N. B.If you have not those fires of Salts the heavy Oil of Vitriol, Oil of Salt, orAq. Fortismay be used hereabout; but yet these Oils do not in any comparison perform what those concentrated Fires of Salts are able to effect. But however they demonstrate the thing it self though they bring no great store of profit, and this any one may easily understand.
For there is a great difference betwixt the watery and not watery Fires of Salts, any common and simply bare Water cannot become so cold as the Water of any Salt, and this Salt-water cannot be so cold as a common Spirit of Salt, nor can this Spirit by any means arrive to that degree of cold as a concentrated Spirit usually attains to. So a skin of Leather is never so cold as Wood, nor Wood as a Stone, nor a Stone as an heavy Metal; the difference proceeding from the thickness of the compaction, for verily any thing will concentrate the more cold or heat and fix it with it self, by how much the compacter and thicker body it shall be of. For it is the property of a concentrated cold to kill a thing and to make it hard and stiff. Contrarywise a concentrated heat gives a speedy life, and correction, and emendation, and this experience it self teacheth.
O happy Man is he that can make a Metalline Salt as compact and thick, and heavy as a Metal, and can by conserving it a due time in the heat of the Fire, that the heat may by little and little and gradually be concentrated and fixed therein, make it fusile. Without doubt such an one would get a Tincture that would cure the most grievous Diseases, and change the imperfect Metals into perfect. For it is the Fire onely that begets a maturity to any thing, and by how much the stronger and greater the Fire is so much the speedier and better amending of any thing may be expected.
These things which I have here briefly declared are of greater moment, dignity, and weight than any one can believe; and besides there’s no doubt but that there will shortly some step forth, who will without any fear testifie the verity of Art, by changing imperfect Metals and turning them into pure Gold; so common will Alchymy become in this Age, which was neither heard of nor seen before in this World. Nay more, Men will make this Art so familiar unto them that they will not much esteem even of particular Tinctures.
But why God permits such things to be done, is to us wholly unknown, thus much we see onely, that doubtless there will follow some great change in the World; happy shall they be who having the fear of God before their eyes, and are of a pure mind, cannot be hurt by the Devil nor Sin his Mother.
Necessity doth sometimes enforce old Men to undertake a Journey in the Winter, which, if no urgent hast forceth, may be so ordered that at Noon and Night quiet rest may be always taken in such a place in which is plenty of Meat and Drink.
But if so be that an urgency of occasion requires a going on forward, whether one ride on Horseback, or in a Coach or Waggon, and that either the Snow render the way difficult, or some Wheel of the Waggon be by chance broken, and so the journying Person hindred from coming to the place aimed at in the appointed time, he is sometimes by this means constrained to turn aside to a poor Peasants lodging, or if his fortune be a little more favourable, he is necessitated to Inn in some poor Village, where he can neither meet with Wine or good Ale; he now that thus journieth may out of the poor Wine or Ale make himself better Wine or Ale, and the better provide for his health if he hath about him, such a magnet in some small Glass that attracteth Ice to it.
It may so happen that a Man taking Ship with hopes of arriving in a short space of time to the end of his Voyage, though he has some little of good Wine or Ale, may be enforced if the Wind prove contrary to stay longer upon the Sea; his good Wine therefore and his Ale being spent, he may make that small Beer in the Ship which the common Marriners drink of, better, and preserve his own health.
To the effecting of this business there is required a greater Magnet, which may remove that Phlegm then needed to the Wine or Ale, because Brandy is of an hotter nature than Wine or Ale, which do more willingly let go their wateriness than adust Wine is wont to do.
The waterishness of the weaker or more aqueous sort of Vinegar doth suffer it self to be more easily extracted by the help of that Ice-attracting Magnet, and the rather because it,viz.the Vinegar puts on an Icy form much sooner than any other Drinks.
For answer, verily it is a most excellent secret most aptly satisfying the curious inquiry of mortal Men, which the World as yet never knew, and yet it can effect such unheard of things, which it is not necessary that they should be divulged.
As touching the plentifull separation of Water from Wine, Ale, or other Drinks [in great quantity] the same may be done and that with profit, and in some places bring no small gain to him who knows how rightly and artificially to accomplish the same. I have done enough as to my affairs in laying it open; we must not boil meat for the slothfull and thrust it into their mouths. Let them get it themselves if they will, and rightly take care of their own matters.
For answer, yes, so great a quantity of them may be prepared as a Man would wish for, or as his necessity shall enforce him to desire. But because such cold Fires of Salts are the effecters of admirable and incredible things which the World never knew of, therefore the copious preparing and getting of them deserves to be concealed. Let therefore every one be content with those things which I have published in the first Century: haply in process of time more may follow.
Mix one pound of this mySal Mirabilisreduced by warmth into a fine Powder, with ten or twenty pounds of good Oil Olive, or new Linseed Oil; theSal Mirabilisis to be commixt warm with the Oil, and being well stirred about with it, draws to it self all the Water, and settles to the bottom of the Vessel, from which the clear Oil is to be separated by pouring it off; and all the Water and impurity of the Oil is to be severed from theSal Mirabilis, that so it may be recovered and be again profitable for such like operations.
Smear over the inside hollowness of such a Vessel with the concentrated moist Fire of Salt, that it may be every where wetted, and sprinkle thereupon so much of theSal Mirabilisas will stick thereunto. For so that cold Fire of concentrated Salt, with the attractedSal Mirabiliswill become hard and not run, and stick on to the Vessel; and that said Fire will in a few days space burn up all the mouldiness and stinch, just as if the common Fire of Wood had been used thereabouts. The Vessel being washed with boiling Water is again rendred fit and convenient to put Wine into.
This operation is not here taught for some stinking Vessels sake that is not worth the while, but to this end, that other secrets of greater moment, and which are profitable, may be learned thereby and known. For under these operations lie hidden many wonderfull things, and such as the greatest part of the Readers will not consider. But to what end is it to light up a Torch before such Men, that are left by God in blindness and darkness, and hath not vouchsafed to bestow on them any Eyes.
The sweet or dulcifiedSal Mirabilisis to be well dried by the help of the Fire, and being put in some Vessel with Fruits, Eggs or such like, with a thick and close laying [or bed of one upon the other] doth by its driness so preserve all things, and by its attracting virtue of all corrupting humidity, that for a long time they feel not the least corruption.
