Chapter VII: Front Matter (7)

Which metallical liquor may be used inwardly and outwardly (especially that of iron) which doth purge gently, and openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen: cleanseth the Stomach, and killeth Worms: externally used it is a good wound balsome, and goes far beyond all such as are made of vegetables. It is a singular treasure, not only for to cure new wounds; but also for to cleanse and heal old corrupt exulcerated sores, turned to fistulaes; but the liquor of copper is not so safe for to be used inwardly, for it is not only very unpleasant in taste, but also causeth vehement vomits: and therefore I would not advise any one to be forward to use it, unless it be for strong folks and for to kill worms in them, for which purpose it is excellent good and surpasseth all other medicines whatsoever; but to little children it ought not to be given at all, in regard that it is of far too strong an operation for them.

N. B. And if you will use it to strong bodies against the worms or stomach-agues, you must observe that the patient (in case that he cannot get it up) thrust his finger into the throat to further the vomiting, that it may not stay behind, but come forth again out of the body, which done health followeth upon it; but if it remain in the body, it causeth a loathsomeness to use it any more. And therefore you must take heed to use it warily: and in regard that this liquor is very bitter, you may mix it with some sugar, to facilitate the taking thereof; but that of iron needeth no such correction, it being sweet enough of it self, and therefore I commend and prefer it before the other: but if you will needs have that of copper (because it worketh so strongly) then the Patient must keep in from the cold aire, and not presently after the operation load the stomach with strong drink and superfluity of meat, contenting himself with some warm broth and a little cup of wine or beer, and the next day his meat and drink will taste the better with him, and do him so much the more good.

But externally, this liquor is of the same use with that of iron or steel, yea, proveth more effectual and speedier in healing. It would be good that Surgeons knew how to prepare it, and would use it instead of their salves, wherewith many fresh wounds are spoyled and turned into horrid ulcers, especially it requiring so little cost and pains to make it. And if you would have these liquors purer yet, you must pour on spirit of wine, and extract them, and they will easily yield their tincture, and leave many fæces behind which are good for nothing: but the tincture will be so much the better, purer, and more effectual, so that you need use but four or five drops for purging, whereas of the gross liquor you must have from 4, 6, 8. to 12. or 16. drops: and this extracted tincture worketh also much better externally, and keepeth longer than the balsome or liquor, which in time is corrupted, but the extraction is never spoiled. But if you will distil the liquor or balsome, it is needless that it be extracted first, but may be distilled so as the boyling made it, after the same manner, as above was taught for Lead, and there will come over a yellow spirit and oyl from iron or steel, and from copper a greenish spirit and oyl.

The spirit and oyl of iron may safely be used in the plague, feavers, obstructions, and corruption of blood, from ʒ i. to ℥ i. It is much better to provoke sweat, than that which is made of crude Tartar, without addition of a metal: the like doth that also which is made of copper and more effectually yet, and sometimes causeth a vomit, if it be used in a greater quantity, than is fitting.

N. B. Although the Chymists do prefer copper before iron, as a more firm and ripe metal, nevertheless it is found by experience, that iron or steel by reason of its sweetness is better to be used for an inward medicine than copper. But for external use, copper (if it be well prepared) hath the preheminence, being an appropriate medicine for all ulcers and open sores, in all the parts of the body, if the same inwardly be kept clean by fitting purges. For not only the now described medicine, but also many more besides, are taught to be made out of copper in other places of my books.

A Country-physick and purge I will teach for those, which either live far from Apothecary-shops, or have no money to spare for physick; and it is to be made out of iron and copper, whereby they may cleanse their slimy stomachs, spoyled by a disorderly dyet, whence head-aches, worms, agues, and other diseases are occasioned, warning withal those that are either too old or too young, or else decayed and weak, and so not strong enough for such powerful physick, that they will forbear to use it, lest besides the worms, they kill and expel life it self also; but those that are of a strong constitution, and a middle age, and of a sound heart, may safely use this purge, whereby stomach-agues, belly-worms, and may other occult diseases may be cured with good success. The preparation is done thus: Take ℥ _ss._ of pure tartar made into powder, & ℥ _ss._ or ℥ j. of sugar or honey, and ℥ v. or ℥ vj. of spring or rain water, put all into a clean copper vessel which is not greasy, and boyl it upon a coal fire as long or somewhat longer than you use to boyl an egg, or at the furthest half a quarter of an hour; take off the skum in boyling, let it stand till it be milk-warm, so that it may be drunk. This potion tasting almost like warm wine sweetned with sugar, give unto the patient to drink, and let him fast upon it, and within half an hour it will begin to work upwards and downwards; whereat you need not be amazed, but only keep the body warm, and within an hour it will have done working. But if you will drive out worms from little children by purging, then instead of the copper-vessel, take a clean iron-vessel, and put in a less quantity of tartar, sugar and water, and boyl it as abovesaid, and give it to them, and it will purge only downward, but sometimes it will also give a gentle vomit, which will do them no hurt, but rather will cleanse the stomach the better. But if the drink be too weak, so that it doth not work, it may be used again the next day (but you must take more of the ingredients, or else let them boyl longer) there is no danger in it at all, if you proceed aright, and it is much pleasanter to take, than the bitter worm-feed, wherewith they usually torment children.

