Chapter VI: Front Matter (6)

I know a Chymist, that spent much time and cost to search this poysonous dragon, thinking to make the universal medicine or stone of the ancient Philosophers out of it. Especially because he saw, that so many strange changes of colours appeared, whereof mention is made by the Philosophers when they discribe their medicine and the preparation thereof.

The Dragons blood, Virgins milk, Green and Red Lyon, Black blacker than Black, White whiter than White and the like, more needless here to relate, which easily may perswade a credulous man as it hapned also unto him. But afterward he found, that this subject in which he put so much confidence, was leprous and not pure enough, and that it is impossible to make that tingent stone of it, for to exalt men and metals, and so was glad to be contented with a good particular medicine and to commit the rest unto God.

And so much of that poysonous dragon, gunpowder: but that there is another and more purer dragon, whereof the Philosophers so often made mention, I do not deny; for nature is mighty rich, and could reveal to us many arcana by Gods permission: But because we look only for great honor and riches, and neglect the poor, there is good reason why such things remain hidden from wicked and ungodly men.

_To make spirits and flores of Nitre and Coals._

If you distill Nitre (well purified from its superfluous salt) mixed with good coals, the Egyptian Sun bird doth burn away, and out of it doth sweat a singular water, useful for men and metals. Its burnt ashes are like unto calcined Tartar, and for the purging of metals not to be despised.

_To make flores and spirits of flints, crystals or sand, by adding of
coals and salt nitre to them._

Take one part of flints or sand, and three parts of Linden coals, with six parts of good salt nitre mixed well together, and cast of it in, and the combustible sulphur of the flints will be kindled by the piercing and vehement fire of the salt nitre, and maketh a separation, carrying over with it part thereof, which it turneth into spirits and flores, which must be separated by filtring. The spirit tasteth as if it had been made of salt of Tartar and flints, and is of the same nature and condition; and the remaining _Caput Mortuum_ also yieldeth such an oyl or liquor in all like unto that, and therefore its condition is not described here, but you may find it where I shall treat of the spirit made of salt of tartar by adding of flints.

_To make a spirit and oyl out of Talck with salt nitre._

Take one part of Talck made into fine powder, and three parts of Linden-coals, mixe them with five or six parts of good salt nitre, cast in of that mixture one spoonful after another, and there will come over a spirit and a few flores, which must be separated as hath been taught above concerning flints.

The spirit is not unlike unto the spirit of sand: the _Caput Mortuum_, which looks greyish, must be well calcined in a crucible, so that it melt, and then pour it out, and it will yield a white transparent Mass, like as flints and crystals do, which in a cold moist cellar will turn to a thick liquor, fatter in the handling than the oyl of sand. It is something sharp like unto oyl of Tartar; it cleanseth the Skin, Hair and Nails, and makes them white; the spirit may be used inwardly for to provoke sweat and urine: externally used, it cleanseth wounds, and healeth all manner of scabs in the body out of hand. What further may be done with it, I do not know yet: But how to bring Talck, pebles, and the like stony things to that pass, that they may be dissolved with spirit of wine and reduced into good medicaments shall be taught in the fourth part.

_To make a spirit, flores, and oyl out of Tin._

If you mix two parts of the filings of Tin, with one part of good salt nitre, and cast it in, as you were taught to do with other things, then the sulphur of Tin will kindle the salt nitre, and make a flame, as if it were done with common sulphur, whereby a separation is made, so that one part of the Tin cometh over in flores and spirit, and the rest stayeth behind, which if it be taken out, some of it in a moist place will turn into a liquor or oyl, which externally may be used with good success in all ulcers for to cleanse them. It hath also the vertue, if it be pertinently applyed to graduate and exalt wonderfully all the colours of vegetables and animals, which would be useful for dyers. The spirit of it mightily provoketh sweating: the flores being edulcorated and used in plaisters, do dry and heal very speedily.

_To make a spirit, flores and a liquor out of Zinck._

In like manner as hath been taught with Tin, you may also proceed with Zinck, and it will yield a good quantity of flores, and also a spirit and oyl, almost of the same vertues with those made of Tin: and these flores corrected with salt nitre, are better than those which are taught to be made by themselves in the first part of the book.

