The second Obligation

I Christopher Farnner, for the time being Canonicate Quæstor of Spire, Lochgovia and Horrheme, in the Dukedom of Wirtemberg, to all by whom these presents shall be read, make known, that the most excellent and learned Mr. John Rudolph Glauber for little or no reward, has communicated some of his secrets to me, and with me made a covenant after this manner, That I must oblige my self for what he hath already done, or hereafter shall do for me, to be all my life thankful, not only to him, but to his Children also. But for as much as ’tis most certain, this life will have an end, but we know not the time when, the first Obligation is not full and clear enough, and for that cause I bind my self and promise, (so help me God) and swear by the King of Heaven who always bears witness to the Truth; and farther, upon my Credit and Reputation, for the preservation whereof every Christian man should be induc’d to keep his promise, if (which that God would in mercy avert, I shall not cease to put up my daily Prayers) the above named Mr. Glauber and his beloved wife shall die, and leave their Children unmarried, I do oblige my self by this most solemn Oath, to observe faithfully, and as a Christian man ought, these following things: viz. I will forthwith take his Children to an inheritance with mine, and to my utmost skill, instruct them in the secrets of their dead Father, and shew them all things requisite and necessary, as fully as to my own Children; and that after this manner, That what ever of their Parents heritage belongs to them, they shall wholly possess, and they shall lawfully demand it as their proper due; and if any thing goes from him, I will redeem it, so that my Children shall lay no claim to it: on the contrary, (for those secrets communicated to me, which hereafter may redound to my profit) I make the aforesaid Mr. Glauber’s Children Heirs with mine, that they may be admitted equally to my Estate, and alike enjoy the Goods of me living: But if I Farnner, contrary to my expectation, shall depart this World before Mr. Glauber, he is bound to instruct my Children in his Art, according as they are qualifyed, only so far, as that thereby they may get their living, and that they may not be burdensome to him. He may at his pleasure instruct him that he shall esteem most fit in some secret, with which he shall afterwards teach his Brethren to get themselves maintenance. And for the same cause, I call my little Son Alexander, and surrender him to Mr. Glauber and his service, so that he may keep him as long as he shall be willing, and it shall not be in my power to take him from him according to the agreement we have both made with him: all which things are restrain’d to this on either side, That if the Parents of either part die before their Children are provided for, which God forbid, and our Children shall be free by the early death of their Parents, then each shall to his utmost, provide for his own Children.

That all these things may be observed the more firmly, I affix my Seal and name, and by my own hand writing, oblige my self so, that if at any time I falsify my word, my Children may be call’d to witness my perjury. Given at Kitzinga the 10th of September, in the year 1652.Christopher Farnner.

NB. I did not require this obligation of Farnner, neither wou’d I have taken it, but admonish’d him to be true to the first, with which I was content; for he gave me this for no other reason, but to get more out of me: But, because I had found out his cheats, and he wou’d not be advis’d for his own profit, he at last makes mention of this new obligation, in a certain epistle of his, thinking thereby I was oblig’d to a farther communication of my Art to him, tho I have often told him, that I valu’d not this last obligation but wou’d give it him again: But when he refus’d to take it, I cancell’d it, and kept it by me, for this reason, that it might be seen how he had bound himself by this new Obligation, which certainly he wou’d never have done, without very good cause.

Expressions gathered out of certain of Farnner’s Epistles sent to me; from which is evident how greatly he is beholden to me.

Therefore I faithfully assure you, that I will shortly leave my House, and take a Journey farther off, to provide for my Family; my Wife too is very willing to go with me, and to be interested in our agreements, but I can’t see what shou’d oblige her to it, when it can’t be effected very commodiously: Yet I resolve, if nothing extraordinary hinder me, after eight daies, that is, on the ¹⁴⁄₄th. day of April, to depart hence, and then answer your most friendly Letters, together with my beloved Wife, and all my Family, to take part with you in all your Labours, and help you with the greatest diligence. But because I intend to be so suddenly with you, I shall write no more at this time.March 26th. 1653.

