The Praxis. How by the mediation of this liquor Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals may be converted into good Medicaments

Take an herb, root, or seed, beat it very small in a stone Mortar, then put it into a glass, and pour upon it so much of this fiery Menstruum, as that the herb may be sufficiently imbrued in it, afterwards set it upon sand some days, or boil it, that of the herb and Menstruum may be made a thick liquor, which done put to it as much spirit of Wine, well dephlegmated, as there was of Alkahestick Liquor, and well mix them, in a small heat, lest the spirit of Wine evaporate; so long digest it, till the separation shall be made, and your Alkahest, with the fæces, will go to the bottom, but the spirit of Wine, with the Essence and Virtue of the Herb, will stay at the top, which afterward, though never so much stirr’d, will not mix, but each remains still in his own place: pour all that whole matter into a wide-mouth’d Glass, and there let it settle; then separate the Medicine which the spirit of Wine has extracted from the Herb, with a gentle inclination from the Alkahestick Liquor, which retains with it self the fæces of the Herb, so you will have the Virtue and Essence well corrected and perfectly ripen’d in the spirit of Wine, which abstract from the Essence of the herb in a Bath, and the Medicine which remains like a red juice, and endowed with great Virtues, keep and use it as it is ordain’d by God and Nature. But the Alkahestick Liquor, mixed with the fæces of the Herb, Calcine in an earthen Vessel, that all the relish and scent of the Herb, which remains in it, may be exhal’d from it, and afterwards dissolve it in Water, and filtrate it, and draw it to a fiery Liquor, so it will be as good as it was before, and you may put it to the same uses as often as you please.

Animals are to be bruised after the same manner in a Stone Mortar, and with the Alkahestick Liquor digested, and by spirit of Wine separated, and in Vegetables the labour is the same.

But Metals in their proper Corrosive Menstruums must be dissolv’d precipitated, wash’d, edulcorat’d, exsiccated, and then lastly with the Alkahestick liquor poured on, digested, dissolved, and with spirit of wine separated and reduc’d into a potability.

But Minerals which may be pulveriz’d need not be dissolv’d and brought to a calx, but ’tis sufficient, that after pulverisation with the Alkahestick liquor poured on, they be digested, and by spirit of wine separated.

Nevertheless, you may also at your pleasure render metals brittle and frangible, viz. By the help of the Regulus of Antimony, so that they may be pulveriz’d, then pouring your Menstruum upon them, dissolve, digest and convert them into Medicine: Which method is certainly good; You may also proceed another way with metals prepar’d by Antimony, viz. Mix them with three parts of pure Nitre, and in a Glass or earthen vessel, by the dry way dissolve, digest, fix, and by spirit of wine prepare into Medicine, which also will be good, for it is more profitable to operate by the dry than by the moist way, as it is customary to be done in vegetables and Animals.

And this is the shortest method of reducing Animals, Vegetables and Minerals by the Alkahestick liquor to the best Medicaments.

But how imperfect metals or Minerals, which otherwise in a Cupel or Cineritium trial, leave no gold or silver behind them, are to be brought to maturity and fix’d, that afterwards in the Cineritious trial, they may give a perfect gold and silver is done another way, whose process is this:

Mingle and melt so much (Regulus) of Antimony with the imperfect metals or minerals as may render them friable, that they may be pulveriz’d, with these mix three parts of the purest Nitre, and this mixture close stopt up, put upon a fire in glass or earthen vessels to fix for some hours, afterwards take it off, and as they are melted pour them out, that they may give the regulus which is to be taken away, and with lead put into a Cupel and reduc’d to dross, then that gold and silver which the imperfect metal or Mineral got in the fixation, stays in the Cupel which may be examined by the lesser weights of probation, whence it will appear how great a fixation so little time will produce.

