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.

99. A Menstruum of Basilius made of Hunga∣rian Vitriol. In Elucid. 12. Clavium.

IF you have obtained such a highly graduated and well prepared Mineral, called Vitriol, most humbly beseech God to give Understanding and Wisdom for the success of your Intention, and when you have calcined it, put it into a Retort well luted: Distil it at first with a slow Fire, then increase it, and the White Spirit of Vitriol will appear in the form of a horrid Fume or Wind, and passeth into the Receiver so long as any of the same Matter is in it: And take Notice, that in this Wind are hidden all the Three Princi∣ples, proceeding from one and the same Habitation; it is not necessary therefore to be always diving in pretious Things, because by this Means a nearer way to the Myste∣ries of Nature lies open, and is obvious to all Men apt to learn Art and Wisdom. Now if you can well and purely separate and free this Expelled Spirit by the way of Distilla∣tion, from its terrene Moisture, then will you find in the bottom of the Glass Treasure, and the Fundamentals of all the Philosophers, hitherto known to few, which is a Red Oyl ponderous as Lead or any Gold whatsoever, as thick as Blood, of a burning and fiery quality, which is the true Fluid Gold of the Philosophers, which Nature com∣pacted of the Three Principles, in which are found Spirit, Soul, and Body, and it is Philosophical Gold, that (Spi∣rit of Philosophical Wine) excepted, with which the Dissolu∣tion of it is performed, &c.

Cinabar the Adepts sometimes added to the Vitriol thus.