A CHOICE
COLLECTION
OF RARE
SECRETS
AND
EXPERIMENTS
IN
Philosophy.

AS ALSO
Rare and unheard-of Medicines,
Menstruums, and Alkahests; with the
True Secret of Volatilizing the fixt
Salt of TARTAR.

COLLECTED
And Experimented by the Honourable and truly
Learned Sir Kenelm Digby, Kt. Chancellour
to Her Majesty the Queen-Mother.

Hitherto kept Secret since his Decease, but now
Published for the good and benefit of the
Publick,

By GEORGE HARTMAN.

London, Printed for the Author, and are to be Sold by
William Cooper, at the Pelican in Little Britain; and
Henry Faithorne and Iohn Kersey, at the Rose in St.
Paul's Church-yard. 1682.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, ROBERT, Lord Paston, Baron of Paston, Vicount and Earl of Yarmouth.

My Lord,

IT is not my intention, nor indeed my Ta∣lent,
to Celebrate those Excellent Virtues,
which shine so eminently bright in your Lord∣ship:
For they are Themes only fit to be treated
on by the strongest Pen, and their Native
Worth and Resplendency are their own suffici∣ent
Panegyricks.

Yet such is the Veneration I have for the
Excellent Qualities and Endowments of your
Noble Mind, and those Heroick inclinations,
that move your Honour to make such exact,
diligent, and curious search into all the Secrets
and Mysteries of Nature, and encourage all
others that Labour therein, that I cannot for∣bear
being so vain as to publish my resentments
thereof to the World. These Reasons, My
Lord, together with the consideration of your
inbred Candour and Generosity, encouraged
me to the boldness of committing this small
Treatise to your Honours Patronage and Pro∣tection:
To whom I know it will be more


welcome, as containing in it the Choice Ob∣servations,
both in Physick and Chymistry, of
that Famous Man, and great Privy Coun∣cellor
of Nature, Sir K. D. A Name, My
Lord, that hath peculiar Charms with it, to
recommend all that are under its great shadow,
to the value and consideration of all the dili∣gent,
the Learned, and the Honourable: So
great a Person (may I assume the vanity to
say so) I had the Honour and Happiness for
several Years to Serve, beyond the Seas, as
well as in England, and to attend on him mo••
particularly in the Production of many of h••
incomparable Experiments, and so to contin••
till his dying day; when he left with me tho••
Choice things contained in this little Treatise.

And since I fear they suffer diminution 〈◊〉
their Worth and Beauty, by passing throug•
my mean Hands, and weak Managery,
thought I could make no better Atonement
than by recommending them to receive R•∣cruits
and Reinforcements from the Splendo••
and Eminency of your Illustrious Name. To
that end therefore I take the Boldness to pro∣strate
them at your Honours Feet, where a••
in all Humility lyes

Your Honours
Most Obedient, and
Most Devoted Servant,
George Hartma•


TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,

THIS Trea•ise contains some of the
Choicest Collections of the Famous
Sir Kenelm Digby (some whereof have been
wrought by his own hands, some commu∣nicated
to him by Learned Men of all Na∣tions)
in praise whereof no more need be
said, but, that they are his; either of his
production, or of his approbation. I shall
therefore, omitting other Artifices and In∣sinuations,
only satisfie the Reader with all
the clearness and ingenuity I can, how I
came by them; and thereby I question not,
but I shall very successively recommend this
Collection of them to all Ingenious Lovers
of Art, whose Ears the Fame of the Worthy
Author hath reached.

To this End I must acquaint him, that I
had the Honour several years to wait upon
Sir Kenelm, and to have several of his Ma∣nuscripts
in my Custody, more particularly
this with others was committed to my


Charge, when my Worthy Master intended
a Journey to France for his Healths sake,
and to settle his Affairs there: And he had
Progressed in his designed Journey as far as
Cittenburn, when a violent Distemper forced
him back again to his own House in Covent-Garden;
and in three days after his return,
left the Learned World to lament the loss of
so great a Man. And here besides his in∣comparable
self, his Friends and Countrey
lost also the benefit of his Famous Library he
had in France (which for want of his be∣ing
Naturalized) fell into the French King•
hands, who bestowed it upon a Gentleman,
and it was sold (as I was credibly informed)
for• ten thousand Crowns. In which no
doubt were Manuscripts of his own, of very
great worth and rich value, and might have
much obliged the World, had they fallen in∣to
the hands of Generous and Communica∣tive
Men.

But it was my happiness to have, among
some other Manuscripts of his, the sole Pro∣priety
of this Choice Manual, which con∣tains
rare and profitable Secrets in Philoso∣phy
and Chymistry, delivered with more
perspicuity and plainness than is yet to be
found in any Chymical Book: Yea, such,
that any understanding Reader may with
great facility be conducted as with an Ariad∣nean


Line into the most intricate and hither∣to
fatigating Arcana of Chymistry. Here
are the true Menstruums and Alkahests, and
that hitherto hidden Secret of Volatilizing the
fixed Salt of Tartar without any Heterogene
Substance, being the true Vegetable Men∣struum;
with many other rare and unheard∣of
Medicines, some whereof I had a mind
to reserve for my self, and not to Publish
them during my Life, because of the great
Experience, and the good Success I have had
with them in desperate cases; but Impium
est ta•ere, quae si promulgata essent, multo∣rum
misere decumbentium, in levamen ex∣tarent.
'Tis Impious and unchristian to for∣bear
the Publication of those things, which
being rendred Publick, will effectually re∣dound
to the Advantage and Comfort of mi∣serable
Men.

I have Translated most of these Secrets
out of the Latine, French, German, and Ita∣lian
Tongues. And if I have committed any
indecencies against the Idiom of the English
Speech, I hope the Candid Reader will for∣give
a Foreigner. As for any Ornaments
and Embellishments of Language, as the
Work requires no such Painting, so the Pub∣lishers
Foreign Stile and mean Talents are
not able to afford it.

I have no more to acquaint the Reader


with, but that these Secrets had been Com∣municated
to him long before, but that
have been most part of my time since my
Excellent Masters Decease, abroad: How∣ever,
I hope they will be now kindly en∣tertained.
For it is the height of my Ambi∣tion
to make the Memory of my incom∣parable
Master to Live, who was my pri∣vate,
and the Worlds publick Benefactor,
which can no where do so with such Advan∣tage
as in his Learned Works, for thereby
being dead he yet speaks and instructs.

And though it be no addition to his Glori∣ous
Name, yet for the Wit and smartness of
the thing, and the Readers diversion, I shall
conclude here with that Elegant Epitaph
made on him by the Ingenious Dr. Farrar,
which is as followeth.


AN EPITAPH UPON The Honourable and Truly Noble Sir Kenelm Digby, Kt. Chancellour to Her MAJESTY THE Queen-Mother.
UNder this Tomb the Matchless Digby lies;
Digby the Great, the Valiant, and the Wise:
This Ages Wonder for his Noble Parts,
Skill'd in Six Tongues, and Learn'd in all the Arts.
Born on the Day He Dy'd, Th' Eleventh of June,
And that Day Bravely Fought at Scandaroun•
'Tis Rare, that one and the same Day should be
His Day of Birth, of Death, and Victory.
R. F.


THE INDEX.
A.
ANimation and Preparation of Common ☿. Page 26. 83, 84, 85.
Aurum Potabile, from the Marchioness de Beck. 245.
A. R. Philosophical. 94.
An unheard-of Arcanum. 188.
An Aethereal Aurum potabile. 177.
The Arcanum of Flamel, Arte•ius, and Pon∣tanus, &c. 117.
B.
BUtter of {antimony} to extract the Tincture of ☉. 61.
Butter of {antimony} without Sublimate. 78.
A Work with Butter of {antimony}. 58.
A Precious Balsam. 264.
C.
CAlx of ☉. 129.
Cosmetick prepared out of ☽. 132.

Coppels how to make. 140.
A Work upon Cinaber. 52.
Cray-Fishes to engender. 131.
A great Corroborant and Sudorifick. 173.
Convulsion Fits to Cure. 226.
Cancers to Cure. 231.
A Laxative and Emetick Cream of Tartar. 248, 249.
D.
THE Danes Work, wrought by Sir K. D. 33.
Monsieur Dandre's Work with ☉, ☿, and Sul∣phur-vive transparent, with Observations thereupon. 5.
A great Diaphoretick of {antimony}. 213.
Decoction Sudorifick. 216.
Dropsie to Cure. 200, 201, 24.
Deafness to Cure. 262.
E.
EXtraction of ☿ of {antimony}. 65. 72. 75. 77. 79, 80, 81.
Elixir of ☉, {antimony}, & ☿. 69.
Elixir of ☉ & ☽. 70.
Elixir Album. 16.
Elixir Rubrum. 71.
Elixir of Sulphur. 210.
Extraction of ☿ of ☽ or ♄. 73.
Essence of Sulphur. 209.
Epilepsie Cured by Sir K. D. at Frankfort. 197, 198.

F.
FLux or Looseness to Cure. 257.
Fixation of ☽ into ☉. 116. 21. 26. 62. 65.
Monsieur R's. Fixation of ☿ by the Salt of ♄. 103.
To fix a quarter part of ☽ into ☉. 52.
Mallus his Process to fix ☽. 63.
Fixation of ♄ into ☽ with good Profit. 43
Fixation of ☿ by the Salt of ♄, by Captain Zeigler. 49.
Fixation of ☿ of {antimony}. 44. 46, 47.
Fixation of Common Sulphur, and its Tin∣cture. 193.
Fixation of ☿ into ☽ by the Salt of ♄ & ☽, by Monsieur de R. 103.
A great Febrifuge. 220, 230. 216.
Riverius his Febrifuge. 223.
A Furnace for many Uses, &c. 138.
G.
To burn holes in Glasses. 136.
Gout to Cure. 260, 261.
The Eagles Gluten, or ☿ of the Wise. 178.
L.
LApis Ignis. 242.
Laudanum Germanicum. 266.
Liquor Mercurial with ♃. 229.
Lauremberg's Observation upon Angelus Sa∣la his Synopsis of Aphorisms. 115.
The Lunar Pills against the Dropsie. 199.

A Lunary Emetick. 230.
Lac Sulphuris. 211.
M.
MAtthews his Work. 19.
Mercurial {water}. 160.
A Minera of ☉. 41.
Minera of ☿ of {antimony}, ad infinitum. 74.
The Menstruum C••licum Exuberatum. By Dr. Clodius. 156.
Mercury of all Metals. 16. 81.
To make Metals Vegetate visibly. 130.
Concerning May Dew. 116.
A great Medicine. 238.
A rare Medicine for an Ague. 205.
Metalline Menstruum. 178.
A great Medicine, &c. 238.
An Universal Medicine of ☉ and {antimony}, &c. 167.
O.
OYL of Talc. 132. 135.
Oyl of ☿. 126.
Oyl of ☉. 231.
An Operation that Monsieur de Loberye wrote from Monsieur John's Mouth. 122.
An Operation with a Martial Regulus of {antimony}. 60.
Observations about Snyder's Secret. 17.
Operation upon Saturn. 87.
Oyl of Sulphur. 207.
An Operation with Spirit and Salt of Urine, ☽, and ☿ Precipitate, wrought by Sir Ke∣nelm's Operator. 153.

A Precious Oyl of {antimony}. 217.
An Operation upon Jupiter. 104.
Monsieur Van Outer's Secret. 8. 11.
An Operation upon Regulus of {antimony}, by Mon∣sieur Toysonnier. 60.
An Operation with ☉ and ☿ of {antimony}; wrought by Monsieur Chambulan, and given me by him. 65.
An Operation upon ♄, sent me by Monsieur Boucaud. 87.
P.
A Short and clear Description of the Phi∣losophers Stone. 107.
The Countess of Kents Powder after Sir K. D. Method. 125.
An Excellent Panacea. 218.
Sir K. D's. Sympathetical Powder. 270.
Cornachinus his Medicinal Powder. 247.
Plaister of Lead. 258.
Q.
QUintessence of ♄, an Universal dissol∣vent. 88.
R.
A Reality upon ☽. 45.
A Reality from Abbot Boucaud. 101.
S.
THE Volatile Salt of Tartar. 252.
Saunier's Work, wrought by Sir K. D. 31.

Snyder's Secret, as he himself gave it to Sir K. D. 16.
Salt fusible. 59. 16.
The best way to make Spirit of Urine. 236.
Sigillum Hermetis. 227.
Scrofula's to Cure. 232. 234.
The true Sulphur of {antimony}. 218.
Stone to Cure. 205.
An Excellent Physical Salt. 254.
A white Spirit of Sulphur to dissolve ☽ and ☿. 166.
The best and easiest way of making a Spirit of Sal armoniack. 250.
The Metalline Stone of a Spiritual Luna•y. 191.
An Excellent Sudorifick. 231.
Sol and Luna out of ♃. 105.
Sulphur of ☉. 121.
A particular Spirit of Nitre. 85.
T.
TIncture of Mars. 55.
Tincture of ☉ by {antimony}. 64.
Tetters or Herps to Cure, &c. 236.
Tincture of ☽. 65.
Transmutation of ☿ into a Regulus. 128.
Tincture of fixt Sulphur. 193.
A Tincture of the Flowers of {antimony}. 255.
The true Tincture of Coral. Ibid.
Tincture of Glass of {antimony}. 164.

V
VOlatilized ☽. 22.
Venus into ☽. 123.
The great Work out of Virgin Earth. 37.
A Work Copied out of the Original of Mon∣sieur de la Violette's own hand, whereof he made great account. 13.
The Secret to Volatilize the fixt Salt of Tar∣tar. 147. 151.
Monsieur Vignault his Process with ☉ and ☿. 24.
A subtil Volatile {water} from Sulphur. 208.
W.
WAter of Paradise, &c. 179 to 186.
An Explication of the Characters which are used in this Book.
☉ Gold.
☽ Silver.
♂ Iron.
☿ Mercury.
♃ Iupiter.
♀ Venus.
♄ Lead.
{antimony} Antimony.
{sal armoniac} Sal armoniac.
A. F. Aqua Fortis.
A. R. Aqua Regis.
S. V. Spirit of Wine.
{subli} Sublimate.
{precipi} Precipitate.
aaa Amalgama.
{water} Water.
{fire} Fire.
Page 1
CHYMICAL SECRETS.
How to fix ☽ into ☉ by ☿ and ☿ Preci∣pitate.
HAving Written so many Proces∣ses,
and made so many Tryals,
and heard so many Discourses
of Learned Men upon this
Subject, I will give you an Account of an
easie Method that I have resolved upon for
accomplishing this Work. Namely, That
all imperfect Metals and common ☿ may be
transmuted into ☉ by one and the same Me∣thod;
to wit, by Maturation and Coction,
and not by Generation; for that which is
generated, is no more that which it was be∣fore
it was generated: And that which is
Page 2

Corrupted, is no more that which it wa•
before it was Corrupted.

But the baser Metals, after they are trans∣muted
into ☽ or ☉ are still Metals never∣theless
as they were before, and the trans∣mutation
of their kind is done by changing
their accidental form, not their substantial,
the perfection whereof is Maturity; for by
Maturation the Metal is brought to a highe•
degree of Perfection.

Now, imperfect Metals are Maturated by
external heat, which digesteth their cru••
Humidity; yea, ☉ it self may be furthe•
perfected, and exalted in colour, as whe•
the Stone is made of it, it will communi∣cate
this Maturity to imperfect Metals.

And Common ☿ is extracted out of Me∣tals
three several ways; namely, by C••mentation
and Digestion, by Fermentation
and by Tincture. As for Cementation, tha•
concerneth onely the digestion of ☽ into ☉
but not the other too imperfect Metals, no
☿ either, which is crude, and too much ali••
nated from the Maturity of ☉.

By Cementation the Humidity of ☽ 〈◊〉
brought to Muturity. There are severa•
sorts of Cementation, namely, by Salts, A••loms,
Vitriols, and Metalline-waters: Bu• often-times
instead of digestion ☽, they bu•
Page 3

it; so that this way of making ☉ is with
more loss than profit.

But there is no better way than ☿ and
red Precipitate, which I have learned by the
afore-mentioned Operations.

My Process is such.
TAke ℥ij. of ☽, make an Amalgama of
it with Mercury by A. F. as you
know, wash this Amalgama very well in se∣veral
waters, then press out so much ☿, that
there remain but ℥iv. of it with the ☽, which
maketh ℥vj. in all. Add to it ℥vi. of good
red Precipitate, and grind all to an impal∣pable
Powder; which put into a Matrass,
and digest it with a gentle heat in Sand, so
that the ☿ do not Sublime, but that it may
Calcine the ☽, and leave it in Powder, for
if you give too great a heat, it will reduce
the ☽ into a Body.

After three days Digestion, take out your
Powder, and grind it as before, so that if
there be yet any quick ☿, it may be morti∣fied.
Digest it again as before, and with
the same degree of heat for three days more;
then take it out and grind it again, then di∣gest
it only for two days by four degrees of
heat, which you must change every two
hours, to the end, that by the last degree of
Page 4

heat all the ☿ and ☿ Precipitate may preci∣pitate
the Powder of ☽, which will begin
to grow white.

Reiterate the addition of ☿ and ☿ Pre∣cipitate
in the same quantity as before. Di∣gest
two days more by four degrees of heat,
as before, and the Powder will grow per∣fectly
white.

Then by the same Operation reiterated it
will begin to be of a Citrine colour, and
fixed.

And thus by reiterating the Digestions,
you may give it what degree of this colour
you please; for the oftner you digest it with
the said ☿ and ☿ Precipitate, being separa∣ted
from it again by the last degree of heat,
the more the Powder will be of a Citrine
Colour.

Then melt your Powder with Borax, and
you shall have ☽ at 24 Carrats, without
diminution of the first weight of the ☽ which
will be rather increased. All may be ac∣complished
in the space of One and Twenty
days.

Page 5
A Work with ☉ and ☿ that Monsieur Dandre helped to work in Piedmont, in great quantity: Given me by him, June 1660.
MOnsieur Dandre saith, he wrought thus:
Make carefully an Amalgama of ℥j. of
☉ in Calx, with 7 or 8 of Purified ☿, then
squeeze out so much ☿, that their remain ℥iij.
of ☿, and so there be ℥iv. in the Globe: To this
add ℥j. of Sulphur-vive, which is clear and
transparent in pieces, (in Italy, where he
wrought this) and grind all very well toge∣ther,
(in this consisteth the main part of
the Secret, for at every time you are to em∣ploy
three or four hours in grinding) then
put the Matter into a Matrass, and give a
gentle heat, the Glass unstopped, till the
moisture and smoak is exhaled out. Then
let the Fire go out, and when the Matrass
is cold, seal it Hermetically, and set it to Sub∣lime
by degrees of Fire, till all that will, be
Sublimed, which will be done in 20 or 24
hours. Then the Vessel being cold, break
it, and take out the Matter, and grind all
together a long time, both that which is
Sublimed, and that which is in the bottom,
adding ℥j. of new Sulphur-vive, then Sub∣lime
in the same Method as before; repeat
this seven times at the least, adding ℥j.
Page 6

of Sulphur-vive every time, and the mat∣ter
will become a brown yellowish reddish
Powder, which will be very fusible, and
even in the grinding it will relent, as though
it grew moist: You will have ℥iv. of fixed
Matter, which project (in parcels) upon
℥x. of ☽ in good Fustion, then put it to
the Coppel, and separating {water} and you shall
have ℥iv. of pure ☉.

You can work but ℥j. of ☉ in one Glass,
but you may put fifty, or more Glasses in
one Sand Furnace with a large Bason of
Copper in Sand.

Some Observations about the said Monsieur Dandre's Work.
THE Operation was made in an Atha∣nor,
with the Registers at the end, the
hole through which the heat was communi∣cated,
was about the bigness of a brick, the
plate which held the Sand was of Iron, and
contained 32 Matrasses, sixteen on every
side: The Tower was in the middle, where∣in
the Coals sunk down by degrees. They
did not mix the Powder with Wax, nor any
thing else in projecting, but only wrapt up
in Paper, it did enter, and disappear im∣mediately
without smoaking. The Matrass
ought to have 2 third parts empty.

Page 7

The Amalgama was made thus: They
took ℥ix. of ☿ and heated it in a Crucible,
until it begun to smoak, then they set it
upon hot Ashes, and cast therein ℥j. of Du∣cats
cut in small pieces, and made hot in a
Crucible, then stirred it until the ☉ was swal∣lowed
up by the ☿: Then took it off, and
let it cool. They did not wash the said
Amalgama: They used common ☿ only
mixed with Quick-lime, and then Distilled
in a Retort.

The Sulphur was transparent and yel∣low
like Amber, in pieces, and to be had
at Carmagnole, Turin, Cony, Mondevic,
Saluce, Genes: It is a Sulphur-vive, cost
four, five, or six pence a pound. The
Sand they used was round River-sand, and
the Matrass was never red in the Sand: They
never put above ℥j. of ☉ in one Matrass, nor
never above ℥x. of ☽ at every Pro∣jection.

(Hartman.) These Observations were
communicated to Sir Kenelm by Abbot Bou∣caud,
but the Process was written by Sir
Kenelm himself from Monsieur Dandre's
mouth.

Page 8
Monsieur Van Outer's Secret, Physician of Brussels, with ☉ and Butter of Anti∣mony.
TAke equal parts of {antimony} Mineral, and ☿
Sublimate, and a little Sal armoniac,
make Butter thereof: Draw the Spirit from
this Butter, which rectifie again. (Note,
that this Butter, being exposed to the Air,
draws from the same what it needeth in an
hourts time, and thereby is much increased
in quantity: That which it draws is the hid∣den
Food of the Life of Man, and all the
Beings in the World. And this Butter is
the true Magnet which draws it in its purity.)
Then put this Spirit into a Glass Cucurbite,
of a convenient bigness, fit a Head to it
with Limbec and Receiver; lute well all the
junctures, and put it thus to putrifie in Ashes
for two Months, in which time the Matter
will become as red as Blood, and afterwards
very black, sticking to the sides of the Ves∣sel
like glutinous Soot, and the Ethereal Spi∣rit
ascendeth and passeth into the Recipient
in form of a Spirit, and in Body of fusible
Salt, whereof you must also draw the Spirit,
and separate them by Distillation with a very
gentle fire, until you see a red and sparkling
fire upon the Matter, which is a sign of its
Page 9

Maturity, and that you have obtained the
Philosophical ☿, which is the true Univer∣sal
Dissolvent, then let it cool. That which
resteth in the bottom of the Cucurbite, is the
Terra damnata.

Take ℥vj. of this Menstruum, and put it
upon ℥j. of ☉ in very thin plates, which will
speedily as dissolved, and they will unite in∣timately,
as being of the same Nature. You
must take great care that you lose nothing
of the Spirits; it must be done in a Matrass
with a Glass stopper, exactly fitted; and being
well sealed and luted, digest it with a Lamp
fire, with a very gentle heat in the begin∣ning.
After fifty days digestion, you must
feed and imbibe your Matter with the said
Menstruum, whereof you must have store,
for to multiply your Work. So soon as you
have put in the said Dissolvent, you must
stop it again immediately, and seal it as be∣fore,
then digest fifty days more, the heat
a little increased; which time being ex∣pired,
you must again feed your Matter
with the Virginal Milk a little more than the
first time, continuing the digestion, the heat
a little stronger. Re•terate the Imbibition
seven times, and your Matter will become
more vigorous, and will be able to bear
stronger Food from time to time, and to
bear stronger heat, which nevertheless must
Page 10

not be hastened, but well governed, after
the Example of the Operation of the Rays
of the Sun in the Spring and Summer, for
the Nourishment and Maturation of Vege∣tables.
But you must observe, that at the
two last imbibitions, there must be but 35
days distance from the one to the other in∣stead
of 50 before. At the five first imbi∣bitions
you shall see from time to time the
wonderful effects of Nature, by the internal
vertue of the Matter, and by all the Signs
written in Flammel, La Tourbe, Le Rosaire,
or Iubilation of the Soul, and in all those
Authors that have possessed this rare Know∣ledge,
which will appear infallibly; to the
proportion whereof you must increase the
fire, and that is left to the discretion of the
Operator. You must observe, that as the
Matter multiplieth in vertue and quantity at
each imbibition, and always more and more,
it might become so fusible, that at last it
might penetrate the Glass; so that if you
judge convenient, you need not imbibe quite
seven times, that you may run no hazard;
for you may afterwards multiply the Pow∣der
in the same manner, and carry it ad in∣finitum.
And to perform all this, there
needeth no more than about nine Months
time, and without much trouble or care.

Page 11
The Multiplication of the Powder.
TAke ℥j. of the Powder to ℥iij. of ☉, melt
them together, and leave them until all
be reduced to a Powder, which will be done
in three days at the most; and thus you may
carry it ad infinitum, and that which is made
thus, hath the same vertue as the first.

The Projection.
TO Project upon ☿ you must heat it in a
Crucible, until it cast a black smoak,
then cast one grain of the said Powder upon
ten or twelve Ounces of ☿. And projecting
upon other Metals, they must be in fusion,
and they will render in proportion accord∣ing
as they abound in ☿.

A considerable Work with ☉ and ☿.
TAke ℥viij. of ☉, melt it in a Crucible with
three times as much Tin-glass, mix them
well together, then cast it out, and beat it
into as small pieces as you can: Take three
times the weight of your mixture of good
Sublimate, which put in the bottom of a
large Cucurbite, and upon that put the said
mixture; set the Cucurbite in an Earthen
Page 12

Pot, which put into an Iron Pot with Sand;
fit a head with a Limbeck and Receiver to
it, lute all well, and give a gentle heat at
the beginning for two hours; then increase
the heat by degrees, at last a very violent
fire of reverberation, during eight hours;
then let it cool, and open the Vessel, and
you shall find your Tin-glass in the Receiver
in the form of Crystals, with the Sublimate,
and the ☉ will remain in the bottom of the
Cucurbite, in the form of light dry Flowers,
very fair to behold, and will be much opened
and attenuated.

Dissolve this ☉ in eight parts of A. R.
Distill it off, and put the same quantity of
new A. R. upon it, and Distill it off as be∣fore.
Repeat this three times, at the third
time the ☉ will be so opened, that it will
ascend with the water, and stick to the sides
of the head of the Alembick; so the same
will seem to be full of golden Stars.

Dissolve this ☉ again in eight parts of
A. R. Dissolve also by it self twelve Marcs
of ☿ in A. F. Put these two dissolutions to∣gether,
and let them stand to settle 24 hours,
the ☉ and ☿ will be precipitated indistin∣guishible,
in the form of a black Spunge,
and will be essentially and radically U∣nited.

Distill off the water to dryness, you will
Page 13

find at the bottom a gray Powder, which
take out, and put it into a Matrass, and
pour upon it good Oyl of Vitriol, so much
as may cover it the breadth of four fingers;
Seal it herm•tically, and digest for twenty
days. Then open the Matrass, and let the
humidity exhale by a strong heat in Sand:
Break the Glass, and grind the Matter with
a little Borax, then melt it, and you shall
have at least eleven Marcs of ☉ (a Marc
is ten Ounces.)

Monsieur Carrier gave this Work to his
Uncle, Monsieur Ferrier, having had it
from an intimate Friend of his, who had
arrived to great Wealth by it.

Hartman.) The said Monsieur Ferrier
did communicate this Process to Sir Kenelm
at Paris, 1660. when he returned from Ger∣many,
at the time of the Kings Happy Re∣stauration.

A Work Copied out of the Original of Mon∣sieur de la Violette's own Hand, whereof he made great Account.
TAke ℥iiij. of the purest and finest ♃, and
℥viij. Spanish ☿ purified with Salt and
Vinegar, make an Amalgama. Then take
red Minium and Aes stum of each ℥iiij.
Danzick Vitriol lbj. reduced to half a lb.
Page 14

by Calcination, grind and mix these all well
together, and put them into a Retort coated,
and pour upon it one pound and a half of the
following A. F.

Take Vitriol two pound, which reduce to
one lb. by Calcination, which put into a
Retort, and pour upon it a good A. F.
made of Vitriol and Nitre, Distill it S. A.
and you shall have an A. F. fit for this
Work, which having poured upon the said
Matter, Distill it off, and it will be very
ponderous. Break the Retort (being cold)
and you will find on the sides of it, and up∣on
the Caput Mortuum, a very red and pon∣derous
Sublimate, which take off.

Take the half of the Caput Mortuum,
and as much of Bay Salt decrepitated, re∣duce
all to a fine Powder with the said Sub∣limate,
and then put all into a new Retort,
and pour upon it the Distilled A. F. Distill
it as before, and the said A. F. will come
off very red, and the Sublimate will be more
red, and more ponderous than before, and
will rise very high at this time. Keep this
Water very carefully, break the Retort, and
take both the Feces and Sublimate, and re∣duce
it to Powder, and Sublime it by it self
without A. F. and the Sublimate will mount
but upon the surface of the Feces, which
separate, and it will have acquired more
Page 15

redness, and will be almost fixed. Put this
Sublimate into the said A. F. and it will
dissolve it speedily: Distill or evaporate the
A. F. in Sand, and the Sublimate will re∣main
in the bottom like a deep-red Oyl.
Put into this Oyl ℥iij. of the fixed Sulphur
of Vitriol, made according to Art; put it
into a Matrass with a short neck, and digest
in Sand, until all the moisture is exhaled.

Then take an Amalgama made with one
part of ☉ and two parts of ☽ Calcined with
Salt, and four parts of Spanish ☿ (washed
with Salt and Vinegar;) then squeeze out
so much ☿ as you can from the Amalgama,
then wash and dry this Amalgama, and pour
upon it by little and little of the above-said
A. F. let it stand half an hour, then pour
on more of the Water as before, and you
will see the Amalgama dissolve visibly, and
will be reduced to a very red Powder.

Note, that once in half an hour you must
pour on some of the said Water, and all will
be done in less than half a day. Digest it
half a day longer in Sand; then break the
Vessel, take out this Precipitate, and melt
it with a little Borax, and you shall have ☉
at 24 Carats.

Note, that if you take equal parts of ☉ and
☽ to your Amalgama, you shall have in∣crease
yet fourty or fifty per Cent. more.

Page 16
Snyder's Secret, as he gave it me himself the 22 of July, 1664.
TAke Nitre eight parts, Sulphur four
parts, and Tartar two parts: Reduce
all into a fine Powder, and mix them well.
Then melt one part of pure ☉ and three
parts of purified Regulus of Antimony, in a
Crucible; than add to them three parts or
more of the said Powder, let it stand in the
fire until you see a light Skin upon it, then
pour it into an Antimony-horn. Take the
Regulus in the bottom of the Horn, and
melt it again, and cast more of the said
Powder upon it: Repeat this so often until
all the Regulus be consumed; dissolve all the
scums of the said Regulus, and make a laver
thereof, which filter, and precipitate with
an Acid, which edulcorate; edulcorate also
the Feces which remained in the filter, put
these things edulcorated together, with half
the weight of Flowers of Sulphur, and cal∣cine
them well: Then draw the Salt from it
with distilled Vinegar (which will be a gol∣den
Salt) draw as much of the said Salt
from it as you can.

Take one part of this Salt, and two or
three parts of good Butter of Antimony well
rectified, mix them well in a Matrass, one
Page 17

part filled, and the other two parts empty:
Seal it Hermetically, and digest it with a
gentle heat; it will grow black and putri∣fie
in the space of three days; continue the
digestion until the Powder be fixed.

The following Observations are from another Learned Man, with whom Sir Kenelm did confer at his return from Bristol, con∣cerning the said Snyder's Work. Who saith thus.
THis Operation may be abbreviated, in
fermenting it with ☉ as followeth:
Make a Spirituous Regulus of {antimony}, as you
know, which is precipitated Butter of {antimony} and
☿, adding to them Soap and Salt of Tar∣tar.
Take of this Spirituous Reg. three
parts, and one part of ☉, melt them toge∣ther,
and cast it by little and little into the
Sulphurous Salt Enixe, & totus solvetur,
effunde, solve, filtra, precipita totam mate∣riam
in Sulphur pulcherimum: Reverberate
this Sulphur with flowers of Sulph. or if
you will, dissolve it again, and precipitate;
draw the Salt from this Sulphure with di∣stilled
Vinegar; add to this Salt or Golden
Vitriol, three times its weight of Butter of
{antimony}; digest them together (donec cessent co∣lores.)
You may multiply the Work in qua∣lity,
Page 18

in dissolving the Powder in Salt Enixe,
and Precipitating often: And you may mul∣tiply
it in quantity, in mixing it with new
Butter of {antimony}, wherein you have dissolved the
said Salt, or Golden Vitriol. Note, Tha•
this Work will be more excellent if it b•
done with ☿ of {antimony}, and Spirituous Reg.•
may be also abbreviated in purifying very
well the Butter of {antimony}. Note, That th••
Work is a Mineral water, which is coagu∣lated
by its own Sulphur. Note also, Tha•
if you take the Golden Sulphur without Reg•
the work will be yet shorter: Note, Th•
in the Multiplication, if the Powder onl•
be dissolved in Butter of {antimony}, the Operatio•
will be shorter.

A great Secret of the said Mr. Snyder's Powder.
DIssolve ☉ in Sal Enixe, and exalt 〈◊〉
with Sulphur of {antimony}, then cast in conu••
in salem rubicundum; (see that no Coals fa〈…〉
in.) Keep the Salt so long in the fire, th•
it remain fusible: Grind it, and let it me•
in a Matrass; add a grain or two of th•
Powder, let all melt in a strong fire twel••
or twenty hours, and this Powder will b•
multiplyed; pour out, dissolve, and filte••
put therein ☽ and ☿, they will be transm••ted
into fine ☉.

Page 19

Or, Precipitate the Liquor with Salt into
a Golden Sulphur, which digest longer with
Butter of {antimony}. Or, preserve the Sulphur, and
ferment it again with dissolved ☉, as is said,
in Salt Enixe, and in a Matrass, that the
Powder may go ad infinitum.

Matthews his Work.
TAke Common Cinaber ℥xij. Crystals of
♂ ℥ij. Common ☿ Precipitate, made
by A. F. and reverberated until it be red, ℥j.
Oyl of Vitriol ℥xv. First, reduce the three
hard Ingredients into a most fine Powder;
then grind it upon a Marble stone with a lit∣tle
of the Oyl of Vitriol, adding the said
Oyl by little and little, until it become like
Pap; which put into a low Cucurbite (ta∣king
care that it do not touch the sides of
the said Cucurbite, because it would endan∣ger
it to break) and put upon it the rest of
the Oyl of Vitriol, and stir the Matter well
with a stick of Glass (which must be massy
and not hollow) that all may be well mixed
together; digest it with a gentle heat for
eight days, so that nothing may go over
through the Limbeck: Then distill as much
as you can of the Oyl of Vitriol, and take
the Matter out of the Cucurbite, and grind
it again; put the distilled Oyl upon it again,
Page 20

and distill as before, without digesting it;
repeat this fourteen or sixteen times. At
last, distill as much of the Oyl as possibly
you can; and that the remaining Matter
may be thick, and conveniently handled,
put into it ℥v. or vj. of filings of ☽. Then
melt twenty Ounces of ☽, and project your
Matter upon the same (being in fusion) in
fifteen or twenty parcels, staying every time,
before you project until that which you pro∣jected
be well entred and incorporated with
the ☽, and that it be very clear: After all
is projected, leave it in good fusion for an
hour or two; then put it to Coppel, and af∣terwards
to Separating {water}, and you shall
have about ℥jss. of pure ☉.

The Crystals of ♂ are made thus:

Upon filings of ♂ put Oyl of Vitriol,
then pour common {water} upon it, and the fi∣lings
will dissolve; filter the dissolution, and
evaporate the Liquor usque ad pelliculam;
set it in a cold place, and it will shoot into
Crystals, which require no further Purifica∣tion.

The Oyl of Vitriol for this Work is made
thus: Take Danzick Vitriol, dissolve it once
in {water}, filter and congeal it; then Calcine it
gently, until it be white: Then distill it in
Retorts S. A. forcing it very strongly at
last. Dephlegm this Oyl in a low Cucur∣bite,
Page 21

and that which remaineth in the Cucurb.
(which will be of a dark red) must be pas∣sed
through a filter of wool in a Glass Fun∣nel,
and the wool will imbibe the unctuosity
of the Oyl, which if it were not separated
from it, might hinder its Operation.

To fix ☽ into ☉.
THE 15th. of November, 1660. Mon∣sieur
Iohn Commandaire told me, that
Signeor Lucca (from whom he now came)
had taught him a shorter, and easier way of
doing his work, thus:

Take the Mother-liquor of Salt-petre,
(which is the salt {water} that remaineth after as
much is shot into Nitre as will shoot)
and let it run once through a filter of washed
Sand to purifie it; then evaporate it to dry∣ness:
Grind the remaining Salt very fine,
and set it in a Cellar, or other moist place to
dissolve into {water} by the Air; filter that by a
woollen Languette, coagulate, grind, dis∣solve,
and filter it. Repeat this seven or
eight times, that all foulness may be severed
from this fixed Salt of Salt-petre. Then it
will easily give its pure Spirits, and not be∣fore.
Put this into Retorts, not above half
a pound into each Retort; distill first with
very gentle {fire}, increasing it by degrees, at
Page 22

last, strong {fire}, as when you distill A. F.
The distillation will be performed in twenty
four hours: Then dephlegm it carefully;
when the drops come Acid, cease. In the
mean time purifie the fixed Salt remaining
after the distillation, by grinding it small,
dissolving in humido, filtring, and congeal∣ing.
Repeat this twice or thrice; then put
one part of this fixed Salt to three parts of
the Spirit, and to this Composition put a
tenth part of pure ☉, and though it were
in an Ingor, it will dissolve it speedily. Pu•
this into an Egg, and Seal it Hermetically,
and digest it, it will putrifie, and grow en∣tirely
black; then pass all the due colours,
during which time increase the heat by de∣grees,
and when it requireth strong heat, use
Coal.

An Observation about Volatilised ☽.
MOnsieur de L'oberie, and Mons. de l•
No•ë wrought the first Process upon
☽ (which is after those upon ☉) that is in
the handgrif of Bas. Valent. which maketh
the fourteenth Book of his Test. But instead
of a due Calx of ☽, they took one made
with A. F. (the ordinary made of Vitriol
and Nitre) and Precipitated it with Salted
{fire} (Salt dissolved in Common {fire}) and for
Page 23

the rest, did as the Process teacheth; which
was Reported to me thus. Put upon this
Calx of ☽ (they had ℥iv.) (after it is well
dulcified by often ablutions with fair {water}, till
no Saltness or Spirits appear to remain) so
much fresh A. F. as to swim four fingers
breadth over the Calx of ☽: Distill off the
A. F. then cohobate again; do thus four
times: At the last distillation give strong
{fire}, you will have a gray substance like Mar∣ca•ite.
Beat it to Powder, and put distilled
Vinegar upon it, to swim four fingers over
it; digest two days, then boyl it three or
four hours, after which, distill away all the
distilled Vin. and there should have remained
blew Crystals, but they were white without
tincture: So having failed in their expecta∣tion,
they would reduce their ☽ back in a
body, therefore dulcified it well with distil∣led
Vinegar and fair {water}, and put it into a
Cruc. to melt with a little Borax, and a little
Nitre, and a thick smoak flew away, and in
the end there remained but ℥ij. of ☽.

Consider, if this course, and, if need be,
digesting longer (at last) with distilled Vi∣negar
and Oyl of Tartar, {sal armoniac}, and Salt of
Urine, &c. Then distilling with Tartar and
Calx-vive, might not make ☿ of ☽.

