This sulphurous Volatile spirit of Vitriol, is of a very subtle and

penetrating quality, and of a wonderful operation; for some drops

thereof being taken and sweated upon, doth penetrate the whole body,

openeth all obstructions, consumeth those things that are amiss in

the body, even as fire. It is an excellent medicine in the Falling

sickness, in that kind of madness or rage which is called _Mania_, in

the Convulsion of the Mother, called _Suffocatio Matricis_, in the

Scurvy; in that other kind of madness which is called Melancholia

Hypochondriaca; and other Diseases proceeding from Obstructions and

Corruption of the Blood: It is also good in the Plague, and all other

Feavers: mingled with spirit of wine, and daily used, it doth wonders

in all external accidents: Also in the Apoplexy, shrinking and other

diseases of the Nerves, the distressed limb rubbed therewith, it doth

penetrate to the very marrow in the bones; it doth warm and refresh the

cold sinews, grown stiff: In the Cholick, besides the internal use, a

little thereof in a clyster applyed, is a present help: Externally used

in the Gout, by anointing the places therewith, asswageth the Pains,

and taketh away all tumours and inflammations: It doth heal scabs,

tetters and ring-worms, above all other medicines; it cureth new wounds

and old sores, as Fistulaes, Cancers, Wolves, and what name soever

else they may have: It extinguisheth all inflammations, scaldings, the

Gangrene, dissipateth and consumeth the knobs and excrescencies of the

skin. In a word, this spirit, which the wise men of old called _Sulphur

Philosophorum_, doth act universally in all diseases, and its vertue

cannot sufficiently be praised and expressed: And it is much to be

admired, that so excellent a Medicine is no where to be found.

If it be mingled with Spring water, it doth make it pleasantly sowrish,

and in taste and vertue like unto the natural sowre water of wells.

Also by this spirit, many diseases may be cured at home; so that you

need not go to bathes afar off, for to be rid of them.

Here I could set down a way, how such a spirit may be got in great

abundance for the use of bathing, without distillation, whereby

miraculous things may be done, but by reason of the ungratefulness of

men, it shall be reserved for another time.

_Of the vertue and use of the corrosive oyl of Vitriol._

This oyl is not much used in Physick, although it be found almost in

every Apothecaries shop, which they use for to give a sowrish tast to

their syrups and conserves. Mingled with spring water and given in

hot diseases, it will extinguish the unnatural thirst, and cool the

internal parts of the body. Externally it cleanseth all unclean sores,

applyed with a feather; it separateth the bad from the good, and layeth

a good foundation for the cure.

Also if it be rectified first, some metals may be dissolved with it and

reduced into their Vitriols, especially Mars and Venus; but this is to

be done by adding common water thereunto, else it will hardly lay hold

on them. The way of doing it is thus.

_How to make the Vitriol of Mars and Venus._

Take of your heavy oyl, just as it came over, _viz._ together with its

phlegm (but that the Volatile spirit be drawn off from it first) as

much as you please, put it into a glass body together with plates of

copper or iron, set it in warm sand, and let it boyl until that the oyl

will dissolve no more of the metal, then power off the liquor, filtre

it through brown paper, and put it into a low gourd glass, and set it

in sand, and let the phlegm evaporate until there appear a skin at the

top, then let the fire go out, and the glass grow cool; then set it in

a cold place, and within some days there, will shoot fair Crystals; if

of Iron, greenish; if of Copper, then something blewish; take them out

and dry them upon filtering paper, the remaining liquor, which did not

shoot into Vitriol, evaporate again in sand, and then let it shoot as

before; continue this proceeding, until all the solution (or filtred

liquor) be turned to Vitriol. This Vitriol is better and purer than the

common; for it yieldeth a better Volatile spirit, and for that reason

I did set down the way how to make it. There may also be made a good

Vitriol of both these metals by the means of ordinary yellow brimstone;

but because the making of it is more tedious, than of this here set

down, I think it needless to describe its preparation in this place.

_The way to make a fair blew Vitriol out of =Luna= (that is,

silver.)_

Dissolve the shavings or filings of silver with rectified oyl of

Vitriol, adding water thereunto, but not so much as to Iron and Copper:

Or else, which is better, dissolve calcined silver, which hath been

precipitated out of Aqua fortis either with Copper or salt water; the

solution being ended pour it off and filtre it, and drop into it of

Spirit of urin or Sal armoniac, as long as it doth hiss, and almost all

the silver will precipitate again out of the oyl, and so there will

fall a white powder to the bottom; This precipitated silver together

with the liquor pour into a phiall-glass, set it to boyl in sand for

twenty four hours, and the liquor will dissolve again almost all the

precipitated silver-calx and become blew thereby. Then pour off the

solution (or liquor) and filtre it through brown paper, and abstract

the moisture till a skin arise at the top; then in a cold place let it

shoot to Vitriol. With the remaining liquor proceed further, as above

in the preparation of the Vitriol of Iron and Copper hath been taught.

By this way you will get an excellent Vitriol out of silver, which from

4, 5, 6, to 10. grains used only of it self, will be a good purge,

especially in diseases of the brain.

If you have a good quantity of it, that you may distill a spirit

thereof, you will get not only an acid (or sowre) but also a volatile

spirit, which in the infirmities of the brain is most excellent; that

which in the distilling remains behind, may be reduced again into a

body, so that you lose nothing of the silver, save onely that which is

turned into spirit.

Moreover, the acid (or sowre) oyl of common Vitriol, doth precipitate

all metals and stones of beasts or fishes; also pearls and corals,

they being first dissolved in spirit of salt or of Nitre, and maketh

fair light powders of them (which by the Apothecaries are called

Magisteries) much fairer than by precipitation with salt of Tartar

is done, especially of corals and pearls, such a fair glistering and

delicate powder is made; and likewise also of mother of pearl, and

other shels of snailes, that it giveth as fair a gloss to them, as

the fairest oriental pearls have; which way hath not been made common

hitherto, but being known only to few, hath been kept very secret by

them, as a singular Art. Such Magisteries commonly were precipitated

out of vinegar only by salt of Tartar, which for lightness, whiteness

and fair gloss are not comparable at all to ours: But if instead of

the oyl of Vitriol you take oyl of sulphur, then these powders will be

fairer than when they are done by the oyl of Vitriol, in so much, that

they may be used for painting for a black skin.

Having made mention of Magisteries, I cannot forbear to discover the

great abuse and error, which is committed in the preparing of them.

_Paracelsus_ in his Archidoxes teacheth to make Magisteries, which

he calleth extracted Magisteries: but some of his disciples teach

to make precipitated Magisteries which are different from the

former. _Paracelsus_ is clean of another opinion in the preparing

of his Magisteries, than others in the making of theirs: doubtless

_Paracelsus_ his Magisteries were good cordial living medicines,

whereas the other are but dead carkases, and although they be never so

fair, white and glistering, yet in effect they prove but a gross earthy

substance, destitute of vertue.

I do not deny, but that good medicines may be extracted out of pearls

and corals, for I my self also do describe the preparations of some of

them; but not at all after such a way as theirs is. For what good or

exalting can be expected by such a preparation, where a stony matter

is dissolved in corrosive waters, and then precipitated into stone

again? Can its vertue be increased thereby? surely no, but rather it

is diminished, and made much the worse thereby. For it is well known,

that the corrosive spirits (no less than fire) do burn some certain

things; for not all things are made better by fire or corrosives, but

most of them are absolutely spoyled by them. Some perchance will say,

that such preparations of Magisteries are onely for to be reduced

into a finer powder, that so much the sooner they may perform their

operation. To which I answer, that pearls, corals, and other things of

the like nature, if they be once dissolved by corrosive waters, and

then precipitated and edulcorated, never or hardly can be dissolved

again by acid spirits. Whence it is evident that by such preparations

they are not opened or made better, but rather closed or made worse.

And we see also by daily experience that those Magisteries do not those

effects, which are ascribed unto them. By which it appeareth clearly,

that to the Archeus of the stomach they are much less grateful than

the crude unprepared corals and pearls; whose tender essence being not

burnt up by corrosives, do oftentimes produce good effects. For our

Ancestors have ascribed unto corals and pearls, that they purifie the

impure and corrupt blood in the whole body, that they expel Melancholly

and sadness, comforting the heart of man, and making it merry, which

also they effectually perform: whereas the Magisteries do not. And this

is the reason, why unprepared corals, pearls and stones of fishes have

more effect, than the burnt Magisteries. For it is manifest and well

known, that the abovesaid diseases for the most part do proceed from

obstructions of the spleen, which obstructions are nothing else, but a

tartarous juice or a sowre flegme which hath possessed and filled up

the entrals, and coagulated it self within them. By which obstruction

not only head-ach, giddiness, panting of the heart, trembling of

the limbs, a spontaneous lassitude, vomits, unnatural hunger; also,

loathing of victuals; then cold, then hot flushing fits, and many more

strange symptomes are caused; but also a most hurtful rottenness and

corruption is introduced into the whole mass of blood, from whence the

leprosie, scurvey, and other loathsome or abominable scabs do spring.

Of which evil the onely cause (as hath been said) is a crude acid

Tartar, from which so many great diseases do rise.

This to be so may easily be proved; for it is notorious, that

melancholick folks, hypocondriaques, and others do often cast up a

great quantity of acid humor, which is so sharpe that no vinegar is

comparable to it, and doth set their teeth on such an edge, as if they

had eaten unripe fruit.

What remedy now? take away the cause and the disease is taken away. If

you could take away the peccant matter by purgings, it would be well,

but it remaineth obstinate and will not yield to them. By vomit it may

be diminished in some measure. But because that not every one can abide

vomiting, it is therefore no wisdome to turn evil into worse. Shall

then this tartar be killed and destroyed by contraries, which indeed in

some sort may be effected; as when you use vegetables or animals, whose

vertue consisteth in a volatile salt: such are all species or sorts of

cresses, Mustard-seed, horse-radish, scurvy grass, also the spirit of

Tartar, of Harts-horn, and of urine and the like, which by reason of

their penetrating faculty pass through all the body, finding out the

Tartar thereof, destroying the same, as being contrary unto it; and

in this combat two contrary natures is kindled, a great burning heat,

whereby the whole body is throughly heated and brought to sweating;

and whensoever by these contraries a sweating is caused, there is

always mortified some of this hurtful Tartar. But because that of that

acid humor but a little at a time can be mortified and edulcorated by

contrary volatile spirits, and that therefore it would be required to

use them often, for to kill and expell all the Tartar; and because also

(as hath been mentioned before) a strong sweat always is caused by

every such operation, whereby the natural spirits are much weakened,

so that the patient would not be able to hold out long thereby, but by

taking away of one evil, another and greater one would be occasioned.

And therefore such things must be offered to that hungry acid humour,

by which the corrosive nature thereof, may be mortified and grow sweet,

with that proviso nevertheless, that those things be such as are not

contrary or hurtful to the nature of man, but grateful and friendly, as

are corals, pearls and crabs eyes, _&c._

For amongst all stones none are more easily to be dissolved than

Pearls, Corals, Crabbs-eyes, and other stones of fishes.

But the truth of this, _viz._ that every corrosive is killed by feeding

upon pearls and corals, and thereby can be made sweet; and besides,

how a sowre coagulated Tartar, by the help of corals or pearls may be

reduced to a sweet liquor (a pleasant and acceptable medicine to the

nature of man) which never can be coagulated again by any means, shall

be afterwards proved and taught when I shall come to treat of Tartar.

Now in tartareous coagulations and obstructions of the internals

proceeding from the predominancy of an acid humor there is no better

remedy, than to give the patient every morning fasting from ℈ss. to ʒ

i. (more or less, according to the condition of the patient) of red

corals and pearls made into powder, and to let him fast two or three

hours upon it, and so to continue daily until you see amendment: By

this means the hurtful acid humor is mortified, and dulcified by the

corals and pearls, so that afterwards it may be overcome by nature,

whereby the obstructions are removed, and the body freed from the

disease.

This my opinion of the abuse of Magisteries and the good use of Corals

I could not conceal, although I do know for certain, that it will

take but with few, in regard that it will seem very strange to most.

However, happily there may be some yet, that will not be unwilling to

search into the truth, and to consider further of it, and at last will

find this not to be so strange, as it seemed to them at the first: but

he that cannot believe or comprehend it, may keep to his Magisteries.

