78. Yellow and red Earths do commonly contain Sol or Lune or both, and therefore we may boldly make trial of them; for oftentimes a great treasure is shut up in very contemptible Earth, such as might serve to maintain many thousands.
79. In the same manner we may extract the fixt as well as immature Sol out of Ruddie, red Jasper, and red Blood-stones, which in some parts are found in great quantities.
80. With our Sol attracting Magnet, we can extract much Sol out of any common Vitriol, and after the Sol is extracted, reduce the Solution to Vitriol again, which is as good for the Dyers use as it was before.
81. With the same Magnet, good Sol may be extracted out of those yellowish, reddish, and greenish waters which flow from some Mountains, which waters being to be had for nothing, must make this work very gainfull.
82. And in case we should not be able to meet with this sort of running waters, then we may take the Copperas Stones which are often found in Sand, but for the most part grow in fat Earth, which when they are expos’d to the Air, fall in pieces, and having water poured upon them afford a good Vitriol, which easily yields the spiritual Sol it contains to our Magnet. So that an Artist can scarcely be to seek for subjects, from whence unripe volatile or fixt Sol may be had with profit.
83. N. B. But when we have a mind to bring the volatile Sol which is in red Sand, Stones and Clay, with volatilizing waters by Distillation over the Helm, it is good to add to our Eagles Wings, or volatilizing water, some of our most secret Sal Armoniack, by which the same is extreamly strengthned and animated, so that like a Griffin for strength, it carries the Man on Horseback away in the Air to his Nest.
84. N. B. This Griffin is the Artist, that prepares this fiery water, wherewith he seizeth as with his Talons the Man armed Cap a Pe; that is, red Stones, Sand and Earth, abounding with a martial Tincture, extracts and carries them to the young ones in his Nest, that is, provides a good maintenance for his Family thereby.
85. But because to these operations of extracting Sol volatile and fixt, and Tinctures from the subjects just now mentioned, when we work them in quantities, much Aq. Regis, or other like waters are required, which every one hath not an oportunity to prepare for himself, and therefore must buy them, which encreaseth the charges of the operation; wherefore I am willing to teach a near way to prepare these corrosive waters.
86. Forasmuch then as we know that Vitriol is an universal acid, and the chief of all Salts, and the Spirit it yields by Distillation, much more fiery than that which is forc’d from other Salts, therefore we may make use of the Oil of Vitriol, for a Basis with the help of others Salts, to prepare several sorts of saline Spirits, with small labour and charges, in manner as follows.
87. Recipe two parts of Niter dissolved in water and one part of Oil of Vitriol, distill them in an Allembick, and you will obtain a good Aq. Fortis to dissolve Lune, Saturn, and Mercury. This operation spends little Fire and comes over easily.