Page 24
A Process from Monsieur Vignault, with ☉ and ☿, &c.
TAke ℥j. of ☉, aaate it with ℥iv. of ☿;
grind this aaa, and wash it well: Then
put it into an earthe• Pot with its cover to
shut it very close, which cover must be like
a Funnel at the top• Put it to a gentle {fire}
in Sand for twenty four hours, then give it
a strong {fire} for twenty four hours more, that
the Matter may ascend and descend; then
take out your Matter (loosning it from the
bottom where it sticketh fast) and grind it,
and aaate it again with the same ☿, and
proceed all as before. Repeat this Work
six times, always with the same ☿, which
by degrees will become Earth, and will stick
no more to the bottom; you must leave it
in Sand every time twenty four hours before
you grind it again; after the sixth time give
it strong {fire}, so that it may be red-hot in the
Sand for fourty eight hours, and it will be
a red Powder, which multiply by mixing
with it its weight of ☿, grinding and di∣gesting
it as before; and in three times twenty
four hours it will be in Powder; and if you
will multiply it again, proceed as before,
with equal weight of ☿. And to make it
into a Tree, do thus: When you have made
Page 25

the aaa, and ground and washed it, then
put it into a Matrass, which stop only with
Paper; then digest it continually, and the
said ☿ will ascend and descend: And when
you see that at last it becomes hard and heavy,
sticking to the neck of the Matrass, put it
down with a Quill, and it will become a
Tree, which will be red. Note, That your
☿ must be well purified first, and then sub∣limed
with ☉ and ☽, taking ℥ij. of ☉ to
one pound of ☿, for it will be much the
better, and will be sooner done. If you mix
℥ss. of ☉ with ℥ss. of the said Powder, and
grind it well with ℥ij. of ☿ revived from
Cinaber, and animated with ☉, as is said,
and digest it fourty eight hours, you will
do more in fifteen days, than otherwise in
two Months, and the ☉ will not stick to the
bottom of the Pot: You must continue the
digestion as is said above, and at the end
strong {fire}. The ☉ will serve for to animate
the ☿, and to melt it, and reduce it into a
Calx, for to aaate it with animated ☿, ta∣king
℥j. of ☉ to four of ☿.

Page 26
Fixation of ☽, wrought by Father Bening de Baune, and by him communicated to me.
FIrst, he animated Common ☿ for this
Work, thus:

Take ℥iv. of Common Sulphur, melt it
in an Earthen Poringer, then cast into it by
little and little lbj. of ☿ (purified with Salt
and Vinegar, and squeezed through Chambo-leather)
stir it continually; then take it
from the fire, and keep it stirring untill it is
reduced to a black Powder, which grind, and
add to it lbj. of {antimony} in Powder, and lbss. of
Quick-lime also in Powder; mix all toge∣ther,
and put it into a coated Retort, of
such a bigness, that a third part may re∣main
empty. Distill it, and let the Nose of
the Retort lye in a Poringer full of {water}, distill
by degrees of {fire}, as you do A. F. the ☿
will distill into the {water}: Mix this ☿ again
with new Materials, and distill as before.
Repeat this Operation with the said ☿ seven
times, every time with new Materials.

Take of this ☿ ℥iv. aaate it with ℥j. of
☉; wash the aaa so often, that the {water} come
from it clear, then dry it. Put this aaa
into a Matrass, and digest twenty four hours
in Ashes: Then take it out, and grind it
Page 27

in a Glass Morter, and add to it ℥xx. of the
said ☿; grind them well together, then wash
it and dry it, and put it into a Retort, and
distill over all the ☿ in Sand.

Take ℥viij. of this ☿, aaate it with ℥j. of
a light Spungy-calx of ☉; wash this aaa
well with warm {water}, then dry it, and put it
into a Matrass; Seal it Hermetically, and
digest it in Sand the space of twenty four
hours: Then grind it again with ℥viij. more
of ☿, and digest as before. Repeat this
Operation once more with ℥viij. more of
☿, so that there be ℥xxiv, of ☿ to one of ☉.
Put them into three several Matrasses, which
Seal Hermetically, and put them to a sup∣pressing
heat in an Athanor, for the space of
two Months: Then put all into a Retort,
and distill it in Sand, with a heat of Sup∣pression,
so that the {fire} above be stronger
than that below, and if any of the ☉ remain
in the bottom of the Retort, you must aaate
it with twenty four parts of ☿, and distill it
as before, until all the ☉ be distilled over.
Repeat the same as before, untill the ☉ hath
taken in sixty parts of ☿, and if it taketh
but twenty four of ☿, the ☉ will be better,
and your ☿ will be animated.

Take ℥j. of Calx of ☽, and three or four
of your ☿ animated, aaate them together,
wash the said aaa with warm {water}, then divide
Page 28

it into two parts, and put them into two
Matrasses; Seal them Hermet. and digest in
an Athanor with very gentle heat for fourty
or fifty days, then increase the heat for fourty
or fifty days more: Then continue the di∣gestion
with the third degree of heat (stron∣ger
yet) unto the end of eight Months,
counting the time of the first and second de∣gree
already past. Then digest a Month
longer by the four degrees of {fire}, which
will make it nine Months in all.

The Calx of ☽ is made of equal parts of
☽ and Regulus of ♂ melted together, and re∣duced
to Powder. Note, that the Reg. is
not to be reckoned; so that you must take
℥ij. of this Powder.

Observations.
THE Athanor was of a digestive Fur∣nace,
with a Tower for the Coals, and
between both, there were two Registers of
heat, the one gave the heat under the Ves∣sels,
and the other above: The Matrass
stood in Sand in a Bason of Copper, which
held ten or twelve Matr. At the beginning
the {fire} was given only below, and so gen∣tle,
that the ☿ never Sublimed. The Bason
with the Matr. was covered with a cover like
a Dome, and after that the heat was given
Page 29

also above, and that stronger than before:
And it ought to be always continued with∣out
interruption. After nine M. digestion,
all the ☽ will be transmuted into ☉, and be∣sides
that, you shall have an augmentation
of a third part of ☉.

Note, That you must not put above ℥ij.
of Matter into each Matrass.

The ☉ which he used in this Operation,
was three times purified by {antimony}.

He told me since, that the greater pro∣portion
of Reg. you put to the ☽, the better
your work will succeed, and you shall have
the more ☉, and the sooner.

Hartman.) The said Father B. de B. was
the Apothecary in the Convent of the Capu∣chins
at Lyons: He was an able Chymist,
and had been for some Years Operator with
the Chancellor of France, in his Laboratory.
When I went from Paris to Italy, after Sir
Kenelm's Death, passing through Lyons, I
went to see him in the Convent of the Capu∣chins,
where I had some Discourse with him
concerning this work; he confirmed it to me,
assuring me that he had done it, and that it
was a real truth, and that is all I know of
it.

Page 30
A {water} which changes ☿ as red as Blood, which abideth the Fire.
MAke an A. F. of equal parts of Vitriol
and Nitre, which cohobate and di∣still
three times upon its Caput Mort.

Take of this A. F. ℥iij. ℥j. of ☿, and ℥ij.
of Sulphur-vive; put all into a Retort, let
it stand twelve hours, then distill it, and co∣hobate
so often, till you see the ☿ as red as
Blood, which will be in five or six times;
then bring it into a Powder, which imbibe
with Oyl of Roman Vitriol, dry and imbibe
it three times: Then divide this Powder into
eight payts; then take ℥j. of ♄, which put
to Coppel, when it boyleth, put into it a
Ducat of ☉, then put into it one of the eight
parts. Drive it off, and you shall have ℥j.
of fine ☉.

Hartman.) This Process was written in
the French Tongue; at the bottom was writ∣ten
Probatum, the 2d. of July, 1658. The
Process saith, it must be done on Thursday and
Friday, and at the Full of the ☽.

Page 31
Saunier's Work, as I wrought it.
PUrifie ☉ three times by {antimony}; then reduce
it into a subtil Calx, by Calcining it
five times with Sulphur and ☿: Then burn
S. V. upon this Calx, and reverberate it
again, that all the extraneous Spirits may be
driven away.

2. Sublim ☿ seven times with Vitriol and
Salt, reviving it with filings of ♂ after every
{subli}mation.

3. Make an A. R. S. A. out of the fixed
Salt, after the extraction of Salt-petre, which
after some days must be dephlegmed with
great care, and rectified, so that it have
neither phlegm nor terrestrial feces.

Dissolve ℥j. of your ☉ in as small a quan∣tity
of this A. R. as you can, keeping the
Vessel well Sealed (and therefore it ought
to be large) in a very gentle heat in B. M.
where it must be digested (after the dissolu∣tion)
for some days: The dissolution being
very clear, decant it from the white re∣sidue.

Dissolve ℥ss. of fusible Salt in as small a
quantity of the said A. R. as you can (which
is not done suddenly, but by digestion) and
being clear, mix these two dissolutions to∣gether,
namely, that of the ☉, and of the
Page 32

Salt, and if any thing {precipi}tate to the bottom,
keep it in digestion with a gentle heat (the
Vessel close stopped) until all is dissolved
and clear; then keep it in the same digestion
for fifteen days. Then with a very gentle
heat abstract the phlegm, until a Spirit
ascend; then cease, and put into the Vessel
℥ss. of the {subli}mate before mentioned (in
very subtil Powder) shut the Vessel again
immediately, and put it in digestion as be∣fore,
until the {subli}mate is well dissolved.
Then dephlegm again the dissolution; in do∣ing
of which you ought to attend very di∣ligently,
lest there come over some part of
the ☉ and ☿, which now easily will be
raised with the A. R. And this you may
know, not only by the drops falling yel∣low,
but also by trying with a white wool∣len
cloath, which the drops will stain yellow
if the ☉ ascendeth. Then Seal it Herme∣tically,
and digest in Horse-dung: After
six Months we opened the Vessel, and with
a gentle heat distilled off the Liquor, and the
remaining Golden Salt we projected upon
restricted ☽, and for ℥j. of ☉ we had seven.
Another Vessel, after twelve Months dige∣stion,
rendred ℥x. of ☉ for one put in: And
so to two and twenty for one.

I do not remember all the time precisely,
but I should think, it would be better, after
Page 33

sufficient digestion in Horse-dung, to coagu∣late
the Matter in dry heat until all be com∣pleatly
fixed, and then multiply the Matter
by the same Process, as you did with ☉.

The fusible Salt is made thus: Dissolve
Salt (first well purified) in the said A. R.
distill and cohobate until it is fusible.

The restriction of ☽ you will find in a
Book Published by Iohn Saunier, which he
calleth, the almost fixation of ☽, because it
hath the weight and sound of ☉.

Hartman.) This Process was wrought by
Sir K. D. himself, as the Title sheweth; it
was written in Latine in his own hand, and
the words are his own.

Abbot Boucaud told me at Paris, that he
knew Sir K. had wrought it.

The Danes Work.
CAlcine plats of ♂ and ♀ with Sul∣phur;
then grind them to subtile
Powder, which boyl in {water}, filter and eva∣porate,
usque ad pelliculam, and put it to
Crystallize in a cold place: Then purifie
these Crystals by dissolving them in {water}, fil∣tring
and evaporating.

Make also a Sulphur of the said Metals,
by boyling Plats with Vitriol and {water} in a
Kettle, and the Sulph. will adhere to the Plats.

Page 34
Purifie ☿ first by Dist. and then by boyl∣ing
it in an Earthen Pot with Vitriol, Ashes,
and Powder'd glass well mixed together, and
boyled until you see the ☿ appear upon the
Surface of the Matter: Then let it co•l,
and grind all well together again, and boyl
it as before. Repeat this three times: Then
take of this ☿ four parts, of the Sulph. of
♂ and ♀ ana one part, grind them well to∣gether
until they be well incorporated; then
{subli}m and grind again what is {subli}med with that
which remained in the bottom, and {subli}m as
before. Repeat this seven times: Then is
the ☿ prepared for this Work.

Distill an Oyl s. a. out of the Vitriol of
♂ and ♀ joyned together, which will be
Blood-red.

Make a light and Spungy Calx of ☉, by
Calcining it four or five times with Sulphur
and ☿. Take of this Calx ℥j. and of the ☿
prepared ℥iv. Make an aaa, which grind
very well; then add of the Sulphur of ♂
and ♀ ana ℥ss, grind them well together
with the aaa; then put it into a Matrass of
such a bigness, that three fourth parts may
remain empty, stop it slightly with Paper,
that some moisture from the ☿ may exhale,
(which otherwise might hinder the {precipi}tation
of the ☿) give {fire} by degrees, first in Ashes,
and then in Sand, but so gentle, that the ☿
Page 35

may never rise, but that it may be always
in a disposition to {subli}m, which you may know
by a little Cloud upon the sides of the glass,
such as appears when one breatheth upon a
Looking-glass.

The end of the digestion is, when you
see the Matter converted into a very red
{precipi}tate and glittering, which endureth a very
strong {fire}. Then take it out (being cold)
and grind it with four parts more of the
said ☿; and the same quantity of the said
Sulph. as before; digest as before, until all
be converted into a red {precipi}tate as before, ex∣cept
that it will be of a darker colour: Grind
this {precipi}tate with the Oyl of Vitriol before∣mentioned
until it be like a pap: Then put
it into a Cucurbite, and digest for fifteen
days, then distill it, and the Phlegm will
come over; and the Matter remaining dry in
the bottom, you must grind again with new
Oyl, and proceed in all as before. Repeat
this so often, till the Oyl come off as sharp
as it was put on, which is a sign of Satura∣tion:
Then digest this Matter in Sand until
all be resolved into a very red Oyl in ap∣pearance
(which in a cold place will con∣geal
into a hard and brittle Matter.) At
last give very strong {fire} for three days, in
which time the Matter will be entirely fixed,
except a small quantity, which will be ex∣haled.

Page 36
Project this Matter upon ☽ in fusion equal
parts. Thus far reacheth my Experience;
but the Dane told me, that if this Matter
were Amalgamated again with new ☿ prepa∣red,
and in all things proceeded as before,
taking this Matter for the Foundation, in∣stead
of the ☉ which you took at first, it
would become a Medicine, which in Pro∣jection
would convert a great quantity of ☽
into ☉. And the oftner you should do this,
the more Power it would have in Pro∣jection.

Out of ℥x. of this Matter, and as much
☽, I had ℥xvijss. of perfect ☉.

Hartman.) Dr. Astell, an English Phy∣sician,
shewed me a Copy of this Process,
which Sir K. D. had given him, who had
assured him that he himself had wrought it,
and that it was true: And having ℥x. of
fixed Matter, he divided it into ten parcels,
and having melted ℥x. of ☽, he Projected the
said parcels one after another upon the same;
then left it in fusion for three hours, then cast
it in Ingot, which having weighed, he found
the quantity of ☉ above mentioned.

Page 37
Opus Magnum ex Virginea Terra.
TAke reddish rich Virgin Earth in ♈, im∣pregnate
it with ☉, ☽, serene and dew,
till the end of May: Then imbibe sprink∣lingly
with dew gathered in May, and dry
in ☉, expose all Night to the ☽ and Air, se∣curing
it from Rain. Still when it is dry,
imbibe and turn the Earth often. Continue
this till {subli}mation. The hot ☉ (especially
in the Dog-days) will make a pure Salt
shoot up, which mingle back into the Earth,
by turning it all over. Then distill by gra∣duated
{fire} as A. F. forcing all the Spirits
over at last; you must give fourty hours {fire},
extream at last. Put all the Liquor and
Salt that cometh over, to digest and circu∣late
a Month in fimo, in a great Ballon close
shut. Then seperate the several substances
out of this Chaos; first, cometh an extream
subtil, ardent, Aethereal Spirit, then white
ones with veins like S. V, then Flegm. Thus
far in B. in a Cucurbite, then in a Retort:
Then white fumes, then red ones, and a
reddish brown Salt remaineth in the bottom,
and a Volatile Salt will be {subli}med about the
neck of the Retort, as also to the head and
sides of the Cucurbite. Then purifie every
substance by it self; the fixed Salt by Solu∣tions
Page 38

in the Flegm, Filtrations, and Con∣gelations,
till it be perfect pure, clear, and
cast no more Feces: The Volatile Salt by
often Sublimations: The first Spirit by
thrice distilling, and the fixed white and
red Spirit likewise, both together. Now
joyn all the three parts, beginning with the
fixed Salt, whereof take three parts, and
one of the fixed Spirit; digest eight days,
distill in Ashes, and the Liquor will come
off like Flegm. Imbibe with more fixed
Spirit, and repeat this till all of it be coagu∣lated
with the Salt. Then put one part of
this to three of the {sal armoniac}, taking it all, and hu∣mect
them with the Volatile Spirit. Digest
eight days or longer, then distill in a Cucur∣bite;
a stinking flegm will rise, and a pure
Salt {subli}m up, and if any Spirit distill over,
keep it, putting it to the rest of the Spirit.
Then add more of the fixed Salt to it which
hath not {subli}med, making it one third to the
{sal armoniac}, which humect with Spirit as before, cir∣culate
and {subli}m, and the {sal armoniac} will be increased.
Do thus till all the fixed Salt be {subli}med. Cir∣culate
the remaining Volatile Spirit with the
{sal armoniac}, till all the Spirit be converted into {sal armoniac},
and nothing but a stinking flegm come a∣way.
Then {subli}m this Salt by it self, till it
leave no Feces, and be most white, trans∣parent,
and pure, which will be in four or
five times.

Page 39
Take seven parts of this {sal armoniac}, and one of
pure ☉ in leaf, Seal it Hermetically, and
digest in B. The Matter will become a
green {water}, like an Emerauld, with an Ori∣ental
esclat: (and in a Retort will pass all
over, leaving a few grains of brownish-gray
stiptick Earth, like Tobacco-pipe
Earth) And after a while black like Ink,
and continue so two and fourty days; when
the blackness beginneth to wane, put it in
dry {fire} in an Athanor. It will pass the co∣lours,
and become a red Elixir, and is now
best for Health; but it will not have good
ingression into Metals, till it have been mul∣tiplyed
four or five times with new {sal armoniac}, taking
every time after the first, only three to one;
and it will be done every time after the first
in a shorter space. After every fixation of
the multiplication, and the first also, give
strong {fire} for three days, and a black Earth
will separate from the red Powder, lying
like a Cake under it. Before you Project
upon inferiour Metals, ferment anew with
three parts of ☉ to one of the Elixir, giving
three hours of extream fusion, and all will
be red Powder.

You may proceed in the same manner
for ☽.

Page 40
Note also, That when the Work of ☉ is
at the white, it will Project upon Inferiour
Metals, to make them like ☽, but in truth
white ☉, enduring all the tryals of ☉.

If you digest in B. V. ten parts of Pearl
in Powder, with one of the perfect {sal armoniac}, it
will become an Oriental Liquor, whereof a
few drops is admirable for Health.

If you take four parts of such {sal armoniac}, and
grind it well with pure red Coral in Powder
one part, and {subli}m, putting what riseth up∣on
as much of fresh Coral, repeating this
four or five times, the {sal armoniac} will be red like a
Ruby, and an admirable Medicine. All
the Corals will dissolve in a Cellar.

If you grind one part of it with ten parts
of green Venice Talc, and put distilled dew
upon it, six fingers over, and digest in fimo,
all the Talc will dissolve, and a splendid
Oyl of rare effects swim upon it.

Hartman.) Sir Kenelm D. said, that a
Person of Quality beyond the Sea (whom he
named) wrought this Process, and it hap∣pened
at that time that his Wife was dange∣rously
Sick, and like to die; she was given
over as a dead Woman by the ablest Physici∣ans:
Upon that he opened the Vessel, and gave
her one grain of the Elixir; whereupon she
Recovered. and lived many Years after it in
perfect Health.

Page 41
This Process, and Saunier's Work were to∣gether
in a small bundle of Papers tied up to∣gether
by it self; upon the out-side of it were
written the following words, Perfumes, Cu∣riosities,
My great Arcane of this Note.

A Miniera of ☉, wrought by a Person of Quality in Champagne.
TAke Sulphur-vive lbss. melt it in an
Earthen Poringer, then squeeze into it
lbj. of ☿; stir it continually until the ☿ ap∣pear
no more in the Sulph. Then let it
cool, and grind to Powder, which digest in
a Matrass for two days with a strong {fire}.
Then take it out, and grind it again; add
to it its double weight of filings of ♂; mix
them well together, and put them in a Re∣tort,
and distill over all the ☿: Mix this ☿
again with new Sulphur melted as before;
digest in a Matrass as before for two days,
in the mean time grind the filing of ♂ (that
you distilled the ☿ from) and wash them
well from all the foulness and blackness;
Then dry them and grind them again with
the Sulphur and ☿, and distill them in a Re∣tort
as before. Repeat this so often, till the
filing of ♂ come to be of a yellow Golden
colour, which will happen at the seventh
distillation: Then take this ☿ and put it in
Page 42

a Retort, and distill only ℥j. of it, and with
the remaining ℥viij. make an aaa with ℥j. of
☉, digest this aaa in an Athanor for nine
Months, it will pass all the due colours, and
will become a Miniera, as followeth. To
this ℥ix. of Matter put ℥iij. of ☿ prepared
as before, and digest, and in six weeks you
shall have ℥xij. ready to melt: And to these
℥xij. add ℥iv. more of ☿, and digest, and
in six weeks you shall have ℥xvj. of Miniera,
Note, that you must always use a ☿ pre∣pared,
as was said for the multiplication of
the Miniera: For if you should take crude
and unprepared ☿, you would have but an
ordinary {precipi}tate after one or two multiplica∣tions.

Note, That the filing of ♂ is to be chan∣ged
after three times, and new to be taken,
which is to serve also three times: After
which six times, you must joyn both the
parcels of filing, and use them both at the
seventh time, and if the sign given you (of
the yellow Golden colour) happen not at
the seventh time, continue and repeat your
Operation, with all your filing, until it do
appear. When your Miniera is compleated,
it will be a deep-red Powder, very shining,
and at every time it is to become such: If
you multiply it with crude ☿, it will lose
its lustre after twice, and not increase in fixed
Metal.

Page 43
The first time, you must put into one
Glass no more than ℥j. of ☉, and ℥viij. of
☿; But when the Miniera is made, you may
work even to fifty Ounces in one Glass,
keeping always your due proportion.

Fixation of ♄ into ☽, with good Profit.
MElt lbj. of ♄, then put in ℥ss. of ☽,
and some scories of ♂, and a little,
red Arsenic; keep it in a strong {fire} for three
or four hours or more. Then the Cr••ble
being cold, break it, and take out the Mat∣ter,
and put it in a new Cruc. which must
have a little hole in the bottom; put this
Cruc. in a wind Furnace, and melt the Mat∣ter
again, putting under the Furnace a Ba∣son
with {water} to receive the Matter as it melt∣eth
and runneth through the Cruc. Take
this Matter and melt it again with the same
quantity of ☽, and new scories of ♂; keep
it in fusion as before. Reiterate this Ope∣ration
ten or twelve times, until the ♄ is
very hard, being impregnated with ☽; then
put it to Coppel with ℥j. of ☽ to every lb.
of this Mixture.

The goodness of the Operation consisteth in
the fixation of the ☿ which is in the ♄ by
the Sulphur of ♂: Therefore you must keep
the Matter a long time in fusion, that the
Page 44

Sulphur of ♂ may act strongly upon the
said ☿.

To fix ☿ of {antimony}, or the Common ☿.
TAke ℥j. of ☉ in leaf, and ℥iv. or v. of
☿: Make an aaa, which put in a
Retort, and digest it in Horse-dung for eight
days, then distill in Sand, giving strong {fire}
at last, and the ☉ will go over with the ☿,
and if any of it remain in the bottom, aaate
it with the same ☿, and digest three or four
days, and then distill as before, and all the
☉ will go over with the ☿, and you shall
have a ☿ well animated.

Take ℥iij. of this ☿, aaate it with ℥j.
of ☽; grind the aaa, and put it in a Ma∣trass
half luted; digest for eleven days by
graduated {fire}, and all will be a red Pow∣der.

Take ℥iij. of this Powder, and project it
upon ℥j. of ☉ in fusion, and all will be trans∣muted
into ☉.

Then take the remaining ℥ of Powder, and
aaate it with ℥iij. of the ☿ animated; di∣gest
as before, and in nine days your Pow∣der
will be perfected as before. Take these
℥iv: of Powder, and unite it with ℥xij. of
new ☿ animated; digest without ☉, and
you will have a perpetual Miniera; part
Page 45

whereof you may reduce to a Body when
you please, by projecting it upon ☉; and
the other will serve for a Ferment, which
will never fail, being it self all ☉.

This ☿ animated may be fixed without
☉, by a gentle heat, being it self a liquid
☉; but to shorten the Work, you may add
☉.

A Reality upon ☽.
TAke ℥ij. of ♀ in thin Plates, and ℥j. of
small Nails, put them in a Cruc. in a
Furnace, and when they are very red, cast
in some Sulphur upon them at several times,
that they may melt well; when they are like
Paste, cast in some {antimony}, and stir it with an
Iron Rod to make them well incorporate:
Leave it in good fusion for five or six hours,
stirring it sometimes. Then take out the
Cruc. and let it cool; then break it, and
you shall find but a little Reg. at the bottom,
but many yellow lumps at the top, which
beat to Powder. Then melt ℥ij. of fine ☽,
and project ℥iij. of the Powder; stir it with
an Iron Rod, keep it in fusion for eight or
ten hours. Then put it to Coppel, and se∣parating
{water}, and you shall have fine ☉.

Hartman.) This Process is also confirmed
with a Probatum.

Page 46
Fixation of the ☿ of {antimony}, as Monsieur de la Noüe wrought it at Paris.
TAke ☿ of {antimony} and ☉ ana ℥j. Oyl of Vi∣triol
℥vj. Distill to dryness; take what
is {subli}med, and joyn it again to the Feces, and
put the Oyl upon it again that distilled over;
distill as before. Repeat this so often, till
nothing more {subli}m, distilling every time in
a new Retort; at the twelfth or fifteenth
distillation, all the Matter will remaim in a
red Powder.

Take Sulphur-vive, and Ashes of Alican
ana equal parts, of which make a lixive
with common {water}; filter and evaporate, and
you shall have a Sulphurious Salt: Take of
this Salt and of the said Powder ana gr. vj.
☿ of {antimony} ℥j. filings of ☉ ℥ij. mix and grind
all well together, and put them into a Matr.
with a long neck; make a {fire} about the mid∣dle
of the neck of the Matr. in an Iron pan
with a hole in the middle through which the
neck of the Matr. may pass; let this {fire} be
stronger than that below; continue the {fire}
for six hours: Then cast your fixed Matter
into a Bath of ☉.

Page 47
Preparation of the Powder, with which Clau∣dius de Montrouge, and Abbot Oberye at Paris fixed ☿ of {antimony}.
THey melted ℥iv. of Sulphur in an earthen
Poringer, then they squeezed into it
through a leather ℥j. of ☿ of {antimony} made of
Regulus of {antimony}, {sal armoniac}, and ☿ {subli}mate (the ☿ of
{antimony} without addition had been better, but they
had none) and whilst the one squeezed the
☿ into the Sulphur, the other kept stirring
continually with an Iron Spatul so long until
the ☿ did no more appear in the said Sul∣phur,
and that all was converted into a
grayish Citrine Powder (the colour is va∣riable,
according as you govern the {fire}, some∣times
it will be red like Cinaber.)

To this Powder they took ℥j. of ☉ in
Calx, and ℥j. of the Salt that is found in
the Pots at the Glass-Houses, which Salt they
dissolved, filtred, and congealed: They
grinded all well together, the Powder, the
☉, and this Salt: Then they put all into a
Retort, and put upon it ℥xxiv. of good Oyl
of Vitriol well rectified; to this Retort (be∣ing
put in Sand) they adapted a large Glass-receiver,
the junctures being well luted, and
the lute dry, they distilled by degrees of heat,
at last gave strong {fire}. It was ten or twelve
Page 48

hours before the Oyl came over. All being
cold, they broke the Retort, and took out
the Matter which remained in the bottom,
which they did put into a new Retort, pour∣ing
upon it the Liquor with the flowers of
Sulphur which were in the Recipient: Then
joyning again the Receiver, and luting well,
and the lute being dry, they distilled as be∣fore.
They reiterated this Operation twenty
times, grinding every time the Matter, and
joyning it with the Liquor and Flowers.

At the twentieth distillation, the small
quantity of Liquor that came over, was al∣most
all flegm; then they took out the Mat∣ter
that remained in the Retort, and put it
into a Viol, which they stopped very close,
and kept it in a dry place, because that so
soon as it felt the Air, it grew moist.

With this Powder they fixed the ☿ of {antimony},
which being mixed with the Calx of ☉, and
held in the hand, grew so hot, that they
were not able to hold it in their hands, no
more than a piece of Iron red-hot, as every
one of them made Experience, casting it in∣to
a Bason full of {water}, which they had stand∣ing
by for that purpose.

They wrought the said Fixation in an
Iron barrel of a Gun, thus. They put about
sixty grains of the aforesaid ☿ only, (be∣cause
they had no more) into the said Barrel,
Page 49

then they gave the {fire}, first above for two
hours, and afterwards below for one hour,
keeping that above always stronger than that
below; then they heard the said ☿ begin to
roar, and make a noise in the Barrel; then
they cast into it a little more than one grain
of the fixative Powder, wrapt up in paper;
and then they continued the {fire} for seven or
eight hours, after which time they heard no
more noise at all; then they judged that the
Work was done, and let the {fire} go out; and
the Barrel being cold, they found about
twenty grains of good ☉, which endured
all the Trials of ☉.

Hartman.) This Relation is of Sir K.
himself, written in the French Tongue.

A Process to fix the Common ☿ by the Salt of ♄; wrought by Captain Ziegler at Ments, and sent me by him.
MElt ♄ in an Iron pan, let it be red-hot,
then cast in some Salt, stir it until it
be reduced to Powder; sift this Powder finely,
and that which will not go through the size,
must be Calcined as before: Then edulco∣rate
this Powder with warm {water}, and you
shall have a Calx as white as Ceruse, which
put into a Matrass, and extract the Salt out
of it with distilled Vinegar s. a. after three
Page 50

or four days digestion, decant the distilled
Vinegar, and put on fresh; digest as before,
shaking the Vessel often: Repeat this three
or four times, or so often, till the Sp. of V.
hath extracted all the Salt. Then put all
your Sp. of V. together and filter it, then
distill it off in a Retort, until you see the
Salt of ♄ remain in the bottom like deep∣red
Oyl, which being cold, will be white
like Sugar-candy: Grind this Salt, and put
it into a Matrass, and extract it with Sp. of
V. as before. Repeat this purification three
or four times, and you shall have a Salt of
♄ well prepared for this Work.

An A. F. to be used in this Work.
TAke Salt ℥iv. Nitre lbj. mix them well
together with lbijss. of Powder of bricks;
put all in a Retort, and distill by gradua∣ted
{fire}, forcing over the Spirit strongly at
last: The distillation will be performed in
sixteen or eighteen hours.

Take ☿ seven parts, fine ☽ one part;
make an aaa, which put into a Retort, and
pour upon it so much of the A. F. as may
cover it a large fingers breadth: Let it stand
twenty four hours, then distill it in Sand;
when it is cold, cohobate the distilled A. F.
upon it again, and distill as before. Repeat
Page 51

this three or four times; then break the Re∣tort,
being cold, and take out the aaa,
which grind to a fine Powder, and put it
in an Iron pan, and hold it over a coal {fire},
stirring it continually with an Iron Rod, un∣til
it be almost red-hot, and that it be con∣verted
into a red Powder, like red {precipi}tate.
Take of this red Powder two parts, and of
the aforesaid Salt of ♄ one part, reduce them
to a fine Powder, which put into a Matrass,
and digest it in Sand for eight days: Then
put it to Coppel, and you shall have half
your aaa fixed into fine ☽.

Hart. When Sir K. D. was at Franckfort in
Germany, where he lived a year and half, in
the Year 1659. he went often from Franck∣fort
to Ments (being four German Leagues
distance) to Visit the Prince Elector there:
Then he conversed also with this Captain
Ziegler, who was a famous Chymist. And
when Sir K. returned to England about the
time of the Kings happy Restauration, the
said Captain sent him this Process written
in the German Tongue, assuring him that
he had done it: He said, that the ☽ which
he got, he put to separating {water}, and he
had some ☉ out of it. He said also, that
he thought this Salt of ♄ would fix ☿, in ☉
if the aaa were made with ☉ instead of ☽.

Page 52
A Work upon Cinaber, wrought by Monsieur Sauvage.
TAke Nitre and {sal armoniac}, ana, which dissolve
in Rain {water}; filter and evaporate to
dryness: Then grind this double Salt to sub∣til
Powder; take a large Crucible, in the
bottom whereof put a bed of Quick-lime in
Powder, upon that put a bed of this Salt,
cover it with another bed of Quick-lime the
same quantity as before, taking two parts of
Quick-lime to one of Salt. Cover the Cruc.
with another, without luting them; put
this in a Bakers Oven after the Bread is
drawn, let it stand as long as there is any
heat in the Oven; when the Oven hath been
heated again, and the Bread drawn, set it in
again; do this three times: Then keep it in
a strong {fire} for six hours, and being cold,
take it out, and put it into {water}, and let it
boyl in an earthen Pot eight or ten walms.
Then filter it hot, and evaporate to a dry
Salt, which put in a strong Bottle, and keep
it close stopped in a dry place: Then take
two parts of this Salt, and of Salt of ♄ one
part, mix and dissolve them in distilled Vi∣negar.

Then take Cinaber, pulverize it, and
make a Paste thereof with the yolk of an
Page 53

Egg; of this Paste make little Cakes in the
shape of the heads of Horse-shoe-nails; make
them pretty thick, and put them in an earthen
Pot, pouring upon them of the aforesaid
dissolution, so much as may cover them the
breadth of three or four fingers; boyl this
together until it come to be like Honey:
Put more distilled Vinegar upon the Cakes,
and boyl it as before. Continue this for
three days; then wash the Cakes in fair {water},
and you will find them something Metal∣lized.
Filter the {water}, and evaporate to a
Salt, which will serve again for the same
use, adding Salt of ♄.

Take of the fixed Salt without Salt of ♄,
and of good Venice Ceruse ana equal parts,
grind and mix them well together; then put
a bed thereof about the thickness of a Crown,
into an Iron Box, then put a bed of Plates
of ☽ upon that, and then the Powder again
upon the ☽, the same quantity as before;
upon that put a bed of your lumps of Cina∣ber,
then Powder, then Plates of ☽, then
the Powder again; and thus continue stra∣tifying
until your Box be full, the Powder
being the first and last: Then put on the
cover of the Box, which you must fasten,
and secure, it well with Iron hooks. Then
you must have another Box of Iron, made
big enough to contain the first, and that there
Page 54

be the space of a fingers breadth between,
at the bottom, on the sides, and at the top;
the Boxes must be square, and you must
have two Iron hoops made in the shape of a
Crown with crankles; put one of them into
the bigger Box, turning the teeth or crankles
downwards, upon which set the lesser Box;
put some pieces of Iron on the sides, to keep
the lesser Box at an equal distance from the
sides of the bigger: Then put on the other
hoop upon the lesser Box, keep it down with
some heavy thing whilst you pour in some
melted ♄ into the bigger Box, so much as
may cover the lesser Box a fingers breadth.
Then put on the cover of the bigger Box,
and fasten it with Iron hoops and wedges to
keep it close: Then the Box being yet hot,
put it into an Athanor where the {fire} is kind∣led,
let the Registers be shut, so that there
be but a very moderate heat, such as where
you may endure your hand; continue the
first degree for three days, so that all that
while the ♄ may be but melted, then increase
the heat for three days more; and so in∣creasing
the heat every third day, continue
in all three weeks; the last three days the {fire}
must be very vehement. Then let all cool,
and take out your lumps, and reverberate
them with very gentle heat for twelve hours,
and they will be of a whitish-gray colour.
Page 55

Then melt ♄ in a Cruc. and cast these lumps
into it, digest this Matter together for three
days, then put it to Coppel. Note, that if
you cast this Mass into melted ☽, and digest
it three days before you Coppel it, you shall
have more profit than if you test it without
digesting it.

Note also, that if you will continue your
Work, you need not use any more Plates of
☽, but only the Cakes as they are, and be∣fore
they are reverberated, using them in∣stead
of the ☽, being pulverized, and they
will be the more fixed, and the profit will
prove very considerable.

You must have of ☽ and Cinaber ana ℥vj.
and of the double Salt and Ceruse ana ℥iv.

Tincture of Mars.
DIssolve filings of ♂ in A. F. made of
Vitriol, Nitre, Allom, and Cinaber;
then pour upon this dissolution distilled Vi∣negar,
double the weight of the A. F. shake
it well together, and digest in B. for three
days, then decant the clear, and filter it;
evaporate it gently: Then grind it with two
parts of ☿ {subli}mate, Sublime the ☿ from it
four times; then dissolve it again in distilled
Vinegar, and evaporate it gently; then dis∣solve
it in distilled Rain {water}, and congeal it
Page 56

gently: Repeat this last solution till it is not
corrosive upon the Tongue; then in ℥iv. of
Rectified Spirit of Vitriol dissolve ℥j. of this
Sulphur of ♂, and ℥ij. of Sulphur of ☉ made
the same way, except the first solution of the
☉, which must be an A. R. made of Salt,
Nitre, and Vitriol; mix these two last solu∣tions
together, and digest in fimo, then co∣agulate
it gently, dissolve again in Spirit of
Vitriol, and coagulate: Repeat this seven
times, and if any feces remain at last, leave
them out. Try this Medicine upon a hot
Plate of ☽, if it penetrate and tinge it through∣ly
without smoking, it is a sign of its per∣fection;
but if it smoak, you must dissolve
it again, and gently coagulate. Then melt
℥j. of ☉, and cast upon it by little and little
℥j. of this Medicine, and when all is enterd
and incorporated with the ☉, cast it in In∣got,
and you shall have a Matter as brittle
as Glass, and transparent like a dark Gra∣nade
stone, and fusible as ♄. Then melt
fine ☉ and fine ☽ ana, and project of this
Medicine upon it, and you shall have pure
☉.

Page 57
To fix a quarter part of ☽ into ☉.
TAke filings of ☽ ℥j. aaamate it with
℥iv. of ☿, put this aaa in a Retort,
and distill off the ☿; take the ☽ and re∣aaamate
it with the distilled ☿; distill as be∣fore.
Repeat this three or four times, and
the ☽ will be a Powder impalpable. Take
{sal armoniac} and Cinaber ana ℥jss. ☿ {subli}mate ℥ss. grind
and mix them well together with the ☽:
Then {subli}me it with gentle heat, mix what
is {subli}med with that which remaineth in the
bottom, and Sublime as before. Then take
both Feces and {subli}mate and mix it with Sul∣phur
of ♀ and Crocus Martis, and of a Re∣gulus
made of {antimony}, ♂, and ♀, ana ℥ss. grind
all together with a little {sal armoniac}. Then Sublime
it four times with gentle heat, adding every
time a little {sal armoniac}, because it openeth the body
of ♂ and ♀, and uniteth them with the ☽.
Then grind all well together, and digest it
in the following {water}. Take Nitre, Vitriol,
ana lbj. {antimony}, Sulphur, Verdigrease, and Auri∣pigmentum
ana ℥iv. Make an A. F. of
this, s. a. Or take common A. F. lbj. distill
and cohobate it three or four times upon the
said Materials, giving strong {fire} at last:
Then put your Powder into a Retort, and
pour upon it so much of the A. F. as may
Page 58

cover it the breadth of three fingers, distill
it off with a gentle {fire}, then cohobate and
distill three or four times: Then put fair {water}
into the Retort, and digest for five or six
days in Sand; then evaporate to dryness:
Then take out this Matter and pulverize it,
and weigh it. Then melt as much ♄ as you
have Powder, and cast your Powder upon it
by parcels, melt it with a strong {fire}, then
let it stand in the {fire} until the {fire} go out of it
self; then take it out, and you will find a
Regulus in the Cruc. which Coppel, and
then put the ☽ to separating {water}, and you
shall have a fourth part of fine ☉.

