all Stars, but he possesses the lowest and vilest degree in the
under-parts of the Earth, even as the supreme Light of _Saturn_ is
mounted aloft in the highest supremacy of all the Celestial planets, so
hath its Children of the lower Region succeeded it in Kind; and Nature
hath permitted that _Vulcan_ should conduct them to their like, if
_Saturn_ be content; for the upper light gives occasion thereunto,
having generated an unfixt Body of _Saturn_, penetrated with open pores,
that the Air can pass through this _Saturnine_ Body, that the Air can
keep it aloft, but the fire can quickly assault it, because the body is
not compact by reason of its unfixedness, so that it must decay, which
must be in all points observed by him that will attain to the search of
it; for there is a great difference between the fix'd and unfix'd
bodies, and of the causes of their Constancy and Inconstancy. And though
_Saturn_ hath an especial ponderosity above other Metals, yet observe,
when they are poured forth together, after their union in the Flux, the
other Metals alwaies settle at the bottom, even as it likewise comes to
pass in the pouring of _Antimony_ through with other Metals, whereby it
is evident, that the other Metals fall through equally, and are more
compact than _Saturn_, for it must give place and preheminence to the
other Metals, leaving the victory with them; for it must vanish and be
quite consumed with the unfixt inconstant Metals; in it all the three
properties of the three principles are most course; and because its Salt
is very fluxible above that of other Metals and Planets, so is its Body
more fluxible, inconstant, unfixt, and volatile, than any other
Metallick Body. As _Saturn_ steps to its regeneration, so know that in
like manner, as common Water is forced by the natural coldness, by the
change of the Heavens, whereby it becomes a coagulated Ice, in like
manner is it to be made evident, that by reason of the great coldness
which is found to be in the Salt of _Saturn_ above other Salts; _Saturn_
is also coagulated and made corporal; Ice dissolves into water by heat;
so likewise the coagulated _Saturn_ is made fluxible by Fire, it hath
most of _Mercury_ in it, but it is inconstant and volatile; it hath
least of Sulphur, and therefore according to its small quantity its cold
body cannot be made warm; it hath little Salt, but fluxible, otherwise
Iron would be more fluxible and malleable than Lead, if the Salt alone
could cause a malleableness and fluxibleness, because Iron contains more
Salt than any other Metal: Seeing then there is a difference to be found
in this point, you must therefore observe and remember the difference,
and how to distinguish between Metals.
All Philosophers have wrote as well as I, that the Salt gives the
Coagulation and Body to every Metal; and it is true; but to prove it by
an example, how and after what manner this Relation is to be understood:
Plume Allom is esteemed to be only a meer Salt, and is approved to be
such, which in this particular may be compared to Iron, that the Salt of
the Plume Allom is found to be a thing unfluxible as Iron is. On the
other side, _Vitriol_ likewise is a Salt, manifesting it self in a small
quantity, but fluxible and open, therefore its Salt cannot yield such a
hard congelation unto its appropriated Metal, as the other can; although
all the Salts of Metals grew out of one certain Root, and out of one
Seed, yet nevertheless you must observe a difference in their three
Principles, as also you must observe & remember, that a difference is
found in one Herb from the other, and likewise how man differs from
other Creatures and Animals in Qualities, Original, and the three
Principles; for one Herb is indued with more of this, another with more
of that kind, which in like manner is to be understood concerning Man
and other Animals. The Soul of Lead consists in a sweet quality, as also
doth the Soul of Tin, and sweeter yet, that nothing almost may be
compared to it, being first of all purified to the highest by
separation, that the pure be well separated from the impure, that a
perfect accomplishment may succeed in the Operation: Otherwise the
Spirit of Lead is by nature cold and dry, wherefore I advise, that it
be not much used by Men and Women, because it over cools Nature, so that
the Seed of both cannot perform their Natural Function; nor doth it much
good to the Spleen and Bladder, but in other cases it attracts
flegmatick Humours unto it, which raise up much Melancholy in Men; for
_Saturn_ is a Ruler, and such a _Melancholicus_, whereby a Man is
confirm'd in his Melancholy, wherefore its Spirit is used, for one
Melancholy Spirit attracts another unto it, whereby Mans Body is freed
and delivered from its infused Melancholy. Externally the Soul of
_Saturn_ is so healing, in all Sores old or new, Cuts, Thrusts, or
Accidents by Means or Nature, so that no Metal can do the like; it is
cooling in all hot, tumified Members; but Noble _Venus_ hath the
pre-eminence to mundifie and cauterize all putrid Sores, and to lay a
ground for their Cure, which have their access from within; for in her
essence she is hot to dry up, but _Saturn_ on the contrary is found to
be cold in his Essence.
