It is to be noted that that silver powder being thus by it self, and
without an admixture of other fixxed Salts, doth very hardly by fusion
return into its former form of silver, but that it flows like Salt, and
pierceth any vessel whatsoever, yea doth depart into a smoak. For the
spirits of the Salt do render the silver so fluid and volatile; that it
is made altogether mercurial; and therefore its more tender and noble
part may be separated from its more gross part by distillation, if this
could be done by glassen, or earthen, or metallick vessels.
When this mercury of _Lune_ is melted in an open crucible, it vanisheth
into smoak. It being put into a Glass Retort, refuseth to yield to the
fire, the which being too much increased makes the glass to melt, and
destroys the glass together with the silver. If earthen vessels be
used, the same mercury pierceth the same unhurt like oyled Leather,
when it departs, the Salts also depart into smoak, and do leave little
grains of silver adhering to the vessel, whereof in this respect there
is made a loss, which renders the sublimation void.
Of Iron vessels also here is no use, because of the Salts that are
admixed with the silver rising up against the Iron, they dismiss the
silver reduced to its ancient body, and besides a little spirit of salt
they send forth nothing, so that no separation is made, but the pure
and impure do remain co-mixt.
For the sake of avoiding those discommodities I have tried many ways
and manners in vain, and at length I took notice, that if such a matter
be added to the most penetrating mercury of _Lune_, which may so hinder
its efficacy of solving and co-melting, that it may be changed into
a porous lump, than that, through the benefit of fire there might
be an easie separation thereof, which without this help doth most
difficultly exist.
In the name of the Lord, therefore adjoyn thou unto thy fishing Net;
that is, unto the mercury of _Lune_, such a matter in due weight and
measure which admits not of melting, and which suffers not the mercury
of _Lune_ to conflux, or melt together. Such are wooden Coals being
reduced into a fine powder, with the which being mixt with the mercury
of _Lune_, thou shalt fill thy distilling vessel, whether it be earth,
or iron, or glass which is the best of all, even unto the half part,
and shall set it in the fire, the which is to be gently increased by
degrees, untill the glass become burning bright, keep the vessel so
long in this heat untill all the spirits are departed, which ceasing,
thou shalt take away the vessel being cold, in which thou wilt find the
remainder of the mercury which did not ascend, reduced into a corporal
or imbodyed silver, or at least wise such, to which adding a little
borace is easily reduced into silver, the which doth contain somewhat
of gold; but keep thou that subtile and pure matter which ascended in
distillation as a precious treasure, and meditate after what sort,
or by what means thou mayst be able to fix this precious Pearl, and
convert it into a fusible, or flowable, and piercing stone.
But in what respect, or in what manner this thing is to be done, in
very deed I cannot tell, because I am he who have not hitherto had
leisure, nor time of perfecting that thing, and therefore I have been
willing here to shew onely these things which I have seen with my eyes,
and handled with my hands.
Another shall be able by his own judgment to make tryal, and to see
what God will bestow upon him, I have shewn in stead of the mercurial
Statue or Image, that which shall suffice at present.