Chapter XCVII: Part I: To the well minded Reader (25)

As for the weight of Silver, it may, in like manner as the Colour be given to Silver by Art, so that it shall be equal with Gold in weight: Which introduction of Colour and weight into ☽, the Philosophers have called closing of its Pores. For this is certain, that if any light Metals are melted together, that one filleth up the Pores of the other, and both come out of the Fire more compact and heavy, than they were before. For example: Take half an Ounce of Red Copper, and as much of good Tin, melt these together, and pour them out into a Bullet-mould, and you will see, that they will not be much more in Magnitude than one of them was before; for one Bullet of ♀ and one of ♃ may almost be put into the same Mould: From whence it appears, that one Metal hath an ingress into the other, and mends, and augments it in its weight and Colour; but what those Metals are which give weight and colour to Silver, you may easily guess. Nothing can tinge, but what is naturally Coloured, and nothing can better give weight, than what is naturally heavy: In which, ☿ and ♄ have the Preheminency, but in introducing Colour, _Mars_, _Venus_, and _Antimony_ excel. But which way this introduction of colour and weight, into light and white Silver, is to be done, the following Process will teach.

But this the Ingenious ought to know, that it is no Art at all, that if the Iron made Red, and ☿ and ♄ made White, be mixed with ☽, yet they will not render it durable, red and heavy: But the Corroding ♄ will quite take away the Redness and Whiteness upon the _Cupel_: For what is not purged from all combustible _Sulphur_, cannot Sustain the _Cupel_, but will vanish with _Saturn_, and turn into _Scoriæ_: And seeing that we know, that ♂ and ☿ contain abundance of superfluous combustible _Sulphur_, and also that their incombustible _Sulphur_ is not yet fixed enough, to refill the Corroding ♄ upon the _Cupel_, and therefore with him must vanish and come to nothing, for all that is able to abide the _Cupel_ must be separated from all combustible _Sulphur_. Now we know, that ♂ and ☿ are not so, and therefore cannot abide the _Cupel_. For ♂ if he be made Red, and cast upon Silver, he doth not remain Red with it, but so much as enters the Silver, again becomes black Iron, and therefore can give no Colour to the Silver; and also ☿ flies away, and so leaves no weight to the Silver: Which _Paracelsus_ hath sufficiently described in his _Cœlum Philosophorum_. So that if one melt unfixed Metals with Gold and Silver, and keep them together never so long in the Fire, yet notwithstanding the unfixed Metals, cannot be made fixed by the Gold and Silver, but every of them would again be found in the _Examen_, as they were before. But if one Metal should make the other better, they ought to be spiritually conjoyned, and so the Spirit of one Metal will improve the other. For all Philosophers testifie, that the Metals must first be reduced to their first Matter, that is, they must be brought into a spiritual being, before they can be transmuted into more Noble, by Art. But which way all Metals are to be spiritualized, and brought to their first Matter, is taught in my Treatise of the _Three Principles of Metals_, lately published, as also in the Seventh part of my _Pharmacopæa Spagyrica_, and its Appendix. Now if one would Meliorate, or improve, the imperfect Metals, the imperfect combustible _Sulphur_ must first be Separated from them, that only the purest and incombustible part, _viz._ the incombustible _Sulphur_ may remain; which may be done by several ways; as by Distillation, and Rectification, and also by Adustion, and Combustion, in which nothing perisheth, but the combustible and unprofitable part: But the incombustible Oyl still remains, and doth not perish by the Fire; and also by Solutions, Distillations and Rectifications, all the unprofitable Feces of the Metals are separated, and there remains only the clean Quintessence of the Metals, which are separated and advanced into a concentrated Medicine. This Separation of the unprofitable and combustible _Sulphur_, from the incombustible, as Old Philosopher hath notably expressed in these Verses.

_Est impossibile, Sulphur sine Flamma delere,
Calcis adustibile, quod præstat fossa Mineræ._

_=Sulphur= impure, we can’t blot out,
Till Circling Flames play round about
Our Oars and Calces; for then they
This subtil Fire forthwith obey._