And if it seem so strange unto any, that corals or pearls made into

powder shall be concocted in the stomach, and so put forth their

vertue, what will you say then, if I do prove, that even whole

pearls, crabs eyes, and corals being swallowed, are totally consumed

by the Melancholy humor, so that nothing cometh forth again among

the excrements? and which is more, even the like may be said of hard

and Compact metals, as Iron, and Speaucer or Zinck: But this must be

understood only of those that are of a Melancholick constitution but

not so in others, _viz._, those that are of a sanguine, and those that

are of a phlegmatick constitution, to whom such like things are seldom

prescribed. For I have seen many times, that against obstructions,

to strong bodies there hath been given at once from ℈ss. to ʒ i. of

the shavings or filings of Iron, and they found much good by it, yea

more help then by other costly medicines of the Apothecaries, whereof

they had used many before, but to no purpose, by reason whereof their

excrements came from them black, just as it useth to fall out with

those that make use of medicinal sowre waters, which run through iron

mines, and thereby borrow a spiritual mineral vertue.

Now if those filings of iron had not been consumed in the stomach,

how come it that the excrements are turned black? so then it is

sufficiently proved, that even a hard unprepared metal can be consumed

in the stomach: and if so, why not as well soft pearls and corals?

Which is also to be seen by children, that are troubled with worms, if

there be given unto them 4, 6, 8. to 12. or 16. grains of the finest

filings of steel or iron, that all the worms in the body are killed

thereby, their stomach and guts scowred very clean, and their stools

also turned black. But this must be observed by children, when the

worms are killed, and yet remain in the guts (because that the iron in

a smal quantity is not strong enough for to expel them, but only make

the body soluble) that a purge must be used after, for to carry them

out; for else if they do remain there, others will grow out of their

substance. But to those that are more in years, you may give the Dose

so much the stronger, as from ℈ i. to ʒ i. that the worms also may be

carryed out, they being better able to endure it than little children,

and although sometimes a vomit doth come, yet it doth no hurt, but they

will be but so much the healthier afterward.

And thus Iron may be used, not only against worms, but also against all

stomach-agues, head-ach, and obstructions of the whole body, without

any danger and very successfully, as a grateful or very acceptable

medicine to Nature; for after a powerful magnetical way it doth attract

all the ill humors in the body, and carrieth them forth along with it.

Of whose wonderful vertue and nature, there is spoken more at large

in my Treatise of the Sympathy and Antipathy of things. Which some

Physitians perceiving and supposing by Art to make it better, they

spoiled it, and made it void of all vertue: for they taking a piece of

steel, made it red-hot, and held it against a piece of common Sulphur,

whereby the steel grew subtle, so they did let it drop into a vessel

filled with water; then they took it out, and dryed it, and made it

into powder, and used it against obstructions, but to no effect almost;

for the Iron was so altered by the sulphur, and reduced to an insoluble

substance (which ought not to have been so) that it could perform no

considerable operation: But if they had made the steel more soluble

(whereas they made it more insoluble) than it was of it self before,

then they had done a good work: for he that knoweth sulphur, doth

know well enough, that by no _Aquafortis_ or _Aqua Regis_ it can be

dissolved; and how could it then be consumed by an animal humor?

Hitherto it hath been proved sufficiently, that in some men, especially

in those that are of a Melancholick constitution there is an acid

humor, which can sufficiently dissolve all easily soluble metals and

stones: and that therefore it is needless to torture, and dissolve

pearls, corals and the like with corrosive waters before they be

administred to patients: but that the Archeus of the stomach is strong

enough by the help of the said humors to consume those easily soluble

things, and to accept of that which serveth his turn, and to reject the

rest.

But it is not my intent here, that this should be understood of all

metals and stones; for I know well, that other metals and stones (some

excepted) before they are duly prepared, are not fit for Physick, but

must be fitted first, before they be administred or given unto patients.

For this relation I made only for to shew, how sometimes good things

(though with intent to make them better) are made worse, and spoiled by

those that do not make an exact search into nature and her power.

I hope this my admonition will not be taken ill, because my aim was not

vain-glory, but only the good of my neighbour.

Now let us return again to Vitriol.

_Of the sweet oyl of Vitriol._

The Ancients make mention of a sweet and green oyl of Vitriol, which

doth cure the falling sickness, killeth worms, and hath other good

qualities and vertues besides: and that the Oyl is to be distilled _per

descensum_. To attain unto this oyl the later Physitians took great

paines, but all in vain: because they did not understand at all the

Ancients about the preparing of this oyl, but thought to get it by the

force of fire, and so using violent distillation, they got no sweet

oyl, but such as was very sowre and corrosive, which in taste, efficacy

and vertue, was not comparable at all to the former.

However they ascribed unto it (though falsely) the same vertues, which

the ancients (according to truth) did unto theirs. But daily experience

sheweth, that the oyl of vitriol as it is found ordinarily, cureth no

falling sickness, nor killeth worms, whereas this Philosophical doth it

very quickly. Whence it appeareth, that the other is nothing like unto

the true medicinal oyl of vitriol, neither is it to be compared to it.

I must confess indeed, that _per descensum_ out of common vitriol, by

the force of the fire, there may be got a greenish oyl, which yet is

not better than the other, because it proveth as sharp in tast, and of

as corroding a quality, as if it had been distilled through a Retort.

Those that found out this oyl, as _Paracelsus_, _Basilius_, and some

few others, did always highly esteem it, and counted it one of the

four main pillars of Physick. And _Paracelsus_ saith expresly in

his writings, that its viridity or greenness must not be taken away

or marred (which indeed a very little heat can do) by the fire, for

(saith he) if it be deprived of its greenness, it is deprived also

of its efficacy and pleasant essence. Whence it may be perceived

sufficiently, that this sweet green oyl is not to be made by the force

of the fire as hitherto by many hath been attempted, but in vain.

And it is very probable, that the ancients, which did so highly praise

the oyl of vitriol, happily knew nothing of this way of distilling,

which is used by us now a days: for they only simply followed Nature,

and had not so many subtle and curious inventions and ways of

distilling.

But however it is certain, that such a sweet and green oyl cannot be

made of vitriol by the force of the fire, but rather must be done

by purification, after a singular way; for the Ancients many times

understood purification for distillation: as it is evident, when they

say, distill through a filtre, or through filtring paper: which by us

is not accounted for distillation, but by them it was.

However, this is true and very sure, that a great Treasure of health

(or for the health of man) lyeth hidden in Vitriol: yet not in the

common, as it is sold every where, and which hath endured the heat of

the fire already; but in the Oare as it is found in the earth, or its

mine. For as soon as it cometh to the day light, it may be deprived by

the heat of the Sun of its subtle and penetrating spirit, and so made

void of vertue; which spirit, if by Art it be got from thence, smelleth

sweeter then musk and amber, which is much to be admired, that in such

a despicable mineral and gross substance (as it is deemed to be by the

ignorant) such a royal medicine is to be found.

Now this preparation doth not belong to this place, because we treat

here only of spirits, which by the force of fire are driven over.

Likewise also, there doth not belong hither the preparation of the

green oyl, because it is made without the help of fire. But in regard,

that mention hath been made of it here, I will (though I kept it always

very secret) publish it for the benefit of poor patients, hoping that

it will do much good to many a sick man.

For if it be well prepared, it doth not only cure perfectly every

Epilepsie or Convulsion in young and old; and likewise readily and

without fail killeth all worms within and without the body, as the

Ancients with truth ascribed unto it; but also many Chronical diseases

and such as are held incurable, may be happily overcome and expelled

thereby, as the plague, pleuresie, all sorts of feavers and agues,

what ever they be called, head-ach, collick, rising of the mother;

also all obstructions in the body, especially of the spleen and liver,

from whence _Melancholia Hypochondriaca_, the scurvy, and many other

intolerable diseases do arise: Also the blood in the whole body is

by the means thereof amended and renewed, so that the Pox, Leprosie,

and other like diseases proceeding from the infection of the blood

are easily cured thereby: Also it healeth safely and admirably all

open sores and stinking ulcers turned to fistula’s in the whole body,

and from what cause so ever they did proceed, if they be anoynted

therewith, and the same also be inwardly used besides.

Such and other diseases more (which it is needless here to relate) may

be cured successfully with this sweet oyl; especially, if without the

loss of its sweetness it be brought to a red colour; for then it will

do more then a man dare write of it, and it may stand very well for a

_Panacea_ in all diseases.

_The preparation of the sweet oyl of Vitriol._

Commonly in all fat soyles or clayie grounds, especially in the white,

there is found a kinde of stones, round or oval in form, and in bigness

like unto a pigeons or hens-egg, and smaller also, _viz._ as the joynt

of ones finger, on the outside black, and therefore not esteemed when

it is found, but cast away as a contemptible stone. Which if it be

cleansed from the earth, and beaten to pieces, looks within of a fair,

yellow and in streaks, like a gold Marcasite, or a rich gold Oare, but

there is no other taste to be perceived in it, then in another ordinary

stone; and although it be made into powder, and boyled a long time in

water, yet it doth not alter at all, nor is there in the water any

other taste or colour, than that which it had first (when it was poured

upon the stone) to be perceived. Now this stone is nothing else, but

the best and purest Minera (or Oare) of Vitriol, or a seed of Metals;

for Nature hath framed it round, like unto a vegetable seed, and

sowed it into the earth, out of which there may be made an excellent

medicine, as followeth.

Take this Oare or Minera beaten into pieces, and for some space of

time, lay or expose it to the cool air, and within twenty or thirty

days it will magnetically attract a certain saltish moysture out of

the air, and grow heavy by it, and at last it falleth asunder to a

black powder, which must remain further lying there still, until it

grow whitish, and that it do taste sweet upon the tongue like vitriol.

Afterward put it in a glass-vessel, and pour on so much fair rain

water, as that it cover it one or two inches; stir it about several

times in a day, and after a few days the water will be coloured green,

which you must powre off, and powre on more fair water, and proceed as

before, stirring it often until that also come to be green: this must

be repeated so often, until no water more will be coloured by standing

upon it. Then let all the green waters which you poured off, run

through filtring paper, for to purifie them; and then in a glass-body

cut off short let them evaporate till a skin appear at the top: then

set it in a cold place, and there will shoot little green stones,

which are nothing else but a pure vitriol: the remaining green water

evaporate again, and let it shoote as before: and this evaporating and

Crystallising must be continued until no vitriol more will shoote, but

in warm and cold places there remain still a deep green pleasant sweet

liquor or juyce: which is the true sweet and green oyl of Vitriol, and

hath all the vertues above related.

But now this green oyl further without fire may at last (after the

preparing of many fair colours between) be reduced to a blood red,

sweet and pleasant oyl, which goeth far beyond the green both in

pleasantness and vertue, and is in comparison to it like a ripe grape

to an unripe: Hereof happily shall be spoken at another time, because

occasion and time will not permit me now to proceed further in it.

And therefore the Philo-Chymical Reader is desired for the present to

be contented with the green oyl, to prepare it carefully, and to use

it with discretion; and doubtless he will get more credit by it, and

do more wonderful things then hitherto hath been done by the heavy

corrosive oyl.

_The use and Dose of the sweet oyl of Vitriol._

Of this green oyl, there may be taken from 1. 2. 4. 8. 10. or 12.

drops at once, according to the condition of the patient and the

disease, in fit Vehicles, in Wine or Beer, in the morning fasting, as

other medicines are usually taken: Also the Dose may be increased or

lessened, and as often reiterated as the disease shall require.

This Oyl expelleth all ill humors, not only by stoole and vomits,

but also by urin and sweating, according as it doth meet with

superfluities; and this very safely, and without any danger at all;

whereby many diseases radically or perfectly may be cured.

Let no man wonder that I ascribe such great vertues unto this oyl, it

coming from such a despicable stone, and its preparation requiring no

great Art or paines, as those intricate deceitful processes do, that

are every where extant in books quite filled up with them. And it is no

marvel, that men are in love with such false and costly processes; for

the most of them do not believe, that any good is to be found in things

that are not in esteem; but only make great account of dear things, far

fetcht, and requiring much time and paines for to be prepared.

