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 Two and Twentieth KIND. Mineral Menstruums compounded of the Philsophers Vinegar, and other Simple Mineral Menstruums and Things tinging being first fixed. (Book 22)

124. The Menstruum of Venus of Isaacus Hollandus. Cap. 82. 3. Oper. Miner.

I Will now Son teach you how to make the Stone, which God gives us freely. You must know it is made divers Ways, but I will teach you the Way which I learnt from my Father. Take of the Stone which God gives us free∣ly (the Vitriol of Venus) as much as sufficeth, which dissolve in (Philosophical) distill'd Vinegar, let the Feces settle, de∣cant the Dissolution from the Feces warily, and filter; draw off the Vinegar with a gentle Fire, that the Matter may re∣main dry; being dried dissolve it again in Distill'd Vinegar, decant, filter, and draw off, and that to be four times re∣peated, till no more Feces settle in the Solution: Then distil away the Vinegar with a gentle Fire, till the Matter be∣comes so dry, as to flie away in the beating of it into Pow∣der, yet retains its Spirits: Now it is prepared for Calcina∣tion. You must know Son, that this Matter is in its Nature

Stiptick and Astringent, partly volatile, partly fixed, and so dissolved in Distil'd Vinegar, that it may retain the subtil Spirit of the Vinegar, and be calcined together with the said Spirit, made more subtil, be better opened and dissol∣ved, for the Spirit of Vinegar dissolves well before all things. The Vitriol being thus prepared, Put it in a Glass Bottle or Egg, lute hermetically, but the Vessels must be fill'd, that there may be no space for the Spirits to elevate themselves, set it on a Tripos, and there let it remain in a temperate heat, to subtiliate it self: Then take out the Matter, and pulverize it, put it in a Cucurbit, put on an Alembick with a Receiver to it, and so distil in Balneo whatsoever will distil, it will be distilled in about 20 or 25 days: Then lay aside the Distillation, take out the Feces lying at the bottom of the Cucurbit, grind them very fine upon a Stone, put them in a Dissolving Vessel, pour all the Distilled Water to them, seal hermetically, and it will be all dissolved in Balneo without Feces; distil the Solu∣tion in a Cucurbit through an Alembick in Balneo with a moderate heat, that all the Water may separate it self, which keep very choicely; continue the Distillation in Ashes, that you may receive the Element of Air in the form of a ve∣ry noble Citrine Oyl; and this must be done with a strong Fire, lay aside the Air by it self very well stopped near the Water: The Feces being as red as Blood, take out of the Cucurbit, grind them to an Impalpable Powder upon a Stone, put them in a Glass Bottle or Egge, seal, and set it 30 days and nights on a Tripos to be subtiliated with a tem∣perate heat, then take out the Matter, grind it to Powder, put it in a Dissolving Vessel, pour to it the Element of Wa∣ter (above distilled) seal, and put it in Balneo, to be dissol∣ved, as before; distil the Solution through an Alembick in Ashes (the Receiver must be put into cold Water) increase the Fire by degrees, till at length it be hot; so let it conti∣nue five or six days, and in the mean time will ascend the Ele∣ment of Fire in the form of a Red Oyl, suffer it to be cool∣ing three or four days, then take away the Receiver, keep it very well stopp'd, &c.

Annotations.

WE have had divers graduated Vitriols in the former Receipts, which have yielded us divers Menstru∣ums. The Vitriol in this Kind is made better than all of them; for it is made of Vitriol graduated in a close Ves∣sel, fixed according to Art, and again dissolved in Philoso∣phical Vinegar, that by Distillation it may be made a better Menstruum than those before. In the Ninth Kind of Vegetable Menstruums the graduated Vitriol of Mercury, made of Mer∣cury sublimed and Salt circulated, is in a close Vessel reverbe∣rated into a Fixed Powder, which Crocus of Mercury then volatilized with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, makes a Vegetable Menstruum. If the same graduated Vitriol of Mer∣cury be in a close Vessel reverberated into a Fix'd Precipitate, and then dissolved, not in the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, but Philosophical Vinegar, or some other Mineral Menstruum, it will be thereby made a Menstruum of this Kind. That which is spoken of the Vitriol of Mercury, must be also understood of the present Vitriol of Venus in our Receipt; where Isaacus dis∣solves the said Vitriol in Phiosophical Vinegar, depurates and graduates, which then he calcines, that is, fixeth upon a Tri∣pos•• being fixed it must be dissolved in new Philosophical Vi∣negar, and volatilized, before the Distillation of it, as appears by the Description of the same Menstruum elsewhere given.

125. A Menstruum of Vitriol of Isaacus Hollandus. Cap. 62. 2. Oper. Min.

TAke a great quantity of Roman Vitriol, 10 or 12 Pounds, rather more than less, as much as you will, and dis∣solve the Vitriol in common Water; let the Feces set∣tle, put the clear Dissolution in a Stone Vessel to be congealed, till a thin skin comes over it, then let it cool and stand three days a, nd you will have notable Stones of a green colour clear

