The Third Century of Glauber’s Wealthy Store-house of Treasures

Wherein many Profitable Chymical Secrets are discovered.

Faithfully translated out of the High-Dutch of the Authour.

Courteous Reader,

Having some Years since begun to communicate to the World my manifold profitable Inventions in Centuries, but of late been hindred by sickness and other impediments from continuing the same: yet now being sollicited thereto by many Lovers of Art, I could do no less than to endeavour to give them some satisfaction by the publishing of these; and withall assuring them, that, in case God be pleased to continue my Life (notwithstanding that because of great Age and Sickness I am fain to keep my bed) I intend to compleat the rest of my promised Centuries, desiring the kind Reader in the mean time to accept of these three, and to pardon the confused manner of writing them, having for want of leisure, set them down as I found them in my Notes, being chiefly the occasional discoveries and inventions during my Chymical Labours. Neither would I have the Reader offended that in some places I break off so abruptly, especially where I am speaking of the matter which Adam brought with him out of Paradise, for whatever may be wanting in this fifth Century shall God willing be supplied in the sixth: I also desire the Reader not to be moved by the Calumnies of any Envious ignorant Persons, to think that the things here set down (being most of them new and unheard of inventions) are mere Fables and invented matters, and no real experimented Truths, but rather remit the verification of them to time and his own Experience, which will not fail to satisfie him of the Truth of the Particulars herein contained. Farewel.

THE THIRD CENTURY.

1. To wash common Tartar Snow white in a few hours time, and reduce it to a pleasant Salt which dissolves in cold Water, and wherewith of Sugar, Honey, or any sweet Fruits at all times, yea all hours of the day, and in all places Liquors may be prepared like to Wine in Tast, smell, colour, strength and virtue, and of which afterwards good Brandy and Vinegar may be made with great profit.

2. To purifie common Salt in great quantity, in one days time, so as to become very white, pure and transparent and of a pleasant Tast, shooting into cubical Crystals fit for the Tables of great Persons, its tast being very agreeable, and the meat season’d with it much more wholsome than that which is drest with the common Salt. See the Treatise of the nature of Salts.

3. A secret to preserve all sorts of Wine, and make them durable, whether of Grapes, Sugar, Honey, Apples, Pears, Quinces, Figs, Plums, Cheries, Malt, Wheat, &c. and is of great use to a House-keeper.

4. Any of the forementioned Wines may with ease be turned into very good Vinegar, not inferiour to that which is made of French or Rhenish Wine. See my Vegetable Work.

5. To make good Sal Armoniack of several contemptible matters which are trod under foot and cast out on the Dunghill very easily and in great quantities, so as one Man every day may prepare one hundred pound weight of it with ten shillings charges. See my Treatise of the Mineral Squill in order to long life.

6. A secret water wherewith in an hours time the yellow colour in Diamonds may be drawn from them, which makes them ten times more worth than they were before. See my Treatise of the Divine Character.

7. In like manner may the dark red colour of Granates be extracted, leaving them onely so much colour as makes them like Rubies. For Granates and Rubies resemble each other in their bodies and colour, the onely difference between them being, that the Granates abound with too much colour, which makes them less valued, when therefore some part of their colour is extracted from them, they do in virtue, hardness and beauty, equal Rubies, one Karat of which is more worth than ten pound of Granates, so as this extraction must be very gainfull to him that is Master of it. See my third Appendix to the seventh part of my Pharmacopœa Spagyrica.

8. In like manner also may be extracted the colours of blue Saphyrs, yellow Jacinths, Topaces, and Purple Amethysts, by which means they become white as Diamonds, and when brought to the same degree of hardness are every whit as valuable as they. See my third Appendix as before.

9. In a moments time to rob Sol of its colour and make it white as Silver. See my Treatise of the Seal of God.

10. To separate from Mars and Venus when dissolved in Water as well as from any other Vitriol, by means of an artificial Precipitation, their hidden spiritual Sol or Tincture, and that in a moment; a thing of great use in Physick, as well as in the transmutation of Metals. See the second Appendix.

11. To extract Sol out of Sand and Stones with great ease and little charges, which by precipitation is afterwards separated from the dissolvent, retaining its former strength, and may be made use of again for the like extraction. See the prosperity of Germany the seventh part, or Novum Lumen Chymicum.

