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 One and Twentieth KIND. Compounded Mineral Menstruums of Simple Mineral Menstruums and Mercury, the rest of the Metals, and other Tinging Things.

113. The Spirit of Venus or Spirit of Verde∣greece of Basilius. Libr. Partic. de Particul. Veneris.

TAke of Copper as much as you will, of which make Vitriol the common way, or instead of it take Com∣mon Verdegreece sold in Shops, which will do the same thing; to which being pulverized, pour (Common) Di∣stilled Vinegar, put it in a heat, decant the Vinegar, being transparent and green, to the remainder pour new Vinegar, and repeat the Work, till the Vinegar be tinged, and the Matter remain in the bottom of the Vessel black; draw off the Vinegar being tinged and gathered together either to driness, or to a thin Skin, that the Vitriol may be cristalli∣zed, and you will have the Verdegreece purified (after the common way) to which being pulverized, pour the Juice of Unripe Grapes (Philosophical Vinegar in Numb. 74.) put it in a gentle heat, and digesting you will have a transparent Sma∣gragdine

Tincture, with which is extracted the Red Tincture of Venus, an excellent Colour for Painters. This Tincture being extracted, mix all the Extractions together, and draw off the Phlegme gently, that the Vitriol being very clear (gra∣duated) may be cristallized in a Cold place, whereof if you have a sufficient quantity, you have also enough Matter for the making of the Philosophical Stone; if perhaps you should doubt to perform such a Mystery with every (Natural) Vi∣triol whatsoever: Concerning this Preparation we lately spoke parabolically in Libro Clavium, Capite de Wein Essig. where we said: That common Azoth is not the Matter of our Stone, but our Azoth or first Matter extracted by common Azoth and Wine, which are the expressed Juice of unripe Grapes, whereby the Body of Venus is to be dissolved and reduced into Vitriol: This is to be well observed, for thus you will free your selves from many Difficulties. Now out of this Vitriol thus prepared, distil a Spirit and Red Oil, &c.

Annotations.

IN the Eighth Kind common Mercury and Metals were ei∣ther by the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, or by some sim∣ple Vegetable Menstruums converted into compounded Ve∣getable Menstruums. In the Twentieth antecedent Kind, tinging Arids dissolved in Acids are more easily distilled toge∣ther with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine into compounded Mineral Menstruums: But the present Kind volatilizeth the said Bodies, not by the Spirit of Philosophical Wine; but Mi∣neral Menstruums, that the Menstruums may be thereby made sooner, easier, and of a higher Kind. In the last Kind we di∣stilled natural Vitriol, being macerated in the Spirit of Phi∣losophical Wine, or, which is much more conducible, dis∣solved in the same Spirit, and reduced into graduated Vi∣triol, into a Mineral Menstruum: For the natural aci∣dity of Roman Vitriol for the corrosion of Copper, was in the composition of it able and strong enough to dissolve the Spirit of Philosophical Wine in the making of the said

Menstruum; but here in Artificial Vitriols the matter is other∣wise; for the dry Bodies of Metals co-operating in their Disso∣lutions do debilitate the acid, and therefore Vitriols, contain∣ing this debilitated acidity, are scarce fit either for the dissolu∣tion of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, or the constitution of the present Menstruum: Wherefore the Vitriols of Saturn and Jupiter being made with a common acid, do by virtue of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, yield sweet Oils, or Vegetable Menstruums, not at all acid or mineral; for that weak acid re∣maining in the Vitriolification of those soft Metals, is wholly transmuted in the dissolution of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, as also in the very Distillation of it self, so that Vitriol being artificially made of Copper and Iron by acids, is distilled not by the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, but Mineral Menstruums, into a Menstruum of the present Kind; but Gold and Silver need not only these Mineral or Stronger Menstruums, but to be likewise volatilized by the same, and reduced into Volatile Vitriols.