For answer, this is to be imputed to its most great driness which it abounds withall.
TheSal Mirabilisas it is of it self, is by reason of its corroding virtues which it as yet retains plainly unfit for the multiplication of the Vegetables, for that being so used would prove more hurtfull than profitable. Upon this account it is necessary that to one part of it be added two parts by weight, of the bestCalx-vive, which being moistened with Water and made up into Balls, are to be well heated red hot for an hour, that so all the corrosivity being introverted theSal Mirabilismay be Alkalizated, and used to the Vegetables for an universal Medicine; for it conserves its attracting force, and loseth it not in the heating red hot.
For answer, this operation is to be ascribed to the incredible astringent property and nature, that theSal Mirabilisis endued withall.
Mix with the digged up Earth, with which the Roots of the Trees are covered, one, two, three or more pounds of theSal Mirabilis, according to the bigness or littleness of the Tree, and again, cover over the Roots with the same, and pour upon the Earth it self, some Rain water, that being thereby moistned, the Roots may the better partake of the Salt that is mixed with it.
By this means, the Tree will attract to it self the Medicine or good nutriment out of the Salt, and will be cherished and refreshed just as a piece of bread or other food being given to an hunger-starv’d Man restores him his strength again.
Let the nature and property of a Char-coal of Wood be considered, the which is such, as that if it be kept in the greatest Fire for many years, and all external air kept out from it; it will neither ever melt, nor ever lose ought of its body, but will come out again in the very same form as it had at your putting it into the Fire.
So likewise a Wood coal is able to endure an hundred, yea a thousand years in the Earth, Water, or even the most sharp corrosive Waters unhurt. This so most sharp a tryal, neither Gold nor Silver though they be the purest and most constant are able to undergo. And although a Coal be thus durable, yet nevertheless will I dissolve it in half an hours space,and convert it into a red fusile Salt, which is dissolvable with Water, and yields a wonderfull liquor which is the effecter of incredible operations both in Medicine and in Alchymy.
TheSal Mirabilisis diversly prepared, as appears in the second part ofMiraculum Mundi; but what way soever it be prepared by, it may be commodiously applied to the solution of Char-coals, nor needeth it any farther preparation, but even just so as it is taken out of the Cucurbit and is as yet corrosive is to be used to dissolve all things.
Melt two or three ounces ofSal Mirabilisin some Pot or Crucible, and throw in a peice of Wood-coal or Char-coal, and cover the Pot with its Cover, and let it flow for one half hour, that so the Salt may dissolve as much of that Coal as it can, and may leave the rest of it which it cannot dissolve, undissolved. Then pour out your matter and you shall find a red Stone of Salt, which being tasted upon the Tongue burns it like Fire, as all Alkaly Salts do. For the corrosive force is inverted by the Vegetable Sulphur, and changed into an Alkaly.
This red Carbuncle being dissolved in Water yields a green Solution, which being filtred, and let stand still for some hours, appears of a white colour, and being let alone quiet longer, acquireth a yellow colour. One drop thereof gilds over an imperial as Sulphur does, if it be therein put. For the Char-coal is no other thing but a Sulphur of the same nature as the Mineral Sulphur is of, and penetrating all the Metals, suffers it self to be fixed with them, and doth after another manner perform all those things that the Mineral Sulphur is wont to do.
The very well skilledSendivowin his Dialogue concerning the Sulphur of the Wise Men, saith he is strongly guarded, and sits Captive in a dark Prison, and is not easily freed; but Salt gives him a deadly wound.
A Sulphur therefore sits in this black Coal in a dark and obscure Prison, shut up with strong Bands, and is a Captive, nor can any one free him from those Bands but onely Salt. But being once released out of Prison, he is wont to come in view, and not before.
Thus now have we brought forth Sulphur out of his obscure Body. And now will we also bring him forth to publick view.
If you pour into the white Solution of the Coals some Acidity, as Vinegar, Spirit of Salt, of Vitriol, or someAq. Fortis, and that leisurely and by little and little as much as is requisite for the killing of theSal Alkaly; the Sulphur will settle to the bottom like a white Powder, which being separated from the Salts, and washt with fair Water, and dried, will burn and exactly answer to the virtues of the Mineral Sulphur.
Put this green or white juice of the Wood or Coals expressed or squeezed out by the Salt, in a Glass Cucurbit upon someSal. Armoniackpowdered, put on an Alembick and draw off all the moisture by Distillation, in which Distillation the spirit of theSal. Armoniackwill bring over the Helm, the Vegetable Sulphur of a golden colour. It is a most penetrative Spirit and of wonderfull efficacy in Alchymy and Medicine, and this will easily be credited by him, who knows its penetrating and graduating virtue and property, in which it excels all other penetrative Spirits, you must keep it very warily because it easily vanisheth.
When you have poured out our Carbuncle out of your melting Pot, beat it into Powder and mix therewith half its weight ofSal. Armoniackpowdered, draw off by a Glass Retort, both matters exactly commixt by Distillation, that theSal Armoniackmay bring over with it that Sulphur. Wash off this red matter drawn out by Sublimation, with common Water, the which being freed from theSal. Armoniack, is a Sulphur inclining from its reddishness to a yellow colour, and is altogether like to the Mineral Sulphur.
First of all, exactly melt the Coals by theSal Mirabilisin a melting Pot, that the Salt may be accurately Alkalizated by the Coals, and burn the Tongue like Fire. Then pour it forth and beat the Coals into Powder and put them in a Glass, and pour upon them Spirit of Wine freed from all its Phlegm. Then set the Glass in warm Sand and ever and anon take it out and shake it well that the Spirit of Wine may extract the Sulphur, and leave the Salt untoucht. Your Spirit being as red as bloud, pour it out into another Glass, and again, pour on more Spirit of Wine upon the matter, and repeat the former operation; these pourings on, and cantings off are to be so often repeated, till the Spirit of Wine when poured on will extract no more. Put all these red extractions into a Glass Cucurbit, and separate the Spirit of Wine by a B. and it will leave behind in the Cucurbit a sweet Oil of the colour of bloud; a Medicine of so great moment in all Chronical Diseases, as that none is to be preferred afore it. For this Sulphur is far better than the Mineral Sulphur, which for the most part is mixt with some Arsenical property, whereas this is extracted out of the Coals of Wood, and is therefore far purer and necessarily more conducive to Man’s health.
