Paracelsvs of the [brace] chymical transmutation, genealogy and generation [brace] of metals & minerals.: Also, of the urim and thummim of the Jews. With an appendix, of the vertues and use of an excellent water made by Dr. Trigge. The second part of the mumial treatise. Whereunto is added, philosophical and chymical experiments of that famous philosopher Raymvnd Lvlly; containing, the right and due composition of both elixirs. The admirable and perfect way of making the great stone of the philosophers, as it was truely taught in Paris, and sometimes practised in England, by the said Raymund Lully, in the time of King Edw. 3. / Translated into English by R. Turner philomathēs.

An Abstract our of Doctor Homodlus M S. De Elixir solis Medicina universali. Of the Tincture of Gold, se∣parated from its body, and turn∣ed to a Celestial and Spiritual Nature, called a Quintessence within the Aurum Potabile.

CHAP. I. Of the Matter of the Universal Medicine.

SInce God hath created all things for mans use, and that in all vegetable, animal and mi∣neral creatures, there is some vertue to be helpful to humane diseases; I thought there might be something among these of incorruptible Na∣ture, which by it self might cure all Diseases, and prolong the life of man to a long age, keep∣ing

his humours in a most equal temperament: and by consequence, this thing must be of it self most equally tempered of the four Ele∣ments.

Now seeking this thing in the Vegetables of A∣nimals, I found it not, because that in all of them, there is some one humour predominant over the rest actively or passively: Therefore I turned to Minerals or Metal; but I found the Calx and Calcanth, and other things, being reduced to Ashes, could not be brought back again to their former bodies: And so I conclude, There was no perfect natural composition in them. And finding the perfect Metals thus reducible again to their own bodies, I perceived that in them was some firmer composition then in other things: yet are in all alike; for all the rest of the Metals, except Gold, by a strong Combu∣stion, will be converted into dross and smoke; but Gold is no whit the worse after all Trials: then I concluded, That it was among all the rest incorruptible; and by consequence, of a most equal temperament and composition of Ele∣ments.

And when I understood by Marsillis joyning with Metals, could generate, I concluded, That in Gold there was a generative and regene∣rative vertue: but because I found the matter of Metals to be very gross and earthy, and that thereby this vertue was oppressed and kept, in∣somuch that it could not work, until it was de∣livered from the hands of its bodily Impri∣sonment, I judged, That is was needful to open,

rarifie, and dissolve the body, that the vertue might actuate. Whence I concluded at last thus: That Gold was the remote matter whereof the universal Medicine was to be made up, and that the Spirit of Gold and Lune, which is also called Lune Quintessence, is the matter whereof it is made up.

CHAP. II. How to make the Menstruum, and how to circulate it.

SInce I have declared heretofore the matter of the Universal Medicine, consequently I will open the way how to make the vegetable Menstruum, and how to circulate it, that it may be reduced into Quintessence: by that means of this Menstruum, the true preparation is made, that is also a Physical preparation, to wit, Subution, Putrefaction, Overflowing, Exube∣ration, Multiplication and Rectification; and that with the Conservative of the former Vege∣table, and with the Multiplication of the force: for this is the Menstruum or Vegetable Water, which Raymundus speaketh of in this Codicil.

Therefore Silver and Gold are dissolved in radical things of their own kinde, and in the compound of the Soul of the Art: for this is the matter by which all incurable Dis∣eases

are cured under the conservation of their own Nature.

Therefore this is the way to prepare it:

Gather the Vegetable Lunary of the Philoso∣phers, in the time when the height of Goffer doth rule, which is the seventh and the first day of the Reign of Corrocay, the Ministerial Spirit of the same height, in the sixth rank, and last three hours before noon, and as many afternoon: when the day is fair, and the sky is cleer, then take the Lunary it self, pure and uncorrupted, with its grains, and bray it, and put it in earthen Vessels which are new and well glassed, and which are most carefully covered to be set in a most cold place, and there to be left a whole month, or thereabouts.

After which time, opening your Vessels, you shall finde in the bottom of each of them, the sap of Lunary, which will send forth a most sweet savour: take it and put it in another most clean Vessel from the Feces: and then again you must pour it upon its Feces, and set it a∣gain, as before, for the space of eight dayes in a cold place. After which time, it must be poured out again into another Vessel: and from thence again it must be joyned to its Feces: which third time it will be done just the same manner as the second. And so you shall have the sap of Lunary prepared in the best fashion.

But because Lunary is not found everywhere; therefore, if when your shall have need of it, and it cannot be found, you shall take

the sap of it, prepared in the common fashi∣on, and called by Raymund, Black baker, then black; but take of the best: then pour it ei∣ther way prepared into a Glass-Cucurbite, which is a Great, or into a Pellican-Vessel, with handles on both sides, which is called Circulatory, and put the Vessel; most care∣fully shut in a Physical Vaporary, and let it there be circulated a whole Month: which time past, take away the blind Head, put on at Lembeck, and joyn a Recipient to it; and the Joynts being well shut up, distil in Bal∣neo Mariae, a most subtil Spirit from it; which being first lifted up on high, is turn∣ed into the similitude of sweat, which maketh no veins: but when the Phlegm shall begin to distil like rain, take away the Cucurbite with the Recipient, and let it cool.

