Recipe one, two, or three pounds of finely powdred White Flints, and pour upon them half as much of our Hellish-fire-spirit, abstract the same in Sand by retort, and it will carry the purest Sulphur of the Flints over with it, which may afterwards be fixed with our Catholick Coagulator. And if instead of Flints you take a Gold Spar, which besides some fix Gold, contains much that is Volatile, your pains will be better bestowed. And in case you cannot get any of these, then take the Terra Sigillata, or sealed Earth of Silesia, in which much volatile Gold is hid; but if you can get the Red Turkish Terra Sigillata of Lemnos, you will have a much richer Tincture, as abounding with a greater quantity of Spiritual Gold, than any of the forementioned. But take heed you be not deceived, for much of that which is sold for Terra Sigillata of Lemnos, is nothing else but Bolus Armenus.
Ovid and others have in their Fables made mention of this Earth, which is so rich in Gold under the name of Vulcan, whom his Mother after she had brought him forth in Heaven, finding him to be deformed, flung down to the Island Lemnos, where some Apes, that is Philosophers, who imitate Nature, took and washed him, that is, by their fiery Water, took away his ugly and deformed outside, separating the pure Tincture from the gross Body, as I have here taught. The Curious who desire to know more of these matters, let them read the experienced and ingenious Bracescus his Book of the Tree of Life, who will give them full satisfaction. But if none of all these forementioned can be had, we may make use of Blood-stone, Ruddle, or any other Red Earth that abounds with volatile Gold, of which there is great plenty in most parts of Germany. The Red Jasper-stone, Granates, and Yellow Jacinths do also much abound with Tincture. But these and other such-like, I leave to others to find out, for it is impossible for me to mention all. I conclude this little Treatise with this Solemn Affirmation, that it is a very easie thing in a short time, and without any charges, to speak of, to prepare fix Tinctures, from common Metals and Stones. Believe and set upon the Work, and thou wilt find it so indeed.
The End of the Seventh Part.
LIBELLUS IGNIUM,
OR,
Book of FIRES.
In which is Treated of strange and hitherto unknown FIRES, to what end they serve, and what great Profit may by them accrue to Mankind.
Translated out of the High-Dutch.
Beloved READER,
That which hath moved me to write this small Treatise of Secret Fires, with their great Operations, hath been only this, viz. Because God Almighty hath commanded us not to hide our Talent in the Earth, (like the Unprofitable Servant) but to improve it to the glory of God, and the good of our Neighbour. To improve and augment it, as we may see in the 16. Chap. of St. Luke. Seeing therefore that the most merciful God, hath revealed those high Secrets to me, in this my great Age, makes me judge that such great gifts of God, have not been discovered for my sake only, who by reason of my great Age have, as it were one foot already in the Grave; but that I might make known such wonderfull Works to the World.