And as touching the whole operation of this precious balsamical Sulphur, which is but little inferiour to potable Gold, the chief knack of duely making it consisteth in this,viz.that theSal Mirabilisbe well and accurately Alkalizated by the Coals. For if not, the Spirit of Wine would dissolve theSal Mirabilis, and would not extract the Sulphur, nor would it answer thy wishes, if it be not deprived or despoiled of all its humidity.
He that shall be well skilled in the due handling of this Operation, will obtain a most excellent Medicine not much inferiour to potable Gold, of a sweet and pleasant Tast, and of an admirably gratefull Odour and Colour. By such a means as this, is extracted out of a dead Herb, or dead Wood, its greenness in the first Solution made by Water; and after the Extraction with Spirit of Wine, the most delicate red Colour thereof, with a most sweet vegetable Odour; all which lay hidden in the black Coal, and are again brought forth to light.
The use of this most delicate Oil of Sulphur is not small both as to the metalline Operations and other Arts; and this so speedy a putrefaction and revivification of the dead Vegetables into a living medicine carries in its Intrails a great mystery.
For answer, even the Herb it self, or the unburnt Wood it self may be changed in a Crucible into a red Stone by theSal Mirabilis. For the operation tends to the same end be it Herb or Wood, green or dry, or made into a Cole.
For answer, the Woods that are weightiest do excel all others; for they are riper and have in them a better Sulphur, than those Woods or those Herbs have which are lighter, and grow up in half a years time, the older the Trees are, the more fit for medicine they are; such as are the Roots of Vines, Juniper, Box, Beech, Oak, Cedar, and such like.
Fill some Pots with some Fertile Earth or Clay, void of all Herbs or Seeds, and moisten it with the green or white Juice of the Coals. If now you expose these to the Sun and Rain, there will spring up thencefrom divers new and unknown Herbs.
When you would make your trial of Gold take a piece of golden Money, and bow it, and add thereunto so muchSal Mirabilisas may be 5, 6, or 8 times the weight of the Gold. Melt it in a Wind Furnace, and pour it out into a Vessel fit for to receive molten Metals; and you shall find your Salt to be of a purple Colour. If all the Gold should not be dissolved but some part thereof should settle to the bottom, separate thatRegulusfrom the purple Salt, and dissolve your remaining Gold in a Crucible with newSal Mirabilis, that so all the Gold being dissolved may colour the Salt with a purple Colour. With this purple Salt may be performed many very profitable things, which appertain not to this place. ’Mongst which those are chiefest which respect the emendation or bettering of Metals, concerning which, I will here add onely one Operation.
For the due performing of this, you are to have stone-like melting Pots, and the best that can be, such as by no means may drink in the Salt, or let it run through, for that the Solution of the Gold with the Salt is otherwise wont to hide it self in such Pots as are not strong enough.
If thou canst not get such, ’tis better for thee to abstain from this labour, than to lose thy Gold, unless haply thou hast a mind to try the possibility of the same.
If therefore thou desirest to encrease theQuinta, [or small weight] of thy Gold which thou hast added to thy Salt, with some Augmentation; put two or threeQuinta’s of Iron bits or pieces into a good Crucible, and having put thereto your purple Salt, melt it very accurately for one half hour, in which time, the Gold will precipitate it self out of the Salt into the Iron, and graduate some of it by turning it into Gold. For whilst the purple Salt doth eat upon the Iron and consume it, it doth together therewithall make some of it participant of a golden Nature by graduation.
I do not insert this Operation here, to the end that by the help thereof a Man should think of getting Masses of Gold, no; for the sole end of my proposing it was this, that I might confirm the possibility of the thing by ocular Demonstration.
Now as here the Iron is graduated by the help of the Gold or golden Ferment, into Gold; so likewise may Copper be graduated and exalted into pure Silver; by the application of a silvery Ferment, as followeth.
Dissolve Silver in a Crucible by theSal Mirabilis, made of Salt-peter and Oil of Vitriol; in which Solution you shall get a green Salt, fit for the graduating of Copper into Silver, after the same manner as we taught but now of the Gold.
And albeit the Silver augmentation be not so great, yet the possibility of the Art is thence apparent and demonstrateth, that one Metal admits of being converted into another. But yet he that has good skill in handling this labour, will, if he be fraught with good and apt Crucibles, which can hold theSal Mirabilisand not swallow it up, receive no small benefit by this same Operation. TheScoriawhich are remaining in this, and the precedent Operation are not to be thrown away, but to be mixed with Litharge, that so being reduced by blast, they may graduate the Lead, and enrich it with no contemptible Portion of Gold and Silver. For great are the Vertues of this Salt in graduations, which the Ancient Philosophers have openly enough hinted at, saying that their Salt augments the redness of the Gold and whiteness of the Silver, and that this is a thing most true, he who shall in a due manner perform the Operation will learn that so it is, by his own Experience.
But least an Errour should be committed and some of your Gold and Silver lost, it is better that a Man exercise himself in making his Experiments in the lesser Metals; and omit the dealing with Gold and Silver so long till these lesser Metals make him asufficiently experienced Master for the dealing with the greater.
Dissolve one or two whole Lots of Copper in melting it bySal Mirabilis, which Solution will yield thee a Salt enclining from a green, to a black colour.
Into the same Pot which contains your Copper dissolved by theSal Mirabilis, put three or four Lots of bits of Iron, and adjoyn them to the Copper dissolved in theSal Mirabilis, and force it with the Fire, so that they may be kept in flux together for one half hours space. By this means the dissolved Copper will adhear to the Iron by precipitation and exalt some particles of the Iron into Copper. All being well molten, pour it out into your Cone that the Copper may settle in aRegulus. TheSal Mirabilisand Iron being turned into aScoria, are usefull for the inriching of Litharge, in the strong melting by blast, with Gold and Silver.
N. B.If the Mercury of Saturn be mixed with these, or else with those otherScoria’s which were left by the Gold and Silver and are far better, and so be melted together with a strong Fire, the Lead will be bettered and that by an encrease not to be contemned, and will abundantly pay for the labour and costs. But yet I would not put any one upon the undertaking of this work; except he be well versed with meltings in Crucibles and without them, by the Bellows upon Hearths. For I write not these things for young Beginners, but onely for such who well know what belongs to the Art of melting.