The reason why this decoction works in this manner is, that the tartar and sugar being boyled in metallical vessels with water, work upon the metal, and extract vertue out of it, which causeth vomiting and purging (the Tartar also being helpful to it.)

_How to make a Tartarised spirit of Mercury._

Vulgar Mercury cannot be dissolved like the former metals with tartar and water, without any foregoing preparation; but must be sublimed first with salt and vitriol, or crystallised with _Aqua fortis_, and then it may be dissolved by boyling with tartar and water, and reduced into a balsame, like other metals, but is not to be used inwardly, unless it be digested a sufficient time, so that its fierceness be allayed: Externally it may safely be used in all desperate, especially venereal sores, and it is a very effectual and profitable medicine for them. But most of all it doth serve for Alchymy, although few do know this guest, because he will not be seen by every one. The spirit which comes over from it by distillation, is an admirable thing not only in physick, but also in Alchymy: yet you must take heed, that instead of a friend, you do not harbor a great enemy: for its force and vertue is very great and powerful.

_How to make a Tartarised spirit of Gold and Silver._

Gold and silver also can by no means be dissolved with tartar in a wet way: but in a dry way adding its helper to it, it will easily dissolve, which doth not belong hither; but if you will draw a spirit of it, then the gold and silver must first by dissolving and coagulating be reduced to crystals, and then dissolved with purifyed tartar and water, and of Gold you will get a yellow solution, and of silver a white inclining unto green, which being reduced to the consistency of honey, may be used safely and without fear. The solution of Gold doth loosen and keep the body open; it effectually strengtheneth the stomach, heart, lungs, and liver, and other principal members: and that of silver purgeth very forcibly, according to the quantity given, like another purge, but without harm or danger, so that in all diseases where purging is necessary, it may be used safely from ℈ i. to ʒ _ss._ but that of gold is used in a smaller quantity: and both the liquor of gold and of silver may very successfully be used externally: but because for external uses inferiour metals will serve the turn, it is needless to use costly things thereto.

The spirit which is forced from it by distillation, is endued with great vertue: for the volatile part of the metal cometh over-joyned with the spirit of tartar, the remainder may be reduced, so as it was taught of other metals. This spirit, especially that of Gold, is exceeding good in the plague and other diseases, where sweating is necessary: for it driveth not only by sweating, all Malignities from the Heart, but also doth strengthen the same, and preserveth it from all hurtful symptomes. Likewise also that of silver is very commendable, especially if it be first dephlegmed from its _Caput Mortuum_, as above was taught in the preparation of the common spirit of tartar. For any Physitian expert in Chymistry may easily guess what the spirit of tartar well rectifyed and impregnated with the vertues of gold may effect, and therefore it is needless to make any further mention of it, but it shall be left to the tryal thereof.

_To make a Tartarised spirit of Antimony._

Crude Antimony cannot be dissolved in such a manner as above hath been taught: but if it be first prepared into flores, or a _vitrum_, it yieldeth easily its vertue in boyling, and it is done thus: Take to one part of the flores or of small ground _vitrum Antimonii_ made _per se_, three parts of pure tartar, and 12. or 15. parts of clean water, boyl the Antimony with the tartar and water in a glazed pot for three or four hours, and the evaporated water must be still supplyed with other that the tartar may not burn for want of water, and the _vitrum_ must be sometimes stirred about with a wooden spatula (which the flores being light do not need): This done, the tartar water will be deep red coloured by the Antimony, and leave the remaining Antimony settled in the bottom, from which pour off the solution, and after having filtred it, evaporate the water from it, and then extract it once more with spirit of wine, and you will get a blood-red _Extractum_, whereof 1, 2, 3. to 10. or 12. drops given at once, causeth gentle vomits and stools, which may be safely used by old and young in all diseases that have need of purging, and you need not fear any danger at all: For I know no vomit, which purgeth more gently than this, and if you please, you may make it work only (_per inferiora_) downward, so that it shall cause no vomits at all: and you need do nothing else but make a toast of brown bread, and hold it hot to your nose and mouth, and when this is almost cold, have another hot in readiness, and so use one after another by turns, till you feel no more loathing, and that the vertue of Antimony hath begun to work downward: This is a good secret for those that would use Antimonial physick, but that they are affraid of vomiting, which they are not able to endure. But if you will not spend so much pains, as to make such an Extract, then do as you was taught above to do with the copper, and take ten or twelve grains of prepared Antimony for an old body, but for a young one 5, 6. grains or more or less according to the condition of the person, and ℥ ss. or ʒ vj. of pure tartar, and together with ℥ iiij. or ℥ v. of water put it in a little pipkin, and boyl it a quarter of an hour, then pour the solution only into a cup, and disolve a little sugar in it, whereby the acidity of the Tartar will somewhat qualified. The _decoctum_ drink warm, and keep your self as it is fit, and it will work much better, than it if had been steeped over night in wine, which not every one can abide to take fasting; but this _decoctum_, because it tasteth like warm and sweet wine, is much pleasanter to take.

