Chapter XXIX: Front Matter (29)

Such now as these (_viz._ the great ones) seeing that this Universal Medicine of mine doth not at all hurt the tender seeds of Herbs, or the young Pullen, but rather bestows on them a greater efficacy and strength, will doubtlesly be induced to believe and understand thus much, _viz._ that this same Medicine will in no case prove hurtful unto Men, who as to tenderness, cannot be like the seeds of Herbs, or like tender Pullen.

If this Medicine be of so great an efficacy as to be capable of transmuting some venenate Mineral, such as Mercury is, into true Gold, and that in a few hours space, as we shall see and hear by and by, it must necessarily follow, that it is not infected with any malignity or venom, for the malignity of one thing does not amend or correct the malignity of another thing, but rather makes it worser.

From hence it is apparently manifest, that that Potable Gold does not at all partake of any malignity, but is a most wholsome Medicine for both Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals: Which thing, if any one will not give credit unto, or shall not be capable to understand the same, I know not what other help to afford him; for minding my own affairs, I have propounded and set down all things out of a good and sincere mind; if so be that any one hath ought that is better, let him produce it out-right, and not despise those things which he does not understand, lest haply he hazardeth his good name, as that convicted Lyar _Farnner_ hath done, and be derided, and made a laughing-stock to the common People.

But _Farnner’s_ setting upon me with his calumnies and slanders, hath ministred unto me an occasion of answering, and of defending my self: Upon this occasion of my replying, there have sprung up, and come forth to the Light most excellent Secrets and _Arcana’s_ of Nature. Surely I should never have so openly published my knowledge in natural things, but should have lain hidden in quiet, had not that Blood-sucker and secret Murtherer thrown me out of my tranquility by his venomous biting.

But that it may not seem a thing strange and absurd, that I write, that this _Aurum Potabile_ of mine doth induce into the growing Herbs a golden Nature, it seems a thing expedient unto me, to confirm the business by some true Histories.

In the _Hungarian_ and _Transylvanian_ Chronicles, it is mentioned, That in those Countries, in which the soil or ground hath every where about in the Mountains, an aureous or golden nature, and from whence, for this Thousand years, even to this very day, much Gold hath been, and yearly is digged out by the GoldMiners, and been molten, and coined into Moneys, there have been oft times found such Vines, as have not only had their Leaves, but also the Grapes too gilded over, as it were, with Gold, just as if they had been artificially gilt. Nor is this an old Wife’s Fable, but a thing most certainly true, and which many have affirmed unto me for a most undoubted Truth, some of which Persons have had their Habitations in those places, and othersome of them do even live there at this day. About some six years since, when I lived in _Franconia_, it chanced, that a Vine to whose Roots I laid Gold opened, and reduced into its first Ens, produced Bunches of Grapes, whose Stones were gilded: Which Story I have mentioned more at large in the Consolation of Navigators. And but very lately a certain Nobleman of _Hungary_, told me for a most certain Truth, that not far from _Cremnitz_, being one of the Mountain Cities of _Hungaria_, a certain Husbandman found in his Vineyard a piece of corporeal Gold, above an Ell long, grown out of a Stone, and twined round about the said Stone, a little piece of which was given me by the said Nobleman, because of the Novelty and Wonders sake.

But put case that this were not true, which notwithstanding is very true and indubitable, as being a thing known to the whole World, that such gilded Grapes are often found in _Hungaria_ and _Transylvania_; yet however, those things that I have mentioned, and attributed unto my Potable Gold, are most assuredly true.

Nor can I alleadge any other cause for these gilded Grapes and Leaves in _Hungaria_, but this, that the Earth there is impregnated with golden vapours, or with the not yet hardened and coagulated first Ens of Gold, and that aureous water being mixt with the Rain-water, insinuates it self into the Roots and from thence ascends up into the Boughs and Grapes, and in them manifests it self, and becomes visible.

Even thus also is it with my _Aurum Potabile_, (which is like to a spiritual Gold) if it be dissolved with common Rain-water, and be therewithal commixt, and the sand (in which the seeds of the Vegetables were sown) be moistened with that Liquor, the nutriment is attracted out of the sand by the Vegetable Herbs, and being attracted, renders them partakers of an aureous nature: And this experience testifies to be a thing most true; nor can it be otherwise.

By these few things here spoken, every body (as I suppose) will sufficiently enough perceive, that my _Aurum Potabile_ is a most high Medicine for the Vegetables. Now we will likewise prove by some few but yet clear and convincing Arguments, that it is a most high Medicine for the Minerals too.

_Of the Use of my =Aurum Potabile= in the melioration of the
=Minerals=._

As concerning the bettering of the Minerals by my Potable Gold, thus stands the case: It is capable of exhibiting to those that are inquisitive after the transmutation of the Metals, and would make trial of the same, some most exact proofs of the possibility thereof, both in the moist and in the dry way.

In the first place, it is behoveful for every one to know, that the said _Aurum Potabile_, when brought to its due perfection, and such as my self know, hath the resemblance of a bright and clear water, is of a burning, hot, and fiery taste upon the tongue, and gives out a sulphureous, but yet pleasant odour.

