Chapter LXIV: Part II (3)

It is well known, that even the poorest and vilest or meanest Countrey can want neither fire, nor salt, nor earthen vessels, necessary for the boyling of Meats. Therefore being furnished with Salt, a piece of Copper of some old Kettle shall easily supply him, the which it shall be free for him, by fire and salt to trans-change into a better and more noble body, but because Man hath a far better and commodious Salt for the transmutation of Metals in his possession, which excells common Salt in its goodness, he may of right and worthily make use of his own proper Salt before a strange and foreign one, and that after this manner.

Boil thy own, or the Urine of another man, to the consistancy of Honey, in which decoction, all the unprofitable moisture of the Urine departs by exhalation, and the Salt thereof remains in the Kettle or earthen Pot; admix thou with this condensed Urine, so much of _Calx-vive_, or the ashes of burnt Woods, that it may come into a thick or gross lump. But thin plates of Copper cut in pieces, and purged by making them bright burning hot ought to be in readiness, and also an earthen Pot having its Cover, wherein let that mass of Urine, and _Calx-vive_, together with the thin plates of Copper be put; when thou hast all these things in a readiness, mix the Urine as abovesaid with the _Calx_ or slack-lime or ashes, and fill thy Pot to the height of three or four fingers, upon which put some of the plates of Copper, and so _stratum super-stratum_ till the Pot is full, then cover it with its Cover, which thou shalt well fence with Lute made of Meal, Water, and Paper, that not any vapour at all may come forth. For assoon as the _Calx-vive_ is mixed with the condensed or co-thickned Urine, the Spirit of Urine begins to operate by its own proper efficacy, and therefore it is necessary that the Cover be straightway laid on the Pot, and be fenced with a due Lute or Clay; the Pot being thus filled and cover’d, set it aside in some certain place for the space of half a year, in which time the spirit of Urine being stirred up by the _Calx-vive_, displays its virtues on the Copper, and exalts it into a higher degree, as that it is tinged of a skie and green colour mixed, and is rendred fit for the Painters Art; one pound whereof is more worth than two or three pounds of Copper, one pound whereof doth for the most part render one pound with four or five ounces of this colour, and so it affords a profitable transmutation of Copper.

L. _After what manner, out of this partly Green, partly Skie-colour
of Copper, Gold and Silver is to be separated._

He that desires to separate Gold and Silver out of this colour, whereof no great masses are attained, but onely and alone whereby it is demonstrated that the thing may be done, he must use the following operation.

First, he must take good heed in taking the colour out of the earthen Pot, lest any thing of the mass of the Urine, and _Calx_ be mixed with the beautifull colour, and render it impure.

The thin plates being taken out, they are to be often crookedly bowed, and moved upwards and downwards, that the colour may fall off from the plates like scales. The remaining Copper which is not yet turned into colour, is reserved for a new labour; to be repeated after the same manner. Wine-vinegar is poured on the colour, or the sharp water of Tartar extracted after the Distillation of adust Wine from its Lees, with water by decoction, and it is to be so long boiled in a Copper Kettle, or an earthen Pot glazed, till all the colour shall be solved; the Solution being cast into a Filtre, the Vinegar or Water of Tartar onely passeth through, and a reddish powder is left in the Filtre, the which being melted with Lead in a Cupel, after the exhalation of the Lead, it leaves a grain of Gold. For the spirit of Urine hath ripened somewhat of the Copper into Gold, which the Vinegar or Water of Tartar did not dissolve but left, attracting onely the Copper by solution. And because somewhat of Silver is ripened in the Copper through this same operation, and is dissolved with the Copper, by the Vinegar or Water of Tartar, something of common Salt is to be added to the Water of Tartar or Vinegar, that the Silver may not be solved by the same, but may remain with the _Calx_ of Gold, and may be retained with the same.

_N. B._ Pure and clear Vinegar ought to be taken for this labour, if you would preserve the colour unhurt, for after some part of the Vinegar is evaporated away, the green colour of the Copper grows together into fair green small stones, one pound whereof is more to be esteemed than five or six pounds of Verdi grease, which is sold in the Shops.

This artificial operation therefore affords a beautifull and christalline vitriol of _Venus_, and some small quantity of Gold and Silver; whereof although there be not so great plenty that it may bring profit, yet it shews the possibility of the thing, and teacheth that a transmutation of Metals, may be exercised in any small Cottage by any Countrey Man.

But if any one shall collect Urine, and extract from thence the volatile spirit of its Salt by Distillation, he shall far more deeply pierce the heart of the Copper, and shall obtain more of Gold and Silver than he can get by the but now mentioned rustical labour, of which matter more things are found in other places of my Writings.

LI. _After what sort pure Gold may be extracted out of any Copper._

In all Copper a spiritual occult Gold lies hid, the which in the labour of separation by Lead in a Cupel or Test, is not taken notice of, or considered. But this very Gold is nothing else but the colour of Copper, so firmly adhering unto its body, that it remaineth very difficult to be separated from thence, but the operation being rightly instituted, although it be not gainfull, yet it demonstrates a possibility of the thing, for the sake of experiencing whereof, to wit, whether there be Gold in all Copper, thou must labour after the following manner.

