Of Mercury and its excellent Vertues, both Medicinal and Chymical, I mean not the common and well known Mercury, but the Mercury of the Philosophers, the which is extracted by the Vulgar and well known Gold and Silver, (but they are to be first rendered Magnetical) out of the Beams of the superiour Sun and Moon, by the help and assistance of the Air.
It is well known to those that have looked over the manifold Writings which are extant at this day, how many and how great searches have been made, and how various and many opinions there have been abroad for many Ages, concerning the Philosophers Mercury; as many men so many minds, one man concludes with himself to prepare it out of such a matter, another out of such a thing, and ’tis hereby come to such a pass as that, there’s no more faith left for any such Mercury, and ’tis lookt on as if there were no such thing in nature, nor is at present any where extant: Because so many thousands of men have been occupied in the search thereof, and so most exceedingly small a number have been masters thereof.
Others have opinionated, that the most pure substance is to be extracted out of Gold and Silver, but not in the form of a running Mercury, but in a watery form, and to be coagulated and fixed by the help of the Fire into a medicinal Stone.
Othersome have perswaded themselves that Gold and Silver being ripe and fixt, are no ways fit for so great a work, but ’tis rather to be sought for in such Subjects as never assumed to themselves any shape, but do as yet lie hidden in that great and universalChaosthe Air, because they saw that the life of all things lay hidden in the Air, and that out of it every Creature of God doth daily and without inter mission attract it unto it self after a magnetical manner, both for its own life and augmentation, and that it is so too with the seeds, abundance of them (and they most different sorts too) being sown in the same Earth, do each of them (according as its nature and property is) acquire to it self both life and augmentation hencefrom,viz.the Air.
So likewise may it be brought to pass, that even the Metals may according to their nature and propriety extract their encrease out of the Earth or Air, knew we but how to get the true Seed, or true Magnet which might get out that augmentation. For why should not God have as well given a Seed to these his Creatures for their encreasing, as well as to the other Creatures? So then there are very many sundry Opinions sprung up, concerning theMercuryof the Philosophers, and very many men have to their uttermost searched after it, yet but a very few have obtained the same. Though it be thus, yet the fault is not to be imputed either to Nature or Art, but to the searcher after it, because he errs and seeks not in the due place. Verily I did very many years ago exceeding studiously apply my self to the search of such a spiritual and Gold and Silver attracting Magnet, but I could not hitherto attain to the true Scope, until I at length by chance found that a true living and runningMercurymight, by the benefit of Art, without any Addition of Mercurial things, be extracted out of the fugacious and imperfect Metals, such as are Lead, Tin, Bizmuth, Zink, and Antimony. And although I had read many Philosophers affirming this thing, yet did I always doubt of the same, and indeed not without cause; for in my youthfull days, serving a man of great note in Chymical Labours, I tried in two years space two hundred ways of making theMercuryofSaturn, and not so much as one of them succeeded. Now my said Master was stirred up to the search of this Saturnine Mercury upon this occasion as follows. He had some familiarity with many noble Personages that were also addicted to the study of Alchimy: One of them knew how to make running Mercury out of Lead, and to turn it into the best Gold, and he sent unto my Master one lot or somewhat better of that saidMercury, together with the way of turning it and fixing it into Gold. We set about the work and it succeeded to our desires, and yielded us as much Gold as there wasMercurysent us. This hoped for success did so edge on my Master, that he could not rest till he had obtained from him that knew it, the manner of making this Saturnine Spirit. But as often as ever we tried the operation according to the way prescribed us, both our hopes and labour were in vain. And then my said Master readily granted, that we could not effect it. Hereupon it was that he sought all abroad with the greatest diligence, and had got such abundance of processes and operations, that two years did scarce suffice me to try them all; though there was not so much as one amongst them all that answered our wishes, but all our Labours were in vain. Upon this score, I could believe neitherBasiliusorParacelsuswhen I read in them, that Gold and Silver might be resolved into true and runningMercury; seeing that the bare turning of unripe Lead intoMercury, did cost me and others so great Labour and Pains, and yet we could not obtain it neither. Whereupon I fell into this opinion, that the Philosophers pointedat some other thing, by their runningMercury: And I did so long adhere to this opinion of mine, untill I chanced to light on the making of a runningMercuryout of Lead, and I have several times repeated the operation with the same success.