_To make a spirit, flores and oyl of Lapis Calaminaris._

Mix two parts of salt nitre with one part of _lapis calaminaris_ and cast it in, and it will yield a sharp spirit very useful for separating of metals, and there will come over also a few yellow flores. The rest remaining behind is a dark green Mass very fiery upon the tongue, like salt of Tartar, and if it be dissolved with rain water, yieldeth a grass green solution, which being not presently coagulated into salt, the green separateth it self from the fixed salt nitre, and there falleth to the bottom a fine red powder, and if it be edulcorated and dryed, and given from one grain to ten or twelve it causeth gentle stools and easy vomits, better than prepared Antimony; for _lapis calaminaris_ and Zinck are of the nature of Gold, as in the fourth part shall be proved: the white _lixivium_ or lye, from which the green is precipitated, may be coagulated into white salt, like unto salt of Tartar; but if you coagulate the green solution, before the green be separated from the salt nitre, then you will get a very fair green salt, high in colour and much more fiery than salt of Tartar, whereby special things may be done in Alchymy, which doth not belong hither. And if you desire to make such a green salt for to use it in Alchymy, you need not take so much pains, as first to distil a spirit out of the mixture, but take three or four parts of good salt nitre, and mix it with one part of _lapis calaminaris_, and let this mixture boyl together in a wind furnace, till the salt nitre be coloured green by the _lapis calaminaris_, then pour it out and separate the green goldish salt from it, and make such good use of it as you think fit.

But if you will extract a good Tincture and medicine, make it into powder, and extract it with spirit of wine, and it will yield a blood red Tincture, both in Physick and Alchymy of good use.

Further you are to take notice, that among all metals and minerals, which I know (except gold and silver) there is none found, out of which can be extracted a greenness which is of fire-proof, but only out of _lapis calaminaris_, which deserves to be well considered and further thought upon.

_To make a spirit of salt nitre, sulphur and common salt._

Take one part of salt, two parts of sulphur, and four parts of salt nitre, grind all together, and cast in one spoonful after another to distil, and it will yield a sharp yellow spirit, which if it be put among common water, so that the water be not made too sharp of it, it is a good bath, good for many diseases; especially it healeth all scabs very suddenly. The _Caput Mortuum_ may also be dissolved in water and used among bathes, and it is good likewise, but the spirit is penetrating, and doth operate suddenly in shrinkings and other defects of the nerves; of such kind of bathes there shall be spoken more in the third part. Also the remaining fixed yellow salt is good to be used in Alchymy; for it graduateth silver by cementing.

_To make a spirit, flores and oyl out of salt nitre and Regulus
Martis._

Take one part of _Regulus Martis stellatus_ (made of one part of Iron or Steel, and three parts of Antimony, whose preparation is described in the fourth part) and three parts of pure salt nitre, mix and grind all together, and cast it in by little and little to distil, and there will come over a spirit together with a white sublimate, which must be separated with water, as hath been taught above with other flores, and both the spirit and the flores are good to provoke sweat. The remaining _Caput Mortuum_, (as they usually call it) is not dead, but full of life and vertue, whereby much good may be done both in Physick and Alchymy, as followeth. The remaining Mass, which looks white, and is very sharp and fiery (if the _Regulus_ have been pure, if not, then it will look yellowish) may be edulcorated with fresh water, and it will yield a _lixivium_ or lye in all things like unto calcined Tartar, but sharper and purer, and may be used almost in all operations instead of salt of Tartar (but first the _Regulus Antimonii_ must be precipitated from it by the help of water) and afterward it may be coagulated into salt and kept for its use; the edulcorated, as also that which was precipitated with water is a white and fine powder, useful in the plague, feavers, and other diseases to provoke sweating thereby, and may very safely be used, and although if it be given in a greater quantity than usual, it causes some vomits also, yet for all that it doth no hurt. It is easily taken because it hath no taste. It is given to children from 3, 4, to 12. grains: to elder folks from ℈ _ss._ to ʒ _ss._ they work successfully in all diseases, where sweating is needful. This _Antimonium Diaphoreticum_, may also be melted into glass, and so extracted and dissolved with spirit of salt, and it may be prepared into several good medicaments: and if all that which may be done with it, should be described at large, it would require too much time. The _lixivium_, if it be coagulated, hath wonderful vertues, so that if one should describe them, he would hardly be credited by any body, because it is not made of costly things; and truly the life of man is too short to find out by experience all that lies hid in it: and it would be but a laughing matter to a proud fool, if one should reveal it: therefore it is better to keep counsel, than to sow strife. _Basilius Valentinus_ in his Triumphant Chariot of Antimony, where he writeth of the signed star, hinted it sufficiently, but very few take notice of it. _Paracelsus_ also, here and there in his books under an unknown name, makes frequent mention of it; but its true preparation and use, by reason of the unthankful was never described by the Philosophers, which for instruction of Good Honest Men we do here mention.