But yet that he may have some manuduction into these labours, I will declare the general use of theSal Mirabilisin the emendation of Metals.
Though the wonderfull Salt of Art dissolveth all Metals, and conjoyneth them in a spiritual manner as it were, and renders them efficacious to better each the other in the Fire, yet is there a difference to be observed in that thing, by him who desires to follow the nearest way, and to decline all diversions, or goings about. For example.
He that has a mind to dissolve and conjoyn the Metals, Gold, Silver, Lead, Copper, Tin, and Iron, by theSal Mirabilis, that they may display their virtues in operating to the perfection of each other, must take for the Gold, Iron, Copper, and Tin, such aSal Mirabilisas being prepared of common Salt doth easily dissolve those Metals. But now the same Salt used about Silver and Lead, would effect nothing as to their Solution, because there is no familiarity or friendship between common Salt, and Lune, and Lead, for it is an enemy to those Metals, kills them, and reduceth them to nothing.
N. B.But when those Metals are by the help of Salt reduced into their Mercuries, then may it come so to pass, as that they may be conjoyned with Gold, Iron, Copper, and Tin; for without a foregoing preparation, they enter not into the Salt, unless theLuneandSaturnbe dissolved in thatSal Mirabiliswhich is prepared of Niter, and be adjoyned to the Solution ofMarsandVenus; of which Solutions the one doth very willingly embrace the other, insomuch that one Metal doth easily operate upon the other, and consequently a profitable graduation, fixation, and emendation succeeds.
But now if you would have your Metals, not constant in the Fire, but volatile and made flying, then, thatSal Mirabilisis to be used, which is made of Salt Peter or Kitchin Salt, by the help of Sulphur.
This is the universal use ofSal Mirabilis, serving for the Solution, Graduation, Fixation, and contrariwise Volatilisation, or the conversion of all Metals into a volatile nature. But the special Solutions, Fixations, or Graduations of them by the Salt of Art, require an addition of some Vegetable Sulphur, which being adjoyned to the Metal, yields some help to theSal Artisin the Graduation of a baser Metal, which help the conjunctions of Metals that be of a sulphureous nature, do not at all need; though indeed ’tis better if you help them with some Vegetable Sulphur. For Sulphur andSal Artisare like Male and Female, they bear a mutual love to each other, and beget a rich Off-spring; when they lovingly court each other in the Fire, even alone and without the addition of any Metal, and are brought unto perfection. So then, thus by these operations may gain and profit be divers ways, and in divers manners gotten, as well particularly, as haply also universally, (but this last way I am not as yet acquainted with.)
All these things do sufficiently, yea abundantly shew one the way of arriving by the help of the Salt of Art, to the attainment of such things as are of some moment. Enough to the wise.
Although that the Metals do admit of a most easie Solution by theSal Mirabilisin the dry way, yet notwithstanding, that Solution may yet more commodiously be perfected the following way,viz.thus, when the Metals are put into the Cucurbit or Retort, in the distilling off the Spirit. For whilst the Spirit is driven off, out of those distilling Vessels, the Metal is dissolved during the Distillation, and remains in the bottom with theSal Mirabilis. But whatever of the Metal remains undissolved, is to be removed; but the golden Lunar, Venerial Salt,&c.is to be kept for such uses as it is necessary for.
N. B.If so be any be minded to pour on again that distilled Spirit, upon the Metalline Salt abiding in the bottom he may so do, and ’tis profitable; because that Metalline Salt is by this means rendred far more commodious and apter for Transmutation.
But that none may err from the right way, it is necessary that we first shew how the Metals (out of which being bettered, Gold and Silver are to be extracted) are to be afore prepared, that so they may admit of being the more easily exalted and amended. For all things are to be done by the prescribed method, and to be managed by [promoting them to] their appointed limit and scope, if any profit is thence sought.
LuneandSaturndo not by any commixion associate themselves to the Metalline Salt, unless these same metals be first reduced into their Mercuries, concerning which thing we have treated at large in the third and fourth part of the prosperity ofGermany.
Take ofSal Mirabilisfour ounces, the filings ofVenushalf an ounce. Put this matter in a strong,double, and well covered Hassiack Pot, set it in a wind Furnace, melt it strongly for half an hour, that theSal Mirabilismay rightly dissolve the Copper and make it spiritual. To this Copper thus made spiritual, add half a part in weight of the Mercury of Saturn, and melt together both metals by a repeated melting, for an half or even an whole hour. In this conjunction and operation, the spiritual Copper will get to the Saturn by graduation, no small bettering and fixation. For by how much the longer they are kept in flux, so much the greater amendment doth Saturn purchase. But yet noReguluscan thusper sesettle to the bottom, unless some Iron be added in the melting, concerning which, no certain weight can be prescribed. For when some small bits onely thereof, or some little particles are put in the Crucible, the Salt is mortified by corroding of the Iron, and lets fall the amended Lead which in the Cupel leaves the Gold and Silver.
This way shews you the manner of using theSal Mirabilisfor the amending of metals
N. B.Other metals may also be rendred spiritual by theSal Mirabilis, by which not onelySaturnbut likewiseLunamay be graduated, or exalted to a golden degree. But yetSaturnis more commodious and fitter for this operation thanLunais. For when theMercuryofSaturnis graduated and reduced, there needs no other labour than the separating of thatReguluson the Test, where the Gold and Silver is left behind in the Cupel. But if theLunar Mercurybe amended by graduation, and precipitated into aRegulus, it is first to be separated by Lead in the Cupel, and afterwards the Gold and Silver are to be separated byAq. Fortis; so that there is requisite a twofold labour, which in the operation bySaturnis but one; and therefore it is to be preferred as to these operations beforeLune.
N. B.All such subjects as have a graduating virtue, asLapis Calaminaris,Hematitis,Smiris,Granate,Talk, &c. may be used to these labours. But however Gold is the best of all, which if so be that any one is minded to use, it behoves him to be furnished with such Pots and Crucibles, which do not drink up the Gold, and so rob you of more than the produced gain amounts to.
