The Fifth Part: OF Philosophical Furnaces…

The Fifth Part: OF Philosophical Furnaces

In which is treated of the wonderful Nature of the Fifth Furnace: Also, of the easy Preparation of the Instruments and Materials belonging to the foresaid Four Furnaces. Most profitable for Chymical Physitians.

Of the Preparation of the Furnace.

As concerning this, of which, though I made no mention in the Preface; for it was not my Resolution to mention it in the last Part, because I was purposed only to treat of the Instruments, as well earthen, as those of glass, and also of the other necessary things belonging to those four parts premised; yet I am willing now in this Part, (which I have judged to be the most convenient place for it, for which I did before design another) to discover the wonderful Nature thereof, as far as I may for the Studious Artist’s sake. And although I know that more in this part, than in all my other writings, especially the ignorant and unskilful, will be offended; yet I will not therefore pass it by, perswading my self, that by this means I shall do a work, that will be most acceptable to the searchers of Art, and Nature. For I do devoutly affirm, That this is the choicest of all my secrets that I confide in, in which I have already seen wonderful things, hoping that the Divine Benediction will some time or other be obtained upon the practice thereof. And as for the structure of it, much cannot be said thereof, because it is not built as other Furnaces are, but it is every where found extructed by Nature, being ordained for no other works, than those of Nature, viz. for the making of any menstruum that shall dissolve gold, silver, and all other metals, and minerals without any noise, as also pretious, and common stones, and also glasses: the original of which, is the original of the Menstruum. Now what, and what manner of Furnace that is, that produceth this Royal Menstruum, (coming from the Menstruum it self) and that easily without any labour, you may easily conjecture, that it is not any common one, by the help whereof other things are distilled, that can yield such a Menstruum that is not corrosive: which certainly is not any common Menstruum, because there is but this one Menstruum that I know, which doth not partake of any corrosive quality, that doth more than any, or all other corrosive waters whatsoever. For all corrosives whatsoever they are, as aqua fortis, aqua regia, spirit of salt, vitrioll, allome, and nitre cannot together, and at once dissolve the close union of gold, and silver, and other most hard subjects, that cannot be dissolved in waters, though never so caustick.

This indeed is wonderful, and stupendous, that a thing every where found most vile and base, should doe so great a miracle: I know not what moved me to write of it, knowing that I shall in this part offend not onely the wise by writing so openly, but also the ignorant detractors, and slanderers that will accuse me of falsity. And truly these considerations might justly have deterred me, but that I knew I might doe a good work, recalling many from their errors: For many are perswaded that there is no other dissolving Menstruum, besides the aforesaid corrosive spirits; but those are Chymists that are ignorant of Nature; yet the Philosophers with one consent say, that those corrosive destructive spirits make a fruitless solution of metals; for experience testifies, that the solutions made by the help of aqua fortis, and regia, and other spirits, colour the hands, being that which a true Philosophical solution doth not, and furthermore, testifies, that those, viz. which colour the hands, are not to be reckon’d among the true Philosophical solutions, but to be contemned as Malignant. Wherefore I was willing to write these things to instruct those that erre. Let no man therefore perswade himself, that a Menstruum so vile and contemptible, is of less efficacy, than those corrosive spirits. I my self did once scarce believe, that so great Vertues could be in so most vile a Menstruum, until I had experience of the truth in good earnest.

I could here add more things concerning the original of the universal Menstruum, which is so contemptible, which doth by its wonderful powers and vertues dissolve all metals, minerals and stones radically without any noise, unites and fixeth them; the solution whereof doth not colour the hand; the conjunction is inseparable, and the fixation incombustible; I say, I could add more things concerning it, but that divers inconveniences, which by this means I might incur, as also the envy and hatred of others do deter me. For although any one doth think to discover the possibility of Art, and Nature; yet few would be content therewith, being very desirous of all manner of revelation; and if we should not gratify them, we should forthwith incur their hatred and envy, who would without doubt judge otherwise of the matter, if they had but any experience of our labours. Be thou therefore (courteous Reader) contented with this discourse, that shews thee the possibility of Art and Nature; and diligently seek after it in the fear of God, and without doubt thy labour shall not be in vain.

Of the Building of the Furnaces.

How those Furnaces of the first and second part are to be built and made of Potters Clay, and Stones; I need not say much, because there be many Books extant, treating of this matter sufficiently; yet this caution is to be observed in building of the Furnaces, viz. that those Furnaces, in which a very strong fire is not kindled, need not so strong walls, as those in which we distil, sublime, and melt, with a most strong fire. And for what belongs to subliming and distilling Furnaces; you may erect them of those common bricks which are made of the best clay, and well burnt, compassing them about with very strong walls, that they may the longer retain the heat: or else you will continually have something to do in mending them, and closing their chinks, which hinder the regiment of fire. Wherefore they must be compassed about with iron hoops, that they may be durable and not gape. Now what concerns the melting Furnaces, the aforesaid bricks are not of use in the building of them, because they not being durable melt in the fire; wherefore you must make other bricks of a very good earth that is fixed in the Fire, such as is that of crucibles, &c. of which, afterwards; which are to be made in a brazen or wooden mould, and to be burnt, and it matters not whether they be round or square, a regard being had of the Furnace, that six or eight of them make one course, or row. But you need not build the whole Furnace of those stones, for it is sufficient, if the place only, where the coals still lye, be made of them, and the other part of the Furnace be made of common bricks.

A Lute for the erecting of Furnaces.

Lute may be made divers wayes for this business; for men prepare their Lute several wayes as they please. Some mix with sifted Potters earth, the beaten hairs of Cows, Oxen, Harts, or the chaffe of Barley, Tow, Flocks, Horse dung, and the like, that hold together the clay, and prevent chops, to which they add sometimes sifted sand, if the clay be too fat, beating the mixture together with water, and bringing it to a just consistence. And this is the best mixture, that is not subject to cleaving, yet weak, because in length of time the hair and chaffe are burnt, wherefore the Furnace becomes thin and weak. Many leave out combustible things, and mix Potters clay, and sand together, and temper them with brine, for the making of their Furnaces. And this is the best mixture, because it is not combustible as the other is, neither is it subject to cracking, by reason of the salt: and for this purpose, the brine of fish and salt flesh doth serve, and is very good, because the blood helps the joining of them together: but if the Caput mortuum of vitriol or Aqua fortis, being mollifyed, be mixed with Potters clay and sand, you go a better way to work: for this Lute is not at all subject to cracking, but fixed in the fire and permanent. With this Lute are Retorts, and Gourds very well luted, and coated, also the joints of Retorts, and Receivers closed: this being mollifyed with a wet cloth applyed to it, may again be separated, and taken off, as that also with which salt is mixed: but the other Lutes that want salt will not be separated, by reason whereof glasses oftentimes are broken. Wherefore in defect of the Caput mortuum of Vitriol, temper the clay and sand with brine: But many mix the filings of iron, powdered glass, flints, &c. but you need not them for the building of the Furnaces, but only for the coating of certain glasses used for separation, and distillation, because the filings of iron being helped with salt, binds, and joins together most strongly.

Of the closing of the Joints, hindering the evaporation of subtle Spirits.

The aforesaid Lute is sufficient for the closing of the Joints of the first Furnace, where air is not kept from the Spirits, but not of the Vessels of the second Furnace, where most subtle Spirits are distilled, which it cannot retain, penetrating the same with the loss of the better part: wherefore you must make choice of another; unless upon the other being well dryed, a mixture made of quick Lime, most subtilly powdered, and Linseed-oyl, besmeared over with a pencil, which the porous clay attracting to it, is fortifyed, so as to be able to retain those most subtle Spirits: but this Lute can hardly be separated again; because refusing water, it cannot be mollifyed; wherefore the clay is to be tempered only with the white of eggs, and to be applyed with linnen clouts: but you must prevent the burning of the linnen, by reason of the extream heat of the neck of the Receiver, by putting between an iron or strong glass, viz. betwixt the receiver and the retort. The joints also may be closed with oxe bladders wet in the white of eggs, also with starch tempered with water, if it be sometimes applyed, being smeared on paper. For by this means those most subtile spirits are easily retained, but not corrosive, for which use the caput mortum of aqua fortis is more convenient which after it is dryed must be smeared over with a mixture made of linseed oyl, and quick lime.

And divers kinds of these lutes are had being destined to divers uses.

Another Lute for broken Glasses.

It happens sometimes that glass vessels, as receivers, and retorts, have some cracks, but otherwise are whole and sound; which are greater in those glasses that do again suffer the heat of the Fire, wherefore at last the glasses are broken, which if you will prevent, make a liniment or thin lute of linseed oyl, quick lime, and red lead; which being smeered over a linnen cloth apply to the crack, upon which being dryed apply another: but if the crack be very great, you may apply three or four linen cloths, for the greater safety sake: as you may apply the whites of egges beaten together, upon the cracks with linnen, and cast upon it quick lime sifted very fine, and press it down hard with your hand: which being done, you may apply over them more linen clouts wet in the whites of eggs, and cast upon them quick lime again: which when the lute is well dryed, retaines the spirits, but sooner subject to the corrosion of corrosive spirits than the former.

Note well that quick lime is not to be mixed with the white of eggs, and so used upon linen clouts, as the manner of some is; because the whites of eggs acquire a hardness from the lime before they be united, and therefore cannot stick, but linen clouts wet First therewith before the quick lime be cast upon them, so that the lime doth not immediately touch the glass, being applyed betwixt two linen cloths.

_How those subtile spirits when they are made, may be kept that they evaporate not._

Those glasses in which those spirits are kept are for the most part stopt with cork, or wax, upon which afterward bladders are bound: which stopping is convenient for some spirits, that do not prey upon cork or wax: For all corrosive spirits, as of vitriol, Allome, common salt, nitre, &c. corrode cork, and lixivial spirits, as that of harts-horn, tartar, salt armoniack, urin, wine, &c. melt wax, and penetrate it.

And although other stopples might be made, which might retain both sorts of spirits, yet it would be tedious and laborious to open those so often, and to stop them again. Wherefore I have found out a fit kind of glasses, viz. of such, whose mouths have distinctions, and are fit to receive their covers; as it appears by the delineation. [See the first figure]. A. signifies the cover: B. the glass containing the spirit. C. a drawer by the help whereof the spirits are taken out of the glass, when there is occasion, into the distinction in the brim of the mouth; viz. of the glass that contains the spirit, is put quicksilver, and upon this is put a cover; this being done, the Mercury closeth the joynts of both glasses running in the brim, so that nothing at all can evaporate: for the spirits do not penetrate the Mercury, unless they be very corrosive (a thing to be noted) which then in process of time turn the Mercury into water, but very seldom; and then the Mercury is to be renewed. But we need not give so much honour to corrosive spirits, being not to be compared to those volatile ones, which being abstracted from corrosives not prey upon Mercury; and much less than these, do lixivial spirits corrode Mercury; and for the sake of these were these glasses invented, by the help whereof most subtile spirits are without any loss of their vertues, if you please, a very long time preserved and kept. And because when there is occasion the spirits cannot be poured forth by reason of the Mercury in the brim, you must get a drawer like to that, by the help whereof wine is taken out of the vessel, but lesser, having a belly with a little mouth made very accurately. This being let down you may take up as much as you please, as is needful; the upper orifice whereof being stopped with the finger nothing drops out; being put into a lesser glass is thence poured forth for your use. Then you must again cover the remainder of the spirit that is in the glass, and as oft as is needful take out with that drawer as much as is useful. And this is the best way by which the most subtile spirits are retained; which also are very well retained in those glasses, whose stoples are of glass smoothed with grinding. But this is a more costly way of keeping in spirits, and it is done after this manner.

_How glass stopples are to be smoothed by grinding for the retaining of spirits in their glass vessels._

First of all order the matter so that you have glass bottles of several sorts, some greater, some lesser, with strong necks, and mouths, with their glass stopples, which being smoothed by grinding shut the orifice of the bottle very close: Now they are smoothed thus. Put the stopples in the turn, being set or fastned in some wood, bring it into a round shape, then being moistned with Smiris, and water mixed together, let it be put to the mouth of the bottle, so as to be turned round in the mouth of the bottle, which you must often take away from the stopples being fastened to the turn, for the oftner moistening of it, which is with that mixture of prepared Smiris and water, with the help of a pencil, or feather; and that so often and so long, until the stopple stop the mouth of the bottle most closely: which being done, you wipe off the Smiris with a lint from the stopples and mouth of the bottle, then smeer over the stopple with a liniment made of some fine washed earth, and water, or oyl, and again turn it round in the mouth of the bottle, and often smear it over with this fresh mixture, until the stopple be most exactly smoothed, which afterward is to be tyed to its proper bottle; the same also is to be understood concerning the rest, that one may not be taken for an other, &c. And that you may not need to take away so much from the stopples, and bottles, get some copper moulds made for the stopples, which stopples must be taken whilest they be yet warm, soft, and new drawn from the furnace, that they may be made of a just roundness, as also other copper moulds. Which must be put into the mouths of the bottles, whilest they be yet hot and soft, for the better making of them round, whereby afterwards the stopple may more easily, and quickly become fit to stop the mouths of the bottles very close, (as for example: A. is the stopple, B. the glass or bottle) if thou knowest how to order them rightly, they will quickly and easily fit one the other.

In defect of a turn, proceed after the following manner, which is slow, yet safe, because in a turn the glasses, oftentimes waxing hot are broken by reason of the over great hast; and it is thus, make an iron or wooden receptacle fit to receive the glass bottle, which being covered about with linen, and put in, join both parts of the receptacle warily and softly, with the help of a screw, that the bottle be not broken, and that that instrument, or receptacle of the bottle being fastened to a form with the help of the screw, cannot be moved. Afterwards cause that another wooden instrument be made for the stopple (as for example, A. the stopple with its receptacle B. the bottle with its receptacle) that may be separated in the middle, and be again reunited with a screw after the putting in of the stopple, which being smeered over with the aforesaid mixture of smiris and water, take the instrument with both hands, and put the stopple round about the neck of the bottle, and grind it round upon the other, as Wine Coopers are used to do in smoothing the taps; and that so long until the stopple be fit for the bottle; then reitereate the same labour with the earth tripolis, until it be compleated; and it will stop as well as a stopple made by the help of a turn [See the second and third Figures before the fourth part.]

After this manner also you must work those greater glass receivers of the first furnace, that without luting they may be closed. Stopples also of vials or Boltheads for fixation may be wrought after this manner, which in stead of luting may be put into the mouths of the vials, upon which are put caps of lead; by which means in case of necessity they may be lifted up, viz. in case the spirits by too strong a fire be stirred up and rarified, by reason of the danger the glasses are in to be broken, and may again fall down into the mouths of the bottles being pressed down with the leaden caps, and so stop close again. And this way of stopping is better then that which is done with cork, wax, sulphur, and other things: because in case the fire be not well governed, and by consequence an errour is committed, you may preserve your glasses by lifting up of the stopples, viz. when the spirits are too much stirred up. And although this be a better way of stopping than the other common way; yet that which follows is better then this, whereby the spirits are easily retained, the glasses being preserved, and without all danger of being broken. And it is thus, viz. get a glass pipe to be made crooked according to the figure set down, into the belly whereof is quicksilver to be put from half an ounce to an ounce, or thereabouts, and let this pipe which hath a belly be put into the vial containing the matter to be fixed (as for example. A. the pipe with a belly, B. is the vial, and again C. signifies the aforesaid leaden cap with the neck of the vial D.) the joints whereof afterwards are to be covered over with lute, and the vial will never be in danger of being broken. See the fourth Figure.

These foresaid ways of stopping are the best, by which the breakings of glasses are prevented, viz. whilest men are in an errour about the fixing of spirits of salts, minerals and metals, which although they are fixed with great costs and labours, yet do not satisfie what is promised and expected, because those kinds of fixations are violent and forced, and by consequence contrary to nature: but in the profitable fixation of spirits, not so, where we must follow Nature, and not commit our selves to fortune in our labours. For only fools are wont to break their glasses in their supposed tincture; but Philosophers not so; for every violent thing is an enemy to Nature; and all the operations of Nature are spontaneous. They erre therefore, and never shall come unto their desired end, who attempt violent fixations. I cannot be perswaded that bodies dead, or half dead can be so mixed together as to multiply: but I could easily believe that the conjunction of male and female of one and the same species, sound and nourished with sound and wholesome meats to be natural, and to make a spontaneous propagation, and multiplication of their species; viz. of those that endure in a good, and adverse fortune, in life, and death; but the conjunction of dead things, to be dead, and barren. Do but consider how many and various instruments both gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead; as also earthen, glass, stone, and other vessels of other materials have been already invented, and found out for the fixing of Mercury alone with gold and silver, but in vain, because they have no mutual affinity. For although Mercury adheres to metals, or metals to it, yet that is not by reason of any affinity for multiplication, or perfection sake: for it appears by experience that Mercury flies away in the fire, and leaves the gold, silver and other metals. Where it is clear that they have no mutual affinity requisite for the multiplication of metals, nor is it ever possible: For they that have a mutual affinity embrace one the other and abide together for ever, although volatile, yet never leave one the other, like gold and Mercury, when they are united together with the strongest bond, so that they can never be separated although with the strongest fire. Wherefore a great care is to be had in the fixation of things joined together; which if they have a mutual affinity, will embrace and retain one the other, without the help of any curious glasses with long necks. Of which things if thou art ignorant, abstain from medling with them, as being more hurtful then profitable, as dayly experience both mine own, and others do witness. But that thou mayst the better understand what things have a mutual affinity one with the other: attend a little to what I shall say.