Dissolve Copper in _Aq. Regis_, and pour much water on the solution, that by this water the dissolved Copper may be largely diffused. Into this solution diffused by the water, pour Lead that is dissolved in _Aq. Fortis_, so that one or two half ounces of Lead may answer to one pound of Copper. But as often as the Lead shall settle to the bottom, thou shalt shake or stir it, that the solution may be well mixed, and that the Lead may attract something of Gold; and may precipitate it with it self to the bottom, the which being dried and separated in a Cupel, will leave a small quantity of Gold, not for an argument of profit, but a token of a possibility, which testifies that there is Gold in all Copper. But if any thing of profit were to be received, such Copper was to be taken which was already changed into vitriol. But among vitriols the _Hungarian_, _Cyprian_, _Indian_, _Japanick_, and other the like do excell, which do offer themselves in the Mines of Gold-bearing Copper, and are handled after the following manner.

LII. _The manner of extracting Gold out of natural vitriol._

Dissolve thou vitriol in common water, and pour on the vitriol dissolved, a littled of dissolved Lead, and stir both solutions by frequent motions, that the Lead may attract the Gold out of the vitriol, to be dried and separated by a Cupel, which will remain like a grain of greater or lesser quantity, as the vitriol shall contain more or less of the same.

Of the vitriolated water out of which the Gold was extracted, thou shalt again make vitriol by so long boiling, and evaporating till a thin skin appear, which being then exposed to the cold will shoot into Crystals. But this operation brings with it more profit, if it be not now boiled up into Crystals, but that vitriol onely be taken which is drawn out of its Mineral into Water, and after the extraction of the Gold, is at length boiled up into vitriol.

But least this fishing of Gold out of vitriol should seem wonderfull unto any, we will shew a way, whereby Gold may be extracted out of Sea Water, or Sea Salt, the solution of Lead assisting: The manner is as followeth.

LIII. _After what manner Gold is to be extracted out of Sea Salt,
or Sea Water, not indeed with profit, but onely that it may be
demonstrated, that Gold is hidden even in Sea Water or Sea Salt._

Fill a great Copper Kettle with Sea Water, and pour thereon a little dissolved Lead; the which goes to the bottom because it cannot indure Salt, and is straightway precipitated into a white powder, move and stir the water in the Kettle often, that the solution of Lead may every where touch the Sea-Salt-Water.

Through this action, a spiritual Gold adheres to the leaden powder, and sinks to the bottom together with it, which powder being freed from its Salt by common Water, and dried, and melted in a Cupel, leaves a small grain of Gold, as a remainder.

_N. B._ For this fishing Silver is more fit than Lead.

LIV. _How, out of poor Mines of Copper, from which no profit can be
perceived, Copper, as also Gold it self if it be present, is to
be easily and without costs, extracted and separated._

The sandy or sulphurous Mine or Mineral of Copper is to be roasted or calcined, by burning even to the consuming of the Sulphur, because sharp waters do not assault sulphureous matters, the Mineral being calcined and beaten into a powder, fill a gourd, and pour our solving secret on the same, the which I have taught above at the extracting of Minerals.

The whole dissolvent in abstracting or distilling is recovered, and that indeed not without increase. But the Copper and Silver do stick fast in the dissolved Salt, which remained in the Mineral after the abstraction, and the which is to be washed out with water, out of which water, which drew out that Salt, the Gold contained therein, may by the solution of Lead or Silver, be drawn forth.

But if the same water be boiled untill a thin skin appear at the top, and exposed to the cold, it will shoot into a green vitriol, but for the extracting the Copper out of the Salt-Water, Rods of Iron are to be put therein, which do attract the Copper, the which being withdrawn and washed clean, and melted into Copper by fusion, is administred for other uses: For because it is like to a tender and filed powder, it is changed by an easie business into Verdi-grease, after the manner which shall by and by be taught.

LV. _After what manner Gold may by an easie business by Fire and
Salt, be separated out of Copper._

If Gold shall be mixed with a mass or lump of Copper, all the Copper is to be reduced in a bright burning Fire into Ashes: and the Ashes are to be infused in our secret _Aceum_ or Vinegar, the which dissolveth the Copper onely by decoction, and leaveth the Gold undissolved, like a shining powder, to be dried and melted with Borace, out of which Gold of twenty three Caracts proceedeth.

That Vinegar, our secret _Aceum_, draws all the Copper from the golden _Calx_. The Copper is separated from the Vinegar by Rods of Iron, being laid therein as we have taught in the foregoing manner.

LVI. _How Copper being extracted out of vitriolated Water, and
adhering to Rods of Iron, is to be changed into Verdi-grease._

This pure Copper may be moistened with the strongest Vinegar, and put into earthen Pots, the which being covered with its Cover well fenced with Clay, are to be placed in Horse dung, and to be left therein for a time, yet so as that the heap of Dung be sometimes renewed. All the Copper is in a short time changed into Verdi-grease, and indeed far more pure than that which is set forth to Sale in the Shops, and which is made in _Spain_, by the husks or pressed out of clusters of Grapes.

