of the Faeces into our Natural or Blessed Liquor, all which Li∣quors pour to the first Liquor or Menstruum, called the Blood of the Green Lyon; the Liquor being thus mix'd, putrefie it in a Glass Vessel the space of fourteen Days: Then proceed to the separation of the Elements, because in this Blessed Liquor you have now all the Fire of the Stone, hidden before in the Faeces; which Secret has been hitherto kept wonderfully close by the Philosophers: Now take all the Menstruum being putrifyed, put it in a Venice Glass of a fit size, put an Alembick to it, and lute with Linnen Rags dipp'd in the white of Eggs; the Receiver must be very spacious, to keep in the respiring Spirit, and with a temperate heat separate the Elements one from another, and the Element of Air, which is the Oyl (ardent Spirit, containing a little white Oyl at the top) will first ascend: The first Element be∣ing distilled, rectifie it in another Vessel fit for it, that is, distil seven times, till it burns a Linnen Cloath, being dipp'd in it and kindled; then is it called our rectify'd Aqua ardens, which keep very well stopp'd, for otherwise the most subtil Spirit of it will vanish away: In the rectifications of the Aqua ardens the Air will ascend in the form of a white Oyl, swimming upon the Aqua (ardens) and a citrine Oyl will remain, which is distilled with a stronger Fire: Mercury being sublimed, and reduced into Powder dissolv'd per deliquium, upon Iron Plates in a cold place, pour a little of the Aqua ardens to the Liquor being filtred, and it will extract the Mercury in the form of a Green Oyl swim∣ming a-top, which separate and distil by a Retort, and there will ascend first a Water, and then a thick Oyl, which is the Oyl of Mercury: Then distil the Flood or Water of the Stone into another Receiver, the Liquor will be whitish, which draw off in Balneo with a moderate heat, till there remains in the bottom of

the Cucurbit a thick Oyly substance, like melted Pitch, keep this Water by it self in a Glass well stopp'd. Take notice, when first the Liquor riseth white, another Receiver must be put to, because that Element is wholly distilled: Two or three drops of that black liquid Oyl being given in the Spirit of Wine, do Cure any Poyson: Now to this black and liquid Matter pour our Aqua ardens, mix them well together, and let the mixture settle three Hours, then decant, and filtre the Liquor, pour on new Aqua ardens, and repeat the operation three times, then di∣stil again in Balneo with a gentle heat, and this reiterate thrice, and it will come under the denomination of the rectify'd Blood of Man, which Operators search for in the Secrets of Nature: Thus have you exalted the two Elements, Water, and Air, to the Virtue of a Quintessence; keep this Blood for occasion: Now to the black and liquid Matter or Earth, pour the Flood or Water of the Stone, mix them well together, and distil the whole, till the Earth remains very dry and black, which is the Earth of the Stone; keep the Oyl with the Water for occasion: Reduce the black Earth to a Powder, to which pour the afore∣said Man's Blood, digest three Hours, then distil in Ashes with a Fire sufficiently strong, repeat this Work three times, and it will be call'd the rectify'd Water of Fire, and so have you exalted the three Elements, namely, Water, Air, and Fire, into the Virtue of a Quintessence: Then calcine the Earth being black and dry, in the bottom of the Reverberatory, into a most white Calx, with which mix the Fiery Water, and distil with a strong Fire as be∣fore; the remaining Earth calcine again, and distil, and that se∣ven times, or till the whole substance of the Calx be pass'd through the Alembick, and then have you the rectify'd and truly Spiritu∣al Water of Life, and the four Elements, exalted to the Virtue of a Quintessence; this Water will dissolve all Bodies, putrefie and purge them: This is our Mercury, our Lunary, but who∣soever thinks of any other Water besides this, is ignorant and foolish, never attaining to the desired effects.

