To satisfie such as these I neither will, nor can deferr it. So then, as touching the Golden Materials, there hath been enough shewn already to prove that they are every where to be found, and put case there were none to be found, is there not a Golden Silver every where to be found, and that Silver may be separated from the Gold, be Cemented, and again made aureous, as often as one shall please. Yea, and Gold may be profitably extracted out of a certain (sort of) Tin, especially theGeyersbergickand so likewise out of some Iron too.
Now that such, (viz.Gold) may be made in great quantity we may dissolve the ☉ that sticks in Stones, with Spirit of Salt, acuated with a little quantity of Nitre; for such a spirit will not be so costly as Nitrous water is.and besides this too, it will (after it hath been used in the said separation) yield excellent Salt-petre, of full as much price and value as the Spirit of Salt it self was of. So that by this means we may extract the ☉ without those costs (too): And this moist extraction may be excellently well performed in a VaporousBalneo.
But if we seek after the dry way (of doing it) then the Stones are to be mixt with Salt and a fourth part of Nitre, and being mixt are to be made up into little balls by the help of some fat Earth, so as to stick together: Then are they to be dried in a peculiar Furnace, or else even in the open field, with a Fire of Wood, the which may be done in one hours time. The Cementation being made, they are to be powdered, and out of the powder is a Lixivium to be extracted by the means of Water, and you shall have the ☉ permixt with the Lixivium, which is to be thence extracted by the help of the solution of ♄, out of the Lixivium may Nitre be afterwards made. And now by this means may a most easie and no ways costly operation at all, be instituted with some hundreds weight.
But as concerning the melting and reduction of the ♄ which contains in it the ☉ which it caught, it may easily be done, but ’tis by the benefit of a*Mentioned in the SecondCentury.peculiar* Tigil or Pot, the making of which is known only unto my self; which said Tigil or Crucible lasts a long time, and doth not at all let any thing of what is thereunto put, run out, because it has its cover made of the Lute of Wisdom.
But now again here may arise another doubt, and it may be demanded, how we may have so much Spirit of Salt for the moist way, or so much Salt and Nitre for the dry way, as is requisite to make this extraction of the Metals. Salt-petre is chargeable, and the Spirit of Salt will be difficultly gotten in such plenty; and haply they will stand us in more than the Gold thereby extracted would be worth? To such I answer, It is not so precisely necessary to buy Salt-petre for this work, seeing that the said dissolvent when it hath done what you would have it, both in the dry and moist preparation, may be again turned by the help of common Salt and other mean Subjects, into excellent Nitre: so as we may thence have more Nitre, than it was afore. And farther, as concerning the Spirit of Salt it may be made in great plenty, insomuch that (by the benefit of one Furnace) there may be daily made 50, 60, 70, yea 100 pounds thereof, and out of every pound of Salt may you extract a whole pound of rectified Spirit of Salt with the help of two or three pounds of Coals: So that, that Spirit will in a manner cost nothing at all save Salt and Coals, which doth again after it hath been put to its appointed use, yield more Nitre than the Salt and Coals cost. This operation therefore may be done without any costs as it were. The things I here mention are true, although I well know that scarce one of a hundred will believe what I say; however I matter it not, but it is sufficient to me that I know these things, and can exhibit (or demonstrate) them to any Friends.
Albeit that this be a most easie Labour and of no expences to extract volatile and fixt Gold out of Ores, Sand, Clay, according to the prescribed rule; yet I question not but that many men that are given to slothfulness will desire here, a yet easier way, whereby they may heap up a great deal of Gold without any trouble at all. To such as these, I verily could shew an easier way of extracting ☉ out of the Minerals without melting, did I not count it wholly an unbeseeming thing, to detect all these secrets both to Friends and Enemies alike without any distinction. I will not be at all wanting to communicate my more secret way to those who deserve well, & thankfully acknowledge towards me and mine, the benefit they have received.
But yet, that the knack may be in some sort manifested, and it may be somewhat known by what means ☉ and ☽ may be gotten even out of the Ores and Minerals themselves, I will a little stretch out the thred of my discourse, and will in some sort delineate the very work it self.
You are therefore to know, that all those Minerals which contain fluxile (or unripe) or volatile Gold, whether they be stony or not, do for the most part contain in them some Iron: Now then, when a man would thence extract the ☉ by the Spirit of Salt, it cannot be but that together therewith the Iron would be dissolved too, to the doing of which there is much spirit required: And albeit you may make the said spirit most easily according to the way by me delivered, yea and may besides, by the addition of some even the most mean matter again make excellent Nitre, so as that the Nitre thence extracted shall be of more value, than the costs expended about the operation; yet notwithstanding, this business is not void of all kind of labour and trouble, and it requires diligent men (not drones) of which sort there’s more scarcity than plenty. But now this which we treat of at present, may a beardless Country Boy of about some 10 or 12 years old perform: It requires but little Fire, and all the (Metals) may be extracted in great plenty. Which to do, you must know that where the Metals (or Ores) are sulphureous, thatSulphurmust be taken away by the force of the fire, for else the Spirit of Salt leaves all untoucht.
NB. However it is your best way not to force away by the fires violence theSulphurout of the goldenish Flints, because that so, there goes off part of the Spiritual ☉: but rather extract every such aureousSulphurwith a strong Lixivium made of fixt Nitre, and precipitate it with ☿ dissolved, and so the aureousSulphurgoes to the bottom, and is to be edulcorated, and ♄, ♀, or ☽ is to be thereto added, and so they will seize upon the volatile (Gold) and the ☉ is by the means of the Lixivium made in some sort fixt, and is to be separated by destilling of the ☿: The edulcorating waters do again yield Nitre. So that the extraction requires no costs at all, at leastwise but very little.