as Cristal; take out those Stones, and put them in small Glass Vessels in a clean Balneo to dry, the Balneo must have such a heat as is of the Sun in the middle of Sum∣mer, and your Stones will be turned into a white Pow∣der, which Powder dissolve in common Distill'd Water, and let the Feces settle, decant the clear into a clean Vessel, as before, and let it be congealed, as before; this repeat, till you can see no Feces left; when you have thus washed and made your Powder white, you may be assur'd your Vitriol is rightly prepared. Now take the white powder of Vitriol, put it in a Glass Vessel with a Neck pretty long, and seal the Neck with the Seal of Hermes so, that no Air can either pass out or in; and then put it in a Plate with sifted Ashes upon a Fornace, put fire under, and put a Burning Lamp under the Fornace, adding such a heat as the Sun yields in the mid∣dle of March, and thus keep it, till you see your Matter grow yellow, and continue it in the same heat, till it be per∣fectly ruddy, then increase the Fire a little, that is, put un∣der one Lamp more, and thus continue it eight or ten days, and then see whether your Matter begins not to be red, if it begins to be red, increase your Fire, and so continue it eight or ten days: But if you gain nothing in redness, increase your Fire with yet one Lamp, and so proceed gradually al∣ways one Lamp being kindled, till your Matter be as deep a red, as a Rose or Ruby; it being now so deeply red, suffer it even thus the space of eight or ten days in the same heat; when you see your Matter remains in the same state, take it out of the Plate with Ashes, and empty it into another strong Glass, pour a good quantity of (Philosophical) distill'd Vi∣negar upon it, and put it in Balneo, let it boil, and stir it with a Woodden Spatula three or four times every day, and thus continue it four days and nights, then let it cool, and pour off the clear; and again pour on Distill'd Vinegar, and that repeat three times; then throw away the Feces, and draw off the Vinegar through an Alembick in Balneo, till your Matter become altogether dry; pour on new Vinegar, and do as before, and that so long, till no more Feces remain in the Dissolution: Then congeal it into a dry Powder, which put into a good thick Glass, and putting on an Alem∣bick

with a large Head, distil in order to obtain first Saffron Colour'd Spirits, then a Red Oyl, lastly, white Spirits, then let it cool, take away the Receiver, and keep that truly bles∣sed Oyl which is in it. Take away the Alembick, and in the Pot you will find a Matter white as Snow, and clear as Cri∣stal, &c.

The way of making of this Menstruum, we will consider in its several Branches.

The first is concerning the choice of Vitriol, which Reason requires as well as the antecedent Receipt to be graduated, that is, dissolved either in the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, or Phi∣losophical Vinegar, and Cristallized, for the Calcination of common Vitriol, dissolved in common Water, and purified, in a close Vessel to a most red colour, is altogether Impossible, and of no Efficacy neither; for nothing but the common Acid or com∣mon Spirit of Vitriol is extracted out of common Vitriol, be it never so well purified and calcined: Vitriol therefore well Purged in common Water, is to be chosen according to the pre∣sent Receipt, but after that, according to the antecedent well dissolved in Philosophical Vinegar, that it may be thereby made graduated Vitriol, and the fit Matter of this Menstruum.

The second Branch treats of the calcination or fixation of this graduated Vitriol into redness: Corncerning which, the former process was too obscure, but the present or later clear enough: This Calcination is the true and Philosophical way of fixing this Vitriol, and that chiefly, because citrinity and redness follow blackness and whiteness, the true signs of volatilization as well as fixation, of which Tho. Isaacus said nothing in both the Receipts, yet other Adepts have mentioned these Colours in the fixing of Vitriol. Take that Stone, saith Ripley, Cap. 7. Phil. Cupri Stillicidium (the Green Lyon of Fools, or common Vitriol graduated) and put it, being ground into a Philoso∣phers Egg, and proceed upon it by the way of Putrefaction, as was declared in the Process of Rebis, and continue the Stone upon the Fire, till after blackness and whiteness, it is turned into a red Powder, which many call Vitriol Rubifi∣cated.

But here riseth some doubt, in that the Red Colour of this Calcined Vitriol, seems to be by Isaacus himself called Volatile, not in the least fixed. This Matter, saith he, will remain red for ever, and not fixed, for if it should be fixed, it would be altogether corrupted, for it must be Dissolved into Water, and distilled through an Alembick, Cap. 65. To disperse this Cloud, you must know, the meaning of Isaacus is, that Vitriol calcined, or by what way soever reduced into redness, remains red, but not also fixed ••••ause it must be dissolved in Philosophi∣cal Vinegar, and Distilled through an Alembick. For we find the like, if not the same Phrase, concerning the redness and fixity of the Philosophers Stone, which will easily remove the aforesaid doubt: When the Stone is perfect, saith he, it ought to remain in that State now and for evermore. After Perfection, it cannot be changed for better nor for worse, but will remain a King for ever. Wherefore, if any Man has prepared the true Philosophers Stone, no Multiplication fol∣lows after; wheresoever Multiplication follows after Perfe∣ction, there is not the Philosophers Stone, nor is there a true Stone. It may be a Medicine, or other Stone, of which sort are many wherewith Projection is made, but it is not the Phi∣losophers Stone, which we here Discourse of. When the aforesaid Stone is perfect and prepared, it ought to remain in that State for ever, Cap. 127. 1. Oper. Miner. Pag. 407. Vol. 3. Th. Chym.

As to the Permanence of the red colour in the Philosophers Stone, he declares the following Notions: In Multiplication, saith he, no blackness intervenes, nor do any Colours of the World shew themselves, nor any Whiteness, nor in Subli∣mation does any thing shew it self besides redness, nor in fix∣ation does any Colour shew its self except its own, that is, an egregious redness: For the Stone hath no other Colour but redness, for it is one only substance, one single matter, and as the Heaven invincible: You must also know, tho it were sublimed, it would not be deprived of all its fixity, for when the Stone is made and prepared in the utmost vertue of it, then can it not be changed out of its own Essence into another, for if the Stone could be changed or drawn out of its own Essence into another Essence or Nature, it would not

be the Philosophers Stone, nor one single Matter, nor a glo∣rified Body; no, no, understand my Discourse rightly, &c. Cap. 72. 1. Oper. Min. Pag. 355. of the same Volume.

