N. B. But whoever he be that knows the using of such matters and powders thereunto, as can reduce such ashes to their former and fusile bodies, such a one will not spend his labour in vain; for he will get a metal of a much more noble and better nature than Tin, whose greatest internal part is gold and silver.
But yet let no body imagine that he can perform this reduction by the help of Borax or Salts; no, in no-wise. For there are metallick matters required to this labour, to cause a fluxing or melting, sundry preparations whereof I have taught to and again in my writings, but not under such a title or name as if this power or efficacy of thus doing were ascribable unto them. For I have barely mentioned their use in other metallick transmutations.
LXXXIII. How flying mercury is to be so fixed as to admit of heating red hot.
Coagulate common mercury with common sulphur into a black ashes, and then mix this ashes with the con-centrated fire of vitriol, or rather with such a fire as is extracted from sulphur it self; so as that there may arise from this mixture a thin mass; of which mass put one or two lots in linnen or cotten rags, and so rowl them up that one fold may come over another, and the mercury may be in the middle. Then tie this ball firmly and strongly with a thread, and let it be environed all about with the fire, that so all those rags may be red hot and changed into Coals.
Take out all this red hot mass, let it cool, separate the burnt linnen rags, and you shall find the mercury turned into a red powder; but yet it hath no ingress into the metals, nor performeth it any thing of much moment in medicine, because it is converted by the burning of our fire into a dead earth. Neither have I here mentioned this coagulation as if any gain were to be received thencefrom; but onely on this account, that the most great virtues and powers of our fires may by the operation thereof be demonstrated.
LXXXIV. Another experiment easily demonstrating the possibility of rendring mercury constant in the fire, by our secret fires of salts, which thing the known and common fire can never do.
Melt one part of common and yellow sulphur in a crucible or earthen Pot, and being molten like oil cast thereinto two parts of common mercury, and mix the matter well with a Spatula, that the sulphur may assume the mercury, and may pass with it into a black mass. To which mass you must yet add so much sulphur as the weight of the whole mass in the Pot is of. Then all is to be molten together, and to be by well stirring so long mixt untill it get an ashy colour. Then you are to dip in the said mass as it is in flux, pieces of linnen, such as they are wont to use about fuming their Barrels with a brimstony odour, to preserve them from stinking. Such rags being put on an Iron Crook may be kindled, by which kindling they are burnt up, the sulphur and part of the mercury vanishing into the air, but some part being calcined with the flame of the sulphur and fixt, sticks to the burnt linnen. But what virtues this calcined mercury abounds withall I cannot tell, as having never experimented it, and I have onely inserted here this operation, for this end, that the power of our moist fires may be made apparent. Many more meditations and inquisitions will be thereby laid open, which otherwise would never have been sought after nor found out. For in this labour there operateth a twofold fire, viz. the visible flame, and invisible moist fire which the sulphur hideth, and by the burning up of its body, manifesteth, and renders visible and efficacious.
For that heavy acid oil of sulphur, which sticks hidden in all sulphur, performeth most great matters in metalline things; and because the flame or external fire exasperates and forceth on the internal, sharp and moist fire of the sulphur, that acid quality lets upon that subject that is adjoyned to it, and destroyeth the same, and advanceth unto a more fixed state.
But that I may in some sort satisfie the greedy searcher after truth in this thing, it seems to me expedient here to mention the occasion, which (without studying thereafter, viz. this coagulation of mercury) did by chance bring me thereunto; and did chiefly shew me an excellent Arcanum of bringing all Wines, Vinegars, and other such like drinks easily and speedily to a clarity and transparency. Such a secret it is, as I believe never was known as yet to any, and therefore worthy to be here set down for the common benefit of mankind.