A Process,

To draw the fix Tincture from Gold, and to make it Spiritual and Potable, fit for the Physicians use, and that easily, in a short time, without any considerable Charges; and how the same exalted Spiritual Gold may be changed into a clarified, transparent, tinging, fix Carbuncle.

Take of the filings of Gold, or beaten Gold an ounce and half, or an ounce and quarter, put it into a little, but strong Glass body, pour upon it two or three ounces of our best Alcahest, fit a head to it, closing it well with a paper dipt in Oyl, apply a great Recipient, and lute it very carefully, for when the Spirit comes over, it passeth with great violence, and searches every where for vent, being the most subtil of Spirits, and very fiery withall: Wherefore take great care that your Lute be good, or else you will never be able to retain this Corrosive fiery spirit. The Vessel must stand in Sand, and a very gentle Fire administred at first, that our secret spirit may by degrees grow warm in the Glass, and not be too suddenly heated, for in that case it would be apt to fly away without its prey: But if you proceed, as is directed, then our moist fire will lay hold of the Gold, and carry it over in form of a Spirit, but leisurely and by degrees, at first only of a yellow colour, which afterwards comes higher and higher. Towards the latter end the fire must be encreased, till the bottom of the Glass be red hot, at which time the heavy spirits will come over, bringing the heavy Corporal Gold over with them, a red fix salt staying behind, which is of great use in Physick and Alchimy, as we shall see hereafter. The yellow spirit, as well as the red salt, may, without any further preparation be used outwardly and inwardly (the strength of them being qualified with Water, or other Liquors) and by reason of their astringent property, corroborate the Stomach of such as are old and cold, procure Appetite, consume tough Phlegm and slimy Matter in the stomach, help Concoction and strengthen the Heart, Brain, and all outward and inward parts of the Body; open all Obstructions, by reason of the fiery subtil saline spirit joyn’d with them, penetrating and cleansing the whole Body, and perform all that can be expected from a true Potable Gold.

But in order to our Metallick Transmutation, this Solar spirit must be reduced to a fix, sweet, transparent, and all penetrating Stone; the way and manner of doing which, we shall declare hereafter. Now in case we would have this our Golden spirit, to produce more wonderful effects in Physick, as well as in the Transmutation of Metals, then proceed thus: Take of Gold one part, of the Martial Regulus of Antimony two parts, melt them together, pour them forth, and the Gold will be white and brittle; pulverize the Mass, and put it into a small Glass body, and pour upon it three times as much of our fiery Alcahest, and by degrees abstract the same, and you’ll have a higher and better Tincture than from the Gold alone. For Antimony is the Aries of the Chymists, wherein Sol hath its exaltation. This red Oyl of Gold and Antimony, may easily be changed into an Universal Medicine or Tincture, by means of our Catholick Coagulator.

And as we have here taught, how Gold, either alone, or with Antimony, may be brought over, the same may be said of the Tinctures of Iron and Copper, which have surpassing Vertues in Physick as well as Alchimy.

We proceed now to shew how with our Alcahest, the Tinctures of Common and Precious Stones may be extracted to great advantage. It may be of good profit also from hard fix Stones, such as Granates, which have too much Tincture, to extract part of the same, by which means of Granates, Rubies may be made, one ounce of which is more worth than 100 l. of dark Granates: which extracted Tincture of Granates may afterwards be made use of to exalt the colour of Pale Hyacinths, and other white Precious stones.

In a word, this art of extracting the colour from Granats, and introducing the same into other stones, is an excellent, profitable (I had almost said Royal) art, which notwithstanding is so little practis’d, by reason of the General negligence and slothfulness of men, undervaluing this excellent art of Fire, tho’ more may be gain’d by it than by Merchandize or any handicraft whatsoever. Let him who is a lover of art, set upon the work, and try what God will send him. It is impossible to set down all particular circumstances of the work so exactly, but that the unexperienced may after all mistake. It sufficeth me that I have faithfully pointed out the right way towards the Land of Promise, leaving the rest to the desirous and active Traveller.

Thus I have in short words acquainted the Reader, with the way of extracting Tinctures out of Metals and Stones, by means of my New-found Infernal Fire, and that to very great and good purposes, both in Physick and Alchimy; and will now in favour of Chymical Physitians communicate an easy way of bringing the purest Souls and Tinctures of imperfect Metals, over the helm, with our fiery saline Spirit, for the effecting of wonders in both faculties. But before I proceed to the Practise of those secrets, I suppose it will not be amiss if I endeavour to place our Sal-Armoniack in a greater Light; for seeing by it, all must be performed, which is here spoken of; it will be needful to know what properly this word imports.