Before you edulcorate the _Regulus_ (made by fulmination) you may extract of it a good medicinal Tincture with spirit of wine, and if you dissolve it with spirit of salt, there will shoot a white foliated Talck in all things like unto the Mineral Talck: whereof a liquor may be made, which coloureth the skin very white, but if this calx of Antimony, before it be extracted with spirit of wine or dissolved with spirit of salt be made into fine powder, and exposed to the moist air, it will dissolve into a fat liquor, which though it be something sharp, yet doth no hurt to the skin, if it be used with discretion, but rather cleanseth it more then any other thing, and so it doth likewise to the hair and nailes; but as soon as the liquor hath been applyed for that purpose, it must be washed off again with water, lest it do not onely take away the gross and unclean skin, but also work upon the tender white skin and do hurt, and therefore I give warning, that you use it discreetly: for according to the old proverb, you may misuse even that which else is good in it self. If you put some of it into warm water and bath your self in it, the gross skin will peal off all the body, so that you will almost seem to be another body. And this bath also is good for many diseases: for it openeth the pores mightily, and cleanseth all the blood in the body, by drawing many ill humors out of it, which maketh a man light and strong, especially if he be purged first, before he useth the bath. It is also good for Melancholy, scurvy and leprosie, especially when the red Tincture drawn out of it with spirit of wine, be used besides. It is also good to be used in a foot bath for those that are troubled with corns and other excrescencies upon their feet, or with nailes that cut the flesh; for it softeneth them and makes them fit for cutting, and as tractable as wax. For there is nothing known under the Sun, which softneth more a hard skin, hair, nailes and other excrescencies, than this oyl. And this I did set down therefore, because I know, that many are so tormented therewith, that they cannot well endure their shoes upon their feet. But if you coagulate this oyl into salt, and melt it in a crucible, and powre it out into a flat brass bason, that it flow at large and may be broken, then you have the best Causticum, to open the skin withal where is need. If you dissolve crude Tartar with it and coagulate it again, you will get a salt which is used in many Chymical operations; and there may be extracted out of it a blood red Tincture with spirit of wine, which proveth very effectual against all obstructions.

Also every combustible sulphur may be easily dissolved with it, and used among bathes, it acteth his part admirably. If any oyl of spices be boyled therewith, then the oyl will dissolve in it, and they turn together to a balsome, which doth mingle it self with water, and is good to be taken inwardly for some infirmities: but women with child must not meddle with it, because it makes them miscarry. But after their delivery, it is good to expel after burthen and other reliques. But if you boyl _Oleum ligni Rhodii_ with this liquor and rose water so long till the oyl do incorporate with the liquor and waters and then separate the watery substance from it, you will get a sope as white as snow, which may be used for to wash the hands with it, and it doth smell very well. You may also wash the head with it; for it strengtheneth the brain and cleanseth the head and hair. This sope may be distilled, and it will yield a penetrating oyl, very good for the sinews and nerves.

Now as this liquor of _Regulus Antimonii_ softneth the skin, nailes, hair, feathers, horns, and the like, and dissolveth them more than any thing in the world: In the like manner also it hath power to dissolve not only metals, but also the hardest stones, but not in that manner which is done by boyling, as was mentioned of sulphur, but after another way, which is not proper for this place. It sufficeth that I hinted it. The fiery fixed salt nitre may be dissolved with spirit of salt or vinegar, and sublimed into a _Terra foliata_. What further can be effected with it, doth not belong to this place, and perchance some where else more shall be spoken of it.

_To distil a Butyrum out of Antimony, Salt and vitriol, like unto
that, which is made out of Antimony and Mercury sublimate._

Take one part of crude Antimony, two parts of common salt, and four parts of vitriol calcined white, beat all to powder and mix them well, and so cast it in as you were taught to do with other materials, and there will come over a thick oyl of Antimony like butter, which may be rectified like any other oyl, that is made after the common way with Mercury sublimate, and is also the same with it in use, which use you may see in the first part: the same also may be made better and in a greater quantity in the furnace described in the first part, and also with less coals and time by the help of the open fire, because it endureth greater heat than in the second furnace.

_To distil Butyrum of Arsenick and Orpiment._

After the same manner as was taught with Antimony, there may also out of Arsenick and Auripigment together with salt and vitriol a thick oyl be distilled, which not only outwardly but also inwardly is safe to be used, and may be so corrected, that it shall be nothing at all inferior in vertue unto the _butyrum Antimonii_, but rather go beyond it: which perchance will seem impossible to many. But he that knows the nature and condition of minerals, will not be astonished at my words, but they will be to him as a light in a dark place.

_To make a rare spirit of vitriol._

If common vitriol be dissolved in water, and you boyle granulated Zinck in it, all the metal and sulphur contained in the vitriol will precipitate on the Zinck, and the solution will turn white, the precipitated matter is nothing else, but iron, copper, and sulphur, which the salt of vitriol did contain, and now is drawn from it by the Zinck. The reason why the metal precipitateth out of the salt upon the Zinck, belongeth to the fourth part, where you will find it sufficiently explained; The white solution, from which the metallical matter is separated, must be coagulated to the dryness of salt, and so by it self a spirit distilled of it, which riseth easily, and is in taste and vertue not unlike unto common oyl of vitriol, but only that this is a little purer than the common.