Here the Philosopher tells us, that every combustible _Sulphur_, may be burnt, and reduced into nothing, but no otherwise, than by a kindled and combustible Fire, by whose Flame nothing that is good, but only the superfluous and noxious _Sulphur_ by which all the inferiour Metals are destroyed, is taken away. And therefore justly reputed imperfect, as long, and as often, until this unprofitable _Sulphur_ is taken away from them, either Particularly, by Dissolving and Coagulating, Distilling and Rectifying, or else by an Universal fixed _Mercury_ by projection, by which means the hurtful combustible _Sulphur_ is fixed, and, without Combustion, transmuted into a nobler Metal. For this is very possible, that any combustible _Sulphur_, by an easie way and small Charge, and in a short time, _viz._ in one day, Particularly, may be so fixed, and made constant in the Fire, that, without being burnt, it may be able to endure the strongest Fire, the which is handled more at large, in my _Three Principles of Metals_. From hence it follows, that no imperfect Metal can be transmuted, with Profit, into a Perfect, before it be free’d from its combustible _Sulphur_, which may be done several ways. Now, he who hath a mind to get any good out of the imperfect Metals, must learn how to separate their unprofitable _Sulphur_, either by one means or other, as I have sufficiently taught. For in this, _viz._ in the Separation of the combustible _Sulphur_, from the incombustible, consists the whole Art; which every one ought to attend without other thoughts. Now after we have understood out of this Theory, in what the Melioration of the Metals consists, or how it must be effected, it is necessary to know the exact Practice, or Process, as the Operations succeed one another: For to this work belongs, not only Distillation and Rectification, to separate the pure from the impure, but also the most subtil and clean parts, after they are separated from their Feces, must be made fixed, subtiler, and constant, _viz._, so constant, that the Corroding ♄, may not overcome them, but against his Will, leave them constant upon the _Cupel_. This is one of the greatest Secrets in _Alchymy_, yet taken notice of but by few, and therefore few there are who reap any Profit. For the greatest part of Operators are persuaded, that if they had but Red Metallick Tinctures, that they could immediately tinge with them, but in the end they have understood, that more than unfixed Tinctures are required. It is an easie Matter, to make Red Tinctures out of Stones and Metals: But these are not permanent on the _Cupel_, without true Fixation, which the Philosophers call Perpetuation in the Fire. Nothing in the World can tinge, so that the tinged Metal can endure the _Cupel_, as long as the Tincture is still Metallick. For whatsoever is made out of Metals, and by a strong Fire may again be reduced into a Metal, cannot be called a true Tincture, for whatsoever yet contains a combustible _Sulphur_, perisheth upon the _Cupel_ with _Saturn_, and nothing abides, but what is totally deprived of that. For even the _Saturn_ contains much combustible _Sulphur_, therefore he so readily acts upon Sulphureous Metals, and draws them with himself in to the _Cupel_, which he cannot do to Gold and Silver. But because we also know this, that when by the help of common fixed Gold, a combustible and fugacious _Sulphur_ is well united and fixed, that the combustible _Sulphur_ adheres so closely to the fixed Gold, that it also remains fixed with it, and can never be separated from it. Now, if the weight and proportion be well adjusted, then the fixed _Sulphur_ enters with the Gold into Lune, and Tingeth it into constant Gold. But if the conjunction of the _Sulphur_ and Gold, be not well made, or too much of the _Sulphur_ be put to the Gold, it takes away the Ingress of the Gold, so that it remains with the _Saturn_, and cannot enter the Silver. It is also to be observed, that if the _Sulphur_ of ♂, ♀ or ♁ be legitimately united with ☉, and yet be not kept long enough together, it will produce no good; and therefore the Transmutation of Metals is not so easie a thing, as many imagine; it is not enough to make a Tincture; to fix it, is more; and to give an Ingress, is hardest of all. And these three things ought to be well known, if one would effect any good in the Transmutation of Metals.

Now that we may farther hear, which way Tinctures may be drawn out of the Red Metals, fixed, and made constant in the Fire, and how to give them an Ingress, I have undertaken to Reveal to the Lovers of Art. And none needs to doubt, but what I here Write are my own Inventions, which I have not only once or twice, but many times experimented, and always found good, although in small quantities, provided no accident hath hindered me. If a Glass break in the labour, or a Crucible runs out, by which one suffers loss, that is not to be accounted a loss, because it comes by accident and not from the Art, and therefore not to be imputed to the Art. If an Art be never so well described, and an Unskilful Workman intermeddle with it, the Work may be easily spoiled, and therefore the fault cannot justly be charged upon the Art, as it is too often done. I shall here acquit my self of this unjust charge, if out of a good Intention I here discover the Art, as I have often done, without concealing any Manual Operation, and hereafter shall not care what Ill Men say or judge of it, if any one, through his want of Skill, should lose his labour. I here Write nothing, but what I have often done my self, and found good; for what should move me to publish any false thing, that might seduce others to labour in vain, even when I am ready to dye? I never sought any Profit by any of my Writings, no, not when I was young, and might have occasion for it. And now, when both my Feet are in a manner in the Grave, and I am certain not to live much longer, although I am heart-whole, nor find I any dolour about me, yet my Limbs being weak, I am forced to keep in my Bed, where I Write this. I say, Why should I, so near my end, write any thing hurtful to my Soul? I write this for my farewel, to do good to the World, even as the Swan, when she is near her death, sings a pleasant Song, and such I would that every one should take these my last Writings to be. But if it shall please God, I hope this will not be the last; which is only a small Work, to shew the probability and verity of the Transmutation of Metals, and to help Skilful Chymists to great Riches. But if God shall yet spare my Life, I shall write of higher matters, and shew such a light to the blind World, as hath not yet been revealed by any Man. In the mean time, I desire the Ingenious very well to consider this particular, and to try his Fortune, every thing is easie to be done, and needs no beating of the Brain, for all the labour is clearly laid down, without any reserve, therefore I would have none be so arrogant, as to impute the fault to me, if he miss his Intention, but rather to himself, through his own unskilfulness or negligence. Yet this is also to be considered, That sometimes a true skilful and diligent Operator cannot imitate an easie thing, being hindered by the Almighty, who for certain Reasons keeps his Hand over it, and will not let every Man grow Rich.