N. B. It is to be admired, that well prepared Antimony is never taken in vain: for although it be given in a very small quantity, so that it cannot cause either stools or vomits, yet it worketh insensibly, _viz._ it cleanseth the blood, and expelleth malignities by sweat, so that mighty diseases may be rooted out thereby without any great sensible operation. Which many times hapned unto me, and gave me occasion to think further of it; and therefore I sought how to prepare Antimony so, that it might be used daily without causing of vomits or stools, which I put in execution accordingly, and found it good, as afterward shall follow.

Of the solution above described, _viz._ of the flores of Antimony with tartar make a good quantity, and after the evaporation of the water distill a spirit of it, and there will also come over a black oyl, which must be separated from the spirit, and rectified _per se_; and externally applyed it will not only do the same wonderful operations, which above have been ascribed to the simple oyl of tartar, but it goeth also far beyond it, for the best essence of Antimony hath joyned it self thereunto, in the distilling and so doubled the vertue of the oyl of Tartar; and this oyl may with credit be used not only for all podagrical tumors to allay them very readily, but also by reason of its dryness it doth consume all other tumors in the whole body, whether they be caused by wind or water: for the volatile salt by reason of its subtlety, conveyeth the vertue of Antimony into the innermost parts of the body in a marvellous and incredible way, whereby much good can be performed in Chyrurgery.

As for the spirit, you may not only use it very successfully, in the Plague, Pox, Scurvy, _Melancholia Hypochondriaca_, Feavers, and other obstructions and corruptions of blood, but also if you put some of it into new wine or beer, and let it work with it, the wine or beer comes to be so vertuous thereby, that if it be daily used, it doth stay and keep off all diseases proceeding from superfluous humors and corrupted blood, so that neither Plague, Scurvy, _Melancholia Hypochondriaca_, or any other disease of that kind can take root in those that daily use it, wherein no metal or mineral (except gold) can be parallel’d with it: but in case you have no conveniency to make that spirit, and yet you would willingly have such a medicinal drink made of Antimony, then take but of the solution made with tartar, before it be distilled, and put ℔ j. or ℔ j ss. of it into 18. or 20. gallons of new wine or beer, and let it work together, and the vertue of the Antimony by the fermentation of the wine will grow the more volatile and efficacious to work. And if you cannot have new wine (in regard that it doth not grow every where) you may make an artificial wine of Honey, Sugar, Pears, Figs, Cherries or the like fruit, as in the following third part shall be taught, which may stand in stead of natural Wine.

These medicinal wines serve for a sure and safe preservative, not only to prevent many diseases, but also if they have possessed the body already, effectually to oppose and expel them. Also all external open sores (which by daubing and plaistering could not be remedied) by daily drinking thereof may be perfectly cured. For not only _Basilius Valentinus_, and _Theophrastus Paracelsus_, but many more before and after them knew it very well, and have written many good things of it, which few did entertain, and (because their description was somewhat dark) most despised and defamed them for untruths.

In like manner, and much more may this my writing be lightly esteemed of, because I do not set down long and costly processes, but only according to truth, and in simplicity do labour to serve my neighbour, which doth not sound well in the ears of the proud world, which rather tickle and load themselves with vain and unprofitable processes, than harken unto the truth; and it is no wonder, that God suffereth such men, which only look after high things, and despise small things, to be held in Error.

Why do we look to get our Medicines by troubling our brains, & by subtle and tedious works, whereas God through simple nature doth teach us otherwise. Were it not better to let simple nature instruct us? surely if we would be in love with small things, we should find great ones. But because all men do strive only for great and high things, therefore the small also are kept from them; and therefore it would be well, that we could fancy this maxim, that also things of small account can do something, as we may see by Tartar and despicable Antimony, and not only so many coals, glasses, materials, and the like, but also the pretious time would not be wasted so much in preparing of medicaments: for all is not gold that glistereth, but oftentimes under a homely coat some glorious thing is hid; which ought to be taken notice of.

