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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

Metals and Minerals, but also from all Animals and Vegetables. I said, With little Labour, in respect of experienced Men. For in respect of the Unskilful, it is not a Work of small Labour; but in the Memory of all Ages it hath been accounted (by all the most experienced Lovers of our Art) the Secret of Secrets, and the nearest way to come to the Attainment of the true Universal Medicine. Nor will it ever be of less Esteem, since in the whole Nature of things, a more pure matter cannot be found, (whereof to make the Stone of Philosophers) than this only Mercury of Metals. In the mean while, it is easie to judge, that the Mercuries of Metals differ in themselves notably, and that one of them is better, and more conducible than another, for preparing thence a Tincture for Humane and Metalline Bodies. For one is always better in Colour and Tincture than another. Indeed, by the external Face, almost no Man is able certainly to know, from what Metal or Mineral the best Mercury may be had: Yet according to the general Opinion of Philosophers, the most excellent ☿ is wont to be prepared of the Vitriol of ♂ and ♀; because these two Metals do most abound with Tinctures. I, being taught by Experience, am assured, that out of black Ash-coloured ♄ may be acquired a ☿, as excellently tinged, as from both those Red Metals, ♂ and ♀. Yet in the mean while I do not deny, that the ☿ of ♂ and ♀, is impregnated with 🜍, tinging in the highest degree; as Ancient Philosophers, in these few words, have compendiously expressed. VITRIOLUM.Visitaris Interiora Terræ, Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam. By which Words, VITRIOLUM [or Vitriol] is expressed; which process is no other, than a Solution of Mars and Venus prepared by the Labour of Nature. But Vitriol prepared thus by Nature, is never found so pure and clean, as that which is prepared of good Steel, and pure ♀, by the help of Oyl of Sulphur, or instead of that, Oyl of Vitriol: Because the Native contains more Earthiness, than that which is made by Art. Now let us return to our Mercury.

I think good here, to advise all the Lovers of our Art, not to bend their thoughts so much upon vulgar ☉ and ☽, as to endeavour out of them to extract their ☿ and 🜍. Because common ☉ and ☽ are altogether Homogeneal, and have nothing of Heterogeneity in them; and therefore difficult to be wrought on. And although they were as easie to be wrought on as ♂ and ♀; yet it would be no Profit to use them; because of their greater Price, and also because there is much more Tincture contained in vile and contemptible ♂, than in ☉ it self. It is true, this Tincture is not yet fixed, but is volatile, and may easily be fixed. Wherefore I advise every one to seek ☿ in ♄, and 🜍 in ♂. Upon ☉, in times past, through my Ignorance, I consumed much without any Profit, and laboured Fruitlesly, until I had consumed some Pounds of it, to find out for others a more safe Way; which if any one had shewed me, I would never have laboured in vain. But I was hard to believe, that they, who were unwilling to use common ☉ and ☽, could prepare an apt Tincture, for tinging imperfect Metals into Gold. Yet since vulgar ☉ and ☽, do not only give easie Ingress to those Tinctures, which draw their Original from the 🜍 and ☿ of Philosophers; but do also further the Fixation of volatile Mercury; therefore we cannot well be without them, in the Composition of the Stone of Philosophers. Let the Lovers of Art take Cognizance of these few things for their Information.

Now it is necessary to be known, by what Method the ☿ of Philosophers may most commodiously be extracted from Metals and Minerals, and by the help of ☉, be duly fixed by Art, into a Tincture for humane and metallick Bodies.

First, we are not ignorant, that the purest part of Metals, viz.: Homogeneal Mercury, is tyrannically held Captive in a certain obscure Prison, by his most inveterate Enemy, superfluous burning Sulphur. Therefore, if any one would unbolt his Chains, and set him free, he hath necessity to mortifie and annihilate his Enemies, by which he is so fast bound and imprisoned, before he breaks down the Prison Walls, and delivers Mercury from Captivity: Which ☿ will also bring forth with him his natural Brother, viz. tinging 🜍. These being at Liberty, nothing will be wanting to fix them into a Tincture, but the help of vulgar ☉. But if any one be not satisfied with this short Paraphrase, let him read either Sandivogius, who hath writ an intire Treatise of such a freeing of Captives; or Paracelsus, who, no less eminently than plainly, hath discovered his mind touching the same.

Now follows my own Experience, Way and Method, By which I have several times freed the forementioned Captive, and set him at Liberty.

Although I have my self extracted the Mercury of Philosophers from Metals, by such divers Methods, as I mean here to discover; yet I always found some better than other some. Therefore out of such Processes, some of which we here subjoyn, every Man may, as best pleaseth him, take which he thinks most conducible, and proceed in Operating according to that, until he finds, what GOD shall be pleased to bestow on him.

Mercury is never to be extracted from hard Metals, before they be dissolved and unlocked. Unlocked more commodiously they cannot be, than by the Corrosive Spirits of Salt. Yet since all Corrosives are most inimical to ☿, they have no Power of making either Living or Running Mercury. Therefore, after Solution, the Corrosives must be mortified by contrary Salts; such are, Salt of Tartar, Spirit of Urine, Sal Armoniack, &c. This being done, the Corrosives changing their Nature wax gentle, and in Distillation permit the ☿ to ascend: Which otherwise, without Mortification of the Corrosive, would not happen, as you will learn by the following Processes.

Therefore, since it is most certain, that Metals are to be dissolved, before ☿ (by the help of Resusoitating Salts) can be distilled thence; we will first exhibit the Method, by which ☿ may be extracted from such Metals, as Nature presents to us already dissolved; viz. Vitriol, which is no other than Mars or Venus, or ♂ and ♀ together, dissolved by the Universal Acidity. Hence, whosoever will use (in his intended Work) such Vitriol, in which both those Metals are found highly tinged and dissolved by Nature; he will not need by tedious Labours to seek out a new Method of dissolving Metals, but may spare both his Time and Charges. Therefore, now it will be expedient to teach, how Mercury may be prepared of any common Vitriol.

The Process follows.

Distil from common Vitriol, in the usual manner, an Acid Spirit, and fiery Oyl, with strong fire, according to Art. For in the Spirit is latent the ☿ of ♂ and ☿, which by Mortifying the Corrosive, may be brought to light, and made Visible, as follows.