The Stones that are found in Fishes, Crabs eyes, so called, need only

to be pulverized, without heating them, and in abstracting the Spirit

of Wine from them, we obtain all their Virtues, which Spirit of Wine

being afterwards separated there from, as I have taught, or according

to my new invention burnt away, we shall get the true Magistery of

these Stones, being a pleasant _Salt_, full of Virtues, and without

any thing of Corrosiveness. This _Salt_ is the true Magistery of these

Fish-stones. The like true Magisteries may, without the assistance

of any Corrosive, be prepared of Coral, Pearls, Mother of Pearl,

Cockleshells, and the Egg-shells of some particular Birds, as also of

soft Stones, such as _Lapis Lyncis_, _Judaicus_, _&c._ Let no Body

think strange, that I make mention here of Egg-shells, amongst the

rest; seeing it is certain, that they have their Original from Stones,

as Experience teacheth us, for when Hens are coop’d up in the Winter

time, in places where they cannot meet with Sand, or small Stones, they

lay Eggs without shells. Wherefore Egg-shells are not to be contemned,

for when according to my Instructions they are reduc’d to Magisteries,

they are of great use in curing the Stone and Gout: And are used with

extraordinary Success, to hasten the Birth in Women, strengthning both

Mother and Child, and helping to expel the After-Birth.

Swallows Egg-shells may easily be had, forasmuch as after they have

hatch’d their young, they cast them out of their Nests, and afford an

excellent Medicine against the Falling Sickness. The Egg-shells of the

Wag-tail would be yet more effectual to this purpose, if they could

be got, for no Bird is subject to the Falling Sickness, but it: For

being caught, and running about with other Birds in the Winter, it’s

oft seiz’d with the Falling Sickness, his Feet stagger, his Head and

Tail tremble, and at last falls on his Back, but continues not so long,

for rising again, he plucks out some of his Feathers, and thereupon

immediately recovers, and runs about, eats and drinks as before: Of

whose Feathers, since their Egg-shells are not to be got, a Magistery

may be prepared against that Distemper.

They who know, that great Virtues are contained even in natural

superfluities, will not wonder at my treating here of Egg-shells and

Feathers. Some great Philosophers have set down the way of making the

Philosophers Stone of them; amongst the rest, a certain Author, writing

concerning Mans hair and Egg-shells, concludes thus: _Though these

matters may seem to be very strange and absurd, yet who is there that

knows all things_, &c?

Many other Subjects might be hinted, from whence Magisteries may be

prepared, but I think it needless, he who sets upon the work will

easily find many more, than I have mentioned. I shall only, by the way,

take notice, that the common Magisteries of the _Apothecaries_ Shops,

are no Magisteries, but mere dead, unprofitable Powders.

We now proceed to the Preparation of Vegetables and Animals, which

being of different Natures, must also differently be prepared. As for

Instance, _Opium_ (which is a tough Juice, and cannot be pulverized)

must be cut in thin slices, and laid on a Tin Plate before the Fire, or

any other convenient way, to be dried, and then powdred; which done,

we must pour upon it some of our _Alcohol_ of Wine, and after a short

digestion distil it, by which means we shall get it’s most subtil

Essence; and, if afterwards we burn away the Spirit of Wine, part of

this Essence will ascend with the _Mercurial_ Water, and other part

stay behind. The former of these, _viz._ the Volatile _Mercury_ of

_Opium_ is so powerful, that when only smelt to, it is of better effect

than the common _Laudanum Opiatum_ taken in substance. The Red Liquor,

which remains behind in the Cup or Dish after the Spirit of Wine is

burnt away, may be taken inwardly. That which remains in the Glass Body

after Distillation is of no great use, and may be cast away; yet if any

one will take the pains to dissolve it in common ⛛, filter, and after

reduce it to the consistence of Pills, perhaps he will not find it much

inferior to the common _Laudanum Opiatum_. The Oyl which remains in

the Cup is of very excellent Virtue, as having past the Purgatory Fire

of the Spirit of Wine, whereby it is much corrected: Wherefore also we

find, that this Oyl is wholly devested of that loathsome Smell that

is in _Opium_. But yet the _Mercurial_ Virtue, which ascends together

with the Flame, is far better than that which stays behind, not only

in Virtue, but because being in the form of a clear ⛛ without Taste or

Smell, it may with the more ease be taken by the Sick. The said Oyl

may also with Saffron, and the Narcotick 🜍 of the _Vitriol_ of ♀ be

thickned and reduced to the Consistence of Pills.

This Medicine is of great use, for such as are in pain, and want their

due Rest, removing the one, and procuring the other: And no Body can be

ignorant, how necessary Sleep and Abstinence are, to preserve Health,

as well as to remove Diseases.

According to this way, we may extract the Virtues of all vegetable

Subjects, and greatly exalt, as well as correct them, where need is.

_N. B._ _Henbane_ and _Tobacco_, this way prepared, afford _Narcoticks_

not inferior to _Opium_. _Aloes_, _Myrrh_, and _Saffron_ handled in

this manner, make an Elixir _Proprietatis_, ten times better than that

described by _Paracelsus_, or _Helmont_: For our _Alcohol Vini_ brings

over only their purest Essence, which is afterwards yet further exalted

through the Flames of the Spirit of Wine. According to this method,

a Man may prepare from Vegetables excellent Cordials, _Cephalicks_,

strengtheners of the Stomach, _Nephriticks_ _&c._ which in their

effects will far exceed the Common. Only we are to observe; that when

we have a mind to prepare an universal Medicine, we need not to meddle

with Vegetables or Animals, which are Grandfather _Demogorgons_ green

Cloak, forasmuch as a little piece of his Heart, is far more valuable

than his whole Cloak; wherefore he that would prepare an universal

Medicine, of greater Virtues than all Vegetables and Animals contain,

let him take to Task a part of this _Demogorgons_ Heart. Concerning

which, if the Reader desire further to be satisfied, let him peruse a

Treatise of the incomparable Philosopher _Joannes Bracescus_, _of the

Tree of Life_; where he may be informed, who this _Demogorgon_ is, what

his clothes, and what the inmost Blood of his Heart are.

Now by the way, to speak a little of this _Demogorgon_, we are to

understand, that the Ancients always described their universal Work,

not plainly so, as to be apprehended by every one, but wrapt up in

Riddles and Allegories; all of them pointing to this _Demogorgon_, who

has his Seat in the Center of the Earth, having a rusty Colour’d, and

green Cloak cast about him; which in plain terms, is nothing else but

the Central Fire, which God, when he created the World, placed there as

an everlasting vivifying Fire; by means of which quickening Fire, not

only Metals and Minerals are produced, but also all Herbs, Plants and

Trees: Upon which Account, the ancient Philosophers have described this

_Demogorgon_, to be the Grandfather of all the Heathen Gods, that is

_Metallick_ Subjects, and an Upholder of, and Provider for all things

that are within, as well as without the Earth; for all things proceed

from one Original, _viz._, this _Demogorgon_. Concerning which, _See

the Twelfth Treatise of_ Sendivogius.

Metals and Minerals, are as it were the Shirt, or inmost covering

of _Demogorgon_, whereas Vegetables and Animals, are but his Cloak,

or upper Garment. The Ancients have writ much concerning this

_Demogorgon_, attributing to him, not only the Generation and growth of

Stones and Metals, but declaring him to be the Father of those living

Spirits, which are often found in the Mountains, where Mines are,

especially of ☉ or ☽, about which, if the Reader desire to be further

satisfied, let him read George Agricola _his Treatise concerning

Subterraneous living Creatures_.

To return then to our _Demogorgon_, I say, there are found some

contemptible Minerals, in which all the Virtues of Vegetables and

Animals lye concentred, which Minerals take their Original from the

purest Heart-blood of _Demogorgon_: Such Minerals as these we are

to take in hand, if we would prepare an universal Medicine against

all Diseases, as well as a Tincture, to meliorate all white Metals

with great Gain and Profit. We are also to observe, that such an

universal Medicine, may easily, with little Charges, and in few days,

be prepared: For the Minerals themselves cost little or nothing, the

Dissolvent is very cheap, and the burning Spirit is not Chargeable,

so that an Universal Medicine, to meliorate Vegetables, Animals and

Minerals, may be made with the Charge of an Angel, which, certainly,

is a strange and wonderful _Compendium_. All this may be done with the

help of our Spirit of Wine _Alcolisatus_, without which, the Essence

of these Minerals cannot be brought over, nor be made perfectly sweet

and fine, without enduring the Purgatory of its refining Flames:

Wherefore, also our _Elias Artista_, or _Salt_ of Art, wherewith we

acuate our burning Spirit, and make such a wonderful _Menstruum_ of

it, may well be called the Monarch of _Salts_. And to demonstrate,

that such a Medicine prepared of Metals or Animals, with the help of

our _Salt_ of Art joyned with Spirit of Wine, is not only able to cure

all the Diseases of Men and Metals, but also of Vegetables, appears

first from hence, that an universal Medicine can scarcely, or at all be

prepared without the Concurrence of Vegetables and Animals: For which

reason the Philosophers say, that their Stone is Vegetable, Animal and

Mineral; if then the universal Medicine be made up of these three, we

must conclude also, that it is Master and Commander over them. The use

of this Medicine in the several three Kingdoms, is as follows. When

by means of our _Tartarized_ Spirit of Wine, thou hast brought over

the pure Essence of a Metal or Mineral, and separated the Spirit of

Wine from the _Metallick_ Essence, by burning it away, then the said

Essence stays behind in the Cup or Dish, wherein the Spirit of Wine was

burnt away, and may without any other Preparation be made use of, for

the Cure of all curable Diseases. But when we have a mind to make use

of this Essence, for the meliorating of Metals, we must first ferment

it with common ☉ or ☽, for without this, the Soul or Quintessence of

Metals can have no ingress into Metals, so as to unite with them in a

Fire of Fusion. We are also to note, that when this _Metallick_ Essence

is fermented with _Sol_, it becomes a _Solar_ Tincture, but when with

☽, it only affords a white Tincture. It is also to be observed, that

when we take two parts of ☉, and one of ☽ for our ferment, we shall

have a Red Tincture, and so on the contrary, if we make use of two

or three parts of ☽, to one of ☉, it will only be a white Tincture,

because the predominant Metal determines the Tincture. But he who hath

once obtained a well prepared Quintessence of Metals, will easily

know the ferment and way of applying it, for a due application is of

great moment in this matter. I have known some, who had extracted good

Tinctures from ♂ and ♁, but understood not the way of fermenting them,

that is of joyning their ferment without their Tinctures; neither

did they understand the Inceration, that is, the way to give to your

Tinctures easie Fluxibility and Ingress, so could not arrive at their

desired End. Were the World worthy of it, I could set down an easie,

cheap and short way, to extract much ☉ out of ♀, by which means every

one that is somewhat skilled in Distilling, Melting and Cupelling,

might have a Rich and inexhausted Mine in his own House, but it is

much better to be silent, than to strengthen Men in their Pride and

wickedness.

But to return to the Medicinal use of our Tinctures, we are to take

Notice, that the Red Oyl, which remains after the burning away of the

Spirit of Wine in the Cup, is fittest to make a _Metallick_ Tincture

of: But the ☿ or Celestial _Vitriol_, which mounts with the Flame of

the Spirit of Wine, is the most proper Medicine for human Bodies: For

this pure _Mercurial_ ⛛ is the true and best ⛛ of Life, wherewith,

not alone Men, but also other Animals, yea and Vegetables too, may be

cured of all Diseases, and Evils incident to them. And forasmuch, as

the highest Medicine of Vegetables is the Nourishment they draw from

the Earth, the warmth of the Sun, and fruitful Rain, and that on the

contrary a dry and barren Soil, and want of the cherishing heat of the

Sun and Rain, are the Death of all Vegetables, it is apparent that

there can be no better Remedy to keep off the Death of Vegetables,

than this our sweet cherishing, and vivifying ⛛ of Life, or Celestial

_Salt_: For when any Seeds of Vegetables are steeped therein, and

set only in Sand, they immediately shoot up and grow: And having

this effect upon Vegetables, we have the less reason to doubt of its

cherishing, and vivifying Virtue on human Bodies, as indeed there

cannot be a better Medicine to rid the Body of Man, of all manner

of Diseases than this Universal Blessed ⛛ of Life, or heavenly Rain

⛛. When we attentively consider Nature, we find, that the Life and

growth of all Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, is Originally from the

Air, or an Airy volatile Spirit. Thus we can make all hard Stones and

Metals grow as it were in a moment, by means of such a volatile Spirit,

concerning which, I have spoken in the Second Part of my Furnaces.

