Chapter LXXXIX: Part I: To the well minded Reader (17)

If any find the trouble and charges of Preparing our _Sal-Armoniack_ too great, he may attempt the Work with common _Sal-Armoniack_ sublimed; and if that do not fully answer his desire, he may afterward prepare ours, or get it of those that make it in quantity. If it please God that I live over next Summer, I intend my self to work this profitable Process of extracting _Sol_ from Tin; as also to extract the Tinctures of Copper and Iron with our _Alcahest_, in great quantity, and to give the over-plus of Profit to the Poor for a Memorial to the World. In the mean time I have here at large declared how the superfluities of Lead and Tin are to be removed, in order to the separating of the Gold and Silver contained in them; and this without concealing any of the Manual Operations thereto belonging: though I question not but many who may attempt the same, will by mistaking some Point or other fail of their end. Above all, great care must be had that the Tin be not mixed with Copper or _Regulus_ of Antimony, which will make the Ashes hard and irreducible; the _Sal-Armoniack_ also must be well prepared, sharp and penetrative, that it may work upon the Tin-ashes, and make them fluxible and reducible to Metal. Neither must the Tin-ashes be suffer’d to lye too long on the Lead, but continually be taken away, for otherwise they will become hard and influxible. In a word, ’tis practise onely and experience can make a man Master of this Work, it being impossible to set down all particulars so clear and distinct, as that the unexperienced may not easily mistake. In case therefore this my Appendix should seem too dark to any one, let him have patience till my Third Appendix be published, in which I intend to communicate a much more easie Process for extracting Gold and Silver out of Lead, Tin, Iron and Copper.

There is also a way of turning fine Tin alone by it self into Ashes, by stirring it continually in an Iron Pot over the fire, which Ashes must be reduced with our _Sal-Armoniack_, and then turn’d to Ashes again and reduced, which must be repeated till the greater part of the Tin be turned to _Scoriæ_, and the Gold and Silver melt down to a _Regulus_, which being tested, leaves behind the Gold and Silver which was in the Tin, and the remaining _Scoriæ_, or Dross, are of greater value than the Gold and Silver it self. For he who knows to make use of these Fæces as a Magnet to attract the Gold from metalline Solutions, will get great profit thereby; the said Fæces being a main cause of my publishing this Treatise, because of their great and profitable use both in Physick and Alchymy; forasmuch as with their help not onely Gold and Silver, but also true Universal Tinctures may be extracted from Stones and Metals: So that he who knows the use of these Jovial Fæces may not onely richly maintain themselves, but also liberally communicate to the Poor. If God continue my life, I intend to undertake this profitable Work my self, and thence make some provision for the Poor; for I have already taken my leave of this wicked World, expecting with patience an heavenly Guide to conduct me to life eternal, which I earnestly pant after.

_A =Corollary=, or Supplement to the foregoing =Appendix=._

We have seen in the foregoing Treatise, how with the help of Lead, the Gold and Silver which is hid in Tin may be extracted with our Secret _Sal-Armoniack_; which after it has separated the said Gold and Silver, doth still retain great virtues, as being become a true natural Magnet, able without much trouble or fire, to extract not onely from Gold, but also from the gross bodies of Iron and Copper their purest Tinctures, which in them are better, and in greater quantity than in Gold it self. Which Solar Magnet few Philosophers have known, or the use of it. Our _Cosmopolita_ writes most clearly of the same in the following words: _There is a Steel which can extract from the Rays of the Sun, that which many have sought and not found_. And again, _If our Steel copulate eleven times with Gold, the Gold thereby becomes weakned almost to death, and the Steel will conceive and bring forth a Son more famous than his Father_. _Nuysement_ also speaks of this Magnet, but sparingly and darkly, and _Paracelsus_ yet more obscurely. Others who had the knowledge of it, make no mention thereof at all; fearing, ’tis like, lest the Art might grow too common, and be prostituted thereby: but without cause; for though a Man be able to extract the Tinctures of Metals, yet hath he not therefore the whole Art: for though the said Tinctures be of great use for the cure of all diseases, yet can they not display their virtues upon Metals, till they be fixed with Gold, and have obtained metallick ingress: but in Physick, as was now said, they are very usefull, before their fixation, and especially those which by our Magnet are extracted from _Mars_ and _Venus_, for they purge all that is hurtfull out of the Body, not weakning as common Purges do, but strengthening it. They also purge by Sweat and Urine, and still all inward and outward Pains procure sweet rest, by reason of the Anodynous quality hid in _Mars_ and _Venus_. So that these Tinctures of _Mars_ and _Venus_ before fixation may be used against all diseases with assurance of good success; and when fixed, they turn Silver into Gold. For our Magnet robs the Dragon (_viz._ _Aqua Fortis_, wherein _Mars_ and _Venus_ are dissolved) of the Golden Fleece he is keeper of, and, like another _Jason_, brings home the same, and with it restores his aged Father to youth again, and procures to himself vast and unmeasurable Riches. For these Tinctures do great wonders in both faculties. It is not long ago since I took some grains (which I had left of a former preparation) of one of these Tinctures, to see if thereby I might be somewhat refreshed, which indeed did perform all that could be expected from it, but having no more of it could not perfect my cure. Since which time I have had a great longing with the first occasion to prepare some more of it, because I found that upon taking that small quantity, my bald head began to be cover’d with black curl’d hairs, from whence I am verily perswaded, that had I had more of the like Tincture, it would have wholly renewed me; and therefore shall not be wanting to make use of the first opportunity to prepare more of it, both for my own health and that of others, and publish the wonderfull works of God throughout the whole World. And forasmuch as God of his free Grace has been pleas’d to bless me with the knowledge of this best and most powerfull of Medicines, though by reason of my weakness I am forc’d to keep my bed, and must patiently wait, till it shall please God to put me into a condition of preparing the same; yea though Death should prevent me from ever doing it, yet shall this be my satisfaction, that I have here informed the Lovers of Art, what wonder-working Tinctures lye hid in these despised Metals of Copper and Iron, and which may so easily with our Jovial Magnet be extracted.