_Now follows the Fundamental Process, how to make good Gold out
if Silver, with profit, and how to separate, after a particular
manner, good Gold and Silver, out of Iron, Copper, Tin and Lead._

℞. A pound of Steel Wier, more or less, according as you will begin your Work in a greater or lesser quantity, dissolve it in Spirit of Salt, filter the Dissolution, and abstract the Phlegm from the Solution, in Sand, for in the Abstraction there will come over no acidity, (because the _Mars_ holds it after a Magnetick manner) but yet this is not without virtue, for it carries over with it self a very subtle Martial Spirit, of which a little put into ones Mouth, penetrates the Tongue, so that the taste thereof remains long after. And this penetrating taste and smell, is nothing else but the most subtle Narcotick _Sulphur_ of _Mars_, which is set at liberty in the Solution, and carried over with the sweet Water, in the deflegming. It doth wonders in Internal Obstructions; and Externally it easeth all Pains, because it is Narcotick and Stupefactive; It serveth for Physicians and Chyrurgeons in many cases, but because I have already written of this, I need not here repeat it. And this you ought to note, that you draw not off the Phlegm to dryness, but the Solution of ♂ must remain in form of an Oyl. This sweet Oyl of ♂ is the _Opake Tree of Virgil_, from which he hath taught us to pluck its Golden Branches, and how this is to be done, he hath also obscurely hinted, but I here publish it plainly. _Virgil_ saith, that those Golden Branches are the gift of _Proserpina_, but what was to be understood by this _Proserpina_, which the Heathens have said to be the Wife of _Pluto_, is not here expressed, but only this, that this Golden Branch was Consecrated to the Goddess _Juno_. He that will have the foundation of those Heathenish Gods, cannot better accomplish his Desire, than by Reading the last Edition of the Dictionary of Eight Languages, written by _Ambrosius Callepine_, for there he will find many curious secrets of the Ancient Poets illustrated. Now concerning _Proserpina_, many Philosophers and Chymists understand the Corrosive Oyl or Butter of _Antimony_, of which I have already made mention, although obscurely, in my Treatise _De Sale Philosophorum_, but shall here give it you more plainly. Now, it according to a due weight, you put some of this _Proserpina_ to the Solution of _Mars_, and unite them well together, and then distil this mixture by a Glass Retort well Coated, there first comes over a certain unprofitable Humidity, then a white Oyl of _Antimony_, which is to be kept by it self, and when you see yellow drops begin to fall, you must then change your Receiver, then give a stronger Fire, and the _Proserpina_ brings over with it self the Tincture of _Mars_, as red as Blood. This Blood-red Oyl of _Mars_ and _Antimony_ is the Golden Branch, plucked from the obscure Tree, which may easily be fixed into a particular Tincture, as we shall hear anon. Now when you have pulled one Golden Branch, you may also pluck a second and third, for they will easily follow. As for the manner of plucking more such Golden Branches, it is thus: You must dissolve the remaining ♂ with Spirit of Salt, and there will remain many Feces, but the Solution will be clearer and better than the first, although less in quantity: Now, after (as I told you before) you have put to it the due quantity of Butter of _Antimony_, for which purpose that which came over in the first Distillation will well serve, and when you have driven this over by a Retort as before, the _Proserpina_ again brings over more of the Tincture in a Blood-red Oyl, which may as the first, be fixed into a Tincture. After this manner you may pluck many Branches, one after another, but it is not convenient, because the Solution of _Mars_ is diminished by every Distillation, and at length your Branches would be very small, therefore it is better when you have plucked the first Branch, so go to another Tree, and thereto pluck a Golden Branch, for the Tree is not so precious, and you may collect the Trees from which you have pulled the Branches, and dissolve them in Spirit of Salt, and then pluck from them more Branches. _Proserpina_ hath learned this spoiling and bearing away, of her Husband _Pluto_, for he stole _Proserpina_ from her Parents, and carried her with him into Hell, and made her his Wife. _N. B._ _Pluto_ carried _Proserpina_ into Hell, but _Proserpina_ doth the contrary, carrying the dead Bodies and Souls out of Hell. For she hath her Original only from the Spirit and Salt of the World, which Spirit and Salt of the World have power to carry the Souls of the dead Bodies out of Hell, as you may see in the Books of Philosophers which say.

_Sal & Spiritus Mundi, ducunt Anima Mortuorum ex Orco._

The Salt and Spirit of the World, bring the Souls of the Dead out
of Hell.

Let this suffice concerning the bringing over the Metallick Souls or Tinctures, which is done by _Proserpina_. But there is yet other ways to draw out the Tinctures of Metals out of Red Bodies, and they are chiefly to be had by means of our secret _Sal Armoniack_ in a far greater quantity, than by the help of _Proserpina_, which is somewhat troublesome, but yet these are more easily and perfectly acquired by our Alcahest. Now, after we have heard how to draw Tinctures out of Metals and Minerals by the help of _Proserpina_, it is further necessary to know how to fix those Volatile Tinctures, so that they may not only endure the strongest Fire, to which they may easily be brought, but that is not enough, they must be made so fixed, that the Corroding _Saturn_ may not have power to injure them upon the _Cupel_; if that be not done, these Tinctures can profit nothing to Metals. I have seen very many who very well know, how to Extract Tinctures out of _Mars_, _Venus_, _Vitriol_ and _Antimony_, but they wanted the Fixation, the perpetuation upon the _Cupel_, and also Ingress, and therefore they could do nothing with them. These following ancient Verses are read by many, but understood by few, _viz._

_Fixum si solves, faciesque volare solutum
& volucrem figes, faciet te vivere tutum._

If thou dissolve that which is fixed, and render it Volatile,

And again fix the Volatile, thou shalt not want.

