book I

taught how to make such a spirit, but because the materials, which are to be distilled in that furnace must be cast upon quick coals, whereby the remainder is lost, and that also not every one hath the conveniency to set up a furnace that requireth more room than this here doth: therefore I will set down how it may be got with ease in this our present furnace, without the loss of the remainder, which is not inferior to the spirit it self. And it is done thus:

Make a fair white salt of calcined Tartar by dissolution, filtration and coagulation, pulverise that salt in a warmed morter, and add to it a fourth part of small pulverised crystal or flints or only of fine sand, washed clean, mix it well, and cast one spoonful thereof at once into your red-hot vessel (which must be made of earth) and so cover it, and the mixture as soon as it is red hot, will rise and boyl (as common Allome doth, when it cometh to a sudden heat) and yield a thick white heavy spirit; and when it ceaseth to come forth, then cast in another spoonful, and stay out the time of its settling, and then another part again, till all your mixture be cast in. When no more spirit goeth forth, then take off the lid from the distilling vessel, and with an iron ladle take out that which stayed behind, whilest it is yet red-hot and soft, and it will look like unto a transparent clear white fusible glass, which you must keep from the air, for it will dissolve in it, till I teach you what you are to do with it.

The spirit which came over, may either be kept as it is, or else rectified _per arenam_ in a glass retort, and used in Physick; it is clean of another taste than the spirit of common salt or vitriol, for it is not so sharp; it smelleth of the flints after a sulphureous manner, and tasteth urin-like, and it is very good for those that are troubled with the gout, stone and Tisick: for it provoketh urin and sweat mightily, and (because it cleanseth and strengthneth the stomach) it also maketh one have a good appetite to his Victuals. What it can do else is unknown to me as yet, but it is credible that it may act its part in many other diseases, which is left free for every one to try. In my opinion (since the spirit of the salt of Tartar is good to be used of it self for the stone, and that here it is strengthned by the sand, which have the signature of the stone of the Microcosme) there is hardly any particular medicine, which can go beyond it, but I leave every one to his own opinion and experience. Externally used, it quencheth inflammations and maketh a pure skin, _&c._ The remainder, which I bid you keep, and looks like a transparent clear glass, is nothing else but the most fixed part of the salt of Tartar and flints, which joyned themselves thus in the heat, and turned to a soluble glass, wherein lyes hid a great heat and fire. As long at it is kept dry from the air, it cannot be perceived in it: but if you pour water upon it, then its secret heat will discover it self. If you make it to fine powder in a warm morter, and lay it in a moist air, it will dissolve and melt into a thick and fat oyl, and leave some fæces behind. This fat liquor or oyl of flints, sand or crystal may not only be used inwardly and outwardly of it self, but also serveth to prepare minerals and metals into good medicines, or to change them into better by Chymical art. For many great secrets are hid in the contemptible peble or sand; which an ignorant and unexpert man (if they were disclosed to him) would hardly believe: for this present world is by the divels craft so far possessed with cursed filthy avarice, that they seek for nothing but money, but honest and ingenious sciences are not regarded at all; and therefore God doth close our eyes that we cannot see what lyeth before them, and we trample upon with our feet. That worthy man _Parcelsus_ hath given it us sufficiently to understand, when he saith in his book (containing the vexations of Alchymists) that many times a despicable flint cast at a Cow is more worth than the Cow; not only because that gold may be melted out of it, but also that other inferior metals may be purified thereby, so that they are like unto the best gold and silver in all tryals; and although I never got any great profit by the doing of it, yet it doth suffice me that I have seen several times the possibility and truth thereof, which in its proper place likewise shall be taught.

This liquor of flints is of that nature toward the metals, that it maketh them exceeding fair, but not so, as women do scowre their vessels of tin, copper, iron, _&c._ with ly and small sand, till all filth be scoured off, and that they get a bright and fair gloss: but the metals must be dissolved therein by Chymical art, and then either after the wet or dry way digested in it for its due space of time; which _Paracelsus_ calleth to go into the mothers womb, and be born again: if this be done rightly, then the mother will bring forth a pure child. All metals are engendred in sand or stone, and therefore they may well be called the mother of metals, and the purer the mother is, the purer and sounder child she will bear, and among all stones there is none found purer than the peble, crystal or sand, which are of one nature (if they be simple and not impregnated with metals:) And therefore the peble or sand is found to be the fittest bath to wash the metal withall. But he that would take this bath to be the Philosophers secret Menstruum, whereby they exalt the King unto the highest purity, would be mistaken; for their Balneum is more friendly to gold by reason of its affinity with it than with other metals, but this doth easier dissolve other metals than gold. Whereby it is evident, that it cannot be _Benard_ his fountain (_Bernhardi fontina_) but must be held only to be a particular cleanser of metals. But omitting this, and leaving it to the further practise and tryal of those that want no time nor conveniency for to search what may be done with it, let us take notice of the use of this liquor in physick, for which uses sake this book is written. That which hath been said, was only done to that end, that we may observe, that we must not always look upon dear and costly things, but that many times even in mean and contemptible things (as sand & pebles) much good is to be found.

_How to extract a blood-red Tincture with spirit of wine out of the liquor of peble-stones._

If you will extract a tincture out of peble-stones, for use in Physick or in Alchymy, then in stead of the white take a fair yellow, green or blew peble or flint, whether it hold fixed or volatile gold, and first with salt of tartar distill the spirit thereof; or if you do not care for the spirit, then melt the mixture in a covered crucible into a transparent, soluble and fusible glass, and in a warm morter make it into fine powder; put this powder in a long necked glass, and pour upon it rectified spirit of wine (it needeth not to be dephlegmed, it matters not if it be but pure) let it remain upon it in a gentle warmth, till it be turned red (the glass with the prepared peble or flints must be often stirred about, that the peble be divided, and the spirit of wine may be able to work upon it) then pour off the coloured spirit of wine, and pour on other, and let this likewise turn red: this pouring off and on must be iterated so often, till the spirit of wine get no more colour out of it. All the Tinctured spirit of wine put together, & abstract in a Balneum through a Limbeck from the Tincture which will remain in the bottom of the glass body like a red juyce, which you must take out and keep for its use.

_The use of the Tincture of pebles or flints in Physick._

This Tincture if it be made of gold, pebles or sand, is to be held for none of the least medicines, for it doth powerfully resist all soluble Tartareous coagulations, in the hands, knees, feet, reins and bladder; and although in want of those that hold gold, it be extracted but only out of common white peble, it doth act its part however, though not altogether so well as the first. Let no man marvel, that sand or pebles made potable, have so great vertue; for not all things are known to all; and this Tincture is more powerful yet, if first gold have been dissolved with the liquor of pebles before the extraction. And let no man imagine that this Tincture comes from the salt of Tartar (which is taken to the preparing of the oyl of sand) because that of it self also doth colour the spirit of wine, for there is a great difference betwixt this Tincture and that, which is extracted out of the salt of Tartar: for if you distill that of the salt of tartar in a little glass body or retort, there will come first a clear spirit of wine, then an unsavory phlegm, and a salt will remain behind, in all like unto common salt of tartar, wherein after its calcining not the least colour appeareth, and because none came over neither, it might be questioned where it remained then?

To which I answer, that it was not a true tincture, but only that the sulphur in the spirit of wine was exalted or graduated by the corporeal salt of tartar, and so got a red colour, which it loseth as soon as the salt of tartar is taken from it, and reassumeth its former white colour: even as it hapneth also, when the salt of urin, or of harts-horn or soot, or any other like urinous salt is digested with spirit of wine, that the spirit turneth red of it, but not lastingly, but just so as it falls out with the salt of tartar, for if by rectification it be separated again from the spirit of wine, each (_viz._ both the salt and also the spirit of wine) doth recover again its former colour, whereby it appeareth, that (as above said) it was not a true tincture. He that will not believe it, let him dissolve but ℥ i. of common white salt of tartar in ℔ i. of spirit of wine, and the spirit will turn as red of it, as if it had stood a long time upon several pounds of blew or green calcined salt of tartar; and if I had not tryed it my self several times, I should have also been of that opinion: but because I found it to be otherwise, therefore I would not omit to set down my opinion: though I know I shall deserve small thanks of some, especially of those which rather will err with the greater number, than to know and confess the truth with the less number. However, I do not say, that the supposed tincture of the salt of Tartar is of no vertue or useless; for I know well enough that it is found very effectual in many diseases: for the purest part of the salt of Tartar hath been dissolved by the spirit of wine, it being thus coloured thereby, and therefore that tinctured spirit of wine may very fitly be used. But as for the Tincture, which is extracted out of the prepared pebles, it is clean of another condition: for if you abstract the spirit of wine from it, though it also cometh over white, yet there remaineth a deep tinctured salt, whose colour is lasting in the strongest fire, and therefore may be counted a true Tincture.

_How by the help of this liquor out of Gold its red colour may be extracted so that it remains white._

This oyl or liquor of pebles is of such a condition, that it doth precipitate all metals which are dissolved by corrosives, but not after that manner as the salt of Tartar doth; for the calx of metals which is precipitated by this liquor; (because that the pebles do mingle themselves therewith) is grown much heavier thereby, than if it had been only precipitated with salt of Tartar.

For example, dissolve in _Aqua Regia_ as much Gold as you please, and pour of this liquor upon it, till all the Gold fall to the bottom like a yellow powder, and the solution turn white and clear, which you must pour off, and edulcorate the precipitated Gold with sweet water, and then dry it (as you was taught to do with the _Aurum fulminans_) and you need not fear that it will kindle and fulminate in the drying, as it useth to do, when it is precipitated with salt of Tartar or spirit of urin, but you may boldly dry it by the fire, and it will look like yellow earth, and will weigh as heavy again as the Gold did weigh before the solution; the cause of which weight is, the peble stones, which did precipitate themselves together with the Gold. For the _Aqua Regia_ by its acidity hath mortified the salt of Tartar, and robbed it of its vertues so, that it could not choose but let fall the assumed pebles or sand; on the other side, the salt of Tartar which was in the liquor of pebles, hath annihilated the sharpness of the _Aqua Regia_, so that it could not keep the dissolved gold any longer, whereby both the gold and the pebles are freed from their dissolver.

This edulcorated and dryed yellow powder put into a clean crucible, and set it between live coals, that it begin to be red hot, but not long, and the yellow will be changed into the fairest purple colour, which is pleasant to behold, but if you let it stand longer, then the purple colour vanisheth, and it turns to a brown and brick colour: and therefore if you desire to have a fair purple coloured gold, you must take it off from the fire, as soon as it is come to that colour, and let it not stand any longer, else it loseth that colour again.

This fair gold-powder may be used by the rich (which are able to pay for it) from ℈i to ʒ_ss._ in convenient vehicles; and in all diseases, where sweating is needful: for besides the provoking of sweat, it comforteth not only the heart, but also by the vertue of the peble it expelleth the stone in the reins and bladder (if it be not grown to the height of hardness) like sand together with the urine: so that it may be safely used as well to prevent, as to cure the plague, gout and stone.

How to make further out of this purple coloured gold a soluble Ruby for medicinal use, shall be taught in the fourth part: for in regard that it must be done by a strong fire in a crucible, it doth not belong hither, but to its proper place, where other like Medicaments are taught to be made.

If you will extract the colour out of this precipitated gold, then pour upon it (before it be put into the fire for to calcin) of the strongest spirit of salt, and in a gentle heat the spirit will dissolve part of the gold, which will be much fairer and deeper in colour, than if it had been done with _Aqua Regia_: upon this solution pour five or six times as much of dephlegmed spirit of wine, and digest both together its due time, then by the digestion of a long time, part of the Gold will fall out of the solution to the bottom like a fair white pouder, which may be reduced with Borax or salt nitre and Tartar; it is white like silver, and as heavy as other gold, and may easily get its colour again by the help of Antimony. The residue out of which the white gold is faln, _viz._ the spirit of salt mingled with the spirit of wine, must be abstracted from the Tincture, and there will remain a pleasant sowre liquor coloured by the gold, upon the bottom of the glass body, which is almost of the same vertue, which above hath been ascribed to other tinctures of gold. Especially this liquor of gold strengthneth the heart, brain, and stomach.

N. B. Sometimes there comes over with the spirit of wine a little red oyl, which the strong spirit of salt hath separated from the spirit of wine, and it is impregnated with the Tincture of Gold. It is an excellent cordial, few are found like unto it, whereby weak people decayed by sickness or age, may be kept alive a long time, they taking daily some drops of it, who else for want of the _humidum radicale_, would be forced to exchange their life for death.

Here some body may ask, whether this Tincture is to be counted or taken for a true Tincture of Gold; or whether there be another better to be found?