But let him that undertakes to work with our secret Magnet, take heed that he do not make it too strong, lest instead of a Tincture, he draw the gross Bodies; for it often happens when the Magnet is too strong, that, together with the Tincture, it draws the gross Body, and especially of the Homogeneal Metals, in which the Tincture is so closely united with the Body, that it is very hard to separate them. A common Magnet draws Iron, together with its Tincture, but without separating the one from the other; but our secret Magnet draws from Iron (its Body being first opened) the Tincture onely, leaving the gross Body behind, because Iron and Copper are Heterogeneous Metals, in which the Tincture is easily separable from its Body, whereas Gold, which is Homogeneal, doth not readily part with his Tincture, the Body following its Soul or Tincture. Yea a common Magnet draws the whole Body of Iron, without separating the Tincture, even then when by Nature it is made Homogeneal and fixed like Gold: as we see in Granat-stones, which are rich in Iron (as those are which are brought to us from _America_, and especially from _New-France_, some in great pieces and others small like Sand) that they are greedily attracted by the common Magnet: and yet no Iron can be melted from them, forasmuch as neither Fire will flux, nor corrosive Spirits dissolve them; but their Tincture may easily be drawn from them according to the way I have set down in my Book _of the Three Principles_. In _America_ are found great Mountains of such small Granats, which being Homogeneal, will not yield to Fire or Stygian-waters. And now lately I have seen some Mineral Earths and Stones brought from _New-found-land_, of which there are whole Mountains there, which never any Man that I know could make any profit of, though it be certain that every pound weight of them contains half a Crowns worth of Gold and Silver. But we need not trouble our selves to seek for Treasures in other Countries. God having furnished all parts of the World (none excepted) with Subjects that afford good and abundant Tincture, onely the Art of drawing them forth is wanting. We do not stand in need of Gold for to extract its Tincture, because we may have one as good from _Mars_ or _Venus_, and with much more ease.

* * * * *

But if any Man has a mind to draw the Gold from such Waters, wherein it is imperceptibly scatter’d and dispers’d, let him put a small quantity of our secret Magnet into the said Water, and he will see all the said Gold presently gathered to it, and reduc’d to Visibility and Corporality, with great profit to the Artist. And because many such Waters abounding with Gold and Tincture, are found prepared by Nature to our hands, without charges or trouble, this short information here may to the skilfull open a door to great Treasures.

* * * * *

But to proceed and shew that there are such Magnets wherewith Tinctures may be extracted; and here first of all I will instance in my Jovial _Sal-Armoniack_ here described, whereby the Tin turn’d to Ashes is reduced; for when the same _Sal-Armoniack_, impregnated with Tin, is dissolved in Spirit of Salt, it becomes such a Solar Magnet, which can and does extract the Tinctures from the Solution of Metals. For when a little of this _Sal-Armoniack_ Water is poured upon the Solution of any Metal, shaken together, and set aside, the Magnet, as in a moment, attracts all that’s good in the said Solution, whether it be Gold or Tincture, to the bottom of the Glass of a purple or blood-red Colour, and the Solution becomes white. And yet there are many Magnets which are better than this of _Sal-Armoniack_ impregnated with Tin, extracting the Tinctures from Metals with more ease, and better than that. The reason why I onely make mention of this, is, because it is the product of the Work here described, _viz._ the extracting Gold and Silver from Tin. And to the end I may evidence to all, that the said Magnet is of greater value than the Gold and Silver, which is got from the Tin; I shall say thus much, that it is impossible for the ignorant to believe of what great advantage this Magnet is to those that understand the use of it: for not onely may Universal Tinctures be extracted therewith for curing the Bodies of Men and Metals, out of Metals and Stones, and that easily and without charge; but it can also extract much Gold from those Metals and Stones, in which much volatile and spiritual Gold is hid, _viz._ Iron, Copper, _East-Indian_ Zink, _&c._ and amongst Stones the red and yellow Pebbles, which are almost every-where to be found. Concerning which extraction of _Sol_ from Sand and Stones, I have treated at large in my Seventh Part of the _Prosperity of Germany_. Now that our Magnet draws to it all Colours and Tinctures, not onely from Stones and Metals, but from Vegetables and Animals, and doth highly exalt the same, may thus be proved: Dissolve one ounce of Gold in _Aqua Regis_, pour the yellow Solution into a pound of common Water, and this yellow Colour will no more be perceived, then pour also some of our Magnet into the said Water, and all the Water will become blood-red, and being set aside, the Gold, which the Magnet hath attracted, falls to the bottom, highly exalted in Colour, and the Water remains white, having lost all its Gold, and may be used again for the like extraction of Gold or Tincture out of Stones and Metals _in infinitum_, without any impairing of its strength; so that I may well say, that never hath a more profitable invention been communicated to mankind.