Isaacus being perhaps perswaded of an unalterable constancy of redness observed in the Multiplication of the Stone of higher Degree or Kind, concludes the Philosophers Stone to be alto∣gether and absolutely immutable: which Opinion to defend in every part, he has sooner ventured to deny the volatilization it self of the Stone, than give way to the a……ing of fixity in Mul∣tiplication: You must know, saith he, if the Stone were sub∣limed, yet would it not be deprived of its fixity. Yea, he has chosen rather to prevert his own Senses (for he himself hath in the same place taught how to volatilize the Philoso∣phers Stone, with some shining Menstruum) and the Sense of the Word Fix (tho upon this Term depends one half of all the Operations in the more secret Chymy) than relinquish this fallacy derived from a Paralogism. The Stone, saith he, may be so often opened as aforesaid, and after that sublimed, and again condensed so as to unite its parts, which we call Fixation; we term it indeed Fixation, but it is not Fixation, but only Condensation, so, as that all the subtil parts of it are again forced into an Union joyntly together, as they were at first, and the Stone will again expect Fire, and we may a∣gain make Projection with it, as we did before. Cap. 76. read 73, 74, 75. Chapters of the same Book.

What we have against this Opinion, we will reserve for the Third Book; in the mean time it will be requisite for you to ob∣serve this one thing: That the Matter of Calcined Vitriol, as also of the Philosophers Stone, multiplied, remains for everred, but not fixed, because either of them may be volatilized with Philosophical Menstruums. But let them be how they will, the Vitriol of Saturn fixed the same way by the same Author, will prove that the graduated Vitriol of Venus, calcined to redness in a close Vessel is fixed. Take, saith he, a Glass Viol, put in it one half of Purged Saturn (Sugar of Saturn made not with common Distilled Vinegar, but Philosophical) reserve the other part by it self till you have occasion, put a fit Glass to the mouth of the Viol, and put the Glass in sifted Ashes in a Fornace, of Tripos Arcanorum, or on a Fornace wherein

you calcine Spirits; give it a Fire as hot as the Sun is at Mid-summer, no more, except by chance a little hotter or colder, provided it be not so great as to melt the Lead, for so your Matter would be liquid as Oyl, and should it stand so the space of 12 days, all the Sulphur would fly away, and the Matter be corrupted, for the Sulphur of it is not yet fixed, and on the outside only, and therefore the Matter is most ea∣sily melted, and though it be pure, yet is it not fixed; where∣fore the Fire must be so gentle as not to melt the Matter; let it stand so the space of Six Weeks, after which take a little, project it upon a hot Iron, if it presently melts and fumes, it is not yet fixed, but if it remains, the Sulphur of it is fixed: Then increase the Fire notably, till your Matter becomes citrine, and so continually till it grows red, still increasing the Fire till it attains to the colour of Rubies; increase till it is red hot, and then is it fixed, and prepared for Infusion, with the Noble Water of Paradise (the Menstruum described in Numb. 114.)

Besides this, there is indeed another way also of calcining Philosophical Vitriol, which is done in an open Vessel; thus graduated Verdigrese is calcined to redness before the Distil∣lation of it, in the preparation of the Spirit of Venus of Basilius, as we have observed in the precedent Kind, but this belongs not to this place, for the Calx remains volatile, not fixed, which way of Calcining was invented meerly for the seperation of the Phlegme.

The third Branch consists in a new dissolution of this fixed Vitriol in Philosophical Vinegar, for which Reason this Vi∣triol is volatilized again, and made fit for Distillation, in the former Receipt, this Solution is wholly omitted, but more ex∣actly described in the latter Process.

The fourth Branch is the single, and frequent Distillation in the several ways of making all these Stinking Menstruums, yet this excepted, that out of this graduated, fixed, and again volatilized Vitriol, the Spirit ascends not White, but of a Saffron Colour (because more Mature) before the Red Oyl; and lastly, the White Spirit appears also, being extracted out of the Salt or White Body.

Lastly, These words following do prove, that the same Men∣struums may be also made of any other Metals. But if you would extract an Oyl out of Metals, as has been taught of Vitriol; you must dissolve your Metal in Aqua fortis, and make it precipitate, and wash away the Saltness of it with common Water, and being dryed, put into a Glass with a long Neck, and congealed, and put upon a Fornace with Sifted Ashes, make a Fire under it as for Vitriol, till the Metal be alogether red, and till the inside of it is turn'd out∣ward: Then dissolve it in Distil'd Vinegar, as the Vitriol, and Congeal, till no more Feces remain: Then distil, and the Metal will wholly distil into a Red Oyl, and it is the perfect Oyl of the Philosophers, but the Projection of it is not so high, as of the Oyl which was first Salt: And the Oyl of every Metal you must Multiply with the Oyl of Vitriol, as aforesaid: And the Oyl is very easily made after the same manner out of Saturn, and the Projection of it is very high: Give thanks to God, Work, and remember the Poor, dis∣pense the gifts of God to your own Salvation, Cap. 80. 2. Oper. Min. Pag. 478. of the same Volume.

All Metals, saith he, Cap. 67. of the same Work, even Jupiter and Luna, will become red as blood, for the inside of all Metals is red, one more red than another: When therefore they are brought to redness, they must then be dissolved (in Philosophical Vinegar) and again congealed, till they be free from any Feces, and yet contain their Elements to∣gether perfectly; for when they are brought to that pitch, nothing remains, save only Feces; for the Earth (the Caput Mortuum) being made subtil and liquid, is likewise dissol∣ved, when you have made it subtil by Dissolving and Coa∣gulating so, as that no more Feces remain. Thus you may Distil it through an Alembick into a Red Oyl. As you was here taught concerning Vitriol, so must you also do with all Metals, as also Mercury, when it is dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and precipitated, the Saltness wash'd away and dried, put it in a Glass, as was said of Vitriol, and done moreover so, as was taught before concerning Vitriol. And that which is here declar'd of Metal, you may also do with Antimony (and all other Minerals.) Open your Ears, and hearken, and open

your Mind, it was never heard that such a Work should be done with so little Pains.