To which I answer, that though many may hold it to be such, and I my self do call it so here, yet that after due examination it will not prove to be such: for although some vertue is taken from the gold by this way, yet it doth still keep its life, though it be grown weak and pale, because it can so easily recover its former sound colour by a contemptible mineral: if its true Tincture or soul were gone from it, surely an inferiour mineral could not restore it to life, but of necessity there would be required such a thing for to do it, which hath not only so much, as it hath need of for it self, but hath a transcendent power to give life unto dead things. As we may see by a man or any sensible beast, that if they have lost their vigor by adversities, in that no life more is perceived in them, yet by medicines fit for the purpose, they may be refreshed, and brought to their former health, so that their former disease appeareth no more in them: but if their soul be once gone, the dead body can by no medicines be restored unto life again, but must remain dead so long, till he in whose power it is to give and to take life, have mercy upon it. So likewise it is to be understood of gold, when its colour is taken from it, and yet its life is left, which by the help of Antimony, being its medicine, as also by the help of iron or copper can be restored unto it, so that it recovereth its former fair colours, so that you cannot see at all, that it ailed any thing before. But if its life be gone from the body, it is impossible for any ordinary metal or mineral to restore it to life, but it must be done by such a thing, which is more than Gold it self hath been: for even as a living man cannot give life unto a dead man, but GOD must do it who hath created man; so Gold cannot restore to dead Gold, the life which hath been taken from it, and how could it then be done by an unfixt mineral? But there is required a true Philosopher for to do it, such a one as hath good knowledge of gold and its composition.

Now as we heard that like cannot help its like, but he that shall help, must be more, than he that looks for help from him: Hence it is evident, that the Tincture, whose remaining body (from which it is taken) is still gold, can be no true tincture; for if it shall be a true tincture, it must consist in its three principles, and how can it consist therein, the body from whence it came being yet alive, and possessing invisibly all its three principles? How can a mans soul be taken from him, and yet the body live still? Some will say, that for all that, this may be counted a true tincture, although the body still remain gold, and have kept its life: even as man may spare some blood out of his body, which though it will make him somewhat pale, yet he liveth still, and the lost blood may be supplyed again by good meat and drink. But what lame and senseless objections are these? Who would be so simple as to think, that a handful of blood may be compared to a mans life? I believe no wise man will do it. Although life goeth forth with the blood, yet the blood is not the life it self; else the dead could be raised thereby, if a cup full of it were poured into a dead body; but where was such a thing ever heard or seen? With such groundless opinions some did presume to censure the truth, set down in my treatise _de Auro potabili vero_, saying, _Geber_ and _Lullius_ were also of opinion, that a true tincture can be extracted out of gold, the same nevertheless remaining good gold: but it may be asked, what it hath lost then for to yield a true Tincture, since it remained good gold? Here no body will be at home for to answer I doubt. What are the Writings of _Geber_ or _Lully_ to me? What they have written I do not despise, they were highly enlightned and experienced Philosophers, and would defend their writings sufficiently, if they were alive: and what I write, I am also able to maintain.

Do those men think, that the writings of _Geber_ and _Lully_ are to be understood according unto the bare letter? shew me a tincture of gold which was made by the writings of _Geber_ or _Lully_? if it were so, then every idiot or novice, that could but read Latine, would not only by their writings be able to make the Tincture of gold, but also the Philosophers stone it self, whereof they have written at large; which doth not follow, because it is seen by daily experience, that the most worldly learned men spent many years, and have been at vast charges, and taken great pains, and studied in their books day and night, and found not the least thing in them.

Now if such Philosophers were to be understood literally, doubtless there would not be so many poor decay’d Alchymists. Therefore the writings of such worthies are not to be understood according to the letter, but according to the mystical sense hid under the letter.

But because the truth is eclipsed in their books by so many seducing and sophistical processes, there will hardly any man be able to pick it out from so many seducements, unless a light from God be given to him first, whereby he may be able so to peruse the dark writings of those men, that he know how to separate the parabolical speeches, from those that are true in the letter it self: or if an honest Godly Chymist by the grace of God in his labours do hit upon the right steps, and yet do doubt, whether he be in the right way or no, then by reading of good and true Philosophers books, he may at last learn out of them the firm and constant truth: else hardly any ones desire may be obtained out of their books, but rather after the pretious time spent, means and health wasted, a man shall be forced to fall a begging at last.

In like manner, if the true tincture be taken from Copper, the rest is no more a metal, nor by any Art or force of fire can be reduced to a metallical substance.

N. B. But if you leave some tincture in it, then it may be reduced into a brittle gray body, like unto iron, but brittle.

_Another way to extract a good Tincture out of gold by the help of the liquor of sand or pebles._

Take of that gold calx (which was precipitated with the oyl of sand) one part, and three or four parts of the liquor of crystals or of sand, mix the gold calx in a good crucible with the liquor, and set this mixture into a gentle heat, so that the moystness may evaporate from the oyl of sand which is not easily done; for the peble or sand, by reason of their dryness keep and hold the moystness, and will not let it go easily; it riseth in the pot or crucible, as borax or Allome doth when you calcine them; therefore the crucible, must not be filled above half, that the liquor together with the gold may have room enough, and do not run over the pot: and when it riseth no more, then strengthen the fire, till the pot be red-hot. The mixture standing fast, put a lid upon it, which may close well, that no coals, ashes, or other impurity may fall into it, and give it so strong fire in a winde furnace, that the liquor together with the gold calx may melt like water; keep it melting so long, till the liquor and gold together be like unto a transparent fair ruby, which will be done in an hours time or thereabouts; then pour it forth into a clean copper morter, let it cool, and then make it into powder, and pour spirit of wine upon it for to extract, which will look like unto thin blood: and will prove more effectual in use, than the above described Tincture.

The residue from which the Tincture is extracted, must be boyled with lead, and precipitated and driven off as you do oares, and you will get the remaining gold, which went not into the spirit of wine; but it is very pale and turned like unto silver in colour, which if it be melted by Antimony, it recovereth its former colour without any considerable loss in the weight. How the melting in crucibles, and boyling of the remaining gold is to be done, shall be more punctually set down in the fourth part; I know several other fine processes, for to extract the colour easily out of gold; but because the gold must be first made fit for it by melting in a crucible, and that it is not pertinent to speak of that operation here in this second part, therefore it shall be reserved for the fourth, where you shall be informed at large, not onely how to prepare Gold, Antimony and other minerals, and make them fit for extraction, but also how to reduce them into a transparent, soluble and fire-proof Ruby (which are none of the meanest medicines) and as it was done here with the gold, so you may proceed likewise with other metals and minerals for to extract their colours. And therefore being needless to describe each metals tincture by it self, all the processes of them shall be disclosed in one, _viz._ in that of gold. The book would grow too big, if I should describe them severally, which I count needless to do. Let this suffice for this Second part, that we have taught, how to extract out of the gold its colour after a common way. Which indeed are good medicines, but for ought I know of no use in Alchymy. But he that seeketh to have a true Tincture out of gold, let him endeavour first to destroy the gold by the universal Mercury, and to turn the inside outward, and the outside inward, and proceed further according unto art, then the soul of gold will easily joyn it self with the spirit of wine, and come to be a good medicine, whereof more in my treatise _de auro potabili_ is handled. If one know the _Chalybs_ of _Sandivogius_, which is well to be had, he might with little labour quickly get a good medicine: but because we shew our selves still ungrateful children unto God, therefore it is no marvel, that he withdraweth his hand from us, and leaveth us in errors.

_What further may be done with the liquor of pebles._

Many more profitable things, as well in Alchymy, as in medicine, may be compassed by the oyl of sand; as for example, to make fair painting colours out of metals, which abide in all elements: Also to frame all sorts of transparent hard stones out of crystal, which in beauty are like unto the natural, yea fairer sometimes; also how to make many fair Amauses or Enamels and the like profitable arts: but they belonging not to this second part, shall be reserved for the fourth, where all such shall be taught very punctually with all the circumstances thereunto relating.

How by the help of this liquor to make trees to grow out of metals, with their colours.

_Although this process in Physick may be of no great use: yet in regard that to a Chymical Physitian it gives good information of the condition of natural things, and their change. I thought it not amiss to set it down here._

Take of the above described oyl made of sand, pebles or crystals as much as you please, mix therewith a like quantity of the lixivium of Tartar, shake both well together, so that the thick liquor may not be perceived in the lixivium, but be throughly incorporated therewith, both being turned to a thin solution, and then your water is prepared, wherein the metals do grow.

The metals must be first dissolved in their proper corrosive _Menstruums_, and the _Menstruum_ must be quite abstracted from thence again, but not too near, that the calx of the metal may not grow red-hot, whereby its growing vertue would be taken from it. Then take it out of the little glass-body, and break it in pieces about the bigness of a pulse, and put them in the above described liquor in a cleer bright glass, that the growing of the metals may be discerned through it; and as soon as the prepared metals are taken out of the glass body, they must be kept from the aire, else they lose their growing vertue. Therefore thus dry they must be broken in pieces, and laid in the bottom of the glass (wherein the liquor is) a fingers breadth one from another asunder, and must not be laid together on a heap. The glass must stand still in a quiet place, and the metal will presently swell in it, and thrust forth some bulks, out of which branches and twigs do grow, so finely, that one shall admire at it; and let none think that this growing serveth only for to please the eye, for some special thing is hid in it; for all sand or pebles, although they be white, invisibly containeth a hidden tincture or golden sulphur, which none without experience will be able to believe; for if for a time you digest the pure filings of lead in it, there will gold come to stick to the outside thereof (which gold may be washed off with water) and the lead will look as if it were gilded. Which gold came from no where else but from the sand or pebles, although they were white and clear, so that it could not be perceived in them. It sheweth also its meliorating vertue, when the metals do grow therein, and for a certain space of time are digested therewith. For it may be seen apparently, that the metals in the growing do increase from this liquor, and attract what is for their turn; which hence also may be perceived, that when but as much as the bigness of a pea groweth therein, it will grow twice or thrice as big, which is worthy to be considered of. Also the pebles or sand-stones are the natural matrixes of metals, and there appeareth a great sympathy between them, especially between the unripe metals and them; as if nature should say to such raw or unripe metals, return into your mothers womb, and stay there the due time, till you have attained there to perfect ripeness, for you were taken thence too soon against my will. Further, out of this liquor there may be made a good borras to reduce the metals thereby. There may be made also with this liquor fair glased and firm colours upon earthen vessels like unto Porcellan or China. Also by boyling it with water, a tender impalpable snow-white earth may be precipitated out of it, whereof there may be made vessels like unto Porcellan.

Many other useful things may be brought to pass thereby in mechanical businesses, needless here to relate.

Also the unripe and volatile minerals may be fixed and ripened thereby, so that not only they may be the fitter to be used in Physick, but also the volatile gold and silver contained in them may be saved thereby, whereof more in the fourth part.

N. B. Hither belongs also the process of the spirit of lead, Virgins-milk and Dragons blood.

_Of the spirit of urine and of the volatile spirit of salt Armoniack._

Out of urine or salt Armoniack, a powerful and penetrating spirit may be made several wayes, which not only is to be used in phisick for many diseases, but is also found very useful in mechanical and chymical operations, as followeth.

Take of the urine of sound men living chast, gather a good quantity together in a wooden vessel, let it stand for its time to putrefy, and distil a spirit thereof, which afterward in a great glass retort with a wide neck must be rectified from calcined tartar, and still that which cometh over first, may be saved by it self, and so the second and third also, the strongest may be used for the preparing of metallical medicines, and the weaker for a medicine alone by its self, or else mingled with fit vehicles: The salt which in the rectification cometh over with the strongest spirit; may be put to the weakest, to make it the stronger, or else it may be saved by it self in a good strong glass.

But because the spirit of urine is tedious to make, therefore I will shew, how to get it easier out of salt Armoniack. The preparation is thus.

Take of salt armoniack, and _lapis calaminaris_, and make each by it self into powder, and then mix them together, and cast of it into the red hot vessel at once no more than ℥ _ss._ or ℥ i. Unto the vessel there must be applyed a great receiver: for this spirit goeth with such a force and power, that it were impossible to distil it in a retort without danger or loss, for I broke more than one receiver with it, before I did invent this instrument. The spirits being well setled in the receiver, cast in more of your mixture; this continue so long till all your matter is cast in; then take off the receiver, and pour the spirit into a strong glass, which must be well closed at the top, but not with wax and a bladder, because it softeneth the wax, and doth penetrate through the bladder; but first stop it with paper, then melt Lacca or sulphur, and pour it upon it, so that it come to be very well closed, and then it will not be able to exhale, or thou mayst get such glasses made, as in the fifth part shall be taught, for to keep all the subtle spirits in them, for more security sake. And this spirit, if no water have been mixt with it in the receiver, needeth no rectifying: but he that will have it stronger yet, may rectify it by a glass retort, and so keep it for use.

And this is the best way to make a strong spirit out of salt armoniack: the same may be done also, by taking of filed Zinck, instead of _lapis calaminaris_: also by adding of salt of tartar, salt made of the Lee of wood ashes, unquencht lime, and the like: but the spirit is nothing near so strong (although all those things may be done with it, that are done with the former) as that which is made with _lapis calaminaris_ or Zinck.

_The process or the manner of making it, is this:_

Take ℔ i. of salt armoniack made into powder, and as much of salt of tartar, mix both together by the help of a lye made of tartar, or only with common water, so that all come to be like a pap, and cast in one spoonful thereof at once, into the distilling vessel, then cast in more till you have spirit enough.

N. B. The salt of tartar may also be mixed dry with the salt Armoniack without any lye or water, and so distilled: but it is not so good, as when the mixture is tempered with lye or water: for if it be cast in dry, the spirit will come over in the form of a volatile salt: but if the mixture have been moistened, then most part thereof will come over like a fiery burning spirit: In like manner also the mixture of Lyme and salt Armoniack may be tempered moist, and it will yield more spirit than if it be distilled dry.