The Celestial Light of the Sun is much hotter than the Light of the
Moon; for the Moon is much lesser than the Sun, and according to its
dimension and division it contains an eighth part of the greatness in
its Circle; if then the Moon in this her Magnitude of the eighth part
could excel the Sun, as the Sun excels the Moon, all Fruits and
Productions of the Earth must perish, and there would be a perpetual
Winter, no Summer to be found at any time: But the Eternal Creator hath
in this case well ordained a certain Order and Law for his Creatures,
that the Sun should give light by day, and the Moon by night, and so all
Creatures should be served. Those Children which are subject to the
influence of _Saturn_, are melancholy, churlish, continually murmuring,
as old covetous people, who do no good to their own Bodies, and yet
never have enough; they put their Bodies to much labour, torment
themselves with thoughts and whimsies, seldom recreate themselves, or
are merry with other people, nor do they greatly regard the natural love
of fair Women.
In brief, I tell thee that _Saturn_ is generated of little Sulphur,
little Salt, and much unripe gross _Mercury_, which _Mercury_ is to be
esteemed as a Froth that floates upon the Water, in comparison of that
_Mercury_ which is found in _Sol_; and is much more hot in its degree,
and therefore the _Mercury_ of _Saturn_ by reason of its great coldness,
hath not so quick a running Life as that which is made of Gold, wherein
more heat is to be found, whence that running Life hath its original:
Therefore in the inferiour world we must take notice of little _Vulcan_
in the augmentation and transmutation of Metals, as I have described
those three Principles of _Saturn_, as concerning their descent, nature,
and complection. And every one must know, that no transmutation of any
Metal can follow out of _Saturn_, by reason of its great coldness, only
and except to coagulate common _Mercury_; for the cold Sulphur of Lead
can qualifie and take away the hot running Spirit of the Quicksilver,
if the process be rightly ordered, wherefore it is not amiss to observe,
that _Mercury_ is so detained, that the Theory should agree with the
Practick, and meet together in a certain measure and concordance. You
must not therefore quite reject _Saturn_, nor in all points scornfully
neglect him, because its Natures and Virtues are known yet but unto few;
for the Stone of the wise hath the first beginning of its Celestial,
high-shining Colour only out of this Metal, and from the influence of
this Planet, the Key of Constancy is delivered unto him by putrefaction,
because the red cannot be made out of the yellow, except before-hand a
white be made out of the beginning of the black.
I could yet treat variously, and at large of many wonderful works of
Natural and Supernatural things. But because other Labours prevent me
therein, of making a longer Narration, I therefore put a Conclusion to
this Treatise at present, referring the other concerning the concealed
Secrets of Minerals until I have a purpose to write further, in a
particular Treatise of _Antimony_, _Vitriol_, _Brimstone_, _Magnet_, and
which in especial are endowed before others, and depend upon those, out
of which Gold and Silver have their beginning, middle and end, together
with the true transmutation particularly; which virtues and power they
have received out of one thing, wherein all these lie to be generated
invisibly concealed, together with all Metals; which matter is publick
before the eyes of all men, but because the vertues and powers are very
deeply buried and unknown to the most part, therefore this matter is
likewise esteemed as nothing, or of no value, and unprofitable, out of
ignorance; even as the Disciples of the Lord going to _Emaus_, their
eyes were opened at the breaking of Bread, that they knew wonder above
wonder, what the rich Creator hath placed in the vile creature, the name
is _Hermes_, who carries a flying Serpent in his Shield, having a Wife
whose Name is _Aphrodita_, who can know the Hearts of all men, and yet
all is one, and one only thing, one only Essence, which is common in all
Places, and known every where, every one grasps it with his hands, and
uses it in vile matters, and of small value; he values the vile at a
high rate, and that which is high he casts away; it is nothing else but
Water and Fire, out of which the Earth is generated by the help of the
Air, and is yet preserved. Praise be to the most High for his Gifts: At
present enough is revealed what my intent was to shew in this Treatise,
and so I depart hence; for in separation all is to be found.
_Of the Medicine or Tincture of_ Antimony_, as well to preserve Mans
Body in Health, and to divert all desperate, and incurable Diseases, as
also to cure the Leprosie of Metals, to purifie and to transmute them
into the best Gold._
_Written by that Noble and Learned Philosopher_, Roger Bacon.