I have likewise revealed it to others, who have also done the same, but onely in small quantities hitherto. But some of them have bestowed much pains about it, and to prepare it in a greater quantity; and that principally, because ’tis certainly manifest that no small benefit lies herein hidden. Nay if it were no otherwise profitable than barely thus, that it may be turned into Gold, and of this I am certain, (’twere worth while.) For if the saidMercurybe but rubbed upon a piece of Gold, it makes it white, and being then put upon the Coals, it separates indeed from it, but yet leaves it tinged of a higher and deeper Colour. If this Labour be ought repeated, the Gold will become weightier. And hence may easily be conjectured, that if it were adjoyned to a pure Golden Calx, it would in a short space of time easily pass into good Gold. Neither is there any doubt, but that if any one did but know the manner of rightly handling such aMercury, he would obtain some notable thing out of it, because all the Philosophers do in their Writings promise so much good ofSaturn. They generally affirm that Lead is (inwardly) far beyond Gold. How many Philosophers are there that reach the preparation of the universal Work from thence? See the Universal Work ofIsaac Holland,Paracelsushis Heaven of Philosophers, The great and small Countryman,&c.Many do expresly write, that all things which the Philosophers do seek for, are to be found in Lead; Hereupon they called it Leaprous Gold. And some Philosophers do write, that inMercuryare all things that are sought for, haply they mean not the Common, but such an one as is drawn out of Metals. But we’ll even let pass thisMercuryofSaturn, and see whether or no we cannot find a betterMercury, and such a one as is of greater moment. In the mean time the saidMercuryofSaturnwill fly about, and bring good news to the Lovers of Truth,viz.thatGLAUBERis now in the way, to triumph, by the help of God, over all his Enemies.
We will therefore go on to search out, whether or no there is not another and better runningMercurythan that to be found, which comes out of Lead. When I did somewhat more accurately search into Nature’s secrets, I clearly saw, that all things which live and doe in growing take an encrease, do proceed or come forth by the Sun’s operation, insomuch that such fruits as are nearer hereunto are the more excellent, and by how much the farther off any are from it, by so much the vilder be they. As for example in Wine; by how much the nearer it is to the Sun, so much the nobler is it; and by how much the farther it is from it, so much the vilder is it.
The same may be observed in the generation of Metals,viz.that in the hotter regions there is a greater quantity of Gold, and of Silver, than in the colder Countries. This is well known, and out of all dispute: So then when I saw that the hot beams of the Sun, together with the cold and refreshing light of the Moon, did not onely ripen Gold, but also those excellent Wines, and the best tasted Fruits, yea and the most contemptible Herbs, and that it gave to all things their most acceptable Savour; well did I conclude, that if a convenient Matrix, or suitable Magnet were exposed to the hot Sun-beams, and to the cold light of the Moon, that might day and night receive their Operations; It could not possibly be, but that the Seeds of those (viz.ofSolandLune) insinuating themselves into such a Magnet, will pass into most excellent Fruit, and obtain a perfect maturation. I did once make trial to see whether it would be so or no, and having artificially prepared Gold and Silver, opened them, and brought them to a Magnetical attractive vertue; and being well mixed, I exposed them to theSunandMoon, to see and try what would proceed thencefrom. Then afterwards, supposing them to have stood long enough at theSunandMoon, I put them into a small Glass Retort, and placed it in Sand, and separated (by distillation) all the moisture from the Golden and Silver Magnet, that it had attracted from the Air. I got indeed a sweet Water, but yet not without Vertues. But having administred a stronger fire to this Magnet, I drew therefrom an astringent Liquor, resembling a golden yellow Colour, and like to Gold. I again exposed the said dried Magnet to the beams of theSunandMoon, that it might by them be impregnated, and that I might see whether or no a Second, and more Births would be produced, answering in all respects to the former. I doe not doubt of them, I confess but that they will be of a like property and nature as their Father and Mother are, or indeed be more fair and excellent than they be: For that first-begotten off spring brought with it self into the World a far more excellent fairness than its Father had.