12. To extract Sol from Luna with a small quantity of dissolvent, which, after precipitation of the Sol, remains in its full strength, and may be used as before to the great gain of the Artist. See Glauber’s Laboratory, and prosperity of Germany, 7th. part.

13. In one days time to prepare a particular, whereof one part will tinge three parts of Venus into Lune. N. B. This Tincture is a white Stone which being placed in a fit Furnace, and a due fire administred, within few days the whiteness will be changed to a yellow colour, and that into a fix’d red, whereof one part being cast upon four parts of Lune in Flux, exalts it so far that in the separation it gives a fourth part of Sol. Which sudden fixation is performed by the proper Agent of the matter which is white of it self, and yet affords a red Tincture, when handled, as is here set down. See my Treatise of the secret fire of Artephius.

14. In a short time to prepare a particular Tincture of a red subject, which exalts Silver to that degree, as to yield much Sol in the separation. See my explication upon Pontanus his Letter.

15. A good graduating water which being digested with Lune, makes it yield much Sol in separation. See the Treatise concerning the most secret natural Sal Armoniack every where to be found.

16. Another graduating water in which Mercury being digested, becomes coagulated into Sol and Luna. See the fiery Alkahest.

17. Another fixing water, which being once or twice abstracted from Mercury makes it lose its property of making Sol and Venus white, and on the contrary gilds Luna when rub’d upon it. I have as yet carried this experiment no further, but am of opinion that if Mercury were long enough digested in the same, it would turn the Mercury into Tincture, coagulating and fixing each common Mercury into Sol. See Hastecal.

18. A volatilizing Water which being abstracted from Sol highly exalts its natural colour, and carries it over the Helm, which done it is no more common Sol, but may in a short time be fixed into a transparent red Carbuncle. See my third Appendix, &c. concerning the Griffins Claws, and Eagles Wings.

19. A water of like nature that volatilizeth all fixt matters, wherewith in one single Distillation, the Tincture or Soul may be extracted from Mars, Venus, and all coloured Stones, and carried over the Helm; which Tinctures afterwards with one rectification are highly purified, and have their Medicinal and tinging virtue doubled, which exalted and multiplied Tinctures, notwithstanding their great volatility may within twenty four hours time be concentrated, by means of a secret Magnet, and fixed into a Stone, penetrating all compact Bodies, with which incredible things may be done in Alchymy and Physick. See my third Appendix, &c.

20. To prepare a Salt in an hours time, and without extraordinary charges, which makes all fixt matters volatile, and is of such virtue that when a little of it is joyned with Spirit of Wine it makes it so strong and fiery, that it dissolves all Metals, Minerals, Animals and Vegetables, carrying their Q. Essence over the Helm, and is the effecter of wonders in Physick and Alchymy: so that he who knows how to prepare and make use of this wonderfull Salt, needs never want either bodily health, or a competent supply of maintenance. See my Treatise of Elias Artista in Quarto.

21. A wonderfull, to all Men known, but withall contemptible matter, which every where may be had for nothing, which whosoever knows, together with the use of it, needs never want, because thereby he may effect whatsoever is necessary for Soul or Body. See my first, second and third Appendix of Pharmacopœa Spagyrica.

22. The manner of preparing a running Mercury out of all Minerals and Metals, and that in one days time, which joyn’d with Sol becomes fixed into Sol. See my third Appendix.

23. How such a Mercury may be prepared in an hours time of the martial Regulus of Antimony, without any charges to speak of, which is a true Tincture, fixing the imperfect Metals into Sol. See my Treatise concerning the secret Fire of the Magi.

24. A water made of a particular sort of Chalk which changeth a yellow or brown skin into white, and which cannot be wash’d off with water, of valuable use for Ladies and Gentlewomen. See my 4th Century in Folio.

25. A water prepar’d of Sol, which turns white hairs into a yellow gold colour. See my Laboratory.

26. Another water made of Silver, which tinges hair cole-black, good for such as are gray hair’d, and endeavour to conceal their Age. See Glaub. Concentrate.