_N. B._ In extracting Copper out of Mines, regard is to be had unto this thing, to wit, that with poor and wild or course veins of Copper, _Lapis Calaminaris_, or _Zink_ is sometimes found to be admixed; which is no ways perceived to be in them. But if those Minerals are extracted with _Aq. Regis_, and this be to be taken away by Distillation, none of the _Aq. Regis_ goes forth, but onely a flegm without savour, because the _Lapis Calaminaris_ or _Zink_ doth retain all the Acrimony with it, just as if those two Minerals should say to the _Aq. Regis_, we do not as yet let thee go, because as yet, we have need of thy indeavour for our amendment, _&c._

But it is certain that whatsoever Minerals and Metals do retain with them sharp spirits, are as yet immature, and may be ripened by those spirits, that they may bestow Gold and Silver, as hath been already said, and shall as yet more largely be spoken to.

LVII. _Out of wild or course Minerals, or veins of Lead, admitting
of no melting, out of which no good Lead, much less Gold or
Silver, can be drawn, how to extract not onely Lead, but also
Gold and Silver with profit._

As we have said above, that some Minerals or Veins of Copper do appear in Mines, the which by reason of _Lapis Calaminaris_ or _Zink_ do refuse all melting, and can be by no fire reduced: So also we here admonish, that Minerals of Lead are found, the which do indeed contain much Lead, but by reason of the _Lapis Calaminaris_, _Zink_, and a sulphureous Sand being admixed with them, they cannot be overcome by any melting, for these matters do take away a ready flowing from the Lead, and do cause that such Minerals, which for the most part together with Lead, do also hide not a little of Gold and Silver, are cast away as altogether unfit, and unprofitable, whenas notwithstanding very much profit might be received from them after this manner.

Let the Mineral by pounding be broken in small pieces, and in my little secret Furnace which I have fitted for the calcining of Minerals, let it be roasted with bright burning Coals, that the gross Sulphur may conceive a flame, and burn. If in time of operation the matter should gather it self into heaps or knobs, and in co-heaping should make round Pellets, it being taken out of the Furnace, let it again be beaten, be set upon live Coals and roasted, and these labours be so often repeated, untill all the Sulphur shall be consumed, and the Mineral doth no longer co-heap it self into knobs, but being made bright burning hot like dead ashes; it no longer sends forth a sulphureous stink. At length out of these ashes being well washed, a dead and unprofitable matter separates its self from the good and metallick earth, the which being melted by it self in a Furnace called by the _Germans_ _Stichofen_, becomes a flowable Lead which containeth Gold and Silver.

But if the Mineral be so stubborn that it altogether refusing all melting, could not by it self be reduced, and nevertheless contain Gold and Silver, something of Litharge is to be added to that metallick earth, which procures a flux unto it, and yields that Gold and Silver bearing Lead, which by the common operation wholly refuseth to offer it self.

LVIII. _Another way teaching by the help of Salt and Fire to draw
Silver and Gold with great profit, out of all stubborn or rude
and untamed metallick earths, in whose Veins Lead, Copper,
Gravel, or course Sands, Iron, or =Lapis Calaminaris= have for
the most part conjoyned in Society, and which do deny all profit
by vulgar operations._

As Fire burns up every gross and combustible Sulphur in Mines or Minerals, that these do at length subject themselves unto melting, and do render Metals easie to be hammered: so also Salt fixeth, and makes constant whatsoever volatile body endeavours to flie away into the air, that it may afford a ripened, melted, and profitable Metal. For that cause such Minerals common Salt being added as was abovesaid, are to be roasted in live Coals, that that devouring gross Sulphur may vanish by burning with a flame, and that together also the Metal it self may be promoted to maturity, and so that by this very thing, good Gold and Silver may be separated, whenas notwithstanding otherwise, not any one should obtain so much as the least thereof out of these very Minerals.

Such an amendment and changing the more imperfect Metals into the more perfect ones, may be attained by the help of Salt and Fire.

If therefore common Salt and gross Fire are able to perform this in Minerals, what shall not these, not common but secret Fires of Salts effect, in trans-changing Metals already pure, into more pure and subtile ones?

LIX. _After what manner Metals are to be amended by pure Fire, or
the fiery spirits of Salts._

It may easily be perceived if a gross Salt and Fire do some good to more gross Metals, that also a more pure Fire and Salt may do more good on purer Metals. Instruments whose edges are made very sharp by whetting, are far more fit for operation than those that are dull, and will perform more. By how much the sharper an Auger or Wimble is, by so much the sooner it boareth thorough the Wood, and on the contrary, by how much the more blunt it is, by so much the slower it pierceth thorough.

He that is earnestly desirous to obtain any good in the amendment of Metals, he must of necessity apply the subtile and strong spirits of Salts, that he may destroy Metals with the same, may kill them, and reduce them unto their former life, and so may procure more noble bodies unto them. When their former body is restored to those moist and cold Fires of Salts, to wit, that they may return unto the form of Salt, but of a more noble and subtile one, Metals may far more speedily be destroyed; a double Fire performs more than a single one, since therefore Salt is by it self no other thing but a meer and con-centred Fire, and the Fire of Wood or Coals joyning it self with the other a greater efficacy must needs be expected from them than by common Fire alone, but we have hitherto made mention of such operations, and therefore its needless here to repeat them. From what hath been hitherto said, every Chymist may gather and learn those things which concern the amendment of Metals, wanting the help of Salt and Fire; more God willing shall follow.

