By Gold and Silver you will nothing do,Unless you use their first Ens thereunto.
By Gold and Silver you will nothing do,Unless you use their first Ens thereunto.
By Gold and Silver you will nothing do,Unless you use their first Ens thereunto.
By Gold and Silver you will nothing do,
Unless you use their first Ens thereunto.
The first Entities of both these are Lead and Antimony, the latter of which, (viz.Antimony,) is not to be admitted in that impure state that we find it in, unto the former, as unto its Bride or Spouse, but must first be washed in a hot and sharp Lixivial Bath, that it may thereby attain to a delicate silvery whiteness, and shine like a Star in the Firmament; which Antimony thus purged, is called byParacelsus, the signed Star.
But yet I would not have any one to think, that I do here mean the common stellateRegulusofMars, which would be dissolved in Spirit of Salt, and would separate it self from the Lead, which ought not to be: But that signed Star must be so prepared, as not to admit of being dissolved in Spirit of Salt, for else it will not serve for this Work. It must be so concreted as if it were so many thin Shells (one within another,) and so very hard as to be able to cut Glass, and to strike Fire out of a Flint. This signed Star being so washt, is to be sown into its own Matrix, and by the solar Heat and fruitfull Rain, to be promoted and enforced unto growth.
Take of the thus prepared masculine Seed, or signed Star, [A] parts, and of the feminine kind, [B] parts, melt the signed Star in a pure Crucible, unto which being molten cast the Woman in, which being cast in, there is presently made a sweet Conjunction and Commixtion of them both in that infernal Heat, in which they familiarly couple together.
The Mass being commixt, is to be poured out of the Crucible through wet Brooms into cold water, and is to be reduced into Grains, and so the masculine Seed or Husband will be legitimately and duely mixt with its Earth or Ground, or Wife: which Earth together with the Seed which it contains is to be put into a firm Vessel, which fears not the violent corrosion of the Spirit of Salt, but in such a quantity as that scarcely a tenth part of the Vessel may be filled therewithall: Then must there be put thereon as much mineral Water, namely pure Spirit of Salt, as the Cucurbit can bear, and Fire is to be put thereunder, whereby the Spirit of Salt is to be again drawn off, by which Operation, the Earth together with the included Seed will day by day be refreshed, be moistned and swell up, by reason of the Spirit of Salt, no otherwise than as if you should moisten some dry and as it were parched Earth, with Water. For theSaturnis not dissolved by the Spirit of Salt, but onely swells up, and becomes foliated, and yet remains whole or entire, nor is it much unlike unto lovely lookt Talk, which shines with a delicate whiteness: and therefore the Philosophers say, sow your Gold in white foliated Earth. Without doubt they meant not common Gold, for then they would not have said, our Gold, but would have simply said onely Gold, had they not intended a peculiar Gold, or first Ens of Gold.
N. B.I cannot by any means omit to give you thus much notice, namely, He that cannot hit upon the manner of preparing the said signed Star, may endeavour the making of commonSaturnaureous, particularly after this manner, as follows. Extract with Spirit of Salt out of the Oars or Veins and metallick fugacious Earths, the spiritual Gold that lies hidden therein, and extract or draw off this Spirit thus impregnated with Gold fromSaturn, which Spirit may by this means be all agen had, and be used about new extractions. And as for the Gold which the Spirit extracted, that theSaturnhath imbibed, and indues it self thereby with a golden nature; which if you imbue or moisten with many such extractions, that goldenness will, as I may so term it, grow up or increase in each cohobation, and the Spirit of Salt it self will become augmented.
If now theSaturnbe imbued with a sufficient Portion of spiritual Gold, it must be reduced by X, or Alkalies, that so the spiritual Gold may be made corporeal, which will exhibit it self pure unto you, after that theSaturnshall be driven away on the Test. But yet there is no need of doing this, seeing it will be better to granulate theSaturn, and by those repeated cohobations to draw off the Spirit of Salt agen, being each time impregnated with that spiritual Gold, and so by this means will you enrich yourSaturnwith the greater plenty of Gold. And being so enriched it must be reduced by a fixing X, in my secret Crucible, which neither suffers any thing to go away in fume, nor to run out; in which reduction the spiritual Gold and the fugaciousSaturnit self are fixed, so that both Gold and Silver are found on the Test with great profit, this labour requiring no other costs save those of the Fire.
This Operation which separates fugacious and fix Gold out of the Oars and Stones, is far better than that which is made by the Solutions ofLuneandSaturn, described at large in thethird part of the Prosperity ofGermany. For here, we do not need eitherAq. Fortisor Vinegar for the Solution ofSaturnorLune, neither need we the same to get the extracted Gold out of the Spirit of Salt, but being free from that labour and costs, we [onely] draw off fromSaturn, that Spirit which hath extracted the Gold, which [Saturn] attracts and holds the volatile and fix Gold that was in the extraction, insomuch that there is not requisite to this labour of drawing off the extractions fromSaturn, any thing else save onely Coals and Fire. Add hereunto also, the gainfull encrease which daily comes in by the addition of Salt and Water, by which the Spirit of Salt is day by day augmented without any costs.
N. B.When the Spirit of Salt becomes too strong by reason of the Salt put thereto, that Water wherewith the Oar is washt, after the first extraction of the Spirit of Salt, [or after it hath first been extracted with Spirit of Salt] may be made use of [and put thereto] instead of common Water. For it is somewhat sourish, and hath likewise a golden nature.
N. B.Praise God, and forget not the Poor, seeing thou art sufficiently informed and taught by what means thou maist get great Treasures.
The things I here write, are not for this end, namely, to teach others how to make great heaps of Gold, but onely to shew them a way of attaining to a good Medicament, and withall, of knowing and perceiving by the same labour, that the melioration of the Metals is altogether possible and certain.
Whoever he be that could attain so far as to bring Antimony and Lead, as being the first Ens of Gold and Silver, into a certain Dissolvent, so as that the one would not precipitate the other; then at length would he have entrance upon the right way, which leadeth unto great things, like as also Gold and Silver being dissolved in one and the sameMenstruumgives beginning to things of great moment. I dare affirm therefore, that he that can reduce Gold and Silver, or Antimony and Lead, with Salt, into an agreement, hath opened a most strong Gate which leads unto a great Treasure; for then the Patient must suffer even unto death, and must die, out of whose dead Body, new and living Bodies do afterwards come forth.
Although I have often told you in my Writings that Gold has no greater enemy than combustible Sulphur, and that nothing is more inimicitious to Silver than Salt, and nothing more displeasing toMercurythan a strongLixivium, and that amongst these contraries there is a perpetual Antipathy so long, untill they are constrained by Art and Skill to become friends and mutually to embrace each other: yet notwithstanding; this will not be so easily fesible by every prating Boaster, and that makes a great noise by his lofty vapouring speeches; no, but for the sake of these very Men, are such greatArcana’sjustly and deservedly wrapt up in darkness, and indeed ’tis fit they should so be.