Here I would advise you to take Notice of the difference be∣tween the Oyls of Vitriol and other bodies; the like Oyl is pro∣duced from all Metals as from Vitriol, yet with this difference, that Vitriol in the Distillation of its Oyl, leaves an Earth or Salt behind it, wherewith the Spirit and Oyl of it are fixed into the Philosophers Stone; but Metals and the rest of the Minerals not so, they totally ascending into Spirit and Oyl, no Earth, Salt or Caput mortuum remaining, whereby to be fixed into the Stone: Vitriol therefore is that alone, which hath all things in it, relating to the Perfection of it self, whereas the Oyls and Spirits of the rest are forced to borrow fixed bodies else∣where for their fixations. You must know, saith he, when you would reduce the Salt of Metals to an Oyl, the same as hath been said of Vitriol, the Elementary Earth of Metals will distil together, with the Oyl red as blood, but that the Earth of Vitriol does not, the Oyl seperates it self from the Earth: God hath vouchsafed such a blessing, that the Phi∣losophers Stone may be made of it alone without Addition, translating all Metals into true Sol, but the Oyl of it must be fixed with the Earth (its own Earth or Salt) but that is not so with Metals, the Earth distils together through the Alem∣bick, and the whole Body is converted into Oyl, translating all Metals into true Sol: Herein do all the Philosophers agree. An Oyl, he goes on, is also made of Mercury, and of Anti∣mony, but their Earth goes over together, and their whole Body turns into Oyl, and remains an Oyl for ever, and with this Oyl you may do wonderful things, which here to recite would be too long. You know also what is written of Anti∣mony and the Oyl of it. Yet must my Son know, That the Oyl of Mercury is much better in all works, wherein the Oyl of Antimony is used. This is a Secret. Cap. 69. and 70. of the same Work.

An Example, That Metals wholly ascend into Oyl, he brings in the following Chapter, namely the 70th, which we will name.

126. The Circulatum Majus of Isaacus. Cap. 70. 2. Oper. Min. Pag. 474. Vol. 3. Th. Chym

TAke this Mercury (the Metals sublimed in the Philoso∣phical Menstruums aforegoing) Dissolve it in Aqua Fortis, with an equal quantity of Vitriol and Niter, being Dissolved, put the Solution in a Glass Vessel, put on an Alembick, set it in Sifted Ashes, give first a gentle Fire, Distil the Aqua Fortis from it, then the Mercury will sublime upwards into the Alembick, when it will sublime no more, take it away; take the Mercury out of the Alembick, put it in a Glass with a long neck, as you did with the Vitriol, put it in a Vessel with Sifted Ashes, light your Lamp under it, so leave it, till it be perfectly red, as hath been taught of Vitriol; Dissolve, Congeal, being clean, Distil it into a red Oyl, as hath been said of Vitriol, but all the Mercury distils into Oyl, so as to leave no Earth.

The Menstruum immediately antecedent in Numb. 125, is in all things clear, except the first Branch of it, wherein is o∣mitted the necessary Dissolution of Vitriol in Philosophical Vinegar, before the Calcination of it into redness or fixation. The first Menstruum of this Kind is imperfect, not indeed in this, but in another Branch, insomuch as it is not therein de∣clared, that Vitriol must after the Calcination of it, be again Dissolved in Philosophical Vinegar. In this present third, Tho it be said, that it ought to be made according to the rule of the precedent Menstruums, there is no mention at all made of Philosophical Vinegar, yet without it, Vitriol can neither be fixed into redness, nor when fixed, be again Volatalized or Di∣stilled. The Receipts therefore must be compared as often as the Adepts have either through too much fear or envy left us them imperfect: It is enough, if by comparing them together, we can pick out their meaning or intention, being not fully enough ex∣pressed in every circumstance, the terms being either too obscure, or altogether omitted. Bodies in this Kind are to be fixed, and then volatilized by Mineral Menstruums, as Mercury and

Antimony, in the Ninth Kind, are first fixed, and then di∣stilled in the greater Circulatums by vegetable Menstruums: This light borrow'd from the said Ninth Kind, will dispel all the Obscurities and Doubts of this Kind. Vitriol therefore purged with common Water by Solutions and Coagulations, must first be graduated, that is several times dissolved in Philosophical Vinegar and coagulated according to the Receipt in Numb. 125, as Mercury is dissolved in the Water of Salt, circulated in the Circulatum majus of Mercury. This Vitriol being graduated in a close Vessel, must be fixed into a most red Powder, and being fixed, then dissolved and coagulated in Philosophical Vinegar, that it may again become volatile, as Mercury being fixed in its own Circulatum, is again made volatile by virtue of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine. At last the Vitriol is to be Distilled into its Spirits. Now by know∣ing the method, it is manifest that the mystery of the Receipts consists in the Vinegar, but to remove all scruple from these most excellent Menstruums, we will prove by the very words of Isaacus himself, that he meant not a common but Philosophical Menstruum. Have not I taught you, saith he, how to draw all Metals through the Alembick, so as to Distil wholly into Oyl, leaving nothing; but that alone does the strong Spirit of Vinegar, and makes them (Metals) to be perfectly separated and rectified from their Feces, within and without, as I taught you, and that the inside should be outward, and the outside inward, and then they are so resolved and sub∣til, that the Elements cannot be separated one from another; if you sought all the means in the world, you would not be able to separate these Elements, by reason of their subtility, cleanness and resolution; and when they have the subtil pe∣netrating Vinegar with them, they pass all together through the Alembick with the Vinegar; but if you should put them to fire, and any Spirit of Vinegar (in sufficient quantity) was present, they (the Metal and Vinegar) would be forth∣with fixed together; and because the Vinegar is copiously in their clean, open, subtil Body, they distil into Oyl, and the Spirits of the Vinegar are fixed with the Body: Now you must know thdt the Spirit of Vinegar is more Subtil than all things in the World, yea, a thousand times more subtil than