Is not he to be laughed at for his folly who will pour rain, or common water on gold, silver, and other metals to fix them? See therefore the unwise actions of many covetous Alchymists in so hard a matter, that spend their time in trifles, reaping according to what they have sowed, and at last leave off their work which they have undertaken, after they have expended much cost, and spent their labour in stenches, watchings, and cares. For I have oftentimes seen those, that although they have not chosen common water for their menstruum, yet have made choice of May-dew, snow or rain gathered in March, and water distilled out of Nostock, or excrement of Stars; vegetables and animals for their solvent, in which they have lost their labour.

For as the radical union of the aforesaid things with metals is impossible: so never is any good to be produced from thence, by reason of their difference. And such may deservedly be compared to those, who ascending a very high ladder that hath many steps, doe presently endeavour to fly from the lowermost to the uppermost; which is a thing impossible: so neither can there be any conjunction of things that do so much differ. But as any one may easily ascend the highest step by degrees, so also any one may (which yet he need not do) join together extreams, by adding first a thing that is most near to one of the extreams, and then to this another next to it, and so by consequence, until you come to the other extream, which is a thing that requires a very long time, and is a work without profit. And if things be joined together that have the next affinity, the one will be delighted in the other, and the one will embrace the other, will overcome, and retain it. As for example, there is a certain salt, and that only, that can coagulate, and turn into a body like to it self, even common water, which can be fixed in a very little time, with, and by one only certain mineral, which is very volatile. Minerals also may be fixed by metals, and metals, (a thing which I never yet tryed) by a certain thing more excellent than metals, without all doubt. But therefore it is needful in the fixation of minerals to begin with the coagulation of water, whereby it is turned into salt; and this afterward into a mineral; which would be too tedious; but it is sufficient to begin in things most near, in which nature hath begun to operate, but hath left imperfect; for then there is hope of gain, if contrary things are not joined together, else not. Behold how ready Nature is at hand to help any thing that is administred to it, which it can help: as for example, make salt of calcined Tartar by the help of solution and coagulation (but do not take that for it, of which a little before mention hath been made, which is far better than salt of Tartar) of which after it is calcined, observe the weight; upon which afterwards pour half the weight of most pure rain water; distilled to avoid the suspition of impurity; then draw off the water gently in Balneo, or Sand, which again pour upon the remaining salt of Tartar, and again draw it off; this do so often as is needful, until all the water be consumed. Which being done, take out the salt, and weigh it, being first made red hot in the Fire, and thou shalt find it to be increased in weight, which increase came from the water, and not elsewhere.

Note well that the cohobation of the water is to be reiterated often upon the salt of Tartar. Observe, that by this means, the water is convertible into salt by Art, &c. And if thou dost not believe the conversion of things material and corporeal, how wilt thou believe the conversion of things immaterial, as of the Sun, and Fire into a material fixed substance; of which thing, something shall be treated in our Treatise of Aurum potabile, and more at large afterwards in a Treatise De Generatione Metallorum, if God permit: For you must know that the circulation of the Elements, and things elementated, viz. how one is converted into another; and how they nourish and cherish one the other: as for example, the Earth yields Water, the Water Air, the Air Fire, and the Fire again Earth; which if it be pure, yields pure Earth. But that thou maist understand aright how any thing to be fixed, may be retained by another, by reason of affinity, observe the following example. The Husbandman casting seed into the Earth for to multiply, doth not choose any Earth, but that which is convenient for multiplication, viz. an Earth that is neither too dry, nor too moist; for the seed cast in sand cannot grow, but is lost: For whatsoever is to be preserved, is to be preserved by an equal temper; which, by how much it is more equal or like, so much the more perfect substance it doth produce. Humidity therefore being necessarily requisite for the growth of vegetables, without which, they can neither grow, nor multiply, but the seed being cast into moist sand, and the Rayes of the Sun acting upon the sand, and suddenly consuming the humidity thereof, whence follows the burning up of the seed in the dry sand, because there was no affinity betwixt the water, and sand; without which, the water could not be retained by the sand, and consequently, the seed deprived of its nutriment; it follows necessarily, that some medium be required, or bond joining and binding the rain, and sand; viz. salt, by the help whereof, the rain water is retained by the sand, that it be not so easily consumed by the heat of the sun.

The sand therefore retains the salt, and the salt, the rain water for the nutrition of the bud: but every salt is not convenient for this business; for although Christ saith, Luk. Chap. 14, Verse the last, that earth without salt is barren; yet any common salt is not to be understood thereby: [See more de Natura Salium.] for some salts, as common salt, salt of Vitriol, Allome, &c. do not only not do good, but do hurt to Vegetables, hindering by reason of their dryness their growth and increase. Now lixivial salts promote them, that which Country-men do better understand, than our supposed Philosophers: for they know how to help their barren ground with the excrements of Animals; which are nothing else but a lixivial salt mixed with Sulphur, making the earth fat and fertile. And by this means a vehiculum (rather a bond) is administred to the rain water, that it may the less be consumed by the heat of the Sun. Moreover, all seed (consisting in a lixivial salt and sulphur) loves its like, from whence it borrows its Nutriment, which is observed but by a few Learned or Unlearned. Husband-Men may well be excused of their ignorance, because they work only out of Use and Custome. But others that bear the Title of Learning not so; whose Duty it is to Render a reason of Germination, who may deservedly be Ashamed of their Ignorance, being less knowing than Husband-Men. It is manifest, that Dung makes the Earth Fruitful; but how, and for what reason, not so; but if it did want nitrous salt, it would neither make it Fertile, nor promote Germination: for it is not unknown, that Nitre is made out of the excrements of Animals. The goodness therefore of the dung consists only in the lixivial salt contained in it, and not in the straw.

But you will ask perhaps, why doth not any other salt help Germination? Why is the salt of dung required to Germination, and no other? We have already answered that, like are helped with like; and contraries are destroyed by contraries: For experience doth testify, that every seed consists in a lixivial salt and sulphur, and not in any acid salt; wherefore also it doth desire and embrace its like. Let him therefore, that will not believe it, make tryal of the distillation of the seed of any vegetable; of which, let him force over a pound by a retort; and he shall see by experience, that not an acid spirit, but a flegm together with plenty of oyl, and volatile salt whitening the whole Receiver, comes over; being that which no root or stalk can do: for the chiefest vertue, odour, and tast of vegetables, animals, and minerals is found in the seed, in which thing provident Nature hath done very well, whilest she attributes the chiefest faculties to the seed, being more obnoxious to injuries then the rest, which is also preserved, nourished; and cherished by its like.

Now this discourse which might otherwise have been omitted, was therefore appointed, that the cause of the germination of vegetables might be made the more manifest; and that what things have been spoken of the attraction, and fixation of all things might the better be understood. The germination therefore, and multiplication of both minerals, vegetables and animals must be spontaneous, and not forced, as is that barren and frustraneous of the false Chymists, because preternatural. Wherefore when you fix any thing be cautious in the adding of any thing that should retain it, with which nothing can be fixed. Fire indeed doth always do its office; but it knows not how to help any preternatural thing; which it doth wholly destroy, against which nothing can be prevalent, unless it be rightly ordained according to Nature.

And thus much is spoken for instruction sake, to thee that intendest to fix any thing, lest otherwise thou losest thy labour.

Of the making of the best crucibles.

The best crucibles that are requisite for the fourth furnace, not being found in every place, I thought it worth while to set down the manner of making them: for I am not ignorant how oftentimes many for want of these are constrained to be content with those that are useless, and truly with great loss of metals, whilest the crucibles are broken in the fire, and consequently with a tediousness in drawing them out of the ashes.

Chymists have been in a great errour a long time, and not only they but also goldsmiths, and they that separate metals, as also others that need the help of crucibles, who perswade themselves that the best earth that is fit to make the best crucibles is to be found no where but in Hassia; and therefore with great charges have caused that Gibsensian crucibles be brought over; not considering that almost in every place in Germany such earth is to be found, which indeed is a very great folly of men, proceeding from the not knowing of good earth which is to be found almost every where. I do not deny but that the earth of Hassia is very good for crucibles, tyles, retorts, and other vessels which are to be set in a very great Fire, for which cause also is commended Gibsensian, and Waldburgensian crucibles.

A few years since some have made their crucibles, and other vessels that will endure the fire well, of earth brought out of England, and France into Holland, which have retained metals very well in the fire, but not salts, because they are too porous and not so compact as those of Hassia, wherefore those of Hassia are still preferred before others, retaining better, metals, and salts. But although this earth be brought from thence to other places, yet such strong crucibles could not be made thereof, the cause whereof being not the constitution of the air, and place to Which some have falsely imputed it, but an error in the making and burning of them. For in Hassia there is a great abundance of wood, of which there is no sparing in the burning the crucibles even to a stony hardness, which could not be done by a smal Fire of turffes.

The like errour is committed about stone pots, and other vessels which are made at Frechemium and Siburgus, and other places near Colen, which are carryed almost through all Europe, the goodness whereof is ascribed only to the earth, and not to the making. But now experience hath taught us that any good earth doth become stony in a violent fire, without respect of the place where it is taken. Wherefore it is very probable, being a thing possible, that such vessels are made elsewhere: for every earth being burnt retaining a white colour, viz. with an indifferent Fire, makes pots, and crucibles porous, but with a stronger, and with a longer delay, compact like glass, especially if common salt be cast in a plentiful manner upon them, being burnt with a very strong fire, because it addes to them being very well burnt within an external glasy smoothness, by which means they will be the better able to retain spirits in the Fire. Wherefore let no man doubt concerning the making the foresaid vessels of any other earth that is white in burning, with the help of a very strong Fire: which by how much the greater whiteness it gets in burning, by so much the better and excellent pots it makes; and seeing there is a great difference of making crucibles to be set in the Fire, and of stone pots retaining liquid things, I shall shew the manner of making both, viz. of stone pots belonging to the first and second furnace, and of crucibles to the fourth, and thus it is.

He that will try the goodness of white and pure earth, viz. whether it grows stony in the fire, let him cast a peice of crude earth of the bigness of a hens egge into a very strong Fire, observing whether it doth quickly or slowly cleave and break in pieces; which if it doth not cleave and become powder, although it may have some cracks, is good earth, and fit for burning, if so be the mixture be well made, in which lys the art.

The earth that is to be burnt, for pots, receivers, and bottles, needs no other preparation then that for bricks, which because for the most part it is too fat, you must mix with it clean sifted fusible sand, tread it with your feet, and knead it with your hands before vessels be made thereof; which being made are to be dryed in the heat of the Sun, or in some other warm place; and being dryed are to be burnt in a very strong Fire for the space of twenty four or thirty hours, on which in the mean time you may cast salt if you please, which being thus burnt do like glass retain easily all liquid things. But let him that makes crucibles, tyles, bricks and other vessels appointed for a very strong Fire, use more diligence in the making of them. And truly first he must beat very small with a wooden hammer, the earth being dryed well in the Sun, or elsewhere, and being beaten searse it through a great searse, and to one part of the sifted earth mix two, three, or four parts (the fatness of the earth being considered) of the earth burnt in a potters furnace, and powdered, which being mixed with a sufficient quantity of water he must tread with his feet, and afterwards knead with his hands, and the earth will be prepared for the making of vessels, and when he makes crucibles and tests, let him provide for wooden moulds both greater and smaller, made in a turn, by the help whereof they may be made, for the aforesaid vessels cannot be formed by the usual art of the potters; because the matter of them must be very lean, appointed for a most strong fire; wherefore commonly they are made by the help of moulds after the following manner.

Let a piece of the prepared earth be applyed with your hands to the mould, which you must hold in one hand, applying and fitting the earth thereto with the other, or hold it with your legs, that the earth may be applyed with both your hands. Also you must first rub the mould very well with clean sifted sand, for else the earth will so stick to the wooden mould, that a crucible can scarce be taken off without danger, which being done, it is further fitted by striking it with a wooden instrument smoothed for the purpose, by which means the crucible lyes very exactly upon the mould, for by this means crucibles are made very strong; which being done also let the crucible be taken off, and set upon a board, and be dryed, first in the air, then by the heat of the fire, or sun, and then be burned in the first chamber of our fourth furnace, or in a potters furnace. And if you intend only to melt metals and not salts, you need not burn the crucibles if they be well, and exactly made.

Now this caution is to be observed in melting by the help of crucibles not burnt, that you must give fire above by little and little, for fear of breaking the crucibles feeling a suddain heat.

Now that they may be made equal in strength, weight, and thickness, you must weigh one crucible rightly made by the help of the mould in one scale, and a piece of the prepared earth, which is to be put into the other scale, and if they be equal in weight, take out that piece, and put in another; and this do so often, till you be come to the number of the crucibles which you would have made: By this means they are made equal, and you need not cut off any overplus of the earth when it is fitted to the mould, because all are made equal, by reason of the equal weight of the matter of each of them, and the work is sooner done then otherwise.

This indeed is the best way but tedious and laborious, wherefore considering the matter a little more seriously, I found at last that the following way is far better than the former: whereby not only stronger crucibles are made, but also more in one hour, then in that former common way in three or four. Where first, the mould is made of latten (on which I advise you to apply the earth) signified by the letter A. viz. that being the best, which is made by the help of fusion. Then the counter-mould answering this, signified by the letter B. yet so that that do not enter too deep into this, not touching the bottom by the distance at least of one fingers breadth; but in greater crucibles a greater thickness of the bottom is required, as the practise will teach thee.

Let him therefore that is making crucibles apply the earth to the mould, as hath been above said in the First manner, which being done, let him again take off the crucible that is formed or cast, and set it in the air to be dryed. Then having First made a sufficient number of crucibles, let him make the mould clean from the earth or sand, and annoynt it with grease, or oyl Olive taken up with a sponge, as also the counter-mould, into which let him put the crucible being half made and dryed, and into this the mould, which he must strike above twice or twice or thrice with a heavy wooden mallet, that the earth may be rightly, and exactly applyed to the mould; which being done let him take off the mould, and turn the countermould together with the crucible, which let him knock a little against the form (where the crucibles are made) and let him take in his hand the crucible falling from thence; which he must afterwards dry and burn, as hath been above said in the First manner. And by this way are made the best, and the best proportioned crucibles, Fixed and smooth, not only for melting of metals, but also for minerals and salts; the like to which I never yet saw, as being without all danger, if so be rightly made of the best earth. And that they may be made equal in weight and strength, they must be weighed as before hath been said, And this labour is easie and pleasant, when they are made with ones own hand, and that greater or lesser at pleasure.

After the same manner also are made tests viz. by the help of the like kind of moulds, which must not be long but plain like shells as appears by the annexed Figure, A. and B. Not only tests but also cuples are made by the help of these moulds. [See the fifth and sixth Figures.]

Now tests are made more easily this way then crucibles, because the earth only is weighed, and being handled with the hands is put into the counter-mould, which then you must with the upper-part press hard; that it may be made conformable to the mould, viz. plain, not long, that which may easily therefore be made; and for this cause those crucibles are easily again taken out, viz. if the mould be turned, or the counter-mould be a little knocked against the sides of the form. And if the earth be beaten in too fast that it goes out at the sides, you must cut it off with a knife, or else the crucible, or test is hardly taken out, sticking to the brims, which practise will teach thee. For all things cannot be so accurately demonstrated by a pen.

And take this for a caution, that thou do not make thy tests and crucibles of earth that is too soft, but of that which is half dry, otherwise they are hardly taken out of the moulds; for that is more easily and rightly applyed to the mould. And if thou proceed rightly according to the prescript, scarce one crucible of a hundred will be lost.

This also is to be observed, that the superfluous earth which is cut off must not be mixed again with the mass for crucibles, because it is spoyled with the fat, or oyl that is smeared over the moulds, and therefore cannot be so well mixed again, and being burnt cleaves, for which cause bad crucibles are made. Wherefore it is to be kept apart for mending of furnaces that are spoiled with an extraordinary heat of the Fire; or for covers of crucibles that are to be made by the help of the hands only, or of moulds, which we cannot want, if we would work all things exactly.

Now for tyles, and other vessels that serve for distillation, and melting, they are made by the help of wooden moulds after this manner. Let the mould be made exactly like to the tyles, and other vessels, then cut off leaves from the earth being very well prepared, with a copper wier upon two equal tables of wood, and then a piece of the earth is to be laid with a knife upon the mould, that it may there get some hardness; which afterward is to be taken away, dryed well, and burnt. And if any thing further is to be done, viz. by cutting off, or adding, it must be done by earth half dryed, or a little hardened. For by this means any one may get for himself earthen vessels that are necessary, without much cost or pains for certainty sake. For those that are sold, are negligently made, in which oftentimes in the drying, the cracks which are made, are filled up with some earthen liniment, before they are burnt, which therefore are not durable in the fire, but are broken, and that oftentimes not without great loss of the metal, which is again to be gathered out of the ashes by the help of a tedious washing. It is better therefore to work those vessels with ones own hand for certainty sake. For not all and every crucible can alwaies and every where be made equal, and be of a like durableness in the Fire, though they are made most diligently: and therefore a consideration being had of their goodness, they may be used for divers uses, and the better may be used in the melting of the better metals. But let no man perswade himself that all these can indifferently hold in the Fire, although they be the best of all, how many soever you make; for I never yet saw any earth which could hold litharge in the Fire and salt of Tartar, because the best that ever I saw is not free from penetration of them, which is the greatest impediment of some profitable operations, which therefore are omitted.

And let this which hath been spoken, suffice concerning the making of crucibles: let every one therefore that hath a care of his business, use better diligence for the time to come in the making crucibles for more certainty sake, and he will not repent of his labour. Now how Tests and Cuples may be exactly applyed to the aforesaid Molds, is not my work at this time to shew, because many years since it hath been done by others; especially, by that most ingenious Man, Lazarus Ercker, whose Writings concerning the manner of making of Tests and Cuples I cannot mend, to which Authors I refer the Reader, where he shall find sufficient Instruction and Information concerning this matter. But there are also other Tests, of which I shall say nothing in this place, but elsewhere happily I may, by the help whereof, lead is bettered in tryal if it be sometimes melted again.

