_Saturn_ is an immature Metal, made up of much gross _Mercury_ and

little _Sulphur_ which is impure. Its Salt much resembles Salt-peter,

which is the cause of its coldness and easie fusibility. When its

_Mercury_ is purged from the impure _Sulphur_, it becomes like Gold

in weight, and may by Art be reduced to the colour and fixedness of

Gold. When its superfluous combustible _Sulphur_ and nitrous Salt

from whence proceed its ready fluxibility, and piercing and devouring

nature are separated from it, all true Philosophers witness that there

the _Mercury_ of Lead may be turned to Gold, for they call Lead their

leprous Gold. Now as the Leprosie in Man proceeds from a cold moist and

over Salt Constitution of Blood, which corroding the Skin and Flesh

produces such an abominable Scab upon the Body, especially in those

parts where moisture most abounds, _viz._ about the Nose, Ears, Eyes,

_&c._ but where the whole mass of the Blood is become corrosive, there

it spreads over all the Body sparing no part, but filling it with

Sores and Ulcers; so as at length where no potent Remedies are used to

mortifie this malign corrosive humour, it destroys the Body and Death

follows. To cure which formidable Malady, the Ancients made choise

of fixed Gold, as not being subject to any corruption, which wise

intention of theirs is very preposterously imitated by our _Galenists_,

who when they find that their helpless and unprofitable Medicaments

want the desired success about their Patients, and that small hope of

saving them is left, betake themselves to Gold, Silver and Precious

Stones, for to help at this dead lift. But let such as these remember

that they will find it hard to answer these their proceedings one day,

by which they onely post their patients out of the World: for what can

the stomach of any man, but especially of the weak and sick do with

the filings or leaves of Gold and Silver, or the Powder of Precious

Stones? can we suppose that the Stomach can draw any virtue from those

things, that the most corrosive Waters will scarce touch? But this

hath been so often inculcated by others, that it is matter of wonder,

that such foolish and fruitless ingredients have not been long since

exploded and laid side, being indeed nothing else but the shame and

reproach of Physicians; and all that can be said for them is, that

they must be well paid for, and so help to make the Pot boil; without

doubt when the promised _Elias Artista_ shall come, he will put an end

to all this unprofitable stuff, and instead therefore restore true

powerfull Medicaments; to which good end I hope my _Purgatory of the

Philosophers_, with _the Sixth and Seventh Part of my Furnaces_ will

not a little contribute. Thus it seems Truth must yet for a while be

despis’d and oppress’d, till God, the truth it self, be pleased to

raise up a mighty Hero to deliver it from Contempt, and Crown it with

glory and honour.

It cannot be denied, but some experienc’d Philosophers, as _Paracelsus_

and others have declar’d, that with Gold and precious Stones wonders

may be done in Physick, when first they be reduced to potability; but

have always condemn’d the use of their compact and fixt Bodies, which

are insuperable by Fire it self, and therefore much more by the gentle

heat of the Stomach. And indeed if those Physicians, who ignorantly

make use of such gross and compact Bodies, did know the living Gold,

Silver and precious Stones of the Philosophers, and the due application

of them to the sick, they would by this means get more honour, and not

be so injurious to their Neighbour, as they are, by exhibiting such

unprofitable and hurtfull things for Remedies.

* * * * *

I cannot but on this occasion speak a word of the Leprosie and its

cure; which being confessedly a Saturnine disease, may easily be cured

by Saturnine Medicaments, such as are Black Lead, the _Antimony_ of

Wise men, or _Magnesia_ of _Saturn_, being duely prepared. But to

return to our Lead or Leprous Gold, and enquire how we may best rid

him of his Melancholy Leprosie, and instead thereof restore to him a

healthy sanguine complexion, which can no way better be done than by

evacuating his sharp corrosive blood, or dulcifying of it. For, as has

been said, Lead contains a sharp sal-nitrous Spirit, which corrodes

and devours all hard things, which the Ancients have intimated by

their portraying him with a sharp Sythe in one hand, and in the other

holding a young Child, which he devours; wherefore also he is called a

devourer of Infants, and a ravenous Wolf. Which ravenous property he

expresses to the life, when on the Cupel he devours whatsoever is added

to him, and therefore is called an unmercifull Father to his Children,

because he devours and destroys them. According to all Philosophers

and Astronomers he is the highest and first of all the Planets in the

Firmament, upon which account the other Planets and Metals, _viz._

_Sol_, _Luna_, _Jupiter_, _Mars_, _Venus_ and _Mercury_ are call’d

his Children, though improperly, for they are his Brethren, which he

devours, swallows and destroys on the fiery Cupel, except _Sol_ and

_Luna_, which though he swallows as well as his other Brethren, yet can

he not concoct or digest them, but is fain to vomit them up again, and

they are so far from receiving any hurt in the Stomach of that ravenous

Wolf, that they come forth much purer than before, leaving all their

filth behind them. So that this devouring Glutton, notwithstanding the

corrosive acidity of his Stomach cannot consume Gold or Silver, but

robs them onely of their superfluous Sulphur, which is the corrupter

of the _Mercury_ in Metals, of which _Paracelsus_ excellently writes

in his _Cælum Philosophorum_, which I have quoted in my first Appendix

concerning the use of the _Alcahest_.

Now that there is a great acidity in Lead, appears from this instance;

because when it is melted, it pierces the Crucible, and runs through;

and therefore Cupels have been invented, made of Bone-ashes, which he

cannot eat through, but sinks like water into them. Yet there are also

Crucibles made of Coal-dust and good Earth proportionably temper’d

together, which can hold _Saturn_ in Flux for a year together, without

ever piercing them: of which more may be seen in my other Writings.

This then is the Nature and Property of _Saturn_, he contains much,

but impure _Mercury_, and a sharp corrosive Salt-peter Spirit; when he

is rid of these, he affords good Gold and Silver, yet not alone and

of himself, but with help of his Brother _Jupiter_, whose superfluous

Sulphur kindles the Nitrous Spirit in Lead, and consumes it; so that by

this enkindling, not onely the hurtfull Salt-peter in Lead, but also

the superfluous Sulphur in Tin are both consumed and destroyed. This

being done, if the Tin thus mixed with Lead be driven off on the Cupel,

they will yield Gold and Silver enough for a competent livelihood.

If thou would’st be further assured that Lead contains a sharp

Salt-peter Spirit, which by no other way can be taken from him, than

by his enemy Sulphur, by whose means it is kindled and consumed, the

following Experiment will give thee full satisfaction. Onely by the

way note, that this consuming of the Nitre in Lead, does very much

alter its Nature, making it hard, and of difficult fusion like Iron,

so that great Guns may be made of it. Now the Experiment is this: Take

of the filings of Lead three parts, of Brimstone in Powder one part,

put them into a Crucible, surrounded with Charcoal, so as it may heat

leisurely and by degrees; by this means the Brimstone will penetrate

the Lead, and mortifie its Nitrous Spirit, which is the cause of its

easie fluxibility, and at the same time the Sulphur becomes mortified

also, which before was more fluxible than the Lead, but now by its

union with the Lead, is very hard to be fluxed. This mortification or

induration of Lead, with common Brimstone, affords no Melioration,

and is onely here instanced, to demonstrate there is a Salt-peter in

Lead, and that Salt-peter and Lead, which both are so very fluxible,

do harden and mortifie one another. But now when the Salt-peter that

is in Lead is kindled and consumed by the Sulphur that is in Tin, then

one Metal meliorates the other, and the hurtfull superfluity of both

is destroyed, _viz._ the Nitre that is in Lead, and the Combustible

Sulphur in Tin, from whence necessarily a melioration must ensue.

That Sulphur kills the Nitre in Lead, and makes it hard, thou mayst yet

be satisfied another way, _viz._ Take some ounces of Lead, melt them in

a Crucible, and ever and anon cast in a little piece of Brimstone into

it; continue this till thy Lead be become hard and influxible, by which

means thou wilt be assured that there is Nitre in Lead. And that there

is Sulphur in Tin, appears in that when it is joined with Lead, they

kindle and consume one another.

If thou desirest yet further to be confirmed, that there is Nitre in

Lead, which makes it melt so readily, and fret through every thing;

then do thus: Take Lead and melt him red-hot in a Crucible, and

immediately he will pierce the Crucible and run out; take another

Crucible and put Lead into it also, casting, as soon as it is melted,

small bits of Brimstone upon it, which will so mortifie the fretting

Nitrous Spirit in Lead, that he will be no more able to pierce the

Crucible, but will for a long time continue red-hot in the same.

