Take the Flowers of Marjoram, Sage, Rosemary, Mace, two ounces, Nutmegs, Cardamoms, Zedoary, Galangall, one ounce, chosen Cinamon eight ounces, extract the Tinctture with Spirit of Wine, then dissolve in rectified Spirit of Salt, and which is acuated by an addition of Niter, one ounce of Gold: Pour this Solution to the Spirit of Wine, which is impregnated with the Tincture of the said simples, and put them to distill in a Glass Retort in a dry B. There will first come over the Aromatical Spirit of Wine, not onely sweet but withall clear, which when it begins to come white and troubled, take off the Glass that you received your Spirit in, and put on another, and draw off all the moisture in a gentle heat, till there comes out no more Spirit of Wine, and an acid Water of an unpleasant Tast follows. Then take out all the Fire from under your Retort, that it may cool. In which (when all is cool) and the Solution taken forth, you shall find the Oil of the Spices swimming on the top, which is as red as blood and is impregnated with the Tincture of the Gold: The which being separated by a separating Glass from the Spirit of the Salt, you must add to the Aromatised Wine that came first over, which will presently imbibe the said Oil, and be tinged with a most curious red. As for the remaining Gold, which the Oil of the Spices hath not attracted to it self, you may precipitate into a tender and bright Calx, and wash it well with water and add it to the Aromatised Spirit, and Oil with a sufficient quantity of Sugar Candy, that the Spirit may be rendred sweet and pleasant. So shall you have a most efficaciousAqua Vitæ, the which doth wonderfully corroborate and refresh the Sick, in all kinds of weaknesses. But this precipitation is not to be made like as the common is, in which the Powders that are precipitated do lose their Metalline form as Gold, which being changed into a yellow Powder is called fulminating Gold, and being put upon a Plate, and heated, gives a noise like a Gun, the sound it gives is very loud, and the blow strikes downwards, so that the bigness of a small Pea being kindled in a silver Spoon will make a little hole. But you are to precipitate the Gold on such wise as that it may retain a Metalline form, but so tender and fine that it may be well brooked even in the Eyes. Neither must all the Gold be precipitated, but onely the most noble part, and as it were its Soul, which as to its colour is much fairer and sublimer than common Gold is. But the more vile part is to be separated by a peculiar precipitation, and to be reduced by fusion. To this pale part is its former colour to be restored by Antimony, so that no loss may be made. If then the former part being precipitated, is better than pure common Gold, the latter part must necessarily be (being reduced by fusion) more vile, or thus, if the latter be baser than common pure Gold, the former shall be better than it is, and will therefore be more profitable in Medicine, forasmuch as it will (being digested and consumed in the Stomach) display its virtues, which the common filedGold, or yet the Leafe Gold will not do. I purposely tried this matter, and found the things I tell you of, to be true. But if so be as any doubt as yet of this thing, concerning the first precipitated Gold as being the best part thereof, and which we bid you to add to the Aromatized Spirit, he may melt it down with someBorax, and compare it with the latter precipitated Gold, and then he will easily perceive the wide difference that is betwixt them. The first will as to its Colour, far exceed the Gold of the best Duckats or Rose Noble, but the latter will be far worse. That first being again dissolved and precipitated after a Philosophical manner, that half of it may again settle down, it will become more noble, and again leave behind it a particle of pale Gold. Which operation is verily most worthy admiration, by the help whereof, Gold certainly may be at length haply so concentrated, as to be able (when reduced to the highest nobility, colour, efficacy and vertue) to give colour to the other metals, and amend them. But this is not what I have hitherto, for want of time, tried: But I hope (God permitting me) shortly to shew such a Gold to the studious of Art, seeking after it merely for this cause, that I might thereof make an excellent medicine. I will treat more plainly and more fully in myfourth part of the Prosperity ofGermany, concerning the Artificial and Philosophical Concentration of Gold and Silver into good Medicaments; but that I may here give the Lovers of Art some small Testimony how such a precipitation may be effected, take with you these few things. The precipitation may be done as well in the dry as moist way, but there the moist way is used, which is requisite in the making of this Medicine, but yet it is troublesome and hazardous, because that sometimes the glasses break, and the Gold falls amongst the Ashes. But the dry way and which is void of