A Work with Butter of {antimony}.
THE Work, which Monsieur Perdussin
of Lyons communicated to P. A. Dieu∣doné,
is to make a Butter of {antimony} with {antimony} Mine∣ral,
and ☿ {subli}mate, ana lbj, Of this take ℥ij.
and digest it in a Matrass sealed Hermetically
in an Athanor, and it will putrifie, growing
as black as pitch; then pass the Colours:
That done, take one part of leaf ☉, and
three of this Powder; grind them well to∣gether,
and digest as before, it will become
black as at first, and pass all the Colours.
This proportion of ☉ for ferment, you may
divide into several parcels, for several times,
Page 59

so each Revolution will be shorter, when the
whole dose of ☉ hath fermented the first
stone: This product serveth for ferment to
multiply in quantity and quality. The P.
wrought the first part, and had perfect pu∣trefaction.

An Excellent fusible Salt.
P. Benin de Beaune maketh his fusible Salt
thus: Decrepitate and Reverberate
Salt, then dissolve it in fair {water}, filter and
congeal. Repeat all this Work four or five
times: Being perfectly pure, dissolve it in
Spirit of Vinegar, filter and congeal; re∣peat
this with distilled Vinegar once again:
Then it is perfectly fundant.

Another fusible Salt.
DIssolve Salt in Rain {water}, filter and con∣geal;
when the {water} is almost evapora∣ted,
and that the Salt falls to the bottom,
take it out with a wooden Spoon by little and
little, until the {water} is exhaled: Grind this
Salt (being very dry) and reverberate it
in an Earthen Vessel close luted; let the Ves∣sel
be red in the {fire}, but the Salt must not
melt; so soon as you see the Vessel red, let
it stand until the {fire} is gone out: Then grind
Page 60

it and reverberate it as before; dissolve and
congeal as before. Repeat this until it is
perfectly fundant. Note, that you must
not decrepitate your Salt.

An Operation with a Martial Regulus of {antimony}, wrought by Monsieur Toysonnier.
HE made a yellow Martial Regulus thus:
Ignifie ℥iv. of Nails in a Crucible,
then put upon it ℥viij. of good {antimony}, and give
strong {fire} in a wind Furnace, to make all
melt well, which to promote, cast in some
Salt-petre, then cast it in an {antimony} Horn, and
separate the Feces from the Reg. Ignifie ℥ij.
of Nails more, and cast thereon the Feces
(this Work must be done presently after the
first) adding Salt-petre to make all melt
well and clear: Then cast it in a Horn, and
separate the scories from it, and wash it clean;
it will be first white, but after a day or two
will be yellow within as well as without.

Take of this Reg. and of ☽, ana ℥ss.
melt them well together (he poured a little
☿ in them when they were near ready to con∣geal,
and stirred with an Iron Rod, but the
Mass took in little above ℥j. of ☿.) Beat it to
Powder, add to it eight or ten parts of ☿,
and grind exceedingly till they incorporate,
(which required about twelve compleat
Page 61

hours, often heating the Matter and Instru∣ments.)
Then squeeze away so much ☿,
that there remain only six parts; digest it
three days in Sand by degrees, at last, very
hot. Put the remaining Calx to Coppel
with four charges of ♄, adding a little fresh
☽ to make it work better. Put the Mass,
au depart, and you shall have twenty six
gr. of good ☉.

Hartman.) The said Monsieur Toyson∣nier
was Sir Kenelm's Operator; he was a
French-man, and a very able Chymist, Sir
K. brought him over with him from Paris,
1660.

Butter of {antimony} to Extract the Tincture of ☉.
DIgest Butter of {antimony} six weeks or two
Months, and then put it upon a well
opened Calx of ☉, and digest it, and the
B. will extract the Tincture of ☉, which
digest, &c.

Page 62
To fix ☽ into ☉; given me by an Intimate Friend, who told me that he wrought it as followeth, taking his hints out of Lul∣ly's Experiments.
HE made a Mercurial {water}, as he teacheth,
by his Vessel with three Bouls in three
Furnaces (which Mercurial {water} will return
again into running ☿ after a little digestion)
and to this he put some pure white Salt of
Tartar, and some ☿ {precipi}tate, that had been
{precipi}tated by it self with three or four Month•
digestion, and some Calx of ☽ exceedingly
well opened, and very subtil: This he di∣gested
a good while, and drew off the {water},
and cohobated several times, after which he
did put some Tincture of ♂ unto it, and
digested and cohobated anew; and in the
end he found almost all the ☽ converted into
☉, that endureth all Tryals, but it was a
little pale. In Lully you may find Directi∣ons
to make all the things that were used in
this Work. The Salt of Tartar, was but
the fixed, reduced to its highest purity; but
it should have been Volatilised, and made to
pass over with the Mercurial {water}, to acuate
and animate it. He believeth the great
Work is to be made with a Mercurial {water},
animated with a Volatile Salt of Tartar, to
Page 63

serve for a Menstruum or Alcahest to dissolve
☉ and ☽. Weigh well what Lully saith of
these things.

Mallus his Process to fix ☽: Wrought by Mon∣sieur Ferrier, and given me by him, 1660.
TAke an A. F. made of equal parts of
Vitriol and Nitre, pour of it upon
Sulphur and {sal armoniac}, ana (four parts of A. F.
to one of Powder) distill it off to dryness,
and make Sublime what will. Melt ℥iv. of
☽, cast upon it ℥ss of Sublimed Salt when
the ☽ is in good fusion: After it is entred
cast in Ingot, melt again; and project a new
Packet of Salt, doing all as before: Do this
four times, so spending ℥ij. of Salt upon ℥iv.
of ☽. Then put it au depart.

To fix ☽ by a Mercurial Water.
MAke Mercurial Water by means of an
Earthen Retort that hath a Pipe or
Spout behind in the upper part, through
which you cast in the {antimony} when the Retort is
red-hot. Take of this {water} (well rectified)
ten parts, and one of a well rectified Oyl of
Vitriol; distill them together, till they be
perfectly united: Then take of this Men∣struum
Page 64

ten parts, and one of a well Calci∣ned
☉; digest them together in a Matrass
(Sealed Hermetically) until the ☉ is well
dissolved: Then take it out, and put the
Matter into a low Cucurbite, and distill un∣til
the drops come Acid. Then let it cool,
and put the Matter into a Matrass, Seal it
Hermetically, and digest in an Athanor, un∣til
it be perfectly fixed into a red Powder.

Monsieur Bertault's Tincture of ☉ by Venus.
TAke Sulphur and Borax, ana, melt them
together three times, grinding the mat∣ter
every time; then melt ☉ and ♀ ana,
and cast upon them of the said Composition,
until the ♀ be reduced to aes ustum; then cast
in Ingot, and beat it with a Hammer, to
cause the aes ustum to scale off from the ☉.
Then melt this ☉ again, and project as be∣fore.
Repeat this three times, and you shall
have a ☉ as red as blood, and this Tincture
will hold the Test.

Note, that when you beat your ☉, if you
see that the aes ustum do not all scale off from
the ☉, you must melt it again, and project
more of your Composition until it come all
off in scales, and be all separated from the ☉,
which it ought to do at every time.

Page 65
To fix ☽ into ☉.
DIstill from ☿ {subli}mate a Spirit, wherein
dissolve an aaa of ☉ and ☿ into a
white Powder, which digest in Ashes until
it be as red as Cinaber. Then dissolve it in
A. R. into a red water, which reduce again
to Powder, which project upon ☽.

Another Tincture of ☽.
DIssolve ℥j. of ☉ in A. R. and ℥iij. of
☽ in A. F. Precipitate them, and
then unite them together, and distill their
Spiritual Essence, which by degrees of heat
fix into a Blood-red Powder, which tingeth
☽ into ☉.

An Operation with ☉ and ☿ of {antimony}: Wrought by Monsieur Chambulan, and given me by him.
TAke lbiij. of good Salt of Tartar, Cal∣cine
it, so that it be glowing hot for
twenty four hours, in a Pot close luted;
then dissolve it in flegm of Brandy, filter,
and evaporate; Calcine it again as before,
dissolve and congeal as before. Repeat all
this Work four or five times, or until it leave
Page 66

no more Feces in the filter: Then Calcint
this Salt again for six hours, and then pul∣verize
it whilst it is yet hot, and put it in a
large Cucurbite, and pour upon it by little
and little of good Nants Brandy, so much
as may cover it the breadth of four fingers,
cover it with a blind head, or with another
Cucurbite, that may enter into it, lute well
the junctures, and digest in warm Sand for
six days; then put on a head with a Lim∣beck
and a Recipient, and distill over with
a gentle heat all the S. V. then let it cool,
and pour on fresh Brandy, digest, and di∣still
as before. Repeat this Operation five
or six times, or so often till your Salt of Tar∣tar
remain in the bottom like a red and trans∣parent
Oyl, which will be very fiery and
penetrating, reducing all Metals into run∣ning
☿, being first duly prepared; keep this
Oyl close stopped.

Then take lbviij. of the Ashes of burned
Vines, whereof make a strong Lixivium
with lbxx. of fair {water}, then in lbxij. of this
Lixivium; dissolve lbj. of Salt of Tartar,
filter this dissolution, and digest it in Sand
with a strong {fire} for some time; then call
into it lbj. of Regulus of {antimony}, that hath been
melted and purified six or seven times with
Tartar and Salt-petre, and then reduced to
a subtil Powder: Make it boy• for six hour,
Page 67

until the Lixivium be very red and stinking;
then let it settle and cool, and decant the
clear, and wash the Powder with fair {water},
then dry it, and grind it upon a stone, im∣bibing
it with the red Oyl of Tartar before-mentioned,
until it be like a Pap, then dry
it, and imbibe it again, and grind as before.
Repeat this so often till the Powder hath ta∣ken
in double its weight of the said Oyl of
Tartar: Then put this Matter in a Body
with a blind head, lute well all the junctures,
and digest in fimo for twenty days; then
take it out, and you will find your Powder
converted into running ☿, which wash well
with hot {water}, then with Salt and Vine∣gar,
and then with fair {water}, then squeeze
it through Chambo-leather. Then take ℥x.
of this ☿ of {antimony}, and ℥x. of Common ☿ that
hath been distilled over in a Retort with Tar∣tar
and Quick-lime, and then washed with
Salt and Vinegar; mix these two Mercuries
together and squeeze them through a leather,
then put them in a Cucurbite, lute another,
Cucurbite upon it, and digest in fimo for
fifteen days, then put a head to it with a
Limbeck, and distill in Ashes, and all the
Common ☿ will distill over drop by drop••s
{water}, and the ☿ of {antimony} will remain in the bot∣tom
like a clear Oyl, and will be of a fra∣grant
scent: Rectifie the {water} in Ashes, and
Page 68

the Oyl with a stronger ℥ in Sand, and keep
them by themselves. Then melt ℥j. of ☉,
and ℥j. of ☽, then cast in Ingot, and beat
it into leaf, or reduce it into fine filings, and
make an aaa with ☿, distill this aaa in a
Retort until all the ☿ is distilled over; then
put this aaa in a Matrass, and pour upon it
℥x. of the Mercurial Water before-men∣tioned:
Digest it, and in a few hours all
will be dissolved. Put this dissolution in a
Retort, lute a Recipient to it, and having
luted well the junctures, distill in Sand, and
all will distill over except a few black Feces;
dephlegm it with a gentle heat in B. M. di∣stilling
untill nothing more come over. Take
of that which remaineth in the bottom of
the Cucurbite ℥iv. put it in a strong Ma∣trass,
and put to it ℥viij. of your Oyl of ☿ of
{antimony}; Seal it well, and digest it with a Lamp
{fire} in Ashes, and in fourty days all will be
fixed into a red stone; then take out the Ma∣trass,
and put it to a strong {fire} in Sand to
Sublime it for twenty four hours, and all
will melt like an Oyl, which will congeal in
a cold place into a red stone.

Page 69
Fermentation.
TAke ℥iv. of this red stone, pulverize it,
and stratifie it with ℥j. of ☉ in leaf be∣tween
two Crucibles well luted; put this to
a Circulary {fire} by degrees for six hours,
then cover it with Coals, so that it may melt
and unite well together: Project ℥j. of this
Powder upon ℥x. of boyling ☿ (well puri∣fied)
and all will be converted into a Me∣dicine,
which will project upon great quan∣tity
of ☿, transmuting it into fine ☉.

Elixir of {antimony}, ☉, and ☿.
TAke good Mineral {antimony}, mortifie it with ra∣dicated
Vinegar; then separate its
Quintessence with pure S. V. With that
Quintessence dissolve ☿ duplicatum of {antimony}, that
both become an Oyl, which unite with a
subtil Calx of ☉, and bring them to an in∣combustible
Oyl, which will transmute ☿
into ☉.

Page 70
Elixir ex ☉ & ☽.
DIssolve O (well purified by {antimony}) in A. R.
then reduce it into a blood-red Oyl
with radicated Vinegar, and Tartarised S. V.
Then with this Oyl imbibe a natural Sul∣phur
of ☽, and fix them by graduated {fire}.
This is a high Projection upon ☽.

Elixir Album.
SUblime ☿ three times from Vitriol and
Salt-petre, then in hot Sand fix it so, that
in strong heat it may not rise, which may be
performed in three weeks time: Then Cal∣cine
it in a close Reverberatory {fire}, and
it will be ready for solution. Then take the
Water which distilled over in Subliming the
☿, and dissolve in it a little {sal armoniac}, and ☿ {subli} mate,
with this solution mix Calcined Vitriol to
the thickness of Honey, digest in fimo o••
and twenty days: Then distill by degrees:
little at a time (for it yieldeth a very fiery
Spirit) let the Recipient be large. When
all is come over that will, rectifie it; then
in this Spirit dissolve the afore-said fixed ☿,
so is the Menstruum prepared.

Then take a white Calx of ♃, pour up∣on
it so much of this Menstruum as will
Page 71

cover it, let it stand eight days as before•
Repeat this till the Calx will take in no more
of the said Menstruum, then let it stand till
it become first black, and then white, Sub∣liming
it self above the Caput Mortuum,
from which carefully separate the white, and
that is Sulphur naturae Iovis, which put in∣to
a little Matrass and fix it, (which may
also be done by frequent {subli}mation) make
also Sulphur naturae ☽ in the same manner,
and with the same Menstruum, which dis∣solve
into Oyl in B. with which imbibe the
said Sulphur naturae Iovis untill it be fusible,
and then it will transmute ♃ into ☽.

Elixir Rubrum.
TAke Vitriol of ♀ well purified by Solu∣tions
and Coagulations, unite it with
Liquor of ☿ {subli}mate and {sal armoniac}, then distill a
{water} from it in Ashes; then having stood (cold)
twenty four hours, distill more {water} from it.
Repeat this until the remaining Matter be
well broken; then joyn all the distilled wa∣ters
to it again, and digest it in fimo for 40
days: Then distill its Spirit, with which
imbibe the remaining Earth; dry it with a
gentle heat, then imbibe again, and dry as
before: Repeat this till the Earth hath im∣bibed
all its {water}. Then distill it, and you
Page 72

shall have a Philosophical ☿, and what Sub∣limeth
is the Sulphur, which keep apart.
Repeat the imbibition and distillation, till
no more Sulphur will ascend; with this Sul∣phur
imbibe half its weight of the ☿, put
them into a Matrass, which Seal Hermeti∣cally,
and fix them together; and this Work
must be repeated four times, every time
with the same proportion of the said Philo∣sophical
☿. Then fix this Matter in a Ves∣sel
Sealed Hermetically by degrees of {fire},
and all the colours will appear one after ano∣ther,
until it become white, and lastly, to
an incombustible red.

Take one part of this red Powder, cast it
upon ten parts of Sublimed ☿, set it to pu∣trifie
for thirty days, and it will become
Oyl, which being Projected upon boyling
☿, will transmute it into pure ☉.

The said red Powder being infused in
Wine over Night, and drank in the Morn∣ing,
Cureth most Diseases in Mans Body.

The best way to Extract the ☿ of ♀.
SUblime Flowers of {antimony} after Glauber's way,
in great quantity, in casting the {antimony} in
Powder upon kindled Coals in a Furnace
with many Pots one upon another, wherein
the Flowers settle. The Flowers which are


[illustration]

Page 73
in the last or highest Pots must be received into running ☿, by distilling them in a Retort with two parts of Soot, and one of black Soap. Those in the middle, by black Soap and Salt of Tartar: Those that are in the lowermost Pots, by Soap only, with a little Salt of Tartar, not much, lest it should reduce the Flowers into Regulus.
The Furnace must be round, and well
made every where, then set a cover upon it
like a Funnel, and the Pots upon that;
then fill the Furnace with Coals, and let
them be well kindled before you cast in the
{antimony}, that the Flowers may be pure and white;
then cast in the {antimony} through a hole, which
must be on the side of the cover: And thus
you shall Sublime lbj. of Flowers in an hour.
(See the first Figure.)

The Process teacheth to set fifteen or six∣teen
Pots one upon another; but I think
five or six may do as well.

To Extract ☿ of ☽ or ♄.
DIssolve filings of ♄ in A. F. one part,
and fair {water} two parts, Precipitate the
Calx with Salt of Tartar, then add crude
Tartar to this Calx, and boyl them toge∣ther
a long time; at last, revive it with hot
{water}, and you shall have a fluid and running ☿.
Page 74

In the same manner you may proceed with
☽.

To make a Minera of ☿ of Antimony, ad Infinitum.
TAke of the ☿ revived from the Flow∣ers
above-mentioned ℥viij. Sublime it
with Salt and Vitriol, according to Art:
Then take of this ☿ Sublimate and {antimony} in
fine Powder, equal parts, mix them well to∣gether,
and distill a Butter thereof, giving
gentle fire for four hours, then distill with a
strong fire, and the ☿ will distill in great
quantity. Note, that when the Butter is
come over, before you increase the fire to
drive over the ☿, you must change the Re∣cipient,
putting on another full of water
impregnated with {sal armoniac}. Then take the Cina∣ber
and mix it with black Soap and a little
Salt of Tartar; then distill, and you shall
have near the whole quantity in running ☿.
That which remaineth in the bottom is the
true Sulphur of {antimony}, of which make a Lixi∣vium
with {water}, and Precipitate the Sul∣phur.

Page 75
Another way to Extract the ☿ of Antimony by an A. R. Given me by Monsieur Car∣ton.
TAke Salt-petre of the first boyling with∣out
refining it any more, and Vitriol
and {sal armoniac}, whereof make A. R. after the Dutch
way of making A. F. where they put an
hundred pound of Matter into a large Iron
Pot with a large earthen head, to which
they joyn a large stone-receiver or a stone
Pitcher: The junctures all well luted with
a lute made of Sand, Quick-lime, and Wa∣ter:
They gave {fire} by degrees, at last very
strong; the distillation will be performed in
twelve hours. Then let all cool, and take
out the A. R. Note, that in distilling this
A. R. if your Recipient be not very large,
it will be needful to keep wet Cloaths
doubled upon the Rec. to abate and con∣dense
the violence of the Spirits.

Then take {antimony} Mineral in fine Powder,
which put into large Jar-glasses, such as they
keep thin Sweet-meats in, which are as large
at the top as at the bottom: You must have
many of these Glasses, but put not too much
into one Glass, pour a good quantity of the
A. R. above-mentioned upon this {antimony}; stir
and shake them well together by turning
Page 76

the Glass in your hands (several times a
day) for ten, twelve, or fifteen days, keep∣ing
the Glasses slightly covered with a
wooden cover: And if you put these Vessels
to digest in some gentle heat, it will be the
better.

Note, that the Secret consisteth in well
opening the body of the ☿ by the A. R.
And therefore when the time of the digestion
is ended, and that you see the ☿ is dissolved,
or reduced into a white Calx at the bottom,
stir it well together, that the A. R. which is
at the top, may become as white as Milk.
Then pour off this white Liquor (which
containeth in it the Atomes of the {antimony}, which
are very light, and are easily raised in the
A. R. and are well opened) and let it settle,
until all the white Atomes are settled to the
bottom, and that the A. R. be clear at the
top, which decant and put it back upon the
{antimony}, where you poured it off, which was not
dissolved; stir it and digest it as before, then
decant the white Liquor as before. Repeat
this until you have reduced all the ☿ into
Atomes or white Liquor:• Then put all
your white Liquors and dissolved {antimony} together
with the A. R. into a Retort, and distill first
all the A. R. with a gentle heat, until you
see the {antimony} almost dry, but not hard nor quite
dry. Then change the Receiver, putting
Page 77

on another large Ballon of Glass with four
or five quarts of {water} impregnated with lbj.
of {sal armoniac}: Distill by graduated {fire}for eight
hours, then put some coals about the Retort
upon the Sand; give at last very vehement
{fire} above and below, for four hours more, at
last, as vehement as possibly may be, and
you shall see the Rec. filled with white
fumes, which will revive into running ☿ in
the water in the Recipient, and part of these
white fumes will become a thicker sub∣stance,
like melted ♄, and part like Mer∣curius
vitae; but of what consistence soever
they are, you may easily revive them all in∣to
running ☿, by washing them in warm
water.

The ☿ of ♄ is made in the same manner,
but in greater quantity, taking Oar of ♄
instead of {antimony} Mineral.

To Extract the ☿ of {antimony}, or of ♄. Wrought several times by Monsieur Van Outre, Phy∣sician of Brussels.
TAke Antimony Mineral, (or a Calx of
♄) in subtil Powder, imbibe it with
Spirit of Salt until it be like Pap: Digest
it seven or eight days, or longer; then di∣still
to dryness: Then change the Recipient,
putting on another filled with {water}, impreg∣nated
Page 78

with {sal armoniac}. Distill it gradually s. a. and
you shall have running ☿.

Sir Kenelm.) This Extraction is upon
the same Foundation as that which Monsieur
Corton gave me, with an A. R. which he
hath done often.

Butter of {antimony} without Sublimate, to Extract ☿ of {antimony}.
TAke {antimony} one part, Salt decrepitated two
parts, and Vitriol Calcined to whiteness
four parts; reduce all into a fine Powder,
mix them well together, and cast them by
little and little into a Retort red-hot through
a Spout in the upper part of the Retort, as
Glauber teacheth; or distill it in a Glass Re∣tort
luted, in a naked {fire}, and you shall have
a Butter like unto that which is made of Sub∣limate.

Note, that you may rectifie this Butter
for other Operations with Soot and Coal-dust.

Page 79
To Extract the ☿ of {antimony} with this Butter, proceed thus.
PRecipitate this Butter with warm {water}, then
dry the Powder, and mix it with one
part of black Soap, and two parts of Soot;
distill in a Retort into a Recipient full of {water}
impregnated with {sal armoniac}, and you shall have a
running ☿, which is the Sperma of ☿ of
{antimony}.

Another way.
TAke the Precipitated Powder of the a∣fore-said
Butter of {antimony}, and dry it gently,
then mix it with ℥iv• of Tartar, and ℥viij.
of Quick-lime, and ℥ij. of {sal armoniac}; distill this
in a Retort s. a.

Note, that the Calx of ☽, and that of ♄
may be Precipitated with Butter of {antimony}, and
then a running ☿ may be distilled from
them.

To Extract a ☿ out of ☽.
DIssolve ☽ in A. R. and then Precipi∣tate
it with Spirit of Urine, or with a
dissolution of {sal armoniac} dissolved in distilled Vine∣gar,
and it will attract what there is of ♀
Page 80

in the ☽, and the remaining Calx of ☽ is
the running ☿, which is transmuted into ☉
by the Sal Enixe.

Another way to Extract the ☿ of {antimony}.
TAke lbj. of {antimony} in subtil Powder, boyl
it in a Lixivium made of Quick-lime
and Pot-Ashes, let it boyl for two hours,
then let it settle, and decant the clear; then
put more Lixivium upon the {antimony}, boyl it as
before. Repeat this so often till there be no
more Sulphur in the {antimony}, which you may
know by pouring distilled Vinegar into the
decanted Lixivium, when there Precipitates
no more Sulphur, or when it changes no
more. Then edulcorate well the residue of
the {antimony}, and dry it, then grind it with ℥iv.
of Salt of Tartar, and as much of {sal armoniac}, and
℥viij. of Vitriol; put this to Sublime with a
gentle {fire} at first, and at last very strong
{fire} for seven or eight hours, and all will be
Sublimed.

Make this Sublimate, and mix it with
equal weight of Quick-lime, distill it in a
Retort into a Recipient almost full of {water}
impregnated with {sal armoniac}, and you shall have a
running ☿ of {antimony}. In the same manner you
may Extract the ☿ of ♄, taking Calx of
♄ instead of {antimony}.

Page 81
Mercury of all Metals.
TAke Salt of Tartar, and Powder of
Pebble-stones, mix them well together,
and cast them upon burning Coals, and there
will ascend a Spirit, which must be received,
which hath a Vertue to convert the Calx of
Metals into running ☿.

A great Secret, ☿ of {antimony}, and other Metals, ad infinitum.
TAke ☿ of {antimony}, Sublime it with Salt and
Vitriol in the ordinary manner, with∣out
Calcining the Materials. Take of this
☿ {subli}mate, and {antimony} in Powder, ana; distill a
Butter thereof: Then take the Cinaber, and
grind it with that which resteth in the bot∣tom
of the Retort, and distill a ☿ thereof,
which will serve for the like Work. Let
the Butter resolve in the Air into a Liquor
upon a Marble stone, or upon Glass in a
moist place, then pour of this Liquor upon
{antimony} in a Cucurbite; digest in Sand for two
days, then distill it, and there will come
over a red Oyl with the flegm, which is the
Sulphur, or ☿ of {antimony}, or a natural Oyl of
{antimony}: For if you leave this Menstruum with
the Oyl in the open Air for two or three
Page 82

hours, the Oyl will Precipitate to the bot∣tom
in a red Powder, which will burn like
common Sulphur. Mix this red Powder
with two parts of Soot, and one of Soap,
put it in a Retort, and distill it, and it will
revive into running ☿, which will distill in∣to
the Rec. which must be almost full of {water}
impregnated with {sal armoniac}.

In the same manner you may also Extract
☿ out of other Metals, mixing this Oyl with
their Calx, Soot and Soap. The said Men∣struum
will serve again, putting it upon new
{antimony}, Extracting new Sulphur from the same,
or red Oyl, which Precipitateth into Sul∣phur,
as was said, or into running ☿ by Re∣vivification.
And in this manner you may
make a perpetual Minera of ☿ of {antimony}, and of
other Metals, ad infinitum.

Note, that other Metals must be in very
subtil Calx well opened, that the said Men∣struum
may act the better upon them.

Note, that if the Salt of the Earth be well
Extracted, and reduced to a Salt Enixe•
wonderful Operations may be done with it;
and if you take of this Salt Enixe and of Vi∣triol,
and make a Sublimate thereof with
☿ of {antimony}, and then a Butter of this ☿ {subli}mate
and {antimony} Mineral, and joyn this Butter with
one part of the Lunary Butter, made as was
taught, and with that make a dissolution of ☉,
Page 83

you will have an Aurum potabile, and an
universal Medicine; and without doubt a
Powder of Projection upon baser Metals.
This Matter is an admirable Chalybs or Mag∣net
of the Spirit of the World, being expo∣sed
to the open Air for some time, and then
put in a Vessel, and Sealed Hermetically,
and digested for fourty days (or fifty) you
will see such effects, as will promise a
happy success, and yet better, if you add
the Sulphur of ☉ drawn with Regulus of
{antimony}: But this requires the Conduct of an able
Operator.

To prepare the Common ☿, so that it will have all the Qualities and Properties of ☿ of {antimony}, and will be as Powerful to Vo∣latilize ☉.
AMalgamate lbij. of ☿ with lbj. of ♃,
thus: Melt the ♃ in a Crucible, then
take it off from the {fire}, and being near ready
to congeal, pour the ☿ upon it, and stir
them well together with a stick, then cast it
into fair {water}. Then with these lbiij. of aaa,
grind lbiij. of filings of ♂, and lbiij. of {antimony},
and all being well mixt, put it in a Retort,
and distill over all the ♀ into a Recipient
full of {water}.

Page 84
Another Excellent Preparation and Anima∣tion of ☿.
TAke of Martial Regulus of {antimony} ℥iij. and
☉ ℥j. melt them together, and make a
Regulus, which pulverize, and then grind
it with common ☿, then distill it seven times,
and you shall have a ☿ very pure, and fit
for any Operation.

Another way.
AMalgamate lbss. of ☿ with lbj. of ♃
in a Crucible, and being cold, grind
with it lbss. of filings of ♂. Then distill
over the ☿ with a strong {fire}.

Another.
GRind ☿ with {antimony}, Quick-lime, and Tar∣tar,
then distill it.

Another.
TAke ☽ one part, Regulus of {antimony} two parts,
melt them together; then reduce it in∣to
very fine Powder, which grind and
aaate with ☿, then distill seven times.

Page 85
Another.
JOyn ☿ with Sulphur in the form of a
Cinaber, then add Salt of Tartar and
Soap, to the consistence of a Paste, whereof
make little Balls, which distill in a Re∣tort.

About a particular Spirit of Nitre.
IT is not a common Spirit of Nitre, but
it is a Spirit, which by many cohobati∣ons
and distillations rendreth its own Body
Volatile in the form of Snow, which melts
with the least heat, and is congealed by cold;
and that is that Acetum acerrimum, which dis∣solveth
all Metals, and reduceth them to
their first Matter, and perfect Metals being
dissolved therein, will be coagulated, and
perfectly fixed, which will change other im∣perfect
ones into perfect by Projection.

Take ☽ and ☿, q. v. aaate them toge∣ther,
then mix this aaa with half its weight
of ♀ {subli}mate, then put it in a Retort, and
pour upon it of our Acid Spirit, and the
Matter being well dissolved therein, distill
and cohobate upon the remaining Body so
often, till all the Matter be converted into a
Page 86

Volatile Spirit, and nothing remain in the
bottom; that which doth not ascend, must
be made Volatile: Then dissolve that Vo∣latile
again in more of our Acid Spirit, and
distil and cohobate so often upon that which
remaineth in the bottom until all be fixed
again, and this fixed Matter render again
Volatile, and the Volatile fix again, until
it be tingent and penetrating, and be a fu∣sible
Salt abiding in the {fire}.

You must have the Spirit of Natural fu∣sible
Salt, which is the Principle of all Me∣tals,
Vegetables, and Animals; this Spirit
being purified and re-united with its Body
(also purified) renders its Body Volatile, and
uniteth it self unseparably with it, and be∣cometh
a Volatile fusible Salt like Butter,
which congealeth being cold: This Butter
dissolveth all Metals, as warm {water} dissolveth
Ice, and is the true Matter of the great Work,
and the Philosophical ☿.

To prepare the Universal Spirit, which is
the Universal Salt, you must purifie and
rectifie it well, and by its means, Volatilize
its fixt Body, (also purified.) For to ren∣der
the fixt Volatile, the quantity of the Vo∣latile
must exceed the fixt; and also to fix the
Volatile, the quantity of the fixt must exceed
the Volatile; but the long digestion supplies
the quantity of the fixt, because that which
Page 87

is naturally fixt is contained (although chan∣ged
for the present) in the Volatile: But
the addition of ☉ (which it dissolveth, and
uniteth it self radically with) shortneth the
time, and hastens the fixation: And then to ren∣der
it from Volatile fixt by a long digestion;
when it is Volatile, it will pass over in a
Retort like Oyl, which will congeal, being
cold, and melt with heat; 'tis the Sperma of
Metals. For to fix it the better and the
sooner, you must add ☉, and digest.

An Operation upon ♄: Sent me by Monsieur Boucaud.
The Philosopher's Epilogue.
SOlution and Ablution are one and the
same thing, for by Calcination the Bo∣dy
is divided into small parts; by putre∣faction
it is corrupted, and when it is distil∣led,
it is reduced into its first Matter, and re∣maineth
dissolved.

Congelation is a Fixation, Re-union, or
Coagulation of the Volatile and dissolved
Body.

By Reduction and Fixation, when this
Body is Sublimed, it fatneth, and resolveth,
uniteth, and at last is perfectly coagulated.
Thus in these two Solutions and Coagula∣tions,
Page 88

are contained Ablution, Reduction,
and Fixation.

Quintessence of ♄; the Universal Dis∣solvent.
DIstill fifty or sixty quarts of Vinegar,
and before you distill the Vinegar you
must evaporate a fourth part of it, which
is nothing but flegm; and for to render this
distilled Vinegar more dissolving, it should
be distilled once or twice from Lees.

Take lbxij. or xv. of good English Li∣thargy
of Silver, reduce it into fine Pow∣der,
and put it into Matrasses of three or
four quarts a piece, put lbj. into each Ma∣trass;
then pour upon the Powder so much
of the distilled Vinegar, as may cover it the
breadth of six Inches; then put them in di∣gestion,
with the second degree of {fire} for
two days, shaking the Matrass three or four
times a day, in which time the distilled Vi∣negar
will be of a yellow colour, and very
sweet. Then decant this distilled Vinegar
impregnated with the Essence of ♄, and put
on fresh upon the Lithargy; digest as before;
then put in all the decanted Vinegar and fil∣ter
it, and distill in several Cucurbites with a
gentle heat three parts of the distilled Vine∣gar;
put the remainder in a Cellar, and in 24
Page 89

hours the greater part of it will be congeal∣ed
into a substance like Ice; it will suffice if
you distill it off to a Syrup: Then upon this
Syrup, pour new distilled Vinegar, about
the same quantity as before, digest twelve
hours; then distill off about the quantity
you put on: Put new distilled Vinegar upon
the residue, somewhat more than the first
time, digest and distill as before. Then
pour upon it about half the quantity of the
said distilled Vinegar that you put on before,
digest and distill as before. Repeat this di∣gestion
for twelve hours, and distillation so
often, till you find that the distilled Vine∣gar
come off in the beginning of the distil∣lation
so strong as it was before, which is a
sign of a perfect attraction of the universal
dissolvent made by the distilled Vinegar.

Then put your Gums which remained in
the Cucurbites into one or several large Ma∣trasses,
which stop and lute well, that no∣thing
may exhale; then put to digest in B.
vapor. or in fimo (which change every six
days) for twenty or thirty days, more or
less; for the sign of a sufficient digestion is,
when the Matter cometh to be black, and
that it acquireth as it were a stinking scent,
which is a sign of its Mortification, by which
it ought to acquire a new Life, and a Spiri∣tual
vesture. Then divide this Matter or
Page 90

Ceruse into several parts, which put into se∣veral
Retorts, which you may do by causing
the Matter to melt with some gentle heat, and
then pouring it hot into the Retorts, for it
easily congealeth by cold; and if any of it
congeal about the necks of the Retorts, make
it melt, and run down; the Retorts must be
of such a bigness, that at least four parts of
them may remain empty. Then distill off
all the flegm with a very gentle heat in Sand,
and so soon as you perceive any Fumes or
Vapours, cease, and let all cool; then change
the Recipient, putting on a large one, and
having well luted it, and the lute dry, give the
{fire} by degrees, at last very strong and vehe∣ment,
until you see no more fumes come
over, but that an Oyl or Gum as red as
Blood distill over. Take the feces remain∣ing
in the Retorts (which will look like
black Ashes) and extract the Salt out of
them with distilled Vinegar, as you did with
the Lithargy, which Salt will be in long
Rocks like Rock-Salt-petre; and this Salt
will be more subtil than the first: Distill this
Salt in a Retort, putting what distilleth to
the first Liquor; out of the feces extract
again the Salt, of which distill also the Spi∣rit
in a Retort. Proceed thus until the re∣maining
earth, or Caput Mortuum giveth
no more Salt. Then take all your Spirits,
Page 91

and mix them together, and put it in a large
and high Cucurbite, which cover with a
double paper Oyled and dryed; tye it well
about the neck of the Cucurbite with a pack∣thread,
then put on the head, and lute well
the junctures, put on a pretty large Reci∣pient,
with a narrow and a short neck; di∣stil
in B. vapor. and the Aethereal Spirit will
pass over through the paper, and the flegm
will stay behind, because it cannot pass
through the Oyled paper; and if your Spi∣rit
be not subtil enough, you may rectifie it
once or twice with new Oyled paper; then
keep it in a Vessel close stopped in a cold
place: Then take off the Oyled paper, and
distill the rest of the Liquor to the consistence
of a red Syrup; put the Cucurbite with the
Syrup in a Cellar, and in two days time
there will be many little Crystals very white,
which separate, and wash them in the flegm,
and they will be white and pure: Then put
the flegm to that which remained in the Cu∣curbite,
and distill to a Syrup, which put in
a Cellar to Crystallize as before: Cleanse
and wash the Crystals to whiten them, then
put them together upon white paper to dry
them for two days in the shadow; then put
them in a Cucurbite narrow and somewhat
high, and pour upon them of the afore-mentioned
Aethereal Spirit, so much as may
Page 92

cover it the breadth of three or four fingers•
digest twenty four hours, then distill in B. M.
All the Spirit will come over, and in the bot∣tom
will remain a clear and transparent
Gum, upon which pour again the distilled
Spirit; digest and distill as before. Repeat
this cohobation and distillation four times,
at the fourth time the said Gum will distill
over in the form of an Oyl as white as snow,
swimming upon the Spirit: This Oyl is the
ture and only dissolvent of ☉, separate it
from the Spirit by a Funnel. And thus you
shall have the Philosophical Menstruum, the
Vegetable, and Mineral Salt, Aurora Dianae,
and the true Philosophical ☿, and the preci∣ous
{water}, dissolving the two Luminaries into
a Physical dissolution, with which you may
prepare Medicines both for Health, and for
Projection to transmute Metals, which will
be both short and easie, as followeth.

'Tis not enough to have the Menstruum
or Philosophical {water}, for it serveth only for
an Agent or a means to excite the Vegeta∣tive
quality which is hidden and buryed in
the occult Secrets of the Metalline Nature.
And it doth not suffice only to know that ☉
maketh ☉, and ☽, ☽; but it cannot ren∣der
them apparent, except the said Bodies be
first discontinued, that is to say, that this
Metalline form be reduced into subtil parts
Page 93

attenuated, for to be afterwards opened and
reduced into Calx, of which this Menstru∣um
easily draweth the fixt grain or Sperma,
the Principle of Vegetation.

Prepare then a slight, spungy, well opened,
and attenuated Calx of ☉, which put in a
small Cucurbite, and pour upon it so much
of the afore-mentioned white Oyl as will co∣ver
it a fingers breadth; digest two or three
days with a gentle heat, then distill over all
the Oyl, then pour the Spirit upon the Calx:
Then pour upon this Matter four or five
times as much of the above-mentioned Spi∣rit;
digest twenty four hours, and the Spirit
will be tincted of a pure red colour, more
red than any Ruby, which decant, and dry
the remaining Matter, and pour upon it the
same Oyl, and digest twenty four hours, and
it will be very red. Repeat this so long till
your ☉ will yield no more tincture. Then
Circulate all your Tinctures in a Pelican for
thirty days, and then separate the clear from
an Hypostace which will be at the bottom,
and you shall have the true Aurum potabile,
which will be of an admirable vertue, ta∣king
three or four drops of it at a time in a
little Sack, or other fit vehicle.

But for the Work, you must separate the
Spirit by distillation in Balneo, until the
Tincture remain in the bottom in consist∣ence
Page 94

of an Oyl, upon which cohobate the
Spirit, and distill as before: Repeat this
seven or eight times, and the said Tincture
will remain like an Oyl that will congeal no
more, which is the Philosophical Aurum po∣tabile,
having a Vegetative vertue, being
sown in its own Earth, which is the Calx of
☉, prepared as shall be taught hereafter.

The Philosophical Aqua Regis.
TAke Nitre and {sal armoniac}, ana ℥iij. reduce them
to fine Powder each by it self, then
mix them well together, and put it in a Re∣•••t
of three or four quarts, and distill in
Sand into a very large Recipient, the junct∣ures
well luted with paper, and paste made
of Flower and {water}; for if you should take •
stronger Lute, all would break: Give the
{fire} by degrees, untill you see white fumes in
the Recipient in half; an hours time all will
come over; then let it cool, and you will find
in the Recipient about ℥jss. and about the
neck of the Retort a Sublimed Salt, which
proceeds from the {sal armoniac}, which will not dissolve
except in hot {water}; the Retort being cold, take
out the Caput Mortuum as well as you can,
and the Retort being found, put in fresh
Matter the same quantity as before; repeat
this till you have {water} enough. Then digest
Page 95

this {water} in Ashes in an Alembick with a gentle
heat to separate the flegm from it, which
will be insipid; then distill the rest in a Re∣tort,
and keep it for use.