If this demonstration neither will satisfie thee, that the fretting

nature of Lead proceeds from a sharp Mineral Salt-peter Spirit, thou

mayst further prove it thus: Abstract from two ounces of filings of

Lead an ounce and an half of Oil of Vitriol or Spirit of Salt in a

small Retort, in which operation the dry Lead will draw to it the

sharp Saline Spirit, and that which comes over will be meer insipid

Phlegm, retaining nothing of its former corrosiveness. The distillation

performed, take thy Lead out of the Retort, and try whether it be

become more sharp by the addition of the said Corrosive Spirit, but

thou wilt find that the Lead has taken in the sharp Saline Spirit,

coagulated it, and changed it into a sweet Stone, in which no manner

of corrosiveness can be tasted or perceived. Now if this be true, that

Lead can turn such a strong corrosive Oil into a sweet Stone, we need

not wonder that he has a power to coagulate, hide, and make invisible

his own in-born Saline Spirit. Concerning which matter thou mayst read

more in a small Treatise of mine of the Principles of Metals, wherein

speaking of the Coagulation of Saline Spirits, I observe that Lead has

the nature and property of Coagulating all sharp and corrosive Saline

Spirits. If this instance have not sufficiently instructed thee, thou

mayst make another proof thus: Take the fore-mentioned Lead, acuated

with Saline Spirits, and melt it in a tripple Crucible with a fire of

Fusion, let it be red-hot in Flux, and thou wilt find that in a moment

it will run through thy three Crucibles, which common Lead would never

do, from whence it is clear as the Sun that the piercing, fretting

quality which is in Lead, proceeds from the Saline Spirits coagulated

in or with it. Consider well of how great use such a Lead, whose

natural devouring Faculty or Sythe is so highly acuated by Art, might

be in the work of Transmutation, if we knew to make good use of it. The

Philosophers writing of _Saturn_’s sharp Sythe, express themselves in

these words, _Falx ejus mordax est_, _His Sythe is sharp or biting_:

which how it may be made much sharper by Saline Spirits, has now been

said. A further enlargement might here be made concerning _Saturn_’s

Sythe; but it shall suffice at present to have demonstrated, that his

easie fluxibility, and fretting devouring nature, proceeds onely from a

sharp Nitrous Spirit; which when Sulphur has consumed and burnt away,

much Gold and Silver may be separated from him.

_Of the Nature and Property of =Jupiter=, what he wants, and what

he hath too much of, and how his noxious superfluities may be

removed, so as on the Cupel he may yield his hidden Gold and

Silver._

Tin by the Heathen Philosophers has been appropriated to the Heathen

God (or rather Planet) _Jupiter_, who has the next place in the

Firmament to _Saturn_; is by the Miners called White Lead, and like it

melts with a small heat, and easily unites with his Brother _Saturn_,

continuing together in a moderate heat; but they no sooner become

redhot, but their Brotherly love is changed to enmity, not being able

to endure one another in a strong fire, but each striving to get loose

from the other, which yet cannot be without the loss of one or both

of their lives; so that this their combat may well be compared to the

fighting of the Peasants in _Lapland_, whose custome is when two of

them are highly incensed against each other, to suffer themselves to be

tied fast together, so as they cannot fly back or run away, and then

fall to cutting and slashing one another so long with their knives,

till the Death of one or both of them follows.

But to return from whence we have digressed. That _Saturn_ and

_Jupiter_ are Brothers, the Heathen History informs us, relating that

the four Brothers, _Saturn_, _Jupiter_, _Neptune_ and _Pluto_, their

chief Gods, fell into discord amongst themselves which of them should

be the greatest; which contest of theirs was at last by the mediation

of the other Gods composed, they agreeing to divide the Empire of the

World between them. And though _Saturn_ were older than his Brother

_Jupiter_, yet was he fain to content himself with the command of the

Earth, whilst _Jupiter_ took upon him that of Heaven, _Neptune_ that

of the Sea, and _Pluto_ the Dominion of Hell. Which Division will not

at all seem strange to those that understand Nature, who find that

each Brothers lot was very correspondent and comporting with their

nature. The Nature of _Saturn_ much resembles the Earth, and he makes

all things that he takes to him like the Earth; as appears from the

fore-mentioned contest with his Brother _Jupiter_. But _Jupiter_,

because inwardly he is very sulphureous and fiery, therefore is the

Government of the fiery Heaven properly deputed to him, leaving

_Saturn_ to dig and moil in the Earth: Wherefore also the Ancients

have represented him with a Spade in his hand, thereby intimating

his Property of digging through or piercing all things: whereas they

figured _Jupiter_ with Thunder bolts, and fiery Lightning-flashes in

his hand, whence came that Proverb, _Procul à Jove, procul à Fulmine_;

_Far from =Jupiter=, far from his Thunder-bolts_.

Now that Tin contains much Sulphur, may be thus experimented: Take the

filings of Tin and powder’d Nitre, mix and put them into a Crucible

over the fire, and they will kindle and consume one another, so as

nothing will be left in the Crucible. Or it may be tried thus: Melt

some Tin in a Cruce, and when ’tis red-hot, cast in some Nitre upon it,

which kindles the Tin, the flame carrying part of it away, and the rest

is burnt to dross or fæces. But not to insist on this, it being very

notorious that the greatest part of Tin is nothing else but combustible

Sulphur, the remaining part being a solar pure Mercury: so that when

this Sulphur is by art wholly separated from its pure Mercury, the same

is easily ripened to Gold, by being joined with cold _Saturn_, which

the following Praxis will abundantly make out.

’Tis worth our noting here, that this Sulphur of Tin doth not burn

away, when the Tin without any addition is put to the fire, but doth

then in the heat seize and lay hold of its own Mercury, burning and

reducing the same to Ashes, which are very hardly to be reduced to a

Metal without some addition: neither will Lead join with these Ashes,

but thrusts them out from him, turning them to a white Glass; which is

the reason why so few are found, who with profit can separate the Gold

and Silver which is in it. _Paracelsus_ in his _Cœlum Philosophorum_

saith expresly that much Gold and Silver lies hid in Tin. We read

also of others that have had the Art of it, and have thence extracted

great treasures of Gold and Silver; amongst others _Bruschius_ in

his Description of _Fichtelberg_, gives us the History of a Citizen

of _Eger_, on the Borders of _Bohemia_, some few miles distant from

the City _Nurnberg_, who had the skill of separating the _Sol_ and

_Lune_ which is in Tin to great advantage, having been enabled

thereby not onely to build an Hospital and Church in the said place,

but also richly to endow the same for the maintenance of twelve old

Men and three Priests in the said Hospital. This Person, whose name

was _Sigismund Wan_, suffer’d this Art to die with him, but withall

left a Prophesie behind him that the said Art 200 years after should

rise again, and be made known to the World. Which Prophesie though

_Bruschius_ in his foresaid description make no mention of, yet is

undoubtedly true: and there is a Book in Manuscript, which is very

common amongst the Miners and other Artificers belonging to the said

_Fichtelberg_, which I have seen, and read in it the said Prophesie,

though at that time being young and unexperienc’d in the nature of

Tin, I little minded it. But since God has been pleased in this my

far advanced old Age, without any thing of my seeking, out of his

meer grace and mercy to reveal the said Art unto me, it hath given me

occasion to call to mind what formerly I had read, and put me upon

reading the said Book over again, where I found that his Prophesie was

exactly fulfilled, for this _Sigismund Wan_ died in the year 1467, from

whence to this present year 1667, are just 200 years. This Prophesie

being thus precisely accomplished, I thought fit to set down some part,

of the said _Bruschius_ his Relation, from whence it appears that God

doth often impart such skill and knowledge to good and honest People,

whereby they are enabled not onely to supply themselves, but also to

make liberal Provision for the Poor. The words of _Bruschius_ are

these, _Wohnsiedel_ has no extraordinary Buildings, besides a stately

and richly endowed Hospital, which was built in the year 1467, by a

Citizen of the place named _Sigismund Wan_, though at the time of his

building the said Hospital, he was a Citizen of _Eger_. He had to Wife

a _Venetian_ Woman called _Barbara_, who had great skill in Alchymy,

and in particular the Art of separating Gold and Silver from Tin, by

which means he became very rich, and having no Children, built the

said Hospital, constituting the Magistrates of _Eger_ Guardians of the

same, left them a great Summ of Money, with the Interest of which they

maintain twelve old Men, and three Priests. Near the said Hospital, is

a very fair Church built by the said _Sigismund_, where to this day a

Picture is to be seen, containing the Pourctratures of the Founder and

Foundress of the Church and Hospital, with the time and hour of their

Deaths. This _Sigismund_ lived at _Eger_ the latter part of his life;

and wrought his gainfull Work in the same House, wherein at present

dwells _Andrew Griffen_.

Thus far _Bruschius_, from whose Relation it appears that there have

been those who from the meaner Metals, and particularly Tin, have been

able to separate Gold and Silver with great gain, so as to procure

great riches thereby. We find also that in those times charity was more

exercised than at present, when men instead of building Hospitals, are

rather ready to convert them, with their Revenues to their own use.

For which wickedness of this Age, God seems to withdraw his blessing

from the Earth, so that Mines do not so much abound, nor are so rich by

far as formerly. How many places in _Germany_ have we known blest with

Gold and Silver Mines, as also with Lead and Tin Mines, containing much

Gold and Silver, of which nothing is to be found now? And this same Tin

Mine from whence _Sigismund Evan_ extracted so much Gold and Silver,

has now for near 200 years yielded no Oar at all. About the same time

also there was a very rich Gold Mine, in an adjacent little City called

Gold _Granach_; which is in like manner wholly exhausted and lost.

In the same Gold Mine, Antimony, also which is the Root of Gold, was

found in that quantity, as from thence it was transported to all parts

of _Europe_, but now very little of it is to be found there, and that

which is found, contains no Gold at all, whereas that which was digged

there before did abound with it. In like manner the _Hungarian_ and

_Transylvanian_ Mines of Antimony so rich in Gold, which flourished

about 200 years since, are now quite spent so as no more Antimony is

to be found there. Since which time the rich Silver Mines in _Jochems_

that have been discoverd, which yielded an incredible quantity of

Silver, but did not continue long so, God, for the ingratitude and

wickedness of men suffering it to sink away; of which many more

instances might be given but these shall suffice.

But to return to our interrupted discourse. ’Tis well known that

all unripe Metals, when by the violence of Fire they are melted

and separated from their Oar, do send forth a poisonous Arsenical

Exhalation; yea even after they are wholly separated from their Oar,

they cease not to exhale poisonous fumes, though not comparable with

those they send forth when they are first melted from their Oar: as

appears particularly in Tin, for if Wine be over night put into a new

Tin Pot, it will give a Vomit the next morning. Copper also does the

like; but Lead not so much, or rather nothing at all: whereas Iron

gently purges downward, is wholsome and opens obstructions; for Iron

is onely endowed with a fix Sulphur, and contains no Arsenick, as

Tin doth. Gold and Silver contain neither Sulphur nor Arsenick, and

therefore the Wine that is put into them is not at all changed.

