THE FOURTH CENTURY.
To extract the Sol that is in Granates.
1. If Granates be melted with Glass, that contains Lune, the Lune containing Glass will unite it self with the Sol that is in the Granates, which with an Aq. Regia may be afterwards separated.
To make a good Mercury of Wine.
2. Recipe Crude Tartar and pour upon it a Lye of Salt of Tartar, distill in an Alembick, and you’ll have a strong Mercury of Wine, which is a much stronger and more fiery Spirit, than Spirit of Urine, especially if some Sal Armoniack be added to it.
To make a Mercury of Metals.
3. And if before we dissolve a Metal or Mineral in the foresaid lye of Salt of Tartar, or in the Crude Tartar, before that both these contraries be put together, then the volatile Spirit of Tartar will bring over the Tincture or Mercury of the said metal or mineral in the form of a subtile Spirit. In this manner we may drive the Mercury of all minerals and metals over the Helm.
What the Soul of the greater and lesser World is.
4. Plato call’d common Salt the Soul of the great World, and if so, then Salt of Tartar may very well be accounted the Soul of the lesser World: for whatsoever is in the Macrocosm, the same is also in the Microcosm.
All superfluities of Nature afford a volatile Salt.
5. For the Salt of Hartshorn of Hair, Soot, Blood, and of the Seeds of Mustard, Cresses and Scurvygrass, &c. are much of the same Nature as Salt of Tartar.
A Good Bath.
6. Common water sprinkled upon red hot Flints or Pebbles that are found in running Streams, affords an hot Vapour, which by reason of the subtil Sulphur of the Stones it carries up with it, is very penetrating, so that in this manner without any other Fire we may prepare an hot dry Bath, very available to cure many Diseases by sweating, the great vertue of it chiefly proceeding from the sulphureous Spirit of the Stones.
To separate Sol from Luna by fluxing in a Crucible.
7. When we have a mind to separate Sol from Luna by means of Sulphur we need not make use of granulated or filed Saturn for precipitation, but instead thereof we may make use of Antimony, because the granulated or filed Saturn is made hard and influxible by the Sulphur: neither shall we make use of common Venus for precipitation, as Erker teaches, but such a Venus as hath been made friable with Arsenick or Orpiment, by which means we shall get more Sol than without Arsenick, because Arsenick and Orpiment contain much volatile Sol, which in this Operation becomes fixed with the Luna.
To recover the Sol and Luna which is got into the Pores of the Crucible.
8. The Crucible must be beaten into fine Powder, and put into a reverberatory fire, stirring it continually by which means the Antimony and Sulphur vapour away, and the Sol and Luna remains with the Earth, which, with strong Waters may be separated.
Another way to perform the same.
9. Or we may add filings of Saturn to the powder of the Crucibles, and give them a strong heat, by which means the Saturn will take in the Sol and Luna. N. B. But the Separation with strong Waters is the more easie way of the two.
To extract the Colour from Sol.
10. Venus, Jupiter and Regulus Martis melted into a mass with Sol, and Venus, the Jupiter and Regulus Martis afterwards separated from the Sol by Niter, then melt other metals as before with the Sol, and separate them as before with Niter, which must be continued till the Sol have lost his Colour.
11. The dross being afterwards melted in a Crucible, and a small quantity of Coles made of Blood cast upon it, the extracted Tincture of Sol will separate it self from the dross, falling to the bottom like a Regulus. N. B. The metals Venus, Jupiter and the martial Regulus may be separated from the dross onely with common wood Coal.
12. Niter fixed by the Regulus of Antimony, and distill’d with Sal Armoniack, gives an excellent Mercury of metals, which hath a scent like musk.
To extract Sol out of Stones.
13. If we take Sand or Stones that contain Sol, and melt them with Lead ashes into Glass, and reduce them again with fixed Salt, then by cupelling this Lead ashes, and the reduced Sand or Stones severaltimes, we shall have the Sol that was in the Stones.
To extract Sol from Stones.
14. The black or brown Pebbles found in Brooks, and which break smooth like Glass, being mixed with the best Eagles wings and distilled by retort, yield much Sol.
A Tincture from Metals.