It may be asked: why _lapis calaminaris_, Zinck and unquencht lyme, calcined tartar, salt of potashes, fixed salt nitre or the like things prepared by the fire, must be added unto salt Armoniack, and whether it be not as good to add some bolus, or other earth (as usually is done to other salts) and so to distil a spirit of it? To which I answer, that there are two sorts of salt in salt Armoniack, _viz._ a common acid salt, and a volatile salt of urine, which without mortifying of one of them, cannot be separated: for as soon as they feel the heat, the volatile salt of urine carrieth the acid salt upwards, and they both together yield a sublimate, of the same nature and essence with common salt armoniack which is not sublimed, onely it is purer than the common. And no spirit would come over from it, if it should be mingled with bole, brick, dust, sand, or any other strengthless earth, and so distilled, but the whole salt as it is of it self (leaving its earthy substance behind) would sublime thus dry: but that it falleth out otherwise with the _lapis calaminaris_ (which is also like an earth) so that a separation of the salts is wrought thereby, and a volatile spirit cometh over; the reason is, that the _lapis calaminaris_ and Zinck are of such a nature, that they have a great affinity with all acid things, and do love them, and are loved by them likewise (whereof some mention hath been made in the first part) so that the acid salt sticks to it in the warmth, and uniteth it self with it, and the volatile salt is set free, and distilled into a subtle spirit; which could not have been done, if the acid salt had not been kept back, by the _lapis calaminaris_ or Zink. But that a spirit is distilled off by addition of fixed salts; the reason is that fixed salts are contrary unto acid salts, and (if they get the uperhand) do kill the same, and rob them of their strength, whereby those things which are mixed with them are freed from their bond: and so it falls out here with salt armoniack, that when by addition of a vegetable fixed salt, the acidity of the salt armoniack is killed; the salt of urine, which formerly was bound therewith, gets its former freedome and strength, and being sublimed turns into a spirit. Which could not have been done, if common salt had been added to the salt armoniack instead of salt of tartar; for the salt of urine would thereby (as by a far greater enemy) be killed and kept back, so that it could yield no spirit. I thought fit to give notice hereof to the ignorant (not for those, who knew it before) and to the unknowing it will do much good, and that they may have a light for other labours: for I have many times seen, and see it still by daily experience, that the most part of vulgar Chymists, whatsoever they do (having got it either by reading, seeing, or hearing) they hurle it over like botchers, and are not able to give any solid reason, why this or that must fall out in such or another manner, not labouring to find out the natures and conditions of salts, minerals, and other materials, but contenting themselves onely with the Receipt, saying this or that Author hath written so, and therefore it must be so, whereas many times such books are patcht up out of all sorts of authors. And those that stick to so many books, will hardly ever come to get any good, but are led out of one Labyrinth into another, spending their life miserably in watching and cares: but if they would first seriously consider things, and learn to know nature, and then take their work in hand, then they would sooner attain unto true knowledge; and so much of this matter by the way. I hope that he that hath been in error will be pleased with it, and the knowing will not grudge to have it imparted to the ignorant.

That which remains after the distillation is done, is also good for use; if the addition have been of salt of tartar, a melting powder may be made of it, to reduce metals. Of _lapis calaminaris_ or Zinck, yields _per deliquium_ a clear, white, and heavy sharp oyl, for the sharper part of salt armoniack, which did not turn to spirit, hath dissolved _lapis calaminaris_, and is almost of the same vertues for external use in Chyrurgery with that, which above in the first part which was taught to be made out of _lapis calaminaris_, and spirit of salt, save only that this in the distilling doth not yield so strong a spirit as the other, but onely yields a sharp sublimate.

_Of the use and vertue of the spirit of salt Armoniack._

This spirit is of a sharp penetrating essence, and of an airy, moist, and warm nature; and therefore may with credit be used in many diseases, 8, 10, 12. (more or less) drops thereof used in a convenient vehicle, do immediately penetrate all the body over, causing sudden sweating, opening the obstructions of the spleen, and dispersing and expelling many malignities by sweat and urine, it cureth the quartane, collick, the suffocation of the Matrix, and many more diseases.

In brief, this spirit is a safe, sure, and ready medicine for to disperse and expel all tough, gross and venemous humors. Also, this spirit acteth his part externally, quenching all inflammations, curing the Erysipelas and Grangrene; it allayeth the pains of the gout, clothes being dipt in it and applyed: and although it draw blisters, it matters not; laid to the pulse, it is good in ardent feavers, it asswageth swellings and pains; disscusseth congealed blood, helpeth strained limbs, and benummed nerves: onely smelled unto, it cureth the megrim, and other Chronical diseases of the head: for it dissolveth the peccant matter, and evacuateth it through the nostrils; it restoreth the lost hearing, being externally laid on with a little instrument fit for the purpose. Also in the obstructions of womens courses applyed by a fit instrument in a spiritual way, openeth presently, and cleanseth the womb, and maketh women fruitful, _&c._ Mingled with common water, and held in the mouth, asswageth the tooth-ach, proceeding from sharp humors which are falln in the teeth. A little of it applyed in a glister, killeth the wormes in the body, and allayeth the colick.

This spirit may also further be used to many other things, especially by means thereof many pretious and effectual medicaments may be made out of metals and minerals, whereof some shall be described as followeth.

N. B. There is yet another matter, which is found every where and at all times, and is to be got by every one without distillation and charges, and is as good for the abovesaid diseases, as the distilled spirit, and if all men knew it, there would not be found every where so many sick people, nor so many Doctors and Apothecaries.

_To distill a blood red oyl of vitriol by the help of the spirit of urin._

Dissolve Hungarian or other good vitriol in common water, and let it run through a filtring paper, pour of this spirit upon it so much, till all the green be vanisht, and the water be made clear, and a yellow sulphur be settled: then pour off the clear, and the rest which is muddy, pour together in a _filtrum_, that the moisture may run off, and the earth of the vitriol remain in the paper, which you must dry, and distil to a blood-red oyl, which will open the obstructions of the whole body, and perfectly cure the epilepsie. The clear water must be evaporated dry, and there will remain a salt, which being distilled, yields a wonderful spirit. Before it be distilled, it is a _specificum purgans_, whereof 8. 10. 12. to 24. grains taken, may safely be used in all diseases.

_The Tincture of Vegetables._

Spices, seeds or flowers being extracted therewith and digested and distilled, the essence of them will come over with it, in the form of a red oyl.

_Vitriol of copper._

If you pour it upon calx of copper, made by often heating the Copper red hot and quenching it again, it will extract within an hours time a fair blew colour, and having dissolved as much thereof as it can pour it off and let it shoot in a cold place, and you will get a fair sky coloured vitriol, a small quantity whereof will cause strong vomits; the rest of the vitriol remaineth a blew oyl, good to be used in ulcers.

_The Tincture of crude Tartar._

If you take common crude tartar, and pour of this spirit upon it, and set it in digestion, the spirit will extract a blood-red tincture, and if the spirit be abstracted from it, there will remain a pleasant red oyl, of no small vertue and power.

_To make the oyls or liquors of salts._

This spirit also dissolveth crystals and other stones, they being first dissolved, precipitated and reduced to impalpable powders, turning them into oyles and liquors, good to be used in Alchymy and Physick.

_To precipitate all metals with it._

Any metal being dissolved in an acid spirit may be precipitated better and purer therewith, than with the liquor of the salt of tartar; for _Aurum fulminans_ which is precipitated with it fulminateth far stronger than if it were done with oyl of tartar.

R. Some juyce of Lemon and mix it with the solution of gold, before it be precipitated, and then not all the gold will precipitate, but some of it will remain in the solution, and in time many small green stones (not unlike unto common vitriol) will appear; which in a small dose will purge all noxious humors.

_The oyl and vitriol of silver._

If you dissolve silver in _Aqua fortis_, and pour so much of this spirit into it till it ceaseth to make a noise, some of the silver will precipitate in the form of a black powder, the rest of the silver remaineth in the liquor: the phlegm abstracted from it in Balneo, till it get a skin at the top, and then set into a cool place, there will grow white crystals in it, which being taken out and dryed are a good purge in madness, dropsie, feavers and other diseases, safely and without danger to be used to young and old. The rest of the liquor which did not crystallise may be extracted with spirit of wine, and the fæces being cast away the extraction will be pleasanter. The spirit of wine abstracted from it, there will remain a medicine of no small value in all diseases of the brain.

_To extract a red Tincture out of Antimony or common sulphur._

Boyl sulphur or Antimony made into powder in a Lixivium of salt of tartar, till it turn red, and pour this spirit upon it, and distill gently in a _Balneum_, and there will come over a fair tincture with the volatile spirit, silver anointed therewith will be guilt, though not lastingly. It serveth for all diseases of the lungs.

_How to ripen Antimony and common sulphur, so that several sorts of such smels, as vegetables have, arise from thence._

Dissolve Antimony or sulphur in the liquor of pebles or sand, coagulate the solution to a red mass; upon this mass pour spirit of urin, and let it extract in a gentle warmth. The spirit being coloured red, pour it off, and pour on other spirit, let it extract likewise, and this you must iterate so often, till the spirit will extract no more tincture; then pour all the extracts together and abstract the spirit of urin from it in Balneum through a limbeck, and there will remain a blood red liquor, and if you pour upon this spirit of wine it will extract a fairer tincture then the former was, leaving the fæces behind, and this tincture smelleth like garlick: and if it be digested three or four weeks in a gentle warmth, it will get a very pleasant smel, like unto the yellow prunes or plums: and if it remain longer yet in digestion, it will get a smel not inferior to musk and ambar; This tincture having been digested a long time, and got several smels, is not only notably by the fire increased in pleasantness of smel and taste, but also in vertue: for so many and various sweet smels are perceived in it, that it is to be admired, which variety and exaltation proceedeth only from the pure and ripening spirit of urin, for there is hid in it a fire, which doth not destroy but preserve and graduate all colours, whereof in another place more shall be said.

N. B. Betwixt the spirit of urin and the animal and mineral Copper there appeareth a great sympathy; for it doth not only love copper above all other metals, and mingleth easily with it, and maketh it extraordinary fair, and of good use in Physick, but it prepareth it also to such a medicine, whereby all venerous sores (both by inward and outward use) how deep so ever they took root in the blood, without the use of any other medicaments, are perfectly cured; it maketh fruitful and barren, according as it is used; it cleanseth the matrix, hindreth the rising thereof, and miraculously furthereth womens courses that have been stayed, above all other medicaments of what name soever.

If this spirit be mingled with the volatile (but not corrosive) spirit of vitriol or common salt there will come a salt out of it, which is inferior to none in fusibleness, and useful both in Alchymy and Physick.

N. B. The liquor of the salt Of tartar, and the spirit of wine do not mix without water, this being the mean partaking of both of their natures, and if you add unto it spirit of urin it will not mingle but keep its own place: so that these three sorts of liquors, being put in the same glass, and though they be shaked never so much will not incorporate for all that: the liquor of the salt of tartar keepeth to the bottom, next to it will be the spirit of urin, and on the top of that is the spirit of wine: and if you pour a distilled oyl upon it, that will keep uppermost of all, so that you may keep four sorts of liquors in one glass, whereof none is mingled with the other.

Although this be of no great profit, yet it serveth for to learn thereby the difference of spirits.

_Of the spirit and oyl of Harts-horn._

Take Harts-horn, cut it with a saw into pieces, of the bigness of a finger, and cast in one at a time into the aforesaid distilling vessel, and when the spirits are settled, then another, and continue this until you have spirits enough: and the vessel being filled with the pieces that were cast in, take them out with the tongs, and cast in others, and do this as often as is needful. The distilling being finished, take off the receiver, and pour into it dephlegmed spirit of wine, which will cleanse the volatile salt: pour the oyl with the spirit and volatile salt through a filtring paper made wet first and lying in a glass funnel, and the spirit of wine together with the spirit of Harts-horn and the volatile salt will run through the paper, and the blackish oyl will stay behind, but it must quickly be poured out, else it will pass through after them. The spirit together with the volatile salt rectifie through a retort, and the best part of the spirit will come over together with the spirit of wine and volatile salt; and when the phlegme is coming, take of the spirit, which is come over, that the naughty phlegm may not come amongst it; keep it well, for it is very volatile, the oyl may be mingled with salt of tartar, and rectified by a glass retort, and so it will be clear; if you will have it fairer, you must rectify it with spirit of salt.

The first, which is done with salt of Tartar, is of more vertue; it cureth the Quartane, and provoketh sweat extremly, cureth all internal wounds and pains, which were caused by falls, blows, or other wayes: 6, or 8. 10, to 20. drops of it taken in wine and sweated upon it in the bed. The spirit is very good for all obstructions of the whole body, from ℈ _ss._ to ʒ _ss._ therefore taken in a fit vehicle, provoketh urine, and forceth down womens courses, it cleanseth the blood and maketh sweat mightily. In the Plague, Pox, Leprosie, Scurvy, _Melancholia Hypochondriaca_, malignant Feavers, and the like where sweating is necessary, it proveth a rare medicine.