Seeing then that Tin has some Arsenick joyn’d with it, which causeth

the foresaid alteration in the Wine, whereas in Gold and Silver it is

not changed at all, because they are free from all fœtid cumbustible

Sulphur and Arsenick; if we desire to rid Tin of its poisonous quality,

and make it like Gold and Silver by removing its superfluities, we

must do it by Art. We see that _Mercury_ of it self is no Poyson, but

becomes so when sublimb’d with Salts or otherwise joyn’d with them, by

which means it becomes poisonous and volatile. This is notorious, and

all Chymists believe and acknowledge it, and we have as much reason to

believe, that the same is the case of Arsenick and Cobalt, _viz._ that

Arsenick would be no Poyson of it self, but by reason of some saline

Spirit joyn’d with it in the Earth. We find also that Arsenick when

it comes first out of the Earth of a grayish colour is nothing near

so poisonous, as it becomes afterwards by being sublimed with Salts,

for to make it white and transparent. For though Salts in themselves

be not poisonous, yet when Minerals are in certain ways prepared with

them they turn them to Poisons, for every volatile Mineral that is

joyn’d with saline Spirits is poisonous, but when the same Minerals are

fixed, they lose their poisonous quality and become good Medicines, as

may be seen in Arsenick, Cobalt, Orpiment and other poisonous volatile

Minerals, which being fixed, by running them down with Salt-peter, may

safely be exhibited against several Diseases. Which being so it will be

easie to infer, that if we can fix the volatile Sulphur and Arsenick

which is in Tin, we shall not onely take away its Poyson and make it

medicinal, but also make it like Gold and Silver.

Let this then be laid as a sure foundation, that corrosive saline

Spirits are the causes of all Poyson, making fix matters to become

volatile and poisonous, and consequently that volatile immature metals,

as Lead and Tin, when their corrosive Spirits are mortified or driven

away, become fixed. It is well known that the combustible noxious

Sulphur of Metals, is the sole cause of their imperfection, and that

this combustible Sulphur has no greater enemy than Salt-peter, by

which it is kill’d and destroyed, and yet no better Friend neither,

which though at first sight it may seem contradictorioy, yet is very

true; for when the Niter does consume the cumbustible Sulphur, it

is indeed its enemy, but when by this Consumption of the naughty

Sulphur, the incombustible solar Sulphur of Tin becomes purged from its

heterogeneous mixtures, we shall find that indeed Niter is the friend

of Tin, as setting the solar Sulphur of Tin free from the captivity

of its noxious Sulphur, so as now it can unite with Gold and Silver,

and become such it self, which before was impossible. Thus we see that

the consuming and mortifying of the superfluous Sulphur, is the life

and deliverance of the incombustible Sulphur, and the corruption of

the one, the regeneration of the other. To which purpose _Paracelsus_

speaks excellently, saying that _Corruption makes things perfectly

good, for by means of it the evil that hides and absconds the good,

being taken away, the good manifests it self_; Which is very true of

Tin whose solar Sulphur being hid and held by its noxious Sulphur,

the same must be taken away, before Gold and Silver can be extracted

from it. Which separation of the combustible from the incombustible

Sulphur, must not be done with common Niter, which is too vehement for

the nature of Tin, and would destroy the good with the bad, but a more

mild and proper Salt-peter must be taken, _viz._ that which is hid in

Lead, which is powerfull enough to kindle and consume the superfluous

Sulphur of Tin, and set its solar Sulphur free, as will appear from the

following Process.

When therefore thou art minded to set upon this gainfull particular,

and together universal Work, I would not have thee to be too covetous

nor to begin with too great a quantity of Tin in hopes thereby to

become rich of a sudden; but advise thee to begin with onely two or

three pound of Tin, and try whether the Art be true or no, and if true

what gain may thence be expected. And if thou find’st it to answer

thy expectations, thou mayst then work in as great quantities as thou

pleasest, but if thou find’st that thou canst not bring it to the

desired end, thou must be content to go to School a little longer, and

learn to be more a master of Fire; or else leave it off altogether

concluding thou art not predestinated to this Work. It is not enough

to think thou canst do it, thou must have the Art of it, else thy

thinking will little avail thee. What I write here, is no other than

the truth, of which the Reader may assure himself.

_A Process for to separate Gold and Silver with great profit from

Tin._

Set on a Cupel under a Muffel one, two, three pound more or less of

Lead, let it be red hot, then cast into it half an ounce, one ounce or

an ounce and half of Tin, and you’l see the Tin mount above the Lead,

and the Sulphur of the _Jupiter_ will kindle the Salt-peter of the

Lead, and turn to yellow Ashes, which still must be taken away with an

Iron Instrument for that purpose, as long as any of the said Ashes,

mount or appear on the surface of the Lead. When no more Ashes appear,

then cast in a fresh quantity of Tin as before, turning the same to

Ashes till no more rise. Continue so long with the incineration of

fresh Tin, untill all the Lead and Tin be turned to Ashes. Then mix

these Ashes with half as much of our secret _Sal-Armoniack_, and by

Retort distill the _Sal-Armoniack_ from it, which may serve again for

the same Work. In this Distillation the _Sal-Armoniack_, draws to it

the Sulphur of the Tin, and turns it to Fæces, and the pure part of

the Lead and Tin are left in a _Regulus_ at the bottom, which after

Distillation may be beat from the _Scoriæ_: and because the _Regulus_

of Lead in this operation proves somewhat flat and platy, we may lay

it cross on an Anvil, and strike it crooked with an Hammer, and so the

_Scoria_ will fall from it, which are carefully to be kept, as being of

good use, which will appear hereafter. If we desire to make a better

separation of the _Scoriæ_ from the said _Regulus_ of Lead, we may put

the said _Regulus_ with its Fæces into a Crucible, and having given it

a Fire of Fusion, pour out the _Regulus_ into a Cone, and the _Scoriæ_

will abide in the Cruce, as being of more difficult fusion than the

_Regulus_. This _Regulus_ of Lead, must again be set upon the Cupel,

and when red hot, we must put Tin to it as before, incinerate the same

and gather the Ashes, then mix them with _Sal-Armoniack_, distill and

separate the _Scoriæ_ from the _Regulus_ as before. This labour must

be so oft repeated till all the Lead and Tin be turn’d to Ashes, which

will be in three or four times, after which onely a small _Regulus_

will be left, which we must refine on the Cupel like other Lead, and

thus the Gold and Silver which was in the Tin, will be left on the

Cupel, which must be granulated, and the Gold and Silver separated from

each other with _Aqua Fortis_.

The _Scoriæ_ proceeding from this Work must not be despised, being more

worth than the Gold and Silver which are left on the Cupel. This work

being well performed, every pound of Tin will yield some Crowns in Gold

and Silver, which richly pays both cost and pains. And he that has the

skill to prepare the said _Sal-Armoniack_ by a compendious way, may

expect the greater profit from this Work. The _Sal-Armoniack_ which

comes over by Distillation, will serve for the same purpose again,

nothing of it being diminished, but what abides with the Scoriæ, which

by making a Lye of the _Scoriæ_ may also be saved, by which means a

wonderfull Salt is obtained, which abounds with many and great virtues;

concerning which we intend (God willing) to treat at large in our

third Appendix. I had intended indeed to speak of it here, but I find

this Appendix is grown too big under my hands; and therefore shall

refer the superlative great virtues of the said wonderfull Salt to my

Third Book. Yet to the end, that the Lover of Art in the mean time,

till my Third Appendix be published, may not altogether be ignorant

of what great things may be performed by it, I have thought good to

inform him, that I have often in my other Writings made mention of

this Secret _Sal-Armoniack_, yet concealing its preparation, _viz._

in my Book of _Dialogues_, speaking of the Preparation of the Lion’s

Blood. In my Treatise of _Elias Artista_ I have called this Salt, Salt

of Art, as also the Bishop and High Priest of Metals, and there at

large informed the Curious, how by means thereof they may inseparably

conjoin Gold and Silver. In other of my Writings I have given it

other names. This wonderfull Salt of which I have treated in my Book

of the Three Principles, shewing it to be that wherewith _Jupiter_

changed him self into a golden shower, and got entrance through the

Tiles into the strong Tower where _Danae_ was shut up, thus beguiling

her, and begetting on her _Perseus_ the Destroyer of the Sea-Monster,

and Deliverer of the Beautifull _Andromeda_, whom he took to Wife;

and afterward vanquished the _Gorgones_, keepers of the Golden Apple

bearing Orchard, _&c._

This our Salt of Art is the Secret Chalybs of _Sendviogius_, wherewith

he extracts the Tincture of Gold, and of it prepares the tinging Stone

of the Philosophers. This our Salt of Art is also that _Juno_, to whom

(as _Virgil_ relates) the Golden Bough broke off by _Proserpina_ from

the Dark tree is consecrated: of which I have elsewhere treated more

at large. This Salt also is our _Proserpina_ the Goddess of Hell and

Wife of _Pluto_, and is much more ready and handy in breaking off the

said Golden Bough, than that _Proserpina_ which by Distillation (with

great toil and labour) breaks off her Golden Branches: for this our

_Proserpina_ performs it without fire, or any trouble to speak of, and

offers it up to the Goddess _Juno_. Which ingenious and profitable Work

I intend (God willing) to set down in my Third Appendix; wherein I

shall communicate to the World a perpetual Minera of Gold and Silver,

which every one without any great pains may in stillness work in his

own house: For there is no easier way to extract the hidden Gold from

all Metals in quantity and without fire, than by means of this our

Goddess _Juno_, or Jovial _Proserpina_.