Thus Basilius in Conclusionibus suis. Sect. 2. de Vitriolis. Cap. 1. de Vitriolo Solis & Lunae: reduced Gold and Silver in∣to Volatile Vitriol. It is requisite, saith he, first to have our Water made of the cold Salt of the Earth (Niter) and the Eagle (Vegetable Sal harmoniack) wherewith Gold and Sil∣ver are made spiritual, and coagulated into Cristal, or Me∣tallick Vitriol, by which, &c. In Labore primo Libri Reve∣lationis, ut & in Elucidatione 12 Clavium, this Vitriol of Sol is more exactly thus described: Take, saith he, of this Water (the Kings Bath or Menstruum described above in Numb. 89.) three parts, of the Calx of Gold one part, mixe, put it in a Cucurbit with an Alembick upon hot Ashes, to be dissolved, if it be not all dissolved, pour off the Water and pour on new, and that, till all the Calx is dissolved in the Water, when it is cold, white Feces settle in the bottom, which separate, joyn all the Water together, and digest in Balneo a day and a night; then having taken away the Feces, digest the space of nine days continually, distill away the Water, that the Matter may remain in the bottom like Oyl, the Water distilled from it pour on again being heated, di∣still, as before, pour on again, distill, and this repeat some

certain times, thus will (the Menstruum) be debilitated, then pour new Water to the Matter like Oyl, digest a day and a night, distill in Sand to an Oyl, pour on Water a∣gain being hot; distill, and that so oft till all the Gold is come over, but this Distillation ought to be done in a low Cucurbit, with a flat bottom, put the Golden Water which came over in a cold place, to cristallize, separate the Water from them. Guido made the Volatile Vitriol of Gold out of Gold sublimed: The Gold he sublimed thus: Take of Gold calcined twelve times with three parts of Cinabar, or of Leaf Gold four Ounces, of the Oyl of Salt (the Menstruum described in Numb. 76.) twelve Ounces, dissolve in ashes. Draw off the Oyl of Salt from it several times, putrifie for a Moneth, then distill, and all the Gold will be sublimed, of a Red Colour in the tenth or twelfth Sublimation; but if it will not be sublimed, joyn all together, and draw off the Phlegme in Balneo, to the remainder add of the Oyl of Tartar per deliquium four Ounces gradually, and force it with a stronger Fire, and the Gold will ascend Red with the Menstruum, and be precipitated in the bottom of it; decant the Water from the Gold, upon which kindle Recti∣fied Spirit of (Common) Wine eight or nine times, to take away all the Acidity of the Oyl of Salt. Pag. 11. Thesaur. Chym. With Gold thus sublimed he prepared the graduated Vi∣triol of Sol by the following Method. Take of Gold subli∣med four Ounces and a half, pour to it Radical Vinegar (mix'd with the Spirit of Wine) the height of three Fingers, digest three days in Balneo, decant the Vinegar, and pour on new, till all be dissolved, which draw off in Balneo, but beware of too much; put it in a cold Cellar, and the Vitri∣ol of Gold will be cristallized of a Ruby or Granat Colour, more or less beautiful, according to the Method of Opera∣ting; from which decant the Liquor again to be drawn off to a thin Skin, till you have five Ounces of the Vitriol. Pag. 19. Thesaur. Chym. The same way also he prepared the Gradua∣ted Vitriol of Luna, Pag. 31. as also of Mars, Pag. 36. But Jupiter, Pag. 42. Venus, Pag. 45. and Saturn, Pag. 49. he calcin'd onely, and reduc'd them with the aforesaid Vinegar in∣to Graduated Vitriols, out of all which Vitriols may Men∣struums

of this Kind be distilled, as Basilius his Spirit of Venus.

Isaacus distilled the Spirit of Saturn out of the Graduated Vitriol of Lead, thus,