This sudden growth of Stones and Metals, I have many years since

shewed to some of my Friends, who greatly admired the same, but could

not comprehend that reason thereof. Now therefore, to satisfie the

Searchers after truth, I declare, that all growth, whether in the

_Microcosme_, or _Macrocosme_ proceeds from a Spirit, or Volatile

_Salt_, arising from two contraries, _viz._ an _Acid_ and an _Alkali_;

for when an _Alkali_, and an _Acid_ Spirit meet, they cause an

Effervescence, during which, there proceeds from them both a very

subtil Spirit, which has the Nature and Property to make all things

grow. If a Man takes this Spirit inwardly; it procures and preserves

health; if it be joyn’d to an Herb, it makes it to grow and shoot up

suddenly. With this Spirit we can make an Herb grow from its Seed in

the midst of Winter, (but it must be in a warm Room,) so as it may be

seen to grow; which my self have performed more than once. And to make

it appear, that this swift growth only proceeds from a volatile Spirit,

produc’d by the strife of two contraries, I’le give this instance;

pour one Pound of Oyl of _Vitriol_, upon one or two Pound of calcined

_Tartar_, not at once, but by degrees, and at several times, and it

will cause a great strife and Effervescence, cover the _Cucurbit_

with its Head, and give Fire in a Sand Furnace, by which means a very

subtil volatile Spirit comes into the Receiver. If before this Work be

undertaken, a Stone hath been dissolved by the calcined _Tartar_, and

a Metal in the Oyl of _Vitriol_, then the Spirit, which proceeds from

them, will be much more powerful; because the Virtue both of the Stone

and Metal comes over with the Spirit. In this manner may a volatile

Spirit be had from all _Acids_ and _Alkalis_.

To demonstrate this further, that the growth of all things proceeds

from the strife of two contraries, take this instance: Dissolve some

Iron or Copper in Spirit of _Salt_, or Oyl of _Vitriol_, draw off

the Flegm, in which Distillation none of the _Acid_ Spirit will come

over; because it is joyn’d and concentred with the Metal, animating

and disposing it to shoot up and to grow swiftly, so as the eye may

perceive it grow, like a Tree with a Body, Boughs, Branches, and Twigs.

Take this Spirit of _Salt_ or _Vitriol_, concentred by the ♂, as soon

as you have taken it out of the Furnace, whilst it is yet warm, and

break it into little Bitts, about the bigness of large Pease (if you

should suffer it to grow cold, it would by attracting the Air, suddenly

run into an Oyl _per deliquium_.) These pieces of animated ♂ must be

joyned with its contrary, for which you can choose nothing better than

a Liquor of Flints prepared in the same manner, which I have taught in

the second part of my Furnaces. The Glass, wherein you put this Liquor

of Flints, must be of the same wideness at the top, as at the bottom,

and about an handbreadth high, and fill’d with the said _Alkalious_

Liquor, to which, put your _Acid_ concentred by the ♂, laying the

pieces orderly a thumbs breadth from one another, and place the Glass,

where it may not be shaken or jogg’d. As soon as these contraries are

thus joyned, they begin to act upon one another; but forasmuch, as the

one of these contraries is concentred by the ♂, and become hard, it

cannot mingle it self with its adversary, or destroy it, so they only

vex and anguish one another, in doing which, a warmth ariseth between

them, and the one contrary pusheth the other to shoot and grow; the

hard and dry part, _viz._ the animated ♂ drawing so much moisture from

its contrary, the Liquor of Flints, as makes it heave and begin to

grow in form of a Plant, with Root, Stock, Branches, and Twigs, very

pleasant to behold, the growth being very swift, so as within an hour

and an half, or two hours at the most, the whole Glass is fill’d with

little iron Trees, which grow harder and harder, and when they are

hard enough, (which will be in the space of twenty four hours) then

the Liquor of Flints must be let out from it through a hole, left on

purpose in the bottom of the Glass, and the Plant, or little Tree,

remains. If we desire to make a more pleasant sight of it, we may take

several Metals, and make them grow up like a Tree; ♂ affords a dark

brown, _Venus_ a green, ♄ ♃ and ☿ a White and Grey, ☽ a Blew, and ☉

a Yellow Colour. Minerals also give different Colours from Metals;

_Lapis Calaminaris_ grows not into Trees, but into the resemblance of

Mountains and Rocks of a White and Greyish Colour.

If we have a mind to make Stones to grow, we proceed thus, first we

melt the Stone, whether White or Coloured, into a transparent Glass,

and pour it forth into a Copper Bason, where it will flow broad and

thin, and will be the fitter to be broke into as small pieces as we

desire. Which peices we place as before in a flat bottom’d Glass before

described, which must be full of an _Acid_ Spirit mixed with water, so

as it may neither be too sharp, nor too weak; for if it be weakned with

too much water, it will not retain strength enough to make it grow; and

if the _Acid_ be too sharp, it will dissolve the _Alkalized_ Stone,

wherefore great care must be taken, as to this particular.

_N. B._ The _Magnesia_ gives a Blood-red Tree, and much more beautiful

than any of the Metals: Only observe, that Metals may be made to grow

with less trouble than Stones.

From what hath been said, it appears beyond dispute, that the growth of

Vegetables, Animals and Minerals (Stones not excepted) proceeds from

two contraries. I could easily make this out more amply and fully, but

having treated of the same in other parts of my Writings, I shall let

it rest here.

_An Appendix or COROLLARY._

I have in the foregoing Treatise declared the use of the _Salt_ of

Art, both in Physick and Alchimy, and have set down nothing, but what

my self have experienced. What I have writ concerning our _Alcolized_

Spirit of Wine, is also the very truth: And tho’ what I have here set

down might seem to suffice; yet I cannot, before I conclude this small

Book, but mention a much greater Gift of God, than that of which I have

spoken here, _viz._ that God hath vouchsafed Mankind, for preserving

their Health, a Subject, wherein the Powers and Virtues of all

Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, are summ’d up and united together;

which Subject may be had in all places for nothing, and however

contemptible it may seem to the ignorant, yet it is the matter of the

highest Medicine in the World. Every Man can have enough of it from

himself, needs therefore not to go to another for it. _Adam_ and _Eve_

our first Parents brought this matter with them out of Paradise; yea,

every one brings it along with him from his Mothers womb.

Let no Man imagin, that I speak here of Urine, or Mans Dung, it is

something else, and more despised than either of them, so that a proud

Man will scarcely light upon it. I say, if a Man know this Subject, and

how to make use of it in Physick, he may well account himself happy, as

needing nothing of all that is in the World besides, in Case he hath

only strength, place, and convenience to prepare the same. The Subject

costs nothing, and the Preparation requires neither Glasses, Coals nor

Furnace. I commend this Subject to Physicians above any other in the

World, the Preparation being easie, and without Charges, and may be

finished in few days: So that the knowledge of this Subject, and its

easie Preparation, ought not to be look’d upon, as an invention of

Man, but as a wonderful, and undeserved Gift of God, reserved only for

those, who despise the World with all its Vanities, renounce the Devil

and all his Works, and avoid the Company of wicked Men, his adherents.

Of the Three most noble STONES generated

by Three Secret FIRES.

AND

_First, Of the Stone of Philosophers, which is prepared by the

Secret Fire of the Wise._

_Secondly, of the upper and lower Thunder-stone, how they are

generated above, by the Meteorological Fire; and below, by the

secret Artificial Fire. And_,

_Thirdly, How the =Lapis Ignis=, or Fire-stone of =Basilius=, is to

be prepared out of =Antimony= by Art._

_And how these Three most noble Stones of the World, are to be used

in Physick and Alchymy. Translated out of the =High-Dutch=._

_Reader_,

In the end of the Appendix to the Seventh Part of my _Pharmacopœa

Spagyrica_, I have made mention of Three Fires, which are not Common,

but unknown to the World. By which are generated three wonderful

Stones, which I did intend to publish. First, of the secret Fire

of Philosophers, commonly called the Fire of _Artephius_, because

_Artephius_ a very ancient Philosopher did first write of it, who was

also envious like others, and would write nothing of it, till he came

to be nine hundred Years old which way the Philosophers Stone was to

be made by this Fire. These Writings have been long tossed up and down

the World, before any could be certain, whether or no this miraculous

Fire could be found in Nature. At length some Philosophers attain’d its

knowledge, and published it for the good of the World. But because,

those Philosophers were very obscure in their Writings, the Art could

not be made common, but remaineth secret to this hour: So that one

of a Thousand among the now reputed Philosophers, (who have fill’d

the whole World with their unexperienced Writings) scarcely one is to

be found, who know any thing of it. And because this secret Fire was

called by the true Philosophers, _Ignis Philosophorum_, it would have

becomed them, to know somewhat of it. _Helmont_ the most experienced

and learned Philosopher of his time, although he had studied long in

the Universities, yet he doth not Glory in any Arts he there learned:

But on the contrary, he saith, that Physick, as it is taught in the

Schools, is of no value. And, that not the Universities, but the Fire,

made him a Philosopher. And therefore, he calls himself a Philosopher

by the Fire. And without doubt, our secret Fire was known to him, as

appears by his excellent Writings. For his _Elementum Ignis Veneris_,

to which he attributes so many Virtues, could not well be made, without

this secret Fire. A Quintessence may be drawn out of _Venus_, but that

will not effect, what the Red Element of the incombustible _Sulphur_

can. _Paracelsus_, in his Book of _Sulphur_, writes, that an excellent

_Elementum Ignis_ may be made out of common _Sulphur_, which he so

highly commends, that he dares to say, that except a Physician hath

this Element of Fire, (that is the fixed Quintessence of _Sulphur_,

among his _Arcanums_, he cannot rightly be reputed a Physician, but a

Money Catcher, and Robber of the Sick. In my lately published Treatise

of _Sulphur_, I have also described an _Elementum Ignis_, which is

certainly a very excellent Medicine against all Cold Distempers, but

this is not yet fixed, but combustible, but the Element of Fire ought

to be incombustible. For as long as a Medicine made out of _Sulphur_ is

still combustible, and subject to blacken Silver when touched with it,

it cannot be reputed the true _Elementum Ignis Sulphuris_. For the true

Element of Fire of _Sulphur_ doth not make Silver black, but tingeth it

with a constant Golden Colour, which cannot be washed off. As also, the

Element of Fire ought to be of this Nature, to enter a Red hot Plate

of Silver without fume, as Oyl sinks into dry Leather; and to tinge it

Yellow. Also, it ought to tinge common ☿ into Gold, when added to it

in a due heat. This Quintessence of _Sulphur_, also must not be burnt

by the Fire as other Oyl, but remain incombustible. Therefore, the

Philosophers have called it an incombustible Oyl, a permanent Water,

_Aurum potabile_, _&c._ When it hath those Virtues, then it can perform

what _Paracelsus_ attributes to it, _viz._ Wonders both in Physick and

Alchymy; and by this, _Aristotle_ and his followers (who assert, that

the Species of Metals cannot be transmuted) are quite out of Doors.

It is true, _Aristotle_ also saith, that the Metals cannot be

transmuted, if they be not first reduced to their first matter, of

which I have sufficiently treated. This our fixed Oyl of _Sulphur_

transmutes the Metals without any precedent reduction of them to their

first matter. For our secret Fire hath taken away whatsoever was

pernicious or combustible; so that only the purest and incombustible

part remains, by which such great things in Medicine and Alchymy are

performed, that it refuteth all those who speak against it; although

many Impostors by their cheats, from place to place, have given

occasion to speak evil of the Noblest of Arts; which hath had an ill

effect heretofore upon my self.

An History of the Poisonous Tayl of Common Alchymy.

_Here follows a large Historical Digression of some great Abuses

which the Author some time underwent, but pertaining nothing to

the scope of this Treatise, I will not trouble the Reader with

it._

Now concerning our secret Fire, it is not made of Coals or Wood, or

other combustible Matter, but compounded of certain Fiery Waters, which

burn, but not like other Fires without the Glass, but always within the

Glass; wherefore _Artephius_, as the first Author of the secret Fire,

useth these words. _Our Fire is Mineral, Equal, Continual, it Vapours

not unless it be too much stirred up, it partakes of =Sulphur=, and

is taken elsewhere than from the matter; it pulleth down all things,

dissolveth, congealeth, and calcineth, it is artificial to find; it is

a short way without cost, at the least with small cost; it is moist,

vaprous, digestive, altering, piercing, subtile, Airy, not violent, not

burning, compassing or environning, containing but one, and it is the

fountain of living Water which goeth about and containeth the place,

when the King and Queen hath themselves._

This is _Artephius_’s Description of the Fire of Philosophers.

_Pontanus_ hath also wrote of this Fire, to whose Epistle I refer the

Reader for the more easie introduction to it.

_Artephius_ hath here plainly enough described the Matter, and the

_Mercurial_ Water, and _Pontanus_ hath confirmed it. He to whom God

will give it, will easily comprehend it; but _Artephius_ and _Pontanus_

teach nothing, but how to ripen the Stone of Philosophers compounded of

Gold, Silver, and _Antimony_, by this secret Fire. But because several

others as well universal as particular are to be easily prepared by

this our Fire, I think fit to say somewhat of it. Our Fire, maturates

whatsoever is put to it, whether Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals,

and therefore our Fire, as also the Matter of the Philosophers Stone

it self, is called Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral; as also a natural,

non-natural, and supernatural Fire. He who is not satisfied with this

may read _Artephius_ himself, where he will find more of this our

secret Fire.