Moreover if there be required a great suffering, ’tis necessary that both the Gold and Silver, as being Male and Female, should suffer together and not barely the one or the other apart: for hereby this Regeneration will be made so much the nobler and the more magnificent. For Example, make a Circle, and cut or divide it with Diameters crosswise [or at right Angles through the Center] so that the extreams of the Diameters which divide themselves in the middle or central point of the cross may touch the Circle, and that of those four extreams [or Semi-diameters] one may touch above, and the other beneath, and the other twain may reach, one to the right side, and t’other to the left. Place the Gold in the uppermost extream marked with the letter A, and his enemy, namely Sulphur, in the lower extream, which the letter C, demonstrates. In like manner place Silver on the left side of the Gold, at the letter B, and its enemy,viz.Salt on the right side marked D, and you will see how aversly these enemies behold each the other. TheSollooking about him espies his capital enemy, Sulphur, directly opposite unto him, and hathLuneat his left side, and Salt at his right; and very willingly would he enter into friendship withLune, and Salt which are joyned at his side, if they but would, or indeed could. But he honours not his capital enemy Sulphur, with so much as a look. TheLuneplaced by the side of the Sun, does not permit the Salt to joyn it self with the Gold. For when the Salt is with theSol, it clearly hinders theLunefrom associating it self with the same. Nor can it possibly be that Salt,Luneand Gold should enter into a thorough familiarity. Thus too is it withLune, who hath her capital enemy diametrically opposite unto her, and very willingly would she enter into friendship with both her neighbours,viz.Soland Sulphur, if they were not such great enemies (to each other,) and refused this familiarity. For ifLuneassociates unto her self the Sun, then Sulphur denies to come into the society. If she admits the Sulphur as her companion then, thenSolis excluded, as abominating the friendship with his enemy Sulphur. Much less therefore canLunebe the companion of them both together.See the Fig. in the Book of Dialog.
But now if the Gods please, that these four capital enemies, should unite in one sociable amity, and that wonderfull regenerations should arise from this new familiarity, (then) do they commandVulcanto heat in the Fire this Circle comprizing those four capital enemies, thus constituted in the four aforesaid extreams, and casting such hatefull looks upon each other, and yet not knowing how to escape out of the Circle, and to press them together more and more with his Hammer by little and little, untill all four being driven into one mass, do come together into one body, which body doth then obtain a power of reconciling all enemies, and of effecting great matters.
By this here spoken may any one easily conjecture, what great suffering there is in this Conjunction, and what great streights do afflict these enemies, when each of them must thus against their will enter into friendship with his capital enemy. Verily we find them to be such sufferings as have not their like again, and therefore do they produce to light, such great and such wonderfull regenerations. Now whatsoever it be that is exercised in but a small suffering, the same doth admit of but small emendation.
The greater the suffering, the greater the melioration, so that that affliction which brings with it even death it self, brings with it also so much the more noble and magnificent Regeneration and Resurrection. He that suffers not in this World, shall not have the Crown put upon him after his Resurrection. By how much the greater and more innocent the suffering and affliction of this life is, so much the greater, and fairer a Crown may be expected in the other World.
The Grape is prest so long, till it be rid of all its juice, this juice doth indeed bring a sweet and pleasant delightsomness unto mortal man, but the Grape it self which the juice is prest out of, ceaseth to be a Grape, and perisheth through defect of juice, and passeth into nothing. But unto the noble Vine, hath God given this benefit, that it yearly bears not barely one but many Grapes together: All which being pluckt off, it doth nevertheless produce the following year no fewer, but rather more Grapes; and still remains a blessed and fruitfull Vine, because it is furnisht with roots and fertile Boughs. On the contrary, they that have devoured the good and sweet juice themselves, remain always hungry and thirsty, and that for this reason, because they guzle down the juice too new and fresh, whereby their Bellies swell, and they receive no nutriment therefrom.
This is a thing certain and undoubted, that the bodies of the Metals become by suffering and dying far more excellent and more noble. He therefore that knows that the patient is to be subjected unto its own agent, and doth also understand by what way they are to be conjoined, will never labour in vain, but will reap the wished reward of his pains.
When the agent doth touch onely the superficies of the patient, and penetrates not into its heart or root, there will verily be but a very little good done, save onely this,viz.That the Agent being afore rendred aureous, is able to give unto its patient also a golden nature, and to bring the same to an aureous degree, and to bestow upon it the perfection of Gold: but that melioration which is done onely by it self proceeds on very slowly.
As concerning the manner of enduing the Spirit of Salt with an aureous nature, that so it may the sooner render its patient a partaker of golden virtues, we have spoken of that already, and demonstrated it clearly enough; he that does not understand, we cannot help him any other way.
N. B.When the Eagle, the Servant ofJupiter, hath with his beak and talons pluckt out the coagulated beams of the Sun out of the Cliffs and Rocks, and brings them untoJupiter, he is so very bountifull, that he sends down the same unto us by the Rain, which is of so much efficacy, as that all the Herbs upon which it falls are bettered, and the martial, venereal, saturnine,Lunarand mercurial Herbs do put on the golden nature of the Sun; so efficacious is the golden Rain ofJupiter, if the Eagle hath first brought unto him the coagulated rays of the Sun.
And that I may be the better understood, and that it may be known, that the Melioration of Metals may be accomplished by a dry Agent, full as well, yea and better, and more profitably than by a moist Agent; I have judged it a thing worth while to adjoyn the following Process under the Title ofthe Great Country Farmer.
And let the studious Artist know, that the amending of the Metals by the dry way, by the operation of dry Salt, is far more easie, and may likewise be dispatcht in a greater quantity, than is wont to be done by the moist way: and that there is nothing required to this operation save Salt and Coals, be the Metals that are to be fixed, even what they will.
For Example, if a man be desirous to fixSaturn, or to procure unto it a Silvery nature, there needs not pure Lead be taken for this work, seeing he may have the Oar or Vein thereof for much less price; and indeed there is some that is a wild and sulphureous Oar, which yields not, in the melting, any good Lead, and may be had in great plenty in some places ofGermanythat I know of, for a very small price, or rather for none at all. Such a wild Oar of Lead as this is, which yields neither good Lead, nor is fit for the Potters to glaze their Pots withall, by reason of its hard fusion, doe I chuse for my operation, not onely because it costs less than other such Oars of Lead doe, but for this reason too, because it hath store of Sulphur, and fit enough for fixation.
This Vein or Oar doe I bring into small Powder, and mix as much Salt thereto as need requires, then cast it in upon the Coals, in such a Furnace as I have described to make store of Spirit of Salt in: The Salt and the Sulphur exercising their vehement or powerfull virtues upon the Lead, causeth it to be afflicted with terrible dolours, insomuch that part thereof ascendeth on high [or sublimeth] with part of the Salt, and betakes it self into Receivers fitted on for that purpose. In which sublimation, the Salt and the Lead ascend in a spiritual manner, and contrary to their will, suffer spiritually, and so are constrained to enter into friendship, finding a place of quietude in those cold Receivers, and there setling together. The residue of the Oar, and part of the Salt being burnt up, and emitting no more flores, but falling down through the Grate like Ashes, more new or fresh Coals must be put into the Furnace, and new matter must be thrown thereupon, as afore; and this Labour is to be continued so long, as it shall please any one to follow it. Now by this, theSaturnis far more vehemently afflicted, than in the moist way by the Spirit of Salt; And if unto the Oven [or Receiver] receiving the fume, and in which the flowers of the Salt and Lead settle, there shall be applied yet several Receivers, there will then be therein caught store of Spirit of Salt, which being rectified, may be agen made use of in the moist way. The flowers being taken out of the Oven or Receiver into which the fume goes, are to be agen thrown in upon the live Coals in the Furnace, that they may suffer anew and be sublimed. After that they are all sublimed again on this wise, they are to be agen taken out of the Oven, and be cast in upon the live Coals; and must be afflicted with these Labours so often repeated, untill they become fix and ascend no more, but fall down into the Ashes. Which being washt, will yield a Salt profitable for many things, and will quit all the costs which have been laid outupon Lead, Salt, and Coals; so that the Spirit of Salt which is gotten, and that which is amended in the Lead Oar by the Salt, cost nothing. The Ashes being washt are to be reduced, in a Furnace, by blast, and be so often tormented, till a good portion of Silver be gotten by this operation, which the elaborated matter, being purged by a due separation upon the Tests, will give. And so shall you have Gold and Silver by the benefit of this operation, by which [operation] we have manifested unto you theGreat Country Farmer paying his yearly Rent.
