_To extract the =Sol= that is in Granates._
1. If Granates be melted with Glass, that contains _Lune_, the _Lune_
containing Glass will unite it self with the _Sol_ that is in the
Granates, which with an _Aq. Regia_ may be afterwards separated.
_To make a good =Mercury= of Wine._
2. _Recipe_ Crude Tartar and pour upon it a Lye of Salt of Tartar,
distill in an Alembick, and you’ll have a strong Mercury of Wine,
which is a much stronger and more fiery Spirit, than Spirit of Urine,
especially if some _Sal Armoniack_ be added to it.
_To make a Mercury of Metals._
3. And if before we dissolve a Metal or Mineral in the foresaid lye
of Salt of Tartar, or in the Crude Tartar, before that both these
contraries be put together, then the volatile Spirit of Tartar will
bring over the Tincture or Mercury of the said metal or mineral in the
form of a subtile Spirit. In this manner we may drive the Mercury of
all minerals and metals over the Helm.
_What the Soul of the greater and lesser World is._
4. _Plato_ call’d common Salt the Soul of the great World, and if so,
then Salt of Tartar may very well be accounted the Soul of the lesser
World: for whatsoever is in the Macrocosm, the same is also in the
Microcosm.
_All superfluities of Nature afford a volatile Salt._
5. For the Salt of Hartshorn of Hair, Soot, Blood, and of the Seeds of
Mustard, Cresses and Scurvygrass, _&c._ are much of the same Nature as
_Salt_ of Tartar.
_A Good Bath._
6. Common water sprinkled upon red hot Flints or Pebbles that are
found in running Streams, affords an hot Vapour, which by reason
of the subtil Sulphur of the Stones it carries up with it, is very
penetrating, so that in this manner without any other Fire we may
prepare an hot dry Bath, very available to cure many Diseases
by sweating, the great vertue of it chiefly proceeding from the
sulphureous Spirit of the Stones.
_To separate =Sol= from =Luna= by fluxing in a Crucible._
7. When we have a mind to separate _Sol_ from _Luna_ by means of
Sulphur we need not make use of granulated or filed _Saturn_ for
precipitation, but instead thereof we may make use of Antimony, because
the granulated or filed _Saturn_ is made hard and influxible by the
Sulphur: neither shall we make use of common _Venus_ for precipitation,
as _Erker_ teaches, but such a _Venus_ as hath been made friable with
Arsenick or Orpiment, by which means we shall get more _Sol_ than
without Arsenick, because Arsenick and Orpiment contain much volatile
_Sol_, which in this Operation becomes fixed with the _Luna_.
_To recover the =Sol= and =Luna= which is got into the Pores of the
Crucible._
8. The Crucible must be beaten into fine Powder, and put into a
reverberatory fire, stirring it continually by which means the Antimony
and Sulphur vapour away, and the _Sol_ and _Luna_ remains with the
Earth, which, with strong Waters may be separated.
_Another way to perform the same._
9. Or we may add filings of _Saturn_ to the powder of the Crucibles,
and give them a strong heat, by which means the _Saturn_ will take in
the _Sol_ and _Luna_. _N. B._ But the Separation with strong Waters is
the more easie way of the two.
_To extract the Colour from =Sol=._
10. _Venus_, _Jupiter_ and _Regulus Martis_ melted into a mass with
_Sol_, and _Venus_, the _Jupiter_ and _Regulus Martis_ afterwards
separated from the _Sol_ by _Niter_, then melt other metals as before
with the _Sol_, and separate them as before with Niter, which must be
continued till the _Sol_ have lost his Colour.
11. The dross being afterwards melted in a Crucible, and a small
quantity of Coles made of Blood cast upon it, the extracted Tincture
of _Sol_ will separate it self from the dross, falling to the bottom
like a _Regulus_. _N. B._ The metals _Venus_, _Jupiter_ and the martial
_Regulus_ may be separated from the dross onely with common wood Coal.