Dost thou desire to experience what our Magnet can doe in extracting the Colours of Vegetables and Animals? then proceed thus: Boil Brasile wood, Turmerick, or any like Vegetables in Water till it be coloured, filter it, and pour a little of our Magnet into the colour’d Water; shake it together, and the Magnet will draw all the colour from the Water to it self, which falls to the bottom in form of a very subtil Powder; the Water being decanted, and the Powder dried, affords an excellent colour for Painters; Brasile wood a brown red, Farnabock a light red, Dragons-blood a bright ruby colour, Turmerick a yellow, and Indigo a curious Sky-blew. Animals, as Cochenille, _&c._ may be proceeded with in like manner, and will afford far better Colours than they can of themselves, because our Magnet (as hath been said) exalts all Colours whatsoever. To try this thy self, thou may’st according to my foregoing instruction prepare it, and so find by experience the wonders it will perform in extracting the Tinctures of Metals, Stones, Vegetables and Animals; which if thou dost, thou wilt find more than I have here set down. And if thou hast no time to prepare the Magnet thy self, thou mayst have it of those who prepare it in great quantities: For because this wonder-working Magnet can do such great things, I have communicated the preparation of it to a very honest friend, to the end he might make it in quantity, and vend it for the good of the World, at a Rix-dollar _per_ Pound. With this Magnet Wool, Linnen, Silk, Bones, Feathers, _&c._ may be dyed or painted far more fair and lasting than any other way now known: Chymical Physicians, with the help of it, may prepare the true Quintessence of Metals and Stones for the cure of all diseases: and it will assist the Philosophers to extract Universal Tinctures from all coloured Stones and Metals, with which they may throughly and lastingly tinge white metals to Gold, and Crystal to Rubies, Saphires, Jacinths, Emeralds, _&c._ according to their pleasure.

In a word, he who has this Magnet and knows the use of it, needs not to read any Chymical Books for all in all is comprehended in it, as in a short time will be manifested. This Magnet is so great a Treasure that the vastest Volumes cannot contain all its virtues, it is serviceable to all men; yea no subject can be found in nature, that can produce such wonderfull and usefull effects as this our secret _Sal-Armoniack_. Great Books have been written concerning the common Magnet which onely draws Iron, though indeed its nature and properties be also very wonderfull; for without it there could be no sailing by Sea in the Night time, whereas now it is all one to Marriners whether they Sail by Day or by Night: but how much more highly is our magnet to be esteemed, which not onely points out to Philosophers, Physicians and Chymists, the right way through the vast and wild Sea of Chymical Operations, to their desired Port, richly laden with the best of Commodities Gold and Tinctures, but also directs Mechanicks to new ways and inventions of obtaining wealth, never before known.

Indeed as there is a great difference between _Mars_ and _Jupiter_, so also between these Magnets which partake of their natures. The common martial Magnet guided _Christophorus Columbus_ to _America_, that new World abounding with Gold and Silver, besides many other profitable Commodites, but all this in a way hazardous and full of danger, many thousands having lost their lives as well by Sea as by Land in endeavouring to obtain these riches. For _Mars_ with his Magnet onely loads and perswades to War and Blood-shed, whereas the friendly and peace-loving _Jupiter_, with his benign Magnet stirs up none to evil but onely to good, and directs us to a Land much more abounding with Gold than _America_, whence we may fetch the same in peace and quiet without fear of War or Blood-shed, and to the glory of God make known his Works of wonder to the ignorant.

And thus much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the extracting or separating of Gold and Silver from Tin, and the easie extraction of Tinctures from Stones and Metals, by means of our secret _Sal-Armoniack_. Now for a Surplus, and to pleasure the Sons of Art, I’ll take one turn more in the Philosophick Garden and gather some fair Flowers, to make a Garland in honour of the Adepts, that they may wear it in remembrance of me. The first of these Flowers is the white Lilly, the second the blew Violet, and the third the deep Purple _Amaranthus_, being the chief that grow in our Garden, of which I intend to twist my Garland.

The first, _viz._ the white Lilly appears in the beginning of our Work; the blew Violet in the midst, and the deep red _Amaranthus_ in the end of it. That I compare the beginning of our Work to a Lilly, is not without reason, forasmuch as our mercurial Water is whiter than white, being called of Philosophers a white, whiter than white, because though it be a white colour, yet it excells all other whites, with its glistring brightness so far, that other white colours compared with it look very dim and dark. And because God hath bestowed upon the Lilly such afair glistring white, as no Flower can compare with it, therefore we compare our mercurial Water (the beginning of our Work) for its unparallel’d whiteness to the Lilly of the Field: of which our Saviour himself saith, _That =Salomon= in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of them_. For this cause also the Philosophers always termed the beginning of their Work a white Flower, as appears (among other instances) from an inscription engraven on two Candlesticks, belonging to a Cloister in _Westphalia_, made by a _Monk_ and dedicated to the use of the Altar there in these words, _Non ex Auro, nec Argento sed ex primo Artis flore sum factum_. _I am not made of Gold nor Silver, but of the first Flower of Art._ These Candlesticks are white as Silver, but heavy as Gold; which may pass for a profit that the white in our work is termed a Lilly or Flower.

And that this our bright white Lilly doth far surpass all other white Flowers whatsoever, the Philosophers in _Turba_ witness when they say, our Salt exalts the whiteness in Silver and the red in Gold; which indeed is the very truth, though it be not believed by the unexperienced, because at first sight it seems against nature, that one colour should die both red and white: yet that it is so, I here witness unto with my Pen, and hope shortly to make an ocular demonstration of it to all that are lovers of the wonderfull Works of God. In the mean time we may prove it thus, dissolve in _Aqua Fortis_ some fine cupell’d Silver, and in another Vessel in _Aqua Regis_ some fine Gold, pour a little of our mercurial Water into each of the Solutions, and the Silver will fall to the bottom white as Snow; yea rather will be whiter than that or any other thing in the World: and the Gold will be precipitated red like blood, and the Stygian Waters are rob’d of all the Gold and Silver that was in them, by the addition of our secret _Sal-Armoniack_ Water, so as not the least grain remains with them. Thus _Perseus_, _viz._ the exalted Gold, has deliver’d _Andromeda_, viz. the white exalted Silver, from the Sea-Monster, _viz._ the _Aqua Fortis_, and taken the same to his Wife, that is, radically united with it. And that our jovial _Sal-Armoniack_ will do this, I hope e’re long to demonstrate to the lovers of Art.