Farther, bringing this Birth ofSolandLuneto a more accurate trial, that so I might find out its vertues and efficacy, I first of all perceived, that there lay hidden therein (though as yet so Volatile) a Medicine of great moment. And dealing with it upon a certain time, and putting a little of it by chance upon Gold, I found that it made the Gold white; and rubbing the said Liquor many times upon the Gold, it did at length produce (or show forth) the liveMercurythat lay hidden therein, which saidMercurythus living and visible, I extracted out of this same Liquor; but it is better not to vivifie it, but to take it as ’tis born, and so fix it and make it constant. And now, I suppose, that such aMercuryas is extracted out of the Air, by Gold and Silver, being not so much corporeal as spiritual, is to be accounted of as the trueMercuryof the Philosophers.
But if now any will object and say, that thisMercurydoth not proceed forth from the Air, or that it is not extracted out of the beams ofSolorLuneby the Magnetick Gold and Silver; such a one may even say what he pleaseth, but in the mean time he will not get the things he fisheth for. Besides, I do not matter it so much,viz.whence it ariseth, provided I can obtain the same; If it did proceed out of the Gold and Silver, it were not therefore to be rejected, but it would be altogether better than that which is made out of gross Lead, nay haply it might become a Tincture, did but any one know how rightly to handle it.
It is a usual Proverb, thatthe Apple falls not far from the Tree, and each thing follows the Seeds of its proper and peculiar nature.By how much the nobler the Tree is, by so much the more worthy is the Wood thereof. The younger sort sing over the same Song as the old ones doe.Now these Proverbs do declare, that the Fruits are so much the more excellent, by how much a better nature the Tree is of, and this is a sure rule: And therefore it necessarily follows, that such aMercuryas is drawn by Gold and Silver out of theAir, or doth proceed barely from Gold and Silver must needs be far better than that which hath its rise from Lead: And herein I acquiesce. Let every one take from thence what best likes him, I was willing to leave to such as come after me, those things which I met withall of so great moment.
And as concerning the Medicinal Vertues of this GoldenMercury, I doe give this caution about it, that if it be used as it came over at first in the distillation in Medicine, because ’tis as yet immature, and but newly born, it may work too strongly upon the Body of Man. It is therefore better that it be fixed with some corporal well-opened Gold, and so ’twill effect those things which a Universal Medicine is onely able to perform. I confess that hitherto I have not brought it to any constancy or fixity, because I have not had time of rightly handling it: In the mean while there are others that will set about this labour, and will in due time manifest more things concerning it. Let every one be content therefore with this present discovery,viz.that a truely live and runningMercurymay be extracted, not onely out of the soft and volatile Metals, and consequently unripe ones, but also out of the ripe Metals. And seeing that most Men doubt much of the truth of such a thing, I could not omit the affirmation of the same, as being a most true thing: He that listeth may make trial of the same. ’Tis enough for me to have shown you the way. Let others likewise publish something, that so the truth which hath been so long supprest hitherto, may at length spring forth out of the darkness into light.
And now, at last, let’s come to treat of Wine, and examine what an harmony and familiarity there is in it with Gold and Man.
Sheweth how great harmony, familiarity, and love, there is in Wine, with Mankind and Gold.
It is evident, even from the Writings of all the Philosophers, that Wine and Gold is a wholsome remedy for Mankind, but yet not in such a gross state, and without any preparation, as they come forth out of the Earth, but they are to be destroyed, and their most pure parts to be extracted, and again conjoyned. To obtain this knack, there have been used manyMenstruums, and one more excellent than another. The common Spirit of Wine hath no familiarity at all with Gold, because of its unripe and combustible Sulphur, from which Gold is wholly averse, as being its enemy. This thing I have in several places of my Writings made mention of, and have also taught it in this very Treatise, that Gold being dissolved inAq. Regia, and precipitated with the Water of Tartar, yields most curious fine Atoms, which cannot be done any other kind of way. For the common gross Wine, and the common sulphureous and unripe Tartar are enemies to the Gold, the which is evidently manifest by this preparation of the most subtile Calx of Gold, caused by the pouring of the Water of Tartar thereunto, whereby ’tis precipitated unto the bottom.
