How a Medicine may be prepared ofSolandLunatogether.
Recipeof Gold one ounce, and of Silver two ounces. Dissolve theSolinAqua Regia, and theLuneinAqua Fortis. If you mix both Solutions together, one Metal will precipitate the other, and both settle to the bottom in the form of a Dark or Ash-coloured Calx. This Precipitate edulcorate and dry,and mix with the same half its own weight of our Eagles Feathers. Distil these in a Glass Retort with strong Fire: then will the Eagles Feathers take up with it self a white Water; in which, notwithstanding, is latent a red Tincture; but of an unpleasing Taste, and therefore not to be administred in medicinal Practice. Yet, if this fierce and horrible Water be mortified by the help of aLixiviumof Tartar, and afterward some white Glass broke small be melted in a Crucible with some such Salt, the Glass will be tinged by the Salt, with an eminent yellowness answerable to the Colour of Gold. That yellow Tincture may be extracted from the Glass, and used in Medicine; because it ariseth both fromSolandLuna, and therefore necessarily must be medicinal.
Note: That during the Distillation, the Glass vessel contracts divers Colours, partly red, and partly yellow;viz.as long as it stands in the Fire and is hot; but the Neck remaining out in the Air, continues white. Here is cause indeed of admiration, that by that mixture of divers Colours many and various Figures are represented, as Mountains and Valleys, adorned with Rocks and Trees, so artificially, as they seem to be the Work of a Painter. Some such Glasses painted, both by Art and Nature, I gave to some of my curious and ingenious Friends; who I believe have them yet to show. These Glasses are tinged well and throughly; sometimes through their whole Body, and that so firmly, as even the strongestAqua FortisorAqua Regia, or any Corrosives cannot take off those Colours. Which indeed is a most strange and admirable thing, that even vulgar and corporeal fixedSolandLunashould be rendred so volatile, as to be able to enter into the compact Glass, and tinge the same. Spirits have great power, are void of ponderosity, and when they tinge, the vertue of them is discerned far: even as the Spirits of men and other Animals are void of all heaviness or weight; which we clearly discern by this,viz.that a man living, is much lighter than when he is dead.
Moreover, Spirits cannot onely render fixedLunavolatile, and reduce it into red Bodies asSolandVenus, which without any hurt of their form, and without increase or diminution of their weight, they can totally tinge with whiteness; but also Spirits can render the most fixt and most compact Gold volatile, and induce it into compactLune, whereby that shall be tinged with yellowness, which is a thing very wonderfull. But that Spirits can induce Tincture into Glass, without hurt or augmentation of its weight, deserves greater admiration; especially because it is the common Opinion of putatitious Philosophers, that in Glass are no pores, yet the contrary of their supposition is true. For if it were so, as they perswade themselves, which way I pray could Tinctures be introduced into them?
Note: That Spirits do not onely induce Metallick subtile Tinctures into compact Metals and Glasses; insomuch, as by the help of white Spirits, yellowSol, without destruction of its form or species may totally be tinged with whiteness; and whiteLuneby the mediation of red Spirits, be totally tinged with yellowness, and white Glass with various Colours resembling the Beauty of Jems: but they also extract fixed Bodies from other fixed Metallick Bodies. As we see, as often as we cast any mixture ofSol,LunaandVenus, (melted into a Mass) into those Spirits; the same Spirits extract theLunaandVenusfrom theSol, without corruption or destruction of its form, so as theSol, although this separation is made, doth notwithstanding remain compact and massy. We have such Spirits as these in our Possession, and can render the same fit for our purpose.