Let the Reader who desires to know further of these Poetical Fables,

read the ingenious _Ovid_, and others who make it their business to

treat of them: and in reading he will observe, that _Jupiter_ is by

them represented to be the God of Fire and Lightning, and _Juno_ his

Wife and Sister the Goddess of the Air; whence we may gather, that

by the word _Juno_ is to be understood a spiritual volatile moisture

and watry _Jupiter_. Now the Artist who has _Juno_ for his Friend and

Advocate, may easily obtain from _Phœbus_ great Treasures, as well for

the health of the Body, as of outward Riches; and this is so easie to

be done, and with so little charges, that I dare not be so bold to

write more of it, lest the wicked and unworthy should smell out the

rest.

Now forasmuch as this Appendix is swoln to a bigger bulk than I had

intended, I shall refer the melioration of Iron and Copper, by means

of our Secret _Sal-Armoniack_ to our Third Appendix. And shall onely

say thus much at present, that these two despised Metals, do afford

more profit, and with less charge and trouble than Lead and Tin; which

Process I intend to communicate in my next Appendix.

If any find the trouble and charges of Preparing our _Sal-Armoniack_

too great, he may attempt the Work with common _Sal-Armoniack_

sublimed; and if that do not fully answer his desire, he may afterward

prepare ours, or get it of those that make it in quantity. If it

please God that I live over next Summer, I intend my self to work this

profitable Process of extracting _Sol_ from Tin; as also to extract the

Tinctures of Copper and Iron with our _Alcahest_, in great quantity,

and to give the over-plus of Profit to the Poor for a Memorial to

the World. In the mean time I have here at large declared how the

superfluities of Lead and Tin are to be removed, in order to the

separating of the Gold and Silver contained in them; and this without

concealing any of the Manual Operations thereto belonging: though I

question not but many who may attempt the same, will by mistaking some

Point or other fail of their end. Above all, great care must be had

that the Tin be not mixed with Copper or _Regulus_ of Antimony, which

will make the Ashes hard and irreducible; the _Sal-Armoniack_ also must

be well prepared, sharp and penetrative, that it may work upon the

Tin-ashes, and make them fluxible and reducible to Metal. Neither must

the Tin-ashes be suffer’d to lye too long on the Lead, but continually

be taken away, for otherwise they will become hard and influxible. In

a word, ’tis practise onely and experience can make a man Master of

this Work, it being impossible to set down all particulars so clear and

distinct, as that the unexperienced may not easily mistake. In case

therefore this my Appendix should seem too dark to any one, let him

have patience till my Third Appendix be published, in which I intend to

communicate a much more easie Process for extracting Gold and Silver

out of Lead, Tin, Iron and Copper.

There is also a way of turning fine Tin alone by it self into Ashes,

by stirring it continually in an Iron Pot over the fire, which Ashes

must be reduced with our _Sal-Armoniack_, and then turn’d to Ashes

again and reduced, which must be repeated till the greater part of

the Tin be turned to _Scoriæ_, and the Gold and Silver melt down to a

_Regulus_, which being tested, leaves behind the Gold and Silver which

was in the Tin, and the remaining _Scoriæ_, or Dross, are of greater

value than the Gold and Silver it self. For he who knows to make use of

these Fæces as a Magnet to attract the Gold from metalline Solutions,

will get great profit thereby; the said Fæces being a main cause of my

publishing this Treatise, because of their great and profitable use

both in Physick and Alchymy; forasmuch as with their help not onely

Gold and Silver, but also true Universal Tinctures may be extracted

from Stones and Metals: So that he who knows the use of these Jovial

Fæces may not onely richly maintain themselves, but also liberally

communicate to the Poor. If God continue my life, I intend to undertake

this profitable Work my self, and thence make some provision for the

Poor; for I have already taken my leave of this wicked World, expecting

with patience an heavenly Guide to conduct me to life eternal, which I

earnestly pant after.

_A =Corollary=, or Supplement to the foregoing =Appendix=._

We have seen in the foregoing Treatise, how with the help of Lead,

the Gold and Silver which is hid in Tin may be extracted with our

Secret _Sal-Armoniack_; which after it has separated the said Gold and

Silver, doth still retain great virtues, as being become a true natural

Magnet, able without much trouble or fire, to extract not onely from

Gold, but also from the gross bodies of Iron and Copper their purest

Tinctures, which in them are better, and in greater quantity than in

Gold it self. Which Solar Magnet few Philosophers have known, or the

use of it. Our _Cosmopolita_ writes most clearly of the same in the

following words: _There is a Steel which can extract from the Rays of

the Sun, that which many have sought and not found_. And again, _If our

Steel copulate eleven times with Gold, the Gold thereby becomes weakned

almost to death, and the Steel will conceive and bring forth a Son more

famous than his Father_. _Nuysement_ also speaks of this Magnet, but

sparingly and darkly, and _Paracelsus_ yet more obscurely. Others who

had the knowledge of it, make no mention thereof at all; fearing, ’tis

like, lest the Art might grow too common, and be prostituted thereby:

but without cause; for though a Man be able to extract the Tinctures of

Metals, yet hath he not therefore the whole Art: for though the said

Tinctures be of great use for the cure of all diseases, yet can they

not display their virtues upon Metals, till they be fixed with Gold,

and have obtained metallick ingress: but in Physick, as was now said,

they are very usefull, before their fixation, and especially those

which by our Magnet are extracted from _Mars_ and _Venus_, for they

purge all that is hurtfull out of the Body, not weakning as common

Purges do, but strengthening it. They also purge by Sweat and Urine,

and still all inward and outward Pains procure sweet rest, by reason

of the Anodynous quality hid in _Mars_ and _Venus_. So that these

Tinctures of _Mars_ and _Venus_ before fixation may be used against

all diseases with assurance of good success; and when fixed, they turn

Silver into Gold. For our Magnet robs the Dragon (_viz._ _Aqua Fortis_,

wherein _Mars_ and _Venus_ are dissolved) of the Golden Fleece he is

keeper of, and, like another _Jason_, brings home the same, and with

it restores his aged Father to youth again, and procures to himself

vast and unmeasurable Riches. For these Tinctures do great wonders in

both faculties. It is not long ago since I took some grains (which I

had left of a former preparation) of one of these Tinctures, to see if

thereby I might be somewhat refreshed, which indeed did perform all

that could be expected from it, but having no more of it could not

perfect my cure. Since which time I have had a great longing with the

first occasion to prepare some more of it, because I found that upon

taking that small quantity, my bald head began to be cover’d with black

curl’d hairs, from whence I am verily perswaded, that had I had more

of the like Tincture, it would have wholly renewed me; and therefore

shall not be wanting to make use of the first opportunity to prepare

more of it, both for my own health and that of others, and publish the

wonderfull works of God throughout the whole World. And forasmuch as

God of his free Grace has been pleas’d to bless me with the knowledge

of this best and most powerfull of Medicines, though by reason of my

weakness I am forc’d to keep my bed, and must patiently wait, till it

shall please God to put me into a condition of preparing the same;

yea though Death should prevent me from ever doing it, yet shall this

be my satisfaction, that I have here informed the Lovers of Art, what

wonder-working Tinctures lye hid in these despised Metals of Copper and

Iron, and which may so easily with our Jovial Magnet be extracted.

But let him that undertakes to work with our secret Magnet, take heed

that he do not make it too strong, lest instead of a Tincture, he

draw the gross Bodies; for it often happens when the Magnet is too

strong, that, together with the Tincture, it draws the gross Body,

and especially of the Homogeneal Metals, in which the Tincture is so

closely united with the Body, that it is very hard to separate them.

A common Magnet draws Iron, together with its Tincture, but without

separating the one from the other; but our secret Magnet draws from

Iron (its Body being first opened) the Tincture onely, leaving the

gross Body behind, because Iron and Copper are Heterogeneous Metals,

in which the Tincture is easily separable from its Body, whereas Gold,

which is Homogeneal, doth not readily part with his Tincture, the

Body following its Soul or Tincture. Yea a common Magnet draws the

whole Body of Iron, without separating the Tincture, even then when

by Nature it is made Homogeneal and fixed like Gold: as we see in

Granat-stones, which are rich in Iron (as those are which are brought

to us from _America_, and especially from _New-France_, some in great

pieces and others small like Sand) that they are greedily attracted by

the common Magnet: and yet no Iron can be melted from them, forasmuch

as neither Fire will flux, nor corrosive Spirits dissolve them; but

their Tincture may easily be drawn from them according to the way I

have set down in my Book _of the Three Principles_. In _America_ are

found great Mountains of such small Granats, which being Homogeneal,

will not yield to Fire or Stygian-waters. And now lately I have seen

some Mineral Earths and Stones brought from _New-found-land_, of which

there are whole Mountains there, which never any Man that I know could

make any profit of, though it be certain that every pound weight of

them contains half a Crowns worth of Gold and Silver. But we need

not trouble our selves to seek for Treasures in other Countries. God

having furnished all parts of the World (none excepted) with Subjects

that afford good and abundant Tincture, onely the Art of drawing them

forth is wanting. We do not stand in need of Gold for to extract its

Tincture, because we may have one as good from _Mars_ or _Venus_, and

with much more ease.