Of the Nature and Property of our New-found Griffons-Claws, and Eagles-Wings, and what incredible things may thereby be performed in Physick, Alchimy, and other Arts.

A good Sal-Armoniack must have these following properties, viz. to dissolve, extract, and to carry that which it hath extracted in distillation or sublimation over with it; and the better it performs these, the better is it to be esteemed. Now whereas common Sal-Armoniack, does only lay hold of, and carry over with it, the most volatile Sulphur of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals; our secret Sal-Armoniack does not only seize the light Sulphur, but also the ponderous Mercury, and therefore is far more to be esteemed than the common. But my most secret natural Sal-Armoniack, extracts and carries over from all Metals and Stones their pure parts to admiration: and yet our Griffons Talons and Eagles wings are much more powerful, as not only seizing their prey with greater strength, but also carrying it away with them more swiftly, and even such pondrous things, which the foresaid cannot elevate, or take away with them.

Moreover this New-found Sal-Armoniack carries over the said Tinctures not coagulated in the form of Sal-Armoniack, but all Spirit, as being it self no coagulate, but a spiritual Sal-Armoniack, and meer fiery Spirit, wherefore also it is able to perform such great things. We will now proceed to the Practick part, and see whether there be such a wonderful Sal-Armoniack in Nature which can perform all these stupendous effects.

A Process,

To prepare the highest Medicine, or Universal Tincture for Humane and Metallick Bodies, by means of our fiery Alcahest.

Recipe, one or two pound more or less of clean Filings of Steel, such as may be had of the Needlemakers, put them into a glass body, so as they may but take up a twelfth part of it; then pour upon them a well rectified Spirit of Wine, viz. to every pound of Filings four or six pound of Spirit of Wine. Care must be taken that the glass body be capacious enough, else, when the Spirit of Wine begins to work on the Steel Filings, it will run over. The Body then being placed in Sand, and the Recipient ready at hand, add for each pound of Spirit of Wine in the Glass, one ounce of our Alcahest, which will acuate the spirit of Wine so, as to dissolve the Steel, in which solution, the Sulphur of the Philosophers, or purest Tincture of Mars is set loose, and immediately received by the spirit of Wine, and with it carried up to the Philosophick Heaven. But because this Soul of Mars has not yet obtained to that height of purity which the Philosopher desires, therefore it must enter his Purgatory, there to put off all Impurities it has brought over with it: that is, the spirit of Wine must under a large refrigeratory head be burnt away, in which flame the Anima, Mars, or soul of Iron, becomes purified to the highest degree, the flame carrying the Tinging Medicine over in form of a pellucid clear Water, which is the true Water of life of the Philosophers, healing all Curable Diseases, if daily taken in a small quantity. For this Medicine renews the Body of Man, and makes old Age young and blooming again; neither do I believe that a better Medicine can be found in the World than this is: and that because the fix Mars with the help of our Alcahest, is brought to the highest degree of subtilty, and is afterwards by the purest of Fires, yet further purged and exalted. Wherefore also like Lightning it pierceth all parts of the Body, opens all Obstructions, which are the cause of Death: And besides all this, tinges Lune, and coagulates Common Mercury into fix Sol, as I have often tried and experimented my self; for I should be very loath now I am on my Death-Bed, and as it were dying, to expose any thing to the World, besides what Experience has verified to me.