15. Jupiter is the highest Regent over the upper Constellations. Sol gives to all Stars their Light, Mars rules upon Earth, and Saturn in the Earth, and of these four an universal Tincture may be prepared.
16. Mars and Saturn in particular yields great riches, when being reduced to Glass they are several times driven through a Reverberatory, according to that of the Ancient Philosophers; by Saturn and Mars, fire and art, great wealth may be found.
That there is a renovating vertue hid in Spiders.
17. Spiders renew themselves every month by casting their skins, wherefore a medicine prepared of them by the Flame of Spirit of Wine renews man.
18. It is also to be observed that all Birds, especially those that feed upon Flies and Worms, when they are sick, cure themselves by eating Spiders.
Secrets of Serpents.
19. All sorts of Serpents renovate themselves once a year by casting their skins, wherefore if we extract them with Spirit of Wine, and correct them by burning away the Spirit of Wine, they yield an assured medicine against all Poyson, and renews man.
20. Regulus of Antimony being duely fixed with Sol, tingeth as well in the wet as dry way.
Sol and Sulphur yield a Tincture.
21. Common combustible Sulphur cannot join with the incombustible Sulphur of Sol, without such a medium as partakes of both their Natures, viz. Antimony: when by this means the combustible Sulphur is fixed by the incombustible Sulphur of Sol, the Sol gives it ingress into imperfect metals to tinge them.
To make Sol red.
22. If the Blood of the Lion be digested with Tartar and Aqua Fortis, this purple Colour will be changed into a red, and separate it self from the Salt, falling in form of red powder to the bottom, and is a most excellent Colour for Painters.
To make Purpurissa, or a Paint to make the Face look ruddy.
23. Dissolve Sol and Jupiter in Aqua Regis, digest and edulcorate with Water, yields an excellent paint for Women. N. B. But a little Oil of Talk ought to be added to it.
An Experiment upon Purpurissa or the Blood of the Lyon.
24. When we digest or boil the Blood of the Lion so long till the red Colour becomes as white as milk, and then pour upon it as much Water, as has been evaporated during the boiling, this milk will be chang’d again to Blood.
25. Of the blue Paint called Smalt, by means of Salt of Tartar may a most excellent Paint be made for Limners, not inferiour to Ultramarine.
26. Of Mercury, Jupiter, Sulphur and Sal. Armoniack is made the Paint called Aurum Musicum.
A Cementation that graduates Venus into Sol.
27. Recipe Vitriol calcined to Redness, mix it with Salt and Coal dust, lay this with thin Copper Plates stratum super stratum, put them into a Fire that may keep the Plates of Venus red hot for six hours without melting them, by which means the Sol in the Venus will be encreased; if we repeat this Cementation several times till the Venus be of a golden colour, the gain will be much greater. N. B. The cause of this melioration is, because the Coal Dust hinders the corrosive Spirits of the Vitriol and Salt from corroding the Venus, and therefore onely penetrates and graduates the same.
To make all Corrosives sweet.
28. Vitriol distilled with Salt yields a Corrosive Spirit, but if Coal Dust be mixed with them, they give a sweet Spirit, which graduates Lune into Sol when digested therein.
29. Recipe, Calx of Jupiter mixed with Mercury of Lune, and therewith Cement plates of Venus, by which means the saline Spirits introduce the white Sulphur of Jupiter into the Venus, and change it into Lune containing much Sol.
A sweet graduating Spirit, usefull to the Melioration of Metals.
30. Recipe, Coal Dust, mix them with Sal Mirabilis, and distill by retort, and you will get a sweet graduating Spirit, exalting some Metals to Sol.
The Philosophical Work.
31. The Father of all things is the warm Son, their Mother is the moist Moon, the Earth is the Womb, the Wind carries the Seed through the Suns driving into the Womb the Earth, which foments, and at last brings forth the Child.
Sulphur is the Father of all Metals.
32. The Central Fire in the Earth mounts upward continually into the hollow places of the Earth, and meeting with water or moisture, cleaves to it and makes Stones, as also all Metals and Minerals of different natures and properties, according as the water is pure or impure.
Sulphur is the universal Coagulator.