Out of another Epistle, July 17th. 1653.

I hope you will excuse me, that I did not come to you, because hindered by my Wife’s faultiness, who telling me she wou’d come with me, privily laid Obstacles in my way; this offence wou’d not destroy a Knave: Wherefore I again intreat you not to cast me off, but continue your wonted favour to me; and I shall endeavour in my place to give you ample satisfaction; neither shall any thing hinder my speedy performance of what I have promised.

Out of another Epistle, July 29th. 1653.

Forasmuch therefore as I have by the wicked deceit of my Wife, broken the many Promises I made of coming to you, unless I wou’d have taken her wicked Amasius or galant, as Companion in the Journey; it has at length pleased God to take her away, and so put me in a capacity, Worthy Sir, of serving you without the least impediment, wherefore I give my self wholly to your Commands: And altho’ I have been perswaded by Persons of principal Authority to marry again, I will not, but commit my self to be manag’d by your Counsel, as you were my Father. Therefore, since we are parted, if my Fates grant me Life and Prosperity, I will come to you, and commit my self to your guidance and protection, Worthy Patron; for which reason I shall forbear to write any thing at this time of your Laboratory, more than what I see in your Letters, that all things may proceed the more regularly. Wherefore, though I have been solicited by many, yet shall reject all as much as I may commodiously, in hopes of this, that when I have first gotten your consent, I may communicate my labour to some, whereby I may get a good Sum of Money: But these things shall be deferred till our happy meeting.

In another Epistle he saith;

That he was confident he could find out all my Art by my Writings, except that the Vessels do not alwaies abide the Fire, and that the Apothecaries refused to buy his Medicines, unless he would teach them the way to prepare ’em: Again, he would give me Fifty R. Dollers for each month, for my part, as may be shewn from himself; these are his words: And if he was not oblig’d to me, why would he give me Fifty R. Dollers each Month?

From all which (and much more I might add, which for brevities sake I omit) it evidently appears, that Farnner was obliged to me, which he would never have been, had not he receiv’d some benefit from me, which render’d him bound to me: But if he is oblig’d to me, why was he so wicked, as in his lying Epistles so malapertly to despise, and disparage me and my Secrets, which he had from me? Hence then every man may perceive what they ought to judge of him, that he has both behav’d himself most perfidiously wicked toward me, and also, that he has sufficiently declar’d himself the most ungrateful in the World.

But that no man may suspect that I wrest any word of Farnner’s, in his obligations given to me, to his disadvantage, or my own ends, I have taken care to have his own hand-writing view’d by Notaries and Witnesses, who will attest, that what I have printed is word for word the same with what I have in writing under his own hand.

A Specification of those Chymical Secrets which Farnner learn’d of Glauber, and in the trial found true, and of those which yet are found and brought to trial; where it must be known, that those, of which there is no mention made here, if Glauber should relate them, they would not answer his expectation in Practice, according to his information: Also the Charge which he must be at who will make trial of those Secrets after a right manner, is here added.

1. Glauber’s Panacea, for 30 R. Dollers.

About which these things are to be considered: It is made chiefly of Antimony; to which, according to his common way, Sulphur is added; which done, another Separation is made, in which, from a whole pound of Sulphur and Antimony, no man shall receive more than three ounces of the purest Sulphur. There are indeed two other Subjects, which produce a golden Sulphur better than Antimony; but I have found a way to extract a thick and pure Sulphur from all sorts of Metals (except Luna and Sol) and Minerals, and after Glauber’s manner to make Tinctures. All these Secrets annexed will be taught for the price named.

2. To reduce Minerals and Metals into Dross, after Glauber’s way, to reduce them to nothing, and then without Charge to bring them to their own Species again, or to turn them into fluid Oil, or Powder, or Tinctures; which things bear an affinity to those above: For Twenty R. Dollers.