As for all other Spirits, which are various;viz.1. Are Cœlestial and Divine. 2. Terrestrial and Diabolick. 3. The Spirits of the four Elements; these excel the former in power: for they cannot onely pass through Doors that are shut, but also through the hardest Stones and Rocks, and there at pleasure sport and perpetrate wonderous things. As you may learn from those that labour in Mines of Metals, where such Spirits inhabit, and stoutly defend their Treasures of Gold and Silver, from such as come to spoil them of the same; wherefore they invade the Miners, strike them, pault them with Stones or Dirt, blast them with venomous Vapours, and oftentimes kill many of them at once. What wonderfull things they in these subterranean Mansions are able to effect, is more than sufficiently known. In the Mansfieldick Mountains ofVenusor Copper, the Spirits paint all kind of Figures, especially of Fishes; some of which I my self have seen. About 100 years since there was dug up a certain Image ofVenusupon a black Fissile Stone, whereinLutherand the Electour ofSaxonywere so evidently expressed, as either of them might be seen kneeling before the Image of Christ crucified. Also another such Fissile Stone was thence dug up, in which was exactly figuredJohn Baptistbaptizing Christ inJordan. But if our Spirits of Salt can induce Tinctures into the compact Bodies of Metals; and Elementary Spirits in their subterranean Habitations, can impress many and various Figures on Stones; what is that good Cœlestial Spirits shall not be able to effect? Did not these preserve the three Children in theBabylonianFiery Furnace? Did not they bringPeterout of Prison; and the ProphetHabacucktoDanielinto the Lyon’s Den? Are not they able to bring in, and lead out? Cannot they render fixed palpable Bodies volatile, spiritual and invisible, and on the contrary render invisible Bodies visible and tangible?
Many things might here be spoken touching the Nature, Property and Difference of Spirits, but that they are not pertinent to our present purpose. IfGODpermit, according as I have purposed, I shall ere long set forth a peculiar Treatise of Spirits. Here we have heard how Spirits can bring through shut Doors hard Bodies, and there render them corporeal and visible. Which may serve for Information to every Searcher into the Light of Nature.
Yet one otherSpecimenof Probation by the help of Eagles Feathers.
That ArtificerLazarus Ercker, most famous for finding out the Veins of Metals, in his Book of Probations (or of finding out Veins) relates, that theVenetianshired certain men for wages, and sent them intoGermanyto gather of the glassy dark coloured Grains of Sand of the Rivers running by the Mountains, and to transport it toVenice. The same is done at this very day. And although this Exportation is prohibited by Law, yet they desist not, butclandestinely proceed. The common People of those parts perswade themselves, that Grains of Gold are contained in those Sands, and therefore by Edict every man is forbid, either to remove it thence, or to convert the same to his own use.
IndeedLazarus Erckeradded, that he had subjected such Grains of Sand to various Trials, but never found Gold in them; yet that he also understood, that theVenetianArtificers prepared of that Sand such beautifull Colours, as with them were in more esteem, than Gold it self. But I affirm, thatErckerusdid not rightly know those Grains of Sand. For indeed there is little corporal Gold in them, but much spiritual Gold. If to those Sands the Eagles Feathers be added, they will carry upwards with themselves much spiritual Gold, which will be very conducent in Medicine. Such Grains are found in all the Sands of Rivers in all Regions of the World, and in the Gravel on the Shores of common Navigable Rivers: whence much good may be gained. Now these may suffice to be spoken touching the Eagles Feathers, for it is not convenient to divulge more.
Yet one Royal Medicine of Vulgar Gold.