* * * * *

But if any Man has a mind to draw the Gold from such Waters, wherein

it is imperceptibly scatter’d and dispers’d, let him put a small

quantity of our secret Magnet into the said Water, and he will see all

the said Gold presently gathered to it, and reduc’d to Visibility and

Corporality, with great profit to the Artist. And because many such

Waters abounding with Gold and Tincture, are found prepared by Nature

to our hands, without charges or trouble, this short information here

may to the skilfull open a door to great Treasures.

* * * * *

But to proceed and shew that there are such Magnets wherewith Tinctures

may be extracted; and here first of all I will instance in my Jovial

_Sal-Armoniack_ here described, whereby the Tin turn’d to Ashes is

reduced; for when the same _Sal-Armoniack_, impregnated with Tin, is

dissolved in Spirit of Salt, it becomes such a Solar Magnet, which can

and does extract the Tinctures from the Solution of Metals. For when

a little of this _Sal-Armoniack_ Water is poured upon the Solution

of any Metal, shaken together, and set aside, the Magnet, as in a

moment, attracts all that’s good in the said Solution, whether it be

Gold or Tincture, to the bottom of the Glass of a purple or blood-red

Colour, and the Solution becomes white. And yet there are many Magnets

which are better than this of _Sal-Armoniack_ impregnated with Tin,

extracting the Tinctures from Metals with more ease, and better than

that. The reason why I onely make mention of this, is, because it is

the product of the Work here described, _viz._ the extracting Gold

and Silver from Tin. And to the end I may evidence to all, that the

said Magnet is of greater value than the Gold and Silver, which is got

from the Tin; I shall say thus much, that it is impossible for the

ignorant to believe of what great advantage this Magnet is to those

that understand the use of it: for not onely may Universal Tinctures

be extracted therewith for curing the Bodies of Men and Metals, out

of Metals and Stones, and that easily and without charge; but it can

also extract much Gold from those Metals and Stones, in which much

volatile and spiritual Gold is hid, _viz._ Iron, Copper, _East-Indian_

Zink, _&c._ and amongst Stones the red and yellow Pebbles, which are

almost every-where to be found. Concerning which extraction of _Sol_

from Sand and Stones, I have treated at large in my Seventh Part of the

_Prosperity of Germany_. Now that our Magnet draws to it all Colours

and Tinctures, not onely from Stones and Metals, but from Vegetables

and Animals, and doth highly exalt the same, may thus be proved:

Dissolve one ounce of Gold in _Aqua Regis_, pour the yellow Solution

into a pound of common Water, and this yellow Colour will no more be

perceived, then pour also some of our Magnet into the said Water, and

all the Water will become blood-red, and being set aside, the Gold,

which the Magnet hath attracted, falls to the bottom, highly exalted in

Colour, and the Water remains white, having lost all its Gold, and may

be used again for the like extraction of Gold or Tincture out of Stones

and Metals _in infinitum_, without any impairing of its strength; so

that I may well say, that never hath a more profitable invention been

communicated to mankind.

Dost thou desire to experience what our Magnet can doe in extracting

the Colours of Vegetables and Animals? then proceed thus: Boil Brasile

wood, Turmerick, or any like Vegetables in Water till it be coloured,

filter it, and pour a little of our Magnet into the colour’d Water;

shake it together, and the Magnet will draw all the colour from the

Water to it self, which falls to the bottom in form of a very subtil

Powder; the Water being decanted, and the Powder dried, affords an

excellent colour for Painters; Brasile wood a brown red, Farnabock a

light red, Dragons-blood a bright ruby colour, Turmerick a yellow,

and Indigo a curious Sky-blew. Animals, as Cochenille, _&c._ may be

proceeded with in like manner, and will afford far better Colours than

they can of themselves, because our Magnet (as hath been said) exalts

all Colours whatsoever. To try this thy self, thou may’st according

to my foregoing instruction prepare it, and so find by experience the

wonders it will perform in extracting the Tinctures of Metals, Stones,

Vegetables and Animals; which if thou dost, thou wilt find more than I

have here set down. And if thou hast no time to prepare the Magnet thy

self, thou mayst have it of those who prepare it in great quantities:

For because this wonder-working Magnet can do such great things, I have

communicated the preparation of it to a very honest friend, to the end

he might make it in quantity, and vend it for the good of the World, at

a Rix-dollar _per_ Pound. With this Magnet Wool, Linnen, Silk, Bones,

Feathers, _&c._ may be dyed or painted far more fair and lasting than

any other way now known: Chymical Physicians, with the help of it, may

prepare the true Quintessence of Metals and Stones for the cure of all

diseases: and it will assist the Philosophers to extract Universal

Tinctures from all coloured Stones and Metals, with which they may

throughly and lastingly tinge white metals to Gold, and Crystal to

Rubies, Saphires, Jacinths, Emeralds, _&c._ according to their pleasure.

In a word, he who has this Magnet and knows the use of it, needs not to

read any Chymical Books for all in all is comprehended in it, as in a

short time will be manifested. This Magnet is so great a Treasure that

the vastest Volumes cannot contain all its virtues, it is serviceable

to all men; yea no subject can be found in nature, that can produce

such wonderfull and usefull effects as this our secret _Sal-Armoniack_.

Great Books have been written concerning the common Magnet which onely

draws Iron, though indeed its nature and properties be also very

wonderfull; for without it there could be no sailing by Sea in the

Night time, whereas now it is all one to Marriners whether they Sail by

Day or by Night: but how much more highly is our magnet to be esteemed,

which not onely points out to Philosophers, Physicians and Chymists,

the right way through the vast and wild Sea of Chymical Operations, to

their desired Port, richly laden with the best of Commodities Gold and

Tinctures, but also directs Mechanicks to new ways and inventions of

obtaining wealth, never before known.

Indeed as there is a great difference between _Mars_ and _Jupiter_, so

also between these Magnets which partake of their natures. The common

martial Magnet guided _Christophorus Columbus_ to _America_, that new

World abounding with Gold and Silver, besides many other profitable

Commodites, but all this in a way hazardous and full of danger,

many thousands having lost their lives as well by Sea as by Land in

endeavouring to obtain these riches. For _Mars_ with his Magnet onely

loads and perswades to War and Blood-shed, whereas the friendly and

peace-loving _Jupiter_, with his benign Magnet stirs up none to evil

but onely to good, and directs us to a Land much more abounding with

Gold than _America_, whence we may fetch the same in peace and quiet

without fear of War or Blood-shed, and to the glory of God make known

his Works of wonder to the ignorant.

And thus much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the extracting

or separating of Gold and Silver from Tin, and the easie extraction

of Tinctures from Stones and Metals, by means of our secret

_Sal-Armoniack_. Now for a Surplus, and to pleasure the Sons of Art,

I’ll take one turn more in the Philosophick Garden and gather some fair

Flowers, to make a Garland in honour of the Adepts, that they may wear

it in remembrance of me. The first of these Flowers is the white Lilly,

the second the blew Violet, and the third the deep Purple _Amaranthus_,

being the chief that grow in our Garden, of which I intend to twist my

Garland.

The first, _viz._ the white Lilly appears in the beginning of our

Work; the blew Violet in the midst, and the deep red _Amaranthus_ in

the end of it. That I compare the beginning of our Work to a Lilly, is

not without reason, forasmuch as our mercurial Water is whiter than

white, being called of Philosophers a white, whiter than white, because

though it be a white colour, yet it excells all other whites, with its

glistring brightness so far, that other white colours compared with it

look very dim and dark. And because God hath bestowed upon the Lilly

such afair glistring white, as no Flower can compare with it, therefore

we compare our mercurial Water (the beginning of our Work) for its

unparallel’d whiteness to the Lilly of the Field: of which our Saviour

himself saith, _That =Salomon= in all his glory, was not arrayed like

one of them_. For this cause also the Philosophers always termed

the beginning of their Work a white Flower, as appears (among other

instances) from an inscription engraven on two Candlesticks, belonging

to a Cloister in _Westphalia_, made by a _Monk_ and dedicated to the

use of the Altar there in these words, _Non ex Auro, nec Argento sed ex

primo Artis flore sum factum_. _I am not made of Gold nor Silver, but

of the first Flower of Art._ These Candlesticks are white as Silver,

but heavy as Gold; which may pass for a profit that the white in our

work is termed a Lilly or Flower.

And that this our bright white Lilly doth far surpass all other white

Flowers whatsoever, the Philosophers in _Turba_ witness when they

say, our Salt exalts the whiteness in Silver and the red in Gold;

which indeed is the very truth, though it be not believed by the

unexperienced, because at first sight it seems against nature, that one

colour should die both red and white: yet that it is so, I here witness

unto with my Pen, and hope shortly to make an ocular demonstration

of it to all that are lovers of the wonderfull Works of God. In the

mean time we may prove it thus, dissolve in _Aqua Fortis_ some fine

cupell’d Silver, and in another Vessel in _Aqua Regis_ some fine Gold,

pour a little of our mercurial Water into each of the Solutions, and

the Silver will fall to the bottom white as Snow; yea rather will be

whiter than that or any other thing in the World: and the Gold will be

precipitated red like blood, and the Stygian Waters are rob’d of all

the Gold and Silver that was in them, by the addition of our secret

_Sal-Armoniack_ Water, so as not the least grain remains with them.

Thus _Perseus_, _viz._ the exalted Gold, has deliver’d _Andromeda_,

viz. the white exalted Silver, from the Sea-Monster, _viz._ the _Aqua

Fortis_, and taken the same to his Wife, that is, radically united with

it. And that our jovial _Sal-Armoniack_ will do this, I hope e’re long

to demonstrate to the lovers of Art.