Such men do not believe the word of God, testifying, _That God is no

respecter of persons_, but that all men that fear and love him, are

accepted of him. If this be true (which no good Christian will doubt)

then we must believe also, that God created Physick or the matter of

Physick as well for the poor as for the rich. Now if it be also for

the poor, then certainly such will be the condition thereof, that it

may be obtained by them, and easily prepared for use. So we see that

Almighty God causeth not only in great mens grounds to come forth good

Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, for the curing of the infirmities of

mankind, but that the same also are found every where else. Whereby we

perceive, that it is also the will of God, that they shall be known by

all men, and that he alone, as the Maker of all good, may be praised

and magnified by all men for the same.

I doubt not but that there will be found self-conceited scoffers, that

will despise this so little regarded subject, as if no good thing could

be made of it, because they could find nothing in it themselves. But

be it known to them, that neither to me nor them all things have been

discovered, but that yet many wonderful works of Nature are hidden to

us: and besides that I am not the first that writ of Vitriol and its

medicine. For the Ancients, our dear Ancestors, had always Vitriol in

very great esteem, as the following Verse doth prove.

_Visitabis Interiora Terræ, Rectificando

Invenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam._

Whereby they would give us to understand, that a true medicine is to be

found in it. And the same also was known to the latter Philosophers:

for _Basilius_ and _Paracelsus_ have always highly commended it, as in

their writings is to be found.

It is to be admired, that this Oare or Metallical seed, which may

justly be called the gold of Physitians (in regard that so good a

medicine can be made of it) is not changed or altered in the earth,

like other things that grow in it, but keepeth always the same form

and shape, until it cometh to the air, which is its earth or ground,

wherein it putrefieth and groweth. For first it swelleth and groweth

like as a vegetable seed doth in the earth: and so taketh its increase

and grows out of the air, just as a seed of an hearb in the earth; and

the air is not only its Matrix, wherein it groweth and doth increase

like a vegetable, but it is also its Sun which maketh it ripe. For

within four weeks at the furthest it putrefieth and groweth black:

and about a fourtnight after it groweth white, and then green; and

thus far it hath been described here: But if you proceed further

Philosopher-like therewith, there will come forth to light at the last

the fairest red, and most pleasant Medicine, for which God be praised

for ever and ever, Amen.

_Of the Sulphureous volatile and Acid spirit of common Salt, and of

Allome._

The same way, which above hath been taught for the making of the

volatile spirit of vitriol, must be likewise used in the making of the

volatile spirits of common salt and allome.

_The manner of preparing._

Allome is to be cast in as it is of it self, without mixing of it, but

salt must be mixed with bole, or some other earth, to keep it from

melting: with the spirit volatile, there goeth also along an acid

spirit, whose vertue is described in the first part. The Oyl of Allome

hath almost the like operation with the oyl of vitriol. Also the spirit

volatile of both these, is of the same nature and condition with that

which is made of vitriol: but common salt, and allome, do not yield

so much, as vitriol; unless both, _viz._ salt and allome be mixed

together, and so a spirit distilled of them.

_Of the sulphureous volatile spirit of Minerals and Metals, and of

their preparation._

Such a penetrative sulphureous spirit may be made also of Minerals and

Metals, which in vertue goeth beyond the spirit of vitriol, that of

common salt, and that of allome, _viz._ after the following manner.

_The preparation of the volatile spirits of Metals._

Dissolve either Iron or Copper, or Lead or Tin with the acid spirit

of vitriol, or of common salt: abstract or draw off the phlegm; then

drive the acid spirit again from the Metal, and it will carry along

a volatile spirit, which by rectifying must be separated from the

corrosive spirit. And such Metallical spirits are more effectual than

those that are made of the salts.

_The preparation of the volatile spirit of Minerals._

Take of Antimony made into fine pouder, or of golden Marcasite, or

of some other sulphureous Mineral, which you please, two parts, mix

therewith one part of good purified Salt nitre, and cast in of that

mixture a small quantity, and then another, and so forth after the

manner above described; and there will come over a spirit which is not

inferiour to the former in efficacy and vertue; but it must also be

well rectified.

_Another way._

Cement what laminated or granulated Metal you please, (except gold)

with half as much in weight of common sulphur, closed up in a strong

melting pot or crucible, such as doth not let the sulphur go through,

for the space of half an hour, until that the sulphur hath penetrated

and broken the plates of Metal: Then beat them into powder, mix them

with the like quantity in weight of common salt, and so distil it after

the way above mentioned, and you will get a volatile spirit of great

vertue: and every such spirit is to be used for such special part or

member of the Body, as the Metal is proper for, out of which the spirit

is made. So silver for the brain; Tinn for the lungs, Lead for the

spleen, and so forth.

_The spirit of Zinck._

Of Zinck there is distilled both a volatile and also an acid spirit,

good for the heart; whether it be made by the help of the spirit of

vitriol, or of salt, or of allome: or else by the means of Sulphur; for

Zinck is of the nature of gold.

_The volatile spirit of the Dross of Regulus Martis._

The black scoria of the _Regulus Martis_, being first faln asunder in

the air, yields likewise a very strong sulphureous volatile spirit, not

much unlike in vertue unto the former.

The like Sulphureous volatile spirits may be made also of other

minerals, which for brevities sake we omit, as also in regard, that

they are almost the same in vertue.

_How to make a white acid, and a red volatile spirit out of salt

nitre._

Take two parts of Allome, and one part of salt nitre, make them both

into powder, mix them well together, and cast into the still a little

and a little thereof, as above in the making of other spirits hath

been taught, and there cometh over an acid spirit together with the

volatile spirit; and so many pounds as there is of the materials,

which are to be cast in, so many pounds of water must be put into the

receiver, to the end that the volatile spirits may so much the better

be caught and saved. And when the distillation is performed, the two

spirits may be separated by the means of a gentle rectification made in

_Balneo_; and you must take good heed, that you get the volatile spirit

pure by changing the receiver in good time, so that no flegme be mixed

with the red spirit, whereby it will be weakened and turn white. The

mark whereby you may perceive, whither the spirit or the flegme doth

go forth is this: when the volatile spirit goeth, then the receiver

looketh of a deep red: and afterward when the flegme doth come, the

receiver looks white again: and lastly, when the heavy acid spirit

goeth, then the receiver to be red again, but not so as it was, when

the first volatile spirit came over.

This spirit may also be made and distilled after another way, _viz._

mixing the salt nitre with twice as much bole or brick dust, and so

framed into little balls to prevent melting: but no way is so good as

the first, especially when you will have the red volatile spirit.

_Of the use of the red volatile spirit._

This volatile spirit, which (being quite freed from flegm) remaineth

always red, and doth look like blood, in all occasions may be accounted

like in vertue unto the former sulphureous spirits, especially in

extinguishing of inflammations and Gangreens it is a great treasure,

clothes being dipt in it, and laid upon the grieved place; Also it

goeth almost beyond all other medicines in the Erysipelas and colick:

and if there be any congealed blood in the body (which came by a fall

or blow) this spirit outwardly applyed with such waters as are proper

for the grief, and also taken inwardly, doth dissolve and expell it:

and being mingled with the volatile spirit of urin it doth yield a

wonderful kind of salt, as hereafter shall be taught.

_The use of the white acid spirit of salt nitre._

The heavy and corrosive spirit of salt nitre is not much used in

Physick, though it be found almost in all Apothecaries shops, and

there is kept for such use, as above hath been mentioned of the spirit

of vitriol, _viz._ to make their conserves, and cooling-drinks tast

sowrish. Also it is used by some in the colick, but it is too great

a corrosive, and too gross to be used for that purpose; and although

its corrosiveness may be mitigated in some measure, by adding of water

thereto, yet in goodness and vertue it is not comparable at all to the

volatile spirit, but is as far different from it, as black from white,

and therefore the other is fittest to be used in Physick; but this in

dealing with metals and minerals, for to reduce them into vitriols,

calxes, flores, and crocus.

_Aqua Regis._

If you dissolve common salt (which hath been decrepitated first) in

this acid spirit of salt nitre, & rectifie it by a glass retort in

sand by a good strong fire, it will be so strong, that it is able to

dissolve gold, and all other metals and minerals, except silver and

sulphur; and several metals may by the means thereof be separated much

better than by that Aqua regia which hath been made by adding of Salt

Armoniack. But if you rectifie it with _lapis calaminaris_ or Zinck,

it will be stronger yet, so as to be able to dissolve all metals and

Minerals (silver and sulphur excepted) whereby in the handling of

Metals, much more may be effected, than with common spirit of salt

nitre or Aqua fortis, as hereafter shall be taught: and first in the

preparing of gold.

_The Preparation of Aurum Fulminans, or Aurum Tonitruans._

Take of fine granulated or laminated gold (whither it be refined by

Antimony or _Aqua fortis_) as much as you please: put it in a little

Glass body, and pour four or five times as much of _Aqua regis_ upon

it, set it stopt with a Paper in a gourd in warm sand; and the _Aqua

regis_ within the space of one or two hours will dissolve the gold

quite into a yellow water: but if it have not done so, it is a sign

that either the water was not strong enough, or that there was too

little of it for to dissolve it. Then pour the solution from the

gold, which is not dissolved yet, into another glass, and pour more

of fresh _Aqua Regia_ upon the gold: set it again to dissolve in warm

sand or ashes, and the remaining gold will likewise be dissolved by

it, and then there will remain no more, but a little white calx, which

is nothing else but silver, which could not be dissolved by the _Aqua

Regia_ (for the _Aqua Regia_, whether it be made after the common

way with salt Armoniack, or else with common salt, doth not dissolve

silver) so in like manner common _Aqua fortis_, or spirit of salt

nitre dissolveth no gold; but all other metals are dissolved as well

by strong _Aqua fortis_ as by _Aqua Regia_. And therefore you must be

careful to take such gold as is not mixed with Copper, else your work

would be spoiled: for if there were any Copper mixed with it, then that

likewise would be dissolved and precipitated together with the gold;

and it would be a hindrance to the kindling or fulminating thereof: but

if you can get no gold, that is without Copper, then take Ducats or

Rose-nobles, which ought to have no Addition of Copper, but only of a

little Silver, which doth not hurt, because that it cannot be dissolved

by the _Aqua Regia_, but remaineth in the bottom in a white powder.

Make those Ducats or Rose-nobles red hot, and afterward bend them and

make them up in Rolls, and throw them into the _Aqua Regia_ for to

dissolve. All the gold being turned into a yellow water, and poured

off, pour into it by drops a pure oyl made of the Salt of Tartar, _per

deliquium_, and the gold will be precipitated by the contrary liquor

of Salt of Tartar into a brown yellow powder, and the solution will be

clear. But you must take heed, to pour no more oyl of Tartar into it

than is needful for the precipitation of the gold; else part of the

precipitated gold would be dissolved again, and so cause your loss.

The gold being well precipitated, pour off the clear water from the

gold calx by inclination, and pour upon it warm rain or other sweet

water, stir it together with a clean stick of wood, and set it in a

warm place, until the gold is settled, so that the water standeth clear

upon it again; then pour it off, and pour on other fresh water, and let

it extract the saltness out of the gold calx: and this pouring off,

and then pouring on of fresh water again, must be reiterated so often,

until no sharpness or saltness more be perceived in the water that hath

been poured off: Then set the edulcorated gold into the Sun or another

warm place for to dry. But you must take heed that it have no greater

heat than the heat of the Sun is in _May_ or _June_, else it would

kindle or take fire, and (especially if there be much of it) give such

a thunderclap, that the hearing of those that stand by, would be much

endangered thereby, and therefore I advice you to beware, and cautious

in the handling of it, lest you run the hazard both of your gold and of

your health by your over-sight.