the Quintessence of Aqua Vitae, it cannot be contained in any Vessels, but it is easily half fixed, and therefore it easily fixeth the thing to which it is applied, as it is demonstrated in the Vegetable (Work) where the Discourse is of Wine, and the Nature of it, where you will be sufficiently instruct∣ed what Vinegar is, and the Spirit of it, how all things are dissolved and ascend. Cap. 77. 78. 2. Oper. Miner. Pag. 477. Vol. 3. Theat. Chym. You must know, saith he elsewhere, this is the greatest Secret in this Art, for the middle parts of Vinegar are of so great Virtue as to be incredible, by reason of their great Subtility, for every thing they are mixed with, becomes exceeding subtil and penetrable, wherefore they make the (Philosophers) Stone a thousand times more subtil than it was before, and more penetrable, and the subtil parts mix themselves with the Stone, for they are of one Nature, and are both clean and subtil, and are mixed together, as Water with Water, and it is a Medicine of that Nature, as to make every thing fixed which it is mixed with, and of its own Nature wherein it is; and thus are the subtil parts (of Philosophical Vinegar) fixed in the (Philosophical) Stone, and are made of one Nature with the Stone, and they make the Stone as fusible, as an Artist can wish, as he oftentimes dissolves the Stone in Vinegar, and congeals it, for as many or few Spirits remain in the Stone, the more fusible is the Medicine: Wherefore I have taught my Son how to make his Stone so fusible, as thereby to bring Mercury to Sol and Luna; and it is a great Secret, known to few, peruse this Lecture diligently, what vertue there is in Vinegar, and what with the middle matter of Vinegar may be made. Cap. 51. 1. Oper. Min. Pag. 337. Vol. 3. Th. Chym.

That Vinegar, which is a thousand times more subtil than the Quintessence of Aqua Vitae, or Spirit of Philosophical Wine: The Spirits of which makes the Philosophers Stone a thousand times more Subtil: That is of one Nature with it; and fixeth every thing it is mixed with; you your selves will say is no common Menstruum, but another of more excellent quali∣ty. Isaacus moreover dissolves and coagulates the Stone in this Vinegar, so oft, till it is converted into Oyl, which will be no

more congealed. Cap. 51, 59, 107. of the same Book. With the same Vinegar also he made Metals fat, and transmuted them into Oyls, thus he dissolved and coagulated Gold so often continually in New Vinegar, till an Oyl was made thereof as red as blood, as Cap. 54. of the same Book. Sometimes also he did with the same Vinegar reduce Gold to the consistence of an excellent White Oyl, out of which he then distilled a White Spirit, and a Red Oyl apart, and not immixible to∣gether, so subtil, as that he advised the Artist to have a care, lest these Oyls should condense again by too much Rectification, for then being forced with too strong a Fire, the greatest part of them would by reason of their great Subtility penetrate the Glass, and so be lost. Cap. 126, 128, 1. Oper. Min. Pag. 406. Vol. 3. Th. Chym. Who can expect such and so great things from Common Vinegar? The same Vinegar, that dissolved the fix'd Metal Gold, and divided it into Spirit and Oyl, the Consti∣tutives of the Stone out of Sol alone; the same also is required to dissolve fixed Vitriol, and distil it into Spirit and Oyl, the constitutives of the Stone out of Vitriol alone, of the making of which in the Third Book of Alchymical Tinctures.

That this Oyl of Vitriol, shews light by night, affirms Tris∣mosinus, who hath described the said Oyl thus.

127. The Oyl of Vitriol shining by Night, of Trismosinus. Libro Gangeniveron, sive novem Tincturarum in Tin∣ctura prima.

TAke of the best Hungarian Vitriol twelve pounds, grind and dissolve it in pure clean Water, or Rain Water distilled, let the Feces settle, decant the Solution into a Glass Dish, placed in a Brass Bason full of Sand, put the said Bason in Balneo, and draw off the Water to a thin skin; let it cool, and stand three days in a cold place, and in the mean time you will find green Stones, which take out, the remainder

draw off again to a thin skin, and let it Cristallize, and this seven times repeat, put the Stones in a Stove of the same heat as the Sun in Dog-days, and in such a heat they will turn into a White Powder. The Vitriol being thus prepared, put it in a Cucurbit, with a long neck, well Sealed, in Ashes, under which put a Lamp, so as that the heat exceed not the Sun in March, thus leave it, till the Vitriol begins, to be yellow, being yellow, the Fire of the Lamp increase one Degree, and thus leave it ten days and nights, or till it be∣gins to be red, then again increase the Fire in the Lamp ano∣ther Degree, and thus continue, till the Matter be alto∣gether red as a Ruby, then increase the Fire yet ten days, and the hidden part of the Vitriol is now manifest, and prepared in its redness, as a volatile Matter: The redness thus re∣maining, take the Glass out of the Ashes, and the Matter out of the Glass, and put it in a stronger Glass, to which pour the best Vinegar well rectify'd, stop it well, set it in Bal∣neo, so let it stand four days, yet stirring the Matter with a Spatula made of Haslewood, three or four times a day, let it cool, decant the Vinegar into another Glass, pour new upon the Matter, digest in Balneo, as before, this repeat with new Vinegar three times, the decanted Vinegar gent∣ly draw off, till the Matter remains in the form of a Salt at the bottom, to which, pour new sharp Vinegar, put it four days in Balneo, as before, to dissolve, and let that be re∣peated, till it be free from any sediment: Then coagu∣late the Matter into a dry Powder, and put it in a Glass Cucurbit, with a wide mouth, and a large Alembick, day the Receiver in a Vessel full of Water, lute the Joynts firm, and distil with an open Fire, but very gently, the space of four hours, after that strongly, and the Spirits will ascend yellow, which are called Air; continue the Fire in the same degree, till the Alembick begins to be red; then slow the Fire, that the Alembick may be of a blood colour, then increase the Fire still, that the Glass may be burning hot as a red hot Iron, which keep in that heat, till the Alembick be made of a Snow Colour, then strengthen the Fire yet more, that the Alembick may again be clear and transparent, then let it cool, remove the Receiver, and pour the Oyl into a pure

Glass, which stop well, and you will have the true Oyl of Vitriol shining night and day in dark places, which keep well for your occasion. But you must know there is a White and Beautiful Oyl found in the bottom, which to its red Oyl, &c.

