Chapter CII: Part I: To the well minded Reader (30)

And First in this: I have taught, how _Sulphur_ may be fixed into a Red Carbuncle, persisting in the Fire, where I have treated of my _Sal Mirabilis_: It is true, this way of fixing is done without any cost, yet it requires a certain, tho no very long, time, which is the reason, that hitherto few have tryed any thing in it, and yet it is very difficult to come easier and cheaper to the Fixation of _Sulphur_; and besides, there is this advantage in fixing the _Sulphur_ with the _Sal Mirabile_, that it retains its easie Flux and Ingress into Metals, which that fixed by _Aqua Fortis_ doth not, but into an unmeltable Earth, which hath no ingress into Metals except it be procured by Art, which every one cannot do. Yet _Neusementius_ hath clearly described it in these Words: When thou hast brought thy Subject to its highest Fixation, to wit, by the Abstraction of _Aqua Fortis_, (which Fixation he also clearly teacheth, when he saith, that you must drown the Dragon in the _Stygian_ Waters, and so make him fixed) and after the Fixation make him Volatile again, that then he acquires his ingress, and is fit to tinge, which is so plainly exprest, that it is impossible to express it plainer, yet these excellent Writings, are written only supervacaneously, and understood and imitated but by few. I still add even to superfluity, one way more how to fix any _Sulphur_ whatsoever, to do wonders in Physick. ℞. Sea-Coals, or in defect of them, Wood Coals powdered, good _Saltpeter_, Common Salt, and Oyl of _Vitriol_, of each a like quantity, put these four things into a Glass Retort well coated, fix a Receiver to it, and in an open Fire distil off all the Humidity, urge it at length with the strongest Fire, and a Green Liquor of _Sulphur_ will come over, which the Ancients called the Green Lyon, which dissolves ☉, and when they are digested a good while, or the Green Liquor is often abstracted from the ☉, then they are fixed together, and the Liquor of _Sulphur_, together with the ☉, turns into a Red tinging Stone. _N. B._ If you will that the _Sulphur_ shall not come over, but remain fixed behind, you may instead of the common Salt, which makes the _Sulphur_ Volatile, put _Saltpetre_, which is of this Nature, as well as Oyl of _Vitriol_, to make any _Sulphur_ fixed, but common Salt makes it Volatile. _Jason_ killed or fixed the always watching Dragon with a strong Water of _Saltpetre_. _Bracescus_, _Basilius_, _Paracelsus_, _Neusementius_ and others have done the like, he that will truly follow them; cannot err, but it is impossible to explain to the ignorant any thing, so that he may presently imitate it. You must yourself take the thing in hand, and proceed diligently, else nothing can be done: Let this suffice to be said concerning common _Sulphur_, which is an Universal Agent, to maturate all Metals, and it self is fixed with Metals, into ☉ and ☽; and also by _Saltpetre_ and _Vitriol_ is fixed into a true Tincture, as is here demonstrated. Here I put an end to the Explanation of the Agent, and Patient of Metals, how to fix them particularly into Gold and Silver, and Universally into Tinctures. It yet remains to give a small Explication of the Fixation of _Sulphur_.

A RECAPITULATION

_Reader_,

I have taught in this Book, what the _Proprium Agens_ of Metals is, by which they are naturally maturated in the Earth, _viz._ That the _Demogorgon_ or _Sulphur_, is not only the Father of all Metals, but also their Universal Agent, or Maturating Fire, by which all the Metals naturally in the Earth, and by Art out of the Earth are brought to perfection, and that also besides _Sulphur_, as the Universal Agent, the Metals have their particular, or proper Agents, which help to bring the Metals to perfection, as well as the Universal Agent. I have also taught, that the Volatile Spirits of Metals, or their proper Agents, do not only maturate their Metals, but also become good Bodies themselves with the Metals. I have also taught, how _Sulphur_, as a Universal Agent chiefly by Salts, may be maturated into a Tincture, which Fixation by Salts, must have its due time, before you can make it constantly fixed in the Fire, which length of time hath made many Artists forsake the Work, altho’ he knew, that of necessity it must come to a good Tincture. Impatience causeth this, that they cannot wait the true time of the Harvest. Wherefore impatient Men should not meddle with _Alchymy_, but rather think a Bottle of Wine, which is sooner done than a Combustible Fugitive _Sulphur_ can be fixed. The learned Ancients have taught us, that Patience is the Root of all Sciences and Arts, wherefore then are Fools so hasty in their Undertakings? When all Philosophers Unanimously testifie, that all Festination proceeds from the Devil. _Paracelsus_ hath taught how to fix _Sulphur_, by the help of a strong _Aqua Fortis_, by abstracting it from it four or five times. But I have taught, how to fix it by the abstracting of a strong _Aqua Fortis_, but once, in my Book _of the Three Principles_: ’Tis true, by this way it loseth its Fluxibility and Ingress, but this may be restored to it again, which for certain Reasons, I did not think fit to make known. Now being we know, that nothing fixeth but _Sulphur_, and that a Combustible _Sulphur_ spoils the Metals, and makes them Black, and a fixed one hath no Ingress, but when that is given to it, it is fit to tinge the Metals, for whatever tingeth the Metals constantly, must it self be fixed, or else it would not endure the Cupel. ’Tis true, out of _Mars_ and _Venus_, you may easily extract a Tincture, which yet doth not tinge constantly, except they be first truly fixed. Very many have thought, that if they could but incorporate a _Crocus Martis_ with Silver, that of necessity it must become Gold, but they found themselves to be mistaken, for if _Crocus Martis_ should be put upon Silver, it doth not tinge it at all, but again becomes Iron, and makes the Silver brittle. _N. B._ But if you know how to prepare a Red _Sulphur_ of Iron, constant upon the _Cupel_, without returning to Iron again, and then draw out of this Red fixed _Sulphur_, its purest Anima or Tincture, you have a Colour to tinge all the Metals in the World. This is the Reason, that the Old Philosophers have so often inculcated, to destroy the Gold: So that it cannot be reduced into Gold again, and that then you would have the greatest of Secrets. But I could do nothing more with such a destroyed Gold, till I learned to give it ingress, for when it is destroyed it enters no Metal, but if you give it ingress, then it tingeth, so also neither _Mars_, nor common _Sulphur_ can tinge, if they have no ingress which you may easily believe.