There is also another way for to edulcorate your precipitated gold,

_viz._ thus, Take it together with the salt liquor, and pour it into

a funnel lined with brown Paper laid double, and so let the water

run through into a glass vessel, whereupon the funnel doth rest, and

pour on other warm water, and let it run through likewise; do this

again and again, until that the water come from it as sweet as it was

poured on. Then take the Paper with the edulcorated gold calx, out of

the funnel, lay it, together with the paper, upon other brown paper

lying severally double together, and the dry paper will attract all

the moistness out of the gold calx, so that the gold will be dryed

the sooner. Which being dry, take it out of the filtering paper, and

put it into another that is clean, and so lay it aside, and keep

it for use. The salt water that came through by filtering, may be

evaporated in a little glass body (standing in sand) to the dryness

of the salt, which is to be kept from the air: for it is likewise

useful in Physick; because some vertue of the nature of gold is yet

hidden in it: though one would not think it, in regard that it is so

fair, bright and clear, which for all that may be observed by this,

that when you melt it in a clean covered crucible or pot, and pour it

afterward into a clean Copper morter or bason (being first made warm)

you get a purple-coloured salt, whereof 6, 9, 12, to 24. grains given

inwardly, doth cleanse and purge the stomach and bowels, and especially

it is useful in feavers and other diseases of the stomach. But in

the crucible, out of which the salt hath been poured, you will find

an earthy substance, which hath separated it self from the salt, and

looketh yellowish; this being taken out and melted in a little crucible

by a strong fire, turneth to a yellow glass, which is impregnated with

the Tincture of Gold, and doth yield a grain of Silver in every regard

like unto common cupellated silver, wherein no gold is found, which

is to be admired: because that all Chymists are of opinion, that no

_Aqua regia_ can dissolve silver which is true. The question therefore

is, from whence or how this silver came into the salt, since no _Aqua

Regia_ doth dissolve silver? whereupon some perchance may answer, that

it must have been in the oyl of Tartar, in regard that many do believe,

that the salts likewise may be turned into metals, which I do not

gainsay, but only deny that it could have been done here; for if that

silver could have been existent in the _Aqua Regia_, or salt of Tartar

(whereas _Aqua Regia_ cannot bear any) it would have been precipitated

together with the gold. But that it was no common silver, but gold

which turned to silver after it was deprived of its Tincture, I shall

briefly endeavour to prove. For that the salt waters (of _Aqua Regia_

and salt of Tartar) out of which the gold hath been precipitated, is of

that nature, before it be coagulated to salt, though it be quite clear

and white, that if you put a feather in it, it will be dyed purple

within few days, which purple colour comes from the gold, and not from

silver, in regard that silver doth dye red or black: and hence it

appeareth, that the salt water hath retained something of gold.

Now some body peradventure may ask, if that the said salt water hath

retained some gold, how is it then, that in the melting, no gold

comes forth, but only silver? To which I answer, that some salts are

of that nature, that in the melting, they take from gold its colour

and soul; whereof if the gold be truly deprived, it is then no more

gold, nor can be such; neither is it silver, but remaineth only a

volatile black body, good for nothing, which also proveth much more

unfixt than common Lead, not able to endure any force of fire, much

less the cupel: But like _Mercury_ or _Arsenick_ vanisheth (or flyeth

away) by a small heat. Hence it may be gathered, that the fixedness

(or fixity) of gold doth consist in its soul or Tincture, and not in

its body, and therefore it is credible, that gold may be anatomized,

its best or purer part separated from the grosser (or courser) and so

that a Tingent medicine (or Tincture) may be made of it. But whether

this be the right way, whereby the universal medicine of the ancient

Philosophers (by whose means all metals can be changed or transmuted

into gold) is to be attained unto, I will not dispute; yet I believe

that peradventure there may be another subject, endued with a far

higher Tincture than gold is, which obtained no more from nature, than

it doth need it self for its own fixedness. However, we may safely

believe, that a true Anima or Tincture of gold, if it be well separated

from its impure black body, may be exalted and improved in colour; so

that afterwards of an imperfect body a greater quantity, than that

was from which it was abstracted, may be improved and brought to the

perfection of gold. But waving all this, it is true and certain, that

if the gold be deprived of its Tincture, the remaining body can no more

be gold; as is demonstrated more at large in my Treatise (_de Auro

potabili vero_) of the true potable Gold: And this I mentioned here

onely therefore, that in case the lover of this Art, in his work should

meet perchance with such a white grain, he may know, from whence it

doth proceed.

I could have forborn to set down the preparation of the fulminating

gold, and so save paper and time, in regard that it is described

by others: but because I promised in the first part to teach how

to make the flores of gold, and that those are to be made out of

fulminating (or thundring) gold, I thought it not amiss to describe

its preparation, that the lover of this Art need not first have his

recourse to another book for to find out the preparation, but by this

my book may be furnished with a perfect instruction for the making

of the flores of gold, and this is the common way for to make _Aurum

fulminans_, known unto most Chymists; but in regard that easily an

error may be committed in it, either by pouring on too much of the

liquor of Tartar (especially when it is not pure enough, so that

not all the gold doth precipitate, but part of it remaineth in the

solution, whereby you would have loss; or else, the gold falling or

precipitating into a heavy calx, which doth not fulminate well, and is

unfit for to be sublimed into flores.

Therefore I will here set down another and much better way, whereby

the gold may be precipitated quite and clean out of the _Aqua Regia_

without the least loss, and so that it cometh to be very light and

yellow, and doth fulminate twice as strong as the former, and there is

no other difference between this and the former preparation, but only

that instead of the oyl of Tartar, you take the spirit of urine, or of

salt armoniack for to precipitate the dissolved gold thereby; and the

gold (as before said) will be precipitated much purer, than it is done

by the liquor of the salt of Tartar, and being precipitated, it is to

be edulcorated and dryed, as above in the first preparation hath been

taught.

_The use of Aurum fulminans._

There is little to write of the use of _Aurum fulminans_ in physick;

for because it is not unlockt, but is only a gross calx and not

acceptable to the nature of man, it can do no miracle. And although

it be used to be given _per se_ from 6, 8, 12. grains to ℈ i. for to

provoke sweating in the Plague, and other malignant feavers, yet it

would never succeed so well as was expected. Some have mixed it with

the like weight of common sulphur, and made it red hot (or calcined it)

whereby they deprived it of its fulminating vertue, supposing thus to

get a better medicine, but all in vain, for the gold calx would not be

amended by such a gross preparation. But how to prepare a good medicine

out of _Aurum fulminans_, so that it may be evidently seen, that the

gold is no dead body, nor unfit for physick, but that it may be made

quick and fit for to put forth or shew forth those vertues which it

pleased God to treasure up in it, I shall here briefly discover.

* * * * *

First, get such an instrument (as above hath been taught) made for you

out of Copper, but not too big, nor with a lid at the top, but only

with a pipe, unto which a receiver may be applyed, which must not be

luted to it; but it sufficeth, that the pipe enter far into the belly

of the receiver; and at the lower part it must have a flat bottom,

that it may be able to stand: over the bottom there must be a little

hole with a little door, that closeth very exactly: and there must be

also two little plates or scales of silver or copper, as big as the

nail of ones finger, whereupon the _Aurum fulminans_ is to be set into

the Instrument; which is to stand upon a Trevet, under which you are

to lay some burning Coals for to warm or heat the bottom withal. The

Instrument together with the glass Receiver being so ordered, that it

stands fast, and also the bottom thereof being warmed or heated, then

with little pincers one of the little scales, containing 2, 3, or 4.

grains of _Aurum fulminans_ must be conveyed upon the Instrument set

upon the warm bottom, and then shut the little door, and when the

gold doth feel the heat, it kindleth and giveth a clap, and there is

caused a separation, and especial unlocking of the gold; for as soon

as the clap is done, the gold doth go through the pipe like a purple

coloured smoak into the receiver, and sticks on every where like a

purple coloured powder. When the smoak is vanished, which is soon done,

then take the empty scale out of the Instrument or Oven, and set it

with the gold, which will likewise fulminate and yield its flores.

Then the first being cooled in the mean time, is to be filled again

and put in, instead of that which is empty, and taken out, putting in

one scale after another by turns, continue it so long till you have

got flores enough: After the sublimation is performed, let the Copper

Vessel grow cool, and then sweep or brush the gold powder which is not

sublimed with a haires foot, or goose feather out of the vessel, which

powder serves for nothing, but to be melted with a little borax, and it

will be good gold again, but onely somewhat paler than it was before

it was made into fulminating gold. But the flores in the receiver

cannot be brushed out thus, especially when they are cast in with an

addition of salt Nitre, as by the flores of silver hereafter shall be

taught, because they are something moist, and therefore pour in as much

of dephlegmed Tartarised spirit of wine unto it, as you think to be

enough, for to wash off the flores with. This done, pour out the spirit

of wine, together with the burnt Phœnix into a clean glass, with a

long neck, set it (being well luted first) into a gentle Balneum, or

into warm ashes for some dayes, and the spirit of wine in the mean time

will be coloured with a fair red, which you must pour off and then pour

on other fresh spirit and set it in a warm place for to be dissolved,

this being likewise coloured, put both the extracts together in a

little glass body, and abstract the spirit of wine (in Balneo) from the

Tincture, which will be a little in quantity, but of a high red colour

and pleasant in taste. The remaining flores from which the Tincture is

extracted, may be with water washed out of the glass, and then dryed if

they are to be melted; and they will yield a little pale gold, and the

most part turneth into a brown glass, out of which perchance something

else that is good may be made, but unknown to me as yet.

N. B. If you mix the _Aurum fulminans_ with some salt nitre, before

fulmination, then the flores will be the more soluble, so that they

yield their Tincture sooner and more freely, than alone of themselves;

and if you please, you may adde thereto thrice as much salt nitre, and

so sublime them in flores, in the same manner, as shall be taught for

the making of the flores of silver.

_The use of the Tincture of Gold._

The extracted Tincture is one of the chiefest of those medicines, which

comfort & cheer up the heart of man, renew and restore to youthfulness,

and cleanse the impure blood in the whole body, whereby many horrible

diseases, as the leprosie, the pox, and like may be rooted out.

But whether this Tincture by the help of fire may be further advanced

into a fixed substance I do not know: for I have not proceeded further

in it, than here is mentioned.

_Of the flores of silver and of its medicine._

Having promised in the first part of this book (when I was describing

the preparation of flores out of Metals) to teach in the second part

to make the flores of gold and silver, those of gold being dispatcht;

there followeth now in order after the gold, to speak also of silver

and of its preparation, which is to be thus performed.

Take of thin laminated or small granulated fine silver as much as you

please, put it into a little separating glass body, and pour upon it

twice as much in weight of rectified spirit of salt nitre, and the

spirit of salt nitre will presently begin to work upon the silver and

to dissolve it. But when it will not dissolve any more in the cold,

then you must put the glass body into warm sand or ashes, and the water

will presently begin to work again; let the glass stand in the warm

ashes, until all the silver be dissolved. Then put the solution out

of the little glass body, into another such as is cut off at the top,

and put on a little head or Limbeck, and in sand abstract the moity

of the spirit of salt nitre from the dissolved silver; then let the

glass body remain in the sand till it be cool; after take it out, and

let it rest for a day and a night, and the silver will turn into white

foliated crystals, from which you must pour off the remaining solution

which is not turned; and from thence abstract again the moity of the

spirit, and let it shoot or turn in a cold place; and this abstracting

and crystallising you are to reiterate, until almost all the silver is

turned to Crystals; which you must take out and lay upon filtring paper

to dry, and so keep it for such further use, as hereafter shall be

taught. The remaining solution, which is not crystallised, you may in

a copper vessel by adding of sweet water thereto, precipitate over the

fire into a calx, and then edulcorate and dry it, and keep it for other

use, or else melt it again into a body. Or else you may precipitate the

same with salt water, and so edulcorate and dry it; and you will have

a calx, which doth melt by a gentle fire, and is of a special nature,

and in the spirit of urin, of salt Armoniack, of Harts-horn, of Amber,

of Soot, and of hair it doth easily dissolve; and it may be prepared or

turned into good medicines, as shortly in our treating of the spirit of

urin shall be taught. Or else, you may choose not to precipitate the

remaining solution of silver, but with the spirit of urin to extract an

excellent Tincture, as hereafter shall be taught.

_Of the use of the crystals of silver._

These crystals may safely be used in Physick alone by themselves 3,

6, 9, 12. graines thereof being mixed with a little sugar, or else

made up into pills; they do purge very gently and without danger; but

by reason of their bitterness they are somewhat untoothsome to take;

also, if they be not made up into pills, they colour the lips, tongue

and mouth quite black (but the reason of that blackness belongeth not

to this place to treat of, but shall by and by follow hereafter). Also

if they touch metals, as Silver, Copper and Tin, they make them black

and ugly, and therefore they are not much used. But if you put into the

solution of silver (before it be reduced into Crystals) half as much

quicksilver as there was of the silver, and so dissolve them together

and afterwards let them shoot together, there will come forth very fair

little square stones like unto Allome, which do not melt in the air,

as the former foliated ones use to do; neither are so bitter, and they

purge also quicker and better, than those that are made only of silver.