33. A sulphureous vapour is that which coagulates Mercury, as well in Vegetables and Animals as Minerals.
Demogorgon the Grand-father of all things.
34. The Central Fire in the great World keeps it in continual motion, and causeth the growth of all things as well upon, as under the Earth, being the Governour of the great World.
The Vital Spirit, or radical moisture, is the Life and Growth of all Men.
35. As the great World is governed and maintained by the Demogorgon or Central Fire, so Man the little World is governed, and maintained in continual motion and growth, by the Vital Spirit seated in his heart.
36. Fire is the Father of all things, Water the Mother, the Earth is the Womb, the Wind or Air drives the Fire, being the universal Agent, into the Water, being the universal Patient, in order to bring forth Fruit. See my Treatise of the divine Character.
37. Man, Beasts, Fish and Fowl, and all that lives and grows, draw their life from the Air, onely the Salamander draws his life, and has his Body from the Fire, wherefore also in power and strength he excells all living Creatures.
38. The secret Fire of the Chaldeans, which at all times draws Fire out of the Air, wherewith the Jewish Priests kindled their Sacrifice, as may be seen in the Maccabees, is made of Steel, Niter and Sulphur.
39. When we abstract an Aqua Regia wherein Sol is dissolved from the Butter of Antimony, the Soul of Sol and Antimony comes Bloud-red over the helm, which poured upon a Solution of Lune, the Lune falls to the bottom, and draws the Tincture of Sol and Antimony to its self out of the Water, and the Lune by this means becomes red, and is a Tincture and Universal medicine for humane and metallick Bodies. N. B. The remainder of the Sol and Antimony that did not come over is wholly fixt, and a good Diaphoretick, thus the Souls of the dead, i. e. of Sol and Lune are brought up from Hell. See Nuisement de spiritu & sale Mundi.
40. When in the manner now said with the Butter of Antimony, we bring over the Soul of Mars we get a much higher Tincture than from that of Sol, and in coming over becomes wholly fixt. See my Treatise de 3 principiis Metallorum.
41. In like manner may from the Butter of Arsenick and Lune a white Tincture be brought over the helm, tinging Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn into Lune. N. B. These Tinctures in coming over are fixed by Plato’s Stygian Water, so as to need no further fixation.
42. But if we precipitate these Tinctures of Mars and Antimony with the Solution of Sol, and then edulcorate and dry the same, we by this means do obtain a dry graduating Water, which being molten with any white or red metals makes them yield good Gold, and Lune on the Cupel to the great profit of the Artist.
43. Oil of Vitriol mixed with Sal Armoniack, is also of good use to bring over Tinctures, but not in that quantity as Butter of Antimony.
44. Our dry, sweet universal tinging water dissolves white Pebbles and Crystals, and changeth the same into precious Stones of several colours, excepting onely their hardness, which it cannot communicate.
45. The easiest way to get the Sol or Lune that is in Jupiter, is by casting it upon molten Venus, which draws the Sol and Lune to it self out of the Jupiter.
46. In like manner doth the Regulus of Antimony when in flux readily draw to it the Sol and Luna in Jupiter, and then washing the Regulus with Niter we get the Sol and Luna contained in Jupiter.
47. But this operation ought not to be done in Crucibles made of common Earth, which easily break and spill the metal, but in those that are made of a fat crucible Clay, mix’d with coal dust, as is taught in the fifth part of my Furnaces.
48. As the Sulphur in Tartar coagulates a thin water into a hard Hepar, or Liver so called, so likewise doth a fixt Sulphur coagulate Mercury into Sol and Luna.
49. The often calcining of Salts and dissolving them in Water, doth purifie them, and makes them easily fluxible, and in particular Vitriol may by this means be so purified, as to yield its Oil with a very small heat.
50. The Solution of Saturn and Lune poured into a volatile Spirit of Mars or Venus, draws the tinging volatile Sulphur out of the Water to it self, and makes the same Corporal and fixed.
51. Tartar contains a coagulating and tinging Sulphur, for it coagulates Water into a Hepar, and tinges red metals to a white Stone, which may be pulverized; this Sulphur is the cause why Tartar will not dissolve in cold Water as other Salts.