any danger, belongs not to this place but to the fourth part of the Prosperity of my Countrey. I mention it for this end onely, that it may be seen and considered, that it is possible to make some Separation in Gold as well as in the meaner metals. For he that knows how by the benefit of Art to make a Separation in some metals of the best part from the worst, hath a profitable amendment of the metal. We teach in thesecond part of the Prosperity ofGermany, how the volatile and unripe Minerals, may by Niter be reduced into malleable Metals. In the third part we shew the way of turning the common and imperfect Metals into perfect Gold and Silver. Then at last in the fourth part we shew by what means Gold and Silver may be advanced into more than perfect Bodies and appertaining to medicine; concerning which Separation more shall be spoken in what next follows. Nor hath any one reason to make any Scruple and imagine that I contradict my self, seeing that in the aforesaid medicament I make use of precipitation and tender Gold, and yet have openly in many places spoken the contrary,viz.that corporeal Gold cannot be concocted and digested in the Stomach, and this I have most often tried. For the Gold which we teach the precipitation of here is much better and more noble than the common Gold, and upon that accompt is not to be accompted of as corporeal, but for the very Kernel, and Soul thereof as it were, which being digested in the Stomach of a man, doth produce its vertues into open light.N. B.That the said goldenAq. Vitæbeing to be used, you must first shake the glass a little wherein it is kept, that so the most subtil Attomes of the Gold may commix themselves with theAq. Vitæ; then afterwards some few drops of the same according as the Person and Disease is, are to be administred in some convenient Vehicle. If you make trial with one or two small drops, you shall experience its wonderfull heart strengthening Vertues, and its most profitable use in all weaknesses.
Take a Vein of Lead that is rich in Silver, nor hath either Copper or Iron mixed with it, but by how much the richer it is with Silver, so much the better and more beneficial is it for this work. Separate from this Vein all the Sulphureity or Brimstony stinch by Niter, according to the Spagyrical Art, that so the most pure, most subtile, and most highly Volatile and fluid Mercurial part may remain. Wash off the Niter as carefully as you can, and separate it, that a bright snow coloured heavy Powder may remain. This most exceeding fluid and Volatile Powder is theMercuryofSaturn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, even to 12 grains thereof, being administred in convenient Vehicles, doth exceeding quickly yield help in all grievous affects of the Brain, in the Plague, Pains of Children that are troubled with Worms; it quencheth all internal heat, and withholds the gross Vapours from ascending up into the Brain, it opens all the obstructions of the Liver, exhilerates the melancholy, restores the Lunatick, foolish and phantastick Ingeny, especially if their Bodies be first prepared by my AntimonialPanacæa. Nay more, this Cephalick medicament will operate yet better, if after the first preparation by Niter it be again washed, and made more subtil, yea and plainly fixed, that so it may exercise its vertues and power with the greater efficacy. Last of all, it is yet rendered most efficacious, if thisMercuryofSaturnbe in the last Operation driven over in a Retort and so converted into a sweet Milk, demonstrating the truth of that Philosophical saying,The Fire and Azoth do wash the Laton. Niter is the true Azoth of the Philosophers, and besides it, is no other to be found: It is the Scope of the wise men, the universal Bath of Metals; The said sweet Milk may be coagulated, and fixed into a transparent and fluid Stone, which again coagulateth and fixeth common purged Mercury. But I have not as yet so brought it to such pass as to undergoSaturn’s trial in the Cupel as they call it; yet am I doing it, and hope to bring it to pass. But although the Stone is yet volatile, yet doth it penetrate the imperfect Metals asMarsandVenus, and makes them easily fluxible and volatile; but seeing it does so now, what would it do were it reduced to a fixity, this any one may easily conjecture what effects it would have. Haply this work is not much different from the work of the little Countreyman. But seeing that purification is not different from this matter, we think it worth while briefly to teach, what it is, and in what it consisteth: But principally because all my writings tend to this end,viz.the separating of the pure from the impure, from which ground have we given this Book its name. Few are they that know the way and manner of Separations, and therefore we deem’d it highly necessary to speak somewhat thereof in thisplace. For all the Philosophers do cry out with one voice, make the fixt volatile, and the volatile fixt. An hard and fixt