_How to sublime the Crystals of silver into flores, and then to

make a good Medicine of the flores._

Take of the foliated Crystals of Silver as many as you please, and upon

a grinding stone made warm first, grind as much purified and well dryed

salt nitre amongst it, then put into your Iron distilling vessel (to

the pipe whereof there is to be applyed and luted a great receiver)

coles made into powder two inches high, and make a fire under it, that

the vessel every where together with the coles that are in it, become

red hot. Then take off the lid, and with a ladle throw in at once of

your Crystals of silver ʒ i. more or less, according as you think that

your receiver in regard of its bigness is able to bear. This done,

presently put on the lid, and the salt nitre together with the crystals

of silver will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottom of the

vessel, and there will come forth a white silver fume through the pipe

into the receiver, and after a while when the cloud is vanished in

the receiver, cast in more, and continue this so long, and until all

your prepared silver is cast in; then let it cool, and take off the

receiver, and pour into it good Alcolized spirit of wine, and wash the

flores with it out of the receiver, and proceed further with them, as

above you have been taught to proceed with the gold, and you will get a

greenish liquor, which is very good for the brain.

Take the coles out of the distilling vessel, and make them into fine

powder, and wash them out with water, to the end that the light

cole-dust may be got from it, and you will find much silver dust (or a

great many little silver grains) which the salt nitre could not force

over, which you may reduce, for it will be good silver.

There may also be made a very good medicine out of the crystals of

silver, which will be little inferior to the former, whereby the

diseases and infirmities of the brain may be very well remedied, which

is done thus.

_How to make a green oyl out of Silver._

Pour upon Crystals of silver twice or thrice as much (in weight) of the

strongest spirit of Salt Armoniack, put it in a glass with a long neck

well closed, into a very gentle warmth for the space of 8. or 14. days

in digestion, and the spirit of salt Armoniack will be tinged with a

very fair blew colour from the silver, then pour it off, and filtre it

through brown paper, and then put it in a little glass retort or glass

body, and abstract in Balneo by a gentle fire, almost all the spirit of

salt Armoniack (which is still good for use) and there will remain in

the bottom a grass-green Liquor, which is to be kept for a Medicine.

But in case that you should miss, and abstract too much of the spirit

from the Tincture of silver, so that the Tincture be quite dry and

turned to a green Salt, then you must pour upon it again as much of the

spirit of Salt Armoniack, as will dissolve the green salt again to a

green Liquor, but if you desire to have the Tincture purer yet, then

abstract all moistness from it, to a stony dryness: upon which you must

pour good spirit of Wine, which will quickly dissolve the stone, and

then filtre it, and there will remain feces, and the Tincture will be

fairer: from which you must abstract most of the spirit of wine, and

the Tincture will be so much the higher in vertue. But if you please,

you may distil that green salt or stone (before it be extracted again

with that spirit of wine) in a little glass retort, and you will get a

subtile spirit and a sharp oyl, and in the bottom of the retort there

remaineth a very fusile silver which could not come over.

It is to be admired, that when you pour spirit of salt Armoniack, or

spirit of wine upon that stone, for to dissolve it, that the glass

comes to be so cold by it, that you hardly are able to endure it in

your hand, which coldness in my opinion cometh from the silver (being

so well unlockt) which naturally is cold.

_The Use of the green Liquor in Alchymy, and for Mechanical

Operations._

This green Liquor serveth not only for a medicine, but also for other

Chymical operations (for both Copper and glass may be easily and

very fairly silvered over therewith) very useful for those that are

curious and love to make a shew with fair houshold-stuff; for if you

get dishes, trencher-plates, salters, cups and other vessels made

of glass, after the same fashion as those of silver use to be made,

you may very easily and without any considerable charge silver them

over therewith within and without, so that by the eye they cannot be

discerned from true silver plate.

Besides the above-related good Medicines, there may be made another and

especial good one out of the crystals of silver, _viz._ dissolving and

digesting them (for a space of time) with the universal water, which

hath been distilled by nature it self; and is known to every body: and

after its digesting for a short time, and change into several colours,

there will be found a pleasant essence, which is not so bitter as the

above-described green liquor, which is not brought yet by heat to

ripeness and maturation.

N. B. In this sweet universal Menstruum, may also all other metals by a

small heat and the digestion of a long time be ripened and fitted for

Medicines (having first been reduced into their vitriols and salts)

and then they are no more dead bodies, but by this preparation have

recovered a new Life, and are no more the metals of the covetous, but

may be called the metals of the Philosophers, and of the Physicians.

_Besides Physick or physical use._

Lastly, there may be many pretty things more effected (besides the

medicinal use) by means of the Crystals of silver, _viz._ when you

dissolve them in ordinary sweet rain water, you may dye beards, hair,

skin, and nails of men or beasts into carnation or pink red, brown and

black, according as you have put more or less thereof in the water; or

else, according as the hair was more or less times wetted therewith,

whereby the aspect of Man and Beast (which sometimes in several

occasions may not be contemned) is changed, so that they cannot be

known.

This colouring or dye may be also performed with Lead or Mercury no

less than with silver, but otherwise prepared, whereof in the fourth

part.

Now I have taught how to make flores and tinctures of gold and silver

by help of the acid spirit of Nitre. There may be many other medicines

taught to be made out of them, but in regard that they belong not to

this place, they shall be reserved for other places of this second, and

also for the other following parts.

As by the help of the spirit of Nitre, good Medicines may be made out

of gold and silver, so the like may be done out of other inferiour

metals. But in regard that their description is fitter for other places

of this Book, I omit them here. Yet nevertheless, I thought good

to describe one preparation of every metal; after Silver therefore

followeth now Copper.

_A medicine out of Copper externally to be used._

Dissolve burnt plates of Copper in spirit of salt, and abstract the

spirit again from thence to a dryness, but not too hard, and there will

a green mass remain behind, which you may cast in by little and little,

and so distil it, as of silver hath been taught. It doth yield a strong

and powerful spirit, and flores also for outward use in putrid wounds,

to lay a good ground thereby for the healing.

_A medicine out of Iron or Steel._

In the same manner you may proceed with iron and steel, and there will

remain behind a good crocus of a great stipticity or astringency,

especially out of iron or steel, and may with good success be mixed

with oyntments and plaisters.

_Of Tin and Lead._

If Tin or Lead be dissolved therein, after the abstracting of part of

the spirit, they will shoot into clear and sweet crystals. But Tin is

not so easily dissolved as Lead; both may safely be used for medicines.

Also there may be Spirits and flores got out of them by distilling. The

rehearsing of the Preparation is needless, for what for the preparing

of silver hath been taught, is to be understood also of other metals.

_The use of the Crystals of Lead and Tin._

The Crystals of Lead are admirably good to be used in the plague for to

provoke sweating and expel the venome out of the body; they may also

with credit be used in the bloody flux. Externally dissolved in water,

and clothes dipt therein and applied, they excellently cool and quench

all inflammations, in what part of the body soever they do befal.

Likewise the spirit thereof used _per se_ (and the flores mixed among

oyntments) do their part sufficiently.

But the crystals of Tin do not prove altogether so quick in operation,

though they do act their part also, and they are more pleasant than

those that are made of Lead; for in Tin there is found a pure sulphur

of gold; but in Lead a white sulphur of silver, as is proved in my

_Treatise of the generation and nature of Metals_.

_Of Mercury._

When you dissolve common Mercury in rectified spirit of Nitre, and

abstract the spirit from it again, then there will remain behind a fair

red glistering precipitate; but when the spirit is not rectified, it

will not be so fair, because that the impurity of the spirit remains

with the Mercury and pollutes it. This calcinated Mercury is called

by some _Mercurius præcipitatus_, and by others _Turbith minerale_,

wherewith the Surgeons, and sometimes other unskilful Physicians do

cure the Pox; they give at once 6, 8, 10. grains, (more or less)

according to its preparation and force in operation to the patient;

for if the spirit be not too much abstracted from it, it worketh much

stronger, than when by a strong fire it is quite separated from it;

for the spirits that remain with the Mercury make it quick and active,

which else without the spirits would not be such.

The other metals also, if they be not first made soluble by salts or

spirits, can perform either none or but very small operation, unless it

be Zink or Iron, which being easily soluble, are able to work without

any foregoing dissolution, as hath been shewn above, when we treated of

the oyl of vitriol. But that the sharp spirits are the cause of that

operation, may hence be perceived, and made manifest; that although

you take ℥ ss. of quick-silver and pour it down into the stomach, yet

it would run out again beneath, as above it was poured in. But if it

be prepared with spirits or salts, then but few grains of it will work

strongly, and the more it is made soluble, the stronger it worketh; as

you may see when it is sublimed from salt and vitriol, that it groweth

so strong thereby, that one grain doth work more than eight or ten

grains of Turbith Mineral, and three or four grains thereof would kill

a man, by reason of its mighty strength. Also it worketh extreamly,

and much more than the sublimate, when it is dissolved in spirit of

Nitre and crystalized, so that you cannot well take it upon your tongue

without danger. Which some perceiving, evaporate the _Aqua fortis_ by

a gentle heat from it, so that the _Mercurius_ remained yellow, which

in a smaller dose wrought more than the red, from which the spirits

were quite evaporated. And they used it only externally, strewing it

into impure sores, for to corrode or fret or away the proud flesh, not

without great pain to the patient: but also without distinction of

young or old gave it inwardly for to purge; which is one of the most

hurtful Purges that can be used. For this evil guest, however he be

prepared, cannot leave his tricks, unless he be reduced into such a

substance, as that it never can be brought back to a running Mercury,

for then much good can be done in physick without any hurt or prejudice

to the health of man, whereof perchance something more shall be said in

another place.

I cannot omit for the benefit of young innocent Children, to discover

a great abuse. For it is grown very common almost among all that deal

in physick, that as soon as a little child is not well before they know

whether it will be troubled with worms, or with any thing else, they

presently fall upon Mercury, supposing that in regard it hath no taste,

it is so much the better for to get the Children to take it for to

_kill_ the Worms.

But those men do not know the hurtful nature of it, which it doth

shew against the sinews and Nerves: For some are of opinion, that if

they know to prepare Mercury so, that it can be given in a greater

dose (as is to be seen in sublimed _Mercurius dulcis_) that then it

is excellently prepared: but they are in a great errour, and it were

much better, it were not so well prepared, that the less hurt might be

done to Man, in regard that then they durst not give it in so great a

dose. For if that which is prepared with _Aqua fortis_ or spirit of

salt nitre be used in the pox to men that are advanced in years, it

cannot do so much hurt, because it is given in a small dose, and doth

work with them, whereby nature gets help for to overcome and expel that

hurtful venome, and its malignity is abated by the strong salivation,

which provident nature hath planted in it, so that not so much mischief

can come by it, as by _Mercurius dulcis_, whereof is given to little

weak Children from ten to thirty grains at once, which commonly (unless

they be of a strong nature, and do grow it out) doth cause a weakness

and lameness in their limbs, so that (if they do not come to be quite

lame at last) they have a long time to struggle withal, till they

overcome it.

In like manner those also do err, which do shake Mercury in water

or beer so long, until the water come to be gray-coloured, and so

give that water or beer to little children to drink for the Worms,

pretending that they do not give the substance or body of Mercury, but

only its vertue. But this gross Preparation is no better than if they

had ministred the running Mercury it self. Neither have I ever seen

that the use of _Mercurius dulcis_, or of the gray coloured water was

seconded with good success in killing of the Worms. But it is credible,

that it may be done by yellow or red precipitate, in regard of its

strong operation. But who would be such an Enemy to his Child, as to

plague and torture it with such a hurtful and murthering medicine;

especially there being other medicines to be had, which do no harm to

the children, as is to be found in iron or steel, and the sweet oyl of

vitriol.