_Stibium_ or _Antimony_, as the Philosophers say, is composed of a Noble
Mineral Sulphur, which they accounted to be the black secret Lead of the
Wise.
The _Arabians_ call it _Asmat_ or _Azmat_; the Alchymists retain the
Name _Antimony_.
_Addition._ The _Moors_ call it _Antimony_, others call it _Alabaster_,
or _Tarbason_. By the _Arabians_ and _Spaniards_ it is called _Alcohol_.
_Avicennae_ c. 7. calls it _Artemed_. _Alexius_ of _Piedmont_, in his
seventh Book of Secrets, calls it _Talck_, even as _John Jacob Wecker_
renders it in his Books of Secrets; but _Talck_ is far different from
_Antimony_. _Pliny_, Book 33. Chap. 6. of _Antimony_. _Dioscorides_
gives a preparation of _Antimony_, Book 5. Chap. 39. They call it also
_Stibi_, _Stimmi_, _&c._ The _Germans_ call it _Spies glass_, or as
_George Fabricius_ would rather have it, _Spies glantz_. _Gerlandius_
calls it Black _Alcophil_, _Altofel_, or _Alirnu_, others _Cosmet_, and
it is twofold, Masculine and Feminine.
It will lead us to the consideration of higher Mysteries, if we behold
and discern that Nature wherein Gold is exalted, even as the _Magi_ have
found that this Mineral is by God ordained under the Constellation of
_Aries_, which is the first Celestial Sign, wherein the Sun takes its
Exaltation, though this be not regarded by the Vulgar; yet discreet
people will know, and the better observe, that even in this place also
the Mysteries and Perpetuity may in part be considered with great
benefit, and in part discovered.
But some ignorant and indiscreet people think, that when they had
_Antimony_, they would deal well enough with it by Calcination, others
by Sublimation, and some by Reverberation, thereby to obtain its great
Mystery and perfect Medicine. But I tell you, that here in this place
it availes not in the least, either Calcination, Sublimation, or
Reverberation, whereby afterwards a perfect extraction can or might be
done or effected with profit, to transmute the meaner into a better
Metallick virtue; for it is impossible for you.
Be not deluded; some of the Philosophers which have wrote of such
things, as _Geber_, _Albertus Magnus_, _Rasis_, _Rupecissa_,
_Aristotle_, and many others: But observe this: Some say, that if
_Antimony_ be made to a _Vitrum_ or Glass, the bad volatile Sulphur is
gone, and the Oil which may be prepared out of that Glass, will be a
very fixt Oil, and will really give an ingress and Medicine of
perfection to the imperfect Metals.
These words and opinion are good and true, but it will not be nor
appear such indeed; for I tell you truly, without concealed speeches,
that if you lose any of the aforesaid _Sulphur_ in the Preparation or
Burning, for a small fire may easily prejudice it, you then have lost
the true penetrating Spirit, which should make the whole Body of
_Antimony_ to a perfect red Oyl, which should also ascend over the helm
with a delightful sent, and curious Colours; observe likewise, that the
whole Body of this Mineral, with all its Members, should be but one Oyl,
and ascend over the helm without any loss of weight, excepting the
_feces_.
How should the Body be brought to an Oil, or yield its pleasant Oil, if
it be brought to the last being of its degree, for Glass is in all
things the utmost and last.
You shall likewise know that you shall not obtain that perfect noble Oil
in the least, if it be extracted with corrected Vinegar poured upon the
_Antimony_, nor yet by Reverberation; and although its various colours
may appear, yet is it not the right way; you may indeed get an Oil, but
you must know that it hath no part of the Tincture, or power of
transmutation in it.
_Now we come to the Manual Operation._
Take in the Name of God, and of the Eternal Trinity, fine and very pure
Mineral _Antimony_, which is fair, white, massie, and inwardly full of
yellow Streaks or Veins, and likewise of red and blew Colours, and
small Veins, this is the best; pound it to fine Powder, dissolve it by
little and little in _Aqua Regis_, that the Water may conquer it. After
Solution take it out immediately that the _Aqua Regis_ may do it no
prejudice; for it will quickly dissolve the Tincture of the _Antimony_;
for our Water in its nature is like to the _Ostrich_, which by his heat
can digest Iron, and consume it to nothing; for the Water will consume
it, and turn it to a Mud, that it shall remain only as a yellow Earth,
and then is it quite spoiled.