_To make the spirit of mans hair an excellent medicine._

After the same manner you may make spirits out of all kind of horns and claws of beasts: but since by reason of their ill smel the use of them is not liked of (though in several heavy diseases, as in the fits of the mother and Epilepsie, they do admirably well:) therefore I will acquiesce. However it is worth observing, that the spirit made of mans hair is not to be rejected in metallical operations, for it dissolveth common sulphur, and reduceth it into a milk, which by further ripening may be turned into blood, the like whereunto no spirit is able to do. The same spirit may also of it self, without addition of sulphur be fixed into a ruby; but that which is ripened with sulphur is the better; and if it be brought so far by the fire, that it have lost its stink, and be made fixed than it will be able sufficiently to pay for the pains and coals bestowed upon it.

N. B. Hither belongeth the Process to pour dissolved metals upon filed hartshorn, and so to distil them.

_Of the oyl of Ambar._

Ambar yeildeth a very pleasant oyl and of great vertue especially the white Ambar: the yellow is not so good, and the black is inferior to this; for by reason of its impurity it cannot be well used inwardly; and there cometh over also along with it a volatile salt and an acid water, which must be seperated; the water (for ought that I know) is of little vertue; the salt if it be sublimed from the salt of Tartar and purified, is a good diuretick, and in the Stone and the Gout, may successfully be used both inwardly and outwardly. The oyl if it be rectified, especially that which comes over first, is an excellent medicine against the Plague, Epilepsy, rising of the Mother and Megrim, 6, 8, 10, to 20. drops being taken thereof at once, and the nostrils also being anoynted therewith for to smell to it; and it is to be observed, that when it is rectified with spirit of salt, it proveth much clearer, than done by it self without addition: but if it be rectified with salt of tartar, it is of much more vertue, though it fall not so clear, as that which is done by spirit of salt.

N.B. If it be rectified from a strong _Aqua Regia_ having before once already been rectified with spirit of salt, it will turn so subtle, that it is able to dissolve iron or copper in some sort, and to reduce them into good medicines; and in this second rectification by _Aqua Regia_ all will not come over, but part of it will be coagulated by the corrosive water, so that it turneth thick, like unto mastich, which in the warmth is soft, and may be handled with owns fingers like wax, but in the could it is so hard, that it may be broken and made into powder, and glistereth like gold.

_Of the oyl of soot._

Of the soot, which is taken from Chimneys, where nothing is burnt but wood, there may be distilled a sharp volatile salt and a hot oyl. The salt is in vertue not unlike unto that which is made of harts-horn or ambar, and it quencheth inflammation, from what cause so ever it do proceed: The oyl may without rectification externally be used very successfully for all loathsome scabs, and for a scald head, _&c._ But if it be rectified, as hath been taught to be done with the oyl of Tartar, of Ambar, and of Hartshorn; then it may safely be used inwardly, as the above written oyls are used; for it doth as well as these, yea better in some special cases.

_How to make a good oyl out of soot without distilling._

Boyl the soot in common watter, till the water turn blood red (urin is better than water) and set this solution (being in an earthen pot) in winter time into the greatest frost so long till all in the pot be frozen into one piece and turned white: then break the pot and the ice, and in the midst thereof you will find the hot oyl unfrozen and liquid in colour like blood, which is not much inferior in vertue unto that which is distilled, yet afterward it may be rectified, and so exalted in its vertue, when you please, and it is to be noted, that this separation doeth only succeed in the greatest frost and cold, and not else.

_Of the spirit and oyl of honey._

Of honey there may be made a subtle spirit and a sowre vinegar, if it be mingled with twice as much of pure calcined sand and so distilled; and it falleth much better yet if it be made with the flores of Antimony, which were taught to be made in the first part, whereby the spirit is increased in its vertue, and its running over hindred thereby; and so distilling it, there will come over a pleasant spirit, a sharp vinegar and some red oyl also, which must be seperated: the spirit after the rectification inwardly used is good in all diseases of the lungs. It openeth and inlargeth the Breast, strengthneth the Heart, takes away all obstructions of the Liver and Spleen; it dissolveth and expelleth the Stone, resisteth all putrefaction of the Blood; preserveth from, and cureth the Plague; all Agues, Dropsies, and many other diseases, daily used from ℈ j. to ʒ j. taken with distilled water proper for the diseases: the sower vinegar coloureth hair and nails as yellow as gold: it cureth the itch and scabs of the skin; it cleanseth and healeth old and new wounds, they being bathed and washed therewith.

The red oyl is too strong to be used of it self, it may be mingled with the subtle spirit which came over first and so used, and the spirit will be exalted thereby in its vertue.

_Of the oyl and spirit of sugar._

In the same manner as hath been taught of honey, there is also made a spirit and oyl of sugar, _viz._ adding pure sand to it; or (which is better) of the flores of Antimony, and then according to the rules of Art one spoonful after the other of this mixture cast in, it will yeild a yellow spirit, and a little red oyl, which after the distillation must be digested in Balneo so long together, till the spirit have assumed the oyl and be turned thereby very red in colour; it needeth not to be rectified, but may daily be used either by it self, or with such vehicles as are proper for your purpose; in all it is like in virtue unto that which was made of honey; yet this of sugar is more pleasant than the other; it reneweth and restoreth all the blood in man, in regard that it received great vertue from the diaphoretical flores of Antimony; and this spirit may fitly be used in all diseases, it can do no hurt, neither in cold nor hot diseases; it doth help nature mightily, and doth so much good, that it is almost beyond belief. Especially if for a time it be used daily from ℈ j. to ʒ j. The residue of it is black, and may be kept for the same use again, _viz._ for an addition to other honey or sugar, or else you may sublime it again into flores in the furnace described in the first part, or in the furnace described in the fourth part of this book, with an addition of iron or tartar, or salt nitre, reduces it into a _Regulas_, &c.

_To distil an excellent spirit and a blood red tincture of corals and sugar._

If you mix sugar with red corals made into powder and distil it, there will besides the spirit come over a blood-red tincture like a heavy oyl, which is to be joyned with the spirit by digestion in Balneo, and it will be as vertuous as that which was made with Antimony diaphoreticum. It doth perfectly and lastingly cure the epilepsie in young and old; it cleanseth the blood from all filth, so that the Leprosie together with its several species may be cured thereby, _&c._ Its use is the same as was taught above of the Antimonized spirit of sugar.

_Of the spirit of Muste or new Wine._

Take sweet Must or juice of grapes, as soon as it is squeezed out, boyl it to the consistency of honey- and then mix it with sand, corals, or (which is better) with flores of Antimony, and so distill it, and it will yield such another spirit as that which is made of honey or sugar, only that this is somewhat tarter than that of honey. With honey, sugar and the juice of grapes, several metals may be dissolved in boyling and so prepared and made up into divers medicaments, both with and without distillation, after the same manner as was taught above with tartar: for honey, sugar, and the juice of grapes, are nothing else but a sweet salt, which by fermentation and addition of some sower thing, may be changed into a sower Tartar, in all like unto that which is gathered in the wine vessels. There may be made also a tartar out of cherries, pears, apples, figs, and all other fruit, yielding a sweet juice; as also of rye, wheat, oats, barley and the like, whereof in the third part more shall be said.

For every sweet liquor of vegetables, if it be turned inside out, by fermentation may be changed to a natural sowre tartar; and it is utterly false, that (as some do suppose) only wine yields tartar, which by daily use made of it by those that have very hungry stomachs (like Woolves) indistinctly together with the nourishment went into the limbs, and there turned to a stony matter. If this were true, than in cold Countries, where no wine groweth, men would not be troubled with the Gout or Stone; the Contrary whereof is seen daily: though I must confess, that among all vegetables none yeildeth more than the vine, the concurrent acidity being the cause thereof; for it turneth the sweetness into tartar; for the sowrer the wine is, the more tartar it yieldeth; and so much the sweeter, so much the less tartar. By this discourse an industrious Chymist may easily come to know the original nature and properties of tartar, and in default of wine, how to make it out of other vegetables; common salt or the salt of tartar may be distilled with honey, sugar, or sodden wine (_sapa_) and it will yield such strong spirits, that metals may be dissolved with them, and they are not to be despised in Physick and Alchymy.

_Of oyl Olive._

Out of oyls made by expression (as oyl olive, rape oyl, wallnut oyl, hempseed oyl, linseed oyl, and the like) there may be distilled a penetrating oyl, useful both out wardly and inwardly, which is done thus: Take common potters clay not mingled with sand, frame little bals of it, as big as a pigeons or hens-egg, burn them (but not too strong) to a hard stone, so that they may attract the oyl; and when they are no more quite red-hot, but pretty hot, then throw them into oyl olive which is the best; let them lye in it, till they be quite full and drunk of the oyl, which will be done in two or three hours (some cast them red hot into the oyl, but amiss, because the oyl contracts thence an _Empyreuma_) then take them out, and cast in one or two of them at once into your distilling-vessel made red-hot, and let it go; and within a while after cast in one or two more, and continue this till you have oyl enough. If the vessel be full of the bals, take them out with the tongs or ladle, that you may proceed without let in your distillation, and in this manner you need not fear the breaking of your retort or receiver, or the burning of your oyle. The distillation being performed take off your receiver, pour the oyl that came over into a glass retort, and rectify it from calcined Allome or Vitriol, and the Allome will keep back the blackness and stink, and so the oyl will come over clear, which must be yet rectified once or twice more with fresh calcined Allome, according to the intensness of penetrating which you look for; that which cometh over first, ought still to be caught by it self, and you will get a very fair, bright and clear oyl, which is very subtle; but that which cometh after is somewhat yellow, and not so penetrating neither as the first; and therefore it is but for external use to extract flores and herbs therewith, and to make pretious balsams for cold and moyst sores. Also you may dissolve with it Amber, Mastick, Myrrh, and the like attractive things, and with Wax and Colophony reduce it to a plaster, which will be very good in venemous sores and boyls, for to attract the poyson, and to heal them out of hand. If you dissolve in it common yellow sulphur made into powder, you will get a blood red balsom, healing all manner of scabs, and other like defects of the skin; especially when you add to it purified verdegrease, and in hot sores _Saccharum Saturni_, which in a gentle heat and by continual stirring about do easily melt and mingle therewith. It needeth not to be done in glasses, but may be done in an ordinary earthen pot or pipkin.

_The use of the blessed oyl._

The first and clear is of a very penetrating nature: some drops thereof given in some _Aqua vitæ_, presently stays the collick, proceeding from winds that could not be vented; as also the rising of the mother, the navil being anointed therewith: and a cold humour being faln upon the nervs, whereby they are lamed; if you do but anoint them with this oyl, and rub it in with warm hands, it will quickly restore them, and therefore in regard of its present help, may well be called _Oleum sanctum_. If you extract plates of iron or copper with this oyl, it will turn deep red or green, and is a soveraign remedy for to warm and dry up all cold and watery sores. It consumeth allso all superfluous moisture in Wounds and ulcerous Sores, as also all other excrescencies of the skin: it healeth tettars and scald-heads, and other like defects proceeding from superfluous cold and moisture. You may also dissolve in it Euphorbium and other hot gums, and use them against great frost, for what limb soever is anointed therewith, no frost how great soever can do it any hurt. The balsames made with gum or sulphur may be also distilled by a retort, and in some cases they are more useful than the undistilled balsame.

_Of the oyl of Wax._

In the same manner may be distilled also the oyl of wax, the use whereof is in all like unto the former; and for all cold infirmities of the nerves, this is found more effectual yet than the former.

_A Spirit good for the Stone._

Out of stones which are found in grapes, there may be distilled a sowre spirit, which is a certain and specifical remedy for the stone in the kidneys and bladder, and also for all pains of the gout. It is not onely to be used internally, but also externally, wetting clothes in it, and applying them to the places affected, and it will asswage and drive away the pains.

_Of the spirit or acid oyl of Sulphur._

To reduce sulphur into a sowre spirit or oyl hath been sought hitherto by many, but found by few. Most of them made it in glass-bells, but got very little that way; for the glasses being quickly hot, could not hold the oyl, so that it went away in a smoak. Some thought to get it by distilling, others by dissolving, but none of all these would do the feat. Which is the reason why now-adayes it is found almost no where right, and in the Drugsters and Apothecaries shops they usually sell oyl of Vitriol instead of it, which by far is not to be compared in vertue to the oyl of sulphur. For this is not onely of a far pleasanter sowre taste, but in efficacy also much exceeds the other. And therefore being of so great use both in Physick and Alchymy, as in all hot diseases, mingling the patients drink therewith, till it get a pleasant sowre tast, for to quench the intolerable drowth, to strengthen the stomach, to refresh the lungs and the liver: Also externally for to cure the gangreen: Also for to Chrystallise some metals thereby, and to reduce them into pleasant vitriols, useful as well in Alchymy as Physick: I thought good to set down the preparation, though it be not done in this our distilling furnace, but in another way by kindling and burning it as followeth.

Make a little furnace with a grate, upon which a strong crucible must be fastned resting on two iron bars, and it is to be ordered so that the smoak be conveighed (not above by the crucible, but) through a pipe at the side of the furnace: the crucible must be filled with sulphur even to the top; and by a coal-fire without flame be brought to burn and kept burning. Over the burning sulphur, a vessel is to be applyed of good stony earth like unto a flat dish with an high brim, wherein is alwayes cold water to be kept, and whereunto the burning sulphur doth flame: which thus burning, its fatness consumeth, and the acid last is freed and sublimed to the cold vessel, where it is dissolved by the air, and in the form of a sharp oyl runs from the hollow vessel into the receiver, which must be taken off sometime, and more sulphur supplyed instead of that which hath been consumed, to the end that the sulphur may still burn in the crucible: and beat with the flame to the cold head: and within few dayes you will get a great quantity of oyl, which else by the (_campana_) glass-bell in many weeks could not have been done.

