Earth, we must consider three substances; the Hebrewes also have
better distinguished them then we, by giving them 3 names, _Erehs_,
_Adamah_, and _Jabassah_. _Erehs_ is properly durt or mud, _Jabassah_
sand, and _Adamah_ clay, wash of the common earth with water, and
powre it suddainly into another vessell, with the slime that it hath
gathered; reiterate it so long, that there remaine no more in the
bottome but Sand, in the Scripture called _Arida_: _And his hands laid
the foundation of the earth, Psal. 94._ where he properly useth the
word of laying a foundation, because that Sand is the subsistence and
retention of the earth, where it is mingled with slime by a certaine
providence of nature to strengthen it against the moisture of water,
as wee see in Morter, where wee adjoine sand with chalke, for feare
lest it melt, and dissolve into moisture. It serves also, to give it
counterpoise, for that Sand is very heavy, _A stone is heavy, and
sand burdensome, or weighty, Prov. 27._ But the slime is lighter,
wherein minerals, vegetables, animals, are procreated, as wee see by
experience, by putting pure slime to the _Erthree_; for in lesse then
three weekes, you will finde therein small stones, herbs, wormes,
and snailes, and other little beasts, producted therefrom. Of the
nourishment remaining that these individuals shall bee, as that of
Sand, deprived of all humidity; according to what wee see in Earths,
which having beene too much cultivated, and sowed, without bettering of
them, are reduced from being fertill, as formerly they were, and become
sandy and sterill; for Sand produceth nothing, as wee see in Deserts
and Sea coasts: whence comes this proverbe, (_You plough the Sands_)
for a vaine and unprofitable labour: for of the two qualities, whereof
each Element participates, there is one that is more proper to it, and
the other appropriated: Drynesse, is the proper quality of the Earth,
for that cold is more proper to Water: wherefore is it that the Earth,
as aforesaid, is called in Hebrew _Jabassah_, and in Greeke ξηρός dry
land; _and God called the earth dry land_. Slime is more waterish;
for of the grosseness of the water, earth was made, saith _Hermes_; as
wee may see in snow, in hail, in raine, or with water so condensed,
there is much slime mingled, of which (as aforesaid) every thing here
in the earth below is produced. Man himselfe according to his body,
was formed of this slime; and from thence it followeth that all the
fertility of the earth comes from Water. _God created all the buddes of
the earth before they grew, and all the herbes of the field before they
brought forth seed; for the Lord God had not yet made it to raine upon
the earth, but a mist went up therefrom, that watered the whole face
thereof._ Or as the _Chaldaick_ Paraphrast turneth it, _Onkelos_, in
stead of source and fountaine, vapour and clouds, which are engendred
from the vapours that the Sunne elevates here below to the height in
the middle Region of the Aire, from thence to water the earth. But
neither the slime, nor the sand, nor the clay on the other side, are
not each by it selfe, nor reduced together, are this virgin and pure
earth, that is shut up in the Center of all the composed Elements, that
is to say, in the bottome of them, for that produceth nothing, because
it is incorruptible: and that which cannot corrupt, cannot produce any
thing that should be subject to corruption; as we see in Fire, Salt,
and Sand, which are of the nature of Glasse, all substances not onely
incorruptible for their respect, but which preserves from corruption,
that wherewith they are mingled; witnesse herbs, fruits, flesh, fish,
and other the like, which being salted or buried in Sand are thereby
kept the longer. And in _Mummies_, of those that remaine choked and
buried in the Sands passing the Deserts, which are preserved whole
many suits of yeares, even as well, nay better then if they had been
enbalmed. So that this earth is formed of two incorruptible substances,
Salt, and Sand, by meanes of the water which is thereupon congealed; as
wee see in this faire Crystalline Glasse, made of Salt, of glasse wort,
amongst which they mingle sand to retaine it; otherwise, in the great
sharpnesse of fire that it must indure, to worke therewith, it would
all vanish into smoake; wee depure and refine it afterwards in cleare
Crystalline, joining thereunto _perigort_, or _sinople_ made of Lead.
Their are some that carry their Sand with them, as _Foulgere_,
_Charme_, or _Fouteau_, firebrakes, charme, or beech, and some others.
