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.

The Nineteenth KIND. Mineral Menstruums compounded of the Philosophers Spirit of Wine, and Acid Spirits tinging, Spirit of Vitriol, Butter of Antimony, &c. (Book 19)

94. Spirit of Vitriol mixt with the Spirit of Wine of Lully. Epist. accurtatoria, pag. 327.

THE Spirit of Vitriol is more dry and thick, than the Spirit of the Quintessence of Aqua ardens, and great affinity there is between the Spirit of Vitriol, and the Nature of Gold, because they are both derived from the same Principles with Minerals: The Spirit therefore of Vitriol being joyned with the Spirit of Aqua ardens, inspissates it, and makes it suddenly adhere to Gold, so as to be fixed with it; and believe me, this is a very excellent way of Abbreviation.

Annotations.

THis Difference you may observe between the Simple and Com∣pounded Mineral Menstruums; The Simple dissolve only, but the Compounded do both dissolve and tinge things dissolved; for they are in a wonderful manner exalted by things tinging, and made many degrees better, so as to have enough to serve themselves, and others also, and therefore may deservedly be called graduated, as well as graduatory Waters. Hitherto we have treated of the Simple; In 〈…〉〈…〉

Nineteenth Kind, we are to consider them as Compounded, of two Spirits, Oyley and Acid tinging, as in the prescribed Receipt of the Spirits of Philosophical Wine and Vitriol mix'd together, and in∣timately joyned by two or three distillations. The Preparation is most easie, in which notwithstanding it will not be impertinent to take no∣tice of this one thing; that both Spirits must be without Phlegm, and exquisitely rectified according to the Advice of the following Anonymus. A burning Oleity is made out of Wine, therefore it participates with Sulphur, and herein is indeed the greatest vir∣tue of the Metallick Nature, which it drew and conceived from the Earth; and as this Oleity, the Spirits that is, are much more agil than the Spirits of other things; therefore their Virtues are much more agil than the Virtues of other things: but yet you must know that those Spirits (as saith the Text of Alchymy, and as indeed the truth is) which come out of Vegetables and Animals, conduce not to Alchymy as they are in a Vegetable Nature, but it is requisite for them to attain to a Metallick Nature by many depurations and distillations, and then they are serviceable to it: Therefore is there one on∣ly stone, and one foundation necessary to the Art, namely, the Metallick virtue, though sometimes Vegetable and Animal things are taken, yet they do not remain in a Vegetable or A∣nimal Nature, but are transmuted into a Metallick and Sul∣phureous Nature, which contains a Metallick Virtue. Where∣upon, said Ferrariensis, cap. 20. suarum Quoestionum: It is im∣possible to coagulate Argent vive, without Sulphur, or some∣thing that hath a sulphureous Nature, because Sulphur is the coagulum of Argent vive, and if there be sulphureities in Wine, having a burning faculty, it argues there is a Metallick Nature in it: wherefore some do operate in Wine and Gold or Silver, to extract out of the Wine its most subtil Spirit, strengthning the virtue of Gold with it, that so the Spirits may be fixed with it, by which consequently the Tincture of the Gold is di∣lated and multiplied, and of a certain there is a very great co∣herence or participation between the Spirits of Wine and the Spirits of Gold, they being both of a hot Nature, and there∣fore the Spirits of Wine are inseparably fixed with Gold; yet it is to be noted, that the Spirits of middle Metals, as Vitriol, &c. are of larger fixation, and more nearly allied to Gold, both

springing as it were out of one Fountain, namely, out of the Mines of Metals, than the Spirits of Wine, which proceed from a Vegetable Nature; though the Spirits of Wine are more agil and subtil. Some therefore do compound the Spirits of them, so as to joyn the Spirits of Vitriol with the Spirits of Wine, to inspissate one with the other, and to make them more easily united to Gold: But he that intends to operate with these things, must take the strongest Spirits, and the purest Matters, so that the Spirits must be exactly purified before they are fixed with Gold or Silver. Anonym. de Principiis Natur. & Arte Al∣chym. pag. 30. Syntagm. Hermon. Rhenani,

Not only the rectified Spirit of Vitriol, but every Acid Spirit is here effectual, provided it be tinging, and mixed with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, thereby to be made a Menstruum of the same Kind. 'Tis thus made:

95. The Butter of Antimony mix'd with the Spi∣rit of Wine of Basilius. Pag. 88. Currus Triumphalis Antim.

TAke of Common Mercury most purely sublimed, of Anti∣mony, equal parts, grind, mix and distil by a Retort, which retains the Spirits, three times; rectifie this Oyl with the Spirit of (Philosophical) Wine, and it is prepared, and of a Blood-colour; in the beginning it was white, and thickens as Ice or melted Butter. This Oyl hath done many wonderful things; yet the Virtue, Faculty, and Operation of it hath al∣ways appeared, making an ill thing good.

