Chapter V: Front Matter (5)

First, get such an instrument (as above hath been taught) made for you out of Copper, but not too big, nor with a lid at the top, but only with a pipe, unto which a receiver may be applyed, which must not be luted to it; but it sufficeth, that the pipe enter far into the belly of the receiver; and at the lower part it must have a flat bottom, that it may be able to stand: over the bottom there must be a little hole with a little door, that closeth very exactly: and there must be also two little plates or scales of silver or copper, as big as the nail of ones finger, whereupon the _Aurum fulminans_ is to be set into the Instrument; which is to stand upon a Trevet, under which you are to lay some burning Coals for to warm or heat the bottom withal. The Instrument together with the glass Receiver being so ordered, that it stands fast, and also the bottom thereof being warmed or heated, then with little pincers one of the little scales, containing 2, 3, or 4. grains of _Aurum fulminans_ must be conveyed upon the Instrument set upon the warm bottom, and then shut the little door, and when the gold doth feel the heat, it kindleth and giveth a clap, and there is caused a separation, and especial unlocking of the gold; for as soon as the clap is done, the gold doth go through the pipe like a purple coloured smoak into the receiver, and sticks on every where like a purple coloured powder. When the smoak is vanished, which is soon done, then take the empty scale out of the Instrument or Oven, and set it with the gold, which will likewise fulminate and yield its flores. Then the first being cooled in the mean time, is to be filled again and put in, instead of that which is empty, and taken out, putting in one scale after another by turns, continue it so long till you have got flores enough: After the sublimation is performed, let the Copper Vessel grow cool, and then sweep or brush the gold powder which is not sublimed with a haires foot, or goose feather out of the vessel, which powder serves for nothing, but to be melted with a little borax, and it will be good gold again, but onely somewhat paler than it was before it was made into fulminating gold. But the flores in the receiver cannot be brushed out thus, especially when they are cast in with an addition of salt Nitre, as by the flores of silver hereafter shall be taught, because they are something moist, and therefore pour in as much of dephlegmed Tartarised spirit of wine unto it, as you think to be enough, for to wash off the flores with. This done, pour out the spirit of wine, together with the burnt Phœnix into a clean glass, with a long neck, set it (being well luted first) into a gentle Balneum, or into warm ashes for some dayes, and the spirit of wine in the mean time will be coloured with a fair red, which you must pour off and then pour on other fresh spirit and set it in a warm place for to be dissolved, this being likewise coloured, put both the extracts together in a little glass body, and abstract the spirit of wine (in Balneo) from the Tincture, which will be a little in quantity, but of a high red colour and pleasant in taste. The remaining flores from which the Tincture is extracted, may be with water washed out of the glass, and then dryed if they are to be melted; and they will yield a little pale gold, and the most part turneth into a brown glass, out of which perchance something else that is good may be made, but unknown to me as yet.

N. B. If you mix the _Aurum fulminans_ with some salt nitre, before fulmination, then the flores will be the more soluble, so that they yield their Tincture sooner and more freely, than alone of themselves; and if you please, you may adde thereto thrice as much salt nitre, and so sublime them in flores, in the same manner, as shall be taught for the making of the flores of silver.

_The use of the Tincture of Gold._

The extracted Tincture is one of the chiefest of those medicines, which comfort & cheer up the heart of man, renew and restore to youthfulness, and cleanse the impure blood in the whole body, whereby many horrible diseases, as the leprosie, the pox, and like may be rooted out.

But whether this Tincture by the help of fire may be further advanced into a fixed substance I do not know: for I have not proceeded further in it, than here is mentioned.

_Of the flores of silver and of its medicine._

Having promised in the first part of this book (when I was describing the preparation of flores out of Metals) to teach in the second part to make the flores of gold and silver, those of gold being dispatcht; there followeth now in order after the gold, to speak also of silver and of its preparation, which is to be thus performed.

Take of thin laminated or small granulated fine silver as much as you please, put it into a little separating glass body, and pour upon it twice as much in weight of rectified spirit of salt nitre, and the spirit of salt nitre will presently begin to work upon the silver and to dissolve it. But when it will not dissolve any more in the cold, then you must put the glass body into warm sand or ashes, and the water will presently begin to work again; let the glass stand in the warm ashes, until all the silver be dissolved. Then put the solution out of the little glass body, into another such as is cut off at the top, and put on a little head or Limbeck, and in sand abstract the moity of the spirit of salt nitre from the dissolved silver; then let the glass body remain in the sand till it be cool; after take it out, and let it rest for a day and a night, and the silver will turn into white foliated crystals, from which you must pour off the remaining solution which is not turned; and from thence abstract again the moity of the spirit, and let it shoot or turn in a cold place; and this abstracting and crystallising you are to reiterate, until almost all the silver is turned to Crystals; which you must take out and lay upon filtring paper to dry, and so keep it for such further use, as hereafter shall be taught. The remaining solution, which is not crystallised, you may in a copper vessel by adding of sweet water thereto, precipitate over the fire into a calx, and then edulcorate and dry it, and keep it for other use, or else melt it again into a body. Or else you may precipitate the same with salt water, and so edulcorate and dry it; and you will have a calx, which doth melt by a gentle fire, and is of a special nature, and in the spirit of urin, of salt Armoniack, of Harts-horn, of Amber, of Soot, and of hair it doth easily dissolve; and it may be prepared or turned into good medicines, as shortly in our treating of the spirit of urin shall be taught. Or else, you may choose not to precipitate the remaining solution of silver, but with the spirit of urin to extract an excellent Tincture, as hereafter shall be taught.