LX. _Let us now ascend higher, and demonstrate what incredible
miracles or wonders our secret Fires of Salts may effect nigh to
that great work of Philosophers._

As in the foregoing Chapters it hath been sufficiently confirmed, that unripe Metals may by the help of Fire and Salt, be particularly promoted to a more perfect maturity: So also in the multiplying of Animals and Vegetables, that thing evidently appeareth; to wit, if sufficient meat and drink be administred to any Infant, that he groweth dayly in bigness, and strength of body, untill he come to the age and perfection of a Man. The same multiplying in Vegetables offers it self to our view, in that a small seed or root do snatch to them their nourishment from an earthly Salt; and the beams of the Sun, and do rise up into a perfect, great, and fruitfull Tree. This particular transmutation is conversant before our eyes, and therefore is a thing most known, but after what sort the most noble part or purest essence is to be extracted out of the bodies of Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, that other more weak bodies may be strengthned and amended by the same Philosophers have always hidden and covered with the greatest endeavour. Hence it is, that there hath been very few, and as yet are, who have had the knowledge of this highest Science.

As to what therefore belongs to the great work of the Philosophers, all the Philosophers do in their writings with one accord affirm, the which I do also in all my writings affirm to be most true, and do as it were shew with my Fingers, to wit, that nothing in the nature of things doth effect a Tincture and Tinge with a most gratefull colour, but Sulphur alone, and that one onely, and that this same combustible immature and volatile Sulphur is fixed and changed by the operation and help of Salts into a true Tincture, the which is as certain as that which is most certain, and yet laborious also, and requiring a space of time long enough, especially if any one doth insist in a moist way. The way of coming unto the end of such a work as I think, yet with the safety of others judgment, this is the best, if any one bind or fix such a Sulphur, which was already brought unto a perfect maturity by nature, they might bring this profit with it, that it should not require a longer time for its maturity.

But such a fixed and tinged Sulphur, is no where more nearly found than in Metals, and especially in Copper and Iron, but the better and more pure in Gold; the finding out whereof notwithstanding (by reason of its most firm and intimate conjunction with its body, as also its separation) hath been always esteemed almost impossible. For unto diligent searchers, a true separator which might separate the pure part from the impure, hath for the most part every where been wanting.

For as it is known such a hard or compacted metallick body, can very difficultly be separated and divided into its parts.

The solution of sharp waters, sups up indeed every Metal, but it effects no separation. For because Metals are Homo-geneal things, and the metallick Sulphur is so strictly bound to its metallick mercury, by the bond of the metallick Salt, it can never be brought to pass, that by such solutions, or by precipitatings, or by other ways, one part should be separated from the other.

If a Metal being dissolved by a water be precipitated all its parts being so mixed as they were before its dissolution do fall down and settle, and admit of no separation. But if any one would also render Metals spiritual, that so the more pure parts might be disjoyned from the more impure ones by distillation, yet there is no separation made, but the more pure body it self ascends, and again as before, it consisteth of three principles, performing indeed more in Alchymy and in Medicine than the more gross bodies of Metals, but is unfit for a true Tincture, because nothing operates in all bodies, but a lively Soul, and that which vivifies or quickens other dead bodies, for it is the spirit, as Christ saith, which quickneth, the body is unprofitable. Let man, or any other living creature be for an example, the which as long as it lives, it moves it self and operates as long as the spirit, the Authour of Life is present with it; but that vanishing away the body wants all motion, and remains a dead Carcass. If now it could be brought to pass, that we could lay hold of such Animal Spirits, and could render them corporal ones, we might also perform incredible things by the same, and perhaps fashion or form a living creature of a lump of earth, the which notwithstanding God hath reserved to his own self. But this that bountifull Father hath granted unto us, that out of unmoveable subjects, or those wanting a moveable and animal life, we may extract their pure Souls or Essences, and render them corporal, and effect thereby things of great moment in Medicine and Alchymy.

But the souls of Metals do excell herein, as being more fixed and constant than the essences of vegetables, but they are far more difficultly attained. For the souls of vegetables do suffer themselves to be easily extracted, but the colours and souls of Metals do hardly admit of extraction, and for that cause are accounted of by the ignorant for a thing impossible to be done, nor indeed is it altogether without some cause; for the separation of the tinging soul from the hard metallick body is a thing of great moment: many are the ways that have been attempted for the procuring of this Sulphur; and some ignorant fellows have written Books, of the acquiring or getting of the same, whereas ’tis evident that they never saw such a Sulphur.