Take ℥j. of ☉ well purified by {antimony}, be•t
it into thin Plates, cut them small, and put
them in a Crucible and ignifie them: Put
℥vj. of ☿ in another Crucible, heat it until
it begin to smoak, then take it from the {fire},
and pour it upon the ☉, stir it well toge∣ther
with a stick until it be well aaamated,
then cast this aaa into a Marble Mortar,
grind it well, pouring on fair {water} to wash it
from all its blackness and foulness; then
squeeze out so much ☿ of this aaa as you
can: Then grind this aaa with equal weight
of prepared Salt; put it in a Retort, and di∣still
over all the ☿ in Sand into a Recipient
half full of {water}: The ☿ being all over, in∣crease
the {fire} for four hours, so that the bot∣tom
of the Retort may be always red in the
Sand; then let all cool, take out the Re∣tort
and pour hot {water} into it, and let it stand
so for an hour, and the {water} will dissolve the
Salt; pour it out, and pour more hot {water} up∣on
the Matter; do thus three or four times?
Then pour out the ☉ with the {water} into a
Poringer, which will be every subtil Pow∣der;
dry it gently, and put it in a Matrass,
and pour upon it of the above-mentioned
Page 96
A. R. about ℥vj. stop the Matrass with Cot∣ton
only, and put it to digest in hot Ashes, and
in a few hours it will all be dissolved into a
Liquor of an Orange colour, •leaving some
impure Earth at the bottom: Upon this dis∣solution
pour of the ☿ which you drew off
by distillation about twice the quantity of
the ☉, digest it for two or three days, or so
long until the ☿ be all dissolved, and the
{water} be clear like Rock {water}, and the ☉ be in
the form of a light Spunge in pieces, swim∣ming
in the {water}; separate the {water}, and wash
the ☉ with Salt {water} filtred, then wash it in
fair {water} so often till it be well edulcorated,
then dry this Powder of ☉, and it is pre∣pared.
For to attenuate it further, and to
render it more Spungeous, mix it with
double its weight of Sublimed {sal armoniac}, grind them
well together, and put them in a small Cu∣curbite
with its Head, and Sublime in Sand
all the {sal armoniac}. Then grind this {sal armoniac} again with
the ☉ and Sublime it once more, so will the
☉ be well attenuated and opened, and
fit to be joyned with the Vegetable Salt.
Then put this Powder of ☉ into a Poringet
of stone-ware, not glazed, and pour upon
it some good Oyl of Tartar, dry it gently,
and pour more Oyl upon the Powder, and
dry it as before: Repeat this till you have
employed ℥iv. of Oyl of Tartar to ℥j. of
Page 97

☉; then put it into a Matrass with a short
neck, stop it close, and put it in an Iron
Pot in Sand, then cover the Pot with any
other Pot, and give {fire} of reverberation, so
that the ☉ may be red in the Matrass, but
not melt; continue the {fire} in that degree for
48 hours. Then take out the Matrass, and
wash the Matter with hot {water} till the ☉ be
well edulcorated, then dry it, and imbibe it
again with fresh Oyl of Tartar; reverbera•e
it as before for 48 hours. Repeat this Work
twice more, and you shall have a very light
and Spungy Calx of ☉.

Hartman.) Note, That instead of this
Calx of ☉, you may take one prepared, by
Calcining it with flowers of Sulphur, as Sir
Kenelm Digby prepared it for Saunier's
Work, which see in its place.

Then imbibe it once with Oyl of Tartar,
and proceed in all as before.

Having reduced the ☉ into an Oyl, it
will be necessary to have an Earth of its own
nature, to make it grow, and produce the
Fruit which we expect of it.

Now this Calx of ☉ shall serve for an
Earth to receive this Seed. But since that
in all Bodies there are three things, to wit,
the Soul, the Spirit, and the Body; that
which hath a Body, cannot receive the Soul,
except it be opened by the Spirit: It will
Page 98

then be necessary to reduce the ☉ into a Spi∣rit,
which is done by reducing it into ☿, its
first and nearest Matter; which to perform,
proceed thus:

Take ℥j. of ☉ well purified by {antimony}, re∣duce
it into thin Plates, cut them small, and
put them in a Matrass, pour upon them ℥vj.
of our Philosophical {water}, keep it in digestion
till the ☉ be all dissolved, then distill of•
the {water}, which cohobate again, and distill as
before. Repeat this three or four times,
then distill off about three parts of the {water},
expose the rest with the Vessel to the open
Air, and the ☉ will congeal into Crystals,
which put in a Glass Bottle, and stop it ve∣ry
close, and keep them in a dry place un•••
they be dry; then grind them with twice•
much {sal armoniac} Sublimed with Salt; put this into
a large Matrass, and pour upon it by drop•
of good Oyl of Tartar, the double qua•∣tity
of the ☉, or until it be of the consist∣ence
of thin Mustard; then Seal it Her me•∣cally,
and keep it in digestion with a gentle
heat for two and fourty days, during which
time the Matter will putrifie and smell ve••
strong, and you shall see all the Colours ap∣pear
successively; take a little of it and was•
it well with warm {water} several times, then be∣ing
dry, put some of it upon a thin Pl〈…〉
red-hot, and if it melt without smoaking, 〈◊〉
Page 99

is a sign that it is all Mercurial, and well
prepared; but if it smoak, you must keep
it in digestion untill that sign appeareth:
Then wash and edulcorate it well from all
Saltness, and dry it very gently; then mix
it with seven parts of prepared Salt, put it
in a Cucurbite, which put in Sand, and give
a gentle fire for twelve or fourteen hours,
then increase the fire, and continue that de∣gree
as long; continue the Sublimation un∣til
all the Philosophical Calx be Sublimed:
Then gather carefully with a feather this
Sublimate, and put it in a Glass Mortar with
warm {water}, grinding it with a Glass Pestle for
an hour or two, then let it settle, and pour
off the {water}, put on fresh hot {water}, and grind it
untill the Matter come to be of the consist∣ence
of Mustard; then add good White-wine
Vinegar, and grind it until all be con∣verted
into running ☿.

Composition.
TAke ℥ss. of your Calx of ☉ prepared
and attenuated, as was said, put it in a
Glass Mortar, and pour upon it ℥iij. of the
S•lary ☿; the ☿ will suddenly swallow up its
Body, as one drop of {water} mixeth it self with
another; then squeeze out so much ☿ of this
aaa; that there remain but about two parts
Page 100

of ☿ with the ☉. Put this aaa in a Philo∣sophical
Egg, and pour upon it by little and
little of your Oyl of ☉ before-mentioned,
hold it over a gentle {fire}, and stir the Matter
with an Iron Rod, that all may well mix
and incorporate, pouring on so much of the
said Oyl, that it be of the consistence of thin
Mustard, and then you shall suddenly see
marvellous things, when the Soul of the
said• ☉ (which is its Oyl) entreth into the
Body of the ☉, by means of the Spirit, which
is the Solary ☿, and that by means of the
said Soul, the Spirit uniteth with its Body,
of three being made one; stop the Vessel
speedily, because of the fumes. The Body
of the ☉ which was dead before, being by
this only and admirable means animated, dig∣nified,
and filled with a Vegetative Life,
will thereby acquire an inward Power of
Multiplication, as well as the Sperms and
Seeds of all Animals and Vegetables, and
be made fit to grow and produce Fruit,
(being sowed in a fit Earth) which it could
not do before, because of that default. The
Vessel being Sealed Hermetically, put it in
Ashes in a brass Vessel in the shape of half a
boul; digest it with a Lamp {fire}. As for the
time, and the colours, mark what Trevesan
saith of it; for at the end of fourty days you
shall see the blackness: Continue the first
Page 101

degree of heat to whiteness, which will
appear within four Months: then augment
the {fire}, and continue until it come to be of
a Citrine colour, and then threre will be no
more danger. Increase the {fire} to the fourth
degree, and continue that, till your King ta∣keth
his Robe, and that the Matter suffer
Ignition without smoaking.

Hartman.) This Process was sent to Sir
K. D. in a Letter from Paris, by Abbot Bou∣caud,
with the following words. Sir,
I have sent you here inclosed a great Work
upon ♄, which Monsieur de Rouviere hath
given me; it cometh from a Man who ha∣ving
been carried away, and kept close in a
Castle, made at last his escape, and was con∣ducted
to the Duke D'Elboeuf, and Mon∣sieur
de Rouviere found the said Process un∣der
his Boulster.

The said Abbot sent to Sir K. D. also the following Process, which he saith he had from an intimate Friend, who assured him that it was a Reality.
TAke of a very good Oar of ♄ that was
never wet, or instead of it, take a true
and natural Mineral Lithargy, not Artifi∣cial;
pulverize it an grind it upon a Marble
stone with distilled {water}, several times distilled.
Page 102

Put your Oar of ♄, or Lithargy in one or
more Cucurbites, and pour upon it of the
aforesaid distilled {water}, or distilled Dew, so
much as may cover it the breadth of seven
or eight singers, cover it with a blind head,
and lute well all the junctures, and digest
for fourty days with a gentle heat, shaking
the Vessel often; when you perceive that the
Menstruum is coloured, decant the clear,
and put on fresh {water}, or take new Oar or
Lithargy and extract as before; filter the
Menstruum and distill it with a very gentle
heat. Take this Salt of ♄ and put it in a
Matrass, digest it with a Lamp {fire} with six
small wicks, and it will dissolve of it self,
and there will settle to the bottom some im∣purity
or feces; break the Matrass (being
cold) and take the pure part and put in into
another Matrass, dissolve it by digestion as
at first, separate the pure from the impure.
Repeat so often till this Salt leave no more
impurity. Then keep it carefully, until you
imploy it in the following Work.

Take of this Salt ten parts, and one part
of ☉ Mineral that hath not been melted,
put them together in a Matrass, Seal it Her∣metically,
and digest with a very gentle
heat, and there will loosen it self from the
Salt of ♄ some Spirits, which by falling
down again will dissolye the ☉ by little and
Page 103

little, and there will separate it self yet some
feces which are not useful for this work,
which you must separate. Take what is
clear and transparent, and put it in a Philo∣sophical
Egg, Seal it Hermetically, and di∣gest
it with a Lamp {fire} with a gentle heat,
continue the digestion without ever increa∣sing
the heat, &c. The said Abbot said, that
this was all he could have, or know of this
Work hitherto.

The said Abbot sent also the following Pro∣cess in a Letter from Paris.
MOnsieur de R's. Operation, by which
he fixeth ☿ into ☽ with the Salt of Sa∣turn
and ☽, is thus. He taketh one part of
☽, and three parts of ☿, whereof he maketh
an aaa, which he putteth in a Matrass,
and putteth upon it Saccharum Sa∣turni
(made the common way) about a
fingers breadth over the aaa; then he Seal∣eth
the Vessel, and digesteth it with a Lamp
{fire} with gentle heat, increasing the heat by
degrees, it passeth through all the colours;
and of one Marc of ☽, and three Marcs of
☿, there remained ℥xij. of fixed Matter that
suffered fusion and the Test.

He saith, that there should have remained
one Marc of the ☿ fixed, but the Operation
Page 104

was not well wrought. In another Letter
he saith, that there remained ℥iij. or iv. of
☿ fixed into ☽, which endured fusion and the
Test.

An Operation upon Jupiter.
DIstill a Menstruum out of Vitriol and
{sal armoniac}, with which make Sulphur naturae
Iovis: Make also with the same Menstruum
Sulphur nat. ☽, which dissolve into Oyl, and
with it insere Sulphur Iovis ad fusibilita∣tem,
and then project upon Iupiter.

Dunston thus: Having taken our white
Earth, you may putrifie it by it self, or with
the Calx of other Metals, and change its co∣lour
into a new white or red: Then ferment
it with the Oyl of ☉ or ☽, &c.

Riply (in his Viaticum) thus: Calcine
♃ into a most subtil Calx (for in it there is
pure ☿, not brought to its full perfection by
Nature) which is easily hardened with the
Oyl of ☽. Do your Work therefore with Tin
(until you are Rich ) because so the Work is
easily done, and at small charge.

Lullius (in his Magia Naturalis) thus:
Make Sulphur naturae (without which no∣thing
can be done) and thus of any Metal
(which he directeth to do in a very tedious
Page 105

way) then incere it with Oyl of Ferment
(as in his Pract. Brev. or Sermocinal) until
it be fluid; then it is a perfect Medica∣ment.

☉ & ☽ ex ♃.
TAke of the filings of ♃ lbj. Salt-petre
lbj. mix them, separate the Spirit from
the Anima by combustion, Subliming it in
so many Pots as you know: Dissolve the
Caput Mortuum (which will be fixt as a
stone, so that you may strike {fire} out of it by
collision) with ☿, that there may be a Re∣gulus
made of it, which pour out and make
into Rods, and cement them with store of
Calx-vive on a Circulary {fire}, then Coppel
them with Lead, and add to them fine ☽,
what then remaineth upon the Coppel is
good, and you will have considerable gain
by it, and by the separation of A. F. you
will have three parts of ☽, and one of ☉.

But when you melt your Caput Mortuum
of ♄ with {antimony} into a Regulus, as before, when
you have Precipitated them with Tartar, or
mixed them, then put your Regulus to
Coppel, and in it you will find ☉: See that
you do not cast away the Scoria, for you
will find Silver amongst it; Coppel it
therefore by it self with the follow∣ing
Page 106

Powder, so you will find ☽, which sepa∣rate
with A. F. (the Powder make thus.)

Take Chelamus (Bay Salt) melt, dissolve,
filtre, and coagulate it; melt it again, and
do this Work thrice: Then cast in this
Salt into the aforesaid Scoria (from which
you separated the Regulus) after you have
put it to Coppel, so your Work will be
done and accomplished speedily, and with
great fruit and profit in the applying the
fire.

Hartman.) The Famous Tachenius Re∣lates
(speaking of the malignity of Arsenick)
that there are some who can burn pure Tin
into Powder, which cannot again be reduced
into Tin by Vulgar Art, as other Metals; yet
with Arsenick it is made Scoria, part of which
by a singular Skill becometh pure ☽. Sigis∣mund
Wan, a Citizen in Voitland, knew
and practised this Art of Separation, to his
great benefit; for in the Year 1464 he Builded
and Endowed a great Hospital there, which,
as Gaspar Bruschius Relates, is at this day
to be seen, with the Epitaph of the aforesaid
Citizen.

Now, that ☽ may be got out of Tin with
Arsenick, Clavious proves in his Apology a∣gainst
Erastus Second Vol. Theatri Chym.
Fol. 39.

Page 107
A Worthy Gentleman lately related to me,
that he knew one, who told him, that out of
lbss. of Block-Tin he got so much ☉ as he sold
for 3s. 6d.

A short and clear Description of the great Phi∣losophick Stone.
The first Operation.
TAke Salt prepared, Nitre, and Roman
Vitriol, ana lbij. beat them into a small
Powder, mix them, and put them into a
Pot upon a slow fire, and moving them, cause
them to melt, that they may be dryed a lit∣tle.
Then take ☿ taken out of the Mine∣ral,
lbj, which being put into a Linnen
Cloath, squeeze it and pour it upon the hot
Matter, moving it with a Rod, until the Mer∣cury
is hid in the Matter; incorporate the
Mass well when it is cooled, in a Marble
Mortar; then dry it all in a Pot very slowly,
until it be so dry, that a Sword held over
the Po•, receive no moisture from it; then
put it into a Sublimatory, and Sublime it first
twelve hours, afterwards increase the fire,
that all the Mercury may be well Sublimed,
white as snow: So the ☿ lacking nothing of
its weight, will be associated with the invi∣sible
Sulphur of Vitriol, and purged from
Page 108

the Earth and its blackness; and if you will
Experiment that Conjunction, you may se∣parate
Sulphur of Vitriol from ☿ thus: Take
distilled Vinegar, q. v. quench burning Iron
several times in it, let your Sublimate stand
therein all Night, afterwards pass it three
times through a filtre, then set it upon a
slow fire; so a black scum will swim above
the Vinegar, which take off; then evapo∣rate
all the Vinegar with a slow fire, so you
will have an Excellent Sulphur of Vitriol;
and the ☿ will remain by it self in the bot∣tom.

The Second Operation.
THis teacheth to Extract the Quintessence
from this ☿ Sublimate thus: Make A. F,
as follows; Take Salt-petre and Vitriol, ana
lbj. beat them, then mix them together and
distill them with a slow fire in a glazen A∣lembick
on Ashes for eighteen hours, so that
nothing more can distill (but lute all so well,
that nothing exhale;) after the above-said 18
hours increase the fire by degrees, that the
Water may be distilled, and then continue
the same degree of heat until it begin to cease
to distill, and so proceed by degrees, until
nothing more can come from it: Let the
Vessels cool of themselves, and Seal the
Page 109

Recipient with gummed Wax; and when
you have put your Sublimate, being well
beat, in a strong Matrass, pour upon it of
this Water to the height of one or two fin∣gers
breadth, and immediately obturate it
well: Set the Matrass in Ashes on a slow fire
for the space of twenty four hours; and if
it be not then dissolved, if you pour ℥vij.
of Water upon it, add of {sal armoniac} well beaten ℥j.
or more; close it up presently, and set it up∣on
Ashes, so it will be dissolved: It is a very
great Secret. Then abstract all the Water,
(the junctures of the Vessel being carefully
stopped) by distillation on a slow fire of
Coals, even to dryness: Afterwards taking
off the Cap, cover it straight with a glazen
Operculum, lute it, and when you have in∣creased
the fire, the Quintessence of Mer∣cury
and Vitriol will ascend at the sides of
the Vessel; at last make the fire yet stronger,
that all the Quintessence may be well Sub∣limed,
which, when the Vessel is cooled,
keep carefully: Beat the black faeces, and
Sublime it once more, if perhaps any of the
Quintessence remain still amongst it, so you
shall have purged the Mercury, and imbibed
more of the Spirits of Vitriol existing in A. F.
Then dissolve and Sublime the Matter
(that is Sublimed) twice more after the
same manner, that no impurity may be
Page 110

left in it, so it will be whiter than Snow.

The Third Operation.
Beat this Matter, and put it into an
Earthen Urinal well glazed within,
which cover with an Earthen glazed head
like to a Paradi, that they may be exactly
joyned together; lute the junctures well, and
digest it eight days or more in an Athanor
on a slow fire of Coals; for otherwise it could
not be dissolved into Water.

The Fourth Operation.
PUT your Matter so dissolved into a Ma∣trass,
close it, and dissolve it in A. B.
into Water with a continual slow heat: Di∣still
this Water in a little Alembick on Ashes
with a slow fire of a Lamp, and Water of
Paradise will be distilled, (of which alone
the stone may be made by the Method after
described) one drop of which poured upon
a Plate of any red-hot Metal will throughly
whiten it within and without; (Note, that
the like may be done with the Lunary made
of ☽ and ♃ if they be pour•d on a Plate of
♀.) After the water is distilled, some faeces
will remain, which contain in them Earth,
Air, and Fire, which you may thus separate
Page 111

one from another: Beat those faeces, and di∣gest
them in an Athanor, as you did the
Quintessence before, afterwards dissolve them
the same way in M. B. At last distill with
a very strong fire in M. B. by an Alembick,
a white Oyl, which is called Air, which
when it ceaseth to drop any more, take off
the Recipient, and close well the nose of the
Alembick, and so let it cool of it self: Then
set the Alembick with a new Recipient on
Ashes, and draw off the red Oyl (which is
called fire) with a strong fire. Cast away
the Earth that remains.

The Fifth Operation.
IF you would make a Stone of Paradise
alone, or Virgins Milk, you need not
separate the Elements; but if you have se∣parated
them, do thus: Take of {fire} or red
Oyl part j. of Air, or white Oyl parts iv.
and of Virgins Milk parts viij. Put them
together in a Matrass with a short and nar∣row
Neck; in two other Matrasses put of
Virgins Milk, q. v. Seal them all Hermeti∣cally,
and so put them in an Athanor on a
slow fire of small coals burnt till they have
ceased from flaming, and so let them stand
till by several colours they attain a perfect
white: Then (if you will have the Stone
Page 112

white) you may take out one Matrass, leav∣ing
the other two (if you Operate with three
at once:) Then increase the fire sensibly,
because your Work cannot easily be marred,
and so proceed by degrees, until the Mat∣ter
is perfectly red.

The Sixth Operation.
IS Projection. Take an hundred parts of
☿ purged the common way, heat them
in a Crucible, and add to them part j. of
the white or red stone, and the whole
will be a Medicine. Then take of this Me∣dicine
part j. and Project it upon another
hundred parts of ☿, moving it with a Rod,
and afterwards melting it. Further, Project
of this, part j. in an hundred parts, and the
whole will be ☉ or ☽, according as the
stone is which you took: If you will Pro∣ject
upon other Metals, melt them, or do
them into thin Plates, and on them when
they are very hot Project part j. upon an
hundred, and set the Plates in the {fire} for
some time. If you would augment the ver∣tue
of the Stone in infinitum, dissolve it as
often as you please in B. M. and coagulate
it slowly in Ashes; let Iupiter and Saturn
be melted.

[illustration]


Page 113
The Seventh Operation
IS the Magistery of an Athanor, which
Build thus: Take of Magisterial Lute,
Potters Earth, Horse-dung, Paper carmi∣nated,
Hairs cut, make them all into a Paste
with Salt water and Vinegar, and with that
Paste build your Furnace; make a round
Wall four fingers breadth in height, with
Chimneys, set upon that Wall an Iron Plate
which hath four Supporters, by which it
may stay upon the Wall, leave some distance
between the interior sides of the Wall and
the exterior of the Plate, that the heat may
ascend by it; then raise the Wall to the
height of five Inches: Then make an earthen
Cap, which on the one side must have a
Window and convenient Door, by which
you may feel the heat, putting in your hand
at it, (which heat must be so moderate and
uniform, that you may endure to hold your
hand in the Athanor as long as you please;)
the Cap must be carefully luted within and
without, and set upon the Furnace and ag∣glutinated
with Clay: Afterwards, when
the Furnace is sufficiently dryed, set upon
it Glass Goblets, and set your Matrasses up∣on
them. Mind well all these things, and
consider the Figures cut in the Page over
Page 114

against this. Now, by the holes that are
made betwixt the Plate and the Wall, you
may increase or diminish the heat at your
pleasure. But note, that upon the Goblets,
above the Tripus and the Plate, you may
set an earthen Trencher, and set thereon an
Egg, which cover with another Trencher,
so that these two Trenchers joyned together
may be lifted up in the Air, and the Egg not
touch the sides of the Trenchers.

A Note from one that wrought the Stone.
I Have had certain notice of one that made
the Philosophers stone with Leaf-gold
and a clear {water}, that looked like Rock {water}, but
smelled strong. He who wrought it for
him (that is, attended the Lamp) said, he
had made his Liquor thrice before it would
dissolve the ☉. The last dissolved it by lit∣tle
and little, it became a yellow Aureal Li∣quor,
then thickened by little and little, at
length became a black thick broath, in the
end like melted Pitch: then changed several
colours, every one sparkling like Orient
precious Stones, and sparks like fire or Stars
rose in the Glass (which was a large Egg
Sealed Hermetically) then fell down again.
It was digested in Ashes made of old Bark
of Oak burned (unwashed) and the Au∣thor
Page 115

said, no other Ashes would serve. And
the heat was never greater, than that he could
endure the back of his hand upon the Ashes,
which was caused by a Lamp.

Hartman.) This Relation is of Sir K. D.

Lauremberg's Observations upon Angelus Sala his Synopsis of Aphorisms, 1624. in Quarto, pag. 4.
HE saith thus: I did so prepare fluid ☿,
that without the mixture of any thing
whatsoever imaginable, without any dis∣solving
Menstruum, it did acquire the form
of a most pure and transparent Liquor; nei∣ther
hitherto hath it lost this liquid form, but
is so liquid, that you would imagine it
had been brought from a Fountain, and
which you will more admire, being tasted,
it is void of all acrimony, and meerly in∣sipid;
(I add also this) that some Months
ago I reduced English ♃ into a fluid and
moist Liquor, without the least addition of
Menstruum, which humidity it not only con∣tinually
keepeth entirely to this day, but (so
far as I can see) will never lose it.

(Afterwards in the same page, he saith,)

I confess ingenuously, that not long ago,
I had the happiness of seeing at a Friends,
and feeling such an unfactitious Liquor (li∣quorem〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) whereby leaves of Gold
Page 116

and Silver were dissolved into a pliant and
fluid Liquor, without any noise or the least
suspition of Acrimony. This Liquor can
be no other than congealed Air, without
which the Life of Animals becomes no Life;
and there is no Body under the Sun in that
three-fold Kingdom that is destitute of it.
I had rather search its Medicinal Power with
silent speculation, than weary People with
tedious and fruitless Discourses.

Concerning May Dew.
MAY Dew is the true Minera of the
dissolvent. Aug. This Liquor is
such, that if it be gathered at a certain Sea∣son,
two Uses, &c. One, that hereby you
may infuse Gold in a Liquor of its proper
Seed, when you begin first to dissolve it, &c.
Cosmop. But this {water} is said to be the Men∣struum
of the World: Speaking of the Ele∣ment
of {water}, the Menstruum of the World is
tripartite, &c. the more pure resolved into
Air. There is in the Air an Occult Nourish∣ment
of Life, which we call Dew in the
Night, and in the day-time {water}, rarefied, who•e
invisible congealed Spirit is of more value
than the whole Earth, Idem. The princi∣pal
Matter of Metals is the Humidity of the
Air (the Aerial Substance) mixt with heat
Page 117

☿ prepared aforesaid is governed by the rays
of the ☉ and ☽ prepared in the Sea; not
one place or one Countrey will afford it you.
Experience testifieth, that ☉ is not sought
for save in Mountains, because it can be
seldom had in a Plain.

Flamel, Artefius, Pontanus, Zacaire, &c. Their Arcanum.
THis Stone is that about which the above∣named
Authors employed themselves:
It is composed of the Mineral Gluten, made
of ☿ and {antimony} Mineral, by the addition of the
Solary Ferment thus: Distil the Volatile
Crystals or Butter from ☿ {subli}mate and {antimony}, equal
parts: Or distill, or dissolve common ☿ in
A. F, Precipitate with Salt-water, and you
shall have a very white Calx, which dry,
and joyn it with as much of Calx of ♃, and
distill the Volatile Crystals thereof. These
Crystals are the Magnet, by means of which
the Universal form, or Spirit of the World
is attracted; which specifieth and determineth
it self in this matter, by resolution in the
Air in ♈, ♉, & ♊. Put this Liquor in a
Cucurbite, and digest for thirty days with a
very gentle heat with a Lamp, to the end,
that there may be a Natural distillation made
of the attracted Spirit, which will begin to
Page 118

come over invisibly the first or second day,
with the Idea of that which it draws, to wit,
the {antimony}, and of ☿, or with a universal Mineral
form, tending to Metallick. This Liquor
will continue coming over even unto the end
of fifty days; let not the heat exceed that of
ones hand. This Aethereal {water} is the {water} of
Paradise, or the Mineral astrum of Flamel's
two Dragons, the one is Volatile (which is
☿) and the other Rampant, which is the
{antimony}, which do not suffer to be touched nor at∣tacked,
until their Venemous scum (that is
to say, the Butter) have produced the Spi∣rit
of the Mercurial-wind, and the scum of
the Red Sea. Note, that within fifteen days
this Sea or Butter cometh to be very red, with
a gentle heat of a Lamp {fire} in Ashes; and
this is Flamel's Red Sea. This Aethereal {water}
penetrates all Metalline Bodies, (being Lu∣minated
and made red-hot) and tingeth them
into ☽. Two drops of this {water} being dissol∣ved
in ℥iv. of Spirit of Wine, maketh a Vir∣ginal
Milk, whereof the Dose is a spoonful:
It is a very gentle Emetick, because of its
crudity, or rather Mercurial Substance, where∣of
the vertue Operates upwards, because it
is moist and Airy. It Cures the Epilepsie by
the Character, which is imprinted into it, by
the word Fiat, and all astral Diseases, as far
as humane disposition permits. This is the
Page 119

Coelestial {water} which doth not wet ones hands
after its preparation; 'tis the ☿ of ☿, the
{water} or Centre of the Heart of ☿, and the
true extent of {antimony}, but it requires more Work.
Take this {water} (you must have a pretty great
quantity of it, and therefore you must have
ten, fifteen, or twenty pound of Volatile
Crystals) and put it in a Cucurbite, and
with a very gentle heat of a Lamp distill off
all the waterish moistness, which by careles∣ness
it might have contracted from the Air:
There will remain in the bottom a Gum, a
Syrup, a viscous {water}, a Radical Mineral moi∣sture,
which is the Eagles gluten above-men∣tioned,
which did fly the space of fifty days
continually; by means of this gentle heat,
the Gluten flies no more, but is the flying
Crapant and Zacair's Mercurial {water}, which is
congealed by cold, and liquified by heat.
The Authors before mentioned have digested
this Gluten per se in a Matrass Hermetically
Sealed, without the addition of a Solary Fer∣ment;
but afterwards they have been forced
to ferment the Powder which they made of
it. For to shorten the Work, take seven
parts, or nine or ten, or more of this Glu∣ten,
unto which by heat joyn one part of ☉
in leaf, or Sulphur of ☉ prepared by the Salt
Enixe (which is best) and digest in an A∣thanor,
or in Flamel's Furnace (which is
Page 120

very easie) until all the Matter have passed
through all the due colours, and come to be
of a purple Citrine colour; then have you
the Metalline Salt, the most high Tincture,
a Treacle made of Venom, a most Excellent
Medicine made of the greatest Poison. This
Medicine is multiplyed in quantity by new
addition of the afore-mentioned Gluten; in
quality, by dissolving in humido into a Li∣quor,
and purifying by digestion, and then
by fixation; Experience will teach other
things far better. This Method, although
it differs much from that of the greatest Phi∣losophers,
as Lully, Trevesan, Cosmopolite,
&c. (and being but particular in compari∣son
of that high Generalissima) nevertheless
it seems to be Universal in regard of Metals
and Minerals. Note, that you may also ex∣tract
a white and red. Oyl of that which re∣mains,
as was said before, and make a new
aurifique stone thereof, which those Authors
have not understood, or if they have under∣stood
it, they have not spoken of it. Note
also, that this Mineral {water} of Paradise, is the
Philosophers live ☉, and the ☿ of the Wise,
but not the Generalissima: And this {water} will
serve against all Maladies, for it drives them
out, according to the intention and inclina∣tion
of Nature.

Page 121
To prepare a Ferment or Sulphur of ☉.
MAke an aaa of ☉ or ☽, and ☿; grind
this aaa, then squeeze it through a
Leather, the Globe remaining in the Leather,
you must grind again, and then put it in a
Poringer, covered with another Poringer,
and lute them well together; then put them
to a gentle {fire} for half an hour: Then grind
it again, and digest it between the two Por∣ringers
as before. Repeat this so often till
the ☉ or ☽ be in Powder impalpable; then
incorporate this Powder with fresh ☿, grind
them together, and digest with a gentle {fire},
so that little or nothing may Sublime, and
if any thing Sublime, put it again to that
which remains in the bottom. Repeat this
last Operation (adding new ☿, grind and
digest as before) so often, till the whole
Body of ☉ or ☽ be converted into running
☿, and that all may be squeezed through
the Leather: Then put this ☿ animated into
a Porringer, which cover, and digest with a
gentle heat, so that nothing Sublime; conti∣nue
the digestion so long, until you see a thin
skin swimming upon the Matter, which take
off carefully (it will be of the colour of ☉
or ☽) put the Matter upon the {fire} again, in∣crease
the heat a little, taking off the thin
Page 122

skin as it riseth; continuing so long until the
Matter produce no more thereof: And thus
you shall have the Sulphur of ☉ or ☽.

An Operation that Monsieur de I'Oberye wrote from Monsieur John's Mouth.
TAke the Mother-liquor of Salt-petre,
let it run cold through washed Sand,
then filter it by Languetes, then through
gray paper: Then evaporate with very gen∣tle
heat, putting down the skins as they rise
upon the Liquor; the remaining Salt being
dry, grind it, and put it to resolve into Li∣quor
in a Cellar, then filter and evaporate
as before. Repeat this purification five or
six times, or so often, till it leave no more
feces in the filter. If you take lbx. of this
Liquor, you shall have but lbij. ℥viij. of pu∣rified
Salt: Of this lbij. ℥viij. you shall have
℥x. of Spirit, by distilling it per se in Re∣•orts
in Sand; you must put but lbss. of this
Salt into each Retort; deflegm it in B. Take
the Caput Mortuum, and grind it, and dis∣solve
it in a Cellar; filter, and congeal, re∣peating
this two or three times: Then being
very dry, joyn ℥iij. of it with ℥j. of the
rectified Spirit; digest and circulate eight
days with gentle heat in Ashes, and all will
be a {water} of the colour of Amber. Put one
Page 123

part of ☉ into ten parts of this Liquor, and
it will dissolve it (cold) in less than a quar∣ter
of an hour: Decant the dissolution when
it is clear; one drop thereof taken in a little
broath, is a great Corroborant.

Put ☿ revived from Cinaber into the dis∣solution•
of ☉, and it will become like a
Gum, decant the clear, and put the ☿ to dry,
and it will become hard; melt it between
two beds of Calcined Egg-shells in a Cruci∣ble,
and you shall have good ☉.

Venus into ☽: Sent me by Monsieur de Beaulieu.
TAke fixt Arsenick ℥viij. fixt Nitre ℥iv.
Oyl of Tartar prepared, as shall be
taught hereafter, ℥xij. {sal armoniac} fixt, ℥xv. Let
them all resolve into Liquors in a moist place
every one by it self; then take these Liquors
and mix them together, and filter them, then
put to them ℥iij. of Oyl of ☿, and ℥viij.
of ☽ (prepared and dissolved in the Liquor
of fixt {sal armoniac} and fixt Sulphur) mix all well to∣gether,
and put it in a Matrass, and digest
in fimo for fourty days, changing the dung
every eight days: Then decant the clear,
and the feces remaining in the bottom, dis∣solve
in the Liquor of fixt {sal armoniac}, and put it to
the rest of your Liquors; filter it three or
Page 124

four times: Then distill it in a Cucurbite
with a gentle {fire} in B. M. (not boyling)
distill to dryness, and you shall have a white
Matter like a stone, and clear like a Pearl:
And to know whether it be perfected, put a
little of it upon a red-hot Plate of Copper,
and if it melt like Wax, and penetrate
through the Plate without smoaking, leaving
the said Plate white where it hath touched,
it is a sign of an entire perfection; but if
you find that it is not yet fusible, and that
it smoak yet, grind it upon a stone with a
pint of {water} distilled from whites of Eggs, and
distilled three times upon lbj. of Quick-lime,
grind it with the said {water}, until it be of the
consistence of Pap; then put to it four times
its weight of Liquor of fixt {sal armoniac}; digest in
fimo for eight days only, then congeal it as
before, so is it perfect. Project ℥j. of this
Matter upon lbv. of prepared ♀, and some∣time
after cast a little piece of Wax into it,
at three or four times; then cover the Cru∣cible,
and leave it in fusion for some hours.

The Multiplication.
DIssolve ℥viij. of this Matter in lbj. of
the {water} of whites of Eggs, then add
℥iv. of Liquor of fixt Arsenick, digest in
fimo for fifteen days; then distill and con∣geal
Page 125

it as before, so is it multiplyed. If you
reiterate this Multiplication several times,
the Matter will remain in a Liquor, which
will project upon great quantity of Venus.

To fix the {sal armoniac} for this Work.
TAke lbj. of {sal armoniac} in small pieces about the
bigness of a Wall-nut; make a Paste
with Quick-lime and whites of Eggs, with
which endew the said pieces of {sal armoniac}, let them
dry, then stratifie them in a Crucible with
Powder of Quick-lime, let the beds of the
Quick-lime be about a fingers thick; then
put the Crucible to a Circulary {fire}, which
increase and approach once in a quarter of
an hour, at last, cover it with Coals, and let
it stand so for half an hour: Then take out
the {sal armoniac} (the Crucible being cold) and wipe
off the Powder of Quick-lime, then dissolve
the {sal armoniac} in fair {water}, filter and congeal it; dis∣solve
it in a Cellar into an Oyl, which keep
for use.

To fix the Arsenick.
TAke equal parts of Arsenick and Nitre,
grind them, then mix them together;
fill a Crucible half full with this Powder, fill
it up with Salt of Tartar; cover this Cruci∣ble
Page 126

with another that hath a little hole in the
bottom, lute them, and set them in a Cir∣culary
{fire}, the {fire} being half a foots distance
from the Crucible; increase and approach
the {fire} once in half an hour about two inches,
and when you perceive no more smoak come
from the Matter through the little hole, put
the {fire} close to the Crucible, and at last co∣ver
it with Coals, and keep it so covered
for twelve hours, then let it cool, and grind
it, then dissolve it in a Cellar, and keep the
Liquor in a Glass close stopped.

To fix the Sulphur for this Work.
TAke ℥v. of Quick-lime, slacken it in six
quarts of fair {water}, and having stood
twenty four hours, filter it, and put it in a
Kettle; then take ℥viij. of flowers of Sul∣phur,
tye it up in a Linnen Bag, which
hang in the water in the Kettle, make it boyl
for an hour, and you shall have a Sulphur
incombustible.

Oyl of ☿.
TAke ℥iv. of Sublimate in fine Powder,
put it in a Crucible, and pour upon it
lbj. of fine ♃ melted, stir it well together;
then being cold, put it upon a clean Iron
Page 127

Plate in a Cellar, and you shall have an Oyl
or Liquor.

To prepare the ♀ for this Work.
TAke Arsenick one part, decrepitated Salt
two parts, pulverize and mix them to∣gether;
then stratifie with this Powder some
thin Plates of ♀, cement them for two days,
then put them to a strong {fire} for six hours;
then wash these Plates from the Salts, and
beat them to Powder, wash the Powder with
Vinegar, and then with {water} two or three times;
then with Soap make a Paste thereof, which
put in a Crucible, that hath a hole in the
bottom, put this Crucible in another Cruci∣ble,
and so melt down the Powder of ♀, and
it will run through the hole into the other
Crucible, and you shall have a very white
♀, and well prepared for Projection.

To prepare the Salt of Tartar for this Work.
TAke equal parts of Tartar and Quick∣lime,
powder them, and mix them well
together, put this in a Pot, cover it close,
and put it in a Potters Oven when he burns
his Pots; then make a Lixivium of it with
Rain {water}, which filter and evaporate to dry∣ness,
Page 128

mix this Salt again with the same quan∣tity
of Quick-lime, and Calcine it in a Pot∣ters
Oven as before. Repeat this five or six
times; then dissolve this Salt in distilled Vi∣negar,
distill and cohobate so often, till it
will no more congeal into a Salt, but that it
remain like melted Wax in the bottom, which
pour out, and keep it for Use.

To prepare the ☽ for this Work.
DIssolve ℥viij. of ☽ in ℥viij. of Spirit of
Nitre, then Precipitate with Salt {water},
the Powder of ☽ being settled, and the {water}
clear, decant; then edulcorate the Powder
and dry it, then dissolve it again in Spirit of
Nitre as before; Precipitate, Edulcorate, and
dry the ☽ as before. Repeat once more, three
times in all, then put it in a Matrass, and
digest it eight days in Sand. So is it prepa∣red,
and fit to be further prepared, and dis∣solved
in the Oyl of fixt {sal armoniac}, and fixt Sul∣phur.