N. B. When first I made this Experiment, and was doubtfull as yet whether it would succeed or no, I prepared some pounds of Martial Spirit of Wine; and though I knew that from such a spirit of Wine impregnated with Mars, little good could be expected, before the spirit of Wine were separated from the Tincture; and that this separation could not be made by any distillation or rectification, for that the spirit of Wine always carried the Tincture over with it, as Experience the Mistress of Fools taught me: Therefore I cast in my mind to burn away the spirit of Wine, which when I had done, I found all my spirit of Wine burnt away, and nothing remaining in the Porringer, only I perceived, that as far as the spirit of Wine had reached, it was tinged of a golden colour, higher than that of Ducat Gold. With which Experiment not being fully satisfied (though I saw that this way it was possible to make a true Tincture for Metals) I went further in my search, that I might at last be Master of so great and profitable a Work. I disposed therefore a great glass head so, as that conveniently I could under the same burn away a little dish or cupfull of spirit of Wine, but the Glass head soon broke with the flame of the spirit of Wine, which still put me upon a further trial, I took a large, broad and deep Pewter dish, placed it with the brim on three stones of an equall height, so that I could conveniently set under it a little cup with spirit of Wine: I filled my Pewter dish with Water, and then kindled my spirit of Wine, to see whether any thing incumbustible would come over with the flame, and by that time I had burnt away about two or three ounces of Martial spirit of Wine, I found that the bottom of my dish began to drop down a clear liquor, the Tincture of Mars and the incumbustible Mercury and Salt, together with the Phlegm remaining in the spirit of Wine, being all condensed in the form of Common Water. After I had removed the Dish, and poured out the Water, I found the bottom of the Dish, the Cup in which the spirit of Wine was, and the Silver spoon I had set under the Dish, to catch the Water dropping down from it, were all thick gilt.

Having perceiv’d all this, it was easie for me to infer, that for as much as Silver and Tin had been gilded thereby, that I was in the ready way of obtaining a true Universal Tincture for Men and Metals; wherefore I ceased not to contrive night and day, some convenient Instrument, for catching of the Tincture, ascending in the flame of the spirit of Wine. And so at last after long search, I had my desire, being now confirm’d by Experience, that many pounds of spirit of Wine impregnate with Tincture, may in one days time be easily burnt away, under a Coppertin’d Head, by which means the Souls, or incombustible Tinctures of Metals and Stones are obtained; which Head, or Refrigeratory Instrument, I intend (God willing) to communicate in the Sixth part of my Furnaces.

I can allure the Lovers of Art, that no easier or less chargable way can be found than this is, for to attain an Universal Medicine or Tincture, for that according to this Process, an Universal Medicament may be had in three days time, and with very inconsiderable charges.

I shall add one or two Processes more, to shew how by means of our fiery Sal-Armoniack, high and noble Tinctures may be extracted, out of other Metals and Stones, and shall begin with Venus.

Copper inwardly is very like Iron, and like it, is dignified with a very glorious Tincture, and by the help of our fiery Alcahest (proceeding as was said before of Mars) in three days time a true Tincture may be prepared from it for Men and Metals, thus: Recipe of the finest filings of Venus, one, two or three pounds, put them into a Glass-body, and for every pound of Filings pour on three or four pound of Alcolized Spirit of Wine, lute the Helm and Recipient, distill in Sand, and the Alcolised Spirit of Wine will dissolve the Venus, vivifie her tinging Spirit, and carry it over the helm, yet not visibly; but as soon as the Spirit of Wine is kindled and burnt away under the refrigeratory, then the Tincture of Venus appears in the form of a deep red Salt: which Tincture performs whatsoever I have before attributed to the Tincture of Mars. And in the same way a fix Tincture may be had from common Combustible Sulphur in three days time, as here follows.

To fix the Common, Combustible, Yellow Sulphur in three days time into a red and fix tinging Stone.

The whole Art of this Royal Work consists only in uniting the said Sulphur with Spirit of Wine, and then burning it away under a helm, to catch the incombustible Heavenly Salt, or Water of Life permanent, which with Gold becomes coagulated and fixed to a Tinging Stone. Which heavenly Salt as soon as by the flame it is separated from the Sulphur, is a true Universal Medicine against all the Diseases of Mankind: but when joined with Gold, it obtains ingress and tingeth Lune, and coagulates Mercury into Sol. Now to unite Sulphur with Spirit of Wine (wherein the whole Art and Mastery consists) without any Corrosive or Alcali, is an easie thing, and which I have declared in my late publish’d Writings, and therefore do not think it needful to repeat the same here. I do not deny, but since that time I have found nearer ways to the Bush, but do not think my self obliged to prostitute those Discoveries to all promiscuously, it being well if I have not said too much already, and told Tales out of the School.