Of the vitrification of Earthen Vessels belonging to the first and second Furnace.

In the defect of glass Instruments belonging to our first Furnace, you may make such as are very useful, of the best Earth, which being well glazed, or double glazed, are sometimes better than old Glass; especially, those that are made of Earth that do not drink up the spirit, such as is found almost every where, which becomes stony being burnt: Now the Art of burning hath not hitherto been so well known, of which something hath been said already, where the Earth being burnt with a very strong fire, is made so compact, as that it becomes hard and solid as a stone. The Potters Furnaces being too weak for this strong burning, there is required a peculiar Furnace for this Work; in which, the strongest fire for the burning of them may be made: But because no body thinks to build such an one, only for some few Vessels not worth the spending of costs and labours: there is yet another way of vitrifying of any sort of Earth (red Clay only excepted) not to be slighted if well done; especially, if the matter vitrifying when it is cold after the burning is ended, doth not cleave and chop, and it is not hurt by corrosive spirits as the glass made of lead, retaining spirits, as well subtle as corrosive, as that white vitrification of the Italians and Hollanders: you must therefore in defect of a fitting Furnace, wherein Vessels being burnt become stony, make them of the best Earth, and glaze them with the best Glass of Tin, but not of Lead; and by how much the more the calx of Tin goes into the vitrifying mixture, so much the better is it made; for Tin being reduced into a calx with Lead, hath no more affinity with corrosive spirits; wherefore it is more fit for vitrification. But he that will not be at so much costs, let him vitrify with Venice Glass powdered, which vitrification also is not to be slighted, requiring a very great heat for the burning, and therefore flowing with great difficulty in these common Potters Furnaces; wherefore you must mix some Borax with the Glass, that it may flow so much the more easily in the Potters Furnace; else you must pour upon the earthen Vessels being burnt, Water mixt with Glass, so that it the Glass may stick to them every where exactly, which afterwards being well dryed, shall be gathered together into one heap artificially, lest they take up too great a space, like earthen Dishes that are to be burnt, and afterwards compass them round about every where with burnt Bricks, an hole being left open above for the casting in of coals, yet so, that the Bricks be distant from the Vessels the breadth of an hand, whereby the coals being cast in above, may the more freely go round about down to the bottom; which space being filled with dry coals, you must put upon them other living coals, that the fire being kindled above, may by little and little burn downward and perform its work; which being so done, the Vessels will be out of all danger, if so be they are all well dryed.

The fire being kindled and burning, you must cover the hole with stones, until the fire of its own accord be extinguisht; the coals being spent and the vessels become cold.

N. B. Now if there be a great heap of vessels, you must first, the coals being burnt, add fresh coals once more; for else the vessels being placed in the middle, cannot be sufficiently burnt, nor the glass sufficiently flow; wherefore caution is required in the governing of the fire in this manner, where, if all things are rightly done, the vessels are better and more truly burnt and vitrifyed than in any common Potters Furnace whatsoever; yet with greater danger to the vessels than in a Potters Furnace compassed about with walls. But let him that burns crucibles and other smaller vessels, burn them in our melting or distilling Furnace, being covered with coals, giving Fire first above, for so I my self was wont hitherto to burn all my crucibles, and burn and glaze all other distilling vessels; and this in defect of fitting Furnaces is the best way of burning and vitrifying, where in three or four hours space, the vessels are exactly burnt and vitrifyed. Now the earth that is to be burnt quickly, must be the best, and durable in the Fire, for fear of breaking of some of the vessels. Let him therefore in this case for security sake, use our fourth Furnace, who hath built it with his chambers, in the first wherereof he may burn and vitrify without any danger. But that foresaid way of burning and vitrifying, is not to be slighted; wherefore I would have thee be admonished to be cautious in giving of Fire, that you give no more or less than you should, lest afterwards you impute the cause of your errour committed, to me, whilst the vessels are broke as if I had not wrote the Truth, but to thy self that errest, and must for the future be more diligent, and cautious in this work.

I know other vitrifications of divers colours hitherto unknown, and indeed most secret, not to be communicated to every one indifferently: but he that knows how to reduce metals into a true glass, retaining the colour of its metal, is indeed the inventor of a very great secret; to whom, if he consider the matter more profoundly, and exercise himself therein, a Gate is open, with the blessing of God, to a greater light.

There are also other vitrifications, with which the earth being covered doth appear, as if it were adorned with Gems; but because it is not our purpose now to treat of such kinds, I shall make an end of vitrifications, one only excepted, which I shall communicate for the sake of the Sick, and Physitians; and it is this:

Make little earthen Cups very smooth and white of the best earth being burnt: then make the following glasse to flow in a very strong crucible, in which dip one cup after another, being held with tongs, and first made red hot in some little Furnace, letting them lye covered therein for a while, that the earth may the better attract the glass; which being done, let them be taken out, and be set again into the foresaid collateral Furnace, where they were before made red hot, when one is taken out, dip another in the molten glass in its place, which also is again to be set as the first into the aforesaid Furnace; and this is to be reiterated so often, until all the pots be covered over with glass: all which being done, the Furnace is to be shut close every where, that the wind enter not into it, and so it is to be left until it become cold of it self, and the glass covering over the cups remain intire, which otherwise cannot be if the cups be set in a cold place; now the glass is made after this manner.

Take of crude Antimony two parts, of pure Nitre one part; grind them well being mixt together, kindle the mixture being put into a crucible with a red hot iron, and the Sulphur of Antimony will be burnt together with the Nitre, a mass of a brown colour being left behind, which you must take out while it is hot with a spatle that it may cool, which afterwards being melted in another strong crucible for the space of half an hour, or an hour, makes that glass with which the aforesaid cups with their covers are covered over.

Of the use of the aforesaid Cups.

There is no one that can deny that Antimony is the most excellent of all vomitives, wherefore, so many and so various preparations have been invented by Physitians for the taking away of the malignity thereof; whereof I have shewed some, together with the use thereof in the First and Second Part of this Book, where alwaies one is better than another; yet notwithstanding ’tis confest, that Antimony reduced into Glass, is sufficient to purge the Stomack and Bowels from all corrupt Humors, and that without all danger, (being rightly administred) as well by vomit as by stool, by which means many grievous imminent Diseases are not only prevented, but also presently are cured.

But you infer, that this is yet a crude and imperfect preparation, and therefore not so safe. To which I answer, that Antimony that purgeth, needeth no preparation, for if all the crudity thereof were wholly taken away by fixation, it would no more cause vomiting or stools; wherefore the aforesaid glass of Antimony is not to be feared, because it is not dangerous, but may safely be given to Children that are one or two years old, but not in form of a powder, but in infusion or extraction of its chiefest vertue made with honey, sugar and wine, sweet or sowre. After which manner being given, it attracts from all the bowels all vitious humours, and evacuates them as well upward as downward, without danger; of which thing elsewhere more at large. Let him that useth the aforesaid Cups, infuse one or two ounces of wine, and set them a whole night in some warm place, and the wine will attract from the glass so much as doth suffice it, which afterwards being drank in a morning, doth perform the same as an infusion made with the powder of Stibium; and this is a more delicate way than the other, because a Cup is sent to the Patient that he may infuse in it the space of a night, two or three spoonfuls of proper wine, placeing it in some warm place, which he may drink up blood warm in the morning, with a due ordering of himself afterwards: Which, in my judgment is a more delicate way, being made with ones one wine, and ones one hand, than that tedious way of potions, both large, bitter, and nauseous. And this Cup may oftentimes be used, and if at length the wine should not attract sufficiently, the Cup with the wine is to be set in seething hot water for a little time, that the wine might the better attract, and work, when need shall require. Now he that gives such kind of Cups to others, must instruct them concerning the ordering, and administring of the same. One Cup is sufficient for the Master of a Family, with his whole Family for all the daies of their life. It is not to be used by all, and every one, and in all Diseases indifferently, but only by those that are strong and young; and where the principal parts are not hurt. Cups may also after another way be covered over with Glass without Antimony, as follows.

Sublime Auripigmentum in a Glass or Earthen Gourd; and take the gallant golden coloured Flowers thereof, which being after a peculiar manner melted, yield a red and most beautiful Glass almost like an Oriental Ruby, which being broken in pieces, may be used in stead of an Ornament; but this is more soft, and brittle, than Glass of Antimony. This Glass, or those Flowers of Auripigmentum, which are not yet reduced into Glass, do notably glaze the aforesaid Cups with a red beautiful Colour.

He therefore that will vitrify the aforesaid Cups, must first heat them red hot in a Fire made with Coals; and being thus hot, dip them in the aforesaid melted Flowers, and being taken out thence, put them under an earthen, or iron red hot vessel, and there let them cool which do perform the same things as those which are said of the Antimonial Cups.

These Cups are not dangerous, as to be feared, because as Antimony is corrected by calcination, so Auripigmentum is by sublimation: from which, if all the malignity be taken away either by Fire, or by nitre, the vomitive vertue is taken away, as afterward shall be demonstrated more at large in these five parts, when they shall come forth again with enlargements, viz. what purging things are, and how they put forth their vertues, a consideration being had of their malignity.

There are also other ways of vitrification, and indeed very fine, and most desireable by all, if they should be communicated; but because it is not now my purpose to treat here of mechanical things, but only of some particular vitrifications of vessels belonging to our furnaces, I am resolved to omit them at this time, and make an end of these things. I am resolved, God willing, to set forth these parts more corrected, and in a larger manner, where many excellent things now omitted for some reasons, shall be published, and communicated.

Wherefore I will now put an end to this fifth part, where although I might have added something that is singular concerning artificial furnaces, yet because time will not now permit, it shall be deferred to another time and place, where we shall treat further of the examining, trying and separation of metals: For the best way of melting of metals in a greater quantity hath not yet been known: And although they that deal in minerals perswade themselves of the perfection of their art, yet I can demonstrate an easier, and more compendious way of melting of metals in a shorter time, in a greater quantity, and with less costs and pains. Of which more at large elsewhere, wherefore (Courteous Reader) be contented with these things, and if I shall see that these few things shall be acceptable to thee, I will sometime hereafter for thy sake and to thy profit communicate wonderful secrets which the world will not believe, and which hitherto are hid, either out of envy or ignorance.

FINIS.

AN APPENDIX.

Two years since I began to publish my new invented furnaces where also there was mention made of some secrets, which though I thought never to divulge; yet nevertheless I underwent many troubles for the communicating of them. Wherefore I beseech every body that they would no more create troubles to me or to themselves by their petitions or writings, because for certain causes I shall for the future communicate nothing but those things which follow. Expect therefore patiently the time of another Edition, when these five parts shall come forth more corrected and enlarged, and many most choice secrets shall be communicated, which were for certain causes omitted in the first Edition.

I shall now God willing communicate those things which follow, yet upon this condition (because many are such, that by means thereof thou maist with a good conscience, without hurt to thy neighbour, through Gods blessing, get great riches) that thou be mindful of the poor, and a good steward of riches got honestly, and use them to the glory of God and the eternal salvation of thy soul.

The preparation of corn, as of Barley, Wheat, Oates, &c. of Apples, Pears, Cherries, &c., where fermentation being made they do yield by way of distillation a pure spirit very like to the spirit of wine without great costs; of the remainders whereof if the matter were corn, may be made good beer, or vinegar; but if the matter were any kinde of fruit, as apples, pears, a very good drink like to wine, so that by this means thou maist find a double profit, by which thou maist not only have whereby to live honestly, but also to lay up for thy heirs.

An excellent and wholesome drink of fruit, and corn, that is durable and like to Spanish, French, and Rhenish wine.

A distillation of the Aqua vitæ of certain vulgar things not costly and like to the Aqua vitæ of French and Rhenish wine.

A preparation of sugar like to the Western, and of tartar like to the natural Rhenish, out of honey and not costly; where one pound of sugar doth not exceed the price of eight or ten stivers, and a pound of tartar, that doth not exceed the price of two stivers.

A peculiar purification of crude tartar without loss, and a reduction of it into great crystals not costly, so as the price of one pound doth not exceed six stivers.

The taking away of the ingrateful tast and odour of honey so as afterwards there may be made from thence a certain good Aqua vitæ retaining no more the smell and taste of honey: also a very good Mead or Methegline like unto very good wine, with which the same things may be done as with the best wine.

A preparation of Mead out of raisins, great and small, very like in all things to Spanish wine; out of which also is made a very good vinegar without great costs.

A preparation of wine and good vinegar of wild grapes.

Durable and wholesome drinks of gooseberries, barberries, mulberries, strawberries, and the like.

The mending of troubled acid musty wines, &c.

The preparation of a very good vinegar out of certain vegetables which are to be found every where, which may be compared to that which comes out of France, and in a great abundance, whereof two rundlets of nine Gallons do not exceed the price of one Royal. [A Royal or Imperial is 4 s. 6 d.]

The promoting of the ripening of wines of the cold countries of Europe (a very few that are very cold being exempted) that they may yield very good sweet and durable wines, whereas otherwise they could come to no maturity, being very like to those which hotter countries yield.

A certain secret way of carrying wines from mountainous places, where carts, ships, and other commodities are wanting, where the carrying of ten pipes, doth not exceed the price of one pipe otherwise carryed, so that by this means, outlandish wines may be brought to any place with great profit.

A very good and easie preparation of verdegrease out of copper, whereof one pound doth not exceed the price of six stivers.

A new and compendious distillation of vinegar, of which a rundlet of eighteen gallons doth not exceed the price of half a ryal, with which many things may be done, especially the crystallizing of verdegrease, of which one pound prepared after this manner, doth not also exceed the price of half a Royal.

A compendious and very easie way of distilling a very strong spirit of urin, and that without any cost and pains, so that twenty or thirty pints shall not exceed the price of one royal, being very excellent in medicine, Alchimy and Mechanique affairs, by the help whereof a most beautiful blew vitriol may be made out of copper, being very profitable in Alchimy and medicine, making silver so fusible, that by the help thereof, glass vessels, as basons, dishes, and candlesticks, &c. may be so guilded as to be taken for silver.

A way of distilling the spirit of salt in a great quantity, and that with small costs, so that one pound thereof will scarce exceed the price of six stivers being very excellent in Alchymy, Medicine, and other Arts; especially for the doing of these following things, viz. the separation of gold from silver without hurt to the Cups or other things, also the solution and separation of gold mixt with copper and silver by the force of precipitation, where the Menstruum that is preserved, may again be used for the same uses, which separation is the easiest of all other humid separations, whereby gold is reduced to the highest degree.

The separation of volatile sparkling gold out of sand, &c. very profitable, without which otherwise it could never be separated, neither by the help of Washing, nor by Mercury, nor by the force of Melting.

An artificial secret, and hitherto unheard of, trying of stubborn Metals, finding out their Contents, which otherwise could not be found out: for oftentimes there are found golden mines, which are stubborn, in which nothing is found out by the common way, and therefore they are left unlaboured in, and sometimes elsewhere, where there are not found Mines of Metals, there are found other things, as white and red talc, that yield nothing, being tryed the common way, or very little, all which yet abound with gold and silver, which may be separated this way.

A new, and unheard of compendious way of melting Mines in great plenty, where, in the space of one day, by the heat of a certain separating Furnace, more may be melted than by the common way in the space of eight daies, where not onely costs are saved, but also is hope of greater gain.

Another way for the better proving of things melted, and a new way of separating silver from lead.

A very speedy way of melting Minerals, whereby they are melted in great plenty, by the help of Pit-coals in defect of other coals.

The fixation of Minerals, Sulphureous, Arsenical, Antimonial; and others that are volatile, which cannot be retained and melted by the force of fire, by the help of a certain peculiar furnace with a grate, so that afterwards they may by infusion yield gold and silver.

The getting of gold and silver, that sparkles, and is rarified, out of sand, pure clay, flints, &c. by the help of melting.

The separation of gold lying hid in baser minerals and metals most profitable, which cannot be done the common way.

A very quick Artificial and easie separation of melted gold and silver by the help of fusion, so that in the space of one day, by the help of one furnace, some hundreds of Marks may be separated with far less costs and labour, than by the common way by cement and Aqua fortis.

The reduction of elaborated gold, of chains and other ornaments unto the highest degree; also the separation of gold from guilded silver, by the help of fusion, by which means a hundred marks are more easily separated than twenty of the common way.

A certain way whereby more silver is separated from lead then by the Copper.

A separation of good gold from any old iron, which although it be not a labour of great gain, yet it is sufficient for those who are contented with a few things.

A separation of gold and silver, from tin or copper, according to more or less. The maturation of mines, so that they may afterwards be able to yield more gold and silver, then by the common way, also the separation of gold and silver out of Antimony, Arsenick, and Auripigmentum.

The separation of the external sulphur of Venus, that the Son Cupid may be born.

The separation of silver from the cuples, into which it enters in the tryal without melting or any other labour or cost.

The preparation of divers earthen things to be done in any part of the world, like to the Porcellan, that hold fire and retain spirits.

A certain Allome exalting and fixing any colour, especially requisit for scarlet and other pretious colours, with a certain perpetual cauldron, that doth not alter colours, and is not costly.

A making of colours for painters, as of purple gum, ultra-marine, not costly, and especially of that rich white, never before seen, like to Pearl and Margarites; also a peculiar colouring of gold and silver.

To conclude, I refer the Reader unto the Residue of my Books, that Treat of those Secrets more plainly; which I am resolved shortly to put forth.

* * * * *

Those Secrets are all openly taught in the following Treatises, as in the Explication of Miraculum Mundi, Apology against Farner, Prosperity of Germany, =&c.=

FINIS.