The Blind World may learn from hence, it was not without reason the

Philosophers affirm that their secret Salt, exalts the red in Gold and

the white in Silver. And that their Salt is a _Sal-Armoniack_, appears

from their crying, _O our =Sal-Armoniack=! O our Sea!_ for had it been

the common, how could they have call’d it theirs? _Turba_ saith, _If

the Almighty had not created this Salt, it were impossible to compleat

our =Elixir=_: Which words are alledged by _Arnoldus de Villa Nova_,

who saith that _Almizadir_ (a name the Philosophers give their secret

Salt) is a _Sal-Armoniack_, as appears from his own words taken out of

his Breviary of Alchymical Books, being a Letter of his to a Pope of

_Rome_.

“To the most holy Father, e’re I acquaint thee that first of all

the bodies must be reduced to their first matter. To understand

which, thou must know, that the matter of all Metals, and their

Sperm is a white fume decocted and thickned in the Bowels of the

Earth, by a sulphurous heat; and according to the varieties of

this Sulphur, and its quantity in the earth, divers Metals are

produced; the matter of them all being the same essentially,

and differs onely accidently. Above all things it is certain,

that the Workman can do nothing here without Salt, no more than

an Archer can shoot without a string to his Bow. _Morienus_

expresses this more clearly, when he saith, _Take the Phlegmatick

and Cholerick, and grind the Sanguine with it, untill it become

a tinging Heaven_, &c. The Phlegmatick is cold and moist, _viz._

_Mercury_, the Cholerick is hot and dry, _viz._ _Sal-Armoniack_,

and the sanguine is hot and moist, _viz._ Gold. Observe that

_Sal-Armoniack_ doth not give Colour, but Ingress, and prepares

the matter and purgeth it, and then the Spirit being united

with the Body, it hath ingress, and having conjoin’d these, it

goes off. For this Salt is an unctuous fatness coagulated by

the dryness of the fire, of a hot and subtil dry nature, which

penetrating through all parts, dissolves Bodies, and is the

conjoiner of opposites, and of all Spirits with their Bodies.

For this Salt is a volatile Spirit, a generating Stone, and a

helper towards the production of the Elixir; because if this Salt

were not, the Elixir could never be dissolved, nor have ingress,

neither would one thing be join’d to another, or have ingress

into another. It is volatile, and yet join’d with Bodies, it is

a Body which is hid in it. And therefore _Avicenna_ saith, _If

you put =it=, viz. =this Salt=, instead of Fire, Air, or Sulphur,

you will not err in your work, because it inclines it self to

every nature and Almizadir_; that is, Sal-Armoniack _will alone

do thy business_. And in the Book of Aloms and Salts ’tis said,

that _if God had not created this Salt, the Elixir could never

be perfected, and the study of Alchymy would be in vain. He

=therefore= that works without Salt =(as the Allegory of the Wise

Men hath it)= does not attenuate the dead Bodies in their Graves,

and therefore can never expect a resurrection, =&c.=_”

From this Letter of _Arnoldus_ it appears fully, that their secret Salt

is a _Sal-Armoniack_, though not the common. Concerning which Salt the

Philosophers express themselves very differently. Our _Cosmopolita_

cries out, _O our Sal-Armoniack! O our Sea!_ and teaches also the

preparation of it, though very darkly, where he speaks of the little

fish _Remora_, of which we are told, that it is able to stop a great

Ship under Sail in her course; and we know our secret _Sal-Armoniack_

has the force to stop the Ships richly laden with Gold and Silver,

sailing in the Sea of _Stygian_ Waters, and to lead them whither it

lists; from whence it appears that our Jovial _Sal-Armoniack_ is the

true _Remora_ of the Philosophers.

I proceed now to the second Flower, _viz._ the blew Violet, which is

likewise found in our Garden. We have heard how by means of our Jovial

_Sal-Armoniack_, the colour of Gold and Silver is exalted, after it

hath attracted them out of the salt Sea, wherein they were dissolved.

But if the Solutions of both Gold and Silver be pour’d together in one

Glass, and some of our Magnet be put to them for to attract the same,

then the Gold which before was Blood-red, and the Silver which was so

white, do together constitute a Violet colour, which is the second

Flower growing in our Garden.

The third and most beautifull Flower of all that grow in our Garden,

is the fair Flower _Amaranthus_, which of all other doth longest keep

its colour; the white Lillies shed their Leaves as soon as they are

ripe, and Violets in a short time wither and lose their colour; but

the _Amaranthus_ keeps her colour Winter and Summer. And the same

may be said of our metalline Flowers, the Silver attracted by our

Magnet is the white Lilly, which when joyn’d with our blood-red Gold,

produces our blew Violet, and out of this Violet, by means of the Fire,

is afterwards produced the fix and permanent _Amaranthus_. When a

Philosopher knows where to find, and how to pluck these three Flowers,

he may well wear them as a Garland of Honour. Thus much I have added to

point out these Flowers to the Sons of Art, and to stir up a desire in

them to pluck them for themselves. At the present, time doth not permit

to add any more, wherefore I hope the Courteous Reader will accept of

what he finds here, intending in my third Appendix, God willing, to

speak more fully of other like Flowers, which with the help of our

secret _Sal-Armoniack_, may with more ease and in greater abundance be

gathered than those now mentioned. I intend also therein to treat of

a far more profitable use of our secret _Sal-Armoniack_. For although

our secret _Sal-Armoniack_, which by manual labour is prepared of two

Contraries, _viz._ Oil of Vitriol, Spirit of Salt or other corrosive

acid Spirits, and urinous Spirits, be of great use for the meliorating

of Metals, and the preparing of many good Medicines, yet is all this

but Children’s play, if compared with what may be done with our most

secret _Sal-Armoniack_, which is not prepared by Art, but created of

God, and may be had every where in abundance without money. Yea, the

Philosophers say that all men have it, that _Adam_ brought it with him

out of _Paradise_, and after death took it with him to his Grave; which

is the constant assertion not onely of Heathen, but also of Christian

Philosophers, who have asserted the same with many arguments, amongst

whom are _Albertus Magnus_ and his Disciple _Thomas Aquinas_, who were

holy and religious men, and therefore very far from obtruding lies

upon the World. There are also many Writings of unknown Philosophers,

who assert, that all both rich and poor, always carry the matter of

the Stone about with them, yea, that they bring it with them, from

their Mothers Womb: which though it may sound strange to the ignorant,

because Man doth not appear in a mineral form, but in Flesh and Blood,

yet sure it is that the mineral virtue is hid in him, for if it were

not so _Albertus_ could never have found Gold between the Teeth of dead

Mens Skulls.

And for a conclusion, I _Glauber_ do here protest, that this most

universal _Sal-Armoniack_ is able to change common Mercury in two or

three days time, that it shall be no longer Quicksilver, nor whiten

_Sol Lune_ or Copper, but rather exalt them in their colours, and

change them into true Tinctures. This _Sal-Armoniack_ also has the

power to fix (though it be unfixt it self) all volatile Minerals,

_viz._ common Sulphur, Mercury, Antimony, Auripigment, Zink, Bismuth,

Arsenick, Cobalt, Galmey, and other such like in twenty four hours,

so as afterwards they will suffer themselves to be melted, without

sending forth any smoak, and may be taken inwardly for the cure of

many Diseases, concerning which I intend suddenly to give a fuller and

further account. And therewith conclude this small Treatise of the

wonderfull Powers and Virtues of our secret Artificial, and most secret

natural _Sal-Armoniack_. The godly and upright will easily apprehend

what is here written, but the ungodly never. In our third Appendix we

intend to enlarge on these and the like high Secrets, and declare the

further profitable use of our Mercury of Tin, as being the onely means,

without troublesome or chargeable labour to obtain to an universal

Medicine.

_The End of the Second Appendix._

THE

THIRD APPENDIX

TO THE

SEVENTH PART

OF THE

Spagyrical Pharmacopœa.

Wherein is Treated of the Further Use of our Wonder-working

_Alcahest_ or most secret _Sal-Armoniack_. And more particularly,

of the way to Extract the Tinctures of Gold, Iron and Copper; as

well as of all precious and common Stones; and to introduce the

said Tinctures again into other white Metals and Stones, so as

permanently to colour and meliorate the same.

_Faithfully Translated out of the =High-Dutch= Original._

Courteous READER,

_In the fore-going Second =Appendix= to my =Pharmacopœa Spagyrica=, I

promis’d the publishing of a Third =Appendix=, wherein I intended to

communicate to the Lovers of Art, the remaining Vertues of our =Secret

Sal-Armoniack=; but finding that my Candid publication of so many

great and useful Secrets are so coldly and carelesly received by an

ungratefull World, I have thought good to cover the same in silence.

However that I may not be wanting to contribute what I can in this

my Third =Appendix=, for the satisfaction of the ingenious Seekers

and Lovers of Art, I design to conclude my =Spagyrical Pharmacopœa=

with the Discovery of a =Wonder-working new-found-Alcahest=, which by

its surpassing Virtues does far excell all those before-mentioned.

Which new Discovery will without doubt be more acceptable to the

Lovers of these Secrets, than to Treat further concerning the already

Communicated =Sal-Armoniack=; which whosoever shall take the pains to

prepare, will find much more than I have set down concerning it; and

therefore think it not needfull to enlarge any further on that Subject,

in the mean time neglecting things of greater and better concern. I say

better things, because the discovering of this =New-found Alcahest=

will afford more light by far to Seekers, than the former could: For

which reason I have thought good to set all other things aside, for

to Treat of the =Alcahest= which has not its like in the Universe,

as I hope by God’s assistance in this Discourse to make out and

demonstrate._

* * * * *

Now because I here write of an _Alcahest_ or _Wonder-working

Sal-Armoniack_, I think it not improper to explain the word _Alcahest_,

and to make known the meaning and importance thereof, which may help us

to discover the true Use and Vertues of the same. Some tell us that the

word _Alcahest_, is a Corruption of the _German_ word _Algeist_, that

is to say, _All-Spirit_, from its very spiritual nature, and because it

reduces gross Bodies to Spirit. Others by transposing of its Letters,

make a _Dutch_ word of it, importing _hasty or swift running, flying_,

&c.