27. A water made of Sol, which colours the hair and skin of Man, as also the bones and horns of Beast, and feathers of Birds, of a fair lasting Purple. See Glauber’s Laboratory in Quarto.

28. A water into which when any Metal is put, it begins to grow within twenty four hours time in the form of Plants and Trees, each Metal according to its inmost colour and property, which Metalline Vegetations are called Philosophical Trees, both pleasant to the Eye and of good use. Vide my fourth Century.

29. A water made of Sand and Flints, having the property of changing Wood that is laid in it, in a short time into hard Stone of several colours according to the pleasure of the Artist.

30. A dry water, or rather Stone, upon which if any volatile saline Spirit be poured and set in the Sun, it presently sucks in the volatile mineral Spirit and in one days time makes it so fixt that it may be made red hot in the Fire, without any evaporation. See my universal Coagulator.

31. By this means also may the combustible stinking Sulphur, the greatest enemy of Metals be fixed, which afterwards being cast upon the imperfect Metals in Flux, doth meliorate them, and make them afford Sol and Luna on the Cupel with profit. See my second Appendix.

32. In like manner may Antimony without any loss of weight be fixed, so as no more to cause vomiting, but casts all evil out of the Body insensibly by sweat, restoring health, and renewing youth. See my proper Agent.

33. In the same manner may Orpiment be fixed, so as no longer to be a Poison, but a Meliorator of imperfect Metals.

34. Likewise also may Arsenick be fixed within two or three days time, so as it may safely be taken inwardly, being an excellent Diaphoretick for the cure of Diseases, and good to exalt Metals, so that in separation they afford Gold and Lune. See my proper Agent.

35. Much after the same manner may Mercury, without any considerable loss of weight (though with longer time and more patience) be fixed, so as to suffer himself to be melted and hammer’d like any other Metal, and on the Cupel leaves Sol and Luna. See my Treatise of the universal Coagulator.

36. In like manner may the martial Regulus of Antimony be fixed into a tinging Stone, that meliorates all imperfect metals.

37. A wonderfull Magnet which being put into any watry Liquors or Oils, draws the water to it self leaving the Oils more pure, subtile and penetrating. See Elias Artista.

38. By means of this Magnet, we can separate from the highest rectified Spirit of Wine, one half of insipid water, which Spirit of Wine after this separation is an effecter of wonders.

39. This Spirit of Wine when poured on pulverised Coral and thence abstracted, brings their red Tincture over the Helm, being a wonderfull Cordial and purifier of the Blood.

40. By means of this Spirit of Wine, may the Cordial Virtue of Pearls be brought over the Helm, being of great efficacy for the recovery of sick and weak Persons.

41. This Q. Essence of Wine being poured upon clean washed Egg-shells, dissolves them, and distilled from them, brings over with it their Stone-breaking and dissolving virtue, and is a singular remedy in the Gout, and the Stone of Kidney or Bladder.

42. The same also dissolves the Lapis Lyncis and Judaicus, as also Crabs Eyes so called, and other Stones found in Fishes, carrying their virtues with it over the Helm. See my fifth Century.

43. The same Spirit of Wine dissolves, extracts and brings over the Helm, the inmost virtues of all Animals and Vegetables carrying them over the Helm, whence incomparable medicaments may be prepared.

44. Black Snails such as are found in May on the Grass dissolved in the same, and brought over the Helm, and duely exhibited to those that have the Gout or Stone, carries off all tartareous slimy matter from the Kidneys, Bladder, and other parts of the Body by Seige and Urine.

45. Aloes, Saffron and Myrrh dissolved in the same, and their Tinctures carried over the Helm, affords an excellent Elixir Proprietatis, very conducive to long Life. See Paracelsus concerning Elixirs.

46. Cantharides dissolved therewith, and brought over, are a powerfull Diaphoretick, above all others, cleansing the Kidneys and Bladder, but ought to be heedfully used, because it is a vehement Medicine, which being overdos’d will hurt the Kidneys, Bladder and Ureters.

47. The Leaves of Helleboraster, extracted and brought over with the same, affords an Excellent Aqua Vitæ, conducing to long Life. See Paracelsus.