Now having understood what _Artephius_ and _Pontanus_ have written of

our secret Fire, I could not but describe it somewhat more openly,

to shew the Artist a nearer and easier way to obtain it. I _Glauber_

can truly affirm this, That in my young days I have travelled many

Countries, and diligently searched for an Experienced Philosopher,

that might teach me some good. But I no where found my desire, but

I often found some diligent Physician, who following _Crollius_,

_Hartman_, _Beguinus_, and other Experienced Physicians, prepared

their own Medicines, by which they gained Honour and Wealth, and

were therewith content. Some of them had indeed read _Artephius_

and _Pontanus_, but had not light enough to understand them. I have

also endeavoured to frequent the elaboraories of Princes, to learn

something there. Indeed I found Processes enough there, which were

sent from great Men. By following of which, and working in _Arsenick_,

_Orpiment_, _Cobalt_, _Cinabar_, _Mercury_ and the like Minerals,

I drew a great deal of Poison into my Body, till at length I grew

weary of it, and therefore set my mind upon _Spagyrick_ Medicines,

by which I have found many curious Secrets, and gain’d a sufficient

Livelyhood. But yet at the same time, I attentively read the Writings

of the Philosophers, and out of them learned many good things, chiefly

_Basilius_, _Braceseus_, _Neusementius_ and the like good Authors;

but the secret Fire of _Artephius_, or the proper Agent, I could not

Learn, I have often Discoursed of it with Learned men, but always

found, that they understood less of it than my self. For they had not

read the Ancient Philosophers, but had spent their time in getting of

Money, and sending their Receipts to the Apothecareis Shops. But after

a light was enkindled in me from above, and I began to know this secret

Fire, I began to have an aversion to the tedious, and troublesome work

with Glasses, therefore I set it all aside, and now find my self more

at ease, by this Capital work, for I make no further use of Furnaces,

Glasses, or Coals, but can now do more and greater things in half

a Nutshell or Eggshell, than I could before, with all my Furnaces,

Glasses and Coals, for which I give incessant thanks to God, who is

the giver of all Good. This I was willing to add, _viz._ that our Fire

is hard to be found, but easie to be made, when known. Concerning the

Matter, it is not always the same, but may be taken after several ways,

yet according to the true proportion of the Fire, for this is all in

all, the proper Agent must be only excited by our Fire, and carried on

to the promoting of the Maturation of our Matter; for the proper Agent

is here as much concerned, as the fire it self, for that alone could

not work sufficiently to prepare an unripe Mineral by it self, without

the help of the proper Agent, in so short a time, into a Tincture

constant in the Fire, or universal Medicine. Now whoever hath a mind to

do any thing with our secret Fire, must have constancy of mind, tarry

at home, and beg assistance of God, whose Blessing he must wait for

with Patience.

Now concerning the farther use of our secret Fire, it is thus, that

all Vegetables, as Herbs, Roots, Seeds, Woods, _&c._ and all Animals,

none excepted, together with all Minerals and Metals, may without Cost,

be easily brought into excellent Medicaments, particularly. For our

Fire _Maturates_ the purest _Anima_, or Quintessence of all things.

Poysonous Subjects are converted into Medicine, sowr and bitter into

pleasant and sweet. The immature is ripened; and our Fire can be better

compared with nothing, than with the Sun, which gives Life to all

Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, and makes the imperfect, perfect,

nothing excepted. In fine, Our Fire is the greatest and most noble in

the World, the Sun excepted: But God is above all, the Lord of the

Creation. But what need I say much of the Melioration of Vegetables,

Animals and Minerals, by our secret Fire, I have said enough, if I

should say more, it would render it too Common.

But thus much it will be necessary to add, _viz._ what the Subjects

are, which are the most easily wrought upon by our Fire. Among

Vegetables, Wine, and what pertains to it is the best; Among Minerals,

_Antimony_ and _Mercury_, which is our living Gold; Among Animals, Man,

and what appertains to him. You have your own choice to chuse, which

you will, you have sufficient Advice, and want nothing more, but the

Blessing of God, without which all is in vain.

_Here followeth the Composition, or Preparation of our secret Fire._

Three Heathenish Deities command this our secret Fire, _viz._ _Apollo_,

_Diana_ and _Pluto_. _Apollo_ affords the warm Sun-shine. _Diana_ gives

the cooling and refreshing Night. And _Pluto_ gives his Fiery Hellish

Rain. That you may better understand it, _Apollo_ gives Wine three

times, _Diana_ Milk twice, and _Pluto_ his Hellish Fire once. Out of

these three Gifts, our Fire is prepared. This is the true Preparation

of our wonderful Fire. To speak of this more amply, is not convenient;

we must not cast Pearls before Swine, which way this Fire is to be

used to any Subject, is sufficiently discovered to a Man thereunto

elected by God. But there are many, who having no dependency upon God’s

Blessing proceed after an evil and cheating manner, so that those

_Alchymists_, or Gold-makers, are become a scorn to the Country, and

no Man cares to dwell by them, lest their great and continual Fires

should bring damage to his Neighbours, and this not without reason.

For in making Oyl of _Vitriol_ after the common way, a Fire is kept

ordinarily for forty or fifty hours, which is a very tedious Work; but

the Adepts can force over a Pound of Oyl of _Vitriol_ in an hours time,

with very few Coals, which thing I have already touched in my Writings,

and shall say more of it in my Second Appendix. I have recommended

this compendious way of making Oyl of _Vitriol_ and _Sulphur_, to

some Men; but they adhered so close to their old lingring way, that

they were regardless of a better, notwithstanding that the Oyl of

_Vitriol_, and the _Acidum_ of _Sulphur_, are the Basis or Foundation

of all the common _Hermetick_ Medicine, for all other Mineral Spirits

are by them acquired easily and plentifully. That Mineral _Acid_ which

is plentifully found in _Vitriol_ and _Sulphur_, is the only Agent

whereby Nature _Maturates_ the yet volatile and unripe Minerals in the

Earth. And also all Tinctures, which are fixed and constant in the

Fire, are by the hand of the _Artist_ prepared by this, yet with the

Addition of its Compeer, the external Fire. This universal _Acidum_ is

our Horse-dung, and the _Stygian_ water, in which _Jason_ drowned his

Dragon and made him fixed: But when I here mention _Jason_’s Dragon, it

comes into my mind what happened to me, when I once attempted to make

such a Dragon, which vomited out Fire, and a black poysonous Smoke, out

of _Sulphur_ and _Saltpeter_: And because this History, may serve as

a warning to many, who may incur much danger oftentimes by the common

_Alchymy_, I will here insert it. A little before I became Bed-ridden,

I had undertaken to steal from the ever watchful Dragon, that Golden

_Fleece_ which he hath in his keeping, and because this fierce Dragon

will part with nothing before he be half slain, or at least, laid to

sleep, therefore I was busied in this work, and had made a mixture of

_Sulphur_, _Niter_ and _Tartar_, and also another of _Salter-peter_,

_Antimony_ and _Tartar_, each apart in an Earthen Pot, in order to Fire

them for Detonation. And although I had ordered, that one Pot should

first be detonated, and then the other, that the Smoke might not be

too great, yet this was not done, but they were fired both together,

which caused such a great, black and stinking Smoke to ascend the

Chimney, that when the Neighbours saw it, they thought the House had

been on fire, and cryed out, Fire, knocked at my Door, to come in to

quench it, when there was none, notwithstanding this was not done in my

dwelling House, but in a House remote from all others, so that it could

have done no hurt to any else, if it had been burnt down, but they not

being satisfied got Ladders and looked down the Chimney, and seeing no

Fire there, they then said, it was Witchcraft. Out of this History,

one may see what a dangerous Toyl the common _Alchymy_ hath. This work

to kill the Dragon, and to spoyl him of his Golden _Fleece_, is one

of the pleasantest that ever I did in _Alchymy_, except the secret

Fire. For when the _Sulphur_, _Salt-peter_, _Antimony_ and _Tartar_,

are denotated together, and sublimed with _Sal Armoniack_, the Golden

_Fleece_ riseth in a curious Golden Colour, and tingeth the Head,

and Receiver with all sorts of Colours, like unto the Rain-bow, or a

Peacocks Tail, and also one sees the Foot-steps of the scaly Dragon

most gloriously in the Head; which _Neusementius_ hath excellently

described, in a few _French_ Verses, and hath omitted almost nothing

which belongs to this Work: And because I here write of this sort of

Work, it will not be amiss, to add those Verses. Concerning this,

_Medea_ thus exhorts _Jason_ in _Ovid_.

_Pervigil ecce Draco, squamis crepitantibus horrens,

Sibilat & torto pectore verrit humum._

Which _Neusementius_ hath thus rendred into _French_.

Voy le Dragon veillant de fureur forcenè

Qui d’escaille bruyante a le corps entournè

Dont le gosier sifflant fumeè & feu deserre

Et qui par replis tors va baliant la terre

De sa large poitrine en la poudre imprimant

Les sinueux sillons, qu’il trace incessament.

And may thus again be put into _Latine_.

_Adspice squamosum tumidumq; furore Draconem

Semper in excubias aures frontemque minacem

Vibrantem, & nullo claudentem lumina somno

Qui crista linguisq, tribus præsignis, & uncis

Dentibus horrendis, patulo de gutture Flammas

Sibilat, & fumis atratis inficit auras,

Adspice multiplices Gyros quos ponderè Caudæ

Insinuat Terræ, cum longa volumina ducit

Perque superficiem reptat, cum pectore lato

Verrit humum, relegens eadem vestigia semper._

And in _English_ may sound thus,

_Behold this scaly Dragon swel’d with Ire,

His Crest doth brandish, with a dreadful Brow;

Nere closeth Eyes, nor Ears, nor yet retires

From dismal noise, and horid Teeth to shew:

From his broad Throat flames issue out

Black fumes infect the Air about.

Behold the Rings, which his encircled Tail

Casts on the Earth, whilst he doth form his Coil;

With his broad Breast he creeps upon its Face

Sweeping the ground, always in the same Trace._

Here in few words the Philosopher describes the whole Work, how to

spoyl the Dragon of his Golden _Fleece_. But only to those, who easily

understand these Verses, whose eyes God hath opened, and are already

pretty well skilled in this Art. But to the unexpert all remains dark.

Reading only will not do it, but you must put your hand to the Work, if

you will attain to any thing. I have, for several years together, read,

sought, and laboured in vain, before I found the right way of obtaining

this Golden _Fleece_. And when at length I became Master of this Art, I

could not but admire that it was so easie a thing, and yet so difficult

to be learned out of Books. _Paracelsus_ and _Neusementius_ write

the plainest of this, of which two expert Men, I first learned this

Art, but afterwards I found a more Compendious way, so that I can now

perform the whole Work, with the Charge of one Ducat [or ten Shillings]

in a very short time. But I must leave it to others to do, being yet

detained in my Bed by my sickness: So that I can do no more, than to

shew to others by my Writings and Instructions, the ready way to the

Land of Promise.

_Of the Second Fire, and its marvelous Fire-stone, which is

generated by it._

We know, that Fire generates Stones, every one according to its Nature.

The secret Fire of the Philosophers, engenders the Philosophers Stone,

which is a universal Medicine for Men and Metals, as we have already

heard. That the Meteorical fire, from whence proceeds Lightening and

Thunder, generates also Stones, is known to all, for the Air procreates

the same things, which are found upon the Earth. Therefore _Hermes_ in

his _Smaragdine_ Table hath very well said, That whatsoever is beneath

is also above, and what is above, is also beneath, by which, marvellous

things are done. We know, that Frogs and Grashoppers and the like,

which are procreated in the Air, have fallen down with the Rain. I have

read in a certain Historian, that once a Calf fell down with the Rain.

_Anaxagoras_, a famous Philosopher, prognosticated in his Life-time,

that after he was dead, a great Stone should fall down from the Air,

to the Earth, which also came to pass. We also know, that sometimes

great pieces of Iron have fallen down, not compact, but sticking one

part to another like drops. And also, every Body knows, that Stones

are cast down by Thunder and Lightening, which Stones are formed and

concentrated by the Lightening, and so have assumed the Nature of a

Stone; for in the Lightening is hid a very miraculous Property seeing

that Lightening is a Fire of quite another Nature, than our common

Fire, which breaks in pieces all hard things which resist, but toucheth

not what maketh no resistance. It hath very often happened, that the

Lightening hath broken a Mans Bones, without hurting his flesh. We have

also known, that it hath melted the Sword in the Scabbard, and left the

Scabbard whole. This Stone generated by Lightening, hath quite another

Nature than common Stones, for it is not transparent like a Pebble

or Sand-stone, which melt in the fire. Neither hath it the Nature of

transparent and hard Gems, which do not melt in the fire, and yet keep

their Lustre, neither can the fire reduce it into Lime, as it doth a

Chalk-stone. In a word, it can be compared with no Stone in the World.