Some may object why do I teach to joyn the Antimony first with the Tartar by the help of common water before its fermentation with the wine: whether it would not be as good to put it in of it self in powder, or to dissolve it with spirit of salt (which would be easier to do than with Tartar) and so let it work? To which I answer, that the working wine or drink, receiveth no metallical calx or solution, unless it be first prepared with tartar or spirit of wine. For although you dissolve Antimony, or any other metal or mineral in spirit of salt, or of vitriol, or of salt nitre, or any other acid spirit, and then think to let it work with wine or any other drink, you will find that it doth not succeed; for the acid spirit will hinder the fermentation, and let fall the dissolved metals, and so spoyl the work; and besides, Tartar may be used among all drinks, and doth more agree with ones taste and stomach, than any corrosive spirit.

In the same manner as was taught of Antimony, other minerals and metals also may be fitly joyned with wine or other drink, and the use of such Antimonial wine is this, _viz._ that it be drank at meals and betwixt meals like other ordinary drink to quench thirst, but for all that, it must not be drank in a greater quantity, than that Nature be able to bear it. For if you would drink of it immoderately, it would excite vomits, which ought not to be, for it is but only to work in an insensible way, which if it be done, it preserveth not only the body from all diseases proceeding from corrupted impure blood, as the Plague, Leprosy, Pox, Scurvy, and the like, but by reason of its hidden heat, whereby it doth consume and expel all evil and salt humors (as the Sun dryeth up a pool) by sweat and urine, and so doth unburthen the blood from all such sharp and hurtful humors, _&c._ It doth not only cure the abovesaid diseases, but also all open sores, ulcers, fistulaes, which by reason of the superfluity of salt humors can admit of no healing, and it doth dispatch them in a short time in a wonderful manner, and so firmly that there is no relapse to be feared.

This drink is not only good for the sick, but also for the whole (though in a smaller quantity) because that it wonderfully cleanseth the whole body, and you need not fear the least hurt either in young or old, sick or healthy. And let no man stumble at it, that many ignorant men do defame Antimony and hold it to be poyson, and forbid it to be used; for if they knew it well, they would not do so; but because such men know no more, than what they get by reading, or by hear-say, they pronounce a false sentence; and it might be replyed unto them, as _Apelles_ did to the Shooe-maker; _Ne sutor ultra crepidam_: but what what shall we say? _Non omnis fert omnia tellus._ When an Ass after his death doth rot, out of the carcass groweth Beetles, which can fly higher than the Ass from whence they came; In the like manner we wish it may fare with the haters of royal Antimony, _viz._ that their posterity may get seeing eyes, and what they know not, they may forbear to despise and scoff at.

I must confess, that if Antimony be not well prepared, and besides, be indiscreetly used by the unskilful, that it may prejudice a man in his health, which even the vegetables also may do. But to reject it by reason of the abuse, would be a very unwise act: If perchance a child should get into his hand a sharp-edged knife, and hurt himself or others, because it doth not understand how to use a knife, should therefore the use of a knife be rejected and forbidden to those that are grown up and know how to use it? Good sharp tools make a good workman; so good quick working and powerful medicines make a good physitian; and the sharper the tool is, the sooner a stone-carver or other craftsman may spoyl his work by one cut which he doth amiss: which also must be understood of powerful medicines, for if they be used pertinently, in a short time more good may be done with them, than with weak medicaments in a long time. Now as a sharp tool is not to be handled but by a good workman, so likewise a powerful medicine ought to be managed by an understanding and conscientious physitian, who according to the condition of the person, and the disease, knows to increase or abate the strength of the medicine, and not by such a one, as doth minister it ignorantly without making any difference at all.

Let no man marvail, that I ascribe such great vertues unto Antimony, it being abundantly enriched with the _primum ens_ of gold. If I should say ten times as much more of it, I should not lye. Its praise is not to be expressed by any mans tongue; for purifying of the blood, there is no mineral like unto it; for it cleanseth and purifieth the whole man in the highest degree, if it be well prepared first, and then discreetly used. It is the best and next friend to gold, which by the same also is freed and purified from all addition and filth, as we said even now, of man. Every Antimony for the most part agreeth with gold and its medicine; for out of Antimony, by the cleansing Art may be made firm gold, as in the fourth part shall be taught, and which is more, by a long digestion a good part of the same is changed into gold. Whereby it is evident, that it hath the nature and property of gold, and it is better to be used for a medicine than gold it self, because the golden vertue is as yet volatile in this, but in the other is grown fixed and compacted, and may be compared to a young child in respect of an old man. Therefore it is my advice, that in Antimony medicine should be sought, and not to trifle away time and cost in vain and useless things.