114. The Water of Paradise of Isaacus. In Opere Saturni.

TAke of Saturn ten or fifteen Pounds, which no other Metal is mix'd with, beat it into thin Plates, and have a Bottle half full of Vinegar, lute, put it in a warm Balneo, and every three or four days scrape the Sa∣turn that is calcined from the Plates, gather about five or six Pounds of it, grind this calcined Saturn (Ceruse) with distilled (Philosophical) Vinegar, upon a Marble, so as with a Pencil to serve for a Picture, then take a Stone Jugg, and therein pour Distilled Vinegar to the calcined Saturn, leav∣ing a third part of the Jugg empty, mix very well, stop it with a Glass or Stone Stopple, set it in Balneo, stir it five or six times a day with a Woodden Slice or Spoon, stop it again, nor heat the Balneo more than that you may endure your hand in it; let it thus stand 14 days and nights, then pour off the clear, and pour new Vinegar to the Calx not yet dissolved; mix, proceed, as before, repeating, till all the Calx of Saturn is dissolved; put the Saturn being thus dissolved in Balneo, evaporate the Vinegar with a slow Fire, the Saturn will be reduced into a Mass, which move to and fro till it be dry; it will be of a Honey Colour, rub it on a Marble with Distilled Vinegar, like Soap, put it again in the Stone Jugge, being very well mixed, in a warm Balneo the space of five or six days; stir it every day with a Woodden Slice, stop the Glass, let it cool, pour off what is dissolved into another large Stone Jugge, pour other Vinegar to it, mix very well, put it again in Balneo, pour off, and thus proceed, till nothing more will be dissolved, which you may try by your tongue, for if the Vinegar be sweet, it is not enough dissolved; or put a little in a Glass Cucurbit, and

let it evaporate, if any thing remains, all that will be Gold is not dissolved, and that which remains in the Jugge, or Fe∣ces, if they be sweet upon the tongue, and you find yet some∣thing in the Cucurbit that is not enough dissolved, you may dissolve it by pouring new Vinegar to it. These Solutions coagulate, as before, dissolve in Distilled Vinegar, as be∣fore; these Coagulations and Solutions continue, till no more Feces remain in the bottom, but are all things dissolved into a clear and limpid Water; then is Saturn free from all its Le∣prosie, Melancholy, Feces, Blackness, and Superfluities, and is pure, as (now, being exempted from all filth) fusible as Wax, and sweet as Sugar, &c. Take half of the Purged Saturn, put it in a Stone Jugge, and pour to it four Pounds of Distilled Vinegar, put on an Alembick, and distill the Vinegar in Balneo, but the Alembick must have a hole in the top, through which pour new Vinegar, distill, as before, pour on new and draw off, and that till the Vinegar be drawn off as strong as it is poured on, then is it enough, be∣cause the Matter hath imbibed as much of the Spirits of the Vinegar, as it needs, and as much as it can retain: Take the Jugge from the Fire, and the Alembick being taken off, put the Matter into a Glass that can endure the Fire, put an A∣lembick to it, put it in a Copel with Ashes in a Fornace; make first a gentle Fire, increase it by degrees, till your Matter goes over of the Colour of Blood, and thickness of Oyl, sweetness of Sugar, and of a heavenly smell; if the heat diminisheth, keep it while the Matter distills, increase the Fire, till the Glass begins to be Fire hot, keep it in this heat, till nothing more distills; let it cool by it self, take away the Receiver, and stop it very well with Wax, beat the Matter (Caput mortuum) in an Iron Mortar, with a Steel Pestle, and then grind it upon a Marble with Distill'd Vine∣gar (Vinegar mix'd with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine) put it in a Stone Jugge two parts full, distill by Balneo, pour on new Vinegar, distill as before, repeat, till the Vinegar distills with the same strength as it was poured on, let them cool, distill the Matter in a strong Glass upon Ashes as be∣fore, first with a gentle Fire, then alstronger, as you did before, a Red Oil will go over, as before, &c. beat the

Matter, and proceed again, till the Matter will retain no more of the Spirit of Vinegar in the Distillation in Balneo, then take the Matter, distil what will distil in a glass Cucur∣bit upon Ashes, till you have distilled the Matter into a Red Oil, which is the noble Water of Paradise, by which all Fixed Stones may be resolved, and the Stone made perfect. This Water of Paradise the Ancients call'd their sharp, clear, Vinegar, &c.

Metals sometimes are not reduced into graduated Vitriols, but by repeated Cohobation made Menstruums of this Kind Thus

115. The Mercurial Vinegar of Trismosinus. Libro Moratosan sive Octo Tincturarum in Secunda Tinctura, Pag. 79. Aur. Vell. Germ.