Transmutation of ☿ into a Regulus.
PRecipitate Butter of {antimony} with warm {water}
once, without further edulcoration; dry
it gently, then add a fourth part of ☿, and of
black Soap, and Salt of Tartar, of each as
Page 129

much as needeth to make a Paste, whereof
make little Bullets, which put in a Retort
well luted; distill in a naked {fire}, with a
strong sudden {fire}, and the Matter being melt∣ed,
you shall have a Regulus as white as ☽,
which must be melted three or four times to
have it finer and whiter.

Calx of ☉.
MOnsieur Le Febore shewed me a very
subtil and Spungy Calx of ☉, he had
made thus: Purifie ☉ to its greatest height,
beat it very thin, and cut it into small pieces,
heat one part of them in a Crucible, and six
parts of cleansed ☿ in another: Make an aaa
in due manner, stirring a while with an Iron
Rod, then throw it into cold {water}; squeeze
out as much ☿ as you can through Chambo∣leather:
To the remaining Globe put double
as much flowers of Sulphur, grind them well
together: Put this mixture into a capacious
Crucible, and gently burn away the Sul∣phur,
and evaporate the ☿, reverberating
the Calx three or four hours after all is gone
away. Repeat all this Work twenty or
thirty times; then reverberate it under a
Mussle with so gentle heat, that it melt not,
the longer the better: Then burn S. V. three
or four times from it; Qu•re, Of grinding
Page 130

the Calx long with pure Virgin Honey, then
dissolving it in a large quantity of pure di∣stilled
warm {water}, and letting it stand warm
till all the Calx be settled to the bottom:
Also of grinding the Calx with purified Salt
of Tartar, then reverberating the Mass, and
lastly, dissolving the Salts in warm {water}, and
letting the Calx settle, as with the Honey:
I think it will be a very subtil Calx, to dis∣solve
the ☉ in A. R. of Nitre and {sal armoniac}; then
Precipitating it with Spirit of Urine, or with
a Marinated {water}, made by dissolving the fixed
Salt of Urine in pure distilled Rain or Spring
water.

A pretty Curiosity, To make Metals Vegetate visibly.
CAlcine white and transparent River Peb∣bles,
extinguish them in {water} to have a
Calx thereof, which reduce into subtil Pow∣der
with equal parts of Tartar and Nitre
(fulminated together) taking double quan∣tity
of this fusible Salt: Dissolve this Mat∣ter
upon a Marble stone or Glass in a moist
place, and you shall have a Liquor, which
filter: Take about ℥ij. of this Liquor, put
it in a Viol, and put into it about ℥ij. (or
less) of the Calx of any Metal, dissolved
in its Acid Menstruum; Then evaporate to
Page 131

the consistence of a Calx: Let it stand, and
so soon as it is cold you shall see the Metal
Vegetate, and shoot out into branches, which
will be of different colours if you put in the
Calx of divers Metals: This is fine and plea∣sant
to behold. Note, that it is to be ob∣served
in general, that the cause of Vegeta∣tion
is the encountring of an Airy Acid with
a fixt Alkali; and it is thus, that Quick-lime
Calcined with common Salt into an Alkali,
being spread upon Barren ground, fatneth
it, and maketh it fruitful, causing Vegetables
to grow, by contracting the Acid of the Air
and its Volatile Salt.

To engender Cray-fishes.
IT is to be observed first, that to do this
Operation well, you must do it at the
increase of the ☽, and in the sign of Cancer,
if possible, or at least in any other Aquatick
sign.

Then take a parcel of the said Cray-fishes,
taken in Brooks or small Rivers, being
all alive; divide them into two parts, put
one part thereof into an earthen Pot not
glazed, cover it with its cover, or with ano∣ther
Pot, lute them well, and put them to
Calcine for seven or eight hours with a strong
{fire}, until they be well Calcined, and fit to
Page 132

be reduced to Powder in a Marble Mortar:
Then take the other Part, (being also all
alive) and boyl them in River {water}, like un∣to
that wherein they w•re taken, then pour
off the {water}, which being cold, put it in a
wooden Vessel, or of Earth, and into about
a pail full of this {water}, put about half a hand∣ful
of the Powder of the aforesaid Calcined
Cray-fishes, stir it well together with a stick,
then let it stand to settle, without stirring it
at all, and within a few days you shall see
as it were many Atoms appear in the {water},
which are the breeding Cray-fishes, moving
in the {water}; when you see them as big as a
small button, you must feed them with Bul∣locks
blood, casting a little thereof into the
{water}, from time to time, which in time will
make them grow of their natural bigness.
You must observe, that before you put the
{water} into the Vessel, you must first put some
Sand into it, so much that the bottom of it
may be covered about a fingers breadth.

To make Oyl of Talc.
TAke one part of Venice Talc, and two
parts of pure Nitre, both in subtile
Powder, put them in a Wind-Furnace to
Calcine with a strong {fire} for seven or eight
hours: Then take out the Crucible, and beat
Page 133

the Matter to subtil Powder, and wash it
perfectly well with fair {water}, till you have
brought away all the Saltness of it; then dry
the Talc well, and Calcine it again with
two part of new Nitre, all as you did be∣fore,
and dulcifie the Salt from it. Repeat
these Calcinations, and dulcifications four
times, that the Talc may be perfectly white
and well Calcined, and in exceeding subtil
Powder: Then put it into a strong Glass
Bottle, half full, and stop it close, and
set it in a great quantity of Ice or Snow, that
the extream cold may penetrate into it (for
therein consisteth the Secret) but the Ice or
Snow must not actually touch the Bottle, but
it must be set in a Box of Wicker, fit for it,
made like a Cage, that it be all open between
the Barrs or Osiers, and in two or three
Months all the Talk will be converted into
a pure clear white Liquor, which is Excel∣lent
for the Face and Skin, and will make
Scarlet white, being dipped in it.

An Excellent Cosmetick prepared out of ☽.
TAke refined ☽, one part, Sal gemmae, two
parts; beat the ☽ into very thin Plates,
•stratifie them with the Sal gemmae in Pow∣er
in a Crucible well luted with another
Page 134

upon it: Cement for twenty four hours, then
open the Crucible, and if you find the ☽
well Calcined, it is enough; if not, strati∣fie
it with fresh Sal gemmae, and Cement as
before: Then edulcorate the ☽ with warm
{water}; then grind it into a subtil Powder, pour
upon this Powder a well rectified S. V. di∣gest
until the S. V. is tincted blew; then
decant, and put on fresh S. V. Repeat this
until you have extracted all the Tincture
out of the ☽. Then evaporate the S. V. with
a very gentle heat (or rather distill it gently)
and there will remain in the bottom of the
Cucurbite a Matter like Pomatum: Put up∣on
this Pomatum a Spirit of Wine rectified
upon Salt of Tartar, and after a little di∣gestion,
distill off the S. V. in a Retort, and
part of the Tincture will come over with
the S. V. and will leave the Pomatum whiter
than it was before. Repeat this Work with
new S. V. (Tartarized) so often, till the
S. V. bring over no more Tincture, and
that the Pomatum remain in the bottom as
white as Snow, which is Excellent to whiten
the Face.

Page 135
Another way to make Oyl of Talc.
REduce Talc of Venice into exceeding
subtil Powder, mingle ℥ij. thereof
with ℥ij. of pure leaf Silver, grind them ex∣ceedingly
well together, to incorporate them
perfectly well: Then reverberate them for
fifteen or twenty days, after which grind
them again very subtilly, and put them in∣to
a Matrass of Glass, and set it in fimo for
thirty or fourty days, changing the dung
every six or eight days, that the heat may
be always in a good degree: You shall find
a pure clear Oyl, which will blanch Pearls,
the Face and Skin in other parts, and do all
the things that are said of Oyl of Talc.

Another way to make Oyl of Talc.
TAke of Venice Talc in great pieces, as
much as you please, make it red-hot in
the {fire}, then quench it by cessing it into Oyl
of Tartar; fire it again, and extinguish it
as before. Do thus two or three times, and
it will be throughly Calcined, so that you
may crumble it into small Powder with your
fingers; beat it in a Mortar, and pass it
through a fine searse of Silk; what passeth
not, Calcine it in a Crucible, and extinguish
Page 136

again: It will be perfectly Calcined by ex∣tinctions
in fair {water}, but then it will require
ten or twelve Ignitions and extinctions.

Take your subtil Calx of Talc (which
will be perfectly white) made either way,
and put to it some distilled Vinegar to swim
two or three fingers breadth over it, and put
it to digest in very gentle heat eight or ten
days, and you shall see a beautiful Oyl or
Cream swim at the top of the Liquor, skim
it off, and dry it with gentle {fire}, and it will
be a saline substance, which put into a Blad∣der,
and hang it in a Well near the {water}, but
not to touch it, and in a few days it will
resolve into a pure Oyl, which is Excellent
for the Face. Or, with long remaining in
a moist place, without putting it into distil∣led
Vinegar, this Calx will resolve into Oyl:
Try to extinguish the Talc in dew, &c. (Be
sure that in all this Work you touch nothing
with Iron.)

To burn holes in Glass.
WHen Mr. Gore would make a hole in
the belly of a Retort or Matrass, or
Receiver of Glass, he did thus: Have some
Cotton-yarn well Sulphured, lay it round
like a Snake upon the Glass, filling as much
space as you would have the capacity of the
Page 137

hole, make a Circle of Tin, or the like, to
keep it in (but be sure there be not the least
moisture upon the Glass, nor that it be very
cold, for then it will break) set the Cot∣ton
on fire with a burning Coal laid upon it,
and so let it burn on, putting up within its
compass the burning yarn (with a Bodkin)
if it chance to stretch, or swell wider than it
should, make your heat and burning gentle
and moderate at first, that you may increase
it by degrees, by crumbling Sulphur in Pow∣der
upon the burning Matter, if you find it
needeth.

When it hath burned a while, try gently
by touching it with a little stick of Wood,
whether the piece of Glass under the burn∣ing
Cotton will fall in or out, but press not
too hard, for fear of cracking that which
should be whole; for when it is enough, it
will fall in with the least touch, and leave a
compleat hole without any cracks in the
Glass besides. If you touch the heated glass
with any moisture, you not only make that
which you would have separated away to
fall in, but you will crack and split what
you would have remain solid. You may
put a Linnen Cloath in the Glass, for the
piece to fall upon, lest it should break the
Glass when it falleth in.

Page 138

A Description of a most convenient and very
useful Furnace, which will not only serve
for many Operations, as Melting, Calci∣ning,
Vitri•ying, Reverberating, Distilling,
Subliming, Digesting, &c. But also for
Coppelling, in small and great quantity,
and that with the greatest facility that
can be; so that neither Coals nor Ashes can
fall into the Coppel, neither can the heat of
the {fire} incommodate you by reflecting in
your Face and Eyes.

The Fabrick of this Furnace, with its
Structure see in the next Figure.

An Explanation of this Figure.
A. IS the whole Fabrick, which may be
Built (of good Bricks) about two
foot four inches in length; one foot six in∣ches
in breadth; and about two foot four
inches high.

B. Is the fire place, which must be round,
of the best and hardest Bricks (it may also
be made of a fire stone) it must be eight
inches deep, and eight inches diameter; at
the bottom of it you may lay either a close
grate, or a thick Iron Plate full of holes.

C. Is the Ash-hole & Receptacle of the blast
or wind issuing from the Bellows, which must
Page 139

be very close, and the stopper fit the mouth of
it exactly, to shut very close, so that the wind
may find no vent any where out but up∣wards
through the grate; this hole needeth
be but four inches deep, from the grate down
to the bottom; the Ashes must be taken out
of it from time to time, that they may not
stuff up the place.

D. Is the Coppelling-place, which may
be about seven or eight inches in length, and
six inches wide, and about four or five in∣ches
deep.

E. Is the gap, through which the flame
reverberates from the Furnace into the Cop∣pelling-place,
it is about four inches wide,
about two or three deep, and two inches in
length.

F. is the Pipe or Chimney, which draw∣eth
the flame.

G. Is a hole, through which you may put
Fewel into the Furnace, to avoid uncover∣ing
of it, when it is covered, as it must be
when you Coppel; you must have a stopper
exactly fitted to it.

H. Is a hollow place under the Coppel∣ling-place,
which may serve to put Coals
in.

I. Is an Iron Hoop about an inch high,
such as the Refiners use to make Coppels in,
you may have them of what bigness you
Page 140

please; at the bottom are fastened two flat
Iron Bars, to hold the bone-ashes, having no
other bottom.

To use this Furnace, you must have a
pair of Smiths Bellows, of a midling size;
which (if there be not room in your La∣boratory
to fix them below) you may fix
above ground, and so they will not incum∣ber
your Operatory below; and for the con∣ducting
of the Wind, you may have a
square Pipe of Wood, made like an Organ-pipe,
to come down from the nose of the
Bellows through the Wall of the Furnace
into the Ash-hole; and to the pearch
you may tye a piece of Rope with a
wooden handle at the end, to pull by in
blowing the said Bellows.

In all the Operations I do in this Furnace
(even when I Coppel) I use nothing but
small Sinder from the Glass-House, which
are not so heady as Charcoal.

Directions how to Coppel in this Furnace; and first, how to make a Coppel.
TAke such an Iron Hoop, set it upon a
sheet of brown paper to save the bone-Ashes
(that else you might scatter;) then fill it
with a sufficient quantity of bone-ashes, first
moistened with {water}, so that they hold toge∣ther
Page 141

when you press them in your hand;
stamp them well down with the end of an
Iron Pestle, and make the Coppel very close
and hard every where, then make it hollow
in the middle, that it may hold the Matter
you mean to Coppel without running over;
make it very smooth, then set it into the
Coppelling-place, and raise it with any sifted
Ashes, or with a piece of a fire-stone, so that
the top of it may be level with the lower
part of the gap. Then cover the Coppel∣ling-place
with two bricks, (I use two bricks,
because I can lift up one of them to put the
Metal into the Coppel, and leaving the other
brick, the Coppel is not all uncovered, as it
would be if it were covered with one whole
stone.) Then having kindled the {fire} in the
Furnace, cover it as before, and blow the
Bellows, and the flame finding no way out,
is forced and driven into the Coppelling-place,
where it reverberates upon the Cop∣pel,
which when you see that it is well nealed,
lift up one end of the hithermost brick, and
put in the ♄, the quantity whereof must be
proportioned according to the impurity of
the Matter you mean to Coppel; if it be Ster∣ling
☽, you must take four parts of ♄ to one
of ☽; if it be any other mixture of impure
Metal, you must take five, six, or seven parts
of ♄ to one of the Metal, according to the
Page 142

impurity of it. Govern the {fire} so, that the
Coppel may always work and flow, and you
may leave a little space between the two
bricks, through which you may look into
the Coppel to see how it worketh, and if you
see that it requires more flame than the Sin∣ders,
or Charcoal will afford, you may put
into the Furnace a round thick piece of wood;
but you must observe, that when the Cop∣pelling-place
is come to be red-hot all over,
and the bricks also that cover it, the Coppel
will then work with a very gentle {fire}, so that
then you must blow but gently; for if then
you should give strong {fire}, the Matter in the
Coppel would boyl too fast, and would spat∣ter
about.

Instead of an Iron Hoop, many times I
use but an earthen Porringer, to make a Cop∣pel,
filling up the Coppelling-place with any
Ashes round about the Coppel, and find that
it doth altogether as well, only that it serves
but for once. Note, that whilst you Cop∣pel,
or neal the Coppel, you may make Re∣gulus,
if you have occasion, or melt any
other Metal at the same time. This Fur∣nace
doth far exceed any ordinary Wind-furnace;
for I can at any time make a par∣cel
of Regulus, or melt any Metal before the
{fire} would kindle in an ordinary Wind-fur∣nace,
and that with much less charge. In
Page 143

this Furnace you may distill with a luted
Retort in a naked {fire}, by leaving two little
holes in the Wall of it to put two small Iron
bars in, to set the Retort upon; you may al∣so
distill in it, in Sand, both in a Retort and
in a Cucurbite, by putting an Iron Pot into
the Furnace with Sand, and laying some
Brick with Clay about the Pot, to inclose
that part of the Pot (or luted Retort) that
stands out of the Furnace, and you may give
what degrees of {fire} you will, from the first
and lowest, to the fourth and highest de∣gree.

The End of the First Part.


CHYMICAL
SECRETS.

The Second Part.

CONTAINING
Many Rare and Excel∣lent
Medicines, Choice Men∣struums,
and Alkahests: The true
and only way to Volatilize the
fixt Salt of Tartar, and to Cor∣porifie
Spirit of Wine, which is
Aqua sicca in forma Salis, and is
the true Vegetable Menstruum.

Never before Published.

LONDON,
Printed for the Author. 1682.


Page 147
CHYMICAL SECRETS.
The Second Part.
A Real and True way to Volatilize the Salt of Tartar, and Corporifie Spirit of Wine, as it was wrought by a Noble Per∣son beyond Sea, and by him Communicated unto me.
HE took but lbj. of Tartar well Calci∣ned,
and dissolved it in the Air, free
from the Sun, then filtred, and congealed
in a Glass Vessel, then he Calcined it as the
Dutch-man doth (in the next Process) to
keep it glowing hot for six or eight hours,
then dissolved it again in the Air, and filtred,
Page 148

congealed, and calcined as before. He re∣peated
this ten times, then dissolved it in di∣stilled
Vinegar (he used Spanish and French
Vinegar;) the whole Secret (as he saith)
consisteth in well distilling of the Vinegar,
which must be done in B. M. but it must be
so gentle, that you may receive the flegm
by it self; and as soon as you perceive that
the drops come Acid, change the Recipient,
putting on another, and then distill the Spi∣rit
with a stronger fire, so that you may tell
eight or nine between every drop: Conti∣nue
distilling until it become like a Syrup,
then change the Recipient again, and distill
with a stronger fire until it begin to smell of
the fire, and that it be almost dry. Recti∣fie
this last and strongest part by it self, and
put it to the weaker part, (keeping the
flegm by it self for another use) and recti∣fie
it together so often until there remain
not the least spot at the bottom of the Glass
after the distillations, which must be to dry∣ness
every time, and every time in a clean
Retort: This is not a strong Spirit of Vine∣gar,
nor needs it be, but this will do the Work.
Then take ℥vij. or viij. of your Salt of Tar∣tar,
and dissolve it in as much of the said
Spirit, or more, as will dissolve it; let it
stand, and it will settle some black feces;
then filter it, and congeal, and calcine it as
Page 149

before, but not with so strong a fire; it must
be scarce red-hot, and one hour will suffice;
grind it while it is hot, and dissolve it again
in new distilled Vinegar as before, let the
feces settle, then filter it, congeal and cal∣cine
again as before. Repeat this, till it leave
no feces behind, which will be in Seven or
Eight times, if you have wrought well; then
when it is very dry, take ℥j. of it to make a
tryal, put it into a clean Glass body, and
pour upon it so much high rectified Spirit
of Wine, as will not only moisten it, but
that it be very thin; let it stand thus twenty
four hours close stopped in a very gentle
heat, that it may be but Blood-warm; then
distill with a gentle fire. If the Spirit stays,
and the flegm come away, then proceed with
the whole parcel; but if not, you must con∣tinue
the dissolution in distilled Vinegar,
Filtration, Coagulation, and Calcination,
as before, until you find (by trying) that
the Spirit stayeth with the Salt, which it will
do in a few times: Then proceed with the
rest of the parcel in the same manner as you
did with the Ounce; continue the imbibition
and distillation with Spirit of Wine so often,
till the Spirit of Wine come away as strong
as it was put on. Then here lyeth the Se∣cret,
to Sublime it: Dissolve the said Salt of
Tartar impregnated in the flegm of your
Page 150

distilled Vinegar, or in a very weak Spirit
of Wine, using no more of the dissolvent
than will dissolve it; shake them well toge∣ther,
and it will instantly dissolve all the best
and finest part of the Salt of Tartar, and
leave the course part of it, for that will not
so easily dissolve, Pour off the dissolution,
and filter it, then put it into a Cucurbite,
and distill off the flegm off the Vinegar, or
the weak Spirit of Wine, and then will the
dry Spirit, or Aqua Sicca ascend like the
purest Isickles dry that ever you saw; and
this is the true Volatile Salt of Tartar, and
Spirit of Wine, in forma Salis, and is the
Vegetable Menstruum, which will dissolve
leaf ☉ into an Oylish Substance in a very
gentle heat.

The Tartar which remaineth in the bot∣tom
of this Sublimation you must put to
that which was left undissolved by the flegm
of Vinegar, or weak Spirit of Wine, and
Proceed to fix more Spirit of Wine upon
that, being first Calcined, but not so long,
nor with so strong a fir• as formerly; and
then dissolve it once in the Ai•• and it will
leave more feces at this time than at any time
before; then filter and congeal, and dissolve
it in distilled Vinegar• as before. And now
you shall do more in three times than you
did all the times before, for the Tartar is
Page 151

altered in its Nature; then proceed with it
as before, imbibing with S. V. And thus
you may fix as much S. V. as you please,
and Sublime as many pure and clear Crystals
as you please.

Note, That when your Spirit of Wine is
fixed on the Tartar, it will be as sweet as
Sugar; but when it is separated, as above-said,
the Tartar will be of its old Nature,
but fit to be impregnated again with much
less trouble.

The Dutch-mans Process of Volatilizing Salt of Tartar, and Corporifying Spirit of Wine, is thus:
HE dissolveth his Tartar Calcined in di∣stilled
Rain {water}, and being settled, fil∣ters
and congealeth, then Calcineth it for six
or eight hours, so that it be only glowing
hot, and no more: Then Powder it, and
dissolve it, filter, congeal, and reverberate,
as before; and this he doth sixteen or
eighteen times, until the Tartar settle little
or no feces. Then take four or eight Ounces
of it (or what you please) and put it into
a Cucurbite, and pour upon it the best recti∣fied
Spirit of Wine, so much, that it may
be well moistened, but not to swim over it.
Then he digesteth it in B. M. for a day, and
Page 152

then gently distills it off, but the Spirit of
Wine •scendeth, and will not stay; when
it is dry, he puts the Spirit of Wine back
again upon it, and distilleth as before; and
this he doth so often (twelve or fourteen
times) and then it will hold the Spirit of
Wine, and the flegm will come away: This
he doth with new Spirit of Wine; and when
he findeth that a pretty quantity is congealed
with the Tartar, he grinds it (being very
dry) and mixeth it with three parts of good
Bole-Armony, and puts it into a Retort,
and distilleth a Spirit from it by degrees of
fire, forcing it strongly at last, and it will be a
yellow Spirit, which he deflegmeth once,
and then dissolveth his Calx of ☉ in this
Monstruum, which by digestion extracts all
the Tincture of ☉, and leaveth the Body
which, tinging it self of a pure red. Of
this he giveth two or three drops in a little
Sack, which doth Miracles (as he saith.)

He maketh his red Calx of ☉ thus:
DIssolve fine ☉ past through Antimony
in A. •. then put water into it, and
then cast in ☿, and all will become like a
H•par; then wash the aaa, and grind it with
three times as much prepared Salt, and di∣still
it in a Retort; then edulcorate the Calx,
Page 153

and grind ℥j. of it with three of Cinaber,
and then reverberate it by degrees gently:
This he doth twice a day, and repeateth it
eleven or twelve times, and it will be a most
subtil red Calx, like Scarlet in colour.

Elixir ex vino & Sole.
TAke the best Odoriferous Rhenish-wine
five Gallons, separate its Spirit and
Salt, rectifie the one, and purifie the other;
then acuate the Spirit with another prepared
•alt, and at last joyn it to its own pure Cry∣stalline
Salt; then is it a true Aqua vitae
Philosophorum. This must dissolve a well
prepared Calx of ☉, and by a continued
circulation unite with it; then by Sublima∣tion
be fixt together, and lastly, by Solution
and Coagulation become incombustible Oyl,
which is a great Medicine.

Monsieur Toysonnier wrought thus:
TAke fresh Urine of young Boys, fill
one Pot with it, and evaporate it away,
next Morning put on fresh, and evaporate;
do thus three or four days, then evaporate
to a Honey, and that you feel a Ponticifie
smoak from it, then cease, and put your
Honey into an earthen Vessel, and expose it
Page 154

to Celifie in the Air. As soon as it is cold,
it will be hard, but the Air will resolve it:
Make thus what quantity of Honey you
please: Celifie them four days, then have
another earthen Pot, covered with a rever∣sed
one that hath a hole in the bottom, fasten
thereon a neck of a Cucurbite of Glass, ten
or twelve inches long, upon which a Retort,
with the bottom out for a head, to which
fasten a great ballon. He did put fifteen
pound of Honey into his Pot, and with a
gentle fire first distilled off the Spirit and Vo∣latile
Salt; these be put upon new Honey,
and in Balneo distilled a purer Spirit and Vo∣latile
Salt; (the flegm that followed, if put
upon new Honey, will become pure Spirit
and Salt) draw the fixed Salt out of all the
Caput Mortuums; put ℥xij. of the Spirit up∣on
as much pure Spirit of Wine, and it will
coagulate it all into a perfect dry Salt: Min∣gle
these ℥xxiv. of Volatile Salt with ℥vj. of
Salt of Wine, ℥iij. of Volatile Salt of Urine,
and ℥iv. of ☿ Precipitate, and put them in∣to
a Body with Head, Limbeck, and Re∣ceiver,
and Sublime with gentle heat: Part
cometh over in Spirit, and part riseth in Salt.
Take ℥xiv. of Salt, and vi•. of Spirit, and
℥ss. of Calx of ☽, and distill with exceed∣ing
gentle heat in a Body and Head with a
Receiver, a liquid Spirit will come over,
Page 155

and a white Salt Sublime into the head: Put
all back upon the Cake of ☽, and distill as
before. He hath now ••eated this Worst
eleven times; at the first, the Spirit and Salt
were ten days rising from the ☽, but after∣wards
seven or eight: The junctures were
all perfectly shut, yet above half of the Vo∣latile
Matter was vanished. The Salt of
Wine was made thus: (Spanish Wine gave
none, but French did pretty store.) After
you have drawn off the Spirit and the flegm,
evaporate the residue (very gently) usque
ad pelliculam, then set in a cold place, and
in fifteen days there were many Crystals in
it; wash these with the flegm of the Wine,
from the blackness and foulness that is upon
them. The ☿ Precipitate was made thus:
Dissolve ℥iv. of ☿ in ℥x. of A. F. made of
two parts of Vitriol, and one of Nitre. Ex∣tend
the solution, by pouring a great quan∣tity
(eight or ten Pints) of fair {water} upon
it; then pour upon it a Lixivium made of
the fixed Salt of Wine and fair {water}. He made
his Lixivium of ℥iv. of fixed Salt, and but
one of the ☿• Precipitate; wherefore he poured
upon the Liquor that he poured off from the
Precipitate about half a pint of the Spirit of
Wine, and then the ☿ Precipitated all down.
Take both the Precipitates, and wash them
a little from the Spirits of the A. F.

Page 156

Hartman.) This Relation is of Sir K.
It was done by his Operator Monsieur Toy∣sonnier,
in his Operatory in the Piazza in
Cove•t-Garden.

The Menstruum Coelicum Exuberatum, to dissolve ☉, and all Metals, and carry them over the Helm. Wrought by Dr. Clodius, and by him Communicated unto me.
PUT lbj. of perfectly rectified Spirit of
Urine to lbiij. of a perfectly rectified
Spirit of Wine, and it will coagulate it all
to a drop into a firm Salt; Sublime and di∣still
this, and about lbss. will Sublime up in
a most pure active dry Salt, and about two
spoonfuls will come over in a fiery Liquor,
and the rest will be a stinking •lat flegm re∣maining
in the Cucurbite. Add Spirit of
Wine to your two spoonfuls of Liquor, so
much as to make it up lbiij. put this to your
lbss. of dry Sublimed Salt, and all will be
a Coagulum, which distill and Sublime as
before, and you shall have about two spoon∣fulls
and a half of fiery Liquor, and about
•ij. more than before of Sublimed Salt, and
in the bottom will remain a stinking flegm
as before. He repeated this twelve times,
still with fresh Spirit of Wine, and every
time the quantity of the fiery Spirit in∣creaseth
Page 157

(drawing still some little addition
of dry Salt from the Spirit of Wine) till at
length all the dry Salt come over in liquid
fiery Spirit, which he calleth Menstruum
Coelicum; then it will dissolve ☉, and all Me∣tals,
and carry them over the Helm with it.
This poured upon Salt of Tartar, will pre∣sently
dissolve it, and carry it over the helm
with it: You may also multiply it as much
as you will with pure Salt or Spirit of
Urine.

To add ☿ to it, do thus. Take ☿ well
purified (if Spanish) shaking and washing
well with Spirit of Wine or distilled Vine∣gar,
till it yield no more blackness, will serve;
but if other, Sublime it sometimes to per∣fect
purity. Then he put lb•. of it into a
Retort, joyning a large stone Receiver, and
gave strong sudden {fire}. Repeat this till you
have Mercurial {water} enough, which will be
quite insipid: Put this {water} upon purified run∣ning
☿, and digest them together thirty days,
& all will be a viscous Mucilaginous Matter:
Distill off the flegm, and you shall have an
Oyl remaining; put upon this Oyl your fiery
Spirit of Urine, and Spirit of Wine (twelve
times repeated, as is mentioned) and the Spi∣rit
will resolve the Oyl; then distill them
over together, and you have the Menstruum
Coelicum •xu•eratum. To aate Regulus
Page 158

of {antimony} with ☿, you must pulverize the Regu∣lus
grosly, as Bay-Salt; then strew it gently
upon the ☿ in a Matrass, and digest three or
four days; then grind together, and it will
aaate. Thus you may do with ☽ and Reg.
He found difficulty in doing it with ♀ and
Reg. but after digestion, he let it stand a
little while with {water} and Salt upon it, and it
aaated of it self with the ☿. If you digest
eight days, the blackness you wash away is
a Combustible Sulpher, like Powder of Coal.
He maketh Mercurial {water} thus: Put store of
quick dry Sand upon ☿ in a Cucurbite, and
distill it in very gentle fire, and most will
come over in {water}: Put this {water} upon new ☿,
and digest, and it will bring it into an Oily
substance; mingle this with your Coagulum
of Spirit of Wine, and Spirit of Urine (See•ullies eight Experiments) and make an Al∣kahest
of these, which will be perfect when
it is aaated with ☉. Then proceed as Lully
teacheth.

The said Dr. Clodius told me also, that the
great Secret of Purifying all Salts and Vi∣triol,
&c. consisteth in the purifying the
Menstruum (i. e. {water}) for if the {water} have feces,
in which you •dissolve them, it rather in∣creaseth
their foulness. He doth thus.

Set Equinox Rain {water} (pure Dew were
better) to putrifie in Glass Vessels, slightly
Page 159

covered (only to keep things from falling
in) in a Cellar; in six weeks the putrefaction
will be finished, and all the feces fallen to
the bottom; filter it, set the clear to putrifie
again, which will require longer time than
before: If you put some quick dry Sand in
i•, it will help the putrefaction much the
sooner, drawing down the foulness to it. In
this purified {water} dissolve your Salt, Vitriol,
Salt of Urine, &c. And you must have a
Gallon of this water to ℥j. of Salt; for such
dilating of the Salt maketh the Menstruum
lighter than the feces, and therefore they fall
down. Mark the end of Isaac Hollands Pro∣cess
upon Vitriol, where he directeth dissolv∣ing
it in fair {water} distilled off; then filter and
congeal, and this you may repeat two or
three times: Then take nine parts of this
pure Salt, and put to them one part of pure
Spirit of Wine, digest them together for
seven or eight days, then distill off the Li∣quor
very gently, and about fourteen or fif∣teen
parts will come off in insipid flegm, and
only one part, or a little more will remain
with the Salt in a dry substance. Repeat
this nine times with fresh Spirit of Wine, till
you have employed as much Spirit of Wine
as you wrought upon Salt, which will be
increased scarce one part: Put it then to Sub∣lime,
and every whit of it will rise in a pure
Page 160

Sublimate, excepting a small parcel of feces
that will remain in the bottom: You may
multiply this Sublimate as much as you wil•
by addition of Spirit of Wine to it; then
distilling away the Liquor, for the {sal armoniac} of the
Spirit of Wine will adhere to the pure Salt
in a pure Saline form, and the rest will come
away in an insipid flegm. But in the end,
this Salt will be apt to come over in an Oily
Liquor, and sometimes after that, in form
of Salt again: But he cannot yet penetrate
into the Causes of these Bodies coming over
sometimes liquid, sometimes dry. Incorpo∣rate
some of this Salt with pure Spirit of
Wine, and it will dissolve ☉, and all Me∣tals.

To prepare a most Excellent Medicine with this Mercurial Water, proceed thus:
TAke of the afore-said Mercurial {water}, and
of Spirit of Wine distilled three times
upon Honey, and then rectified upon Salt
of Tartar, of each equal parts; distil them
together, until they be well united: Then
to six parts of this Menstruum put one part
of a Spungy Calx of ☉, digest them toge∣ther,
until the ☉ is totally dissolved, except
a little white Earth, which will remain in
the bottom. Then distill in a Retort in
Page 161

Sand, and cohobate so often, until the ☉
come over into the Receiver. Then sepa∣rate
it, by distilling in a Cucurbite, and
there will remain a red Oyl like a Ruby in
the bottom; whereof one drop in some fit
Vehicle, is admirable for Health. This dis∣solution
of ☉ hath a most Odoriferous scent,
better than Amber and Musk.

The Lunary {water} of Paradise, or the Coelestial Eagle of the Lunar Sphere, which is Lul∣lys true Spiritual Lunary.
DIssolve ☽ in A. F. and precipitate it with
Spirit of Salt, dry the Calx, and mix
it with equal parts of Calx of ♃, and thence
distil the volatil Crystals or butter s. a. Ex∣pose
this butter to the Air to resolve into li∣quor,
that by that means it may make a Den∣tifique
attraction of the Spirit of the World,
which specifieth it self by this Magnet. Put
the clean liquor into a Cucurbite, and di∣gest
with a Lamp {fire} for 15 days, at the end
of which time there will distil over an Aethe∣rial
liquor, which is the Lunary; with which
you may work Miracles in Physick, especially
in all diseases of the head and brain; the dose is
the same with the former, mixing it with a fit
Vehicle; Note, that it turneth all liquors into
milk, and is sometimes Emetick. For trans∣mutation,
Page 162

deflegm this {water} as before and you
shall have the Metalline Gluten; which be∣ing
digested per se, will become a white Pow∣der
of projection; and afterwards a red one:
But it will be better to add a tenth part of leaf
☉ or of the Sulphur of ☉ made by the Sal
Enix: It is multiplyed by new addition of the
Lunary or Gluten. Note, that this liquor is
the Sommet of the Lunary: For the Volatil
Crystals of ☽ are the simple Lunary; but this
Coelestial {water} is the Spiritual Lunary, or the
highest point of the Metalline Salts: Note,
that you may draw the red and white Oyl
of what remaineth, and proceed as before.

Water of Paradise of Saturn, or Iupiters Coelestial Eagle.
DIssolve ♄ in common A. F. and it will
precipitate into a Potential ☿; dry it, and
mix it in great quantity with equal parts of
Calx of ♃ or with {antimony}: Draw the Volatil Cry∣stals
or butter from this, which resolve in the
Air: Put the liquor into a Glass Cucurbite,
with its head and recipient, digest with a
gentle lamp {fire} the space of 15 days; no∣thing
will come over by distillation, but on∣ly
the liquor will Maturate, and become red,
and afterwards within twenty, thirty, or
fourty days the Idea of ♄ will rise invisibly,
Page 163

and distil into the Recipient, which is the {water}
of Paradise.

This {water} cureth all Saturnian Maladies, and
Melancholy, being mixt with S. V. You may
give it in all Inflammations both inward and
outward: The Dose is equal with the former.

To use it for Metals, put this {water} of Para∣dise
into a small Cucurbite and deflegm it
with a Lamp {fire} and there will remain the
Saturnean Gluten, the Philosophers Gum,
or ☿ of the wise, A Lot, &c. Digest per se,
or add a tenth part of ☉. This Gum is the
true Metalline radical Moisture.

Page 164
About Vitrum Antimonii, and the Tincture of it.
MOnsieur Borel told me, that he had
observed this in making the Tincture
of {antimony} (by distilled Vinegar upon the Glass of
{antimony}) that when he went to dulcifie the Salt that
remaineth in the Tincture after the distilled
Vinegar is evaporated away (as Bas. Val.
teacheth) he could never perceive that the
{water} evaporating carried away the remaining
Salt of the Vinegar, but still when the {water}
was gone, and left the Powder dry, it was
as salt as ever before, and was of a brown
gray colour. But this he observed, that af∣ter
four or five times dissolving in {water} and
evaporating, the Tincture Precipitated
down very red, and the Salt of the distilled
Vinegar remained dissolved in the {water}, so that
he then poured off the {water}, and dryed the
Powder, which then was exceeding red, and
perfectly dulcified: But after thus severing
of the Salt from it, S. V. would not touch
upon it, and extract it any further: Perad∣venture
a Tartarized S. V. will do it.

He also told me, that in making the Vi∣trum
Antimonii for this Work, the Mystery
to have it certain and constant, consisteth in
this; That after you have Calcined your {antimony}
Page 165

by long and gentle evaporation and stirring,
so that it smoak no more; and when you
have put it in the Crucible to melt into
Glass, you must put to it a little piece of
a Coal to burn with the {antimony}, and set the Sul∣phur
of it on fire, which will make a little
Regulus fall down to the bottom, and the
Glass will be pure clear and red, whereas if
no Coal fall or be put in, it will be black
and muddy: And that which maketh this
Work of Vitrifying the {antimony} prove uncertain,
is, that sometimes some Coals fall into the
Crucible (as one gives great heat) without
the Artists taking notice, and then the Work
proveth well, but if no wooden Coals fall
in, the Glass proveth not as it should.

Monsieur le Fevre told me, that when he
makes the Tincture of Vitrum Antimoniii,
be observes, as Monsieur Borel saith, that
if the extract of it made by distilled Vine∣gar
be perfectly dulcified from all saltness,
the S. V. will not touch upon it; and if it
be put upon it in dry Powder, containing
the Salt of the distilled Vinegar with the
Tincture of the {antimony}, it will draw with the
Tincture some nocuous Spirits from the Salt;
therefore the doth thus: Evaporate fair {water}
from it two or three times, the last time leave
it very moist; then put S. V. upon it, and it
will presently impregnate it self with the
Tincture.

Page 166
A white Spirit of Sulphur to dissolve ☽ and ☿; given me by Monsieur Bugneau.
TAke the black Spirit of Sulphur, made
per Campanam, put it into a Glass Re∣tort
well luted (for fear of breaking) all but
a patch at the top as big as a Crown-piece,
that you may thereby see (holding a Candle
near it) in what state the Liquor, therein con∣tained,
is• Distill in Sand, till all the flegm is
come over, and that it begin to drop very
sharp, which happens to him after ℥vj or vij.
are come over, of lbj. of Spirit put at first into
the Retort. By this time you shall see a lit∣tle
{sal armoniac} Sublime up to the discovered place of
the Retort, and a brown Circle of earthy
substance swimming upon the Liquor about
the sides of it joyning to the Glass: You must
now give the {fire} so quick, that the Liquor
boyl a little, and presently you shall see it
turn all white, and the brown Corona of
Earth become white: Then let the fire die,
and when the Retort is cold, pour out the
Spirit, which will look like Rock {water}, and
will leave some dregs behind; you will have
about ℥ix. of this Spirit, put it upon ℥iv. of
☽ in leaf, and distill it gently off, and after
a while you shall see your ☽ quite dissolved
Page 167

into clear Liquor; let it cool, and the ☽
will become a Cake of Crystal, and some
Liquor will swim over it; pour off this Li∣quor,
and put ℥ij. of fresh ☽ to it (which
now may be in small grenailles) and it will
dissolve this as the former, and become a
Crystal by cold: The Liquor that you then
pour off will dissolve ℥ij. more of fresh ☽,
doing as before. Now the Liquor that re∣maineth
after this third solution of ☽, will
dissolve ℥ij. of running ☿ into a Crystalline
substance as the former.