NB. When we have extracted the aureousSulphur(by the help of fixt Nitre, or some other very strong Lee of Wood-ashes,) out of the Flints, and have precipitated it with the solution of the ☿, and edulcorated it, and sublimed it by a Retort, there is thence made an elegant (or delicate) Cinnabar, which by the addition of the filings of Silver may be changed (by Cementation) into fixt ☽ which ☽ is aureous, by reason of the volatile ☉, which was permixt with theSulphur. Whereas otherwise, other Cinnabar is by this way (of proceeding) wont to yield only ☽: For the filings of the ☽ thereto added, become volatile, and vanish away into the Air, for the Cinnabar hath extracted the soul thereout-of, and hath by it made it self fixt; so that there redounds no profit at all thence-from, save only that the possibility of nature is laid open. But now when the Cinnabar of this place (or mentioned in this place) is mixed with fusile ☽, edulcorated and precipitated with Salt, or with the Calx of ♄, either alone or else both mixt together (viz.the ☽ and ♄) they do greedily betake themselves into each other, and there ariseth thencefrom a black stone, which being kept in an apt (or suitable) Fire by degrees, and that for a due time, doth daily more and more acquire a fixity: Yet do I believe that it needs a long time, to make it wholly fixt: which thing seeing I have not as yet any experience of, I will not here mention ought of certainty concerning it, perhaps some particular Tincture may thence be extracted, because that the subjects which constitute it are excellent ones, for asSulphuris said to be the Father of all the Metals, so is ☿ called the Mother. What may not a burningSulphurnot unlike the common MineralSulphurthat is in all Metals, be extracted by Art out of any Vegetable? which (saidSulphur) I have implanted in mercurial subjects more than once, and have fixed it in them; yea and by the help thereof have so extracted natural Gold thence-from.
Verily it is to be wondred at, that this science or skill hath been hitherto unknown to the Inhabitants of the world, and that no body hath commited the same to writing.
But indeed all men may cease to admire, when they shall consider that the Great and Blessed God bestows his gifts, and the knowledge of Nature to such only as it Pleaseth him,viz.to such as bear an humble, and pious Mind; and contrariwise denyeth them to such as are impious and proud.
And here falls in a thing highly needfull to be known; by him especially, who would effect ought in Chimistry with profit (and that is this,viz.) That there can be no bettering of the Metals at all (be it either in the universal or in a particular way) but by the benefit ofSulphur(which is the father of all the Metals) & this both in the moist and in the dry way. (NB. The Spirits of Salt, of Nitre, Vitriol and Sulphur, serve instead of a sulphur though a moist one, and perform their office in the moist way.)
If therefore all the Metals were at first aSulphur(for no Metal is there wherein it may not be found, and besides too, it is known to be in all the Vegetables) by what means possibly can it be, but that being by the help of a Sulphur, Salt, and apt Fire, reduced to fixity, it (viz.any Metal) should yield good ☉ seeing that it (viz.Gold) is nothing else but a fixt pureSulphur. But for as much asSulphur(as being of the Masculine kind) cannot produce any Metal alone, but that there must necessarily be ☿ thereto adjoined, (as being of the Feminine kind); every one is bound to seek after an apt or suitable ☿ (as being the Female) for hisSulphur(as being the Male) and to join that ☿ to thisSulphur, and let these two celebrate their Nuptials in Hell, whereVulcanis President.
Now then, when the Agent hath acted on the Patient, and perfected the operation, whether by the moist or by the dry way, it shews it self to be a pure product, and so much the purer too, by how much the Agent and Patient were more or less pure.
When we sow fruitful Seed in a fat Soil, good Fruits do thence-from proceed. Now then letSulphurbe the seed there, and ☿ the field it self, yet so as that yourSulphur(or seed) be pure, and that the ☿ (or ground) have no Tares in it; but let it be duely endued (or dungd) with Salt, and so let it have the fruition of the solar beams, and patiently wait for the thence proceeding fruits. Now if you meet with such a subject as hath bothSulphurand ☿ already joined together by nature; you are there only to begin the operation where nature left off, and so by the help of Fire and Salt, bring it unto its due perfection, which nature was constrainednolens volensto leave imperfect, by reason of the defect of Salt and fire.
I could here present the Student ofHermetickmedicine, with such a foundation, as out of which abundance of commodious conveniencies might be expected; but the ingratitude of the men of this Age, prohibits the divulging such things.
Therefore do I herein followParacelsus, who saith,We could verily lay open most mighty Arcana in a very few words, if it seemed good unto God to grant unto all men the same(equity of)Riches.
Turn over and over his Writings, Reader; and thou wilt easily attain the foundation of the truth; but especially, view well such writings as he hath left us concerningSulphurandVitriol, which we will here rehearse in this place (because of the affinity of the matter) for thy sake and benefit, which writings of his if any one can make nothing of, verily neither will he understand those things which we shall add.
And now are all things (requisite) sufficiently laid open to such, to whom God vouchsafes his blessing; and contrariwise, the same will always remain hidden and unknown to the impious.
Thus much I add (viz.) That neither can any Tincture be obtained withoutSulphur, nor anySulphurfixt without Salt; both these now are found conjoined in Vitriol, from which the noxious superfluity is to be separated, and the pure is to be made fixt.
I will present unto you, as one well skill’d, my experience in all respects concerning Sulphur,viz.what is contained in Sulphur, both as to Medicine and Alchimy, and to other things, and unless God be against it and hinder, the operations ofSulphurare so stupendious and admirable, that the natural Light in man cannot enough admire them. Now if God himself doth not hinder, then the defect is in the workmen, that so handles theSulphuras that the operation answers not to the implanted Virtue.