Here perchance many may object: you take the green from the vitriol, which _Paracelsus_ doth not teach, but bids us to keep it. To which I answer, that I do not teach here to make the sweet red oyl of vitriol, whereof _Paracelsus_ hath written, but the white acid oyl; which is as good, or rather much better than the common, which is made of the common impure vitriol. To what purpose is it, that you take green vitriol to distil, whereas the green doth not come over, and although that green should come over, why should that oyl be better than the white? for the green in the common vitriol is nothing else but copper and iron, which the salt water running through the passages of Metals did dissolve and take into it self, and as soon as such a green vitriol feeleth the fire, the green turneth into red, which is nothing else but a calcined iron or copper, which in the reducing by a strong fire and by melting is made manifest.

_Paracelsus_ hath not taught us, that we should drive over the green by the force of the fire into a red and sweet oyl, but he hath shewed us an other way, which is found out by few men, whereof in the beginning of the second part already hath been made mention.

This spirit or acid oyl distilled out of the purified vitriol, is of a pleasant sowreness, and serveth for all those uses, which above by the vitriol were described. And this process is set down onely for that end, that we may see, that when the vitriol is purifyed, that then it is easier distilled, and yieldeth a more pleasant spirit, than if it be yet crude and impure.

And that such a purifying of the vitriol is nothing else but a precipitating of the metal, which the water (as before said) running through the veins thereof hath assumed, is thus to be proved; dissolve any metal in its appropriate Menstruum, whether it be done with distilled acid spirits or sharp salts, adding common water to them, or else dry by the fire in a crucible, according as you please, and then put into that solution another metal, such as the dissolvent doth sooner seize on, then upon that which it hath assumed, and then you will find, that the dissolvent doth let fall the assumed metal or mineral, and falls upon the other, which it doth sooner seize on, and dissolveth it as being more friendly to it; of which precipitation in the fourth Part shall be spoken more at large.

This one thing more is worthy your observation, that among all metals there is none more soluble than Zinck, and therefore that all the other (as well in the dry as in the wet way) may be precipitated thereby and reduced into light calxes, in so much that the calx of gold or silver precipitated in this manner (if so be you proceed well) retaineth its splendor or gloss, and is like a fine powder wherewith you may write out of a pen.

_To make a subtle spirit and pleasant oyl of Zinck._

Because I made mention here of Zinck, I thought good not to omit, that there may be made a penetrating spirit and wholesome oyl out of it by the help of vinegar, which is thus to be done. Take of the flores (which were taught to be made in the first part) one part, put them into a glass (fit for digestion) and pour upon them 8, or 10. parts of good sharp vinegar made of honey; or in want thereof take wine vinegar, and set the glass with the flores and vinegar in a warm place to dissolve, and the solution being performed, pour off the clear, which will look yellow and after you have filtred it abstract the phlegm, and there will remain a red liquor or balsome, to which you must add pure sand, well calcined, and distill it, and first there will come over an unsavory phlegme, afterward a subtle spirit, and at last a yellow and red oyl which are to be kept by themselves separated from the spirit, as a treasure for to heal all wounds very speedily. The spirit is not inferior unto the oyl, not only for inward use to provoke sweat thereby, but also externally for the quenching of all inflamations, and doubtless this spirit and oyl is good for more diseases, but because its further use is not known to me yet, I will not write of it, but leave the further tryal to others.

_To distill a spirit and oyl out of Lead._

In the same manner as was taught of Zinck, there may be out of lead also distilled a subtle spirit and a sweet oyl, and it is done thus: Pour strong vinegar upon _Minium_, or any other calx of lead, which is made _per se_, and not with sulphur, let it digest and dissolve in sand or warm ashes, so long till the vinegar be coloured yellow by the lead, and turned quite sweet. Then pour off the clear solution, and pour on other vinegar, and let this likewise dissolve, and this repeat so often, till the vinegar will dissolve no more, nor grow sweet; then take all these solutions, and evaporate all the moisture, and there will remain a thick sweet yellow liquor, like unto honey, if the vinegar was not distilled, but if it was distilled and made clear, then no liquor remaineth, but only a white sweet salt. This liquor or salt may be distilled after the same manner as was taught with the Zinck, and there will come over not only a penetrating subtle spirit, but also a yellow oyl, which will not be much, but very effectual, in all the same uses, as of the spirit, and oyl of the Zinck was taught.

N. B. This is to be observed, that for to make this spirit and oyl, you need no distilled spirit, but that it may be done as well with undistilled vinegar, and the undistilled yields more spirit than the distilled. But if you look for a white and clear salt, then the vineger must be distilled, else it doth not shoot into crystals, but remaineth a yellow liquor like unto honey, and it is also needless to make the solution in glasses, and by digestion continued for a long time, but it may as well be done in a glazed pot, _viz._ pouring the vinegar upon the Mineum in the pot, and boyling it on a coal fire; for you need not fear that any thing of the vinegar will evaporate, in regard that the lead keeps all the spirits, and lets only go an unsavory phlegm. You must also continually stir the lead about with a wooden spatulla, else it would turn to a hard stone, and would not dissolve: the same must be done also when the solution is done in glasses; and the solution after this way may be done in three or four hours: and when both kind of solutions are done, there will be no difference betwixt them, and I think it providently done not to spend a whole day about that which may be done in an hour.