This Menstruum is made of the same Matter as the precedent Menstruums. For Green Lyon, Adrop, Philosophical Lead, Mi∣neral Antimony, Airy Gold, Mercury, &c. are Synonima's of one and the same Matter: This Matter being dissolved in distill'd Vinegar, and again inspissated into a Gum, in taste like Alum, is by

Ripley in the Description of the antecedent Menstruum in Numb. 62. called Lully's Vitriol of Azoth, or Vitriolum Azoqueum: Lully in practica Testamenti, Cap. 9. Pag. 159. Vol. 4. Th. Chym. makes a Menstruum of B. C. D. By B. he meant the said Green Lyon, or common Argent vive, which as he says elsewhere, is more common to Men, than vulgar Argent vive, B. saith he, Pag. 153. of the said practica, signifies Argent vive, which is a com∣mon substance consisting in every corruptible Body, as appears by the property of it, &c. By C. he intended common Niter. C. saith he, signifies Salt Peter, which hath a common (acid) Na∣ture, and like Argent vive by the property of its strong (acid) Nature, Pag. 154.4. Volum. aforesaid. By D. he understood Gum Adrop, made of the Green Lyon. D. saith he, signifies Azoquean Vitriol, which corrupts and confounds all that is of the Nature and Being of common Argent vive. In the same place, Both C. and D. he calls the purer mediums. Cap. 58. Theor. Test. pag. 96. You must know Son! saith he, our Bath, you may wash the Nature of (Phil) Argent vive so, as Nature could never do, that is, to make Argent vive a compleat Elixir. But (Phil.) Ar∣gent vive and Metals being both in Nature, and in your Work, extreams, and extreams not being able to joyn themselves, with∣out the Virtue of a middle disposition, which is between the softness of Argent vive, and the hardness of Metal, because there is by reason of that middle disposition a Natural complyance, which is the cause of Conjunction between Body and Spirit, as it is in every thing generated, or in capacity of being generated: In Nature are many mediums, whereof two are more pure, and more viscous, the Green Azoquean Vitriols, with the stony Na∣ture, which is the Salt and Nature of Stones. By the help my Son! of this contemptible Matter is our Stone, which we have so much sought for, procreated, &c.

With the other of these mediums, C, the stony Nature, Salt Pe∣ter, Salt of Peter, or Niter, we have no business at present; but be∣ing solicitous of D. Gum Adrop, or the Azoquean Vitriol of Lully, it will be worth while to consult Lully himself: Of which the Phi∣losopher, Cap. 59. Theor. Testamenti, thus: Son! saith he, the Azoquean Lyon, which is called (Azoquean) Vitriol, is by Nature made of the peculiar substance of common Argent vive, which is the Natural Root, from whence Metal is procreated in its own

Mine. By common Argent vive, he meant not the Vulgar but Philosophical Argent vive, the natural Root as well of Metals as Minerals. When we say common Mercury, saith he, we speak of that, which the Philosophers understand; and when we name the Vulgar, we speak of that which is known to the Country∣men, and sold in Shops. Cap. 1. Lib. Mercuriorum, which the following Synonyma's of this Mercury, namely, Chaos, Nature, Origo, Green Lyon, Argent vive, Unguent, Oyl, Pasture and Liquor of great Value, do also testifie in Cap. 45. Theor. Test. pag. 75. Vol. 4. Th. Chym.

This common Argent vive, or Green Lyon, must be purged from its Superfluities, before the Aroquean Vitriol of Lully, or the Gum Adrop of Ripley can be made of it. You must saith he, my Son! being a Student of this Science, be stedfast, and not search after this or that, because this Art is not perfected with many things, and therfore we tell you, there is but one only Stone, that is Sulphur, and one only Medicine, namely, the composition of Sulphur, to which nothing is to be added, only the Terrestrial and Phlegmatick Superfluities taken away, because they are and ought to be separated from our Argent vi∣ve, which is more common to men, than Vulgar Argent vive, and is of greater Price, Merit, and stronger Union of Nature, from which and the first forms of it, it is necessary to separate, by the known degrees of separation, all that belongs not to the Sal Armoniack of Metals, &c. Cap. 18. Theor. Test. pag. 33. Volum 4. Th. Chym. We say there is but one only Philo∣sophical Stone (volatile not yet fixed, or matter of a Menstru∣um) extracted from the things aforesaid by our Magistery. And therefore when it comes newly into the World, you must not add any other Powder, or any other Water, nor anything incongruous to it, more than that, which is born in it, being radical to its own Nature, and the Mother of it, which feeds and carryed it, that is Sulphur, which formed the Stone in a Celestial Colour: But before you extract (distil) it (the Stone) throughly, purge, and cleanse it from all its Phlegma∣matick, Terrestrial, and corruptible Infirmities, which are contrary to its Nature, because they are the death of it, with which it is surrounded, which do mortifie its vivificative Spirit. Cap. 7. Theor. Test. pag. 20, of the said Volum. It is to be di∣ligently