TAke Argent Vive purged the common way, put it in an Alembick, whereto pour very sharp Vinegar (Vinegar mix'd with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine described before in Numb. 72.) three Ounces of Vinegar to one Ounce of Mercury; draw off six times in Balneo, then force it to ascend into the Receiver, being distilled, rectifie it, and it will be prepared.

Sometimes instead of Philosophical Vinegar he used the strongest Aqua Fortis described in Numb. 73.

116. The Mercurial Water of Trismosinus. Libr. Octo Tincturar. in Tinct. quarta. Pag. 80. Aurei Vell. Germ.

TAke of Roman Vitriol, Sal Niter, of each one Pound and a half, of (Vegetable) Sal armoniack four Oun∣ces, of Tiles pulverized one Pound, out of which distil Aqua fortis by the Rule of Art. Take of Venetian

Mercury sublimed (you must have a care of its Venemous Fume) four Ounces, put it in a Cucurbit, pour the said Aqua fortis to it, draw off strongly, that the Mercury may be well mixed with the Aqua fortis, and it will be pre∣pared.

Albertus Magnus prepared the same Mercurial Water thus,

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.

118. The Mecurial Water of Paracelsus. In Appendice Manualis de Lap. Phil. Pag. 139.

TAke of Mercury seven times sublimed with Vitriol, Sal Niter, and Alume, three pounds of (Vegetable) Sal armoniack sublimed three times with Salt, clear and white, one Pound and a half, being ground together and alcolized, sublime them in a Sublimatory nine hours in Sand: Being cold, draw off the Sublimate with a Feather, and with the rest sublime, as before: This Operation repeat four times, till no more sublimes, and a Black Mass remains in the bottom flowing like Wax; being cold take it out, and being ground again, imbibe it often in the Water of Sal ar∣moniack prepared according to Art (the Menstruum descri∣bed in Numb. 91.) in a Glass Dish, and being coagulated of it self, imbibe it again, and dry nine or ten times over, till it will scarce any more be coagulated: Being ground fine∣ly upon a Marble, dissolve it in a moist place to a clear Oil, which you must rectifie by Distillation in Ashes from all Fe∣ces and Sediment. This Water keep diligently as the best of all.

Lully made his Mercurial Water of Mercury and the Stink∣ing Menstruum thus,

119. The Stinking Mercvrial Menstruum of Lully. Pag. 63. Testam. Novissimi.

TAke of the Stinking Menstruum four Pounds, and put in one pound of Mercury Vive, put the Matter in Bal∣neo or Horse Dung six days, and it will be all converted in∣to Water, distil by Balneo, and you will have a Mercurial Water, truly Mineral.

Ripley followed his Master in the way of making the Mer∣curial Water, as followeth.

120. The Mercurial Green Lion of Ripley. Pag. 310. Pupillae Alchymicae.

TAke Mercury sublimed with Vitriol and common Salt, to the quantity of 20 or 40 Pounds (in my opinion two or four ought to be read) that you may have enough. Grind it well into Powder, and put it in a Glass Vessel very large and strong, pour to it so many Pounds of the most strong Water (the Stinking Menstruum is the strongest Water in the World, Pag. 138. Medullae) as there are Pounds of Mercury: Shake them soundly together, and the Vessel will become so hot, that you can scarce touch it; stop it well, and let it stand nine days in a cold place, shaking it strongly three or four times each day: Which done, put the Vessel in a Fornace of Ashes, and with a most gentle heat distil away all the A∣qua Vitae (Menstruum) which keep safe by it self, then im∣mediately add another Receiver well luted, kindle a most strong Fire, and continue it till all the Golden Liquor is wholly distilled.

The same ways as the Mercurial Waters are made, may al∣so be made Menstruums of this Kind out of the other Metals, thus.

121. The Stinking Lunar Menstruum of Lully. In Experimento 29.

TAke of the aforesaid Mineral Water (described in Numb. 104.) as you have it in the former Experiment (Numb. 26.) six or eight Ounces, dissolve in it one Ounce of Luna, which dissolution put into a small Retort to be distil∣led by Ashes; which Distillation ceasing, increase the Fire as much as possible, and when no more moisture will with this degree of Fire distil, cool the Vessel, receive the Distil∣led Water, wherein is the Soul of Luna, and secure it from respiring.