Of the Tincture of Gold, Or the True AURUM POTABILE:

What it is, and how it differs from the false and sophisticated Aurum Potabile: How it tis be Spagirically prepared; And how to be used in Medicine.

Of Aurum Potabile.

There is no man that can deny, that the true and ancient Philosophers did study long life, and the conservation of their health. Whence it came to pass that they did diligently seek out the subject of preserving health, and prolonging life: wherefore by the help of fire they did practise the separations, and proofs of all vegetables, animals, and minerals, seeking out their powers and vertues: Who found out the greatest harmony of all things as well in the heavens, as on earth, betwixt the Sun, Gold, Man and wine. For it cannot be denyed, that the life of all things proceeds from the heat of the Sun; wherefore they sought to unite gold the terrestrial sun or body fixed and perfect, caused by the rays of the sun, with man by the help of spirit of wine.

But haply there will be some, whom this my narration may offend denying that gold is the Son of the sun, or a metallick body fixed and perfect, proceeding from the rayes of the sun; asking how the solary immaterial rayes can be made material and corporeal? But they are very ignorant of the generation of metals, and minerals. And although I am not now resolved to write of the generation, and original of metals, yet endeavouring to demonstrate that there is a vivifying power of the sun to be found in gold (destroyed and volatilized) and to be prepared into a most wholesome medicine for man, I will not omit for the sake of the ignorant and incredulous, to demonstrate the truth by one or two examples, which although I could demonstrate by most certain and firm reasons, yet for brevities sake I am now resolved to omit them, recommending to the searcher of the Nature, and propriety of metals, my treatise De Generatione Metallorum, which without doubt will take away all scruple from him; objecting only against him that oppposeth the truth, two questions and reasons which are to be confuted: and the first is, whence comes that increase of both the quantity and quality of any viscous, mineral liquor, that hath been exposed long to the Sun in an open glass vessel? Whether from the Sun, or elsewhere? But thou sayest, that that encrease comes from the air, the vehicle of all things. I answer, if from the air, whether was not that air impregnated by the Sun? and whether there be any thing in the air, which it received not from the stars? But place this liquor in a cold Cellar, in a moist air, and thou shalt by experience know that no weight is added thereto, even as in the Sun, or (in his stead) fire: that Liquor will draw some phlegmatick moisture which will be easily separated by heat, the weight of the former liquor being left. This may be shewed by this Example: dissolve some sulphurous metal, as Iron, Copper, or Zinck, with any acid spirit, and at length take away the spirit, make the remainder red hot; yet not too much, but as much as sufficeth to take away the spirits, which afterward (its weight being observed) put in a crucible on the fire, but take heed lest the metal run over, but at length let it darkly glow with the crucible, for the space of three or four weeks, which done, take it away again, and weigh again the metal, and thou shalt find the evident encrease of the metal, which thou shalt perceive more evidently by this way, as follows: Put copper, or some sulphurous metal, with 16 or 18 parts of lead in a well-burnt cupel; made of the ashes of wood or bones, in a tryed furnace, (the weight of the cupel, copper, and lead first exactly observed) and cause the copper to evaporate by fire with the lead, which done, take the cupel when it shall be cold, and again weigh it, and thou shalt find it far more weighty, so that its weight (though much of the lead goes into air in the cupellating) not only exceeds its former weight, but also of the copper and lead by the said cupellation; therefore it is justly demanded whence this Encrease proceeds, whether the heat of the fire was not coagulated into a metallick body by means of that melted metal? Therefore it is probable, that if you knew the metallick matrixes in the surface of the earth, in which the beams of the Sun and heat of fire being received, may be coagulated, metals may as well be generated in them, as in the bowels of the earth.

But thou repliest it is probable the heat of vulgar fire to have something metallick in it, which comes by attraction of the melted metal in the Cupel, but not in the Sun-beams.

He that will thus try the truth, let him put a cupel very well burnt in the beams of the Sun, together with copper and lead, to which let him apply a hollow Looking-glass, so that it may be operated upon by the Sun-beams gathered into a center, and may thence be made hot: But thou must continually hold the Looking-glass in thy hand, that thou maist turn or direct it to the Sun, according to the course thereof, lest the cupel wax cold, the beams of the Sun being turned away, but if it be rightly observed, the work shall be done no less than in a furnace of fire with glowing heat.

You must have a Looking-glass at least in diameter two feet, nor must it be too deep; but be in depth the 18 or 20 part of the globe, that so it may the further cast the beams: it must be very artificially smoothed, that it may more exactly gather the beams to the center. Now the preparation of these burning-glasses is not of this place, but in the fourth part of our Furnaces, where we have taught not only how they are to be made of metals, but also of glass, and how polisht and used.

This demonstration, which might be otherwise omitted, is therefore set down, that it may be known how Gold proceeds from the Sun, and is secretly endued with its proper strength and proprieties, by Chymistry, reducible into that which it was before its coagulation, namely, into a heating and living spirit, communicating its strength and faculties to man’s body. Therefore the Ancients used great diligence in the reduction of gold, in which nothing is found more excellent than the purest and finest spirit of wine made by distillation, and they did not use common gold melted out of stones, or washt out of sand, but purged by benefit of fire, and Philosophically quickened and unlocked, not by help of corrosive spirits, the usual way of vulgar Chymists, but by some water which Nature freely gives without help of violent distillation; by which they manifest that which is hid in gold, and they have hid what is manifest, and therefore they have made it fit for the separation of its tincture from a gross and black superfluous body. For they knew that the compact body of gold hath no affinity with the vital Spirits, therefore they have chosen only the finest part of gold to their Elixir, viz. Its tincture, which they have radically joyned with the spirit of Wine, and being joyned, have made them spiritual or volatile, so that neither can be separated from each other in the fire, and being in the fire, are sublimed, or fixed by a longer digestion; and coagulated into a fixt stone, which they count for the greatest treasure in this World. Therefore the ancient Philosophers affirming, that there is not a better medicine under the Sun than it, which is made from the Philosophical union of wine and gold, both by an inseparable recoagulation and fixation; nor without gold can spirit of wine, nor this without it be made a medicine, because gold without spirit of wine cannot be made volatile, nor this be coagulated and fixt without it. We therefore, their posterity justly, follow the opinions of the most famous men, not for their authorities sake, but for ocular demonstration, which is the truest tryal.

Therefore the knowledge of the preparation of this medicine being bestowed on me from the highest, I have intended, because a man is not born for himself, briefly to deliver its preparation and use: but I will not cast pearls before swine; but I’le only shew the way to the studious searchers of the work of God and Nature, who doubtless will understand my writing, but not the ignorant and unskilful; let therefore the brevity of the preparation offend no man, because I mean not to prostitute this Art (divinely obtained, not with idleness, but with much watching, labours and pains) nor give to the unworthy a bit before chawed, but only to communicate it to the pious, who shall see with open eyes, that the thing is so. I desire therefore, the simplicity of my stile may offend no man, being not adorned with rhetorical figures, after the wonted manner, for truth wants not many and elegant words, being contented with simplicity and brevity, with which it is easier and better demonstrated, than with those intricate and sophistick discourses.

℞ of living gold one part, and three parts of quick Mercury, not of the vulgar, but the Philosophical every where to be found without charge; and labour, (thou maist also add living silver of equal weight with the gold, and indeed better than only gold, for the greater variety of colours proceeding from the mixture of male and female: but one perswaded that a better Tincture proceeds from gold alone may mix gold only, not so, one skilful of metals, who knoweth the power of the cordial union of gold and silver, dissolved in one and the same Menstruum) put them mixt in a Philosophical vessel to dissolve, and in the space of one quarter of an hour, those mixt metals will be radically dissolved by the Mercury, and will give a purple colour; after encrease the fire by degrees, and it will be changed into a very fine green, to which taken out, pour the water of dew to dissolve, which may be done in half an hour, filtre the solution, and abstract the water through a glass alembeck in B. which pour out again afresh, and abstract, which do three times, in the mean time that greeness will be turned into a black colour, like Ink, stinking like a carcass, and therefore odious: and it behoves sometimes to take away the water reaffused and digested, and that blackness and stink will depart in the space of forty hours, and will produce a pure milky whiteness, which appearing, take away all the moisture till it be dry, which will be a white mass, and in few hours of a pleasant colour, divers colours first appearing, it is turned into a fine greeness better than the former, to which you must affuse the spirit of wine well rectified, to the depth of two or three fingers, and that green gold dissolved will draw that spirit of wine, for the great amity, like a dry spunge drawing waters, and will communicate to it a quintessence as red as blood, by which means the greeness is deprived of its quickening tincture, the superfluous ashy body being left.

You must decant and filtrate the tinged spirit, and in a B. by a glass alembeck, abstract it from the red tincture, attracting the fiery essence of the spirit of wine, so that they may be very close and inseparably conjoyned, from which an unsavoury water only distils, the vertue of the spirit of wine being left with the tincture of gold like a red fiery salt, fusile and volatile; of which grain 1. can tinge ℥ i. of spirit of wine, or any other liquor, with a blood-red colour, for it is soluble in any moisture; and therefore may be kept in a liquid form for the Panacea of most desperate Diseases. Now I will communicate the proprieties of the true tincture, by which true potable gold is known. This tincture next the stone is the best of all medicines, between which and that, there is but this difference, the soul of gold is volatile, nor hath entrance into imperfect metals, and therefore cannot transmute into pure fine gold, which vertue is attributed to the Philosophers stone. The soul of gold, though it be the best part, yet it is not fixt in fire, but volatile; but the Philosopher’s Stone is fixt in fire, and remains, by reason of a longer digestion. But whether that soul or volatile tincture and red Lyon may be fixt by help of fire, and turned into the Universal medicine, and tinging stone, that I know not, because hitherto I have not tryed, &c. therefore he may who extracts the soul of gold, make further tryal, whether he can find any thing better. For this Work treateth of nothing but the best medicine of gold, but other things I know not.

Therefore the deceit of the Distillers of Wine, and other vegetable waters, selling potable gold, is not unknown, being not ashamed to sell any water coloured yellow or red to the ignorant for a great price. And the errour of others dissolving the body of gold in Aqua Regia, or spirit of salt, which again they abstract to a dry remainder, to which for extraction they affuse the spirit of wine: Which is not an extraction, but some particular solution of gold, made by help of the corrosive spirits left in the gold, tinging the spirit of wine with a yellow colour, which so coloured, they call their potable gold; which notwithstanding is reduced into gold, the spirit of wine being abstracted, which can do no more than any other Calx of gold, which the Archeus cannot digest, but separates, being indigested, with the Excrements. And also it is the errour of others, ignorantly deceiving themselves and others, extracting the Calx of gold with peculiar menstruums and spirits, knowing not that the menstruum affused to gold to be red of it self by a long digestion, which decanted, they administer instead of potable gold, who if they weighed the remaining Calx, would by experience see that nothing departed from the gold; which you may try by the setting the spirit or menstruum in a remiss heat, or longer in cold, which of it self doth wax red, as if it had been affused to the Calx of Sol. But the cause of this redness is (unknown to them) nothing but a certain nitrous salt and volatile, as of Antimony, Urine, Tartar, Hartshorn, Hair, &c. exalting the colour of any Sulphur.

Wherefore it necessarily follows, if Artists mingle with the spirit of wine in which is a sulphur, such exalting salts, that it will thence be exalted in colour, and wax red; which also happens to them, who use to extract a tincture with distilled Oyls, having a volatile salt, as are oyl of Lemmons, Cloves, Soot, &c.

For such-like tincture or potable gold is inefficacious, as experience witnesseth. But I would not say there is no other tincture to be prepared out of gold, beside this tincture: for being dissolved in sweet menstruums, that it cannot be separated by precipitation, it can do wonderful things in many grievous Diseases; but alwaies the living metal is to be chosen instead of the dead.

But true potable gold is not so only in name and shew (as are divers waters tinged with a yellow or red colour) but also endued with golden faculties and vertues, so that it may actually appear to be made of gold, but irreducible by Fire into Gold, spiritual and penetrative, strengthning the vital spirits, that they may overcome their enemies. But it must also be endued with this Vertue, that it may change imperfect metals, chiefly Mercury, Lead, and silver into pure gold; not truly like a fixt tincture, tinging with profit the baser metals in flux; but only perfecting particularly in a moist way by digestion, where some part of the metal alone is turned into better. For this tincture of salt or gold is very volatile, so that it cannot resist the fire; but with a gentle heat it melteth like wax, and is sublimed like red salt, soluble in spirit of Wine, that it may be fit for Physical uses.

Also true potable gold being tasted, is neither corrosive, nor astringent like other solutions of gold: neither doth it pollute the hands, the nails and hair with a black or yellow colour, but rather makes them more fine; neither doth it infect copper, tin, lead, with rust or a black colour, but rather makes them more clear; neither is it a body of gold reducible by extraction, nor into white gold, which may recover its former colour by Antimony, and Aqua Regia, but it is like an ashy earth, and sublimable in a gentle heat like Arsenick, not enduring the tryal of the cuple, which vertues if it have, it may be called the true Tincture of Gold: but if not, not so, but rather a sophisticated potable gold, not to be medled withal.

Of the medicinal use of this golden Medicine.

We have before demonstrated the sun to be the original of gold, or endued with the incredible vertues of the terrestrial sun. For the strength and vertues of all vegetables, animals and minerals lie hid in it; which cannot be manifested but by a Philosopher, and that by separation, to wit, of the intrinsical and pure parts, from the impure.

This speech will happily seem to thee incredible, or not very likely to say that gold is reducible into a spiritual essence, agreeable to humane nature, endued with the strength of all animals, vegetables and minerals. Surely thou shalt hardly perswade him whom Vulcan hath not made a Philosopher to believe it. But who will trouble himself so much as with sure reasons to decide all Controversies, which if possible, yet for many reasons is here omitted; but for sureties sake I will send back the Reader to the second part of our Furnaces, where he shall find how out of Antimony and Sulphur, by a good Chymist, with the help of fire, may be drawn not only the force and faculty of divers vegetables, but also their natural odour; which yet did not appear in them before they were radically dissolved, which if it may be done by any imperfect and fetid mineral, why not also by a perfect and mature mineral?

If we were good naturalists, and very diligent Chymists, then we need not to fill Elaboratories with so many pots and boxes, nor spend so much cost in fetching in so many forreign medicinal species, because without question the strength and properties of all vegetables, animals, and minerals, by an easier way may be found in some few subjects. And as the true tincture of Sol well fixed, is endued with all the vertues of all vegetables, animals and minerals; so also deservedly is ascribed to it the force of curing all diseases; but with a difference. For there are divers kinds of the Gout in hands and feet, as also of the Stone and Leprosie; which sometimes are inveterate and uncurable Diseases, sometimes new and curable. Who therefore, not mad, would promise to cure all and every disease indifferently, by any certain medicine? Certainly no man, although he had the very stone of the Philosophers.

For oft-times the Stone of the Bladder is expelled or cut out, most hard and insoluble by Aqua-fortis, which not any medicine not corrosive could dissolve; which strength, although they ascribe to their medicine, yet they cannot perform it. Promises therefore do not suffice, which none can perform: for Promises become Debts, which is observed by few; wherefore by the haters of the Art the truth suffers, and the hope of good success of Chymical medicines dyeth. It is best therefore to perform more than promise, and the work shall praise the workman. How can a Medicine penetrate to the extream parts of the body; to wit, the hands and feet, and dissolve the coagulated matter waxing hard, which out of the Body no corrosive Medicine can dissolve? It is sufficient if a medicine finding a viscous tartareous and salt matter, nor yet coagulated, do dissolve and expel it. The like is to be understood of the stone in the reins, and bladder. In this manner I will ascribe the curing of the Gout in the hands and feet, the stone in the kidneys and bladder, to my tincture of Sol, as well in old as young; but so that, if need be, specifical Catharticks may be administred, and extrinsecally Bathes for promoting the cure, whereby Nature may the sooner do its office. But above all things, we must not slight Divine Providence: For ofttimes God smites us with a Disease incurable by Art, unless Divine wrath be first appeased by humble Repentance, which is the best medicine of all. As also the cure of all Diseases coming of the corruption of the Blood, as the Leprosie, the French Disease, and other impurities; which are taken away by this tincture, if withal Catharticks and Diaphoreticks are administred, cleansing and renewing the blood above all other medicines. This Tincture also takes away all the obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, and other parts, because it warms, attenuates, incides, and evacuates the original of divers Diseases. It also cures all violent and acute diseases, as the Epilepsie, Plague, Feavers, &c.

It provoketh the Menstrues of old and young, chiefly, if also extrinsically it be rightly administred: which way many are well cured, who otherwise are like to perish miserably; it warms and cleanseth the Matrix above all other Medicines, and renders it fit to perform its office: It preserves it also from all accidents of Sterility, and other very grievous Diseases, causing death. It expels the water of the Dropsie by urine, it rarifieth and dryeth up the superfluous moistures of the internal and external parts, like the Sun drying and consuming waters, by which means the body recovers its pristine sanity: of other diseases to write in particular there is no need, because in all and every one, without difference, it may be used as a general Medicine, in old as well as young. This medicine doth not only restore, but also conserve health till the predestinated time.

The Dose is from three grains or drops to twelve or more, but to Children 1, 2, or 3. with its appropriated vehicle, or in wine or beer to be administred daily, which Dose may be taken oftener in a day, respect being had to the sick party.

And so I make an end, hoping to have pleased my Neighbour: for without doubt, who useth this golden Medicine well, shall do well, chiefly lifting up his heart (acknowledging his sins) to God the Giver and Creator of all good, in filial humility, imploring his help and blessing; which the omnipotent God and merciful Father, that he would bestow on us his temporal blessing in this life with sound health, and hereafter life eternal, of His free grace, Let us pray, Amen.

