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.

117. The Mercurial Water of Albertus Magnus. Libro Compositum de Compositis. Cap. 5. Pag. 937. Vol. 4. Th. Chym.

TAke of Roman Vitriol two Pounds, of Sal Niter two Pounds, of Alume calcined one Pound; being well ground and mix'd together put the Matter in a fit Glass Phial, and having luted the Joynts very close, that the Spirits may not evaporate, distill Aqua fortis after the com∣mon way, first with a weak Fire, secondly a stronger, third∣ly with Wood, that all the Spirits may go over, and the Alembick turn white; then put out the Fire, let the For∣nace cool, and keep the Water carefully, because it is the Dissolvitive of Luna, keep it therefore for the finishing of the Work, because that Water dissolves Luna, separates Gold from Silver, calcines Mercury and the Crocus of Mars, &c. This is the first Philosophical Water (Common Aqua fortis) and hath one Degree of Perfection in it. Take of the first Water one pound, dissolve in it two Ounces of (Ve∣getable) Sal armoniack pure and clear, which being dissol∣ved, the Water is presently otherwise qualified, and other∣wise coloured, because the first was of a Green Colour, and the Dissolvitive of Luna, and not of Sol, and presently af∣ter the putting in of the Sal armoniack the Colour of it is turned to a Citrine, and dissolveth Gold, Mercury, and Sul∣phur sublimed, and tingeth a Mans Skin of a most Citrine Colour, keep that Water (Philosophical Aqua Regis) a∣part. Take of the second Water one Pound, and of Mer∣cury sublimed with Roman Vitriol, and common Salt five

Ounces and a half, put it to the second Water by little and little gradually, seal the Mouth of the Glass well, that the Virtue of the Mercury put in may not suddenly exhale; put the Glass in Ashes temperately hot, and the Water will pre∣sently begin to work upon the Mercury, dissolving it and incorporating; and let the Glass stand thus in hot Ashes, and in the dissolution of the Water, till the Water appears no more, but has wholly dissolved the Sublimed Mercury: Now the Water acts always upon Mercury by the way of imbibi∣tion, till it dissolves it totally: But take notice, if the Water cannot wholly dissolve the Mercury put in, then lay aside the Mercury that is dissolved by that Water, and that which is not dissolved at the bottom dry with a gentle Fire, grind, and dissolve it with new Water as before, and thus repeat this Order, till all the Sublimed Mercury is dissolved into Water: And then joyn all the solutions of that third Water, into one, in a clean Glass, and stop the Mouth of it well with Wax, and keep it carefully: This is the third Philosophical thick qualified Water in the third degree of Perfection, and is the Mother of Aqua Vitae, which dissolves all Bodies into their first Matter. Take the third clarifi'd Mercurial Water, qualifi'd in the third Degree of Perfecti∣on, putrefie it in the Belly of a Horse, to be well digested in a clear Glass with a long Neck, well sealed the space of 14 days, make it putrefie, and the Feces settle at the bot∣tom, then will this Water be transmuted from a Citrine to a Yellow Colour, which done, take out the Glass, put it in Ashes with a most gentle heat, put on an Alembick with its Receiver, and begin to distil by little and little a most clear, clean, ponderous Aqua Vitae, Virgins Milk, most sharp Vinegar, drop by drop, continuing constantly a slow Fire, till you have distilled all the Aqua Vitae gently, then put out the Fire, let the Fornace cool, and keep it dili∣gently apart. Behold this is Aqua Vitae, the Philosophers Vinegar, Virgins Milk, by which Bodies are resolved into their first Matter, which is called by infinite Names. The Signs of this Water are these, if a Drop be cast upon a Cop∣per Plate red hot, it will presently penetrate, and leave a White Impression, it smoaks upon Fire, is coagulated in the

Air after the manner of Ice: and when this Water is distil∣led, the Drops of it do not enter continually as other Drops, but one is distilled one way, another another way; this Wa∣ter acts not upon Metallick Bodies, as another strong Corro∣sive Water, which dissolves Bodies into Water, but if Bo∣dies be put into this Water, it reduceth and resolves them all into Mercury, as you shall hear hereafter.

Paracelsus made this Water by the following Method.