The Water wherein we dissolve is thus made.
R. Vitriol, a pound and a half, Salt-Armoniac one pound, Azinat one pound, Salt-nitre a pound and a half, Salt-gemme one pound, Allom half a pound; these are the Ingredients which belong unto the making of the Water for the Solution of Antimony.
Take and mix them well together; at first distil very slowly, for the Spirits ascend with greater violence than those of any other common Aqua fortis; beware of its Spirits; for their Fumes are very subtile and hurtful in their penetration.
When you have adulterated the Antimony well and purely from the corrosive Water, then put it into a clean Vial, poure good distilled Vinegar upon it, set it forty dayes and nights to putrefie in Horse-dung, or in Balneum Mariæ, it will be bloud-red. Take it out, and see how much is yet to be dissolved, decant off gently the pure and clear, which is red into a Glass-Gourd, poure other Vinegar upon the Fæces as before, that if any thing should yet remain therein, it might be dissolved; this must be done four times in fourty days and nights; for if any good be in the Fæces, it will be dissolved in that time, then cast the Dregs away as unprofitable, being but Dirt, and to be cast to the Dunghill.
Put all the Solutions in a glass-Gourd into Balneum Mariæ, distil all the tart Vinegar from it, pour it on again, or else pour fresh, if this be too weak, it will quickly dissolve in the Vinegar; distil it again from it, that the Matter be quite dry; then take common distilled water, wash all tartness from it with the Vinegar imparted to the Matter, then dry the Matter in the Sun, which is of a very deep red, or else dry it very well at a gentle fire.
When the Philosophers find our Antimony thus secretly prepared, they say then that its external nature and virtue is inverted internally, and the internal cast forth externally, henceforth becoming an Oil, which is concealed in its innermost and profoundest part, till it be well prepared, and cannot any more be brought into its first Essence, untill the last Judgment; and it is true, for so soon as it feels the force of the fire, it flies away in a Vapour with all its parts, because it is volatile.
Some of the common Laborators, having thus prepared Antimony, they take one part out because of its consumption, that they may the better operate it, they mix with it one part of Salt-Armoniac, one part of the Vitrum (with others Titrum) one part of the Rebooth (with others Cadoli) wherewith the Bodies are cleansed; this mixture they cast upon a pure Luna, and if there were eight Ounces of the Luna, they found ten Drams of good Gold in the separation, and sometimes more; and by this work they gained wherewithal to bear their Charges, the better to attend upon, and attain unto the great Work. The ignorant called this an induction into the Silver, but that is false; for this Gold is not brought into it by the Spirits, but every kind of Silver hath one Ounce of Gold more or less in the Mark (or 8 Ounces) for Gold is so united with the Nature of Silver, that it cannot be separated from it, either by Aqua fort, or common Antimony, as the Gold-smiths know.
But when the aforesaid Composition is cast upon the Luna in the flux, then happens such a separation, that the Luna doth freely let go the Gold implanted therein into the Aqua fort, and is separated from it, letting it precipitate and sink to the bottom, which otherwise could not be done at all. Therefore it is not an induction into the Luna, but a bringing out of it.
But we return again to our proposed Work; for we would have only the Oil, which was only known to the Wise, and not to the Ignorant.
When you have rubified the Antimony very well according to the former Directions, you must have in readiness a Spirit of wine well rectified, pour it over the red Powder of Antimony, set it four daies and nights in a gentle Balneum Mariæ, that it may dissolve very well. And if then any of it remain undissolved, pour fresh Spirit of Wine upon it, set it again into the Bath as aforesaid, all will be well dissolved; and if perhaps any more Fæces remain, they will be very few, cast them away, for they are good for nothing. Put the Solution into a glass-Gourd, with a Head luted upon it, set it into Balneum Mariæ, with its receiver to take the Spirits, distil slowly with a slack heat, till all the Spirit of Wine be come over, pour it in again upon the dry matter, draw it off again as before; this pouring in & abstracting continue so often, till you see the Spirit of Wine ascend over the helm in various colours, then it is time that you follow it with a strong fire, then with the Spirit of Wine ascend red into the helm, and drop into the Receiver like a bloody Oil, and the tender Body ascends like a red Oil, dropping into the Receiver; truly this is the most secret way of the Wise, the so much applauded Oil of Antimony; it is a noble, well sented, virtuous, and powerful Oil, as you shall hear afterwards.