_To prepare the highest Medicine, or Universal Tincture for Humane
and Metallick Bodies, by means of our fiery_ Alcahest.
_Recipe_, one or two pound more or less of clean Filings of Steel, such
as may be had of the Needlemakers, put them into a glass body, so as
they may but take up a twelfth part of it; then pour upon them a well
rectified Spirit of Wine, _viz._ to every pound of Filings four or six
pound of Spirit of Wine. Care must be taken that the glass body be
capacious enough, else, when the Spirit of Wine begins to work on the
Steel Filings, it will run over. The Body then being placed in Sand,
and the Recipient ready at hand, add for each pound of Spirit of Wine
in the Glass, one ounce of our _Alcahest_, which will acuate the spirit
of Wine so, as to dissolve the Steel, in which solution, the Sulphur
of the Philosophers, or purest Tincture of _Mars_ is set loose, and
immediately received by the spirit of Wine, and with it carried up
to the Philosophick Heaven. But because this Soul of _Mars_ has not
yet obtained to that height of purity which the Philosopher desires,
therefore it must enter his Purgatory, there to put off all Impurities
it has brought over with it: that is, the spirit of Wine must under a
large refrigeratory head be burnt away, in which flame the _Anima_,
_Mars_, or soul of Iron, becomes purified to the highest degree, the
flame carrying the Tinging Medicine over in form of a pellucid clear
Water, which is the true Water of life of the Philosophers, healing
all Curable Diseases, if daily taken in a small quantity. For this
Medicine renews the Body of Man, and makes old Age young and blooming
again; neither do I believe that a better Medicine can be found in
the World than this is: and that because the fix _Mars_ with the help
of our _Alcahest_, is brought to the highest degree of subtilty, and
is afterwards by the purest of Fires, yet further purged and exalted.
Wherefore also like Lightning it pierceth all parts of the Body, opens
all Obstructions, which are the cause of Death: And besides all this,
tinges _Lune_, and coagulates Common _Mercury_ into fix _Sol_, as I
have often tried and experimented my self; for I should be very loath
now I am on my Death-Bed, and as it were dying, to expose any thing to
the World, besides what Experience has verified to me.
_N.B._ When first I made this Experiment, and was doubtfull as yet
whether it would succeed or no, I prepared some pounds of Martial
Spirit of Wine; and though I knew that from such a spirit of Wine
impregnated with _Mars_, little good could be expected, before the
spirit of Wine were separated from the Tincture; and that this
separation could not be made by any distillation or rectification, for
that the spirit of Wine always carried the Tincture over with it, as
Experience the Mistress of Fools taught me: Therefore I cast in my mind
to burn away the spirit of Wine, which when I had done, I found all
my spirit of Wine burnt away, and nothing remaining in the Porringer,
only I perceived, that as far as the spirit of Wine had reached, it
was tinged of a golden colour, higher than that of Ducat Gold. With
which Experiment not being fully satisfied (though I saw that this way
it was possible to make a true Tincture for Metals) I went further in
my search, that I might at last be Master of so great and profitable a
Work. I disposed therefore a great glass head so, as that conveniently
I could under the same burn away a little dish or cupfull of spirit of
Wine, but the Glass head soon broke with the flame of the spirit of
Wine, which still put me upon a further trial, I took a large, broad
and deep Pewter dish, placed it with the brim on three stones of an
equall height, so that I could conveniently set under it a little cup
with spirit of Wine: I filled my Pewter dish with Water, and then
kindled my spirit of Wine, to see whether any thing incumbustible would
come over with the flame, and by that time I had burnt away about two
or three ounces of Martial spirit of Wine, I found that the bottom
of my dish began to drop down a clear liquor, the Tincture of _Mars_
and the incumbustible _Mercury_ and Salt, together with the Phlegm
remaining in the spirit of Wine, being all condensed in the form of
Common Water. After I had removed the Dish, and poured out the Water,
I found the bottom of the Dish, the Cup in which the spirit of Wine
was, and the Silver spoon I had set under the Dish, to catch the Water
dropping down from it, were all thick gilt.