Thus have we demonstrated the use of the simpleSal Mirabilis, in the bettering of metals.
If some Sulphur be added to theSal Mirabilis, it exalts the metals with a far more profitable graduation, and brings more gain than that single operation, which is instituted by theSal Mirabilissimply and aloneper se.
Every body full well knows that there is no affinity or familiarity betwixt burning Sulphur and Gold, which is a fixt Sulphur; forasmuch as they are exceedingly inimicitious to each other, and yet this enmity may be at length changed into the greatest amity.
For ’tis usual with all such as are wont to separate molten Gold from Silver by precipitation, to use common Sulphur about that precipitation, which by its innate Antipathy thrusts out the Gold from the Silver; the same thing is likewise done in the moist way, when the same Gold is precipitated out ofAq. Regisor Spirit of Salt, by sulphureous Salts, such as are Crude Tartar, Salt of Tartar, Spirit of Urine, and other Alkali Salts.
These are to shew that Gold hateth and shuns Sulphur worse than any thing, as being its Capital Enemy; and yet these most bitter enemies doth theSal Mirabiliseasily reconcile and convert this so great an enmity into sweet friendship. This operation hiding in its Bowels great Mysteries deservedly, and by all right lies hidden to this ungratefull World, if these Mysteries could be excepted which fell into the hands of mine enemies, in my Laboratory, unwittingly to me, who without any regard had to the Writings given me by way of an Oath under their Hands, do now make merchandise of such secrets, and so basely abuse my good Will. Although the manifold use of this great Treasure hath escaped them, upon this account it hath seemed good unto me to reveal unto the whole World, those things that fell within their reach, that so it may be known to all, that such great secrets proceeded from me onely, and not from others, nor from those mine enemies themselves.
Take oneQuintaor small weight of Gold, more or less, reduce it into thin leaves or plates, and bow them in the fashion of a Cilinder, and add thereunto six, eight or ten parts ofSal Mirabilis, which matters you must melt in a Crucible with an accurate and strong fusion: When they flow, throw in some pieces of Coals into the Salt and Gold as they are melting in the Pot, that theSal Mirabilismay dissolve the Gold and Coals in the melting, which usually is done in half an hour or thereabouts. The matter being poured out will shew you whether or no you have well operated for all the Gold, as likewise theSal Mirabilisand Coals will be dissolved and changed into a red Stone, that bites the Tongue as if it were Fire.
This Fire and red Stone, is the golden Carbuncle of the Ancients, for it shines in the dark like a burning Coal, and produceth such wonderfull effects in Medicine and in Alchymy, which we have no mind at present to reveal. For this Gold being thus conjoyned contrary to its nature with Sulphur and Salt, is by that means unlockt, opened and prepared; as that it may by an easie business [or labour] be made spiritual, and that divers ways by diversMenstruums, either Acid or Urinous, and be distilled over the Helms, and the pure separated from the impure.
And albeit that I here make use of no Circumlocution and speak no plainer, yet have I spoken enough to the Wise, and have shewed them such a way to go in, as that whereby they may without labour, as ’twere arrive to the most happy and wished end, unless God for some singular causes prohibit it.
But that I may not altogether shut the door of Art upon the Son’s of Art, I will teach them the making of a most excellent Medicine out of this Carbuncle.
This Carbuncle is to be beaten into Powder, and the best Spirit of Wine is to be poured thereupon, which may extract the Tincture. This tinged Liquour is to be poured off into another Glass, and more fresh Spirit is to be again poured upon the matter, that it may again extract in the heat more Tincture; these Labours you must repeat so oftentill all the Tincture is extracted, and the Spirit will be no more coloured. The Spirit being drawn off by distillations in a Bath leaves behind a most red Tincture in the bottom, in the form of a Liquour namedC O S, for here are present,Colour,Odour,SavourorTast; the Colour and Odour from the Gold, and Sulphur; the Savour from the Salt. The remainder which is left after the Extraction of the Tincture is not to be thrown away as unprofitable, but to be converted with newSal Mirabilis, and Coals made of Vine wood into a red Stone, by fusion, and to be so long extracted till all the Gold be converted with the vegetable Sulphur into a Medicine. For one onely labour serves not to extract the whole Gold by the Spirit of Wine; but the oft repeated labours attain to the end proposed.
Thus hast thou friendly Reader a Medicine of great moment and of great efficacy, in which the most pure parts of the Gold and of the Vine are conjoyned, nor can they be other than a most profitable Medicament for men and metals.
Mix with one part of fat Lome, Clay, or Earth done into Powder, four parts of Sand, that so the fatness of the Earth may be somewhat allayed. With this mixture fill a Pot, such a one as the Gardeners are wont to keep their Flowers in; pour thereupon some Rain-water wherein is mixt [or dissolved] a little of that Medicament made of the Carbuncle, and plant or sow in that Earth some of those Herbs which abide unhurt by the Winters cold. Set the Pot with the implanted Herbs to the warm Air, but so, as that no Rain come at it, for the Rain may wash away that medicinal nutriment. When the Earth becomes dry, you must pour on more of the Medicine prepared of the Carbuncle, and that so often as need requires. So will the Herbs begin to grow, which if they meet with no other nutriment besides the Rain-water, they cannot attract any other whereby their faculty of growing may be promoted and encreased. And for as much as the Golden medicament was adjoyned to the Rainwater, the Herbs must necessarily draw it to themselves together with the Water, and obtain other properties than if they grew from the stinking Beasts Dung.
N. B.Under your Pot that contains your Herbs is to be put a Dish made of good and firm Earth, or else of some Metal, which may serve to catch the medicinal Water, that flows through the bottom of the upper Pot, or distills thence, and having received it may not drink it up but conserve it. Besides, it would not be amiss if some of that medicinal Water were put in the under Platter, which might always keep the bottom of the upper Pot moist, and so may supply the Herbs with an uncessant nutriment. It would be better also, if the Pot it self were made of some Metal and not of Earth, that so it may not drink in that precious Water, but rather conserve it.
In the first place, diligent heed is to be taken, that the Lome or Earth you take, partake not of any salt faculty, nor hath any other corrosive Property, for many such Earths there be which would hinder and spoil the faculty of growing.
