For Example. A Wood-coal, for the greatest part, consisteth of a fugacious and immature Sulphur, mixt with a few fæces, being put into an open Crucible, and set in a small Fire, it is presently burnt, and being all consumed, leaveth nothing in the Crucible, but a few Salt-ashes; but being put into a Crucible well closed and defended from the Air, and committed to a great Fire, and therein kept for many years, yet would lose nothing of its weight, colour and body, but would remain a black Coal, without any alteration. But on the contrary, if any Mercurial salt be added to the Coal in a due weight, and be enclosed with it in a crucible but one day, and kept in the fire, the coal will be changed into a red, fiery, heavy stone, more Metallick than Vegetable, whose admirable Virtues the Tongue cannot declare. Seeing therefore that from any fugacious and volatile Vegetable in so short a time a constant fixed thing may be made by Art, Why should not the same be made much better of some Mineral or Metal, which is much nearer to Fixity? And although these coals black the hand, nevertheless they contain much good, which he that knows how to come at, will by the same easily make his hands white again, and draw that from it which is more conducive to the health of Man’s Body, than from all the costly and fading things in the whole World. A Word is enough to the Wise. Although I have here shewed, that sulphurated Nitre is a true Medicine for Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, yet I would not be understood as if I affirmed there was no other, which is not my intention, seeing that if this Medicine were to be generally used for Vegetables, it would be too costly, [and there are other things described in this Book for that purpose, which are far cheaper] and I have shewed it only to the end that the wonderful Works of GOD might be manifest to those who are willing to try. For if any one will macerate the seed of any Vegetable in the Tincture drawn from sulphurated Nitre, by the Spirit of Wine, in a warm Bath, he may from that macerated seed produce a growing Herb, in a few hours space.
A Tincture of this sort will effect more in curing of Diseases, than a whole Apothecary’s Shop. But he that knoweth how to join some spiritual Gold with this Tincture, that the Gold may thence attract to it self nourishment and encrease, as a Vegetable doth from the Earth, will easily obtain a Universal Medicine. But if any think that I mean such a Medicine as changeth the imperfect Metals into Gold, in flux, he is mistaken, for that is to be attributed to the Stone of Philosophers only. But I call it Universal, as it is the chief Medicine of Animals, Vegetables, and Metals, which I intend alwaies to keep by me, ready prepared, that I may render others partakers thereof. I intend also this Winter to prepare a great quantity of the Universal Medicine for Vegetables, by the benefit whereof Grain may be made to grow in meer Sand, that so this Invention may become profitable to many men, provided they will but undertake the work: Not that I intend to prepare this of Nitre, which is too costly for the Dunging of Fields. For common Salt, which is abundantly cheaper, in a few hours, may be so changed, that losing its corrosive Nature and Property, it becomes plainly like Nitre in taste, figure, and virtue, but not inflamable, and excelleth the Dung of Cattel for dunging of Land. Neither let any man fear that this Preparation of common Salt requireth much labour or trouble, or is difficult to be done; for he that shall see the Operation but once, will easily be able to understand and imitate the same.
Hence, seeing that in all places there are many barren Fields to be found, it cannot be, but that great profit may be acquired by it.
Arcanum III.
A Gift offered to all diligent Physicians.
The profitable use of Salt-Petre, in the Concentration of Metals, and Preparation of Excellent Medicines.
Although in the First Part of Miraculum Mundi I have described divers concentrations and emendations of Metals; nevertheless in those there is nothing common with that Arcanum, which I intend here to describe. For those Arcana concern only the emendation of the imperfect Metals; but this also treateth of the Preparation of many excellent Medicines.
The manner of concentrating and amending of Metals by Nitre.
First, a Man is to be made of Iron, having two noses on his head, and on his crown a mouth, which may be opened, and again close shut. This, if it be to be used for the concentration of Metals, is to be so inserted into another man, made of Iron or Stone, that the inward head only may come forth of the outward man, but the rest of his body or belly may remain hidden in the belly of the exteriour man. And to each nose of the head, glass receivers are to be applied, to receive the vapours ascending from the hot stomach. When you use this man, you must render him bloody with fire, to make him hungry and greedy of Food. When he grows extreamly hungry, he is to be fed with a white Swan: When that Food shall be given to this Iron man, an admirable Water will ascend from his fiery stomach into his head, and thence by his two noses flow into the appointed Receivers; a Water, I say, which will be a true and efficacious Aqua-vitæ; for the Iron man consumeth the whole swan by digesting it, and changeth it into a most excellent and profitable Food for the King and Queen, by which they are corroborated, augmented, and grow. But before the Swan yieldeth up her spirit, she singeth her Swan-like song, which being ended, her breath expireth with a strong wind, and leaveth her roasted body for meat for the King, but her anima or spirit she consecrateth to the gods, that thence may be made a Salamander, a wholsome Medicament for men and metals.