Having perceiv’d all this, it was easie for me to infer, that for as
much as Silver and Tin had been gilded thereby, that I was in the
ready way of obtaining a true Universal Tincture for Men and Metals;
wherefore I ceased not to contrive night and day, some convenient
Instrument, for catching of the Tincture, ascending in the flame
of the spirit of Wine. And so at last after long search, I had my
desire, being now confirm’d by Experience, that many pounds of spirit
of Wine impregnate with Tincture, may in one days time be easily
burnt away, under a Coppertin’d Head, by which means the Souls, or
incombustible Tinctures of Metals and Stones are obtained; which Head,
or Refrigeratory Instrument, I intend (God willing) to communicate in
the Sixth part of my Furnaces.
I can allure the Lovers of Art, that no easier or less chargable way
can be found than this is, for to attain an Universal Medicine or
Tincture, for that according to this Process, an Universal Medicament
may be had in three days time, and with very inconsiderable charges.
I shall add one or two Processes more, to shew how by means of our
fiery _Sal-Armoniack_, high and noble Tinctures may be extracted, out
of other Metals and Stones, and shall begin with _Venus_.
Copper inwardly is very like Iron, and like it, is dignified with
a very glorious Tincture, and by the help of our fiery _Alcahest_
(proceeding as was said before of _Mars_) in three days time a true
Tincture may be prepared from it for Men and Metals, thus: _Recipe_
of the finest filings of _Venus_, one, two or three pounds, put them
into a Glass-body, and for every pound of Filings pour on three or
four pound of Alcolized Spirit of Wine, lute the Helm and Recipient,
distill in Sand, and the Alcolised Spirit of Wine will dissolve the
_Venus_, vivifie her tinging Spirit, and carry it over the helm, yet
not visibly; but as soon as the Spirit of Wine is kindled and burnt
away under the refrigeratory, then the Tincture of _Venus_ appears in
the form of a deep red Salt: which Tincture performs whatsoever I have
before attributed to the Tincture of _Mars_. And in the same way a fix
Tincture may be had from common Combustible Sulphur in three days time,
as here follows.
_To fix the Common, Combustible, Yellow Sulphur in three days time
into a red and fix tinging Stone._
The whole Art of this Royal Work consists only in uniting the said
Sulphur with Spirit of Wine, and then burning it away under a helm,
to catch the incombustible Heavenly Salt, or Water of Life permanent,
which with Gold becomes coagulated and fixed to a Tinging Stone. Which
heavenly Salt as soon as by the flame it is separated from the Sulphur,
is a true Universal Medicine against all the Diseases of Mankind: but
when joined with Gold, it obtains ingress and tingeth _Lune_, and
coagulates _Mercury_ into _Sol_. Now to unite Sulphur with Spirit of
Wine (wherein the whole Art and Mastery consists) without any Corrosive
or _Alcali_, is an easie thing, and which I have declared in my late
publish’d Writings, and therefore do not think it needful to repeat
the same here. I do not deny, but since that time I have found nearer
ways to the Bush, but do not think my self obliged to prostitute those
Discoveries to all promiscuously, it being well if I have not said too
much already, and told Tales out of the School.
As to the foregoing Operation, it is obvious to conceive that Common
Sulphur joined with a dephlegmate spirit of Wine, burns much stronger,
and consequently with its flame will have a greater force to fix than
a Common spirit of Wine can. We know that God in the beginning made
the whole World of Fire and Water, from whence also all other things
have their Original: For when Fire and Water, as contraries, work on
one another, they always generate a third thing. The Fire, as the
Agent, works upon its Patient Water, which action cannot be performed
without the Air, nor can the Water without Earth have any Consistence
or stability to abide the Fires action. For which reason it is that
we find no Metalline Oare, but only in the Earth, and especially in
such Clefts and passages of the Rocks and Earth, where a constant
moisture trickles down, and whither the Central Fire can have free
access, to work upon its proper Patient: From which union of Male and
Female Seeds, a third thing must necessarily be produced. Now if the
Sulphur which is the Male, and the Water which is the Female-Seed, be
pure, a pure birth proceeds from them, and by the rule of contraries
if impure, the production must be so likewise. Thus it appears that
the moist Caverns, Holes, and Clefts of the Earth, are the fittest
Wombs for Minerals and Metals. I am not ignorant that Metals may also
be generated in Sand or fat Earth, especially where the same lye
moist; for when the Demogorgon, or Central Fire, Spirit ascends from
the Center, and meets with a moist Sand or Clay, he joins with it,
whence it is that oftentimes in Sand and Clay Metals are found, but not
in great pieces as in the Clefts of the Earth, but only in less and
greater Grains, according as the disposition of the place permits, it
being notorious that Grains of Metal are oft found in Sand, and wash’d
from it.