We have proceeded according to this Verse, in making the fixed Iron Volatile, although we have not yet again rendered the Volatile fixed and constant upon the _Cupel_. The Fixation requires but little Art, so that it may abide the Fire, but to make it abide the _Cupel_ is a great Art, and cannot be done by idle talking, but by a fundamental knowledge, without which all is in vain.

Now concerning the Fixation of those Volatile Tinctures, so as to abide the _Cupel_, I have (thanks to God) often experimented, and have already communicated to some who are Curious, out of kindness, whose success I do not yet know. This Fixation cannot be effected without Common Gold, for when Gold in a liquid form according to a due proportion, is mixed and radically conjoyned with the Tincture, and cast into Hell to _Pluto_, and _Pluto_ finds his dear Consort deeply in love with the _Anima_ of _Mars_, or this Beautiful _Hermaphroditical_ Youth, he burns with Jealousie, so that he bends them so close together, as they can never afterwards be parted by _Saturn_. But wheresoever one of these three goeth, draweth the other two with it. And because they are also constantly together, as if it were one Spirit and Tincture united to the fixed Body of Gold, therefore they have an easie admittance into the Chamber of the Queen _Diana_; for _Diana_ doth by no means shut out her dearest King _Apollo_, but willingly admits him, and therefore she is recompensed with all the Treasures which he hath received from his true and Warlike Servant, _Mars_: And of this, by _Neptunes_ help, she hath made her self a glorious and constant Red Garment, which neither Water nor Fire, nor the old and envious _Saturn_ can spoil her of. Here I have Fundamentally described the Fixation of the Martial and Antimonial Tincture, clearly without any reservation, yet somewhat enigmatically, according to the manner of the Poets. He that doth but a little consider, cannot fail, but must comprehend it, if he hath but a moderate Capacity, except God shall prohibite him.

Now let us further see, what may be further done with our Red Oyl of ♂, and ♁, in Physick and Alchymy. When we powr upon this Oyl our _Alcahest_, and again draw off the Liquor by a Retort with a gentle heat, and at length give a stronger Fire, the most subtle and cleanest part of the Tincture will come over, and the grossest part will remain behind, which is an Universal Purge. The subtle part, may yet be made purer and nobler by Rectification, and this you may afterwards dulcify from its Salt, and dry the _Anima Martis_ and _Antimonij_, then put it into a Glass, and with an easie Sand-Fire melt it into a Red Stone, for this Stone melts as easily as Wax, and hath as easie Ingress into all Metals, as Oyl hath into dry Leather. This Stone hath not its equal, for it is better than the Fire-Stone of _Basilius_, it is better than _Butlers_ Stone, to which _Helmont_ hath ascribed such Wonders. Of this Stone and its incredible Virtues, which it shews in Physick, I shall treat at large in the following Treatise. This Treatise shall Discourse of three unknown Fires, and Stones: First of the secret Fire of the ancient Philosophers, which is called the _Fire of Artephius_, by Virtue of which secret fire, is generated the vegetable, Animal and Mineral stone of Philosophers, and also particularly out of all Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, their Quintessence, or highest Power, without the help of any common Fire, without Furnace, Glasses, or any other known Chymical Instruments, is to be obtained in a few hours, without any Labour or Cost: And also things incredible and unheard of are by it brought to pass; of which great Secret, no Philosopher hath hitherto made the least mention; as the before cited Treatise will sufficiently testifie. The second Fire is like to it, _viz._ the same with which the _Israelites_ in old time did set fire to their Sacrifices, which their Priests, when they were to go into the _Babylonish_ Captivity, did hide in a dry hole in the Earth; and many years after, when they were released from their Captivity, and returned, they found not a Fire, but instead of it a _Viscous_ water, which they poured upon their Sacrifice, and it kindled it, as well as if it had been done by the secret heavenly fire, of which you may read more in the _Maccabeus_. This secret fire of the Ancient _Caldeans_ is also comparable to the _Æthereal_ fire, of which Meteors, Thunder and Lightning are generated, and also the Thunderbolts themselves, which are cast down upon the Earth, to the great astonishment of Mankind. _Hermes_ hath very well said, that what is above is also below, which is proved by the secret Fire of the _Caldeans_. For by a light, plain and cheap Art, one may easily produce the same Lightning fire, together with the Thunder, here upon Earth; of which the following Book shall treat more fully. And therefore to that I refer the Reader. I could not but here touch a little at these three Principal Fires, by which are generated the three chief Jewels of the World, that the Enquirer after the Wisdom of God may know, what great Mysteries of God are to be imparted hereafter to the ungrateful World, before I publish this Book of Fires and Stones. Now to return to our particular, and see by what means our Red Oyl of _Mars_ and _Antimony_ may be Coagulated, after a nearer way, into a tinging Stone, with which Silver particularly, with all other inferiour Metals, may be Meliorated, that out of them may be had good Gold and Silver with profit. And also, how by it the Tinctures of Stones, both noble and ignoble, may be drawn out of them, and after the Tincture is drawn out, to incorporate it with Silver, and Colour it. And also, all precious Stones exalted in their natural Colour, and if their Colour be too high, it may be diminished, and the Stone rendred more precious, and how this is to be done, the following Practice will reveal. The second and easier way, how to bring our tinging Red Oyl of _Mars_ and _Antimony_ into an hard, sweet, and not Corrosive Stone, is this.