And so much of the abuse of Mercury: I hope it will be a good warning

unto many, so that they will not so easily billet such a tyrannical

guest in any ones house, whereby the ruine thereof of necessity must

follow. And that cure deserveth no praise at all, whereby one member

is cured with the hurt of two or three other members. As we see by

the Pox, when one infected member is cured by Mercury, and that but

half, and not firm at all, that all the rest of the body is endangered

thereby for the future. And therefore it would be much better that such

crude horse-physick might be severed from good medicaments, and such

used instead of them, as may firmly, safely, and without prejudice to

other parts perform the cure, of which kind several are taught in this

book. But in case that you have Patients, which have been spoiled by

such an ill-prepared Mercury, then there is no better remedy to restore

them, than by medicines made of metals, wherewith Mercury hath great

affinity, as of gold and silver: for when they are often used, they

attract the Mercury out of all the members, and carry it along with

them out of the body, and so do rid the body thereof. But externally

the precipitated Mercury may more safely be used, than internally, in

case there be nothing else to be had, _viz._ to corrode or eat away

the proud flesh out of a wound. But if instead of it there should be

used the corrosive oyl of Antimony, Vitriol, Allome or common salt

it would be better, and the cure much the speedier; and it would be

better yet, that in the beginning good medicaments were used to fresh

wounds, and not by carelesness to reduce them to that ill condition,

that afterwards by painful corrosives they must be taken away. But such

a Mercury would serve best of all for souldiers, beggers, and children

that go to school; for if it be strewed upon the head of children, or

into their cloathes, no louse will abide there any longer. In which

case Mercury must by his preparation not be made red, but onely yellow,

and it must be used warily, and not be strewed on too thick, lest the

flesh be corroded, which would be the occasion of great mischief.

_Of Aqua fortis._

Out of Salt nitre and vitriol, taking of each a like quantity (or if

the water is to be not altogether so strong) two parts of vitriol to

one part of salt nitre, a water distilled is good to dissolve metals

therewith, and to separate them from one another; as gold from silver,

and silver from gold, which in the fourth part punctually shall be

taught.

The _Aqua fortis_ serveth also for many other Chymical operations to

dissolve and fit metals thereby, that they may be reduced the easier

into medicaments: but because the spirit of salt nitre and _Aqua

fortis_ are almost all one, and have like operations: for if the

_Aqua fortis_ be dephlegmed and rectified, you may perform the same

operations with it, which possibly may be performed with the spirit of

salt nitre; and on the other side the spirit of salt nitre will do all

that can be done with the _Aqua fortis_, whereof in the fourth Part

shall be spoken more at large.

Now I know well that ignorant laborators (which do all their work

according to custome, without diving any further into the Nature of

things, will count me an Heretick (because I teach, that the _Aqua

fortis_ made of vitriol and salt nitre is of the same nature and

condition with the spirit of salt nitre, which is made without vitriol)

saying that the _Aqua fortis_ doth partake likewise of the spirit of

vitriol, because vitriol also is used in the preparation of it. To

which I answer, that although vitriol be used in the preparation of it,

yet for all that in the distilling, nothing or but very little of its

spirit comes over with the spirit of salt nitre, and that by so small

a heat it cannot rise so high, as the spirit of salt nitre doth: and

the vitriol is added onely therefore unto the salt nitre that it may

hinder its melting together, and so the more facilitate its going into

a spirit. And the more to be convinced of this truth, the unbelieving

may add to such spirit of salt nitre, as is made by it self, a little

of oyl of vitriol likewise made by it self, and try to dissolve silver

guilded with it, and he will find that his spirit of salt nitre by the

spirit of vitriol is made unfit to make a seperation; for it preyeth

notably upon the gold, which is not done by _Aqua fortis_.

_Of the sulphurised spirit of salt nitre._

There may also be made a spirit of salt nitre with sulphur, which is

still in use with many, _viz._ they take a strong earthen retort, which

hath a pipe at the top, and fasten it into a furnace, and having put

salt nitre into it, they let it melt, and then through the pipe they

throw peeces of sulphur of the bigness of a pea, one after another,

which being kindled, together with the nitre doth yield a spirit

called by some spirit of salt nitre, and by others oyl of sulphur, but

falsely; for it is neither of both, in regard that metals cannot be

dissolved therewith as they are done with other spirit of salt nitre

or sulphur; neither is there any great use for it in physick, and if

it were good for any Chymical operations, by the help of my distilling

instrument might easily be made and in great quantity,

N.B. But if salt nitre be mixed with sulphur in due proportion, and in

the first furnace be cast upon quick coles, then all will be burnt, and

a strong spirit cometh over, whose vertue is needless here to describe;

but more shall be mentioned of it in another place.

_Of the Clissus._

Among the Physitians of this latter age, there is mention made of

another spirit, which they make of Antimony, Sulphur, and salt nitre,

a like quantity taken of each, which they call _Clissus_, and which

they have in high esteem, and not without cause, because it can do much

good, if it be well prepared.

The inventor, for the making thereof used a retort with a pipe, as was

mentioned by the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre, through which pipe

he threw in his mixture. And it is a good way if no better be known:

but if the Author had known my invention and way of distilling, I doubt

not but he would have set aside his, that hath a nose or pipe retort,

and made use of mine.

The materials indeed are good, but not the weight or proportion; for to

what purpose so great a quantity of sulphur, it being not able to burn

away all with so small a quantity of salt nitre. And if it doth not

burn away, but only sublime & stop the neck of the retort, whereby the

distillation is hindered, how can it then yield any vertue? Therefore

you ought to take not so much sulphur, but only such a quantity as

will serve to kindle the salt nitre, _viz._ to ℔ i. of salt nitre four

drams of sulphur: but because Antimony also is one of the ingredients,

which hath likewise much sulphur (for there is no Antimony so pure, but

it containeth much combustible sulphur, as in the fourth part of this

book shall be proved:) therefore it is needless to add so much sulphur

unto Antimony, to make it burn, because it hath enough of it self. And

therefore I will set down my composition, which I found to be better

than the first.

Take Antimony ℔ i. salt nitre ℔ ij. sulphur ℥ iij. the materials

must be made into small powder and well mixed, and at once cast in ℥

ij. thereof, and there will come over a sulphureous acid spirit of

Antimony, which will mix it self with the water, which hath been put

before in the receiver; which after the distillation is finished must

be taken out and kept close for its use. It is a very good diaphoretick

(or sweat provoking) medicine especially in feavers, the plague,

epilepsie, and all other diseases, whose cure must be performed by

sweating. The _Caput Mortuum_ may be sublimed into flores in that

furnace, which is described in the first part.

_Of the Tartarised spirit of nitre._

In the very same manner there may also be distilled a good

sweat-provoking spirit out of salt nitre and Tartar, a like quantity

taken of each, which is very good to be used in the plague and

malignant feavers.

The _Caput Mortuum_ is a good melting powder for to reduce the calxes

of metals therewith; or else you may let it dissolve in a moist place

to oyl of Tartar.

_Of the Tartarised spirit of Antimony._

A much better spirit yet may be made of Tartar, salt nitre, and

Antimony, a like quantity being taken of each and made into fine

powder, and mixed well together, which though it be not so pleasant to

take, is therefore not to be despised. For not only in the plague and

feavers, but also in all obstructions and corruptions of blood it may

be used with admiration of its speedy help.

The _Caput Mortuum_ may be taken out, and melted in a crucible, and

it will yield a _Regulus_, the use whereof is described in the fourth

part. Out of the scoria or dross a red Tincture may be extracted with

spirit of wine, which is very useful in many diseases. But before you

extract with spirit of wine, you may get a red lixivium out of it with

sweet water, which lixivium may be used externally for to mend the

faults of the skin and to free it from scabbiness.

Upon this lixivium if you pour Vinegar or any other acid spirit,

there will precipitate a red powder, which if it be edulcorated and

dryed may be used in physick. It is called by some sulphur _auratum

diaphoreticum_: but it is no Diaphoretick, but maketh strong vomits,

and so in case of necessity, when you have no better medicine at hand,

it may be used for a vomitory from 6, 7, 9, 10, 15.

Also out of the scoria there may be extracted a fair Sulphur with the

spirit of urin and distilled over the Limbeck, which is very good for

all diseases of the lungs.

_Of Stone-coles._

If you mix stone-coales with a like quantity of salt nitre, and distill

them, you will get an admirable spirit and good to be used outwardly;

for it cleanseth and consolidateth wounds exceedingly, and there will

also come over a metallical vertue in the form of a red powder, which

must be separated from the spirit, and kept for its use. But if you

cast in stone-coles alone by themselves, and distill them, there will

come over not only a sharp spirit, but also a hot and blood red oyl,

which doth powerfully dry and heal all running ulcers; especially it

will heal a scald head better than any other medicine, and it doth

consume also all moist and spongious excrescencies in the skin, where

ever they be: but if you sublime stone-coles in the furnace described

in the first part, there comes over, an acid metallical spirit, and a

great deal of black light flores, which suddenly stanch bleeding, and

used in plaisters, are as good as other metallical flores.

_Of the Sulphureous spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis._

If you take one part of sulphur, two parts of nitre, and three parts

of vitriol, and distill them, you will get a graduating _Aqua fortis_,

which smelleth strongly of sulphur; for the sulphur is made volatile by

the salt nitre and vitriol. It is better for separating of metals, than

the common _Aqua fortis_.

If silver be put in, it groweth black, but not fixed; some of it

poured into a solution of silver a great deal of black calx will

precipitate, but doth not abide the tryal. You may also abstract a

strong _sulphureous_ volatile spirit from it, which hath like vertue as

well internally as externally for bathes, and may be used like unto a

volatile spirit of Vitriol or Allome.

_Of the Nitrous spirit of Arsenick._

If you take white Arsenick and pure salt nitre of each a like quantity

ground into fine powder, and distill them, you will get a blew spirit,

which is very strong, but no water must be put into the receiver, else

it would turn white, for the Arsenick, from which the blew cometh,

is precipitated by the water. This spirit dissolveth and graduateth

copper as white as silver, and maketh it malleable but not fixed. The

remaining _Caput Mortuum_ maketh the copper white, if it be cemented

therewith, but very brittle and unmalleable, but how to get good silver

out of Asenick and with profit, you shall find in the fourth part. In

physick the blew spirit serveth for all corroding cancrous sores, which

if they be anointed therewith, will be killed thereby, and made fit for

healing.

_To make a spirit of Sulphur, crude Tartar and Salt nitre._

If you grind together one part of Sulphur, two parts of Crude Tartar,

and four parts of salt nitre, and distill it Philosopher-like, you will

get a most admirable spirit, which can play his part both in Physick

and Alchymy. I will not advise any body to distill it in a retort; for

this mixture, if it groweth warm from beneath, it fulminateth like

Gunpowder; but if it be kindled from above, it doth not fulminate, but

onely burneth away like a quick fire; metals may be melted and reduced

thereby.

_To make a spirit out of Salt of Tartar, Sulphur, and Salt-nitre._

If you take one part of salt of Tartar, and one part and a half of

Sulphur, with three parts of salt nitre, and grind them together, you

will have a commposition, which fulminateth like _Aurum fulminans_, and

the same also (after the same manner as above hath been taught with

gold) may be distilled into flores and spirits, which are not without

special Vertue and Operation. For the corruption of one thing is the

generation of another.

_How to make a spirit of saw-dust, sulphur and salt nitre._

If you make a mixture of one part of Saw-dust made of Tilia or

Linden-wood, and two parts of good sulphur, and nine parts of purified

and well dryed salt nitre, and cast it in by little and little, there

will come over an acid spirit, which may be used outwardly, for to

cleanse wounds that are unclean. But if you mix with this composition

minerals or metals made into fine powder, and then cast it in and

distill it, there will come not only a powerful metallical spirit,

but also a good quantity of flores, according to the nature of the

mineral, which are of no small vertue: for the minerals and metals

are by this quick fire destroyed and reduced to a better condition,

whereof many things might be written: but it is not good to reveal all

things. Consider this sentence of the Philosophers. _It is impossible

to destroy without a flame, The combustible Sulphur of the Calx, which

the digged Mine doth doe._

Also fusible minerals and metals may not only be melted, therewith,

but also cupellated in a moment upon a Table in the hand or in a

nut-shell; whereby singular proofs of oares and metals may be made, and

much better, than upon a Cupel, whereof further in the fourth part of

this book. Here is opened unto us a gate to high things; if entrance

be granted unto us, we shall need no more books to look for the Art in

them.