Make one Ounce of Gold more or less, irreducible by the benefit of Salts. Then to such irreducible or unmeltable Gold, add as much by weight of the fixed Salt of the Eagles Feathers burnt. Put these into a firmly coated Glass, and place the Glass in an Earthen Pan full of Sand; which Pan set in the Fire that it may be red hot. But after it hath stood in such a Degree of heat, for four or five hours, let it cool. Then take your fixedSolout of the Glass, and it will be like white Chalk. This whiteSoltaken out of the Glass put into a good Crucible, upon which lute another, and then set it in a Wind Furnace, where having stood four or five hours, without any extream heat, let it cool. Then your Gold will be transmuted into a Tincture intensly red. Grind this red Salt to a most subtil Powder, and pour on Spirit of Wine to extract his Tincture. The tinged Spirit pour off, and pour on other, that it may also extract. Abstract the Spirit of Wine from the Tincture, and in the bottom a red Saline Liquor will remain, which is to be accounted a trueAurum Potabile: because it is not possible by any way whatsoever to extract any Gold from thence. This Operation begun, I once absolved without Errour; but many times afterward trying my Work, did not succeed so prosperously as at the first time. Yet I rather ascribe the Errour to my self, than to Art, plainly judging, that no other way more swift, more easie or more preparable, can be obtained a most readily profitable Tincture for diseased, humane and metallick Bodies. Yet I add this. If thou sufferest the common and now ductileSolto be and remain Gold; and sparing labour and charge for making it irreducible, do onely make choice of such Stones for your Operation, such as without Charges you may get, and by nature partake of irreducible Gold. Then indeed you may much more easily find what you intend. For whatsoever Tinctures of a golden Disposition are incited in those Stones, they notwithstanding in this operation lose it, altogether wax white, and at length totally red again. Which being beheld by me, I never saw in all my Life a more wonderfull Sight. Hence Philosophers have always said: Whosoever can so destroy vulgarSol, as it can never be again reduced intoSol, he hath attained to a very great Mystery. Also they further say: Whosoever knows not how to make ourSol(which is vulgarSolrendred irreducible, or such as hath not yet felt the force of Fire, and in Stones is by Nature irreducible) white, he also cannot make it red. But now that is done this way. Therefore you need not doubt that besides medicinal Remedies, some other Eminent Works may thence be made. Which I leave more deeply to be searched into by those, who are yet strong and able to endure labour. As for my own part, I esteem the Pleasures and Riches of this World to be worse than nothing; and seek onely Incorruptibles, which can neither be stolen by Thieves, nor gnawn by Moths and other Vermine, nor be destroyed by any force of the Elements.
In this little Book, candid Reader, I have treated of many rareArcanums, or Secrets not vulgar; and that very briefly. All I here write, I write from certain Experience, as to Medicine: far be it, that I should profess my self a Master in the Melioration of Metals, I had rather say withSocrates,This one thing I know, viz.that I know nothing. Indeed had I been a younger Man, I should scarcely have forborn to exercise my self in such an Operation; but my great Age having rendred me unfit for all Labours, and unable to do any thing, I may easily be excused, for I am as it were compelled to abstain from so great a Work.
Here in this Book I have treated of divers secret Fires, yet not of all to me known, but of many of them: touching the best of them all (ifGODpermit) the seventh Part of mySpagyrical Pharmacopœashall treat. The wonderfull Vertues of which secret Fires is so far beyond belief, as they exceed all the Fires in this Enchyridion commemorated.
I am amazed, as often as I call to mind, how immensly vertuous such fiery truly Stygian Spirits are, which are endued with a faculty of mortifying all Metals (although they be Bodies of greatest strength) and of carrying with them their immortal Souls, wheresoever they can. For they are endued with so great power, as nothing is able to defend it self from them. Yet besides these there are also other horrid Spirits made by Art, which do not onely after Mortification take from metallick Bodies their Soul; but also are endued with so great power, as they take away the Body with the Soul. Spirits of this kind are not usefull for our necessities, but those Spirits which do onely mortifie the Body, and draw forth from it its Soul, leaving the gross Body. If these Bodies were as conducive to us as Spirits, there would be no need to extract from them their most pure Spirits or Souls, to prepare our Medicine of them. Wherefore we, not without good reason, by the help of Artificial Distillation) extract the most clean Souls of Metals from their rude Bodies. For, by the benefit of Distillation, all Bodies of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, are purified and subtilized. Which clean and subtil Spirits (when they are again reduced into fixed Bodies) must needs be betterBodies than all other vulgar Bodies, which never yet were Spirits. Therefore, the more fixed those