The most learned and most witty _Helmont_ wrote egregiously concerning this Sulphur; but yet not so clearly as that any one could out of those his writings get a perfect knowledge of the same. Nor indeed is it expedient that such kind of Pearls should be cast under the feet of swinish Men. There is no Writer (as far as I know) that hath mentioned any thing concerning this matter, clearer than _Isaac Holland_ in his _Ch. De Amausis_, where he teacheth, that he who hath gotten the art of changing Metals into transparent Glasses with their peculiar colours, hath purchased a notable secret in Metallick affairs. He alludes (by way of likeness) to the bodies of Men brought to a clarity or brightness after this life, and thus declares his Doctrine and says; The souls of Metals do shine forth through their _Amausa_’s, or clarified bodies, clad in their proper colours, even as the Souls of Men shall hereafter shine in the other World, from [or through] their clarified bodies. And further he saith, that when such _Amausa_’s [or Glasses] are reduced into their former bodies; then the _Amausa_’s of Copper and Iron become fixt, that of Silver becomes Gold, and that of Gold becomes Tincture. The Said Authour hath not clearly expressed the manner of accomplishing this, but in my opinion (without prescribing ought to any one) this is the nearest way of attaining to such an operation, _viz._ of getting the souls, or the pure Sulphurs of Metals, _viz._ If the Metals be first reduced into _Amausa_’s, or transparent Glasses, out of which their souls are easier extractable than out of their gross bodies. But now, for such an extraction here is such a _menstruum_ required as doth not work upon all the whole body, or dissolve it, but doth onely attract there out of the colour and purest Sulphur, and leaves the body behind white. But where shall we find the description of such a _menstruum_? none speak of it openly, but many mention it obscurely; nor indeed is it so necessary that such an _Arcanum_ of so great moment be manifested to every one.

But however, this in brief you are to be admonished of, that like draws its like and extracts it. If a mercuriality be to be extracted out of the metallick masses [or bodies,] then ’tis expedient to use a mercurial _menstruum_, for like rejoyceth in its like. So sulphureous essences are extractable by sulphureous _menstruums_, and not by mercurial ones. For Water doth willingly associate it self with Water, and Oyl with Oyls. And forasmuch as all the Philosophers write that the Sulphur or tinging Soul in Iron and Copper, doth as to goodness and nobleness equalize the Sulphur in Gold, it will be needless (in my opinion) to take Gold, but to bring Iron and Copper to that pass, that they may become transparent Glasses, from which their colours may be extracted. But if so be that any one is minded to prefer Gold before these, and to extract the tincture hence from, he may do as he pleases, and will find in many places of my writings a manuduction, [directing him] to the transmutation of Gold, (and so of the other Metals too) into transparent bodies, which thing is highly necessary. For there is not an easier way of extracting the tincture out of Metals, than by first reducing them into transparent _Amausa_’s. Now the _menstruum_ serving for this extracting of the Sulphurs out of the metallick bodies is to be so prepared, that it dissolve not the body, but extract onely the Sulphur or pure Soul there out of. Such _menstruums_ _Paracelsus_ himself makes mention of, and affirms, that with them the skie-coloured Saphyrs, the red Rubies, and the yellow Jacynth may be so deprived of their colours, as that there remains no more of them save onely the white bodies. Besides, that white Crystals may (by the help of tinging sulphureous Spirits) be died with various colours. Verily ’tis a secret of most mighty concernment, to have the skill how to prepare such a _menstruum_ as will penetrate the most hard Stones and most compact Glasses to extract them, and withall to communicate to othersome various colours, without the corrupting, breaking and destruction of any of the bodies, the which thing seems in my opinion very likely to be true, though as yet I know not how to do it. That which I have tryed by my operations I can write and teach, _viz._ how all the Metals may very easily (yet one more easily than another) be changed into fair transparent and most delicately coloured glasses, and how out of these glasses the pure and tinging metallick souls may be extracted, _viz._ by such _menstruums_ as are sulphureous, subtile, not dissolving, but onely extracting.

But for as much as these kinds of _menstruums_ are not (as far as I know) described by any one, and yet are the producers of such notable effects; I could not omit the discovering of something concerning them, for the sake of such as are Students in true Philosophy, and after some sort shew that kind of extraction, which is to be accomplished by the help of our con-centrated spirits of salt, or of our moist Philosophical fires.

LXI. _How a vegetable subtile sulphur is to be so actuated by the
nitrous moist fire, that it may extract the fixt sulphur of
metals, or their pure tinging soul._

First of all, the oyls of the vegetables are to be exalted by distillations, and often repeated rectifications to the highest degree of purity and subtilty, and afterwards to be once rectified by some con-centrated nitrous fire, that so being already of themselves subtile, they may get a fiery vigour endued with a faculty of seizing upon metallick sulphurs, and of extracting them out of the hard and compact bodies. For any vegetable oyl how subtilly soever it be prepared, hath not any power of entring into the metals, and much less of having any ingress into their glasses, nor can it extract in the least, though such bodies should be covered with it for a long season. But now if an artificial operation shall have sharpenedw such an oyl with those most subtile spirits of salts, and have rendred it more acute and penetrative than those con-centrated spirits of the salt do lead in the sulphur, and bestow on it a power of attracting to it self its like.