But some may say, What can any such virtues be in a clear Water? What reason have you to call it Potable Gold, for that ought to be yellow or red? To such an one I answer, That in the whiteness is a redness hidden, which is not discernable in its tender Infancy; but when by the help of the fire it arrives to a greater age, then it discovers it self, and shews forth its comeliness and excellency together with most eminent strength and efficacy: For thus say the Philosophers, _Unless you make our Gold white, you cannot make it red_. And in another place, _If any one knows how to destroy Gold, so as it shall be Gold no more, he hath arrived to a most great Secret_. And again, in another place, _Our Gold is not common Gold, but Gold potential, not formal_ (_or Gold in power, not in shape_). Such Sayings and Sentences the whole Troop of the Philosophers is full of; by which it is exactly demonstrated, that the true _Aurum Potabile_ ought not to be presently red, as to the outward view, but that it merits this Title, if there be but only that golden and red virtue and efficacy lying hidden in its internal principle. For if this whiteness did not cover over an hidden redness, it could never possibly become red. Now my _Aurum Potabile_ being coagulated by the means of fire, and reduced to a stability in the fire, is turned into a stone of a blood-red colour, and yields not in the melting any corporeal Gold, unless a metallick body be adjoined unto it, into which the Spiritual and Philosophical Gold, betakes it self, that so cloathing it self with a body, it may become Corporeal.

This potable Gold of mine is, _Lac Virginis_, or the _Virgins Milk_, which is coagulated with a small heat. This _Coagulum_ Passeth into (or becomes) the _Dragons-blood_, which being coagulated, must necessarily yield the constant or durable _Salamander_. I confess, that hitherto I have not prepared it; nor had I any opportunity to prepare it, but remain contented with my _Lac Virginis_, as with a most excellent Universal Medicine, patiently expecting what the Divine Grace will in time to come bestow upon me.

But that I may proceed on to shew that my _Aurum Potabile_ doth likewise heal the Minerals, amend them, and make them golden, I will here set down some waies of doing the same both in the dry, and in the moist way.

_The manner of trying (by the moist way) whether or no my =Aurum
Potabile= be a true Philosophical Volatile Gold._

Take of my potable Gold ℥ j. and ℈ j. or ʒ ss. of Common Quick-silver, put them into a strong Glass, and so small, as that it may be half full with this matter. (NB. The glass must have a round bottom, whether it be a piece of some small Bolthead, or of some small Phial, that so the Mercury may gather it self into one Ball in the bottom) and place your glass, with the potable Gold and Quick-silver, in Sand, to the heighth of the Liquor, then heat it, and leave it for about one hour in a sufficient heat, that the Phlegm being exhaled, the potable gold may stay behind in the form of a white Salt: This done, pour agen upon that Salt so much Rain-water as it evaporated in the boiling, or fill the glass so full with Rain-water, as it was before full of the _Aurum Potabile_, that so lying a while upon the said Salt, it may dissolve it, which is hereby again turned into the same potable Gold, having the same colour, the same taste, and the same virtues as it had before. The Mercury being freed from the said potable Gold, which is to be poured off, is found to be hard, and fix in the bottom like the best gold, and of the same bigness or quantity, as when it was put into the glass. NB. If by some errour committed the _Argent-vive_ be not enough tinged and brought to a due degree, but hath gotten some blackness, it is to be taken out of the glass, and put into some little Crucible, and to be heated red-hot with live Coals, that so it may receive the due golden colour; which said colour it will get, and will be like the best Duckat Gold, and will abide good and firm in all trials. But that _Aurum Potabile_ which was used about the coagulation of the Quick-silver, may be often made use of about the same labour; but yet you are to note, that you alwaies take each time less and less Quick-silver to this operation, because the potable Gold doth in each of those successive labours lose by little and little its virtues.

This way of coagulating of Mercury may be likewise used about the coagulation of other Minerals and Metals, provided that the said metals be reduced into thin Plates or Leaves, and so put in; for being put in too thick, they cannot be totally digested in so short a time by the _Aurum Potabile_, into the due degree of Perfection, but remain (as their inside part) crude, and therefore an accurate regard is hereunto to be had. If this Labour be rightly done, the Metals will be throughly transmuted into pure and good Gold, and that of the same magnitude, figure, and form they were of when you put them in; but yet one metal is sooner transmuted, and more commodiously than another, according as it shall be of a nearer affinity unto gold. NB. If the Metal be not in a due manner proceeded withal, but be as yet black when it is taken out of the potable Gold, it is then to be well heated red-hot, that so it may get its golden colour. And if there be even yet any doubt left, let him put it in ♃, and purge it by the Cineritium, or the Cupel, that so he may be assured of having true gold, and may be freed from all kind of scruple and doubt; for neither ♃ nor ♁ will take away ought therefrom; which thing the proof it self will most clearly demonstrate.