FINIS.

THE MINERAL WORK: THE FIRST PART.

Wherein is Taught the Separation of GOLD

Out of Flints, Sand, Clay, and other Fossiles by the Spirit of Salt, which otherwise cannot be purged. Also a Panacea or Universal Antimonial Medicine, and the use thereof. Invented and published in favour of the Studious in the CHYMICAL ART.

By =John Rudolph Glauber=.

A Preface to the Reader.

There will be some without doubt, because the Edition of other Pieces (of which I made mention in some former Tractates a few years past) hath been hitherto by reason of diverse journeys, and other various impediments, neglected, who will think (having no knowledge of me) that I am unable to perform my promise; and there are others, who knowing my Condition, and the Contumelies of my Enemies, will fear that I being diverted from my purpose by these Reproaches, will make void my secret promises. But I have resolved to stand to my promise, that these men may see that I am neither moved nor altered with the Taunts of the Envious; but that they may be convinced by real demonstration of my secrets; some of which, I shall now for the publick good endeavour to communicate. And although the ingratitude of the World be cause enough for my silence, yet the uprightness of my Heart would not permit me to conceal those things, notwithstanding the malevolent and ungrateful. Beside also the following Reason moved me, because there are some ambitious men, who falsly boast of the knowledge of diverse of my secrets; wherefore, some have been moved to think that mine are not my own, but the Works and Writings of others; by which means I have been deprived of my due Praise, being attributed to another. And this I have often found, that one or other having by entreaties obtained a secret from me, have afterward through Ostentation ascribed it to themselves.

There are others also who fear not to reproach me, and my Writings, as though they were trifles, not attaining their desired end, who (rather than I who have written plain enough) are themselves to be blamed, for being ignorant how to work. Such and other things might deter me, but I would not omit the publishing of these Writings for those mens sake who are pious and honest. Wherefore I openly affirm, that these things published by me are not only no trifles, but most true, and also my own, and not the Invention of another. And I call him a lyer, who shall boast himself the Author without any of my help. But of these enough! yet I would have the Reader know, that for the meaness of the stile, I am not like many Writers, who more look after the flourish of words than the thing it self; I rather seek that my Neighbour may profit by me. Wherefore, for his better understanding, I had rather be prolixe in words, tedious to delicate ears, than write in obscure brevity adorned with Rhetorical figures. For I know that the studious in the Art do affect a prolixe, plain, and distinct information or instruction, rather than a =Ciceronian= or obscure. And now, in the Name of God, I will begin my Work which is most profitable to all, and will faithfully communicate and publish the same in that manner as it was written by me in my travel, under the title of =The Mineral Work=, divided into three parts. In the first of which shall be taught how out of sand and golden flints, corporeal gold may be drawn by the help of Spirit of Salt. Which secret, although it may seem small, yet it is that whereby (a knowledge of the true stones and true sand being obtained) life may be sustained, and also the cost laid out may be recompensed, as shall be proved in the following parts.

In the second part shall be treated of the original and generation of metals, and also of the destruction of Minerals and Metals.

In the third part shall be demonstrated the possibility of metallicol transmutation by Nature and Art, and that with divers reasons: which demonstration is not (unless I am deceived) performed yet by any, being the foundation of all metallick Philosophy, and the =Golden Crown= of all my Writings. Which God grant I may perfect, to the glory of his Divine Name, and the good of my Neighbour. Amen.

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The First Part: of the Mineral Work

A most profitable process of the separation of Gold out of Flints, Sand, Clay, red and black Talk, and other Fossiles, containing very subtle Gold, thin and spongeous, which otherwise cannot be separated, either for its scarcity, or the obstinacy of the Mineral, by reason of the great Cost to be bestowed; =viz.= very easily with the spirit of Salt.

Know first, (good Reader) that not all Sand, Clay, nor all Flints, and other Fossiles do contain Gold, but only some, without the knowledge of which, this secret availeth nothing. And because the knowledge of these are very necessary for the Artist, I will shew how they are to be proved, whether they contain Gold or not, that he labour not in vain, but that it may prove to his commodity or profit.

The madness of Men, searching after uncertain things is wonderful, but neglecting certain, although exposed to every ones view, for many seeking the perfection of Metals to gain Riches, are busied about an uncertain thing, because of a thousand scarce one obtaines his end: altho’ they may be perfected and purified, I mean imperfect and impure metals, so that good Gold and Silver may thence be extracted, but this Art is given to few, neither is every one fit to perform the business; because it requires an ingenious and experienced Artist: But the thing which is certain, may be performed with small cost and labour by any vulgar Chymist, having any knowledge of the Art of fusion and separation, being an ingenious man, and not seeking things too high or too gainful at the first tryal. Be cautious therefore in the extraction of the aforesaid stones, for if thou shouldst with the spirit of Salt extract many of them, having no Gold without doubt thou shalt find no Gold there: And if thou shouldst extract some contained in them, and if thou be ignorant of the separation of it by Antimony, thou canst thence hope for no profit.

First then, the knowledge, viz. of those stones is necessary afterward of that separation by Antimony. Impute therefore the fault, if thou errest, not to me, but to thine own ignorance, if thou knowest not to extract the Gold; for I have written clearly, though thou shouldst not know any thing that were omitted. And I before admonish thee to be cautious in thy work, lest thou labour for nought: For it is certain, and no fiction, that in many places there are found golden flints, and golden clay, and sand, oft-times abounding with gold. And if they do not abound with it, yet may they be extracted with profit: but the flints abounding with it are extracted with greater gain. There are also found whole Rocks and Mountains of Gold, and great Mountains filled with golden Sand and Clay, not returning the charge of washing, either for its too great rarefaction or spungiosity and levity, by reason of which, its washed away with the sand; all which, how poor soever, may be extracted by the spirit of Salt with gain, and by Antimony fixed and purifyed. In brief, this is such a secret, by which, no man can be an impediment to another, as in other mechanical operations, whereof no man may be ashamed; for God did therefore create Gold in the earth and stones, that we may therefore extract it to the glory of His Name, and the benefit of our Neighbour; neither hath he forbidden the true and genuine use of it. I say therefore in truth, that I have here described this Art, how ever despised by the ignorant, yet of greatest moment, and almost incomprehensible. Now consider the thing a little farther, thou shalt find every where in the earth great Treasures to be hidden, which only through ignorance are not discovered. Truly it is known to all, that there is found golden sand and clay in diverse places, which for the aforesaid Reasons are left unlaboured, but by this our Art may easily be worked upon.

There are found also silver Mountains, out of which, silver cannot be extracted for the little weight it yields: there is also found in many places a certain yellow or reddish earth, or such like clay, which though it contain store of silver, yet it cannot be extracted with profit by this way, yet separable, with gain, but not by the spirit of salt, which leaves it untoucht, but by some other thing, every where to be found in plenty, of which, for some reasons we shall speak nothing here.

And this way of separation makes much for the poor mineral of copper, which with profit cannot be worked upon by the vulgar way, to be separated from the Copper, afterward by ripening it into a better metal, or turning it into verdy-grease for want of a better art, which business also may well and honestly more than maintain a family. This way also may the rejected dross of the gold, silver, and copper be with profit separated. But because I have decreed to handle here only the extraction of gold out of stones, therefore these menstrues which are used in the extraction of copper and silver, are deservedly omitted, and reserved for another place, where sometime they shall be delivered, to wit, if I shall see that this demonstration shall be accepted in mens eyes, which more very excellent shall follow. As now I have undertaken a more excellent matter in love to my countrey, by which it may appear, that Germany however reduced to want, is yet rich enough, if it would but at last look upon its hidden treasures. There is no need to offer a fore-chewed bit, for demonstration is sufficient, neither will we obtrude a good upon the negligent; for to the ungrateful the best things are unacceptable. These therefore being waved, in short we will give the demonstration and extraction of those flints, not doubting but the expert and experienced, though the sluggish may not, will thence reap profit, and give God the praise.

What belongs then to the aforesaid stones, out of which gold may be extracted, thus the matter stands. All kind of flints for the most part have invisible gold, sometimes visible and invisible, volatile and corporeal together: but many commonly contain impure iron-like volatile gold, and also mature, and a few, sulphureous and copper-like.

Stones which the Germans call Quartzens and Hornstein, containing pure and corporeal gold, although mixt with silver and copper, may be burnt and ground, and extracted with Mercury, and if they abound with gold, be purged by flux; which labours are usual with diggers and dealers in metals, of which I do not intend to write, because others have heretofore writ of them. But those flints Quartzen and Hornstein every where almost to be found, containing but a mean quantity of dispersed iron-like Gold, Marcasite-like, and that either fixt or volatile, cannot be separated with gain, to wit, neither by Mercury nor by Flux, wherefore they are neglected by the Miners, either out of ignorance or for the intolerable costs. But I having tryed those base stones, that how little gold soever they possess; yet may it be separated with great gain, I would not intermit to publish this knowledge for my Christian neighbours sake, not doubting but this publication will be profitable to very many. For I am not ignorant that there are as well learned, as unlearned, noble as ignoble, secular as spiritual, either by war or otherwise exposed to poverty, so that they are hardly able to maintain their family, &c. and for their sakes and others in want. I have published this secret, which rightly handled may bring no small gain yearly, but especially where those stones are plentiful, and also that spirit of salt, whereof the description is given in the first part of the Philosophical Furnaces, and hereafter there shall be given a better, if nothing hinder; in the mean while use and enjoy these. And if it happen so that thou canst not rightly perform all things of the aforesaid tractate, blush not to learn the manual Operations [which cannot be so exactly described] from those that are experienced, lest you hereafter unprofitably spend your labour and costs. As for those stones know that very many of them are found in several places, chiefly in those that are sandy and mountainous, but in some more and better than in others: for there is seldom seen sand without flints, and oft-times the sand it self, though very little doth not want Gold. But they are very likely to be found on the shoars of Rivers, where the waters washing away the sand from the flints they are found in great abundance, though they are not so easily known by their outside, as those which were found clean in the sand, because they are covered with slime. Wherefore they must be broken with a hammer, that that may be seen which is in them, which may better appear if they be burnt, and quencht in cold water. For the stone retaining its whiteness when it is burnt and quencht doth contain nothing; but acquiring a redness it shews there is something in it, and the more red it is the better token it is.

N. B. But this is not to be understood of sandy stones, waxing red in some part, in the fire, containing no gold, but of flints out of which by a mutual percussion fire is brought forth, which the more pure they are the purer gold do they yield. There are also flints out of which fire is forced by percussion being red in the fire, which contain no gold but Iron; which you may know by that clear redness before the burning, which being burnt is changed into an obscure redness, not shining and crude: but the flints containing Gold, being burnt do acquire a fair golden yellowness, or reddish colour, as if they were covered with gold, and that through the whole substance if they be broken in pieces. And these give a pure gold, but those other yield a red extraction like blood, yielding not gold, but the purest and malleable iron, good in Chymick uses, (but chiefly for silver to be cemented and exalted) for gold is seldome to be found in them; the which is well to be observed lest thou draw out iron in stead of gold, and so lose thy labour.

Also the best stones containing gold, are those which are white and shining, here and there throughout having in the whole substance green spots and lines, red, yellow, skie-coloured and brown. There are also black flints out of which fire is forced by percussion, having gold and iron, which may be separated with profit, yielding sometimes plenty of ironish Gold, which may in like manner, be separated of which afterward.

They are very good flints also which being burnt retain a whiteness, with veins green, skie-coloured, and such like, neither are they disesteemed which burnt, have black spots, and not veins.

But the stones (Quartzen and Hornstein) although they in burning are not altered, yet if there be seen before gold volatile and spiritual, they by separation of themselves yield gold.

Gross and subtle sand having light and yellow gold, yields in the burning a skie-coloured smoak, and is exalted in colour, viz. brownish: but that hath nothing which is not altered.

Subtle earth, yellow or red, passing through sand or a mountain like a vein contains also gold, which is for the most part volatile, and not mature, flying away in reduction, having ingress into silver and other metals, and therefore for this reason conservable.

For thy better knowledge thou mayst prove the stones, with white fusile glass, which thing is treated of in the fourth part of the Philosophical Furnaces, that thou mayst not have cause to impute the fault of thy errour to me; therefore I would have thee understand, viz. that all stones contain not gold, neither in all is it separable by the spirit of salt: they are therefore to be known before they be applyed to the work.

Now follows the preparation of flints, and the extraction of the gold contained in them, by the spirit of salt.

First the flints being made red hot in the fire, they must be quencht in cold water, after taken out and cooled, and finely powdered.

N. B. When they are broken in a Mortar the better parts may easily be separated from the baser: for while they are finely powdered, always the best part goes into red powder first, the worser part thicker and harder, containing little or nothing, being left; And if they be coursly powdered and sifted through a fine sieve the more subtle part like red powder goes through the sieve, the unuseful part being left in the sieve like white dust, which may be cast away: and if yet some redness appears, it must again be powdered in a Mortar, and the better part shall go into a red powder, the baser part being left in the sieve hard and white which is to be cast away, but you must observe that not all and every of these flints are thus separable by powdering; for some being beaten do every where retain the same colour, without any separation of the better parts, which you must finely powder and extract in the whole substance, But they (viz. those separable) are more easily extracted, because all the gold contained in one pound for the most part may be gathered out of three or four ounces finely powdered and separated in the aforesaid manner; so that it is not needful to extract the whole stone, nor to spend so much spirit of salt. But sand and clay need not such a preparation, but without a preparation being made before, are extracted by the affusion of the spirit of salt.

℞ then of the flints as aforesaid prepared and separated two, three, four, six pound, to which being put into a cucurbit of glass whole (undivided) pour of the spirit of Salt to the depth of three or four fingers breadth, and place it in hot sand or Balneo, that there the spirit of salt may be hot, and may extract the Gold, and so let it continue for five, six or more hours space, until the spirit tinged with a deep redness, can extract no more. And perchance at the first time (though seldom) it may not be tinged with so great a redness, then must you decant that same imperfectly tinged spirit, and pour to other flints after the manner expressed, prepared in another cucurbit, and place it with the flints in a moderate heat for to extract the gold; which done pour it off again, and pour it to fresh flints, and do so often until it hath drawn to it a sufficient quantity of gold; which afterward thou must keep, until thou hast gotten a greater quantity, and all the Gold may be separated at one time from it, as afterward shall be said.

Which done pour to the reserved flints in the first cucurbit, a fresh spirit of salt, and leave that so long in heat, until it be coloured, and extract the gold that is left in the flints, and was not at the first time extracted; which spirit being afterward decanted, pour it to the flints reserved in the second and third cucurbit, to extract the residue of the gold which was left at the first time; and so consequently to the others reserved, until the spirit be sufficiently coloured, and can attract no more; which afterward pour off and put it to the first, which was reserved. You must also pour a fresh spirit to the remainder of the extraction for the extracting of all the gold. At length pour to it also common water to wash away the tinged spirit of gold remaining in the flints, that none of the Gold may be lost.

And this labour is so long and often to be repeated till there remain neither flints nor spirits; in the mean while you should cast away the flints extracted and washed, that the cucurbits may be filled with fresh flints, and so continue the work; and if there be no more spirit left to continue the extraction, you may then separate the extracted gold from the spirit, which is done as followeth: but first you must have plenty of glass vessels, or retorts of the best earth, which may retain the spirits; which you may so far fill with the impregnated spirit, that the spirit in the abstraction run not over, which done, it is to be extracted in a dry Balneo by little and little from the Gold, which spirit ye may use again in the aforesaid work. And the Gold which is left in the bottom of the vessels, is to be separated from the vessels with a crooked iron wier and (kept being very like to red earth) for its use, until thou hast gotten a good quantity, viz. so much as sufficeth for separation and purgation (of which afterward) to be made by Antimony.

N. B. But when thou shalt extract red talc with spirit of salt, red or black granates, Smiris, or Lapis Calaminaris, and other Fossiles, which beside fixt Gold contain much immature and volatile Gold; you must in the abstraction cast in a little iron, viz. to the solution, which retains and fixes the gold which otherwise flyes away in fusion. Wherefore those solutions and extractions of Talc and other things containing volatile gold are better extracted out of iron Cucurbits by earthen alembicks than out of glass and earthen retorts, because then that volatile gold doth attract only so much thence as is sufficient for its fixation; which iron is after easily separated by the Antimony from the gold, as shall after be taught. And this is to be noted, that not the whole granate is soluble in the spirit of salt, although it be long left in digestion, always retaining its former colour; wherefore there is a difference to be made, or a preparation to be learned, requisit for the solution of the gold contained in them.

And you must extract Talc not with too much or excessive heat, lest its substance be totally dissolved in the spirit and be a hinderance to the work; because there is little profit then, for it is therefore appointed, that a little gold dispersed in a great quantity of Talc may be reduced into a little compass that it need not that all the quantity of Talc be made fusile, because it will thereby procure loss. But there is no danger in flints, because the spirit of salt doth not dissolve them as it doth Talc, but only extracts gold from thence, the stony body being left. The lapis calaminaris may also otherwise be handled in the extraction and fixation than granates, flints and Talc, because it is almost wholly soluble in the spirit of salt; which work is not here to be handled, because the extraction and fixation is taught in a peculiar way in another place, neither do I mean to treat of it here, but only of the extraction of gold out of flints every where to be found. And this is the way of extraction of Gold out of flints and sand in heat by the spirit of salt, to be done in glass vessels. But there is another way too, which is done in cold without glass vessels, which I thought worth the setting down, that in the aforesaid work you may choose which you please, this or that, and it is done as followeth. We must have in this way store of earthen funnels well burnt, and not sucking up the spirits; for want of which we must have such as be of strong glass: there must also be a form with many holes in it to receive the aforesaid funnels, under which must be placed glass dishes or basons to receive the strained spirit.