Further note, That if you desire to contract nearer together the vertue of Antimony or any other mineral or metal, as above was taught to be done with the Tartar, you must by exhalation of the superfluous moisture in Balneo, reduce the solution to a honey thick liquor, and pour spirit of wine upon it for to extract, and within few days it will be very red; then pour it off and pour on other, and let this likewise extract: continue this proceeding with shifting the spirit of wine, till the spirit of wine can get no more Tincture; then put all the coloured spirit of wine together into a glass with a long neck, and digest it so long in a warm Balneum, till the colour or best essence of Antimony be separated from the spirit of wine, and settled to the bottom like a blood red thick fat oyl, so that the spirit of wine is turned white again; which is to be separated from the fair and pleasant oyl of Antimony, which is made without any corrosive, and is to be kept as a great treasure in physick. The spirit of wine retains somewhat of the vertue of Antimony, and may be used with success of it self both inwardly and outwardly. But the Tincture as a Panacea in all diseases acteth its part with admiration, and as here mentioned of Antimony, so in the same manner all metals by the help of Tartar and spirit of wine may without distilling be reduced into pleasant and sweet oyles, which are none of the meanest in Physick: for every knowing and skilful Chymist will easily grant, that such a metallical oyl, as without all corrosives out of the gross metals is reduced into a pleasant essence, cannot be without great and singular vertue.

_How to make good spirit and oyles out of Pearls, Corals,
Crabs-eyes, and other light soluble stones of beasts and fishes._

Take to one part of pearls or corals (made into fine powder) three or four parts of pure Tartar, and so much water as will dissolve the Tartar by boyling; put the corals, Tartar and water together into a glass body, which must stand in sand, and give it so strong a fire, that the water boyl in the glass body with the Tartar, and may dissolve the corals. (This solution may be done also in a clean earthen pot that is glased, and the evaporated water must be supplyed with other, as above was taught to be done with the metals.) The corals being dissolved, let them cool, filtrate the solution, and abstract all the moisture from it in Balneo, and there will remain a pleasant honey-thick liquor, which may be used in Physick either of it self, or else once more extracted with spirit of wine and purified, or else distilled, as you please.

The extract or Tincture is better than the liquor, and the spirit is better than the extract or tincture: and all three may well and safely be used; they strengthen the heart and brain; especially those which are made of pearls and corals, they expel the urin and keep the body soluble. Those of crabs eyes and of pearches and other fishes open and cleanse the passages of the urin from all slime and impurity, and they powerfully expel the stone and gravel in the reins and bladder.

N. B. The distilled spirit of corals being well rectified, is good for the Epilepsy, Melancholy, and Apoplexy. It expelleth and driveth out all poyson by sweating, because it is of a golden nature and quality, whereof in another place more shall be said.

_To distill a spirit out of salt of Tartar and crude Tartar._

If you take a like quantity of crude Tartar and of salt of Tartar, and dissolve it with clean water, and then evaporate the water still skimming it, till no skin more do rise, and then let it cool, there will shoot white crystals, which being distilled as common Tartar, they will yield a purer subtler and pleasanter spirit, than the crude Tartar doth, in all to be used as above hath been taught of the simple spirit of Tartar: therefore it is needless here to describe its use. Before you distill a spirit thereof, you may use them in stead of _Tartarus vitriolatus_ for purging, they will cause gentle stools, and drive also the urin and stone, and are not unpleasant to take. The dose is from ℈ i. to ℥ i. in waters fit for your purpose. This salt dissolved with water purifieth metals (if they be boyled therein) and maketh them fairer then common Tartar doeth.

_How to get a powerful spirit out of the salt of Tartar, by the
help of pure sand or peble-stones._

In the first part of this book I taught how to make such a spirit, but because the materials, which are to be distilled in that furnace must be cast upon quick coals, whereby the remainder is lost, and that also not every one hath the conveniency to set up a furnace that requireth more room than this here doth: therefore I will set down how it may be got with ease in this our present furnace, without the loss of the remainder, which is not inferior to the spirit it self. And it is done thus:

Make a fair white salt of calcined Tartar by dissolution, filtration and coagulation, pulverise that salt in a warmed morter, and add to it a fourth part of small pulverised crystal or flints or only of fine sand, washed clean, mix it well, and cast one spoonful thereof at once into your red-hot vessel (which must be made of earth) and so cover it, and the mixture as soon as it is red hot, will rise and boyl (as common Allome doth, when it cometh to a sudden heat) and yield a thick white heavy spirit; and when it ceaseth to come forth, then cast in another spoonful, and stay out the time of its settling, and then another part again, till all your mixture be cast in. When no more spirit goeth forth, then take off the lid from the distilling vessel, and with an iron ladle take out that which stayed behind, whilest it is yet red-hot and soft, and it will look like unto a transparent clear white fusible glass, which you must keep from the air, for it will dissolve in it, till I teach you what you are to do with it.