Now seeing that every babling fellow is aPhysician, and every prater anAlchymist, this is the cause why (in plain Terms) the Sciences (ofPhysickandChimistry) cannot be brought to light.
This now is the Foundation or Basis,viz.That inSulphurare contained such great Arcana and Virtues relating to both Faculties (viz.MedicineandAlchimy) that no body can ever search them out sufficiently: I say, that there lies such excellent Virtues hidden therein, as may very deservedly cause in all Men great admiration. For after long experience gained in both Faculties, such are the Virtues ofSulphurfound and known to be, that there are not many other things that are either its superiour, or which may therewithal compare inMedicineandAlchimy.
SulphurreprovesAristotle, when as he saith that the species of things cannot be changed: ForSulphuris transmuted; didAristotlelive now adays he would wholly be ashamed and blush.
Thus far he, as for the many more additions that he makes every one may read them in his Works.
As concerning my self, I say thus, That nothing at all can be done in Alchimy withoutSulphuror sulphureous Salts; like as without seed, neither Vegetable nor Animal can; as is clearly evident, be possibly generated.Sulphuris instead of Seed, andMercuryinstead of a Matrix: But you must not think that I do here speak of commonSulphuronly, and commonMercury: [No!] I do comprise under them such as are far more excellent, and this you are well to heed. If now a metal be not sulphureous, it must be brought to a due softness by the force of Fire, which is done thus,viz.Making it red hot and quenching it some times in water. But if so be it is already soft enough, then bare powdering it is sufficient, without so much as ever heating it red hot and quenching the same. Put this powder in Pans of cast Iron, and that there may be the less waste of Fire, let it be encompassed with a wall or mured in a Furnace; fill them half full, and pour thereupon (whether it be Metal or Ore, or Sand, Stone, or Clay, or golden Mineral,) so much of the water which we shall by and by describe, as the Iron Vessel can contain, yet so that the said Vessels want of being top full the breadth of 3 or 4 fingers, least as you stirr it about some of it spil over. This done, put to an hundred pound weight of the Metal or Ore, about one pound of an aureous, silvery,Magnet. Then put Fire under the Pans or Cauldrons, and make the water boil, continually stirring the matter contained in the Iron Pans, with an IronSpatula.
Now forasmuch as this water is of such a quality as that it can neither dissolve ☉ nor ☽, it leaves both the ☉ and ☽, and by reason of the admixtion of theMagnet, it attracts only the Iron or the Copper. When the water hath attracted as much ♂ or ♀ as it can, it is to be drawn away, and more new put on in the room thereof, and you must proceed on to boiling as afore-mentioned, and thus are you to reiterate this work, until all the ♂ or ♀ shall be extracted out of the Metal, and nothing remain behind save a dead Sand, which may most easily beseparated from theMagnet, by the pouring on of common Water, for the sand mixeth in self with it, and theMagnetremains pure in the bottom of the Vessel, which hath received into it self the ☉ and ☽: This ☉ now and ☽ is again easily separated from theMagnet, which saidMagnetmay be again used for such another work.
Thus now, one only person can by this means daily separate a great quantity of Metal from the ☉ and ☽ it has in it; all the artifice consisteth in the preparation of such a water as extracteth ♂ and ♀ out of the Metals or Ores: And therefore must it be of such a nature, as to dissolve neither ☉ nor ☽, & be nevertheless strong enough to dissolve ♂ & ♀ and to separate them from the ☉: For that theMagnetcannot extract the ☉ out of the ♂ and ♀ unless they be afore dissolved. But as touching the quality (or composition) of this water; ’tis no ways expedient to divulge it, forasmuch as the whole business dependeth thereupon, nor can any thing at all be effected without the knowledge thereof. When nowVenusandMars, or elseVenusalone, orMarsalone, are extracted out of the stone (or ore) by the benefit of the said water, the precipitation of them may be made by the addition of some contrary thing, whereby it comes to pass, that not only its sharpness is taken away but also excellent Nitre may be thence prepared afterwards, which is to be separated from theMarsorVenus: The precipitatedMarsmay be reduced with a strong fire, and so it will be made fluxile, and which easily melts in a Crucible likeVenus, and becomes malleable; yea, and of more worth than the bestVenus, because it performs very many profitable things in Alchimy, which we forbear to speak of here, for some certain reason.
He therefore that knows such a menstruum or dissolvent, and which requires no costs to make it, and yet notwithstanding doth very well dissolveMarsandVenus(and leave theSolandLuna): Such an one verily may in all places find plenty ofMarsandJupiter(VenusI believe he means) which contains plenty of both fixt and volatileSolandLuna: neither need he be much sollicitous about Golden Metals or Ores.
Forasmuch then as the whole Artifice consisteth in the knowledge only of the water, and in the manuals (or contriving) of the placing of theMagnet, and in the separating all the unprofitable matters from the ☉ and ☽; he that does not know such aMagnetand how to prepare such a dissolvent, by whose help ☉ and ☽ may be concentrated, and ♀ and ♂ be separated from them, let him search hereafter even as I, my self have done: But if so be he cannot find out or invent either of them, let him get from me what he desires to know, and I will not omit to satisfy his request, provided it may be done without my detriment and disquiet. But now you must not think that therefore I will give answers to all such as trouble me with their tedious Letters, for my time permits not the doing of such matters.