52. When therefore the Tartar is freed of this Sulphur that coagulates all Water, then much good may be done therewith as well in Physick as Alchimy, and many other Arts besides.
53. Tartar by being boiled in a strong Lye, lets go its coagulating Sulphur, and a neutral Salt proceeds from them both; but if we have a mind to separate the Lye from the purified Tartar we must do it with an acid, that may mortifie the Lye, by which means the purified Tartar will be left snow white.
54. If the Lye be kill’d with a Spirit of Niter or Aqua Fortis, then from both these contraries proceeds a good Niter.
55. But if we make use of a Spirit of Salt, then there is made up of both a tartarized Spirit of Salt.
56. If we take distill’d Vinegar to mortifie the Lye, then from the joyning of those both proceeds a neutral volatile Salt which is a good Diuretick in the Gout and Stone.
57. This is the best way of purifying Tartar, which after this Operation is of far greater use in Physick and Alchimy than the common Tartar.
58. Tartar as hath been said, contains a coagulating and tinging Sulphur, coagulating all Water into a thick Hepar, and exalting the Colours of metals. Thus we see that by boiling Golden or Silver Vessels with Tartar, their several Colours are exalted.
59. And whosoever has the Art of separating this Sulphur from Tartar, may by means thereof effect great and wonderfull things.
60. A like wonder working Sulphur is likewise found in Animals, and more especially in man, who brings it with him into the World.
61. Whence some Philosophers tell us, that Adam brought the Philosophers Stone with him out of Paradise, and after his death carried it with him into his grave.
62. Minerals also afford the same coagulating fixing and tinging Sulphur, for which reason the Philosophers Stone is said to be Animal, Vegetable and Mineral, because of each of these three Kingdoms an Universal medicine may be made for men and metals.
63. But the easiest way is, when we extract the best part of all these three Kingdoms, and conjoyn them according to Art for an Universal medicine.
64. Wine is the chief of Vegetables, Man of Animals, and Gold of Metals.
65. Spirit of Wine purges and purifies all things, with its purifying Flame; as may be seen in my Purgatory of the Philosophers.
66. The volatile Salt of Animals, and especially of Man purifies all things by its volatilizing Virtue, as appears in our most secret Sal Armoniack.
67. The incombustible Sulphur of metals tingeth the Bodies of men and metals, to the highest pitch of Health, as may be seen in the third Appendix to the seventh part of my Pharmacopœa Spagyrica.
68. Demogorgon with his Russet mantle and green Coat, is the Grandfather of all the Heathen Gods i. e. of all metals.
69. And like as in the Earth he doth generate and bring to perfection all metals, so also out of the same, if the Artist knows how to manage him, he perfects all unripe and imperfect metals, in a short time, with the help of Fire, to that degree that they shall endure the Test as well as Sol or Luna.
70. This wonderfull virtue of fixing all volatile minerals, the Philosophers call their secret Fire or proper Agent, wherewith not onely the imperfect metals, as Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, but also volatile Mercury, combustible common Sulphur, Antimony, Orpiment, and Arsenick may be fixed, so as on the Cupel to leave Sol and Lune.
71. And as this Demogorgon, or invisible secret Fire of the wise Men, doth fix the unripe minerals and metals into Lune and Sol; so likewise can it fix the said minerals and metals, and exalt them to an higher degree than that of Sol, even to the plusquam perfection of true Tinctures, whereby all imperfect metals may be changed into Sol.
72. This our Demogorgon hath the virtue even as it comes raw and unprepared out of the Earth to change and meliorate all metals as follows.
73. It makes Saturn as hard and white as Lune, when tinged with it, of which all manner of Vessels and Dishes may be made, it onely wants the sound of Lune and enduring of the Test.
74. If a little of this Tincture be cast upon fluxed Venus it presently becomes white and hard as Steel, continues as fusible as before, and yet is so hard that it cannot be filed, so that several Vessels may be made of it, not subject to bending or breaking.
75. When cast upon melted Jupiter, it makes it hard as Lune, and sounding like it, is of great use to make all sorts of Vessels of.
76. And amongst other things that may be made of it with great profit, this is one, viz. that Looking-Glasses may be made thereof, which being polished continue a long time clear and fair, without being obscured in moist Weather, as other metalline Glasses are, and all this by reason of the extraordinary hardness of the metal. See my Treatise of Looking-glasses.