Now we know that among all Salts that are in the World, there is

none to be found, which in Distillation or Sublimation doth sooner

volatilize the most subtil part of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals,

and carry them over the helm, than a good _Sal-Armoniack_: Wherefore

the said Name may well be given to it, by reason of its volatilizing

all things, and carrying them swiftly over the helm.

And forasmuch as I have already spoken concerning several of these

volatilizing Salts, calling the first _Common Sal-Armoniack_,

the second _secret Sal-Armoniack_, and the third _most secret

Sal-Armoniack_, I find my self destitute of a Name by which I might

call this my New found _Sal-Armoniack_, except I should give it the

name of _Eagles Wings_, which I am the rather inclined to do, because

in some of my former Writings, I have by way of Allusion expressed the

said Volatilizing Salts by the Name of _Wings_, comparing the first

and weakest of them to the wings of a _Dove_, the second to those of

a _Raven_, and the strongest of all to _Eagles wings_. And seeing the

_Sal-Armoniack_ of which I am now to Treat, is far more powerful than

any of them all, I may well give it that name, and the rather, because

Antient as well as Modern Philosophers have given the name of _Eagles

wings_ to common _Sal-Armoniack_; some of them, ’tis like, not knowing

of any better. Thus _Paracelsus_ sets down the way of volatilizing his

_unripe Mineral Electrum_ by means of the Spread _Eagles wings_; and in

many other places of his Writings, he calls _Sal-Armoniack_ an _Eagle_,

because this Salt, of all Salts, as the _Eagle_ of all Birds, takes the

highest flight, and therefore also is called the King of Salts.

The _Heathens_ attributed a Flying _Eagle_ to their cheifest God

_Jupiter_; and the Holy Apostle and Evengelist St. _John_, because in

his Gospel he takes a higher flight than any of the other Evangelists,

is represented with an Eagle standing by him, as being his proper

Embleme. We also find in the Writings of Philosophers, the word

_Eagle_ is made use of by them to signifie any thing which by Art is

exalted to the highest degree it is capable of; and therefore this

_Sal-Armoniack_ which in its flight excells all those before spoke of,

exalting things to the highest top of Perfection, may well be styled

the _Eagles Wing_. _Pliny_ makes mention of a great and monstrous Bird

called a _Griffon_, found in the Eastern parts of the World, and of

that strength, as to be able to carry away an Armed Man on Horseback,

Horse and all, to his Nest: which strong Bird is a good Embleme of the

surpassing force of this our _Eagles wing_, which like the _Griffon_

is also provided with strong Talons, with which it lays hold on heavy

things, and carries them away with it, as we shall hear by and by. For

every good _Sal-Armoniack_ hath these two Vertues, of being sharp and

piercing as well as volatile: the sharpness are its Talons, whereby

it seizeth and lays hold of things; and its volatility, are the Wings

with which it carries them away. Now the stronger these talons, and the

larger these wings of _Sal-Armoniack_ are, the more will thereby be

effected: The Common _Sal-Armoniack_ is the weakest of all, our Secret

_Sal-Armoniack_ is as strong again, and our most Secret _Sal-Armoniack_

far excells them both; but this we treat of here, is by much the

strongest and most active of them all, and therefore may well be

compared to the King of Birds.

This same _Sal-Armoniack_ may also with great reason be called

_Lucifer_, as afording a bright-shining Light to Chymists, whereby

they may discover great Secrets: For as the bright Morning Star in the

Firmament, does go before the _Sun_, and gives notice of his rising,

and therefore is called _Lucifer_, that is the Harbinger or Bringer

of Light. And as the said Star doth not only Usher in the Day, but

also shut the same, and bring on the Night, being therefore also

called _Vesperus_; we shall find a fit resemblance of all this in our

Philosophick _Lucifer_, forasmuch as the same makes known and discovers

to us, the rising as well as setting of our Spiritual _Sun_, and is a

double Key which shuts as well as opens.

But to shew more particularly that my New found _Alcahest_ or Spiritual

_Sal-Armoniack_, hath this resemblance with the Morning-Star,

_Lucifer_; I say, that, as the said Star ushers in the _Suns_ rising;

so likewise our Sophick _Lucifer_ goes before our Spiritual _Sun_, and

ushers the same over the Helm. And as the Firmamental Sun, when it

riseth above the Horizon, doth by its Light, and Vital heat quicken,

vigorate and refresh every thing; in like manner our Philosophical Sun,

or Spiritual Gold, when by means of our _Lucifer_, it is brought from

under its earth or dark _Chaos_, quickens and rejoices whatsoever is

contain’d within the compass of our Sophick Heaven.

And as in the Heavens the _Sun’s_ rising follows soon after the

appearing of the Morning-Star, following the same, as it were, at the

heels; so likewise our _Lucifer_, when by the Artists, She is joyned

with the dark _Chaos_, in which the Sophick Gold lies hid, and begins

to feel the Fire, swiftly comes over (for such is the nature of an

_Alcahest_) and brings tidings of the Philosophick Suns rising, which

indeed follows it at the heels. Again, As the _Sun_ of the Firmament,

leisurely follows the Morning Star, not leaping forth all at once; so

our Sophick _Lucifer_ brings over Gold, not all at once, but gently and

by degrees, at first appearing very little, and afterwards discovering

it self more and more, till at last it shine forth in its full Meridian

Glory.

Neither ought it to be thought strange, that I compare our _Alcahest_

to _Lucifer_, our Gold to the Sun, and our _Alembeck_ or Vessel

to _Heaven_; seeing that others have done the same before me, and

particularly _Hermes Trismegistus_ the Father of all Philosophers,

has made use of this Allegorical way of expressing himself in the

description of his _Universal Tincture_, as may be seen in his

_Smaragdine_ Table at the latter end of _Mirac. Mundi_.

Thus the _Reader_ may see how the Philosophers of old took pleasure

to represent their high Secrets in Parabolical expressions; which may

further be traced in _Morienus_ his Description of the _Universal

Tincture_, in _Paracelsus_ his Book entitled _Cœlum Philosophorum_,

which contains great Secrets concerning the Transmutation of Metals,

but much in Symbolical, and Allegorical expressions.

But to return to our _Alcahest_, whose name imports a strong Spirit

which lays hold of Heavy and fix things carrying them upwards with

it self, that is Volatilizing them. The _Eagle_, as a King of Birds,

seizeth Hens, Gees, Hares, _&c._ with his Talons, and carries them up

to his Nest; but as for what _Pliny_ writes of the _Griffon_, seems

rather an Allegory than a true History, because _Pliny_ among other

things relates of this Bird, that with her strong Talons she digs up

Gold from out of the high Mountains and Rocks, and makes her Nest with

it: Now how improper this is for a Bird to make her Nest with Gold, and

not rather with Feathers and other soft materials, is apparent enough

at first sight. Wherefore we may safely conclude, that the Ancients

by this great and strong Bird, have denoted to us a violent and high

volatil _Alcahest_, such as ours is, which lays hold not only of the

Spiritual, but also of the Corporal Gold which is in Metals, Stones

and Rocks, and plucks up the same with its sharp Talons, and with its

strong Wings carries up the same to the tops of Mountains, there to

make her Nest. Thus we see how this Story may be verified: For indeed

the Talons of our _Alcahest_ are much sharper, and her Wings much

stronger, than those of the _Eagle_ or _Griffon_; for when we pour the

same upon any colour’d Metals or Stones in a Glass placed in a heat

of Sand, it presently lays hold of them, and digs up not only the fix

Gold that is in them, but also all their fix and volatile Tincture,

and carries it to the top of an high Mountain, that is the head of the

_Alembeck_. Nor doth it only exert its power upon imperfect Metals,

or upon Sand and Flints, which are of a Dissimilar and Heterogeneous

nature, and therefore more easily separable, but shews forth also its

surpassing strength, upon six Gold and hard precious Stones, which

are Homogeneous and of very difficult Separation, penetrating their

compact and shut-up Bodies, drawing from them their fixed Tinctures

or Souls, and carrying them up to the tops of _Olympus_. Neither doth

it only extract Tinctures from dissolved Metals and powdred Stones,

but also from those that are whole and entire, robbing them of their

Tinctures without destroying the frame and figure of their Bodies,

which indeed is wonderful. And as it thus extracts these Tinctures, so

it can wonderfully introduce the same again into other hard and compact

Bodies: All which it performs by reason of its surpassing subtile and

piercing nature; as being neither Earth, Water, nor Air, but a meer

Fire, penetrating all things, and which nothing can withstand or resist.

Take this instance of it; Fill a Glass-body with Earth, Water, or Air,

and you’ll find that none of them will be able to penetrate the Glass,

but put Fire into it, and it will pierce the same without the least

resistance. Wherefore the Philosophers speaking of our Secret Fire,

say: _Our Fire is stronger than the Common, because it turns Gold that

is most fix into a meer Spirit, which common Fire can no way perform_.

All men know that Gold cannot be destroyed by any common Fire, whereas

our secret Fire carries over Gold in form of a Spirit, as if it were

a volatile Mercury: Judge then whether this be not a wonderful Fire,

which as it were in a moment, makes fix Gold spiritual and potable.

