℞. Of the Mercurial Water above described, and mortifie it by a contrary Acidity, as Oyl of Vitriol, or Spirit of Salt. Then the Mercury will precipitate it self, in the form of an Ash-coloured Powder, which if you edulcorate, and grind with Oyl of Tartar, you will vivifie. If any one be minded, he may also distil the same by Retort, and so examine it.
A Tryal, or Proof, whether the Mercury of Metals be so well prepared, as of it with ☉ may be made a Tincture.
℞. A little of that, viz. the quantity of a Pea, and put it upon a Silver Plate, then over the Fire permit the Mercury to be evaporated. If it tinge the Silver well with a purple Colour, it is fit for the Work, otherwise it will be of no Value. Also, this ☿ may be digested with the filings of ☉, in a due measure or proportion mixed, and so fixed. But this Fixation, as well as the former, require along time, and so much Patience, as all Festination must be laid aside. Whosoever is so covetous, as he cannot wait till the Fruits are Ripe; he would be better advised, if he abstained from so great a Work, than to set about it to his own Damage. I have often prepared this Mercury, and put it to be fixed; but because I could not look to it my self with my own Eyes, I was constrained to commit the Governance of the Fire, to the Industry of another, and then it succeeded unhappily. And when by reason of my Age, and imbecillity of Body, I was wholly uncapable to take in hand a Work of so great moment, I communicated the Method to some of my intimate Friends, with this Condition, viz. that they should elaborate it themselves. But because in that Operation, they could not acquire so much ☿ as they desired, they desisted, and would not proceed to the Compleatment of the Work. Hence I was moved rather, by Printing, to divulge so Royal a Work, than to let it be buried with me: Although I was difficultly brought to an hearty Assent, to yeild to the Revelation of Arcanum’s, of so great moment, to this Malignant and unfaithful World.
The way of Preparing a tinging Mercury out of Antimony.
℞. Of Antimony, Saltpeter, and Tartar, of each ℔ j. Which, first pulverized and mixed, put into a Crucible, and kindle the Mixture with a Coal; when the Fulmination ceaseth, melt it, and pour it out into a Cone. After it is cooled, separate the Regulus from the Scoria’s; which reduce to Powder, and dissolve by boyling in Water. So doing, you will have a Red Lixivium; upon which if you add (about half its own weight of) Salarmoniack pulverized, and put the Mixture into a Glass Body, (which must not be above half full, because it riseth easily) with it’s Head and Receiver well luted, and then subminister Fire for Distillation; a certain most subtile volatile Spirit will ascend, in which the ☿ of Antimony is latent: Which, in a Solution of ☉ may be precipitated, edulcorated, dryed, and then proved and fixed, as above we taught of the Mercury of Vitriol. Antimony yeilds much more ☿, than Vitriol; and it is also made more easily than it; and therefore to be preferred far before it; but especially, because the Ancient Philosophers did for the most part use this ☿ of Antimony, for preparing their Tincture.
Note: If any one desire a more excellent ☿ of Vitriol, than That above described by Us; he, instead of the Lixivium of Antimony, may use a Lixivium of Salt of Tartar, and thence extract Mercury by the help of Oyl of Vitriol; so he will have some thing more excellent, than can be made of a Common Lixivium.
The way of Preparing out of ♂ and ♀ a tinging Mercury, by the help of Resuscitative Salts only, without any Corrosives.
Among all Resuscitative Salts, Tartar obtains the principal place; the next to which is Salt of Urine, which is no other, than such a Volatile Tartar as passeth into this kind of Salt, from Wine, Beer, Bread and other Foods taken into the humane Body. Almost of the same kind, is the Soot of Chimneys, being the Volatile Salt of Wood. Also a like Volatile Salt you shall find in Blood, Hairs, Horns and Hoofs of Animals. Even so, almost a like Salarmoniack is prepared of Blood, Urine and Soot. In like manner, in Eggshels is insited an efficacious Resuscitative Salt. These and the like Salts are endued with a Virtue converting Metals into Mercury, after they are dissolved. For volatile Salts are not so efficacious, as to dissolve Metals: Yet Tartar is endued with so great Power, as it can dissolve some Metals easie to be dissolved, as ♂, ♀ and ♄, and thence may the Mercury be extracted by Distillation; especially if a little Kitchin Salt be added, or (which is more conducent) Salarmoniack, to comfort it. Also instead of ♂ and ♀, common Vitriol only may be used; and thence Mercury distilled by the help of volatile Salts.
Now follows the Process.
℞. ℔ vj. Of Vitriol, to which, dissolved in Urine, add of Salarmoniack ℔ j. Crude Tartar ℔ ij. Salt of Tartar ℔ iiij. Distil from these, in a strong Glass Body, a subtile Mercurial Water; which, according to the Method prescribed, may be made Corporeal, and with Gold be fixed into a Tincture. This way of proceeding is very easie, and of little Charge; so as it will fully satisfie the desire of those, who are contented with so much only, as may be acquired by the benefit of Glass Bodies. But those, whose greedy desire cannot be satisfied with little, may distill this Mixture in a Brass or Copper Vesica, untill they have quantity enough to suffice them: Yet with this Caution, that they use no Alembick, or Refrigeratory made of Copper, but of Lead, or (which is better) of Tin; and that because our Mercurial Water easily corrodes the Copper, and thence contracts to it self a Greenness: But in ♄ or ♃ doth not so. But if any one refuseth to be at the Charge of a Tin Refrigeratory, he may use his Copper Vessels. For although the Spirit corrodes the Copper, and contracts a blewish Colour, yet this Colour in Rectifying abides in the bottom, and the ☿ is nothing the worse. Indeed, this way a greater quantity is acquired, than needs; unless the Operator be more greedy than a Wolf. But it is not the part of a good Philosopher, to covet more than is needful. If any one be desirous to prepare an abundance of Mercurial Water, either by some such way as this, or by another certain Mixture of Salts, him we have now, as it were, led by the hand, through Processes more difficult, to proceed in these. For Tartar alone will be sufficient for such an Use. What seek you? The Feces of Wine burnt will do the same; so as the Lover of Art, with almost no other Trouble and Charge, may extract the Mercury of Metals by Resuscitative Salts.