Its shape is also wonderful, for it is generally sharp at both ends,

but yet they are not all of one Figure or shape, they are generally

smooth on the outside, and of a milky Colour, and reddish within. I

have one which is Triangular like a Star, and if you turn it, ’tis

like a Heart, of which I never saw the like. I have also one which is

Cole-black, which is rough both within and without, it is a wonder to

me, that this Stone will not strike fire with Steel, notwithstanding it

is generated by fire. We may also by Art make Lightening out of Iron

or Steel, in which also is generated a strange Stone. The Thunderbolts

love all things which are combustible, especially Gun-powder, for the

Lightening it self proceeds from _Saltpeter_ and _Sulphur_, and that

is the reason, why it so often strikes into Towers, where Gun-powder

is kept, and also it useth to strike Old Oak Trees, which contain

_Sulphur_ and _Saltpeter_, also upon Church Steeples, but seldomer

in the open Fields. I once saw in _Germany_, where the Thunder had

stroke a Tower of Gun-powder, and although it was four square, yet

it run so about it, and took out a piece of Stone-work all round, as

if it had been cut out with Tools, because it could no where find

entrance. Strange things are done by Lightning, it sometimes killing

the Horse, and not hurting his Rider, and again killing the Rider, and

not hurting the Horse, because it is no common Fire, but a concentrated

Meteorical fire: It hath no resemblance of the fire of the Sun, much

less of our common Fire, but our secret Fire of the _Chaldeans_ hath

some Agreement with it, because it is made of Iron or Steel, and

_Saltpeter_: Therefore it cannot be much unlike the fire of Lightening,

for that is also generated out of _Saltpeter_ concentrated, and

_Sulphur_. Steel is concentrated _Sulphur_, that hath also Power to

concentrate _Saltpeter_, and so to generate this marvellous Fire. The

Meteorical Thunder-fire is a terrible one, but our Steel-fire _is_

more wonderful in its Essence and Operation, as we shall heer by and

by, for incredible things are wrought by it, so that even the Stone of

Philosophers, never so well prepared, is not to be compared with it.

_Query_, whether this Thunderbolt which is cast down by the Lightening

be of any Virtue, or whether it be a dead and unprofitable Stone? I

answer: It hath been always reputed, that if a Thunderbolt be kept in

any house or place, the Thunder and Lightening will never strike into

it. Whether this be true, I cannot tell, yet this I know, that those

who keep them esteem them highly, I my self have one, which I much

esteem for its marvellous Figure, for turn it which way you will, it

always represents a Star or a Heart. Many strange things are performed

by this Thunderbolt. I have seen several Foresters break it into pieces

of the bigness of a Pea, which they put into a Bullet-mold, fill’d

up the Mold with melted Lead, and did believe, that they could not

miss any wild Beast at which they should shoot it. I have also seen

some Souldiers make such Bullets, and formerly believed, that they

could pierce any thing with them, that otherwise they could not shoot

through. I have also seen others, who have put pieces of this Stone

into the pummels of their Swords, and believed, that this took away

their Adversaries Courage when they should encounter them, and so they

might easily Conquer them. These and the like things, I have seen done

with it. But whether this be so or no, it is probable that there should

be some ocult Virtues in those Stones. For seeing that all Stones are

good for somewhat, why should this marvellous Thunderbolt only be good

for nothing? Some cause Women in Labour to hold these Stones in their

hands, to facilitate their Labour; they also say, that it encreaseth

Womens milk, if it be put into their drink. Others put them into the

hand to stop Blood. If one could do any good with it, one might easily,

by the help of a certain Magnet, attract a great many of them from

the Air, as you shall hear anon. Now again, to return so our Fire and

Fire-stone, I affirm for truth, that our secret Fire and Fire-stone,

in its Essence and Efficacy, is more wonderful than the Meteorick

Lightning and Thunderbolt. For our Fire doth not burn or flame, but

when we will have it, otherwise it is like a dead Black-stone, if

you only keep the Air from it, it will remain a Stone as long as you

please. If you put it into a Glass and stop it very close, and keep it

under water never so many years, it will still remain Fire, and not

be hurt. For our _Chaldaick_ Fire, when once prepared, will not burn,

but remain good for ever, if you keep it from Air and Water. It is

sufficiently known, that the ancient Heathens put burning Lamps into

their Vaults, of which Lamps I have seen many, that were digged out of

Mines in _Colen_. Some of these Lamps were found in some burying Vaults

burning, when they were first opened, but as soon as the Air touched

them went out. But our _Chaldaick_ Fire remains dead, when kept close,

and is kindled by the Air. I call it dead, but it is rather a dormant

Fire. This our secret Fire hath so strange a Property, that it is

able at all times to attract Fire out of the Air, not only in the hot

Summer, but also in the cold Winter Nights, when the Sun is farthest

off. By the help of this Fire, I believe, I could at certain times

light a Candle, either under or above the Earth. The _Maccabees_ set

their Sacrifice on Fire by this, and not with common Wood, or Coal,

fire, as the Vestal Virgins in _Rome_ were forced to feed it with Wood

continually that it might not go out; if by chance or neglect it went

out, those Virgins were buried alive; in so great esteem, had the

_Jews_ and the Heathens, their Fires.

Now as for the use of our secret Fire, no Man may be so bold as to

discover the Power thereof to the World, for things incredible are to

be done by it, which are better to be concealed, than made publick: Yet

I will a little touch at it. The secret Fire of it self is of no use

in Physick, but great Secrets may be prepared by it, both in Medicine

and _Alchimy_. First, out of our fiery Mass may be driven a living

_Mercury_ of _Mars_, which is the most noble Subject to prepare an

extensive Tincture, both for Men and Metals, for of all _Mercuries_ of

Metals, this is the best. When our Fire is melted into a thick water,

and this fiery water poured upon a subtil Calx of Gold, and digested

with it, it will attract the yellow Colour from the Gold, and leave

it white, yet the Tincture is not yellow, but as green as Grass, out

of which an excellent Medicine may be made; it is also profitable in

_Alchimy_. For it is also of this Nature, that if you put a Solution

of Gold and Silver into it, they will be joyned together without

Precipitation, which is not usual to be done. One may also squirt this

fiery water, by peculiar Springs, to a great distance, and thereby fire

any Combustible matter. If you will, you may also shoot this our Fire

in a dry form, out of great and small Guns, to fire any thing with it.

I believe, that by the help of this, one might fire a great Canon under

water, by which you may fright Fish up to the Surface of the water in

deep Ponds, so that you may catch them with small Nets. One may also

drive away all hurtful wild Beasts, as Bears, Wolves, Foxes, nay even

Lyons, Tygers and Dragons, out of the Wilderness. One may also drive

away High-way-Men, Murtherers out of their Ambuscades, and catch them.

In a word, many strange things may be done with it, which for certain

Reasons I dare not mention. The greatest and the best thing that may be

done by this secret Fire, is the preparing of the _Mercury_ of _Mars_,

as also after a Magnetical manner to draw the Lightning which way one

please. I have had this Fire now for above twenty years, and durst not

own that I had Such a thing, now I am near my end, I was willing to let

it be known, that there is such a Fire in Nature. If I did not fear,

that malicious Men would abuse this secret Wonder-fire, I would have

been plainer, but the time is not yet come for the doing those great

things, but when _Elias_ the _Artist_ shall come, he will not fear to

make great Alterations in the World, by the help of this Fire. He will

establish much good, and abolish all that is evil, but I have said

enough of this at this time. I have indeed told you here that it will

be done, I do not desire, neither shall I live till it shall come to

pass, for such great Changes will not be made with ease, but with great

Zeal. God preserve the Pious, and shew them a way over the Mountains,

where they may live secure from this _Sodomitish_ Fire, _Amen_.

_Of the Third secret Fire, and the wonderful Stone that is

engendered by it._

That pious Philosopher _Basil Valentine_, in his Triumphant Chariot

of _Antimony_, teacheth, how to prepare a stone by Distillation and

Rectification out of the purest part of _Antimony_, and calls it the

_Stone of Fire_ because this Stone is prepared by Fire out of fiery

Subjects: And also because it expelleth all Diseases from the Body

of Man, and consumeth them as common Fire doth Wood. He also saith,

that this Fire-stone can transmute Silver into Gold, although in a

small quantity. The highly experienced Philosopher _Helmont_, makes

mention of almost such a Stone, which he saith, he saw in _England_

with one _Butler_, and tells of wonderful things that the said _Butler_

did with it. Now by reason of my diligent search into Nature and the

Blessing of God, such a Stone hath fallen into my hands, with which I

can do the same things in Physick and Alchimy, which _Basil Valentine_

ascribes to his Fire-stone, and _Helmont_ to _Butlers_ Stone: I could

not but leave to posterity, that it is possible to prepare this Stone

out of _Antimony_. The Art consists in this, that you first bring

the _Antimony_ by Sublimation, Distillation and Rectification to the

greatest Subtilty, and afterwards again concentrate this subtil Spirit

into a hard Stone, which Stone when it is not fixed (being then useful

in Medicine) is of a reddish Colour, and easily melted, and penetrates

all Bodies. But if by it you would graduate Silver into Gold, you must

first fix it, to abide the _Cupel_, but being once fixed, it will

not then perform in Medicine what it would before. It is worth much

more, when unfixed to be used in Physick, than when it is fixed for

the tinging of Silver. For the health of Men is more precious than

Gold or Silver. And with an universal Medicine, that will Cure all

internal and external Diseases, you may get Gold and Silver enough. I

have at this present time, but a very little of this Stone left, but

am resolved in a little time to make a good quantity of it, that I may

therewith serve my sick Neighbours. For it works strange things as you

shall hereafter hear. This our Stone is so powerful in its working,

that we dare not give it in substance, for one Grain of it serves for

twenty Doses or more, and each of them hath power to expel from the

Body whatsoever is hurtful. This Medicine opens all Obstructions, and

you shall hardly find any other comparable to it. The best way to

use it is to keep it whole, and not to powder it, and then it is fit

to be used both inwardly and outwardly. If you will use it inwardly,

then put a few bits of it into a Glass, and pour Spirit of Wine upon

it, in which a little Sugar is dissolved, and so let it stand till

you have occasion for it. If you will purge any Body with it, you

must put a few drops of it into a spoonful of Wine or Beer, or any

other Liquor, and give it to the Patient, and order him to be kept

warm, then the Medicine will work in his Body, like fire upon Wood,

and consume whatever impeded his health, and drive it out by all the

Emunctories, _viz._ by Vomit, Stool, Sweat, Urine and Spitting, and

leaves no impurity in the Body, and so it expels all Fevers and Agues,

however distinguished. It also cures the Plague, _Leprosie_, Gout, the

falling Sickness in young and old. It takes away all obstructions of

the Body, _viz._ of the Liver, Spleen, and Lungs, it expels all ill

Humours, contained in the Cavity of the _Thorax_ and all other parts of

the Body. This our Stone also opens the Obstructions of the Mesentery,

carries off all Slime, and Salt watry Humidities. It cleanseth the

Stomach and Guts from all pituitous and bilious Slime. It also draws

all hurtful Humours out of the Brain, takes away noise in the Ears,

Comforts the hearing and sight, takes away every Toothach in a moment,

fastens loose Teeth, and hinders their fouling. It takes away all the

Vices of the Throat, Mouth and Tongue, and suffers no uncleanness or

foulness to abide thee. It is a pitty to see that no Physician hath a

Remedy for the Toothach, but either pulling them out, or stopping them

when hollow with _Narcoticks_ or hot Oyls, which are indeed no cure:

Now forasmuch as this Disease troubled People of all Ages, and few know

any Remedy for it, I think it necessary to set down a never failing

Cure. ’Tis true, most Toothachs may be put off by Purging, and need not

so painful a Cure, as drawing. Out of Pity to those, who are troubled

with the Toothach from their infancy, I here declare the Remedy. ℞.

Of our Fire-stone, as much as a Pea, and put it into your Mouth, with

half a Spoonful of Wine, keep it in your Mouth as long as you can, or

so long till the Stone hath drawn your Mouth full of Rheume, then spit

it out, and again put the Stone into your Mouth, with as much Wine as

before, and keep it there till your Mouth is again fill’d with Rhume,

then again spit it out, and continue doing this so long, till you

have spit out half a Pint of Rhuemy Spittle, not reckoning the Wine.