This is the plenary and fundamental instruction of the use of Tartar purg’d by flints, to extract the essence of vegetables and animals and of Nitre fix’d by coals and Regulus of Antimony, which begets a penetrating, correcting, bettering or ripening and purifying fiery, but not corrosive, virtue, which goes beyond all things, penetrates and corrects as above written, I have attributed to it. But least the ignorant of natural things should esteem and proclaim this a corrosive liquor, we will prevent them, and shall endeavour to demonstrate, that this liquor is no way a corrosive, but an enemy to and destroyer of all corrosives.

Like loves its like, with it is mingl’d, and immutably stays with it, as may be seen in spirit of Salt, Vitriol, Alum, Nitre, Vinegar and other corrosive spirits when they are mixed. But unlike things if they are join’d, are contrary to themselves, and fight against each other, and forcibly withstand one another so long, till the strong o’er comes the weak and kills and destroys it or produceth another substance from it: that may be seen if this fiery liquor of Tartar or Nitre be mix’d with a corrosive Spirit, for it can not consist with it, because contrary to it, then which of these is the stronger, destroys the weaker and takes its nature to it self.

And this difference arises from the unlikeness of the nature of either liquor, for one corrosive does not destroy another, as also one fix’d urinous liquor does not destroy another urinous liquor; because one contrary fights against another contrary, but not against his like, so ’tis true, as hence may be fully demonstrated, that this fix’d liquor of Tartar or Nitre is not corrosive, but only a fiery water and a perpetual enemy to all corrosives, and both kills and takes away their corrosive faculty from them. But some will say that the corrosive Spirits of Salt, Alum, Nitre, Vitriol and such like are fiery waters: I confess it, but yet with this distinction, those Spirits are indeed hot waters, but not vivifying, but rather cold and killing fiery waters, which no way ripen, purge or correct Vegetables, Animals and Metals, but destroy and kill all things they are mix’d with. But the fix’d liquor of Nitre or Tartar is contrary, and ripens, purifies and brings to perfection all it is mix’d with, which is impossible to all corrosives, whence it is as clear as the Sun, that it is no destroying corrosive, but a correcting fire.

Now follows another Clause of Farnner’s Epistle.

2. All Mineral’s and Metals.

I much wonder that Farnner was not afraid to offer this process to others at a price, which is plainly and clearly described in many places of my Books: and is done only by Nitre, by which sulphurous metals (but not all metals and minerals, as he vainly boasteth) are reduc’d to dross, from which by spirit of wine, a metallick tincture may be extracted, as we have shewn above in the tract of the Alkahest: that dross is truly fiery, and therefore easily attracts air, and is turn’d into oil, of which I have largely treated in the second and fourth parts of (Furn.) and in the mineral work especially in the explication of the wonder of the world, as also in my Hermetic Colloquies.

3. Glauber’s Alkahest.

In this Paragraph Farnner openly betrays his vanity, bragging, and hellish calumny, in reprehending the industry and labour of good men, and boasteth of a more firm foundation than perhaps I know of; whence it will appear to any man of Understanding, what this most ungrateful of men would be at, namely, which is the only thing he can do, he would do what he could to bring those Secrets I intrusted him with into contempt with all men, and introduce his own foolish trifles.

First, he saies, Glauber’s Alkahest, and presently subjoins another and better foundation or way of preparing it: which if he points at any thing but my Alkahest, why then does not he forbear mentioning and contemning my Alkahest? for he does contemn it, and endeavours to prove, that that way or fundamental is unknown to me. Now he exposes it to sale at fifty R. Dollers.

4. The Trial of all sorts of Coins.

’Tis true, Farnner did not mention this as a vendible, for it is not worth purchasing with Money of him: for the common way of trying money has been shewn not only by many provers of Metals, as Lazarus Ercher, George Agricola, and many others, but I my self also in many places of my Writings, and especially in my explication of the Wonder of the World, have fully and exactly taught it, which Farnner can never be able to mend nor imitate.