_To make metallical spirits and flores by the help of salt-nitre

and linnen cloth._

If metals be dissolved in their appropriated Menstruums, and in the

solution (wherein a due proportion of salt nitre must be dissolved)

fine linnen rags be dipt and dryed, you have a prepared metal, which

may be kindled, and (as it was mentioned above concerning the saw-dust)

through the burning away and consuming of their superfluous sulphur,

the mercurial substance of the metal is manifested. And after the

distillation is ended, you will find a singular purified calx, which

by rubbing coloureth other metals, as that of gold doth guild silver,

that of silver silvereth over copper, and copper calx maketh iron look

like copper, _&c._ which colouring though it cannot bring any great

profit, yet at least for to shew the possibility, I thought it not

amiss to describe it; and perchance something more may be hid in it,

which is not given to every one to know.

_Of Gun-powder._

Of this mischievous composition and diabolical abuse of Gunpowder much

might be written: but because this present world taketh only delight

in shedding innocent blood, and cannot endure that unrighteous things

should be reproved, & good things praised, therefore it is best to be

silent, and to let every one answer for himself, when the time cometh

that we shall give an account of our stewardship, which perhaps is not

far off; and then there will be made a separation of good and bad, by

him that tryeth the heart, even as gold is refind in the fire from its

dross. And then it will be seen what Christians we have been. We do all

bear the name, but do not approve our selves to be such by our works;

every one thinketh himself better than others, and for a words sake

which one understandeth otherwise, or takes in another sense than the

other (and though it be no point, whereon salvation doth depend) one

curseth and condemneth another and persecuteth one another unto death,

which Christ never taught us to do, but rather did earnestly command

us that we should love one another, reward evil with good, and not

good with evil, as now a dayes every where they use to do; every one

standeth upon his reputation, but the honor of God and his command are

in no repute, but are trampled under foot, and Lucifers pride, vain

ambition, and Pharisaical hypocrisie or shew of holiness, hath so far

got the upper-hand with the learned, that none will leave his contumacy

or stubbornness, or recede a little from his opinion, although the

whole world should be turned upside down thereby. Are not these fine

Christians? By their fruit you shall know them, and not by their words.

Woolves are now clothed with sheeps skins, so that none of them almost

are to be found, and yet the deeds and works of Woolves are every where

extant.

All good manners are turned into bad, women turn men, and men women

in their fashion and behaviour, contrary to the institution and

ordinance of God and Nature. In brief, the world goeth on crutches. If

_Heraclitus_ and _Democritus_ should now behold this present world,

they would find exceeding great cause for their lamenting and laughing

at it. And therefore it is no marvel, that God sent such a terrible

scourge as gun-powder is upon us; and it is credible, that if this do

not cause our amendment, that a worse will follow, _viz._ thunder and

lightning falling down from Heaven, whereby the world shall be turned

upside down for to make an end of all pride, self-love, ambition,

deceit and vanity. For which the whole Creation doth wait, fervently

desiring to be delivered from the bondage thereof.

Now this preparation, which is the most hurtful poyson, a terror unto

all the living, is nothing else but a _fulmen terrestre_ denouncing

unto us the wrath and coming of the Lord. For Christ to judge the

world is to come with thundering and lightning: and this earthly

thunder perchance is given us for to put us in mind and fear of that

which is to come, but this is not so much as thought on by men, who

prepare it only for to plague and destroy mankind therewith in a most

cruel and abominable manner, as every one knoweth.

For none can deny but that there is no nimbler poyson, than this

gunpowder. It is written of the Basiliske, that he killeth man only by

his look, which a man may avoid, and there are but few (if any at all)

of them found: but this poyson is now prepared and found every where.

How often doth it fall out, that a place wherein this powder is kept

is stricken with thunder as with its like, in so much that all things

above it are in a moment destroyed, and carryed up into the air? Also

in sieges, when an Ordnance is discharged, or Mines blown up, all whom

it lays hold on, are suddenly killed, and most miserably destroyed.

What nimbler poyson then could there be invented? I believe there is

none, who will not acknowledge it to be such.

And seeing that the ancient Philosophers and Chymists were always of

opinion, that the greater the poyson is, the better medicine may be

made of it, after it is freed from the poyson, which with us their

posterity is proved true by many experiences; as we see by Antimony,

Arsenick, Mercury, and the like minerals, which without preparation are

meer poyson, but by due preparation may be turned into the best and

most effectual medicaments, which though not every one can comprehend

or believe, yet Chymists know it to be true, and the doing of it is no

new thing to them. And because I treat in this second part of medicinal

spirits, and other good medicaments, and finding that this which can

be made out of gunpowder, is none of the least, I would not omit in

some measure, and as far as lawfully may be done, to set down its

preparation: which is thus performed.

_How to make a spirit of Gunpowder._

Your distilling vessel being made warm, and a great receiver with

sweet water in it, being applyed to it without luting, put a dish

with gunpowder, containing about 12. or 15. grains a piece, one after

another into it; in the same manner as above was taught to do with

gold. For if you should put in too much of it at once, it would cause

too much wind and break the receiver.

As soon as you have conveighed it into the vessel, shut the door, and

the gunpowder will kindle, and give a blast that it maketh the receiver

stir, and a white mist or steam will come over into the receiver. As

soon as the powder is burnt, you may cast in more before the mist is

settled, because else the distilling of it would cost too much time,

and so you may continue to do until you have spirit enough. Then let

the fire go out, and the furnace grow cool, and then take off the

receiver, pour the spirit with the water that was poured in before (the

flores being first every where washed off with it) out of the receiver

into a glass body, and rectifie it in a B. through a limbeck, and there

will come over a muddy water, tasting and smelling of sulphur: which

you must keep. In the glass body you will find a white salt, which you

are to keep likewise. Take out the _Caput Mortuum_, which remained

in the distilling vessel, and looks like gray salt, calcine it in a

covered crucible, that it turn white, but not that it melt; and upon

this burnt or calcined salt, pour your stinking water, which came over

through the limbeck, and dissolve the calcined white salt with it,

and the feces which will not dissolve cast away. Filtre the solution,

and pour it upon the white salt, which remained in the glass body,

from which the sulphureous spirit was abstracted before, and put the

glass body (with a limbeck luted upon it) into sand, and abstract the

sulphureous water from it, which will be yellowish, and smell more of

sulphur than it did before. This water if it be abstracted from the

salt several times, will turn white, almost like unto milk, and tast

no more of sulphur, but be pleasant and sweet. It is very good for

the diseases of the lungs. Also it doth guild silver, being anointed

therewith, although not firmly, and by digestion it may be ripened and

reduced into a better medicine.

The salt which remained in the glass body, urge with a strong fire,

such as will make the sand, wherein the glass standeth red hot, and

there will sublime a white salt into the limbeck, in taste almost like

unto salt Armoniack, but in the midst of the glass body, you will find

another, which is yellowish, of a mineral taste and very hot upon the

tongue.

The sublimed salts, as well the white which did ascend into the

limbeck, as the yellow, which remained in the glass body are good to

be used in the plague, malignant feavers and other diseases, where

sweating is required; for they do mightily provoke sweating, they

comfort and do cleanse the stomach, and cause sometimes gentle stools.

But what further may be done in Physick with it, I do not know yet.

In Alchymy it is also of use, which doth not belong to this place. Upon

the remaining salt which did not sublime you may pour rain water, and

dissolve it there in the glass body, (if it be whole still) else if

it be broken, you may take out the salt dry, and dissolve and filtre

and coagulate it again, and there will be separated a great deal of

fæces. This purified salt, which will look yellowish, melt in a covered

crucible, and it will turn quite blood red, and as hot as fire upon the

tongue, which with fresh water you must dissolve again, and then filtre

and coagulate; by which operation it will be made pure and clear, and

the solution is quite green before it be coagulated, and as fiery as

the red salt was before its dissolution.

This grass green solution being coagulated again into a red fiery salt,

may be melted again in a clean and strong crucible, and it will be much

more red and fiery.

N. B. And it is to be admired that in the melting of it many fire

sparks do fly from it, which do not kindle or take fire, as other

sparks of coals or wood use to do. This well purified red salt being

laid in a cold and moist place, will dissolve into a blood red oyl,

which in digestion dissolveth gold and leaveth the silver: this

solution may be coagulated, and kept for use in Alchimy.

There may also a pretious Tincture be extracted out of it with

alcolized spirit of wine, which Tincture guildeth silver, but not

firmly.

And as for use in Physick, it ought to be kept as a great Treasure.

But if the red fiery salt be extracted with spirit of wine before gold

be dissolved therewith, it will yield likewise a fair red Tincture,

but not so effectual in Physick as that unto which gold is joyned. And

this Tincture can also further be used in Alchymy, which belongeth not

hither, because we only speak of medicaments.

_Of the use of the Medicine or Tincture made of Gunpowder._

This Tincture whether with or without gold, made out of the red salt,

is one of the chiefest that I know to make, if you go but rightly to

work, and prepare it well; for it purifieth and cleanseth the blood

mightily, and provoketh also powerfully sweat and urine; so that it may

safely and with great benefit be used in the Plague, Feavers, Epilepsy,

Scurvy, in _Melancholia Hypochondriaca_, in the Gout, Stone, and the

several kinds of them; as also in all obstructions of the Spleen and

Liver, and in all diseases of the Lungs, and it is to be admire that of

such a hurtful thing such a good medicine can be prepared. Therefore it

would be much better to prepare good medicaments of it, to restore the

poor diseased to health therewith, than to destroy with it those that

are whole and sound.

I know a Chymist, that spent much time and cost to search this

poysonous dragon, thinking to make the universal medicine or stone of

the ancient Philosophers out of it. Especially because he saw, that so

many strange changes of colours appeared, whereof mention is made by

the Philosophers when they discribe their medicine and the preparation

thereof.

The Dragons blood, Virgins milk, Green and Red Lyon, Black blacker

than Black, White whiter than White and the like, more needless here

to relate, which easily may perswade a credulous man as it hapned

also unto him. But afterward he found, that this subject in which he

put so much confidence, was leprous and not pure enough, and that it

is impossible to make that tingent stone of it, for to exalt men and

metals, and so was glad to be contented with a good particular medicine

and to commit the rest unto God.

And so much of that poysonous dragon, gunpowder: but that there is

another and more purer dragon, whereof the Philosophers so often made

mention, I do not deny; for nature is mighty rich, and could reveal to

us many arcana by Gods permission: But because we look only for great

honor and riches, and neglect the poor, there is good reason why such

things remain hidden from wicked and ungodly men.

_To make spirits and flores of Nitre and Coals._

If you distill Nitre (well purified from its superfluous salt) mixed

with good coals, the Egyptian Sun bird doth burn away, and out of it

doth sweat a singular water, useful for men and metals. Its burnt ashes

are like unto calcined Tartar, and for the purging of metals not to be

despised.

_To make flores and spirits of flints, crystals or sand, by adding of

coals and salt nitre to them._

Take one part of flints or sand, and three parts of Linden coals,

with six parts of good salt nitre mixed well together, and cast of it

in, and the combustible sulphur of the flints will be kindled by the

piercing and vehement fire of the salt nitre, and maketh a separation,

carrying over with it part thereof, which it turneth into spirits

and flores, which must be separated by filtring. The spirit tasteth

as if it had been made of salt of Tartar and flints, and is of the

same nature and condition; and the remaining _Caput Mortuum_ also

yieldeth such an oyl or liquor in all like unto that, and therefore

its condition is not described here, but you may find it where I shall

treat of the spirit made of salt of tartar by adding of flints.

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

Take one part of Talck made into fine powder, and three parts of

Linden-coals, mixe them with five or six parts of good salt nitre, cast

in of that mixture one spoonful after another, and there will come over

a spirit and a few flores, which must be separated as hath been taught

above concerning flints.

The spirit is not unlike unto the spirit of sand: the _Caput Mortuum_,

which looks greyish, must be well calcined in a crucible, so that it

melt, and then pour it out, and it will yield a white transparent Mass,

like as flints and crystals do, which in a cold moist cellar will turn

to a thick liquor, fatter in the handling than the oyl of sand. It is

something sharp like unto oyl of Tartar; it cleanseth the Skin, Hair

and Nails, and makes them white; the spirit may be used inwardly for

to provoke sweat and urine: externally used, it cleanseth wounds, and

healeth all manner of scabs in the body out of hand. What further may

be done with it, I do not know yet: But how to bring Talck, pebles, and

the like stony things to that pass, that they may be dissolved with

spirit of wine and reduced into good medicaments shall be taught in the

fourth part.