This Receipt of Trismosinus agrees almost in all things with Isaacus his Description of the Menstruum made of Vitriol, so that it seems to me to be borrowed of Isaacus, especially because the same phrase of Isaacus of the volatile redness of Calcined Vi∣triol is retained: Those things therefore, which were observed before upon the Menstruum of Isaacus, do also hereto relate; but we added this, because Trismosinus does more assure us, that this Oyl shines in darkness, concerning which quality of his Menstruum, Isaacus was silent.

Ripley made Menstruums of this Kind this way.

128. The Circulatum Majus of Ripley. Pag. 395. Accurtationum.

THe time of true Putrefaction and Alteration is com∣pleated in the space of Six Weeks, but it may be done in a shorter time by half, and that by the acui∣tion of our Mercurial Waters, that is, the white and red Water (the milk and blood of the Green-Lyon in Numb. 59.) with common Mercury sublimate, which thus do: Fix and Calcine the Mercury sublimate, and dissolve it in our white or red Mercury (of the said Menstruum) so as to be all one true Water, which Water, being thus acuated, hath the Power of putrifying and altering any Calx of Metals, in the space of three Weeks, and that because the two Fires, name∣ly, of Nature and against, Nature, are then joyn'd together in that Water.

Common Mercury being dissolved in Philosophical Vinegar, or any Mineral Menstruum, and fixed either by Sublimation as the Circulatum majus of Paracelsus, or Calcination as the Vitriol of Isaacus calcined to redness, is then dissolved in a stinking Menstruum, and distilled through an Alembick. He

reduced all other Metals and Minerals, the same way as he did Mercury, into the greater Circulatums, thus.

129. The Metallick Acetum acerrimum of Ripley. Pag. 266. Clavis aureae Portae.

HAving therefore these two Mercuries, the white and red (of the Stinking Menstruum) practice with them either upon their own Earth (or Caput Mortuum of the said Menstruum) or upon the Calx of Metals prepared, for you need not trouble your self about the Earth, provided the substance of it be fixed: Take therefore any of them, being white, and ferment it thus: For the White Work, take the Calx of Luna, and the altered Earth (a Philosophi∣cal Calx, made of the Mineral Menstruum of Luna) in equal quantity, grind them together, and temper them with the White Mercury, which we call Lac Virginis (in the Descrip∣tion of the Green Lyon) and sublime them very well, keep and gather that which is not fixed, that is, so much as ascends white, and sticking to the parts of the Glass as Mercury sub∣limate, for this is that our Mercury made by sublimation out of the white altered Earth; then grind it upon its own Calxes, tempering, distilling, and subliming it with Lac Virginis, till it be wholly fixed, so as to be immovable by Fire: This is the sublimed and fixed Mercury, for which fools take that common Mercury sublimed with common Vitriol and Salt, wherein they very much err: put it into a Circulatory, and pour Lac Virginis upon it, till it be covered, then let it be circulated and distilled through an Alembick.

An Example of making the altered Earth of Metals, and the way of fixing the said Earth he hath given in Vitriol. Take Vitriol calcined to Ashes (common Colcothar) grind it to a most fine Powder, put it in an Ʋrinal, pour Lac Virginis (the White fume of the Stinking Menstruum) to it, till it be covered with it, stop the Ʋrinal with a Linnen Cloth, and let it stand eight days, then add the same quantity of the former Milk, repeating it from eight days to eight, but

when it will drink up no more, let it stand in the cold well stopp'd, till a Cristalline Earth appears in the superficies of it, like Eyes of Fish. Seperate this Earth from the thicker parts resided in the bottom, and put it (this graduated Vitriol made not indeed of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, nor Phi∣losophical Vinegar, but the Stinking Menstruum) in a Phi∣losophical Egg, to digest (calcine) discreetly, till it be per∣fectly fixed, then increase the Fire, till it be perfectly citri∣nated, and still increase it, that it may be Rubified in the form and colour of Sanguis Draconis.

Lastly, For a conclusion, we will add the Circulatum Ma∣jus of Isaacus, made of Sulphurs, which being most clear in the graduation, fixation, and volatilization of it, will help to illustrate those things which have perhaps remained more obscure in the antecedent, and make the Receipts in this Kind more clear.

130. The Circulatum majus of Isaacus, made of Sulphur. Cap. 88.3. Oper. Min.

TAke Hungarian or Spanish Sulphur ten or twelve pounds, prepare it upon a Stone, with (Philosophi∣cal) Vinegar distilled, as Painters do their Colours, pour a good quantity of the (aforesaid) Vinegar upon it, put it in Balneo, stir it well with a Woodden Spatula, decoct it in a close Vessel in Balneo the space of six or eight days, stirring it three or four times a day, then let it cool and set∣tle, filter the tinged Vinegar, pour on new, repeat this Work, till no more Vinegar will be tinged: Draw off all the tinged Vinegar in Balneo, that a Powder of a golden Colour may remain at the bottom. This Powder prepare and extract with Vinegar, as before; filter the solution, and draw it off, till at length it leaves no Feces behind it, then draw off the Vinegar, that the rest of the Matter may remain in the form of a Powder. Take of this Powder one part, of Salt prepared one part, of Roman Vitriol dried,