N. B. Such a sowre spirit or oyl may also be got by distillation together with the flores, _viz._ thus: If you take pieces of sulphur as big as hens eggs, and cast them one after another into the hot distilling vessel, a sowre oyl together with flores, will come over into the receiver, which must with water be separated out of the flores, and the water abstracted from it again in a cucurbit, and in the bottome of your glass body you will find the oyl, which in vertue and taste is equal to the former, but you get nothing near so much in quantity by this way, and if you do not look for the oyl, you may leave it with the flores, which by reason of their pleasant acid taste are much toothsomer to take than the ordinary ones.

To the Courteous Reader.

_Thus I conclude this second part; I could have set down more medicinal processes in this Treatise: but having as many as will be a sufficient guide for the distilling of other things also, I thought it good here to acquiesce; and whatsoever hath been here omitted, shall be supplyed in the following parts._

FINIS.

[Illustration: _Fig:_ I

_Fig:_ II

_Fig:_ III]

THE THIRD PART OF Philosophical Furnaces:

_In which is described the Nature of the Third Furnace; by the help whereof, and that without Stills, and Caldrons, and other Copper, Iron, Tin, and Leaden Instruments, various Vegetable burning Spirits, Extracts, Oyls, Salts, =&c.= by the help of a certain little Copper Instrument, and Wooden Vessels are made for Chymical and Medicinal Uses._

A Preface of the Copper Instrument and Furnace.

_Now this Instrument is made of strong Copper plates after the following manner. You must make two strong hemispheares of Copper or Latten of the bigness of a mans head (or thereabout) and join them together with a most strong soder, and that without tin, whereof the one must have a pipe: Now the pipe must be of a most exact roundness, that it may most accurately fit the hole that is made with an auger or wimble to keep the water from flowing out like to a tap, of the length of one span at least, wider on the hinder part towards the globe, than on the forepart, which also must be according to the bigness of the globe, greater or lesser, and be exactly joined with the best soder to its hemisphear, and the diameter of the forepart being very round like a tap, and most exactly filling the round hole must be of two fingers breath. Now there is required to the foresaid instrument or globe, a certain peculiar little furnace made of iron or copper, =viz.= most strong copper plates, covered within with stones or the best lute, into which is put that globe like a retort, so that it may ly upon two iron bars of the distance of a span, or span and half from the grate; the neck whereof (that pipe) goeth forth of the furnace one span at least. The furnace also must have below a place for the ashes, and above a cover with its hole for the letting forth of the smoke, and for regulating the fire, as you may see by the annexed figure. It must also below have a treefoot, on which the furnace must be set, and on the sides two handles by the help whereof it may be removed from place to place; the which is very necessary; for it is not only used for the distilling of burning spirits by wooden Vessels instead of copper, but also for such distillation, and digestion that is performed in gourds, bolt-heads, and other instruments of glass, stone, copper, tin, =&c.= which are to be set in Balneo: also in the boyling of beer, metheglin, wine, and other drinks, which are to be performed by the help of wooden Vessels._

_Of Wooden Instruments that are to be used instead of Stills, Baths, and Cauldrons._

_In the first Figure_, _A_ represents the Furnace with a Copper Globe. _B._ The Copper Globe. _C._ The distilling Vessel. _D._ The Refrigeratory with a Worm. _E._ The Receiver. _F._ Stools on which the Vessels stand. _The Second_, _A_ Balneum with a Cover having Holes in it for the Glasses, set upon a Tree-foot.

_The Third_, A Wooden Vessel for the making of Beer. _The Fourth_, A Tub for a moist Bath, which is to be warmed by the Copper Globe. _The Fifth_, A wooden Box for a dry Bath to provoke sweat with Volatile Spirits.

In the first place I shall speak of wooden Vessels that are to be used instead of Copper stills, in the distilling of burning spirits out of wine, beer, lees, malt, wheat, meal, roots, hearbs, flowers, seeds, and other vegetables, as also oyls of vegetables.

See that thou hast an oken barrel, like to those wherein wine and beer are kept, of a just bigness, _viz._ answerable to the bigness of the globe, as is sufficient for the coction: for a barrel that is too big will make the coction slow, and tedious. A greater globe may be fitted to a lesser barrel, but not on the contrary, a great barrel to a little globe: For by how much the bigger the globe is, and the less the barrel, so much the sooner is the work hastned. Now seeing that this Art was invented for the saving of costs, which otherwise would have been expended in providing of stils, cauldrons, furnaces, _&c._ it is best not to have too great a globe, which requires a greater furnace, and is more hardly to be carryed, because it is to be covered within with lute, or a wall; for it is sufficient if it be big enough for the coction. Wherefore I will give you a just and due proportion of both, _viz._ of the globe, and vessel, which in distillations and other operations, the curteous reader may imitate.

A globe of the bigness of a mans head, containing three or four cannes, whereof each containeth four pints, is sufficient for the heating of a barrel of 30, 40, 50, 60. and 100 gallons, which by how much the more remote from 100 and nearer to 30, so much the sooner is it heated, and the coction furthered; and on the contrary, by how much the nearer it is to 100 and more remote from 30, so much the slower is the coction. I do not therefore advise that a huge barrel be chosen for a small globe, by reason of a long and tedious operation: And if all and every thing be not so accurately observed to a hair, yet it matters not much, because it sufficeth to do the same thing by the help of one small copper instrument of divers forms. For in this way of distilling, wooden vessels that are requisite to the distilling of spirits, and boyling of Bear, and for baths are more easily provided, then so many copper vessels in the common way. For by this means not only costs are spared, but also it is in stead of building of furnaces, because when any barrel hath been used, you may remove it, and set another in the place of it for another operation, the which cannot be done with stills and cauldrons fastened into a furnace. And this invention is for those that want Artificers, as Coppersmiths, _&c._ because wooden instruments are more easily provided: also by the help of this globe may most secret operations be performed.

For the furnace with the copper globe may be built in one place, and in another place the _Balneum_, _viz._ the places divided with a wall, so that he that looks to the fire may not know what is done in the Elaboratory; for oftentimes the care of the fire is committed to heedless servants, that break glass instruments by their carelesseness, by which means oftentimes a most pretious medicine is lost; which danger this invention is without.

Wherefore this copper globe with its wooden vessels is more convenient then those copper stills and cauldrons. But this I would have thee know that this new invented distillation is slower, then the common way which is performed by stills, and consequently requires a long fire. I desire therefore the rich that dwell in large and spacious houses, that they would use the old way of distilling; but the poor, who have but little houshold conveniences, and the covetous, that they would use this little copper globe with its wooden vessels: for although there be a longer fire required, yet these are not to be compared to those costs which are otherwise expended upon so many copper vessels of so many divers forms. Let him therefore keep to his copper vessels, who cannot understand me, for it concernes not me. Without doubt there are some whom this my new invented way of distilling will please, before other, being communicated for the sake of the poor labouring house-keepers, that cannot boyl Beer, and distill burning spirits for lack of vessels: for a globe of five or four pound is more easily provided, then other copper vessels of 60, 80, 100 pound: also those wooden vessels are more easily provided than furnaces, which some for want of place only cannot build. Choose therefore which way thou wilt, for these things which I have wrote, I have wrote for the poors sake rather than for the rich. Certainly rich men that have spacious Elaboratories need not to be ashamed to follow this way, for it is free for every man to go a shorter way, unless they had rather prefer the old way before a new and compendious, whom I cannot help, being contented with a publication which is made for the sake of my neighbour, whether it be taken well or ill, with a good minde, certainly knowing that more profit then disprofit may be obtained by the help thereof. It shall not therefore repent him of his labor, who knows rightly to prepare and use this copper, and wooden vessels.

_There follows now the preparation of the vessel._

The vessel being made is to be placed with one bottom, upon a stool that is fitted for it, which being done, make a hole with a wimble neer the bottom, for the receiving of the neck of the copper globe, which is to be covered over with a linnen cloth: make also about the lower bottom another hole for a tap, by the help whereof the remainder of the distillation is drawn forth: also you must make a large hole in the upper bottom, the diameter whereof must be one span for to pour in the water to be distilled, with a funnel. Also there must be made a hole near the upper bottom of two or three fingers breadth, into which is to be put a copper pipe of a span long, which is to be fastened closely therein; and to this pipe another oaken vessel with a copper worm and cold water like to other refrigeratories, must be applyed. Also the joints of the aforesaid short pipe, _viz._ of the first barrel, and of the second barrel, _viz._ the refrigeratory must be straightly, and closely united together, which afterward may be the better joyned together with a fit lute for the distilling. And this is the form and fashion of the wooden vessel, that is to be used in the place of copper vessels, in the distilling of burning spirits and oyls. But thou wilt object that these kind of wooden vessels are porous, and drink up great part of the spirit and oyls.

I answer; none of the spirits seeketh a violent passage out, in case the ways be open. There is no danger therefore, when there is passage enough given them by a pipe that is wide enough. Neither doth oyl stick to them in distillation, for whatsoever is by force of the boyling water to be separated from the spices, and seeds that also is sublimable by the force of the seething water, so as to distill in, so that in the refrigeratory no more is lost than in the stills. Distillation being made, the aforesaid spirits may be rectified in these wooden vessels, (being first washed) as well as in copper stills.

_The making of a wooden vessel for a Balneum, which is to be used in stead of copper and leaden Cauldrons for digestion, and distillation by glass vessels._

Make an oaken vessel as big or as little as you please, according to the greatness, or littleness, multitude, or fewness of the vessels, of two or three spans high, a little narrower above then below, and so fashioned above, that a cover of wood, copper, or lead, may most closely be joyned to it: the cover must have holes greater or lesser, according to the glasses, as is wont to be in the making of a _Balneum_, as you may see by the annexed figure. This vessel also must be placed upon a stool of the height of an ell, or such height as is required for the joyning of the copper globe with the _Balneum_, which must have a hole near the lower bottom, for the receiving of the neck of the aforesaid globe. In defect of such a vessel, which yet you may provide easily enough, take a wine or bear vessel divided in the middle, and make a hole near the bottom for the neck of the globe, make also a wooden cover with holes, &c. He that will be curious may provide all things according to the best Art.

_A wooden vessel serving for boyling of bear, metheglin, vinegar, =&c.= as well as copper, iron, and tin vessels._

Make a wooden vessel, which shall be more high than broad, a little wider above than below, as you please: or take a wine or bear barrel divided in the middle, and near the bottom make a hole for the neck of the globe, which is to be covered with boards, which serves as well for the boyling of bear, _&c._ as those of copper.

_A wooden vessel for a bath for sweet, or mineral water, which may be according as you please, kept warm, for the preserving of health._

Make a long wooden tub convenient to sit in, which is to be set upon a stool of a just height, _viz._ that the bottom of the vessel may answer the neck of the globe which is put into the furnace: you may also have a cover, that may cover the whole tub, which may be divided and united in that place where the head goes forth, as appears by the annexed figure, or you may cover it with a cloth, laying it upon small crooked sticks fastned to the tub, yet so that the head may have its liberty, especially in a vaporous bath of common sweet, or medicinal water; or make a high wooden cover shutting very close, for a dry sweat, where it is no matter whether the head be shut in or no.

_Of the use of wooden vessels in distilling, boyling, bathing, =&c.= And first of the distilling vessel._

He that will distill any burning spirit by help of the distilling vessel, out of wine, metheglin, bear, barley, wheat, meal, apples, pears, cherries, figs, _&c._ also out of flowers, seeds, and other vegetables, hath need so to prepare his materials, that they may yield their spirit. Where I thought it convenient, and indeed necessary to say something of the preparation of each vegetable, for better information sake, or else a profitable distillation is not to be expected, but labour in vain to be feared.

_And first of the preparation of the lees of wine, bear, hydromel, and other drinks._

The lees of wine, bear, hydromel, _&c._ have no need to be prepared, because they do easily enough of themselves yield their spirit, unless haply having lost all their humidity they be dryed, which you may make moist again by the admixion of common water, lest they be burnt in distilling & stick to the vessel; of which thing more in the distillation it self. Now flowers, roots, hearbs, seeds, fruits, apples, pears, cannot be distilled without a foregoing preparation. You must therefore first prepare them, as followeth.

_Of the preparation of all kind of corn, as Wheat, Oats, Barly, =&c.= which must go before the distilling of the spirit._

And first of all a malt must be made of the corn, as it is wont to be in the making of bear. Now the manner of making of malt is known almost to all, wherefore I need not speak much of that, because in all places that have no wine, there is scarce any house found in which Malt and Bear is not made, as well in the country as cities. But however, there is a great deal of difference of making of it, for a long knife doth not make a good Cook, nor all drinkers of wine are good planters. For many have perswaded themselves, that, if they follow the footsteps of their fathers, they have done well (although they have been in an errour) and being scornful, refuse instruction. Wherefore something is to be said of the difference of malting. Although I never exercised the Art of making Beer, yet I am certain I do in that excel all other Distillers, and Brewers. For I often saw, and indeed with admiration, the simplicity of many in their operations, although common, and dayly, to whom though an age should be granted, yet they would never be more thrifty, being content with their ancient customes. Good God! How perverse is the world, where no body labours to find out any good, neither is there any one that thinks of perfecting, and amending things already found out: Where all things run to ruin, and all manner of vice increase: for now almost every one seeks only after riches _by right or wrong_; for it is all one with them, if they have them, not thinking that things ill gotten shall perish, and that the third heir shall not injoy them, and that unjust riches shall devour those that have been honestly gotten, with danger also of eternal damnation. I pray you, if our Ancestors had been so negligent, and had left nothing to us: I pray you, I say, what Arts and Sciences should we have had now? It is come to this pass now, that vertues decrease, and vices increase.