This being done, transfuse the Spirit from the Recipient into the Cucurbite of Glass: Loose then the first, and putting on the Limbecks Head, distil it in Balneo Mariae, with a most easie fire, till the Spirit be gone out, the Phlegm remaining in the Cu∣curbite.

Now when the whole Spirit is purified from the Phlegm, and rectified, and di∣stilled in a Recipient; The Vessel being cool∣ed, pour out the Phlegm from the Cucurbite, how little soever it be: then pour in again into the same Cucurbite, the Spirit; and then distil again in Balneo with a most easie Fire, as

of the same, as is beforesaid, so oft till the Spirit be wholly purified from the Phlegm, and perfectly rectified: which Spirit so prepared, if it be fired, will not leave any work of moisture behinde it; nay, it will burn a cloth, being made well, and put into it.

And hitherto have I imparted unto thee the best manner of drawing out the Spirit from the Lunary: which Spirit being shut up most carefully in a Glass, must be set in a cold place: through the Glass shut, it will vanish away: it is subtil and heavenly, though the other part of the Menstruum or Earth of the same thing be prepared: which then being copulated with its own Spirit, maketh the vegetable Menstruum, which is the Basis and chief Foundation of Spa∣gyrical preparations.

Therefore the way to prepare the Earth is thus:

After that the Spirit is drawn out by Distilla∣tion, and separated from the Lunary, you must take the Cucurbite, wherein the sap of the same thing was best, and put it into the Balneo Mariae, and distil it with a gentle fire, till all the Phlegm be gone out; which you shall know by this, that in the degree of heat, there shall nothing more fall in the Recipient, and the matter in the bottom of the Vessel, shall be sunk down, like Honey, or melted Pitch.

Then having the Recipient, pour so much

of the Phlegm of the same thing upon the Mer∣curial part, that it swim above at least four fingers breadth; and with a wooden spattle moving the Phlegm with the thick matter, wherein is the potential Mercury, and also the Sulphur vegetable of Nature; mix them, and when the Phlegm shall have drawn its Tincture out into its self, suffer it to rest a little. Then after∣ward pour out the colourated Phlegm, but wa∣rily, lest that the Mercurial part be poured out with it, which doth not serve to our use, but only to the Tincture of the Mereuries, as Raymund saith in the Book of Mercury.

Here must be noted, We have called the thick Water in the bottom of the Glass, like unto molten Pitch, Mercurial; and also Sulphurial, because that the Sulphur of Nature is poten∣tially hidden in it; which, when any will draw out of it, it is altogether necessary, that it, or rather the purest of it, be separated from the im∣pure, and be brought to the first Mercury of the Philosophers: and then converted into the Sul∣phur of Nature, as shall be consequently taught: moreover, in the thick Water in the bottom, pour on again so much of the Phlegm, that it be covered the bredth of four fingers; and, as be∣fore, mix them together by Agitation, and then evacute the colourated Phlegm by Inclina∣tion.

And this work must be so oft repeated, till the Phlegm hath drawn out the whole Tincture, and the Earth remaineth in the bottom of the

Vessel white as Cristal, transparent; which set out to be dried by the fire, or by a heat elemen∣tal of fire, not violent.

Then when it is dried, and made up into a Powder most subtil, put it into a Glass-Vessel, fit and clean: and pour so much of the Spirit that I have heretofore raught you, and prepare upon it, that it may stand four fingers breadth above it.

Then shut the Vessel with a blinde Head, and set it in Balneo to be digested the space of three dayes; which being done, take away the blinde Head, and put to the Cucurbite an Alimbeck, and joyn a Recipient unto it: and having well shut all the Joynts, put the Vessel into a Furnace; and giving it a gentle fire of the second degree, separate from hence the Spirit it self by Distil∣lation; which inclosed carefully in a Glass, shall be kept in a cold place: for it is an ani∣mated Spirit.

Afterwards having encreased the fire with a continual course or order till all the Phleg∣matick moisture, how little soever it be in the Earth, be exhaled; which Phlegm is to be cast away: for it serveth to no use at all, but unto the earth it self.

After it be well dried, and again calcined, pour again so much of the new Spirit, that it stand three fingers breath: and having glewed the blind Head upon it, put it three dayes into the Physical Vaporary; which time past, take a∣way the blind Head, and put on a Limbeck: and

from thence distil an animated Spirit, which joys to the first, and keep.

Then afterwards proceed to distil, till all the Phlegm be gone out, and cast; and those ope∣rations must be so often renewed, till the Earth appear white and flowing like Wax upon a glowing Plate of Iron: give no smoak at all. The Earth thus prepared, must of necessity be returned into a Calx, giving not a dissolving but a digesting heat of the fire. When this Truth is calcined, you shall put it in a fit Vessel of Glass, which must be set it temperate heat of the fire, the first degree: and in it unto the Earth must be poured one ounce of the animated Spirit: As for example, To one ounce of the Earth, you must put one of the Spirit: which ani∣mated Spirit I taught you heretofore to draw out of the Earth it self by Distillation.