There is yet another way by which we may expect profit out of such Minerals as contain in them much ♂ if we deal with them on this wise. Let it be reduced with the strong blast of bellows, and you shall find either a greater or lesserRegulusin the bottom (according to the muchness or lessness of the ♂ that the stone contains) whichReguluscompriseth in it self the ☉ and ☽ which was in the Mineral or Ore, if such an Iron be malleable, Plates may be made of thoseRegulusses, with are to be dissolved (in the Cauldrons made of cast Iron) with that secret water, out of which solution, the ☉ may be extracted by the benefit of theMagnet, according to the afore-prescribed manner. But if the saidRegulusbe brittle, and not malleable, then may it be granulated: Nay, it would not be much amiss to make large Cauldrons and such like Pots thereof by melting, that may be of 2, 3, or 4 Fingers thickness. Nor must we suppose that what the said water dissolves of the Cauldron and takes from it, besides that which it receives from the Plates or Granulated Iron put therein to dissolve, is meerly lost: No, for even it doth in like manner exhibit itsSoltoo; so that by this means a most rich Mine-pit may be made.
But some will say, whence shall we have such Minerals that yield ☉, and that bring such great profit? We have said before, that such Minerals or Ores containing such Iron, are every where to be found: Nor can you light on any common ♂ which has not ☉ therein, which may easily be extracted from thence, and that with most great profit. This now is known unto most (Refiners) that there is plenty of corporeal ☉ to be found in the Iron that we commonly use which (said corporeal ☉) is far surmounted (as to quantity) by the volatile ☉; but if a man would separate it thence by the help of fusion and the addition of ♄, it requires too much costs, and therefore men never attempted any other way of extracting it.
AllGermanyaffords this sort of Iron (that is thus endued with Gold) in a most plentiful manner, & I could shew very many places in which it may be found, if some pregnant (or notable) causes did not prohibit me from so doing.
But that all men may know, that I tell the very truth, and do not like a vain man tell you of great Treasures, and that they are every where to be found inGermany, and yet notwithstanding by reason of their not being known are not of any use; I will show some of them with my very Fingers as it were, which haply in respect of othersome that I know not of as yet, will be but a very few, and these very vile or poor, too.
First of all then, all the Iron that is in the Pine-bearing Mountain and about it, doth contain both fixt and volatile ☉; and this I have often experienced some years since, when I lived atKitzinginFranconia, and extracted thence from by the help of a melting Fire excellent ☉: For as then, the manner of extracting ☉ from thence by waters only, without any melting fire, was to me unknown: For at that time those most eminent Men Mr.Christopher Herbst, the chief Physician of the Prince ofArsparch, and Mr.Adam Renningenthe said Prince’s Lieutenant, and chief of his House, (or Governour) in the Castle ofBlassenburgnearCulmbach, presented me various kinds of minerals, to try what was in them contained: And amongst these Iron ones I find all of them to be endued with Gold, which might be exceeding profitably extracted thence by the afore-disclosed moist way. There were likewise given me such like conditioned stones and metals (or ores) which were found nearBamberg, of which we have said somewhat afore. The truth of this thing is the more confirmed by the LordFleishman, Governour of the Province ofBambergmy singular Friend, who wrote unto me some few months since, that an excellent Gold-mine is found in the Province ofBamberg, but yet that the Gold thereof cannot at all be separated from the Iron by the force of Fire; which volatility ofSolI signified to him in my answer might most easily be amended.
Now like as all the Minerals and the Iron it self which are found near the Pine-bearing Mountain, are very much endued with Gold, so those which are found inMisnia,Saxony,Thuringia, andBohemia, do abound with ☽: both of which may be extracted thence by the way by me delivered, with very great profit. I know by good experience that in theHungarian☉ and ☽ Mine-pits much volatile Gold and Silver is forced away into the Air through meer ignorance.
Certain I am, that the Metals (or Ores) throughout allCarinthiaandStyriado possess much volatile and fixt Gold; especially the Iron Metal (or Ore): For I have many a time made experiments of that thing.
Moreover, theHircinianWood,Brunswick, andHassiayield such kind of Minerals. Nor isSueviadestitute of such Iron as is impregnate with ☉; and amongst other things I think good to declare, that some few months since, a certainBasilianRuler sent me a potion of such kind of Iron; withal relating, that the lesser experiment did there yield ten Crowns of Gold, and that an hundred weight was of this Iron sold for nineFlorinsprice. Which Iron when I had tried by the help of a fusing or melting Fire I got a sufficiently great quantity of ☉, but in proceeding by my moist way, I got twice or thrice as much.
Such kinds of stones as these are found in plenty throughout allGermany, to which may be reckoned the red and black Talk, the Irony Talk, black and redGranates,Smiris,Hæmatites, and the like, which always are endued with ☉, if not with fixt, yet with volatile Gold. So that now it is manifestly apparent, that in those places where ☉ is digged, all the stones are repleat with volatile Gold at least, if not with fixt ☉ too: like as all the Iron that is digged inSpaindoth of a certainty besides volatile Gold contain also corporeal Gold. Nay more, there are not only found such stones that have Gold in them in those hotter places, but also in most cold places too, witnessNorway; where you may meet with whole Mountains consisting of Iron, Talk, and Granates; out of which there has not hitherto been any ☉ gotten by the help of a melting fire with any profit; though I my self have found ☉, in the lesser experiments.
Last year Mr.J. W.brought me various Ores out of the County ofEysfeldein, that I might try what they contained. Amongst others, there were some little grains of Iron round like a Pease, though somewhat lesser, thus generated in the Earth naturally: This Earth as I was informed, is altogether black, one handful of which contains 10, 15, 20 Grains: wherefore it is not improbable that all the Earth of that place is repleat with Iron; these little Grains are so very tractable, as that they may be made into Plates with an Hammer, and contain much Gold.