The Blind World may learn from hence, it was not without reason the Philosophers affirm that their secret Salt, exalts the red in Gold and the white in Silver. And that their Salt is a _Sal-Armoniack_, appears from their crying, _O our =Sal-Armoniack=! O our Sea!_ for had it been the common, how could they have call’d it theirs? _Turba_ saith, _If the Almighty had not created this Salt, it were impossible to compleat our =Elixir=_: Which words are alledged by _Arnoldus de Villa Nova_, who saith that _Almizadir_ (a name the Philosophers give their secret Salt) is a _Sal-Armoniack_, as appears from his own words taken out of his Breviary of Alchymical Books, being a Letter of his to a Pope of _Rome_.

“To the most holy Father, e’re I acquaint thee that first of all
the bodies must be reduced to their first matter. To understand
which, thou must know, that the matter of all Metals, and their
Sperm is a white fume decocted and thickned in the Bowels of the
Earth, by a sulphurous heat; and according to the varieties of
this Sulphur, and its quantity in the earth, divers Metals are
produced; the matter of them all being the same essentially,
and differs onely accidently. Above all things it is certain,
that the Workman can do nothing here without Salt, no more than
an Archer can shoot without a string to his Bow. _Morienus_
expresses this more clearly, when he saith, _Take the Phlegmatick
and Cholerick, and grind the Sanguine with it, untill it become
a tinging Heaven_, &c. The Phlegmatick is cold and moist, _viz._
_Mercury_, the Cholerick is hot and dry, _viz._ _Sal-Armoniack_,
and the sanguine is hot and moist, _viz._ Gold. Observe that
_Sal-Armoniack_ doth not give Colour, but Ingress, and prepares
the matter and purgeth it, and then the Spirit being united
with the Body, it hath ingress, and having conjoin’d these, it
goes off. For this Salt is an unctuous fatness coagulated by
the dryness of the fire, of a hot and subtil dry nature, which
penetrating through all parts, dissolves Bodies, and is the
conjoiner of opposites, and of all Spirits with their Bodies.
For this Salt is a volatile Spirit, a generating Stone, and a
helper towards the production of the Elixir; because if this Salt
were not, the Elixir could never be dissolved, nor have ingress,
neither would one thing be join’d to another, or have ingress
into another. It is volatile, and yet join’d with Bodies, it is
a Body which is hid in it. And therefore _Avicenna_ saith, _If
you put =it=, viz. =this Salt=, instead of Fire, Air, or Sulphur,
you will not err in your work, because it inclines it self to
every nature and Almizadir_; that is, Sal-Armoniack _will alone
do thy business_. And in the Book of Aloms and Salts ’tis said,
that _if God had not created this Salt, the Elixir could never
be perfected, and the study of Alchymy would be in vain. He
=therefore= that works without Salt =(as the Allegory of the Wise
Men hath it)= does not attenuate the dead Bodies in their Graves,
and therefore can never expect a resurrection, =&c.=_”

From this Letter of _Arnoldus_ it appears fully, that their secret Salt is a _Sal-Armoniack_, though not the common. Concerning which Salt the Philosophers express themselves very differently. Our _Cosmopolita_ cries out, _O our Sal-Armoniack! O our Sea!_ and teaches also the preparation of it, though very darkly, where he speaks of the little fish _Remora_, of which we are told, that it is able to stop a great Ship under Sail in her course; and we know our secret _Sal-Armoniack_ has the force to stop the Ships richly laden with Gold and Silver, sailing in the Sea of _Stygian_ Waters, and to lead them whither it lists; from whence it appears that our Jovial _Sal-Armoniack_ is the true _Remora_ of the Philosophers.

I proceed now to the second Flower, _viz._ the blew Violet, which is likewise found in our Garden. We have heard how by means of our Jovial _Sal-Armoniack_, the colour of Gold and Silver is exalted, after it hath attracted them out of the salt Sea, wherein they were dissolved. But if the Solutions of both Gold and Silver be pour’d together in one Glass, and some of our Magnet be put to them for to attract the same, then the Gold which before was Blood-red, and the Silver which was so white, do together constitute a Violet colour, which is the second Flower growing in our Garden.