noted, that one of the two aforesaid Natural Principles (Sulphur and Argent vive) is more truly Natural in the whole, and through the whole substance of it, as well within as with∣out, and that is the pure Sulphur, hot and dry, introducing its form, that is, according to which the form of a Metal pur∣sues a pure effect: But the other (Argent vive) is unnatural, that is inwardly natural, and outwardly against Nature; but the internal natural part is made proper and also con-natural to it self, because it comes by its own Nature, but the external part is added to it by accident, and is to be naturally separated from it after the corruption (Putrifaction) of it; wherefore it is manifest that such Argent vive is not in the whole substance of it natural, in the first reception of it, nor is depurated to the full, unless it be depurated by the Ingenuity of Art. C. 5. p. 10. Codicilli.

As to this Purification of Argent vive, or the Green Lyon, Rip∣ley thus: Wherefore saith he, this Mercury (the corrosive Spi∣rit of common Vitriol) is by Raymond called, Our Fire against Nature: Nevertheless the same thing happens in some mea∣sure to this Mercury (the acidity of Vitriol) as also to the o∣ther (Vegetable Mercury, or Green Lyon) which is our natural Fire: For both of them are hidden in the middle or center of their Bodies, that is, between the Phlegmatick Water on one side, and Terrestrial Crassitude on the other side, nor are they obtained without the great Industry of Philosophy, and so those parts can avail us nothing, except only their middle sub∣stance: For saith Raymond, We take neither of the first Prin∣ciples, because they are too simple, nor of the last, because they are too gross and feculent, but only of the middle; wherein is the Tincture, and true Oyl, separated from unclean Terre∣streity, and Phlegmatick Water: Therefore saith Raymond thus; The unctious Moisture, is the near Matter of our Physical Argent vive, pag. 289. Pupilloe Alchym.

Argent vive, or the Green Lyon, is purified by common Vitriol, as thus: When the Argent vive is put in a dry Vitriolated Vapour (Spirit of Vitriol) which is a sharp Water, it is pre∣sently dissolved by the Incision and Penetration, caused by the sharpness, being manifestly strong, and in dissolving, is converted into the Nature of Terrestrial Vitriol, not taking a Metalick, nor a clear Coelestial Form, as appears after the evaporation of

the said Water, and the congelation of it in the form of Yel∣low Cristals, which Yellowness proceeds from the sharp Sul∣phurous Terrestreity, which was beyond measure mixed in the said Water by Atoms, with an Homogeneous Universality and simplicity, which simplicity was taken and bound by the said Terrestreity, with the alteration of the Light, Clarity, and Lucidity into Obscurity, &c. Cap. 89. Theor. Test. 141. Vol. 4. Th. Chym. Son! the thick Vitriolated Vapours from which Vitriol is produced, is very sharp and pontick, and therefore penetrates the parts of the Sulphur, and Argent vive being de∣purated, and penetrating, tingeth that purify'd Matter, con∣gealing it into the Form of that Vitriolated and yellow Ter∣restrial Vapour, which is mixed with them. Wherefore what we have said is manifest, that is, This is the great Gate, name∣ly, that the Terrestrial Virtues must not excel the Coelestial, but on the contrary, if you will have the thing desired, Cap. 85. Theor. Test. pag. 137. of the same Volume. You may re∣member that you would put nothing with the Menstrual (the Matter of the Menstruum) but that which proceeded from it at the beginning of its mixtion; for if you add an incongruous thing, it will presently be corrupted by the incongruous Nature, nor will you ever have that which you would have. Gold and Silver, and Mercury are dissolved in our Menstrual, because it participates with them in proximity and vicinity of the first Nature, and from hence will you extract a white Fume, which is our Sulphur, and the Green Lyon, which is your Unguent, and the stinking Water, which is our Argent vive: But it is requesite for the Green Lyon to be throughly dissolved in the Aqua Foetens, or stinking VVater, before you can have the said Fume, which is our Sulphur, which Sulphur is indeed the same way dissolved from the Body, congealing the Spirit in the form of a dry Water, which we call Stone, and the highest Me∣dium of all our Work, which is the connexion and aggregation of both Natures, that is, of Body and Spirit. Son! This Wa∣ter is called Aqua ignis, or if you had rather Ignisaqua, that undeclinable Word, because it burns Gold and Silver better than Elementary Fire can do, and because it contains in it heat of a Terrestrial Nature, which dissolves without Violence, which common Fire cannot do. Wherfore we enjoyn you to make the