And albeit that such con-centrated spirits do when _per se_, and alone, wholly dissolve metallick glasses and make no separation at all, no, nor do not extract the least particle of any sulphureous substance, yet the case with them is vastly altered, when such fiery spirits are artificially united with most pure sulphureous oyls; insomuch that they bestow on them a faculty of working upon metals, and of extracting from them a most pure sulphur; nay farther, they purchase these oyls a capacity not onely of extracting the colours out of metals, but also out of other things. Now we have taught at large in our second part of Furnaces, the manner of rendring the oyls of vegetables subtile; and as for the nitrous fire requisite to this operation, the way of con-centrating it is to be found in this Book a little before, so that ’tis wholly needless to repeat the same things over again which have been afore treated of. And thus far is my knowledge come, _viz._ how (by the help of oyls animated and actuated by the aforesaid means) to extract the most pure soul out of metallick _Amausa_’s, or those hard and glassy subjects: But how such a sulphur is to be brought into a tinging medicine, I (professing not my self so great a master) do not as yet know. Neither is it at present needfull to exceed the due bounds by so large a treating of such worthy things; for things wonderfull may be effected by this _menstruum_ both in Medicine and Alchymy, and in other arts, concerning which we shall (God willing) presently add somewhat more.

And whereas I have made mention here of clarified bodies, and con-centrated spirits; I judge it worth while also to shew what difference there is betwixt those con-centrated spirits and clarified bodies as the Chymists call them.

The clarified bodies therefore are nothing else save bodies purged and mundified by the operation of the fire. For the fire is the ultimate examiner of all things, as being endued with such a power by which it burns up all things, reduceth them into ashes and powder, and out of the ashes makes glass; that being the utmost or ultimate thing whereunto all things are reduced. If therefore there be in any thing any good, which being burnt in the fire is by fusion or melting, turned into transparent glass, it doth manifest it self in its utmost or ultimate essence, and shine forth in its brightness, insomuch that every one may see what lay hidden in its life afore thus burning it. For example, I take wood, an herb, or an animal, I burn it and transmute it into ashes; these ashes I melt and turn into glass. Having thus done, there appears no colour visible, for the glass is white, and that because the sulphur is consumed in the burning; and the mercury is fled away into the air in smoke, as being two principles which are no ways able to resist the force of fire: But the salt, as being a contemner of the fire remained in the earth of no efficacy.

But now a metal being by the fire turned into ashes, though part of the sulphur and mercury hath in the combustion and vitrification flown away into the air, yet notwithstanding the best part remains; and this is the reason why such metallick glasses are coloured according to the metals nature and property, and which (afore thus burning it) was hidden. We will yet farther evidence it by an example.

If I burnt copper or iron, and reduce it into ashes, and do by melting it turn it into glass, then the copper if _per se_ and no other thing added unto it, yields a green glass, and the iron yields a yellow coloured glass. But if there be made an addition, then are produced glasses of other colours, as for example.

If I add to burn iron or _crocus martis_ the glass of lead, then the glass made by melting will have the yellow colour of a Hyacinth. The same _crocus martis_ being molten with common glass, made of wood-ashes and salt; yields a greenish coloured glass which is the natural and proper colour of the iron. For the lead altered the colour of the former mentioned glass of the iron and made it yellow in the melting, and so hindred it from manifesting its true and natural colour. The glasses of two several colours being molten together do exhibit false colours, as may be seen by co-melting a skie colour and a yellow glass, the which being molten together yield a green colour, and doth so represent it self both in the fire and out of it too. From hence took I occasion to write and teach the way of finding out (by molten glasses) what kind of metal is hidden in any mineral or metallick earth. Which way of proving mines or minerals is far better and speedier than that which is usually done by a decoction and exhalation of lead in the Cupel. Thus may you mix five, six, eight or ten grains of some finely powdered mineral, with one or two lots of Venice glass being of easie fusion, and put the matter thus mixed in a well covered crucible, and by melting it reduce it into glass. The colour which will be in the said glass, will shew what metal the _minera_ contained: Lead will yield a duskish colour, tin, a white, copper, a Sea-green; iron a somewhat greenish, silver a yellow, and gold a skie coloured: each of which colours is the true and internal colour of the respective metal. Gold doth also resemble a Ruby as to colour if other colours be added thereunto. But yet in the mean time, the skie-colour is its proper and natural colour, and so is yellow of silver: and this is notably agreeable with the truth, though to such as are ignorant, it seems a thing wonderfull, for indeed such mens knowledge ends in external things, but they are wholly ignorant of internal ones. But now the colours of gold and silver are better and more perfectly known, if there be added unto them some fix and white sulphur, which prevents the gold and silver from being thoroughly reduced into their peculiar bodies by fusion. If the _Calx_ of gold or silver be molten with Borax, they both return into their former bodies, and do not pass into glass any ways coloured: But that some glass of easie fusion be mixed with those _Calx_’s, together with a little powder of flints and so molten, then the flints will (by reason of their sulphur) hold with themselves the gold and silver and so keep them that they admit not of fusion [or reduction] in their whole body, but do remain in the glass with some part of the metalline property which renders their internal colours visible, which else would not appear to sight.

_N. B._ If you have the minera’s of gold and silver at hand and melt them with glass, their colours will also appear, because that in the minera’s there always is some sulphur that hinders the metal from wholly returning into a body, so that some part of it abides in the glass and therein shews its colour. This also is to be minded, that if haply some minera or metallick earth contains not one metal barely, but 2 or 3 more metals, then always that metal of which the most quantity is in the said minera doth after fusing shine in the glass beyond the rest. As for example.