Such a kind as this of black Iron grains (yet not so round or tractable as those but now spoken of) were brought me fromSaxony, which are endued with plenty of Gold, but volatile; they are easily pulverisable, and (as was related to me) are to be found near the Mountain which theGermanscallGeyersberg, where also is gathered a Tin stone, which doth also contain Gold, such asMisniayields more plentifully. Out of 100 weight of this Tin, I found that 10 or 12 Crowns of Gold might indeed be extracted; but this work requires such costs as far exceed the price of that which is extracted: and therefore they sell off the Tin, just as ’tis digged out, to avoid the expence of extracting the ☉.
That which is gathered in the said Mountain, I have often tried, nor did I ever find it destitute of ☉, the which may be very well extracted by my moist separation.
TheStabeleinAbbot presented me with such like Iron stones and several others that had Gold in them, together with diverse Minerals, some 18 months ago, some of which were gathered inWestphalia, some in the ProvinceLuttinge, in that part that is under the Government of the Elector ofCologne,P. M.The Prince himself having a mind to see by what means I would extract the volatile Gold out of them, came unto me, but he died in his Journey homewards; since that I have not received any more of such like aureous Metals (or Ores.)
Amongst other (Ores) I knew an Iron Metal (or Ore) found inWestphalia, the half whereof was very aureous, but of no use, because the Metal-men were ignorant of the way of separating those Metals from one another; whereas notwithstanding both the pure Copper, and the ☉ it self may be most easily separated from the Iron according to the way by me delivered.
There were also a while ago several Iron stones brought me by theCologneMerchants, and especially Mr.Peter Sevet(P. M.) which are found in plenty in the Mountains, and do abound with much ☉: Besides this too, all the Mountains ofGermany, do yield a yellow Earth, endued with Iron and ☽: of which kind a certain Physician ofErfurtsent me some, which (as he related to me) atEysfeldtnearErfurttowards the Province ofMoguntiais plenty thereof.
Such an Earth containing silver, I my self found here in the bordering places ’twixtArnheimandEmbrick, but not of such worth as that ofEysfeldtis.
Who knows but that that same place which we callVelawhides in it vast Treasures. For I have found nearAmheima white Clay and Earth out of which I extracted some ☽: Yea and I found there too, true Veins of Iron, which whether or no they contain ☉ and ☽ I cannot tell: For I never proved them, but the first opportunity I have I intend (God willing) to make an Essay.
Thus ’tis evident that there is not at all wanting unto us the matter of effecting some good and profitable thing by, but the love of idleness is the reason why we neglect abundance of sufficiently obvious Treasures.
The Earth nourisheth men of diverse natures; for some of them are altogether slothful, sluggish, and extraordinarily backward to labour, and yet nevertheless get fat bodies enough: On the other hand, there are some who are very diligent, & do too much consume themselves, and concerning whom (being like unto a burning Candle) they may say thus of themselves,by serving others, am I consumed. And as much benefit as the Candle gets by affording a light unto others and by consuming it self; so much doth there redound, especially from ungrateful men, to a diligent man who by serving others wasts and consumes himself.
These and such like most abject Subjects are plentifully enough to be found in all parts of the World where Mountains are, and out of them may you extract ☽ and ☉ by the help of my nitrous Water, were but the way of doing it known, which way hath been hitherto reserved amongstArcanaby reason of mens extream ingratitude. And I pray is it not altogether useful and expedient that we should gather such Treasures, and make use of them to Gods Honour, and to the defence of Kingdoms and Mankind? Is there not sufficient store of idle fellows, whom it would be very expedient either to invite to labour or (if they shun work) to banish them the Kingdom?
I believe that this blindness will hardly leave men afore they are reduced to straits, but beware least you hap to begin to grow wise too late.
This work, like as is every other perfection of Metals is done by Sympathy and Antipathy: For that, dissolvent which drives off ☉ and ☽ from it self, by Antipathy, all this doth a mercurialMagnetgreedily attract by Sympathy, seeing it thus, thatviz.as like loves like, and draws it to it self; so one contrary hates another contrary, and drives it away.
Two contraries do always produce a third thing. Where the Agent acts upon the patient, and that this patient is even enforced to suffer against its will, and cannot by any means shun the force of the Agent, there must of necessity arise some better product from them.
When water is added to water, neither of them suffer, because they are both of them of the same nature: But when fire and water are joined together, the weaker is the sufferer, and from them doth a third thing proceed.
The stinking and volatileSulphuris the enemy of ☉, and common Salt, of ☽; and by how much these have more stench the one, and sharpness the other, so much the greater is the hostility they shew. The greatest matters are performed by love and hatred; such things as are friendly beget a chearfulness, joy, and vivacity: Whereas, on the other hand, the things that we abhor beget a teadious wearisomeness, grief and death: therefore the more acceptable a thing is, the more it brings of life; the less acceptable the more of dolour doth it bring. All the perfection therefore of the baser metals consisteth only in Antipathy and Sympathy: And if once we do but rightly know the nature of metals, all things are easily accomplished.
It is storied of a certain Philosopher inItaly, That he had committed some evil deed, for the which he was accused, apprehended, and cast into prison, being here shut up, he could not be brought, neither by entreaties, nor by threats; no, nor by any means to confess his fact; but at last they put into his company a man of no sobriety or modesty at all, who did so grieviously exasperate him with his words, that the said Philosopher could not brook it, and so rather chose death; for he affirmed, that the mind of man was far more noble, than to be plagued by such a tag-rag, with reproachful contumelies.
Even just so is it with Metals, by how much the nobler and purer they are, so much the less will they commix themselves with impure things.