12. Niter fixed by the _Regulus_ of Antimony, and distill’d with _Sal
Armoniack_, gives an excellent _Mercury_ of metals, which hath a scent
like musk.
_To extract =Sol= out of Stones._
13. If we take Sand or Stones that contain _Sol_, and melt them with
Lead ashes into Glass, and reduce them again with fixed Salt, then by
cupelling this Lead ashes, and the reduced Sand or Stones severaltimes,
we shall have the _Sol_ that was in the Stones.
_To extract =Sol= from Stones._
14. The black or brown Pebbles found in Brooks, and which break smooth
like Glass, being mixed with the best Eagles wings and distilled by
retort, yield much _Sol_.
_A Tincture from Metals._
15. _Jupiter_ is the highest Regent over the upper Constellations.
_Sol_ gives to all Stars their Light, _Mars_ rules upon Earth, and
_Saturn_ in the Earth, and of these four an universal Tincture may be
prepared.
16. _Mars_ and _Saturn_ in particular yields great riches, when being
reduced to Glass they are several times driven through a Reverberatory,
according to that of the Ancient Philosophers; by _Saturn_ and _Mars_,
fire and art, great wealth may be found.
_That there is a renovating vertue hid in Spiders._
17. Spiders renew themselves every month by casting their skins,
wherefore a medicine prepared of them by the Flame of Spirit of Wine
renews man.
18. It is also to be observed that all Birds, especially those that
feed upon Flies and Worms, when they are sick, cure themselves by
eating Spiders.
_Secrets of Serpents._
19. All sorts of Serpents renovate themselves once a year by casting
their skins, wherefore if we extract them with Spirit of Wine, and
correct them by burning away the Spirit of Wine, they yield an assured
medicine against all Poyson, and renews man.
20. _Regulus_ of Antimony being duely fixed with _Sol_, tingeth as well
in the wet as dry way.
_=Sol= and Sulphur yield a Tincture._
21. Common combustible Sulphur cannot join with the incombustible
Sulphur of _Sol_, without such a medium as partakes of both their
Natures, _viz._ Antimony: when by this means the combustible Sulphur is
fixed by the incombustible Sulphur of _Sol_, the _Sol_ gives it ingress
into imperfect metals to tinge them.
_To make =Sol= red._
22. If the Blood of the Lion be digested with Tartar and _Aqua Fortis_,
this purple Colour will be changed into a red, and separate it self
from the Salt, falling in form of red powder to the bottom, and is a
most excellent Colour for Painters.
_To make =Purpurissa=, or a Paint to make the Face look ruddy._
23. Dissolve _Sol_ and _Jupiter_ in _Aqua Regis_, digest and edulcorate
with Water, yields an excellent paint for Women. _N. B._ But a little
Oil of Talk ought to be added to it.
_An Experiment upon =Purpurissa= or the Blood of the Lyon._
24. When we digest or boil the Blood of the Lion so long till the red
Colour becomes as white as milk, and then pour upon it as much Water,
as has been evaporated during the boiling, this milk will be chang’d
again to Blood.
25. Of the blue Paint called Smalt, by means of Salt of Tartar may a
most excellent Paint be made for Limners, not inferiour to Ultramarine.
26. Of _Mercury_, _Jupiter_, Sulphur and _Sal. Armoniack_ is made the
Paint called _Aurum Musicum_.
_A Cementation that graduates =Venus= into =Sol=._
27. _Recipe_ Vitriol calcined to Redness, mix it with Salt and Coal
dust, lay this with thin Copper Plates _stratum super stratum_, put
them into a Fire that may keep the Plates of _Venus_ red hot for six
hours without melting them, by which means the _Sol_ in the _Venus_
will be encreased; if we repeat this Cementation several times till the
_Venus_ be of a golden colour, the gain will be much greater. _N. B._
The cause of this melioration is, because the Coal Dust hinders the
corrosive Spirits of the Vitriol and Salt from corroding the _Venus_,
and therefore onely penetrates and graduates the same.