Now like asSaturnis dealt withall in this operation, even so are the other Metals wont to be handled too; but yet you must observe the Regiment of the fire, which, according to the diversity of the Metals, must also be diversly administred. And even the Commixtion it self requires good heeding, as being a business of no small moment.
Moreover, in this operation you must also note, That one Salt is more fit for this operation than another is; for by how the sharper nature they have, so much the more commodious and profitable doe they shew themselves to be. So Common Salt sublimed, as is done in this Labour, will operate far stronger than Common Salt it self unsublimed. Besides, there are Salts to be found which work yet far more powerfully, yea so strongly, as that they need not the help of an external fire, but doe produce their effects even in the cold. The operation of which, in the moist way, if any be desirous to promote and strengthen by an external fire, he may so doe, in a Lamp-Furnace, and free himself of the charge of Coals, and be exempt from that frequent Labour by which the Fire is to be maintained.
Some moist Fires are of such great virtues, as that they need not any Lamp-fire, but a small golden thread or wire in burning Spirit of Wine is capable of administring heat sufficient.
And the burning Spirit, if made of Leaves, Grass, rotten Fruit, or Corn, and Grape-stones or husks will be but of small costs, or in a manner none at all. Now a pound of such Spirit being placed with a Golden wiek in a convenient Lamp will suffice for three or four days, and give heat enough. But yet nevertheless, that moist fire doth ripen its Metal without the help of any external fire at all, and yields its profit, but then it requires a longer space of time.
Put case therefore, that I make my moist fire so strong as to be able to perform its office in the cold, and that it needs not any external fire: And if I were to make a fire, it would needs require one Ducket’s charge: If now, standing any-where, it yields me two Golden Duckets out of the maturated Metal, it wou’d doe well enough, and abundantly recompence the labour and costs expended. For there’s nothing wanting of the Metal [you took to ripen] save that which is changed into Gold and Silver.
And forasmuch as I can set by many such Vessels, and those great ones too, there’s no doubt to be made, but that my gain will be the greater, and that with very little labour. For now, at first, the labour of preparing the moist fire, is in a manner no labour at all, for in three or four days may be so much made as is sufficient for the maturating of a great deal of Metal. For this fire may be compared to a Seed, which being sown in the Earth afore Winter, doth in the Summer-season produce store of Fruit, and fit to be reaped.
And though this maturation proceeds on exceeding slowly, and excludes all hast, yet it brings with it this benefit, namely, that it requireth no other labour in the Winter-time, but to be onely once laid by, and the perfecting thereof must be committed to God and Time.
There are various and divers such cold Fires, that promote the maturation of the Metals, and may be gotten out of divers Subjects, namely, out of Tartar, Urine, Hairs of Animals, Horns, Calx-vive, Soot, the Blood of Animals, the Feathers of Birds, the Bones of Horses, Oxen, and other Beasts, cut of which such a fire is very difficultly prepared, one of them, here reckoned up, excepted, out of which the said fire may by an easie labour and business be made, and without costs. It is therefore a great gift of God, and an especial grace from our Creator, if he maketh us possessors of such a Country Farmer, which being sustained without any costs, doth notwithstanding very largely pay his yearly Rent. To God therefore are uncessant thanks to be returned for so great a benefit.
But we have said enough of these moist and dry Metal-ripening Fires; what way soever any one is minded to chuse, that way may he follow, for it lyes in his own free choice. If he chance to err, let him not lay the blame upon me, who out of a good mind have undertaken these labours of writing, but cannot thrust the chewed meat into any ones mouth. I will by God’s permission show the wonders of God to some friends this next Summer, that so such as come after us may likewise have occasion of praising God, and of giving him thanks.
But even as the common Earth, when it is moistned with often showers, and now and then freed of them by the heat of the Sun, retains in it self a fruitfull Salt, and doth necessarily acquire a fertility: So likewise our Earth doth not onely daily encrease in goodness, but in weight too, and becomes more ponderous: but you must not think that this heaviness or weight proceeds from the Spirit of Salt’s insinuating it self into the porous Earth, no: For if the said Mass should be but onely eight days time in the digestion, and the Spirit of Salt be [then] washt off, yet would it be encreased a quarter part; which ponderosity comes indeed from the Spirit of Salt, out of which theSaturndraws something unto it self for nutritious sake, as the Common Earth does out of the showres of Rain, and becomes more weighty.
For if there were no occult and nitrous virtue in the Rain, it would conduce but little to fertility; and if there were no spiritual and astral Gold, or spiritual and astral Sun in Salt, the immature Metals could not be ripened by the same. By how much the oftner therefore, a good Spirit of Salt is drawn off from theSaturnineEarth, andSaturnineSeed, so much the sooner also doth that Seed arrive unto its full ripeness. For at every turn [of drawing off] something of the good part of the Spirit of Salt remains behind, attracted by the Earth and Seed, from which the melioration and augmentation doe arise: as may be seen in the Vegetable Seeds which sprout forth out of the Earth, and are encreased by the help of Rain.
The possibility of these things I have seen, but have not hitherto brought the said matters to a full maturity, or to speak more rightly, I have not finished the whole operation. He that is minded to make a thorough trial, may so doe: and if he misseth the effect of his endeavours, let him not blame me, for I doe not aim at drilling on any one by my perswasions,to bestow his charges on an uncertain thing. But I mention these things that so the nature of Metals as also of Salts may be known, and that (by the help of this knowledge) the Writings of the Philosophers may be the better understood. For the labour here proposed avoucheth the truth of those Operations which the Philosophers call their Calcination, Dealbation, Incineration, Ascention, Descention, Cohobation, Inceration, Distillation, Sublimation, Volatilization, Maturation, Fixation, and say that all these and the like Chymical Operations may be made in one Vessel, with one Fire, in one Furnace, without any change of the Labours, Vessels, or Fire.
For the Philosophers have described their greatest secrets andArcana’sparabolically, and in Riddles, but especially the Poets, asOvid,Virgil, and many others, who are very hard to be understood by those that have not the knowledge of the nature of Metals, which being once known and understood, renders the meaning of the Poets easie. For the Poets were wont to impose one while such a name upon such a Metal, another time another name upon another Metal, which custom of theirs, he that does not heedfully mark will easily fall into an errour, and miss the apprehension of their meaning.
