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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

But that I may set upon the thing it self, and may teach the amendment of metals for the better, and shew the very foundation of the whole business, I say, that a true changing of them is attempted in vain, unless they are first destroyed, and wholly slain. A grain of Wheat, as Christ himself saith, will never increase or multiply, unless it first putrifies in the earth. If therefore metals ought to be destroyed by Putrefaction, that must needs be done by the help of Salts, according to the truth of the Philosophers Maxim: the corruption of one thing, is the generation of another. The death of one thing, is the life of another. Since therefore metals must die, it must needs be that death be brought on them by enemies, or contrary things, because nothing in natural or artificial things dieth, unless it be slain by its own enemy.

Since metals therefore ought to be destroyed, and killed by their enemies; it is of necessity that they are invaded, tortured, and so long vexed by the same, untill the Agent as the stronger part, be overcome by the Patient as the weaker part; that it be slain by it, [or rather the Patient be overcome by the Agent,] and be translated into a better nature, in which action the Patient ought not to depart from the Agent, but to be tortured with an un-intermitting torment.

Whosoever seeing his enemy and conceives himself of the weaker force, indeavours as much as in him lies to decline him, by retreating, but all occasions of running away and slipping aside being taken away, he is constrained to deliver his life to his enemy, who handles the Patient or suffering party according to his own pleasure, and doth whatsoever he will, therefore after the same manner is the melioration of metals, the which although they should be melted together with Salts their enemies, yet would they make little account of them, but would separate themselves from the same; so that every part of them being unhurt, would keep its own nature and essence. But if the Salts do take away the occasion of flight from metals, and do inclose them in their Prisons, that they have no way of escaping, but remain, suffer, and die, then they obtain victory over the Salt, and of slain metals are made more pure and better.

This thing is done in the fire by the moist and dry way, of which enough hath been spoken already.

This is the whole and intire art, and there needs no other superfluous teachings; yet he whom these things doth not Suffice, let him read the following operations thorough, wherein he shall find truth, and see with his eyes, and handle with his hand; those things which have been heretofore impossible to him, and very many more.

XXX. After what manner Metals may be slain by their enemies and be transmuted into better.

Unto Metals not one but many enemies are adverse; and part of those enemies are enemies to some and friends to others, but the other part is friendly to some, and at enmity with others. For example sake.

Nothing more prosecutes Gold with an hostile hatred than burning Sulphur and sulphurious Salts, such as are Alcalies, and crude tartar; the cause of this hatred is, because Gold is nothing else, but a fixed Sulphur, and therefore it disagreeth by a capital hatred, with every burning Sulphur; Silver and Lead do love every Sulphur, and all sulphureous Salts, such as are Vitriol, Salt Peter, Salt Armoniack, and the like, the which they stand in need of for their colour; they have an hatred against Kitching Salt, because it is of a mercurial nature, and therefore not requiring its help, but onely desiring a Sulphur and Tincture, Copper, Iron, and Argent vive, or Quicksilver do possess both natures, to wit, a mercurial and sulphureous one, and for that cause they prosecute all Sulphurs, and any Salts with love.

Tin is an enemy of all Salts, whether they are sulphureous or mercurial ones, when it is slain by Sulphur and Salt, and recalled unto life, it obtains a more pure and thin or fine body, whether of Gold or Silver, according as it shall be handled.

Moreover, if any should desire to obtain as yet a better essence out of better metals, its necessary that he slay them by their enemies, and raise them up again by their friends; by how much the greater and vehement the enemies are whereby metals are slain, by so much the more those metals do suffer, and with so much the more famous and better bodies do they re-arise.