The next day again draw out the same quantity; do this every Morning

fasting so long, till no slimy matter, but only a clear insipid water

comes out, which is a certain sign that your Head and Brain is freed

from all superfluous Moisture. When this is done, for a great while you

will be free from all noxious Rhumes, or Salt defluxions, which fall

from the Head to the Teeth, and there cause pain. This our Fire-stone

doth not only draw all noxious Humours from the Head, but also out of

the Stomack, Lungs, Liver and Spleen, and carries them out of the Body,

by the Mouth, as well or better than any common Purge. But if the Body

should be too full of ill Humours, so that our Fire-stone, should not

be able to draw them all out that way, then you must take some of it

inwardly extracted as before mentioned. But because this our Stone

is yet unfixed, and therefore sometime causeth Vomits, and some are

not able to bear Vomiting, therefore you may prevent it, by putting

distilled Vinegar with Sugar upon the Stone, instead of Brandy, and so

extract it, and this Extract will cause no Vomits, but only work by

Stool: This is enough to be said for the Cure of the Toothach. But if

Parents were sufficiently knowing, and careful of their Children, they

might in their Childhood prevent the greatest part of this Mischief,

by causing them daily to wash their Mouths, and behind their Ears,

with cold water. But in those who are come to Maturity, our Fire-stone

is the best of Remedies and never fails. It also cures the Scurvy in

the Mouth, when little hot Pimples appear, and the decay or washing of

the Gums. This Stone being held in the Mouth with Wine, also preserves

Old Men from Apoplexies, Catarrhs, and the like. Let this suffice to

be spoken concerning the Virtues of our Fire-stone, in the curing of

internal Diseases. But because the Variety of Distempers is great, I

will there set down the true way of using it, that none may err in its

Application.

_Of the true use of this Medicine in Diseases._

In all Fevers or Agues, let them be Quotidians, Tertans or Quartians,

you must always give our Medicine two hours before the fit, and keep

the Patient from the cold Air. In the Plague, Pleurisie and other hot

Fevers, you must not delay the using of this Medicine, but as soon the

Patient is taken, give him a Dose of our Medicine, let it work with him

in a warm Room. And if the Disease abate not, give him the next day

another Dose more or less, according to the condition of the Disease

and the Patient. And you must beware of Bleeding, if the Patient be

strong enough to endure a Purge, but if the Patient should not have

sufficient strength, and yet the heat encrease, then you may abate the

heat by taking away a little Blood, but not too much, that the strength

may not be exhausted with the Blood, and the evil yet remain in his

Body, for by Purging, only that which is hurtful is expelled, and the

good remains.

In the Epilepsie, you must use this Medicine only every other, or every

Third day, as long as there shall be occasion.

In the Stone of the Kidneys and Bladder, once in a Fortnight.

In the Dropsie, once a Week.

In the Cholick, once after you have used a Clyster.

In the Leprosie, once a Week.

In the Gout of all sorts, once in three or four Days, until the pain is

gone.

In Obstructions of the Lungs, Liver, Spleen and Mesentery, once or

twice one after another.

In the Venereal Disease, you must use it every Third day, and Sweat

between whiles, till the Disease is gone.

In the _Hypocondriack_ Melancholy, Scurvy and the like Distempers,

which proceed from Salt and Cholerick Blood, you must take a Dose every

Third day, till the Disease is gone.

In all sorts of Scabs and impurity of the Skin, which proceed from

watery Blood, you must take it once or twice, and apply outwardly a

fixed white _Sulphur_.

In the Dysentery or Bloody Flux, use it but once and it stays the Flux.

_Of the outward Use of our Fire-Stone._

If our Antimonial Fire-stone be boyled for some hours in Sallad-oyl, it

draws out of it many Virtues, so that being only outwardly applyed, it

doth much good in Physick. The Oyl becomes red in the boyling, and if

it doth not so, it is a sign, that it hath not been well boyled, but

if it be well done, it will do what I here say. First, this Oyl is

good to heal all fresh Wounds, and old Sores, if you dip Pledgets in

it, and lay them thereon, and so keep it from the Air with a Plaister

of Wax. It also cures all Bruises, being anointed with it, or a Cloth

dipt in it, and laid over the Bruise. A little Cotton being dipt in

it, and applyed to the Navel with a Nutshel, purgeth those, who are

easily moved, as well, as if they had taken it inwardly: And if being

so applyed, it should not work with Men, that are not easily moved, you

may inject a Dram of it Clysterwise by a Syringe, and then it will open

the Body, and carry all slime and filth from the Guts, and is certainly

the best Remedy in the World against the Cholick. For it doth not only

draw what is bad out of the thick Guts, as Clysters do, but also out of

the small Guts, yea even out of the Stomach, to the ease and admiration

of the Patient. This Oyl also applied to the Navel and Clysterwise,

immediately helps Women, who are troubled with the _Suffocation_ of the

Matrix, for which Disease the World cannot afford a better Remedy. And

without doubt this Oyl hath many more Virtues than I yet know, but time

will discover them; for I have not had it long, but am resolved to have

a good quantity of it made to serve the Sick: And no doubt, but in a

short time this high Medicine of the Stone and Oyl, will be known to

all _Europe_. For it will far outdoe the whole _Galenick Apparatus_ of

Medicine. Certainly those Physicians, who serve in Armies, should not

be without this incomparable Medicine, which is of so small Carriage,

and doth so great things. For one Ounce of this will make at the least

a Thousand Doses, and so by consequence many may be cured by it. If

every _Chyrurgian_ in an Army, should have but half an Ounce of this

Stone, for inward use, and some Ounces of the Red Balsome, for outward

use, the Lives of many Souldiers would be saved, which for want of it

must dye. The threatning of Armies is already over our Heads. God send

us what is good for our Souls, and preserve the Pious from evil. And

so we end this Book of the _Firestones_. If it please God, the Seventh

part of the Prosperity of _Germany_ shall shortly follow.

De Purgatorio Philosophorum:

OR,

A TREATISE concerning the Purifying Fire of the Wise Men.

_With which, the Philosophers cleanse their =Mineral=, =Animal=,

and =Vegetable= Subjects, and exalt them to the highest degree of

Purity, in order to prepare =Universal Medicaments= from them,

for the Bodies of Men and Metals._

_Which Purgatory Fire is Called =Ysopaica=, by the ancient

Philosophers, that is, to say, the Art of washing with Fire._

_Together, with a subjoyned instruction, how, by means of the Salt

of the World, out of all Metals and Minerals, a living =Mercury=

may in quantity be prepared._

_From the =High-Dutch= faithfully Translated into =English=._

_Reader_,

If any wonder at the Title of this little Book, let them know, it

agrees very well with the Matter it treats of, forasmuch as all things

that are cleansed with Fire, may truly be said to be purified by means

of a Purgatory. There are indeed besides this, many other ways of

cleansing as by Water, Lye, Soap, and other moist things; but that way

cannot properly be called a Purgatory, nor any other, but what is done

by Fire. I intend in this Book to treat of three sorts of Purgatories,

_viz._ First, of the secret flaming Purgatory, or cleansing Fire of

the Philosophers, made of _Alcolized_ Spirit of Wine, wherewith they

purifie the Souls of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, dignifying them

thereby to enter their Heaven.

The other Purgatory God makes use of, to purifie his dear Children

here in this Vale of Misery, to make them abhor sin, and fit them,

after many afflictions, and torments endured, for a Translation with

all Saints, into his heavenly Kingdom, there to behold his Face to all

Eternity.

The Third Purgatory is, that of which the _Christians_ of old have

Writ, and is to this day still believed by the Church of _Rome_, _viz._

that the Souls of the deceased, when by the guilt of deadly sins, they

are not immediately sunk down into the eternal Hellish Pains, are in

this Purgatory cleansed of the pardonable sins they have committed in

this Life, and are made worthy to enter into eternal Joy and Salvation.

Now what this Purgatory is, which no Person living is able to give an

experimental and true grounded Account of, we will, if it please God,

a little enquire into, after that we have first exposed to view, and

unanswerably asserted the truth of the two foregoing Purgatories, which

our eyes have seen, and our hands have handled.

_Concerning the First Purgatory._

The First Purgatory, or cleansing Fire of the Philosophers, with which

they prepare their Universal and particular Medicines for Cure of all

Subjects of the three Kingdoms of the World, hath been most carefully

concealed by them. I have indeed formerly, of Friendship and Goodwill,

revealed this Fire, with its most profitable Use, to some Persons, by

which means others unworthy have began to perceive something of it, and

used their utmost endeavours to attain the full knowledge of this high

Secret, and have so far succeeded, as to understand it in part, _viz._

the Use of common Spirit of Wine, which is a considerable ingredient of

the said Philosophick Purgatory Fire.

But after all their serching, they never attained the knowledge of the

_Salt_ of Art, by which the Spirit of Wine is _Alcolized_, which is the

best and chief ingredient of this Fire. Forasmuch then, as the Spirit

of Wine is thus known, and will probably yet further be divulged; I

have thought good to publish it my self, and to communicate the Secret

to all. But as for the secret _Salt_ of Art, whereby the Spirit of Wine

is actuated and fortified, and is the proper Agent for Meliorating of

Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, and whereby they are brought to the

highest degree of Purity, none hitherto have been able to entice it

from me, and I trust that for time to come I shall be more cautious of

communicating ought to false and wicked Men.

Let no Man therefore imagine Spirit of Wine to be the secret Fire of

_Artephius_, whereby some Minerals and Metals, without any foregoing

separation of the pure from the impure, may without any diminution of

their weight be changed into a mere pure Tincture. No in no wise, for

no Spirit of Wine hath any such power. But as for what simple Spirit

of Wine is able to perform, that we will here declare, and no more

at this time. I doubt not but many will persuade themselves, that in

having the Spirit of Wine, they are Masters of the whole Secret; but

that’s a great mistake, he that questions it, let him read _Artephius_,

_Pontanus_, and some few others who write of it, and he will find

that a simple Spirit of Wine hath no resemblance with the Fire of

_Artephius_.

For the Philosophers who write of it tell us, that their Fire _acts as

a proper Agent on its Patient, with an invisible Flame, continually,

equally in one and the same degree, and at last changes it into pure

Tincture_. Which things cannot be said of Spirit of Wine, which

doth not burn continually, equally, or invisibly, from whence it is

apparent, that Spirit of Wine is not the Fire of _Artephius_, nor can

be compared with it.

Now what this Fire of _Artephius_ is, has been sufficiently declared by

me, in my Treatise _of the Threefold Fire_, and therefore unnecessary

to write more of it here. It remains only for me to declare, how

Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals with the help of any burning Spirit,

not only that of Wine, but of Corn, Honey, Fruits, Leaves or Grass may

be most highly purified, and reduc’d to the Highest Medicines.

In my little Treatise of _Elias the Artist_, I have taught at large

how to bring the Essences of Metals, Stones, Vegetables and Animals

over the Helm, by means of an Alcolised Spirit of Wine, and to prepare

universal Medicaments from them, to which therefore I refer the Lover

of Art.

And will now proceed to declare, to how good purpose Spirit of Wine may

be made use of in Physick. We all know that in general there are but

two ways of cleansing impure things, _viz._ _Water and Fire_. Now Water

can only take away those defilements that are outward and superficial,

not being able to pierce to the Center; whereas Fire does not only

purge the outside, but even that which is in-most, separating the

impure for the pure, as hath already been mention’d.

We know also, that the Flame of Fire can consume nothing but its like,

_viz._ the Combustible _Sulphur_, but cannot consume the incombustible

_Mercury_, nor destroy, burn, or annihilate it, the Flames serving only

to meliorate and exalt it. For the _Mercury_ of all things can no way

better be purged than by Fire, by which though it be driven away, yet

may always be found again, as being incombustible.

For _Mercury_ is the best and purest of the three Principles, forasmuch

as it cannot be hurt by any Elements, not by the most violent Fire,

much less destroyed, because it is throughout Homogeneal.

There are three things in the World which be incorruptible, the first

of which is the _Mercury_ of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, which,

when by its Enemy the Fire, it is tormented, and driven from its

Body, loseth none of its Virtues, but is only purified thereby. This

incombustible Soul of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, is one of those

three things in the World, which are fixed, constant, and unperishable

in all trials and conflicts whatsoever.

The second thing which is constant, permanent, incorruptible

and invincible is Truth, which cannot be suppress’d by any Lies

or opposition whatsoever; Oppressed she may be, but not totally

suppressed; for God himself is the Truth, and as God cannot be

overcome, so neither can Truth.

The third and last incorruptible subject in the World, is the Immortal

Soul of Man; for whatsoever Afflictions or Persecutions a good Man

suffers from wicked Men, can not in the least hurt his Soul, but serve

only to purifie, exalt, and enoble it. The more Gold suffers in the

Fire, the better and purer it becomes, and as true it is, that the Soul

by the adversities of time, becomes refined and graduated to the height

of Purity, being by this Earthly Purgatory dignified and prepared for

Eternal Glory.

But to return to our purpose, which is to shew that the cleansing

of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, must be performed by their own

Purgatory, _viz._ a common burning Spirit. We will begin with Wine, as

being a very noble Creature, and see what good thing may be had from

it, by means of its own Purgatory or Cleansing Fire, which without it

could never have been brought to Light.