In the foregoing Appendix, I have said somewhat of the Coagulation of the sharp Spirits, of Metals and Minerals, and have proved, that such Coagulation is to be made by the help of Old, cold and dry _Saturn_, but because I did not there declare, how it is to be effected, I think fit to do it here, and it is thus. All Liquors or moist things, if they are to be dryed, then the moisture must be drawn off from the thicker part by an easie heat, and then the thicker part remains by it self, and is used according to its Appropriation, as we know, that _Aloes_, _Myrrh_, _Opium_, and all other Gums and Juices were thin at the first, and were inspissated into concrete Juices, by the Sun or Fire. It is true, such an Inspissation of vegetable Juices is easily done in this manner; but Mineral distilled Spirits, and Corrosive Oyls, cannot be thus dryed, for they will endure heat, but if you give too great a heat, they will fly away and not be thickned, as you may see in Oyl of _Vitriol_, which by it self can never be dryed, although it be never so long kept in heat. But if you will have it dry, you must add something to it which is more than dry, and hath also power to exsiccate moisture. We see in the baking of Bread, when we put water to the Flour, and mix them together to make Dough, and of that bake Bread, that the Flour, although it be dry, yet it cannot retain with it self the Water, in a hot Oven, for that perfectly flies away from the Meal by the heat, and if the Fire be encreased, all the moisture would be gone, and only the Meal remain in form of a dry Earth, having quite lost the form of Bread, because the Meal was not radically united with the water, and therefore they could not endure the heat together. If one take a dry Earth, Sand or Powder of a Stone, and put water to it, the dry Earth will imbibe the water, and to the Eye reduce it into Earth, but this is not constant. For if you distil this Earth by a Retort, all the added water will again come over, and leave the Earth alone, but this is to be understood of common water. But suppose, one should add a heavy Mineral water as _ol. Vitrioli_ to a dry Earth, and should commit this mixture to the Fire, in hopes, that the dry Earth should retain with it self the Corrosive Oyl of _Vitriol_, and also reduce it into a dry Earth, it would prove a mistake, for the Oyl of _Vitriol_, in a sufficient heat, would wholly forsake the Earth, because the Earth is dead, and hath no Sympathetick, or Magnetick power, to conjoyn it self radically with the Oyl of _Vitriol_, so as to remain together constant in the Fire; but such an Earth, which by an innate Love draws the Oyl of _Vitriol_ to it self, and endures with it in heat, or cold without Separation, must proceed from the same Original with it, for every thing loves its like, and hateth what is unlike to it. Now, because the Oyl of _Vitriol_ proceeds from a Mineral kind, therefore it loves the Metals, but no common Earth or Stones, for it hath no affinity with them. Now if the Oyl of _Vitriol_ be to be converted into an hard Mineral stone, it must be done by its like, to wit, by Metals, and by such Metals as are most nearly related to it, _viz._ the Metals that are yet imperfect, for all Metals and Minerals proceed from the same Root, and therefore they all love one another, yet one Metal loves Oyl of _Vitriol_ more than another, and the immature Metals, better than the ripe ones. For although Gold and Silver also love Oyl of _Vitriol_, yet they do it by Compulsion, and not out of true Love, for they are very difficultly dissolv’d by it, because they have put off their vitriolick Nature in their Fixation: On the contrary, _Mars_ and _Venus_ have not yet so done, and therefore they easily assume the Oyl of _Vitriol_, and are dissolved by it, because it was driven out of their Body by the force of Fire, therefore one might say, that _Mars_ and _Venus_ were the true Metals, and easiest to Coagulate the Oyl of _Vitriol_ and _Antimony_, and to fix them into a Stone, yet this is not so, for _Mars_ and _Venus_ are of a gross Nature, and have too much unprofitable Earth, which may easily be seen by their difficult melting in the Fire. Then what is to be done? Shall _Saturn_ or _Jupiter_ do it, both which are of an easie Fusion? Or shall _Mercury_ do it, which is always Liquid? I answer, that _Mercury_ cannot Coagulate, nor make fixed, because he himself is not fixed, nor Coagulated. Neither can _Jupiter_ do it, for although he is fluxible and dry, yet he is easily transmutable by a small Fire, into an influxible Earth, which cannot again be reduced into a fluxible _Metallick_ Body: What then, shall despised _Saturn_ do it, (may one ask) who is unfixed himself? and which way is it then possible for him to fix a Body, which is more fluid than himself? To this I answer, that the Fixity is not the only cause of the Coagulation of the Oyl of _Vitriol_, for then this Coagulation might be easiest performed, by Gold and Silver, which, yet is not done, and therefore this Coagulation of Corrosive Spirits must be done by dry _Metallick_ Subjects. Now we know very well, that among all the Metals _Saturn_ is the driest, of which _Paracelsus_ writes very well in his Book of Vexations, which I have already alledged, and confirmed in the foregoing Appendix, [viz. _Pharmacopœa Spagyr. Pars 7._] It is also true, that a better Coagulator, of all Corrosive Mineral Spirits cannot be found, than old, cold, and dry _Saturn_; for by his great dryness he Coagulateth the moist Mineral Spirits; by his great innate sweetness, he dulcifies all Corrosives; and by his fluxible _Sulphur_, he renders all influxible _Metallick_ Subjects, fluxible. Now we need nothing more to our Red Oyl of _Vitriol_, _Mars_ and _Antimony_, but that it be Coagulated into a hard, sweet and fusile Stone, which Coagulation can only be done by _Saturn_, and by no other Metal or Mineral, which I have sufficiently proved in the before mention’d Appendix, and also in my Book of the _Three Principles of Metals_. Now we have sufficiently understood, that the Coagulation and Dulcification of our Red Corrosive Oyl of ♂] and ♁ into a fusile Red Stone, can only be done by the help of the Old, Cold, and, of all Fools, despised _Saturn_. Concerning the Nature and Property of _Saturn_, it would not be here amiss, to say somewhat of it: But because _Paracelsus_ hath already sufficiently done it, in his _Cœlum Philosophorum_, and I have already confirmed it in the forementioned Appendix, I think it here unnecessary to add any more. Yet I cannot forbear to say this, that _Saturn_ naturally contains yet a good quantity of the Corrosive Oyl of _Vitriol_, which doth not vanish in melting, nor cannot be easier perceived, than when other Metals are added to him upon the _Cupel_, how soon he swallows them, and draws them with himself into the _Cupel_, except Gold and Silver, which he cannot touch, because they have no radical Communion with him, but are cleansed by Nature from their superfluous _Sulphur_, for this devouring Wolf _Saturn_, can consume nothing, but the combustible _Sulphur_ of Metals, but the incombustible fixed _Sulphur_ and _Mercury_, he cannot touch, as appears in Gold and Silver. The ancient Philosophers painted _Saturn_, as an Old Man, with one foot on a Wooden stilt, having in one hand a Sythe or Sickle, and in his other hand a Child, which he puts to his mouth to devour it. By this they would intimate the devouring Nature of _Saturn_, which they have also expressed in these Words, _Falx ejus Mordax est_, he hath a sharp Sickle, beware of him, for he hath no mercy, which I have found to be true, not only by the _Cupel_, that he Corrodes and eats through them, for he Corrodes Sand and Stones, and reduceth them into a transparent Glass; if he doth this by his own Nature, what will he not do, when his Sythe is whetted by the Corrosive Oyl of _Vitriol_? Certainly he can do ten times more: I have experimented it, he that will know it, may also do the same: By him we wash and cleanse common Gold and Silver on the _Cupel_, but that Gold and Silver, which is still hid in the imperfect Metals, as _Mars_, _Venus_, and _Jupiter_, as also in the vile Minerals and Stones, which is still closely tyed to the combustible _Sulphur_, here the common _Saturn_ is too weak and can make no Separation. On the contrary, ours can effect it very well, and therefore I commend him, for after his Sythe is whetted by the Corrosive Oyl of _Vitriol_, if then one handle any Metal, or Mineral with him in a Crucible, he will in a moment eat a hole through it, and run out; Nay, if one should put two or three Crucibles one into another, he would do the same, but if one cast somewhat before him, to satiate his Wolf-like Appetite, then he leaves the Crucibles whole, but doth what the Artist would have him, and is used as a tame Wolf, devours the Sheep no more, but keeps them from other devouring Wolves.