We read in the Scriptures, that the _Israelites_ forced _Aaron_, in

_Moses_’s absence, to make them a Golden Calf for to Worship; and that

when _Moses_ was come down from the Mount, and saw the Children of

_Israel_ dancing about the Golden Calf, _his anger was kindled against

them, and burning the Calf with fire, he ground it to powder and

strewed it upon the water, and made the Children of Israel to drink of

it_, Exod. 32. 19, 20. Now whether it was by Art, or by the immediate

power of _God_ that _Moses_ so burnt the Golden Calf, that the

_Israelites_ could drink it down, we will not now dispute; thus much

we know, that it could never be done with common wood or Coal fire.

Besides, we know that _Moses_ was not defective in any thing of Art or

Knowledge, as having been educated and instructed in the Royal School

of _Pharaoh_, in which true Philosophy, Astronomy, Magick, Alchimy, and

Physick at that time greatly flourished. We read of the Holy Apostle

and Evangelist St. _John_, a thing no less surprizng and wonderful,

_viz._ that he turn’d Rods to Gold, and common Stones into Gems, which

he distributed to the Poor; as is exprest in the _Latin_ Hymn the

_Roman_ Church sings in honour of that Evangelist, on the Festival-day

appropriate to him, I am not ignorant that some are of opinion that

St. _John_ could never do this by art, because he did not make use of

the proper matter for Transmutation, but by the immediate power of

_God_, which I will not now determine; only this I can say, and if

need were, make an Ocular demonstration of it, that out of Wood, and

other Vegetable and Animal subjects, none excepted, good Gold, abiding

all proofs may be made, though with more ease out of one Subject than

another. For indeed the Principles of Metals are as well to be found

in Vegetables and Animals as in Minerals, though somewhat more remote

and invisible, than in these. That Wood contains a Sulphur like to

that which is found in Metals, none can deny, and I have demonstrated

in many places of my Books; neither is it destitute of _Mercury_ and

_Salt_. Wherefore I here openly profess, by an impulse from _God_

and Truth, that it is no hard thing for me, out of all Vegetable and

Mineral Subjects to make good Gold, by means of our fiery maturating

Spirit, to which in this Treatise I have given the names of _Alcahest_,

_Eagles wings_, _Griffons talons_, and _Lucifer_.

The Ancient Philosopher _Artephius_, has not specified the time, in

which his Secret fire can maturate the true subject of the Stone, and

bring it to perfection. _Pontanus_ saith it may be done in a short

time, and with small charges. ’Tis probable that _Moses_ scarce spent

one day in burning the Golden Calf with the Sophick fire; neither is it

likely that St. _John_ made any long work, of changing Wood into Gold,

and common into precious Stones. If _Miriam_, _Aaron’s_ Sister, could

in three days time compleat the Philosophers Stone from beginning to

end, (according to the Testimony of Philosophers) why may not there

such enlightned Persons be found at this day among good Christians that

can do the same? The same _God_ who gave this knowledge to _Moses_ and

_Miriam_, as also to the Evangelist St. _John_, he lives still, and

ceaseth not by his Holy Spirit, to enlighten his Elect, without any

Verbal Disputes, reading of Books, Labour, Weariness, or Charges, in

all Divine and Eternal, as well as Temporal and Natural things, and

to lead and conduct them to their desired end. Wherefore all ought in

the first place to beg of _God_ his Light, Understanding, and Wisdom,

as _Salomon_ did, and not to seek after vain and perishable Riches, by

which means they would obtain much more than they ever can by their

own willing and running. I _John Glauber_ affirm it boldly, that with

our secret fire, I can in the space of three hours, make pure natural

fix Gold to be as volatile as any Spirit of Wine can be; and again in

twenty four hours-time, turn the said spiritualized and exalted Gold,

into a fix transparent, spiritual, sweet, tinging Carbuncle: and this

in the way of Nature, to the wonder and astonishment of the ignorant

Covetous Children of this world, that walk in darkness; and yet (as

_Christ_ saith) are wiser in their Generation than the Children of

Light.

Let this suffice what we have here spoken concerning the power and

great vertue of our _Alcahest_, in preparing of Medicines and Universal

Tinctures, _viz._ that whatever Metals, common or precious Stones, are

put into it, it immediately does volatilize the same, and brings them

over the helm, carrying them upwards, to what height we please; for

sure it is that the higher Metals mount in distillation or sublimation

the purer they are. When now such pure and ætherial Spirits, are again

fixed, then they are no more gross Metallick Bodies as before, but

Spiritual Bodies, and Bodily Spirits; to the Eye Clarified Bodies, but

indeed and in truth Concentred Spirits, which penetrate all hard things

whatsoever, pass through lock’d Gates, and take away what pleaseth

them; and as they can without opening the door take out any thing,

so can they in like manner bring in the same again. As for instance,

I draw the Colour from Gold, and introduce the said Tincture into

Silver, being a fix pure and white Body, in which this Metalline Spirit

takes up its abode; and the pure body of Silver greedily attracts the

Tincture, because she stands in need of it; neither indeed can the

porous body of Silver, resist or keep out this piercing Spirit, but

passeth through warming and tincturing her throughout, and filling her

pores with Solar Tincture, communicates to her not only the colour and

weight, but also the nature and property of Gold.

Take another Example: Extract with our _Alcahest_ by Distillation the

fix Tincture out of Granates (not pulverized, but whole as they come

to hand, and that for reasons hereafter mentioned) which extraction

may be performed in half an hours-time, because our _Lucifer_ can

pass through shut gates. When now thou hast caught this Tincture in

our Hellish Spirit, then thou hast it at command, and it must obey

thee. If then our fiery Magnet be able to extract the Tincture from

hard Stones, without breaking, or destroying their bodies, it can as

easily introduce the same again into any hard, white stony body, and

colour the same, light or deep, as pleaseth thee best. For instance

thou drawest the colour from Granates, which indeed do superabound with

tincture, which renders them opacous, and therefore less esteemed; for

we find that a Ruby being of a lighter colour, that is less abounding

with Tincture than a Granate, is much more valued, whose Bodies

nevertheless do in all things exactly resemble one another, differing

only by reason of more or less Tincture. Indeed where the bodies

differ in hardness and clearness, there the case is alter’d; but when

the body is fixe, and can endure the fire, onely ’tis darkened by too

much Tincture, this may easily be mended by art, onely by extracting

or taking away some part of its Tincture, which will render it of a

brighter colour. Which extraction of Tinctures, and the introducing

of them again into pale or white bodies, may be practis’d upon all

precious Stones, and to very great profit. For example, I draw, by

means of our secret fire, the Tincture out of Gold or Granates, and

Introduce the same into another white Stone, which must be fix, that

is, such an one, which when made red hot, doth not become soft or

fall to shivers, but retains its former hardness, as all those do

which are called precious, because the fire can neither consume nor

separate their parts, such as Diamonds, Rubies, Granates, Saphires,

Hyacinths, Emralds, Topases, Chrysolites, Amethists, _&c._ All which

are coagulated of one and the same water, and tinctured with the same

colour; for though their colours differ, that proceeds only from the

greater or lesser quantity or purity of their Tinctures, their colours,

as well as their bodies proceeding from one principle. And the same

must be understood of all Metals; for Gold has no better original than

Iron or Copper, save only that by long distillation in the Earth, it is

better purified and ripened. Observe only that in this operation you

do not take Cristals, Beryls, or any other Stones which grow soft and

crumble to pieces when they are made red hot.

Some Jewellers know with the help of Fire, to mend some precious Stones

whose colours are not bright and clear enough: thus they burn away

the colour that is in Saphires and Amethists, making them white like

Diamonds, their colours being volatile, and therefore may be taken

away by Fire, but they can not introduce other colours instead of

those they have rob’d them of. Neither are they able to burn yellow

Diamonds to a whiteness, notwithstanding that Art has been much sought

after: But our _Alcahest_ can easily perform this Master-piece, for as

much as it, like a subtil piercing fire, can pass and repass through

shut doors without impediment, whereas all gross, corporal things are

fain to stand without. For which reason I have given our secret Fiery

Spirit, the name of _Lucifer_, of which _Artephius_ speaks thus: _Our

Fire is moist and dry, it pierces all things, dissolves, volatiliseth,

and also fixeth them; it is natural, unnatural, and supernatural_: For

though Nature make Gold and Precious Stones in the Earth, yet doth it

not afford us such a supernatural Fiery Spirit or Stone with which we

at our pleasure can make Gold and Precious stones of Earth. Therefore

it is Art that brings things higher and further than Nature can, and

yet the Artist cannot go beyond Nature, except he have first learnt

to know Nature and taken his Principles from her. Now we know that

Spirits, whether they be hot or cold, light or dark, good or evil, are

of more power and efficacy than gross Bodies, for which reason God, who

is Light and Life, and his Adversary Satan, who is Death and Darkness,

have so great power: Though indeed the Darkness hath no more power than

the Light allows or permits it to have: For the Light rules over the

Darkness, so as the Darkness can do nothing against the Light, of which

matter I intend, _God_ willing, to Treat further in my second and third

Purgatory.

In the mean time we have here shewed, how by Art such powerful Spirits

may be prepared, as can effect things supernatural; for which reason,

amongst others, I have given our _Alcahest_ the name of _Lucifer_: for

_Lucifer_ was in the beginning with _God_, an Angel of Light, whereas

now he is cast into utter Darkness; so likewise our Incomparable

Wonder-working _Alcahest_ in its first preparation, is a bright Fiery

Spirit of Light, but after its coagulation, it becomes a spirit of Cold

and Darkness, binding all volatile Spirits, whereas before it made all

fix things volatile and spiritual. Which that I may more fully evidence

to the Ignorant and Incredulous, I shall give an Instance thereof first

in Gold, and then in Precious Stones.