This Spirit of Sulphur thus rectified, be∣ing
used inwardly (before it is used with ☽)
is much stronger than when it is black, at the
first drawing, and is much gratefuller to the
taste, being mingled with {water} or other Ve∣hicle.

An Universal Medicine, from ☉ and {antimony}, &c.
TAke of the ☿ prepared, as shall be taught
hereafter, ℥j. of the Tincture of ☉,
afterwards set down, ʒj. mix them well to∣gether
in a Glass Mortar, then put them in∣to
a small Matrass, and digest them with a
Lamp {fire} with one wick only for ten days;
then digest for ten days more with two wicks,
then with three, and lastly, with four wicks,
Page 168

which makes fourty days digestion in all, at
the end of which you shall have a red Pow∣der
as red as a Ruby.

This Powder is an Universal Medicine for
the greatest and Chronick Diseases: It Cures
the Gout, Dropsie, Palsie, French-Pox, Plague,
Leprosie, the Evil, Small-pox, and Measles.
Its visible Operation is by Stools, by Urine,
and by Sweat: The Dose is from gr. iij. to
iv. or v. in Conserve of Borrage or Vio∣lets.

To prepare the ☿ for this Work.
TAke gravelled Ashes, (or instead there∣of
you may take the Ashes of dryed
and burnt Lees of Wine) and of Quick∣lime,
of each equal parts, boyl them toge∣gether
in {water}, and make a Lixivium, which
filter. Take ℥iij. or iv. of ☿ vitae, put it
into a Matrass, and pour upon it of the
aforesaid Lixivium, so much as may cover
it the breadth of four fingers; digest with
the second degree of heat, for three or four
days, the Lixivium will extract the Tincture
of the ☿ vitae; then decant, and put on
fresh Lixivium, and digest. Repeat this,
till you have extracted all the Tincture of
your ☿ vitae, and the Powder be well at∣tenuated:
Then mix this Powder with equal
Page 169

weight of Sublimed {sal armoniac}, incorporate them
well together with double as much of Oyl of
Tartar, then set it to putrifie in fimo for
thirty days, changing the Dung every sixth
or seventh day. Then put your Matter in a
Marble Mortar, and grind it well, adding
a little warm {water} to it; then add a little more
water, but a little hotter than the first, and
grind it well; then let it settle, and decant
the {water}, and put on fresh warm {water}, and grind
as before, then let it settle, and decant the
water; and put Vinegar upon it instead of
{water}, and grind it, and you will see in a short
time the Powder converted into running ☿.
Note, that if you Sublime Regulus of {antimony}
with four times as much {sal armoniac}, it will Sublime
with it in very red flowers; out of which in
the same manner you may extract ☿.

To prepare the Tincture of ☉ for this Work.
TAke fine ☉ in thin Plates, dissolve it in
A. R. then pour into the dissolution
some ☿, and a fourth part of A. F. keep it
in digestion untill the ☿ is all dissolved; the
dissolution of ☉, which was of an Orange-colour
before, will now be white and clear,
and the ☉ will Precipitate to the bottom in
a very subtil and spungy Calx; decant the
Page 170

clear, and edulcorate the Powder of ☉, till
it be freed from all Acrimony, then dry it.

Then take fine Pumice-stone, and make
it red-hot in a Crucible, then extinguish it
in Vinegar; reiterate the ignitions and ex∣tinctions
five or six times, then reduce it into
subtil Powder, which ignifie again for half
a quarter of an hour, then make it as subtil
as you can. Then put a bed of this Pow∣der
into a Crucible, about a singers breadth,
upon that put a Bed of your Powder of ☉:
Continue thus stratifying until all the Pow∣der
of ☉ be in, then cover the Crucible
with another, and lute them well together,
and put it into a Glass Oven where they pre∣pare
their Matter, so that the Crucible may
be always red during twenty four hours, and
that the Matter in the Crucible may not melt,
Then take out the Matter out of the Cruci∣ble,
and pulverize it; then put this Powder
in a Matrass, and pour upon it of the fol∣lowing
dissolvent, so much as may cover it
three fingers breadth, digest it in Ashes for
34 days, within a few hours you will see the
dissolution Tincted of an Orange colour;
after four days digestion decant the Tincture,
and pour on more of the dissolvent, digest as
before. Repeat this till you have extracted
all the Tincture of your Powder; then filter
all your Extracts, and evaporate with a gen∣tle
Page 171

{fire} to dryness, and you will have a yel∣low
Powder of an Orange-colour; put this
Powder into a Matrass, and pour upon it a
S. V. prepared as shall be taught hereafter;
digest it, and in two days the S. V. will be
Tincted as red as Blood, which decant, and
put on fresh S. V. digest and decant. Re∣peat
this so often till you have extracted all
the Tincture out of the Powder: Then di∣still
off the Tincted S. V. in B. with a gen∣tle
heat to dryness; and thus is the Tincture
of ☉ prepared for this Work, to be used
with the said ☿ of {antimony}, as is said above.

Note, That if you digest and circulate
this Tincture in fimo before you distill the
S. V. from it, and then distill and cohobate
two or three times, and abstracting half the
S. V. from it, you will have a kind of an
Aurum potabile, which is a very great Cor∣•oborant
in the greatest weakness: The
Dose is five or six drops in any convenient
Vehicle.

The Dissolvent.
MElt Salt in a Crucible, then take lbj.
thereof and pulverize it; mix this
Powder with lbiij. of Honey, boyl them to∣gether
in an Iron Kettle to the consistence of
a Suppository; then cast this Matter upon a
Page 172

smooth stone, and being cold, pulverize it,
and put it into a Retort; pour upon it distilled
Vinegar rectified, lbiij. Digest for twenty
four hours, then distill in Sand by graduated
{fire}, giving strong {fire} at last for six hours,
that the Retort may be red; then let it stand
to cool the space of twelve hours: Then di∣still
this Vinegar in a Cucurbite in Ashes,
separating the flegm, rectifie in three or four
times more, and it will be white and clear;
before it was yellow.

To prepare the Spirit of Wine, fit for this Tincture of ☉.
TAke Salt of Tartar well purified by se∣veral
Dissolutions, Filtrations, and Co∣agulations,
and then reduced to Powder,
℥iv. which put into a Retort, and pour up∣on
it lbij, of rectified Spirit of Wine, let it
stand so twenty four hours, then distill only
lbj. of it in Ashes, and you shall have an ex∣cellent
Spirit of Wine, •it to draw Tinctures.
In the same manner you may extract the
Tincture of Coral, putting the Corals whole
with the Pumice-stone, which by its dry∣ness
will extract the Tincture of the Corals,
leaving them as white as Starch.

In the same manner you may also extract
the Tincture of ☽, which will be blew.

Page 173
Sir Kenelm D.) This Process was given
to Monsieur Vrto, Physician of Burges, by
Monsieur Mayo, Sieur de Vancours. This
Monsieur Mayo was a great Friend and Con∣fident
of Monsieur de la Violette, who gave
him this Operation, and they made it toge∣ther.
He said, that this was the solidest and
best thing that Monsieur de la Violette had.
He gave this to Monsieur Vrto in acknow∣ledgment
of a very great good turn he had
done him, and after Monsieur Vrto had re∣fused
to receive of him a Present of great Va∣lue.

A great Corroborant and Sudorifick, wrought by Monsieur Du Closs, Physician at Paris; given me by him the 16th. of August, 1660.
DIssolve ☉ by means of Salt, Nitre, and
Allom, &c. after Zwelfer's manner;
then evaporate away the {water}, and put S. V.
upon the remaining Powder, and it will go
all into a Tincture, or rather all the ☉ will dis∣solve
in the S. V. leaving the Salts, most of
which will Precipitate in the S. V. Then he
Precipitateth the ☉ with Oyl of Tartar, and
washeth and dryeth it, then reverberateth
it, and it is in a deep red Powder; and this
he called Cro•us Solis: (But it is not so, al∣most
all the ☉ remaineth still in the solution
Page 174

(which is yellow) and Oyl of Tartar will
not Precipitate it, so that it is rather the Salts
that remained in the S. V. and a little mingled
with them:) But take Spirit of Honey (the
Vinegry Spirit) two parts, and one part of
S. V. and pour this upon the solution, and all
the ☉ will Precipitate like a green Mud;
pour off the Liquor, and put fair {water} to the
Precipitation, and some ☿, and so you may
have all your ☉, which when it is dry, will
be a deep-red Powder, but if you reverbe∣rate
it, and aaate it with ☿, and grind it
with Sulphur, and then burn and reverbe∣rate
it, it will all fly away: And this is his
best way of Calcining and opening ☉.

Upon this Calx of ☉ he putteth his Men∣struum,
and in twenty four hours it will
Tinct it self as red as blood, which if you
digest long, an Oyl will swim upon it; he
evaporateth the Menstruum till it be thick,
and digests that with a Lamp Furnace.

His Menstruum is thus made:
TAke pure S. V. and pure Spirit of Urine,
ana, put them together, and distill off
the S. V. with very gentle heat, there will
remain a flegmatick Liquor in the bottom:
Cohobate the S. V. upon it till there remain
only perfect flegm in the bottom, and that
Page 175

all the Spirits and Volatile Salt of the Urine
be in the S. V. This is a great dissolvent and
Alkahest; but it will be stronger if you
work it again with new Spirit of Urine, and
so you may make it as strong as you will•
But this hath not the Properties of Helmont's
pretended Alkahest, to come off from the
Body it hath dissolved, as strong as you put
it on, for it leaveth much of the Saline Spi∣rits
with the opened Body, if you distill it
off: He found some running ☿ in the filters
after he had dissolved the ☉ only as far as
Zwelfer teacheth; which solution openeth
it exceedingly, and rendereth it apt to Mer∣curialization;
but he useth most the follow∣ing
Calx of ☉: Make an aaa of ☉ and ☿
in due manner, which grind well with Flow∣ers
of Sulphur, and set it upon Coals, and
so make a Calx of ☉ (ut artis est:) Re∣peat
this Calcination two or three times, then
take the Calx of ☉, and grind it exceeding
well with twice as much pure decrepitated
Salt; put these into a Crucible, which cover
well, and set it to Cement or Reverberate
during six hours (or more) in a Furnace
where the heat may be increased by degrees,
so that in due time the Crucible become red.
Continue so a pretty time, but have a care
the Salt melt not: When it is cold, take out
the Matter, and grind it well, and pour hot
Page 176

{water} upon it, to dissolve all the Salt, and filter
it off, and pour on more {water}, doing so till you
have severed all the Salt from the ☉ (as also
a white Earthy substance, that will swim up∣on
the {water}) then dry the ☉, which grind
again with double its quantity of prepared
Salt, (the same Salt will serve again when
the {water} is distilled from it) and Cement it,
and work all as before, taking care always,
that the ☉ settle well to the bottom after you
have stirred it in the {water}. Repeat this six,
seven, or eight times (the more the better)
till the ☉ come to be all a gray or white
Powder: Then Cement it with double its
quantity of pure Salt of Tartar, in the same
manner as you did with Salt, and do always
all as before. Repeat this two, three, or four
times, dulcifying it every time very well
from the Salt: Then put upon it (being
very dry) the Menstruum of S. V. and Spi∣rit
of Urine, mentioned before, and it will
be Tincted Blood-red in twenty four hours:
Pour off that, and put on more, till you
have drawn out all the Tincture, which di∣still
in a Cucurbite with very gentle {fire}, till
it become a Gum, of which he putteth ℥j.
into a Pint of Sack, and giveth a spoon∣ful
for a Dose. It is a mighty Corroborant,
as also a Sudorifick, where Nature requireth
it. It will make one sweat twenty four
hours.

Page 177
The manner of making his Menstruum,
is, to put the two Spirits into a long Cu∣curbite
with a narrow mouth, on which he
put a Head, •itting it in the Orifice, but
very large in the Body of it, and so distil∣leth
off his S. V. and Cohobateth it upon the
same Spirit of Urine, till the Volatile Salt
be drawn out of it, or upon new, as you
see occasion.

Quaere, Of putting this Menstruum upon
a Spungy gray Calx of ☉, made after Van∣dykes
way.

The Metalline Aureal {water}, or the Aethereal Aurum potabile, which is a very great Medicine for the Gout: It is the true Her∣maphroditick Bath.
DIssolve ☽ in A. F. then Precipitate it
with Spirit of Salt, then edulcorate
the Powder and dry it, then mix it with its
weight of {antimony} (or Calx of ♃) distill a trans∣parent
Butter thereof: Take of this Butter
one part, mix it with as much of Calx of
☉ (made by dissolving ☉ in Spirit of Salt)
digest them together, until they be reduced
into a Liquor: Distill this Liquor in a Re∣tort,
the Spirit of Salt will come over first,
and then will follow a red Butter, which is
the great Chalybs, which resolves into a
Page 178

Liquor in the Air; put this Liquor into a
Cucurbite, joyn a Head and Receiver to it,
and then digest with a Lamp {fire} for fifteen
days, then an Aethereal Liquor will begin
to come over in an invisible form, which
will distill into the Recipient: Deflegm this
Liquor until you come to the Eagles Metal∣line
Gluten; which is digested (either per se
or with ☉) into a true Physical stone:
When it is in an Aethereal Liquor you may
take two drops of it in some Cordial Spi∣rit.

The Eagles Gluten, or ☿ of the Wise, or Me∣talline Menstruum; with which and Lions Blood is made the Metalline Stone.
THE Gluten is of divers sorts: The first
is altogether Mineral, and is drawn
from ☿ and {antimony}: If you joyn Sulphur of {antimony}
with this Gluten, you may make a Medici∣nal
Stone of it. The Second is Metallick,
viz. Saturneal, Lunary, and Aureal. The
third is partly Mineral, and partly Metal∣line;
as for Example, when one draws •
Liquor (which doth not wet) from ☿ of •
(that is to say, from its repercuted Calx)
and {antimony}, which is the Magnet of the Spirit o•
the World; then draw the Gluten as you
know. The Gluten is Mineral and Metal∣line,
Page 179

and is sufficient to make the Physical
Stone of it, both Mineral and Metalline.

Note, that if you digest per se, what sort
of Gluten soever, you may make the Phy∣sical
Stone of it. But for to shorten the
Work, you may add ☉; for all Metalline
or Mineral Gluten contains in it self its in∣ternal
Sulphur, which may be coagulated
and fixed into a true Aetherial Panacaea.
But it is better to add this Solary Ferment,
as shall be said hereafter. Wonderful things
may be performed (both in Physick, and
in Transmutation of Metals) with any sort
of Gluten, either Mineral or Metalline. The
{water} of Paradise differs not from the Gluten,
except that it containeth some parts more li∣quid,
and is yet full of flegm, as shall be
shewed.

Water of Paradise, or of the Hermetick Eagle, whereof are made unheard-of Medicines, and Powders of Projection.
THE {water} of Paradise is a ce•tain fiery or
Aethereal {water} drawn from Coelestial Bo∣dies,
chiefly from ☉ and ☽, without the mix∣ture
of any waterish flegm; so that, what
is attracted is the Universal Spirit, the In∣forming
form of the Elements, that of the
World, Influence of the Stars, Soul of the
Page 180

World, the vital Nutriment, latent in the
Air. This {water} is most potent to drive out
all Diseases, it being altogether Astral, and
needeth not be taken by Drams, Scruples,
or Grains, but the twentieth part of a Grain
is sufficient for a Dose; yea, almost the Va∣pour
only of this Gluten sufficeth, as you
shall see: It is attracted by several things, or
(to speak plain) there are several things
which attract it from the Stars; first, by S•n∣divogi•s
his Magnet, or Chalybs; but it
requires a longer time to have this Gluten,
or this Philosophical {water}, which is all, to all
universal; for it requireth seven Months to
prepare this Universal Menstruum, after you
have the Salt of Nature; which is a thing
indeterminate, and requireth a Metallick
Ferment, specifick, for to specifie and de∣terminate
it. This most Noble way is
clearly and neatly shewn by the Author: But
there are other ways, which are shorter, by
which this Spirit of the World is attracted
by several Magnets, whereof shall be spoken
hereafter. Note, that the Physical Stone
may be made of all sorts of waters of Pa∣radise;
for it is the Philosophical ☿ which is
sufficient for himself and for thee; for it
contains in it self a pure Sulphur, which
may be congealed into a Panacea: But for
to shorten the Work, the Solar or Lunar Fer∣ment
Page 181

is added, to the end that this Gluten,
or fiery {water} may be sooner congealed and fix∣ed:
So that, besides this Generalissima way,
or this Universal Stone of the Philosophers,
there are five other Stones; to wit, first, the
simple Mineral, made of ☿ per se, or with
☿ and {antimony}, with the Sulphur of {antimony}. The Se∣cond
is the simple Metalline stone, made with
☽ only, with ♃, or with ☉ and Solar Fer∣ment.
Thirdly, there is a Stone which is
Partly Metallick, and partly Mineral, made
of {antimony}, ☿, and ☉, whereof Artesius, Flamel,
Pontanus, Zaichair, and others have writ∣ten.
Fourthly, There is a Vegetable Stone.
Fifthly, The Animal Stone. We shall treat
of all these Stones, under the name of the {water}
of Paradise, or the Hermetick Eagle, or Vir∣gins
Milk.

Water of Paradise of Common ☿, or Hermes his Eagle, of the Terrestrial and Coele∣stial ☿.
SUblime ☿ three or four times with Salt,
Nitre, and Vitriol; then dissolve it in
A. F. and digest, then by distillations and
cohobations, unite the Salts Armoniac of
the A. F. to which (to have it more Pow∣erful)
you may put an eighth part of {sal armoniac}:
Distill and cohobate so often, till the ☿ comes
Page 182

to be like Wax, and that it dissolveth easily
in humido. Then dissolve this matter per
deliquium, that it may attract the {water} which
is contained in the Air: Put this Liquor in∣to
a small Cucurbite, joyn its Head and Re∣cipient,
and digest with very gentle {fire} with
a Lamp. Nothing will come over during
fifteen days, but afterwards, there will come
over an Aethereal Liquor, which is the {water} of
Paradise: Two drops of this {water} put into ℥iv.
of S. V. is an excellent Medicine against the
Pox, for it is the Planet ☿. The Dose is one
spoonful. The Physical Stone is made of
this Virginal, or Astral Milk, to wit, distill its
flegm, in a small Cucurbite, with the same
Lamp {fire}, and the Gluten or Mineral Gum
will remain in the bottom; of which by
digestion is made the Physical or Medicinal
Stone. But note, that if you add ☉, the
Operation is sooner accomplished. Note
also, that if you cast one drop of this {water} of
Paradise upon a thin Plate of ♀, or of ♂,
it will penetrate and whiten it through and
through, before it is fermented with ☉.
Note also, that that which remaineth after the
distillation, will serve also. If you would
then make a Stone, different from that which
is made with the Virginal Milk only, pro∣ceed
thus: After you have distilled the {water} of
Paradise, distill over with a gentle {fire} in
Page 183

Ashes what remaineth, and you shall have a
white Oyl; then force over the remaining
part in a Retort, and you shall have a red
Oyl; cast away the remaining feces. Take
one part of the red Oyl, and four parts of
the white Oyl, and eight parts of the {water} of
Paradise, put them into a Matrass, and di∣gest
them in an Athanor until all the colours
appear one after another, and that the Glu∣ten
be fixed into white. If then you aug∣ment
the {fire}, it will become a red Medicine,
of which you may make Projection thus:
Take an hundred parts of ☿, heat it in a
Crucible, and cast upon it one part of this
fixt Medicine, and all will be a Medicine;
whereof cast one part upon another hundred
parts of ☿, stirring it with a stick; then
melt them together. Cast one part of this
Medicine upon an hundred parts of ☿,
and all will be converted into ☽ or ☉, ac∣cording
to the Tincture. In this manner,
all Metals and Minerals may be reduced in∣to
Tinctures by their {water} of Paradise, &c.
Note, That this Work may be done also
with ☿ dissolved in A. F. and Precipitated
with Spirit of Salt; the Calx dryed and
united with Calx of ♃ and {antimony}, and thence
the Volatile Crystals, or• Butter extracted,
wherewith you may proceed as was said•
Page 184

Or, you may make also a {water} of Paradise,
made with ♃ per deliquium.

The Antimonial {water} of Paradise, or the Her∣metick Coelestial Eagle with two Heads.
EXtract a Butter from equal parts of {antimony}
and ☿ Sublimate: Dissolve this Butter
in the Air in ♈, ♉, and ♊; put the Liquor
into a Glass Cucurbite with its Head and Re∣cipient,
lute well all the junctures; excite
the Archaeus which is in him, by a very gen∣tle
heat in Ashes, by a Lamp {fire}, which will
maturate the Matter in the space of fifteen
or twenty days: Then drive up its Rays in∣to
the Head, which will be seen corporal
in the Recipient in the form of a clear {water}.
This {water} is all fiery, and is the Coelestial Ea∣gle
with two Heads. Put it into a Cucur∣bite,
and deflegm it with the same Lamp
{fire}, and there will remain in the bottom of
the Cucurbite the Mineral Gluten, or the
viscous {water}, which doth not wet ones hands.
You may prepare Medicines of this Coelestial
Aethereal {water} thus: Put two drops of it into
℥iv. of S. V. it will turn as white as Milk.
This Medicine Cureth the Dropsie, the Epi∣lepsie,
Madness, &c. The Dose is from ʒij.
to ℥ss. Now, if you would have the Pow∣der
of Projection, you must digest the Glu∣ten
Page 185
per se, as was said; or (which is better)
add a tenth part of ☉ in leaf, and digest, or
draw the red and white Oyl, and proceed as
in the former Process, and you shall have a
Medicine both for Man, and for Metals.

Water of Paradise of Venus and Mars, or ♀. and ♂ Captivated, whence cometh Cupid, or the Solar Panacea.
ALthough these Metals cannot take the
Mercurial {water}, nor give Volatile Cry∣stals,
as ☽, ♃, and ♄ do, because they are
very Mercurial, and the former almost all
Sulphurous, nevertheless you may do it thus:
Dissolve ♀ and ♂ (each by it self) in
the Salt Androgine, which hath but little
Sulphur, to the end, that it may dissolve
more easily: Then make a Lixivium, which
Precipitate with your Liquor of ♄; dry the
Precipitated Calx, and sprinkle it with a
good deal of Spirit of Salt; then mix it with
{antimony}, and distill Volatile Crystals thereof; with
which proceed as before. The {water} of Para∣dise
is made of ♀ only, and is called {water}, or
♀ his astrum.

It Cures the Pox, Gout, &c. The Gluten
of these Metals is digested either per se, or
with a Solar Ferment, as before, into a Pa∣nacea,
which is a wonderful Medicine, and
Page 186

will Cure Maladies in Men and Me∣tals.

The thrice Noble Water of Paradise, or Apol∣lo Medens.
DIstill the fiery and Volatile Crystals from
☿ of ☽, with Calx of Iupiter, which
keep. Dissolve ☉ in Spirit of Salt, which
joyn with equal parts of your Crystals; di∣gest,
and then distill, the Spirit of Salt will
come over immediately first, then will fol∣low
the red Crystals: Expose this Terrestrial
☉ to the Coelestial, that it may satisfie it
self with its Solary Rays, and then dissolve
it self into a Liquor, which will be a Mag∣net
and an Amaranth Aethereal and immor∣tal.
Put this Solary and Lunary Liquor
into a Glass Cucurbite, and distill with a
Lamp, {fire} this Noble, Metalline, Radical
moisture, those invisible Rays of the ☉, or
this {water} of Paradise, during fourty or fifty
days. This {water} is {water} of Nature, an Excel∣lent
Attractive, and its Power is ineffable.
This {water} drives out all Maladies, and com∣forts
Nature, and is a Royal Medicine; for
'tis the astrum of the ☉, or a ☉ between the
Terrestrial and coelestial ☉. Of this is Apollo
furens; for its Rays, or its {water} killeth ☿,
which they convert into true ☉, as also all
Page 187

other Metals. In this Liquor you may dis∣solve
☉ if you will, but it will not be ne∣cessary;
for when it is freed of its flegm, the
Solary Gluten remains, which you may di∣gest
per se, until it acquire a purple colour.
Thus ☉ is exalted to make a Tincture. The
{water} of Paradise is the Aethereal Aurum pota∣bile;
dissolve two drops thereof in ℥iv. of
S. V. the Dose is ʒij. This is the {water} of Na∣ture,
which is multiplyed ad infinitum by
new addition of the Gluten, &c. Note,
That when this Panacea is fixed, it is the
Panacea of Panacea's, which Cureth Mala∣dies,
both in Men and Metals.

Note, That this {water} of Paradise converts
all Metals into ☉, if you digest their Plates
in the same; yea, one drop thereof pene∣trates
a Plate of ☽, and transmuteth it into
most fine ☉. There is also made another A∣pollo
Medens, which is joyned with Spirituous
Regulus of {antimony}, to wit, the Flowers reduced,
or fiery Regulus, and conjoyned in the Sul∣phurous
Sal Enixe, and both Precipitated
into an Aureal Antimonial Panacea. But
this Panacea is not comparable to the other.
Apollo furens is the same {water} of Paradise, the
which are the invisible Solary Rays, by which
the Volatility of ☿ is killed, and is converted
into ☉; and the same it is with the Solary
{water}. Apollo Moriens is the Eclipse of the ☉
Page 188

in the above-mentioned fiery and Aethereal
Menstruums: For in all sorts of Menstruums
it putrifies, groweth black, and maturates
in the space of fifteen days: But after that,
it resuscitates before the Judge Apollo resusci∣tans.

An unheard-of Arcanum, or new and unheard of Lunary, wherewith is made the Elixir, or Metalline Stone.
DIssolve what quantity of ☽ you please
in the Sal Androgine; in four hours
time half your ☽ will be dissolved into a very
red Salt, pour it into a vessel of Copper,
then make a Lixivium, which filter, reduce
into a body what remaineth with ♄, and
re-dissolve it in new Sal Androgine as be∣fore.
Reiterate this, till all your ☽ go
through the filter with the Lixivium, and
you will be sure to have a ☽ altogether Spi∣rituous
and Volatile, which you will find to
be true to your loss, if you Precipitate it with
an Acid Liquor, and reduce it with ♄; for
it will all fly away at the Coppel; the same
will happen if it be attracted by Plates of
♀. These two effects have happened to me by
inadvertence.

Note, That this Spirituous ☽ is a Poten∣tial
and Spirituous ☉, as you will find, if
Page 189

you rejoyn it with its body at the Coppel:
There is nothing to say to that. Note,
That the corporal ☽ which is added, retains
all what is of the Nature of ☉, which ren∣ders
it afterward in the separating {water}. There∣fore,
take all these filtred Solutions (which
are yellow if the Lavers be made with Odor
of Metals) and Precipitate them totally in∣to
a Lunary Sulphur of a Golden colour,
adding a sufficient quantity of that which
Precipitates it: That which Precipitates it
is of our invention, and is of the Saturnian
Juice, which swims upon the ☿ of ♄, when
its Solution is repercuted by the Salt {water}. Dry
this Lunary Golden Precipitate gently, and
mix it with ana of Calx of ♃, made per se
in the {water}; or if you will, you may draw
the Butter or fiery Crystals with ana of {antimony};
the Crystals are resolved per se in the Air.
And with this unheard-of Magnet are Mira∣culously
attracted the Influences of the Stars,
or the {water} of Nature. This is chiefly done
in the belly of ♈ that is to say, in the
Month of April and May. Note here a
very great Secret, which is, that there is no
flegm attracted by this Magnet, but onely
the pure Nutriment of Life, or the fiery vi∣•al
Viand which is hidden in the centre of
the Air; which you will find true, if you
put some waterish part into this Liquor; for
Page 190

you shall see that it will not mix with it in
any wise, but will swim upon it in an hete∣rogene
form, as Milk: You must further sepa∣rate
this Liquor, which is the simple Lunary,
in which ☉ is easily dissolved: For from this
corporal Lunary you must have a Spiritual
and unheard-of Lunary. Put then this Liquor
in a Glass Cucurbite with its Head and Reci∣pient,
and digest in Ashes with a very gentle
heat by a Lamp the space of one Philoso∣phical
Month. Nothing will distill over
during the first fifteen days, or more; but it
will become a red Sea, and the Matter will
maturate, and after that, you shall see that
by this gentle heat the Metalline Soul will
mount invisibly upon the wings of the
Wind, or the Spirit of the World, and will
fall into the Recipient in the form of Tears,
which are the Tears of Diana. This Li∣quor
is much more precious than pure ☉,
and of very great vertue. Continue the
dissolution, whilst the Archaeus of Nature
chaseth it, which is done in fifteen days a•
the farthest. In this Operation is done, wha•Hermes saith, thou shalt separate, the sub•••
from the Spirit gently, and with great dex∣terity.
This distillation is altogether Na∣tural,
and is perfected by the only Archaeus
of Nature. This Liquor is the Spiritual Lu∣nary,
which contains in it self Body, Spirit
Page 191

and Soul; 'tis the {water} of Paradise, the Lunar
Sphere, the Metalline Fountain, and the
Universal Metalline Menstruum. It is a
most certain anti-epileptick and Cephalick:
If one or two drops of it are mixt with ℥iv.
of S. V. all will become like Milk. For it
is all {fire}; which changes the moist Element
of the S. V. as being contrary to it, or at
least not connatural.

To make the Metalline Stone per se of this Spiritual Lunary.
TAke this Liquor, and put it into a small
Glass Cucurbite; leave it uncovered,
evaporate it in Ashes with a gentle Lamp {fire},
to the end, that if there be any moisture
from the Air, it may exhale, and there will
remain in the bottom of the Cucurbite the
Metalline Gum, the Lunary Gluten, the
Azot, &c. which will liquifie at the least
heat, as Butter, and will congeal by cold.
Put this Gum into a Matrass, which Seal
Hermetically, and digest per se, it will be∣come
black, and after white, and then it is
the white Stone; then by increasing the {fire},
it will become of a Citrine colour, and red,
without a Solary Ferment: And the King
is made of the Queen, or the immersion of
☽ into a Solary Tincture. But for to shorten
the Work, add unto this Gluten a tenth part
Page 192

of ☉ in leaf, or Sulphur of ☉ made Spiri∣tual
by the Sulphurous Sal Enixe, and di∣gest
as was said: The augmentation of this
Stone is by addition of new Metalline Gluten.
Note, That this Spiritual Lunary tingeth ☿
into true ☽, if you digest it therein; also a
Plate of ♀ is perforated by putting one drop
of this {water} upon it. Note also, That when
you have distilled the Lunary, that which
remaineth is an eternal Magnet. To that
effect, resolve it again in the Air, and man∣age
it by a Lamp as before. Then distill
an Aethereal Liquor, which is yet impreg∣nated
with a Lunary Soul, and distilleth in∣to
the Recipient, and then goeth anew into
a Gluten: And this is done ad infinitum.
Note also, That that which remains, may be
distilled, and you shall have first, a white
Lunary Oyl (which is the Philosophers
Oyl of Talc; for the true Oyl of Talc is
the Lunary coagulated per se, and fixed in∣to
a white Stone, which is fixt and soft.)
Secondly, you shall have the red Oyl by
augmenting the {fire}. If you will make the
Stone of these Matters, take of the red Oyl
one part, and of the white Oyl four parts,
and eight parts of the Lunary reduced into
Gluten: Put this into a Matrass, and digest
until all be fixed into white, and after by
continuing become red. This Medicine
Page 193

ought not to be Fermented; for it is the true
Metalline Soul, reduced into a Tincture.
This last digestion must be in an Athanor
with a Charcoal {fire}.

Hartman.) These Waters of Paradise and
Glutens, &c. were given to Sir K. (about
eight or nine Months before he died) by a
French Gentleman, a great Scholar.

Monsieur Barkly's fixation of Common Sul∣phur, and the Tincture thereof, which is an Excellent Medicine in all affects of the Breast and Lungs.
TAke Flowers of Sulphur, or Sulphur
pulverized very subtil; put it into a
Matrass, and pour upon it so much Spirit
of Sulphur per Campanam, as may cover it
the breadth of three fingers. Lute the Ma∣trass
well, and put it in digestion for fifteen
days, or three weeks, or so long until the
Flowers of Sulphur come to be very black:
Then distill off all the Spirit of Sulphur to
dryness; break the Matrass, and take out
the Sulphur, which pulverize again, and
put it into another Matrass, and pour upon
it the Spirit of Sulphur you distilled off, and
distill as before to dryness. Repeat this twice
more, which maketh three cohobations in
Page 194

all without the first distillation. Then take
your black and fixt Sulphur, and reduce it
to a very subtil Powder, and put it to re∣verberate
in a Glass Oven the space of a
fortnight or three weeks, it will change its
blackness into white, and after yellow, and
at last come to be of a reddish brown colour.
The Tincture of this red fixt Sulphur, is
extracted with Spirit of Salt well rectified.

He made thus his Spirit of Salt for this:
Take Salt lbj. dissolve it in five quarts of
fair {water}, and filter it; put it into a Cucurbite,
and pour upon it by little and little lbj. of
good Oyl of Vitriol, and joyn the Head and
Recipient; when it is all in, it will begin
presently to distill over cold: Set it in Sand,
and with moderate heat drive over as much
as will rise, which rectifie from the flegm:
There will remain in the bottom of the Cu∣curbite
a wonderful Salt, that is exceeding
fusible.

After he had extracted the Tincture, 〈◊〉
distilled away all the Spirit of Salt, till the
Tincture was dry: Of this he gave, three
grains for a Dose, and found it a great Dis∣phoretick,
but it was somewhat rough and
sharp in the Stomach: Whereupon he dul∣cified
it by several ablutions in fair {water}; then
gave the same Dose, and it wrought excel∣lently
well in all Colds of the Breast and
Lungs.

Page 195
Hartman.) This Relation is of Sir K.
Digby.

The Countess of Kents Powder, as it was pre∣pared by Sir Kenelm Digby's Order in his Operatory.
TAke ℥iv. of the black ends of the shares of
Crabs, the Sun being in the Sign of Can∣cer,
Crabs-eyes, fine Pearls and Corals pre∣pared,
of each ℥j. yellow Amber ℥ss. Roots
of Contrayerva, Virginian Snake-root, an•
ʒvj. Oriental Bezoar ʒiij. of the Bones that
are found in the hearts of Stags ℈iv. Re∣duce
all into a subtil Powder; moisten the
Crabs Claws and Crabs-eyes, and the Pow∣ders
of Pearls and Corals with a little juice
of Lemons, to make them ferment a little:
Then the next day mix all well together,
adding ʒj. of Tincture of Saffron, and pour
upon the Mass (when you incorporate it)
three or four spoonfuls of Spirit of Honey,
or instead thereof you may take Jelly of Harts∣horn,
and Jelly of the Skins of Vipers dryed
in the shadow. Then add to this Composi∣tion
℥j. of Trochisque of Vipers; grind it all
well together to make it well incorporate:
Then make it up into Balls, and let them
dry, and keep them for Use.

Page 196

This Powder is a most Excellent Remedy
in all Epidemical Distempers, all Malignant,
Spotted, and Purple Fevers; to drive out the
Small-pox and Measles. It is Sudorifick, and
resists all Corruption, and is admirable in a
Surfeit. It drives the Venom from the heart,
and hinders the Vapours to fly up into the
Head and Brain. It drives out by transpi∣ration
all bad Humours, corroborates and
strengthens Nature. The Dose is from six
to twenty, or twenty five grains. In an ex∣tremity
of the Plague, one may take from
thirty to fourty grains.

Hartman.) Sir K. D. had this Powder
always ready by him in his Closet; and I re∣member
that many Persons of Quality sent to
him for some of it when any of their Chil∣dren
had the Small-pox or Measles; and ne∣ver
any did miscarry of all those that took it.
It is also Excellent against the biting of Mad
Dogs, stinging of Vipers, and other Venemosis
Beasts.

Page 197
A very Efficacious Remedy against the Epi∣lepsie, or Falling-Sickness, wherewith Sir Kenelm Digby Cured a Ministers Son, named Mr. Lichtenstein, at Francfort in Germany, in the Year 1659. to which I was an Eye-Witness.
TAke of the Skull of a Man that died of
a violent Death, of the parings of nails
of Man, ana ʒij. Reduce this to a subtil
Powder, and grind it upon a Marble stone;
then take Polypody of the Oak very dry,
ʒij. Misletoe of the Oak, gathered in the
Wain of the Moon, ℥ss. Misletoe of the
Hasle-tree, Misltoe of the Tile-tree, of each
ʒij. Piony-root ℥ss. Reduce all into a sub∣til
Powder: Then take ℥vj. of Sugar, boyl
it to the consistence of Rose-Sugar; then
mix all the Powders with it, and stir them
well together over the fire that they may well
incorporate together: Then take it from the
fire, and make it up into little Tablets of
about a Dram apiece; whereof give one in
the Morning fasting, and two or three hours
after Dinner, and another two hours after
Supper: Continue this whilst the Tablets
•ast.

Page 198
Another for the same.
SIR Kenelm Digby Relates, that in the
Year 1663. the Lady Warwick told
him, that a Daughter of her Husbands elder
Brother had the Falling-Sickness in the
greatest Extremity, so that she fell like a
log seven or eight times a day without any
motion. They had put her into the hands
of the ablest Physitians in England, who in
effect could do her no good. A Gentleman,
one of their Neighbours, undertook to Cure
her, and performed the Cure thus: Take
true Misletoe of the Oak, the Leaves, the
Berries, and all the tender Branches; dry it
gently in an Oven after the Bread is drawn;
then reduce it to a fine Powder, of which
give as much as will lye upon a shilling for
one of ripe years; for middle aged, a six-pence,
for a Child, a groat: Give it Morn∣ings
and Evenings in Cowslip-water three
days before, and three days after the Full of
the Moon. Repeat this Remedy for some
Months together. This Cured also my Lord
Herberts Son, and many other Persons of
Quality. The best time to gather the Misle∣toe
of the Oak, is in the Month of Septem∣ber,
when it bears Berries, and in the Waning
of the Moon.

Page 199
The Preparation of the Silver Pills against the Dropsie, as they were prepared by Sir Kenelm Digby's Order in his Opera∣tory.
TAke refined ☽ ℥j. dissolve it in ℥iij. of
the best Spirit of Nitre in a Matrass,
then evaporate away all the Spirit of Nitre
to dryness in a low Cucurbite, or in some
other fit Vessel; then dissolve the matter in
a sufficient quantity of Rose-water, filter the
dissolution through gray Paper, and evapo∣rate
it again to the consistence of a dry Salt
as before. Then take ℥ij. of fine Salt-petre,
dissolve it in Rose-water, filter the dissolu∣tion,
and evaporate it in a large wide Vessel
of Glass, to the consistence of a Salt. Then
mix the ☽ and this Salt together, and put
them in a large Glass, pouring upon them
so much Rose-water as will dissolve them in∣to
a greenish Liquor: Then evaporate it in
Sand to the consistence of a white Salt; then
take it out of the Sand, and being quite
cold, put it into a Glass or Marble Mortar,
and put to it ℥ij. of fine Wheat-flower; grind
them well together, then add so much Rose-water
as will make it a Mass fit for Pills:
Then make it up into Pills of the bigness of
Pease, put them between two Papers, and
Page 200

let them dry in the shadow, and they will be
of a Purple colour; keep them in a wooden
Box.

Directions for the Use of these Silver Pills.
THey are a Specifick against the Dropsie,
the Patient is to take one of them at
six or seven of the Clock in the Morning, ta∣king
some Broath about two hours after it
with eight or ten drops of Spirit of Salt in
it. Their Operation is by Stools, and by
Urine; you must continue it until the Cure
be perfected. Note, That if the Patient
be weak, he must take the Pill but once in
two days, and in all Broaths and Drink, he
ought to take some Dose of Spirit of Salt,
as is said above. If there be need of Sweat∣ing,
you must use some dry Stoves, and give
him always of the following Salts: Take
Salt of Urine, Salt of Worm-wood, ana ʒij.
add half a Scruple of Oyl of Amber, and
as much of Spirit of Urine, with ʒij. of fine
Sugar; mix all well together in a Glass of
Stone Mortar, whereof give ℈iv. for a Dose
in half a Glass of White-wine when the Pa∣tient
is Sweating in the dry Stove, and not
in a Bath of Water: And every third day
you must repeat this Remedy, and he will be
Page 201

Cured within three days. The evacuation is
by abundance of Sweat and Urine.