Gold the purest of the Metals cannot be knit with stinking impure and commonSulphur; for there is an antipathy betwixt them. Salt alone is endued with those virtues as to be able to reduce contrary natures into agreement, and to commix them; and being commixt, the fixt ☉ is able to make the unfixtSulphur, like unto it self in respect of fixity, whereas otherwise they always persecute each other with hatred.Solcannot suffer any thing until it has gotten the nature of a Salt, and then may it be tormented (as it were) by the impureSulphur, and be changed into better.
When the Soul of the imperfect Metals (which is a spiritual ☉) is to be forcibly pluckt, and severed from its body, it cannot possibly be done without the dolour or pain of the Patient; for where the pure and spirituous goldenish substance that dwelleth in the corruptible bodies, is to be made Corporeal, and consequently assume a more noble form, the first form must necessarily be annihilated, that so the hidden tender body may come forth to light and be seen.
And this verily is done by another kind of way than the common and already known; by which (said common way) the Metals are separated byAqua-fortisfrom one another, and are afterwards Molten. For if any one should make one Metalline Mass of ♂, ♀, ♃, ☉, and ☽, by melting, and then would again separate them, by the help of commonAqua-fortis, he would effect nothing; for theAqua-fortiswould dissolve only ☽ and ♀ and part of ♃ and ♂, and leave the remainder with the ☉ undissolved; or if he should pour onAqua-regia, there would be only ☉ and ♀, together with some part of ♃ and ♂ dissolved, and that which remains of the ♃ and ♂ (undissolved) would be left behind with the ☽, and so there would not be made any good separation.
But if so be that any one has a mind to attempt this thing on this wise, and should say, I will dissolve ♂, ♀, or ♃, by the help ofAqua-fortis, or as much of it as possibly I can, for so the ☽ that is in the mixture must needs be dissolved. Now then when its dissolved I will precipitate it (viz.the ☽ out of the solution, by salt water (if it be so yet); the ☉ therefore remains, which could not be dissolved by theAqua-fortis; or, if I should dissolve the Metal (or mixture,) byAquaregia, then the ☉ is dissolved, (but not the ☽), and so I can precipitate the ☉ out of the solution, by a Lixivium, and edulcorate it, and melt it, and so by this means may I get it. Well (let me tell you) that neither will this way fadge, for these Metals, and especially ♂ and ♃ are too terrestrial, and admit not of such a separation, though there should be in the aforesaid Metals, abundance of Corporeal ☉ and ☽, whereas notwithstanding the greatest part is fluxile, and must be again made fixt and corporeal by solution; for in this work the already pure and fixt ☉ and ☽ may be altered, so as that a Mercurial magnet cannot be able to assume them. As for example, Take you a Metal, as ♂, ♃, or ♀, which (as is well known) there is Corporeal ☉. Dissolve this inAqua-regia, and precipitate the ☉ by a Lixivium of fixt Salt; boil this precipitate with ☿, and see if that precipitated ☉ will pass into the ☿; you’ll find not, for this ☉ hath gotten a Crust (as it were) in its precipitation by the Lixivium; that is, it is environed with a saline Terrestreity, in so much that the ☿ cannot attract the ☉.
Neither likewise can ☿ attract or assume such a silvery Calx as is precipitated out of the solution with salt water, and that by reason of the terrestreity alone, which adheres thereunto by means of the precipitation, by which it is altered and deprived of a pure Metallick form.
The truth hereof may you easily experiment, on this wise. Dissolve a particle of pure ☽ inAqua-fortis, and dissolve the same quantity of pure ☉ inAqua-regia, precipitate the ☽ with salt water, and the ☉ with a Lixivium, so as that the ☽ be precipitated into a white, and the ☉ into a yellow Calx; edulcorate both Calxes apart after the best way that possibly you can, with hot water many times, so long till the edulcorating water be wholly sweet, then weigh these dryed Calxes, and you shall see that the ☽ and ☉ you took, are one fourth part heavier than before the solution of them; and this is to be ascribed to the Salts only, that have adjoined themselves to the Metal in the precipitation, and cannot be thence seperated by edulcoration; and therefore such a silvery Calx yields not (when molten,) a pure Lunar body, but a certain Ashy coloured Mass, fluxile and volatile, by reason of the Salts; and this Calx is not changed (or swallowed up) into the ☿ neithar before nor after its being molten, nor (after its melting,) can it ever be dissolved byAqua-fortisorAqua-regia, which alteration proceeds meerly from the Salts that have adjoined themselves thereto in the precipitation.
Even just so is it with such a golden Calx, which being separated by precipitation out of theAqua-regiawith a Lixivium, will not have ingress into ☿, by reason of the impurities that accompany it; and therefore this golden Calx (when it is made hot) kindles, and vehemently operateth upon it self, and this is meerly from the Salts.
From hence it is clearly evident that the Calx of ☽ precipitated by Salt, and the Calx of ☉ by a Lixivium, have not any communion with ☿, how then can such a Calx, which is (now) at first forced out from many terrestrial parts, and imperfect Metals, and separated from them, have a greater communion therewithal, have ingress thereinto, and conjoin it self therewith by digesting. Other wayes therefore must be taken, by which you may extract the volatile and fixt Gold, that lies hidden in ♂, ♃, ♄, or ♀: Now many there be who do in vain search into those things which they know not the nature of, and so walk in darkness like one that hath already fallen into a Pit.
But if you come to know such a menstruum or dissolvent, which is an enemy to ☉ or ☽, and yet nevertheless doth plainly dissolve ♂, ♃, ♀, and ♄, then the spiritual ☉ that lies hidden, will manifestly appear corporeally and visibly, and will pass into theMercurialMagnet.