thing doth by laying down its Earth become fluid and volatile, and this is a Philosophical separation and operation; after it comes sublimation and distillation, by which a thing is yet again made more pure, being separated from its gross Fæces. For by how much the oftner any thing is distilled or sublimed, so much the purer doth it become, and by how much the purer it is, so much the more efficacious and penetrative it is found to be. Now again if the most pure part of that thing be brought to such a pass as that it will resist the most violent and all things consuming forces of the Fire, every one will easily conjecture what may be obtained by such like operations as these. These things we have spoken do shew the metallick purification, effected by the benefit of the Spagyrical Art. The ablution of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals is threefold; The first washing carries off by the help of Water the adhering impurities, as Sand, Powder, and Earth. The second separates the thin and watery parts from the earthy ones, by distillation, and doth the same thing as sublimation is known to do in the separation of Metals. The third separation is performed by the Fire,viz.when the subject that is to be purified is made red hot in the Fire, that so the combustible Sulphur being inflamed may be consumed, the Mercury may go away in fume, and the fixt Earth onely with the Salt stay behind, the which is to be understood of Vegetables and Animals. The case stands otherwise with the Metals, whose three principles are so knit by nature with so straight and radical a tie, into such an homogenial matter and so hard, that they very hardly admit of separation, but do either very slowly and by little and little ascend together by Cohobation, or else abide constantly together in the bottom. And albeit that some black Metal, be either by sublimation elevated into Flores, or by calcination reduced into white Ashes, yet after reduction the Metal is found to be as before of the same form, and endued with the same properties, which it had before calcination, so that these operations do no ways deserve the name of Philosophical Purgations. How many have deceived themselves, by thinking if they turnedMarsinto a redCrocusthey should therewithal makeLunefixt, not considering that thatCrocusreturns by reduction to its own former nature and Iron shape. CommonMercuryis precipitated into a most fair and most red Powder, and returneth by reduction to its first running nature.Saturnbeing calcined by common Salt becomes red Powder, or aMinium, which being reduced is the same Black-lead as it was before. Hereupon may such an one be deservedly said to wash the Black-moor that bestows his labour on this work. The sameSaturnbeing washed with Vinegar or any other corrosive liquor, gives indeed a white Ceruse, but it is but a borrowed colour, and he covers his black body over with a white Robe, but yet for all that is presently disrobed of the same byVulcan: The true Philosophers do nothing esteem of this sophistical Purification.Saturnis by all the Philosophers accounted for a black and leprous Gold, for they openly say, that there is inSaturnwhat the Philosophers seek: Read butParacelsushis Book of the vexation of the Alchymists, and there he mentions more. Nor is it without cause that that old Symbol or Proverb is used amongst the Chymists.The Fire andAzothdo washLaton.Azothis Niter, andLatonsignifies the matter of the Stone. Some do ascribeLatontoSaturn, I will forbear, onely thus much is to be observed, that the wordLatonsignifies the matter of the Stone, which is to be washed byAzothor theAcetumof the Philosophers that is Niter. Verily I well know that besides the commonSaturnand Antimony, there is another, more easily washed by Niter; but because we here treat of the Vulgar, or the first Ens ofLune, and the reducing it into a good Medicament by Niter, we will acquisce in what is already spoken, & put off the explication of the said matter to another place.
Forasmuch as I have hitherto taught the preparation of some notably efficacious Medicines by the help of Niter, and yet have not in the mean while made any mention of the Sicknesses familiar to the Feminine Sex. I judged it wholly necessary to help this weak and infirm Sex (which is appointed for the propagation of mankind) with some singular Medicament: For (besides those Diseases whereto the Women are subject as well as the Male Sex) they are yet afflicted with many Sicknesses that do arise out of the Matrix, wherewith all as well Maids as married Women, and these last also are troubled not onely before Child-bearing, but afterwards,viz.when the Matrix is not well purged after Child-birth, and so begets various Sicknesses, Pains, Winds, Inflammations, Suffocations, the ascending of evil Vapours unto the Heart, or else by obstruction of the Menstrues, do cause a swelling Belly, Weakness, Debilitation of the Strength, a straightning of the Heart and Brain, most