Thus also Lully prepares the Water of Sol.

122. The Stinking Solar Menstruum of Lully. In Experim. 31.

TAke the Aqua Fortis or Mineral Water (described in Numb. 104.) as above, and in every Pound thereof dissolve three Ounces of the Animal Salt prepared and fixed, as you have it in its (Sixth) Experiment: Which be∣ing dissolved, dissolve therein two Ounces of Gold cement∣ed, as you know, after that putrefie eight days, then di∣still by Balneo: Now that which remains at the bottom, will be like melted Honey, upon which Matter pour again some of its own Water distilled by Balneo, so as to swim two fin∣gers above it; putrefie for a natural day, then taking away the Antenotorium, put on an Alembick with a Receiver, so close, as not to respire: Distil by Ashes, till no more will distil, then increase the Fire a little, that part of the Air may pass into the Water; and lastly increase the Fire, that also the Element of Fire may pass through the Alembick; and when nothing will distil with this last degree of Fire, cool the Ves∣sel, take away the Receiver with its Distilled Water, and keep it well stopp'd.

Isaacus Hollandus made a Mercurial Water sometimes with the Mercury of Luna, thus.

123. Philosophers Vinegar made of the Mercury of Silver of Isaacus. Cap. 99. 2. Oper. Min. Pag. 492. Vol. 3. Th. Cym.

TAke of the Calx of Luna one Pound, of Sal armoniack, which must be clear and transparent as Cristal, with∣out moisture, a fourth part, being ground, put them in a Stone Jugge, then take (Philosophical) Vinegar distilled five or six times from its Phlegme, so as to leave no Feces; empty the Vinegar into another Stone Jugge, and having put on an Alembick, place it in Balneo: The Jugge which the ground Calx is in, lute well to the beak of the Alembick, and let the Luting be throughly dried: Then make Fire un∣der the Balneo, and distil the Vinegar leasurely upon the Calx of Luna; and so many Pounds as you have of the Calx of Luna, so many four Pounds of Vinegar distil upon it, and when all the Vinegar is distilled, let it cool gently the space of three days, before you remove the Jugge, for if you re∣move it sooner, the Vinegar, Luna, and Sal armoniack will run over, and you will retain nothing, so vehement is that Matter, for Cold and Hot do come together; and when you would remove it, have a Glass Stopple ready fitted to the mouth of the Jugge, or Receiver, which you must present∣ly lute to it, that the Virtue may not evaporate: Then set the Jugge in Balneo, let the Fire be no hotter than your hand can well endure in the Water up to the Knuckles, or then may be drunk without burning, and thus keep it the space of six weeks: Then let it be cold, break it, and pre∣sently lute an Alembick to the Jugge very firmly, and put a Receiver to the Beak, distil in a temperate Balneo, whatso∣ever will distil, and when now no more distils, take it out, and put it in Ashes, lute the Receiver again to the Beak, and first apply a gentle heat, then sometimes a stronger, till your Mercury begins to sublime with the Sal armoniack,

as white as Snow, and hanging to the White Matter with clear Fibers, then keep it thus (till you see it sublimes not) in the same heat, to extract the Mercury purely out of the Earth: Then let it cool, take away the Alembick, take out the Mercury being sublimed with the Sal armoniack, which are sublimed into a Mass together, which weigh, that you may know how much Mercury you sublimed out of the Calxes of Luna, for you knew how much Sal armoniack you put in∣to the Jugge: Then put the Sublimate again into a Glass, and again sublime, that you may see whether any Feces re∣main, for you must repeat the Sublimation till no Feces remain. Keep this Mercury till I teach you what to do with it: You must know that in that Vessel, wherein you subli∣med the Mercury with the Sal armoniack, is the Body (com∣monly called Caput Mortuum) or Element of Earth with its Oyl or Fire, this take out and weigh, that so you may the better know, how much Mercury you sublimed also out of it, for you knew how much of the Calx of Luna you had in the Jugge, so you may certainly know how much you have out of it: Then put your Salt or Earth into a Glass, and pour Distill'd Vinegar upon it, and dissolve it into a pure Water, if it yields any Feces, pour off the top gra∣dually, and congeal again, till it leaves no more Feces, then congeal again: Then have you your Salt prepared with your Earth clear as Cristal. Now take your Sublimed Mercury and Sal armoniack, and your clear Salt, and grind them together upon a Marble dry, being ground, put all the Matter into a Glass Plate, set it on a Tripos or our Cal∣cining Fornace, and there let it stand six Weeks, and apply such a heat, as if you would keep Lead melted without congealing: Those six Weeks being expired, let it cool, then put it in a cold Cellar, and cover it with a Linnen Cloth, that no dust may fall in, and in the space of six or eight days it will be wholly dissolved into a clear Water. Now you must know, this is the Philosopers clear Vinegar, for when they write our Vinegar, they mean this Water, and when they say Philosophers Mercury, they mean this Water, and it is their Vinegar which they write or so wonderful∣ly speak of.