As to the foregoing Operation, it is obvious to conceive that Common Sulphur joined with a dephlegmate spirit of Wine, burns much stronger, and consequently with its flame will have a greater force to fix than a Common spirit of Wine can. We know that God in the beginning made the whole World of Fire and Water, from whence also all other things have their Original: For when Fire and Water, as contraries, work on one another, they always generate a third thing. The Fire, as the Agent, works upon its Patient Water, which action cannot be performed without the Air, nor can the Water without Earth have any Consistence or stability to abide the Fires action. For which reason it is that we find no Metalline Oare, but only in the Earth, and especially in such Clefts and passages of the Rocks and Earth, where a constant moisture trickles down, and whither the Central Fire can have free access, to work upon its proper Patient: From which union of Male and Female Seeds, a third thing must necessarily be produced. Now if the Sulphur which is the Male, and the Water which is the Female-Seed, be pure, a pure birth proceeds from them, and by the rule of contraries if impure, the production must be so likewise. Thus it appears that the moist Caverns, Holes, and Clefts of the Earth, are the fittest Wombs for Minerals and Metals. I am not ignorant that Metals may also be generated in Sand or fat Earth, especially where the same lye moist; for when the Demogorgon, or Central Fire, Spirit ascends from the Center, and meets with a moist Sand or Clay, he joins with it, whence it is that oftentimes in Sand and Clay Metals are found, but not in great pieces as in the Clefts of the Earth, but only in less and greater Grains, according as the disposition of the place permits, it being notorious that Grains of Metal are oft found in Sand, and wash’d from it.

That the Subliming Sulphurous Vapor, when it meets with a slimy Matter in the Earth, doth unite with, and turns to a Metal, no Man needs doubt of: For I have seen many things in the Earth changed into Metalline Sulphurous Flint-stones. Thus we see that this Sulphurous Vapour readily cleaves to Snails in the Earth, turning them to Flint, of which I have seen many, and have some with me at present. Amongst other things I have seen a Leather Purse turn’d to Flint, as also the Privy Member of a Man, the reason of which will be obvious to him that considers of it. We know also that sometimes though rarely Metals are produc’d in the Air, and from thence fall down to the Earth, especially Iron in form of small drops, because the Air is not the proper place for the generation of Metals, for as much as they find no resting place there. Stones also are at times generated in the Air, and from thence are cast down upon the Earth. Thus in the Summer time, when the attracted Sulphur is kindled by the scorching beams of the Sun, and works on the moist Cloud, in a moment Stones are generated, which with Lightning are cast down thence: These are sometimes of strange Figures, but commonly are shaped like Wedges. I have seen one of them that was three-corner’d, and which way soever it was turn’d represented the figure of a Mans Heart, and had, amongst other, this Virtue, that it preserves all those that are in the House where it is, from being any whit terrified with Thunder or Lightning. But of these matters I have treated elsewhere, being only mention’d here to demonstrate that Fire and Water are the Principles of all things; which being granted me, it will not be found strange, that by burning away Spirit of Wine, a Stone of the greatest Virtue and Power, viz. that of the Philosophers, should be generated: which I have not only experimented my self, but recommended it to others, who have likewise performed the same. Now if so weak a Fire, as that of Common spirit of Wine is, has the Power, by working upon its Patient, as it were, in a moment to generate an Heavenly Salt or Stone; why may not we then suppose, that when spirit of Wine by the union of a pure Sulphur, is made to burn much stronger; that this duplicate spirit of Wine, will produce a Duplicate Mercury or Cœlestial Salt? Yea, surely it cannot be doubted but that such a spirit of Wine acuated with the pure spirit of Sulphur, will not only in burning away afford a better Mercury, but also in greater quantity than any spirit of Wine alone can, because the incombustible Mercury and Salt in Sulphur, becomes meliorated by the flame of the spirit of Wine, and highly exalted in Vertue.

When Sulphur is kindled under a Bell, or other convenient Instrument, the incombustible salt of the Sulphur, mounts with the flame, in the form of a Corrosive Oyl, and is caught and used to several purposes. But this sowr Oyl, may well be compared to unripe Grapes, which being eaten, are hurtfull to the Stomach but if these sowr unripe Grapes be suffered to hang on the Vine till the heat of the Sun hath ripened them to a perfect Sweetness, then they will cause no gripings or flatuosities, as unripe Grapes do, but afford good nourishment to the Body: and when the juice of them is by fermentation turn’d to pleasant Wine, it not only strengthens a weak Stomach, but revives the Spirits, comforts the Heart, strengthens the Brain and all other parts of the Body, makes Men chearfull and courageous, and drives away Sorrow and Melancholly, and in a word, is a cause of much good to the sick as well as sound.