vehement Griefs, and lastly Death it self: Or else the Matrix may be moved out of its place, in Child-birth, its Bonds broken, and the Matrix it self so much repleated and debilitated with overmuch moisture, that it has not so much power as to be put and retained firm in its due place, but some are constrained to leave it hanging out, to their great detriment, and are extreamly tormented with this so great a detriment, the Matrix presently slips down out of the Body by either vehemently walking, or any other violent motions, and are necessitated always to carry about them a pessary framed to the intent of keeping the said Matrix up in their bodies, and that to their exceeding great trouble. Now then for the meeting with, and resisting these aforenamed and other such like discommodites, but especially such as are overwhelmed (as it were) with them, I will set down the way and manner of so doing. As concerning the Matrix and its Diseases which do arise after Childbirth, if so be that the Matrix be not rightly cleansed, even the Women themselves know their own Remedies, and do for that reason plant those Herbs that are usefull thereunto in their own Gardens, or gather them in a fit season and so keep them by them, till they have need to use them in expelling the remains and trash left after Childbirth: Such as these arePulegium, or Penny-royal, Mother-wort, Mug-wort, Savin, and the like Herbs, which have a powerfull expulsive virtue, and there are waters too in the Apothecaries Shops distilled to this intent, concerning which it is needless to write any more in this place: Thus much onely we would advise, that such Herbs and Species as are used for such effects, are to be rendred first more subtile by separating the pure from the impure, that they may afterwards operate more speedily and better. The which thing may be most commodiously done on such wise and manner as I have taughtand prescribed in the first Part of thisSpagyrical Pharmacopœaconcerning the Essences of Herbs. But the obstructions of the Matrix, and stoppage of theMenstruesare not so easily unlocked by bare Medicaments thus barely taken in, for they penetrate not so far with their Vertues, but rather, as experience teacheth, is effected by such Medicaments as are applied beneath, and that more easily, and which we have already mentioned in the Second Part of the Furnaces in the Ch of Spirit of Urine, where I have manifested a peculiar instrument by which such necessary Medicaments may be intromitted into the Matrix. I have therewithall hitherto performed many happy Cures. Bur forasmuch as I have since that time found out a far fitter instrument for such diseases, I will clearly describe it for the sake, comfort, and help, of such Women as are obedient to their Husbands, and chastly observe the bands of Wedlock,viz.both how to prepare and how to apply the same. You are to get an Instrument made of good Silver (not of Copper) its figure to be round, and like a small Cane, and shut in the fore part, and to be a little longer than a man’s finger, and about that bigness; You are likewise to get another a little smaller so as to go into the other, which other or bigger one must have three little edges on its inside all the length of it, thereby to keep the smaller instrument about the back of a knifes breadth from each side of the bigger one, that so it may not touch it. In the hinder part let be a Cover made which may shut the Instrument tight when the Medicine is put in, lest the spiritual vertue of the same fly back out of the body, and so order it that it may perform its operation on the Matrix through the Instrument, which is to be perforated (towards the top) with holes. To the hinder part of this Instrument let a Thread be tied whereby it may be plucked out when its operation is over: Therefore like as the disease is, so shall a suitable Medicament (and what is made exceeding Spiritual) be applied: On this wise let a small piece of fine Sponge be embibed therewithall, and let the inner small Pipe be filled therewith, and be so put up to the Matrix. If theMenstruesbe obstructed, then the most approved remedy is the concentrated Spirit of Urine, which by its subtile, penetrating, warming, mollifying, and opening vertue opens the little Veins of the Matrix, and gives an Exit to the obstructedMenstrue. But if the Matrix labour not with this disease, but is onely besieged as it were with cold and tenacious humours, then the hot and penetrating Oil of Tiles or Wax, rectified most subtilly, is to be applied, which being smeared on some Sponge, is to be conveyed in by the Instrument into the cold and watry Matrix, the which will thereby be warmed, dried, and freed from the greatness of its moisture. But if so be the Matrix shall be moved out of its place, or its cords broken, or too much relaxed, or any other way affected, and so not be capable of retaining the Matrix, and keeping it from sliding forth out of the body; Then must astringent