This Composition, though given by Basilius, as a Medicine, not as a Menstruum, yet is by Paracelsus in Libro de Gradationibus, described as such.

96. The Water of the fourth Gradation of Paracelsus. Libro de Gradationibus, pag. 131.

TAke of Antimony one pound, of Mercury Sublimate, half pound, distil both together with a violent Fire through an Alembick, and a redness willl ascend like Blood, thick, which tingeth and graduates any Luna into Sol, and brings this pale Colour to the highest degree, of a permanent Colour.

Though Paracelsus thought it not always necessary to admonish his Disciples of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine as an addition in his Compositions, yet nevertheless ought I to declare to you the necessary addition of this Spirit in this Menstruum, that you may not err; for without it, it would be of no consequence, but rather a dammage to you in the more secret Chymy:

The Adepts made sometimes Menstruums of this Kind, not with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, but the Matter of it, name∣ly, some Vegetable Oleosum, Thus;

97. The Water of the sixth Gradation of Paracelsus. Libro de Gradationibus, pag. 132.

TAke of Sulphur vive, two pounds, of Linseed Oyl, four pounds, boyl them to a Composition (commonly called the Liver of Sulphur) which must be distilled into an Oyl (by a peculiar and Philosophical manual Operation, appertaining to the making of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine:) To this must be added again the same quantity of Sulphur vive, and boyl'd as before to a Composition, and digested in Horse-dung for a Month, or if longer, better: Then must be added of Sal Niter, Vitriol, Alume (Ingredients of Aqua fortis) Flos Aeris, Crocus of Mars, Cinabar, (to increase the Tincture of the Sulphur) of each half a Verto (einem halben vierling, that is, a fourth part of half a pound, or two ounces) distil whatsoever will ascend, and take away the Liquors, the Oyls only being kept (not

Oyl, but Oyls, because they are two, White and Red) which must be put into a glass Cucurbit, the Species being added, as before, and the Caput mortuum pulverized; distil them again together as before; then pour the distillation back to the Faeces, and let it be putrified again for a Month, and distilled again: Then the Colours being evacuated or separated (the Red from the White) keep the Red, and rectifie it as is requisite, in which let Plates of Luna be digested a due time, and then reduced by cupellation.

Paracelsus sometimes made this Oyl or Fire of Sulphur by it self, without other tinging things for the graduating of pretious Stones as well as Metals. It is come to that, saith he, pag. 200. Lib. de Sulph. that the Spirit of Transmutation hath given his Receipt of making a Liver or Lung out of Linseed Oyl and Sulphur: The distillation of this Lung or Liver is done many ways; but it is sound by operating, that this Liver yields a Milk nothing differing from common Milk, being thick and fat; it yielded also a red Oyl like Blood: This Milk and that Blood confounded not their Colour and Essence by distillation, but remained distinct and separate one from the other, the White setling to the bottom, and the Red ascending to the top: Now Art has been solicitous in making Silver out of the White or Milk, and out of the Red, Gold; but to me it is plain that never any thing could be either by the Ancient or Modern Philosophers done with the White or Milk (of Sulphur) I do therefore affirm that Milk to be dead, and nothing contained in it: But as to the Red Oyl which yields the Liver, observe, every Cristal or Beril being first well polished or purified, &c. (See the fourth Book concerning the Ʋse of this Oyl in the Gradu∣tions of Pretious Stones) exalts Gems even to the highest de∣gree, yea higher than they can be exalted by Nature: Here also note, that all Silver put into it a due time, at length grows black, and leaves a golden Calx, yet not fixed before its exact time, but a volatile and immature thing; but if it hath its time, it performs all things feasible, whereof no more must be here declared. Thus therefore observe of Sulphur, if it be taken into degrees, the more subtil, clearer, higher, and of quicker operation it is, the higher and better it is: This way are Metals and Stones made. He that is about to attempt it,

must not think, but know himself able; for it is, as to Opera∣tion, the most dangerous Labour in all Alchymy, and there∣fore requires notable Experience, and repeated Practice, nor must he proceed by Hear-say, but by much Experience, &c.