_The manner of making a Trial, by the dry way, concerning the
Transmutation of the Imperfect Metals, by my =Potable Gold=._

Take of my potable gold, or _Lac Virginis_, ℥ j. and put it in a glass dish; which done, and the dish placed in sand, evaporate all the humidity, until there remain about almost half an ounce of white Salt; put this Salt in a Crucible, with ℈ j. or ʒ ss. of the Plates of Silver, or Copper, or Iron, for Tin & Lead need not be laminated: Place your Crucible, together with the Salt and the Metal, amongst Wood-Coals, and the Salt will presently melt like Wax, and penetrate all the whole Metal, and transmute it into gold; and this operation is done in one quarter of an hour, or half an hour at the utmost. The molten Salt being poured forth out of the Crucible, you will find in the Same Crucible the Plate of the Metal, of the same quantity and shape it was of when put in, and throughly transmuted into pure good gold. The Tin and the Lead will be molten into Granes, as being of easie fusion, which Granes will have the nature of pure good gold. If the Crucible should be too much heated with too intense a Fire, it may also happen, that even the ☽, Copper, and Iron too may melt into granes. And this I thought good to inform the Studious of.

These (O thou Lover of Arts) are the too Examens and Proofs of my potable gold, and of trying it both by the dry and the moist way, which if thou shalt rightly perform, thou shalt not erre from the mark. But now I must needs confess, that this Transmutation is not gainful, and I have already said before, that my divulging of all these things is only to this end, _viz._ visibly to shew the possibility of the Art. For although that the gold gotten by these proofs be true, and purely good, and passing all the usual Trials, yet nevertheless it brings no profit, because this _Aurum Potabile_ requires so much expences, (afore it arrives unto this degree of power) as that the gold gotten by the benefit thereof, cannot countervail the same. Nay, if it should be somewhat profitable in this way, yet would that man do much amiss, that should waste away and imploy so kingly a Medicine for the getting of a little Gold, seeing there are other waies to get Gold by. And verily, it would be a great sin and shame for a man to consume such a most excellent and eminent Medicine for little mony’s sake. Neither is it for this end, that I have thus mentioned what I have here said, _viz._ to use it about the making of Gold; for my aim is only this, that all the world may see that there are men to be found, even at this very day, upon whom the Divine Grace hath bestowed the Art of preparing and making most excellent Medicaments. I do not envy, that other men should learn something out of my Writings, and take the opportunity of advancing this Work to a farther perfection: But I would not have the impious ones at all to perswade themselves that they shall obtain this Instrument to do evilly, and to exercise their wickedness by God, who knows what He has to do, will not do those things which are (perhaps) liking and pleasing to our fancies. I can every hour demonstrate the truth of what I have written, with which demonstration I rest satisfied.

I can easily conjecture that various men will pass various censures upon my Writings, but this is what I am not able to prevent; nor indeed do I much care, but I do herein comfort my self, in that I have written an undoubted Truth, and can defend it even before the whole World. I can withal readily guess, that some or other may object against me, and say as followeth, _viz._ That my Potable Gold is a bare solution of common Gold, which being adjoined unto the other Metals, is by them precipitated, and so reduced into its former body; and this cannot be said to be a true transmutation of the Gold. To refel this objection therefore, I demand, Whether or no the common corporeal Gold can be dissolved without some corrosive Liquor? For this _Aurum Potabile_ of mine is void of all corrosion, and is a fiery water, most extreamly contrary unto all corrosives: Seeing it is nothing else but fixed Nitre, or a sulphureous Salt, betwixt which Salts verily, and common Gold, there is no familiarity at all; nor are there any such virtues therein, as to dissolve the Gold: But put Case it could so be, that the body of common Gold should be dissolved with those fixed Salts, and that by such a Solution it should dissolve (or make) my _Aurum Potabile_, verily it would necessarily follow, that such a solution of Gold would be of a yellow or red colour. But now ’tis not so with mine, for my _Aurum Potabile_ is so clear and bright, as that it far exceeds the bright transparency of even Fountain-water it self: Besides too, the solution of corporeal Gold tingeth the hair, hands, and nails with a black colour; but on the contrary, my Potable Gold does not so at all, and therefore justly and deservedly, it both may and ought to bear the Title of _Philosophical Gold_; for all the Philosophers that have been true Possessors of an Universal Medicine, do confess in express words, _That their Gold, or the solution thereof, doth not at all colour the hands_, by which Character and Sign they distinguish betwixt the vulgar and philosophical Gold.

From hence it necessarily follows, that my _Aurum Potabile_ is prepared of the true Philosophical Gold, seeing it does not tinge the hands with any colour.

But put case that a Solution of common Gold should be made by the help of some _menstruum_ that is not corrosive, (but such is not my solution) yet notwithstanding, it would not throughly tinge the Imperfect Metals and common Quick-silver in digestion with them, and transmute them, but would cover over (as it were,) their Superficies only with the colour of the precipitated Gold, like as is wont to be with all other solutions of Gold, and such a powder performing the same effect, may be prepared of common gold; the way of the Preparation thereof I have delivered in my Writings. Silver being therewithal laid over, is as well gilt, as if it had been done with Gold and Quick-silver: The superficies therefore is only gilded over, but the body of the Silver it self is not at all transmuted, but abides in its former state. So Gold dissolved in spirit of Salt, doth, by the help of the Vitriol of Venus, gild over the Superficies of any Iron, but the Iron retains its Irony property and nature: If to such a solution plenty of Water be poured, and _Argent-vive_, Tin, Lead, Iron, or _Bismuth_, be put thereinto, the gold is wont to precipitate out of the corrosive water, in the form of a porous Sponge, and to adhere to the metal thereinto put. Now, as soon as ever the water is shook about, the precipitated gold disperseth it self abroad in the water, like a troubled muddiness, and the Metal is the same as it was before putting in, without any transmutation at all.