But this comes better to our discourse, of Gold and Glasse, and some
others upon the 28. of _Iob_, where speaking of Sapience, hee saith,
that nothing can compare with it, nor Gold it self, nor Glasse. This
Earth then, so excellent, and incorruptible, is not this vile and
grosse Element, that we trample on, and cultivate to draw there hence
our nurtriture and sustentation, but that whereof it is spoken in the
21. of the _Revel._ clear and transparent: _I saw a new Heaven and a
new Earth, and the holy City was of pure Gold, like unto pure Glasse,
and the streets thereof were of shining and resplendent Gold_: See how
hee doth liken more then once Gold and Glasse, which is produced by
the depurations of Fire: for that is the last action thereof, having
therein no power but to refine and depure, as he doth Gold. Which the
Sun produceth in long millions of years: To the imitation of that, the
speculative understandings are forced by means of fire, to extract
out of the corruption of these inferior elements, and their compounds
and incorruptible substance, which was to them a modell and pattern
of that, whereto the whole universe should at last bee reduced: from
hence we here draw from Soot a representation and image of the works
of nature, upon vapours and exhalations, whence Meteors are formed,
and impressions from the middle Region of the Air, Water holding place
of the waterish, and oil of the fiery, and inflamable, which oil is
altogether impure, to bee adustible and unprofitable to the procreation
of this Virgin Earth: called by some the Philosophers Stone, which
so many ignorant avaricious men have sought for, but could not find
because they sought it with blind eyes, darkened with a sordid desire
of unlawfull gain: to make themselves on a sodain richer then another
_Midas_, who at last got nought, but the ears of an Asse, and did not
cherish it to praise and admire God in his admirable workes following
that which is said in the 37. of _Job_, consider the wondrous works
of God, for we cannot doe a greater pleasure to a workman, then to
mark attentively, to admire and magnifie his works; nor a greater
reproch then to scorn and slight them: And of such the Apostle in the
4. to the _Ephes._ speaketh thus, _They have their thoughts obscured
with darknesse, being alienated from the life of God, because of the
ignorance that is in them, in respect of blindnesse of their heart_:
Take then this Oil so extracted from Soot, and repasse it three or
four times upon Sand; for it is one of those, that lasteth very long.
And after the extraction of the Water and Oil, and the Calcination
of the earths, that shall remain in the bottome of the vessell, cast
your water thereon, and put the matter to putrifie ten or twelve dayes
in dung: then draw back the water by distillation calcining at the
end thereof the Earths seven or eight houres by the fires flame. Put
again the water upon the Earths, putrified, distilled, and calcined,
reiterating as abovesaid. For by means of water and fire, the Earths
will be calcined, untill they have drunk up and retained all their
water: or the greatest part: which will be done at the six or seventh
reiteration. This done, give it the fire of sublimation, and it will
elevate it self a pure earth, clear and Crystalline fastened in the
Center. The water hath great proprieties and vertues, but this Earth
hath yet more, whereof I will endeavour to speak more at large. There
may be also Salt extracted by the dissolutions of its water and
glasse, of the Earths that shall remain after the elevation of the
said Virgin Earth. For every private thing by its proper humidity doth
perform nothing but vitrificatory fusion, saith _Geber_. And there are
here three: two volatiles, water, and oil, and the third fix’d and
permanent; which is congealed, namely Salt: which beyond all other
moistures expects the conflict of fire, saith the said _Geber_. For
there is nothing more moist, and more unctuous then Salt, nor that
better endures fire: Also all metals are nought else but fusible salts;
whereunto they are easily resolved: common Salt melteth also, after it
hath been recalcined, and dissolved, three or foure times, whereof wee
will speake more plainly in its place.
[Sidenote: _Coupelles._ pag. 86. The little ashen pot, wherein
goldsmiths melt and fine their metals.]
I have here a little extended my self upon Soot, as upon a Subject,
where rare secrets appear remarkable; & the same upon charcole, made of
stone, and of that vitrification of sky colour, that remains of Iron
whereof wee see great heaps in furnaces and forges, and being so dry,
yet there may be water, and oil drawn therefrom: wee will yet say the
same concerning Soot: Fire burning wood, or other adustible matter,
chaseth away the waterish humidity, therein contained, and feeds it
selfe with oil, or aereall substance. The terrestriall part, which are
the ashes, remaining in the bottom calcined, where the Salt resides,
which thereby being separated by the washings, and dissolutions of
the water, the remainder is nought but slime, which is drawn away
by frequent ablutions, and the Sand remains at the last proper to
be vitrified; observe in respect of one of the excrements of fire,
which is not contented therewith, but by its impetuosity, and heat
tending naturally upwards, carries on high with violence a part of the
subtiliated substances. Let us adapt this to the _Coupelles_.