3. Glauber’s Alkahest, and a way to prepare it, perhaps unknown to Glauber, and built upon a more firm foundation; Fifty R. Dollers.

4. The Trial of all sorts of Brass, but not of every sort at once, for every one must have a particular Practice.

5. To make store of Flowers of Coral for a little Cost; ten R. Dollers.

6. To make melted Tin hard, that it shall shine and sound like [Silver]; Ten R. Dollers.

7. To make white Vitrifications upon Vessels; for Ten R. Dollers.

8. Plenty of Spirit of Salt.

This is not prepar’d after Glauber’s way, and though Glauber was so great a Lyer as to affirm, that in a clear Fire fifty pound of this Spirit might be prepared in one day, yet he cannot produce above one or two pound: Wherefore my invention is much better, and my Spirit is pure, but Glauber’s has Vitriol mix’d in it.

And though I gave Glauber a great Sum of Money to communicate these Secrets to me, yet I have not found any of them true, according to his Information, but was fain, with great industry to seek other waies of working those abovenamed.

And for those that follow, though they may seem to be derived to me from Glauber, yet they have not succeeded by his Information, but I was forced to go another way to work, which will hardly be found by Glauber.

9. To prepare good store of the Spirits of Vitriol, Nitre, Salt, Aqua fortis, Aqua Regis, also Sulphur, after a manner not yet known, and which will scarce be known to Glauber; forty R. Dollers.

10. To produce plenty of volatile Mineral Spirits, which Spirits ascend the Still before the Phlegm; but the abovenamed after the Phlegm.

NB. These Spirits have the same taste that Spirit of Wine hath, and evaporate like it, and are void of corroding: neither do I doubt, but I can produce such Spirits from Metals also, though in metallicks I have made no trial yet.

11. Flowers of Minerals and Metals, almost without diminution, compendiously under a refrigeratory cover, which Glauber never saw; Ten R. Dollers.

12. The Quintessence of all Vegetables: Although Glauber, in his Tract, promised to bring that also to light, yet he never performed it from all Vegetables, but only from hot, which give Oil, which is of no moment; but that from cold, to wit, Herbs, is artificial. Thirty R. Dollers.

13. To give new strength to dead and eager Wines, and make them as good as ever, or better; Two Hundred R. Dollers.

NB. Note here, That I very much run against Glauber’s Tract of Vinary Secrets; and if my own Industry had not taught me more than that, I might indeed, according to his instruction, encrease the strength of Wine, but with an ingrateful relish, so as I could never hope to try eager Wines according to Art. But now I cannot only bring to maturity all sorts of Liquors from both sweet and sowre Grapes, and other sorts of Fruits; and give them new strength in the Hogshead, but also render them pallatable to all men. Whoever hath tasted Glauber’s Wines, and shall afterwards taste mine, will easily discern a difference.

14. To give any Wines what relish I please.

15. To prepare a burning Spirit of all sorts of Bread-Corn in abundance, with great ease and profit, very much like that which is made of the Dreggs of Wine, and sustaining all Trials: There are already eight pounds of it in trial, whether they will bear a Voyage by Sea, or not; they are sent beyond Sea, which if they will undergo; Two hundred R. Dollers.

NB. Further, I knew how to reduce all burning Spirits into one form; as, the Spirit of Juniper, or Bread-Corn, like to Brandy, or to make spirit of Wine like spirit of Bread-Corn or Juniper, so that it shall not be discerned of what subject ’tis made.

Neither do I doubt, but that I know also how it comes to pass, that some Liquors carry’d beyond Sea, are corrupted: Which therefore, if by the benefit of this trial, the Certainty is made known to me, a good reason, and after what manner it may be help’d, may be learn’d of me for a trifle.

16. To encrease the strength of all sorts of Beer, that they shall have equal Virtue with Rhenish-Wine, and yet the Beer lose nothing of its relish, but be both more pleasant and durable; for when thus order’d, it will not so soon sowre; but if it be decay’d, which will happen to Wine in time, the Vinegar which will arise from it, will be as good as Wine Vinegar: fifty R. Dollers.