Moreover, if any Solution of common gold could tinge the whole body of the imperfect metals (but yet this can never be) it would necessarily gild over the external superficies of the Metals, and especially the external superficies of pure Luna, when rubbed or smeared over with the same; and even this now my _Aurum Potabile_ does not do; but if it be smeared upon Silver, it colours and paints it with all kinds of colours, and as infinite as appear in the Peacock’s Tail, and in such wise too, as that they cannot be easily rubbed out; and these Colours are an undoubted Argument, that this my _Aurum Potabile_ is not the vulgar Gold, but the Secret Gold of the Philosophers.

All these, and other the like Objections, I could most easily prevent by due and fitting Answers, if they should be objected against me; but I think no body will be so audacious, as (without producing any better things) to oppose himself against those things which in the judgment of the whole World are accounted for good.

_Of the Use of my true =Aurum Potabile= in =Medicine=._

To what purpose should I make many words of the most great Efficacy and Virtues of my Potable Gold in Medicine? I do not deem it a thing necessary to write a large Book concerning them, for such kind of Writings do many times more hurt than good: For there is such an odd custom of Writing so prevalent, as that some men blush not oft-times to ascribe such great virtues to some coloured Brandy-wine, as can hardly be attributed even to _Aurum Potabile_ it self. I confess, that many times there lies more Virtue in some very vile mean thing, than in precious and sumptuous Pearls.

But seeing that every one cannot discern the true from the false, and is constrained (on the contrary) to give credit unto those things which he draws in by his Ears, it cannot possibly be, but that he erre from the Truth, and often chuse the evil instead of the good; which defect is easily helped by making trial, and proving them, for this way is wont to try the Truth of things.

Should I but describe in an accurate manner the Virtues of my Potable Gold, it would fill a large Volume: And this is not my intent in this place, but (God permitting) it shall shortly be effected in a little Book, wherein shall be comprized many other of my best Medicaments, and shall shortly come abroad under the Title of _Glauber’s Pharmacopœia_: And in this place I will in few words hint out the Use of my _Aurum Potabile_.

Therefore, forasmuch as my Potable Gold is (as I have already frequently repeated) a concentrated Fire, and reduced into a liquid form, and all its whole Essence may be said to resemble nothing else but some tender penetrating Fire, yet void of flame, every one may readily conjecture what it is helpful for, and what use it is of in Medicine.

Amongst all the Elements, the purest, subtilest, most penetrative, and most efficacious, is Fire, and this is granted by every body; for the force of the Fire, _viz._ its heat penetrates even the most compact bodies, as Metals, and Glass; nor is there any thing that can stop its way; the Water, Earth, and Air are easily shut out. The Omnipotent God Himself is compared with Fire, from whom all things receive Spirit and Life, and without whom nothing can live or move it self, for without him, all things are dead, hard, and cold; as appears in the bodies of men and other Animals, which being alive, are alwaies hot, but being dead, become more cold than any Ice.

Therefore, as long as that small spark of Life in Man, and other Animals, is fed and nourished with its due Food and Drink, so long also doth it attract its nutriment, and continues in its vigorousness.

But as soon as it is destitute of its nutrition, and that it be taken thencefrom, the Life doth presently begin to be debilitated, and to fade, like as a kindled Lamp, if Oil be not poured thereunto, doth at last go out, and extinguisheth.

Seeing now that the Life of a Man is a meer fire, and is fed and sustained by a suitable Food and Drink only, like to a Lamp, which (without the pouring on of Oil, and without Air, without which no fire can burn, nor any Life live) cannot conserve its light. Some or other may demand, What the reason is, that such men are so easily seized on by Diseases, who have no want of the best Food and Drink, and which too is most fit for the sustaining of Life? Hereto I answer, That in such kind of men, the gross, crude, tenacious, and cold humours do shut up the passage to the point and spark of Life, whereby it is deprived of the nutriment, being hereby kept back. For an Example of which, Take a kindled Lamp, in which the Wick or Cotton is furred and clogg’d up with the Dreggs of impure Oil, whereby the Oil can have no farther access to the burning Flame; and hence it comes to pass, that it goes out, and vanisheth, and dies, though there be store enough of Oil. So likewise is it with an old Tree, though there be store of Dung thereto applied, yet the vegetation is not alwaies, and for ever, but all things die at last. Now, the crude, gross, and clammy humours insinuating themselves into the Roots, do hasten on this death, and the Roots being stopt or clogged, the due nutriment is withdrawn or with-held from the Tree, like as is wont to happen in Men, and in burning Lamps, as we said but now.

All things have their natural Causes, the which thing God Himself hath doubtlesly so ordained and implanted in Nature, that all things in their order hastening on to their destruction, nothing may be found wholly constant and stable in natural things, but be all subject to decay and death, and that Eternity alone, and Divine stability, (or the durability of celestial things only) might be laid open.