Wee see that part of the lead, from thence goes away in smoak as in the
fire, whence Soot is procreated, a part thereof is burned, namely its
sulphurous part, and part grows tough within the _coupelles_ almost in
the manner of Glasse or varnish. Of the two first volatils, there is
no account to be made thereof, for they goe and disperse themselves.
But bray the _Coupelles_ where this vitrification is as it were baked,
wash them well with warm water, to depure them from their grosnesse and
uncleannesse, then put them into a descensory with a strong expression
of a bellows fire with the Salt of _Tartar_ and _Salnitre_, and there
will fall down through a _Metalline_: which being _recoupled_ with
new lead you will find more fine, without comparison then at first,
and ever from that time forward, more and more, by reiteration as
abovesaid. So that hee, that would take the patience to boil the lead
on a regulated and continuall fire, that should not exceed its fusion,
that is to say, that the lead should therein remain alwayes melted and
no more, putting thereto a small portion of quicksilver or sublimate to
keepe it from Calcination, and to reduce it to powder: at the end of a
certain time, you shall find that _Lamwell_ hath not spoken frivolously
to say that the six grain is contained in power with lead, (that is to
say) gold and silver, would multiply and increase themselves as the
fruit upon a tree doth.
[Sidenote: _Coups a ruer._ pag. 87.]
But to return to these oils of long durance, whereof he might make a
large volume that would run through not all but a part: Let him draw
from the Tartar of wine, of which the best comes from _Mompellier_,
even that which adheres unto the Tun. One which is very important,
Tartar is one of the subjects, where those who practise in the fire,
do find so _many blows to cast_. Take of this Tartar beaten into small
powder and put it in a leaded earthen pot with clear fountain water,
upon a Trevet or furnace, making it boil easily and scum the villainies
and filthinesse off with a feather: the silver _Crusts_ that shall
afterwards arise, gather them with a head of Glasse, where these grosse
_moules destang_, of _mudd_, so long till they rise no more, renewing
the water by measure when it comes to diminish. Turn it by Inclination,
and put a part, that which rests in the bottom in the shape of Sand.
Put again the Crusts in new water, make them boil gently as before, and
gather together the Crusts that shall rise up more clear and lucent
then the first, separating their dregs and impurities, if there be any
presented, and reiterate this six or seven times, till your Crusts be
clear and shining as silver or pearls. Dry them in the Sun, or before
the fire upon a linnen, and put them in a cornue with an open breech,
and a graduate fire reinforcing it by smalls: and through the beak
of the Cornue, there will issue as a smal rivolet of milk, that will
resolve into oil with the Recipient. Passe it once again, or twice upon
Sand, or salt of Tartar: which is done by calcining of Tartar, within
a pot of Earth of _Paris_, not leaded in a fire of reverberation,
or in Charcoles: afterwards dissolve it, with hot water and filter,
and congeal it, and there will remain white Salt which will resolve
it self into a liquor called the oil of Tartar; _or after it is well
calcined let it resolve_ to it self in moisture. _This Liquor is of
great efficacy to quench and root out all sorts of wildfires. But of
the sands that remain in the bottom, without being unwilling to rise in
Crusts: there will be extracted another more exquisite oil and lesse
adustible._
Tartar may be governed after another fashion. Wee insist therein in
this respect, because it shews to have I know not what agreement with
Soot: for as Soot is an excrement of fire, so are Tartar and lees, the
same of wine, that have great affinity with fire. Take then of Tartar
in Powder within a leaded earthen vessell, and cast hot water there on
stirring it strongly with a stick; and letting it rest a little, put
out the water; with that which it hath gotten from the Tartar: which
is after the form of slime within another dish: and put new luke warm
water upon the Tartar: reiterating as aforesaid so many times that
the water may come forth neat & clear; which will be perfected at the
fifth or sixth time. And in the bottom there will remain the foresaid
sand, which being dryed disolves it self within the distilled vinegar,
and not into common water. _Aqua vitæ_ likewise dissolves in a little
space, when the one and the other would take no more. Wash that which
remaines, with common water, then dry it slowly, and having put it
into a Cornue with a sufficient good expression of fire graduating it
by small pieces, there will be extracted an odoriferous oil, as of
_aspic._ one of _Raimond Lullius_ his secrets: which is one of his
principall keyes, and entries into Metallick dissolutions. Take the
foresaid evacuations, and elevate the Crusts as aforesaid. There are
too many things to speak of Tartar, and that which wee have now set
down is not vulgar, but the rarest of our experiments; Of vinegar,
after that the clear shall bee distilled, and that the white fumes
shall begin to appear, which is his adustible oilynesse, put the dregs
that shall remain (for you must have a great quantity) in a cellar or
other fresh place, and in five or six dayes there will be procreated
small Crystalline little stones; separate them from their residences,
by ablutions of common water, and dry them; and you shall draw thereout
an oil of no small importance, so great certainly and admirable are the
substances, which the art of Fire extracts from Wine.