_To make all Corrosives sweet._
28. Vitriol distilled with Salt yields a Corrosive Spirit, but if Coal
Dust be mixed with them, they give a sweet Spirit, which graduates
_Lune_ into _Sol_ when digested therein.
29. _Recipe_, _Calx_ of _Jupiter_ mixed with _Mercury_ of _Lune_, and
therewith Cement plates of _Venus_, by which means the saline Spirits
introduce the white Sulphur of _Jupiter_ into the _Venus_, and change
it into Lune containing much _Sol_.
_A sweet graduating Spirit, usefull to the Melioration of Metals._
30. _Recipe_, Coal Dust, mix them with _Sal Mirabilis_, and distill
by retort, and you will get a sweet graduating Spirit, exalting some
Metals to _Sol_.
_The Philosophical Work._
31. The Father of all things is the warm Son, their Mother is the moist
Moon, the Earth is the Womb, the Wind carries the Seed through the Suns
driving into the Womb the Earth, which foments, and at last brings
forth the Child.
_Sulphur is the Father of all Metals._
32. The Central Fire in the Earth mounts upward continually into the
hollow places of the Earth, and meeting with water or moisture, cleaves
to it and makes Stones, as also all Metals and Minerals of different
natures and properties, according as the water is pure or impure.
_Sulphur is the universal Coagulator._
33. A sulphureous vapour is that which coagulates Mercury, as well in
Vegetables and Animals as Minerals.
_Demogorgon the Grand-father of all things._
34. The Central Fire in the great World keeps it in continual motion,
and causeth the growth of all things as well upon, as under the Earth,
being the Governour of the great World.
_The Vital Spirit, or radical moisture, is the Life and Growth of
all Men._
35. As the great World is governed and maintained by the Demogorgon or
Central Fire, so Man the little World is governed, and maintained in
continual motion and growth, by the Vital Spirit seated in his heart.
36. Fire is the Father of all things, Water the Mother, the Earth is
the Womb, the Wind or Air drives the Fire, being the universal Agent,
into the Water, being the universal Patient, in order to bring forth
Fruit. _See my Treatise of the divine Character._
37. Man, Beasts, Fish and Fowl, and all that lives and grows, draw
their life from the Air, onely the _Salamander_ draws his life, and has
his Body from the Fire, wherefore also in power and strength he excells
all living Creatures.
38. The secret Fire of the _Chaldeans_, which at all times draws Fire
out of the Air, wherewith the Jewish Priests kindled their Sacrifice,
as may be seen in the _Maccabees_, is made of Steel, Niter and Sulphur.
39. When we abstract an _Aqua Regia_ wherein Sol is dissolved from the
Butter of Antimony, the Soul of _Sol_ and Antimony comes Bloud-red over
the helm, which poured upon a Solution of _Lune_, the _Lune_ falls to
the bottom, and draws the Tincture of _Sol_ and Antimony to its self
out of the Water, and the _Lune_ by this means becomes red, and is
a Tincture and Universal medicine for humane and metallick Bodies.
_N. B._ The remainder of the _Sol_ and Antimony that did not come over
is wholly fixt, and a good Diaphoretick, thus the Souls of the dead,
_i. e._ of _Sol_ and _Lune_ are brought up from Hell. _See Nuisement de
spiritu & sale Mundi._
40. When in the manner now said with the Butter of Antimony, we bring
over the Soul of _Mars_ we get a much higher Tincture than from that of
_Sol_, and in coming over becomes wholly fixt. _See my Treatise de 3
principiis Metallorum._
41. In like manner may from the Butter of Arsenick and _Lune_ a white
Tincture be brought over the helm, tinging _Venus_, _Mars_, _Jupiter_
and _Saturn_ into _Lune_. _N. B._ These Tinctures in coming over are
fixed by _Plato_’s Stygian Water, so as to need no further fixation.
