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.

141. The Compounded Water of Silver of Lully. Cap. 10. Practicae Testamenti majoris. Pag. 161. Vol. 4. Th. Chym.

IN the Power of A (God,) take one Ounce of F (clear Luna, Pag. 171.) well purged and refined: And that Silver being well beaten (extended with a Hammer) into Leaves, cut them into small pieces, short and slender, then divide them into two equal parts, and take two dissolving Glasses, the Form and Measure of which, you will see in the Chapter of Vessels; and in one of these two, put one Ounce and a half of F. (Menstrual Pag. 171. alleadged by us before, in Numb. 67.) I mean the eighth part of the whole Menstrual, then put in presently one part of F, and be careful immedi∣ately to stop the Mouth of the Vessel with its Cover, and

lute the joynt well, with the luting aforesaid (in the Preparation of the said Menstrual) or with clear and pure Wax; which done, put it in Balneo Mariae hot for three days, that God may give you a happy day. Then take F (the Dissolution of the Silver) and strain (decant) the Water into another clean Glass Vessel, and incline the Vessel well and warily, that the Earth of F may not be strained with the Water, nor the Water troubled, and stop the said Phial wherein you put the Water of F, and keep it apart. Then upon the Dissolving Vessel of that F, which ought to be dissolved (the other part of Silver to be distilled into a Men∣struum) put its Alembick, which must be close and discreet∣ly joyned with the luting aforesaid; then place it upon Sifted Ashes, and setting it on a Fornace, kindle your Fire and distil, put the Liquor in a Glass Phial, and make a Fire of Saw-dust, and when the Liquor is in a manner all distilled, strengthen the Fire a little with Coals, according to that which is used for the exact calcining of an Earth, but keep it from too much heat, for we have seen it done by the heat of the Sun; understand this well, unless you would be made a fool, give this heat continually for eleven hours, then stop the Fornace, and go to sleep, and in the Morning take your Calcinatory (which is so called because of the property of its operation) and put in the Menstrual often mentioned, wherein G (our Mercurial Pag. 171. or Vegetable Sal armo∣niack) was dissolved (see the Menstruum below in Numb. 147.) and you will see it operate, and the fume ascend, and the Metal calcined with Liquefaction, but stop it better than before with its own stopple, which goes in (to the said Cal∣cinatory) and have a care of puting it into any other heat, till it hath operated by its own Virtue, and when it hath wrought and is quiet, lute the joynt well with common Wax and being so luted, put it in a hot Balneo Mariae three Na∣tural days, as you did elsewhere, because it is so expedient. Then distil the Water, and calcine the Earth (remaining in the bottom) as aforesaid, and repeat so oft till all the Earth is dissolved by this Method in the Form of a Liquor, and the Dissolved Limus, or Oyl by Art dissolved, which is the Substance of a Body depurated by Water, and carried by

the Water of the Wind, always keep apart, and when it is all dissolved (and distilled) joyn them together, then putrifie six weeks (to be circulated) in a temperate heat, where the Vessel must be very well luted with its Cover, and so ought the Figure of I to be done (the composition, or compound∣ed Water of Luna, Pag. 171. of the same Volume.)

The same way sometimes he prepares the Essence of Gold with the Stinking Lunar Menstruum, by addition of which, he makes the same Menstruum more acute, that is more noble.