A Preface to the Courteous Reader.
I have hitherto reserved to my self as Secrets, some peculiar Furnaces and compendious Ways of Distilling, which with diligent study and speculation I found out some few years since, by which many excellent Works, impossible to be done by the vulgar Art, may be performed; but now at last I have, considering with my self how advantageous it may be to the World, determined to conceal this Art no longer, but for the good of my Neighbour to publish it, by giving to Chymists a perfect and fundamental information of this new-invented Art, that they may no longer for the future spend their Time and Money in long tedious Operations, but may after a more easie way, by the help of my Furnaces, be able to effect many excellent things. Now this Book shall be divided into Five Parts, the first whereof shall teach how to build a Furnace, in which incombustible things are distilled and sublimed, and indeed such things which cannot be done by Retort or any other Vessels, and how the Spirits, Flowers, and Oyls of Minerals, and Metals may by the help thereof be prepared, as also what their Use and Vertues are.
In the Second Part shall be shewed another Furnace, in which combustible things, as Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals are distilled and most perfectly subtilized: by help whereof many most excellent Medicaments for the cure of most grievous and otherwise incurable diseases may be prepared.
In the Third shall be taught a certain new invention hitherto unknown, of distilling Burning Spirits, as of Wine, Corn, Fruits, Flowers, Herbs and Roots; as also the Waters of Vegetables and Animals, and that in a great quantity, in a short time, and without much costs; as also of boyling Beer, Mead, Wine, and other things, which otherwise are made in Copper or Iron Vessels; and all this by the help of Wooden Vessels, and benefit of a certain small Copper, or Iron instrument of two or three pound weight, and that after a certain easie manner without Furnaces. This newly-invented Art doth also teach divers Chymical Operations, as Putrefactions, Digestions, Circulations, Extractions, Abstractions, Cohobations, Fixations, &c. And this invention is very necessary and profitable for young beginners in this Art, for they need not in the making of burning Spirits, Waters of Vegetables, Extracts, and other Medicaments so many Furnaces, and so many Copper, Iron, Tin, Earthen and Glass Vessels, for it is here taught how all the aforesaid Operations may be done onely by the help of a certain small Copper or Iron Instrument in Wooden Vessels as well as by Alembicks and other great Copper Vessels, by which means a great deal of Costs is saved.
In the Fourth Part shall be taught another certain, and hitherto unknown Furnace, in which all Chymical Operations may most easily be done: being most profitable for the trying of the Natures of Minerals and Metals; as also for the proving, examining, melting, cupelling, and separating of Metals, that nothing may be lost of them, and that after a compendious and easie way, and also to great advantage.
In the Fifth shall be taught how to make and prepare Iron, Earthen, Glass, and other kind of Instruments necessary for the aforesaid four Furnaces, as also other necessary, and most profitable Manuals.
And in the First Part, the Fabrick of the first Furnace being delineated, I shall also shew how by the help thereof may be made Spirits, Oyls, Flowers, and other most profitable Medicaments, also their Vertues and Use, and that as faithfully as I may, and without fraud. And truly I do not doubt but those of understanding will approve of this Work, but ignorant Zoilus’s will contemn it: For it is said according to the Proverb, He that builds by the highway, will hear many things from them that find fault, and especially from the vulgar, &c. But it would be well if those Thrasoes would put forth something more excellent, before they find fault with and carp at other Mens pains and labours.
Wherefore let no one rashly judge of this Work, untill he be throughly informed concerning the same, and then I do not doubt but the Authour shall be by him commended.
And if haply all things shall not presently succeed well, to his mind, with him that shall build this Furnace, and operate therewith, let him think with himself that perhaps he hath erred in some part, (for it is a new and unknown work, in which any one may easily err) and not presently therefore murmur against the Authour, blaming him, because he hath not wrote clear enough, but let him ascribe it to his own ignorance, and let him study to understand the Authour’s meaning, and still be practising upon it, and then I do not doubt, but he will have better success, which I pray every one may have. Amen.