42. But if we precipitate these Tinctures of _Mars_ and Antimony with
the Solution of _Sol_, and then edulcorate and dry the same, we by this
means do obtain a dry graduating Water, which being molten with any
white or red metals makes them yield good Gold, and _Lune_ on the Cupel
to the great profit of the Artist.
43. Oil of Vitriol mixed with _Sal Armoniack_, is also of good use to
bring over Tinctures, but not in that quantity as Butter of Antimony.
44. Our dry, sweet universal tinging water dissolves white Pebbles
and Crystals, and changeth the same into precious Stones of several
colours, excepting onely their hardness, which it cannot communicate.
45. The easiest way to get the _Sol_ or _Lune_ that is in _Jupiter_, is
by casting it upon molten _Venus_, which draws the _Sol_ and _Lune_ to
it self out of the _Jupiter_.
46. In like manner doth the _Regulus_ of Antimony when in flux readily
draw to it the _Sol_ and _Luna_ in _Jupiter_, and then washing the
_Regulus_ with Niter we get the _Sol_ and _Luna_ contained in _Jupiter_.
47. But this operation ought not to be done in Crucibles made of common
Earth, which easily break and spill the metal, but in those that are
made of a fat crucible Clay, mix’d with coal dust, as is taught in the
fifth part of my Furnaces.
48. As the Sulphur in Tartar coagulates a thin water into a hard Hepar,
or Liver so called, so likewise doth a fixt Sulphur coagulate _Mercury_
into _Sol_ and _Luna_.
49. The often calcining of Salts and dissolving them in Water, doth
purifie them, and makes them easily fluxible, and in particular Vitriol
may by this means be so purified, as to yield its Oil with a very small
heat.
50. The Solution of _Saturn_ and _Lune_ poured into a volatile Spirit
of _Mars_ or _Venus_, draws the tinging volatile Sulphur out of the
Water to it self, and makes the same Corporal and fixed.
51. Tartar contains a coagulating and tinging Sulphur, for it
coagulates Water into a Hepar, and tinges red metals to a white Stone,
which may be pulverized; this Sulphur is the cause why Tartar will not
dissolve in cold Water as other Salts.
52. When therefore the Tartar is freed of this Sulphur that coagulates
all Water, then much good may be done therewith as well in Physick as
Alchimy, and many other Arts besides.
53. Tartar by being boiled in a strong Lye, lets go its coagulating
Sulphur, and a neutral Salt proceeds from them both; but if we have a
mind to separate the Lye from the purified Tartar we must do it with
an acid, that may mortifie the Lye, by which means the purified Tartar
will be left snow white.
54. If the Lye be kill’d with a Spirit of Niter or _Aqua Fortis_, then
from both these contraries proceeds a good Niter.
55. But if we make use of a Spirit of Salt, then there is made up of
both a tartarized Spirit of Salt.
56. If we take distill’d Vinegar to mortifie the Lye, then from the
joyning of those both proceeds a neutral volatile Salt which is a good
Diuretick in the Gout and Stone.
57. This is the best way of purifying Tartar, which after this
Operation is of far greater use in Physick and Alchimy than the common
Tartar.
58. Tartar as hath been said, contains a coagulating and tinging
Sulphur, coagulating all Water into a thick Hepar, and exalting the
Colours of metals. Thus we see that by boiling Golden or Silver Vessels
with Tartar, their several Colours are exalted.
59. And whosoever has the Art of separating this Sulphur from Tartar,
may by means thereof effect great and wonderfull things.
60. A like wonder working Sulphur is likewise found in Animals, and
more especially in man, who brings it with him into the World.
61. Whence some Philosophers tell us, that _Adam_ brought the
Philosophers Stone with him out of Paradise, and after his death
carried it with him into his grave.
62. Minerals also afford the same coagulating fixing and tinging
Sulphur, for which reason the Philosophers Stone is said to be Animal,
Vegetable and Mineral, because of each of these three Kingdoms an
Universal medicine may be made for men and metals.
63. But the easiest way is, when we extract the best part of all these
three Kingdoms, and conjoyn them according to Art for an Universal
medicine.