For Example, in one place they call CopperVenus, in another, the Wife ofMars, in another, the Sister and Wife ofJupiter. And so deal they with Silver too, one while they call itLune, by and byDianaorJana, another timeVesta.Apollois by them stiled one whileSol, thenPhœbus, thenLatons, so that it is exceeding necessary, for those that are desirous to learn ought out of their Writings, to be well acquainted with those different names and Appellations. And although the Poets do account all the Metals for the Sons ofSaturn, yet do they sub-distinguish them and stile them,Saturn,Jupiter,Venus, &c.
The common Lead isSaturn, and so is Antimony,Saturn,Bismute,Tutia,Lapis Calaminaris, the Ashy Colour, Yellow, White, and redMagnesiaare termed by the name ofSaturn: The whiteMarcasiteandZinkare deemed to be of the Family or Pedegree ofJupiter:Orichalcumor white and red Copper, are stiled by the name ofVenus. But according asVenusis impregnated, and according as the Copper is white or red, so hath it its name. The red Copper is as yet a Virgin. Forasmuch therefore as the Poets have committed unto Writing the Transmutation of the Metals under the Cover, and vail of Fables, and have made mention ofSaturn,Jupiter,MarsandVenus; it can never possibly be, that he who knows not this different distinction can understand their meaning. And for an Example hereof, consider but the Fable ofDianaandApollo, brought forth at one Birth byLatona, who was gotten with Child by lying withJupiter, and was driven into exile by jealousJuno, and having a long time suffered Persecution by the biting SerpentPython, and being driven to flye through all the Countries of the World, did at last after many grievous labours and troubles pass over the tempestuous Sea into the IslandOrtygia, and betook her self to her SisterAsteria, by whom she was received, and begat these Twins,viz.DianaandApollo.
Who will be able to apprehend the meaning of this Fable, save he that well understands the nature of the Metals? Verily no body will so much as dream of or smell out ought of those Mysteries, unless he shall meet with such like Histories in his metalline labours, and then at length will he understand what the meaning of the Philosophers is. But for Example sake, let us take two Metals which have an affinity with each other, namelyJupiterandVenus, these I joyn together, that so the Woman may be impregnated with the masculine Seed.Latonatherefore being great with Child, I cast her forth into exile, that she may be continually persecuted by the biting SerpentPython, untill she flies through the Salt and stormy Sea, into the IslandOrtygia, to her SisterAsteria, dwelling in the IslandOrtygia, and there bring forth the fairDianaandApollo. Now these things are easily understood, were but the genuine Appellations substituted in the room of such strange terms, of which thing I have onely some knowledge, but do not profess my self a perfect Interpreter. Yet methinks I cannot choose but say somewhat. The venemous SerpentPythonis a sirname ofAppollo, for he is produced by the efficacy of the Sun, and is that corrosive Salt which doth so long afflict and torment the impregnatedLatonaall over the dry part of the World, untill she betakes her self by the Sea, that is, by that strong Salt Water, unto her Sister, that is, unto pureVenus, and precipitates her self, and brings forth the fruits ofJupiter, namely,DianaandApollotogether. The Poet doth here mind both the moist and the dry way together, when the Metal is wrought with a due Cement, and made fix it is [then] dissolved with the Salt Water of the Sea, and pure Plates ofVenusare put into it thus dissolved, that so the pure Metal may draw unto it self her impregnated Sister, who brings together with her Gold and Silver, which having been so long hidden in its body doth now manifest it self.
It is indeed the better to fix the Metals by Cements, and so to render their fugacious Gold and Silver compact, which may be as well done in the moist way by sharp Waters and moist Fires. But if the Metals, legitimately impregnated, do first pass through a dry and burning hot Fire, and are afterwards yet once more transmitted through the moist and cold Fires, thenPlutosends the mundified Soul out ofPurgatoryuntoNeptune, by whom it is carried into Paradise, where it doth afterwards remain safe and free from all danger of the Serpent.
Upon occasion of the aforesaid Fable, and particular Transmutation of the inferiour Metals, this is to be yet more observed, that everyJupiteris not fit to impregnateLatona, but that onely which is yet living, efficacious, young, and full of Seed is able to impregnateLatona. ForLatonacarried with her no more but the Seed onely ofJupiterinto the IslandOrtygia, and left behind her all the body ofJupiter.
Moreover this is to be considered, thatLatonadid bring forthDianafirst, in the Bosom or Lap ofVenus, that is, of the Midwife, butDiana, presently after she was Born, performed the office of a Midwife in receiving her BrotherApolloin her Lap, which thing is sufficiently manifest unto those who have laboured (though but little) in the Metals. For should the Nativity ofApollohave preceeded,Venuscould not have received him, for which reasonDianaought to come forth first, that so she might the more commodiously receiveApollofromLatona. I know not how by any means it may be proposed more clearly.
Every one that does but know the nature of the Metals doth well understand, that when Gold and Silver are spiritually dissolved in one Water, and that plates [ofMarsprobably] are put in to the Solution of the Gold and Silver, neither of those Metals will adhere to the Plates. But if the Plates of Copper are put into that Bath, he shall presently see that all the Silver that was in the Water will adjoyn it self thereunto. And now, after that the Silver is thus precipitated and sticks on to the Copper, the Gold will likewise fall down out of the Solution, and apply it self to the Silver; which labour I have more at large handled in thethird part of the Prosperity ofGermany. It could not therefore otherwise be, but thatLatonamust first bring forthDiana, andApolloafterwards, seeing thatVenusthe Sister ofLatonacould be helpfull onely in the bringing forth ofDiana. It was therefore necessary thatDianaher self should be an assistant in the Birth of her BrotherApollo, for otherwise he could not have been Born.
My time admits not of producing any more such similitudes in this place. We will defer them till some other time, namely, for the Edition of the Work ofSaturn, wherein shall be taught how the most vile, and most abject Metals are to be maturated by the benefit of Salts, whereby they may in a particular way yield forth Gold and Silver.
But forasmuch as I cannot divine, what impediments may put a stop to the edition of the work ofSaturn, and that in this very Treatise here is often mention made ofSaturn. It cannot I think be any ways hurtfull, if some good thing be yet farther adjoyned. And such things as are here manifested ofSaturn, it will not be needfull agen to mention them in other places, seeing there doth yet still remain matter enough for to fill a whole Book of the Secrets ofSaturn. And there lie such wonderfull Secrets under the vile and dirty Garment ofSaturn, as being manifested, would exceed all the belief of unskilfull Men. For he is not onely an expert Fisher in Fishing Pearls out of the Salt Sea, but is withall an expert Hunter, in driving the Wild Beast out of his green Grove or Cops, and of catching him in his Nets, as we have told you in the foregoingthird part of the Prosperity ofGermany.
Nay, he is a bathing Gentleman of singular skill, who by his bathing and washing his Children, adorneth them with the comeliness ofDianaandApollo. When he is alone, he serves onely forApolloandDianato wash off their accidental impurities and defilements, that so they may recover their natural fairness. The other Metals can’t brook his so over sharp and rigid bathing, but are rather suffocated and killed therein, than become more fair and more pure. But ifSaturnshall have first washt himself even unto the highest whiteness, in a Bath of common Salt, he is not then so austere and severe, but prepares for his Children a far more tolerable Bath, which being agreeable [or proportionable] to their Weakness and Sickness, renders them all fairer and more pure. His greatest virtue consists in his Water which doth both particularly and universally free the Metals of all their defilements. I have often had a particular experience [hereof,] and yet daily can (God be praised) shew and teach the same unto others. But I cannot do any such thing in an universal way, and inform others as to that; nor do I vainly brag of so great a matter, though I have my thoughts as touching the manner how this thing may be effected. Nay the more I conceived about that matter, the lesser would I boast of the same.