That the Subliming Sulphurous Vapor, when it meets with a slimy
Matter in the Earth, doth unite with, and turns to a Metal, no Man
needs doubt of: For I have seen many things in the Earth changed into
Metalline Sulphurous Flint-stones. Thus we see that this Sulphurous
Vapour readily cleaves to Snails in the Earth, turning them to Flint,
of which I have seen many, and have some with me at present. Amongst
other things I have seen a Leather Purse turn’d to Flint, as also the
Privy Member of a Man, the reason of which will be obvious to him that
considers of it. We know also that sometimes though rarely Metals are
produc’d in the Air, and from thence fall down to the Earth, especially
Iron in form of small drops, because the Air is not the proper place
for the generation of Metals, for as much as they find no resting
place there. Stones also are at times generated in the Air, and from
thence are cast down upon the Earth. Thus in the Summer time, when the
attracted Sulphur is kindled by the scorching beams of the _Sun_, and
works on the moist Cloud, in a moment Stones are generated, which with
Lightning are cast down thence: These are sometimes of strange Figures,
but commonly are shaped like Wedges. I have seen one of them that was
three-corner’d, and which way soever it was turn’d represented the
figure of a Mans Heart, and had, amongst other, this Virtue, that it
preserves all those that are in the House where it is, from being any
whit terrified with Thunder or Lightning. But of these matters I have
treated elsewhere, being only mention’d here to demonstrate that Fire
and Water are the Principles of all things; which being granted me, it
will not be found strange, that by burning away Spirit of Wine, a Stone
of the greatest Virtue and Power, _viz._ that of the Philosophers,
should be generated: which I have not only experimented my self, but
recommended it to others, who have likewise performed the same. Now if
so weak a Fire, as that of Common spirit of Wine is, has the Power,
by working upon its Patient, as it were, in a moment to generate an
Heavenly Salt or Stone; why may not we then suppose, that when spirit
of Wine by the union of a pure Sulphur, is made to burn much stronger;
that this duplicate spirit of Wine, will produce a Duplicate _Mercury_
or Cœlestial _Salt_? Yea, surely it cannot be doubted but that such a
spirit of Wine acuated with the pure spirit of Sulphur, will not only
in burning away afford a better _Mercury_, but also in greater quantity
than any spirit of Wine alone can, because the incombustible _Mercury_
and _Salt_ in _Sulphur_, becomes meliorated by the flame of the spirit
of Wine, and highly exalted in Vertue.
When Sulphur is kindled under a Bell, or other convenient Instrument,
the incombustible salt of the Sulphur, mounts with the flame, in the
form of a Corrosive Oyl, and is caught and used to several purposes.
But this sowr Oyl, may well be compared to unripe Grapes, which being
eaten, are hurtfull to the Stomach but if these sowr unripe Grapes be
suffered to hang on the Vine till the heat of the _Sun_ hath ripened
them to a perfect Sweetness, then they will cause no gripings or
flatuosities, as unripe Grapes do, but afford good nourishment to the
Body: and when the juice of them is by fermentation turn’d to pleasant
Wine, it not only strengthens a weak Stomach, but revives the Spirits,
comforts the Heart, strengthens the Brain and all other parts of the
Body, makes Men chearfull and courageous, and drives away Sorrow and
Melancholly, and in a word, is a cause of much good to the sick as well
as sound.
Now if Common Wine can do all this, what wonders, think we, may then be
expected from the fix soul of its purest Spirit, when by its own proper
Agents flames, it is in the highest degree purified, and besides this,
united with the sweet soul of Sulphur, and thereby strengthened in all
its powers.
