But if you would have any profit by such an Operation, you must get you a Cucurbit for this sublimation made of good and vitreous or glazefying Earth; and the sublimed Mercury must be taken forth of the Alembick, and be again added to the dry matter lying in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and this Operation of subliming it must be so often repeated, till there ascend up no more, and that all abides fix with the Tin. Then is a stronger Fire to be put thereto, and the Jupiter and Saturn will be maturated by the Salt as we taught afore. And if now any be minded to take that same sublimated matter, as it ascended in the first sublimation, and would make it fix and constant (per se) in a Glass, he would get a Tincture that will in projection tinge with a white and red colour, but yet I never have as yet tried the latter of these. However I doubt not, but it may be done. For seeing that this sublimed matter, doth (though it be so volatile) penetrate the Plates of Copper, by three or four hours time cementation, and turns somewhat of the said Plates into the nature of Gold and Silver by graduation, how much more would it do, if being brought to a due fixity and constancy, it should be projected into some molten and flowing Metal? For that in such a white sublimate (principally in that which proceeds from Lune) there lies hid also an occult redness, and may be manifested by the Fire, this I say, mine Eyes have seen, and mine hands have felt, but have not as yet brought the Operation to its compleat end, by reason of various lets and want of time.
Farther, by such a sublimate Mercury may likewise be wrought various Transmutations, which I think not fit to divulge. It is in its nature fugacious and volatile, and yet notwithstanding doth it in process of time make all other volatile and fugacious matters, such as are Arsenick, Auripigment, Cobolt, and even the most flying of all, viz. common Mercury, fix and constant, which effect is to be attributed to the Salt onely. He that knows rightly to manage this Operation, will not labour in vain, but will be rendred a partaker of great secrets, which thing I leave to the Sons of Art, as a Testament or Will.
But yet that I may kindle some little Torch for to guide the desirous Reader, and may make him more certain of a true Tincture, which this abject Mercury sublimate showing it self in a white colour hides in it, I have thought good, yet farther to add this following way.
Extract out of this sublimate a running Mercury, vivifying and separating it by apt and magnetick subjects; and evaporate a little portion or particle thereof, of about the bigness of a Pea, in a Silver Spoon; when ’tis all gone, you will find a purple Powder left in the Spoon. If you cast this Powder upon hot boiling Lead, you will find after its blowing off, a grain of Gold on the Test. The Spoon it self will bear the mark of a purple spot in that place, in which the Mercury went away in fume, and it cannot be blotted or rubbed out, because the Mercury hath deeply impressed the Tincture in the Spoon.
Now may some or other say unto me, whence did that little grain of Gold left on the Cupel, and that purple spot which tinged the Silver Spoon, proceed, came it from the Lead or from the Tin, or from the Silver, or out of the saline Spirits? The greatest part of Men will say it proceeded out of the Lead, Tin, or Silver. But I say, that it did indeed come out of the Lead, Tin or Silver, but that the Tincture adjoyned thereunto is for the most part the true Soul of Niter, which the Mercury took unto it self, and again left it and forsook it assoon as ever it was vexed or forced with the Fire. But I doubt not but that if such a Mercury impregnated with the Soul of Niter, were fixed and made constant in the Fire, it would afford an universal Tincture.
I confess I have tried many a time this Operation in small Experiments, which sometimes answered not my desires, what diligence soever I used thereabouts; but when I attempted it in a greater quantity it never succeeded. This thing seems to be posited in the will and pleasure onely of the Omnipotent God, who will not have those his so great Mysteries and Gifts profaned. I have indeed (like unto Moses) seen the promised Land, but yet I do not know whether or no God will bring me thither in this Life, that so I may enjoy those most precious Fruits.
And if God should not vouchsafe me that benefit, yet do I willingly rest content with this, that I have seen with mine Eyes, and felt with mine hands the truth of the Art more than once, which Art so many thousands of Men do so greedily gape after, but yet not with such good hap and success as to find it out or see it.
I have I say seen the truth, but not the Tincture brought to its end or perfection, but yet have I seen its beginning which makes me certainly assured so far, as that I dare to affirm, and confidently aver, that there is in nature such a thing as a true Tincture, and that it may by Gods blessing be prepared by an Artists hand. I have not yet had so much quiet and so much time as to undertake this so weighty a Work. Yet now I have a resolution to set aside all worldly cares, solicitudes and businesses, and to attempt and wait upon this kingly Work, and expect what the divine grace will bestow upon me. For we are to look for all good things from above, for else we labour in vain, whatsoever diligence we make use of.
These things I was willing to publish for the Assertion sake of the truth, and to prove that there was in nature a true Tincture, that so it may evidently appear that Metals may be transmuted both universally and particularly. And if by some desperate Men or by a sudden and immature death (which chances God of his mercy graciously keep from me) all the Mediums or means of perfecting so great a Work, and finishing it should be cut off from me, yet notwithstanding the truth it self will be able to bear witness to my sayings when I am dead and gone. For I have by me even yet those Silver Plates tinged with Purple Spots, which can at all times witness the truth of those things I have here delivered. For it is an impossible thing that Silver should be tinged with a purple colour without a Tincture. If therefore there is to be found the truth in that white and fugacious sublimate, what I pray would be found in the fix and Fire-abiding red Tincture? Would it not be, that effects of far greater moment would be produced by such a Tincture. The Ancients therefore that desired firmness of health and a long life, bestowed such labours and sweats upon getting a true Medicine for humane and metallick Bodies, and some of them arrived to their wisht-for end, but the greatest part of them were deceived with vain labours, and frustrated of their conceived hopes.
If any Man did certainly know that there were in some places to be found mighty treasures of Gold, Pearls, and Precious Stones, and it were granted every one to search after them for his own proper advantage, what think you, he would be lazy and slow, and would not set himself to seek after them. But if any should so order his search that like a blind Man, he neither knows nor sees what it is he seeks after, or in what place it is to be sought by him, certainly such an one would labour in vain, and lose both his time, pains, and costs; and this usually betides the greatest part of Men, for they spend their labours in vain in their search after this Work, because (like blind Men) they neither know what they are to seek, nor where. But yet ’tis credible that there would not such a multitude of them have stray’d from the truth, had but any one so clearly and perspicuously shown and pointed as it were with the Fingers at the place where the Treasure lyeth hidden, as I have now done.