48. Sea Squills being dissolved in this Spirit of Wine, and spiritualized by being brought over the helm, is of great use for removing of Diseases, and maintaining of health.

49. Nux Vomica, being first grated and then dissolved therein, and their restorating Vertue being brought over the Helm, doth wonders in restoring the decayed strength and health of man, but must be used with understanding.

50. Common Mercury dissolved and brought over with the same, is the highest Medicine against the French Pox and all venereal Diseases.

51. Mercury of Antimony prepared after the same manner, affords a Medicine against all Diseases of mankind.

52. Fixed Antimony thus extracted and brought over is a Diaphoretick curing all Diseases, and restoring the highest degree of health.

53. In like manner may many excellent Remedies be prepared, out of all Vegetables and Minerals, for restoring and preserving of health.

54. A further use of our Water attracting Magnet is this. Abstract the Oil of Tartar, Hartshorn, Amber, Soot, or that which is distill’d from Smiths Coals, and the Magnet will attract all the Water and bad Smell to it self, which remains with the Magnet, and the pure clear and subtil Oil, onely comes over, which Magnet being made red hot, loseth its water and stink and may be made use of as before.

55. In like manner may the Oil of Wax and Bricks, commonly called the Oil of Philosophers, be deprived of their bad Scents, and made exceeding penetrative and pleasant.

56. So also may all Vegetable and Animal Oils distill’d by retort, be purified and made pleasant.

57. Likewise all the Oils of Herbs, Seeds, Woods and Spices, which with the addition of Water are distill’d by a common Still, may by distilling them from our Magnet be made much more subtil, and their sweet Smells much more strong and piercing; so that a little of these Oils set in an open Vessel, perfumes not onely the Room in which it is but also the whole house, they being so volatile that without any Fire they vanish in the Air.

58. And as by means of this volatalizing fiery Spirit, the pleasant and well scented Oils of Spices may be greatly meliorated and exalted; so likewise may all stinking and poisonous Vegetables, Animals or Minerals, thereby be made much more stinking and venemous, so as their Smell alone will be sufficient to kill men, doing it with far greater expedition than any Corporal poisons whatsoever. See Elias Artista.

59. All well scented Oils, may by means of our volatile saline Spirit, be purified to the highest Degree, and afterwards be reduced to a hard Body: which Body then is no common gross Body (as being a coagulated Spirit) but a clear, transparent spiritual pure Body.

60. This Labour may with profit be practis’d on Amber, whose Oil being by rectification made clear and transparent, and then digested with our fiery salt Spirit, becomes hard again as it was before distillation; by which means we may make pieces of Amber as big as we please, and may mix with it some small Threds of Sol, and so shall have the old highly esteemed Stone called Chrysophoros; or else we may put into it, whilst yet it is soft, little Worms, Flies, Spiders, Pismires, or whatever else we please, which is a notable Curiosity and shews as if they were grown there, to those that are ignorant of this Art.

61. In the same manner may the Oil of Turpentine be reduced to a hard Gum, to very good use and purpose.

62. All distilled Oils of Seeds, Woods and Spices, when by long standing, they turn yellow, red or thick, may by means of this fiery salt Spirit be again made clear, thin and transparent, when some of the said Spirit is poured on the said Oils and so distilled, some part of the Oil comes over clear and transparent, the other part remaining in the Glass, in the form of an hard Gum, in which small Insects may be inclosed as before said of the Amber.

63. Amongst all Oils these following are apt to grow thick and ropy, viz. the Oils of Lignum Rhodii, Oranges, Limmons, Juniper-berries; those of Cloves and Cinamon are apt to grow red. The Oils of Fennel-seed, Anniss, Coriander, Caroway and Cumin-seed, and all other Oils distill’d from Herbs and Seeds, that have hollow Stalks, and are umbelliferous, forasmuch as they abound with much volatile Salt, are apt to turn thick: If any of these be rectified with an acid saline Spirit, it immediately destroys the volatile Salt, and the Oil becomes clear and transparent, and the remaining part of the Oil becomes hard as a Gum, and is a special inward and outward Medicine.