Now to speak fundamentally of this matter, we must first of all

know, that several different Spirits lie hid in Wine, which also may

separately be distill’d from it. As in the first place the known

burning Spirit; next that Spirit which is distill’d from Crude

_Tartar_, which is of a quite different nature from that which is

distill’d from Wine, or its Lees, which being kindled burns away

in Flame, consuming all the _Sulphur_, leaving nothing but the

incombustible _Mercury_ or Essential _Salt_ behind, and that in a very

small quantity, but of great Virtue; whereas the Spirit of _Tartar_

which is distill’d by _Retort_, though it be much more subtil and

penetrative than the burning Spirit, yet will not suffer it self to be

kindled or burnt away, being otherwise of great use in all Tartareous

Diseases, and obstructions of the Body.

There is also an Antinephritical Spirit distill’d from the fixed _Salt_

of _Tartar_ with distill’d Vinegar, which afterwards suffers it self to

be sublimed, and being distilled yield a very strong Spirit, of which

time doth not permit to treat at present. We will only, point out to

you, by what means the most glorious _Mercury_ and Essential _Salt_

of Wine, may most easily be obtained, and what great things may be

perform’d by it in Physick.

* * * * *

℞. Of white _Tartar_ well pulverised 1 _l._ _Spirit_ of _Salt_ 1 _l._

and half, mix these well together, and fill therewith the fourth part

of a Glass Body, and pour on 3 _l._ of Spirit of Wine, lute the head on

immediately, for when these two Antagonists, the Acid Crude _Tartar_,

and Urinous _Salt_ of _Tartar_ meet, they furiously attack each other,

and in their Conflict send forth a very subtil Spirit, and a glorious

Essential _Salt_, which _Mercury_ the Spirit of Wine when distilled

carries over with it. When now this Spirit of Wine being kindled burns

away, the _Mercury_ or most pure Essential _Salt_ is thereby loosened,

and with the Flame goes over into the Receiver, where it is caught of

the Phlegm, from which being separated by distillation in a Vaporous

Bath ’tis fit for use. This Cælestial _Salt_ of Wine is of wonderful

Virtue, concerning which I have given a full account in some of my last

published Writings.

Its Virtues are chiefly these; It has the Præeminence of all

Medicaments whatsoever, in curing the Stone, Gout, and the like

Tartarous Diseases. Moreover this Heavenly _Salt_ penetrates the whole

Body, opens all Obstructions, strengthens the Heart, Brain, and all

Vital Parts; is a powerful Diaphoretick and Diuretick. Indeed any one

may easily imagine, that a Quintessence of Wine, when purified by its

own Purgatory, must needs exert wonderful effects, and be of great

uses, in the hands of a skilful Physician; of which more hereafter.

Furthermore from Wine, by means of its own burning Spirit, may be

separated an excellent Volatile _Salt_, after this manner. Dissolve the

Oyl of Wine, which by distillation is got out of the Lees in a strong

Spirit of Wine, so as the Oyl may be well united with the Spirit. This

done, kindle the Spirit of Wine, and let it burn away under our great

cooling Helm or Head, by which means the _Mercury_ or _Salt_ of Wine

goes over with the Phlegm, and is caught by it.

In like manner out of that stinking Oil which is driven from _Tartar_

by a _Retort_, and is of great virtue, (though for its loathsom scent

it cannot be used) a very powerful Volatile _Salt_ may be obtained, by

burning away the said Oyl with a burning Spirit, which Volatile _Salt_

by those Purging Flames loseth its loathsom smell, and may be made use

of in Physick, as that before mentioned prepared from Wine.

According to this method of obtaining the _Mercury_ of Wine, we

may proceed with all other Vegetables, and separate their pure

incombustible _Mercury_, by burning away their Oyls, with their own

or any ether burning Spirit, by which means the Volatile _Mercury_ is

caught.

It is to be observ’d, that all Oyls distill’d from Herbs, whose flowers

resemble Stars, do yield more Volatile _Salt_, than the distill’d Oyl

of other Herbs. When these Herbs cannot be had fresh and green, we may

take their Seeds, which yield more Oyl and Volatile _Salt_ than the

Herbs themselves. In like manner all Oyls, distill’d from Seeds, afford

more Volatile _Salt_ than those which are forc’d from Roots, Stalks,

Leaves or Wood; the Seed always abounding with more Volatile _Salt_

than any other part of the Vegetable; and that because God hath placed

the growing and multiplying virtue of all things in their Seeds, from

whence also the same is most easily separable for the use and service

of Man. In particular, the Seeds of Annis, Fennel, Dill, Carway, Cumin,

Cresses, Scurvy grass and Mustard afford much Volatile _Salt_.

So likewise all Excremental and Superfluous Egestions of Nature, such

as are the Hair of Men and Beasts, the Horns and Claws of Beasts, the

Excrements of Beasts and Birds, as also their Feathers, do abound with

Volatile _Salt_. Amongst these we may also reckon Amber, Soot, and

Smith’s Coals; when the stinking Oyl of any of these is burnt away,

the remaining Essential _Salt_ will procure the Physicians praise and

honour, and the Patient’s help and ease.

The Seeds of Henbane and Tobacco do yield a very powerful _Salt_;

so likewise do the distill’d Oyls of Spices, as well as those made

by Expression afford a most excellent Volatile _Salt_ being burnt

away, by means of a burning Spirit, united with them. Yet would not I

counsel any to burn away such precious Oyls, forasmuch as we have other

Subjects, which cost us nothing, and yet yield a better _Salt_ than any

Spices whatsoever; for Minerals and Metals, when without a Corrosive

they are brought into a strong Spirit of Wine, yield a much better

_Mercury_, wherein all the virtues of Vegetables are concentred; and

consequently are far more efficacious than any Vegetable _Salt_ against

all Diseases whether of Men or Metals.

In this way we may easily, and in a manner without labour or any

considerable charges, procure a running _Mercury_ from all Minerals

and Metals; which _Mercury_ of Metals suffers it self afterwards to be

fixed into a true Tincture for Men and Metals, by means of its proper

Agent and Secret ever-burning Fire, and this easily without any loss of

weight, which cannot be expected from a common _Mercury_, and therefore

we must be provided of a Metallick _Mercury_ if we would do this feat.

_Mars_, _Venus_, and _Mercury_ are the best amongst the meaner Metals

for this purpose, as yielding the best _Mercury_, but the _Mercuries_

of _Sol_ and _Luna_ are the best of all. And it is a thing that

deserves our wonder, that from such Compact Bodies, as those Homogeneal

Metals are, which are accounted indivisible, a Volatile _Mercury_

should be separated. Indeed had I not done it my self, I should hardly

have been persuaded of its possibility. Resuscitative _Salts_ are the

only means to effect this Wonder, and whosoever knows in due manner

to apply them to Metals, to him it is an easie thing, yea, Childrens

play, in one days time, without toil or labour, to separate a running

_Mercury_ from all Metals and Minerals. There is one only _Salt_ in

the World, which has a power above others to revivifie Metals, costs

nothing, and is every where to be had in abundance: This contemptible

_Salt_ the Philosophers have always concealed, saying, that _it is cast

out upon Dunghils, and as much beloved of the Wise, as it is hated and

despised by Fools_.

In this _Salt_ greater secrets lie hid, than in the _Salt_ of Art

before mentioned, which cannot be had without toil and labour; but

this our more secret Resuscitative _Salt_ of Art doth far excell that,

for it not only exalts and multiplies the colours of _Sol_ and _Luna_

as well as that, but also radically opens all Metalline Subjects

whatsoever, separating their purest _Mercury_ from the gross _fæces_,

and brings it over with it self, which no other _Salt_ in the World

can do. There are indeed some other _Salts_ to be found, which in

some degree do resuscitate Metals, and separate a running _Mercury_,

as _Salt_ of _Tartar_, _Urine_, and the like, but are not comparable

with our resuscitative _Salt_ of Art, which, for all them, continues

the undoubted Monarch over all _Salts_. There are very few to be

found, who are able with so much ease and little charge to separate a

running _Mercury_ in quantity from Metals, and fix the same into a true

Tincture. Wherefore we should make it our business to enquire into the

nature of _Salts_, and learn to know their several uses; because in

_Salts_ great good lies hid, which few believe or apprehend. _Plato_

indeed was of opinion, that something Divine was contain’d in our

common _Salt_; and other Philosophers have not stuck to say, that _in

the Sun and Salt is All_. He that doth not know what Fire and _Salt_

are, knows nothing, and deserves not the name of a Philosopher.

And thus much shall suffice concerning Fire and _Salt_, and the great

things that may be performed by them. He therefore who desires to

approve himself a good Physician or Chymist, let him study the nature

of Fire and _Salt_, and learn to distinguish them, for without this

he’l never do any thing to purpose in either faculty.

To return now to our Spagirical Purgatory, and shew that the

Philosophers by means thereof performed their greatest Arcana.

_Paracelsus_ alone, the Monarch of Physicians, gives us a sufficient

Testimony hereof, when, treating of the Element of Fire, in his Book

of _Sulphur_, he saith, That if a Physician have not amongst his

Secrets the Element of Fire from _Sulphur_, he is not a Physician, but

a-------- O my dear _Paracelsus_, thou art not to be blamed for thy

zealous inveighing against those Lazy Lubbards, and if thy words be

Authentick, ’tis to be feared that scarce one good Physician will be

found in all _Germany_, forasmuch as the Element of Fire of _Sulphur_

is utterly unknown. But this cannot be said, for that besides this

Element of Fire, there be several other good Medicaments a Physician

may prepare. Yet forasmuch as I have writ somewhat of it here, I hope

it may stir up some to search after it, and so learn to prepare their

Medicines by Fire; because whatsoever can without hurt or loss abide

the Fire, the same must needs be very pure and good.

_David_ to this purpose gives us a similitude of _Luna_, which must

sometimes pass the Fire, before it attain its utmost purity. This art

of cleansing things with Fire, was by the Philosophers of old termed

_Ysopaica_, of which see _Paracelsus_.

It is to admired, that how black or smutty soever any thing be, after

it is wash’d by Fire, it becomes snow white; which the _Mercury_ driven

by Fire from black _Sulphur_ and _Mars_, is alone a sufficient proof

of, in which whiteness the fairest Red lies hid. That _Ysopaica_, or

the Art of Washing with Fire, and thereby changing Black to White, was

in use amongst the Ancients, seems probable from _David_’s words, when

he cries to God; _Purge me with Hysop, and I shall be clean, wash me,

and I shall be whiter then snow_: _David_ here desires nothing else,

than to have his Soul, which was cole black by Sin, washed and purged

by the Fire of the Holy Ghost, and therefore by way of Comparison he

mentions _Ysopaica_, or the Art of Washing black things white by Fire.

In a word, this Art of Washing things snow-white by a Philosophical

Purgatory Flame, appears to be the head skill of Philosophy, Physick

and Alchimy.

And forasmuch as I have here made mention of _Ysopaica_, I hope I

shall not be thought tedious, if I set down some more instances of

cleansing black and impure things by Fire. For seeing this excellent

and incomparable Art has for some hundred years been in a manner wholly

lost, _Paracelsus_ being the first that hath renewed the knowledge of

it, I have thought good at present to restore this Royal Art to its

former lustre and glory, wherewith it shone forth in the Schools of

the Kings of _Egypt_, where those of the Blood Royal were taught and

instructed in the same. In which Schools _Moses_ also (as being the

Adopted Son of _Pharaoh_’s Daughter) had his Education, being there

instructed in all the Wisdom and Skill of the _Egyptians_.

In those times this _Ysopaica_, or Art of Washing with Fire was in

great esteem and flourished, which was the cause of the great Riches

and Puissance of the _Egyptians_, which continued till the Monarchy was

made subject to the _Romans_; and yet even then, being Possessors of

_Ysopaica_ and _Chrysopeia_, they soon put themselves into a condition

again of disputing their Liberty with the _Romans_, and rebelled

against them; and though by the prevailing Power of the _Romans_ they

were still overcome, yet did they often reiterate their Revolt; until

at last the Emperor _Diocletian_ being informed that their Art of

Chymistry was their inexhaustible Treasure, which still encouraged them

to rebell, sent a great Army amongst them, with Orders to Ransack all

Places for Books treating of that Art, and commit them to the Flames;

which done, they quietly afterwards endured the _Roman_ Yoak, which

before, on every occasion, they were ready to shake off. By the same

means also the said Art has been as it were totally lost, which I am

not without hopes to restore again, and if Death should chance to

prevent me, yet will it assuredly be done after my Death by _Elias_ the

_Artist_. I have indeed already in some of my last Treatises so plainly

writ of this Art, that any one, who is any thing skilful in the Fire,

may become Master of the Art.

To return then to _Ysopaica_, I say, I have already communicated

the use of a Burning Spirit, by means whereof all stinking, impure,

Vegetable, Animal, and easily inflamable Mineral Subjects, may be

washed to the highest degree of Purity, with which great things may be

performed, especially in Physick, and such as are impossible to be done

by any known way. Indeed by this alone most profitable discovery, I

have discovered a new World of Art, which for so many hundred years has

been unknown; and I doubt not, but this way of washing with Fire will

serve for a shining Light to lead Physicians to the true Spagyrical

Physick.