[Sidenote: _Lignum vitæ._]
The most part of the oils that wee have touched on, heretofore, being
adustible, are by consequent of a strong and troublesome odour, as
smelling the burnt, when they burn, you must therefore set them in
the Sun certain dayes, that is to say, to dry them in the Sun, and in
the Air, to take away from them this fiery smell: for recompence we
will here treat of some rare ones and of good agreeable odour. And
in the first that of Been, which prefumers use, hath neither colour,
odour, nor savour: and therefore it is susceptible of all those which
you shall apply thereunto. Being repassed upon Sand to take away the
fatnesse, it would bee of long durance, and without an ill sent, but it
is too dear. As for oils of Olive, rapes or long turneps, _chenevy_,
sesamum, but is rare in these quarters: and other the like which
are drawn by the press, by means of the heat of fire: what repasses
soever there may bee, yet they never desist to be of a good odour,
but so much lesse, according as they shall bee depured and by the
same means of longer durance: Oils of Sage, Thyme, Pepper and other
the like, drawn by an instrument proper thereunto, such artifices,
are so divulged even unto Chamber maids, that I should bee ashamed to
speak of: That of Benzoine is more rare, and lesse known, and more
laborious to make. Take Benzoin thoroughly beaten to grosse powder, and
put it into a Cornue with fine _Aqua vitæ_, which swimmeth thereover
three or four fingers, and leave them so for two or three daies upon
a moderate fire of ashes, that the _Aqua vitæ_ may not distill,
removing them every houre; this done, accommodate the _Cornue_ upon
the furnace with an earthen vessell full of Sand. Distill the _Aqua
vitæ_, with a gentle fire, afterwards increasing it by degrees, there
will appear infinite little _aiguilles_ and filaments, such as in the
dissolutions of lead and quicksilver. The which sheweth sufficiently
that Benzoin participates thereof: It whitens Copper, quickens Gold,
and put in decoction of _gayac_, doth admirable effects, as also
Tartar, which containeth much quick-silver. When then these veins or
little _aiguilles_ shall shew themselves, continue this degree of fire,
and let them play within the Cornue a certain space, so long that all
vanish away. In the interim have in a readinesse a little stick which
may enter within the neck of the _Cornue_ for these _aiguilles_ will
come thither to bring again as in an _mouelle_, and if you take them
not away speedily the vessell will break when this Gumme or Mouelle
shall bee all past, with a certain form of butter, which will cast it
self afterwards within the Recipient, the oil will begin to distill
fair and clear, of an hyacinth colour, and fragrant odour: after which
reinforcing the fire, there will issue out another more thick and dark,
which you must receive apart. This Gumme or white marrow, which you
shall have drawn out of the neck of the Cornue, wash it with the _Aqua
vitæ_ which you distilled therefrom, in the beginning, which shall
extract therefrom a tincture or Citrine colour, as Saffron, and shall
leave the Gumme very white, and of a most agreeable smell, fit to make
_Pater Nosters_ of sents, of such a colour as you will please to give
it: withdraw your _Aqua vitæ_ by a bath, and in the bottome there will
remain a yellow Tincture of a good sent likewise, which hath great
proprieties and vertues. The black oil is, a soveraign balm against all
hurts: and of the remaining earths a Salt of great efficacy. Thus you
have of Benzoin five or six substances, a white Gomme, with its yellow
Tincture, the two oils and Salt.
_Aqua vitæ_ which is its principall manifestation, and without which
nothing would bee done therein, there is also Storax, Calamint,
Ladanum, Myrrh, and the like Gums, out of which oil is extracted by
the means of the carriage of _Aqua vitæ_, and therein you must proceed
as in Benzoin: But there are not so many things to mingle together:
Out of Myrrh there is likewise extracted a liquor, very proper to take
away all spots and marks remaining of scabs, or pox and other like
accidents. Take hard Egs, and cleave them in the middle, take away
the yellow, then fill the hollows with grains of Myrrh, and cover
them again with the other half: Leave them three or four dayes in the
clear and in the air, where the Sun comes not: and they will resolve
themselves into a liquor like unto hony, or thick dew, frankincense
likewise doth the same.