Bright clear Water, having its course through Channels and Wooden Pipes, doth, after many years time, at length fill them with Dirt, stops them up, and bars up its own way and current. This is the Operation of the clear and cold Water of Fountains; the hot Baths do it far sooner, as appears in the _Aquisgrane_ Baths, and others, in which the _Aqueducts_ and conveyances for the Water are to be frequently opened and cleansed, whereby the Water may have the freer passage. Bur those Waters, which being hot, do (when cool) presently let fall their fæces in the Vessels, and stop or furr them up, do most speedily of all shew this same operation. The same is also done in open Vessels, if, _viz._ the clear and transparent Water of Fountains be several times heated in a Copper, and be agen so often cooled, there doth then at length stick on to the inside of the Copper a tenacious sliminess, which at last is turned into an hard Stone.

If now the pure and bright Water of a Fountain effecteth such an operation, What, think you, would that Water do, which in its own nature is troubled or muddy, thick, saltish, and slimy. Hence it is that not only new-prest Wines, or that thickish, muddyish Must, do let fall their fæces to the bottom, and fasten their Tartar to the sides of the Barrel, but even the old Wines do likewise do the same, but not so much as the new ones do.

Now then, seeing that such kind of troubled drinks are used by men for nutriment, it is clearly necessary, that (the internal Bowels of the body being stopt by their dregginess) their nourishing property of the Life must with-draw, like as the feculent Oil withdraws from the light of the Lamp: For all those things which a man feeds upon, and daily drinks, do in process of time stop up the passages of the internal bowels and conveyances in the body of man, and so despoil the vital Fire of its nutriment. Therefore by how much the more this nutriment of the Life is withdrawn, so much the sooner is the light or vital Fire extinguished, and the cold and darksome death approacheth the nearer, and becomes superiour. From hence arose that old Proverb, _Eat such things as are well cook’d or baked; Drink such drinks as are clear; Speak such things as are true, that so you may be long-lived_.

But now some may say, I will therefore shun troubled drinks, and feed upon well-drest and well-prepared Meats, that so by shunning the way for Death’s entrance, I may enjoy a long-life. I confess, ’tis well said, for sobriety in meat and drink, and the shunning of gross and crude meats, and troubled drinks, do much help to conserve health: But yet it does not follow, that he shall not be at length subject to Diseases, nor die; for there is no meat that is so well cook’d, and no drink that is so clear, but it carries with it its hidden fæces, with which the internal Vessels may in a longer process of time, be stopt up, and Diseases introduced, even as we shewed but now, by an example drawn from Fountain-water, which in process of time stops up its own passages: And by the same reason too must those Trees that are in the highest tops of the Mountains at length die, when (though they are nourished with most clear Rain-water) their nutrition is with-held from them by the stopping up the pores of the Roots.

But yet I do not say that an Oak, or some other wild Tree, in wild places, which is nourished only with the Rain-water, and the Leaves which yearly fall off, dures no longer than some Fruit-bearing Tree does, which is dunged and nourished in the Gardens with singular care and labour: No, for it is known, that an Oak doth many times endure and live a Thousand years; whereas on the contrary, such a tilled or tenderly-kept Tree scarce attains to the Hundredth year, and this is to be imputed to the diversity of nutriments. The Stag in the Woods, and the Crow in the Air, live above an Hundred years, but being caught and finely fed, they scarce live Fifty years. A man that lives barely upon Bread and Water, will doubtless prolong his Life to far more years than if he used delicate food and drink; and this is a most manifest thing, and yet men lay it not to heart, but by enjoying too great a plenty of delicacies, they burthen Nature with too great a load, from whence obstructions of the bowels do arise, and a way laid for Diseases to enter in. A Tree that is dunged with too much Dung, gets to it self, together and at once, too much fatness, and this choaks up the Roots and hinders nutrition, whereby the body and boughs thereof cannot be supplied, and so consequently Death must enter in, and put out the Life of that Tree. What Counsel now? You will haply say, If that obstructions be the principal causes of Diseases and Death, are there no Remedies, by whose help such like obstructions may be prevented; or (if they already are made) be wholly removed and taken away? Yes, I say, that both may be done, _viz._ a timely prevention, and also a thorough abolition of them, when they have gotten head; and this to be done by such kind of Medicaments which are friendly to Nature, and contrary unto the things from which those obstructions and constipations have their rise; for cold, tenacious, impure, and watery humours must necessarily be attenuated, mollified, cut, and opened by heating, attenuating, inciding, or cutting, penetrating, and fiery Medicaments; for daily Experience teacheth, that it is a thing clearly impossible for obstructions to be taken away, what kind soever they be of, without the help of warming and penetrative Medicaments. And amongst all those Medicines, these are found to be the most certain and most efficacious, _viz._ the volatile Spirit of common Salt, or of Vitriol, void of corrosiveness; the volatile spirit of crude Tartar; the spirit of Urine, and of Salt-Armoniack, and other the like fiery Spirits, which do exercise their Virtues with most excellent success in the taking away of those kind of obstructions. But forasmuch as those volatile spirits do for the most part set upon and resolve such obstructions as are but beginning, and not as yet confirmed, but do not seize upon the more fixt and inveterate ones, as having not so much strength as to subdue and cast out them, for they are to be cast forth by their like, that is, by the more fixt Medicaments; which thing no skilful Physician will gain-say. The whole drift therefore of the business lies in this, _viz._ by what means such kind of Medicaments may be gotten, as by whose help not only the newly-risen obstructions, but also the inveterate and confirmed ones too, may be driven out of the body of man. Now, this cannot be effected by Herbs, and such-like natured things, as is sufficiently witnessed by this present Age, for no body that is subject to those kind of obstructions, is cured by the help of the Herbs, and such-like things. For after that the sick Patient hath a long time used the palliative Cure in vain, Death at length comes forcing in, and snatcheth him away after his licking in many Pots full of such stuff, which notwithstanding, by some good Medicine might have been easily prevented: For, I pray, how can it possibly be, that a cold, gross, crude, and not well-prepared Medicine should draw forth cold and gross humours, which should be heated, cut, and mollified? ’Tis just as if a man would melt one piece of Ice with another piece of Ice, and so reduce it into Water; but yet it will never be done without fire or heat. And therefore a penetrating, fiery, living, and good Medicament, is to be applied unto those cold and tenacious obstructions, to heat, extenuate, and scowre them out; and the Syrups, Conserves, and the cold, dead, and mucous or slimy Juleps should be removed.