Secondly, there must regard be had to the moistening of the Earth, lest the Seed be choked with too much humidity, or in defect of sufficient moisture, dry up and wither.
Thirdly, there must be observed a measure of the Medicament it self, that neither too much, nor too little of the same be commixt with the Rain-water. For an overmuch quantity thereof burns up the Seed, and a more sparing Portion cannot yield nutriment enough to the Herbs.
Farther, some Musk or other things that emit a fragrant Odour may be therewith mixed, which addition is wont to get to the Herbs a most fragrant Odour. If so be a man fears to apply the aforesaid precious Medicament to this Operation, because of the Costs of the same, he may use that Tincture which we taught a little afore, to prepare of Coles onely without Gold; and which indeed will perform all those things, (as in reference to the growing faculty) which that Golden medicament is wont to perform; this onely excepted,viz.that the Herbs will nor partake of that golden Property which they obtain by that Golden medicament.
The things we have here written and published concerning the promoting the faculty of growth in golden Herbs, though they seem not of any great moment, yet hide they under them mysteries of great moment, the which many Artists will apprehend, and convert unto their Use.
Dissolve someSal Mirabilisin common Water, put some Wood or Wood coal therein, let it lye in it for some days, or so long till it be well glutted with the Liquor and become ponderous. Then take it out and dry it very well at the fire, that all the moisture vanishing away may leave theSal Mirabilisin the Wood: Then put it in the said Solution yet again, and take it out and again dry it, which labour will render the Wood so much the solider by how much the oftener it shall be repeated. By this means, all the Pores will be filled with the Salt and the Air will be shut out, that it can penetrate it no more; without which Air no Wood can ever take fire or burn. If now you put such Wood or such Coals with other Wood and Coals in the fire, these [un-imbibed Coals,&c.] will be consumed by the Fire in a short time and be reduced into Ashes, but those others will remain untoucht, and may be taken out unhurt, though indeed even they too will be burnt if they lye over long in the Fire. This is certain concerning Coals, that those that are made of more weighty Wood, and which abound with a greater Quantity of Salt, such as are the Oak, Beech, Juniper, Vines, and other Trees whose Wood is ponderous dure far longer in the fire than those Coals do which are made of Firr, Pine, Alder, Willows, and such like lighter Trees, and which have a lesser Quantity of Salt, and this now I do not mention barely for fashions sake, but to this intent, that occasion may be given from this kind of knowledge of drawing some profitable matter therefrom; as for Example.
Dissolve someSal Mirabilisin Water, and with a Pencil smear over such Wood which by reason of its nearness to the Fire is always in danger of being burnt. When the Water is dryed up, moisten it again with the same Water, and repeat this moistening so often, till it hath drunk in a sufficient Quantity of theSal Mirabilis, and become able to resist the heat. By this means might men be often freed of many fears and cares, in ships dawb’d with pitch and in other places, where by reason of the too nearness of dry Timber there is danger of firing.
He that desires to preserve Wood, that it may not be detrimented by the Water nor rot in a long time, may be master of his wishes, the following way. Dry your wood very well, and being dry moisten it with strong Oil of Vitriol very exactly, and being moistened sprinkle it with theSal Mirabilisbeaten into Powder, that it may stick well on to the Oil of the Vitriol. For the Oil of Vitriol doth in its penetrating of the wood carry in the Salt thereinto, and makes in the outside thereof every where about a black Crust, just as if that wood had been burnt by the Fire. Now because Coals resist putrefaction, it must necessarily follow that the wood being in that wise ordered must remain a long time unhurt in the water.
There ariseth no small difference amongst the Salts themselves from the different way used in making theSal Mirabilis.
If the Oil of Vitriol wherewithal thisSal Mirabilisis prepared, be not by reason of the superfluous humidity strong enough, any one may easily conjecture that a goodSal Mirabiliscannot be made thereof, because the Kitchin Salt would receive therefrom but little alteration. To prevent this inconvenience therefore, you are to take equal weights of Salt and Oil, that so one may be assured that the common Salt is well inverted, and made a goodSal Mirabilis.
Its Colour ought to be white and transparent; its figure is in longStria’s or Chrystals; its tast is like Ice melting upon the Tongue and yields some bitterishness. Being dryed in the Fire and all the moisture gone off, it will loose three parts of its own Body, and retain a fourth Part onely; being dissolved in Water it will recover those three Parts again.
But on the contrary, if it shoot into a square Figure, and hath as yet a saltish tast, and being dryed loseth but little of its weight; it is not worth a rush. and shews that either the Oil of Vitriol it self was not good, or that there was not enough used to the Operation. These things we would not bury in silence, that so we might well advise young beginners, and withdraw them from their Errours.
For answer, yes. For thisSal Mirabilisis not onely able to perform things of great moment, and those too, such as are not common; both in Alchimy and in Medicine; (a rehearsal of which, we shall for brevities sake omit) but withall it may be used in other Arts and Handycrafts with great admiration and profit; and this we cannot neither at this time demonstrate because of the but now mentioned brevities sake. We will onely shew here, that even the poorest Husbandman, might (if they knew its preparation use it to notable advantage and profit.
We have aforetold you, that theSal Mirabilisbeing so, as it isper se, is plainly unapt for the multiplication of the Vegetables, unless that corrosive Faculty be taken therefrom by lime or otherAlkaliSalts, [the which must be done] if you would expect therefrom any good concerning this multiplication. Here now will I disclose a business of no small moment; yet not to this end as if I would perswade the Countreymen, to get for the future, or afford to their Corn so plentifull a faculty of encreasing. No, no, I well know that they know not how to make theSal Mirabilis, and if they did, yet would they not depart a Nails breadth from their Ancient Custom. For ’tis a common Proverb, Old Dogs are very difficultly tamed; and this, the common Course of mens Lives doth clearly teach; wherein you’l find, that a man hardly unlearns that in his old Age which he learned in his Youth; so that an Old man doth very difficultly suffer himself to be withdrawn from those things whereto he hath been accustomed when young. Neither is it my purpose so to do, for as much as I insert the things here mentioned by me, for this end onely,viz.that the possibility and wonderous Properties of theSal Mirabilismay be brought out of Darkness unto Light, and may be made evident to the whole World.