Now if Common Wine can do all this, what wonders, think we, may then be expected from the fix soul of its purest Spirit, when by its own proper Agents flames, it is in the highest degree purified, and besides this, united with the sweet soul of Sulphur, and thereby strengthened in all its powers.

That Sulphur in its innermost is as good as Gold, none that are knowing in Nature will deny, but this doth not appear till by the flames of spirit of Wine it be reduc’d to a sweet, pleasant, fix, red tinging Salt, and then you are Master of as powerfull a Medicine, as any is in the World. Lully, tells us plainly, Make that which is bitter, sweet, and you will have the whole Art. Basil Valentine saith, That he who in the Chymical Art, can with spirit of Wine dulcifie a sowre spirit of Salt, deserves to be Knighted for it, as having done a most Heroical action; and adds, That with this dulcified spirit of Salt, the Tincture of Sol may be extracted, which is the very Truth. Hermes concludes his Smaragdine Table with these words: Here ends what I had to say concerning the Solar Work; and so say I too. I have spoke plain enough, and now catch who catch can: For I don’t think my self obliged not only to catch the Bird for others, but also to pluck, roast, chew and thrust it into their mouths.

In like manner, as has been here said of Sulphur, we may proceed with Antimony and Orpiment, for to obtain their Quintessences, as also with all Vegetables and Animals; with which pure Essences great wonders may be performed in Physick. Time will not suffer me to enlarge on the subject, but I intend (God willing) shortly to publish a small Treatise of the Divine Character, or Seal of the Deity, by which the World and all that is in it was at first created, and yet daily the Stone of the Philosophers and many other wonderful things are made, and brought forth a-new from the conjunction of Fire and Water, that is, Sulphur and Mercury; in which Writing, the true ground of many New Generations, which far surpass Nature, and are produced by a due combination of these two contraries, will be declar’d and laid open.

After the same Method, as before mention’d, the Tinctures of other red Metals, Minerals and Stones may be extracted. Only we are to take notice, that when we work upon Stones, ’tis best only to make use of our Alcahest, without the addition of spirit of Wine, for the obtaining of their Tinctures, because stones are not of so easie solution as Mars and Venus. We may also with our fiery Alcahest extract red Tinctures from White Sand-stones and Flints, though not in such quantity as from those that are colour’d, which may easily be guess’d. Many, ’tis like, will wonder to hear that a red colour may be extracted from white stones; but this difficulty will be removed if they consider, that all Sand-stones and Flints are nothing else, but an Earthly gross Sulphur without any Mercury. Now we know that Sulphur is a Father of all Metals, and that when Mercury and Salt in a due proportion is join’d with him, then he makes a Metal. We also know that all Sulphur inwardly is red, though it do not appear so outwardly till it be joined with Salts. We have an instance of this in Lead, in which no redness appears at all, but when the same is calcined with Salt, its blackness is turn’d to a lively red, as may be seen in Red Lead. For Fire and Salt have the power to exalt all Sulphurs. Forasmuch then as the White Flint or Crystal has Sulphur in it, as appears from their giving forth sparks of Fire, when they are struck hard together, in like manner as when they are struck with Steel, which is nothing else but a fix Sulphur, that by its proper Agent, which is naturally in it, viz. a Vitriolate Salt, with the aid only of outward Fire, may be ripened into a True Tincture. And here I refer my Reader to what Artephius and Pontanus writes concerning their secret Fire, for further satisfaction.

I have prepared a particular Tincture from a white Sulphur, whereof one part tinged three or four parts of red Venus into Lune; but when I commit this white Sulphur for some time to the Fire, its whiteness becomes by degrees changed to redness, which then being projected on Copper, gives it the colour of Gold. And if the Tincture be wholly fix, it turns the Venus throughout to fix Sol, but if it be not yet fix, it can never make fix Sol, though it have attained a red colour in the Fire. Forasmuch then as white Flints are nothing else but Sulphur, why may not our Hellish Fire Spirit be supposed able to make the same Red, as well as the White Metalline Sulphur. I declare it therefore as a certain truth, that all white Sulphurs by means of Salt may be made fix and red; and he who is so far advanced in the knowledge of Nature and Art, as to know how to apply to every Agent its proper Patient, will easily obtain his desires without any extraordinary charge or trouble, and in a short time, for without the joining Actives with Passives understandingly in weight and measure, no good can be done.

A Process.

To Extract a Red Tincture out of all White Flints, and bring it over the Helm by means of our Fire Spirit, and afterwards to fix the same.

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.