Suppose I would make tryal in the red Granates [stones] I powder some eight or ten gr. and mix them with one lot of white Venice glass finely powdered, and I melt them, and so turn them into glass. Now in this transmutation the glass doth not become red, but of a delicate grass colour, and so teacheth me what metals are hidden in those Granates, _viz._ copper and iron, and also more of this, [_viz._ the iron] than of the other. And though there should be some gold too, yet is it unperceiveable because of the predominancy of the iron over the copper and over the gold: For (in this operation) that metal onely manifests it self to sight, which is in greater plenty therein than the rest be.

_Isaac Holland_ would by this vitrification signifie unto us, that after this life, _viz._ when the world is consumed with fire, there shall arise from the bodies of men reduced into ashes other clarified bodies, and of such and such colours, according as their souls have (either good or bad) framed, or as it were made unto themselves in this life-time in their gross bodies. What other thing [I pray] are fair colours, but the virtues of those subjects out of which they emit or send forth their splendour.

Take a similitude hereof from the melting of minerals, wherein though a mineral of silver or copper hath in it much silver or gold, yet if the superfluous sulphur be not (before the melting the said mineral) separated by a little as ’twere roasting fire; but be (together with that gross sulphur,) set in a vehement melting fire, there will not verily be any metal gotten hencefrom, but that stinking sulphur would transmute the good metal into black Scoria’s. So likewise, no fair and transparent glass can be (by melting) made out of pure metals, if that kind of gross sulphur should adhere unto them.

These few things touching clarified bodies, I could not pass over in silence, and much less could I omit this, _viz._ that the bodies of all things may be much better transmuted into clarified bodies by our secret fire, than by the common fire. For the common fire drives away the volatile parts, whereas on the contrary, our fire doth preserve them and renders them fixt and transparent as well as the other parts. And therefore of necessity these bodies must needs shine with fairer and brighter colours than those others, in which the common fire hath expelled the mercury and sulphur, and left remaining nothing else but the salt.

But now as concerning such a transmutation into ashes by our moist and secret fires, any one may easily guess the way. For whatsoever is put in them must be necessarily burned into ashes, and they far better ashes too than are made by burning in the common fire. For if the common fire burns any herb or wood into ashes, the sulphur burns away in a flame, the mercury betakes it self to its wings and away flies it, and the salt abides behind in a few ashes or a little earth. Now our Philosophical calcination takes away nothing but conserves all [the princip’es so called] together; and doth in the first place produce to view a black coal, then afterwards other various curious colours, and then a white colour, and at last to compleat the operation, it yields a red fusile and medicinal stone.

_N. B._ Here it is to be noted that for preparing a pure medicine, a pure subject is to be made use of; for if so be that any one would endeavour the transmutation of an herb, wood, or any animal into a medicament by the help of the secret fires, then all the ashes and feces which were in the herb would also adhere unto the medicament and would render it impure, therefore necessity requires that you do not take the whole herb, or the whole animal, but onely their essential salt, the which being void of feces consists onely of the pure principles of the herb; and doth easily admit of being transmuted into a red tinging, and more soluble stone than the herb it self with its feces by it, doth.

I would not have you to account of these things here delivered you as if they were of small moment. No, for they are such things as cover over with this their vile or base covering, such matters as are of great weight, and which will not come to every bodies knowledge. Surely ’tis a considerable thing that a part of any vegetable, animal or mineral body should (by conserving all the most volatile parts, and by rendring them altogether constant and stable, without the least loss of weight) be ripened into a fixt soluble and tinging red, and medicinal stone. This way of transmuting all things without loss of the weight thereof into clarified bodies, is of all others the best. And those bodies on this wise clarified are without doubt of greater efficacy than are the gross bodies themselves of the animals, vegetables, and minerals, which do as yet abound with their gross and impure feces.

But if so be any one be not herewithall content but panteth after higher things, he may advise with himself about extracting the soul out of this red and fixed stone, and reduce it again by a reiterated operation unto the form of a stone, whereby he will without doubt make it yet far more effectual. And by how much the oftner any one shall repeat this same operation, so much the more effectual a medicine will he obtain, for it will at every reiteration notably augment its virtues, for by such actions the efficacy and virtues of things are con-centrated and driven into a very little compass, wherewithall wonderfull things may be performed.

We are yet moreover to see what spirits are, but principally what con-centrated spirits are, and what they are able to do.

And because the matter in hand gives occasion of treating thereof in this place, we will briefly give you a declaration of the same.

LXII. _What spirits are, and by what means they operate good or
evil._

In the first place, there are spirits called vegetable ones, _viz._ When vegetables are beaten to pieces, and being contused are moistened with water, (provided they have not juicyness enough of their own, or do altogether want it) and so fermented, being fermented they are to be distilled, which distillation brings forth subtile and efficacious spirits, and such as are the effecters of many profitable things in Alchymy and in other arts, besides the use thereof in medicine.

Secondly, sundry and divers spirits are also made out of animals by distillation, as out of Blood, Urine, Hairs, Horns, Hoofs, and such other parts of animals, also which spirits have their use in Medicine and Alchymy.