5. Flowers of Coral.

You must know what belongs to this Process that Farnner did not learn this Preparation of me, but of another man, which pleases him extreamly, though ’tis of no moment. But he most unworthily calls them Coral Flowers, which he exposes to sale at ten R. Dollers, seeing they are not Flowers, but rather to be called a Cremor; for when in a very hot fire they are reduced into a white Calx, from this Calx, by the help of Water, is drawn a Cream after this manner: The calcin’d Corals are put into common Water, and left in the Water a whole night, then in the top will appear a little skin, as is usual in Calx viva, which must be taken off to dry. Lastly, while that is doing, another little skin appears, which is also to be taken off, and that so often, till the Water will give no more.

I know also, that this Powder is held up by some Apothecaries as a certain singular Secret, (but that indeed exceedeth it) which is prepar’d of Calx viva, which I have also shewn to some that have attributed great things to this Powder, who, the Experiment being made, seeing me produce true things, What need is there, said they, to burn precious Corals, when common Chalk (or Calx viva) will give the same thing as Corals, and they prepar’d no more Powder of Corals, but of Calx viva.

Therefore this does not deserve to be called a Secret.

NB. That Corals, Pearls, Pearl-shells, and Tortoise-shells, as well those that are in the Sea, as those that are in Running Rivers, if they are burnt together, are brought into a true and natural Lime, like that which is made of burnt Stones, needs no probation. He that will not believe me, let him go to Holland, and other Sea-Ports, and he shall see that the men of those Countries do not use Lime made of Stones, which are wanting in those places to build Walls, but that which is made of burnt Shells, which the Sea in great abundance casts upon the shore; which yet, is not so good as that which is made of Stones, which some Lovers of Curiosity have also brought them from Germany.

6. To make melted Tin hard.

And this Paragraph, by right, ought to have been omitted, for it is not worth Ten R. Dollers, requiring no Art in the making it; and I my self taught it many years since, as well in the First part of the Mineral Work, as in the Fourth part of my Furnaces; and it is made by Regulus of Antimony, of which one part is mix’d with 12 parts of melted Tin, and no more, for otherwise the Tin would be made brittle, and rendered unuseful; rather if one part of Regulus is mingled with twenty parts of melted Tin, it will come out hard enough. And farther, it may as well and rightly be made of Zink, as by Regulus of Antimony, and needing no great matter of Labour, melts sooner than Regulus of Antimony.

7. White Vitrifications.

These Vitrifications also, which he exposes to sale at Ten R. Dollers, are of no moment, for they are prepar’d of Glass of Lead, Tin-Ashes, and Flints, and Wood-ashes.

In Holland this Preparation is very common: whether Farnner is excellent at it or no, I much doubt; How then shall he teach others? And if he does excel, who will be the better for it? For no man studies these Curiosities, or so much as looks after them, or covets them.

But although Glauber, &c.

Here Farnner again vomits at me a mighty heap of his infernal Lyes, which are as noisome as any dead Carcass, as if he intended to infect me with their venom; but these stories do not at all agree with his other; for here he saies, Although he had with a great Sum of Money purchased certain Secrets of Glauber, yet he had made no Examen of them, but he was forc’d to convert them to other uses. In the beginning of his Calumnious Paper, he thus writes: A Specification of those Chemical Secrets which the under-written Farnner learn’d of Glauber, and in the Trial found True.

Here any impartial man may see what to judge of this double:Tongu’d Monster. Here he denies what before he confess’d; he both calls them Glauber’s Secrets, and here affirms, that they never succeeded to his purpose: which if true, Why does he prefix my Name to them, if he never made trial of them? But if they have succeeded, and in the trial he has found ’em true, as he above confesses, Why does he here deny it? Can the same thing be True in one place, and False in another? Certainly I can refute such horrid Lyes no way better than by his own words. For if I should say, See here, there, or in that place thou lyest, he would not care, but answer, He did not lye at all, but spake the truth; and I might represent a Contest between two scolding Women, one whereof calling the other Whore, and the other throwing back upon her the same things; but this will do nothing; wherefore I shall take another method.