Here follows the work to be performed by Funnels.

The Funnels being put in the holes of the form, you must first put a big piece of flint in the straighter part of the Funnel, to which after put lesser pieces, and on these again less, viz. as much as serveth to fill the straight part of the Funnel, of which the larger part is after to be filled with powdered flints, but so that there be left a depth of three or four fingers breadth for the spirit of salt. By this means those greater pieces in the lower part will hinder the passage of the fine powder in the Affusion of the Spirit of Salt.

Which being done as it ought, pour to the flints contained in the Funnels the spirit of salt, two or three fingers breadth in deepness, which forthwith shall work on the flints, and attract their gold, and then run into the dish or bason set underneath: and because for the most part at the first time, some of the powder passeth through with the spirit, you must so often pour the same spirits on the flints until there be a stoppage, and the spirit come clear; afterward pour this spirit into the second Funnel with flints; and then into the third, and so consequently, until it be strained through the flints of every Funnel; or till the spirit be sufficiently coloured, which you must keep until you have gotten a sufficient quantity to be distilled by retort for the separating the spirit from the gold. Then that first spirit being strained through the flints of each Funnel according to order and coloured, pour a fresh spirit to the flints of all the Funnels according to order, beginning at the first, till you come to the last, until that be sufficiently coloured; which being done, pour a fresh spirit of salt to the flints (according to their order) contained in every Funnel. And when you see the strained spirit not to receive a tincture, it’s a sign that all the gold is extracted; and then pour on no more spirit but common water, that it may be strained, and the water will attract the spirit of salt left in the flints, that none shall be lost, which acidish water save by its self to the same, and the like uses: which being done, take out the extracted flints, and fill the Funnels with fresh as before, viz. to be extracted; and do this so long as you have flints and spirit. But you must not pour a spirit not sufficiently tinged into the spirits that are well coloured and impregnated with gold, but keep it a part, and pour it still to fresh prepared flints, according to order, contained in divers Funnels, viz. until it be sufficiently coloured; and being coloured, separate it by the glass retorts with the rest, extracting it from the gold by abstraction; and being abstracted again, use it to a new work like the former. And by this means with 100 pound of spirit of salt may be extracted some thousand pounds of flints prepared, and separate the gold contained in them, which otherwise by fusion cannot be done. But the chief point consisteth in the extraction (the spirit of salt being well and rightly first administred) viz. that the spirit may not be wasted, whereby many stones may be abstracted with a little spirit. But this caution is to be observed in this extraction, which is done in cold, that it requireth a stronger spirit of salt than that, which is done in heat by cucurbits, or else the busines goes on slower: but with a stronger spirit by this (the cold) way they are extracted sooner and easier than by that which is done in heat; and neither so dangerous, laborious or costly: this extraction then, viz. the cold, requires a stronger spirit of salt (which is worth noting) than the hot.

And this is that way, by which those golden flints, and other golden fossiles are prepared, and with the spirit of salt are extracted, and by which it is again separated from them: Now shall follow the manner of purification, viz. of the Gold left in the Retort.

N. B. The pure gold being extracted out of the flints, not the iron-like, there needs no great business of purification; for thou mayst purify it by fusion with borax, or with the fluxing powder made with the equal weight of nitre and tartar: but if the gold extracted out of Flints be mixt with iron, as for the most part it is, then you must not fuse it with Fluxing Powder, because it is not thereby purifyed or rendered malleable Gold, but separate it by lead, by which way it is purged and made malleable. And if such Gold have any sulphureous impurity mixt besides, it is not to be separated with lead, because it is then partly turned to dross and other impurities by the iron with loss; wherefore it is to be purged with three parts of Antimony and separated; by which means nothing is lost; which is the best way of separation and purification of Gold, viz. the ferreous, without which it cannot otherwise be separated without loss.

How impure Gold may be separated and purged by Antimony.

This work is necessary to be known, if you think to have any benefit by the aforesaid extraction of Flints by the spirit of Salt, which without this separation and reduction is of no moment: and what profit I pray is there by the extraction of immature Gold, which by the common way cannot be purg’d, requiring the industry of the Artist in fusion, whereby it may be separated from its sulphureous fæces and fixed? For it is easie to conjecture, that such spiritual and volatile gold mixed with Iron, by that common flux is not reducible into a body, but rather into dross: for experience testifies that gold dissolved with the spirit of salt, and also iron, or any other sulphureous thing, the spirit of salt being abstracted cannot be reduced whole by the vulgar flux made of Nitre and Tartar, going into dross: which if it happen to corporeal, pure and fixt gold, how shall it be otherwise with that which is incorporeal, unclean and volatile? for the Gold being ironish commonly, which is extracted out of stones, and iron having great affinity with gold (by reason of which being nearly united, it is difficultly separated, so that it easier goes with iron into dross than parted from it) you must of necessity make a flux not only attracting that impure gold, but also purifying and cleansing it, that which Antimony alone doth, which with its combustible fusible Sulphur easily enters that ironish Gold: But by its Mercury it attracteth the pure corporeal gold, and cleanseth it, and separates it from all dross without any loss: wherefore there cannot be a better flux, but requiring industry, or an ingenious separation of the Antimony from the gold, without wasting the gold; which is done as follows.

And first your ferreous gold, that is left in the abstraction of the spirit of salt, must be finely powdered in iron retorts or pots, and mingled with it two or three parts of Antimony powdered, and mixt in a very strong crucible filled and covered, and then fused in our fourth furnace, until that flow like water; which soon appearing, pour them together into a heated Cone, smeared within with wax, and when they be cold, separate from the dross the Regulus (having most of the gold) with a hammer, and keep it by it self. Which done, you must again melt the drossy Antimony (as yet containing much gold) that was left, in the crucible, and add to it a little filing of Iron, mixing them with a crooked wier, and that Antimonial combustible Sulphur will be mortified by adding iron, and will yield a Regulus containing the rest of the gold, which, as a regard is had to the quantity of iron added, will be more or less, and for the most part will answer in weight to the weight of the iron; then cast the mass (well flowing) into a Cone heated and smeared on the inside with wax, which being cold, separate again the Regulus from the dross with a hammer, which also is to be kept by it self; melt the dross again, as before, and precipitate it with iron, and extract the Regulus thence, which keep by its self, for it contains gold and silver mixt. For the best gold is precipitated the first time, but afterward the baser sort, and at last only Silver. Wherefore every Regulus is to be kept by it self, that the purest gold may be a part, and the silvered gold by it self.

N. B. And if the Antimony, by the addition of Iron, do lose its fusibility, and therefore can yield no Regulus, it’s required, that you at every time when precipitation is made, by adding iron, that you do also cast in some Misy, to make the mass to melt in the crucible and precipitate the Regulus. All the gold and silver being reduced into three or four Regulus’s, you must keep the drossy parts by themselves that were left, of which we shall speak hereafter.

Now follows the way of separating the Gold and Silver from the Antimony.

The aforesaid antimonial Regulus’s may many waies be purged, and first by help of Bellows on a plain earthen test, as the custom is with Goldsmiths when they make Gold fusile by Antimony, which labour is tedious and dangerous; which cannot be done often without the loss of health, nor in great quantity: wherefore when a better way is known, ’tis a folly to do it so. The Regulus’s also may be purified by lead on a teste, which work may be done in a great quantity, but it requires abundance of coals and lead, where the Antimony cannot be preserved: but it may be done with gain, and is to be preferred before the former waies: Thou maist if thou pleasest calcine the aforesaid Regulus’s to ashes, and then fuse them; which way the gold and silver may easily be drawn out. Thou maist also fuse them in a crucible, and by the addition of some salts, separate the antimony from the gold and silver, turning the antimony into dross, which being separated, those are found purified and malleable, which though it be the easiest way, it is yet also very dangerous, for the salts often, if you do not warily proceed, do spoyl much gold and silver, and sometimes leave gold immalleable, and so double the pains.

But he who knows how to do this by Nitre only, he may with great gain, and in a short time, purifie a great quantity of the aforesaid Regulus’s without loss of the gold, silver, or antimony. There are also other means for the doing of it which to relate were tedious and indeed impossible. Wherefore I will set down the best of all, most profitable in the separations of great quantities of Regulus’s. Where first is required some peculiar little Furnace with a Fire almost like to that in our first part of Philosophical Furnaces, built for the subliming of Flowers; it wants indeed a grate, but it hath little vents for to make the coals burn, that thy antimony separated from the gold, may be sublimated or elevated into sublimatory vessels. Which being rightly built and heated, let so much of the Regulus be cast in with a spoon as the Fire can bear, which will quickly melt and be elevated, the air being attracted by the vents, without any trouble: which being sublimed, you may cast in more, if you have more, until all the Regulus be separated and sublimated from the gold and silver, which are left in the Fire pure and malleable; the furnace being cold, you may take out the Flowers and keep them (of which afterwards) for uses, which way you may not only separate a great number of Regulus’s from gold and silver in a small time, but also keep all the antimony, which may many waies be used in Alchymy and Medicine with great profit. Which sure is an excellent knowledge, for not only hereby may any one get abundantly, without wronging his neighbour, but also help many sick People, viz. by that excellent Medicine made of the Flowers: which is a special gift of God, for which we owe immortal Thanks. And this is, of all others that I know, the best way of separation of gold from antimony, which is not only done in great quantity, in a short time, and with small charge, but also without loss of the Antimony.

Here follows the Use of the Antimonial Flowers.

First, you may take the whitest of the Flowers out of the lower hole, and keep them for a Universal Medicine; but reduce the rest (being less pure) into Regulus by the salt of Tartar, for divers uses, as shall be said afterward; or you may mingle them with an equal weight of common sulphur, or antimony, which being mixt in a covered crucible, melt them, and they will yield an antimony like to a natural, good to purifie gold: or thou maist mingle them with other metals or minerals, that by this means they may be made better. Or thou maist use them in Chyrurgery, for they of all stiptick plaisters make the best. In brief, the aforesaid Flowers may many waies be used with good gain and success.

The aforesaid antimonial dross may also be reduced into Flowers, and used in the same manner; which indeed are endowed with as excellent Properties, as they which are made out of Regulus’s; because in that fusion and separation of gold extracted out of Flints and Talc, the gold only that was fixt and mature, was separated from the Regulus’s, (the immature and volatile being left in the dross) and elevated with the Flowers: It follows thence, that these are better, as well in medicine as in the transmutation of metals.

Or, if thou wilt, add to the antimony (as aforesaid used) old iron, to reduce it in a furnace, and take the Regulus, having gold and silver, which may therefore be used in other operations of Chymistry, where there is need of Regulus, as we may shew hereafter. But the dross doth yield a Regulus, viz. in a very strong Fire, and a Furnace with a peculiar separatory by abstraction, which although it contain not gold, yet it may be used not without gain, as if it be mingled with Tin in fusion, it procures to it a hardness and sound, useful for fashioning divers sort of Houshold-stuff, which is not so easily darkened as the common Tin, or if thou wilt not, thou maist make weights of it.

Hitherto we have treated of the extraction of gold out of Flints, and of its putrification by antimony; now we will teach you how to use the rest of the antimony, as well in the perfection of base metals as in medicine, as well for the preserving of Health, as the curing of Diseases.

But seeing we have made mention of an Universal Medicine, to be made out of antimony aforesaid, I would not have thee think that that is such as can take away all distempers in general, without distinction, which vertue is only ascribed to the Philosophers Stone, but not by me to this medicine; to which I attribute no more than I have tryed: But this in truth I dare affirm, that there is, besides the stone, scarce any comparable to it; for it doth not only preserve the body from divers Diseases, but also happily frees it from the present, so that it may deservedly be termed a Universal Medicine.

The Preparation followeth.

℞ of the flowers purified from the dross a pound, viz. of Antimony, by which the extracted gold was purified, which for the most part are of a yellow colour, having gold volatile and immature: in defect of which, take the flowers made out of the golden Regulus’s, being for the most part white, to which pour in a Glass Vial, strong and long-necked, of spirit of wine tartarised, three or four pound, mingle and stir them well together, and put on it another crooked pipe (within which let there be some ounces of Quicksilver, as is described in the Fifth Part of our Philosophical Furnaces) and make strong the joynts with a bullocks bladder thrice folded, made wet; which dryed, place the glass in Balneum, and give fire by degrees, that the spirit of wine with the antimony may digest, in which leave it for 24 hours space, and so soon as the fire is out, take out the glass, when it is cold, pour off the spirit tinged red from the Flowers, and pour on fresh; and place it, as before, in Balneum, to digest 24 hours space, till it be red, and do this the third time, or so often till the Spirit be no more coloured, for then no more is to be poured on, and that which is coloured, is to be filtred with Cap-paper. The rest of the Flowers, after the extraction, as not requisite to this business, are to be either kept by themselves, or thrown away. But the tinged Spirit is to be abstracted out of a glass cucurbit by an alembick, to the half, from the tincture, which distilled spirit may again be used in the same work: but the tincture left in the cucurbit is the medicine, of which mention has been made.

Now mention being made also of tartarised spirit of wine, that I may satisfie the doubtful concerning that I will here also give its description, which is as followeth.

℞. of Tartar 20 or 30 pound, put it in a large coated retort, and place it in sand, and distil the spirit off with a soft heat.

N. B. This work may better and sooner be performed by that instrument of our second Furnace; and because it requires great and large receivers, as being very penetrative, thou maist first apply a tin or copper Serpent to the neck of the retort, instead of a receiver, which is placed in a tub filled with cold water, that the spirits being thereby cooled, may be retained, which afterward you must abstract to the half, out of a glass cucurbit by an alembick: for the other half with the black oyl is unprofitable in this work, and therefore to be taken away. After that, mingle the more subtile part, distilled with half of the Caput Mortuum, of the aforesaid Spirit, calcined to a whiteness, and abstract it half again in a gentle Balneum, out of a glass cucurbit by an alembick, the joynts whereof are every where to be well closed, and the calcined Tartar shall receive with it self the stench, together with the Phlegm, only the purer part of the Spirit, and more subtile distilling forth, which is again to be mingled with the other half of the Tartar calcined to a whiteness, and to be rectified by another alembick; the Caput Mortuum may again be calcined to take away the fetidness, that it may be used again. And this is that tartarised spirit of wine, with which the aforesaid tincture and essence is extracted, and truly not only this, but of all other metals, which no other can do. And if it were lawful, I would write something more of its wonderful force and vertue which it hath in purifying baser metals, with which it hath a great affinity; for it can separate the pure from the impure, of which more in another place. But when it is to be used in mending of metals, it needs not so much rectification as is required in the extracting of metallick medicines; where you may draw it in plenty out of the dry lees of wine. But there is also another tartarised spirit of wine, which may also be used in this same work, which is made after the following way: Dissolve in a pound of the spirit of wine six ounces of Crystal of Tartar; which solution use in the aforesaid extraction, in the same manner.

Of the Virtues of this Medicine.

This Antimonial Tincture doth, above all other Medicines evacuate vitious humours, and insensibly purgeth impure blood; opens any obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Reins, and the other vessels, attracting to it all malignities, and leaving no impurities behind it. And because it cleanseth the blood, it cures the Leprosy, French-pox, and itch, and other Diseases proceeding from the impurity of the blood. By its penetrative and attenuative vertue, it resolves all tartareous humours, and evacuateth them, viz. which ingender the Gout, the stone of the Bladder and Reins; but not the Stone perfectly coagulated, only it mitigateth its pain, and hinders its encrease; but being not hardened or coagulated, it attracteth and evacuateth it totally and fundamentally out of all parts; it takes away also all Feavers, and other diseases coming from the superfluity of humours. It gently evacuateth the water between the skin, by siege and urine. In brief, it strengthens and purges the principal parts, and preserves them from all preternatural accidents. It is a most excellent preservative in the time of pestilence, and other contagious diseases; and of them being caught, it is a most absolute remedy, expelling the disease suddenly from the heart, and evacuating it. In few words, ’tis of all others a most excellent Universal Medicine, very profitable to both old and young, and also very safe; but warily to be ministred, by reason of its strength with which it is endued, which is most powerful, for it is as a great fire, which extinguisheth the lesser. Truly a better medicine cannot be desired than this, which is extracted of a very mean thing, in a short space of time, and with very small cost and pains. I ingenuously confess, I never saw its like, which I doubt not to be the best in the World. Wherefore then do we seek any other but this, viz. which excels in those things which are desired from the real medicine? But as it is most excellent, yet I am certain, that many deluded people will be offended at it, being prepared out of Antimony, a mean and despised thing, and after a plain way. But ’tis no matter, For the world will be deceived, looking after gay things, disrespecting and despising mean things, when all good things, yea, even when God himself doth rejoice in simplicity, for which, by wicked and proud men he is not sought unto. But this is the effect of sin, by which man is so blinded, that though he know not good, when set before his eyes, yet he is studious of evil.

Of the Use and Dose of this Medicine.

Seeing of all medicines it is the most powerful, it had need be warily used, for a smaller dose is alwaies safer than a greater; which therefore may after be given; the which is to be observed in all diseases of young and old. To children of 2, 3, 4, or 6 months old, against the Worms, Scabs, Feavers, and Epilepsie, you need not give above half a drop with a proper vehicle, which you may repeat three or four times a day: it killeth the Worms, it emptyeth the stomach of evil humours: it refresheth them, and preserves them from scabbiness; and because it evacuateth evil and corrupt humours, it preserveth them from the small pox and measles, viz. if it be used every month; but to children of 1, 2, or 3 years old, you may give a drop, and to children of 4 or 5 years old a drop and a half: to young people between 15 and 24 years, may be given 2, 3, or 4 drops. To stronger bodies from 25 to 50 years, 4, 5, 6, or 7 drops. But the dose must be greater or less, with a regard had to the sickness of the patient. And in the Stone and Gout, may be daily administred in wine or beer, viz. in the morning fasting, unless the patient be very weak; for then you may give it twice or thrice in a day, and continue this till the cure be perfected; where is to be observed that he must keep a temperate dyet.