I would likewise be thus understood as touching other Workmen, for whom these things are not delivered or treated of, that they should desist from their old Custom, and obey my admonitions and instructions; but for this end it is onely that I publish these things,viz.that they every one may know that mySal Mirabiliscan be an helper to men of all ranks, and also may bring even to the Craftsmen themselves and to the poorest Husbandmen, great fruit and benefit.
Now when you hear it mentioned that some Grain of Corn is augmentable beyond the usual Custom, by an unheard of multiplication, it must of necessity be, that it emit more than one, two, or three Stalks, for as much as so few Stalks, cannot yield so great an Encrease. But now if one Grain is to put forth so many Stalks, it is wholly necessary that it be done by some certain singular and strongefficacy of expulsion; and that too, even presently and at the beginning when the grain is at first sown in the earth. For whatsoever is not here done even at the beginning, will never be done afterwards.
For all the stalks that spring forth after are small, and quite unfit to bring forth Corn. So then, seeing that many stalks are to break out at one and the same time out of one grain, if an eminent multiplication is expected to follow, then verily ’tis even necessary that some help be administred to that same grain afore it be put in the earth, that so it may plentifully grow and be speedy, in presently sending forth even at the very beginning, good store of stalks.
The Countreymen know not any thing serving to such an operation but onely Dung; but I do even now again say as I have often done afore, that this effect of the usual and common multiplication ariseth not from the Dung it self, (as being but the outside Husk) but from that sulphureous Salt that lies hidden in the Dung. Hence it is, that by how much the purer and better the Salt is so much the speedier and more efficacious an operation ariseth therefrom. If then, that such a Salt can be made by Art, which performs the same that Dung does, it altogether follows that we are able to do the same without Dung, and that far better than by Dung, in which the salt is so much dilated, and which (by the benefit of Art,) we contract into a narrow compass.
I hope the well minded Reader will not be displeased that I use so many words here, about the stinking Dung of Animals, because I can’t indeed use in this place any other manner of speaking, seeing I intended the laying open of this thing, and therefore am I even compelled to speak of the same: For he that minds the publication of any thing, cannot do it, unless he speaks of the same. And although that Dung may seem to some finical Men a very contemptible thing, yet notwithstanding it is the onely and principalMedium, by the help whereby our daily Bread and the necessary sustaining of our Bodies is had. But as for the stinking Dung of Animals, I even remit it to the Dunghill, and return to mySal Mirabilis.
Melt one or two pounds ofSal Mirabilisin a Crucible, then throw in some Coals and dissolve them, and reduce them by Solution into a red and fiery Stone; which matter being compounded by melting of them both, beat into Powder and pour thereupon common Spirit of Wine, that it may wax red by extracting out the Tincture. Pour this out into another Vessel, and pour on other Spirit upon the aforesaid matter. And this pouring on and canting off, is to be repeated so often till all the redness is extracted. By this extraction you shall get a sulphureous Salt, fit to steep or macerate Corn withall; because it agrees very well to the properties of that Salt which sticks hidden in the Dung of Beasts: Now I use Spirit of Wine to the extraction for this cause, for that it hastens the germination or budding of the Seeds even as well as the Salt doth, and enricheth it with an emission of many Stalks. But yet your Spirit of Wine must not be over strong, for then it would hinder the faculty of growing, the which thing even the Salt will also do if too great a quantity thereof be added to the weaker Spirit of Wine, because it would by burning up the Seed, be an impediment to the faculty of the Seeds growth. It is therefore necessary that a good regard be had (in those operations) to a due measure. For an overmuch access of any thing is wont to be no less hurtfull than a defect or clearly wanting of the same.
This is the preparation of theSal Mirabilis, necessary for the macerating of Corn, that so it may produce many Stalks; now follows the true and genuine use thereof in macerating of the same.
There are several kinds of Corn, and of these various and different sorts. Hence is it, that one Seed is longer a macerating than another is; and that because one becomes soft sooner than doth another, or attracts humidities to it self quicker than another, so that regard is to be well had to the difference thereof. Rye and Wheat are encompassed with thin Skins, and therefore are the sooner macerated, Oats require a longer time, and so doth Barley which has a yet harder Husk than the Oats hath, and therefore requires a longer time for its maceration. But as touching these things, every one may find them out by his own understanding and often experience, because it is impossible to mention all things so clearly and perspicuously. But this is a general rule, your Corn is to be so long left in steep, untill you may easily bite it a pieces, for you must beware of softning it too much, for then it would presently putrifie, and by that its putrefaction corrupt and spoil all the growing faculty. But experience will instruct you far more commodiously and more perfectly herein, than a larger description can.
Any one may easily conjecture that if the Corn macerated by the aforegoing way, be sown in the Fields the usual way and so thick as the Husbandmen are wont to do, it will not succeed because of the overmuch thronging and thickness by which the Corn would hinder each other and so choak themselves. This incommodity therefore is to be prevented, and such macerated Grain to be thinly sown in the Fields that they may have room for the freeness of Air, and so may grow up and not spoil each other by a mutual suffocation.
Nay rather that the more accurate diligence may be had or used about this sowing, a Man may make him some wooden Instrument, whereby together and at once many grains of Corn may be sown in the earth in good order and at a certain distance; concerning which labour I have purposed to speak more at large in another place. For so no grain will unprofitably perish, and with one Sack of Corn may be sown more Ground than six, eight or ten Sacks are wont to do otherwise; my too short time constrains me to break off my discourse concerning these things.
If there could be a good quantity had ofSal Mirabilis, and that without great costs, ’tis withoutdoubt but the Vines might be made very fruitfull therewithall.
But because they are ignorant of the preparation thereof, who dress Vines; ’tis expedient for them to acquiesce in their Beasts Dung, or make use of that onely for the fattening and dunging of their Vines, which is made of common or Kitchin Salt by inverting and Alkalizating it byCalx-vive. Unless a man has Vines about his House or in his Garden, and would make them fruitfuller than ordinary. For to make tryal thereof in great Vineyards would be too costly.