six parts, mix them all well, and sublime by degrees, first, with a weak Fire, secondly, stronger, lastly, most strong for the space of two days; sublime the sublimation mix'd with its Feces three times, then casting away the Feces, sub∣lime with new Species, and repeat the Work three times, then dissolve the Sublimation in the Dissolving Water for the red (of what Description soever in the Twentieth Kind) the Water being drawn off, sublime, pour on New Water and sublime, and that do three times: Then take seven parts of this Subli∣mation, one part of the Calx of Sol, and sublime: This Sub∣limation being put into a Philosophical Egg, made of Gold (for one of glasswould be of little use for this purpose, because it would become soft as wax) stop it well, and set it upon a Tripos the space of eighteen Weeks to be fixed, but the first six Weeks with a gentle Fire, the next six a stronger, the last most strong: These Eighteen Weeks being ended, take out the Matter (being fixed) reduce it to Powder, to which being put in a dissolving Vessel, pour an equal quantity of our red burning Water (of the aforesaid Dissolving Water for the red) seal or stop the Vessel very well, let it dissolve and settle, then take it out, and distil it through an Alembick in Balneo with a very small Fire: It is necessary for the Receiver, to be well luted, and the Alembick must have a pipe in the upper part, for it must be six times distilled, always with new Red Water, and your Matter will at length become thick as Honey, which distil in Sifted Ashes by degrees, and an Air will a∣scend like Water, then changing the Reciver, an Oyl of a Golden Colour will distil gilding the Alembick, as also the Receiver; let it continue in the same heat till the Alembick be of a Blood Colour, then take away the Receiver; stop it suddenly, put another to, and increase the Fire for the space of twenty four hours, till the Vessel grows red hot, in which heat, let it continue twelve hours, and the Matter will ascend red as blood, and at last also a red fume: These Spirits no more appearing, let the Vessels cool, keep the Di∣stillation, but the Feces reverberate, &c.

Out of the Receipts these things we observe.

1. THat these Menstruums, made of the graduated Vi∣triols of Metals, fixed in a close Vessel, have the like place amongst Mineral Menstruums, as the greater Circulatums of Paracelsus, have amongst the vegetable Menstruums. Dissolve the aforesaid Circulatums in any Acid Spirit, and you will presently make Menstruums of this Kind.

2. That these Menstruums are Medicines, call'd Volatile Arcanums, dissolved in an Acid.

3. That the graduated Vitriol of Venus, has some certain peculiar Priviledges above the rest.

1. Because in the Distillations of these Menstruums, it hath a Fixed Body, besides a Soul and Spirit, whereby the two a∣foresaid must be fixed into the Stone; but all the other Metals and Minerals being reduced into graduated Vitriols, have no Fixed Bodies, and are divided into two parts only, Spirit and Soul; but because the Adepts found it necessary to borrow some Fixed Body elsewhere for the fixing of these, they therefore more than often affirmed the possibility of making the Stone out of Vi∣triol alone, without any Addition, thus have we heard Isaacus in the antecedent Receipts saying: God hath vouchsafed such a blessing to Vitriol, that the Philosophers Stone may be made of it alone, without Addition, it translating all Metals into true Sol, but the Oyl of it must be fixed with (its) Earth (or Body) but that is not so with Metals, for their Earth di∣stils together through the Alembick.

But who observes not here these Words, Without any Addi∣tion, to be meant of any Foreign Matter, and are so to be under∣stood with some certain restriction? For this most red Oyl of Vitriol, shining by night, and which must be fixed with its Salt into the Philosophers Stone, cannot in the least be produ∣ced from Vitriol alone, and that crude, being not graduated with Philosophical Menstruums.

Moreover as the like Oyl being distilled from Gold, and fix∣in the purified, but not volatalized part of it, is called by Isaacus

the Stone of Sol alone; whereas notwithstanding, he used his Philosophical Vinegar to the making of it; so the Stone may be said to be made out of Vitriol alone, without Addition, though the same Vinegar was used in the preparation of it.

Lastly, It is manifest by the Kinds of almost all Menstruums, that no Acid (that is, dry and incombustible Matter) can be reduced into Oyl, without an Oyly Menstruum, because it must receive this unctiosity from the Ʋnctions Spirit of Phi∣losophical Wine.

2. Because it is of mean value, and so by the Adepts call'd the Stone, which God hath given us freely. This Work, saith Isaacus, you cannot enter upon with a little Matter, you must have at least four or five Pounds of Matter (Gold or Sil∣ver) if otherwise, the Work will be insufficient. For it is not the Work of poor men, except the Stone given us by God freely, might happily be obtained; then other Charge is not necessary, more than Vessels, Coals, and Food, till we have prepared the Stone. And the two Stones, which God hath given us freely, for the White and Red Work, require but half the time, as the Matter which is to be taken for preparation sake, for before we come to Sublimation, the Stone given us freely, is already almost brought to fixation. Cap. 17.1. Oper. Mineral. Pag. 313. Vol. 3. Th. Chym. The same thing is affirmed by Basilius: saying, There is no moisture in Gold, unless it be reduced into (gra∣duated) Vitriol, which would be a Work indeed of no Pro∣fit, but much Charge, because of the great quantity of Vitriol required to the making of the Philosophers Stone; and though there is in Vitriol the desired Spirit of Gold, of a white quality, and a Soul and Salt of a glorious Essence, but how many Countreys, Estates and Riches, have been thus consumed, I will not reckon; but this Admonition I give my Disciples, to follow the shorter way of Nature, that they may not also fall into extream and inextricable Pover∣ty. If you intend therefore, he goes on, to make the Phi∣losophers Stone out of the Vitriol of Sol, as many men in∣deed endeavour, consult with your Purses, and prepare Ten or Twelve pounds of this Vitriol, and then you will fi∣nish your Work, whereas Hungarian or other Vitriol would suffice.