From the Receipts we observe:

1. That Metals and Minerals volatilized with Simple Mi∣neral Menstruums are Menstruums of this Kind.

2. That these Menstruums are the same with the Menstru∣ums of the Eighth Kind dissolved in Simple Mineral Men∣struums, but differ from the antecedent Kind, in being made not with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, but Philosophical Vinegar.

3. That these Menstruums are the Essences or Magisteries of Things tinging dissolved in Simple Mineral Menstruums.

4. That those Menstruums being Mineral or Acid, are in Alchymical Processes better than the Vegetable Menstruums of the Eighth Kind, because stronger.

5. That the dissolutions of Metals performed by these Mercu∣rial Menstruums, have been by the Adepts sometimes called A∣malgamations. You must know, saith Isaacus, That this is the best Solution, that ever was found in the World, for herein is no error of Proportion and Weight. For Nature errs not. For when Mercury is dissolved, it dissolves other Metals also, as is rightly taught in other places. Nor will it dissolve more than it is able, nor will it receive more of a Body into it, than its Nature can bear. For whatsoever has no need of it, it cannot dissolve. And it is the best Amalgamation that can be found. 2. Oper. Min. Cap. 103. Pag. 494. Vol. 3. Th. Chym. That Bernhard in Epistola ad Thomam treated not of a dry but of this moist Amalgamation, I shall prove elsewhere.

6. That the Menstruum of Venus, Sol, Luna, &c. is of the same Virtue, as to the faculty of Dissolving, with the Men∣struum of common Argent Vive; this Mercurial Menstruum has been indeed more in use than the other by some Adepts, be∣cause of the more easie way of operating upon the Open Body of Mercury, tho it be less powerful than the rest in Point of Tinging.

7. That there are divers Kinds of Stinking Menstruums: The Thirteenth Kind taught us how to distil the most Stinking Menstruum of all, out of Atrop: For there the Oyly Matter of

the Spirit of (Philosophical) Wine being dissolved in Vitriol, is in its Distillation purged from all its Putrid Feculencies; but the Twentieth Kind treats of Menstruums less stinking, be∣ing made of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine now purified and sweet: The present Kind produceth from the same Matter Menstruums of the same Name indeed, but not of the same Stink∣ing Savour, Colour, &c. For Philosophical Vinegar is, by rea∣son of the perfect dissolution of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, Diaphanous, not of a Milky Colour, but in the Distillation of a Menstruum it is made Milky, because the Acidity of the said Vinegar being debilitated by the Aridity of a Body dissolved, cannot retain the Ʋnctious Spirit of Philosophical Wine so well as before, but in the precipitation of which the Distilled Li∣quor becomes Milky; for this reason the Adepts sometimes ad∣ded common Vitriol and Niter to the Azoquean Vitriol, that the said Spirit might the better be dissolved. In a word: The greater quantity of Philosophical Vinegar, or any other Mine∣ral Menstruum stronger than this, is made use of in the making of these Menstruums, the less Milky, and less Stinking will the Menstruums be, because made not of the embrionated Stink∣ing Matter of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, but of the same purified by Circulation and Distillation.

8. That these, as all other Menstruums, are by Digestion made sweet and transmuted into Dissolvents of the Eighth Kind.