The third and most beautifull Flower of all that grow in our Garden, is the fair Flower _Amaranthus_, which of all other doth longest keep its colour; the white Lillies shed their Leaves as soon as they are ripe, and Violets in a short time wither and lose their colour; but the _Amaranthus_ keeps her colour Winter and Summer. And the same may be said of our metalline Flowers, the Silver attracted by our Magnet is the white Lilly, which when joyn’d with our blood-red Gold, produces our blew Violet, and out of this Violet, by means of the Fire, is afterwards produced the fix and permanent _Amaranthus_. When a Philosopher knows where to find, and how to pluck these three Flowers, he may well wear them as a Garland of Honour. Thus much I have added to point out these Flowers to the Sons of Art, and to stir up a desire in them to pluck them for themselves. At the present, time doth not permit to add any more, wherefore I hope the Courteous Reader will accept of what he finds here, intending in my third Appendix, God willing, to speak more fully of other like Flowers, which with the help of our secret _Sal-Armoniack_, may with more ease and in greater abundance be gathered than those now mentioned. I intend also therein to treat of a far more profitable use of our secret _Sal-Armoniack_. For although our secret _Sal-Armoniack_, which by manual labour is prepared of two Contraries, _viz._ Oil of Vitriol, Spirit of Salt or other corrosive acid Spirits, and urinous Spirits, be of great use for the meliorating of Metals, and the preparing of many good Medicines, yet is all this but Children’s play, if compared with what may be done with our most secret _Sal-Armoniack_, which is not prepared by Art, but created of God, and may be had every where in abundance without money. Yea, the Philosophers say that all men have it, that _Adam_ brought it with him out of _Paradise_, and after death took it with him to his Grave; which is the constant assertion not onely of Heathen, but also of Christian Philosophers, who have asserted the same with many arguments, amongst whom are _Albertus Magnus_ and his Disciple _Thomas Aquinas_, who were holy and religious men, and therefore very far from obtruding lies upon the World. There are also many Writings of unknown Philosophers, who assert, that all both rich and poor, always carry the matter of the Stone about with them, yea, that they bring it with them, from their Mothers Womb: which though it may sound strange to the ignorant, because Man doth not appear in a mineral form, but in Flesh and Blood, yet sure it is that the mineral virtue is hid in him, for if it were not so _Albertus_ could never have found Gold between the Teeth of dead Mens Skulls.

And for a conclusion, I _Glauber_ do here protest, that this most universal _Sal-Armoniack_ is able to change common Mercury in two or three days time, that it shall be no longer Quicksilver, nor whiten _Sol Lune_ or Copper, but rather exalt them in their colours, and change them into true Tinctures. This _Sal-Armoniack_ also has the power to fix (though it be unfixt it self) all volatile Minerals, _viz._ common Sulphur, Mercury, Antimony, Auripigment, Zink, Bismuth, Arsenick, Cobalt, Galmey, and other such like in twenty four hours, so as afterwards they will suffer themselves to be melted, without sending forth any smoak, and may be taken inwardly for the cure of many Diseases, concerning which I intend suddenly to give a fuller and further account. And therewith conclude this small Treatise of the wonderfull Powers and Virtues of our secret Artificial, and most secret natural _Sal-Armoniack_. The godly and upright will easily apprehend what is here written, but the ungodly never. In our third Appendix we intend to enlarge on these and the like high Secrets, and declare the further profitable use of our Mercury of Tin, as being the onely means, without troublesome or chargeable labour to obtain to an universal Medicine.

_The End of the Second Appendix._

THE
THIRD APPENDIX
TO THE
SEVENTH PART
OF THE
Spagyrical Pharmacopœa.

Wherein is Treated of the Further Use of our Wonder-working
_Alcahest_ or most secret _Sal-Armoniack_. And more particularly,
of the way to Extract the Tinctures of Gold, Iron and Copper; as
well as of all precious and common Stones; and to introduce the
said Tinctures again into other white Metals and Stones, so as
permanently to colour and meliorate the same.

_Faithfully Translated out of the =High-Dutch= Original._

Courteous READER,

_In the fore-going Second =Appendix= to my =Pharmacopœa Spagyrica=, I promis’d the publishing of a Third =Appendix=, wherein I intended to communicate to the Lovers of Art, the remaining Vertues of our =Secret Sal-Armoniack=; but finding that my Candid publication of so many great and useful Secrets are so coldly and carelesly received by an ungratefull World, I have thought good to cover the same in silence. However that I may not be wanting to contribute what I can in this my Third =Appendix=, for the satisfaction of the ingenious Seekers and Lovers of Art, I design to conclude my =Spagyrical Pharmacopœa= with the Discovery of a =Wonder-working new-found-Alcahest=, which by its surpassing Virtues does far excell all those before-mentioned. Which new Discovery will without doubt be more acceptable to the Lovers of these Secrets, than to Treat further concerning the already Communicated =Sal-Armoniack=; which whosoever shall take the pains to prepare, will find much more than I have set down concerning it; and therefore think it not needfull to enlarge any further on that Subject, in the mean time neglecting things of greater and better concern. I say better things, because the discovering of this =New-found Alcahest= will afford more light by far to Seekers, than the former could: For which reason I have thought good to set all other things aside, for to Treat of the =Alcahest= which has not its like in the Universe, as I hope by God’s assistance in this Discourse to make out and demonstrate._

* * * * *

Now because I here write of an _Alcahest_ or _Wonder-working Sal-Armoniack_, I think it not improper to explain the word _Alcahest_, and to make known the meaning and importance thereof, which may help us to discover the true Use and Vertues of the same. Some tell us that the word _Alcahest_, is a Corruption of the _German_ word _Algeist_, that is to say, _All-Spirit_, from its very spiritual nature, and because it reduces gross Bodies to Spirit. Others by transposing of its Letters, make a _Dutch_ word of it, importing _hasty or swift running, flying_, &c.

Now we know that among all Salts that are in the World, there is none to be found, which in Distillation or Sublimation doth sooner volatilize the most subtil part of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, and carry them over the helm, than a good _Sal-Armoniack_: Wherefore the said Name may well be given to it, by reason of its volatilizing all things, and carrying them swiftly over the helm.