Verily it is a great shame to boast of that thing, of which thou hast not even the smallest knowledge, or at least dost not know any thing else, but what thou hast drawn in, by the reading of other Writers. ’Tis a common proverb,That those Cows which Bellow, or Low overmuch, are said to yield the least Milk, and that this is a thing true, yea most true, experience it self doth testifie.
The Chymical Art is become at present so common, that almost every body, after he hath but viewed over one or two Chymical Books, (though he never moved his hands to the Work, nor understands so much as the Chymical Terms themselves) is nevertheless wont impudently and lyingly to boast of the knowledge of the universal Medicine. Nay thou shalt see some to proceed on to that heighth of boldness, as even to write Books of so great a Secret, and to dare promise the Revelation of the same unto others, and yet for all this know nothing at all, and have not so much as any the meanest foundation, but rely solely upon that knowledge, which (being as we said afore, drawn out of other Writers) causeth in them a most uncertain hope, of a thing most extreamly obscure.
He that is not a stranger unto, nor ignorant of metallick affairs, can easily discern the Lyers from the true Writers, and can judge who are true, and who false. Such as do know somewhat are not wont to make a bragging noise of their skill. On the contrary, those Brethren of Ignorance do offer unto every one that most secret miracle of Art and Nature, namely, the universal Medicine, which thing a true Philosopher neither ever did, nor ever will do. But as for the revealing of the particular washings, purgations, and meliorations of the Metals, whereby Gold and Silver are to be extracted, if any one doth know these things and discloseth them, and desires not to bury his Talent in the Earth, he does well.
Neither would any one be endammaged by such a discovery though those particularArcana’sshould be known even unto all Men, and that every body could effect such Operations; for nothing could redound from them but great gain throughout all the World.
But these things here mentioned may sufficiently serve for an evident and manifest admonition for every one to beware of the Books of such Writers, (but why do I say Writers? they are rather Collectors and Describers, who after the manner of Botchers do patch up new Books our of old cast Garments) and to give no credit at all unto them as containing nothing of truth in them, and to think that those kind of Men betake themselves to this Book-patching Trade, meerly to get their Bread by.
Some such Men have I known, that provide not either for their Food or Rayment any other way, than by the sale of such false Philosophical Books, which they have from the Printers to sell to others, receiving a certain price for their labour, which they bestow in profering them to Sale. O miserable Philosopher! Who doth not know so much as to get his Food at Home in his own House, but is constrained to shift after it by the bare selling of such kind of Books. Let this here spoken be as a warning. If need required, and occasion were, I would not fear to divulge their names too; who having not any the least knowledge of nature, do nevertheless dare to offer the Revelation and Confectionof the great universal unto others, and cast such a great blemish of reproach upon the most noble Chymical Art, as makes it much contemned, whereas a more noble and more excellent Art cannot be found. I’le not censure any, but yet it would become the magistrate to examine those great Philosophers, whether or no they were actually and in very deed skill’d in that great universal, (which they boast so wonderfully of, and write Books of such great moment, and promise to teach others too, as if they excelled evenHermeshimself in the knowledge of the Art) and if in the proof or tryal they gave good satisfaction, and confirmed the truth of their Writings by a real and true melioration of the Metals, then to honour, defend, and protect them, as rare and singular Philosophers. But if they know nothing nor could perform ought of their pretended Art, the magistrates would not do unjustly if they punished such men, and made them exemplary, seeing too that they endeavour to asperse and backbite other honest men, who are endued with the skill and knowledge of such great things, with lying reproaches. A good Gardener being wont to gather good Honey out of the Bee hive which he has in his Garden, if he finds a Nest of Wasps or Hornets any where near, built in some hollow Tree, and that they steal away the Honey from his Bees, he right worthily destroys such a Nest, and roots out of his Garden those Thieves and Robbers of his Honey, that so for the future they may not detriment them any more.
Were but one or two of those Fellows handled in such a manner the rest would be deterred and would not so easily promise others by their deceitfull Writings, the making of the Philosophers Stone, which they are so extreamly ignorant of. Certain it is therefore, that no true Philosopher, were he a partaker of the great universal, will indifferently offer the same unto all Men, and calumniate (without any cause given) those that are so innocent (and who have forgotten more than others have learned) and publickly bespatter them with most false Lyes before the whole World, to the great detriment of the Persons so abused.
But to return to my purpose, and to shew in this place yet another very considerableArcanumofSaturn, you must know, that I have already published divers great secrets in this fourth and third preceeding part, but cursorily onely, because I have not as yet attained to the one half part of their most great utility, and I was willing onely to shew what things mought be done.
But forasmuch as I have fortified their use with good and sharp Weapons, and that one or other sometime lighting thereupon by chance, and reaping great profit therefrom, may possibly judge that he is no ways at all bound or beholding unto me for the same; I was willing for the better information, and instruction sake, to adjoyn these few things, which are very weighty and considerable.
In divers places of the foregoing third part, and of this fourth part too, I have the preparation of theMercuryofSaturnandLune, that is, I have shewn howSaturnandLunemay be reduced out of their Solutions, by the help of Salt, into a Snow like, fusile, fugacious, pure and dry Water; which Waters are by me called theMercuriesofSaturnandLune, by reason of their fusile and volatile nature: They are metallick Waters not wetting the hands, and yet by reason of their form do they bear the name of Water, because being put into a Crucible, and molten with a small Fire, they are pellucid and transparent like unto Fountain Water, insomuch that they may be seen through even to the very bottom: But yet the Water ofSaturnis of a more transparent clarity than the Water ofLuneis.
But forasmuch as our main scope in this place is to make some mention of the use of the Saturnine Water, we will let pass other matters, and declare some of the virtues of the said wonderfull Water in the melioration of the Metals.
Let the lover of Art therefore know, that the Saturnine Water doth display its virtues in washing the Metals that are to be amended. For if any imperfect Metal, as Iron, or Tin, or Copper, be adjoyned thereunto, and held in such a Vessel, as in which, that Water cannot by means of its fugaciousness vanish away, nor through its subtile and penetrating power run out, and that it be digested for a while in such a Vessel, this Saturnine Bath seizeth upon, washeth, and purgeth the Metal, and transmuteth it into a better and more pure Metal, but yet with no great profit, for it onely shews the possibility.
But yet if some tinging Species be adjoyned thereunto, it does not onely make a pure washing, but likewise exalteth and tingeth the same, according as the tendency of the adjoyned subject is, either unto a white or a red Tincture. But what those Species are, there’s no need of disclosing them to every one. ’Tis sufficient that I have laid open the Water, and the use thereof in the washing of the Metals.
But that the Saturnine Bath may the sooner and readier seize upon the Metals, and wash them, it is the best way, to add one third part of the Mercurial Water ofLune, to the Mercurial Water ofSaturn: which Waters do very readily conjoyn, and each help the other in the washing, and do also tinge, according as the property of that Tincture is, which is adjoyned thereunto. I will for Example sake adjoyn the manner, which shall both shew the possibility of the thing, and administer occasion of farther search.