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

If you mix two parts of the filings of Tin, with one part of good salt

nitre, and cast it in, as you were taught to do with other things, then

the sulphur of Tin will kindle the salt nitre, and make a flame, as

if it were done with common sulphur, whereby a separation is made, so

that one part of the Tin cometh over in flores and spirit, and the rest

stayeth behind, which if it be taken out, some of it in a moist place

will turn into a liquor or oyl, which externally may be used with good

success in all ulcers for to cleanse them. It hath also the vertue, if

it be pertinently applyed to graduate and exalt wonderfully all the

colours of vegetables and animals, which would be useful for dyers. The

spirit of it mightily provoketh sweating: the flores being edulcorated

and used in plaisters, do dry and heal very speedily.

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

In like manner as hath been taught with Tin, you may also proceed with

Zinck, and it will yield a good quantity of flores, and also a spirit

and oyl, almost of the same vertues with those made of Tin: and these

flores corrected with salt nitre, are better than those which are

taught to be made by themselves in the first part of the book.

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

Mix two parts of salt nitre with one part of _lapis calaminaris_ and

cast it in, and it will yield a sharp spirit very useful for separating

of metals, and there will come over also a few yellow flores. The rest

remaining behind is a dark green Mass very fiery upon the tongue, like

salt of Tartar, and if it be dissolved with rain water, yieldeth a

grass green solution, which being not presently coagulated into salt,

the green separateth it self from the fixed salt nitre, and there

falleth to the bottom a fine red powder, and if it be edulcorated and

dryed, and given from one grain to ten or twelve it causeth gentle

stools and easy vomits, better than prepared Antimony; for _lapis

calaminaris_ and Zinck are of the nature of Gold, as in the fourth

part shall be proved: the white _lixivium_ or lye, from which the

green is precipitated, may be coagulated into white salt, like unto

salt of Tartar; but if you coagulate the green solution, before the

green be separated from the salt nitre, then you will get a very fair

green salt, high in colour and much more fiery than salt of Tartar,

whereby special things may be done in Alchymy, which doth not belong

hither. And if you desire to make such a green salt for to use it in

Alchymy, you need not take so much pains, as first to distil a spirit

out of the mixture, but take three or four parts of good salt nitre,

and mix it with one part of _lapis calaminaris_, and let this mixture

boyl together in a wind furnace, till the salt nitre be coloured green

by the _lapis calaminaris_, then pour it out and separate the green

goldish salt from it, and make such good use of it as you think fit.

But if you will extract a good Tincture and medicine, make it into

powder, and extract it with spirit of wine, and it will yield a blood

red Tincture, both in Physick and Alchymy of good use.

Further you are to take notice, that among all metals and minerals,

which I know (except gold and silver) there is none found, out of which

can be extracted a greenness which is of fire-proof, but only out of

_lapis calaminaris_, which deserves to be well considered and further

thought upon.

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

Take one part of salt, two parts of sulphur, and four parts of salt

nitre, grind all together, and cast in one spoonful after another to

distil, and it will yield a sharp yellow spirit, which if it be put

among common water, so that the water be not made too sharp of it,

it is a good bath, good for many diseases; especially it healeth all

scabs very suddenly. The _Caput Mortuum_ may also be dissolved in water

and used among bathes, and it is good likewise, but the spirit is

penetrating, and doth operate suddenly in shrinkings and other defects

of the nerves; of such kind of bathes there shall be spoken more in the

third part. Also the remaining fixed yellow salt is good to be used in

Alchymy; for it graduateth silver by cementing.

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

Martis._

Take one part of _Regulus Martis stellatus_ (made of one part of Iron

or Steel, and three parts of Antimony, whose preparation is described

in the fourth part) and three parts of pure salt nitre, mix and grind

all together, and cast it in by little and little to distil, and there

will come over a spirit together with a white sublimate, which must

be separated with water, as hath been taught above with other flores,

and both the spirit and the flores are good to provoke sweat. The

remaining _Caput Mortuum_, (as they usually call it) is not dead, but

full of life and vertue, whereby much good may be done both in Physick

and Alchymy, as followeth. The remaining Mass, which looks white, and

is very sharp and fiery (if the _Regulus_ have been pure, if not,

then it will look yellowish) may be edulcorated with fresh water, and

it will yield a _lixivium_ or lye in all things like unto calcined

Tartar, but sharper and purer, and may be used almost in all operations

instead of salt of Tartar (but first the _Regulus Antimonii_ must be

precipitated from it by the help of water) and afterward it may be

coagulated into salt and kept for its use; the edulcorated, as also

that which was precipitated with water is a white and fine powder,

useful in the plague, feavers, and other diseases to provoke sweating

thereby, and may very safely be used, and although if it be given in a

greater quantity than usual, it causes some vomits also, yet for all

that it doth no hurt. It is easily taken because it hath no taste. It

is given to children from 3, 4, to 12. grains: to elder folks from ℈

_ss._ to ʒ _ss._ they work successfully in all diseases, where sweating

is needful. This _Antimonium Diaphoreticum_, may also be melted into

glass, and so extracted and dissolved with spirit of salt, and it may

be prepared into several good medicaments: and if all that which may

be done with it, should be described at large, it would require too

much time. The _lixivium_, if it be coagulated, hath wonderful vertues,

so that if one should describe them, he would hardly be credited by

any body, because it is not made of costly things; and truly the life

of man is too short to find out by experience all that lies hid in

it: and it would be but a laughing matter to a proud fool, if one

should reveal it: therefore it is better to keep counsel, than to sow

strife. _Basilius Valentinus_ in his Triumphant Chariot of Antimony,

where he writeth of the signed star, hinted it sufficiently, but very

few take notice of it. _Paracelsus_ also, here and there in his books

under an unknown name, makes frequent mention of it; but its true

preparation and use, by reason of the unthankful was never described by

the Philosophers, which for instruction of Good Honest Men we do here

mention.

Before you edulcorate the _Regulus_ (made by fulmination) you may

extract of it a good medicinal Tincture with spirit of wine, and if

you dissolve it with spirit of salt, there will shoot a white foliated

Talck in all things like unto the Mineral Talck: whereof a liquor may

be made, which coloureth the skin very white, but if this calx of

Antimony, before it be extracted with spirit of wine or dissolved with

spirit of salt be made into fine powder, and exposed to the moist air,

it will dissolve into a fat liquor, which though it be something sharp,

yet doth no hurt to the skin, if it be used with discretion, but rather

cleanseth it more then any other thing, and so it doth likewise to the

hair and nailes; but as soon as the liquor hath been applyed for that

purpose, it must be washed off again with water, lest it do not onely

take away the gross and unclean skin, but also work upon the tender

white skin and do hurt, and therefore I give warning, that you use

it discreetly: for according to the old proverb, you may misuse even

that which else is good in it self. If you put some of it into warm

water and bath your self in it, the gross skin will peal off all the

body, so that you will almost seem to be another body. And this bath

also is good for many diseases: for it openeth the pores mightily, and

cleanseth all the blood in the body, by drawing many ill humors out of

it, which maketh a man light and strong, especially if he be purged

first, before he useth the bath. It is also good for Melancholy, scurvy

and leprosie, especially when the red Tincture drawn out of it with

spirit of wine, be used besides. It is also good to be used in a foot

bath for those that are troubled with corns and other excrescencies

upon their feet, or with nailes that cut the flesh; for it softeneth

them and makes them fit for cutting, and as tractable as wax. For there

is nothing known under the Sun, which softneth more a hard skin, hair,

nailes and other excrescencies, than this oyl. And this I did set

down therefore, because I know, that many are so tormented therewith,

that they cannot well endure their shoes upon their feet. But if you

coagulate this oyl into salt, and melt it in a crucible, and powre it

out into a flat brass bason, that it flow at large and may be broken,

then you have the best Causticum, to open the skin withal where is

need. If you dissolve crude Tartar with it and coagulate it again, you

will get a salt which is used in many Chymical operations; and there

may be extracted out of it a blood red Tincture with spirit of wine,

which proveth very effectual against all obstructions.

Also every combustible sulphur may be easily dissolved with it, and

used among bathes, it acteth his part admirably. If any oyl of spices

be boyled therewith, then the oyl will dissolve in it, and they turn

together to a balsome, which doth mingle it self with water, and is

good to be taken inwardly for some infirmities: but women with child

must not meddle with it, because it makes them miscarry. But after

their delivery, it is good to expel after burthen and other reliques.

But if you boyl _Oleum ligni Rhodii_ with this liquor and rose water

so long till the oyl do incorporate with the liquor and waters and

then separate the watery substance from it, you will get a sope as

white as snow, which may be used for to wash the hands with it, and

it doth smell very well. You may also wash the head with it; for it

strengtheneth the brain and cleanseth the head and hair. This sope may

be distilled, and it will yield a penetrating oyl, very good for the

sinews and nerves.

Now as this liquor of _Regulus Antimonii_ softneth the skin, nailes,

hair, feathers, horns, and the like, and dissolveth them more than any

thing in the world: In the like manner also it hath power to dissolve

not only metals, but also the hardest stones, but not in that manner

which is done by boyling, as was mentioned of sulphur, but after

another way, which is not proper for this place. It sufficeth that I

hinted it. The fiery fixed salt nitre may be dissolved with spirit of

salt or vinegar, and sublimed into a _Terra foliata_. What further can

be effected with it, doth not belong to this place, and perchance some

where else more shall be spoken of it.

_To distil a Butyrum out of Antimony, Salt and vitriol, like unto

that, which is made out of Antimony and Mercury sublimate._

Take one part of crude Antimony, two parts of common salt, and four

parts of vitriol calcined white, beat all to powder and mix them well,

and so cast it in as you were taught to do with other materials, and

there will come over a thick oyl of Antimony like butter, which may be

rectified like any other oyl, that is made after the common way with

Mercury sublimate, and is also the same with it in use, which use you

may see in the first part: the same also may be made better and in a

greater quantity in the furnace described in the first part, and also

with less coals and time by the help of the open fire, because it

endureth greater heat than in the second furnace.

_To distil Butyrum of Arsenick and Orpiment._

After the same manner as was taught with Antimony, there may also out

of Arsenick and Auripigment together with salt and vitriol a thick oyl

be distilled, which not only outwardly but also inwardly is safe to be

used, and may be so corrected, that it shall be nothing at all inferior

in vertue unto the _butyrum Antimonii_, but rather go beyond it: which

perchance will seem impossible to many. But he that knows the nature

and condition of minerals, will not be astonished at my words, but they

will be to him as a light in a dark place.

_To make a rare spirit of vitriol._

If common vitriol be dissolved in water, and you boyle granulated

Zinck in it, all the metal and sulphur contained in the vitriol will

precipitate on the Zinck, and the solution will turn white, the

precipitated matter is nothing else, but iron, copper, and sulphur,

which the salt of vitriol did contain, and now is drawn from it by

the Zinck. The reason why the metal precipitateth out of the salt

upon the Zinck, belongeth to the fourth part, where you will find it

sufficiently explained; The white solution, from which the metallical

matter is separated, must be coagulated to the dryness of salt, and so

by it self a spirit distilled of it, which riseth easily, and is in

taste and vertue not unlike unto common oyl of vitriol, but only that

this is a little purer than the common.

Here perchance many may object: you take the green from the vitriol,

which _Paracelsus_ doth not teach, but bids us to keep it. To which I

answer, that I do not teach here to make the sweet red oyl of vitriol,

whereof _Paracelsus_ hath written, but the white acid oyl; which is

as good, or rather much better than the common, which is made of the

common impure vitriol. To what purpose is it, that you take green

vitriol to distil, whereas the green doth not come over, and although

that green should come over, why should that oyl be better than the

white? for the green in the common vitriol is nothing else but copper

and iron, which the salt water running through the passages of Metals

did dissolve and take into it self, and as soon as such a green vitriol

feeleth the fire, the green turneth into red, which is nothing else

but a calcined iron or copper, which in the reducing by a strong fire

and by melting is made manifest.

_Paracelsus_ hath not taught us, that we should drive over the green by

the force of the fire into a red and sweet oyl, but he hath shewed us

an other way, which is found out by few men, whereof in the beginning

of the second part already hath been made mention.

This spirit or acid oyl distilled out of the purified vitriol, is of a

pleasant sowreness, and serveth for all those uses, which above by the

vitriol were described. And this process is set down onely for that

end, that we may see, that when the vitriol is purifyed, that then it

is easier distilled, and yieldeth a more pleasant spirit, than if it be

yet crude and impure.