Therefore the whole Art to make Tinctures consists, first in making of the red Metals as Gold, Iron, and Copper, irreducible, then to extract their Tincture, and to give an Ingress. This labour is a very easie thing to the knowing, but incredible to the unskilful; for I have some years since, shewn to some Friends out of kindness the destruction and fixation of such Metals, together with the Extraction and Ingress, very plainly, and highly recommended to them this universal work; they have performed the fixation, but the Extraction and Inceration they have not done, although it is so easie that a Child of Ten years old may easily perform it. My hopes were, that when they had perfected it, they should give me some of the Tincture, but in stead of a recompence, they told me they could not do it, which was because God kept his hand over it. After the way that is here shewn, Tinctures may be easiest prepared out of red Sulphureous Metals and Stones, and I have a small quantity of it by me, which will tinge red, I made it before my Sickness, and keep it as a memorial to my Posterity. Some perhaps may ask, whether there be not a nearer way to prepare Tinctures for Metals, than by Extractions and Fixations, which require much time and Costs. I answer, ’tis certain there are nearer ways to fix _Sulphurs_ in their whole substance without loss of weight, without any addition of Salts or Spirits of Salts, very easie and cheap, _viz._ by the Universal Coagulator into a Tincture, and by their particular Coagulators into Gold and Silver. Concerning the Coagulators I have already made them known, _viz._ that Lead is the Coagulator of Common _Sulphur_, and Vulgar _Mercury_, Tin is the Coagulator of _Arsnick_, and _Cobalt_, Iron and Copper are the Coagulators of _Orpiment_, _Sandarach_, and all other Realgars, and that Gold and Silver are the Coagulators of the _Mercury_ of _Antimony_ into a Tincture. Now concerning the Universal Coagulator, ’tis not a Malleable or fusible Metal, but only an immature Volatile Mineral, not much unlike to Lead Oar, and therefore the Philosophers have called it the _Saturnine Magnesia_, and this is not all one and the same, for it is found in different colours and figures, so that he who will use them must well understand their difference, that he may not take the wrong for his work, and so lose his labour. The Ancients have not revealed this Volatile Mineral, but kept it as a Universal Coagulator in the greatest secrecy, and that not without reason, because they maturated their Volatile Metallick Spirits and Tinctures by it. Yet the Volatile Tinctures may also be fixed, without this Universal Coagulator, but that requires much time; therefore they have used this Coagulator for an help, and so they could maturate the most Volatile Metallick Spirits into fixed Tinctures, in a short time, and this Compendium is the chiefest thing in the Chymical Art, see the Treatise of the _Three Principles of Metals_. Now to return again to _Sulphur_, and to demonstrate; that it may be easily made fixed in the Fire, which is thus: Take one part of Common _Sulphur_, mix it with three or four parts of Lead Ashes, put this mixture into a strong Earthen Cementing Box, lute it well with a good strong Lute that will not crack, when the Lute is dry, put it into a Cementing Furnace, or into such a Fire, that in the beginning will only melt the _Sulphur_, so that it may penetrate the Lead Ashes, and hide it self in them, and so be initiated to the Fire, then by degrees increase your Fire from day to day, till at length the Crucible become to be of a dark brown, then increase your Fire still more, and continue this so long till the _Sulphur_ becomes quite fixed with the Lead Ashes, and constant in the Fire; and this will require eight or ten months time, during which time the _Sulphur_ becometh fixed, and hath tinged and fixed its Body, the Lead as much as it could, for it is not possible for it to fix all the Lead after this manner into Gold and Silver, but only part of it, yet so that an hundred-fold profit is made of it, if you proceed rightly in the matter. The reason of the melioration of the Lead is this: If _Saturn_ hath power to make a Combustible _Sulphur_, incombustible and fixed in the Fire, so that it neither fumes nor burns, then it is certainly as good and fit for tinging as another _Sulphur_, which is made fixed by much labour of abstracting _Aqua Fortis_ from it. In this Fixation the _Sulphur_ retains its Ingress, and therefore needs not to be given to it afterwards, for it had an Ingress when it was not fixed, and when it is made fixed it still retains it. This makes good that common saying of the Philosophers: If _Sulphur_ shall first penetrate _Saturn_, and _Saturn_ attracts it willingly by reason of its great dryness, and unites it self with it, then it is said that _Nature rejoyceth in Nature_. When it can be made red-hot with the Lead, then it is said, _Nature overcometh Nature_, but when the fixed _Sulphur_ remains constant with the Lead upon the _Cupel_, then it is said, _Nature retains Nature_. This which I here declare so plainly, all Philosophers before me have kept very secret, but that I here reveal such great secrets, I have a reason for it, which is not necessary for every one to know. Now as we have here taught the fixation of _Sulphur_ by Lead, after the same manner the fixation of _Arsnick_ is to be done by Tin, which becomes fixed with it in the Fire, to the great profit of the Artist, it recompenseth him with Gold and Silver upon the _Cupel_; and this Work the Philosophers always kept very secret. _Cosmopolita_ writes, that there is a small Fish in the Sea named _Remora_, which hath such power, that if it fits upon the Stern of the Ship, it causeth it to stand still, so that although the Wind fills the Sails, yet it cannot move. In another place, he calls this Fish _Echineis_, which if you read backwards, sounds Tin Ashes. Other Philosophers also write of this work of Fixing, that there are always two sorts of Birds in the Nest, or two sorts of Dragons in the Den, that one of them would willingly stay, which is the Body, but the other which hath Wings, would always fly away, yet at length it is by degrees so overcome by that which hath no Wings, that at last it endeavours no longer to fly. The same happens here to our Volatile _Arsnick_, that is, with the fixed Tin Ashes, the Volatile part _Arsnick_ is always striving to fly away, but the Tin Ashes binds and keeps it, that it is forced to stay against its will, and also become fixed with its Companion. Now as we have here proceeded with _Arsnick_ and _Tin_, and with _Sulphur_ and _Lead_, after the same manner must be done with _Orpiment_, and _Mars_ or _Venus_, but with _Sulphur_ and the _Mercury_ of _Antimony_, together with Gold and Silver, the fixation is performed after a peculiar manner, which fixation I have already declared, and therefore need not repeat it. This I would have noted concerning the Agents and Patients of Metals, but I am very well assured, although this fixation is very mean and easie in it self, that yet it will not easily be imitated, and that because I have made known so great a Secret in so simple and mean a Style. The World is full of Pride, and cannot give credit to such mean things, but rather looketh after high, tedious, and sophisticate things, which are worth nothing, if they are but set off with fine words; God will have it so, that these great Secrets may not fall into the hands of the Impious. Here, in the fixation of the Common _Sulphur_ with Lead, and _Arsnick_ with _Jupiter_, _Orpiment_ with _Mars_ and _Venus_, I have spoken openly, and hid nothing, yet I am certain it will not be taken in hand, partly because of the length of time required in the fixation, which will deter many from this work, many who shall read it will not be able to believe, that so easie a fixation hath been done, because none hath hitherto written of the like cheap way of Meliorating Metals, nor spoke so plainly as I have done. Many will take Exceptions at my Person, and say, if it was true what _Glauber_ writes of the easie fixation of the inferior Metals, to transmute them into Gold and Silver, he would do it himself, and thereby make himself rich, and not publish things of so great a concern. To this I answer, that my great Age, and many weaknesses will not permit me to take such things in hand, by which nothing but Worldly Riches are acquired, which sometimes do Men more harm than good, which I never did nor ever will seek after. If others will do it, they may. I trouble not my self about the Mammon, but prepare my self for a happy passage into a more peaceable Life, where there is no strife nor misery, but everlasting Peace, and everlasting Light reigns perpetually. But in that I have discovered these great Secrets, by which those who seek after them, may become very rich, I have done it out of a good meaning, _viz._ that if many by this shall attain good means, that some of them at least may assist the poor out of their abundance. To this end only have I discovered these Lucriferous Secrets, and not at all to please the Proud and Covetous. But yet although I have described all plainly without any reserve of the Manuals thereunto belonging, I am very well satisfied, that God will keep his hand over it, and will not indifferently give his Blessing to all in it, but will so dispose it, that his gifts may not be misused. And therefore I am very well satisfied, that Art will remain Art, although it be never so clearly laid down before the Eyes of all Men. To whom God will give it, him I envy not, but wish him Gods Blessing with it, and earnestly exhort him, that when God hath blessed him, that he by no means forget the Poor. _Amen._

A
TREATISE
CONCERNING
The Animal-Stone:
OR,

_Of that Animal Matter or Subject which God ingrafted into =Adam=
and =Eve=, as a Divine Portion or Patrimony in Paradise, and
which he still retained after his Fall and Banishment out of
Paradise, brought it with him thence, and after Death took it
along with him to his Grave, or to the Earth from whence he was
taken and made; What kind of Matter properly it is, and in what
manner a true Universal Medicin may be made of it. Faithfully
Translated out of the =High-Dutch=._

The PREFACE.

Curteous READER,

_Having in some of my last Published Writings, and especially in my Fifth Century, treated of a certain Matter, called by the Ancient and Modern Philosophers, =The Philosophers Stone=, which Matter they say, God implanted in the first Man =Adam=, and which after his Fall and Banishment, he brought with him out of Paradise, and after his Death, took it along with him to his Grave, without revealing this Divine Patrimony and Portion to any of his Posterity; so that this great Treasure continued for some time hidden from the wicked World, until at length it pleased God to open the Eyes of some honest Men to know and discern this great Gift of God, which they also made known to others, though this communication of theirs was of little use to proud Worldlings, whose Eyes are only fixed upon outward Visibles, not minding the inward Invisibles. Wherefore none of them could believe, that so great a Treasure was hid in Sinful Man, as accounting nothing worthy their esteem, but Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones, and casting out upon the Dunghill as loathsom and contemptible what is far better than Gold or Silver._

_And because some of my Enemies have slandered some of my Writings, as if they contained absurd and impossible things; to the end that none by their Lies and Slanders may be led aside from the way of truth, I am resolved to set the Truths I have written in a greater Light, and palpably to evidence before the whole World, that what I have taught, =viz.= that a Mineral Aurifying Virtue lies hid in Vegetables and Animals as well as in Metals, is no absurdity, but a great truth, to the shame and confusion of my envious Adversaries._

_O thou Eternal Light, without the least mixture of darkness, Creator and Governor of Heaven and Earth, send down upon me thy holy Spirit, beam into my Soul a Ray of thy Heavenly Light, that it may enlighten my Heart, Brain, and Understanding, that I may write nothing but what may serve to thy Glory, the salvation of my Soul, and the enlightning of many thousands that wander in the darkness of Error._ Amen.

OF THE
ANIMAL-STONE.

In the Name of the most Holy Trinity, I undertake to communicate and declare to the dark wicked World, the great Wonder-works of God, and Mysteries of Nature, and that with so much clearness and evidence as never hitherto hath been done by any; so as not only the good, and such as are taught of God, but also the perverse Worldly Learned, or the most ignorant Rustick may comprehend, understand, and even handle with their Hands, that I have fundamentally declared and manifested the Mysteries of God and Nature, to the glory of God, and good of Mankind.

In order to perform the great Work I have undertaken, it is needful that we know first, what the thing is, we are to seek, and next, where we are to seek for it. The thing we seek for, is the Philosophers Stone, which affords the Possessor thereof health of Body, and an honest plentiful Maintenance. Now forasmuch as most of the Ancient and Modern Philosophers, a few only excepted, point us to Metals, and especially to fixt _Sol_ and _Luna_, thence to procure for our selves this great Treasure, though they handle this matter with so much obscurity, that amongst an hundred thousand Seekers, scarcely one is found that attains to his desired End, most of them besides spending their Goods and Estates in the fruitless pursuit of this hid Treasure; whereof those in a great measure are guilty who persuade Men that _Sol_ is the Subject of the Philosophers, and that all other matters are improper and unfit for their Work; But others again inform us, that this great Treasure may be obtained a nearer, easier, and cheaper way, without _Sol_ or any other costly Subjects; Concerning which cheap, and every where to be found, Subjects, I have made mention in some of my late published Writings, and particularly in my Fifth Century, yet not so plainly as wholly to expose these Pearls to swine, for them to tread them under their Feet. And forasmuch as several ignorant and envious Persons have taken occasion to appear and contradict these my Writings, as if it were impossible to find Mineral Virtues in Vegetables or Animals, I am moved to stop the Mouths of these envious and ignorant Back biters, and to expose them to the Publick shame of the World. I confess I do not think these Slanderers worthy that I should take any pains to confute or convince them of their Error, because I am not to mind what such as they, but what honest Men, and what truth it self, speaks. But because this demonstration may be of use to undeceive and inform many Seekers after this Treasure, I suppose I shall do a good work, in giving this evident testimony to Truth, whereby not only the Mouths of Slanderers may be stopp’d, but the Eyes of the Deceived may be opened to discern the Truth.

We proceed then to hear the Verdict of Truth in this Matter, whether indeed such a Mineral Virtue be hid in Vegetables and Animals, as that the Philosophers Stone may be prepared of them. And first we will speak of Man, as being the Noblest of all Gods Creatures, and then proceed to the four-footed Beasts of the Earth, the Fowls of the Air, Fishes in the Sea, and all Creeping Things, and last of all to Trees, Plants and Herbs, to see what the Almighty Power of God hath laid up and hid in these for the use and welfare of Mankind.

As to Man, the most Excellent part of Gods Creation, whom God made a Ruler and Governor over all his Creatures in Paradise, we know that he was made very good, without the want of any thing that might conduce to his happiness or perfection, which goodness continued in him after his Fall, though much clouded and veiled. Forasmuch then as God hath been pleased to lay up in Man this great Treasure, to the end he might make use of it for his good and perfection, we must conclude, that the Divine Wisdom hath placed it so, that Man may always have recourse to it, and take thereof, (without any hurt to his Body) to the glory of God, and his own good. For had God placed this Treasure in the Flesh or Blood of Man, he would have been obliged to hurt and weaken his Body by cutting a piece of his own Flesh, or letting out his Blood, in order to prepare this great Medicin, which by this means would prove too dear, so that most Seekers would rather want the Medicin, than attain it this way. But God, who is the Eternal Wisdom it self, hath not been guilty of any such oversight in his Works, which are all perfect, and no fault to be found with them; and if Nature in any of her productions prove defective, that is not to be attributed to God, but to Satan, who whilst Man slept sowed the Tares amongst the good Seed, which the Master of the Houshold had sowed in his Field.

If it be so then, that God hath not laid up this great Treasure in the Flesh or Blood of Man, we may further enquire, where then we are to look for it? Certain it is, that God, our Heavenly and Wise Father, hath laid up this great Treasure in Man, where at all times, without any let, pains or trouble, he may come at it, and have it for nothing, _viz._ in the Superfluities of Nature, as Urine, Dung, Hair, Sweat, and Spittle. I say that in these despicable Excrements and Superfluities of Nature, God hath laid up a great Portion for Man, which he by reason of his Pride, blindness and hardness of Heart, cannot see or perceive.

Another Question that may be here demanded, is, In which of these Excrements this Treasure is most copiously to be found? To which I answer, that it may be had from any of them, but in the one more plentifully than in the other, but which is the most fit and proper for this Work, I dare not plainly set down at present, for fear of exposing and prostituting this Pearl to the Wicked and Unworthy, which all honest Philosophers have so highly forbidden. But this I will do, _viz._ most clearly demonstrate, by many instances, that out of all the Natural Excrements and Superfluities, whether of four-footed Beasts, Fishes, Creeping Things and all Vegetables, a Mineral Aurifying Virtue, that is the Matter of the Philosophers Stone, may be had, and that without cost and charges in all parts of the World, so that no body, how mean so ever he be, but may have enough of the matter for nothing, and needs not by his Poverty be deterred from undertaking this great Work, that affords Health and Riches to him that can bring it to an happy end.

I proceed now to those Proofs and Experiments that evidently make out, that in all things (besides Metals) a Mineral Virtue and Power is found, whereby the Philosophers Stone may be prepared. I shall begin first with four-footed Beasts, because I do think it fitting for several weighty Reasons, at this time to pass by the Mysteries that lie hid in Man, that they may not be exposed to the Wicked and Unworthy. Now these Excrements and Superfluities of four-footed Beasts as well as of Man are different, according to their diverse Passages and Places of Production, as Urine which makes its passage through the Bladder, Dung through the Guts, Sweat through the Pores of the Skin, Spittle through the Mouth, and the Hair or Wooll of Beasts, also through their Skin or Hide, and accordingly are of different Virtues and Powers. Upon this account we must conclude, that in the Sweat of Men or Beasts, there is not so great virtue as there is in Urine, the former being a suddain and almost instantaneous Generation, whereas the later requires some hours time before it can pass through its several Chanels, and be made fit for Natures separation. So likewise is Mans Dung a long while a passing through the Guts, which in Man and Beasts are much longer than in Birds or Fishes, to the end that the Dung might be the better putrified and digested; Thus we find by Experience, that the Dung of a Stork which passeth only through one short Gut, when it falls upon the Grass doth presently burn and scorch it, whereas the Dung of Men and Beasts laid to the Roots of Vegetables, or any way conveyed to the same, do strengthen and invigorate them, and are indeed the highest Medicin of Vegetables; as Country Farmers well know, who with the help of the Dung of Men and other Animals are used to cure their sick, barren, and overwrought Fields, Vineyards and Orchards, restoring them to their former strength and fertility. But though simple Rusticks be very well acquainted with the great virtue and use of Dung, yet our great Learned Men cannot believe, that in such a despicable Subject should be lodged such an Excellent Universal Medicin, capable to cure the Diseases of Men and Metals; and the reason is, because they love Pride and Idleness too well, will not put their hands to the work, contenting themselves with what they know already, without searching into endless Secrets of Nature. For this cause it is, that true Medicin and Alchimy are advanced to no higher degree of Perfection. _Helmont_ complains of this negligence in Physicians, who leave the preparation of their Medicins to Apothecaries, declaring, that every Physician who desires to have good and rightly prepared Medicine must be both Master and Servant, that is, he must trust the Preparing of his Remedies to none but himself.

The present Subject I am upon, _viz._ the Excrements of Men and Animals puts me in mind of a Story relating to _Paracelsus_, which take as follows.

_A Relation of what happened at =Vienna= between =Paracelsus= and
some of the Imperial-Court Physicians._

_Paracelsus_ being on a time sent for by the Emperor to _Vienna_, to cure some Persons of high Quality, whom the Imperial Physicians could not help, having successfully performed the Cures he was sent for, went to take his Leave of the Physicians, who earnestly intreated him to leave some of his noble Medicaments with them for a remembrance; whereupon _Paracelsus_ answer’d, that he would fetch something for them; The Physicians, supposing he intended to bestow some part of his prepared Medicins upon them, with impatience expected his return, who soon after came to them, and set down on the Table before them a Silver Dish cover’d with another Dish. The Physicians were very desirous to see what _Paracelsus_ had brought for them; at last one of them taking off the Cover, found a great Turd in the Dish, at which being exceedingly enraged, taking for granted that _Paracelsus_ had done this to affront them, they all departed, and when some call’d them back, _Paracelsus_ said, Let the Asses go, they do not deserve this great Secret, which I intended to communicate to them; And then added, He who doth not know what Mans Dung is, knows nothing, and Heaven and Earth are equally hid from him. With which words he sufficiently intimated, that a great virtue is hid in Mans Dung. Thus much shall suffice, by way of Parenthesis, to have spoken concerning _Paracelsus_ his Opinion concerning the Superfluities of Nature, and particularly the Excrements of Man, we proceed now to speak of the Excrements of other Animals, and in particular of Sheeps Wooll.

_An Experimental Demonstration, that a Mineral Virtue is hid in the
Hair of Beasts._

℞. Of clean Sheeps Wooll iv Ounces, and pour upon it a like quantity of strong _Aqua Fortis_, abstract this _Aqua Fortis_ wholly in Balneo, and the _Aqua Fortis_ will dissolve the Wooll, and when abstracted, will leave behind a stinking Stone of a dark brown colour; afterwards dissolve in another Glass Body of _Mercury_ j Ounce, and of the finest _Sol_ iij Ounces, pour these Solutions of _Sol_ and _Mercury_ into the Glass wherein the dissolved Wool is, then abstract the Menstruum from the Metals, till nothing remain but a dry Stone in the bottom of the Glass, take this Stone and put it into a Glass Retort, and distill the _Mercury_ from the _Sol_ in a strong heat. _N. B._ The _Mercury_ will not come over quick, but in the form of a Butter of _Mercury_, of great use for the healing of incurable Venereal Ulcers. If you pour some Water upon the said Butter, it will precipitate the _Mercury_ in form of a white Powder, which being edulcorated and dried, is a good Purge in Venereal Distempers. But if you rectifie this Butter, and then pour it upon a pure Calx of _Sol_, the Butter will dissolve the _Sol_, and being afterwards digested for some time, the _Mercury_ by means of the Saline Spirits of the Wool will be fixed with the _Sol_ into a Stone, with it make a trial upon Metals, to see what it can do, and thou wilt find thy Labour richly rewarded; but if thou canst not hit it, then think, that it is not the will of God thou shouldst have it, and do not blame me, who have set down nothing but what I have performed my self. Now let us see what course we must take to recover our _Sol_; break the Retort, and take what was left at the bottom of it, which thou wilt find black as a Coal, in which black matter thou must look for thy iij Ounces of _Sol_, forasmuch as the Butter has carried but very little of the _Sol_ over with it, which thou may’st separate from the black matter, as follows.

Melt good _Nitre_ in a strong Crucible, and when it is in Flux, cast into it one piece of your black Matter after another, and the _Nitre_ will burn away the _Sulphur_ contained in the said Coals or black Matter, and the _Sol_ melts down into a Body, pour forth the _Nitre_ together with the Golden _Regulus_ out of the Crucible into a Cone, and the _Sol_ will settle at the bottom in form of a _Regulus_, which, when separated from the _fæces_, appears snow-white and brittle, much resembling a _Regulus_ of _Antimony_; the _fæces_ are of a red colour, and contain much good. This white _Sol_ being expos’d upon the _Cupel_ with _Saturn_ to a fiery trial, a third part only of the _Sol_ will be found remaining of the colour of good _Sol_, two parts being vapour’d away. The Question is now, What that white colour was, which evaporated on the Test? If thou say’st, that the Coals of the Wool, with the help of the _Nitre_, have rob’d the _Sol_ of its colour, thou art not altogether out of the way, nor wholly in the right. If thou say’st, that there is no Mineral Virtue in the Wool, but that the _Sol_ became white by the addition of _Mercury_, thou art not wholly out of the way neither; but this is not to be understood of the Common _Mercury_ added to the _Sol_, but of the _Mercury_ contained in the Wool, which has joined it self with the _Sol_; for Common _Mercury_ cannot abide with _Sol_ in a strong melting Fire, but flies away, leaving the _Sol_ alone, as is well known to Chymists. If thou say’st, that there is a Mercurial Virtue in the Wool, which within a few hours so changeth the Common _Mercury_, that it is able to abide a melting Fire with _Sol_, then it will follow, that by means of the _Salt_ which is in Wool any Common _Mercury_ may in a short time be made capable of enduring not only a melting Fire, but the _Cupel_ also. This I suppose is a plain and evident demonstration, that there is a Mineral Virtue in Animals, and especially in the Superfluities of Nature, which we will now proceed to demonstrate with another Experiment. Now if the Superfluities of Animals are able to do this, have we not reason to conclude, that the right Superfluity of the Microcosme will do the same much better?

_Another Experiment to demonstrate, that a Mineral =Mercury= and
=Sulphur= is contained in the Superfluities of Animals._

℞. Of filed or rasped Horns of Sheep, Oxen, Goats and Deer, but Harts and Goats Horns are the best, and the Horns of Wild Goats, and the Tusks of Wild Swine yet better; and the Horns of Fishes, which are commonly called Unicorns Horns, and the Elephants Teeth are the best of all for this purpose; but where these cannot be had, the Experiment may be performed with Goats or Harts-Horn. Dissolve ij Ounces or iij of either of these in a good _Aqua Fortis_ which has been abstracted from decrepitated _Salt_, into this Solution put j Ounce of _Sol_, abstract in a Glass Body the _Aqua Fortis_ from the Horn, in which abstraction the _Sol_ becomes dissolved, and a brown Stone is left behind, which must be melted down in a cover’d and well luted Crucible with a blast, by which means the Horn will be turned into black _fæces_, and the _Sol_ will fall white to the bottom, brittle as a _Regulus_ of _Antimony_; from whence it follows, since this brittleness and whiteness of the _Sol_ could not be caused by the _Aqua Fortis_, that the same must be attributed to the white _Mercury_ and _Sulphur_ drawn from the Horns. Whereby it clearly appears, that a Mineral force and virtue is hid in the Horns of Animals. What I have said concerning the covering of the Crucible with another, and well luting them together, is not without reason, for if the Crucible should be set open in the Fire, and continue there for some time, the _Sulphur_ of the Horns would be kindled and consumed, and the _Mercury_ would be revivified and fly away, and the _Sol_ would remain unalter’d. For it is to be noted, that the Mineral _Mercury_ and the _Sulphur_ of the Horns are very tender and volatile, and are soon lost when the operation is not performed, as before hinted, in a close luted Crucible. This Experiment may be done in like manner, with the Superfluities of Fishes, _viz._ their Skales, Teeth, and the Stones or Bones that are found in several of them, and the effect will be found the same as before mentioned.

The same may also be performed, with the Feathers and Egg-shells of tame and wild Fowl. _N. B._ Egg-shells are dissolved with more ease than Feathers. ℞. The Egg-shells of Hens, Geese, or other Fowl, wash them clean, taking out the inward skin or film, then dry them, and abstract from them a Solution of ☉, and melt the remainder in a close covered Crucible, and you will find the same effect, as before.

If you have a mind to make the same Tryal with Vegetables, then take _Tartar_ which is fitter for this purpose, than either the Wine it self, or the Wood of the Vine, instead of _Tartar_ of Wine, you may take the _Tartar_ that cleaves to the Vessels, wherein the juice of Crabs hath been keep, or the juices of any other sowr Fruit, or instead of _Tartar_ we may take the Grounds of Wine, first dried. ℞. Any one of these, and abstract from it a Solution of ☉, melt the remainder as before in a close luted Crucible, and the ☉ will be found white and brittle, like to a _Regulus_ of ♁ at the bottom.

From these Experiments it appears, as clear as the day, that a Mineral Virtue is hid in all things: Yet for more abundant Confirmation of this Truth I shall add some further Instances. The same proof may be done with dry or moist Herbs, or Wood, proceeding in the same manner as before hath been taught, with Wool, and we shall find the same effect. In particular, all sort of Corn, Rye, Wheat _&c._ afford a very good Tinture, they must be dissolved, and proceeded with as before mentioned, concerning the superfluities of Animals. If therefore Mineral Powers may be found in all Vegetables and Animals, on which Man feeds, and hath his growth and Sustenance, how can it be denied, but that the same Power must needs be in Man also? Wherefore it is beyond all doubt, that every Man carries the matter of the Philosophers-Stone (tho’ raw and unprepared) about with him.

To make this Truth to appear, with fuller and clearer Evidence, I am minded to give the ignorant a sensible Demonstration, that (without mentioning the right Subject of the Philosophers-stone) an universal Medicine for Men and Metals, may be had alone from the despicable and abominable Subject of Mans-dung.

℞. Six, eight or ten ℔ of some healthy Mans-dung, (it must be gathered without any mixture of Urin) and put it into a Glass-body, and pour upon it about the same quantity of rectified Spirit of Wine, stir them with a stick together, set the Glass, with a head fitted to it in _Balneo_, and abstract the Spirit of Wine, which has extracted the Mineral 🜍 and ☿ that was in the Dung, and brings it over the Helm: Which stincking Spirit of Wine must be burnt away under a large Refrigeratory Helm, by which means the stincking 🜍 of the Dung is consumed in the Flames of the Spirit of Wine, and the incombustible Mercurial _Salt_ mounts up in the Flames to the top of the Helm, where it is caught, and is a great Jewel in Physick and Alchimy. If we have a mind rather to have our Celestial _Salt_ in a dry Form, then we must abstract the Phlegm from it: Tho’ if we intend it for a Medicinal, it is better not to abstract the Phlegm (which is not wholly without some Virtue) but use them together. But if our intent be to make use of this incombustible Mercurial _Salt_, in order to _Metallick_ Transmutation, then we must separate its Moisture, and mix the said Microcosmical _Salt_ with ☉, and maturate the same to a _Metalline_ Tincture. In a Liquid Form, the said Celestial _Salt_ is an excellent Medicine for sick and weak People, as having great Sympathy with the Vital Spirit of Man, wonderfully strengthening the same, and in all Diseases performs whatsoever can be expected from an Universal Medicine; and is not in the least loathsome, being purged from all Stinck and ill Taste, by the Flames of the Spirit of Wine.

This _Aqua Vitæ_ of the Philosophers performs also very wonderful things in the Vegetable Kingdom, for if the Seeds of any Herb be steeped for an hour in the same, and then laid upon a Trencher, or any board at some distance from one another, and covered over a Fingers breadth with Earth or Sand, being then exposed to the warm Sun, the Seeds immediately will begin to shoot and grow, even visibly to the Eye, which is very pleasant and curious. But those Seeds which are soft, are more proper for their speedy growth, than those that are hard: The Seeds of Parsley, Cresses, Fennel and Annis, which abound with much Volatile _Salt_, are the best for this Purpose. So that we see, that this Medicine prepared of Mans-dung is truly Universal, as curing the Diseases of all the three Kingdoms, _viz._ of Animals, Vegetables and Minerals. Wherefore if any one can find in his heart, to work upon this loathsome Subject, he will need no other, for that all lies hid in it, which gave one of the Ancients occasion to say,

_Laudat Præsentem quælibet Herba Deum._

_Each Herb from Earth its head doth raise,
Its present glorious God to praise._

I cannot, but repeat this great Truth once more, that the highest Medicine in the World is most commonly to be found in the most despicable Subjects, God having ordered it so, for to make known his Almighty Power; and that he regards the Welfare of the Poor, as well as of the Rich, willing that all should be helped and relieved, who do not by their own Pride, Laziness and Wickedness withstand so great Love and Mercy. Had Gods Will been to communicate this Treasure only to the Proud, Rich and Covetous, he would have laid up the same in ☉ and precious Stones, which the Poor cannot go to the Price of, but behold we find to the contrary, that God hath been pleased to hide this Treasure in such despicable and loathsome Subjects, as the Rich do scorn to meddle with, by which means a Door is opened to the Poor, to obtain that which, they reject and despise.

But to return to our Subject, and yet further to Evidence, that a _Metallick_ Virtue is hid in Mans-dung, (tho’ it be not the true Subject, which the Philosophers point at in Man) and that much good may be done with it, as containing a very glorious 🜍 and ☿, I will add this Experiment, lay a Piece of Silver into a Chamber-Pot, wherein is Dung and Urine, let it lye there for some time, and the ☽ will attract the 🜍 or Animal Gold, that is in the Dung and Urine, and become colour’d like ☉, which is a sufficient Demonstration, that the matter of the Stone is hid in those Subjects. And forasmuch as it is notorious, that 🜍 is the Agent and ☿ the Patient: And that the 🜍 alone tingeth, and that ☿ is only tinged: Wherefore it behoves us to fix the 🜍, whereby it is fitted to tinge the ☿, bind and fix it: Which to bring about, much searching has been in the World, and still is, tho’ for the most part all in vain, very few Seekers going the right way, and therefore mist of their End, tho’ in their Search they have found many Arts, some good and others as bad. So we read, that one _Bartholdus Schwartz_ a Benedictin Fryar having found in an old Book, that 🜍, the Father of Tincture, may be fixed with _Saltpetre_, was resolved to make a Tryal of it, but to no purpose, for the 🜍 and _Nitre_ being kindled by the Fire, broke his Vessels, Furnace and all to pieces, whence he took occasion to consider further of the Matter, and invented that mischievous thing called Gun-powder, tho’ he fail’d of his fixing of 🜍: The Ancient Philosophers, many Ages ago, were not ignorant of that Composition, but would not Communicate the same for Fear of the abuse thereof: And called it a _Basilisk_, because it kills all things it looks upon. Others have set forth _Nitre_ and 🜍 under the Notion of a watchful, never sleeping, and Fire-spitting Dragon, that guarded the Golden _Fleece_, which _Jason_ by _Medeas_ direction and Counsel cast into a deep Sleep, and so took away the Golden _Fleece_. _Medea_ signifies diligent Study and Meditation, _Jason_ the Artist, or Laborator, the Soporiferous Medicine given to the Dragon, the due Fixation of the Matter. Another Benedictin Fryar, _Basil Valentine_, had better Success in fixing 🜍 with the help of _Nitre_; which Fixation he hath recorded in his Writings, where he makes _Saltpetre_ to speak thus: 🜍 _is my best Friend, and withal my greatest Enemy, but when we are duely conjoyned, and made our Marriage Bed in Hell, after we have well sweat together, we cast off all our Impurities, for to beget Children of Wealth and Riches; and in our dead Bodies is found the greatest Treasure, which we bequeath by our last Will_. These are the Words of _Basil Valentine_, wherein he exactly and plainly describes the true Fixation of 🜍, save only that he hath not named the Medicine wherewith the watchful Dragon is to be cast into a dead Sleep, and that for good Reason, because the whole Art and Master piece of fixing 🜍 with _Nitre_ consists therein. And _Paracelsus_ writing concerning 🜍 saith: _Here with few words many may be helped, were it not against God, for God wills not that all should be Rich, and therefore doth not give the Goat as long a Tail, as to a Cow, for fear he should out of Pride beat out his own Eyes therewith: For when a poor Man grows Rich, it commonly makes him Proud, and as sharp as a Razor to others_. These are the Words of _Paracelsus_, wherein he declares a great Truth, for God will not have all Men to be Rich, because of the great abuse of Riches, which is too common in the World. But to those, who are dead to the World, and look upon Riches, Money and Goods, as Dust and Smoak, and are Enemies to all sin and wickedness, to these God gives more than themselves desire or wish for, because he knows they will not abuse his Gifts. And so much shall suffice at this time, for my design is not at present to treat of the Fixation of 🜍, which I have elsewhere done at large, but only to prove and make out, that the Matter of the Philosophers-stone is to be found in all things in the World, which I think I have done already. Will any make a Tryal, and undertake the Work, ’tis free for him so to do, I have in this Discourse pointed out the right way, tho’ I have not revealed the right Matter: But if what I have here set down be well considered of, by the ingenious Seeker, it cannot be long hid from him: Farewel.

_A Corollary: Or, Appendix to the foregoing Discourse._

I have in this short Treatise abundantly shewed and verified, that in all Vegetables and Animals, a mineral Virtue lies hid, which is able to Coagulate ☿ in Conjunction with ☉, into a Metal: And that I may be further helpful to the Lovers of Art, I intend here to deliver the whole manner, and Process of fixing ☿, by Excrements and natural Superfluities, to the end that every one, who reads and considers of it, may with ease attain to a true Tincture. In order to which, I am first to put the Reader in mind, what I have already hinted, that as these Superfluities of Nature, are different and various, so some of them are better for the fixing of ☿ than others: The best of all being, that which _Adam_ brought out of Paradise, as a Childs Portion God had bestowed upon him, which I dare not name openly, but shall only set down here, how this Fixation of ☿ may be performed by means of the Superfluities of Animals.

I have, in the foregoing Discourse, declared the manner of Coagulating ☿ with the Wool, or Hair of Animals, so as to suffer himself to be fluxed with ☉ in a strong Fire, without evaporating, only to shew the possibility of it. But now shall set down, how the said Fixation may with Profit be performed, by means of an Animal _Salt Armoniack_. For certain it is, that in Man and all Animals, such a Secret _Sal Armoniack_ is to be found, especially in Urine, Hair, Claws, Horns, Skins, _&c._ as also in the Blood, sweat and spittle of Man, which is of force to coagulate and fix _Mercury_.