And forasmuch as I have already spoken concerning several of these volatilizing Salts, calling the first _Common Sal-Armoniack_, the second _secret Sal-Armoniack_, and the third _most secret Sal-Armoniack_, I find my self destitute of a Name by which I might call this my New found _Sal-Armoniack_, except I should give it the name of _Eagles Wings_, which I am the rather inclined to do, because in some of my former Writings, I have by way of Allusion expressed the said Volatilizing Salts by the Name of _Wings_, comparing the first and weakest of them to the wings of a _Dove_, the second to those of a _Raven_, and the strongest of all to _Eagles wings_. And seeing the _Sal-Armoniack_ of which I am now to Treat, is far more powerful than any of them all, I may well give it that name, and the rather, because Antient as well as Modern Philosophers have given the name of _Eagles wings_ to common _Sal-Armoniack_; some of them, ’tis like, not knowing of any better. Thus _Paracelsus_ sets down the way of volatilizing his _unripe Mineral Electrum_ by means of the Spread _Eagles wings_; and in many other places of his Writings, he calls _Sal-Armoniack_ an _Eagle_, because this Salt, of all Salts, as the _Eagle_ of all Birds, takes the highest flight, and therefore also is called the King of Salts.

The _Heathens_ attributed a Flying _Eagle_ to their cheifest God _Jupiter_; and the Holy Apostle and Evengelist St. _John_, because in his Gospel he takes a higher flight than any of the other Evangelists, is represented with an Eagle standing by him, as being his proper Embleme. We also find in the Writings of Philosophers, the word _Eagle_ is made use of by them to signifie any thing which by Art is exalted to the highest degree it is capable of; and therefore this _Sal-Armoniack_ which in its flight excells all those before spoke of, exalting things to the highest top of Perfection, may well be styled the _Eagles Wing_. _Pliny_ makes mention of a great and monstrous Bird called a _Griffon_, found in the Eastern parts of the World, and of that strength, as to be able to carry away an Armed Man on Horseback, Horse and all, to his Nest: which strong Bird is a good Embleme of the surpassing force of this our _Eagles wing_, which like the _Griffon_ is also provided with strong Talons, with which it lays hold on heavy things, and carries them away with it, as we shall hear by and by. For every good _Sal-Armoniack_ hath these two Vertues, of being sharp and piercing as well as volatile: the sharpness are its Talons, whereby it seizeth and lays hold of things; and its volatility, are the Wings with which it carries them away. Now the stronger these talons, and the larger these wings of _Sal-Armoniack_ are, the more will thereby be effected: The Common _Sal-Armoniack_ is the weakest of all, our Secret _Sal-Armoniack_ is as strong again, and our most Secret _Sal-Armoniack_ far excells them both; but this we treat of here, is by much the strongest and most active of them all, and therefore may well be compared to the King of Birds.

This same _Sal-Armoniack_ may also with great reason be called _Lucifer_, as afording a bright-shining Light to Chymists, whereby they may discover great Secrets: For as the bright Morning Star in the Firmament, does go before the _Sun_, and gives notice of his rising, and therefore is called _Lucifer_, that is the Harbinger or Bringer of Light. And as the said Star doth not only Usher in the Day, but also shut the same, and bring on the Night, being therefore also called _Vesperus_; we shall find a fit resemblance of all this in our Philosophick _Lucifer_, forasmuch as the same makes known and discovers to us, the rising as well as setting of our Spiritual _Sun_, and is a double Key which shuts as well as opens.

But to shew more particularly that my New found _Alcahest_ or Spiritual _Sal-Armoniack_, hath this resemblance with the Morning-Star, _Lucifer_; I say, that, as the said Star ushers in the _Suns_ rising; so likewise our Sophick _Lucifer_ goes before our Spiritual _Sun_, and ushers the same over the Helm. And as the Firmamental Sun, when it riseth above the Horizon, doth by its Light, and Vital heat quicken, vigorate and refresh every thing; in like manner our Philosophical Sun, or Spiritual Gold, when by means of our _Lucifer_, it is brought from under its earth or dark _Chaos_, quickens and rejoices whatsoever is contain’d within the compass of our Sophick Heaven.

And as in the Heavens the _Sun’s_ rising follows soon after the appearing of the Morning-Star, following the same, as it were, at the heels; so likewise our _Lucifer_, when by the Artists, She is joyned with the dark _Chaos_, in which the Sophick Gold lies hid, and begins to feel the Fire, swiftly comes over (for such is the nature of an _Alcahest_) and brings tidings of the Philosophick Suns rising, which indeed follows it at the heels. Again, As the _Sun_ of the Firmament, leisurely follows the Morning Star, not leaping forth all at once; so our Sophick _Lucifer_ brings over Gold, not all at once, but gently and by degrees, at first appearing very little, and afterwards discovering it self more and more, till at last it shine forth in its full Meridian Glory.

Neither ought it to be thought strange, that I compare our _Alcahest_ to _Lucifer_, our Gold to the Sun, and our _Alembeck_ or Vessel to _Heaven_; seeing that others have done the same before me, and particularly _Hermes Trismegistus_ the Father of all Philosophers, has made use of this Allegorical way of expressing himself in the description of his _Universal Tincture_, as may be seen in his _Smaragdine_ Table at the latter end of _Mirac. Mundi_.

Thus the _Reader_ may see how the Philosophers of old took pleasure to represent their high Secrets in Parabolical expressions; which may further be traced in _Morienus_ his Description of the _Universal Tincture_, in _Paracelsus_ his Book entitled _Cœlum Philosophorum_, which contains great Secrets concerning the Transmutation of Metals, but much in Symbolical, and Allegorical expressions.

