A TREATISE OF THE Three Principles of Metals, VIZ. The Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt of Philosophers, HOW They may profitably be used in Medicine, Alchymy, and other Arts. (continued 2)

The way of Preparing Mercury out of Metals and Minerals, by the benefit of Tartar only, without any other Salts.

℞. Filings of Steel ℔ j. Tartar ℔ ij. Common Water ℔ xx. If by strong boyling by Alembick in Sand, you distil thence all the Water; the Tartar in that boyling dissolves the ♂, and so will Volatilize the Mercury set at Liberty, in such wise, as it will ascend with the Water, like a subtile Spirit; which, (concentrated and made fit by Rectification) either by a Solution of ☉, or by some other contrary Acidity, is rendred Corporeal, according to the Method above shewed. If any one, to as much Tartar as he hath, take half so much Salarmoniack, the Tartar so much the more readily preys upon the ☿, also much more Mercury issueth thence, than by Tartar only.

Note: But since this way, in one Distillation, but little Mercury ascends, such an Operation may be performed in a large Vesica; yet with this Caution, viz. that the Alembeck and Refrigeratory be not made of Copper, but of Tin or Lead. This way of Operating by a Vesica will be of great use, especially for such covetous Men, as cannot be content with few things; but always labour with the perpetual Poverty of an unsatiable Spirit; although, they more than sufficiently abound with the fulness of all desireable things. For he is only Rich, who is always content with his present Fortune.

The way of Preparing Mercury of Saturn, by Tartar only.

℞. One or two ℔. of the Raspings or Filings of Saturn, upon which pour fifteen, or twenty ℔. of strong Vinegar of Wine, and mix therewith a little pulverized Tartar. But the Vinegar per se should be impregnated with no small quantity of Tartar. Which Tartar, if you distil with the Mixture, the Phlegm in Distillation carries over with it self a subtile Mercurial Spirit; which must be separated from the Phlegm, in manner as we above taught. The Solution of ♄ will remain in the bottom. Thence also, by the help of Salt of Tartar, ☿ may be extracted by Retort; yet it is not so good as the other, which ascended in the form of a subtile Spirit.

The way of Preparing Mercury of Antimony, by the help of Tartar only.

℞. Some Pounds of strong Antimonial Red Lixivium, (made of Antimony duly, decrepitate and melted with Tartar and Nitre) which put into a Glass Body set in Sand, as we above taught, in treating of the Fixation of 🜍: Afterward, through the Tunnel, leisurely and at times, pour upon the Lixivium most strong Wine Vinegar, until both (viz. the Lixivium and Vinegar) cease to Act upon each other. This being done, if by Distillation you separate all the Humidity, the Sulphureous Spirit of Antimony, will ascend in the form of a subtil Spirit, smelling like Sulphur: Which after Rectification, either with a Solution of ☽ or ☉, becomes Corporeal, and so habile, as it may be converted into a fixed Tincture.

The Method of Distilling a tinging Mercurial Spirit from Metals another way.

We above shewed, that from Metals most firmly compact, a tinging 🜍 and ☿ could not be extracted, unless the Metals be first dissolved, or mortified; and that in such Mortification, there is a Spirit so apt to be associated, as, in the very hour of Mortification, it lays hold of, and carries up with it self, the ascending Spirit, or Soul of Metals. Yet among all, pure Spirit of Wine well dephlegmated, I judge best; because in abstraction it carries over with it self the most pure 🜍 and ☿ of Metals, and leaves the Gross dead Body behind in the bottom; so as, such Mercury, as you shall draw forth in distilling by Spirit of Wine, will be much purer, and more Virtuous in Tinging, than the other, which you distil off by common Water only; and that for this especially, viz. because this Spirit, which is extracted by Spirit of Wine, from more pure is rendred most pure by Rectification. Which is a thing impossible to be effected, where the Sulphureous ☿ of Metals shall ascend by the help of common Water; because then the Water only, in Rectification, is distilled off, but the 🜍 remains in the bottom, in form of a Red Powder: And the other, which is sublimed by Spirit of Wine, and afterward by Rectification subtilized to an higher degree, and meliorated in its tinging Virtue, is not only in Medicine, but also in the Melioration of Metals, Gems, and the more ignoble pretious Stones, an hundred fold more efficaciously conducent to tinge them to a Constancy, than the former, which, in distilling, ascends by Water only; and by Rectification cannot be exalted, or multiplyed in its Virtue, so well as the other, made by Spirit of Wine. That Sulphureous ☿, which ascends by help of Spirit of Wine, is endued with so subtil and penetrative Power, as to it in the Vessel is given such Ingress, by which Metals and Gems are tinged with a more constant and durable Red, or Yellow Colour, than can be annihilated or impaired by any Corrosive Waters, or by the violence of Fire; especially if it be distilled from apt tinging Subjects, as the Vitriol of ♂ and ♀, or from Antimony. Of which I suppose enough is now spoken.