Verily, I cannot sufficiently enough wonder, when I think upon the small regard that is had to the Life of Man, and how rashly and wantonly it is neglected, out of meer pure ignorance.

The present World is so blind and perverse, as that it neither will nor can believe this, though it be shown it even with ones fingers: But yet this stubborn perverseness does not hurt any so much as it does the Innocent, who understand not these things, and are even constrained to credit those things only which they hear of; all other things they commit to Chance and Time, together with the rest of those errours, unto which, as likewise unto other abuses, this endeavour of mine, will (if God so please) some time hereafter administer some Redress.

We do therefore conclude and determine, that the principal and chiefest occasion and cause of Diseases and Death, are these slimy, gross, tenacious humours, which by little and little seize on and stop up the internal bowels of the body, and withdraw (or withhold) from the radical humidity its nutriment, and so debilitates the vital fire more and more, and at length quite extinguish it.

Now, to remove and throw off these Furrings, there is no other Remedy, but that the passages of the internal bowels be kept open and clean, or that they be opened and unlocked, as ’twere, if already stopt up.

Now this thing my _Aurum Potabile_ can perfectly effect; a better Medicine than which, and one more apt and fit to open all the obstructions of the body of man, ’twill not be so easie a matter to find; for it is in its nature a subtile, fiery, penetrating essence, warming all cold affects, attenuating the gross, inciding or cutting the tenacious, and consuming, and drying up all humours and Waterishness; insomuch that (being made use of) it doth inhibit and impede the generation (or growth) of all kind of obstructions, and by mollifying and inciding them when they are already generated, doth wholly take them away: Upon this accompt, by its corroborating the radical moisture and vital spirit, and preserving it safe and sound, it gets the preheminence over all other such Medicaments as perform the same effect: Most worthy is it therefore to be called and esteemed the concentrated center of all Medicaments. For all those virtues which are found simple and divers or distinct in any of the Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, and which do, by a _Particular_ Efficacy, set upon Diseases; are concentrated in my _Aurum Potabile_, and being collected into one, do display all the virtues of those particulars universally, and therefore do these virtues discover it to be well worthy the name of an Universal Medicine: For this Medicament does not only exceed all other Medicaments in the most speedy operation of its virtues in the curing of the bodies of men, but also it plainly abounds with the same admirable virtues in the bettering of the Vegetables and Minerals; and therefore it is to be preferred beyond all others, and to be extolled with the highest Praises.

But now, if in case it should abound with far more noble and more efficacious virtues, (as to the taming and subduing the Diseases of men) then it already hath; and yet, on the contrary, should effect nothing by those its virtues in the melioration or amending of the Vegetables and Minerals, it could not possibly claim to it self the Title of an Universal Medicine, but would be rank’d amongst the number of _Particular_ Medicaments, as tending only to the curing of the Diseases of Animals. But now, seeing that (as we said before) my _Aurum Potabile_ doth most powerfully help not only men, in the Animal Kingdom, but likewise in all the Vegetables and Minerals, (out of the Dominion of which three Kingdoms, _viz._ Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral, there is nothing in all Nature to be found) and is a most high Medicine unto them all; therefore also the Name and Title of a _Universal Medicine_ doth rightly and properly appertain thereunto.

The Philosophers do indeed ascribe thus much unto their Universal Medicine, _viz._ that it is able to heal all the Diseases of Mankind, and of the imperfect Metals, and their defects, and transmute the said metals into perfect Gold. But concerning its being the supream medicine for Vegetables too, that they are silent in: Why they silently pass this over, for my part, I cannot certainly tell, nor do I deem it necessary to expound the same: ’Tis sufficient that my self have proceeded farther, and do manifestly declare, that it will perform the same in the Vegetables too.

But yet I would that every one should understand me aright, and not count me so simple, as if I did liken or compare my _Aurum Potabile_ with that great Stone of the Philosophers, which transmutes vast quantities of imperfect metals into most pure Gold by projection: No, no, I do not ascribe such great Virtues unto my Medicine, which it has not in it, but yet withal I cannot tell, whether or no in process of time some better thing may not arise therefrom.