That Sulphur in its innermost is as good as Gold, none that are knowing
in Nature will deny, but this doth not appear till by the flames of
spirit of Wine it be reduc’d to a sweet, pleasant, fix, red tinging
Salt, and then you are Master of as powerfull a Medicine, as any is
in the World. _Lully_, tells us plainly, _Make that which is bitter,
sweet, and you will have the whole Art_. _Basil Valentine_ saith, That
he who in the Chymical Art, can with spirit of Wine dulcifie a sowre
spirit of Salt, deserves to be Knighted for it, as having done a most
Heroical action; and adds, That with this dulcified spirit of Salt, the
Tincture of _Sol_ may be extracted, which is the very Truth. _Hermes_
concludes his Smaragdine Table with these words: _Here ends what I had
to say concerning the Solar Work_; and so say I too. I have spoke plain
enough, and now catch who catch can: For I don’t think my self obliged
not only to catch the Bird for others, but also to pluck, roast, chew
and thrust it into their mouths.
In like manner, as has been here said of Sulphur, we may proceed with
Antimony and Orpiment, for to obtain their Quintessences, as also with
all Vegetables and Animals; with which pure Essences great wonders
may be performed in Physick. Time will not suffer me to enlarge on
the subject, but I intend (_God_ willing) shortly to publish a small
Treatise of the _Divine Character_, or _Seal of the Deity_, by which
the World and all that is in it was at first created, and yet daily the
Stone of the Philosophers and many other wonderful things are made,
and brought forth a-new from the conjunction of Fire and Water, that
is, _Sulphur_ and _Mercury_; in which Writing, the true ground of many
New Generations, which far surpass Nature, and are produced by a due
combination of these two contraries, will be declar’d and laid open.
After the same Method, as before mention’d, the Tinctures of other
red Metals, Minerals and Stones may be extracted. Only we are to
take notice, that when we work upon Stones, ’tis best only to make
use of our _Alcahest_, without the addition of spirit of Wine, for
the obtaining of their Tinctures, because stones are not of so easie
solution as _Mars_ and _Venus_. We may also with our fiery _Alcahest_
extract red Tinctures from White Sand-stones and Flints, though not
in such quantity as from those that are colour’d, which may easily be
guess’d. Many, ’tis like, will wonder to hear that a red colour may be
extracted from white stones; but this difficulty will be removed if
they consider, that all Sand-stones and Flints are nothing else, but an
Earthly gross Sulphur without any _Mercury_. Now we know that Sulphur
is a Father of all Metals, and that when _Mercury_ and _Salt_ in a due
proportion is join’d with him, then he makes a Metal. We also know that
all Sulphur inwardly is red, though it do not appear so outwardly till
it be joined with Salts. We have an instance of this in Lead, in which
no redness appears at all, but when the same is calcined with Salt,
its blackness is turn’d to a lively red, as may be seen in Red Lead.
For Fire and Salt have the power to exalt all Sulphurs. Forasmuch then
as the White Flint or Crystal has Sulphur in it, as appears from their
giving forth sparks of Fire, when they are struck hard together, in
like manner as when they are struck with Steel, which is nothing else
but a fix Sulphur, that by its proper Agent, which is naturally in
it, _viz._ a Vitriolate Salt, with the aid only of outward Fire, may
be ripened into a True Tincture. And here I refer my _Reader_ to what
_Artephius_ and _Pontanus_ writes concerning their secret Fire, for
further satisfaction.
I have prepared a particular Tincture from a white Sulphur, whereof one
part tinged three or four parts of red _Venus_ into _Lune_; but when
I commit this white Sulphur for some time to the Fire, its whiteness
becomes by degrees changed to redness, which then being projected on
Copper, gives it the colour of Gold. And if the Tincture be wholly fix,
it turns the _Venus_ throughout to fix _Sol_, but if it be not yet fix,
it can never make fix _Sol_, though it have attained a red colour in
the Fire. Forasmuch then as white Flints are nothing else but Sulphur,
why may not our Hellish Fire Spirit be supposed able to make the same
Red, as well as the White Metalline Sulphur. I declare it therefore as
a certain truth, that all white Sulphurs by means of Salt may be made
fix and red; and he who is so far advanced in the knowledge of Nature
and Art, as to know how to apply to every Agent its proper Patient,
will easily obtain his desires without any extraordinary charge or
trouble, and in a short time, for without the joining Actives with
Passives understandingly in weight and measure, no good can be done.