Therefore, if any one be desirous of knowing more touching this Matter, him (for his further and more clear Information of the same) I refer to the Seventh Part of our Spagyrick Pharmacopœa; where he will find, we have prolixly taught, touching the extraction of Tinctures, from Red Corals, and other tinging Subjects.

The way of making good Mercury of Saturn and Luna.

℞. Of ♄, or ☽, ℔ j. which, dissolved in Aqua Fortis, precipitate with Salt-water, edulcorate the Calx with Sweet-water, and dry it. When dryed, mix with it a fourth part of our 🜍 fixed unto Whiteness. Distil from the Mixture in a coated Retort its ☿ with strong Fire; which notwithstanding will not be living ☿, but, in the form of a Sublimate, will adhere to the Neck of the Retort, in weight heavy, and to the Taste of the Tongue very sharp. Indeed there will not be so great a quantity of it, as some may desire, yet it is worthy of the highest Estimation. For in a Cold Cellar it is easily dissolved, and becomes a strong Mercurial Water, which dissolves all Metals. This Water prepared of ♄ joyns it self (with an incredible Love) with the Soul of ♂; and suffers it self to be fixed with it into Tincture; This Water prepared of ☽ readily dissolves Gold, and with it passeth into Tincture. The Reason, why, I in Distillation, mix fixed 🜍 with the ♄ or ☽, is this: Since both these Subjects, precipitated, as we above mention, with Salt-water, are very fusile and penetrating, easily melt together into one, and in Distillation yeild no ☿. Nor can Sand or Earth prevent this Fluxion. Wherefore, I could find nothing more conducible, than our white fixed Sulphur.

The way of Preparing Mercury of Jupiter.

Jupiter gives forth from it self, a most excellent Mercury, in form of a subtil Spirit; which, above all other Mercuries, is most earnestly beloved and attracted by Gold. For if but a very small quantity of it be put into any Solution of Gold, it in a moment draws to it self all the Gold from the sharp Aqua Regis, and together with it settles to the bottom, like a purple Powder. This is the best Precipitation of ☉, when you shall extract it with Aqua Regis from Sand and Stones: Because, by this Precipitation, the Aqua Regis may be used again for extracting ☉ from Sand and Stones, as you may more amply read in our Seventh Part of the Prosperity of Germany, where we have plainly writ touching this kind of Extraction. But in another manner, may be prepared as powerful a Mercurial Water from all Metals, by the help of my Secret Sal Armoniack, which, by Paracelsus and Helmont, is called the Liquor Alcahests touching which, I have largely treated in the Seventh Part of my Spagyrick Pharmacopæa, where he who loves so great Gifts of GOD, may satisfie his Appetite to the full.

Behold, I present thee another way, by which, without any Charge or Expense of Money, you may easily prepare as much of the Philosophick ☿, as you will.

I would not have you to suppose, I here insert this so stinking a Process, to the end you should follow this, rather than the before-mentioned; but I add this, that the common sort of Men, simple and poor, may see, that they may, by such a Method as this, suppress their Poverty, and attain to the Acquisition of so noble an universal Medicine, as well as any other of the great and mighty Men of the World, by their ample Fortunes.

Whosoever is but a little Skilled in Chymistry, well knows, that every 🜍 and ☿ arise from one only Original; and that the Sulphur in Herbs, and also that in Animals, is of no less Virtue, than the other in Metals, Fixation only excepted. For as this in Metals is found more fixed than that in Minerals, so the Mineral 🜍 is more fixed than the Animal, and Vegetable. The same is to be judged of Mercury. But that we may wander no further, but return again to our Purpose, and clearly prescribe the Method of Preparing an universal Medicine, of Humane Urine and Dung, I will very briefly discover the Process in these following Words.

℞. A good quantity of humane Dung and Urine, collected in some capacious Vessel, and (after they have stood together about a Month, and when the Salt shall be exactly united with the Sulphur, and Mercury by Fermentation) from thence, by an Alembick in Balneo, distil the Mercurial Sulphureous Spirit; which indeed will be very subtil, but smell strong. Yet after Rectification, as we have taught, it may be conjoyned with a Solution of Gold, and, by moderate heat, be gradually fixed into an universal Medicine, for Humane and Metallick Bodies.