Farther too, the Philosophers say of their Medicine, that it can make variously-coloured precious Stones agreeable in any colour to the natural ones, out of all kinds of Flints. And now, perhaps some or other will require this of my _Aurum Potabile_; to whom I reply, as afore, so agen now at present, that my _Aurum Potabile_ is as yet imperfect, and is but in its infancy, which haply (being brought by the benefit of the fire unto perfection) will effect the self-same thing: But in the state which at present it is in, and whereunto my self have brought it, and ’tis at present constituted in, it is turned in three hours space in a covered Crucible, into a transparent Stone, red like blood, and resembling a Ruby: Of which, if a little bit be cast into molten glass, it makes it green, yellow, sky-colour’d, or even black too; according to the moreness or lessness of the quantity thrown in, or according as it is longer or lesser while kept in Flux. If now it operates these things, whilst unfixt and immature, any one may easily conjecture what it would effect, were it brought to a perfect constancy in the fire.

But it tingeth some sorts of the white Flints, kept for some hours in the Fire, with various colours, and transmutes Sulphur it self into most excellent Gold; which effect makes me more admire, than all the things that I ever heard of; and how this betided me, it will be worth the while, at present to make mention of. I did once put some ounces of my said _Aurum Potabile_ in a porcelane dish, as they call it, and placed it in Sand, that by the evaporation of the Phlegm, I might reduce it into a Salt: But whilst I was absent, the heat of the Fire being too much encreased, a good part of the Liquor boil’d over the Dish, and spilt it self into the Sand, Now when I came to look to it, I perceived that the Liquor which boild over the dish had hidden it self in the hot sand, I took out the said sand, which with the _Aurum Potabile_ was gathered into one body or mass, and I put it in a glass, and poured Rainwater thereupon, and placed the Glass in hot Sand, then I put the Water with which I extracted the Salt, into a Tunnel, together with the sand which was to have the salt separated from it, and so I separated by a Filter the Liquor thus impregnated with the salt, from the sand, which said Liquor past through transparent, and unchanged in colour and taste: But now this sand, which was white at first, was clad now with a red colour, which stirred in me an exceeding admiration, that this Potable Gold of mine should tinge the sand. This sand I put in a Cupel, and brought it to the Test, and it yielded me pure good gold; and this made me wonder the more; for verily it is a wondrous transmutation, and such as I never heard of.

Upon this account do I perswade my self, that a piece of Crystal may by a bare digestion in this potable Gold, be digested into a precious Stone, but I have never as yet tried it, but yet I will try it, if God prolong my Life.

Having made this trial with the sand, I presently conjectured, that the sand which I planted my Herbs in, and which I moistened with my _Aurum Potabile_, did not impart the full virtues, and all the qualities of the gold to the Herbs, implanted therein, but did retain the better part to it self, for its own melioration, and afforded but the smallest portion thereof to the Herbs: Nor did this conjecture deceive me, for upon this occasion I searcht farther into this business, and found it even so. And therefore, for the future, I used no more sand, for the communicating the golden virtues and faculties unto the Herbs, but instead thereof, I used Sawdust, in which I began to sow or implant the Herbs, for Wood is not endowed with such powerful or strong virtues, as to be capable of extracting the aureous Essence out of the Potable Gold, like as the sand doth.

Upon this accompt therefore any rotten Wood or even the Sawdust of Wood will be more fit for this Work of planting, than sand it self is, for the sand attracts to it self the most principal virtues of the _Aurum Potabile_, and thereby doth better it self, and bestows upon the Vegetables some small Reliques only. Had I not accidentally found this effect, the sand would have robb’d me of much benefit.

Moreover, this thing likewise, which is well worth the knowing, must not be passed over in this place, _viz._ that what herbs soever are (by the help of my _Aurum Potabile_) grown up, they are all of them greater and stronger than the common sort are, and do far exceed them in colour, taste, smell, and in all virtuous qualities. The reason is this, because the said _Universal Medicine_ is a meer fire, and bestows its fiery vigour upon the Vegetables and Herbs: For it is a thing sufficiently known, that by how much hotter the Countries be, so much the more efficacious Herbs do they produce.

The Herbs that grow in the lower _Holland_ Countries, are not comparable to those which the upper _Germany_ (which is of a drier and hotter soil and air) doth produce, neither in odour, savour, nor virtues. Nor doth High-_Germany_ produce Herbs of that efficacy and bigness as _France_ doth, which is of a hotter and drier air than _Germany_ is; for in _Germany_ Rosemary will hardly preserve it self safe from being injured by the Winter season; whereas in the French Desarts it grows so exceedingly well, as that it runs up like Trees, capable of defending one against the Rain, the which thing is not usual in the more cold Countries. Verily most excellent Honey is brought from _Marseilles_, (where the Bees suck it out of the Rosemary Flowers) into _Germany_, _Holland_, and other Countries, wherewith excellent Metheglin is made, and other Fruits and Flowers conserved therewithal. But that Honey which the Bees are wont to gather in _Holland_ and _Friezland_, about in the moist Meadows and moorish Fields, from the Flowers there growing, hath scarce any odour at all, but yet it is in goodness beyond that which the Bees gather from the strong-smelling Flowers of wild Trees, or from the Blossoms found in the barren Broomy Thickets. By this therefore it appears, that there is a vast difference between the Virtues of the Herbs in this or that Country, and that such men are not a little deceived, who without any regard had, esteeming of all the _Europæan_ Herbs alike, do attribute to the Herbs of the Northern Countries, as _Denmark_, _Swedeland_, _Norway_, _Poland_, the self-same Virtues as the ancient Physicians ascribed to theirs, in the more Southern Countries. And thus do our modern Galenists, affirming that their moist Herbs in these cold Countries are of equivalent Virtues to those Herbs which the ancient Physicians have made mention of; but Experience sufficiently testifies what effects they shew, and what errours the said Galenists commit.