things be used, which may constringe the too much loosened bands, and may heal and tie the Matrix again in its due place, and strengthen it. Such as these are the distilled Oils out of mens hair, out of the Wool of Sheep, and such-like Animals, out of the Horns of Goats, Claws of wild Beasts, and Feathers of wild and ravenous Birds, and such-like things, which being laid upon the Coals, do draw themselves up together, and do by that contraction shew to us as it were their use. But the manner of distilling and rectifying these Oils we have already taught in the Second Part of our Furnaces, so that it is plainly needless to repeat the same in this place. I say, and that truely, that if so be that these three kinds of Medicaments be rightly applied in those three affects of the Matrix, that they will perform things even wonderfull, and many pious Mothers might be preserved sound, a longer time amongst their poor Children, were they but help’d by such remedies. For it cannot be that much help should be brought to the sick and hurt Matrix by the Potions that are drunk of, or the hysterical watry Medicines that are injected by a Syringe. For such Medicaments as are taken in at the mouth cannot penetrate with their Vertues home to the Matrix, so as to help it, to open, to purge, and to heal it, or to heal the dissolved and relaxed bands. And as for Waters and Decoctions that are applied beneath, and there injected, they presently slide out again, and do help the Matrix but little, or nothing at all. But now these Oils of mine and Spirits are commodiously applied by means of the Instrument, and discharge their office most efficaciously. But there is yet one thing necessary here to advise you of,viz.that such as desire to use the Spirit of Urine, Oil of Tiles, or Wax, or Oils out of Horns, Hairs, or Feathers, for curing of the said defects of the Matrix, do prepare them themselves, or commit them to such to prepare them, as are skilled in the Art of distillation, and versed in rectifying such Spirits and Oils, thereby exalting them to the highest subtilty. For if so be that any would buy in some Apothecaries shop, those things that he knows not how they are prepared, and haply such as are corrupted already, and not fit for use, will be grosly mistaken. For it is not sufficient (if a thing is to be made use of) that it hath a bare name onely, and be destitute of the Vertues themselves, and which are no ways effectual) for the said Sicknesses of the Matrix are here taught to be cured not with corporeal, but with spiritual and efficacious Medicaments. It is therefore necessarily requisite, that the Medicines we have spoken of,viz.those Oils and Spirits, be excellently well prepared, and so as to exercise their Vertues by emitting or ejecting their invisible odour and vigour onely. The Spirit of Urine is to be so volatile and very subtile, as that it will vanish away out of an opened glass, and therefore there needs a greater diligence in preserving and keeping it; It is to be well preserved in glasses close stopt, for if the Spirit vanisheth away, there remains onely an unprofitable Water void of all kind of Vertues. I have therefore taught the making of peculiar Glasses, which will not let go the Spirits, the shape of them are described in the Second Part of my Chymical Furnaces, in that place where I treat of the Spirit of Urine. In like manner the said Oils are to be well rectified, and to be made exceedingly volatile, so that being exposed some few hours to the warm Air, they will vanish away; which if they will not doe, neither will they effect ought. I must needs confess that all the time in which I have lived, I never found a good Spirit of Urine, nor well rectified Oil of Wax or Tiles. I will say nothing of the Spirits of Hairs, Horns, Feathers or Quills (for there’s no use of them.) I have indeed found amongst many, a bare worthless, saltish Phlegm, but the very true Spirit of Urine it self I have not met withall. The Oils of Tiles and Wax are indeed found in all Apothecaries shops, but are for the most part corrupted by their long lying,and are old, thickish, red, tenacious, and deprived of their due odour, are stinking, and spoiled of all their vertues. For ’tis very rare that such Oils are rectified, but are sold, such as they be, when they come first out of the Retort, with a saltish kind of Acrimony adjoined unto them, which in the rectification abides in the bottom, and is at last separated from the Oil. Such Oils are of no value, and appertain not to this curing, for they will do just nothing; and thus much I could not omit advising you of. For haply when some sick person or other readeth here in this my book, that such Oils do most highly conduce to expell the said defaults of the Matrix, and yet perceive no comfort or help by the use of them, without doubt the fault will be laid on me, as that I had written a lie, and not upon the ill prepared Oils. This therefore do I affirm, that