Bodies are rendred, and the more those Spirits are subtilized, the more pure and further powerfull Tinctures will be obtained from them. The like we understand by Elementary Spirits. These Spirits, by their proper Virtue, can so far extend themselves, as to become wholly invisible, and (if I may so speak) altogether pervisible: on the contrary, they can again concentrate themselves, and constringe themselves into a very narrow compass, and in such-wise assume visible Bodies, palpable and hard, as they please themselves. Although such Objects, in the Judgment of the Eyes, are accounted Bodies, yet in very deed they are not true Bodies, but are onely concentrated Spirits, which enjoy a perpetual power of extending themselves again into latitude, and of leaving their corporeal Form and Shape, and re-assuming their Spiritual Figure. But it is impossible that these extended Spirits should possess so great power, as they had before Extension. For Spirits extended are no other than Air and Wind. On the contrary, concentrated Spirits have incredible Fortitude, penetrate more swiftly, and are Bodies of very great potency. A common Body cannot penetrate into another, without hurt to it self; nor in that extend it self, because of its gross and hard Mass. Yet such a Body, as is made of a certain Spirit, can penetrate other Bodies, and amend the same, without destruction of their Form and Species. As for Example: If any one turns a fixed Metal into a subtile Spirit, and this Spirit again reduceth into a fixed Body; this Body will not be a common, compact, gross or mortified Body, like all other Metallick Bodies; but is a Body spiritual, living, penetrating and vivifying mortified Bodies; or is (as I may call it) a Corporeal Spirit, which can extend it self in Amplitude, and shew its potency an hundred or a thousand ways; according as all true Philosophers ascribe to their Universal Medicine or Tincture, that it, in a very small quantity, is able to tinge or meliorate a great quantity of the more vile Bodies into Bodies most noble. Which admirable Correction is not as yet known to me; yet I certainly believe and judge, that such a Transmutation, or famous Emendation of Metals may be made, by the benefit of concentrated and fixed noble Metallick Spirits. Whosoever hath Time and Place convenient to set about this Work, may try what is possible to be performed by the help of Art. Convert fixed Bodies into subtile Spirits, and reduce volatile Spirits into fixed Bodies, then shall you obtain whatsoever you can desire or wish for.
Indeed I have Reasons enough to restrain my Quill from a farther promulgation of such high Matters; yet since I have proceeded farther in this discovery, than any Man before me ever did; what hinders but that I may to the Horse-man, to whom I have given aNisæan[or excellent] Horse, give the Bridle also? Therefore it pleaseth me to reveal yet one kind of Spirits, which very lovingly receive the Souls of Metals (after their Bodies are mortified) and carry them up into the Philosophick Heaven, that is, into theAlembick. Which good Spirits are not horrible and cruel as the former, but sweet and amicable. Indeed, such good Spirits do all willingly associate themselves with the Souls of all Metals promiscuously, but onely with such most pure Souls, as are inSolandLuna. But if they be compelled to be concerned in the Mortification of fœtid gross Metals, asMarsandVenus, or of venomous, and as yet immature and volatile Metals, asJupiter,SaturnandMercury, and to receive the out-passing Souls of them; they refuse not this office, yet from such fœtid Souls they contract a stink to themselves, and therefore can scarcely afterward be Medicinal. Wherefore, it is better not to use these good and pure Spirits, unless for receiving the Souls of clean Metals; for then they remain good, and cannot be administred in Medicine without admiration: and, on the contrary, the Souls of venomous Metals may be so much the more happily used for the Emendation of Metals.
Now, as touching these good Spirits, know, they are nothing else but a pure Spirit of Wine, when it is associated withSolandLuna, at that very time, wherein their fixed Bodies are invaded and mortified by their Enemies, and their pure Souls set at liberty; then they are received and carried upwards by these pure Spirits; and a Royal Medicine is obtained, which every Man may administer according to his understanding. There are also many other Spirits which attend Metals destroyed and mortified, that they may take to themselves their pure Souls and carry them away. But of these enough at this time. Ere long (GODwilling) I shall speak more at large of these in the Seventh Part of mySpagyrick Pharmacopœa.
O most HighGOD, the One onely Beginning and End of all things, I making supplication from the bottom of my heart desire, that (when that general Destroyer of Humane Bodies shall come and destroy my lean and dried Earthen Mass, according to thy divine Will, and set my Soul at liberty from the Bonds of the Body) thou wilt be pleased in that very hour to take compassion on me, and send thy Ministring Spirits theHoly Angels(by reason of thy Grace and Fatherly Mercy) to me at the hour of Death, that receiving my departing Soul, may humbly prostrate it at the feet of thy most Holy Majesty.Amen.
The End of the Sixth Part.