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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

But seeing my true demonstration there made, seemed not sufficiently clear and evident to not a few, and that therefore they have most lyingly dared to aver, that there is no such thing as a true transmutation of Metals, and that such like Affirmations as these are meer fables, meer falsities, and meer dreams: Therefore I could not choose but (to stop the mouths of such wicked Men, and shame them,) to lay open and publish an evident and palpable truth.

And this is no great task for me to do, for I was many years ago certain of the truth hereof, and therefore can easily set it afore the Eyes of others, and that not onely particularly [or a particular transmutation] but also universally, insomuch that even the blind may see and palpably feel, that the transmutation of Metals is not an old Wives Fable, but is a certain and firm Science, and what is risen even from the foundation of nature her self. If now I shall prove it to be thus, I have then I hope secured my affairs, and have not onely defended the Writings my self have sent abroad, but withall the most true assertions of other honest Men, and so shall have evidently demonstrated those things which to the greatest part of Men seems a thing impossible to be done.

Albeit that there are many who have left us the truth in their Writings, yet are they so involved in obscurity, that such as know not the Fundamentals of the Art, can never learn ought of certainty from them. Whence it comes to pass, that so many Men have vainly attempted the Art, and therefore the Art it self hath been mightily despised.

The Transmutation of Metals is not a thing of so small a moment (as that eminent Philosopher Sandivogius witnesseth) in his Preface prefixed to his Writings; where he also tells us, that he that obtains the knowledge of the same, so as to transmute any imperfect Metal into a more perfect one, though it be done without benefit, hath met with an open Gate, and entrance leading to greater matters, and this is also exceedingly agreeable with the truth. For if any one shall take some imperfect Metal, and by handling or dealing with it with such or such matters, shall find that it is advanced to a golden or silvery nature, may more deeply look into the business with fuller and more accurate Meditations, and [at length] wholly search it out, viz. whence that bettering proceeds, and by what means or in what manner his labours are to be contrived.

And now when such an one doth make fix and constant, such or such a Metal by the benefit of the Fire, and useth no other matter about the Operation but Salt, and doth really find a true melioration of the Metal, certainly he cannot ascribe it to any other thing but the Fire and Salt: and now whereas he assuredly knows, that the melioration of Metals can be perfected by the help of no other thing but of Fire and Salt, he will not need to search for any other, but will rather wholly apply himself thereunto, whereby he may most commodiously deal with the Metals by the means of Fire and Salt, and better them with profit. And if now he be once Master of his desire, he will gain sufficiently thereby. But if not, he cannot blame the Art but himself, who indeed sees the possibility of the Art but hath not (yet) entred in by it, or through it to the great Treasures it discloseth, so as to take to himself a due or competent part. But forasmuch as such happy Men are very seldom found, who find the Key that opens the Doors to such Mysteries, I judged it a thing worth while if I did here detect this very Key, and show by what means the Gate (by which the closest of Arts is made fast) is wont to be opened. And if now it shall please the Studious Artist to enter thereinto, he may with all my heart, and so enjoy those Treasures. I will not pass the bounds I have intended to observe: it is sufficient for me to have shown the right and kingly way, wherein every one may go that listeth, that so he may arrive to his wisht for end.

But as for the Key that unlocks the Closet of Art in true Alchymy, I do confidently affirm, that Salts are such Keys, and especially Salt-peter, and also common Salt and Vitriol, each of which is of it self efficacious enough to open the Door which shuts the Parlour or Closet of Arts in Alchymy. But one Salt joyned with another as is expedient and in convenient wise as Art requires, does effect more and show greater power than if it abode alone, and this my Writings do too and agen largely shew. But those Salts are in an especial manner more excellent as to power and virtues than others are, those I say which being first made volatile or spiritual are afterwards made corporeal, like as the following example doth evidently demonstrate.

An evident demonstration of the possibility of transmuting the viler Metals by Salt and Fire into more noble ones.

Take of Vitriol two parts, and of good Salt-peter one part, mix them well, and being mixt distill an Aqua Fortis therefrom, with this Water, dissolve Silver or Lead, and pour into the Solution some Spirit of Salt, or else some common Salt onely dissolved in Water, that so the dissolved Metals may be turned into white Powder, and precipitate to the bottom of the Vessel. This done, wash off the Aqua Fortis from the Calx of Silver or Lead, with Rainwater, and you shall find it to be one quarter part encreased, and this augmentation cannot be washt off with any Water. Now these saline Spirits do make the Lune and Saturn so very volatile, fusile, and flying, that they melt in a small heat and penetrate all hard Bodies. Upon this account I called those fugacious and fusile Metals, by the name of a Mercury, which said Mercury of Lune, or of Saturn hath assumed to it self onely so much of the Salts as it needed, to amend it self in the Fire, when they mutually act upon each other, and the Salt maturates the Metal.

But what course shall we now take with these Metals, seeing they are so very volatile, that they cannot resist the indifferently strong force of Fire, and therefore go away in fume? And forasmuch as they abide not the Fire and do not die, by what means can they be amended?

There is no better way to be taken with them here, than (for prevention of their volatility) to add to them some metallick body, into which, the fugacious exceeding fusile, and Salt Metal may hide it self, and so brook the Fire. And amongst these six metallick Bodies, I know not as yet of any better than Tin reduced into Ashes, which is most fit for this Operation, because it is the most unfit or hard to melt of any the Calx’s of the rest of the Metals.