The certainty of the truth of this thing may be thus tried, if a little Gold being dissolved inAq. Regisbe put into a glass full of Rhenish, or any other sharpish Wine: The Gold will be presently precipitated, by the Tartar which is in the Wine, into a tender and shining Powder, but it will not in a moment of time settle to the bottom, but by little and little. And yet if you put the Wine in a Vessel over a fire of Coals, and boil it, then will it be speedily precipitated. From whence ’tis evidently apparent, that Wine being as yet not at all separated from its impurities, doth as it were differ from Gold, with a deadly hatred, and yet carries hidden in its bowels a substance most friendly to the Gold, the which will, in the end, manifest it self so to be, when the more gross parts are separated from the more subtile.
Basiliusteacheth its preparation by a peculiar proper instrument, wherein (as I judge) the Spirit of Wine is to be kindled and burnt, that so by the burning up of the Sulphureity, the Mercurial Salt may be separated and caught in a cold Receiver. And with this very Salt (saith he) may a Tincture be extracted out of Gold, which seems very probable to be so, if one could but get or catch that said Mercurial Salt. Many indeed have attempted this labour, but perhaps not a man hath found an answer to his expectation, where the defect lies, God knows.
Others have mixed Gold withAlkalies, and have taught the extracting of a Tincture by an Alkalizated Spirit of Wine, which way, though they may doe somewhat, yet it is not the genuine way.
Also some have by distillation gotten a certain fiery Spirit out of Tartar, and therewith endeavoured to conquer Gold. Here indeed is an appearance of some kind of possibility, but yet this Spirit is not to be attempted for that, which unlocketh all the bowels of the Gold; and that for this reason, because it doth as yet abound with combustible Sulphur, to which Gold is a bitter enemy. But now if you would duely joyn Gold with Wine, then must all the combustible Sulphur (of the Wine) be first separated from its Mercurial part, and the Mercury of the Wine is to be brought by distillation into a notable fiery Spirit; if this be not done, there will be no great matters effected with it.
By what means such a Spirit of Wine as doth associate it self to the Gold may be prepared.
Without doubt many such as perceive that there is a possibility of preparing such a Spirit will be most vehemently desirous to know the operation, how ’tis to be done. But it is even a wickedness to cast such a great Secret before the unworthy and impure Swine. It therefore will be sufficient to shew both that it may be done, and after what manner; the rest to be left to God.
But that the studious Artist may not be wholly affrighted or kept back, I will here declare, so much as may be sufficient to any one that is versed in the Labours of the Fire, for the acquisition of so great a Spirit: But yet with this proviso, that he make use of Patience in his operation, for this work is not to be dispatched in a day, like as that labour which in one days distillation affords a Spirit out of the Lees of Wine, or out of Tartar. No! But the manner of the work is thus:
Take white or red Tartar (for both of them being well mundified, are as good one as the other) dissolve it in Water, and separate all its gross Sulphurby a certain precipitating matter. This impurity abiding in the Water, is to be separated from the precipitated Tartar, by pouring out the Water, the which (Tartar) remains in the bottom like a snowy Sand, and is to be well purged by reiterated washings with Water, so long untill (all the impurities being well separated) the Powder it self becomes like to the white Snow. Now although that this Tartar be most exceeding white, yet doth it contain as yet many Sulphureous Fæces; which being black, do never suffer themselves to be separated by any Solutions and Coagulations, but it is necessary that they be precipitated by a certain precipitating matter. Therefore let that Tartar be again dissolved in pure Water, and be precipitated, the which Solutions and Precipitations let be so often and so long repeated, untill there appear no more black Fæces. This most pure and most acceptable Tartar melteth in the mouth, and doth almost in the manner of other Salts easily admit of Solution in cold water. Being brought to this pass, it is rendred fit to be dealt withall in the following manner.
Dissolve some pounds of this pure Tartar in cold water, so as to make it sufficiently acid. Put this Solution in some warm place, or rather in Horse-dung, or in a warm Balneo, that the Tartar may begin to putrefie and lost its acidity, and get a kind of sweetishness, which before it will come to be, there is required the time of some months. After it hath thus putrefied, and lost its acidity, all the unprofitable Water is to be evaporated by a Balneum, untill it become a thick and black Juice like Honey; the which being set in the Glass in Sand, and being urged with a stronger fire than was made in the Balneo, will yield a fiery Spirit, and such an one as will mix it self with Gold dissolved in Spirit of Salt, and will separate the purer parts by digestion, and draw them to it self, from the more gross parts, and so will perform its office in Medicine even to most high admiration. For any one may easily conjecture that the most pure parts of Wine, Salt, and Gold will operate no evil effect.