Before I could bring him to that pass, to prevent his biting, I tryed many sorts of Vessels to hold him, nay I have put him upon a Test made of bone Ashes. ’Tis true, he did not eat in, but remained fixt upon the _Cupel_ like Silver, and would not Coppel, by which I perceived, that any common Lead, by help of the Red Oyl of _Mars_ and _Antimony_, may in a very short time, not only be reduced into Gold and Silver, but also be fixed into a true Tincture, which I have sufficiently shewn in the foregoing Appendix, that some of the ancient Philosophers have made their tinging Stone out of _Saturn_. But setting this aside, because I yet never went so far, but I should not think it at all difficult, to make an universal Tincture, to transmute all the Metals into perfect Gold and Silver out of _Saturn_, with the Red Oyl of ♂ and ♁, if my weakness of Body would permit. But I concern not my self about that, but leave it to those that are younger, for I can easier come to an universal Tincture, by the help of the secret Fire of Philosophers, than by _Saturn_; but in the particular Transmutation of Metals, I have performed many things with the Stone of ♄, as the following Practice sheweth.

_Now followeth the easie Coagulation of our Red Oyl of =Mars= and
=Antimony=, into a Red, Sweet, and fluxible Stone._

℞. Some Pounds of common Lead, melt it, and pour it out into a long Ingot, and rasp as much thereof as need shall require; take of this a Pound of more, and put it into a Glass Retort well coated, pour to it half the quantity of the Red Oyl of ♂ and ♁, set it in a Sand _Cupel_, and give Fire gently by degrees, and there will come over no Red Oyl, but only a clear and insipid Water, and all the sharpness, with the Red Tincture, will remain with the ♄. If you break the Retort, you will find no _Saturn_, but this Red, Tinging, and easie melting Stone, of such Virtues as I have told you before. Now if you will make use of this Stone for the particular Meliorating of the inferiour Metals, as also for noble and ignoble Stones, you must powder it, and mix it with the _Metallick_ Ashes, and melt them, and you will find the good Metal to be separated from the rest, the unprofitable part, and superfluous _Sulphur_, will turn into dross, and the purer part will settle into a _Regulus_, which you must blow off upon a Cupple, and you will find the Silver and Gold, which our Stone hath separated out of that Metal; for our Stone hath this Nature, to separate in the Fire the good from the bad, to turn the Good into a Metalline _Regulus_, and the inferiour into Dross. For Example, I have a mixture of Metals containing Gold, Silver, _Venus_, _Mars_ and _Jupiter_ together, I granulate this mixture, and mix them with our Stone, melt them together in a Crucible, our Stone only spoils the inferiour Metals, as ♂, ♀ and ♃, which it consumes into a Dross, but the purer as ☉ and ☽ it separates from this Dross, and precipitates them into a _Regulus_. But if this _Regulus_ should not be fine enough at the first melting, you must _Cupel_ it with Lead, neither doth all the ☉ and ☽ come out of this mixture at one melting, but some remains with the Dross, therefore you must again put this into a Crucible, and put to it some filings of Iron, and so melt them together, then the wild _Sulphur_ will be destroy’d by the ♂, and so let the Gold and Silver fall by Cupellation. The Dross you must reserve, till you have enough to melt in a small Wind Furnace, and it will be again reduced into Lead, which you may again use for the same Labour; for the Reduction of this, I have invented a peculiar small Furnace, which may be carried from place to place, and also you may pour out the Dross after it is melted, without breaking any thing of the Furnace, so that you may use it very often, before the Hearth will need mending. What is here said of the Separating of _Metallick_ mixtures, the same may also be understood of those Mixtures, which are yet in the Oar, for the Oars are as easily separated by our Stone, as the Metals. This is the use of our Stone, before its Tincture is yet fixed, and therefore not able to transmute ☽ into ☉. Presently you shall also hear, how it may be rendred capable to transmute any Silver, by Degrees, into good Gold. I think it fit, first to say somewhat, how by the help of our Stone one may attain great Profit from Gems. For the Gems have in them fixed Tinctures, which our _Neptune_ can spoil them off and so incorporate them with the naked _Diana_, to make her a Golden Vest, which is done thus: ℞ The fragments of coloured Gems, _viz._ of Granates, Rubies, Saphirs, Hyacinths, Jaspis, _&c._ put a little of these into a good Crucible, and put to it three times as much of our Stone, cover it well, and melt it upon those Stones, and our Stone draws out the Colour of the Gems, and Colours it self yet deeper. With this Red Stone, if any filed ☽ be mixed with it, and melted, it draws the fixed Tincture to it and becomes Golden, so