In the first Obligation he gave me, he expresly saies, That I had communicated, demonstrated, and shewn him some Secrets: But if they were not for his use, why did he give me a valid Obligation, to keep those secrets from the publick? Not bent to these things, Why did he in all his Letters (which he sent me, and which are kept safe to confirm what I say) confess, and profess, that he, his Wife and Children, were bound to me, and that he wou’d come to me, that with his he might serve me all my Life.

If none of my secrets have succeeded to him, Why did he give me long since a new Obligation to be grateful to me? as I have demonstrated from his obligations and extracts out of his Epistles.

NB. What! Cou’d he not make trial of those things he had of me, in eighteen Months time? But if the trial has prov’d the truth of those things, and he has bound himself to me by a new Obligation; Why then does he dare to say, That none of those things which I communicated to him, prov’d successful? Why two years after? Now he is alienated from me, and having broken his Promises of coming to me, and working with me in my Laboratory, (being married again) is an Excuse for his absenting himself, yet he asks me to communicate to him more secrets, and then he’ll come. NB. But if the first secrets have not stood the Test, why does he desire more of me?

For he might know over and over in two years time, whether my Writings wou’d conduce to him or not.

In one Epistle, in which he boasts of killing a man, he writes thus: Wherefore I again and again intreat you not to cast me off, but do to me according to your wonted Favour. I will on all occasions, as I have promised, in my place, satisfie you; neither will I cause that any thing should therein be desir’d; for which reason also I will effect it both better and sooner.

From these and the like words, which in two Epistles he us’d to me, I could collect nothing of Fraud, and perhaps at that time he meant none. But when he had kill’d that Man, and married another Wife, all his Promises and Obligations were to no purpose. And from that very time, all his endeavours have tended only to do me what hurt he could, and he daily hates me more and more; which at last appears more publick in these his lying Calumnies.

Indeed, I am apt to think the Devil and that Murder had possessed his Heart. NB. For his Epistle to me witnesseth, that for fourteen daies together he had sought occasion how he might catch that man with his Wife, and bloodily revenge himself upon him; I suppose, by the instigation of Satan, whereby both the Man was kill’d in his Sins, and the Woman with many wounds compell’d to a lewd kind of Life; of both which Crimes Farnner is yet guilty in his own Conscience, and (unless a speedy Repentance follow on his part) he will never be freed from them. But if in a sudden passion he had done it by chance, he might merit some excuse.

But to endeavour it fourteen daies together, is nothing but a Devilish Revenge and Cruelty, which can by no means be excus’d in a Christian, though he do it never so secretly.

But besides, he uses evil Arts; for he drew my Servant to him by Flattery, and receiv’d him into his intimate friendship, notwithstanding he knew I turn’d him away for his infidelity. What he writes, that he bought his Secrets of me at a great price, is a pure falsity. Indeed he forc’d a small Reward upon me, half of which I gave him back again, and what I kept he got over and over by communicating my Secrets to other men, so that he has fully receiv’d what he gave me; and by this his communicating to others, (which was done unknown to me) he broke his Promise; which nevertheless for Peace sake I passed by. Wherefore, if he will confess the Truth, I am sure he can never say that he bought all those Secrets I intrusted him with, at so great a price.

Hitherto we may believe how much Money has come to him; for since he has sent abroad his institory Letters five months ago, (nay, as I am told, two years ago) before I could know it: he could not chuse but get money by it, when forthwith he with my perfidious Servant proceeded to that insolence, as in a knit Society with some of Frankford, he caused his Calumnies to be every where spread, and sent abroad, not only throughout upper Germany and Belgia, but also into France, and other Foreign Countries, to get Money. Yet, according to my hopes, this institory Ware-house (by the Grace of GOD) will soon fall.