Take an Example hereof from Silver, which is dissolved, fair, pure and
fine in these our Waters, but if it stand a night therein while the
Water is strong and full of Spirits, I tell you, your good Silver will
be corroded to nothing in these our Waters; and though you would reduce
it into a Massie Body, you cannot; for it will remain as a pale yellow
Earth, and sometimes it will run together in the form of Horn, or of a
white Horse Hoof, which you can by no Art reduce into a Body.
Wherefore you must remember to take the _Antimony_ out presently after
the Solution, precipitate and adulterate it according to the custom of
_Alchymists_, that it may not be corroded with its perfect Oil by the
Water, and burnt up to nothing.
_The Water wherein we dissolve is thus made._
R. _Vitriol_, a pound and a half, _Salt-Armoniac_ one pound, _Azinat_
one pound, _Salt-nitre_ a pound and a half, _Salt-gemme_ one pound,
_Allom_ half a pound; these are the Ingredients which belong unto the
making of the Water for the Solution of _Antimony_.
Take and mix them well together; at first distil very slowly, for the
Spirits ascend with greater violence than those of any other common
_Aqua fortis_; beware of its Spirits; for their Fumes are very subtile
and hurtful in their penetration.
When you have adulterated the _Antimony_ well and purely from the
corrosive Water, then put it into a clean Vial, poure good distilled
Vinegar upon it, set it forty dayes and nights to putrefie in
Horse-dung, or in _Balneum Mariae_, it will be bloud-red. Take it out,
and see how much is yet to be dissolved, decant off gently the pure and
clear, which is red into a Glass-Gourd, poure other Vinegar upon the
_Faeces_ as before, that if any thing should yet remain therein, it might
be dissolved; this must be done four times in fourty days and nights;
for if any good be in the _Faeces_, it will be dissolved in that time,
then cast the Dregs away as unprofitable, being but Dirt, and to be cast
to the Dunghill.
Put all the Solutions in a glass-Gourd into _Balneum Mariae_, distil all
the tart Vinegar from it, pour it on again, or else pour fresh, if this
be too weak, it will quickly dissolve in the Vinegar; distil it again
from it, that the Matter be quite dry; then take common distilled water,
wash all tartness from it with the Vinegar imparted to the Matter, then
dry the Matter in the Sun, which is of a very deep red, or else dry it
very well at a gentle fire.
When the Philosophers find our _Antimony_ thus secretly prepared, they
say then that its external nature and virtue is inverted internally, and
the internal cast forth externally, henceforth becoming an Oil, which is
concealed in its innermost and profoundest part, till it be well
prepared, and cannot any more be brought into its first Essence, untill
the last Judgment; and it is true, for so soon as it feels the force of
the fire, it flies away in a Vapour with all its parts, because it is
volatile.
Some of the common Laborators, having thus prepared _Antimony_, they
take one part out because of its consumption, that they may the better
operate it, they mix with it one part of _Salt-Armoniac_, one part of
the _Vitrum_ (with others _Titrum_) one part of the _Rebooth_ (with
others _Cadoli_) wherewith the Bodies are cleansed; this mixture they
cast upon a pure _Luna_, and if there were eight Ounces of the _Luna_,
they found ten Drams of good Gold in the separation, and sometimes more;
and by this work they gained wherewithal to bear their Charges, the
better to attend upon, and attain unto the great Work. The ignorant
called this an induction into the Silver, but that is false; for this
Gold is not brought into it by the Spirits, but every kind of Silver
hath one Ounce of Gold more or less in the Mark (or 8 Ounces) for Gold
is so united with the Nature of Silver, that it cannot be separated from
it, either by _Aqua fort_, or common _Antimony_, as the _Gold-smiths_
know.
But when the aforesaid Composition is cast upon the _Luna_ in the flux,
then happens such a separation, that the _Luna_ doth freely let go the
Gold implanted therein into the _Aqua fort_, and is separated from it,
letting it precipitate and sink to the bottom, which otherwise could not
be done at all. Therefore it is not an induction into the _Luna_, but a
bringing out of it.
But we return again to our proposed Work; for we would have only the
Oil, which was only known to the Wise, and not to the Ignorant.