In the Leprosy, French-Pox and Scurvy, every morning may a dose be given, and the disease shall totally be rooted out. Otherwise, viz. the strength being too much wasted and weakned, you may give only every other day, viz. so long as shall be need.

In the Epilepsie it may be given daily; and also in the Dropsy. In all Feavers, two or three hours before the fit. In the Plague it is to be given presently, and every day to be repeated: but for a preservative to be drunk every week once. In all other internal affects it must be given daily, until the declining of the disease; but afterward by little and little, the medicine is to be used till the disease be fully cured.

In external, as in fresh wounds by a blow, thrust or shot, broken bones, &c. every day once; with a necessary extrinsical application of a Plaister. In old Fistulaes and Cancers, it may be used once every day intrinsically and extrinsically, the place affected may be cleansed with Mineral Oyntments. For by this means every inveterate evil, how desperate soever, is throughly cured, and pleasantly, without all pain.

But although this be most precious of all medicines, yet there is a menstruum not corrosive, with which not only more easily than with the spirit of wine tartarised, a Universal Medicine may be extracted out of Antimony, and endued with better than the aforesaid vertues; so that for the charge of one royal, in three days time, so much may be gotten as may serve to cure some thousands of men, but also all vegetables, animals, and minerals and metals, are radically dissolved and reduced into their first matter: by which means not only very great Poysons are changed into most wholesome medicines, but also bitter things are deprived of their bitterness: for by it things are so corrected, that they do no more provoke stool and vomit, viz. which are very vehement Catharticks (by nature) being changed into most excellent restoratives. Also fetid things being corrected by it, do acquire a sweet odour. And it doth not only (which seems a wonder) dissolve vegetables, animals and minerals with those things which come of them, but also the very Glasses; wherefore you must alwaies chuse the strongest glasses for digestion and solution, or in the defect of such, the weaker are to be changed every 6 houres. And yet it is not at all altered by those things that it doth reduce and turn into their first matter medicinal, neither in vertue nor colour; for it alwaies keeps the middle place between pure and impure, of which this falls to the bottom, but that swims on the top of the menstruum, which may again be used. In brief, it’s vertues in preparing medicines cannot be enough praised. But it may be compared with the Mercurial water of Basilus Valentinus; and the Alcahest of Paracelsus and Helmont, which I judge to be the Fire of the Maccabees turned into a thick water under-ground. It is a perpetual fire, but not alwaies burning visibly; it is a water permanent, not wetting the hands, the Sope of the Wise, the Philosophers Azoth, and the Royal-Bath.

Which Menstrue though I have known some years, and have often used it with metallicks, and by it have found out many secrets, yet I never thought of its use in Physick, until being askt of one who was a great Student of Helmont, whether I knew the preparation of the liquor Alcahast of Paracelsus; and naming some of the vertues of this liquor in preparing Medicines, I began to bethink my self, and I observed that it was my secret Balneum, that purifies minerals. Wherefore I presently made tryal with vegetables and animals (for I knew the Vertues thereof in metallicks) and I found wonderful and astonishing things in it, which before were incredible to me. I affirm and confess therefore sincerely, that all and every the invented medicines published by others and my self, how rare and costly soever, are most mean things in my estimation. For this Universal Key was wanting to us. For our vegetables and minerals, however by art macerated, cannot be perfectly resolved, and therefore we hitherto have had but part of their vertues. But now we need not much art, labour and cost, to reduce a whole body without corrosives, into the first matter, like in shape to some clear and excellent water, of its own accord casting forth its superfluous terrestreity, and becoming a most wholesome medicine, consisting of the three purest principles; the which cannot be done without this menstruum. For, What else could Physicians extract out of herbs than Syrups, Electuaries, Conserves and Waters? With which Preparations they were not amended, but only qualified with the addition of Sugar or Honey, because there is no separation made of the pure from the impure, or good from bad. For all are left mixt together in the Electuaries and Conserves, but in the Syrups and Waters distilled there is only some part. Extracts indeed by the spirit of Wine are not to be disesteemed, if rightly prepared, but they are no better than their simples; and besides, want that which the spirit of wine cannot draw out, which remainder, though being calcined for the drawing out the salt, which is mingled with the extract, yet that is not of much moment, for fire destroyeth the vertue of herbs, so that fixed salts, as crystallised, do perform nothing in medicine, those excepted which without combustion are made out of the juice of herbs, of which in the third part of our Furnaces Philosophical. But none dares extract the most strong or efficacious sort of herbs for medicine, because they in preparation are not corrected or amended.

But by this means the most strong Herbs, which without this Preparation are poysons, are matured and purified by the liquor Alcahest; so that they may safely be taken against most grievous Diseases. For God did not create these herbs in vain, as some think, which he purposely created that his wonderful works might appear, and that it is possible to take away the Curse from them by a man, being freed from the malediction by the regeneration through Christ. See Opium, Mandrake, Henbane, Hemlock, and other stupifying things, how deadly they are, being cautiously used; which corrected by this Menstrue, become most safe and excellent medicines. How dangerous is spurge, scamony, hellebor, gambugium, and other strong purgers (being administred unwarily) no man is ignorant: all which are by this way corrected, and changed into most wholesome medicaments. Who, I pray, dares eat Wolfsbane, and poysonous Toad-stools, and other venomous vegetables? which are all so corrected by the liquor Alcahest, as that not only they are not poysonous, but are also turned into most safe and wholsome medicines of many diseases, Nux vomica, Levant-berries, and other things that disturb the Brain, are by this means made wholsome; also poysonous Animals, as Spiders, Toads, Serpents, Vipers, &c. are by it corrected, as that not only they are not poysonous, but do resist and expel poyson.

N.B. Consider the Spiders signed with the cross, who change their skin every month, and renew themselves, which the Serpents and halcion do but once a year. How great the vertue of worms, earthy and crude, &c. is in resolving tartarous humours, and the French Disease, many know; What then will they do, being corrected with this Menstrue? The Cantharides and Millipedes are also so corrected, that they may more safely be used in provoking Urine. And if that most venomous Basilisk, of which there are so many fables, whose sight only kills men (which according to the letter is false) could be had, he might be changed into medicine by the liquor Alcahest; as that mineral Basilisk, Gun-powder may be; which in a moment kills innumerable men; also Arsenick, Orpiment, Kobolt, and the like; so that they be deprived of their malignity, and be reduced into very excellent medicines. In brief, its excellent vertues which it manifests in correcting of venomous simples cannot be sufficiently described. Wherefore it’s worth our pains to search it with all our power, that we may prepare admirable medicines, that the sick may not for the future be so vexed with those tedious and bitter cups. Truly I cannot enough admire its great vertues, which have been hid so long. It is not a corrosive thing, and yet dissolves every thing, but some things sooner than others. It changeth and amendeth their natural vertues; wherefore it may be the comfort of Spagyrists, having a long time sought for rare medicines, viz. being that by which vegetables are separated and corrected, and also animals and minerals. Wherefore all conscientious Physicians may have commended to them the Preparation of this universal Menstrue, by the help whereof to prepare their medicines; of which the original and preparation is vile, but its vertues most efficacious, the finding out and uses abstruse. Wherefore it is not obtained, but from God, from whom proceeds every good gift. Do not think then that gluttony and drunkenness, idleness, pride, and lying, the contempt of thy neighbour, malice, avarice, with an impious life, to be the means by which it is to be obtained, for it is only the gift of the merciful God, viz. this Menstrue, the gate and key of which is only Divine mercy. But that thou maist know what is to be determined concerning medicines prepared out of poysonous simples, I will in brief expound that by example; for all vegetables, animals, and minerals, called poysons, making war with humane nature being intrinsically used, and therefore not undeservedly shunn’d of all, are like some powerful unvanquishable enemy, with all his power seeking the oppression and destruction of his contrary, who being checked by a mediator of no less strength, and reconciled with his contrary, does no more (being unable before the reconciliation to resist his powerful enemies) fear the contrariety of his enemy, which now is made his friend, bringing aid for the exstirpating and vanquishing of all such-like (otherwise) invincible enemies. Even so is it with venomous vegetables, animals, and minerals, destructive to humane nature: which by the liquor Alkahest (a checker and reconciler) are so corrected and reduced, that they hurt not, being deprived of their malignity and made friends with men: whereby they are not longer poysonous enemies, but very safe and wholsome remedies, agreeing to humane nature, overcoming and expelling other the like enemies otherwise poysonous and invincible, for by how much the more enemy before reconciliation it was, by so much the more help is brought by it, the reconciliation being made. There is not the like found in nature, which can so suddenly correct Poysons, and reduce them into their first matter, and bring them into very wholsome essences. Let religious Physicians then that can, get this. And so I end this declaration (not without cause set down) which will move those hearts which are not as yet hardened. This certainly is a true Philosophical correction, with which that which is malign is turned into a wholsome substance. What profits that correction, I pray, which is made by the admixtion of other things, as in the mixture of Catharticks and Cordials? Truly nothing, neither can the Cordials do any thing but debilitate the Catharticks; for nature is not at once able to expel a purging poyson, and attract a thing confortative and corroborative: For a Purge being given, forthwith that shews its strength in the body, whose malignity nature resisting, desireth to expel it, before that it can attract the confortative; wherefore that friend is expelled, together with the disease. The same happens in the mixture of sugar, honey, and other sweet things with bitter, sharp, and tart, &c. whose unpleasantness is not corrected by sweet things, but only dulled, thereby acquiring another smell and taste, without any other essential alteration. Which correction is like to that which is made in Taverns, amending the air with sweet fumes, which before was infected with the spittings, spewings, and stinks of rustick drunkards, which is to rusticks an excellent correction, attracting the ill as well as the good aromatick odour, being by drunkenness deprived of their judgment, but not so to sober men enjoying the use of Understanding, to whom that seems a rustick correction. In this manner (not to be commended) are at this day simples corrected. But a true and Philosophical correction is done by it self, without the addition of other things, by benefit of the fire only, as well actual as potentially moist, by ripening, mending, and separating the malignity; which is done by the liquor Alcahest; as it is called by Paracelsus and Helmont.

But whether this my liquor be the same Alcahest of Paracelsus and Helmont, it matters not if it perform the same things.

Fire, and a fiery vertue may do much, but not by burning and destroying, but by maturation and nutrition; and feeding and moistening. Of which moist Fire, see Artephius, Bernhardus, Basilius, Paracelsus, &c. for maturation is not done with cold things, but hot, promoting germination. And what ever Nature hath left imperfect in the vegetable, mineral, and animal kingdom, viz. accidentally; that may be amended by Art with the liquor Alkahest, which is the best way of correction, until by benefit of art, and the help of nature, some better thing be found out, &c.

And these are the vertues of that wonderful liquor Alkahest, which is made use of in the preparation of medicines: And, because it is said before that it shews its vertues on metallicks also, I could not conceal them from the studious. But all its vertues shall not here be related, for it is endued with so many, that no mortal is able to number them. As for me, although by divine favour and the instruction of that excellent man Paracelsus (excellently in a certain place, but observed but by few; describing it, speaking of it briefly, but very plainly and clearly naming it) I did obtain the knowledge thereof, which afterward daily I did more and more encrease, so that I could hardly believe that any ever had spent so much money and pains in the searching of its vertues, for the trying of metals: yet I must needs confess, although happily I have made more tryal therein than any other; that many of its vertues are as yet unknown to me. Seeing then that its vertues and strength cannot all be tryed by any man, by reason of his short life, although searching an hundred years; and that by our merciful Father only to a few, and but part of the knowledge of its wonderful and incredible force, is granted, to the glory of His Divine Name, in favour of the poor sick, which none, how learned soever, with his ambitious learning and craft could ever obtain. Therefore some excellent gifts being given from the Father of lights, the Omnipotent GOD, to some of His Children, gratis, and out of meer mercy, viz. for some causes, I easily believe, that it is not His Will that it shall long be kept close, but be revealed to the world, to the glory of His Name, and the benefit of our poor neighbour. Wherefore I could not longer hold my peace, hiding my talent which I received gratis, though small, but communicate it gratis to my neighbour; but so that the Divine mystery may not be gotten by those ungodly abusers, but only by the worthy through divine favour. I affirm therefore expresly, that in whole nature such a thing may not be found; for not only by its help all animals, vegetables and minerals may be reduced into very excellent and safe medicines, but also be brought into the first matter; minerals and metals may be purified, washed and fixed, and so changed into better bodies. That which is worthy admiration, that in so vile and mean a subject should lye hid so great vertues, by which alone without any other art, may be acquired riches and honours, and lost health. Than which thing, what doth mortal man more need in his misery, besides the Divine Word, the comfort of the soul, than for necessary sustentation of life, soundness of body, and honest report before God and men? All these things may be had with this subject, so that one need not to involve himself into any other troublesome art or vanity of this world, having this secret, whereby all necessaries may in abundance be procured: of which gift that this unclean world is unworthy, I do affirm sincerely, because it swells with ambition and avarice; for which we are not able to give God the Donor sufficient thanks in our whole life, wherefore I would have all what state or order soever earnestly admonished, that they do not use this gift from Heaven to the destruction of their souls, but in thankfulness to Him that gave it, and every way to the good of their Christian Neighbour.

Now follow the Vertues which it manifesteth in Metallicks.

First, it (viz.) the Philosophical Menstrue, doth radically dissolve all minerals and metals without noise, and reduces them into very safe and wholsome medicines. Out of gold it makes potable gold; out of silver potable silver, and so consequently of other potable metals; so that it may well be called The Universal Mercury.

Secondly, This secret Menstrue purgeth, washeth, and transmuteth minerals and metals to a more noble species; wherefore it may well be called Sapo Sapientum, by which the saying of the Philosophers is confirmed; Ignis & Azoth abluunt Latonem.

Thirdly, By it all minerals and metals are matured and fixed, so as that afterward the immature gold or silver incorporated with them, may by cupellation be drawn out with gain; wherefore ’tis deservedly compared to Hermes seal.

Fourthly, It makes metals volatile, and radically conjoyns them that they abide together, and one act on the other in the fire; it destroys and revives, kills and renews; wherefore it is compared to the Phenix.

Fifthly, It separates metals without any loss, and that speedily; but after another manner than corrosives, so that each of them may be had by themselves. For Example: Being about to separate gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead mixt; one, or two, three, or four of them mixt, that they may appear each by themselves, without the loss of any, you need not cupellate the mixture with lead, which way only gold and silver are gotten out, with the loss of all the rest: but by this way they are all preserved, where by turns, one after another, they are extracted wonderfully and swiftly, in half an hours time, by this sharp Vinegar of the Philosophers, &c.

Sixthly, By it metals may suddenly be mortified and reduced into transparent glass, irreducible, and like Amausa, but reserving the propriety and nature of every metal: which in the reduction of Gold do give perfect silver; whereby is confirmed that saying of the Philosophers, The corruption of one thing is the generation of another; and that of Paracelsus, Ex aliquo fiat nihilum, & ex nihilo aliquid. But this incombustible water, or permanent water, shews the truth of the Philosophers writings, generally mentioning it. In it the solution, putrefaction, distillation, sublimation, circulation, ascension, descension, cohobation, inceration, calcination, coagulation, fixation and fermentation, &c. in their work to be done at one time and one way: In which only operation all the colours appear of which the Philosophers make mention; as the head of the crow, virgins milk, dragons blood, peacocks tayls, green and red lyon, &c. There is also by it demonstrated the truth (by the liquor Alkahest) of that Hermetical saying, That which is above, is as that which is beneath, &c. and many other things are performed by its help, as making that secret Sandivogian Chalybs; also that long sought-for oyl of Talc.

So far (courteous Reader) hath come my Experience; neither doubt I, but by it to obtain that universal Salamander which lives in the fire.

These things which I write are true, and no fallacies. And though this secret be incredible to the ignorant, for the wonderful vertues it sheweth in the preparation of medicines, I would willingly publish it to the World for publick good, but on consideration I held it not meet to communicate it for certain causes. But only lest the knowledge of it should perish, and that the true (and almost extinct) medicine for the curing of diseases vulgarly incurable, might flourish, I have revealed this secret menstruum to two friends, viz. its preparation and use. [See the preparation in Mirac. Mundi, and Apology against Farner.]

But do thou not think, because I write of these high things, that I do intend to make common the Secret to all in general; not so, but I endeavour to confirm him that seeketh, and give him occasion to Search this secret deeper; which being found, he shall not only find the truth of my words, but he shall daily by exercise obtain far greater things than these.

And because I have never aspired after vain riches and honours, nor never desire them; I might well be perswaded to leave to others, as yet not hating the wicked World, my troublesome labours, because in this my painful age such tedious labours are very burdensome; besides Philosophy hath pointed me another way, so that what I am able I have determined to abstain from these vanities, and to seek a perpetual good, the life of rest; but my counsel shall not be wanting to those that seek it: for besides moved with the former reasons, also seeing innumerable many vain philosophers, as well learned as unlearned, uncessantly working, and losing their time and labour, and at last despairing, are perswaded that there is no truth in the Philosophers writings, but to be all filled with lyes and deceits; whence royal Chymistry is disgraced.

But this menstruum sufficeth to defend the writings of the Philosophers, without the metallick transmutations; so that I verily believe the time to be near, when the Omnipotent GOD, before He judge the World by fire, will shew His omnipotency to the Nations, by the revelation of the wonderful and incredible things of nature; of which, transmutation of metals is not the least, which in the third part of this Mineral Work I shall deliver to the last age, (being acceptable to God) to the profit of my neighbor, and for demonstration sake. Wherefore I now pass over such things, with a firm hope, that this faithful Admonition shall be received as an undoubted and infallible truth.