Yet not being satisfyed with the strength of this Oyl in this twelfth gradation, he was willing to exalt it yet higher with other tinging things, as Flores Aeris, and Crocus of Mars, by which Paracelsus meant not Common but Philosophical Medicines. We perceive, saith he, Lib. 4. Archid. de Essentiis, pag. 16. Verdegrease is accoun∣ted the Quintessence of Venus, whereas it is not; but the Cro∣cus of Venus is a Quintessence so to be understood. Flos Aeris is a (common) transmutation with a thick and subtil substance toge∣ther, extracted out of the whole Complexion of Copper, where∣fore it can be no Quintessence; but the Crocus of Venus, as we have taught, is a true Quintessence, it being a potable thing, without corrosion, and in mixtion divided from the Body, very subtil, yea more than I am minded here to write, to avoid pro∣lixity. So also the Crocus of Mars and the rust of it has hither∣to been esteemed a Quintessence, it not being so; but the (true) Crocus of Mars is the Oyl of Mars, (which is sometimes in a dry form under the Name of an Essence, and called the Philosophical Crocus of Mars in the second Book of Medicines.

From the Receipts we observe.

1. That common Spirit of Vitriol, Butter of Antimony, Arsenick, Tin, &c. mix'd with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, are Philo∣sophical Spirit of Vitriol, Philosophical Butter of Antimony, &c.

2. That the Menstruums of this Kind, are the same with the Menstruums of the Fifteenth Kind; but with this difference, name∣ly, in that, Philosophical Vinegar not tinging is prepared, but in this, Philosophical Vinegar tinging; because these are made of the Acid Spirits of things tinging, that is Metals and Minerals; but those of the Acid Spirits of things not tinging, that is Vegetable Salts, and some Minerals, whose dry part was neither Metal, nor any coloured Body.

3. That these Menstruums are not only dissolving Waters, but al∣so gradatory, because prepared with things tinging.

4. That these Menstruums are the Essences of things tinging, or Magisteries dissolved in an Acid, and consequently Medicines.

5. That these Menstruums, may be also made of crude Oyls; provided a Man knows the way of preparing the Spirit of Philoso∣phical Wine.

6. That the same two Oyls of Sulphur (whereof the Red is an Essence, after the way of Paracelsus, that is, the best) which Pa∣racelsus elsewhere prepares with the most strong Aqua fortis, de∣scribed before in Numb. 91. are here made by the same Author, of a crude oyly matter.

7. That Vegetables and Animals as such, and crude, are not Ingredients in Philosophical Works, but as they are made incom∣bustible, and reduced into a Metallick Nature. The said sepa∣ration, saith the Author of Via Veritatis, pag. 253. You must well observe, for from hence the Ancient Sophi took occa∣sion to inquire into the Three Natures (Three Kingdoms) namely, the Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral; and they so much learned from it, that the separation of Natures is nothing else but a defect of coction in Nature: Then they considered them somewhat further, how (for instance) those Essences, which were most weakly cocted by Nature, might be succoured in a Natural way, with common Fire, that the Essences which are now combustible, may by their Liquors (which the Anci∣ents through envy called Mercury, and are black, separated from the Essence) be made perfect by Art, so as that the Es∣sences may remain with the Liquor safe and secure from burn∣ing, and the Liquor not be able to separate it self from the Es∣sence: This the Ancients called our Sulphur; for according to this preparation, the Essence is no more Vegetable, nor Ani∣mal, but now by coction made a Mineral Essence, and there∣fore called Sulphur. And afterwards, pag. 264. he thus pro∣ceeds, One Nature is more cocted by its moisture with its Elementary Fire, than another, whereof the Vegetable Nature is in coction the least, because the Essence of it is easily burn∣ed, and the Liquor also is most easily separated from the Ele∣mentary Fire, by the help of common Fire. The Animal Na∣ture) is in coction not much unlike the former (Vegetable Na∣ture) the Essence of it being likewise easily burned, and there∣fore