77. This Tincture cast upon Lune, makes the same Coal-black throughout, so that it is no more like Lune, of which Bells and Clocks may be made of a far better and clearer sound than those that are made of Venus and Jupiter.
78. By this means also in times of War, or other danger Lune may so be disguised as not to be known for such, and so may be a good way to preserve it from being taken by the Enemy.
79. In like manner it makes Sol so hard that it can no way be bent or destroyed, and therefore might be of good use in many of the following cases.
80. It would be very proper for some great Emperour or King to make his Statue of, it being indestructible, and not to be diminished or injur’d by any way whatsoever.
81. Money coin’d of this Sol would be of good use if a King or Prince had a mind that his Coin should not be transported elsewhere, because differing so much from common Sol it would not be passible in other Countries.
82. This golden Coin also would not be subject to be clipt or fil’d.
83. Medals also might be made of this Sol, and would be a great curiosity besides the indefectibleness of them.
84. It would be excellent also to make Rings of, especially such as are designed for the remembrance of Friends, as lasting for ever.
85. It would be very proper to cast Seals of, or the divine Character or other secret Sigils. See my Treatise of the Divine Character and Seal of God.
86. Or the said Divine Character being exprest upon my Lapis Ignis (which being but for a little while carried in ones mouth, cures many grievous Diseases without any other Medicine) might be set in this hard Sol, and so without wasting be carried constantly about one. See my Treatise of the Mineral Squilla in order to a long life.
87. Great Princes also might have Armour and Arms made of this hardned Sol, which would be much better than any of Iron or Steel, which easily take rust, to which Sol is not Subject.
88. Of this Sol might also very conveniently be made Candlesticks and Lamps, with other Vessels for the use of the Church and Altar.
89. To many more uses this Sol might be put, especially for that by reason of its hardness, it suffers it self to be polished to that degree, as to cast a great lustre from it, like the Sun.
90. As to the further use hereof, See my Treatise de tribus Lapidibus ignium secretorum.
91. With the hardned Lune, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, many profitable and curious things may be done, which for brevitiy sake are here omitted.
92. The Sulphur of the Philosophers when set free from his dark Prison, wherein he is detain’d by his Brethren, by our Key that opens all Locks, gives his Deliverer for reward, the possession of the three Kingdoms in the World, viz. enabling him to make all Vegetables grow swiftly, and very fruitfull, to cure the Diseases of all Animals, and to meliorate and exalt all Metals.
93. And when the Philosophers, saith Sendivogius, see this Sulphur restor’d to liberty, swimming in their Sea, they worship it, and draw it out with a Silver Line, though others do it with their Sol attracting Magnet, and fix it into an universal Medicine, wherewith they afterwards effect wonders: As may be seen in my Elias Artista, and Purgatory of Philosophers.
94. The Philosophers say, except first you make our Sol (that is, the redeemed Sulphur) and Mercury white, you’l never be able to make them red.
95. They say also, our Sol tingeth not except it be first tinged it self, that is exalted in its colour.
96. All things in the World have their rise from Fire and Water, and derive their Purity or Impurity, from the Purity or Impurity of their Parents.
97. The common Fire brings forth its Fruits very slowly, whether they be Stones, Minerals, Animals, or Vegetables.
98. And so do likewise the warm and dry Sun, and moist Earth: but when we assist Nature with Art, then she works much more swiftly, and brings her Fruits to maturity in much shorter time.
99. The Meteors in the Firmament which are made of Fire and Water, especially Thunder and Lightning, produce sometimes Stones, and cast them to the Earth.
100. A common fulminating Powder made of Sulphur, Niter and Tartar gives a stinking offensive smoak, corrupting some things, and meliorating others: whereas a Fulmen prepared of Niter, Jupiter and Mercury, yields a particular tinging mercurial Water. The Fulmen of Venus tinges Mars into Copper, that of Lune graduates Venus into Lune; and the Fulmen of Sol graduates and tinges Mars into Sol.
The universal Fulmen of the great Tincture graduates all Metals into Sol, which God of his mercy grant unto us, Amen.