Hartman.) I cannot omit to relate here
a Story, which I have often heard Sir Ke∣nelm
Digby tell concerning a Famous Cure
of a desperate Dropsie, done by Dr. Farrar up∣on
an eminent Lord, who was over-grown
with the Dropsie, his Belly and Stomach swel∣led
to a Prodigious bigness, and was given over
by the ablest Physicians as incurable. Sir K.
D. made the bargain between the Lord and
the Doctor, who was to have five hundred
pounds for the Cure: But when the Lord was
Cured, he would give the Doctor no more
than three hundred pounds, saying, that five
hundred pounds was too much money, and that
all the Ingredients be used could not stand him
in twenty shillings. The Remedies were
thus: Having first well purged the Patien•
with some fit Purge (as of Iallap, Manna,
Sena) to carry away watry humours, he
gave him the following Broth. A moderate
Broth was made of Mutton, Chickens, and
Capon, or Hen, but not Veal; the Broth
was not strong of the Meat, nor too weak,
but such as the Patient might drink all the
day, for he was to drink no other Liquor;
they made but about a pottle of Broth at a
time, for it would not keep: And for this
quantity they took a Gallon of Water, into
Page 202

which the Doctor put above a handful of
Garlick, and Rosemary, Penyroyal, Thyme,
Sweet-marjoram, Fennel-roots, Parsley-roots,
as also Currans, and a sufficient quantity of
Salt. And after some days taking the Broth,
they put into every draught of the Broth
(the Patient took) above a spoonful of the
crude juice of Garlick, stamped and pressed
out. But if you cannot bear always to
drink this Broth, then use the following De∣coction:
Take Sarsaparilla ℥xij. China-roots
℥v. Sassafras ℥iij. Cut all these very small,
and pour upon them Spring-water, to three
fingers breadth above the Ingredients, and
let them infuse over a soft fire the space of
four hours; then throw away this Water,
and stamp the Ingredients in a Stone Mortar
with a wooden Pestle: Then pour upon them
ten quarts of Fountain-water, and boyl it in
a Vessel close stopped, till four quarts of it
be consumed: Of this Decoction let the Pa∣tient
drink, without any other drink but
the Garlick Broth.

Another Drink.
TAke all the aforesaid Ingredients, in the
same manner prepared and stamped:
Then take a clean Vessel, and fill it with
Beer, then put the Ingredients in a bag, and
Page 203

hang it in the Beer; ℥j. of the Ingredients
is sufficient for a quart of Beer. Either of
these Drinks is only in case the Patient can∣not
bear the use of the Garlick Broth, which
alone will dispatch the Cure much the soon∣er;
and this course of the Garlick Broth is
for all Obstructions, and superfluity of Cold,
raw Humours, clogging the Brain, or any
other part, as well as for the Dropsie. To
strengthen and secure the Liver, use the fol∣lowing
Electuary. Take of Powder of
Turmerick a sufficient quantity, make an
Electuary of it with Sugar, and to every
Ounce of it add three drops of Oyl of An∣niseed,
made by distillation; and if you put
a little Amber-grease to it, it will be the
more strengthening. Take of this Electuary
two or three times a day the quantity of a
Hasle-nut; take not above ℥j. in a day.

Besides this, to strengthen the Stomach,
use the following Stomacher: Take Worm-wood,
Marjoram, Rosemary, Rue, ana one
handful; Cloves, Cinamon, Mace, ana ℥j.
bruise these Spices, and mix them with the
Herbs; of these make a Stomacher, and ap∣ply
it: And you may likewise anomt your
Stomach, and region of the Liver with Oyl
of Nutmegs and Oyl of Roses.

I heard Sir K. D. say, that after twelve or
thirteen days, the Patient begun to Piss in
Page 204

great abundance, and so stinking, noisom,
roping matter, that the Nurse which emptied
the Pots, was hardly able to endure the
stink and noisomness of it. And he con∣tinued
the diet till he was perfectly Cured.

Another Experimented Remedy for the Drop∣sie, whereby several Persons have been Cured, as I have been assured.
TAke the Root of Heath, scrape off the
first Bark, which throw away, then peel
off the next rind, and fill a Glass or a Bot∣tle
with it loosely, then fill it up with White∣wine,
and let it stand to infuse over Night,
and the next Morning drink half a pint of
Wine; and so continue until you are
Cured.

Another Excellent Remedy against the Dropsie.
TAke Spiritual Oyl of Salt, mix with it
so much flowers of Sulphur, that it be∣come
like Pap, which distill in a Retort in
Sand, and you shall have a Liquor as white
as Milk, which is Excellent against the
Dropsie.

Page 205
The Copy of a Letter from Abbot Boucaud from Paris to Sir K. D. wherein he relates in what manner he Cured himself of the Stone, and of a Quartan Ague.
SIR,

I Do not tell you that I have been Sick,
(and that I am so still) to Excuse my
self for having so long de•erred an Answer
unto your last two Letters, &c. It is true
nevertheless, for I have laboured under di∣vers
Distempers; but among the rest, I have
been ill of the Stone, and have had a Quar∣tan
Ague: I believe you will not be sorry
to hear how I Cured my self of both with∣out
the help of any Physician. For the
Stone I took twelve grains of the Salt made
of the Stones which were taken out of Men;
I dissolved the said Salt in a little water, and
then I put all into a Glass of Whitewine,
and drank it off, and walked about my
Chamber near two hours, at the end where∣of
I had a great need to make water, and I
voided (with violence) a large Glass full
of Gravel, which was so gross, and so rug∣ged,
that it caused me to void near a Pint of
Blood; the same thing happened to me three
times, and every time I voided Blood, which
made me judge that I should have taken less
Page 206

of the said Salt; yet I took it but once, but
I felt a great pain and heaviness in my Reins
and Kidneys. The said Stones were Calci∣ned
in a Potters Oven, and after they were
Calcined, I extracted the Salt out of them
with distilled Rain-water: The feces I Cal∣cined
again, and extracted the Salt as before,
which I repeated so often, till the said Stones
yielded no more Salt. Note, That to make
this Salt for a M•n, you must take the stones
taken out of Men, and for a Woman, those
that are taken out of Women. And thus
was the first Cure performed.

As for the Quartan Ague, without having
been Purged, or let Blood, at the fourth fit
I took a Glass-full of the water of green
Wall-nuts, which I had distilled in their last
Season: I took it as soon as I perceived the
least symptom of the Fits approaching; I
went to Bed, and caused my self to be well
covered, and slept, and had no Fit at all
that time, nor ever after.

The Water I distilled thus: I took green
Wall-nuts and beat them in a stone Mortar,
then in a Cucurbite in B. M. I distilled the
water from them, which I cohobated twice
upon fresh Wall-nuts. Then having Cal∣cined
the three Marcs or Caput Mortuums,
I extracted the Salt out of the Ashes; this
Salt I put into the distilled water. I thus,
Page 207

Sir, I have given you Account how I went
to work.

A Process, how to make a most Excellent Oyl of Sulphur in abundance; sent also by the said Abbot Boucaud to Sir K.
TAke an Earthen Pan of Stone-ware, in
the midst thereof lay a piece of Brick,
upon which set an Earth•• Poringer full of
Sulphur grosly beaten; then put fair water
into your Pan, but not so much as to touch
the said Poringer: Then kindle the Sulphur,
and cover it with a Bell, so that the Bell touch
the water, and that the fumes may not come
out, but may condense and run down into
the water, which afterwards must be separa∣ted
in B. with a moderate heat. To set the
Sulphur on fire, you may put into it a square
or round piece of Iron made red-hot in the
fire.

Hartman.) In my Opinion, if the Bell
touch the Water, and that it hath no hole at
the top, so that the Sulphur have no Air, it
will not burn; I judge the best way to be thus:
Let the Poringer stand in the Water, but not
so deep, as that the Water bear it up, and
make it float; if it stands half, way in the
Water, it will do, for the weight of the Sul∣phur
will keep it down, and the heat of the
Page 208

Poringer will heat the Water, and the Va∣pours
and steams thereof will mix with the
fumes of the Sulphur, and make them con∣dense
the better, and so distill down together
into the Water. The Bell should be such a
one as is now in use, with a long neck, and
a hole at the top, which should not touch the
Water nor the Pan, but it should be suspended
in such manner, that there be some distance
between the bri• of the Bell and the sides of
the Pan.

A subtil Volatil Water from Sulphur, which will Dissolve ☉.
I AM told by one who hath done it, that
when you go to Sublime Flowers of
Sulphur, if you give very gentle and mo∣derate
fire, and be very attentive, there will
come over first, before any Flowers Sublime,
a little very Volatile, but altogether insipid
Water, which he saith, will dissolve ☉: It
is much more Volatile than any S. V. A
Glass full of it will presently vanish away, if
you hold the Glass unstopped upon your
hand, by the warmth of it.

Hartman.) This Relation is of Sir K.

If you would save this Water, you must
have a Glass head upon your last Subliming-pot,
or a Ludel, wherein you Sublime your
Page 209

Flowers of Sulphur, and instead of a Vessel
without a bottom, as that for the Flowers
of Antimony, you must have one with a
bottom, and without a hole on the side
to put in your Sulphur, and then two Alu∣dels
besides the said Vessel, and the Glass-head
will be sufficient for subliming the
Flowers of Sulphur.

By means of the Glass-head you save also
the Vinegar of {antimony} in subliming the Flowers,
which I have done several times; but I used
not above three Aludels one upon another,
besides the Glass-head.

An Excellent Essence of Sulphur for the Breast, and for the Lungs.
TAke Sulphur one part, brown Sugar-candy
two parts; pulverize them, and
mix them well together, then put it into a
Retort of such a bigness, that two third
parts thereof may remain empty. Then
distill in sand, giving very gentle fire at
first; you will have a whitish Liquor, which
keep for use.

Hartman.) This was given me by a Phy∣s•cian
at Paris, who told me, that a Catarrh
•alling upon his Lungs, which obstructed his
Lungs, causing in him a great Fever, he Cured
himself with this Essence, taking this, thirty
Page 210

or fourty drops of it in some Broth. He told
me also, that it was of great effect in Asthma,
Phthisick, old and inveterated Coughs, &c.

An Excellent Elixir of Sulphur.
TAke Juice of Licorise, Confection of
Alkermes, Roots of Elecampane, ana
ʒvj. Alipta moscata ʒiv. Myrrh, Saffron,
ana ℥jss. Mastick, Benjamin, Cardamoms
the less, Cinnamon, ana ℥j. Sugar-candy
℥ij. Powder what is to be Powdered, then
mix them together, and add rectified S. V.
so much as to make it into a Paste; then put
it into a Circulatory Vessel, and pour upon
it so much Spirit of Sulphur, as may cover
it the breadth of four fingers: Digest it fourty
days, then decant the Tincture, and pour
upon the remaining Matter fresh S. V. to ex∣tract
another Tincture. Then mix these
two Tinctures together, and keep them for
Use.

This Tincture is a very great Pectoral,
and a Precious Remedy in all affects of the
Breast and Lungs. It is Excellent against
Catarrhs, old and inveterate Coughs, the
Phthisick, Asthma's; it cherishes and comforts
the Heart, and is good against fainting and
swooning Fits, preserves from Putrefaction;
it is Anodyne, Cephalick, Analeptick, Alexi∣pharmack;
Page 211

and, as the Author saith, preserves
Health, prolongs Life, and keeps back gray
Hairs, by strengthening Natural heat. It
is to be taken in some Pectoral water or Sy∣rup;
the Dose is so much as renders the Ve∣hicle
of a grateful acidity.

Lac Sulphuris.
TAke of Sulphur in Powder on part, and
of Quick-lime two parts, mix them,
and put them into an Iron Pot, and pour
thereon a good quantity of fair water, let
it boyl until three parts of the water be con∣sumed,
and that the Liquor be as red as
Blood by the dissolution of the Sulphur;
then strain it whilst it is hot, and let the
strained Liquor stand to cool: Then Preci∣pitate
with Vinegar, then let it settle, and
having poured off the clear, edulcorate the
residue ten or twelve times with warm wa∣ter,
the last time with Rose-water; then dry
it gently, and keep it for Use.

It is a true Remedy in all affects of the
Breast and Lungs; it is given with great suc∣cess
to those that are troubled with Catarrhs,
Rheum in the Head, Asthma, Phthisick,
Coughs, &c. It promotes expectoration; it
hinders the defluxion to the Joynts, it pre∣vents
and disperses the windiness of the Sto∣mach
Page 212

and Bowels, and Cureth the Cholick.
The Dose is so much as may change the Ve∣hicle
white; the best and fittest Vehicle is
the Spirit of Lignum Cassiae, or Cinnamon;
taking it twice a day, in the Morning fast∣ing,
and at Night.

You may make a very good Spirit of Lig∣num
Cassiae thus, which is a much finer Spi∣rit
than that of Cinnamon, and much bet∣ter
for this use. Take Lignum Cassiae ℥iv.
bruise it well, then pour upon it three quarts
of Malaga Sack, stop the Vessel close, and
let it stand to digest for three or four days,
then distill it in a Limbeck, or in a Glass
Cucurbite, distilling it off all together, as
long as it cometh with vigour, and you shall
have about three pints and a half of very
good Spirit: Thus I make it. But if you
will have it richer of the Wood, put this
Liquor upon fresh Cassia, and digest and
distill as before. Repeat this till it be as
strong as you desire. You may if you please
separate the runnings so as to have some of
such strength as you wish.

Page 213
A great Diaphoretick of Antimony.
TAke good Antimony Mineral in subtil
Powder lbj. mix it with lbss. of ☿ Sub∣limate;
put this mixture presently into a
Retort, leave the Retort for some time un∣stopped
before you distill it, for then you
shall have more Butter than if you distill it
presently. Then distill a Butter from it ac∣cording
to Art, giving strong fire at last, so
that the bottom of the Retort may be red-hot;
part of it will come over in Butter,
and part will Sublime in Cinaber, very hard;
if you leave this Butter for some time expo∣sed
to the Air before you rectifie it, you shall
have more Liquor than if you distill it pre∣sently;
rectifie this Butter, then melt it a∣gain,
and pour it into a clean Retort, and
pour upon it by little and little good Spirit
of Nitre, continue pouring on the Spirit of
Nitre until the Ebullition ceaseth: Then di∣still
it with a gentle fire in Sand, giving
strong fire at last, so that the bottom of the
Retort may be red-hot; then let it cool, break
the Retort, and take out your Matter, which
will be very spungy, and of a yellowish co∣lour;
pulverize and edulcorate it several
times with warm water, then dry it gently;
reverberate it for an hour between two Cru∣bles
Page 214

well luted together: Then grind it a∣gain
to a subtil Powder, which put into an
Earthen Poringer, and pour upon it recti∣fied
S. V. that will burn all away; fire it,
and whilst it burneth, stir it continually with
a silver spoon; the S. V. being burned away,
the Powder will remain dry; grind this
Powder again, and mix it with ʒvij. of An∣timony
Diaphoretick that hath been Calcined
three times with Nitre, grind them well to∣gether,
and put them into a Retort, and pour
upon them ℥iijss. of good Spirit of Nitre;
put the Retort in Sand, and let it stand thus
four and twenty hours; then distill with a
gentle fire to dryness: Break the Retort, and
take out the Matter, which grind and edul∣corate
with Carduus-water warmed, then
spread it upon gray Paper, and let it dry of
it self: Then grind it to an impalpable Pow∣der,
which put into a Poringer, and pour
upon it S. V. so much as may cover it a
fingers breadth; let it stand thus for five or
six hours, then fire the S. V. upon it, and stir
it continually with a silver spoon whilst it
burneth, then grind it again, and put it in∣to
a Viol, stop it close, and keep it for
Use.

The manner of using this Medicine is
thus: Take fifteen grains of it for three
Mornings together, mixing with it some
Page 215

Conserves or Sweatmeats, and take it upon
the point of a Knife, then drink a Glass∣full
of the Sudorifick Decoction after it warm.
Then take twenty grains for three Mornings
more; then fifteen grains again for three
Mornings more. It is an Excellent Remedy
to Cure the Gout, Dropsie, Palsie, the Ve∣nereal
Disease, the Evil, Leprosie; it puri∣fieth
the whole Mass of Blood, and is good
in all Scorbutick Distempers. Note, That
before you use this Medicine, you must pre∣pare
the Body before with some fit Purge,
according to the Constitution of the Pa∣tient.

Those that are careful to preserve their
Health, and to keep it in good state, may
take this Powder in the Spring, at the fal∣ling
of the Leaf, having first Purged once
or twice; then take the Powder with the Su∣dorifick
Decoction for Nine days together,
as was said, mixing the Powder with a dram
of Confection of Alkermes. It powerfully
resisteth all Corruption, dryeth up all super∣fluous
moisture in the Body, and is a true
concretive of Blood.

Page 216
The Sudorifick Decoction.
TAke Lignum Guaiacum ℥iv. Salsaparilla,
Sassafras, ana ℥j. infuse them in three
quarts of Fountain-water for twenty four
hours; then let it boyl gently for three
hours.

A most Excellent Medicine against all sorts of Agues and Fevers, &c.
TAke of the Starr'd Martial Regulus of
Antimony lbj. Mercury Precipitate lbjss.
pulverize and mix them well together, then
put them in a Retort, and distill in Sand as
you do Butter of {antimony}; then rectifie this Oyl
or Butter once or twice, casting away the
Feces: Then put it into a new Retort, and
pour upon it Spirit of Metheglin; distill and
cohobate four or five times to make the Oyl
sweet, then pour S. V. upon it, and abstract
it to the consistence of an Oyl. This is a
Precious Remedy for the Cure of many Dis∣eases:
It is of great Power and Efficacy to
Cure all sorts of Agues, Quotidians, Tertians,
and chiefly Quartans. It Operates by a gen∣tle
Vomit in some Persons, and in others it
gently Purges without Vomiting, and in some
it gently Operates both ways: It hath vertue
Page 217

to eradicate totally both Root and Seed of the
Distemper. The Dose is from six to twelve
drops, in some fit Vehicle.

Note, That having separated the Spirit
of Metheglin, if you acuate it with Spirit
of Vitriol, it is a great Diaphoretick, far be∣yond
all others. Dose is from half to one
whole spoonful in some fit Vehicle.

A Precious Oyl of Antimony.
TAke Antimony Calcined, as for making
the Glass of {antimony}, lbij. ℥xij. Sugar lbj.
Mix them well together, and put them in a
Retort: Distill in sand, first, will come a
flegm, and afterwards a pure dark-red Oyl,
which keep for Use.

This is an admirable Remedy against the
Stone and Gravel, the Dropsie, Epilepsie,
Asthma, Quartan Agues, and all sorts of
Fevers, the Plague, and all Malignant Fe∣vers,
and Epidemical Distempers, and Le∣prosie;
and being outwardly applyed, it
cureth, healeth, and dryeth up all inveterate
Wounds and Ulcers. The Dose is four drops
in Wine twice a day.

Page 218
A most Excellent Panacea of the true Sulphur of Antimony.
TAke Lees of Wine, which you may
have of the Wine-Coopers when they
have pressed them out, break them into
small pieces, let them dry, then burn them
to Ashes: Take of these Ashes, of Quick-lime,
and Nitre, ana; make a Lixivium
thereof with warm water, then filter it:
Then take Cinaber of Antimony, which is
found in the neck of the Retort when one
maketh the Butter of Antimony; pulverize
it, and boyl it in the afore-said Lixivium
for the space of four hours; pour off the
Lixivium from the Quick-silver into another
Vessel, which lean on the side, that the red-Sulphur
may settle; then edulcorate it with
hot water, and dry it gently; so have you
the true Sulphur of Antimony. Take of
this Sulphur, and of Regulus of Antimony,
ana ℥j. Oyl of Sulphur per Campanam, or
rectified Oyl of Vitriol ℥iij. Mix all well
together, and put it into a small Retort, di∣gest
it in Horse-dung, or if you will, in
some other gentle heat for eight or ten days.
Then distill it, and cohobate the distilled
Liquor upon the mark three or four times;
then increase the fire to the highest degree,
Page 219

which continue for twelve hours, to force
all over, and the Matter will be fixt; then
break the Retort, and take out the Matter,
which pulverize, and edulcorate it with
Rose-water; then dry it gently upon a gray
Paper, then reverberate it for four or five
hours. Then take ℥j. of this Powder, and
of Salt of red Coral ℥ij. grind them well
together to a very subtil Powder.

This is an Universal Medicine to Purifie
the whole Mass of Blood, and to root out
such Distempers as proceed from the cor∣ruption
thereof, and are Curable by sweat.
It Cureth all stubborn, Malign, and Chro∣nick
Diseases: It Cureth the Venereal Dis∣ease,
the most inveterate; the Leprosie, the
Evil, the Scurvy, the Plague, and all Epi∣demical
Diseases. The Dose is from ten to
thirty grains.

The Order of using this Medicine is thus:
First, Purge the Patient once or twice with
fit Purges, then rest three days, then Purge
again; then begin with ten grains of the
Powder, which continue for three times, mix
the Powder with some fit Conserve, and
give it upon the point of a Knife, in the
Morning in his Bed, drinking a Glass-full
of a Sudorifick decoction after it, made hot;
let him keep his Bed for an hour or two, then
let him be rubbed with warm Clothes, and
Page 220

the sweat being quite over, let him rise, and
eat of good wholesom Food, forbearing to
eat of Salt Meats, Salt-fish, Sallet, Milk,
Butter, or Cheese, or raw Fruit. Then
for three Mornings more give him twenty
grains, and then thirty grains for three
Mornings more; then come again to twenty
grains for three Mornings more.

A great Febrifuge.
TAke Mineral Antimony very clean, that
hath never been melted, ℥vj. and as
much Salt-petre, pulverize them finely, and
mix them well together; then put them into
a strong Crucible, which cover with another
Crucible that hath a little hole in the bottom
as big as a Pea: Then put this Crucible into
your Furnace, and let the fire kindle of it
self, which increase by degrees, the Matter
will fulminate; when you see that no more
smoak cometh out of the little hole of the
Crucible, take it out of the fire, and take
out the Matter that remained in the Crucible,
which pulverize very finely. Then take
three Ducats of Gold, and six times as much
in weight of the afore-said Powder; melt
the Powder first in a Crucible, then put into
it one of the Ducats, stirring it until it be
melted, then put in another Ducat; and so
Page 221

continue until you have put in all your Du∣cats
one after another: When all is melted
and well incorporated, let it stand in good
fusion for half an hour, then take it out, and
let it cool: Then break the Crucible, and
take out the Matter, which pulverize subtily,
and mix it with equal weight of ☿ Sublimate,
also in fine Powder; put them into a Retort
well luted, put it into a Furnace, and fit a
Recipient to it full of Water, so that the
nose of the Retort may enter into the water;
leave the junctures unluted: Give a gentle
fire at first, which augment by degrees; part
of the Matter will distill into the Water, but
the greatest part thereof will stick to the
neck of the Retort, which you may draw
out with an Iron hook into a bason full of
Water: When you see that nothing more
cometh over by the last degree of fire, let it
cool; then break the Retort, and take out
all the Matter that is Sublimed about the
neck of the Retort, and put it into the Wa∣ter
in the Recipient, as also that in the Ba∣son;
let the Water stand to settle, then de∣cant
it, and keep it. It is Excellent to Cure
all sorts of old and inveterate Ulcers, &c.
Pour fresh hot water upon the residue, and
having shaken it well together, let it settle;
then decant, and put on more Water. Re∣peat
these solutions seven or eight times;
Page 222

then separate the ☿ from it with a Quill, and
put the Powder into fresh hot-water; let it
stand thus until the next day, then repeat
the Edulcorations as before, which continue
for six days, then edulcorate the last time
with cold Water; then dry the said Powder,
and keep it for use. The Dose is one or two
grains for Children; and for Persons of
riper Years, from four to six or seven, ac∣cording
to their strength and Constitution,
putting the Powder over-night to infuse in
two or three Ounces of White-wine; the
next Morning strain the Wine, and let the
Patient drink it, and half an hour after he
may drink some warm Broth or Posset: It
may also be given in substance. It Operates
by a gentle Vomit, and by Stools. It hath
been Experimented, and found very suc∣cessful
and effectual in the Cure of all Inter∣mittent
Fevers, and in the Gout, as also in
the Venereal Disease. Out of the Caput
Mortuum you may reduce the greatest part
of the Gold.

This is a Mercurius Vitae of a singular pre∣paration;
it is not white like the common,
but of a brownish gray colour. It appears
by this to have some of the ☿ in it, that when
you rub Gold or Copper with the Powder, it
will make it white, which common Mercu∣rius
vitae will not do.

Page 223
Another great Febrifuge, which is said to be Riverius his Febrifuge.
TAke ☉, dissolve it in A. R. and Glass of
Antimony, dissolved in A. F. ana ℥ss.
☿ washed and purified ℥iij. dissolve it in A. F.
Then mix the three dissolutions together, and
put them into a Cucurbite, and distill in
Sand, and cohobate the distilled Liquor
eleven times upon the remaining Matter,
which are twelve distillations; then pour
upon the remaining Matter rectified S. V.
Cohobate and abstract it six times from the
Matter; then take it out and grind it, and
that it may be the better •ixed, Calcine it in
a Crucible in a Circulary fire, until it be al∣most
glowing-hot. The Dose of this Pow∣der
is gr. vj. with gr. xij. of Scammony:
Let the Patient take it in the Morning, the
day before the Fit.

Another Febrifuge.
TAke Cinaber of Antimony ℥j. common
Salt decrepitated ʒij. pulverize them,
and mix them together; put them into a
Glass Cucurbite, and pour upon them Oyl
of Sulphur ℥iij. digest it for two days in a
moderate heat in Ashes; then augment the
Page 224

fire to evaporate away the humidity, then
having edulcorated the remaining Mass, re∣duce
it into Powder, which mix with ℥iij. of
Flowers of Sulphur; put this into an earthen
Poringer, which put upon burning coals;
let it kindle, and stir it continually with an
Iron Spatula, until all the Flowers of Sul∣phur
be burned away: Then pour upon the
remaining Matter so much S. V. as may co∣ver
it the breadth of two fingers, then burn
away the S. V. then reduce it to Powder, and
keep it for Use.

This Powder is much recommended to
Cure all sorts of Agues and Intermitting Fe∣vers,
giving it half an hour before the Fit,
from ten to fifteen or twenty grains, in some
Syrup or Cordial-water, taking some Broth
two hours after it; but the Patient should be
Purged first, and let Blood before the use
of this Powder; and if the first and second
dose do not carry away the Fit, it must be
repeated a third time.

Another Febrifuge, which is thought to be Riverius his true Febrifuge.
TAke of Mercury dulcis twelve times
Sublimed ℥jss. Mercurius vitae cor∣rected
as followeth, ℥ss. mix them together.
The correction of Mercurius vitae is thus:
Page 225

Take of ☿ vitae, put it into a small Cucur∣bite,
set it in Sand in a moderate heat, let it
stand until it begin to grow red; then pour
upon it rectified Spirit of Wine, which ab∣stract,
and pour on fresh S. V. Repeat this
three times, and you shall have a ☿ vitae
which will not Operate upwards, but only
downwards. This ☿ vitae is to be used for
delicate Persons, but for strong and robust
Persons you may use the Common ☿
vitae.

This Powder finding the Humours dis∣posed,
will Operate both upwards and down∣wards
if you employ the Common ☿ vitae;
but if you employ the Corrected, as was
said, it will Operate only downwards. And
as this Febrifuge contains in it a reasonable
Dose of ☿ vitae, the ☿ dulcis thus prepared,
working for his part upon the bad Humours,
and serving also for a Corrective to the ☿
vitae, one ought to expect good effects of
it.

Riverius gave this Febrifuge to Persons
of all Ages and Sexes, in the Morning the
day before the Fit. One may give six grains
of it to little Children in the pap of a roasted
Apple, or in some Sweat-meats, and so in∣crease
the Dose proportionably, according
to the Age and strength of the Patient, to
twenty grains to Adults, and even to twenty
Page 226

four to those that are of a strong Constitu∣tion.

Hartman.) These Febrifuges were given
me by a Friend, a German; and I thought
it fit to insert them here: But whilst they were
Printing, I found them in Mr. Charras his
French Dispensatory, which just at that time
came to my hand.

A Certain and Experimented Remedy to Cure the Convulsion Fits in little Children; as also for the Epilepsie, the Cholick, and for the Spleen, &c.
TAke Verdigrease, and distill a Spirit
thereof, which rectifie once by it self,
and it will leave some feces and Metalline
terrestreity behind: Then take one part of
this Spirit, and three parts of fair water, put
it upon Lithargy finely fearsed, as much as
it will dissolve: Deflegm it in Balneo, and
then distill it in Sand, and there will come
over a pure and powerful Spirit without Acri∣mony;
it will taste a little sweetish, as in the
making of Sacharum Saturni.

It is Excellent for the Convulsion of little
Children, being given in some fit Vehicle,
a drop or two for Sucking Infants; but to
Men you may give ten or twenty drops.

Page 227
Sigillum Hermetis, Or, a great and Experi∣mented Medicine, which hath done great Effects in the Cure of all sorts of Agues and Fevers. It was given to Sir Kenelm Digby by an able Physician, who had done Wonderful Cures with it.
TAke ☽ ℥vj. dissolve it in the best A. F.
you can get, using no more A. F. than
is necessary for the Solution (which will be
about ℥jss. i. e. two parts to one) when you
see that it is all perfectly dissolved (without
fire) cast into the Matrass an aaa, made
(after the ordinary manner of Goldsmiths)
of ʒj. of pure ☉, and ℥ij. of ☿; you will
presently see a pelagus conturbationis made.
Let the Matrass stand still upon a Table, or
in some corner, till you find the Matter at
that pass as you desire: you will see many
beautiful colours appear. After fourty days
standing, you will see a kind of roughness
appear upon the superficies of the ☿, which
will daily grow and sprout out more. In
twenty days more (sixty in all) it will be
shot out into little spears or needles and twigs.
When you see that it groweth or shooteth
out no more, pour off all the Liquor, and
the Mercurial Matter will soon dry of it self.
Then with some little pieces of Glass break
Page 228

off these Excrescencies or Needles from the
Mass, (whereof you may have about ʒj. or
more) and grind them to Powder, which
will be very white.

Of this Powder give twenty four grains,
or more (according to the Complexion) in
a Cherry, or yolk of an Egg, in the Morn∣ing
very early, or at Night going to Bed, or
rather after the first sleep at three or four in
the Morning, and in this last case sleep after
it. It is seven or eight hours before it useth
to work.

Sometimes the first Dose will not work at
all, otherwise than by strengthening, and then
the Author giveth a second Dose two or three
days after, which will work either by Stool
or Vomit, or Sweat, as Nature shall require,
and in due proportion.

It Cureth Quartans and other Agues, and
worketh admirably in all desperate Diseases.
He useth to take it once a Month himself.
When there is no peccant Humour in the
Body, it worketh not by evacuation, but
strengtheneth. The ☿ incloseth and shut∣teth
up the Metals, like a Rose of Iericho,
from whence he calleth it Sigillum Hermetis.
The part of the Needles next the Mass
worketh rougher than the ends. Out of the
Mass you may draw most of the Gold and
Silver, with loss of about an eighth part of
Page 229

the first, and less proportion of the last.
He thinks this to be a Philosophical ☿, and
to be useful in the great Work.

A Mercurial Liquor with Jupiter.
TAke lbj. of Iupiter, melt it in a Cru∣cible,
then pour into it lbj. of ☿ re∣vived
from Cinaber, and made hot, make
an aaa of it, which wash with warm water,
wherein you have dissolved a little Salt; wash
it so often, till you have washed away all the
blackness of it, and the aaa will be as white
as snow: Then dry it, and grind it in a
Marble or Stone Mortar with lbij. of Cor∣rosive
Sublimate; then spread it upon a large
dish of Glass, which set shelving in a Cel∣lar,
putting something under it to receive
the Liquor that will run from it, you will
find at last the Salts resolved into a Liquor,
in which will be also the ☿, which will be re∣vived;
separate the Liquor from the ☿, and
keep the ☿ for another use: Put the Liquor
into a Cucurbite, and evaporate the super∣fluous
moisture of it in B. M. with a gentle
heat: Then digest it for fifteen days more in
the same B. with a very gentle heat; then
pour this Liquor into a Retort, which put in
Sand, and fit a Recipient to it; then distill
by graduated fire, giving strong fire at last
Page 230

of the fourth degree; you shall have a Li∣quor
like an Oyl.

This Liquor is much esteemed to Cure
the Cancer, Wolf, Fistulaes, and all sorts
of old, inveterate, Malign, and gnawing
Ulcers, being applyed outwardly.

Monsieur C. his Lunary Emetick and Fe∣brifuge, &c.
DIssolve ☽ in A. F. then Precipitate it
with Spirit of Salt, then dry the
Calx.

Take of this Calx, and of {antimony}, ana, distill
it as a Butter of {antimony}, you shall have a Butter
white and transparent, which will dissolve
☉. If you will make an Emetick of this
Butter, Precipitate one part of it with fair
water, then edulcorate with Blood-warm
water, and you will have an Emetick Re∣medy,
which will Purge.

It Cures all sorts of Agues and Fevers, and
〈◊〉 a Catholicum for ill Humours. The Dose
is from one grain to three, in some fit thing
in the Morning fasting. It must be given
with great Caution.

Page 231
To make a most Excellent Sudorifick of the aforesaid Butter, that will Cure the Leprosie, and the Venereal Disease, proceed thus:
TAke the other part of this Butter, and
put it into a Retort, and pour upon
it Spirit of Nitre; distill and cohobate three
or four times; then edulcorate it with fair
water, and dry it; then burn Spirit of Wine
upon it, and you shall have a Sudorifick,
which will do admirable effects, taking from
eight grains to sixteen, in the Morning in
Bed; drink some fit decoction after it: And
after the Sweating, the Patient must be rub∣bed
with warm Clothes all over his whole
Body, observing a reasonable Diet, and
using some fit Purge before.

An Oyl of ☉, wherewith Monsieur Belieur, a Famous Chirurgeon at Paris, Cured Can∣cers, all old Ulcers, Cankers, and Venereal Sores, &c.
TAke Spirit of Salt two parts, Spirit of
Nitre one part; in this dissolve as much
☉ as it will dissolve: Distill off very gently
the Liquor in B. M. until the ☉ remain in
a Crystalline Gum or Salt; then let it re∣solve
to Liquor in the Air by it self: Then
Page 232

distill again, and resolve. Repeat this till
it congeal no more in the Cucurbite, but re∣main
a deep-red Liquor, like an Oyl. The
manner of using this Oyl is thus: Dip a
Straw or a Feather in it, and touch all round
about the borders of the Sore with it.

With this he Cured a very Malignant
Ulcer in a Leg (that had been there above
three Years) in the space of ten days; and
also a Cancer in a Womans Cheek in fifteen
days space, that other Chirurgeons (with∣out
hope of Cure) had given over. With
this he also Cured a Woman (that had seven∣teen
Cankers in her private parts, that had
been so some Years, and without hope of
Cure) in fifteen days.

Doctor Havervelt his Remedy, wherewith he Cured the Evil or Scrofulaes, Cancers, and Old Ulcers.
TAke Dantzick Vitriol, Calcine it till it
be yellow, then grind it with Salt or
Salt-petre, the ordinary proportion: With
this Sublime ☿, which Sublime once again
by it self; then take only the Crystalline
part of it, whereof take ℥j. grind it to a
subtil Powder in a Glass Mortar, with a
Glass Pestle; put this Powder into a large
Glass-bottle, and pour upon it a quart of
Page 233

Fountain-water, stop the Bottle close, and
let it stand thus for some days, shaking it
often: Then being well settled and stood
without shaking at least twenty four hours,
pour off the clear, and filter it. Then take
one spoonful of this Liquor, which put into
a Vial, and pour into it two spoonfuls of
fair Fountain-water: Shake the Vial well,
then pour it out into a Glass, and let the
Patient drink it in the Morning fasting; let
him keep himself very warm, and stir and
walk as much as he can; but let him neither
eat nor drink till two hours after the Medi∣cine
hath Operated. It will Operate by
Stools, and by a gentle Vomit. The next
Morning, if the Patient find himself strong
enough, let him take the said Medicine
again, if not, he may rest a day or two be∣tween.

With this Remedy the Author above-mentioned
Cured all sorts of Scrofula's, whe∣ther
open or shut; the Cancer or Wolf, whe∣ther
in the Breast, or any other part of the
Body; as also all sorts of Pustula's and Old
Ulcers and Wounds.

The said Doctor Communicated this Re∣medy
to Sir K. D.

Page 234
Another for the same.
SIR Kenelm relates, that Dr. Farrar as∣sured
him, he had perfectly Cured a
most contumacious, foul, inveterate Evil
(several times touched by the King, and
wrought upon by the best Chirurgeons, and
given over as desperate) by the following
means:

Take Garden-Snails, that have white or
gray Houses upon them, beat them in a
Mortar with a little Parsley, into the con∣sistence
of a Plaister, which apply to the
Sore or Sores, and change it every twenty
four hours.

This is also good to take away the raging
pain of the Gout.

A most Excellent Physical Salt, as it was prepared in Sir Kenelm's Laboratory.
TAke Nitre, Sulphur, ana lbj. Camphire
℥ij. mingle them well together, and cast
them by little and little into an earthen Cu∣curbite
rod-hote, which shut close imme∣diately
with a just stopper of Brick that
closeth it firmly; the Cucurbite must have
two arms, unto which are fastened two Bal∣lons
of Glass (as you see by the Figure in

[illustration]


Page 235
the next page) each Ballon containing a∣bout two quarts of Spirit of Urine (to the quantity of Ingredients here named) which attracts unto it the Spirits, which will ascend and pass by the two Arms on each side: When all is cold, take out the fixt Matter that remaineth in the Cucurbite, and grind it small, and dissolve it in simple Spirit of Urine, and being filtred and congealed, dis∣solve it in the Acid Spirit of Urine that was in the Ballons, and hath the Spirit of Sul∣phur, Nitre, and Camphire in it: Distill and cohobate this (in a Glass Cucurbite) till the Salt have retained in it all the Spirits that were in the Urine. This Salt will be very grateful, and not taste or smell at all of the Camphire, nor is Saturnine, or Anti-vene∣real in its effect. It is very efficacious in all Fevers, either simple or Malignant any ways, or Spotted: In the Small-Pox or Measles, in all the Progress of them, from before their coming out, till the end; and preserveth the Heart from hot and putrid Vapours and Fumes, and purifieth the Blood.
Page 236
The best way to make the Spirit of Urine is thus:
LET the Urine stand eight or ten days,
in which time it will putrifie and fer∣ment;
then distill very gently, and that
which cometh first is the Spirit. When it
beginneth to come weak and insipid (which
you will know by tasting a drop) then cease,
for all that is good is come over. Thus you
shall have near half your quantity of Urine
in good Spirit.

Sir Kenelm Digby's Excellent Remedy for Tetters, Herps, and Ring-worms, Scabby Itches, &c. as it was prepared by his Di∣rections for his own use for a Tetter.
DIssolve ℥ij. of running ☿ in ℥iv. of the
best A. F. pour upon the Solution a
quart of fair water, in which is dissolved two
handfuls of Salt, and then filtred; this will
Precipitate the ☿ to the bottom in a white
Calx. When it is well settled, pour off the
clear water, which keep for Use. Pour the
remaining milky thick substance upon lbj.
of Hogs-grease melted in an earthen Pot;
the grease must be very hot when you pour
in the dissolved ☿; but take the Pot from
Page 237

the fire when you pour the ☿ to it, and stir
it well all the while you are pouring it in;
and when it is all in, set the Pot upon the
fire again to boil the grease, till all the moi∣sture
of the Mercurial Substance and Solu∣tion
is evaporated away, but be sure you stir
it all the while, as also after you take it from
the fire (which you must do as soon as the
moisture is gone) till the grease is cold and
hardened.