that in the Separation it yeilds much Gold, _N. B._ The fittest Silver for this work is, that which is precipitated by ♀ out of _Aqua Fortis_, yet you may also use that, which is precipitated by Salt water. If the work be well done, the Gems will be white, which you may use instead of small Diamonds, for the Fire doth not take away their hardness, _N. B._ If a Man hath Skill enough to take away the Colour from the great Gems, as Granates, and Hyacinths, he may acquire Riches in a short time; for afterwards you may tinge other white Stones into Rubies, by the help of this Colour, but this Labour requires an experienced Artist, but no Pratler: And this is sufficient for this time, he that delighteth in these Arts may Practise them, and try how God will prosper him in it. If he can but obtain the Extracting of the Gems, he needs no more, for one Gem, of a Drain, is worth more than several Ounces of Gold. After we have briefly understood, how to make good Profit with our Red coagulated Oyl of _Antimony_ and _Mars_, before it is yet fixed, with the imperfect Metals and Gems: You shall also hear what it will do, when fixed. And this you must know, that if a Tincture very well prepared, can endure melting in the Fire, yet for all that, it may not be accounted fixed; for inasmuch as they are made out of unfixed Metals, they cannot themselves be fixed; if one should object, and say, that the Tincture was drawn out of fixed Iron, and therefore it must also be fixed, although the _Antimony_ was not fixed: I answer, that Iron cannot be called fixed, although it doth not fly in the fire, for _Saturn_ can still devour it, but this only is to be reputed fixed, which endures the _Cupel_, which neither ♂ nor ♁ doth. Therefore the Tinctures which are extracted out of them, cannot endure the _Cupel_ before they are made fixed. For which reason the highly experienced Philosopher _Paracelsus_ tells us, that we must not take common Iron to draw our Tincture, but such as cannot be again reduced into Iron, which we must seek in the green and blue _Scoriæ_, out of which Iron hath been melted by the strength of Fire, and are cast away. Because the Iron, and also every imperfect Metal, containeth two sorts of _Sulphur_, _viz._ a combustible, and incombustible; the combustible is melted by a strong Fire, into a dead Glass, but the incombustible remains unhurt, hidden in the said Glass, and may be drawn out of it by Art, and brought into a Tincture, that will endure the _Cupel_. I could cite _Paracelsus_ for several other things, because he writes very honestly, but it is not here convenient. It would be very well, if some one would reprint this Treatise, for it is out of Print, that the way to the Truth might be shewn to them that err. And if none will do it, I shall do it my self, for it is commendable to preserve a lighted Candle, and not suffer it to go out. This is enough of the Fixation of _Paracelsus_, which is done by the great strength of common fire. Now we will also hear, how this Fixation may be effected by an artificial moist fire, much easier than by the former. In my Treatise lately published of the _Three Principles of Metals_, I have taught how any combustible _Sulphur_ may be fixed in a very few hours, so that no Fire can any more hurt it. Now if such a quick Fixation of combustible _Sulphur_, can be done with a moist Fire, as I have shewn it may in the said Treatise, what may not be done, by the same Fire in the more fixed Metals, such as Iron? I have also shewn in the same place, that ♁, as well as common 🜍, may be made fixed in few hours, I have also said that ♁ and common 🜍, so fixed have no ingress into Metals. After that, I have also taught, how to procure this ingress by common Gold, if the Gold and the _Sulphur_ be united, and then a fixing _Aqua Fortis_ drawn from them, that then it can never be separated from the Gold, but that the Gold so preserves it upon the _Cupel_, that _Saturn_ cannot enter it: Now if this may be done with common _Sulphur_ and _Antimony_, why not also with _Mars_, which in its Nature approacheth Fixity? Therefore it behoveth, that we should fix our Tincture of ♂ and ♁, after the same manner being united with ☉, by the Humid fire, that both may be permanent upon the _Cupel_. For without this Fixation nothing of moment can be done. For if these Tinctures be added to Silver, and are not constant in the Fire, they with the Silver, become Metals again, vanish upon the _Cupel_ with ♄, and leave the ☽ nothing bettered. Therefore nothing else is to be observed, but to bring into Perpetuation the prepared Tinctures of ♂ and ♁, by the addition of Gold, and the due Abstraction of the fixing Waters; and then the Tinctures remain with the Silver unseparable, and the devouring _Saturn_ cannot hurt them upon the _Cupel_. Let this suffice concerning the particular Fixation of our Red Oyl of ♂ and _Antimony_. Now followeth, how to make an universal Coagulation and Fixation of this Oyl.