Dissolve one ounce of pure Silver inAq. Fortis, and three ounces of common Lead, in moreAq. Fortis, mix both the Solutions together, and precipitate them, either with common Salt Water, or with Spirit of Salt, which is all a case. Pour off theAq. Fortisfrom theCoagulum, after its being settled to the bottom, which saidCoagulum, you need not wash with Rain Water, for this Work, but press the liquor onely through a thick Cloath and so free it of its humidity; this done, dry this metallick Cheese by the Fire, and you shall have a Bath very fit to washVenus,Mars, andJupiter. And now when you are minded to try whether or no the success will fadge well, divide your Bath into three parts, and wash those three Metals on the following manner.
N. B.Let no Body take it in evil part, that I here silently pass over my secret bathing Laver, serving to wash the Metals in, and not permitting the Water it self to go away in fume: He that is minded to try this Operation, may for the first time make use of Crucibles, which, although they may bring some loss by letting go part of the Saturnine Bath, yet notwithstanding they will demonstrate the success of the business, and the loss by them caused may afterwards be prevented by dueMediums. The manner of using the Bath aforesaid, is as followeth.
Take of the filings of pure Iron, Copper or Tin one part, mix it with three parts of our dry Bath, and put the matter thus mixt into an earthen Vessel, which hath the compactness of Glass, such as those are, which are made atSiburgnearColen, atBamberginFranconia, and atWaldenburg, nearCasselainHassia, and in other places ofGermany. (N. B.The common Vessels and Crucibles cannot retain this Water, but it penetrates through them like Oil.) Heat your Vessel so hot as to cause the Water together with the Metals to melt and flow well, in which liquefaction, part indeed of the water will pass away in fume, but this loss may be easily prevented.
When therefore your Metal hath been thus boild for about one quarter of an hour, part of the same will be found washt and turned into good Silver: nor must you thus understand me as if the Silver in the said Water were onely precipitated by the Metal, and that no part of the Metal it self underwent any Transmutation. For albeit that that Silver which was added to the Saturnine Water be precipitated by the adjoyned Metal, and returns into its former Body, yet nevertheless there is more Silver gotten than was added to the Water. For that Saturnine Bath while it is occupied about the dissolution of the Metal, doth by the efficacy and Operation of the adjoynedLune, exalt and tinge part of the Metal to an higher degree.
But although this labour does not promise any golden Mountains, it is here put for this end onely, namely, that the possibility of the thing may be learned hereby: yet notwithstanding, if any one did but know how to adjoyn to this Saturnine Water, a golden Ferment, instead of a silvery one, it could not otherwise be but that he would get no contemptible gain and profit: yet if the same Operation be so instituted with a white Ferment, as that not any the least part thereof may go away in fume, and be lost of the Bath, it will bring no loss.N. B.Neither is it always needfull that the Ferments of pure Metals be adjoyned to this Saturnine Bath, for I think that apt Minerals may be found, which may be adhibited in the room of aureous and argenteous Ferments. Nay more, I do likewise think that such subjects may be adjoyned to this Saturnine Mercurial Water, as may be therein fixed into white and red Tinctures; the thing it self I have not as yet tried, nor do I profess my self so great a Master, for I propose to my self this onely end in my Writing, namely, to shew unto such as are desirous after transmutations, the way of arriving unto the truth it self. For it will be far easier for every one that searcheth into the business more thoroughly, and that maketh more accurate tryals, to find out far greater things, yea much more than he could ever believe. More such Woman-like Washings, and more Boys Plays shall (God willing) be manifested in my Work ofSaturn.
But now this Saturnine dry Bath may be prepared much easier, on this wise following; choose you out such an Oar orMineraof Lead, which is very pure and clean, and hath nor either Iron, or Copper, or any other Metal admixt therewithall: (N. B.If Silver be likewise in the Oar, it rather profits than hinders, but the said Oar must not have much earth mixt in it, and that which is on to it must be taken from it by washing off the same with fair Water.) One, two, three, or more pounds of this leaden Oar thus washt, must be put into a strong Cucurbit, and so many pounds of Spirit of Salt must be (put on and) drawn off thencefrom, which Spirit of Salt, as being a moist and Philosophical Fire, will reduce the pure Oar of Lead, which it toucheth every where and in all places of the same, into a bright, Snowy, easily Meltable, and fugacious Calx, which is to be well washt with Water and be dried: This is that metallick Bath, and that dry Water of the Ancients, which wets not the hands, and which is able to perform admirable things in the Metals.
But that this Philosophical and moist Calcination of the Oar of Lead, may be accomplished without any costs, some Salt Water must be poured upon the Spirit of Salt, in the Cucurbit, that the Salt may ascend together with the Spirit, and may augment the same with so great a quantity of Spirit, as may quit the costs of the Oar and Fire, and yield you the dry Saturnine Bath for nothing, which said Bath may be employed various ways about the washings and emendations of the Metals. For out of the Oars which never underwent the burning by the Fire, and were never as yet deprived of their growing faculty, this Bath thus prepared is to be preferred far afore that, which is made of the molten Metal.
I do here open to the studious of Art, the Gate that leads unto most great secrets, which were never so clearly manifested by any Man. It must necessarily therefore be, that either God must put a stop, or that the Operator or Labourer himself must be of a stupid and simple capacity, if he cannot learn from these instructions, as much as to live in quietude, and so furnish himself with Food and Rayment.
If therefore God shall vouchsafe his Blessing unto thee in the use of this secret, then give unto him, the bestower of all good things, thy utmost thanks, and be not unmindfull of the Poor. Sustain thy life by the works of thy hands, and let thy light shine before the blind, neither bury the same enviously in the Earth. Do good to every one, that it may be discerned and appear what Tree thou art. Entertain not too great an opinion of thy self, but remember that thou art a Man and mai’st err and fail. Give no body occasion of quarrelling and brawling. If an unjust conflict be brought upon thee, commit thy self wholly unto God, and he will succour thee. Give place to the greater, and spare the lesser, God will defend thee and suppress thine Enemies.
The Heathen Philosophers accounted the ProphetEzekielas a clownish Philosopher, because he wrote so very clearly of the Divine Mysteries. For they took it very untowardly, that he was not so envious, as to involve such great Mysteries in silence, but wrote so openly of the same.
He that will now-a-days make it his design to wind himself out of the crew of Sophisters, and such kind of Philosophers that putteth together hurtfull Books, consisting of fine Spun, and seducing words onely meerly for their own gain, and without any profitable information at all in them; he I say that would free himself from such, overcome them, and bear away the prize, must imitate that countrey man, who on a time entring into a Fencing School atNorimbergdid behold the Fencers artificially combate together so strongly and so long, untill all the others being tired, and forsaking the Stage, there remained but onely one as sole victor; who, with a disdainfull look, contemning all the rest, assured himself of the victory.
Being therefore about taking up the Prize-Money there deposited, out steps the Countryman, saying, you shall not have the reward, except you beat me too off the Stage: Fight therefore he must with the Countryman, or forsake the prize; but promising himself an assured Victory, he exerciseth his most curious and artificial postures, which he had learned in the fencing School, thereby to make a speedy dispatch with the Countryman, supposing that the Countryman would be frighted, and laying down his Weapons, quit the Stage. The Countryman being no ways scared stood very quiet (as confiding in his own strength) so long, till the Fencer approaching nearer with his oblique Flourishes, made as ’twere a Wheel afore his Nose, whom the Countryman struck all along, with such a smart blow as made the Hair of his Head flye off, and the Bloud run about his Ears. So artificial a Combatant as this being o’erthrown, he was asked by that plain Countrey Fellow, whether or no he would yet once more try the fortune of the Play, but he would no more prove the Countrey down-right blows of a Non-Citizen, but left both the Money and Honour of the Victory to the Countryman, who being asked how he durst adventure upon so artificial and experienced a Fencer, and could so o’ercome him, he replied, that he perceived the Fencer used many oblique Skippings, but was no strong Man: and therefore I opposed my strength to his artificial Flourishes, and so with one blow struck him down. By this History it is evident, that that finely Spun, and sophistical prating of the Schools, makes nothing to the purpose but a certain experience, and an infallible knowledge of things both is and so remains the sole Mistress.