The way of using this Oyntment and Wa∣ter,
to Cure all sorts of Tetters, Herps, or
any Scabby Itches, or Inflamed red Faces or
Noses, is thus:

First, if the Evil be very great, Purge and
let Blood strongly; then begin with the Wa∣ter,
rub the Tetters, and all about it with
Linnen dipped in the Water made as hot as
you can endure it; and when you have rub∣bed
and bathed it well, lay upon it Com∣presses
wetted in the water. Do thus twice a
day for two or three days, or more, till you
see it hath drawn out the Salt Humour abun∣dantly,
and that the part is much inflamed,
and very sore, and hath little holes or Ulcers
eaten in it. Presently after the first wash∣ing
it will grow very sore and Inflamed;
therefore you must not afterwards rub it so
hard as at first, but very gently. Some
Sores will require that you use the Water five
Page 238

or six days, others more, tender ones two
or three days. When you judge that the
Water hath drawn out sufficiently the vio∣lent
Matter, then anoint with the grease as
hot as you can endure it, and lay on it a
Plaister of the same Oyntment, binding it
on. This Oyntment will presently asswage
the pain, and take away the Inflammation.
Dress it with it twice or thrice a day. Much
Matter will run from the Sore, as from an
Ulcer; and by little and little it will heal up.
And that which is wonderful is, that whereas
one would think that such deep holes as the
Water will have eaten, should have scars,
there will not appear the least mark of them,
but a fine new tender Natural skin will come
over it all.

A great Medicine, wherewith Wonderful Cures have been performed to my know∣ledge.
TAke Bezoar Mineral well prepared, and
Antimony Diaphoretick also well pre∣pared,
ana ℥j. grind them together to a sub∣til
Powder, and put them into a small Re∣tort,
and pour upon them ℥iv. of good Spi∣rit
of Nitre; distill in Sand with a moderate
fire to dryness, then cohobate and distill
twice, which are three distillations in all with
Page 239

the Spirit of Nitre upon the Matter. Then
pour fresh Spirit of Nitre upon it, and di∣still
and cohobate as before. Repeat this a
third time with fresh Spirit of Nitre, the
same quantity as before, which are nine di∣stillations
(in all) with ℥xij. of Spirit of
Nitre: Then break the Retort, and take
out the Matter, which grind to Powder,
and edulcorate it well with warm Carduus-water;
then dry it gently, and put it into
a Poringer, and burn rectified S. V. upon
it, stirring it all the while the S. V. burn∣eth,
with a Silver spoon, untill the S. V. be
burned all away, and the Powder remain
dry. Then pour fresh S. V. upon it, and
fire it as before: Repeat this a third time,
then grind the Powder, and keep it in a
Vial close stopped.

This Powder Cureth the Venereal Disease
the most inveterate, with all its Symptoms
and attendencies without exception, and re∣storeth
lost strength and vigour, as Experi∣ence
testifieth. It Cureth all Rheumatisms,
the Leprosie, all interior and exterior Ulcers;
it purifieth the whole Mass of Blood, and
wonderfully fortifieth Nature, &c.

The way of using this Powder to Cure
the above-mentioned Diseases is thus:

First, Purge with some fit gentle Purga∣tive
Potion; then, if the Disease requireth,
Page 240

you may let Blood the next day, then two
days after that repeat the Purge, and two
days after you may begin with the Powder;
taking gr. viij. of it for five Mornings to∣gether,
the Powder being mixt with a little
Conserve of Roses, let the Patient take it
upon the point of a Knife in the Morning
in his Bed, and drink after it immediately a
Glass-full of the following Decoction as hot
as he can drink it; let him keep his Bed, and
he will be in a gentle breathing Sweat for an
hour; which being past, let him be rubbed
with warm Clothes, his Legs, Thighs, Arms,
Shoulders, and the Back; then let him keep
his Bed for an hour longer, to see if he will
sweat any more: The sweat being quite
over, he may rise, and go about his business,
as at other times. After those five days the
Dose of the Powder must be increased, ta∣king
twelve grains of it for other five Morn∣ings;
and then you must come again to
eight grains for five Mornings more. When
you begin with the twelve grains after the
first five Doses, you must drink a little more
of the Sudorisick Decoction than before,
and taking the Powder then in a little Con∣fection
of Alkermes. You may also increase
the Dose of the Powder by degrees (as Sir
K. D. observes) taking (for example) gr. x.
the sixth day, and gr. xij. the other three
Page 241

days following; then gr. x. the tenth day,
and so come again to gr. viij. the eleventh
day. One may take gr. xx. of it at one
time without inconveniency. The first
Purge the Author giveth, is a Decoction of
Succory and Tamarinds, with infusion of
two Drams of Sena, and being strained,
dissolveth in it ℥j. of Syrup of Peach-flowers.
The Second is the same, adding only of
Confection of Hamech, or of Confection
of Citron; or you may increase a little the
Dose of Sena, and of the Syrup, if one is
not willing to take any thing where there
is Scammony in. The Sudorifick Decoction
the Author maketh use of with this Powder,
is thus:

Take Sarsaparilla ℥ij. China-root ℥j. Sas∣safras ℥ss. Santal Citrine ʒij. and a little
Licorise if you will, and a little Cinnamon
for to aromatise it; let all be infused with
three quarts of water for twelve hours in
warm Sand; then let it boyl gently until a
third part is consumed, then strain it.

Note, That if you put a little Salt of
Tartar into the water when you put the In∣gredients
in, it will extract the Vertue and
Tincture out of them much the better; as
also in making any Purgative Decoction, if
you infuse them over-night with a little Salt
of Tartar put in the water, and then boyling
Page 242

it only two or three walms the next Morn∣ing,
it will be much more effectual.

Lapis ignis, for the renovation of Mankind, by the three Principles of Nature, Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury.
TAke {antimony} Mineral, pulverize it, and Cal∣cine
it in a close Reverberatory, with
sufficient, but moderate heat, so that it melt
not, in twenty four hours it will be Calcined,
and will be a gray Powder. Take of this {antimony}
Calcined, and of raw {antimony} Mineral, ana lbj.
melt them together in a Crucible; when
they are well melted and incorporated, pour
it out into a Copper or Brass Kettle, and it
will be Glass of {antimony}, which needeth not to be
clear. If you did not add the {antimony} Mineral,
the Calcined {antimony} would not melt. Pulverize
this Glass, and grind it upon a Marble stone
till it be an impalpable Powder, which put
into a Vial, and pour upon it distilled Vine∣gar
alcalised with its fixt Salt, digest in Sand;
when you see the distilled Vinegar coloured
of a Golden colour, decant the clear, and
put fresh distilled Vinegar upon the Glass,
and digest as before. Repeat this till you
have extracted all the Tincture out of the
Glass: Then filter the Tincted distilled Vi∣negar,
and put it into a Recort; distill with
Page 243

a gentle fire in Sand until you see there re∣main
a Liquor like a deep-red Oyl in the
bottom of the Retort, and that you see some
drops appear in the neck of the Retort, which
is a sign that all the distilled Vinegar is come
over. Pour upon this Oyl Tartarised S. V.
digest and circulate for three or four days, or
more: Then draw off the S. V. gently in B.
and as soon as you see any red drops appear,
change the Recipient, putting on another;
then distill over all the remaining red Oyl to
dryness. This Oyl will be very red, and very
precious, and is the true Oyl and Sulphur
of Antimony, which is a wonderful Medi∣cine
against the Plague, and all Diseases.

To make the Salt of Antimony.
CAlcine {antimony} in a Glass Oven, or in a Re∣verberatory,
until it be perfectly white,
without any addition; then sprinkle it with
Dew, and dry it in the Sun; sprinkle and
dry it seven or eight times, then grind it to
Powder: Take of this Powder three parts,
and one of Powder of Charcoal; mix them
together, and put them into a Crucible,
which set in a Wind-furnace, and give fire
by degrees, at last strong sire to make all melt
well; then take out the Crucible, and knock
it against the ground to make the Regulus
Page 244

fall to the bottom; break the Crucible being
cold, and separate the Salt, which you will
find between the Regulus and the Scories.
So soon as you perceive that the Matter is
melted, you must be quick in making the
Regulus, and take the Crucible out as soon
as you can, for fear the Salt should evapo∣rate
in the fire.

To make the ☿ of {antimony} for this Work.
CAlcine {antimony} in a close Reverberatory until
it be gray, then Sublime it in an
Earthen Vessel; grind again what is Sub∣limed,
and Sublime it as before. Repeat
this Operation three times, or until you see
the {antimony} Sublimed hard and ponderous, where∣in
is inclosed all the ☿ of {antimony}.

Composition of the said Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury.
TAke of the said Salt ℥j. dissolve it in as
much of the Oyl as will dissolve it, and
as much as the said Salt will imbibe, so that
it be like an Oyntment or Paste; digest in
fimo equino for ten days: Then take it out,
and add ℥jss. of the said ☿ of {antimony}; and being
well mixt and incorporated together, put it
to digest as before, until it be converted into
Page 245

a red Powder. The way of taking this red
Powder is thus:

Take gr. iv. of this Powder in a little Ca∣nary
Sack in the Morning fasting in your
Bed, it will cause a gentle breathing sweat
for three days together, during which time
you must keep your Bed; your Chamber
must be very warm and close, you may eat
and drink moderately of good wholsome
Food. The three days being past, you may
rise, and walk about your Chamber, taking
good nourishing Food, abstaining from all
Labours in Body and Mind; and thus you
will renew Hair and Skin, and will be strong
and vigorous.

It will not be needful to use this Remedy
but once in fourty Years; but you may use of
the said Oyl, taking three drops of it in a
little Sack in the Morning fasting, for the
Preservation of your Health. This Oyl may
be given in all Distempers with great success.

This is from Abbot Boucaud.

The Marchioness de Beck, her Aurum po∣tabile, which she much esteemeth.
TAke Calx of ☉, and Regulus of {antimony}, ana
℥j. Iupiter ʒij. melt them together,
then grind them to a subtil Powder with ℥iv.
of Sugar-candy, Oriental Bezoar, and Sal
Page 246

armoniack, ana ʒj. Mix all well together,
and put them into a large Retort, and distill
in Sand with a graduate fire for six hours;
let the bottom of the Retort be red-hot at
last for half an hour. You shall have an
Aureal Liquor, whereof two or three drops
taken in a little Canary, or other conve∣nient
Liquor, is a great Cordial and Resto∣rative.

Hartman.) The said Marchioness told
me at Paris (where she shewed me this Aurum
potabile, and gave me the Receipt of it)
that when at any time she found her self in∣disposed,
she presently took two or three drops
of it, and immediately she felt her self streng∣thened
and chearful, &c.

The Baron de Roche shewed me also the
Receipt of it at Paris, who also made great
esteem of it, telling me, that he esteemed it
to be one of the best Aurum potabile's that
could be made, and that it was a Sovereign
Cordial and Restorative.

You may reduce two third parts of the ☉
out of the Caput Mortuum, its Tincture
only, and the subtilest part of it cometh
over by the distillation.

Page 247
Cornachinus his Medicinal Powder, as it was Prepared by Sir K. Digby's Order in his Laboratory.
TAke Regulus of {antimony}, and of pure Salt-petre,
ana ℥iv. mingle them well toge∣ther
in subtil Powder, and cast them into a
red-hot Crucible, and make them burn by
casting in a fiery Coal, which repeat as often
as it consumeth; for without that the Salt-petre
will not burn, there being no more
Sulphur in the {antimony} to set it on fire. Keep it
thus in fusion in a reverberating heat for
at least an hour, stirring the Matter often
with an Iron Rod; then let it cool. This
must not be edulcorated as common {antimony} Dia∣phoretick,
but the fixed Salt of Salt-petre
must remain with it, and must by no means
be separated from the {antimony}, for in that Sir K.
says, consisteth the Vertue against Fevers.
Of this we gave with the Scammony and
Cream of Tartar, ana gr. x. diminishing
and increasing the Dose according to Age and
strength.

Hartman.) Sir K. recommended this to
me as a very good Purge, telling me, that I
might make use of it whensoever I had oc∣casion.

Page 248

The best way to make the Regulus of {antimony},
is, to put first into the Crucible the Salt-petre
and Tartar, and when they are well
melted, put in the {antimony}, and proceed in the
rest in the usual manner: Thus you shall
shall have six or seven pound, or more, of
every pound of Antimony. Likewise to
make a Martial Regulus, put the {antimony} first in∣to
the Crucible; and when it is in perfect
fusion, then put in the Mars.

A Laxative and Emetick Cream of Tartar.
TAke Glass of {antimony}, and Cream of Tartar,
ana ℥jss. grind them to a subtil Pow∣der,
then mix them together; put this into
a Matrass, and pour upon it ℥ij. of Rose∣mary-water;
digest it for some days, sha∣king
it sometimes; then filter it, and evapo∣rate
to dryness, and you shall have a Salt,
which grind to Powder, and keep it in a
Glass close stopped. It is a safe and gentle
Vomit, and Operates also by Stools. The
Dose is from gr. j. to v. or vj. in a little
Sack.

Page 249
Another most Excellent Laxative and Eme∣tick Cream of Tartar.
TAke ℥iv. of Cream of Tartar, grind it
to a subtil Powder, which put into a
Matrass, and pour upon it so much Spirit of
Sal armoniac as may cover it the breadth of
two fingers; stop it close, and set it in a
Cellar for twenty four hours, then pour it
into an Earthen Pot glazed, and put into it
℥j. of Glass of {antimony} in subtil Powder; set this
Pot in a Furnace in Sand (or upon a gentle
Coal-fire) and pour into it a sufficient quan∣tity
of fair water; let it cool six or eight
hours, still pouring in more water as it con∣sumeth:
At last, evaporate until it come to
have a thin light skin on the top; then set
it in a Cellar, and it will shoot into Crystals,
which take out, and keep them for Use.

This is a most Excellent Medicine, and
one of the best Emeticks that can be pre∣pared.
The Dose is from gr. j. to vj. for
Children; and for Aged Persons, from gr. x.
to xv. in a little Sack.

The best and easiest way to make a most
subtil and penetrant Spirit of Sal armoniac,
(as it was made in Sir Kenelm's Laboratory,
and as I make it now) is thus:

Page 250

Take Quick-lime grosly beaten, put a
bed of it about two fingers thick into the
bottom of a Cucurbite; then dissolve lbj.
of Sal armoniac in as much water as will
dissolve it: Pour of this dissolution upon
the Quick-lime (having first placed the Cu∣curbite
in the Furnace in Sand) so much as
may dissolve it well, and swim half a fin∣gers
breadth over it. Then be as quick as
you can in fitting on the Head and Reci∣pient
(for it will immediately begin to di∣still
without fire) lute all the junctures well,
and distill with a gentle fire, keeping the
subtil Spirit by it self, which cometh first.
If any flegm should come over with the se∣cond
Spirit, rectifie it in Balneo.

This Spirit is not only good for benumbed heads
to smell to, but also to take inwardly, for it is a
most Excellent Remedy: It opens all Ob∣structions,
it is Sudorifick and Diuretick.
'Tis very good in Fevers, especially the Pu∣trid,
in Palsies, Epilepsies, Hysterical Fits,
and the Plague, resisting all Corruption, in
Lethargy, and stupification of the Spirits.
The Dose is from eight to thirty drops. It
also asswages the pain of the Gout, being mixt
with S. V. or Brandy, and Linnen Clothes
dipt in it, and laid upon the parts afflicted.

Hartman.) In distilling of this Spirit this
way, I have observed several inconveniences;
Page 251

the first is, that if you use a Glass Cucurbite,
it will be apt to crack by the sudden heat of
the Quick-lime, caused by pouring on the dis∣solution
of the {sal armoniac} (and an earthen Cucurbite
will imbibe it.) Secondly, by the same Rea∣son
you lose a great part of the subtilest Spi∣rit,
which will ascend before you have poured
in the quantity of the dissolution above-men∣tioned,
and before you can fit on the Head
and Recipient. To prevent all these incon∣veniences,
I make use of a Tin Cucurbite, with
a Spout in the upper part (See it in the third
Figure) and having placed it in the Fur∣nace
in Sand, I put in the Quick-lime, and
then I fit a Glass Head and Recipient, and
having well luted all the junctures with wet
Bladders, or Paste and Paper, I pour in the
dissolution of {sal armoniac} by a funnel through the Spout;
then I close the Spout, and distill; with a gen∣tle
fire. When the distillation is over, take
out the Caput Mortuum, and make the Cu∣curbite
clean, and wipe it dry, that it may
not rust or canker, and it will serve for
many other Operations, and will save you
the buying of many Glass Cucurbites, which
by reason of their thick and knobbed bottoms
are so apt to break.

Page 252
The Volatile Salt of Tartar, as I have often made it, which is an Excellent Re∣medy.
TAke Lees of Wine, (which you may
have from the Wine-Coopers when they
have pressed them out for making of Vine∣gar)
break them in small pieces, and let
them dry; then being very hard and dry,
bruise them grosly, and fill an Earthen Re∣tort
with it, or a Glass one coated; distill in
naked fire, fitting any Recipient to it to
receive only a sour flegm, which will come
over first; as soon as you see any white fumes
come over, (among which cometh the Vo∣latile
Salt) change the Recipient, putting
on another pretty large; lute the junctures
well with Paste and Paper, then increase the
fire by degrees, until you see the Recipient
filled with white fumes; continue the fire
in that degree, untill those white Vapours
diminish, and that the Recipient beginneth
to grow cold: Then augment the fire to the
highest degree, to force all over at last;
when nothing more cometh over, cease. The
distillation will be performed in three or four
hours; you will have a whitish Liquor, which
contained in it the Volatile Salt, and part
thereof will stick to the sides of the Recipient,
Page 253

and a reddish foetide Oyl will swim upon the
Liquor. Pour out all the Liquor that is in
the Recipient, then pour a little warm water
in the Recipient, and shake it to get out all
the Volatile Salt: Separate the Oyl from the
Liquor by a Glass funnel; then filter the Li∣quor,
to free it from all Oyliness: Put this
Liquor into a Matrass with a long Neck, to
which fit a Head and a small Recipient; di∣still
in Sand with a very gentle heat, and the
Volatil Salt will ascend into the Head as white
as snow; when you see that a pretty quantity
is Sublimed, take off the Head, and stop the
mouth of the Matrass, if you have not ano∣ther
Head to put on; be as quick as you can
to gather the Volatile Salt that is in the head,
and put it into a Vial, which stop very close
with a Glass stopper, for it is very apt to re∣solve
into Liquor when it taketh Air: Then
put the Head on again, and continue the Sub∣limation
until there Sublime no more Salt;
gather this last Salt, and put it to the rest:
Then put on the Head again, and augment
the fire a little, and you shall have a fiery
Liquor, which is the Volatile Spirit of Tar∣tar,
and is also the Volatile Salt, mixt with
some flegm, which makes it come over in a
liquid form.

This Salt is much esteemed and recom∣mended
to purifie the Blood by Sweat and
Page 254

by Urine. It is the best of all common Re∣medies
against Hysterical Fits and Vapours,
smelling to it, and taking it inwardly. It
is Excellent against the Palsie, Apoplexy,
Epilepsie, &c. against Quartan and Tertian
Agues. It opens all Obstructions, and pro∣vokes
the Terms. The Volatile Spirit hath
the same Vertue as the Salt; it is good for all
Obstructions, particularly of the Spleen, and
keeps the Body open; it is far beyond the
common Spirit of Tartar in Vertue. The
Dose is from eight to twenty or thirty drops
in some fit Vehicle.

A Physical Salt.
TAke Nitre and Oyl of Sulphur, ana lbj.
flegm of Vitriol lbss. pulverize the
Nitre and put it into a Retort, and pour upon
it the Oyl of Sulphur and flegm of Vitriol;
distill in Sand, and you shall have a very
good Spirit of Nitre, and a pure white Salt
will remain in the bottom of the Retort. This
Salt is much esteemed in Fevers, and to
quench thirst, being taken in Juleps, Ptrisans,
or Possets. The Dose is thirty or fourty
grains.

Page 255
A Precious Tincture of the Flowers of Antimony.
TAke the dark-red Flowers of {antimony}, digest
and circulate them with rectified Spi∣rit
of Vitriol; when they are sufficiently
united, abstract the Spirit of Vitriol toan Oyl,
upon which pour S. V. digest and extract a
Tincture s. a. which abstract again to the con∣sistence
of an Oyl. This Tincture fortifieth and
cherisheth the Heart & Vital Spirits, strength∣eneth
the Stomach, is good against Agues and
Fevers, Hysterical Fits, Hypochondriac Me∣lancholy:
It Cures the Iaundies, opens Ob∣structions,
provokes the Terms. It is good
against the Gout, Scurvy, and Dropsie, Itch
and Scabs: It purifieth the Blood, and
strengthens Nature. Dose from gr. j. to iij.
or iv. given in a fit Vehicle.

An Excellent and true Tincture of Coral.
TAke good red Coral ℥iv. grind it
to subtil Powder, which mingle with
℥iv. of Sal armoniac that hath been three
times Sublimed from decrepitated Salt. Put
this mixture into a small Cucurbite, which
set in a Sand Furnace; fit a Head and Reci∣pient
to it, and having well luted the junctures,
Page 256

give a gentle fire at first, which augment
by degrees. There will come over first, a
small quantity of a Urinous Volatile Spirit;
after that, you shall see the Flowers ascend
and stick to the Head, and upper part of the
Cucurbite. These Flowers will be tinged
with divers colours, as red, green, blew,
very pleasant to behold, they contain in them
the true Tincture of Coral; for the body of
the Coral which remaineth in the bottom,
will be as white as snow; continue a mode∣rate
fire until no more Flowers ascend: The
Operation will be performed in a few hours.
Then gather diligently all these Flowers,
and put them in a Matrass, and pour upon
them rectified S. V. to the heighth of four fin∣gers;
digest some days in B. the S. V. will
extract a pure red Tincture out of the Flow∣ers,
which will remain white in the bottom;
filter this Tincture, and abstract from it
three fourth parts of the S. V. and a deep∣red
Tincture will remain in the bottom,
which is the true Tincture of Coral.

This Tincture is a Sovereign Remedy to
strengthen the Stomach and Bowels. It pu∣rifieth
the Blood by Sweat and Urine. It
opens Obstructions, is Excellent in all sorts
of Fluxes, &c. Dose from six to twenty
four drops, in some convenient Vehicle.

Page 257

The way to Sublime the Flowers of Sal
armoniac for this work, is thus:

Take common Salt decrepitated and Sal
armoniac, ana lbj. pulverize and min∣gle
them together, and put them in a Cu∣curbite,
and Sublime in Sand with a gentle
fire at first, which augment by degrees; the
Flowers will ascend into the Head like Meal:
Continue the fire for five or six hours; then
let all cool, and gather the Flowers, which
mix with new Salt, and Sublime as before:
Repeat this three times.

An Excellent Extract of Mars, for Diarrhaea's and Fluxes.
TAke filings of Steel (which you may buy
at the Needle-makers) ℥iv. put them in
well-glazed Pipkin, and pour thereon a quart
of good deep-red Wine, (that which is used
to colour White-wine) let it boyl until about
three parts of the Wine be consumed, stir∣ring
often with an Iron Spatula. Then strain
it whilst it is hot.

It is a great and certain Remedy for Dy∣senteries,
Diarrhae'as, old Hepatical Fluxes,
and such like Diseases; you may give an
Ounce of it in Broth fasting, for some
Mornings together. This I have sufficiently
experienced with happy success.

Page 258
Sir Kenelm Digby's Remedy for the same, as it was prepared by his Order, and much used.
TAke Rye-flower, and make a Paste there∣of
with Juice of Elder-berries; then
bake hard Biskets thereof, which pulverize,
and make a Paste again with the Juice of
Elder-berries as before: Repeat this three
times. Then reduce it to Powder. The
Dose is one Dram.

Sir Kenelm Digby, his Excellent Plaister of Lead.
TAke of the best Oyl Olive lbij. ℥iv. white-lead,
red Minium, ana lbj. grind them
to Powder, and put them with the Oyl into
a large glazed Pot or Pipkin, with ℥xij. of
Venice Soap shred small, which put upon a
gentle Coal-fire, and stir it well with an Iron
Spatula for an hour; then increase the fire
a little, which continue until the Liquor be
of the colour of an Oyl: Then drop some
of it upon a board, and if it sticks, or that it
cleave to your fingers, 'tis a sign that it is
boyled enough; then roll it up, and keep it
for Use.

Page 259

This Plaister being applyed to the Sto∣mach,
is good for the weakness and indige∣stion
thereof, and causeth a good Appetite.

Being applyed to the Belly, it Cureth the
Colick; and being applyed to the Back, it
strengthens the Reins, Cureth the Bloody-flux,
the Gonorrhaea, and tempers the ex∣cessive
heat of the Liver.

It Cureth all Contusions and Bruises, Swel∣lings
and Inflammations. It maturates and
draws all sorts of Apostumes, Wolfs, and
Pustles, and Cures them, without Lancing
or Incision. Being applyed to the Head, it
strengthens the Eye-sight: To the Funda∣ment,
it Cureth all accidents that may hap∣pen
there, as Piles, &c. And being applyed
to the Belly of a Woman, it provokes the
Terms, and disposeth her for Conception.

Dr. Stephen's Plaister for the Gout.
TAke Virgins-wax lbij. Hogs-grease ℥ss.
Mutton-Suet ℥ij. Oyl of Colts-foot,
Plantain and Rose-water, ana ʒij. Lavender-water
ʒij. Dragon-water, and Water of Bor∣age,
ana ℥ss. two Nutmegs, two Cloves,
and a little Mace, beat into Powder; mix them
all well together, and let it boyl with a mo∣derate
fire unto the consistence of an Oynt∣ment;
wherewith anoint the part grieved as
Page 260

hot as you can endure it, and dip Linnen
Clothes in it, and apply them.

A very good Oyntment for the Gout; and the running Gout, Aches, Numbness, and pain in the Ioynts, &c.
TAke the tender Branches of Dwarf-Elder,
in the Month of March, when
they sprout out of the ground from the root,
and are not above a finger long, three hand∣fuls;
stamp them in a stone Mortar, then
mix them with lbj. of Hogs-grease; put
this into a Pipkin, and let it stew upon
a gentle fire for two or three hours.

This was Communicated unto me by a
worthy Gentleman, whom uch esteemed it,
because he found great benefit by it in the
Gout: It taketh away the raging pain there∣of,
giveth ease, and strengthens the parts
afflicted.

In the running Gout, Numbness, and
raging pain in the Joynts, I have had much
Experience of the Vertue of this Oyntment,
after many Remedies used in vain; the parts
grieved must be anointed with it as hot as
can be endured, and chafed in before a
fire.

Page 261
A Certain and Infallible Remedy to prevent and Cure the Fits of the Gout.
I Knew a Gentleman in Germany, who al∣ways
Cured and prevented his Fits of
the Gout (whensoever he perceived the least
symptom of its approaching) by the fol∣lowing
Remedy:

He caused a good quantity of the Herb
Mullein (Verbascum in Latin) to be gathered
every Summer when it was in its Flower,
which is in Iune, it beareth many yellow
Flowers upon a long straight stalk with large
leaves at the bottom, which are hoary. Then
he took a good quantity of this Herb, and
cut it small, the Stalk, Flowers, and Leaves,
and caused it to be boyled in a pail-full of
Forge-water out of a Smith's trough, where∣in
he quenches and cooleth his Irons; when
this was boyled sufficiently, then there was
put into it a large piece of Chalk in Powder.
In this Water he bathed his Feet, Leggs,
and Knees, as hot as he could endure it, in
a Tub, continuing until the Water grew
cold. Then a hole was digged in the ground
in his Garden, wherein this Water was put
with the Ingredients, and then covered with
Earth.

This always prevented his Fit, so that he
Page 262

never had any pain, lameness, or swelling at
all, to which I was an Eye-witness. And I
heard him say, that if he did not use this Re∣medy,
he would have very shrewd and rack∣ing
Fits, and keep his Bed by it for a Month
or six weeks, and that twice a Year, chiefly in
the Spring, and at the Falling of the Leaf.

Mr. Locher, an Apothecary of London, his Excellent Oyl for Deafness, which he gave to Sir K. D.
TAke Oyl of bitter Almonds, Oyl of
Spikenard, ana ʒvj. Juice of Onions,
Juice of Rue, ana ʒij. black Hellebore ℈ss.
Colloquintida ʒss. Oyl of Exetor ʒij. Boyl
this till the Juice be consumed; then strain
it, and add two drops of Oyl of Anni•••d,
Oyl of Origanum one drop. Pour a drop or
two of this Oyl into the Ear, and lye upon
your Bed with that Ear upwards that you
intend to drop into, lye still for a quarter of
an hour after; then drop into the other, if
it require. It is to be continued a Month,
or two or three, as you find benefit. When
you have dropt into the Ear, you must stop
it with a little black-wool, dipped in the Oyl.
Many Persons have found much benefit by
the use of this Oyl, to my knowledge.

Page 263
Another Experimented Remedy for the same.
TAke a good large Eel, flea it, and cut
it into round pieces of the length of a
finger, stick them full with Rosemary and
Sage; then take an Earthen Pan, put two
or three sticks of Wood in Cross-wise, lay
your pieces of Eel upon them, so that they
may not touch the bottom of the Pan; bake
it in an Oven as you do Meat: Then take
the Fat of the Eel that is in the Pan, and
strain it through a fine Linnen Cloth, mea∣sure
how much there is of it, and put to it
as much S. V. Then take Juice of Onions,
and Juice of the white ends of Leeks, ana ℥j.
of your first mixture ℥ij. put them together
into a Vial, stop it close, and shake it well
for an hour. It is in all things to be used as
the former, except that instead of one or
two drops, you must drop in three or four.

Hartman.) This was Communicated to
me by a Gentleman at Paris, who had done
Wonderful Cures with it, and among the rest,
he had Cured the Governour of Calais his
Secretary with it, who had been deaf twenty
Years• his deafness being caused by a Sick∣ness.

Page 264
A most Precious Balsam of great Vertue.
TAke Turpentine lbij. Lignum Aloes ℥ss.
Mastick, Cloves, Galingal, Cinnamon,
Zedoar, Nutmegs, Cubebs, Olibanum, ana
℥j. Roots of Master-wort, of Angelica, ana
℥ss. Figs cut small six in number, Gum Tra∣gacanth
℥ij. Bruise all the Ingredients, and
mix them well together, then put them into
a Glass Retort, and having warmed the Tur∣pentine
to make it run, pour it upon the In∣gredients,
and distill in Sand: Separate the
Balsam from a little flegm that will come over
with it.

1. This Balsam is a very great preserver of
the Health of Mankind, taking every Morn∣ing
three or four drops of it in a little Beer or
Wine; it strengthens the Stomach, and
causeth a good Digestion, and a good Ap∣petite.

2. It strengthens the Brain and Memory.

3. It is good against Deafness, pouring
two or three drops every day into the Ear,
and stopping the Ear with a little black-wool,
moistened with a little of this Balsam.

4. It helpeth Rheumatick Eyes, takes a∣way
the heat and pain thereof, and strengthens
the Sight, anointing the Eye-lids there∣with.

Page 265

5. It Cureth all sorts of Scabs, Itches, and
Scall'd Heads, be they never so bad.

6. It Cures Fistulaes, the Cancer, Wolf,
and all other gnawing Diseases; and Cures
all sorts of Wounds, whether old or new.

7. It Cures the Gonorrhaea, the Whites in
Women, and strengthens the Reins.

8. It is good against the Biting of a Mad
Dog, Vipers, and other Venemous Beasts,
being both inwardly and outwardly applyed;
and is a great Preservative against the Plague.

9. It is very good against the Cramp,
Numbness, aking, and pain in the Joynts,
contraction and weakness of the Nerves com∣ing
from a cold Cause, as Experience testi∣fieth.

10. It sweetens an unsavoury or stinking
Breath, and suffers no Worms to breed in
the Stomach and Bowels.

11. It is said, that if a dead Corps be
Embalmed with it, it will never rot nor
consume, nor any Linnen about it that is
imbibed with this Balsam: And that for a
tryal, one should take a piece of Flesh, and
warm it well against the fire, then rub it
over with this Balsam, and let it be well
imbibed with it, rubbing it with it three or
four times. Then lay it away, and it will
remain sound and fresh, so that it may be
eaten a twelve Month after.

Page 266
Laudanum Germanicum: Being a singular Preparation of Matthew's, or Dr. Starky's Pills:
I Thought I could not better finish this
Book, than with the Receipt of these
most Excellent Pills, with the true way of
Preparing them, which far exceeds the com∣mon:
The Receipt is thus:

Take Opium lbj. dissolve it in distilled
Vinegar, then filter and evaporate to the
consistence of a Mass for Pills: Then take
black Hellebore lbj. reduce it to a subtil
Powder, which put into a Matrass, and pour
upon it so much distilled Vinegar as will co∣ver
it the breadth of four fingers; digest for
two days, then evaporate with a gentle heat
to the consistence of Pills. Then take of
the Corrector lbj. Oyl of Amber that hath
been rectified with fair water, ℥ij. Licorise
dryed and reduced to subtil Powder, lbj.
Saffron dryed and pulverized, lbss. Put all
into a large Mortar (well warmed by put∣ting
Coals kindled into it) incorporate them
well together by strongly beating and mix∣ing
them, adding by little and little (as
you incorporate them) of the Oyl of Tur∣pentine
that hath stood upon the Corrector,
and is of a red colour, ℥iij. Tincture of An∣timony
Page 267

℥iv. Oyl of Anniseed, of Juniper-berries,
of Sassafras, Oyl of Vitriol, Spirit
of Harts-horn, ana ℥ij. Gum Arabick dis∣solved
in distilled Vinegar, ℥ss. and if you
see that the Composition is too stiff, add a
little more of the said Oyl of Turpentine,
and of the Tincture of Antimony: Then
put it up in a Gally-pot, and tye it up close
with a Bladder and Leather.

The Composition of these Pills is of a very
sine consistence, and not so crumbly as the
common, but commodious to handle, and
make up in Pills like unto warm Wax. The
Dose is two small Pills about the bigness of
an ordinary Pease, or one Pill about the big∣ness
of a gray Pease swelled, taking them
at Night.

These Pills are approved of, and are pre∣scribed,
and used by the best Physicians, in
Consumptions, and in other Cases.

I thought to have reserved the Prepara∣tion
of them to my self, and not to have
Published it; but thinking that it is unchri∣stian
to keep any thing from the Publick
good, my Conscience would not permit
me.

The Preparation of the Corrector differs
not from that of Starky's; but because this
Book may come to the Hands of some Per∣sons
which do not know it, I thought good
to insert it here.

Page 268

Take pure Salt-petre, and White-wine,
or Rhenish-wine Tartar, ana equal parts,
pulverize them, and searse them, and mix
them well together: Then take a large Cru∣cible,
and set it in your Furnace, and being
red-hot, cast in some of your mixture by
little and little with an Iron Ladle, and when
the fulmination is over, cast in more, which
continue till you have put in all your mix∣ture;
then let it flow in the Crucible, giving
strong heat.

Then pour it out, and when the Crucible
is cold, scrape off all the Salt that sticketh
to the sides of it. Dissolve this Salt in boyling-water.
Make likewise a Lixivium of Quick-lime
and Water, which being settled, pour it
off: Take of this Lixivium the same quan∣tity
with that of the Salt of Tartar; mix and
filter them, then evaporate to a Salt, which
will be pure, clear and white like Crystal;
grind it to Powder, and put it into a strong
large Vessel, and pour upon it immediately
so much Oyl of Turpentine as may cover it
the breadth of four or five fingers; stir it
well together, then cover it loosely, only to
keep things from falling in, and that the Air
may come to it; let it stand thus, stirring it
three or four times a day with a wooden Spa∣tula,
and as you see the Salt imbibeth the
Oyl, add still more Oyl, until the Salt hath
Page 269

taken in and absorbed three times its weight
of Oyl, or that it will take in no more, and
is like a Soap, and the Oyl that swimmeth
upon it is of a red Colour.

The Tincture of Antimony is made thus, ac∣cording to Basil Valentine.
TAke equal parts of Salt of Tartar and
{antimony}, melt them together in a Crucible,
keep them in fusion for half an hour, then
pour it out, and whilst it is hot reduce it to
Powder, which put into a Matrass, and pour
upon it of the best rectified Spirit of Wine
so much as may cover it the breadth of three
fingers, set the Matrass in warm Sand, that
the S. V. may boyl a little, and you shall
have a very red Tincture, which decant,
and keep for Use.

This Tincture is recommended to open
all Obstructions, of all the Principal parts,
as Liver, Spleen, Lungs, Womb, Reins,
and Bladder; it provokes the Terms, Cureth
the Yellow Jaundise, Green-Sickness, Scurvy,
Dropsie, Asthma, Pleuri•ie, Melancholy,
Ulcers inward and outward, Scabs, Itch, Pox,
Small-Pox and Measles. Dose gr. iv. to xij.

Page 270
Postscript.
The Preparation of Sir Ken•lm Digby's Sym∣pathetical Powder, as we prepared it every Year in his Laboratory, and as I prepare it now, is only thus:
TAke what quantity you please of good
English Vitriol, dissolve it in warm wa∣ter,
but use no more water than will dissolve
it, leaving some of the impurest part at the
bottom undissolved: Then filter the disso∣lution,
and evaporate it until you see a thin
skin upon it, then put it in a cool place, and
let it stand without stirring it for two or three
days, covering it •oosely only, to keep things
from fallingin. It will shoot into fair, green,
and large Crystals, which take out, and spread
them abroad in a large flat earthen Dish, and
expose them to the heat of the Sun in the
Dog days, turning them often, and the Sun
will Calcine them white; when you see them
all white without, beat them grosly, and ex∣pos•
them again to the Sun, securing them
Page 271

from Rain; when they are well Calcined,
powder them finely, and expose this Pow∣der
again to the Sun, turning and stirring it
often. Continue this until it be reduced to
a white Powder, which put up in a Glass,
and tye it up close, and keep it in a dry
place.

As for the Vertues of this Powder, I will
only say, that I have seen great Experience
of it in my time, in stanching of desperate
bleeding at the Nose. 2. In stanching the
Blood of a Wound. 3. In Curing with it
any green Wound (where there is no fra∣cture
of Bones) without any Plaister or
Oyntment, in a few days.

A Girl about twelve Years of Age bleed∣ing
desperately at the Nose for two or three
days together, her Mother having used all
the means she could devise (in vain) came
to me, telling me, that she had heard I had
a Powder that would stanch Bleeding, she
desired me to let her have a little of it, for
she feared her Daughter would bleed to
Death: I gave her some of the Powder, and
bid her put a little of it in three or four
spoonfuls of fair water, and to bath her No∣strils
with it with a clean Linnen rag, putting
it up into the Nostrils, which she did, and her
bleeding stopped immediately; the next day
she did bleed a little again, and then using
Page 272

it again, it did stanch it, and she never bled
again afterwards.

I spoke with a Famous Chirurgeon, named
Mr. Smith, in the City of Augusta in Ger∣many,
who told me, that he had a great re∣spect
for Sir K. D. Books, and that he made
his Sympathetical Powder every Year, and did
all his Chiefest Cures with it in green wounds,
with much greater ease to the Patient than if
he had used Oyntments or Plaisters.

If the Reader desires to know more of the
Effects of this Powder, and the Reason of it,
I refer him to the Reading of Sir K. Digby's
Treatise of Curing of Wounds by way of
Sympathy, where he will find entire satis∣faction
and full information of the Reasons
of its effects.

FINIS.