* * * * *

_Avicenn_, _Averroes_, _Ægineta_, and the pillager _Galen_, were not _Germans_, _Swedes_, _Danes_, or _Polonians_, but dwelt in those hot Countries, wherein the soil or earth was day and night heated with the Solar rays, and impregnated with an aureous property, and so communicated to the Herbs wonderful Virtues and admirable Efficacy. Extreamly therefore do they erre, that dare attribute the very self-same virtues to the Herbs of our colder Countries. But I confess, that by the benefit of Art, the self-same virtues may be bestowed on the Herbs, even in our most cold Lands, which those Authors attribute to their _Arabian_ Vegetables; _Where Nature ends, there the Artist must begin_, say all the Philosophers, but especially _Hermes_, who is, as it were, the Father of all the Philosophers, doth clearly and openly testifie the same in his _Smaragdine Table_, saying, _That which is beneath, is like that which is above; and that which is above, is like that which is below, for the accomplishment of the Miracles of one thing_, &c.

And albeit that these words are expounded with divers Explications, yet notwithstanding, the general sense and meaning of them points at nothing else but the superiour and inferiour ☉, which generates all things, and brings them to perfection: We cannot by any force draw unto us the upper ☉, much less enjoin him to make our Lands partakers of his more hot beams, and to fill the Herbs that grow therein with the self-same virtues that the _Arabian_ Vegetables were endowed with: Alas, the Sun neither hears nor knows us, but proceeds on in its accustomed course, and dischargeth that Office which was imposed on it by the Divine Power. If we are desirous of bettering those gifts of Nature that are vouchsafed unto us, then must we set about the Work of Art, and see whether or no it (being an imitator of Nature) can afford us any help. And this it will do very easily, insomuch that our _Europæan_ Earth may bring forth as efficacious Herbs as the _Arabian_ soil doth, and that with small Costs and Labours; so that there is no need of my more chargable _Aurum Potabile_ for the accomplishment of that business; for a sulphureous and fluid salt Water will perfectly effect the same, seeing that in salt and sulphur the Solar beams are abundantly concentrated and coagulated. This is our Terrestrial ☉, by the virtue whereof all things do grow, which if we do but know how rightly to fit and order, we should verily effect the very self-same thing by the help of Art, that the superiour and natural Sun operates in the Herbs, after its natural kind of way.

He now that neither understands nor apprehends these things, is not at all worthy to be accounted a Philosopher, but follows after blind Leaders, and hurries others as well as himself into darkness. The Sun performs its course in the Firmament, according to its accustomed manner, and cannot be rendered either greater or lesser: But we have the inferiour Sun in our power, and can accommodate it to our Herbs according as we list our selves, and in what quantity we please.

Upon this accompt _Art doth far outstrip Nature_; and ’tis in our power, by the help thereof, (_viz._ of Art) to outstrip it, if so be we have it and know how to use it. But this Discourse of mine hath been more large than I intended, and minds me of desisting therefrom. I suppose I have spoken enough for a wise man’s instruction; and thus much I thought it was expedient for me to hint by way of a Parenthesis.

But yet however, that I may the more clearly and more perspicuously set down all matters, that so every one may see and apprehend, that I have set before them the meer pure naked Truth; I judge it expedient to insert here yet more Examples and Instructions, that so whoever has a mind to make trial, may in very deed experiment the Truth of this thing.

Coagulate my Potable Gold into a red Salt, and put in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 grains, more or less, into half an ounce of Crystal glass melted in a Crucible, that lying in the superficies thereof, the said grains of _Aurum Potabile_ Salt may be molten. This done, the glass will presently attract into it self the Tincture, and become of a Jacynth colour, and so delicate, that it is not a whit inferiour in colour to the natural Jacynth. NB. If the melting be continued yet longer, the glass will be tinged with a golden, green, sky-coloured colour, and at last with a black-colour too, if it be too long left in the fire.

He that desires to make a Ruby, let him put the bare coagulated Potable Gold (without the addition of any peregrine thing) into a pure and covered Crucible, and there leave it in fusion for some hours, and he will get such a delicate blood-like coloured glass, as is capable of refreshing a man’s nature, when debilitated with the multiplicity of cares, troubles, and labours, and this by a bare looking thereupon. And any one may easily conjecture what a refreshment it will be to a man’s mind, when (after abundance of vain-spent labours, and exceeding earnest expectations of the Blessing of God upon them), he doth at last see with his own eyes, that that thing is possible to be effected, which with such an incredible, ardent a desire he hath so long a time sought after. Without doubt the seeing of the promised Land did affect _Moses_ with an unexpressible joy, though he never entred thereinto.