For the sake of those that are lovers of divine and natural Miracles, ’tis expedient that I yet farther manifest some certain secrets of Salt, which are hitherto altogether unknown, and shall be shewn unto my Friends in my Laboratory. Nor do I at all doubt, but that some few will be found who will easily understand these things, and look on them as things credible. But I matter not, whether they credit me who speak the very truth or not. It sufficeth me that I can not onely perform the things I say, but likewise shew them to Friends, whereby they may be able to reap some benefit and profit therefrom.
Salt may be so introverted by the Operation of the Fire, as that it shall lose its sharp properties, and acquire a sweetness, and be brought by the help of other Vegetables and of Water, unto Fermentation, and so yield a good and sweet burning Spirit, a clear, sweet, and strong white Ale, conserving its tast for many years; various drinks, not unlike in tast to the Wine made of Honey and Fruits of Trees, strong and clear Vinegar, and white Tartar, fully as profitable for such Operations, as the common and natural Tartar of Wine is wont to be used about, and may be with those others [afore mentioned] prepared with small charges.
The Air and Fire do in a short time transmute Salt, into true natural Salt-peter, which is no small profit.
The Fire doth likewise very easily endow common Salt with such kind of properties, as render it capable of fatning and dunging barren Fields, Vines, Fruit Trees, Hops, and all other Garden Herbs as well as Sheeps or Beasts Dung.
Salt is also so changed by the Fire in few hours time, as to put on a magnetick nature, and attract the moisture and water out of the Air, and to retain it with it self a long while, and therefore is not easily dried up by the Sun. Corn, as Oats, Barley, Rye, Wheat, Pease, Beans, and other Seeds being steeped in such a Salt for a Night, do by means thereof, grow up the speedier out of the Earth. It is very profitable therefore in the Summer Season, wherein there’s scarcity of Rain, and especially in sandy Grounds, because it holds the Rain Water a good while, so that it is not so easily dried up by the Sun. Besides, too, that Salt is of such attracting virtues as that one ounce thereof, being put in some little Glass to two ounces of Water, hardens all this Water, in the likeness of Salt, so as that you may carry the same about you in a Paper; whereas there were two parts of Water to one of Salt.
This Salt abounds with yet many other wonderfull virtues, some of which I have declared in my Treatise,of the Nature of Salts, stiling it by the name ofSal Mirabilis, and that not without good cause. It is of the form of Salt-peter, and is void of all Acrimony, it is a little bitterish to the tast, and is of a Balsamick Nature. For being rub’d on Beef or other such like Flesh, it keeps the same, though exposed to the open Air, from being infested with Magots, and from being corrupted: And therefore it is an efficacious subject, with which as being a most efficacious Balsom, dead Bodies are conserved from corruption. It converts all things put into it, in long process of time, into an hard Stone, and abounds with many other wondrous virtues, which (for certain causes,) I pass by in silence at this time.Paracelsuscalls itSal Enixum, but ISal Mirabilis.
Nor ought it to seem at all wonderfull, that common Salt doth so easily obtain by the Operation of the Fire, a better and sweeter quality. I do in very deed affirm, that not onely the common Kitchin Salt, but even those too, which are of a most biting corrosivity, asAqua Fortis,Aqua Regia, Oil of Salt, of Sulphur, and of Vitriol, may by a certain sweet Vegetable, (without the addition of any contrary Salt) be brought to such a pass in three hours time, as that a Man cannot perceive the least Corrosion at all in them. Nay more, if this very Salt hath dissolved up any Metals, it does not part with them, but holds them still: so that the corrosive Solution of Gold which is made with Oil of Salt, becomes a sweet liquor, which likewise comes so to pass, with the Solutions of Silver, and of the other Metals: so that by this way excellent Medicaments may most easily be made out of Metals.
New Wines being fermented with such a Salt, do change their Tartar into sweet Wine, and become clear in a months time, and suddenly have both the tast and odour as old Wines usually have. Certainly it is a secret of very great concernment, when by reason of the coldness of the Air, the Wines cannot attain unto their due maturity.N. B.There appertains to this fermentation, a singular and excellent Artifice, by which the Wines and other drinks are promoted to a speedy and strong fermentation, insomuch that the Wine boils in the Vessel, though the Vessel should be set out to the Snow and Ice in the coldest time of Winter: whereby the Wines must needs be made better, stronger, and sweeter. It is a very artificial invention, hitherto concealed by me, but now I am minded to reveal the same unto my Friends.
By the same Salt too, Wine, Ale, Metheglin, and other drinks may be in short time turned into good and sharp Vinegar without the help of the Sun, or of a warm Stove.
If therefore any one needs for his Operations any distilled Vinegar, he may even distill it in wooden Vessels, without any Sparkle of Fire, onely in the Air, by the proper efficacy of the liquors themselves, and by the help of the Air: and this in such wise, as that a whole Barrel of distilled Vinegar will not cost so much as one Token, the Barrels or Vessels excepted, which verily is a most Artificial Distillation.
Thus likewise by the same means may a sweet burning Spirit be distilled out of Ale, Wine, and other the like Liquors.
Any common Wine may be rendred so strong by the help of a certain sweet Salt and artificial fermentation, as that it cannot be drunk because of its strength. Some Pots full onely thereof, being poured into a Barrel full of small Wine, will make the same so strong, as to equalize it with generous Wine. He that is so minded may add some sweet Spices in the fermentation, and so make it the more sweet, more efficacious, and more wholsome, and so a little quantity thereof being poured into another Barrel will make all the Wine therein contained become sweet and good.
Out of common Salt may easily be made good Allum and Vitriol, no less usefull for the Dyers than the natural are.
It is likewise a thing easily feasible, and that too in few hours space, to turn the same into a fiery nature, and make it have the same property as the Salt made of Wood Ashes, and of the burnt Lees of Wine and such like, and as Pot Ashes have, and may serve for the Soap Boilers and be applied to the same uses that those Salts are used for.
Moreover, store of sweet Spirit of Salt may be gotten with small charges out of common Salt, serving not onely for the preparation of many excellent Medicaments, but also for the maturation of the meaner and unripe Metals, as we said afore.
These and the like wonderfull things, yea and very many such effects incredible to the unskilfull doth that contemptible and common Salt produce, to the exceeding benefit and profit of mankind: which excellent things I neither would nor could (for the honour of God, the giver of all good things, and for the sake and profit of mankind) any longer conceal. But some or other may object and say, if by the help of common Salt, such great things may be effected, why do not you prefer the same before Salt-peter, which you have so exceedingly praised in thethird Part of the Prosperity ofGermany, and have constituted it the Monarch as it were of the whole World: whereas notwithstanding it is so venemous a Dragon as is wont to devour all things. Can’t these two Salts I pray, namely the common and Salt-peter, divide the Government of the World between them, and bear sway and command both together.