Magistery of the hottest things you can get in Nature, and you will have a hot Water, which dissolveth all things, Cap. 59. Theor. Test. Pag. 98. Of the same Volume.

These Sayings Ripley comprehends in short, thus: These Words, saith he, may serve a Wise Man in order to know and acquire the Green Lyon: But this Noble Infant is called Green Lyon, be∣cause being dissolved it is Cloathed in a Green Garment. Yet out of the Green Lyon of Fools (Vitriol) is extracted by a violent Fire, that Water which we call Aqua fortis (Spirit of Vitriol) in which the said Lyon ought to be Elixirated. For all Alchymi∣cal Gold is made of Corrosives, &c. Pag. 139. Medulla Phil.

This Argent vive, Green Lyon, Philosophers Lead, &c. being purifyed with Vitriol, must be further matured or calcined into a red Colour, Minium, Lead calcined, Sericon, &c. E. (that is, Vitrio∣lated Azoth, Pag. 15. Theor. Test.) the fourth (Medium or Prin∣ciple) is a substance produced from its Mine, and in it, more near to the Nature of Metals, which is by some called Calcantis, and Azoth Vitreus (Mercury Vitriolated, or Azoquean Vitriol) which is the Earth and Mine of Metals, and is by another Name called Ʋrisius, of shining white and red within Black and Green open∣ly, having the Colour of a Venomous Lizard, immediately ge∣nerated out of Argent vive, the Matter aforesaid impregnated with the said hot and dry sulphurous Vapour (of common Vitri∣ol) in its resolution congealed into a Lizard, in which (Azoth Vitriolated) is the form and species of the stinking Spirit in its mixtion, the Mineral heat of which is multiplyed, which is the Life of Metal, and is signified by E. Cap. 3. Theor. Testam. Pag. 12. Volume. 4. Theat. Chym. And a little after: In the Work of Nature is Argent vive, but not such as is found upon the Earth, nor will be, till it be first turned into an apostemated and veno∣mous Blood. In the same place: You must know Son! that by Art and Nature Argent vive is congealed by an acute Water, understand therefore Philosophically, because if it were not sharp and acute, it could not penetrate, which is the first action in dissolution, after which dissolution it is returned into an aposte∣mated Blood, by the mutation of its own Nature into another. Son! there are two things, which ought to stick together by the agreement of contrariety, one pure, the other impure; the im∣pure recedes, Fire being an Enemy, by reason of its Corruption;

the other remains in Fire, because of its purity, being transmu∣ted into Blood, and this is our Argent vive, and our whole Se∣cret, cloathed with a tripartite Garment, that is, black, white, and red, and that alone we want for the purpose of our Magi∣stery, Argent vive containing all that is necessary for a Quintes∣sence. There is in Mercury whatsoever Wise Men seek; for under the shadow of it lies a fifth substance; for the substance of it is pure and incombustible; and all of it is nothing else but Gold and Silver (not common Metals, but airy, being in Mercury, or the Green Lyon) melted and fused within and without by Virtue of the Fire (against Nature) and afterwards purify'd and separated from all its Original Blemish and Pollution; for that Gold which is incombustible, remains fused and liquid, and im∣parts its Golden Nature in the said Mercury, &c. Cap. 62. Theor. Test. Pag. 103. Volume, 4. Th. Chym.