Besides, this dissolvent must likewise be of such a nature, as that (when in the solution or digestion of the imperfect metals, it makes the spiritual and volatile Gold corporeal, and casts it off from it (as I may say) by antipathy in the form of a powder) this powder may not be environed with any crustiness as abovesaid, but that both the Calx of ☽ and of ☉ may have their natural metallick splendor, whereto the ☿ may adhere, and may attract unto it self whatsoever the dissolvent separates by the continual digestion.
Farther, this Dissolvent must be of such a nature as not to be so sharp as to dissolve the ☿ for then the work would not succeed; indeed it is scarcely necessary to make use of the ☿, to receive into it the spiritual and fixt Gold which is separated in the digestion fixation and separation of the Volatile ☉ of the Metals; for when it is once evacuated it will never again occupy (or seize upon) its impure body; yet notwithstanding this chiefly is done for this reason,viz.that the spiritual ☉ & ☽ in the imperfect metals may be the more willingly made Corporeal, when it finds a fitting subject wherein it may lie hidden and rest. Besides too, this spirituall ☉ and ☽ of the Metals, is indued with such virtues, as that it tingeth some part of the ☿ into ☉ and ☽, when it hath thereinto entred, whereby it yields the more profit.
Thus much likewise are ye to know, that this labour does not only proceed in the moist way, but also in the dry; but yet far easier in the moist than in the dry way; yet in the (dry way) a greater profit is gotten in a shorter time. For like as to one measure of Milk are required 1, 2, 3 or 4 spoonfuls of Salt, that so the Cheese (or Curd) may be separated from the water (or whey), but there needs not the quantity of one spoonful of the Spirit, which is much stronger than the bare Salt: Even so stands the case with Metalline operations; for by how much the greater and more powerful the Agent or Contrary is, so much the sooner and stronger doth it perfect its operations. Hence it is, that where the Agent must be yet more strongly active (as in the dry way, it must of necessity be where the strong fire adds virtue and vigour to the Agent) it being consequently more contrary (or powerful) the separation is sooner perfected. For example, Let us see how it is with Milk, where 10 or 20 drops of Spirit of Salt separate some cold Milk, there will need but half the quantity only when the Milk is boil’d or otherwise heated; even so is it with our Agent, whereby we make the Volatile Gold in the more vile or meaner Metals, corporeal and visible; it operates far more strongly in the dry way, than in the moist way; for in the dry way, the external fire aideth our fire, and hereupon finisheth its operation so much the sooner; but in the dry way must another Magnet be made use of.
Thus much let suffice touching the particular washing or external purgation of the viler Metals; as concerning the internal, central, universal washing, by which the interiour Soul of ☉ and ☽ is extracted for the Tincture, I do not as yet (certain) know any thing thereof, nor desire I to know such abstruse and hidden things: content I am with such things as God of his meer grace hath bestowed upon unworthy me, and if God shall so please, so far to profit mankind either by mine or any others help, he will also present an occasion of laying hold thereon (viz.on the Tincture) for all good things come from God.
Now in this action (or operation) is required an ocular inspection, such great things cannot be understood by Books or Writings, and he that desires to excel in these (operations) let him take it in good part, that (I say) he ought frequently to here me as a master, and to see me labouring about these things, which otherwise he will never learn, for the common Alchymists are plainly ignorant of this work; yea the Ancient Philosophers did hide it as a secret, the most they could, that so it might not be trodden under foot by Swine.
But whereas I do so clearly set down these things, otherwise than ever any before hath done, the consideration of the time (or age) requires it, and best of all known it is to God, why he now delivers these things to be divulged. Forasmuch as mention hath been made in the aforegoing treatise of Spiritual ☉, which might be extracted, together with the corporeal, and some or other would perhaps very willingly know what is to be understood by the name of spiritual ☉; I think it not much amiss a little more largely to explain these things for the sake of the Ignorant.
Every Spiritual thing is invisible, and void of a palpable body; but now if a body be given thereunto, in which that spirit may be made corporeal and visible, then the spirit is not any more a spirit, but is changed into a body; if therefore the Spirits are good, they do likewise make good Bodies, and so on the contrary. For all the Philosophers tell us, that the Spirit or Soul in Iron and Copper is more noble than in ☉ it self, because the body which it dwells in is gross, terrestrial, and impure.
The case then standing thus, it is no wonder that if these spirits are separated by art and force, and expelled from such grose bodies, and joined to other purer subjects, they then produce some good thing. Would not the other Beasts reverence the Ass clad in a Lions skin, as if he were their King, and this mearly by reason of his skin; though inwardly he were an Ass? If so be any man be but cloathed in silken rayment, and go gawdily; do not every body put off their hats to him, and honour him, though inwardly he haply is a thief or a knave; and so on the contrary, if a most honest and most learned man go in tattered apparel, or at least in mean rayment, is he not rejected, and despised by all. From hence it sufficiently appears how sinisterly the common people judge of all things, and neglect the inside, and only look to the outside shew. ’Tis the external Shape, according as tis good or bad, that makes a man esteemed by the vulgar either good or bad, contemptible or honourable, though his nature (or education) possesseth other properties.
The like is to be understood, concerning the contemptible Metals,MarsandVenus, which according to the report of all the Philosophers have more Tincture in them thanSolit self hath; but yet by reason of the grossness of their bodies are they rejected: now therefore, by how much better the means or way is by which this noble Spirit is extracted, and added to the pure bodies, so much the better is the product.
When therefore the gross bodies of ♂ and ♀ are artificially broken, and the spirit dissolved, and thence forced out, it seeks it self another body wherein it may dwell and be at rest. Therefore when we do by art disturb (as I may say) the gross bodies ofMars,Venus,Jupiter, orSaturn, and dissolve the pure Soul, and expel it by antipathy, out of its impure houses, and contemptible garments, and set before it a pure ☿, it possesseth it, and so assumeth another nobler body than it had before, and which then is ☉ and ☽, according as ’tis managed. This is my opinion, and after the same manner is the thing to be understood concerning Spiritual Gold.