Thirdly, there are also spirits which are expelled, or forced out of minerals and metals by the force of fire, but principally out of Salts, as Vitriol, Allum, Salt Peter, common Salt and such like; of the preparations of which kind of spirits, the Books of Chymists are full, and therefore stop us from the superfluous repetitions of the same. But as for the concentrating of them and the utility of them, it hath been already described by us.

I hereby give occasion for all the diligent searchers after true Medicine and Alchymy; to contemplate, what may be effected in Medicine and Alchymy, if those fugitive spirits were, by our fixing and moist fires which separate not any one part from each other, but do fix all the parts together, deprived of their volatility and made fixt. These few things we were willing to mention concerning the spirits which are subjected to a Man’s power and are within his reach, and serviceable for the use of mortal Men.

LXIII. _The particular medicinal use of the con-centrated spirits
of salts._

We have heard that the con-centrated spirits or moist fires of salts do reduce all things into a _Calx_, after a Philosophical manner, without a forcing away of the mercurial part, and a burning up of the sulphureous: insomuch that (by conserving, altering and bettering) they fix the whole. Being therefore compelled by a love to my neighbour, I have a mind to set down in this place some medicaments, as well universal as particular; but yet so as that they may not fall into the clutches of [my] unworthy enemies, but may be reserved onely for friends.

And first, here shall be a medicine mentioned, that amendeth the weak digestion of the Stomach.

Take out the teeth of a Wolf or a Dog when he is half dead, (being first shot with a Gun) and pour thereupon two or three parts of the con-centrated spirit of salt in a Cucurbit, set the glass upon sand that it may be heated moderately, whereby the oyl of salt may dissolve them and bring them into a thick pulse or mash. Upon this mash pour warmed water that so all the Acrimony of the spirit of salt may be separated therefrom, and that there remain onely the white pulse, wherewith (because some of the oyl of the salt doth yet remain, and is not washable off wholly with water) a little Sugar-candy is to be mixed, that so that remaining Acrimony may be allayed, and the pulse be the pleasanter for your uses.

LXIV. _An Antidote against Poyson._

The teeth of a mad Dog being prepared after the aforesaid manner, do yield an Antidote against Poyson. And indeed so do the teeth of all Animals, but especially the teeth of Stags and their Horns, do (after such a preparation) resist all Poysons.

LXV. _What Beasts they are whose Teeth and Horns doe (as to
medicine) exceed the rest._

The teeth of all ravenous animals, as likewise of Sea-monsters, and their Horns, are of great use in medicine; as of _Wolves_, _Bears_, _Lynxes_, _Tygers_, _Lyons_, _Leopards_; and as to the watery animals, _Crocodiles_, and such like ravening fishes, whose horn, teeth, and scales, and likewise the claws of Birds of Prey, may be by the con-centrated spirit of salt, converted (after the aforesaid manner) into good medicaments.

LXVI. _An experimental discovery of what Vermine are fit for the
use of medicine._

Take strong and well rectified spirit of salt, or onely a strong _Aq. Fortis_, put thereinto your Vermine, of what kind soever it be, and it will presently endeavour to get out assoon as ever it feels the said moist fire. But being it cannot get out, it will struggle till it dies. Now by how much the longer the worm or flie liveth in the _Aq. Fortis_, by so much are its virtues in medicine greater, and this may serve as advice to every one. As for the way of preparing medicaments out of Bark of Trees and Husks shall be mentioned by and by.

LXVII. _An experimental discovery, of what Herbs are profitable for
Medicine, or unprofitable._

You are to make use of the way but now mentioned concerning Vermine, and such Herbs as thou knowest not, or such whose virtues are to thee unknown, put (one after another) into the moist fire; and that Herb which is of a slower solution, excells that which is sooner dissolved, both in strength and virtues. For example, Lettice, Purslane, Mellons, Cucumbers, and such like waterish Herbs, (and so is it with fruits too,) have a moist nature, and are presently turned into water by those fires. But Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Dodder, and other hotter Herbs, require a longer time for their solution. Ginger, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmegs, Cinamond, Cardamoms, Zedoary, _&c._ do require a yet longer time as to their solution, afore they will thoroughly pass into a water. From hence may any one know the nature and properties of Herbs very easily. This also is to be observed, that the Medicine out of a Vermine, or out of any Herb, is by so much the more efficacious, by how much the vehementer venenosity it abounds withall.

LXVIII. _The manner of preparing an effectual medicament out of
venemous Vermine and Insects._

I have taught in the second part of my spagyrical _Pharmacopæa_, a way of correcting venemous insects by the fixt Liquor of Niter, and of transmuting their venome into an effectual Medicine, which [way of preparation] he who is studious of good medicaments will there find. But now in this place is taught, by what means such like Vermine, and such Herbs as abound with Venome are to be corrected by the con-centrated fire of salt, and to be turned into excellent and penetrative medicaments. The operation whereof is thus.

Pour into some glass vessel, one, two or three ounces of our con-centrated fire of salt, then put thereunto such Vermine as you would prepare your Medicine of, one after another, provided that you do not put more in, than the said fire is able to dissolve and consume. When all are dissolved and converted into water, all the poysonousness is lost [or gone] and they become good medicaments.

LXIX. _The manner of separating the medicament made of Vermine
dissolved by the moist fires._