The spirit which came over, may either be kept as it is, or else rectified _per arenam_ in a glass retort, and used in Physick; it is clean of another taste than the spirit of common salt or vitriol, for it is not so sharp; it smelleth of the flints after a sulphureous manner, and tasteth urin-like, and it is very good for those that are troubled with the gout, stone and Tisick: for it provoketh urin and sweat mightily, and (because it cleanseth and strengthneth the stomach) it also maketh one have a good appetite to his Victuals. What it can do else is unknown to me as yet, but it is credible that it may act its part in many other diseases, which is left free for every one to try. In my opinion (since the spirit of the salt of Tartar is good to be used of it self for the stone, and that here it is strengthned by the sand, which have the signature of the stone of the Microcosme) there is hardly any particular medicine, which can go beyond it, but I leave every one to his own opinion and experience. Externally used, it quencheth inflammations and maketh a pure skin, _&c._ The remainder, which I bid you keep, and looks like a transparent clear glass, is nothing else but the most fixed part of the salt of Tartar and flints, which joyned themselves thus in the heat, and turned to a soluble glass, wherein lyes hid a great heat and fire. As long at it is kept dry from the air, it cannot be perceived in it: but if you pour water upon it, then its secret heat will discover it self. If you make it to fine powder in a warm morter, and lay it in a moist air, it will dissolve and melt into a thick and fat oyl, and leave some fæces behind. This fat liquor or oyl of flints, sand or crystal may not only be used inwardly and outwardly of it self, but also serveth to prepare minerals and metals into good medicines, or to change them into better by Chymical art. For many great secrets are hid in the contemptible peble or sand; which an ignorant and unexpert man (if they were disclosed to him) would hardly believe: for this present world is by the divels craft so far possessed with cursed filthy avarice, that they seek for nothing but money, but honest and ingenious sciences are not regarded at all; and therefore God doth close our eyes that we cannot see what lyeth before them, and we trample upon with our feet. That worthy man _Parcelsus_ hath given it us sufficiently to understand, when he saith in his book (containing the vexations of Alchymists) that many times a despicable flint cast at a Cow is more worth than the Cow; not only because that gold may be melted out of it, but also that other inferior metals may be purified thereby, so that they are like unto the best gold and silver in all tryals; and although I never got any great profit by the doing of it, yet it doth suffice me that I have seen several times the possibility and truth thereof, which in its proper place likewise shall be taught.

This liquor of flints is of that nature toward the metals, that it maketh them exceeding fair, but not so, as women do scowre their vessels of tin, copper, iron, _&c._ with ly and small sand, till all filth be scoured off, and that they get a bright and fair gloss: but the metals must be dissolved therein by Chymical art, and then either after the wet or dry way digested in it for its due space of time; which _Paracelsus_ calleth to go into the mothers womb, and be born again: if this be done rightly, then the mother will bring forth a pure child. All metals are engendred in sand or stone, and therefore they may well be called the mother of metals, and the purer the mother is, the purer and sounder child she will bear, and among all stones there is none found purer than the peble, crystal or sand, which are of one nature (if they be simple and not impregnated with metals:) And therefore the peble or sand is found to be the fittest bath to wash the metal withall. But he that would take this bath to be the Philosophers secret Menstruum, whereby they exalt the King unto the highest purity, would be mistaken; for their Balneum is more friendly to gold by reason of its affinity with it than with other metals, but this doth easier dissolve other metals than gold. Whereby it is evident, that it cannot be _Benard_ his fountain (_Bernhardi fontina_) but must be held only to be a particular cleanser of metals. But omitting this, and leaving it to the further practise and tryal of those that want no time nor conveniency for to search what may be done with it, let us take notice of the use of this liquor in physick, for which uses sake this book is written. That which hath been said, was only done to that end, that we may observe, that we must not always look upon dear and costly things, but that many times even in mean and contemptible things (as sand & pebles) much good is to be found.

_How to extract a blood-red Tincture with spirit of wine out of the
liquor of peble-stones._

If you will extract a tincture out of peble-stones, for use in Physick or in Alchymy, then in stead of the white take a fair yellow, green or blew peble or flint, whether it hold fixed or volatile gold, and first with salt of tartar distill the spirit thereof; or if you do not care for the spirit, then melt the mixture in a covered crucible into a transparent, soluble and fusible glass, and in a warm morter make it into fine powder; put this powder in a long necked glass, and pour upon it rectified spirit of wine (it needeth not to be dephlegmed, it matters not if it be but pure) let it remain upon it in a gentle warmth, till it be turned red (the glass with the prepared peble or flints must be often stirred about, that the peble be divided, and the spirit of wine may be able to work upon it) then pour off the coloured spirit of wine, and pour on other, and let this likewise turn red: this pouring off and on must be iterated so often, till the spirit of wine get no more colour out of it. All the Tinctured spirit of wine put together, & abstract in a Balneum through a Limbeck from the Tincture which will remain in the bottom of the glass body like a red juyce, which you must take out and keep for its use.

