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.

75. Vinegar mix'd with the Spirit of Wine of Basilius. Cap. de Wein Essig. in Repet. Lapidis.

DEr Wein Essig. (Vinegarwine, a single undeclinable Word) is not the Philosophers Vinegar, which is another Liquor, viz. the Matter it self of the Stone, because the Philosophers Stone is made of the Philosophers Azot; but Vinegarwine, is made of common Azot distilled (common Vinegar) and Spirit of Wine (that is, Philosophical.) And elsewhere, Libro de particu∣laribus de particul. Veneris. I spoke even now, saith he, Paraboli∣cally of this preparation, in Libro Clavium (in Repetitione) Capite de Wein Essig. where I said that common Azot (Vinegar) is not the Matter of the Stone, but our Azot or first Matter extracted out of common Azot and Wine, which composition is called the expressed Juice of unripe Grapes, with which the Body of Venus is to be dissolved, and reduced into Vitriol (then into our Azot,

the first Matter of the Stone, Philosophers Mercury, Spirit of Mercu∣ry made of Vitriol, &c.) which you must very well observe, that you may be free from many troubles and dangers. The Philo∣sophers Mercury, saith he, Libro de Conclusionibus, Sect. 2. de Vi∣triolo Philosophorum, or first Matter of the Stone must be made by Art, for our Azot is not common Vinegar, but extracted by Virtue of common Azot.

Though therefore a Philosophical Menstruum may be made of common Azot or distilled Vinegar, and the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, as also sufficient and qualified for the dissolutions of some Bo∣dies, yet being less sharp, especially in the Alchymical use of Metals and Minerals, instead therefore of Vinegar the Adepts took Aqua for∣tis, the sooner to finish their Operations. You must know, saith Isaacus Hollandus, that our Ancestors laboured in the Art divers ways, and yet came to one and the same end, but their Stone made not projection always alike, one making a deep, another a strong projection, as the Works (Menstruums) were sharp, or of a deep Colour: some sweat a long time with pains, before they produced the Stone: others shortned the time by sharpness of Wit, as it is now done every day with sweat and pains. Some of our Ancestors wrought three Years, some four, before they acquired the Stone, for in those days Aqua fortis was unknown, and they used nothing but distill'd Vinegar; but now their Succes∣sors have found out Aqua fortis, which hath much abbreviated the Work. Cap. 6. Lib. 2. Oper. min. pag. 423. Volum. 3. Theat. Chym. Even at that time Bodies were to be opened slowly, namely, by calcination, reverberation, solution in our sharp Vi∣negar (Vinegar mix'd with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine) which their posterity observing and considering, quickned their Wits, and found out Aqua fortis, which did much abbreviate the way to them. Cap. 77. Lib. 1. Oper. min. pag, 358. of the same Vo∣lume.

To make the present Kind of Menstruums, the Adepts dissolved this Spirit of Philosophical Wine, not in Vinegar and Aqua fortis only, but in any acid Spirit not tinging, as of Salt, Sulphur, &c. It is thus prepared;