64. And forasmuch as a fiery saline Spirit can make old and red Oils clear, thin and transparent, we may conclude, that such a Spirit is able also to volatilize and bring over by distillation those Oils which by length of time are become hard and dry in Seeds, Herbs and Woods, and cannot by maceration in water be brought over, but must by this more powerfull means be made thin and volatile, that they may afford their Oils as easily in distillation, as green Seeds and Woods are used to do.

65. Now as thick and ropy distill’d Oils may be made thin, by means of saline Spirits; so there are some salt Spirits wherewith we can coagulate all thin and subtil Oils, in the form of a volatile pleasant strong scented Salt, of great use in Physick.

66. In this manner, viz. by pouring a strong saline Spirit upon them, we can distill subtil and powerfull Oils from all rosins, gums and thick juices, and afterwards reduce them again to the hardness of Amber.

Thus Mastick, Frankincense, Benzoin, Storax, Camphir, &c. afford very pure clear and transparent Oils, which when hardned to the consistence of Amber, draw straws and other light matters to them like it.

67. In like manner also can all sulphureous Minerals be purified to the highest degree, when distill’d with such a Spirit, and then may be reduced again to hard transparent clarified Bodies: and amongst the rest Antimony and Orpiment do afford in this way most powerfull and superlatively penetrating medicinal Stones.

68. And as these fiery saline Spirits do bring over by distillation all unfixt sulphureous Subjects, and purifie them; so they do the same in fixt Sulphureous Metals, e.g. Mars and Venus, which Metals being thus purified may be fixed into tinging medicinal Stones.

69. They who know the art of the metallick purification and fixation, are possessours of an incomparable Treasure, forasmuch as by this means in three days time with the charge of one Crown, a true universal Medicine may be prepared, for the Bodies of men and metals, not in great quantity indeed but sufficient to assure the Possibility of it, and may afterwards be tryed in greater quantity.

70. By means of such a fiery salt Spirit fixt Chrystals, Flints, and other hard Stones may be made volatile and spiritual, and then may tinge them with what colours we please, and coagulate them again into hard transparent colour’d Stones, and that of what form and fashion we please. This is a very gainfull Art, because fair transparent colour’d Stones are always preferrable to Sol.

71. And as we have understood that by means of volatilizing waters, nor onely Vegetables and Animals, but also minerals and fixt metals may be made volatile, and their purest parts brought over the Helm, and by this means do wonders as well in Physick as Alchymy. Now though this separation of the pure part from the impure, by means of Distillation be high’y to be valued, yet there is a better, easier and less chargeable way to separate the purer parts from all Metals, Minerals, Stones, Sand, and coloured Earths containing Sol and Tincture, by means of a Magnet, which being laid in the Solutions of Metals, and extractions of Stones, within a few hours time draws to it all the spiritual as well as fixt Sol and Tincture contain’d in the said Solutions; so that after abstraction of the dissolvent by Distillation, we find the dis-animated dead Body, which being put aside, we separate the attracted Sol or Tincture from the Magnet, and thus obtain whatsoever good was hid in the foresaid gross Bodies. N. B. Though indeed this extraction of Sol and Tinctures be very easie, as hath been said, yet I shall here, for further information of the Reader, set down what ought to be observed in the extracting of Sol from each Metal, Mineral, Stone, or Earth. And first of fixt Sol.

72. When there is fixt Sol in Sand or Stones, we need onely to pulverize them, and pour upon them Aq. Regis wherein common Salt hath been dissolved, and let them boil together a quarter of an hour, by which means the Aq. Regis draws the Sol out of the Sand and Stones, in which extraction if we then put the Sol attracting Magnet, it will draw the Sol to it self, which being separated from the Magnet, is melted down with fluxing Powder, the Aq. Regis continuing good to be employed on the like occasion.

73. But when in the Sand or Stones there is no fixt but onely a volatile unripe Sol, then we must put the Sand or pulverized Stones into a Glass Retort, and pour upon them of our volatilizing fiery Alkaliest, and abstract the same from the Sand or Stone, by which means it carries the Sol over with it, which hath been attracted by the golden Magnet, which being reduced will be found good and fix’d Sol. The dissolvent may again be used to the same purpose.