_The use of the Tincture of pebles or flints in Physick._

This Tincture if it be made of gold, pebles or sand, is to be held for none of the least medicines, for it doth powerfully resist all soluble Tartareous coagulations, in the hands, knees, feet, reins and bladder; and although in want of those that hold gold, it be extracted but only out of common white peble, it doth act its part however, though not altogether so well as the first. Let no man marvel, that sand or pebles made potable, have so great vertue; for not all things are known to all; and this Tincture is more powerful yet, if first gold have been dissolved with the liquor of pebles before the extraction. And let no man imagine that this Tincture comes from the salt of Tartar (which is taken to the preparing of the oyl of sand) because that of it self also doth colour the spirit of wine, for there is a great difference betwixt this Tincture and that, which is extracted out of the salt of Tartar: for if you distill that of the salt of tartar in a little glass body or retort, there will come first a clear spirit of wine, then an unsavory phlegm, and a salt will remain behind, in all like unto common salt of tartar, wherein after its calcining not the least colour appeareth, and because none came over neither, it might be questioned where it remained then?

To which I answer, that it was not a true tincture, but only that the sulphur in the spirit of wine was exalted or graduated by the corporeal salt of tartar, and so got a red colour, which it loseth as soon as the salt of tartar is taken from it, and reassumeth its former white colour: even as it hapneth also, when the salt of urin, or of harts-horn or soot, or any other like urinous salt is digested with spirit of wine, that the spirit turneth red of it, but not lastingly, but just so as it falls out with the salt of tartar, for if by rectification it be separated again from the spirit of wine, each (_viz._ both the salt and also the spirit of wine) doth recover again its former colour, whereby it appeareth, that (as above said) it was not a true tincture. He that will not believe it, let him dissolve but ℥ i. of common white salt of tartar in ℔ i. of spirit of wine, and the spirit will turn as red of it, as if it had stood a long time upon several pounds of blew or green calcined salt of tartar; and if I had not tryed it my self several times, I should have also been of that opinion: but because I found it to be otherwise, therefore I would not omit to set down my opinion: though I know I shall deserve small thanks of some, especially of those which rather will err with the greater number, than to know and confess the truth with the less number. However, I do not say, that the supposed tincture of the salt of Tartar is of no vertue or useless; for I know well enough that it is found very effectual in many diseases: for the purest part of the salt of Tartar hath been dissolved by the spirit of wine, it being thus coloured thereby, and therefore that tinctured spirit of wine may very fitly be used. But as for the Tincture, which is extracted out of the prepared pebles, it is clean of another condition: for if you abstract the spirit of wine from it, though it also cometh over white, yet there remaineth a deep tinctured salt, whose colour is lasting in the strongest fire, and therefore may be counted a true Tincture.

_How by the help of this liquor out of Gold its red colour may be
extracted so that it remains white._

This oyl or liquor of pebles is of such a condition, that it doth precipitate all metals which are dissolved by corrosives, but not after that manner as the salt of Tartar doth; for the calx of metals which is precipitated by this liquor; (because that the pebles do mingle themselves therewith) is grown much heavier thereby, than if it had been only precipitated with salt of Tartar.

For example, dissolve in _Aqua Regia_ as much Gold as you please, and pour of this liquor upon it, till all the Gold fall to the bottom like a yellow powder, and the solution turn white and clear, which you must pour off, and edulcorate the precipitated Gold with sweet water, and then dry it (as you was taught to do with the _Aurum fulminans_) and you need not fear that it will kindle and fulminate in the drying, as it useth to do, when it is precipitated with salt of Tartar or spirit of urin, but you may boldly dry it by the fire, and it will look like yellow earth, and will weigh as heavy again as the Gold did weigh before the solution; the cause of which weight is, the peble stones, which did precipitate themselves together with the Gold. For the _Aqua Regia_ by its acidity hath mortified the salt of Tartar, and robbed it of its vertues so, that it could not choose but let fall the assumed pebles or sand; on the other side, the salt of Tartar which was in the liquor of pebles, hath annihilated the sharpness of the _Aqua Regia_, so that it could not keep the dissolved gold any longer, whereby both the gold and the pebles are freed from their dissolver.

This edulcorated and dryed yellow powder put into a clean crucible, and set it between live coals, that it begin to be red hot, but not long, and the yellow will be changed into the fairest purple colour, which is pleasant to behold, but if you let it stand longer, then the purple colour vanisheth, and it turns to a brown and brick colour: and therefore if you desire to have a fair purple coloured gold, you must take it off from the fire, as soon as it is come to that colour, and let it not stand any longer, else it loseth that colour again.

This fair gold-powder may be used by the rich (which are able to pay for it) from ℈i to ʒ_ss._ in convenient vehicles; and in all diseases, where sweating is needful: for besides the provoking of sweat, it comforteth not only the heart, but also by the vertue of the peble it expelleth the stone in the reins and bladder (if it be not grown to the height of hardness) like sand together with the urine: so that it may be safely used as well to prevent, as to cure the plague, gout and stone.