_Of the difference of malting._

The difference of malt, by reason whereof it yields better or worse beer, and spirit, consists for the most part in the preparation thereof: for being made after the vulgar way it retains its tast, wherefore it cannot yield good spirit, nor good beer, which is observed of very few, wherefore they could not draw forth good spirit out of corn, but such as savours of the tast and smell of the malt. Which is not the fault of the corn, but of the artificer not operating aright in the preparation of his malt, in distilling and rectifying. For if it were prepared a right in all things, corn yields a very good spirit, not unlike to that which is made out of the lees of wine, in tast, odour, and other vertues. Which Art, although it be not known to all, yet it doth not follow that it is impossible: Now I did not say that it is that common way, whereby that spirit, which is like to the spirit of wine, is distilled, but another which is more subtil, and witty. Out of all vegetables is drawn a burning spirit, yet such as is perceived by some difference of the tast, and odour, but that is not the spirits faults, but of the vegetable, as of hearbs, seeds, corn, _&c._ communicating their vertues, tast, and odour to the spirit: whence that spirit deserves to be called not simple, but compounded, for else all the burning spirit (being rightly rectified from its flegm) is made out of any thing, having the same vertues with the spirit of wine, although it seem improbable to some. I do not deny that one simple may yield more or less sweet spirit than another. For sweeter wines yields sweeter spirits: Also clear wine yields a sweeter spirit than the lees of wine, although they come forth out of one and the same vessel: For clarified wine, and that which is separated from the fæces yields a sweeter spirit than the Lees, and impure and heterogeneal sediment, which corrupts the simple, and sweet spirit, with a strong tast and smell: so that that may deservedly, being as it were simple, be preferred before this which is accidentally corrupted. And this is to be understood of all other spirits. What hath hitherto been said, hath been spoken for the sakes of them, who have perswaded themselves that they could not perform chymical operations so well by the spirit of corn, as with the spirit of wine, for I never found any difference of them in the extraction of minerals or vegetables. Let him therefore that can, receive my opinion, and experience, seeing I will have nothing to do with contradicting Carpers: Without hurt to others I dare not reveal the Art of distilling a sweet spirit with great profit out of corn, in all things like to that which is made of the fæces of wine, _viz._ without the preparation or grinding of the malt, which shall haply be [* _See Explicat. Mirac. Mundi_] communicated elsewhere at some time or other. For this Book is not written for the publishing of secrets, but of a new invented distillation. But thou that wilt make a sweet burning spirit out of malt or honey; know this, that the corn must be brought after a certain peculiar manner into malt, and lose its ungrateful savour before its distilling, and fermenting, or else after the wonted manner a certain ungrateful spirit will be drawn from thence, that cannot be compared to the spirit of wine. The whole Art thereof consists in a true preparation; for ungrateful things are by Art brought into gratefulness, and on the contrary grateful things are made ungrateful by negligence. And thus much for information sake.

_Of the fermentation of Malt._

Take of Malt ground in a Mill as much as you please, upon which in a wooden vessel set up right, pour cold water, as much as will moysten it, and serve for mixtion and comminution; then also pour as much warm water as will suffice for the making the mixture moist and thin, and also warm; for it must be neither hot nor cold: which being done mix with it some new barm, and cover it with a cloth, and in a short space, being exposed to heat, it will begin to ferment (wherefore the vessel is not to be filled to the top) and leave it so long in fermentation, until the mixture descends, which for the most part is wont to be done the third day, and the malt will be ready for distillation.

_Of the fermentation of Honey._

Neither hath honey any need of a singular Art in its fermentation, because being mixed with 6, 7, 8, or 10. parts of warm water, it is dissolved, and unto the solution is added ferment, as has been spoken concerning malt, which afterward is left covered in some heat for to be fermented, being fit for distillation when it becomes to wax hot. Now know that too great a quantity of honey makes a very slow fermentation, _viz._ of some weeks and months; wherefore for acceleration sake, I advise that a greater quantity of water be added; although otherwise it yields plenty of spirits, but ungrateful, which therefore I advise nobody to distil as being unprofitable, unless any one know how to take away the [1]ungratefulness thereof.

[1] [_See the Consolat. of Navigators._]

_Of the preparation of Fruits, Seeds, Flowers, Herbs, Roots_, &c.

The fruits of trees, as Cherries, Plumbs, Apples, Pears, Figs, Juniper-berries, Elder-berries, Dwarf-elder, and Mulberries, _&c._ are bruised in wooden vessels, with wooden pestils; and upon them being bruised, is poured warm water, and ferment added to quicken it, as hath been above said of malt. Seeds are broken in a mill; flowers, hearbs and roots, are cut small, and are stirred up to fermentation by mixing of warm water, and barm or yest.

_An Annotation._

Before thou distil the aforesaid vegetables prepared by the help of fermentation, diligently weigh, and accurately observe whether the mixture be sufficiently fermented, for sometimes there is too much cold, or hot water put to it; sometimes the vessel is not well covered, by which means the cold air is let in, whence the fermentation is hindred, and consequently the distillation of the spirit: For by the help of fermentation the burning spirit of the vegetables is set at liberty, without which it cannot be done; also the distillation is hindred by too much hast, as well as by too much delay; for if you begin to distill before the time, _viz._ fermentation not being yet perfected, thou shalt have but few spirits; wherefore also the better part is, by many that are unskilful, cast to the swine, but without any great loss, if the matter were malt, because that swine are fed therewith; but not so if other vegetables were the matter of the distillation. Also too much slowness where the matter begins to be sowre before it be distilled, yields very few spirits, that which often happens, whilst hearbs, and flowers, _&c._ are out of ignorance left in fermentation 3, 4, 5. and more weeks, before they be distilled, for the greatest part of the spirit is then turned to vinegar, which would not be so very ill done, if so be these men knew how to clarifie the remainders, and turn it into vinegar, that nothing thereof might be lost; for the vinegars of hearbs, flowers, seeds, and roots are not to be contemned. And so often times (a thing to be lamented) the better part, if they be spices, and pretious things, is lost.

The matter of the distillation, and other choice things, as seeds and hearbs are cast away with loss; wherefore for admonition sake I was willing to add such things that the operators may have an opportunity to consider the matter a little more profoundly with themselves, or at least of learning the art of distilling from countrymen, who do not suffer their malt to putrefy, grow sower or mouldy, before they fall upon their distillations, but presently fermentation being made (the third or the fourth day) begin their distillation.

But some one will object, that my vegetable spirits are not pure by reason of the ferment that is mixed, having in it self a spirit. I answer, there is not so great a portion of the ferment mixed which can corrupt the vegetable spirit. For although some spoonfuls of ferment yielding but a few drops of spirits be added to a great quantity of the vegetables; yet there can come no hurt or detriment to so many quarts of the vegetable spirit. I have seen some supercilious men that would not add ferment to the matter of their spirit, but sugar or honey, by which they would promote fermentation, and so have thought to get a pure spirit, not considering that honey and sugar, after fermentation are made to yield their spirit also, whereof one spoonful yields more than ten or twenty of Barm: But hony and sugar fermenting not without difficulty themselves, how can they promote the fermentation of other things? Who also have had experience, that the addition of their ferment hath been superfluous, whilst their flowers and hearbs have stood some weeks in maceration, before they begun to ferment, and that often times they have contracted an acidity, mustiness and stink, the reason of which was an unsutable ferment. There are indeed the fruits of some trees that have a sweet and full juice, as grapes, cherries, apples, pears, figs, _&c._ which need not the addition of any ferment, having a natural ferment of their own, but other vegetables not so, being lean, as hearbs, flowers and roots. It is necessary there to promote the fermentation of them by the addition of a sutable ferment, lest in length of time these hearbs and seeds lose their spirit exhaling in maceration. And thus much I was willing to say for information sake, and indeed for the sake of them who seek after the best and choicest medicines, wanting a good burning spirit as a companion applicable to them. For this spirit came not only by it self, as _Aqua vitæ_, into a medicinal use as well internal as external, especially that which is prepared of cordial, and cephalick hearbs; but also being united with the proper oyls of those hearbs in many desperate diseases, where it could put forth its vertues eminently.

And thus much sufficeth concerning the preparation of vegetables that goes before the distillation of burning spirits.

_The manner of distilling in general followeth._

He that is going to distil, hath need to stir his fermented matter very well with a stick, that the thicker parts may be well mixed with the thinner, and then he must fill therewith his distilling vessel set upon a treefoot, and joyned to the copper globe in the furnace on one side, and to the refrigeratory on the other, the joints in all places being well closed either with Oxe-bladders, or with starch and paper. Also the interiour part of the globe in the distilling vessel must be fenced with a copper or wooden basket, that the herbs, seeds, and other things enter not into the globe, into which only water must come. Also the upper hole must be close stopped with a fitting stopple wrapt about with linnen clouts, (_viz._ that hole by which the matter to be distilled is put in) like to vessels of wine that are stopped. Which being well done, you must kindle the fire in the furnace under the globe, until all the matter in the whole vessel boyl well, and that burning spirit rise, and go out, through the refrigeratory (where it is condensed) into the glass receiver that is set under it, no less than that distilled out of a still; and you must continue the fire till all the spirit be come forth, which you may know by the taste. Which being done, and all things being cold, let the remainders be taken out by the lower large tap-hole, for meat for swine, or other uses. The spirit that is drawn off may be exalted, and rectified at your pleasure in the same vessel, being first made clean together with the refrigeratory. Note well, that sometimes there is left a fat oyl with the flegm in rectifying of the spirit, proceeding from that hearb of which that was the spirit, which did distil off with the spirit from the matter with a strong fire in the first distillation, but in the rectifying could not ascend with the spirit in a gentle fire, but is constrained to remain with the insipid flegm. And this oyl also hath its vertues, especially that which is rectified by a glass gourd in Balneo, with the spirit of salt, and clarified. Now the like oyl is got almost from all hearbs, roots, seeds, flowers, and fruits, but out of one subject more than another, according to the hot and cold temper thereof. Especially the sediment of wines yields a good quantity of such oyl, which being rectified is a medicinal true oyl of wine, but not before endued with a sweet savour, and it is an excellent cordial, although I know no body that knew this before.

And thus I have shewed the general way of distilling, burning spirits, by help of the aforesaid wooden distillatory. Now also follows,

_The manner of distilling Spices, Seeds, Flowers, Hearbs, Roots, Woods_, &c.

First, the seeds must be broken in a mill, flowers, hearbs, and roots cut small, the woods broken or rasped, upon which afterwards a good quantity of water (in which they may swim) must be poured for the maceration of them, so that when the distillation is ended there may remain some water, lest for want of water they be burnt in the distilling, and yield an oyl savouring of an _empyreuma_, and not sweet. Neither is too great a quantity to be poured upon them, but as much as shall serve to prevent the burning of the aforesaid vegetables in the distilling of the oyl thereof. And indeed fresh vegetables may presently without any foregoing maceration, being put with their proper waters into the distilling vessel be distilled. But they that be dry may for the space of some dayes be macerated before they be distilled. Also the water appointed for maceration must be salted, for the better mollifing, and opening the aforesaid materials, that they may sooner yield their oyl. Now green and fresh need not any salt water, yet it will not be hurtful to mix some therewith, because salt helps the boyling water, so as to make the oyl more easily to ascend. It also helps and furthers distillation as doth Tartar and Allome, if they be rightly mixed and ordered. Which being all rightly done, the materials that are macerated must be put by a funnel into the distilling vessel, and fire must be given as hath been spoken concerning the burning spirit, and the oyl of the seed, or wood macerated in the water will come forth in the distillation together with the water. And although by this way more oyl comes forth, _viz._ Maceration being made by the addition of salt, than without salt, by the help of the sweet water alone, as is the fashion in all places almost to distill oyls of spices; yet much remaines inseparable by the water, and consequently not to be sublimed with the water. Therefore the better way is that which I shewed in the first part to be performed with the spirit of salt, which if you please you may follow. All the oyl being come forth (which is perceived by the changing of the receivers) the fire is to be extinguished, and the remainder is to be taken out, which if it be of seeds, hearbs, or fruits, may, being yet warm, be fermented by the addition of ferment for the distilling of the spirit, of which there cannot be so great a quantity by reason of taking away of the oyl, as otherwise is drawn out of things that have not lost their oyl: For all burning spirit partakes of much oyl, of the essence, and nature whereof more a little after. Now spirits must be made without the addition of any salt, for salt hinders the fermentation, without which the burning spirit cannot be had. But the water that is distilled together with the oyl, is to be set in a certain temperate place, until the oyl ascend, and swim upon the water, from whence it is to be separated with a Tunnel (of which in the fifth part,) also there are some oyls which do not ascend, but fall to the bottom, which are also to be separated with a Tunnel, and kept for their uses. Now how these oyls may be kept clear long, and not contract any clamminess, shall be taught in the fifth part: but how they may after they have lost their clearness by long standing, and are become tenacious, be restored and clarified again, is taught in the first part, wherefore I need not here repeat it.