_How the aforesaid =Regulus= of the flowers and dross of Antimony, is to be used in the bettering of course Metals, shall be shewn, that ART may not be abused._

The Antimonial Regulus, a radical metallick humour, may help to perform wonderful things, for being reduced to a water without a corrosive, it resolveth all metals, cleanseth, washeth, and purifieth them, and turns them into a better species, so that particularly not a small gain may be from thence received. But how it may be reduced into water, and how by its help metals may be resolved, volatilized, and again fixed, hath been demonstrated by Artephius, Basilius and Paracelsus; wherefore we need not here repeat their writings, but refer the Reader to their works.

But not only the Regulus, but also all Antimony may many waies be used in the separation of metals, viz. For the extraction of hidden Gold, which not be done without Antimony; as shall appear by the following example. When you find a marcasit or other ironish fossile, that will not yield to the tryal by lead, add to it three parts of Antimony, and being well mixt, melt them in a covered crucible, and being melted, pour it into a cone; and when all is cold, separate the Regulus, which purge again by fire as before, and thou shalt find gold contained in the aforesaid fossile: And if it be indued with more plenty of gold, for it is not all drawn out at one time, viz. with the first Regulus, another Regulus is to be melted, by adding more iron and salt-petre, which is also of a nature near to Sol. And if these marcasit fossiles are not ferreous, you must in the first fusion, add iron and nitre to them, or else they yield no Regulus. By the adding more scales of iron, more Regulus is made, and for the same use as that is, of which above in the fusion and separation of extracted gold; weights also may be made out of the dross. And thus are lapis calaminaris, marcasit, kobolt, zink, talc, and other fossiles separated, viz. containing gold.

But all gold containing iron (as that of Stiria, Carinthia, the Granacia, and of Transylvania &c.) may this way be easily separated with profit, by the help of iron. And if the iron have no gold, yet if the Antimony have it, it may thence be separated by fusion with iron, viz. if it be brought to a Regulus. The rest of the Antimony may again be fused with new iron and new glass of more weight than it, but less than this, and be reduced into a Regulus fit for the following uses. Out of the dross let weights (that nothing may be lost) be made, that thou maist have the more gain; as may appear from the following example.

When you have the Antimony, a hundred of which contains two duckats, if you will separate the gold; take a hundred [weight] divided into three or four parts, fuse it according to art, adding a little iron and salt of ashes, and reduce them into small Regulus’s, weighing a pound or two. Then melt the dross with half the weights of the iron in a large and strong crucible, and thou shalt have more Regulus’s about fifty pound or more, dross 40 lib. which make weights of, or else guns, &c. the rest, about eight or nine pounds, will vanish into smoak. And so thou hast reduced the gold contained in a hundred weight, into one or two pounds, which thou maist sublime by fire into flowers (leaving the gold in the fire) for its uses, but those 50 or 60 pounds of the Regulus’s prepared by adding much iron, they having little or no gold, you may mingle with tin for its beauty, hardness and sounding, to make divers sorts of houshold-stuff, as platters, dishes, &c. for tin mixt with the Regulus looks like silver for whiteness and hardness, and sounds like it, nor is it so easily dulled as unmixt.

Now let us weigh what gain may come from the separation of the meanest Antimony. Put case that a hundred weight of Antimony be sold for three Royals (for so for the most part the Polonian is sold, than which, although that of Hungaria and Transilvania be dearer, yet this hath more gold) to which add 60 pound of iron, which is sold for half a royal, and the charge of coals and crucibles requisite be half a royal more: the total of the expences is four royals, for which take two duckats in gold, sixty pound of Regulus, eighty pound of dross, and one or two pound of flowers. Those 60 lib. of Regulus may be sold at the price of tin, whereof a pound is sold for a quarter of a royal, and then their whole price is fifteen royals. Then the eighty pound of refuse made into weights, may be sold at forty shillings, or at least twenty four shillings, or half a royal; and all things being considered and reckoned, as they ought, there may remain the value of sixteen royals.

And though the Antimony should yield but one duckat, and a pound of Regulus should be sold at the eighth part of a royal, yet the remainder would be above six royals: And in a day there may easily be two hundred weight separated by two men. And then suppose it should contain no gold (as some Antimony doth not) yet may four or five royals be gotten daily.

But when you have Antimony, one hundred whereof contains three, four, or five duckats, and iron requisite to the separation containing one or two ducats, then there is so much more gained. Then let him that undertakes this business seek for the best Antimony and iron, and he may well gain in a day twenty, thirty, and sometimes sixty royals.

N. B. And if you should have so much Regulus that you could not mix all of it with tin, for want thereof, then it may be sold in parcels, so that one ℔ may go at a fourth part of a royal; by which means the daily gain may not be diminished, but may be rather encreased; as may be seen by what follows. The Regulus of Antimony is the masculine species of Lead; whose first being is gold impure and immature: but the first being of common Lead is impure and immature Silver; as experience witnesses; for Antimony being purged and fixt, yields gold, but the common lead only silver. And because Antimony, which is better than common Lead, is called the Philosophers lead, or their secret lead; of many so named, but known of few; not that the thing is unknown, or of an unknown original, but by reason of its hidden proprieties; therefore I say that its vertues are not all to be known by any mortal, though he should have a hundred years to search into wonderful nature, for it is unsearchable, and the creator of all wonders, let him injoyn himself silence, neither let him glory in the knowledge of it, who hath not made tryal of it; for in it, through it, and by it, Nature and Art do strive for perfection. Of which more elsewhere.

Now follows the Use.

Having mentioned Antimonial Regulus, which is Lead and better than the common. It must also purify impure metals, wash them, separate the occult Gold and Silver in them; that which the common Lead can do, to which, if those be added, it attracteth the more impure part in the Cupel, which it converteth into dross, and draweth down with it into the porous ashes, leaving the purer Gold and Silver in the Cupel: but from some Tin and Copper not yielding to the Lead, nor willing to be washed by it, it cannot extract their Gold and Silver; neither hath any one written the way of separation by it. Lazarus Erker indeed hath described (and others also) the way of separating Silver from Tin and Iron, which is not to be disesteemed if it be accidentally mixed with Silver, which is separable that way, but not so, being generated in, and radically mixt with them, requiring other Lead, willingly embracing Tin and Iron, which nothing but Regulus can perform.

But seeing Tin and Iron do for the most part, contain much Gold (but chiefly Tin) viz. inseparable by the common way, it will be worth our pains to seek another Lead and way of separation; as it is apparent to Refiners, proving Tin and Iron by the common way on a test; whilst Tin and Iron melted in the Lead, do forthwith shew their stubbornness by innate proprieties and forsake it, viz. as a contrary rising to the top like dross or ashes, without any separation, Gold and Silver being excepted, if accidentally mixt together, which are left with the Lead; but not so being hid in their middle or center. But that the truth hereof may appear, I will demonstrate it by example: Place on a test under a tyle 16. parts of Lead, and one of Tin, after the manner of proofs, give a fusing fire for to separate the dross; and all the Tin almost flying away, will at the bottom be burnt, and separated like ashes, being sublimated on the top of the Lead; not deprived of its Gold and Silver incorporated together, which afterward I shall demonstrate, when all the Tin is sublimated from the Lead, and calcined, and the test taken from under the tyle, and the rest of the Lead poured off, and you shall find after cupellation no more Silver than the sixteen parts of Lead did contain before, if they had been cupelled without Tin; sometimes less, Some part being taken away by the Tin in the examination: the same is done with Iron, altho’ thou shouldst add Copper with glass of Lead, to retain the Tin and Iron, thereby to separate their Gold and Silver, you would effect nothing: for although some more Silver may hereby be extracted, yet that would not come from the Tin or Iron, but from the Copper: it may therefore be extracted another way, of which, hereafter.

In the mean while I will prove clearly, that the separation of tin and iron by common lead, thereby to get their gold and silver, is of no value, which being left in them, are turned into ashes and dross.

Take any tin, and reduce it into ashes by lead, or agitation, on a smooth earthen vessel (tryed before, by the common way, for distinction sake, which calcine well, that the corporeal tin powdered, may be calcined, or being melted, may be separated from the ashes). Then take of these ashes one part, and of the following flux, or of that a little after six parts or more; being mixt, fuse them in a strong crucible with a strong fire, until the Flux have Consumed or drunk up all the calx of the Tin, and of them both shall be made one, viz. yellow or red Glass, which may be tryed with a crooked wier put in: which if it seem not clear, the crucible must be covered again, and a greater Fire be given, until the Fire be perfect; which labour in one half hour is finished: which done, pour it into a brass mortar, afterward to be covered, until it be a cold, that it leap not out and be lost.

Afterward powder it, which with calx of Tin, mix the equal weight of filings of Iron; being mixt, put them into a strong Crucible (because the Flux is very penetrative) covered, and give a strong fire for fusion half an hour: which done, pour it out, for the Tin hath made separation, and reduced some part of the Lead out of the Flux, sinking to the bottom to be separated when it is cold, to be reduced into dross on a test, and then to be cupelled, and you shall find grain Gold drawn from Tin without Silver. And if before you weigh the calx of Tin by the lesser Hundred weight, and after that the grains of Gold, you may easily conjecture how much Gold is contained in the whole hundred weight of Tin ashes, viz. at the least 3, 4, 5, or 6. Lotones, or half Ounces, if thou work aright.

See then the Fault is not to be imputed to the metals, but us, being ignorant of the separation of the Gold and Silver.

You should not perswade your self by this means to get much wealth out of Tin; for I have not written this for that end, but only to demonstrate the possibility. And if thou think that Gold will come out of Iron by the fluxing powder, mingle then filings of Iron with the Flux, before thou put in the calx of Tin, and thou shalt find in so doing, that Gold doth come neither from the Flux or Iron, but out of Tin; then being hereby assured, that ’tis the Tin which contains Gold, thou mayst consider, how most conveniently that may be extracted, viz. with other Lead, and another way, as shall be hereafter taught. Neither think that Tin contains no more Gold than you have heard; for more there is if you can wisely extract it: neither do I deny, that more Gold may be extracted out of the Tin, but more care than this is to be given, if you desire more plenty. But Gold may thence be extracted, not only by Flux, but diverse other wayes, in diverse weights; for what is written, is only for demonstration of the possibility, that the Gold contained in the imperfect metals, may be extracted by a secret separation.

The Fluxing Powder requisite to this Work.

℞ one part of very pure and white Sand, or Flints, having no Gold fusible; to which, add three parts of Litharge of Lead; being mixt, fuse in a very strong Fire, that thereof a transparent Glass may be made of it, which pour out, that it may be cold, and reduce it to powder; which use in the aforesaid manner. But you may ask, why Sand and Flints are mingled, seeing they are not of a metallick nature: to which I say, the calx of Tin, cannot, as also other Fossiles be Examined by Lead alone, for the following Reasons, viz. because in the Calcination of Tin, its metallick nature is hidden, but the impure and earthy parts are manifest, wherefore it hath no longer affinity with Lead and other metals; unless the hidden parts of the lead be manifest, and also other metals and the manifest be hidden, for then they easily embrace one the other, and are again mingled well, and not altered.

What belongs to the alteration of other metals doth not belong hither; for to this place only pertain Lead and Tin, the alteration of which is demonstrated by this tryal; whereby it appears to be thus.

Lead reduced into ashes, by it self, or into Litharge, and deprived of its metallick form, cannot so in this work be used without the flints or sand, for the following reason. The lead and glass thereof made by it self is very fusible and volatile; but the calx of tin is very difficultly fused: which two calxes, although they should be mingled to fuse in a crucible, yet would not be mingled, nor being fused, embrace one the other, by reason of the difference of their fusibility; because the calx of lead alone being fused by a small fire, will perforate and penetrate the crucible, the calx of Tin being left in the crucible: wherefore you must add sand or flints to the lead, viz. to hinder its fusibility, that it may endure the same degree of heat with those that are difficultly fused, and further their flux. For like things do mutually affect and embrace each other; as water doth water, oyl oyl, and glass glass; and metals other metals; but water is not mingled with oyl; neither are glasses mingled with metals, but metals with metals, and glass with glass, whether it be made of metals or out of sand. Wherefore they greatly err who mingle the calx of metals difficultly miscible, or other hard things with lead to prove or examin, not considering that corporeal lead hath no affinity with them: who remaining in their errour, and not weighing the thing further, consequently can find nothing of any moment.

But when the calx of metals united with lead by a medium, as flints or sand, are brought together into transparent glass; then the lead being precipitated and separated from the mixture, it cannot be, but that the gold and silver contained in them must be carried away with it. This is a true and philosophical tryal, and not to be contemned, for many things may be by it performed.

N. B. But this is not to be passed by, that in the mutual mixture and fusion of the glass of lead and the calx of tin, and other hard metals, one may easily err, viz. in the precipitation (which is done with the mixture of iron) of the gold with the lead into Regulus, by either the excess or defect, so that nothing may be gotten, which is committed in precipitation. For if the mixture stand long in the fire not fused, it is burnt, so that it cannot well be separated, and if it stand too long fused in the fire, the gold is attracted by the dross, by reason of the mixture of the iron, having great affinity with the gold, so that by this means nothing can be gotten: wherefore the Work is to be done warily, and with wisdom and industry. You must have a care you burn not the Regulus of lead with too much fire, when you reduce it into dross; for fear of attracting the gold from the iron, and turning it into dross. And although this may by Art be prevented, yet we must not presently create every one Master of Arts, it requiring diligence and daily exercise, besides the reading of Books. But this Secret shall other where be communicated.

This admonition then I give, that thou do not impute thy errour (if thou dost err) to me, but to thy self, for what I have written is true: and do not thence infer an impossibility of attracting gold by iron, out of lead, and of turning it into dross, which is no wonder to me, though it may so seem to thee. Which he who hath the knowledge of metals will himself easily perceive. But that thou maist be certain, try the certainty after the following manner: Take two hundred lib. of lead, of the lesser weight of the Refiners, put it on a test under a tyle; add eight or ten lotons of pure gold, of tin two or three l. six or eight of iron, viz. of the lesser weight: make them flow together an hour to make dross; as Examiners use to do; then pour it out, and separate the lead from the dross, viz. to cupel that which is separated, then weigh the grains of gold left, and thou shalt find half of it consumed by the dross. If this happen to corporeal gold and fixt, How will it be with that which is newly extracted out of an imperfect metal? Therefore you must diligently search out the natures of metals, and then such cases will not seem incredible.

From hence then, and other Examples mentioned it appears, that that separation which is done by tests and cupels, is not true and legitimate; and consequently, that another profitable separation of metals is to be sought; because by this the greater part of gold and silver burns into dross, witness Experience, for which cause the former example was alleadged; whither belongs the proof, viz. how much gold the dross hath attracted, which is done as followeth: ℞ the remaining black dross, to which add a double weight of salt of tartar, put it in a crucible filled but to the half (for fear of boyling out) and covered, that nothing fall in, under a tile or among live coals, one or two hours space to digest; and a new Regulus of lead shall be precipitated, which separated from the dross, you may cupel, and you shall find new grains of gold attracted by the iron in the dross, and now separated by the salt of tartar, overcoming the force of the iron. And so you have heard from two examples, how in the coction of the separation gold may be drawn out of the lead by tin and iron, and that therefore there is need, that gold be separated by the Antimonial Regulus out of the aforesaid metals, and not by lead, if you would extract the true substance with gain.

N. B. Gold may likewise be separated out of the glass of lead (being first dissolved with the ashes of tin) with coal dust, adding it in the flux and stirring it with an iron wier; and also with common sulphur, by burning it on it: but the aforesaid way with iron, is to be preferred before those two which spoyl the gold, &c. wherefore the remaining dross is to be gathered, which by some abstracting furnace by other means may be tryed, for to recover the spoyled or lost gold and silver.

And all these are alleadged to demonstrate that the gold in tin and iron is to be separated by the Antimonial Regulus, and not by Lead. But how this separation may be perfected, you shall hear in the third part, where we will treat of lead, explained by Paracelsus, in his book called Cœlum Philosophorum, and other artificial Chymical labours: wherefore here we omit it, being superfluous to handle one thing in divers places. In the mean while exercise thy self in lesser things, that thou maist be more fit for greater when they shall be set forth. But wonder not at my liberality in publishing so great secrets, for I have reasons for it. Such a burden is too much for me alone, neither doth it profit the Covetous to sell his goods to them which keep not their words, nor pay the money, after they have obtained their art, which hath hapned to me. Wherefore I have determined to communicate some secrets to all the world indifferently, that the poor may receive some profit by them; knowing that though I write plainly, yet that all will not at the first view obtain their desires. For some are so dull, that they cannot imitate a work though often seen. For some have often visited me, to see my new manner of distilling, which though it was sufficiently demonstrated to the eye, yet they could not imitate it, till with often perusals at length they have found the right path. Others have left it as too hard a work, when it would not presently succeed, which if it hapned to those who had an ocular demonstration, how much more difficult will it be and hard to them who have nothing but what they have heard or read. Wherefore I am certain, that though I should publish every one of my secrets, yet could they not be performed by all men, my coals and materials being left sufficing for my necessity. Wherefore I fear not to publish, the next opportunity offered, divers profitable and excellent secrets, viz. in favour of all and every one.

As for that spirit of salt necessary to this work, you may find it in the first part of my Philosophical Furnaces corrected and amended; but the way of separation in the fourth part.

And so I finish this work, being published in favour of those who by war (though honest men) are reduced to poverty. But what things are deficient in this little tract shall (God willing) be delivered in the next (which shall follow in a short time) largely and clearly without fraud.

FINIS.

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