How to make further out of this purple coloured gold a soluble Ruby for medicinal use, shall be taught in the fourth part: for in regard that it must be done by a strong fire in a crucible, it doth not belong hither, but to its proper place, where other like Medicaments are taught to be made.

If you will extract the colour out of this precipitated gold, then pour upon it (before it be put into the fire for to calcin) of the strongest spirit of salt, and in a gentle heat the spirit will dissolve part of the gold, which will be much fairer and deeper in colour, than if it had been done with _Aqua Regia_: upon this solution pour five or six times as much of dephlegmed spirit of wine, and digest both together its due time, then by the digestion of a long time, part of the Gold will fall out of the solution to the bottom like a fair white pouder, which may be reduced with Borax or salt nitre and Tartar; it is white like silver, and as heavy as other gold, and may easily get its colour again by the help of Antimony. The residue out of which the white gold is faln, _viz._ the spirit of salt mingled with the spirit of wine, must be abstracted from the Tincture, and there will remain a pleasant sowre liquor coloured by the gold, upon the bottom of the glass body, which is almost of the same vertue, which above hath been ascribed to other tinctures of gold. Especially this liquor of gold strengthneth the heart, brain, and stomach.

N. B. Sometimes there comes over with the spirit of wine a little red oyl, which the strong spirit of salt hath separated from the spirit of wine, and it is impregnated with the Tincture of Gold. It is an excellent cordial, few are found like unto it, whereby weak people decayed by sickness or age, may be kept alive a long time, they taking daily some drops of it, who else for want of the _humidum radicale_, would be forced to exchange their life for death.

Here some body may ask, whether this Tincture is to be counted or taken for a true Tincture of Gold; or whether there be another better to be found?

To which I answer, that though many may hold it to be such, and I my self do call it so here, yet that after due examination it will not prove to be such: for although some vertue is taken from the gold by this way, yet it doth still keep its life, though it be grown weak and pale, because it can so easily recover its former sound colour by a contemptible mineral: if its true Tincture or soul were gone from it, surely an inferiour mineral could not restore it to life, but of necessity there would be required such a thing for to do it, which hath not only so much, as it hath need of for it self, but hath a transcendent power to give life unto dead things. As we may see by a man or any sensible beast, that if they have lost their vigor by adversities, in that no life more is perceived in them, yet by medicines fit for the purpose, they may be refreshed, and brought to their former health, so that their former disease appeareth no more in them: but if their soul be once gone, the dead body can by no medicines be restored unto life again, but must remain dead so long, till he in whose power it is to give and to take life, have mercy upon it. So likewise it is to be understood of gold, when its colour is taken from it, and yet its life is left, which by the help of Antimony, being its medicine, as also by the help of iron or copper can be restored unto it, so that it recovereth its former fair colours, so that you cannot see at all, that it ailed any thing before. But if its life be gone from the body, it is impossible for any ordinary metal or mineral to restore it to life, but it must be done by such a thing, which is more than Gold it self hath been: for even as a living man cannot give life unto a dead man, but GOD must do it who hath created man; so Gold cannot restore to dead Gold, the life which hath been taken from it, and how could it then be done by an unfixt mineral? But there is required a true Philosopher for to do it, such a one as hath good knowledge of gold and its composition.

Now as we heard that like cannot help its like, but he that shall help, must be more, than he that looks for help from him: Hence it is evident, that the Tincture, whose remaining body (from which it is taken) is still gold, can be no true tincture; for if it shall be a true tincture, it must consist in its three principles, and how can it consist therein, the body from whence it came being yet alive, and possessing invisibly all its three principles? How can a mans soul be taken from him, and yet the body live still? Some will say, that for all that, this may be counted a true tincture, although the body still remain gold, and have kept its life: even as man may spare some blood out of his body, which though it will make him somewhat pale, yet he liveth still, and the lost blood may be supplyed again by good meat and drink. But what lame and senseless objections are these? Who would be so simple as to think, that a handful of blood may be compared to a mans life? I believe no wise man will do it. Although life goeth forth with the blood, yet the blood is not the life it self; else the dead could be raised thereby, if a cup full of it were poured into a dead body; but where was such a thing ever heard or seen? With such groundless opinions some did presume to censure the truth, set down in my treatise _de Auro potabili vero_, saying, _Geber_ and _Lullius_ were also of opinion, that a true tincture can be extracted out of gold, the same nevertheless remaining good gold: but it may be asked, what it hath lost then for to yield a true Tincture, since it remained good gold? Here no body will be at home for to answer I doubt. What are the Writings of _Geber_ or _Lully_ to me? What they have written I do not despise, they were highly enlightned and experienced Philosophers, and would defend their writings sufficiently, if they were alive: and what I write, I am also able to maintain.