But to return to our _Alcahest_, whose name imports a strong Spirit which lays hold of Heavy and fix things carrying them upwards with it self, that is Volatilizing them. The _Eagle_, as a King of Birds, seizeth Hens, Gees, Hares, _&c._ with his Talons, and carries them up to his Nest; but as for what _Pliny_ writes of the _Griffon_, seems rather an Allegory than a true History, because _Pliny_ among other things relates of this Bird, that with her strong Talons she digs up Gold from out of the high Mountains and Rocks, and makes her Nest with it: Now how improper this is for a Bird to make her Nest with Gold, and not rather with Feathers and other soft materials, is apparent enough at first sight. Wherefore we may safely conclude, that the Ancients by this great and strong Bird, have denoted to us a violent and high volatil _Alcahest_, such as ours is, which lays hold not only of the Spiritual, but also of the Corporal Gold which is in Metals, Stones and Rocks, and plucks up the same with its sharp Talons, and with its strong Wings carries up the same to the tops of Mountains, there to make her Nest. Thus we see how this Story may be verified: For indeed the Talons of our _Alcahest_ are much sharper, and her Wings much stronger, than those of the _Eagle_ or _Griffon_; for when we pour the same upon any colour’d Metals or Stones in a Glass placed in a heat of Sand, it presently lays hold of them, and digs up not only the fix Gold that is in them, but also all their fix and volatile Tincture, and carries it to the top of an high Mountain, that is the head of the _Alembeck_. Nor doth it only exert its power upon imperfect Metals, or upon Sand and Flints, which are of a Dissimilar and Heterogeneous nature, and therefore more easily separable, but shews forth also its surpassing strength, upon six Gold and hard precious Stones, which are Homogeneous and of very difficult Separation, penetrating their compact and shut-up Bodies, drawing from them their fixed Tinctures or Souls, and carrying them up to the tops of _Olympus_. Neither doth it only extract Tinctures from dissolved Metals and powdred Stones, but also from those that are whole and entire, robbing them of their Tinctures without destroying the frame and figure of their Bodies, which indeed is wonderful. And as it thus extracts these Tinctures, so it can wonderfully introduce the same again into other hard and compact Bodies: All which it performs by reason of its surpassing subtile and piercing nature; as being neither Earth, Water, nor Air, but a meer Fire, penetrating all things, and which nothing can withstand or resist.

Take this instance of it; Fill a Glass-body with Earth, Water, or Air, and you’ll find that none of them will be able to penetrate the Glass, but put Fire into it, and it will pierce the same without the least resistance. Wherefore the Philosophers speaking of our Secret Fire, say: _Our Fire is stronger than the Common, because it turns Gold that is most fix into a meer Spirit, which common Fire can no way perform_. All men know that Gold cannot be destroyed by any common Fire, whereas our secret Fire carries over Gold in form of a Spirit, as if it were a volatile Mercury: Judge then whether this be not a wonderful Fire, which as it were in a moment, makes fix Gold spiritual and potable.

We read in the Scriptures, that the _Israelites_ forced _Aaron_, in _Moses_’s absence, to make them a Golden Calf for to Worship; and that when _Moses_ was come down from the Mount, and saw the Children of _Israel_ dancing about the Golden Calf, _his anger was kindled against them, and burning the Calf with fire, he ground it to powder and strewed it upon the water, and made the Children of Israel to drink of it_, Exod. 32. 19, 20. Now whether it was by Art, or by the immediate power of _God_ that _Moses_ so burnt the Golden Calf, that the _Israelites_ could drink it down, we will not now dispute; thus much we know, that it could never be done with common wood or Coal fire. Besides, we know that _Moses_ was not defective in any thing of Art or Knowledge, as having been educated and instructed in the Royal School of _Pharaoh_, in which true Philosophy, Astronomy, Magick, Alchimy, and Physick at that time greatly flourished. We read of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist St. _John_, a thing no less surprizng and wonderful, _viz._ that he turn’d Rods to Gold, and common Stones into Gems, which he distributed to the Poor; as is exprest in the _Latin_ Hymn the _Roman_ Church sings in honour of that Evangelist, on the Festival-day appropriate to him, I am not ignorant that some are of opinion that St. _John_ could never do this by art, because he did not make use of the proper matter for Transmutation, but by the immediate power of _God_, which I will not now determine; only this I can say, and if need were, make an Ocular demonstration of it, that out of Wood, and other Vegetable and Animal subjects, none excepted, good Gold, abiding all proofs may be made, though with more ease out of one Subject than another. For indeed the Principles of Metals are as well to be found in Vegetables and Animals as in Minerals, though somewhat more remote and invisible, than in these. That Wood contains a Sulphur like to that which is found in Metals, none can deny, and I have demonstrated in many places of my Books; neither is it destitute of _Mercury_ and _Salt_. Wherefore I here openly profess, by an impulse from _God_ and Truth, that it is no hard thing for me, out of all Vegetable and Mineral Subjects to make good Gold, by means of our fiery maturating Spirit, to which in this Treatise I have given the names of _Alcahest_, _Eagles wings_, _Griffons talons_, and _Lucifer_.

The Ancient Philosopher _Artephius_, has not specified the time, in which his Secret fire can maturate the true subject of the Stone, and bring it to perfection. _Pontanus_ saith it may be done in a short time, and with small charges. ’Tis probable that _Moses_ scarce spent one day in burning the Golden Calf with the Sophick fire; neither is it likely that St. _John_ made any long work, of changing Wood into Gold, and common into precious Stones. If _Miriam_, _Aaron’s_ Sister, could in three days time compleat the Philosophers Stone from beginning to end, (according to the Testimony of Philosophers) why may not there such enlightned Persons be found at this day among good Christians that can do the same? The same _God_ who gave this knowledge to _Moses_ and _Miriam_, as also to the Evangelist St. _John_, he lives still, and ceaseth not by his Holy Spirit, to enlighten his Elect, without any Verbal Disputes, reading of Books, Labour, Weariness, or Charges, in all Divine and Eternal, as well as Temporal and Natural things, and to lead and conduct them to their desired end. Wherefore all ought in the first place to beg of _God_ his Light, Understanding, and Wisdom, as _Salomon_ did, and not to seek after vain and perishable Riches, by which means they would obtain much more than they ever can by their own willing and running. I _John Glauber_ affirm it boldly, that with our secret fire, I can in the space of three hours, make pure natural fix Gold to be as volatile as any Spirit of Wine can be; and again in twenty four hours-time, turn the said spiritualized and exalted Gold, into a fix transparent, spiritual, sweet, tinging Carbuncle: and this in the way of Nature, to the wonder and astonishment of the ignorant Covetous Children of this world, that walk in darkness; and yet (as _Christ_ saith) are wiser in their Generation than the Children of Light.