But yet I will propound another way to the Vine dressers, by the help whereof they may get plenty of Wine every year. I have at large taught in my foregoing Writings, and that by various descriptions, by what means one may be Master of noble and ripe Wines every year, yea even in those times, in which by reason of the coldness and unseasonableness of the Air, and the want of the Solar-beams, the Grapes cannot attain their due maturity: and withall, how in those places where they seldom or never grow ripe, [they may be ripened] by concentration by the help of the Fire, or else by fermentation with their own vinous spirit distilled out of the Lees, and added to the said Wine; [having I say already taught this] there’s no need of repeating it again. Yet nevertheless if God lengthen my life out so long, I have purposed to write a peculiar Book of the propagating and bettering of Wines.
But that I may ingratiate my self with those who not much caring for poor thin Wines, desire to have some noble Wine in their Cellars, I will here reveal a certain secret which may not onely refresh the body and spirit of many thousands of Men, high and low, rich and poor, throughout allGermany, yea and allEuropetoo; but also administer them no small profit.
I have taught a little afore, how by the help of theSal Mirabilis, and of the concentrated and cold Fire of Salts, a Man may make his Guests different Wines out of one Cup, and therewithall refresh them; and I have likewise shewed, that such a bettering of Wine may be exercised in most places, with notable profit.
The truth of which thing, it hath seemed good unto me to demonstrate divers ways, for the sake of my Neighbour.
I have frequently laid open in my Writings some excellent secrets, and have withall made a discovery of the most great benefit which one may thereby receive.
But because I have not pointed out with my Fingers where and whence such notable profit is to be gotten, the most part could not apprehend or find the same, and have therefore rejected the thing it self being it was not so perspicuously and clearly laid open, as unprofitable and worth nothing. And now least it thus happen to this secret, if I should not shew and point as it were with my Fingers, the benefit thereof, and if therefore such secrets lying in the dark should not come forth to the profit and use of mankind, (which would be a grievous thing and to be lamented, if it should not,) it hath seemed good unto me to manifest the utilities of the same.
First of all, it is no small benefit when the overmuch Water is taken away from the poorer sort of Wines, with whichGermanydoth every where almost abound, and the Wines made nobler, stronger, more efficacious, and more durable, and do get a far more acceptable savour.
For the unripe and watery Wines are not of any long lasting, but do in a while lose all their savour and all their strength, and become mouldy, and corrupt with lying, and ’tis not seldom that they grow tenacious, or ropy, thick and muddy, reddish and filthy: all which incommodities doth my Magnet cure in the space of one onely hour, by the drawing away the overmuch waterishness.
If the plentifull Vintage or large encrease of the Wine should be more than you have Barrels to fill, nothing can be more acceptable than that the Wine may be concentrated by the Magnet, (which draws to it self the Water and turns it into Ice) by extracting the overmuchness of the Water, that so by this means the more contracted Wines may be laid up the more commodiously, and may if not very good, be rendred better.
If so be that the Master of the House had a whole Cellar full of Wine, and every Vessel filled with the like or self same noble Wine, without any difference; then verily the Master and Servant would be of equal degree, nor should the Master have any prerogative above the Servant. But now using the help of the said Magnet, he may have his Wines bettered as he pleaseth, and have divers Wines in his Cellar, as we taught a little above; if,viz.he shall draw from it the unprofitable watery part.
The Anatomizing and examen of Wine discovers, that in twelve measures thereof, there is about one of more noble spirit, and almost one measure of Tartar. The residue are nought else but an insipid water altogether like to common water. Now when the Wines are to be transported out of the Countries wherein they grow, into more remote places, what need is there of carrying the water with it so long a Journey? would it not be better to separate some part thereof from the Wine, and so transport the Wine, and let the water alone, and thereby shun a great deal of charges disburst for the carriage of water into such places as have enough already? would there not redound a great benefit hereby, both to the Buyers and Sellers of Wines? yea verily, I believe that there will not onely redound unto them a great conveniency, but withall a great deal of Treasure.
There is some mention made in what went afore concerning this amending; but ’tis not done so clearly and manifestly. I will therefore open it more clearly and more perspicuously in this place.
Mix one part of your Brandy made of Corn, with two parts of common water poured thereunto, thatthe stench and ungratefull savour may diffuse it self into the added water. Having so done, you must again free this Brandy thus tempered with water by putting your Magnet thereinto, and so will you draw therefrom all the stinkingness, and ’tis just as if you had washed that Wine, and rinsed off all its filth.
If you would have benefit by this liquor, the same may be done by the same reason; in those places out of which it is transported into other Countries; if,viz.the unprofitable water be removed after the same manner as we taught to be separated from the Wine.
Although that in all the Coasts scituated upon the Rhine, as inRhingovia,Moguntia,Wormatia,Algentorati; inAlsatia, thePalatinate,Franconia,Austria, and the Dukedom ofWurtenberg, (in which places, the Wines do for the most part arrive to their perfection every year) this Art be not so very necessary; yet neverthelessSaxonia,Misnia,Thuringia,Suevia, andBavariado stand in need thereof; in which Countries the Wine doth for the most part remain acid, unless the Summer hath by a singular chance hapned to be very hot. For in these places it is no less profitable than pleasant to drink a sweeter and nobler Wine instead of the more acid Wine, if so be one could get it by the help of the said Art. Besides, this same Art yields no small profit and benefit in those Countries, in which though the Wine is (as we said but now) wont to be noble. For it may happen that some unseasonable Weather may hinder the ripening of the Grapes, and that the Vineyards wanting the due heat of the Sun cannot arrive unto maturity. For oftentimes in one and the same Countrey, there are divers Wines produced, so that one sort exceeds another in nobility and goodness. Those therefore that are good and generous need not the help of this Art, but contrarily the smaller and less noble Wines want it. Hence I conclude that in all the Countries of the World, wheresoever Wines are made, this Art may be serviceable and profitable to any one.
Though the Cold may so hinder as that Vines will not grow, nor Vineyards be, yet notwithstanding those places so obnoxious to the Cold, have plenty of Apples, Pears, and such like Tree-fruits; whose Juice being pressed out, and fermented, and after the Fermentation, freed of the greatest part of the unprofitable water, will give a better and more durable Drink, than that which is made the usual way of Apples and Pears. For this drink cannot last long because of the muchness of the humidity, but becomes ropy, acid and muddy, and so corrupts.
So likewise may those Countries that abound with Corn be rendered partakers of most excellent and wine-like Drink, which may be used and drunk instead of Wine, to the great benefit and advancement of the health of the Body; and it is to be thus done.