_How Oyls are to be coagulated into Balsames._

It hath been the custom a long time to turn aromatical oyls into Balsams, where always one hath been willing to excel another in this Art, which nevertheless was nothing hitherto, but for a washing and cleansing; for they could not be used inwardly, but only outwardly for their odour to comfort the heart and brain. Now the aforesaid oyls are coagulated many ways, and are made portable in Tin, Silver, and ivory boxes.

Some have mixed the fat of a lamb with them by help of heat, and have turned them into a liniment, which they have coloured with divers colours; as for example, they have corrupted the oyls of green hearbs; as rosemary, marjoram, lavender, rue, sage, with a green colour, by the admixtion of verdigrease (which is noxious to the head and heart) where one corroborates and refresheth, another destroys. They have tinged the Balsam of Cinnamon, and _lignum Rhodium_ with a red colour by the help of a poysonous Cinnabar. Others that are more industrious, have tinged their Oyls with extracted colours of vegetables, which balsams are more safely taken inward: But they are not durable, acquiring a sliminess and stink; wherefore they have mixed white wax to coagulate them: By which means they are become more durable without stinking; but yet in length of time so tenacious, that being smeared or rubbed upon the skin, they stick fast by reason of the wax that is mixed with them: at last others have found out a better way of coagulating aromatical oyls, and other things, _viz._ by the addition of the oyl of Nutmeg made by expression, having lost its odour and colour by spirit of wine; which they called the _Mother of Balsames_. And this way hath been a long time concealed by Apothecaries as a great secret, until at length it is become common, so that balsames prepared after this manner are sold almost in all shops: But although that be the best way, yet they are not durable balsames that are made that way, because they lack salt. I do not contemn and disapprove of Balsames made after this way, for if a better way had been known, better had been made, for no man is obliged beyond his power. Wherefore they are not only to be excused, that have used Lambs fat, Wax, and the oyl of Nutmegs in the making of their Balsames, but also to be honoured for their communication. Now seeing the aforesaid Balsames cannot be taken inwardly, nor be so well outwardly administred by reason of their unctuosity, others have consulted to congeal the Oyls by the admixtion of their own proper fix-salts: And Balsames prepared after this manner are made free from clamminess, or tenaciousness, and may be dissolved in wine, beer, or any liquor.

Wherefore they may be not only conveniently taken inward, but also more fitly than those old, be rubed outwardly for the odours sake, because they are easily washed off again with water. They do not only give a most sweet odour being rubbed, but also by reason of the admixtion of the fixed salt, having the nature of salt of Tartar, do beautify the skin. Wherefore they are to be commended, being dissolved in fair warm water for a lotion for the head, and face; not only because they beautify, but corroborate with their excellent odour; which those fat Balsames cannot do. Wherefore this way is to be preferred far before the other.

Let him therefore that will, receive what I have said, for _rare and new things are not alwayes accepted_, especially _being obscure_: but I hope for the approbation of the age to come.

_The manner of preparing follows._

Take the remains of the burning spirit, and being put into a sack, press it hard: reduce the water pressed out into vinegar, and of roses thou shalt have a rose vinegar, and of other things another, being the best in a Family for to season meats: then take the remains out of the sack, and reduce it to white ashes in a potters furnace, upon which pour the flegm of its own burning spirit (being separated) to extract the salt, from which evaporate again all the humidity in a glazed earthen pot: calcine the coagulated salt gently in a clean crucible, and it will be white and be like to salt of tartar in tast; from which abstract, sometimes its own proper burning spirit, calcining the salt first every time; and the spirit will be so exalted by its proper salt, that it will presently assume its proper oyl, and will, being poured upon it, associate it to it self so as to be perceived no more in the spirit, which will remain very clear: Which being done, calcine the salt yet once more very well in a crucible, and dissolve so much of it in its proper flegm, as sufficeth for the coagulation of the oyl, then mix this solution with the burning spirit, mixed with its oyl, and set it in a vial of a long neck well stopt, in Balneo, that the spirit may not exhale, in the coction of it, and in the space of a few hours there will be an union of the mixture which will be as white as milk. Which being done, let the glass cool, for there is a conjunction of the spirit, oyl, and salt, so that neither can be discerned from another, which is to be poured into a vessel of a wide mouth, and it will be congealed in the cold like a white ointment, not only to be anointed withal, but also to be dissolved in any liquor, being of an excellent odour, which may also be given inwardly very conveniently, and being used outwardly it makes the skin beautiful and sweet; wherefore this is that most desired balsame of Princes and Ladies. And by this way the three principles of vegetables, being separated, and purified, are again reunited, in which union there is found the whole vertue, tast, and odour of the vegetable.

Note well, That he that will colour balsames, must draw the colour out of vegetables with spirit of wine, which he must make to be coagulated together with it. After this aforesaid manner, therefore you may draw out of any vegetable that hath in it salt, spirit and oyl, soluble and well smelling balsomes without the addition of any other strange thing, which are not to be contemned.

And because here also is taught that most odoriferous balsame of roses, for roses yield but a little oyl, without which that cannot be done, know that not only roses or rose leaves also are to be taken for the making the aforesaid balsome, but also together with the leaves those whole knots; for that yellow that is in them yields that oyl, not the rose leaves, _&c._ And let what hath been said suffice concerning our preparation of balsames, which if they be rightly made, are not I suppose, to be contemned, neither do I reject those that are made without salt: Let him that hath better communicate them, and not carp at ours. And so I would that all and each process should be comprehended under some one general, _viz._ of distilling burning spirits, and oyls, by the help of a wooden distilling vessel, and their conjunction by the help of their proper fixed salt, I could here add more things concerning the use, and vertues of spirits of wine, and of those most sweet vegetable oyls; but because they are clearly enough spoken of by others, I account it a superfluous thing to repeat the sayings of others, being contented with the description of one only general process, which you may imitate in other particulars.

_There follows now the use of the second wooden vessel, which is to be used instead of those of copper or lead, serving for distillations, digestions, extractions, and fixations._

The vessel being made ready according to the prescription set down before, there is nothing else to do, than to fit the furnace with the globe, and at your pleasure to heat water in it, with a government of the fire in the furnace. Now all things may here be done, which otherwise are done in a common _Balneo_; where there is no other difference but of vessels; here is used a wooden vessel, there a copper, leaden, or iron, _&c._ In this operation also is used the same furnace with the same globe, which was used above in the distillation, wherefore you need add nothing else beside, for nothing is more common than a _Balneum_ in distillation; let the demonstration therefore of the use of the copper globe suffice. Now I thought it worth while to set down some Chymical medicinal extracts, not common, which may be made by the help of this _Balneum_, which being rightly prepared do many things in many diseases.

_And first of a vomitive Extract._

Take an ounce of the flowers of Antimony, of purifyed Tartar ℥ ij. of sugar-candy ℥ vj. of rain water two pints, being mixed together, set them in a strong vial in _Balneo_ for to be cocted, and make them to boyl strongly the space of ten or twelve hours. Then the _Balneum_ being cold, take out the glass, and pour forth the decoction, and filter it through a brown paper put into a tunnel; the filtred water will be reddish betwixt sweet and sowre, which take (the fæces in the filtre being cast away) and in a small gourd glass draw off all the moisture with a gentle fire in _Balneo_ unto the consistency of honey of a brownish colour, upon which again pour a pint of spirit of wine, poured forth into a vial with a long neck; and set it on _Balneo_ with a moderate heat the space of eight or sixteen hours, and then the spirit of wine will separate, and extract the essence, which will be more pure and noble, the fæces being left in the bottom; which after all things are cold are to be separated by the Help of Filtration through a double brown paper. Then take the red tincture that is filtred, and in a gourd glass in a gentle Balneo draw off almost all the spirit of wine until there remain a matter like a very sweet syrup, which being taken out keep as a most excellent vomitive, most profitable in many diseases, where other Catharticks can do nothing. For this medicine works most gently, wherefore it may be given to children of a year and half old without danger, and also to old men. This medicine purgeth and attracts all humors from the nerves, and veins, opens all obstructions of the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, by which means many most grievous diseases are cured.

I never found a vomitive comparable to this, which works quickly and safely. The dose of it is from grain 1, 2, 3, 4. to 10. and 30. according to the age and sickness. It may be taken by it self, or in wine, beer, _&c._ and it will within a quarter of an hour begin to work, and ceaseth within two hours. Sometimes it doth not provoke vomit at all, but only stools, where a glyster is very helpful if it be given a little before the administring of the aforsaid medicine, being made of two or three spoonful of oyl Olive, and salt water; for the glyster prepares the way below, so that it seldome then works by way of vomit: when also the patient may presently after the taking of the medicine hold hot tosted bread to his mouth and nose, which hinders vomiting and promotes the operation by stool. But in my judgment it is better not to hinder the medicine seeking a spontaneous way of operation, and not forced: For vomiting is more convenient for some, than purging by stool. Now these things I have spoken for the sake of those, who although they abhor vomiting, yet desire to be purged by the essence of Antimony, which is of all that I know the most safe, and sweet Cathartick. For it searcheth the whole body far better than all others, and frees it from many occult diseases, the which all other vegetable Catharticks could not do. It hath also this commodity in it, that although by littleness of the dose, or the strong nature of the patient it doth not work by vomit or stool, yet it doth not like other medicines hurt the body, but works either by sweat or urine, so that Antimony being rightly prepared is seldome administred without profit. When as on the contrary, vegetable Catharticks being given in less dose or by reason of some other causes do not work, although they do not make the body swell, and produce manifest diseases, yet they threaten to the body occult sicknesses.

Now the _Arcanum_ of Antimony doth not onely not do hurt, if it do not sensibly operate, but by insensible working doth much good to the body of man. Wherefore there is a great difference betwixt purging minerals, and vegetables. For minerals are given in a less dose without nauseousness, but vegetables with a great deal of nauseousness, and sometimes with danger to the sick in a greater dose. Now that nauseousness also proceeding oftentimes from the great dose of the ungrateful bitter potions does more hurt than the potion it self. I wish that such kind of gross medicines were abolished, and the sweet Extracts of Vegetables and Essences of Minerals were substituted in their place.

_A purging Extract._

Take of the roots of black Hellebore gatherd in fit time, and dryed in the air, one pound, the roots of Mechoacan, Jallap, of each four ounces; Cinnamon, Annisseed, and Fennelseed, of each one ounce; of English Saffron a dram, powder all these Ingredients, then pour upon them the best rectified spirit of Wine, in a high glass gourd, and upon this put a blind Alembick, and set it in digestion; in Balneo until the Spirit of wine be tinged red, which then decant off: and pour on fresh, and set it again in digestion; until the spirit be red, then pour on fresh again, and do this so often until the spirit will no more be tinged red, which commonly is done at three Times. Mix these tinged spirits, filter them, and in Balneo by a glass Alembick, with a gentle heat draw them off from the Tincture, and a thick juice will remain at the bottom of a brownish colour, which you must take out whilst it is yet hot, and keep it in a clean glass for its uses. The Spirit of Wine drawn off from the extract may be reserved for the same use. Now this extract is given from grains 3, 6, 9, 12. to 31. according to the age, and strength, being mixed with Sugar, it hath not an ungrateful tast, and it works gently, and safely, if it be not given in too great a dose. And if thou wilt have it in the form of a Pill, mix with it being yet hot, an ounce of clear Aloes, and half an ounce of Diagridium powdered, being mixed bring it into a mass for Pills, and keep it for your use. The dose is from grain 1. to a scruple. It evacuates all superfluous humors, but it is not to be compared with the medicine of Antimony. And this extract I put down for the sakes of those that fear Minerals, and abhor Vomits, which in my judgment is the best of all vegetable Catharticks.

_A Diaphoretical Extract._

Take the wood Sassafras, Sarssaparilla, of each six ounces; Ginger, Galengal, Zedoary, of each three ounces; long Pepper, Cardamoms, Cubebs, of each an ounce; Cinnamon, Mace, of each half an ounce; English Saffron, Nutmeg, Cloves, of each a dram: Let the woods be rasped, the roots and spices poudered, pour upon them, being mixed, the spirit of wine, and let the tincture be drawn forth in Balneo, as hath been abovesaid of the purging Extract, evaporate away the spirit to the consistency of honey, which keep for your use. It is good in the Plague, Feavers, Scorbute, Leprosie, Frenchpox, and other diseases proceeding, from the impurity of the blood, curing them by sweat. The Dose of this Extract is from a scruple to a dram with proper vehicles: it provoketh sweat presently, driveth away all venenosities from the heart, and mundifies the blood.

And although it be a most effectual vegetable Diaphoretick yet it may not be compared to those subtile spirits of minerals, of which in the second part. Also animal diaphoreticks have their commendations, as the flesh of vipers, the fixed salt of spiders and toads, in their peculiar operations, where each alone without the mixture of any other thing puts forth and sheweth its operations; neither are animal and vegetable diaphoreticks to be compared to the mineral, as _Bezoarticum minerale_, _Antimomum diaphoreticum_, and _Aurum diaphoreticum_.

