Fourthly, It makes metals volatile, and radically conjoyns them that they abide together, and one act on the other in the fire; it destroys and revives, kills and renews; wherefore it is compared to the Phenix.
Fifthly, It separates metals without any loss, and that speedily; but after another manner than corrosives, so that each of them may be had by themselves. For Example: Being about to separate gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead mixt; one, or two, three, or four of them mixt, that they may appear each by themselves, without the loss of any, you need not cupellate the mixture with lead, which way only gold and silver are gotten out, with the loss of all the rest: but by this way they are all preserved, where by turns, one after another, they are extracted wonderfully and swiftly, in half an hours time, by this sharp Vinegar of the Philosophers, &c.
Sixthly, By it metals may suddenly be mortified and reduced into transparent glass, irreducible, and like Amausa, but reserving the propriety and nature of every metal: which in the reduction of Gold do give perfect silver; whereby is confirmed that saying of the Philosophers, The corruption of one thing is the generation of another; and that of Paracelsus, Ex aliquo fiat nihilum, & ex nihilo aliquid. But this incombustible water, or permanent water, shews the truth of the Philosophers writings, generally mentioning it. In it the solution, putrefaction, distillation, sublimation, circulation, ascension, descension, cohobation, inceration, calcination, coagulation, fixation and fermentation, &c. in their work to be done at one time and one way: In which only operation all the colours appear of which the Philosophers make mention; as the head of the crow, virgins milk, dragons blood, peacocks tayls, green and red lyon, &c. There is also by it demonstrated the truth (by the liquor Alkahest) of that Hermetical saying, That which is above, is as that which is beneath, &c. and many other things are performed by its help, as making that secret Sandivogian Chalybs; also that long sought-for oyl of Talc.
So far (courteous Reader) hath come my Experience; neither doubt I, but by it to obtain that universal Salamander which lives in the fire.
These things which I write are true, and no fallacies. And though this secret be incredible to the ignorant, for the wonderful vertues it sheweth in the preparation of medicines, I would willingly publish it to the World for publick good, but on consideration I held it not meet to communicate it for certain causes. But only lest the knowledge of it should perish, and that the true (and almost extinct) medicine for the curing of diseases vulgarly incurable, might flourish, I have revealed this secret menstruum to two friends, viz. its preparation and use. [See the preparation in Mirac. Mundi, and Apology against Farner.]
But do thou not think, because I write of these high things, that I do intend to make common the Secret to all in general; not so, but I endeavour to confirm him that seeketh, and give him occasion to Search this secret deeper; which being found, he shall not only find the truth of my words, but he shall daily by exercise obtain far greater things than these.
And because I have never aspired after vain riches and honours, nor never desire them; I might well be perswaded to leave to others, as yet not hating the wicked World, my troublesome labours, because in this my painful age such tedious labours are very burdensome; besides Philosophy hath pointed me another way, so that what I am able I have determined to abstain from these vanities, and to seek a perpetual good, the life of rest; but my counsel shall not be wanting to those that seek it: for besides moved with the former reasons, also seeing innumerable many vain philosophers, as well learned as unlearned, uncessantly working, and losing their time and labour, and at last despairing, are perswaded that there is no truth in the Philosophers writings, but to be all filled with lyes and deceits; whence royal Chymistry is disgraced.
But this menstruum sufficeth to defend the writings of the Philosophers, without the metallick transmutations; so that I verily believe the time to be near, when the Omnipotent GOD, before He judge the World by fire, will shew His omnipotency to the Nations, by the revelation of the wonderful and incredible things of nature; of which, transmutation of metals is not the least, which in the third part of this Mineral Work I shall deliver to the last age, (being acceptable to God) to the profit of my neighbor, and for demonstration sake. Wherefore I now pass over such things, with a firm hope, that this faithful Admonition shall be received as an undoubted and infallible truth.
How the aforesaid Regulus of the flowers and dross of Antimony, is to be used in the bettering of course Metals, shall be shewn, that ART may not be abused.
The Antimonial Regulus, a radical metallick humour, may help to perform wonderful things, for being reduced to a water without a corrosive, it resolveth all metals, cleanseth, washeth, and purifieth them, and turns them into a better species, so that particularly not a small gain may be from thence received. But how it may be reduced into water, and how by its help metals may be resolved, volatilized, and again fixed, hath been demonstrated by Artephius, Basilius and Paracelsus; wherefore we need not here repeat their writings, but refer the Reader to their works.