_Of Mercury and its excellent Vertues, both Medicinal and Chymical,
I mean not the common and well known Mercury, but the Mercury
of the Philosophers, the which is extracted by the Vulgar and
well known Gold and Silver, (but they are to be first rendered
Magnetical) out of the Beams of the superiour Sun and Moon, by
the help and assistance of the Air._
It is well known to those that have looked over the manifold Writings
which are extant at this day, how many and how great searches have been
made, and how various and many opinions there have been abroad for many
Ages, concerning the Philosophers Mercury; as many men so many minds,
one man concludes with himself to prepare it out of such a matter,
another out of such a thing, and ’tis hereby come to such a pass as
that, there’s no more faith left for any such Mercury, and ’tis lookt
on as if there were no such thing in nature, nor is at present any
where extant: Because so many thousands of men have been occupied in
the search thereof, and so most exceedingly small a number have been
masters thereof.
Others have opinionated, that the most pure substance is to be
extracted out of Gold and Silver, but not in the form of a running
Mercury, but in a watery form, and to be coagulated and fixed by the
help of the Fire into a medicinal Stone.
Othersome have perswaded themselves that Gold and Silver being ripe
and fixt, are no ways fit for so great a work, but ’tis rather to be
sought for in such Subjects as never assumed to themselves any shape,
but do as yet lie hidden in that great and universal _Chaos_ the Air,
because they saw that the life of all things lay hidden in the Air,
and that out of it every Creature of God doth daily and without inter
mission attract it unto it self after a magnetical manner, both for
its own life and augmentation, and that it is so too with the seeds,
abundance of them (and they most different sorts too) being sown in the
same Earth, do each of them (according as its nature and property is)
acquire to it self both life and augmentation hencefrom, _viz._ the Air.
So likewise may it be brought to pass, that even the Metals may
according to their nature and propriety extract their encrease out of
the Earth or Air, knew we but how to get the true Seed, or true Magnet
which might get out that augmentation. For why should not God have
as well given a Seed to these his Creatures for their encreasing, as
well as to the other Creatures? So then there are very many sundry
Opinions sprung up, concerning the _Mercury_ of the Philosophers, and
very many men have to their uttermost searched after it, yet but a
very few have obtained the same. Though it be thus, yet the fault is
not to be imputed either to Nature or Art, but to the searcher after
it, because he errs and seeks not in the due place. Verily I did very
many years ago exceeding studiously apply my self to the search of
such a spiritual and Gold and Silver attracting Magnet, but I could
not hitherto attain to the true Scope, until I at length by chance
found that a true living and running _Mercury_ might, by the benefit
of Art, without any Addition of Mercurial things, be extracted out of
the fugacious and imperfect Metals, such as are Lead, Tin, Bizmuth,
Zink, and Antimony. And although I had read many Philosophers affirming
this thing, yet did I always doubt of the same, and indeed not without
cause; for in my youthfull days, serving a man of great note in
Chymical Labours, I tried in two years space two hundred ways of making
the _Mercury_ of _Saturn_, and not so much as one of them succeeded.
Now my said Master was stirred up to the search of this Saturnine
Mercury upon this occasion as follows. He had some familiarity with
many noble Personages that were also addicted to the study of Alchimy:
One of them knew how to make running Mercury out of Lead, and to turn
it into the best Gold, and he sent unto my Master one lot or somewhat
better of that said _Mercury_, together with the way of turning it and
fixing it into Gold. We set about the work and it succeeded to our
desires, and yielded us as much Gold as there was _Mercury_ sent us.
This hoped for success did so edge on my Master, that he could not rest
till he had obtained from him that knew it, the manner of making this
Saturnine Spirit. But as often as ever we tried the operation according
to the way prescribed us, both our hopes and labour were in vain. And
then my said Master readily granted, that we could not effect it.