And if you will have this spirit and oyl better and more effectual, you may mix ℥ i. of crude Tartar made into powder with ℔ j. of dissolved and purified lead, and so distil it after the same manner as you do distil it by it self, and you will get a much subtler spirit and a better oyl than if it were made alone by it self.

_To distil a subtile spirit and oyl out of crude Tartar._

Many think it to be but a small matter to make the spirit of Tartar; for they suppose, that if they do but only put Tartar into a retort, and apply a receiver, and by a strong fire force over a water, they have obtained their desire: and they do not observe, that in stead of a pleasant subtle spirit, they get but a stinking vinegar or phlegm; the pleasant spirit being gone. Which some careful operators perceiving, they caused great receivers to be made, supposing by that means to get the spirit. Now when they after the distillation was done, weighed their spirits together with the remainder, they found, that they had suffered great loss, wherefore they supposed it to be an impossible thing, to get all the spirits, and to lose none, and indeed it is hardly possible to be done otherwise by a retort: for although you apply a great receiver to a small retort, and that there be also but a little Tartar in it, and the joynts being well luted, so that nothing can pass through, and though you make also the fire never so gentle, hoping to get the spirit by that way, yet for all that you cannot avoid danger and loss. For at last the retort beginning to be red hot, and the black oyl going, then and but then the subtlest spirits will come forth, which either steal through the joynts, or else do break the retort or receiver, because they come in abundance and with great force, and do not settle easily: wherefore I will set down my way of making this most profitable, and excellent spirit.

_The preparation and use of the spirit of Tartar._

Take good and pure crude Tartar, whether it be red or white, it matters not, make it into fine powder, and when the distilling vessel is red hot, then cast in with a ladle half an ounce and no more at once, and so soon as the spirits are gone forth and setled, cast in another ℥ ss. and this continue, till you have spirit enough, then take out the remainder, which will look black, and calcine it well in a crucible, and put it in a glass retort, and pour the spirit that came over together with the black oyl, upon it, drive it in sand at first gently, and the subtlest spirits will come over, and after them phlegme, at last a sowre vinegar together with the oyl, whereof you must get each by it self. But if you desire to have the subtle spirit which came over first, more penetrating yet, then you must take the _Caput Mortuum_ that staid in the retort, and make it red hot in a crucible, and abstract the spirit once more from it, and the calcined Tartar will keep the remaining moistness or phlegm, and only the subtlest spirit will come over, which is of a most penetrating quality, whereof from half a dram to an ounce taken in wine or any other liquor provoketh a quick and strong sweat, and it is a powerful medicine in all obstructions, and most approved and often tryed in the plague, malignant feavers, scurvy, _Melancolia Hypochondriaca_, collick, contracture, epilepsy and the like diseases. And not only these mentioned diseases, but also many others more, which proceed from corrupt blood under God may successfully be cured with it.

The phlegm is to be cast away, as unprofitable: the vinegar cleanseth wounds: the oyl allayeth swelling and pains, and doth cure scabs, and disperseth knobs that are risen upon the skin, as also other excrescencies of the same, if it be used timely, and the use thereof be continued.

N. B. If the black stinking oyl be rectified from the calcined _Caput Mortuum_, it will be clear and subtle, and it will not only asswage very speedily all pains of the gout, but also dissolve and expel the conglobated gravel in the reines, applyed as a plaister or unguent. In like manner it will dissolve and extract the coagulated Tartar in the hands, knees and feet, so that the place affected will be freed and made whole thereby: because in such a despicable oyl there lyes hid a volatile salt which is of great vertue. But if you desire experimentally to know whether it be so, then pour upon this black stinking oyl an acid spirit, as the spirit of common salt, or of vitriol or salt nitre, or only distilled vinegar, and the oyl will grow warm and make a noyse and rise, as if _Aqua fortis_ had been powred upon salt of Tartar, and the acid spirit will be mortified thereby, and turn to salt. And this well purified oyl doth dissolve and extract the Tartar out of the joynts (unless it be grown to a hard stony substance) even as sope scowres the uncleanness out of cloths, or to compare it better, even as like receiveth its like, and is easily mixed with it, and doth love it; but on the contrary, nothing will mix it self with that wherewith it hath no affinity at all. As if you would take pitch out of cloth by washing it with water, which never will be done by reason of the contrary nature; for common water hath no affinity with pitch or other fat things, nor will it ever be taken out therewith without a mediator, partaking of both natures, _viz._ of the nature of pitch and that of the water, and such are sulphureous salts, and nitrous salts, whether they be fixed or volatile. As you may see at the soap boylers, who incorporate common water by the help of sulphureous salts with fat things, as tallow and oyl. But if you take warm oyl or any thin fat substance, and put it upon the pitch or rozin, then the oyl easily accepteth of and lays hold on its like, and so the pitch is dissolved and got out of the cloth, and the remaining fatness of the oyl may be fetcht out of the cloth with lye or sope and common water, and so the cloth recovereth its former beauty and pureness. And as it falleth out with sulphureous things, so it doth likewise with Mercurial. For example, if you would take the salt out of powdered flesh or pickled fish with a lixivium it would not succeed, because that the nitrous and acid salts are of contrary natures.