Out of Sulphure also there may bee drawn an adustible oil by opening
it, with _Aqua vitæ_, and also by other wayes. For Sulphur hath in it
two substances, the one inflammative, the other not, but aluminous
and vitriolique: whence proceeds this liquor which is called oil of
Sulphur: which hath yet greater properties and vertues then the oil
of vitriol, which is more caustick and burning: as well against evill
inward affections, as in Cankers and ulcers of the mouth, tooth ach,
cankers, and other the like, where it works more moderately.
Take then first a match of Cotten yarn of the bignesse of your little
finger and two els long, which you shall besmear with molten wax and
with Turpentine, as to make waxe Lights.
Take on the other side a pot of _Paris_ earth leaded, wherein you
shall put a bed of sulphur enough grossely beaten, and thereupon lay
a round of your foresaid matches, untill the pot be full, on the top
whereof, you shall leave a little end of your Match to light it: (fine
musket match is very good also). Put your pot under a chimney and hang
thereupon an Alembic Cap, whose mouth should relate to that of the pot.
But you must first besmear and crust over the clay to the thicknesse
of a thumb: you must not join it just to the pot, but that there may
be an inch opening betwixt them. Light the Match, and make the Sulphur
burn, which will cast from it a small white fume, which will adhere
within the Cap and from thence it will resolve into a liquor of peach
color, that will fall into the Recipient, when you have to such an end,
applyed it to the beak of the Cap: But this will do better in soft
weather with south winds and _d’aval_, and not in dry weather.
Wee have long insisted on these oils, as well for that they are
produced for the most part out of the action of fire, of which there
is here a question as for that nothing is nearer of kin to fire, then
fatty oils, unctuosities, pitch rozin, and black Turpentines, Gums,
and other like Inflammative substances, that are the true food, and
nourishment thereof: And for that we are so far embarked therein,
there will be no hurt, here in one train to prosecute something of the
Artifices which are commonly called Grecian fires, whereof there are
many sorts, that cannot bee quenched with water.
The foundation of them are Sulphur and Bitumen, black pitch, and rosin,
Turpentine, Colophone, Sarcocoll, oils of Lin, petroll, and Laurell,
Salt-Peter, Camphere, Tallow, Grease and other unctuosities facil
to conceive flame: Of these Greek fires _Plutarch_ speaketh in his
Treatise of not lending upon usury: & more lately by _Zonaras_, in his
3. Tome in the life of _Constantine_ the _Pogonate_ where it is said
that in the year of our Lord 678. the _Saracens_ being come to besiege
_Constantinople_, an Ingenier by name _Callinicus_ brought an Artifice
of certain fire, by means whereof the _Saracens_ Fleet was defeated:
But Gunpowder, and the artifices that may bee made thereby, hath
slubbered them all; whence consisteth the most part of our artificiall
fires, pots, and fire pikes, circles, granadoes, sauciges, petards,
fuses, and infinite other the like, which we pretend not here to
specifie in particular.
Take then a pound of Salt-Peter, 8. ounces of Sulphur, 6. ounces of
Gunpowder, incorporate them together for Granadoes, and fire-pots,
which make great noise in the breaking. But to tye fire to wood, and
other inflammative matters, mingle a pound of pitch, rosin, a quartern
of black pitch, 3. ounces of Colophon, and 5. of Sulphur, bruise the
Gums, and cast into the melted Sulphurs, when it is cold beat them
again, and moisten them with oil of Bayes, or linnen. There is another
composition much more violent, but more dangerous.
Melt a pound of Sulphur within a leaded earthen pot, and put therein
by little and little, but discreetly, a quartern of powder grosse
grained, with as much salt Peter, stirring them often with a rod of
Iron. Take them off the fire and let them dry. This mingled with the
aforesaid Artifices wil work wondrous effects. Some mingle also a
little beaten glasse, which coming to be warmed, rewarms consequently
the matter, when it comes to flame: whose heat makes it stronger, and
of longer durance. Camphere serves to make it burn in the water, as
likewise all other greases do, and above all oil of brimstone, drawn
by a bath, then which there is nothing more subtible or inflameable.
But it would bee too tedious to penetrate into the ruins of mankind, of
which there would bee no end, if a man should runne through them all.