Hereupon it was that he sought all abroad with the greatest diligence,
and had got such abundance of processes and operations, that two years
did scarce suffice me to try them all; though there was not so much
as one amongst them all that answered our wishes, but all our Labours
were in vain. Upon this score, I could believe neither _Basilius_
or _Paracelsus_ when I read in them, that Gold and Silver might be
resolved into true and running _Mercury_; seeing that the bare turning
of unripe Lead into _Mercury_, did cost me and others so great Labour
and Pains, and yet we could not obtain it neither. Whereupon I fell
into this opinion, that the Philosophers pointed at some other thing,
by their running _Mercury_: And I did so long adhere to this opinion of
mine, untill I chanced to light on the making of a running _Mercury_
out of Lead, and I have several times repeated the operation with the
same success.
I have likewise revealed it to others, who have also done the same,
but onely in small quantities hitherto. But some of them have bestowed
much pains about it, and to prepare it in a greater quantity; and that
principally, because ’tis certainly manifest that no small benefit
lies herein hidden. Nay if it were no otherwise profitable than barely
thus, that it may be turned into Gold, and of this I am certain,
(’twere worth while.) For if the said _Mercury_ be but rubbed upon a
piece of Gold, it makes it white, and being then put upon the Coals,
it separates indeed from it, but yet leaves it tinged of a higher
and deeper Colour. If this Labour be ought repeated, the Gold will
become weightier. And hence may easily be conjectured, that if it were
adjoyned to a pure Golden Calx, it would in a short space of time
easily pass into good Gold. Neither is there any doubt, but that if any
one did but know the manner of rightly handling such a _Mercury_, he
would obtain some notable thing out of it, because all the Philosophers
do in their Writings promise so much good of _Saturn_. They generally
affirm that Lead is (inwardly) far beyond Gold. How many Philosophers
are there that reach the preparation of the universal Work from thence?
See the Universal Work of _Isaac Holland_, _Paracelsus_ his Heaven of
Philosophers, The great and small Countryman, _&c._ Many do expresly
write, that all things which the Philosophers do seek for, are to
be found in Lead; Hereupon they called it Leaprous Gold. And some
Philosophers do write, that in _Mercury_ are all things that are sought
for, haply they mean not the Common, but such an one as is drawn out
of Metals. But we’ll even let pass this _Mercury_ of _Saturn_, and see
whether or no we cannot find a better _Mercury_, and such a one as is
of greater moment. In the mean time the said _Mercury_ of _Saturn_ will
fly about, and bring good news to the Lovers of Truth, _viz._ that
_GLAUBER_ is now in the way, to triumph, by the help of God, over all
his Enemies.
We will therefore go on to search out, whether or no there is not
another and better running _Mercury_ than that to be found, which
comes out of Lead. When I did somewhat more accurately search into
Nature’s secrets, I clearly saw, that all things which live and doe
in growing take an encrease, do proceed or come forth by the Sun’s
operation, insomuch that such fruits as are nearer hereunto are the
more excellent, and by how much the farther off any are from it, by so
much the vilder be they. As for example in Wine; by how much the nearer
it is to the Sun, so much the nobler is it; and by how much the farther
it is from it, so much the vilder is it.
The same may be observed in the generation of Metals, _viz._ that in
the hotter regions there is a greater quantity of Gold, and of Silver,
than in the colder Countries. This is well known, and out of all
dispute: So then when I saw that the hot beams of the Sun, together
with the cold and refreshing light of the Moon, did not onely ripen
Gold, but also those excellent Wines, and the best tasted Fruits, yea
and the most contemptible Herbs, and that it gave to all things their
most acceptable Savour; well did I conclude, that if a convenient
Matrix, or suitable Magnet were exposed to the hot Sun-beams, and to
the cold light of the Moon, that might day and night receive their
Operations; It could not possibly be, but that the Seeds of those
(_viz._ of _Sol_ and _Lune_) insinuating themselves into such a Magnet,
will pass into most excellent Fruit, and obtain a perfect maturation.
I did once make trial to see whether it would be so or no, and having
artificially prepared Gold and Silver, opened them, and brought them to
a Magnetical attractive vertue; and being well mixed, I exposed them
to the _Sun_ and _Moon_, to see and try what would proceed thencefrom.