except your Oils be good, you will never have from them the hoped for event. And how (indeed) shall the sick man know if the Oils be good or not. The Merchant or Seller of them won’t confess them to be old, ill prepared, and deprived of their odour. So oft times the fault is laid upon the Authour, and he’s condemned for writing unprofitable things, and which are not agreeable to the truth. But the fault verily can light on none save upon the Magistrates, who (by winking at such things) do permit it. And when any one goes to be furnished with these things which are requisite, in some Apothecaries shop, and the Apothecary haply sells but few Wares, and all the rest wax old as they lie, and are corrupted; and if haply sometimes one or two such and such Simples or Medicaments be sought for but once or twice, it may be, in a whole year, he delivers the things he has by him, which if helpless as to the sick buyer, yet are helpfull to the Apothecaries purse. But yet this is an unjust thing, and a thing contrary to the love that is due unto our Neighbour, and what will burthen the Conscience. The sick man thirsting for help, puts the hope of his help and comfort in the Medicine exhibited him, which if not good the disease prevailing, the sick man dyes, but had good and profitable Medicaments been used, instead of the unprofitable and evil ones, he might have recovered. He therefore that is guilty of such evils, let him look to it, what account he will at last give unto God for his transgression; That which I have aforesaid, doe I again repeat, and do yet firmly alledge, that the beforementioned Spirit of Urine, as likewise the Oils of Tiles and Wax, and these other Oils of Horns, Hairs, and Feathers, and their most efficacious Spirits may be made use of in the expulsion of the affects of the Matrix of what kind soever, both in the younger Maids or Women, and in those that are of riper years, and that with most high admiration. It is therefore a just and right thing that they should be found in all the Apothecaries shops, and that they should all of them be prepared after a due manner. For they are not onely good in those diseases that afflict the Womb, but do likewise operate miraculously and doe things incredible in many other diseases and affects of the Body if well and rightly prepared and duely administred inwardly and outwardly; Concerning which we have written more at large in the Second Part of the Furnaces,viz.how they are to be prepared and made use of. Any one that is endued with understanding will perceive easily that a living Spirit is far more efficacious than a dead Body and exanimated Carkass. Forasmuch therefore as you have here heard that such grievous and incurable (so accounted at least by almost all Men) diseases of the Matrix, by which so many Women are swept away without any help, are to be cured by the alone application of subtile Spirits, and so few know the preparation of them, I will teach for the sake of that weaker Sex a better and more effectual Medicine, and withall will prove it by an example, that all subtile Spagyrical Spirits may be concentrated and augmented in their Vertues by the help of Art, and that one Spirit hath the power of concentrating another. And because this Treatise, and all the Medicaments therein proposed, aim onely at this end, to shew the wonderfull Vertues of Niter; And it hath been besides shown, how all the said Medicaments ought, by the help thereof, to be prepared; the same shall likewise be done in the demonstration of this Medicine.
I taught in the Second Part of my Furnaces to prepare a Spirit of Urine andSal Armoniackby the addition of Calcined Tartar; But yet the already concentrated Urine orSal Armoniackmay be mixed with double the quantity as its own weight is, of fixed Niter, and so be distilled, for so those Spirits will be more strong and more efficacious than if Tartar were added unto them. And if the Oil of Tiles or of Wax, which is made by the addition of Earth, so heated as to imbibe the Oil or Wax, be yet once more distilled by the concentrated Spirit of Niter, it will be brought to the highest subtilty, and ’tis to be done after this following manner.
Dissolve in one pound of the Spirit of Niter, four ounces ofLapis Calaminaris: Put the Solution in a Glass-Viol upon a vaporous or dry B, that the Phlegm may evaporate by little and little (for theLapis Calaminarisholds all the Spirits, and permits the Phlegm to go off) and the Spirit of Niter will remain behind in the Viol like Oil. Take one part of this concentrated Spirit of Niter, and half a part of Oil of Tiles or Wax, put them both in a glass Retort well luted, and force them out (by a distillation in Sand) from the concentrated Spirit into a great Receiver; and by this operation it will be far more penetrative than it was before. For the Spirit of Niter being by concentration by theCalaminarisfreed from all its Phlegm, and seeing it is thereby become the more attractive, and can