But if upon the powdered flesh or pickled fish you pour on water wherein some of the same salt (wherewithall the flesh was powdered) is dissolved, that salt water will extract the salt out of the flesh, as being its like, much more than common sweet water, wherein there is no salt.

In this manner the hardest things also, as stones and metals, may be joyned or united with water, whereof more in my other books are extant; it is needless here therefore to relate. I gave a hint of it, only for to shew, that always like with like must be extracted. True it is that one Contrary can mortifie another, and take the corrosiveness from it, whereby the pains for a time are asswaged, but whether the cause of the disease it self be eradicated thereby, is a question.

Here may be objected, that I make a difference between the sulphureous and Mercurial salts, whereas neither Mercury nor sulphur apparently is to be seen in either. It is true, he that doth not understand nor know the nature of salts, is not able to apprehend it. And I have not time now to demonstrate it, but the same is shewed at large in my book _de Natura salium_, that some of them are sulphureous, and some Mercurial: but he that looks for a further direction yet, let him read my book _de Sympathia & Antipathia rerum_, wherein he shall find it demonstrated that from the Creation of the World to the time present, there were always two contrary natures fighting one against the other, which fight will continue so long till the Mediator betwixt God and Man, the Lord Jesus Christ shall put an end unto this strife, when he shall come to separate the good from the bad, by whose lightning and fire flame the proud and hurtful superfluous sulphur shall be kindled and consumed: the pure Mercurial being left in the center.

_How to make pretious spirits and oyls out of Tartar joined with
minerals and metals._

Take any metal or mineral, dissolve it in a fit menstruum, mix it with a due proportion of crude Tartar, so that the crude Tartar being made into powder together with the solution make up a pap as it were; then at once cast in one spoonful of it, and distil it into a spirit and oyl, which after the distillation must be separated by rectification, for to keep each by its self for its proper use.

_The use of the metallized spirit and oyl of Tartar._

This Tartarized spirit of metals is of such a condition, that it readily performeth its operation according to the strength of the spirit, and the nature of the metal or mineral, whereof it is made. For the spirit and oyl of Gold and Tartar is good for to corroborate the heart, and to keep out its enemies: the spirit of silver and tartar doth serve for the brain; that of Mercury and Tartar, for the liver: of lead and tin for the spleen and lungs: of iron and copper for the reins and seminary vessels: that of Antimony and Tartar for all accidents and infirmities of the whole body; and these metallical spirits made with Tartar, provoke sweat exceedingly, whereby many malignities are expelled out of the body. Likewise also the oyl hath its operation, though this of several metals, as of Mercury and Copper, is not well to be used inwardly, because it causeth salivations and strong vomits. But externally they are very good for to cleanse all putrid ulcers, and to lay a good and firm ground for healing them.

The remainder, whereof the spirit and oyl is distilled, you may take out, and reduce it in a crucible into a metal, so that what is not come over, may not be lost, but made to serve again.

And as you were taught to distil spirits and oyls out of dissolved metals and crude Tartar; so you may get them likewise out of common vitriol and Tartar, _viz._ thus, take one part of Tartar made into powder, two parts of good pure vitriol, mix them well together, and distil a spirit of them, which though it be unpleasant to take, for all that in all obstructions and corruption of blood whatsoever it is not to be despised, but very successfully performeth its operation; especially when it is rectified from its _Caput Mortuum_, and so freed from its phlegm; and its best vertue, which consisteth in the volatility, be not lost in the distilling.

N. B. But if you will have this spirit more effectual, then you may join Tartar and vitriol by boyling them together in common water, and crystallizing; and then cast it in, and distil it, and there will come over a much purer and more penetrating spirit; because that in the solution and coagulation of both, many fæces were separated: but if to one part of vitriol you take two parts of Tartar, and dissolve it together, and so filter and coagulate it, then the Tartar with the vitriol will shoot no more, but there remaineth a thick liquor like unto honey, out of which with spirit of wine there may be extracted a good tincture against obstructions. This liquor taken from ℈ i. to ʒ i. doth purge very gently, and sometimes it causeth a vomit, especially if the vitriol was not pure and good: and it may be also distilled into a spirit not inferiour unto the former in vertue. Besides the way above taught, there is yet (for to distil a metallized spirit of Tartar) another way, whereby several metals and minerals may be reduced into pleasant spirits and oyls, and of more vertue, and it is done in this manner.