74. But if the Stones besides the Sol, do also contain Lune, then an Aq. Fortis must first be poured upon them to extract the Lune, and afterwards precipitate it by casting some common Salt into the Solution, by which addition of Salt the Aq. Fortis is turned into an Aq. Regis, and being poured upon the Stones, it extracts the Sol also.

75. For if at first we should pour an Aq. Regis upon these Stones, it would indeed extract the Sol, but withall so alter the Lune, that it would be impossible afterwards to extract it with Aq. Fortis, and therefore we are to proceed in the manner abovesaid.

76. In like manner also we are to proceed with white, yellow and red Earths, for to extract the Lune and Sol that is in them. And if it be a fat Earth and contains fix’d Sol, it must first be made red hot to rob it of its fatness, because else it would devour too much Aq. Fortis.

77. But when the Earth contains onely volatile Sol, as the yellow Earth of Silesia and the red Terra Lemnia Sigillata, it must not be made red hot, but pour some Alkahest upon it, and so bring the Sol over the Helm.

78. Yellow and red Earths do commonly contain Sol or Lune or both, and therefore we may boldly make trial of them; for oftentimes a great treasure is shut up in very contemptible Earth, such as might serve to maintain many thousands.

79. In the same manner we may extract the fixt as well as immature Sol out of Ruddie, red Jasper, and red Blood-stones, which in some parts are found in great quantities.

80. With our Sol attracting Magnet, we can extract much Sol out of any common Vitriol, and after the Sol is extracted, reduce the Solution to Vitriol again, which is as good for the Dyers use as it was before.

81. With the same Magnet, good Sol may be extracted out of those yellowish, reddish, and greenish waters which flow from some Mountains, which waters being to be had for nothing, must make this work very gainfull.

82. And in case we should not be able to meet with this sort of running waters, then we may take the Copperas Stones which are often found in Sand, but for the most part grow in fat Earth, which when they are expos’d to the Air, fall in pieces, and having water poured upon them afford a good Vitriol, which easily yields the spiritual Sol it contains to our Magnet. So that an Artist can scarcely be to seek for subjects, from whence unripe volatile or fixt Sol may be had with profit.

83. N. B. But when we have a mind to bring the volatile Sol which is in red Sand, Stones and Clay, with volatilizing waters by Distillation over the Helm, it is good to add to our Eagles Wings, or volatilizing water, some of our most secret Sal Armoniack, by which the same is extreamly strengthned and animated, so that like a Griffin for strength, it carries the Man on Horseback away in the Air to his Nest.

84. N. B. This Griffin is the Artist, that prepares this fiery water, wherewith he seizeth as with his Talons the Man armed Cap a Pe; that is, red Stones, Sand and Earth, abounding with a martial Tincture, extracts and carries them to the young ones in his Nest, that is, provides a good maintenance for his Family thereby.

85. But because to these operations of extracting Sol volatile and fixt, and Tinctures from the subjects just now mentioned, when we work them in quantities, much Aq. Regis, or other like waters are required, which every one hath not an oportunity to prepare for himself, and therefore must buy them, which encreaseth the charges of the operation; wherefore I am willing to teach a near way to prepare these corrosive waters.

86. Forasmuch then as we know that Vitriol is an universal acid, and the chief of all Salts, and the Spirit it yields by Distillation, much more fiery than that which is forc’d from other Salts, therefore we may make use of the Oil of Vitriol, for a Basis with the help of others Salts, to prepare several sorts of saline Spirits, with small labour and charges, in manner as follows.

87. Recipe two parts of Niter dissolved in water and one part of Oil of Vitriol, distill them in an Allembick, and you will obtain a good Aq. Fortis to dissolve Lune, Saturn, and Mercury. This operation spends little Fire and comes over easily.

88. And if we dissolve one pound of Salt, and as much Niter in three pound of Water, adding thereto one pound of Oil of Vitriol, and distill it in Sand, by Alembick or Retort we shall get six pound of good and strong Aq. Regis to dissolve Sol, Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

89. But when we take two pound of Salt, and dissolve it in three pound of Water adding one pound of Oil of Vitriol, we get five pound of good Spirit of Salt. The Salt that stays behind is called Sal Mirabilis or wonderfull Salt, because wonders may be done with it, as appears from several parts of my Writings, these Salts being of divers vertues according to the nature of those Salts that are added to the Oil of Vitriol in Distillation.