17. To give sowre Beer its natural sweetness, and in fourteen days to make it sell for fresh; and so, though turn’d three or four times, to make it sweet in fourteen daies time without fail.

18. To produce Vinegar of Bread-Corn, and such other things, very like Wine-Vinegar in all things without fail; fifty R. Dollers.

19. To prepare Vinegar of green woods, an Hundred measures daily, together with Oil of Wood, without Charge; but if any man will have this like other Vinegar, it requires rectifying, which will ask some time and cost: Ten R. Dollers.

20. Although Glauber delivered in a little Tract, a way to make Tartar of the burnt Lees of Wine, yet I have alwaies committed many Errours, by following his very Oral instructions, till bethinking my self, I at last made it with fruit, and plainly reduced it to Crystals.

NB. Whoever will follow the Directions of that Tract, may.

21. To separate every Oar of Copper with profit, and from thence to produce Gain.

22. Of that sort of Copper Oar, if by chance they have any ☽ from thence, to separate it with fruit, without loss of the Copper and Lead.

23. To separate Lead from Tests and Cupels, for small Cost, and as little Labour.

24. To separate Gold and Silver by melting.

25. To build a Furnace, in which one may both torrifie, melt, and try Metals in the Probations of Cineritium; containing the small Trials of an hundred Crucibles, or more, only heat with Wood.

26. Further, a Furnace, in which, without Bellows, one may try a good quantity by the Probations of Cineritium.

And Lastly, Forasmuch as the lesser Trials have deceived me, if I went to work on a greater quantity, I will teach wherein my chief skill consists.

1. In the lesser trial I have found, that with the Spirit of Wine, as ’tis generally prepar’d, I can make an Anatomy of all Vegetable, Animal, Mineral, and Metallick Subjects, separate their three Principles, make the volatile fix’d, and the fix’d volatile, and force ’em through a Limbeck.

2. To force the Anima and Salt of Gold through the Limbeck, and to reduce it, well mix’d with its Spirit and volatile Salt, into a potable body like Vegetable Essences.

But because Gold may be reduced into such a sort of Essence, it will not be very hard to render the imperfect Metals and Minerals, with their Three Principles, potable: and these Principles are inseparable in their volatility; wherefore I doubt not but they may be fix’d.

3. Furthermore, I have found by small trials the way of taking all Corrosion from all Corrosive Spirits, by this general Spirit, and of reducing them (by the help of Divine Providence) into sweet Oils or Menstruums; which if it answer the desire in large quantities, (and I don’t doubt it) Glauber with his Alkahest, which indeed is not wholly to be despis’d, must be forc’d to hide: for I have hopes, that by the assistance of Divine Providence, whatsoever subject I shall propose to my self, I can separate and purge its three Principles; lastly, join them, and so produce a better subject and more pure: But ’tis true, seeing I was so often deceived in the lesser trial, I did not interpret it as Truth, but Speculation. However, I can effect very well whatever I have here said, as well in the great as lesser.

4. But forasmuch as so many excellent, as well as new, Secrets, offer themselves, that I can’t chuse but clearly know them, and therefore ’tis impossible that I should make all those Secrets abovenamed profitable to my self: And although I am now about many things, that hereafter a great quantity of them may be expos’d by me to be sold in pounds and hundreds; yet I shall not be so envious to refuse a Communication of them to any man for the named Reward; nor keep from him any knowledge I can give him.

Yet he must know, that it is very troublesome to instruct any man that is altogether ignorant and void of skill in Chymistry; Therefore whoever will learn any of these things of me, let him either come to me, or signifie his wind by his Letters, thus: To Christopher Farnner, Canonicate Quæstor of Spire, &c.

These are the words of the perfidious Farnner, which he hath used in his most false and wicked Writing.