To such I answer, that although that common Salt be the producer of many wonderfull effects, yet must it needs give place unto Salt-peter, which being inflamed and on Fire is wont to overturn huge Mountains, and blow them up into the Air, which thing seeing common Salt cannot do, ’tis but fitting and right that it should be dignified with so great a Title. However, being by the Operation of the Fire and Air made equal unto Salt-peter, and performing the same effects, it may then worthily be graced as Salt-peter is with the Title of Monarcy.
The effects which I have attributed to common Salt and Salt-peter, I can every hour shew, in very deed, to be most true. Ill therefore do they do, that bark against me for saying that Salt-peter is a universal Dissolvent, and that endeavour by their tatling reproaches to obstruct the truth.
Why do they not produce some better thing, seeing they will not admit of this universal Dissolvent? such Men as these do nothing else but bewray their own foolishness, and kick against the Pricks.
Had they ever done ought, or set their hands to work, for the sake of searching throughly into nature, they would never so boldly contemn, and reject that, which they never as yet understood. They behave themselves very basely, and clearly discover unto all Men’s view, that they have suckt in their uncertain and foolish Opinions, by the bare reading and hearing of uncertain and dubious Writers, whose meaning notwithstanding they understand not; for my part I remain constant in my Opinion, and say, that Salt-peter is an universal Dissolvent, and is able to dissolve all the things in the whole World, if it be made use of in three forms or shapes. Whatsoever the acid Spirit thereof, or the Eagle with its sharp Claws cannot effect, its fixed Salt, or the fiery Lyon will accomplish: and whatsoever is impossible to be done by these two, the Griffon which hath its rise from the Eagle and Lyon, will artificially perform.
N. B.The acid Spirit of Niter doth not dissolve sulphureous subjects, but mercurials onely: Contrarywise, the fix Niter doth not seize upon mercurial subjects, but sulphureous ones; but the flame of Salt-peter performs both: which verily is wonderfull, that things so unlike should in some few hours time be extracted out of one and the same subject. For the corrosive Spirit prepared out of Salt-peter by Distillation, and likewise the fix Salt, are most bitter enemies to each other, which ruinating and slaying one another, and being dead, return agen unto that which they were afore, and partakes of both natures; which the Ancient Philosophers do clearly point out unto us by the Griffon, which is headed and winged like an Eagle, and the hinder part of its Body like a Lyon, as we have mentioned more at large in the foregoingthird part of the Prosperity ofGermany.
Upon him that rightly understands this ancient Fable of the Griffon, Lion, and Eagle, doth the Sun shine, for he will get no small profit to himself thencefrom. Whatsoever the Corrosive Eagle dissolves and tears a-pieces, that the fix and fiery Lion precipitates. And whatsoever the Lion devours, that the Eagle doth agen snatch from him: but they kill each the other, of whole dead bodies the Griffon exists, which hath the body of the Eagle and Lion. By how much the oftner this labour is repeated, so much the more potent and stronger doth the Griffon come to be, [especially] if both the Eagle and the Lion have filled themselves with food and are grown fat; or by how much the bigger the Eagle and the Lion are grown, by such Subjects as are agreeable unto them, afore their mutual fighting; the Griffon doth also become of magnitude proportionable.
Once every day therefore may such a conflict, slaughter, revivification, and transmutation of these two fighting and capital Enemies,viz.the Eagle andLion into the Griffon be made. But if you would have it profitable, then mustVulcansharpenSaturn’s Sythe, by which he may divide the Griffon [in twain,] and may turn whatever proceeded from the Eagle, into the Eagle again; and may transmute that which arose from the Lion into the Lion agen. When the dominion of the Griffon is divided, and that the Eagle bears sway onely over his birds, and the Lion onely over his beasts, like two Kings, then all is well, and there’s no war. But if once the Eagle endeavours to snatch away from the Lion his prey, then ariseth a great war, and of so long a continuance, till they have slain each the other, of whose bodies the Gods doe make the Griffon. But when the Griffon becomes too disdainfull, and affecteth Tyranny, and designs to bear rule over birds and beasts together, he is agen divided byVulcan, by the perswasion of oldSaturn, that so he may return by a reiterated transmutation into the Eagle and Lion: which wheel [or rotation] of reciprocal transmutation doth never rest, but converts it self [or turns it self round] in a perpetual course for Man’s punishment, as long as it shall please the most high God, who, at last, will put an end to all fightings, slaughter, and contention, that afflict this world: at which time all the Eagles and Lions which ever were in the world, shall be turned into the Great Griffon, which will rend and overthrow the whole Earth.
This time all pious Souls doe expect and wait for with ardent desire, and many sighs, that they may be at last freed from the talons of the Eagles, which rend all things a-pieces, and from the claws of the roaring Lions, and enjoy everlasting peace and quietude.
Thus much may suffice to have been spoken of Salt-peter at this time, which, how it may be prepared very plentifully, and with great profit, out of the Salts of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, I have already declared in the foregoingthird Part ofthe Prosperity of Germany. He now that dreams of so managing his affairs as to reap benefit and profit to himself thencefrom, may inquire into the business by a more accurate meditation and search. Yet let him know, That Salt-peter may be very easily made of many vile Subjects, which may be every where had: of which Salt, if you have plenty, you cannot want other things. For not onely most excellent Medicaments against all kinds of Diseases may be made with Salt-peter, as likewise the growing faculty of Fruits springing out of the Earth, be promoted, as of Corn, Wine, and such-like things necessary for the sustaining of the life of Man; but also pure good Gold may very easily, but with great profit, be gotten out of the imperfect Metals.
Seeing then, that by means thereof, a man may be supplied with firm health, food, and rayment, and with Gold and Silver, what other thing is there, I pray, that he can want? That which I have so often said, I doe here repeat and affirm, That there is not in the whole World any subject that can compare with Salt-peter, much less be preferred before it.
Such a noble, yea so kingly a Subject therefore as this is, well deserves to be most highly honoured by us, and to be searcht into by the utmost of our endeavours, because of the so great benefits it bestows upon Mankind. We will therefore proclaim and pronounce Salt-peter to be the Monarch of the whole World, though all its and my enemies, who endeavour to bespatter our honour and repute with the brands of infamy, doe even burst for malice.
O most foolish men, with how vain a hope doe ye expect the Lion and Monarch from the North, as theJewsdoe their Messiah, who came above 1600 years ago. The Lion of the North, and the Monarch of the World is even at this time present, and hath always been, but yet hath been known but by a few; the full and perfect revelation of which, God alone knows. I doe verily think the time is now at hand; These things which are known unto us concerning him, are all of them but particulars, and very few too. But if the said Northern Lion shall find out and dig forth the treasures which lye hidden in the Mountains, then will he at last exhibit his power to be seen, and shew himself to be the Monarch of the whole World.
Salt-peter is that great and fire-spitting Dragon, the keeper of the Golden Apples, and that venomous Basilisk which kills all things with his looks. If he be but fixt and made constant in the fire, then is he that Salamander living in the fire, and that Phœnix the bird of the Sun, which having gathered pure Gold out of the Sand, useth it to the making of her nest, and arriving to its utmost old age, burns her self; out of whose Ashes other Phœnix’s are produced.