When you have rubified the _Antimony_ very well according to the former
Directions, you must have in readiness a Spirit of wine well rectified,
pour it over the red Powder of _Antimony_, set it four daies and nights
in a gentle _Balneum Mariae_, that it may dissolve very well. And if
then any of it remain undissolved, pour fresh Spirit of Wine upon it,
set it again into the Bath as aforesaid, all will be well dissolved; and
if perhaps any more _Faeces_ remain, they will be very few, cast them
away, for they are good for nothing. Put the Solution into a
glass-Gourd, with a Head luted upon it, set it into _Balneum Mariae_,
with its receiver to take the Spirits, distil slowly with a slack heat,
till all the Spirit of Wine be come over, pour it in again upon the dry
matter, draw it off again as before; this pouring in & abstracting
continue so often, till you see the Spirit of Wine ascend over the helm
in various colours, then it is time that you follow it with a strong
fire, then with the Spirit of Wine ascend red into the helm, and drop
into the Receiver like a bloody Oil, and the tender Body ascends like a
red Oil, dropping into the Receiver; truly this is the most secret way
of the Wise, the so much applauded Oil of _Antimony_; it is a noble,
well sented, virtuous, and powerful Oil, as you shall hear afterwards.
But here I will teach and instruct you poor Operators another way,
because you have not the Means to attend the great work, not as the
Ancients did, with the separation of Gold out of Silver.
Wherefore take one part of the Oil, or half an Ounce of _Saturn_, four
Ounces calcined according to Art, pour the Oil upon the _Calx_ of
_Saturn_, mixing it, set it ten daies and nights in the heat, into the
secret Furnace; every two days augment the fire one degree, according to
the capacity of the Furnace; after four days and nights set it into the
third degree of Fire, therein let it rest three days and nights, then
open the Door or Vent of the fourth degree, which must likewise continue
three days and nights; afterwards take it out, the _Saturn_ will be
above black, like unto Charcole dust, but under this black dust you will
find other Colours, throughout pure, red, yellow, which flux with
_Venetian Borax_, you will find it converted into good Gold by the power
of our Oil, so have you means again to set forward the great work.
We return again to our purpose, where we left off before. You have
heard, and have been instructed how to abstract the Spirit of Wine with
the Oil over the helm into the Receiver, and to use it for the work to
convert _Saturn_ into Gold. But we will now hasten to the other work of
the Tincture, and give advice concerning it. It will therefore be
necessary to separate the Spirit of Wine again from the Oil, which do as
followeth;
Take the mixture of the Spirit of Wine, and of the Oil, set it into
_Balneum Mariae_; distil the Spirit of Wine only from the Oil with a very
slack heat, so that you may be assured that there is no more of the
Spirit to be found in this most precious Oil, which you may easily try;
when you see some of the drops ascend over with the Spirit of Wine, it
is a sign that the Spirit of Wine is separated from the Oil, then
remove all the fire from under the Bath, how little soever it be, that
it may cool the sooner. Take away the Receiver with the Spirit of Wine,
stop it very close, for it is full of Spirits which it hath retained
from the Oil, as you will hear afterwards: But in _Balneum Mariae_ you
will find that blessed Oil of _Antimony_ red as Bloud; take it out, wash
the Lute off by gentle mollification, that nothing impure may fall into
that curious red Oil, when you take the head off; reserve it carefully,
that by no means it may receive prejudice, for you have a Celestial Oil,
which in a dark night shines like a glowing Cole, and this is the
reason, because its internal power and soul is cast forth externally,
the hidden Soul being now revealed, shining through the pure Body as a
Candle through a Lanthorn, even so at the last day, these our invisible
internal Souls shall be revealed, and seen out of the Body, shining as
the clear Sun: So keep each apart, as well the Spirit of wine full of
power, and wonderful in curing humane Distempers, as also the blessed,
red, noble, celestial Oil, which transmutes all the Diseases of the
imperfect Metals into the perfection of Gold; and the power of the
spiritual Wine extends very far being rightly used.
I tell you, you have obtained a Celestial Medicine, to cure all the
Diseases and Distempers of Mans Body; its use is, as followeth;
_In the Gout._
Give three drops in a Cup of Wine fasting to the Party, just at the time
when he feels the beginning of his misery, anguish and pain to come upon
him, the second and third, use it in like manner; it allaies all pain
the first day how great soever it be, and prevents Swelling; the second
day it causes Sweat, which is very nasty, tough and thick, very soure in
taste, and of an evil sent, and most of all in those parts where the
Members are united and joined together by the Joints; and if you should
give none in the third day, yet will there be a purgation of the Veins,
and of the Excrements, without any molestation or pain; is not this a
great power of Nature?
_In the Leprosie._