find nothing else that it might attract, it associates to its self all the humidity that lies hidden in the Oil, and which could not be separated by the former distillation, and hereby brings to pass that the Oil doth necessarily become more subtile and efficacious, yea so penetrative, as that it performeth wonderfull things, especially in the effects of the Matrix, the which nought but very subtile Spirits can heal, and which those concentrated Spirits are wont to do far more certainly and securely than all the other Medicaments in the whole world: After the same manner is the concentration and purification of the other Oils to be performed. And now that none might scruple as to Waters being mixed with the said Oil or Wax, which have no affinity with Water, the separation of which from the Oils, I have here taught; I would have such an one to know, that much fatness, as the expressed Oils of Vegetables are never without an aqueous moisture, though it be invisible, and cannot be perceived, for the fire can make it manifest by distillation: As for instance; There’s Oil olive, one pound of which is wont to yield six or seven Lots of Acid Water by distillation; and thus do all Oils, Wax, Turpentine, Rosin, Gums,Pitch, Amber, and all combustible fatnesses. Yea even the very burning Spirit of Wine it self, and such others as are prepared of Vegetables, can never be thoroughly rid of their Phlegm, unless they be poured on some Calcined Salt, and so rectified, they leave their humidity therein, and become more subtile. But this is to be noted, that by how much the drier and more attractive that Salt shall be, so much the readier will it attract the moisture out of the winy Spirit and hold it. Therefore the Salts of Vegetables, Calcined Tartar, and principally fixed Niter, serve for such a rectification. The other Corrosive Salts, as fixtSal Armoniack, Calcined Vitriol, and such like, do rather love to hold and retain the Phlegm of their own peculiar Volatile Spirit than of the Spirit of Wine. And thus much let suffice as to making subtile Oils more subtile, that they may perform wonderfull things in Medicine. And now having described in this my Second Part of theSpagyrical Pharmacopœa, some of the most necessary Medicaments, that are preparable by Niter, and have shewed the way of using them, and which may safely be given in chief diseases as well for preservation as cure: I could to these add many more, and so encrease the number of them. But because there are not a few of such good kind of Medicaments in the writing I have hitherto published,viz.in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth Part of the Furnaces, in theMiraculum Mundi, and in the Mineral-Book, and there shall yet follow more in the following third Part in thisPharmacopœa Spagyrica, in the Vegetable work, as also in the second, third, and fourth Parts of the Prosperity of my Country, I judged it needless any longer to dwell on these here, but will onely by way of conclusion, and for (as it were) ornaments sake, yet add one onely Medicament of Niter, which will be none of the meanest. But forasmuch as this is not a common preparation, but comprehends in it great Mysteries, it seems not good unto me to set down its preparation before the eyes of the perverse world. Let it therefore suffice to give onely some hint, that the Common Niter, which to our Eyes appears most white, doth contain in it a Soul of a deep red Colour, which by the benefit of the Vulcanick Art may be thence educed. For whenVulcanhath reduced that old Dragon, bound in Chains, unto a most high streight by his Iron and fiery Mallet, and yet cannot plainly kill him;Neptunecoming in to help, meets the Basilisk with a clear Looking-glass, and turns on him his own peculiar poison, and so slays him. As soon as he begins to die, and ceaseth to vomit forth fire,Neptunelaying aside all fear, approacheth boldly near him, and puts a Sheeps-skin over his Jaws, and receives his Bloud and Soul, and precipitates it into the Salt-sea, wherein being drowned and choaked, he lays off all his venome and all his filth, and is converted into a most fair and most red Medicine. One onely drop of this Soul of Niter can tinge an ordinary glass full of Common water with a golden Colour. But he that can turn this Bloud of the Dragon by the help of fire into a fire-resisting Salamander, he may deservedly be compared with the happyJason, and obtain most great Honours, Treasures, and Riches. From all these things may a studious Artist easily see what Mysteries lie hid in Niter. The things which I have hitherto described are onely as it were small sparklings of those kinds of Mysteries that lie hidden in Niter. There shall be described in the fourth Part of the Prosperity of my Country, and in the following third Treatise of thisSpagyrical Pharmacopœamore and eminenter Metallick Medicines, and which are preparable by Niter: and this is done to the intent, that every one may know, how