Let this suffice what we have here spoken concerning the power and great vertue of our _Alcahest_, in preparing of Medicines and Universal Tinctures, _viz._ that whatever Metals, common or precious Stones, are put into it, it immediately does volatilize the same, and brings them over the helm, carrying them upwards, to what height we please; for sure it is that the higher Metals mount in distillation or sublimation the purer they are. When now such pure and ætherial Spirits, are again fixed, then they are no more gross Metallick Bodies as before, but Spiritual Bodies, and Bodily Spirits; to the Eye Clarified Bodies, but indeed and in truth Concentred Spirits, which penetrate all hard things whatsoever, pass through lock’d Gates, and take away what pleaseth them; and as they can without opening the door take out any thing, so can they in like manner bring in the same again. As for instance, I draw the Colour from Gold, and introduce the said Tincture into Silver, being a fix pure and white Body, in which this Metalline Spirit takes up its abode; and the pure body of Silver greedily attracts the Tincture, because she stands in need of it; neither indeed can the porous body of Silver, resist or keep out this piercing Spirit, but passeth through warming and tincturing her throughout, and filling her pores with Solar Tincture, communicates to her not only the colour and weight, but also the nature and property of Gold.

Take another Example: Extract with our _Alcahest_ by Distillation the fix Tincture out of Granates (not pulverized, but whole as they come to hand, and that for reasons hereafter mentioned) which extraction may be performed in half an hours-time, because our _Lucifer_ can pass through shut gates. When now thou hast caught this Tincture in our Hellish Spirit, then thou hast it at command, and it must obey thee. If then our fiery Magnet be able to extract the Tincture from hard Stones, without breaking, or destroying their bodies, it can as easily introduce the same again into any hard, white stony body, and colour the same, light or deep, as pleaseth thee best. For instance thou drawest the colour from Granates, which indeed do superabound with tincture, which renders them opacous, and therefore less esteemed; for we find that a Ruby being of a lighter colour, that is less abounding with Tincture than a Granate, is much more valued, whose Bodies nevertheless do in all things exactly resemble one another, differing only by reason of more or less Tincture. Indeed where the bodies differ in hardness and clearness, there the case is alter’d; but when the body is fixe, and can endure the fire, onely ’tis darkened by too much Tincture, this may easily be mended by art, onely by extracting or taking away some part of its Tincture, which will render it of a brighter colour. Which extraction of Tinctures, and the introducing of them again into pale or white bodies, may be practis’d upon all precious Stones, and to very great profit. For example, I draw, by means of our secret fire, the Tincture out of Gold or Granates, and Introduce the same into another white Stone, which must be fix, that is, such an one, which when made red hot, doth not become soft or fall to shivers, but retains its former hardness, as all those do which are called precious, because the fire can neither consume nor separate their parts, such as Diamonds, Rubies, Granates, Saphires, Hyacinths, Emralds, Topases, Chrysolites, Amethists, _&c._ All which are coagulated of one and the same water, and tinctured with the same colour; for though their colours differ, that proceeds only from the greater or lesser quantity or purity of their Tinctures, their colours, as well as their bodies proceeding from one principle. And the same must be understood of all Metals; for Gold has no better original than Iron or Copper, save only that by long distillation in the Earth, it is better purified and ripened. Observe only that in this operation you do not take Cristals, Beryls, or any other Stones which grow soft and crumble to pieces when they are made red hot.

Some Jewellers know with the help of Fire, to mend some precious Stones whose colours are not bright and clear enough: thus they burn away the colour that is in Saphires and Amethists, making them white like Diamonds, their colours being volatile, and therefore may be taken away by Fire, but they can not introduce other colours instead of those they have rob’d them of. Neither are they able to burn yellow Diamonds to a whiteness, notwithstanding that Art has been much sought after: But our _Alcahest_ can easily perform this Master-piece, for as much as it, like a subtil piercing fire, can pass and repass through shut doors without impediment, whereas all gross, corporal things are fain to stand without. For which reason I have given our secret Fiery Spirit, the name of _Lucifer_, of which _Artephius_ speaks thus: _Our Fire is moist and dry, it pierces all things, dissolves, volatiliseth, and also fixeth them; it is natural, unnatural, and supernatural_: For though Nature make Gold and Precious Stones in the Earth, yet doth it not afford us such a supernatural Fiery Spirit or Stone with which we at our pleasure can make Gold and Precious stones of Earth. Therefore it is Art that brings things higher and further than Nature can, and yet the Artist cannot go beyond Nature, except he have first learnt to know Nature and taken his Principles from her. Now we know that Spirits, whether they be hot or cold, light or dark, good or evil, are of more power and efficacy than gross Bodies, for which reason God, who is Light and Life, and his Adversary Satan, who is Death and Darkness, have so great power: Though indeed the Darkness hath no more power than the Light allows or permits it to have: For the Light rules over the Darkness, so as the Darkness can do nothing against the Light, of which matter I intend, _God_ willing, to Treat further in my second and third Purgatory.