3. Because it is our Gold full of the Tincture of common Gold. Green Vitriol, saith Ripley, being Stillicidium Ve∣neris (or common Vitriol) is by many Philosophers called Ro∣man Gold, because of the abundance of its Noble Tincture, which ought to be fermented with common Gold, Pag. 140. Medulla Philos. For Vitriol, he goes on, is nothing else but Stillicidium Cupri (or droppings of Copper) in the Mynes, where∣in Copper is generated, as Bartholomaeus (an English Monk and Philosopher) saith; and though it hath an admirable Tincture of redness, yet is that Tincture polluted with an un∣clean terrestreity, which is called its original blemish, which hinders Gold and Silver from being made of it. Therefore saith Raymund, let not the Terrestrial Virtues over power the Coelestial Virtues (of the Sun and the rest of the Stars) and you will have a good thing in Vitriol. Pag. 303. Pupillae.

Arnold to shew the Golden Nature in common Vitriol to his Disciple, resolved to prove it by an Experiment, in Speculo Alchymiae, Pag. 605. Vol. 4. Theat. Chym. where thus by the way of Dialogue. Disciple, I wonder, good Master, that you commended Brass so much, I know not whether there be so great a secret in it, I thought it to be a leprous Body, because of that greenness which it hath in it: Where∣fore I still admire what you said, that we ought to extract Argent vive (Menstruum) out of this Body. Master, Son! You must know, that the Philosophers Brass is their Gold, and therefore saith Aristotle in his Book, Our Gold is not common Gold, because that greenness which is in that Body, is the whole Perfection of it, because that greenness is by our Magistry suddenly turned into most true Gold, as we know by experience; and if you have a mind to try, we will give you a Rule. Take Aes ustum well and perfectly rubified (common to be Sold in Shops) and let it drink seven times of the Oyl Duenech (Spirit of Philosophical Wine) as much as it can drink, always assating and reducing (cohobating and calcining) then cause it to descend (melting this Vitriol being impregnated with the aforesaid Oyl into a Regulus) for pure Gold settles as grains (of Kermes) red and pure; and you must know that so great a redness descends with it, as to tinge some quantity of Silver of a most true Colour, &c.

To alledge all, that the Philosophers have said of the Gol∣den Nature of Vitriol, would be too much, peruse Basilius alone, especially the fourth and fifth Chapter, De Rebus Na∣turalibus & Supernaturalibus, as also in the Elucidation of the 12. Keyes, and you will find Vitriol more esteemed by him than any Gold, for his Doctrine is that the Tincture of the Vitriol of Venus and Mars, is far better than the Sulphur of Gold, not indeed in its Kind, for it is one and the same in all, but that this Tincture is in the Natural as well as Artifi∣cial Vitriol of Venus and Mars higher, and more noble in Colour, more abundant in Quantity, of easier Separation from its Body, in Preparation, and of less Charge in the use, than the Tincture that is in Gold.

4. Because it is Gold opened, not yet fused, and so of easier preparation. You have laboured, saith Isaacus, a long time, before this Matter is made subtil and spiritual enough to be sublimed: But if you could procure the Stone, which God hath given us freely, there would be no need to prepare it so: But you might presently take it, reduce it to an impalpa∣ble Powder, and wash away the uncleanness of it with a com∣mon Water, till the Matter came clear from it, then dry it again, and it would be ready for Sublimation, in which re∣spect the Work of it is shorter. Cap. 22. Pag. 317. Vol. 3. Theat. Chym. To speak more plainly, saith Ripley, I affirm, that the more subtil a Body is, of the easier Dissolution it is. And moreover you must know, that Dissolution ought to be per∣formed by our Vegetable Menstruum, or some other Vege∣table. And this Vegetable Mercury (Vegetable Menstruum) cannot penetrate a Body, so as to complete the dissolution of it, except the Body be first made spongy; but no Lead is so spongy, nor so subtil, as Red Lead or Minium (Vitriol calcined) and therefore if we would not be frustrated of our expectation, it is necessary for us to take Red Lead, that is, Antimony prepared, which is more spongy and subtil, than any other Lead. For the (Vegetable) Water will suddenly penetrate into it, and dissolve the most subtil parts of it. But now to declare further, concerning the second Body, which is Roman Vitriol, you must know, that it is an easier thing to make the separation of the Elements in a thing com∣plexioned,

which was never before forced into a hard and compact Substance by the violence of Fire, than to perform the same in a Substance forced into a hard Mass, or in a Me∣tallick and Stony Substance, wherein the Congalative Vir∣tue is extinguished, and therefore in respect to the other is made Intractable, not being soft nor unctious, and conse∣quently less obedient to Solution and Separation; for Vitriol is nothing else but, &c. Pag. 301. Pupillae.

4. That the Adepts in the more secret Chymy meant four things chiefly by the Stone.

1. The Matter of the Menstruum or Spirit of Philosophical Wine, of which God willing, in the Fifth Book.

2. All Menstruums whatsoever, made with the Spirit of Phi∣losophical Wine. Examples enough you will find in the Re∣ceipts of Menstruums produced to you.

3. Every Matter of the Philosophers Stone; so Gold and Silver are in many places called Stones, but by the Stones which God hath given us freely. Isaacus meant Vitriol for the Red, and Alume for the White. Cap. 39. 3. Oper. Miner. Pag. 67. He hath besides these two other Stones also made of Arseniek and Auripigment both graduated, of which see the Six former Chapters, 1. Oper. and Cap. 112. and 113. 2. Oper. Miner. But of these in their proper places.

4. Every Alchymical Tincture, tho not in the form of a Stone, but Oyl.

5. That Menstruums made of Vitriol or Venus are indeed better than the rest in point of Tinging but not Dissolving.