But what business have we here with the Spiritual ☉ of Metals? Let us be content with the Corporeal, and leave the Spiritual to the Philosophers, to make the Tincture with. But forasmuch as upon the occasion of my teaching the means of extracting Corporeal ☉, I could not leave the speaking of the Spiritual wholly untoucht, I made also some kind of mention of the same; and it will be beneficial to some or other, who till they do understand my meaning, may be content with the Corporeal ☉. But such as have open and attentive Ears to consider what my drift is in this discourse, my doctrine will be more profitable unto them, than eitherSolorLuna.
There is yet one thing more to be added. In some places they are wont to reduce theSolandLunainto a powder with ☿, that so the Corporeal ☉ and ☽ may be separated and extracted from the Stone (or Ore); and this is no new or unheard of thing.
But this is more rare (or seldomer used): a Metal which hath not as yet arrived to his due maturity but is as yet conjoined with his first ens, and consequently it flies away in the melting, and neither yields ☉ nor ☽, when it (viz.such a Metal) is commixt with ☿ salt and vinegar, and let lie to act upon each other for some days, it comes to pass that the Mercury attracts the immature, Spiritual ☉ and ☽, and makes it corporeal and fixt, so as it may thenceforward be molten. If then the Spiritual ☉ and ☽ doth so easily enter into the ☿, and make it Corporeal, it is yet much more facile to be done by my way, which is effected by the help of more strong (or powerful) instruments, than by bare ☿ only, and Salt and vinegar, with which they mix the Metal with the ☿, nor can they possibly do so much as my secret menstruum which penetrateth all things.
When now the Matter, together with the Salt and Vinegar is duly separated from the ☿ by the help of fair water, they pass the Mercury through a skin of Leather, which is again serviceable for the same uses; but that of it which adheres to the ☽, is thence separated in an Iron Retort, then is tried the weight of that which is separated, and as much as there wanteth of the weight of the ☿, so much of ☽ do they receive in its stead, which is a thing well worthy thenoting, and deserves a farther inquiry, and is not here set down in vain.
Let not any one despise these few things which I have here adjoined, for they comprise in them most great mysteries; yea and greater than most will believe.
Neither let any one imagine that I will presently communicate this most noble Secret (which clearly shines in the dark) to every stranger; no, no such matter; I will (God permitting) shew these things to my honest friends, that so it may not perish together with me; but however I will well think on that much used Proverb,Fide, sed cui vide; Trust, but see whom you trust.
TheFarnnerianistshave given me this document; many there have been who have come unto me and declared the miserable state they were in, that what by the Wars, and by other misfortunes, they have lost their Goods, and have begged me for the love of God, to succour them, by communicating to them some operation, whereby they might sustain their lives, promising that they would requite this kindness by their earnest prayers unto God in my behalf.
These and such like words have sometimes moved me that I have given some secret to one or other, and have bestowed on them an overplus too; yet I obliged some of them, that they should convert it solely to their own use, and not communicate it to others without my privity, which thing they promised largely enough. But as soon as they have been gone from me, they have presently sold those secrets of mine to others, and which is more, to my Enemies. Now when by reason of their ignorance, they did not know how to institute the operation aright, they falsely affirmed, that they bought this Art of me at a price, and that they have been cheated; whereas they well know, that it was pure affection induced me to bestow these things upon them without any reward.
These and such other like ἀντίδωρα (or Gift-hinderers) have deterred me from communicating any thing to others for the future; and this I would have every one to consider, and not trouble me with either Letters or Visits.
Yet nevertheless I will communicate store of my secrets unto my Friends, that so they may not clearly perish with me, nor be thrown to my Enemies, and swinish men.
I have done as much as in me lay, nor will I omit to do more where I shall see a grateful mind; in the next place I will (for the service of my Friends) treat about and shew in thefourth part of theProsperity ofGermany, the Secrets ofSaturn, by what means any one that is but a little versed in managing the fire, may seek (or make) some Country fellows, his tributaries, who may pay him an appointed tribute every week, after the Example of Kings and Princes, who bestow upon their faithful servants (that deserve well of the Country by their valour against the Enemies) Kingly gifts as whole Cityes, Towns, Villages, and many Subjects as an inheritance, of whom they may afterwards receive Tribute and live very abundantly or plentifully.
Now by how much the more Country-men there are that be Subject to a noble man, so much the richer is he supposed to be, for they pay the more tribute. And the more Ploughs the Country-man hath a going, the greater is the tribute he pays his Lord, which thing the governance of States or Common-weals induceth, as being a just thing.
Now after the same manner as these things are in use in political governments, are they also in Alchimy, for it doth likewise when we have for some time faithfully served under her, bestow on us tributary Country men (as ’twere) by way of recompence, from whence we may have Food and Rayment.
The more Fields and Ploughs that we give to these country-folks, the more Tribute do they pay. Neither do these forsake their Masters, for they are shut up in a stall, and when their bellies are filled with Coals, and that they are safe from the Rain (or Weather) they are contented, and do perform the businesses that are imposed upon them.
By how many more the Ploughs are which we give unto them (though one Country-man can hardly manage above two or three, so much the more do they give.
Such Country-men as these doth the true Alchimy distribute amongst her Servants, whereby they may thenceforward lead a quiet Life.
If God shall vouchsaft me life and leisure yet a while longer, I have purposed with my self to bring most mighty benefits unto my Country.
In the mean while, let these things be accepted in good part, Those same tributary Country-men may be shewn my Friends, together with sundry other profitable Inventions, in my laboratory.