wonderfull and excellent a subject Niter is, the which is notably hidden by the Antients, and never wont to be called by its true name, but by Enigmatical Riddles. From hence has sprung up even infinite names, as, a dry water, a water not wetting the hands, an HermaphroditicalMercury, aBalneum Regium, the Soap of the Wise men, the flying Dragon, the Urine of Boys, a Dunghill, Azoth, the washer of Laton, a most sharp Vinegar, the Stygian-water, the Death of the Living, the Life of the Dead, the Purgatory of the imperfect Bodies, the Basilisk, the forked Serpent, the most great Venome, the Venome of Herbs, theMenstrueof Women, and such like infinite names, whereby they have wrapped over its true hidden name in Cimmerian darknesses, but is now by me revealed, and is set before the eyes of the whole world, and it shall farther be revealed and detected in the three remaining Treatises of the Prosperity ofGermany, which shall very shortly follow, and so its wonderfull power and most efficacious vertues, which it performeth in the bettering of Metals, and in preparing Metalline Medicaments may be manifested and laid open before the whole world. I will not onely declare this in writing, but also will (God permitting) very shortly shew, even manually and in very deed in a convenient Laboratory, the making and use of all my Furnaces, hitherto published in my writings, and the preparation of many excellent Medicines, as also the truth of the metalick Transmutation. Nor will I do thus to the end that I may advance my own profit, but will rather do it for this intent,viz.that the health and safety of many thousands may be provided for that are afflicted with various sicknesses, and that the whole World may see, believe and confess, that the Transmutation of Metals by the abject Niter may be effected. But because in such a like demonstration, if the Laboratory be frequented but for one years space onely, and daily laboured in, and the confecting of so many Medicaments be shown, such a great quantity of various Medicaments as I shall have by me, cannot be all used by my self, nor can they be of any use if laid up, and therefore they shall be sold to any one for a small and vile price, that so they may each that needs them use them in their necessity. It is not Covetousness that driveth us thus to doe, thinking thereby to get great riches, but onely to get just as much as may serve to pay for all the necessary matters, as Coals, Glasses, and other things. So then by this so good and laudable a work, there will not onely be laid open to the whole world, the occult Mysteries of Nature, to the honour of God: But withall, the most miserable poor Sick will easily obtain good Medicaments, and recover their former health. Nay farther, not a few of such as have been in want will be able by the most profitable use of Niter in transmuting the inferiour Metals into better, be able to sustain themselves better and more quietly. But that the whole world may see and consider that my own peculiar profit and gain is not sought, but that my Neighbours profit is out of a Christian affection onely aimed at, there shall be adjoined at the end of the following third Part, the price of every Medicament; from whence every one may easily conjecture, that there is not expected any gain or large profit, but onely the recoveringof my disbursements; seeing no one is to be found who, bestowing great costs in teaching others, would willingly lose both his Expences and Labour too. I will with a willing mind reach others, but I will not lay out my Money and run the hazard. The World is wise enough, and great is the number of those sick people that need help: And therefore this publick Laboratory will (by God’s help) be able to bring abundance of profit to all mankind; In this Laboratory there shall be all the Furnaces and all the Instruments whereof I have made mention in the Writings by me published, but the resemblances of them not pictured, because there’s no occasion for that to be added; And withall, those Furnaces, Presses, and Instruments which we have mentioned or shall mention in the first, second, third, and fourth Part of the Prosperity of my Country, and in the Vegetable work, and my other Writings shall be there to be seen, the which certainly will be exceedingly helpfull to most men that abhor not to labour, to procure them food and sustenance in their necessity.
Furthermore, forasmuch as all my Writings hitherto published, are very negligently and faultily printed here and there by other men, against my knowledge. I will again send them forth corrected, amended, adorned, and encreased with the figures hitherto omitted. And this I was unwilling to conceal from the Lovers and Students of Arts. Herewithall will I conclude this Second Part of mySpagyrical Dispensatory, and shortly add the Third Part, onely wishing that this Work of mine may serve for the comfort and assistance of very many sick persons.Amen.
The End of the Second Part.