But in order to our Metallick Transmutation, this Solar spirit must be reduced to a fix, sweet, transparent, and all penetrating Stone; the way and manner of doing which, we shall declare hereafter. Now in case we would have this our Golden spirit, to produce more wonderful effects in Physick, as well as in the Transmutation of Metals, then proceed thus: Take of Gold one part, of the Martial Regulus of Antimony two parts, melt them together, pour them forth, and the Gold will be white and brittle; pulverize the Mass, and put it into a small Glass body, and pour upon it three times as much of our fiery Alcahest, and by degrees abstract the same, and you’ll have a higher and better Tincture than from the Gold alone. For Antimony is the Aries of the Chymists, wherein Sol hath its exaltation. This red Oyl of Gold and Antimony, may easily be changed into an Universal Medicine or Tincture, by means of our Catholick Coagulator.
And as we have here taught, how Gold, either alone, or with Antimony, may be brought over, the same may be said of the Tinctures of Iron and Copper, which have surpassing Vertues in Physick as well as Alchimy.
We proceed now to shew how with our Alcahest, the Tinctures of Common and Precious Stones may be extracted to great advantage. It may be of good profit also from hard fix Stones, such as Granates, which have too much Tincture, to extract part of the same, by which means of Granates, Rubies may be made, one ounce of which is more worth than 100 l. of dark Granates: which extracted Tincture of Granates may afterwards be made use of to exalt the colour of Pale Hyacinths, and other white Precious stones.
In a word, this art of extracting the colour from Granats, and introducing the same into other stones, is an excellent, profitable (I had almost said Royal) art, which notwithstanding is so little practis’d, by reason of the General negligence and slothfulness of men, undervaluing this excellent art of Fire, tho’ more may be gain’d by it than by Merchandize or any handicraft whatsoever. Let him who is a lover of art, set upon the work, and try what God will send him. It is impossible to set down all particular circumstances of the work so exactly, but that the unexperienced may after all mistake. It sufficeth me that I have faithfully pointed out the right way towards the Land of Promise, leaving the rest to the desirous and active Traveller.
Thus I have in short words acquainted the Reader, with the way of extracting Tinctures out of Metals and Stones, by means of my New-found Infernal Fire, and that to very great and good purposes, both in Physick and Alchimy; and will now in favour of Chymical Physitians communicate an easy way of bringing the purest Souls and Tinctures of imperfect Metals, over the helm, with our fiery saline Spirit, for the effecting of wonders in both faculties. But before I proceed to the Practise of those secrets, I suppose it will not be amiss if I endeavour to place our Sal-Armoniack in a greater Light; for seeing by it, all must be performed, which is here spoken of; it will be needful to know what properly this word imports.
Of the Nature and Property of our New-found Griffons-Claws, and Eagles-Wings, and what incredible things may thereby be performed in Physick, Alchimy, and other Arts.
A good Sal-Armoniack must have these following properties, viz. to dissolve, extract, and to carry that which it hath extracted in distillation or sublimation over with it; and the better it performs these, the better is it to be esteemed. Now whereas common Sal-Armoniack, does only lay hold of, and carry over with it, the most volatile Sulphur of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals; our secret Sal-Armoniack does not only seize the light Sulphur, but also the ponderous Mercury, and therefore is far more to be esteemed than the common. But my most secret natural Sal-Armoniack, extracts and carries over from all Metals and Stones their pure parts to admiration: and yet our Griffons Talons and Eagles wings are much more powerful, as not only seizing their prey with greater strength, but also carrying it away with them more swiftly, and even such pondrous things, which the foresaid cannot elevate, or take away with them.
Moreover this New-found Sal-Armoniack carries over the said Tinctures not coagulated in the form of Sal-Armoniack, but all Spirit, as being it self no coagulate, but a spiritual Sal-Armoniack, and meer fiery Spirit, wherefore also it is able to perform such great things. We will now proceed to the Practick part, and see whether there be such a wonderful Sal-Armoniack in Nature which can perform all these stupendous effects.