the Mineral Nature is in coction the highest, because the Metalick Liquor will be more and better united by coction with the Elementary Fire, than the other two aforesaid Na∣tures: Wherefore also, Metals do resist common Fire, better than the other things comprehended under a Vegetable and Animal Nature, as you may see by Metals put into Fire, which do not Flame as Wood; for the Essence of it is not so cocted with Liquor, as the Metalick moisture with its Essence; and the conjunction of the Liquor with the Essence is not Me∣talick, but simply Vegetable, which is consumed in a black Fume. But when the Essence hath attained to coction by Na∣ture, then it remains not a Vegetable, but is now made a Me∣talick, and is now consumed in a white Fume by common Fire, no otherwise than as you see in perfect Metals, when they are melted in Fire, disperse a white Fume from them. Now consider, saith Chortalasseus, or the Author of Arca ar∣cani Artificiosissimi, in his Cabula Chymica, pag. 369. Vol. 6. Th. Chym. by way of advice; how the aforesaid Speeches of Vegetables and Animals are to be taken, neither of them must be rejected; for they differ one from the other no otherwise, than that the Vapour is purer, and of greater quantity in one than the other; but you may make the more impure, like to the pure Vapour, for they may by subtil management be so reduced, that those two, that is, the Animal and Vegetable, in a Watry Body may be taken together with the Mineral Spirit or Vapour, and then the Mineral Spirit separated from the rest with great discretion, which though it shews it self in a small quantity, is not∣withstanding of the greatest Virtue, and clearer than the Light at Noon: In this state will that Spirit if you please bring the Animal and Vegetable Spirit, so as to be like it self. This is the Foundation of the whole Art, that is, for the Vegetable or Animal Spirit to leave its combustibi∣lity, and become Incorruptible, and Immortal: This is the Key to open all Gates; here you have the true first matter of Gems, and Metals: Yet if I consider this thing right∣ly, it is not the first Matter, but a threefold extraction out of the first matter of Gems; and therefore you ought

to praise God Eternally, and give him thanks in making you worthy of this matter, and vouchsafing you so much understanding, whereby to obtain to your use that which is the deepest in the Earth. I proceed in this first matter; which if you make Liquid, and open by the incombustible Vegetable Spirit (not common) you will be able to dissolve Gold, Silver, all Minerals, and Gems in it, and make it melt like Ice in warm Water, destroy, mortifie, and re∣new it again; by this means I say, visibly obtain, see, touch, and perceive an Astral Spirit (as a Lanthorn, wherein the Eternal Fire, and Virtue of the highest Star of Eternal Wisdom dwelleth) you will I say, with your Eyes behold an inconsumptible Fire, shining Night and Day; Sun, Moon, Stars, Carbuncles, and a Splendor exceeding all manner of Fire; and observe the perfection of the whole Firmament in it. O man, my Creature! how great a Divine Gift, as that which is above all the Heavens, most excellently clear, and is most deep in the Earth, may you in a few Hours time obtain, whereas she hath been a vast time employ∣ed in it, and in subtilty is far inferior to you, &c. The same Author of this first matter in his Rusticus. pag. 308. of the said Volume, thus: This Doctrine certainly is very wor∣thy of Observation; for many Notable Men, do herein err, thinking they have the first matter, when they have ob∣tained the Philosophers Mercury, or Salt of Metals: For the first matter is made when the Man and Woman are joyned together, witness Count Bernhard, saying: Then is the Conjunction called the first Matter, and not before; that is, of the Stone, and all Metals; concerning which see Turba: For before this is done, we do according to the foundation of Nature, and with good reasons deservedly reject Animals and Vegetables, as things extraneous, and con∣trary and ineffectual to our Work, and our Stone we place rightly among Minerals.

8. That both Spirits ought to be warily mixed, because of the danger of overmuch effervescence.

9. That these Menstruums are by digestion made sweet, and cal∣led the sweet Spirit of Vitriol, sweet Butter of Antimony.

10. That the Spirit of Philosophical Wine is sometimes not expressed in the Receipts of Menstruums; but it appears by collateral places, and necessity requires it to be understood.