Take of the Tartar of white Rhenish wine made into powder, pour upon it sweet rain or running water, so that to ℔ j. of tartar there be ℔ x. or ℔ xij. of water, or so much that the tartar may be dissolved by it in the boyling, and then boyl the mixture with the water in a tinned kettle, or which is better, in a glazed pot, until it be quite dissolved, and in the mean while take off the skum (with a wooden skimmer) still as it riseth in the boyling: and when no more skum riseth, and all the tartar is dissolved, then pour the solution thus hot through a linnen cloth, tyed straight on an earthen glazed vessel, that the remaining sliminess may be separated. The tartar water being strained, let it stand for 24. or 30. hours without stirring, and there will stick a crystallized tartar to the sides of the vessel, which after the water is poured off may be taken out, and washed with cold water, and then dryed. This purified tartar keep, until I shall teach you, what further is to be done with it; and this tartar is pure enough for the above said purpose, _viz._ to reduce metals into oyl with it, as shall follow anon. It is also good taken of it self for an abstersive to make the body soluble. But if you desire to have it yet whiter and fairer and in great Crystals, you must proceed thus.

You must know this that all salts, if they shall shoot into great crystals, there must be a great quantity of them, for of little there comes but little. And if you will make great and fair white crystals of tartar, which will be no better than the former, but only pleasant to the eye, then you must proceed in this manner.

Take of white tartar made into powder about ten or thirty ℔. pour so much water upon it, as is needful for to dissolve it, and boyl it by a strong fire in a tinned kettle, until all the tartar be dissolved, which you may know by stirring in it with a wooden ladle, and skim off diligently all the filth rising on the water; and you must take heed, that you take neither too much nor too little water to it; for if you take too little, part of the tartar will remain undissolved, and so will be cast away and lost among the slime: but if you take too much of it, then the tartar is too much disspersed in the water, and cannot shoot well, and so will likewise be lost, being cast away afterwards with the water. For I have heard many a one complain, that they could get but little of a pound, and therefore supposed the tartar to have been naught, whereas the fault was not in the tartar, but in the workman, that managed not well his work, pouring away one half which did not shoot with the water: but if you proceed well, then four pound of common tartar will yield ℔ iij. of pure white crystals. The solution being well made, and no skim more rising at the top, cover the kettle, and let it cool without removing from the warm place it stands in, which will be done within three or four dayes, if the kettle be bigg. But the fire must be taken away from under the kettle, and so let it stand for the time mentioned. In the mean while the Tartar will crystallise to the sides of the kettle, which crystals after the time is expired, and the water poured off, are to be taken out and washed and boyled again with fresh water, and so skimmed and crystallised; and this proceeding must be still reiterated, untill (which is done the third or fourth time) the crystals are white enough: then take them out, dry and keep them for use; whereof from ʒ j. to ℥ j. made into powder, and taken in wine, beer, warm broth or other liquor, will give some gentle stooles, and serveth for those, which cannot endure strong physick. This tartar may be sharpned with Diagridium or any other purging drug, that so you need not take it in so great a quantity at once, but a lesser dose may serve turn. But if you do not look for great crystals, but only for Tartar well purified, then you may use this following manual, and you will get exceeding fair and glistering little crystals, which need no beating into powder, but by the working come to be so pure and fine, as if they had been ground upon a stone, and looking not like a dead powder, but having a gloss, like unto small glistering snow that fell in very cold weather, and it is done thus: when the crystals are come to be pure enough by often dissolving and coagulating, then dissolve them once again in pure water, and pour the solution into a clean vessel of wood, copper, or earth being glased; and let it not stand still (as above taught with the crystals) but as soon as it is powred in, with a clean wooden stick stirr about continually without ceasing, till all be cold, which will be done in half an houre. In this stirring the Tartar hath no time to shoot into crystals, but doth coagulate into the smallest glistering powder, pleasant to behold, and like unto frozen snow settleth at the bottom of the vessel; then pour off the water, and dry the powder, and keep it for use. The waters which you poured off, in regard that they contain yet some Tartar, ought not to be cast away (as others do) but evaporated, and the Tartar contained in them will be saved, and so nothing will be lost, and in this manner not only white Tartar may be reduced into clear crystals, but also the red being several times dissolved and crystallized, loseth its redness, and turneth white and clear. Besides the abovesaid, there is another way to reduce the Tartar into great white crystals at once by precipitation; but these being good enough for our purpose, _viz._ to make good medicines out of metals, I hold it needless to loose more time by the relation of it, and so I will acquiesce.

