The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

But to return to my purpose, and to shew in this place yet another very considerable Arcanum of Saturn, you must know, that I have already published divers great secrets in this fourth and third preceeding part, but cursorily onely, because I have not as yet attained to the one half part of their most great utility, and I was willing onely to shew what things mought be done.

But forasmuch as I have fortified their use with good and sharp Weapons, and that one or other sometime lighting thereupon by chance, and reaping great profit therefrom, may possibly judge that he is no ways at all bound or beholding unto me for the same; I was willing for the better information, and instruction sake, to adjoyn these few things, which are very weighty and considerable.

In divers places of the foregoing third part, and of this fourth part too, I have the preparation of the Mercury of Saturn and Lune, that is, I have shewn how Saturn and Lune may be reduced out of their Solutions, by the help of Salt, into a Snow like, fusile, fugacious, pure and dry Water; which Waters are by me called the Mercuries of Saturn and Lune, by reason of their fusile and volatile nature: They are metallick Waters not wetting the hands, and yet by reason of their form do they bear the name of Water, because being put into a Crucible, and molten with a small Fire, they are pellucid and transparent like unto Fountain Water, insomuch that they may be seen through even to the very bottom: But yet the Water of Saturn is of a more transparent clarity than the Water of Lune is.

But forasmuch as our main scope in this place is to make some mention of the use of the Saturnine Water, we will let pass other matters, and declare some of the virtues of the said wonderfull Water in the melioration of the Metals.

Let the lover of Art therefore know, that the Saturnine Water doth display its virtues in washing the Metals that are to be amended. For if any imperfect Metal, as Iron, or Tin, or Copper, be adjoyned thereunto, and held in such a Vessel, as in which, that Water cannot by means of its fugaciousness vanish away, nor through its subtile and penetrating power run out, and that it be digested for a while in such a Vessel, this Saturnine Bath seizeth upon, washeth, and purgeth the Metal, and transmuteth it into a better and more pure Metal, but yet with no great profit, for it onely shews the possibility.

But yet if some tinging Species be adjoyned thereunto, it does not onely make a pure washing, but likewise exalteth and tingeth the same, according as the tendency of the adjoyned subject is, either unto a white or a red Tincture. But what those Species are, there’s no need of disclosing them to every one. ’Tis sufficient that I have laid open the Water, and the use thereof in the washing of the Metals.

But that the Saturnine Bath may the sooner and readier seize upon the Metals, and wash them, it is the best way, to add one third part of the Mercurial Water of Lune, to the Mercurial Water of Saturn: which Waters do very readily conjoyn, and each help the other in the washing, and do also tinge, according as the property of that Tincture is, which is adjoyned thereunto. I will for Example sake adjoyn the manner, which shall both shew the possibility of the thing, and administer occasion of farther search.

Dissolve one ounce of pure Silver in Aq. Fortis, and three ounces of common Lead, in more Aq. Fortis, mix both the Solutions together, and precipitate them, either with common Salt Water, or with Spirit of Salt, which is all a case. Pour off the Aq. Fortis from the Coagulum, after its being settled to the bottom, which said Coagulum, you need not wash with Rain Water, for this Work, but press the liquor onely through a thick Cloath and so free it of its humidity; this done, dry this metallick Cheese by the Fire, and you shall have a Bath very fit to wash Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. And now when you are minded to try whether or no the success will fadge well, divide your Bath into three parts, and wash those three Metals on the following manner.

N. B. Let no Body take it in evil part, that I here silently pass over my secret bathing Laver, serving to wash the Metals in, and not permitting the Water it self to go away in fume: He that is minded to try this Operation, may for the first time make use of Crucibles, which, although they may bring some loss by letting go part of the Saturnine Bath, yet notwithstanding they will demonstrate the success of the business, and the loss by them caused may afterwards be prevented by due Mediums. The manner of using the Bath aforesaid, is as followeth.

Take of the filings of pure Iron, Copper or Tin one part, mix it with three parts of our dry Bath, and put the matter thus mixt into an earthen Vessel, which hath the compactness of Glass, such as those are, which are made at Siburg near Colen, at Bamberg in Franconia, and at Waldenburg, near Cassela in Hassia, and in other places of Germany. (N. B. The common Vessels and Crucibles cannot retain this Water, but it penetrates through them like Oil.) Heat your Vessel so hot as to cause the Water together with the Metals to melt and flow well, in which liquefaction, part indeed of the water will pass away in fume, but this loss may be easily prevented.