Note: The aforesaid Stink vanisheth so soon as the Aqua Regis hath Access. Wherefore, those Philosophers who have laboured in Matters of evil and strong Smells, did always speak of suffocating their venemous Dragon in Stygian Waters. But among all Philosophers, that ever I read, I find no Man more excellently to have writ, touching this matter, than the Philosopher Neusementius, in a certain small Treatise of his, intituled, Of the Salt and Spirit of the World; where he so explains the Table of Hermes, as he renders it most worthy to be Read; because he hath so very prolixly, and largely, with exquisit study and diligence, explained all things whatsoever, the laudable Hermes, in very few Words, left to Posterity in his Smaragdine Table.

A COROLLARY.

Although I have, in this small Tract, so largely and clearly treated of Preparing the Mercury of Philosophers, as it seems altogether needless to trouble the Reader, with a further Paraphrase; since from him, I have not concealed any Methods of manual Operation, but have so revealed all things necessary to be known, as he (who, only seeking the bare Letter of the prescribed Method, knows not how to elaborate his own intended Work) may rather be accounted a Man of a dull Capacity, than a Chymical Operator: Yet since unto all insatiable Sons of Avarice, according to this my Description, there seems to be too small a part of Mercury extracted, I (for the sake of those also) will demonstrate yet another Method, by which they may obtain a larger quantity of good tinging ☿, than from Metals can be gained. But first it is required, that every one, who will exercise himself in this kind of Labour, should shew himself a diligent Operator, shunning no Pains: Know, that Vulgar Mercury may easily be so prepared by Art, as to be as much conducent for Tinging, as the Mercury of Metals. Yet they must first procure Tincture to it, by tinging Metals, as by ♂, ♀ and Antimony. For, of its own proper Nature, it hath no Tincture at all in it self; but it must necessarily receive the same from other Metals, (in which GOD and Nature cooperating have insited it) before it can exercise the Power and Faculty of Tinging. But which way such a Tincture may commodiously be taken, and acquired from certain Stones tinged by Nature, or from certain Metallick, and Mineral Subjects, hath been by me, in various places of my Writings, so frequently mentioned, as I judge it not necessary to Discourse further thereabout in this place. But here, I will freely expose to publick view the way of Preparing vulgar ☿ so, as it may be able to extract Tinctures from Metals, Minerals and Stones.

℞. Common Mercury ℔ j. Which as soon as you have dissolved in Aqua Fortis, mortifie the Aqua Fortis by pouring on Spirit of Urine, and when you shall by Retort, in hot Sand, have abstracted thence all the unprofitable Water, and administred a stronger Fire, the Mercury will sublime it self in the Neck of the Retort, white in Colour, but discovering no singular Acrimony upon the Tongue. Such a sublimate as this, is easily dissolved by help of common Water. This Mercurial Water is endued with a power of extracting Tinctures from Metals, Gems, and other more ignoble Stones. In which very Work, even Proserpina, the Wife of Pluto, will scarce elaborate any thing more excellent: Therefore, when this ☿ hath drawn so much Blood from the Red Lyon, as it no longer remains White, but becomes totally Red; then indeed it hath acquired the Melioration of one higher degree; but as yet, it is able to work no Miracles in Tinging. Now, that it may be exalted to so great Perfection, as to be admirably efficacious in Transmutation; this Red Mercury must again be vivified, and again (as we taught above) mortified; and if this Labour be repeated seven, nine, or twelve times, it will be sufficiently impregnated with Tincture. This being done, you have nothing else to do, but to fix this tinging Mercury into a fusile Red Stone, which will thenceforth perform the same (yea perhaps more) in the Transmutation of Metals, than the Mercury of Metals it Self.

Although, I have here revealed the Melioration of common Mercury; yet, I am fully persuaded, no Man will readily set himself about its Preparation, nor adventure, by Tryal, to experience the truth of this. For commonly, every good thing is disesteemed, if it want external Splendor. Some years ago, I did earnestly, and highly commend to some of my most loving Friends, the Exaltation of common Mercury; yet no one of them took so much notice thereof, as ever to set his hand to the Work. Wherefore no Man needs to fear, that Art will be made too common, although I had published the same, described even with a Solar Ray. Indeed, I intended to have divulged more, touching such sublimate Mercury, as may be dissolved with common Water, viz. how many other famous Works may be performed with it, besides the Transmutation of Metals; but for brevity sake, I here desist at present: Yet after a little while, (if GOD permit) I will elsewhere treat of the same. In the mean time, let the loving Reader kindly accept of these: For hence he may be assured of the possibility of exalting common ☿ so far, as to be equal in Virtue to the Mercury of Metals: In which Assertion every studious Artist may safely confide, and persuade himself, that I here give no other Testimony, than I have learned by my own Experience oftentimes.