Thus much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the moist fiery

washing by means of a Burning Spirit; it remains now to declare in

what manner the Compactest Metals, and Precious as well as Common

Stones, may by a dry cleansing Fire be meliorated. For a Spirit of

Wine is much too weak to pierce the Bodies of Compact Metals, and to

wash them to a perfect cleanness; wherefore we are to look out for a

stronger Wash-Fire, which may be able to Master the fixt as well as

unfixt Metals. Now Art hands to us a certain dry Wash-Fire, wherewith

the Ancients meliorated all Metals and Stones; but this dry Fire has

never been published, neither know I any Author that hath writ plainly

of it, save only _Paracelsus_ in his _Cœlum Philosophorum_, where

speaking of _Mercury_, he describes this flaming Wash-Fire, _viz._ ℞.

Of _Tartar_ part j. _Sulphur_ p. ij. _Nitre_ p. iij. being well mixed

together, use them. _Paracelsus_ calls this Composition a good fluxing

Powder; but hints at other things, as appears by those words he places

before the Description of the said Fulminating Powder, _viz._ _Pulvis

adole Verbenas_, which words conceal a great Mystery, as will presently

appear.

The Composition of _Paracelsus_ may be meliorated by taking only one

part of _Sulphur_, _Tartar_ ij. and _Nitre_ iij. and is a very good

Wash-Fire. There be also many more and better Wash-Fires for to Purifie

and exalt Metals, of which we shall hear anon. Follows now the use of

the foresaid Wash-Fire.

And first it is to be observed, that to the end this Fire may have

the better effect, the Ingredients must be pure, dry, and very well

poudred, for by how much purer the Ingredients be, the stronger is

the Fire. When therefore we have a mind to wash any Metal therewith,

suppose impure _Sol_ or _Luna_, we must file the same very small,

and then mixing three or four parts of the said Powder with it in a

Crucible, kindle the mixture with a red-hot Coal, and the Flame thence

arising will consume all the impurities of the Metal, or separate them

as dross, the pure Metals sinking as a _Regulus_ to the bottom. And if

the Operation be duly performed, the _Regulus_ will be as fine as if it

had pass’d the _Cupel_.

If we desire yet further to increase the strength of this Fulmen or

Wash-Fire, we may take instead of _Tartar_ half the quantity of the

Saw-dust of dry Lime-tree, which affords a much stronger Flame than

_Tartar_, and consequently better purges impure Metals. With this

strong Fire we may in a moment purifie a small quantity of _Sol_ or

_Luna_ if we please, in a Nutshel; which I don’t mention here as a

thing of Profit, but only of Curiosity, and to shew the force of this

Fire.

_N. B._ If we desire to make use of this Wash-Fire to Profit, we must

not take a Common _Nitre_ of _Sulphur_, but such a _Sulphur_ as burns

faster than the Common, and the _Nitre_ must be purified, whereof more

hereafter.

_A Good Fulmen or powerful cleansing Fire for to purifie the Common

=Mercury=, so as afterwards it may be easily fixed._

We are to know, that the Common _Mercury_ contains in it self an

extraordinary fiery Spirit, which hinders it from being a Compact

Metal, and keeps it in continual Flux like a Molten Metal, and makes it

so difficult a work to fix it: Now if we can but extinguish this Fire

in him, he’l be easily reducible to a Compact Metallick Body.

* * * * *

It is notorious, that always a greater Flame overcomes and swallows up

the lesser; to extinguish therefore this Fire in _Mercury_, we cannot

do better, than make use of a strong Fulmen, which _Paracelsus_ hints

with those words, _Pulvis Adole Verbenas_, as if he had said, Go Fulmen

and burn the Wings of that Volatil Bird, that he may flie no more. But

the Fulmen he there describes will not do it, a stronger must be made

use of in that case. To this purpose I have made many trials in my

Youth, but have found none better than the Fulmen of _Jupiter_, which

takes as follows.

* * * * *

℞. Of Crude _Mercury_ and fine _Jupiter_ each j l. melt the _Jupiter_

in a Crucible, and when it begins to cool, pour the _Mercury_ upon

it, and the heated _Jupiter_ will take to it self the _Mercury_, and

become an Amalgama, which Amalgama must with dry and purified _Nitre_

be ground upon a Stone. This done ℞. of the strong Fluxing Powder

abovesaid, the same quantity as the _Amalgama_ and _Nitre_, and grind

them well together, and then the Mixture is ready for kindling. But

the Operation must be performed in the open Air, where the Wind may

carry away the poisonous Fumes. The Mixture may be put into a strong

Earthen Pot, and after Detonation, there will remain a Mass difficult

to Flux, which being Cupell’d, and separated by _Aq. Fort._ affords a

considerable quantity of _Sol_ and _Luna_, abundantly recompensing the

cost and labour of the Operation. After that the Mixture is kindled,

the Matter must be often stirred with a red-hot Iron, to the end that

no part may remain unkindled, but that the whole Mass may be red-hot

throughout.

_Another Fulmen to graduate =Venus= into =Luna=._

℞. Of the foresaid Fluxing Powder of _Sulphur_, _Tartar_ and _Nitre_,

and grind with it iv Ounces of _Mercury_ of _Luna_, and lay the same

weight of thin Plates of _Venus_ SSS. with your foresaid Composition,

kindle the Mass, and the proceeding Flames will graduate some part of

the _Venus_ into good and fix _Luna_ with considerable profit, the

Operation being rightly performed. With the same Fulmen, ♂ may be

graduated into ☉, and forasmuch as it doth not melt, it’s better than

_Venus_ for this way of working; Needles are best for this purpose.

_Another Rapid Fulmen changing Iron and Steel into Good Gold._

℞. Of the abovesaid Fluxing Powder, iv or v ʒ, mix with it j ʒ or half

an Ounce of _Aurum Fulminans_ precipitated from the _Aqua Regia_, not

with _Salt_ of _Tartar_, but with _Salt_ of _Urine_; with this Fulmen

and Steel Needles make SSS. in a Crucible. Let not the Needles be above

j ℥ weight, else the Fulmen will not be able to graduate them wholly

into _Sol_. This Process well managed affords a good increase of _Sol_.

It is also no contemptible Curiosity to see Needles chang’d to _Sol_,

their pristine form remaining. I took once 20 or 30 Needles, which I

put with their points up to the midst in the said Fulmen, their upper

halves remaining untouch’d by it, and after Fulmination took out the

Needles, the lower part of which was pure _Sol_, the upper continuing

Iron, which I distributed amongst my Friends and Lovers of Art for a

remembrance. The same may be performed with Nails.

Now though in this Gradation of ♂ there be no very great Profit, yet

neither is there any loss; and besides the Curiosity of it, is a

convincing demonstration that ♂ without deposing any Terrestreity, may

have it’s whole Body changed into _Sol_.

_N. B._ The remaining Fulmen may with a little _Nitre_ be melted down

to a _Regulus_, by which means the _Sol_ is recover’d, and so we have

our graduated Needles for nothing.

_N. B._ When we have a mind to make use of the _Fulmen_ of ☉, we had

best place the Crucible, in which the _Fulmen_ and _Mars_ is, in a

large glased Earthen Vessel, and as soon as it is kindled cover the

Crucible, that the _Fulmen_ may not fly abroad, or if any does, it may

stick to the sides of the Pot, which being wiped off with a Feather,

may be reduced with the remaining _Fulmen_ in the Crucible, that there

may be no loss.

_N. B._ It happens sometimes, when too great a quantity of ♂ is taken

to be graduated to ☉, and the Flame too strong, that the Needles melt

into one, especially if they be laid too close together.

_N. B._ In Case, the Needles should not in the first Fulmination be

wholly changed to ☉, the Work may be repeated with fresh fluxing

Powder. And if any one desires more Profit from this Operation, let him

mix some of the _Amalgama_ of ♃ and ☿ with the Golden _Fulmen_, and

Fulminate with the same Needles, or thin Iron Wier, by which means the

☿ will better diffuse the graduating ☉, or Spirit throughout the ♂, and

so more of it becomes changed into ☉.

_N. B._ He that would draw considerable Profit from this Operation,

had best perform it in a close earthen Vessel, with a large Recipient

fitted to it, for to catch the ☿, which may be used again, by which

means that gain will be more.

_N. B._ For to make this Work yet more gainful, we may instead of the

☉ mix with the _Fulmen_ of ♃ and ☿, some fine powdred Red, Brown, or

black Pebbles, which are found in running Water, and break as smooth as

Glass, and contain much Volatile ☉, grinding them well together. This

_Fulmen_ when kindled, drives the Volatile ☉ out of the Pebbles, and

being received by ♃ and ☿ is fixed by them, by which means much ☉ and

☽ may be had out of ♃, ♀ and ♂. Out of these Pebbles with _Aqua Regis_

much ☉ may be extracted, and tho’ the ☉ in them be Volatile, yet partly

by means of the _Aqua Regis_, and partly by being precipitated with

the _Mercurial_ ⛛ out of ♃, and by Reduction it is fixed: Concerning

which I have largely treated in the Seventh Part of the Prosperity of

_Germany_.

_N. B._ To work on these Pebbles with more Profit, we may when reduced

to fine Powder, extract them with ⛛ in which common _Salt_ has been

dissolved, to which Extraction (which will be of a very high Colour)

we must add some of the Resuscitative _Salt_ of the World, every

where to be found, and then abstract the Solvent from the Extract, by

which means the Resuscitative _Salt_ will make ☉ more Volatile, and

separating it from the fixer Part, bring it over the Helm, in form of a

yellow Liquor, which when mortified by a _Lixivium_, and reduced to a

dry ☉, if then it be driven through a Retort, you will find a running ☿

_Sol_ in the Recipient, in small quantity indeed, but of great Virtue;

which by the Fire of _Artephius_ may easily be fixed into an Universal

Tincture for Men and Metals. A _Lixivium_ may afterwards be poured on

the remaining Extract, for to mortifie the Corrosive Spirits, and then

distilled by Retort, it will yield some more _Mercurial_ ☉. As for the

fixt ☉ which was in the Pebbles, the same may be easily reduced, and

will be good ☉, tho’ somewhat pale Coloured, the _Salt_ of the World

having carried some part of the Colour over with the ☿.

_N. B._ Our Resuscitative _Salt_ of the World is a very wonderful

_Salt_, for when joyned with the dissolved ☉, it not only brings over

a running ☿, but part of the Colour of ☉ with it, wherefore also the

said _Mercurial_ ☉ affords a most glorious Medicine, when duely fixed.

In the same manner you may get a tinging ☿ from ☽, but much better, and

easier from a ☽, which lies Volatile in its own Matrix, and has never

touched the Fire.

_N. B._ But this _Mercurial_ ☽ doth not tinge into ☉, but only into ☽.

In the same way a ☿ may be driven from all Metals, and in considerable

quantity. The ☿ of ♂ and ♁ are the best; those of ♀, ♃ and ♄ are good

also, but not so high colour’d, as that of ♂ which is the best. Now to

make ☿ of ♂, we need not dissolve common ♂, and thence with _Salt_ of

the World drive a ☿; but it is better to take Iron-stones, which have

never touch’d the Fire, and having extracted them, add to them some of

the Resuscitative _Salt_ of the World, which then distill’d will yield

more ☿ than common ♂. In like manner much more ☿ may be had from ♄, ♃

and ♀ Oar than from the Metals themselves.

I remember, that, in my youthful years, I laboured two years

continually with a Person of high quality, to obtain a ☿ of ♄, we

tryed all manner of ways but got nothing. Whether it was for want of

Experience, or that the Process given us was not true, or because God

did not see it fit for us, I know not: But this I know, that we had no

knowledge of the universal Resuscitative _Salt_ of the World, making

use only of common S. _Armon_, and its Volatile Spirit.

I have, in the Seventh Part of my _Pharmacopœia Spagyrica_, taught a

way to draw a running ☿ from Metals, but in small quantity, whereas

by means of this _Salt_ of the World, much more is obtained. I say

therefore, that if from my last published Writings, Men cannot discover

the way of making the _Mercuries_ of Metals in good quantity, it will

be a sign to me, that God will not permit it, having plainly set down

every thing, except the Resuscitative _Salt_ of the World.

And I now say again, that the said _Salt_ is no where to be sold,

since enough may be had for nothing. God must reveal it, for Men will

hardly do it. It is a mere Gift of God to know this _Salt_ and its

Use. _Turba_ saith concerning it: _If God had not created this =Salt=,

it were impossible to perfect our Elixir_. From whence we may see, it

is no _Salt_ prepared by Art, nor made with hands, but created of God

of nothing. Consider well what is here said, and you’ll find Wonders.

_Cosmopolita_ speaks after this manner of this _Salt_, _viz._ _Nature

affords us a =Chalybs=, which can from the Rays of the Sun extract

that, which many have sought and not found_.