Then shut the Vessel with a blind Head, and suffer it to be digested three dayes, or so long, till the Earth hath drawn up his Spirit: then taking away the blind Head; and putting on a Limbeck, by Distillation draw out the Phleg∣matick and unsavory moisture, how little soever be in it.

Then again the second time, give to the same Earth of its own Spirit the seventh part; and putting the blind Head upon it, set the Vessel on the first degree of heat, to be digested three dayes space: then taking a way the blue Head, and putting on the Alimbeck, distil all the insi∣pid moisture.

Thirdly, Add to the same Earth, the fixth part of its own animated Water; and putting on the blue Head, set in digestion for three days: and after that time, removing of the blind Head, and putting on the Alimbeck, distil the superfluous humidities.

Fourthly, Add again the fifth part of the ani∣mated Spirit to his own Earth, digest it, and by Distillation, evacuate the humidity.

Fifthly, Render the fourth part of the Soul of the Body, and digest it, and draw out the moi∣sture, as I have shewn before: and so with the fourth part of it upon the same Earth, prosecute the operation by Unvivistives, Digestion, and Distillations, till the Earth have drunk up all his animated Spirit, and both be reduced to an Homogeneal Body: then take the Earth which is withheld, and white, and put it in a Vessel of Glass, divided into three parts, which being luted, and carefully shut, must be put in a Furnace to the fire of the third degree, the space or a natural day: and so the pure part of it will be separated from the impure, and will be lifted up on high, and the impure part of the Body be left in the bottom as unprofitable, to be cast a∣way, and the pure to be gathered: and this is called by Raymund and other Philosophers, Mer∣cury sublimate, vegetable, Sal Armoniack, and set of Lunary vegetable, wherein are so many and so great vertues, that the humane tongue of man cannot express them.

Furthermore, All things being severally pre∣pared,

to wit, the Spirit and the Earth, it re∣maineth here to shew the way to copulate the Spirit of Lunary, with the Earth of the same prepared, that is, with the Salt or Sulphur of Na∣ture vegetable: but out of the conjunction of these two, one organical Body, to wit, the vege∣table menstruum, may be made up: and the way to make it is this:

Take one pound of the Salt or vegetable Sul∣phur new prepared, bray it very small, and put it in a Cucurbite of Glass, which is strong and thick, and upon it of the foresaid Spirit of Phi∣losophical Lunary: then shutting the Glass most carefully with a blue Head, so that it hath no Air at all, put it in the Balneo, and let it pu∣rifie for the space two dayes: then taking off the blind Head, and putting on a Limbeck, and joyning a great Recipient to it; After you have stopped well all the Joynts, you shall distil it in the Ashes with a gentle heat, and all will go out by the Limbeck. Nevertheless, if any of the Salt should remain in the bottom, you shall again pour of Spirit newly distilled upon it; and distil it again from hence. And this shall you do so oft, till the whole Earth as a cleer Water be brought over the Limbeck; being done, take yet one pound of Salt, put it into the Cucurbite, and pour upon it the same Spirit lastly distilled: cover the Vessel with a blind Head, and set it to purifie; and being purified, till all the Sulphur pass over the Lim∣beck with the Spirit; and that being distilled,

take again, as before, of new Salt vegetable one pound; and adding the same Spirit, purifie; and then distil all. Fourthly, Take likewise fresh Salt one pound, and pour upon it the Spi∣rit lately distilled, till all pass by the Limbeck, and nothing remain in the Cucurbite; and so the vegetable menstruum shall be made, and per∣fectly ended, having power to dissolve both the lights, and all other Metals, with the conserva∣tion of the vegetable form: but now it is resting to shew how the menstruum must be converted unto a celestial Nature or Quintessence: and the way is thus:

Take the simple menstruum, and pour it into a great and strong Glass-Vessel, that the fifth part of it onely be full, or at the most the fourth, and the rest be void: then shut the Vessel with a blind Head; shutting diligently all the Joynts, lest the power of the menstruum vanish: being shut, put it in the Physical Bath, or in the Horse-Belly, and let it circulate a whole Month: which time expired, put on your menstruum into another clean Vessel: and do this warily, lest the setling in the bottom by the Circulation be poured out together with the menstruum, but it must be left in the Circulation: so shall you have the menstruum purified, circulated, and celestial, which the Philosophers call, The Heaven, The Crown of Heaven, and, The Quintessence; whose brightness and transparencie doth exceed the brightness of all Lunary things, and the sweet smell of it exceedeth all other

sweet savours prepared by Nature.

This Quintessence is the ground-work of all Spagyrical and Physical Preparation: for by the vertue of it, all solid Bodies are cor∣rupted from their own Natures, and are brought to Liquors, Oyls, Spirits, Elixirs, Magi∣steries, Stones and Tinctures. Whence it cometh, That the Spagyrick can give to the Phisitians the best Medicines.