What it will perform in Metalline affairs, I doe not as yet know; But, without question, if it be rightly administred, and duely made use of, it will play its part very notably.
This operation before set down, seems easie to be done, if barely looked on outwardly, but there’s more labour and trouble in it than one would imagine. Such as have not the gift of patience, and knows not what belongs to patient working, may forbear this labour. For the putrefaction proceeds on very slowly, and there is required the knowledge of a matter precipitating Tartar, without which it will never suffer it self to be precipitated and purged, ’tis an hard thing to find, but he that knows it, it renders him all his labour facile and easie. Any impure Tartar, whether it be white or red, may be so washed in one or two hours space, and so purged, that (losing nothing save its Fæces) it will become most white, and much more apt for many operations. But my time will not admit of treating farther of these affairs, it may (God willing) be done afterwards in another place.
However, thus much I will yet add more; That if Spirit of Wine brought to the highest purity, so as to retain no filthy savour or odour, be in a due quantity conjoyned by the help of common Water with this excellently well depurated Tartar, there will result from them two a drink of a most excellent savour, like to natural Wine, and may be used instead of wholsome Wine. This would be a most profitable thing for those that travel, had they but that Spirit of Wine, and that so excellently well prepared Tartar. For there is Water to be had in all places, and so they may at all times and every where make themselves good Wine, yea so good and so strong as they please, according as they add more or less of that Spirit and Tartar.
N. B.This Art would be very profitable for the cold Countries, in which Countries, in the want of Spirit of Wine, because no Wine grows there, the Spirit of Corn will perform the same. The chiefest knack is, to be furnished with that Tartar, which by an easie Solution enters into (or is dissolved in) the Water. But this is a business of a greater moment than to be divulged. I have already opened to some the manner of preparing such a Tartar, who make it in plenty, and so any one may easily get from them as much as they shall need.
Besides the use of that kind of Tartar, conduceth to the accomplishing of many other things, but not to be spoken of, lest it should prove a detriment to such as know it. But I doe here truely and sincerely affirm, that whosoever he be that can without wast and cost so prepare the common vulgar Tartar, he will be hereby able to get his food and rayment, and other necessaries for life, wheresoever and in what Country soever he shall abide. This thing will in process of time have a farther progress, and many will by the benefit thereof live more happily, and perform things incredible. I have made a beginning, and the Mice shall never gnaw off what I have here written, but contrarily my Successors shall enjoy the same to God’s glory, even to the Worlds end, and will in the first place thank God, and next him, me, as being the Authour and Revealer of the same. I could reveal many most profitable things that might be done by such a Tartar, were it not for injuring such as get their living by it, and which for certain causes are not at present to be mentioned. I have said enough to Wise men, and as for deriders and mockers, I have said too much, for they will say all are Lies, because they know not how to doe thus.
As to what appertains to the use of this here described Liquor, conjoyned of Gold, Tartar, and Salt, it may serve instead ofAurum Potabile, in all Sicknesses, and may be profitably administred, in corroborating the vital Spirits; for it doth not discover its Vertues by a remarkable and visible operation, but it strengthens the Body, and doth very gently drive out Urine and Sweat, and seldom is it that it provokes to stool, unless it be given in a strong Dose. The Dose is from one, two, three, six, nine Drops, even to a Scruple, according as the Sick is, in Water, Wine, or Ale, or other Liquors, in a Morning upon a fasting Stomach, and at Evening after Supper, for some days together. It keeps the Body open, and strengthens the Brain, and all the Members. But principally (before the use of this Liquor) the Body be well purged with good purging Remedies, such as are my purging Gold, and purgingLune, because then this Medicine of the said Golden Liquor operates far better, and more profitably. In using it, you are to observe whether or no the Excrements become black, if not, the Dose is so long to be augmented or continued untill the Excrements that come away be of a black Colour. Moreover, the Disease decreasing, theDose is to be lessened by little and little, according as necessity or the disease requires.
These things I thought good, at this time, to publish in the Fourth Part of mySpagyrical Pharmacopœa. I entreat that every one would take in good part these few Medicinal Secrets, but of very wide and large extent. And, God willing, my Third Century will shortly come abroad and present you with a Manifestation of more excellent Medicines, and other profitable Secrets.
The End of the Fourth Part.