Then afterwards, supposing them to have stood long enough at the _Sun_
and _Moon_, I put them into a small Glass Retort, and placed it in
Sand, and separated (by distillation) all the moisture from the Golden
and Silver Magnet, that it had attracted from the Air. I got indeed
a sweet Water, but yet not without Vertues. But having administred a
stronger fire to this Magnet, I drew therefrom an astringent Liquor,
resembling a golden yellow Colour, and like to Gold. I again exposed
the said dried Magnet to the beams of the _Sun_ and _Moon_, that it
might by them be impregnated, and that I might see whether or no a
Second, and more Births would be produced, answering in all respects
to the former. I doe not doubt of them, I confess but that they will
be of a like property and nature as their Father and Mother are, or
indeed be more fair and excellent than they be: For that first-begotten
off spring brought with it self into the World a far more excellent
fairness than its Father had.
Farther, bringing this Birth of _Sol_ and _Lune_ to a more accurate
trial, that so I might find out its vertues and efficacy, I first
of all perceived, that there lay hidden therein (though as yet so
Volatile) a Medicine of great moment. And dealing with it upon a
certain time, and putting a little of it by chance upon Gold, I found
that it made the Gold white; and rubbing the said Liquor many times
upon the Gold, it did at length produce (or show forth) the live
_Mercury_ that lay hidden therein, which said _Mercury_ thus living
and visible, I extracted out of this same Liquor; but it is better not
to vivifie it, but to take it as ’tis born, and so fix it and make it
constant. And now, I suppose, that such a _Mercury_ as is extracted
out of the Air, by Gold and Silver, being not so much corporeal
as spiritual, is to be accounted of as the true _Mercury_ of the
Philosophers.
But if now any will object and say, that this _Mercury_ doth not
proceed forth from the Air, or that it is not extracted out of the
beams of _Sol_ or _Lune_ by the Magnetick Gold and Silver; such a one
may even say what he pleaseth, but in the mean time he will not get
the things he fisheth for. Besides, I do not matter it so much, _viz._
whence it ariseth, provided I can obtain the same; If it did proceed
out of the Gold and Silver, it were not therefore to be rejected, but
it would be altogether better than that which is made out of gross
Lead, nay haply it might become a Tincture, did but any one know how
rightly to handle it.
It is a usual Proverb, that _the Apple falls not far from the Tree_,
and each thing follows the Seeds of its proper and peculiar nature. _By
how much the nobler the Tree is, by so much the more worthy is the Wood
thereof. The younger sort sing over the same Song as the old ones doe._
Now these Proverbs do declare, that the Fruits are so much the more
excellent, by how much a better nature the Tree is of, and this is a
sure rule: And therefore it necessarily follows, that such a _Mercury_
as is drawn by Gold and Silver out of the Air, or doth proceed barely
from Gold and Silver must needs be far better than that which hath its
rise from Lead: And herein I acquiesce. Let every one take from thence
what best likes him, I was willing to leave to such as come after me,
those things which I met withall of so great moment.
And as concerning the Medicinal Vertues of this Golden _Mercury_, I doe
give this caution about it, that if it be used as it came over at first
in the distillation in Medicine, because ’tis as yet immature, and
but newly born, it may work too strongly upon the Body of Man. It is
therefore better that it be fixed with some corporal well-opened Gold,
and so ’twill effect those things which a Universal Medicine is onely
able to perform. I confess that hitherto I have not brought it to any
constancy or fixity, because I have not had time of rightly handling
it: In the mean while there are others that will set about this labour,
and will in due time manifest more things concerning it. Let every one
be content therefore with this present discovery, _viz._ that a truely
live and running _Mercury_ may be extracted, not onely out of the soft
and volatile Metals, and consequently unripe ones, but also out of the
ripe Metals. And seeing that most Men doubt much of the truth of such
a thing, I could not omit the affirmation of the same, as being a most
true thing: He that listeth may make trial of the same. ’Tis enough for
me to have shown you the way. Let others likewise publish something,
that so the truth which hath been so long supprest hitherto, may at
length spring forth out of the darkness into light.
And now, at last, let’s come to treat of Wine, and examine what an
harmony and familiarity there is in it with Gold and Man.