90. These Salts are commonly added to metals, and melted down with them in Crucibles, by which means they become dissolved in the dry way, which is much easier and readier than the wet way of dissolving.

91. In particular by this way we can dissolve Sulphur, which resists all corrosive saline Spirits, and remains undissolved by them.

92. Now to obtain Oil of Vitriol with ease and in great quantity, we may proceed several ways, and especially thus, by dissolving Vitriol in water, adding a contrary to it, which separates all its impurities, by which means the purified Vitriol may with a small Fire be reduced to Oil, so as one pound of Oil of Vitriol will not require above ten pound of Coals.

93. And because Oil of Sulphur is of the same nature with Oil of Vitriol, yea is more proper for some operations than it, therefore we may make use of the same Oil of Sulphur, to prepare strong saline Spirits, especially because the same may be prepared in quantity and very compendiously, according to a particular way described by the Ancient Philosophers.

94. They have taught us the preparation of Oil of Sulphur in their wittily devised Fables, giving to this Oil the name of Venus, whom Vulcan when come to Man’s estate took to Wife: by the word Vulcan, we are to understand every combustible Sulphur, and by the word Venus, its incombustible corrosive Oil, which for this reason probably they called Venus, because when a drop of it falls on burning Coals, it gives forth a red smoak like to Venus, or because this acid Oil like a wicked Woman, has sharp Teeth, and a keen deceitfull Tongue, wherewith they lay hold of Men, and lead them astray in the same manner as this Oil cleaves to, and enters a League with every metal to which it is joyned, forasmuch as all metals proceed from Sulphur, and have great affinity with it, as the Woman hath with Man.

Here follows an Explication of the Poetical Table, teaching us to make the Oil of Sulphur in quantity.

95. We reade that Vulcan, that is, a combustible Sulphur, took Venus to Wife, by which is meant the incombustible Oil of Sulphur; now whilst Vulcan was busie at his work in the Caves of the Earth, for he was a Miner and a Black-smith, Venus betakes her self to Mars, who lies with her; now when Vulcan found his Wife in the embraces of another Man, he calls all the Gods to his help, who appearing, cast an Iron Net over Mars and Venus that they might not escape, but with great shame be exposed to the derision of the Gods.

96. When Vulcan is kindled in a Furnace made for that purpose, that is, labours in metals, the flame carries Venus, i. e. the Oil of Sulphur into Mars his lodging, that is, into the Recipient, which must be fill’d with Steel Wire, where she commits Adultery with Mars, that is, begins to dissolve the same, and produceth a Vitriol, which when exposed to the moist Air, becomes resolved into a clear sweet water, which from the Steel Wire runs into the Vessel appointed to recieve it, which sweet water is nothing else but Arostrus the Son of Mars and Venus, or the martial Oil of Sulphur, or to speak more plainly, the Vitriol of Mars.

97. This Vitriol of Mars is called by the Philosophers the juice or water of the Birch Tree, and of which they say the Philosophers Stone may be prepared, for many of them have writ concerning it, and pointed to this sweet Iron Juice, which they have termed Birch Tree Waters, because of the likeness it has therewith, for when in the Spring-time we make a hole with a Piercer, reaching to the Pith of the Tree, and thrust into it a Quill or Faucet, much sweet water proceeds from it, which some make use of to brew Beer, because the same is accounted very good against the Stone in the Kidneys and Bladder.

98. This Vitriol also is Virgil’s Arbor Opaca, or dark Tree, whose Branches he declares to be easily flexible; now what is more flexible than Iron, or Copper Wire, which are therefore compared to the Birch, which is a very juicy Tree, and hath very flexible branches.

99. That this shady Tree is the fittest, according to Virgil’s Doctrine, to break off one golden Twig after another is also certain, for I have tried it divers ways and found it to be true, that it affords its golden Twigs very freely to him that knows how to handle Proserpina.

100. But if the Artist be acquainted with the use of our Sol attracting Magnet, he may then with ease and more profit, without Distillation or Fire, break off the said Twigs, than he could do with the help of Proserpina.

And thus I conclude this third Century, the fourth and fifth follows, which will be found of better use than this.