Other Philosophers speak of this _Salt_ in these Words: _The Spirit and

Salt of the World, bring the Souls of the dead out of Hell_. What is

this Hell, but a _Stygian_ Water, wherein we dissolve Metals, and after

draw forth their Souls with the _Salt_ of the World. Of which Spirit

and _Salt_ of the World, _Nuisement_ hath writ a curious Treatise. I

say therefore, that he who understands the due way of applying this

_Salt_, for drawing the ☿ of Metals, has obtained the greatest Secret

in the World, the said ☿ being easily fixable into a true Tincture.

I have known several, who could fix the ☿ of ♄ and ♁ prepared by others

into Tinctures, but could not prepare the _Mercuries_ themselves: And

to this day, I do not know one Man that can bring a running ☿ from

Metals, tho’ I have communicated the way of making the said ☿ to many,

as it is set down in the Seventh Part of my _Pharmacopœia Spagirica_:

But seeing so small a quantity prepared that way, they let it drop.

It had been well, they could have been satisfied with that: But Men

generally are of such a Humour; that if they cannot have all without

Toyl or Labour, they presently despond and give over; but they that

persevere to the end shall obtain the Crown of Honour.

Thus much shall suffice, by way of Parenthesis, concerning preparing

the _Mercuries_ of Metals in great quantity, by means of our

Resuscitative _Salt_ of the World.

Let us now return to our dry wash-Fire, and see, what further may

be done with it. We know, that with a Rapid and violent Flame, the

Volatile part of Metals is driven away, the fixt and grosser staying

behind: As for Example. If I dissolve a Metal, or Mineral in _Aqua

Fortis_, and afterwards add to the Solution some good _Niter_, by

this means the Metal abides with the _Nitre_ and shoots with it into

Crystals, which from ♂ are Red, from ♀ Green, from ☿ and ♃ White, from

☉ Yellow. When now this _Nitre_ is kindled, the Volatile part of the

Metal sublimes from the grosser, and is better for Medicinal use, than

the gross Body of the Metal.

_N. B._ But if to this _Niter_ impregnated with a Metal, we joyn some

_Salt_ of the World; and then detonate it, the said _Salt_ through the

Flames carries the immortal Soul of Metals out from Hell, that is the ☿

of them, which afterwards may be fixed into Tincture. The said _Nitre_

impregnate with Metal, and the _Salt_ of the World, doth also, by means

of a swift Flame draw the Colours from precious and common Stones, and

introduceth others, and better into them again; which is a thing of

great Profit to him that hath Skill of it. This is the speediest way

of meliorating Metals, when by means of a Rapid _Fulmen_, as it were

in a moment, we Separate the pure Soul, or incombustible 🜍 from the

gross Metal: For in this quick Flame the superfluous 🜍 of the Metals

is consumed, which ties the pure ☿ to the Metal, and makes the same

difficultly separable from its gross Body.

In this manner a pure ☿ may in quantity be drawn from all Metals, and

as much ☿ as is got this way, so much Tincture, for every ☿ of Metals

is fixable into Tincture, which cannot be said of the common. And yet

amongst these _Metallick Mercuries_, one yields a better Tincture than

another, the ☿ of ♂ as hath been said being the best, tho’ that of ♄

be good also. He who is come so far as to be able to make the ☿ of any

one Metal, with the help of the _Salt_ of the World, may easily do

the same with all the rest, and then try which ☿ is the best. I have

tryed several, but found none better than that of ♂. For which Reason

also sometime before my falling Sick, I bought up a great quantity of

Steel Needles unfit for common use, with intention to make a great

quantity of ☿ of ♂, but being seized with Sickness not long after, and

continuing Bed-rid till now; my design was hindred. Now whether God

will be pleased to raise me, that I may prepare a good quantity of

the said ☿, for those that come after, I know not; for at present by

reason of my Weakness, I have no hope to do any thing. And therefore

have determined with my self, to manifest these and the like great

Secrets to the World, as far as my Weakness will permit; that they who

are Lovers of Art may know, and work them, or let them alone as they

please: For it shall suffice me, to have discovered the wonderful Works

of God to mankind, not at all concerning my self with the rest.

’Tis here to be noted, that the ☿ which by means of the Salt of the

World, in the moist way is drawn forth from _Aqua Fortis_, or other

like corrosive Liquors, is purer than that which, in the dry way is

forced over with a strong Fire, yet both are good, and fixable into

Tincture. It is also less trouble to bring over the ☿ of Metals in the

moist way, than by a strong Flame. For when a Metal is dissolved in

_Aqua Fortis_, and _Salt_ of the World added to the Solution, then if

by _Alembick_, you separate the _Menstruum_, part of the ☿ will come

over with it, which, as before-mentioned, is to be separated from it:

Afterwards drive what remains in the _Alembick_ through a Retort, and

the _Salt_ of the World will carry more of the ☿ over, by which means a

good quantity of ☿ will be obtained. For which God be praised, who hath

shewed us his poor necessitous Children so near and strait a way to the

Land of _Promise_. For I still say (as I always did) that nothing more

excellent can be found, either in Physick or Alchimy, than the ☿ of

Metals, all other Works being mere trifles in Comparison of it: Because

such a ☿ well fixed, is not only the highest Medicine, but besides

Tinges ☽ and ☿ into ☉. I have clearly and fully described the manner

of it, Preparation, save only, that I have not named the _Salt_ of the

World, because it is such a vile and contemptible thing, and cast out

upon Dunghils: And yet nothing in the World lives without it. No living

Creature in or upon the Earth, Bird in the Air, nor Fish in the Water

is sustained without this Universal _Salt_ of the World. Concerning

this _Salt_ of the World, or true matter of the Universal great Stone

of the Philosophers, an unknown Author in the Thirty fifth Chapter of

his Book writes thus,

_That the first Work of the Elixir, is every where to be found._

Concerning the true making of the Elixir, as to its first Work, the

Philosophers say, that the true Matter is every where to be found;

because it is in every Man, and found with every Man. _Adam_ brought

it with him out of Paradise, and when he died took it along with him

to his Grave. And therefore an Allegory of the Wise men saith, that

the said _Matter is subtilized ☉_, that is ☉ advanced to the highest

pitch of mineral Virtue. Concerning this ☉ it is said: _With our

Gum and little ☉, we can buy much_. And, _Albertus_ in his Book of

Minerals saith, and proves it, that _☉ is every where to be found_:

Because there is nothing made of the four Elements, in which, after

its highest refining, ☉ is not to be found, and therefore they say it

is every where to be found. The same _Albertus_ also asserts, that _a

great Mineral Virtue is in every Man_, especially in his Head between

his Teeth: For that in his time, in old Graves ☉ was found in little

longish Grains, between the Teeth of dead Men Skuls, which could not

be, except the said mineral Virtue were in Man, which mineral Virtue is

in the Matter of our Elixir. And therefore it is said, that the Stone

is in every Man, and that _Adam_ brought it with him out of Paradise,

_&c._

The Philosopher tells us here, proving it by several Authors, that

the true Matter of the Elixir, as to the firstl Work, is to be found

with every one: Concerning which Matter, much might be said, but it

is better be silent for fear of the abuse of wicked Men. Yet I cannot

but hint here, how it may be made out, that ☉ can grow in the Skuls

of dead Men, as before-mentioned. It seems probable then, that these

were the Skuls of such Men, who in their Life-time much used ☿, either

taking it inwardly, or much handling it in their Trades. Now it being

the Property of ☿, to mount upwards to the Head, and settle between the

Teeth, we may suppose, that by length of time the _Microcosmical_ 🜍︎

did Coagulate it into ☉. Let no Man think this impossible, for the 🜍︎

of Mans Dung hath a very great affinity with the Mineral 🜍︎, which no

Body can better witness, than he to whom God hath revealed it, and who

hath found it true by Experience.

The Reader by this time hath sufficiently perceived, how the

_Mercuries_ of all Metals may with ease be brought over, by means of

the _Salt_ of the World; as also, how the same may be had with the help

of a _Fulmen_, or strong Flame of Fire.

Now he that is Master of these _Mercuries_, will not be far to seek,

for the way of fixing them; for which there is no nearer way, than to

maturate them to a Tincture, by means of _Artephius_ his Fire, for all

other ways are very tedious, concerning which fixation by the said

secret Fire, the Reader will find more in other Parts of my Writings.

Herewith, then I conclude this First Part of my Purgatory, or cleansing

Fire, with which all unclean black Subjects may be washed to the

highest degree of Purity and Whiteness. If by chance, I should here

have omitted one or other Circumstantial of the Work, (as I hope not)

I shall, as it comes to mind, set it down in my following Writings. In

the mean time Farewel, and remember the _Salt_ of the World, learn to

know it, and its Use, for so thou wilt be able to make the _Mercuries_

of all Metals, which in value exceed all ☉ and precious Stones.

_An Advertisement to the Courteous READER._

Forasmuch as in this little Treatise, I have revealed many Secrets,

and particularly, the easie Preparation of a running ☿ from all

Metals, and that a true Tincture cannot more readily be obtained,

than from such a ☿, which with ☉ becomes fixed to a Red, and with ☽

to a white Tincture, and that this Fixation is most easily performed

by the secret Fire of _Artephius_. And have also taught, how from

all Vegetables and Animals, a most excellent ☿ of great Virtue may

be prepared, by means of a burning Spirit; in all which I have writ

nothing, but what I have wrought with my own hands. I know there will

not be wanting some envious and ignorant Men, who will pretend it

impossible to get a running ☿ from Metals: But it is no wonder, that

this is counted impossible by those, that have not attained to great

Skill and Experience in the Fire, who may well be compared to little

Children, who when they hear any Body talk of the Great World, can form

no other Notion of it, than of the place, or House where they have

been educated; neither can such ignorant conceited Persons believe any

thing, but what they have seen themselves. It is enough for me, that I

know it to be true.

Now forasmuch as I have before declared, that this ☿ of Metals is the

nearest way to attain an universal Tincture, for Men and Metals, and

that out of Vegetables, Animals, and all other things, that admit

a Separation of Elements, a ☿ may be had, as well as from Minerals

and Metals, and from that ☿ a Tincture: I intend here for further

Confirmation, to add the Testimony of an old Book, which with many

words confirms what I have writ, concerning the ☿ of Minerals,

Animals and Vegetables, and therefore have thought fit, to subjoyn

the Conclusion of the said Book, as an Appendix to this Treatise,

by which, those, who understand, will perceive that I have writ the

Truth, concerning the ☿ of Vegetables and Animals. The Author is

unknown to me, but that he was an experienced Philosopher appears from

his Writings, which contain great Truths: These as they were gladly

received by us, so we highly recommend them to all Learners, and Lovers

of Art: Here follow the two last Chapters of the said Philosopher.

_A Recapitulation: Or, Summary Repetition._

We have sufficiently explained to thee the thing, if thou hast rightly

understood our words. And observe, Son, that the Operations we deliver

in this Book, concerning the Composition of the Great stone, are more

subtil than those, that _Geber_ has delivered in his Summ: For he

saith, that in different intervals of time, it is first sublimed, next

fixed, afterwards calcined and then dissolved, and so of the rest. But

as to this our Book, know, that the Distillation by _Alembick_ we call

Sublimation, and the Solution of Bodies, we likewise call Sublimation,

because by this means the Earthly Body is lifted up into the Air,

which is Heaven. Wherefore know, that when we dissolve, we at the

same time do Sublime, Calcine, Purifie, Wash, conjoyn and separate.

To this purpose, _Haly_ in his _Secret_ of _Secrets_ tells us, that

between the Solution and Conjunction, or the Matrimony and Union of

Body and Spirit; there is no distance of time; because when the Body is

dissolved, it is by that Solution joyn’d with the Spirit, and therefore

he saith, that Solution and Conjunction are at the same time. This

therefore is the Order of our Operation, which is done at once in one

hour: When our Body is put to dissolve in Water, then presently it is

solved and sublimed, and by being dissolv’d and sublim’d, the Body

becomes united to the Spirit; and if any thing of an extraneous Nature

be mix’d with the Body, the same will not be dissolved, but will remain

in the bottom of the Vessel for to dissolve, and thus the Body becomes

cleansed of the extraneous Matter, if any be in it; yet is it in some

sort sullied, nor is it so clean and clear as it ought. Wherefore

our Operations in making the Great stone, are more subtil than those

contained in _Geber_’s Summ, because what he says is done at several

times, is here done at once, and of a subtiler Matter; and after a

subtiler manner. And when thou shalt see our work, dearest Son, then

wilt thou know, that we have spoken the Truth, tho’ not before: And

indeed, except thou shalt give good heed to it, and sharply consider

of it, thou wilt scarcely perceive it to be so, because of the quick,

subtil and short Operation. But be sure to avoid the fumes in this, as

well as other ways of making the Stone, as far as is possible, which

if thou shouldst take in, would greatly hurt thee, either at the very

instant, or not long after, except thou hast Remedies at hand to oppose

their Malignity, which thou oughtest always to be provided with, that

as soon as any such thing is perceived, a proper Antidote may be taken.