_A Diuretical Extract._

Take the seeds of Saxifrage, Carraway, Fennel, Parsly, Netles, of each 3. ounces, the root of liquorish, the greater burr, of each an ounce, the powder of woodlice half an ounce. Let these being mixed and powdered be extracted with spirit of Juniper according to art: then mix these following things with the extracted matter: Take the salt of Ambar, Soot, Netles, of each half a dram, purified Nitre a dram: Let these be powdered, and mixed with the extract and this mixture be kept for use. The dose is from a scruple to a dram, in the water of parsly fennel, _&c._ This extract forceth urin, opens the ureters, purgeth the reines, and bladder from all viscous flegme (the mother of all tartareous coagulation) _viz._ if it be used timely: In this case is commended also the solution of flints, and crystals, made with spirit of salt. A greater commendation have salts of nephritick hearbs made by expression, and crystallisation, without calcination, the preparation whereof shall not here, but elsewhere be taught.

_A somniferous Extract._

Take of _Thebaic opium_ four ounces, of Spirit of Salt two ounces, purified Tartar one ounce, set them being mixed in maceration in Balneo in a glass vessel for a day and night, and the spirit of salt with Tartar will open the body of the _opium_, and prepare it for extraction, upon which pour half a pint of the best spirit of wine, set it in a gentle Balneo to be extracted. Decant off the spirit that is tinged, and pour on fresh, set it in digestion till the spirit be coloured. Then mix the axtractions together, and put to them in a glass gourd two drams of the best Saffron, of oyl of Cloves a dram, and draw off the spirit of wine in Balneo, and there will remain a thick black juice, which is to be taken out, and kept in a clean glass vessel. The dose thereof is from one grain, to five or six, for those of a mans age, but to children the sixth or eighth part of a grain. It may be used in all hot distempers without danger. It provoketh quiet sleep, mitigates pains as well outward as inward, it causeth sweat; but especially it is a sure remedy for the epilepsie in children that are new-born; for as soon as it is given to them to the quantity of the eighth part of a grain in wine, or womans milk, there presently follows rest, and sweat with sleep, by which means the malignity is expelled, the children are refreshed, and desire victuals, and the fit returns no more afterwards. Although haply the like symptomes may be perceived again, yet if the aforesaid dose be administred again, the children are refreshed, and cured wholly, whereas otherwise they would have dyed, _&c._ whereof I have not restored few with this medicine. Moreover also there are very effectual anodine medicines, as those volatile spirits of vitriol, allome, Antimony, and other minerals, with which, as also with that narcotick sulphur precipitated from the volatile spirit of vitriol, nothing may be compared.

_A Cordial Extract._

Take red roses four ounces, of the lilly of the valley two ounces, the flowers of borage, rosemary, sage, of each an ounce; cinnamon, lignum aloes, of each two drams; cloves, mace, nutmeg, galangal, cardamoms the lesser, of each half an ounce; the shavings of ivory, hartshorn, of each an ounce; of _English_ saffron a dram, of _nux vomica_ a dram: Mix them and reduce them to a fine powder, and let the tincture be extracted with spirit of wine in Balneo, which is to be drawn off again, unto a just consistence. Let the extract be kept for use. It may be used in almost all faintings, and other affects that are not joyned with a preternatural heat. The dose thereof is from grains 3, 6, 9. to a scruple with proper vehicles; being often administred it refresheth the spirit, corroborates the brain, and other parts of the body. It is made more efficacious by the adding of the essences of minerals, especially of gold, of which thing see the first part concerning the sweet oyl of gold.

_Of an odoriferous Extract._

I need not teach the making of any odoriferous vegetable extract, because the manner of drawing forth, or distilling oyls of vegetables that have sweet odores, hath been shewed a little before, as of hearbs, flowers, and seeds, which are the most noble, and sweet essences of vegetables, by the odour whereof the heart and brain are corroborated, which being reduced into balsams are made transportable. Better extracts therefore, and more excellent cannot in my judgment be made out of vegetables, then those aforesaid oyls, unless any one would mix aromatical extracts made with spirit of wine with metallick solutions, and being mixed digest them, then there will a certain most odoriferous oyl go from the extract not only more efficacious, but more excellent than that common distilled oyl by reason of the admixtion of the spiritual metallick vertue, especially of gold and silver, dissolved in the acid _Menstruum_ communicating its vertues to the Aromatical oyl. Moreover any vegetable oyl may be exalted in vertues and odour by the help of spirit of urine, or salt Armoniack, by the help whereof not only odoriferous oyls are exalted, but also the inodorous oyls of vegetables are made odoriferous, if they be a while digested in spirit of urine: and not this only but every mineral, and metallick sulphur, although the odour thereof be bound up with most strong bonds, is opened by the benefit thereof, and is reduced by digestion in a very little time into a most sweet and odoriferous essence. Lixivial spirits exalt the odours, and colours of sulphurs; acid purge sulphurs, but change their colours and odours. Musk and Civet get the sweetness; and excellency of their odour from the subtile urinous spirit of a certain Cat, digesting some certain fat and converting it into such a kind of most odoriferous matter.

And let this that hath been said suffice concerning Extracts, which might have been omitted, because many of these kind of Extracts are found in the writings of other authors in many languages: but I was willing to set down these, lest this book might seem to contain in it nothing else besides the new way of distilling, being furnished also with good medicines.

_Of Baths._

A little before hath been given a description of a Tub for a Bath in which any one may sit with his whole body except his head, not only to be washed in sweet warm water, whether medicinal and mineral, but also to sweat in without water, where the vessel is heated by warm vapours, either of sweet waters, or minerals. And every one may provide such Baths for himself according to his necessity at home, whereby the same diseases are cured as those that are cured by the help of natural Baths, so that he need not for the baths sake go a great journey, but may stay at home with his family and follow his Calling without trouble, when he hath occasion and need to used them.

And whereas it cannot be denyed, that by the use of the Baths most grievous diseases which cannot be cured by Physitians, are happily cured; I was willing for the sake of my neighbour to publish this instrument together with the preparation of mineral waters; which publishing will not without doubt be without profit, and advantage. Wherefore I will in brief shew you the preparation of mineral, and sweet waters, and their use, and first,

_Of a Bath of sweet or common water._

There is no art to make a Bath of sweet water, for you have nothing else to do, then to fill your vessel with river or rain water, and to make a fire, which by the help of the copper globe will heat the water, which being sufficiently heated, you may sit in it, and cover the Tub, that the hot vapors evaporate not, nor the cold air enter in, and cool the exteriour parts of the body: Wherefore also you must apply a clean linnen cloth about your neck, lest the warm vapors evaporate there: which being rightly observed, you may sit the space of 1. 2. 3. hours, or as long as you please or your sickness require. You must keep a continual heat as much as is necessary, which may be done by the help of that globe. If you be thirsty in the mean time you may drink some proper distilled drink according to the nature of your disease, of which thing nothing now, because I am resolved to write a peculiar _book de Balneis_, and here only to shew the use of that copper globe in heating of Baths. And although there be not a perfect instruction of all, yet of some Baths, and their uses there shall a short instruction be given in this place.

_Of the nature, and property of natural Baths._

Know that the greatest part of medicinal waters in _Germany_, and other countries as well hot as cold carry with them from the earth a certain sulphureous acidity more or less: in which acidity consists that medicinal faculty and vertue of this or that water. And if those waters lose their odour and tast by the exhaling of their subtile spirits, then also they loose their vertues; although also there be found some waters, which have not only a spiritual sulphur, but also are impregnated with a certain mineral, or metallick body mixed with Allome, or Vitriol, which comes not elsewhere then from the common water running through the mines. There are found also other baths, the power and vertue whereof consists not in any spiritual sulphur, nor in any metallick body mixed with salt, but only in a certain spiritual salt mixed with a certain subtil fixed earth, which waters do not run through metallick mines as others do, but rather stones of the mountaines calcined with a subterraneal fire, whence also they borrow their subtil acidity with their insipid earth. And this no man will deny that hath the knowledge of volatile and fixed salts of minerals, and metals: the which I am able to demonstrate with very many, and most evident reasons, if time and occasion would permit; but it shall be done sometime or other as hath been said in a peculiar treatise. Now therefore I will only teach how by salts, minerals, and metals, artificial Baths may be made, which are not only not inferiour to the natural in vertue, but also oftentimes far better, and that without much cost or labour, which any one may use at home in stead of the natural for the expelling of diseases, and recovering of health. And although I am resolved to set forth a book that shall treat largely of the nature, and original of Baths, and of their use; yet I am willing now also to say something in brief concerning it, and that from the foundation, seeing that there are so many different opinions of learned men, and those for the most part uncertain.

As concerning therefore the original of the acidity as well volatile, as corporeal, as also the heat of Baths, know that is not one, and the same; for else each would have the same properties, but daily experience testifies the contrary: For it is manifest that some Baths help some diseases, and others are hurtful for them, which comes from nothing else but from the difference of the properties of the mineral waters proceeding from a diversity of mines impregnating those waters. In a word, sweet waters attract their powers, and vertues in the caverns of mountains from some metal and minerals of divers kinds, that have naturally a most acid spirit of salt, as are divers kinde of marcasites containing copper and iron, and sometimes gold and silver; also kinds of vitriol and Allome called by the ancients _Misii_, _Rarii_, _Chalcitis_, _Melanteria_, and _Pyritis_, whereof some are found white like metals, but others dispersed in a fat earth, of a round figure in greater or lesser pieces: which sulphureous salt mines whilest the water run through, and humectates, that spirit of salt is stirred up, having got a _vehiculum_, and falls upon the mines by dissolving them, in which solution the water waxeth warm, as if it had been poured on quick lime, or like spirit of vitriol, or salt mixed with water, and poured on iron, and other metals; where continually and daily that water running through the mines whose nature and properties it imitates, carrys something with it: wherefore there are so many, and such various kinds of Baths as are the mines by which the water is heated. Let him that will not believe take any mineral of the aforesaid quality, and wrap it up in a wet linen cloth for a little while, and he will see it experimentally that the mineral stone will be heated by the water, and so heated, as if it were in the fire, so as thou canst scarce hold it in thy hand, which at length also by a longer action will cleave in sunder and be consumed like quick lime.

I will publish some time or other (God willing) more fully, and clearly in a peculiar treatise this my opinion, which I have now delivered in very few words. Although to the sick it be all one, and it matters not them, from what cause the baths come, and whence they borrow their vertues, if so be they may use them; this controversie being left to natural Philosophers that will controvert it, which none of them can better decide than a skilful Chymist, that hath the knowledg of minerals, metals, and salts.

_And first of sulphureous Baths that have a subtil acidity._

In the second Treatise I have demonstrated the manner of distilling subtil, volatile, sulphureous spirits, _viz._ of common salt, vitriol, allome, nitre, sulphur, antimony, and other salts of minerals, and metals, and their vertues, and intrinsecal properties, now also I will shew their extrinsecal use, as they are to be mixed with waters for Baths. The vertues therefore of Baths proceed not from insipid water, but from those most subtile, volatile, sulphureous, and salt spirits; but these being of themselves not mixed with water unfit for Baths, to be used for recovering of health, by reason of their too great heat, and subtilty; the most high God hath revealed to us unworthy and ungrateful men his fatherly providence shewing to us by nature the use of them, and the manner of using of them for the taking away of diseases; which (nature) being never idle, works uncessantly, and like a handmaid executes the will of God, by shewing to us the various kinds of distillations, transmutations, and generations. From which teacher we must learn all arts and sciences, seeking a certain, and infallible information, as it were out of a book writ with a divine hand, and filled with innumerable wonders, and secrets. And this is a far certainer knowledg then that empty, and imaginary Philosophy of those vulgar disputing Philosophers. Dost thou think that that true Philosophy can be sold for a hundred Royals? How can any one judge of things hid in the earth, who is willfully blind in things exposed to the light of the Sun, hating knowledge? I wish knowledge were sutable to the name: how can any one that is ignorant of the nature of fire, know how to work by fire? fire discovers many things, in which you may as in a glass see things that are hid; The fire shews to us how every thing, waters, salt, minerals, and metals, together with other innumerable things are generated in the bowels of the earth by the reflexion of that central, and astral fire: for without the knowledge of fire all nature remains vailed, and occult. Fire (always had in great esteem by Philosophers) is the key for the unlocking of the greatest secrets, and to speak in a word, he that is ignorant of fire is ignorant of nature with her fruits, and he hath nothing, but what he hath read, or heard, which oftentimes is false, according to that; _He easily speaks untruths that speaks what he hath heard_.

He that is ignorant knows not how to discern betwixt the truth and falshood, but takes the one for the other. I pray thee, thou that art so credulous, dost thou think that thy teacher writ his books from experience, or from reading other Authors? May they not be corrupted and sophisticated by antiquity, and frequent description? Also dost thou understand the true, and genuine sense of them? It is better to know, than to think; for many are seduced by opinions, and many are deceived by faith that is without knowledge.

And thus much for youths sake I was willing to say, that they would not spend their tender years in vanities, but rather would make tryal in the fire, without which no man obtains a true knowledge of natural things; which although it seem hard in the beginning, yet it is pleasant in old age.

_Now follows the mixture of those subtile mineral, sulphureous, and salt spirits with water._

As concerning the weight of the aforesaid spirits that are to be mixed with sweet water, giving it the nature, and property of natural baths, I would have thee know, that of those, which in the second