_Another way to make a metallised spirit of Tartar._

Take of purified Tartar dissolved and coagulated but once, as much as you please, pour so much rain or other sweet water to it as will serve to dissolve it; in which solution you must boyl plates of metals, until the Tartar have dissolved enough of it, so that it will dissolve no more; the sign whereof is, when the solution is deep coloured of the metal, and during your boyling you must often supply the evaporated water with pouring on of other, lest the Tartar come to be too dry and burn; and this solution may be done best of all in a metallical vessel; as when you will make the solution of iron, you may do it in an iron pot; and for copper you may take a copper kettle, and so forth for other metals, a vessel made of the same is to be taken. But you must know that gold, silver, and crude Mercury, unless they be first prepared cannot be dissolved like iron and copper, but when they are prepared first for the purpose, then they will also be dissolved. In like manner some minerals also must be first prepared, before they can be dissolved with Tartar and water. But if you can have good glasses or glazed vessels of earth, you may use them for all metals and minerals for to dissolve them therein, and the solution you may not only use of it self for a medicine, but also distill it, and make a very effectual spirit and oyl of it as followeth.

_To distill the spirit and oyl of Lead and Tin._

Take the filings of Lead and Tin, and boyl them with the water or solution of Tartar in a leaden or tin vessel, untill the Tartar be sweetned by the water, so that it will dissolve no more, to which pass it will be brought within twenty four hours, for both these metals will be dissolved but slowly, but if you would perform this solution sooner, then you must reduce the metals first into a soluble calx, and then they may be dissolved in less time than an hour. The solution being done, you must filtre it, and in B. abstract all the moisture to the thickness or consistency of honey, and there will remain a pleasant sweet liquor, which of it self with out any further preparation may safely be used inwardly for all such diseases, for which other medicaments, made of these metals are useful. Especially the sweet liquor of lead and tin doeth much good in the Plague, not only by driving the poyson from the heart by sweating, but also by breaking or allaying the intolerable heat, so that a happy cure doth follow upon it: but externally the liquor of lead may be used succesfully in all inflammations, and it healeth very suddenly, not only fresh wounds, but also old ulcers turned to fistulaes; for the Tartar cleanseth, and lead consolidates.

The liquor of tin is better for inward use than for outward whose operation is not so fully known yet, as that of lead. But if you will distil a spirit thereof, then cast it in with a ladle by little and little, as above in other distillations oftentimes was mentioned, and there will come over a subtle spirit of tartar, carrying along the vertue and best essence of the metal, and therefore doth also prove much more effectual than the common spirit of tartar, which is made alone by it self, and this spirit as well that which is made of tin, as that of lead, if it be well dephlegmed first, may be used and held for a great treasure in all obstructions, especially of the Spleen; and few other medicines will go beyond them; but besides there must not be neglected the use of good purging medicines, if need require them. With the spirit there cometh over also an oyl, which is of a quick operation, especially in wounds and sores of the eye, where other oyntments and plaisters may not so fitly be used, for it doth not only allay the heat and inflammation, a common symptome of the eye wounds, but also doth hinder and keep back all other symptomes which few other medicaments, are able to do; and for the residue, if it be driven further by the strongest fire, then there will come over a sublimate, which, in the air dissolveth into oyl, which is also of a powerful operation, not only in physick, but also in Alchymy.

And the Lead runeth together into a fair white _Regulus_, which is much whiter, purer and fairer than other common lead: but the tartar retaines the blackness, and raiseth it self to the top as a fusible dross, which is impregnated with the sulphur of lead, wherewith you may colour hair, bones, feathers and the like, and make them to be, and remain brown and black.

I made tryal once of such a distillation in an iron vessel, whereby the same in the inside was so whitened by the purified lead, that it was like unto fine silver in brightness: which afterwards trying again, it would not fall so fair as at first; whereat none ought to wonder, for I could write something more (if it were fit) of tartar, knowing well what may be effected with it, if I did not stand in fear of scoffers, which vilify all what they do not understand. I durst presume to call tartar the Sope of the Philosophers; for in the cleansing of some metals, by long experience I found it of admirable vertue; though I would not be understood thus, as if I did count it to be the true _Azoth universalis Philosophorum_, whereby they wash their Laton: but I cannot deny, but that it is of particular use for the washing and cleansing of several metals; for it is indued with admirable vertues for the use of metals, whereof in other places more shall be said hereafter.

_How to make a Tartarised spirit and oyle out of Iron or Steel and
Copper._

If you intend to make a good medicine out of iron or steel or copper joyned with tartar, then for the iron or steel take an iron pot, and for copper a kettel of copper, make them very clean and put in it the filings of iron, or steel, or copper, which you please, and twice as much of pure tartar made into powder, and so much water, that the tartar maybe dissolved well by it in the boyling, and so boyl the metal with the tartar-water so long, till it be deeply coloured by the metal, as red by the iron, and deep green by the copper; and when the water in the boyling doth waste, you must still supply it with other, that the tartar may not burn; for there must be alwayes so much water, that no skin of the tartar may rise at the top, but that it remain always open, and there must not be too much water neither, lest it be too sweet, and not able to dissolve the metal. The solution of iron or steel being come to be red and sweet, and in taste like unto vitriol, but green and bitter of copper, pour it off warm by inclination into an other clean vessel, and let it stand so long again in a very gentle heat of coals, till almost all the water be evaporated, and the dissolved metal with the tartar remain in the consistency of honey.