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.

104. The Stinking Menstruum of Lully made of Vitriol, Niter, Alume, Tartar, and Cinabar. In Experimento 26.

TAke Aqua Vitae so hot as to burn a Linnen Cloth, then take Vitriol free from all Phlegme, so as to Boyl upon Fire without Liquefaction (Vitriol calcin'd the common way) the best Sal Niter, Roch Alume dephlegmed and dried, one Pound of all the aforesaid, of white Tartar calcined, and Cinabar of each half a Pound, grind and sift every one severally through a Sieve; then mix, and put the Matter into a Retort, pouring the aforesaid Aqua Vitae up∣on it, put a Receiver to it, the Joynts being very close, and the Luting first thoroughly dried: The Receiver must be large, as those, wherein Aqua Fortises are commonly distil∣led: Now the Luting being dried, make a gentle Fire at first, till the Retort grows warm, then continue the Di∣stillation in this degree, that you may pronounce ten words between each drop of the Distilling Water, and when it will Distill no more with that Degree of Fire, increase the Fire so as to return the Distillation again to the same ten Words as at first; and this degree continue, till the Distillation in∣creaseth again, and lastly, increase the Fire with Wood, co∣vering the Retort round about with Tiles above, that it may have a Fire of Reverberation; but this observe, the Retort must first be strengthened on all sides with strong Lu∣ting, before this Distillation is begun, and when the Di∣stillation is begun, and when the Distillation is, it ought to be placed in a convenient Fornace, with an open Neck; but it would be best and most commodious in this Work, if the Receiver of this Distilling Water could be handsomly set in a Bason full of cold Water, but if that cannot be, you must at least lay Linnen Cloths dip'd in Water upon the Receiver again and again oftentimes; thus the Receiver may not be broken by the violence of the Spirits, all which particulars mark well. The Distillation being ended, let

the Vessels cool, and keep the Receiver with the Water very close stopped. Then take the same Mineral dried, and prepared as before, in the same order and measure, which grind together, and put into a Retort, as before, and pour the Water a little before Distilled upon it, fit a Receiver to it, the Joynts being very well Luted, as before, and ha∣ving dried the Luting, put Fire under, the Distillation be∣ing compleated, take again New Materials of the same Weight, and put them again into a Retort with their own Water, and Distil, as before, with the same Degrees of Fire; which being done, and the Vessel cold, take away the Receiver, and keep it carefully with its Distilled Water firmly stopped: For you will have a Physical Mineral Water, or Stinking Menstruum with its Form: This Water hath the power of Calcining, and at the same time dissolving all Metals with the preservation of their Vegetative Form: Many Experiments we have herewith both seen and done.

Isaacus Hollandus to augment the strength of these Menstru∣ums, did rather add some tinging Minerals to the Vitriol, than the Acidity of Niter and Alume. Thus he prepared a Menstru∣um called,