Out of this Philosophical Minium, calcined Lead, or Sericon only, the Adepts sometimes distilled their Menstruums; for Exam∣ple, the first of this Kind in Numb. 59. Sometimes they dissolved this Minium in distilled Vinegar, which being drawn off, they reduced it into Gum Adrop, or Lully's Azoquean Vitriol, out of which they then distilled the stinking Menstruum, or Menstruum foetens, in Numb. 60. Sometimes they dissolved Gum Adrop per deliquium first, and then distilled it. The thirteenth way of practising, saith Ripley, as it here appears, is very curious, and that is in Sa∣turn, (Philosophical) rubified in a Glass Vessel stopp'd, to prevent respiration, with a strong and continual Fire, till it becomes red: Take therefore that rubified Saturn, and pour a good quantity of distilled Vinegar upon it, and shake it very often every Day for a Month (a Week) then separate the Vinegar by a Filtre, and take only that which is clear without Faeces, and put it in Balneo to distil, and after the separation of the Vinegar, you will find at the bottom of the Vessel a white or sky-Coloured Water, which take, and being put in a Bladder five double, to keep out the Water, dissolve it in Balneo into a cristalline Water; put that Water in a Distillatory, and if you will, separate the Elements from it, or distil the dissolved Water, which rectifie in a Circulatory, and the Earth which remained in the bottom (in the distillation) calcine, till it grows like a Sponge, and then is it very sit to reassume its Mercury separated from it, that a new

Generation may be made, and a Son brought forth, which is called King of Fire, and which is so great in the Love of all the Philosophers, Cap. 17. Philos. Pag. 220. Of this Work Ripley made mention: Cap. 4. of the same Book, Pag. 194. Saying, There is moreover another Work in Gum produced by Vinegar from red Saturn, out of which is the separation of the Elements made, af∣ter it is dissolved in Bladders: The Menstruums of Gum Adrop, which way soever made, were called stinking Menstruums, be∣cause of the stinking smell: This Water, saith Ripley, hath a most sharp taste, and partly also a stinking smell, and therefore is called stinking Menstruum. Assa foetida also is so called from the smell, which our Mercury hath when it is newly extracted out of its polluted Body, because that smell is like Assa foetida, ac∣cording to the Philosopher, who saith; That stink is worst be∣fore the preparation of this Water, which after the circulating of it into a Quintessence, and good preparation, it is pleasant and very delectable, and becomes a Medicine against the Leprosie, and all other Diseases, without which Gold vive, you can never make the true potable Gold, which is the Elixir of Life and Me∣tals, Adrop. Phil. Pag. 548. Volum. 6. Theat. Chym.

These Menstruums they called White Fume, because of their white and opake Colour. It is also called White Fume, saith Ripley, nor without cause, for in distillation a white fume goeth out first, before the red Tincture, which ascending into the Alem∣bick, makes the Glass white as Milk, from whence it is also cal∣led Lac Virginis, or Virgins Milk. In the same place: Out of the red Fume or red Tincture, otherwise call'd the Blood of the Green Lyon, the Adepts did by rectification alone prepare two Mercuries, namely, red and white: Upon this occasion, saith Ripley, I will teach you a general Rule: If you would make the white Elixir, you must of necessity divide your Tincture (the Blood of the Green Lyon) into two parts, whereof one must be kept for the red Work, but the other distill'd with a gentle Fire; and you will obtain a white Water, which is our white Tincture, our Eagle, our Mercury and Virgins Milk: When you have these two Tinctures, or the white and red Mercury, you will be able to practise upon their own Earth, or upon the Calx of Metals; for the Philosophers say, we need not care what substance the Earth is of, &c. Adr. Phil. p. 554. Vol. 6. Theat. Chy. Roger Bacon made a two-fold Mercury thus: