Chapter XXII: Front Matter (22)

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

6. _To make melted Tin hard._

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

7. _White Vitrifications._

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

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

_But although =Glauber=, &c._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. _Plenty of Spirit of Salt._

In this Paragraph also he goes on after his manner to disgrace me, accusing me of Lyes, as if it was false, and impossible to prepare fifty pound of Spirit of Salt in one Furnace, and in one day; and adds, that this Spirit is not so good as his, for _Every man for himself_: but this is done by adding Vitriol.

Which Vitriol does not hurt the Spirit of Salt, as is demonstrated in many places of the First Part of my Furnaces; and he denies that fifty pound or above may be prepar’d in one day in my Furnaces, when yet it may be done commodiously enough, and needs no farther proof.

From all which a wise man may easily judge how good a Christian _Farnner_ is, whose mouth uttereth nothing but wickedness, contempt, and contention, and except my inward faculties fail me, the envy of his heart, his hatred, lyes, and infernal calumnies, shall be display’d.

What is his spirit of Salt to me, or mine to him? Let him prepare it after his way, and I will do it my way, when need requires: Wherefore does he endeavour to defile my things with his, since they cannot be deservedly reprehended by any man, much less by him.

9. _Spirits of Vitriol, Nitre, Salt, Aqua fortis, Aqua Regia, in
plenty; also Sulphur; at Forty R. Dollers._

In this place may be seen the inhumane and devilish nature of this wicked fellow; for he scarce utters three words but he proceeds to my disparagement.

But what hath _Glauber_ to do with his spirits, for he does not use them? and if he does need them, he can make them without him.

What does he care, if you can prepare them after a better way than he, which yet never can be?

Whatever _Glauber_ has writ of these things is worth the reading; and he can defend both himself and it, neither can you or yours spot his fame, which is so well known to the World.

10. _Mineral Spirits: for twenty R. Dollers._

Here _Farnner_ ventures to promise a way of preparing volatile spirits, which is eight years since fully described by _Glauber_, in the second part of his Furnaces, whither I referr the Reader.

11. _Flowers of Minerals and Metals; for Twenty R. Dollers._

But if any man will explore another man’s nature, let him permit him to speak, and he shall easily know what temper he’s of; but especially that, of all things, may easily be discern’d in a drunken or angry man, who can very hardly conceal his internal blemishes. In like manner we may see by _Farnner_ that he endeavours to hide his lying Proceedings in my name. What if I had seen his way of preparing metallick flowers, what profit or loss should I sustain by it? He glories of those things which merit no praise. He promises to make metallick Flowers under a frixatory Cover, when yet Flowers can’t be made under it, for they are not Flowers when the metals are burnt under a frixatory Cover, into a Calx, or reduc’d to ashes, there is, and so remains a heavy Calx: but the Flowers of metals shou’d be brought to a very light sort of Flowers by Sublimation; as is describ’d at large in the First Part of my Furnaces.

_Farnner_ indeed, with his Shop, leaving his filthy knife, should rather have gone to the Chymical School a little, than (being ignorant of Chymical terms) sold his heavy Calxes or Metals to other men for light Flowers, and despised _Glauber_’s way of preparing Flowers, which yet has been reprehended by no man. These his Flowers, with his Coral Flowers, are course Meal, which don’t deserve the name of Flowers, but Cream. Indeed, if _Farnner_ had not so vehemently inveighed against me, I had not display’d him thus, nor deign’d his vain Proceedings one word of answer.

Yet ’tis no matter, though good men are sometimes in this life bark’d at, and provok’d by mad Dogs, since it often happens that by this means excellent things are made publick, which otherwise would lie secret.

12. _The Quintessence._

Here you may see, candid Reader, that wicked _Farnner_’s endeavours tend to disturb the quiet of all good men, and destroy my well-grounded and yet irrefutable Writings by his foolish Opinions, which he shall never be able to do, no more than a little Whelp is able to attack an armed man, whom by his barking he cannot hurt.

My Tract which I writ of the Essence of Vegetables, and printed at _Norimberg_, under the Title of _The First Part of the_ Spagyrick Pharmacopæa; neither _Farnner_, nor any man else, could reject or contemn; but that little Tract will defend it self.

I have made publick many and excellent inventions, but no man can shew one place wherein I reprehended and brought into contempt other mens Works, as this _Farnner_ does. If he would act as a good man ought, and had any thing against me, he should speak it to my face, and not abuse me so wickedly behind my back.

13. _All acid Wines._

It troubles me Indeed, that I communicated this excellent secret of encreasing the Virtue of acid Wines, and making them better, to _Farnner_. What he writes, that he found out those things, is a pure Lye, which he had of me; when nevertheless he is not afraid to tell so impudent a Lye, as that he had found out a better foundation of that Secret, which is most notoriously false; for neither he nor any other man, nor I my self, can find any thing better than the pure Essence of Wine, conducing to that Work; which Essence of Wine, by the strength of its innate fiery Nature and Property, all sorts of immature Wines may be ripen’d in fermentation, and turn’d to a brisk Staple, and good Wine, in which lies all the Art.

For he that knows this, may also correct acid Wines, yet let him have a care that he does not take foul Brandy-wine, as _Farnner_ has done, wherewith he has done it, as he saies.

This excellent Art, and heretofore unknown, to him that knows how to handle Wines, may serve instead of many; and this unfaithful _Farnner_ might have receiv’d much profit from it, if he had not made it publick; but since he has every where publish’d it, there shall henceforth no profit accrue to him nor me, if I should be destitute of better things, for he has defamed this excellent Secret every where by his lying Epistles sent abroad.

As for me, though he has taken from me the great profit which redounded to me from it, by his prating and lyes, I do not this from such a trouble of mind as will happen to him, if he shall be forced indeed to want all its fruit.

If this perfidious _Farnner_ had hid this Secret, he would have needed no other Arts, neither need he have sold it for an hundred Duckets, but he might from it have procur’d to himself sufficient whereon to live. A greater damage has happen’d to me by his publication than I can declare; and I very hardly endure that so excellent and profitable a Secret should be despised; neither will any good man approve it, especially they that sustain loss by it, and for that cause will alwaies abhorr him. He might have gotten enough by it, in secret, and without detriment to his Neighbour, but that he was minded rather to marr the profit and propagate the damage of not only himself, but me, and many others that have knowledge of it; which no man can deny to be a wicked act.

That Reward which _Farnner_ gave me for communicating to him my Secrets, in all amounted to but sixty or seventy _Ungarici_ (an _Ungaricus_ is Nine Shillings of our Money,) which yet, from the communication of those Secrets I trusted him with, he receiv’d again, so that all those things which he had of me, cost him little or nothing. Nevertheless, he does not stick to say, That he gave me a great sum of Money for my Secrets, which yet I refused to take; and though he twice made a Journey of Fifteen miles to me, that he might get something out of me, yet I deny’d him, and communicated nothing to him, till he came the third time, and learn’d some of my Secrets, and afterwards, when he had oblig’d himself to work with me in my Laboratory, I communicated more to him. Neither had I shew’d him the least of those many Secrets for his Present, which will never compensate the damage I have sustain’d by him, had not he oblig’d himself under the loss of all his Goods, as also his Credit and Reputation, that he, his Wife and Children, should serve me so long as I should live, as plainly appears from his Obligations given to me.

But if he had given me a Thousand _Ungarici_, or Duckets, and I had known he would have expos’d this Secret to sale, I would rather have given him all of it back again, than suffer’d it to be made common. Neither can his vain Excuse, That he exposes his own inventions, and not mine, to sale, profit him any thing; when ’tis evident enough, that nothing in the nature of things can be found, which may render small Wines better than the _Anima_ or Quintessence extracted from other Wines; for the _Anima_ of Wine only, and nothing else, can encrease the strength of Wine. Neither is the comparison of this melioration of Wines incongruous with two torn Garments, neither of which can be worn; but if either of this is cut, and that which yet is whole and good, is sewed to the other, and so of two torn, one whole Garment is made; then that Garment may be worn, when yet, before, neither of them was useful.

The same also is to be understood of small wines that are neither durable nor vendible, but after one Hogshead is strengthen’d by another, it becomes not only durable, as good Wine, but vendible, and will yield as good a price as two small Hogsheads. And this Secret is both very noble and profitable in those places, where the wines are seldom brought to maturity, and for that cause are not durable nor saleable. For there is a lamentable Complaint among Vintners, that immature wines are not vendible, and they can get no money for them. Thus they say, Have we labour’d in vain with our wines a whole year? Look there the wines lie, and no man buys them: in the mean while we suffer want and can’t make our selves merry with our wines, for they neither profit us nor others; unless we have presently some other better wine, wherewith to mingle this, and so render it vendible, it will strait be corrupted, and turn’d to water. These and the like Complaints I have often heard from Vintners; but if they had the wit of Taylors, that can make one new Garment of two old ones, their affairs would be in a better condition, for after this manner they might preserve their acid wines, and there would be no need of mixing better wine with them. For which excellent Invention, all men that deal in wines, ought to thank GOD and me.

I pray, who would not have communicated these things to a man that had given himself for a pledge? But if he must not stand to these Obligations, I can’t see whom we may trust. I curse the unhappy hour wherein this unprofitable subject and that perverse man (if he may be call’d a man) came first in my sight: which troubles and molestations he brings upon me in my old Age, which might spend its time much better, than by refuting his detestable Calumnies. Neither does his wickedness to me hurt me only, but my Children also.

In his last Obligation he promises, That if by premature death I should be taken out of the world, that he, for the kindnesses I had done him, would adopt my Children for his own, and make them his Heirs: but here, in his most false writing, endeavours all he can to deprive my (yet young) Children of their own, and convert their Goods to himself, as indeed he has done.

Further, He in his last Obligation also saies, he humbly pray’d GOD to prolong my Life and Health, but in this place he endeavours by his Cavils and Calumnies to kill me, and if he could do it with his own hand, (which God forbid) I believe he would not stick at it: It is a small thing with him to spill Man’s blood, for he has experienc’d his ability that way.

I indeed esteem it the Goodness of God to me, that it is His will, perhaps, that this should rather turn to my profit than disadvantage; for hereby I am taught to be wiser another time, and to shun humane Frauds.

14. _All Wines._

Here any wise man may judge whether or no this thing deserves to be sent into Foreign Countries, and there to be sold at a price; when there is no Country-man that does not know that Wine assumes the relish of the Herbs, Flowers, _&c._ which are steeped in it.

15. _Brandy-Wine of all sorts of Corn._

That _Farnner_ brags of this knowledge, he owes it to GOD and me, from whom he had it: For when at first he complain’d to me, that he could not keep the Corn from burning in the Still, and so make the Brandy-wine stink, I upon his intreaty communicated this Secret to him. But because _Farnner_ so much glories of this knowledge, he shall not enjoy it long. I must confess, indeed, that this Secret is not of less value than that whereby wines are meliorated; neither does he get less by it: but forasmuch as I resolve to buy all his Wares every where of him, I will neither leave him this, that he should be free from the trouble of informing others in this thing, and that otherwise would be forced to make long Journeys to buy them of him, may leave off those Journeys, and take this way of preparing it: Take as much Corn as you will, whether Barley, Rye, Oats, or Wheat, steep it in sweet water for some days, then place it that it may sprout after the same manner as Corn is Malted for the making of Beer; turn it well for a certain time, lest it be corrupted by too much heat: then when it is well sprouted, spread it abroad, that it may presently cool, and it will never sowre.

But if you would use it presently, then take as much of it as your Destillation will require, and in a Kettle full of water, boil it so long, till the grains are broken, then pour it into a wooden Vessel, and when it is luke-warm, add to it the fresh dreggs or grounds of Beer, and let it ferment; when it has fermented enough, which is usually at the end of two or three daies, then Brandy-wine is made in a common Still, by destillation from that Corn; what remains in the Still will serve to feed Oxen, Cows, Hoggs, or other Cattel.

But the Brandy-wine which proceeds from thence, must be rectified, as the way is, and by this means it is render’d more sweet and grateful to the relish, than any other Brandy made of Corn: the reason is this, That all Bread-Corn, of which Brandy-wine ought to be prepared, if it be put to ferment presently after softening, it is necessarily in the still, by boiling, reduced into a pap, and so being corrupted by a dustion, produces a stinking Brandy-wine.

But this protuberating and burst Corn cannot be burnt, and therefore makes good Brandy.

Also the Corn may be broken on a Mill-stone, water poured upon it, and distilled out of a Still, placed within another, or in a Kettle full of water, so also it cannot be burnt; yet this way it will yield but little.

NB. But if any man will give this Brandy a relish, like that made of the Lees of Wine, then he must rectifie it upon the Lees of Wine, for this way by the Oil of Wine, which is plentiful among the Lees, he acquires his ends, and in all things he may use this instead of that.

NB. Also, he that will, may, without this previous coction and fermentation, pour the budding Corn hot into a vessel of luke-warm water, for by this means the Corn begins to ferment of it self, and needs no other Lees to its fermentation; yet it does not produce so sweet a Brandy, as if it had first been boiled: for by coction the ill taste is taken from the Corn, which the Brandy otherwise retains. Further, also it produces much more Brandy, if the Corn is so boil’d, that it may be broken. And this, good Reader, is a most excellent and profitable Secret, and will bring you in much wealth, if you use it rightly, and you may make great quantities of it.

_Farnner_ did no man wrong, by taking (according to his own estimation) a Hundred Duckets for it, for it is worth much more, especially if the residue of the Corn pays the charge. Yet no man hereafter will give him so much for it now ’tis made publick.

Indeed it is injurious to me to divulge it, but because it is now in the foul hands of _Farnner_, ’tis better that others also enjoy it, than that he only should reap the benefit of it. But though by my communication _Farnner_ should put on a Lyons skin for his defence, yet he can’t hide his Asses ears under it; as appears from this Paragraph, where he writes, that he had sent four measures cross the Seas, to try if they wou’d bear the Sea-water; for then he thinketh he hath made his Port. Good God! how resplendant is the Wisdom and Philosophy of this _Farnner_! Certainly, if he shall make one or two Experiments of this kind, that his Brandy-wine will bear the water, he’ll duly merit to be created the chief Professor in the Academy of Idiots, for that will befit him, seeing that the reason is not hid to him, as he writes; wherefore Drinks are alter’d by the Sea-waters.

But he will make his first Experiment in these four measures, and if it proves well, then he promises to teach this Art at a price.

O the blindness of this perverse World swelling with Pride! Who ever heard that a good burning spirit, whether made of Wine or Corn, will be corrupted by the sea-water? I grant it may be corrupted, if it be invalid before: But a good and firm burning spirit will never be corrupted by sea, for all wines bear the water, those only excepted which labour with a defect of spirit, but strong wines very seldom, for the more spirits there is in any Liquor, whether Wine, Beer, or Metheglin, it is in the less danger of being corrupted.

But if the spirit which is in wine, be its preserver, and defender from Corruption, How comes it to pass that Brandy-wine, which if well prepar’d, is nothing but spirit, should be corrupted? If the Spirit in wine be the Preserver and Defence of the wine, which yet is weaken’d by a great quantity of water, so as the wine remains good, and is safe from the corruption of water: Why then should not it defend it self, since it is so strong and free from water? Who doubts that a concentrated Life is able to perform greater things than a diffuse and weak life?

Hence you may see how great knowledge _Farnner_ has drawn from the light of Nature, that he should boast so.

16. _To strengthen all sorts of Beers._

In this place _Farnner_ again shews his Asses ears, when he writes, That he can strengthen Beers, that they shall not be inferiour to Rhenish wine. Here every wise man may discern how great and stupendious this man’s folly is.

Behold, he attributeth the goodness of Rhenish Wine to its strength, which indeed is a great errour; for the goodness of Rhenish-wines consists not in their strength, but sweetness. French Wines are far more fragrant than Rhenish, yet in sweetness and soundness it comes not near it. So likewise _Hungarian_, _Greek_, _Italian_, and _Spanish_ Wines, _&c._ are much stronger, but for sweetness, as well as goodness and wholsomeness, Rhenish wine, far better, although the other excell it in strength. And so this is a great absurdity: Indeed Beer may be strengthen’d, by adding a burning spirit to it in fermentation, whereby it may endure the longer; which thing I can’t deny, and it ought to be done: but that a Vinegar may be drawn from them like Wine-Vinegar, is a pure story; for though it may happen that Beer may give a strong Vinegar, yet it never yields Wine-Vinegar, for a great difference may be discern’d between Wine and Beer-Vinegar, though they have both the same strength, if you make trial of both: Whence it appears, that _Farnner_ is ignorant what Vinegar is, because he knows not the difference of it.

Strong and right Wine-Vinegar is known by these Trials. First, if it be shaked in a Glass, it by and by receives its clearness, and leaves no scum, dreggs, or bubbles, on the top, as Beer-Vinegar does: for let it be never so strong, it retains its own nature, and causes a scum, if it be shook just as the Beer it is made of: but Wine-Vinegar leaves no scum. Secondly, the longer Wine-Vinegar is boiled, the stronger it is; the reason is this, There is naturally in it an innate sharpness, which is not volatile; but the sharpness of Beer-Vinegar consists in its volatility, which in boiling is abated; so that the longer it boils, the weaker it is. And these are the two chief and most certain trials of Vinegars, which _Farnner_’s Vinegar will never bear, and therefore will still be Beer-Vinegar, and does not deserve that it’s Preparation should yield Fifty R. Dollers.

_Acid or Sower Beers._

What belongs to this, requires nothing of Art, neither is it worthy to be taught at a price when every Country man can do it, by projecting and well stirring in a vessel of acid beer, two or three handfuls of beech ashes well sifted, made wet with a little beer, and leting them lie in it about eight days, for then the ashes by reason of the Salt which is in ’em takes away the sowreness of the beer, and make it drinkable.

NB. If the beer be not too sowre, a handful of sifted ashes may be sewed up in a linen bagg, and put into the Beer through the bung, and there left for this way the Beer may be preserv’d from sowreing and need not be stirred nor troubled. Also some handfuls of wheat put into the beer, draws its sowerness from it, the same also is done by egg shells, Crabs eyes, Tortoise shells, Sea shells, calx _viva_, and such like things which attract the sharpness, and turn it into sweetness.

But whence is it that _Farnner_ now so abounds in the knowledge of wines and beers, when yet but two years since, when he prepar’d and sold brandy wine and beer, that he complain’d to me, that he had sustained much damage in handling them, so that he shou’d perish unless he learn’d how to take away and remedy the burning of Corn in the Still, the ill smell of his brandy wine and the sowreness of Beer. Why cou’d not he then help himself, and beware of those Losses? he will object that at that time a certain light shone upon him, by whose benefit he knew Nature. However true his objection be, it will never induce me to believe that this light cou’d in so great a measure so suddenly help him, which is a great absurdity: for so much knowledge is given to no man in a nights sleep, it is a false story. But that my faithful instruction, with which I instructed him, has enlighten’d him, and like a guiding star led him in the right way, is most true, tho he is unworthy of those precious Pearls which like a wild boar he treads in the dirt under his feet.

18. _Vinegar of Corn._

What belongs to this Paragraph, is demonstrated in the sixteenth paragraph, that tis impossible to make a vinegar of Corn, like that of wine: wherefore this cannot (as he thinks) deserve fifty R. Dollers.

19. _Vinegar of green Woods._

Indeed I wonder that _Farnner_ is not ashamed of these things which I have many years since so clearly describ’d or to bring them to light anew, that he might get money by teaching those things to others, which are already published in the first part of _Furnaces_, And so he adorns himself with other mens Feathers.

But he will object, I have in the trial found these things true, and therefore describe them, but he does it to this end, and to no other than that he may cheat them of their mony who did not know that I had so long since writ of them. He that desires any of these things, may find ’em in the first part of my _Furnaces_, and he shall not need to give _Farnner_, ten R. Dollers for his instruction herein.

20. _Altho =Glauber=, &c._

Here he contemns my way of extracting _Tartar_ from the lees of wine, when yet it was a year since clearly and perspicuously describ’d and published at _Norimberg_, which _Farnner_ cou’d never correct. But he bragg’d that he had found by a certain position another compendium, which indeed might be, since it is easier to add something to an Art once found, than to find the Art it self, but it does not become him to disswade men from this Art which is already described, and which may be had gratis, and to despise it and bragge among all men of his own inventing a better. What good men will think of these bold malignities may be easily judg’d: but if I had writ nothing of these things, who would have taught him that there was _Tartar_ in the lees of wine? But I not only found and writ what was in them, but also largely taught how they might be usefully extracted.

Yet this trifler dares as impudently, as falsly say, that he had corrected it, and added to it, and therefore wou’d not let it go without his price.

After the same manner he deals with my other secrets (which, tho he had them of me, he braggs that they are his own) with which he proceeds, as with the lees of wine, namely with my Alkahest, Panacæa, Melioration of wine, compendious distillation of Corn, preparation of vinegar, correction of beer and others in many places.

Whence cou’d he have known what was meant by my Alkahest and Panacæa, or how small wines and and beers should be meliorated, how Corn without adustion shou’d give plenty of burning spirit, and whether there was _Tartar_ in the lees of wine or not, and how it might be extracted thence, except he had seen and learn’d all these things of me? of which also I had many years since publickly made mention in my writings, which is so well known that he cannot deny it, how much soever he opposes the truth.

21. _All Copper Ores._

In this place _Farnner_ teaches that Copper Ores are to be separated, when, yet they are not separated but melted, that thence the Copper may come forth, which Copper if it contains silver being mix’d with a due weight of lead, it is separated: but Mines of copper are never separated, which he does not understand, and so he betrays his ignorance in these terms. This way of separating is sufficiently known, and every where where copper mines are found, is wrought in abundance and cannot be hid. He that possesseth Copper mines, will easily find men that will thence elicite the copper, and afterwards separate it, neither will any man need to go to _Farnner_ on that account. Indeed I wonder at his extream impudence, that he was not afraid to promise that he wou’d teach others so many Sciences, of which if he knew the half part, his village wou’d not hold all the furnaces he wou’d need for the demonstration of them.

Further, for these and the following Sciences, which yet; are the most difficult and laborious of all, he requires no money, but for a certain reward promises to demonstrate them all.

22. _From Tests and Cupels._

He has drawn this separation also from my writings, that therewith he might fill his calumnious letters: neither do I believe he cou’d do it before he had seen me do it. It is done by the powder of coals, as I have plainly described in my Chymical Colloquie.

23. _Gold and Silver._

This Art Lazarus =Eicher= has described, but because his way is too hard, I have shewn an easier in the explication of the wonder of the world, and there the following melting Furnaces are also described, and therefore I need not say any thing of them here.

All these inventions which _Farnner_ braggs off as his own, are mine; for my unfaithful Servant taught _Farnner_ those Furnaces which he learn’d of me.

_And at length_,

I have nothing to say to these four last paragraphs, because they don’t concern me as the former doe, and _Farnner_ himself exposes them as speculations and not as experiments, as I also believe that they are only fancies and foolish imaginations: yet there is one thing which I must answer, which he mentions in his third paragraph, that the time will come when _Glauber_’s Alkahest must be forc’d to hide, altho it is not wholly to be rejected. But if it be so unprofitable that it must hide, why does he expose this to sale at fifty R. Dollers, and the Panacæa which is prepar’d with it, at thirty? and he has already got sufficiently by it: if it be so improffitable, why then does he offer to Sell it to others knowingly and willingly at a price? If _Farnner_ has rightly term’d my Alkahest unuseful and must be forc’d to hide, he has surely deceiv’d many. But I confidently assert, that my Alkahest will never hide, but defend it self in all places: Perfidious calumniators, thieves and their accomplices shall hide, but not my Alkahest. If he has found out better things than I, let him publish them as I have done, that every man may judge whether they be true or false: Why this boasting and wicked vanity in despising others? For truth needs few words and less braging. In his writing in which he sets down the value of every Secret contain’d in the last paragraphs, namely, from the twenty first to the twenty eighth, he promises to teach other men for no certain price, but on courtesy, those secrets which yet are the best, if he cou’d know them. But if he can effect those things and teach ’em to others, he wou’d not certainly teach them gratis, for ’tis impossible for him to build those Furnaces requisite to the making of those things in half a years time.

From which it sufficiently appears how ignorant he is of what he writes: Certainly if his wares which he had of me gratis, should find Chapmen, no doubt but in one year he would get some thousands of ducats.

I thought fit to answer you these things now, that I might shut your foul mouth which was so wide open to lyes, but if after this you don’t cease your lyes and calumnies, you will compel me to use other means to bridle your malice. In the mean while I doubt not, but all good men in this short Apology (in which I have not refuted thy lying calumnies with indecent or contentions words, but from thy own obligations and hand writing) will plainly see how wickedly and perfidiously thou hast behaved thy self towards me. This damage which thou hast done me, neither you nor all yours both present and future faculties, nor all thy servants can ever repair: It remains therefore, that I say with Job, God gave, and God has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. But I don’t believe you will escape divine punishment, to which I commit my cause at this time. It is certain that every thing has its time, which I also patiently expecting your downfal (when God shall take upon him the patronage of a just cause,) perhaps with these my eyes shall sooner see than hope. Indeed I wanted not matter to dispute these things more largely, but that for a reason known to my self, I was hinder’d in doing it at this time. But as soon as I can, God assisting me, I shall not be wanting to propose to all impartial men in the world, questions to be resolv’d, from which every ingenious and good man may see, animadvert and give judgment, how ungrateful, perfidious, unjust and inhumane thou hast been to me.

Miraculum Mundi;

Or, A Plain and Perfect Description of the admirable Nature and
Property of that most powerful Subject, called by the Antients,

The Universal Menstruum,
OR,
_The MERCURY of PHILOSOPHERS_.

By which _Vegetables_, _Animals_, and _Minerals_ may easily be
Transmuted into most Salubrious Medicines, and the Imperfect Metals
into Perfect and Permanent.

A Preface to the Reader.

_To whomsoever this little Book (treating of the Propriety, Nature, and Essence of that incomparable Subject, by the ancient Philosophers called, =The Universal Menstruum= or =Solvent=, shall occurr, and is offended in reading of those great virtues by me ascribed to it; and because he understandeth not the thing, judgeth it not to be credited; I would have him know, that whatsoever power I have attributed to it, that that is in no wise a Figment, Dream, or vain Opinion, but to be taken for a Truth, found out by a diligent and manifold Practice. But which will be most profitable, for me to prostitute all my inventions to the World, or conceal them? For which cause I will (at least for the present) only point at many wonderful things which may be performed by this universal Menstruum, but not treat of them, leaving it free for every man to believe my sayings as far as he pleaseth; but if they shall be credited by no man, it shall not disturb me, it being sufficient for me to have shewed where and by what reason, the truth or secrets of nature are to be found._

_As for the Subject whose nature and operations I have determined to touch upon, it is like to that of which I have made mention in my =Mineral work=, by the signal name of =Alkahest=, which appellation I have there demonstrated, not to be imposed upon it without reason. But seeing that long since the chief Menstruums of some Philosophers, were called by the same name, and that I know not whether theirs were like to mine or mine to theirs in nature and virtues, shall not much trouble me; for it matters little for diverse Menstruums to be called by the same name, although they do not answer one another in all things. For even as wine is wine, although it come from =Germany=, =Italy=, =France= or =Spain=, nevertheless each is wine, although the one exceed the other in strength and rellish, as long as the same nature and virtues are found in it, which ought to be in wine: The same is to be judged concerning my =Alkahest=: To wit, that if the virtues be agreeably to the name, from whatsoever =Subject= it be extracted, it rightly meriteth the same name, which that it may the better be understood, I mean by the name of =Alkahest=, a very hot, fiery, dry, and also humid water void of all corrosive power, by which =Vegetables=, =Animals=, and =Minerals=, are dissolved without noise, yet not all in the same manner, and elaborated into Salutiferous medicines, as I have shewed in the =first part of my Mineral work=. And because I have written such things of it, many have endeavoured to prepare such a Menstruum, every one from his own Subject; Impostors also have offered to others, a water plainly corrosive instead of it, fasly pretending that they had obtained the secret from me, and that it is the same which I have described in my =Mineral work=; then one sells that putatious =Universal solvent= to a another at a dear rate, whose nativity and preparation lies hid with the seller, that so the blind leading the blind both may fall into the ditch; which thing, when I knew it, I was constrained whether I would or no, to lay open to the Reader, what is properly the nature of my =Alkahest=, and what are its virtues and powers, so that those who erre, may have a rule by which they maybe able to judge of any other pretended =Alkahest=, whether it be mine or not._

_Therefore this incomparable subject is called an universal solvent, because by its benefit, many incredible things are performed in the preparation of good Medicines, and also in the preparation of metals, yet let no man believe that it dissolveth metals swiftly and violently, like =aqua= =fortis=, =aqua regia=, or other corrosive waters, not in the least, but worketh altogether after another manner, =viz.= =Vegetables= and =Animals= are dissolved in digestion, by the moist way, in which solution, the pure parts are separated from the impure._

_And Minerals and Metals also being dissolved in the moist way by its benefit, may be washed, purged and maturated, and reduced either into good medicines, or into better metals, but not with the same advantage and celerity as in the dry way, by which very many incredible mutations are presently performed, to be admired by the inexpert, too tedious here to be treated off. Besides those two ways of dissolving, which (that I might demonstrate the possibility of the matter) I have shewed to some; there yet occurrs another far different from those, by which metals and other Subjects are swiftly, meliorated to the eye, and are maturated, depurated, and transmuted into the best of medicines, and into purer bodies: the reasons of which, solution there is no need to expose to every one, chiefly, because that labour requireth a skilful Chymist and there are few who heartily search into the secrets of nature, but most Chymists vexing themselves with vain processes, understand nothing solid in Medicine or in Chymistry, which imaginary Artists, when they happen upon true writings, cannot reach their sence with their dull brains; they speak evil of the Author, disdaining his industry and unwearied labour, in communicating his talent; whence it comes to pass that he which brings forth any thing of good, finding nothing but ingratitude, chuseth rather to carry his talent with him to the grave, than to publish it to his own damage. And this is the only cause, why I have not plainly prosecuted the use of this Menstruum in the preparing of medicines, and meliorating of metals, but have only pointed at what may be effected by the help of it, that it may be made manifest, what is to be judged concerning it, and whether that which is sold for such by others, be like to that described in my =Mineral work= or not: I doubt not but many will quickly despond, thinking that their =Alkahest= will in no wise perform those things which I here ascribe to my Menstruum, and will also believe the matter not to be so easy, as before they thought it to be, but although it arise from a vile subject, that nevertheless its invention and use is very difficult. For whosoever hath such a menstruum, by which these following things may be effected, he may indeed rejoice in the possession of the =universal solvent= or =Mercury= of =Philosophers=, having a door opened to true medicine and Alchymy. Therefore for the sake of Searchers, I will begin to shew somewhat of its virtues and powers, as far as I may, that the =Magnalia= of =God= may thence be made manifest, and that I may give occasion to every man, to render praise, and thanks to his Creatour, who is the giver of all good._

_Of the Transcendent Virtue, Power, Nature, and Property
of this Wonderful_
Universal Menstruum.

It is worth our noting, that three Operations especially may be performed by the benefit of this _Menstruum_.

I. It maturateth all Vegetables and Animals, being dissolved into a Liquor, and taking away their Venom, converteth them into salutary Medicines.

II. It dissolveth Minerals and Metals, as well by the moist as by the dry way, correcteth their venoms, ripeneth and fixeth their crudity, so that they may be made good Medicines; and after fixation, yield good and genuine Gold and Silver.

III. Those Metals, Minerals, Stones, and other compact Subjects, not dissolvable by the aforesaid waies, it dissolveth, maturateth, purifieth, and in an hours space exalts Metals, more than the two former Solutions can do in a whole day, whose change into better may be observed in every hour: It dissolveth Metals and Minerals into a penetrating spirituality, so that the Metal is not separated from the _Menstruum_, but a solution is made of both, either by the dry or moist way, from which the more pure part of the Metal, or that which is Gold or Silver, after the premised fixation, is precipitated by Art, especially if many were jointly dissolved. Whence it is sufficiently manifest, that in all the Imperfect Metals Gold and Silver is notably absconded, not discoverable by the vulgar Examen of Cupels: which Operation being performed by a _Menstruum_, prepared in so gross a manner, it is credible, that if this volatile Hermaphrodite and spiritual Mercury were again fixed, and rendered Corporeal, that it would be by many degrees more subtile, penetrant, and efficacious, for the dissolving, altering, and perfecting of Bodies, than it was before.

This is its Use in general; but specially it abundantly exerts its manifold Virtue; before whose description, it seems not amiss to point out the common Name of this subject, and what the common People think of it. Which, that I may expedite in few words, know, that it is nothing else but the naked salt of the Earth, of which _Salt-Peter_ is made. But that every salt of the Earth, or common _Salt-Peter_, hath those Virtues which I here assign to my subject, I shall in no wise say, seeing that it ought to be diversly prepared for divers uses, according to which, thou maist expect divers Virtues.

This subject is necessary to be known by all the Inhabitants of the whole Earth, to all orders and degrees of men, because not to man only, but also to every Creature, it is profitable or noxious, according to its various application.

This subject serveth for _Physicians_, _Chirurgions_, and _Apothecaries_, of which they may prepare excellent Medicines against the natural Diseases of Men. Whence the truth of that common saying of Philosophers is undoubtedly asserted, _viz._ _That of the greatest Venom the greatest Medicine against Diseases is to be prepared_. And that Nitre is the word of Venoms, I have evinc’d in the second part of my Furnaces, where I preferr it to the _Basilisk_ himself; and that from the same Nitre, and its mediation, is to be prepared a most excellent Medicine. In the First Part of my Mineral Work, for the sake of Physicians, Chirurgions, and others, applying themselves to Physick, I have shewed how by the help of my Alkahest, Medicines are to be prepared from Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, far exceeding the ordinary waies of Preparation.