_The PROCESS._

℞. Three or four Ounces of our Coagulated Oyl of _Mars_ and _Antimony_, into a Red Stone by the help of ♄, grinde it into an impalpable Powder, and draw from it ten or twelve Ounces of strong _Aqua Fortis_, which hath been first abstracted from decrepitated Salt, and in which is dissolved half an Ounce of Gold: Secondly, and Thirdly, abstract from it again fresh _Aqua Regia_, but without Gold; then the Gold will radically unite it self with the Tincture of _Mars_ and _Antimony_, and they will be constantly fixed together, by means of _Aqua Regia_. When this is done, pour upon it a good quantity of common Water, let it boyl for some hours, and it will draw out the sharp Spirits, which remained with the Tincture, this may be once or twice repeated, then dry it, and it is fit to tinge Silver into Gold. This Tincture melts as easily as Wax; the _Saturn_ which is mixed with it, doth not hinder it, it is true, he goes into the Silver with the Tincture, but is easily separated by the _Cupel_. I could set down many more Dexterities, in the Preparation of this Tincture, but it would swell too much, it being already greater than I expected, for I only thought to have annexed this to the Appendix, as a Corollary, but it is grown bigger than the Appendix it self. Here should have been added, how this Tincture of _Antimony_ and _Mars_, by the help of our _Alcahest_, might be made into a constant Tincture, easily and in great quantity, without Cost; so compendiously, that in three or four days time, a good quantity of Tincture may be made fit to graduate a great part of Silver into Gold: But the time will not allow me here to insist any farther on it, but must defer it the second Appendix, where the Reader will find greater Contentment. For this work is so easily done with the _Alcahest_ without great Cost, that the most ordinary _Mechanick_ may imitate it, and profit by it. There will come another World, when Art will flourish, and Pratlers perish. Take notice of this, for the time is at hand, _Elias_ the _Artist_ will soon appear, of this Read _Paracelsus_ in his Book of _Vitriol_. At such a time there will be great changes in _Europe_, and chiefly in the _German Empire_, _France_ and _Swedland_. For _Elias_ the _Artist_, it may be, when he comes, will bring with him some Military inventions, and by his great Power establish the Fifth Monarchy. That in these times great Changes will be in _Europe_, is not to be doubted, for the Heavens do foretel it. God send us what is good, there being now nothing of good left, how then is it possible, it should remain longer in Peace?

OF
ELIAS the ARTIST:
OR,

What we are to understand by Elias the Artist, and what he is to
reform in the World at his coming.

_VIZ._

_The true Spagyrical Medicin of the Ancient =Egyptian=
Philosophers, which has been lost for above 1000 Years, and will
be restored by him, and illustrated with many new Inventions, by
rejecting much unprofitable Smut-work, and pointing out a nearer
and better way to obtain good Medicines, with little Trouble or
Charges; which true Medicine he will bring along with him, and
declare the same to the present deceived World. Translated out of
the =High-Dutch=._

_Courteous Reader_,

Towards the end of my last published Treatise concerning the Infernal _Goddess Proserpina_, I took occasion to mention, that probably soon after my Death, the long-since fore-told _Elias Artista_ would appear, and bring along with him a great Light, to enlighten the dark World, enabling them to reject the Evil, and embrace that which is good: As likewise, that many great changes will happen in divers Kingdoms, and especially in the Roman Empire, where one Potentate will overcome the other, and make himself Master of his Dominions. I there also shewed what, _Paracelsus_ hath declared concerning _Elias Artista_, and fundamentally confuted the groundless Opinion of some Persons concerning the same in my Fourth Part of the _Prosperity of Germany_, shewing that that Prophecy is not to be understood according to the Letter, and to be meant of some great Man in the World, but Magically; for the word _Elias_ by transposition of Letters, makes out _Salia_, and so likewise doth the word _Elisha_, as I have formerly explained these words in my Treatise _of the Nature of Salts_. _Elias Artista_ therefore according to the style of Philosophers, signifies extraordinary and unknown Salts, by which great and incredible things may be performed, and accordingly when manifested, will be the cause of great changes in the World.