_Of the use of the crystals of silver._

These crystals may safely be used in Physick alone by themselves 3, 6, 9, 12. graines thereof being mixed with a little sugar, or else made up into pills; they do purge very gently and without danger; but by reason of their bitterness they are somewhat untoothsome to take; also, if they be not made up into pills, they colour the lips, tongue and mouth quite black (but the reason of that blackness belongeth not to this place to treat of, but shall by and by follow hereafter). Also if they touch metals, as Silver, Copper and Tin, they make them black and ugly, and therefore they are not much used. But if you put into the solution of silver (before it be reduced into Crystals) half as much quicksilver as there was of the silver, and so dissolve them together and afterwards let them shoot together, there will come forth very fair little square stones like unto Allome, which do not melt in the air, as the former foliated ones use to do; neither are so bitter, and they purge also quicker and better, than those that are made only of silver.

_How to sublime the Crystals of silver into flores, and then to
make a good Medicine of the flores._

Take of the foliated Crystals of Silver as many as you please, and upon a grinding stone made warm first, grind as much purified and well dryed salt nitre amongst it, then put into your Iron distilling vessel (to the pipe whereof there is to be applyed and luted a great receiver) coles made into powder two inches high, and make a fire under it, that the vessel every where together with the coles that are in it, become red hot. Then take off the lid, and with a ladle throw in at once of your Crystals of silver ʒ i. more or less, according as you think that your receiver in regard of its bigness is able to bear. This done, presently put on the lid, and the salt nitre together with the crystals of silver will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottom of the vessel, and there will come forth a white silver fume through the pipe into the receiver, and after a while when the cloud is vanished in the receiver, cast in more, and continue this so long, and until all your prepared silver is cast in; then let it cool, and take off the receiver, and pour into it good Alcolized spirit of wine, and wash the flores with it out of the receiver, and proceed further with them, as above you have been taught to proceed with the gold, and you will get a greenish liquor, which is very good for the brain.

Take the coles out of the distilling vessel, and make them into fine powder, and wash them out with water, to the end that the light cole-dust may be got from it, and you will find much silver dust (or a great many little silver grains) which the salt nitre could not force over, which you may reduce, for it will be good silver.

There may also be made a very good medicine out of the crystals of silver, which will be little inferior to the former, whereby the diseases and infirmities of the brain may be very well remedied, which is done thus.

_How to make a green oyl out of Silver._

Pour upon Crystals of silver twice or thrice as much (in weight) of the strongest spirit of Salt Armoniack, put it in a glass with a long neck well closed, into a very gentle warmth for the space of 8. or 14. days in digestion, and the spirit of salt Armoniack will be tinged with a very fair blew colour from the silver, then pour it off, and filtre it through brown paper, and then put it in a little glass retort or glass body, and abstract in Balneo by a gentle fire, almost all the spirit of salt Armoniack (which is still good for use) and there will remain in the bottom a grass-green Liquor, which is to be kept for a Medicine.

But in case that you should miss, and abstract too much of the spirit from the Tincture of silver, so that the Tincture be quite dry and turned to a green Salt, then you must pour upon it again as much of the spirit of Salt Armoniack, as will dissolve the green salt again to a green Liquor, but if you desire to have the Tincture purer yet, then abstract all moistness from it, to a stony dryness: upon which you must pour good spirit of Wine, which will quickly dissolve the stone, and then filtre it, and there will remain feces, and the Tincture will be fairer: from which you must abstract most of the spirit of wine, and the Tincture will be so much the higher in vertue. But if you please, you may distil that green salt or stone (before it be extracted again with that spirit of wine) in a little glass retort, and you will get a subtile spirit and a sharp oyl, and in the bottom of the retort there remaineth a very fusile silver which could not come over.

It is to be admired, that when you pour spirit of salt Armoniack, or spirit of wine upon that stone, for to dissolve it, that the glass comes to be so cold by it, that you hardly are able to endure it in your hand, which coldness in my opinion cometh from the silver (being so well unlockt) which naturally is cold.

_The Use of the green Liquor in Alchymy, and for Mechanical
Operations._

This green Liquor serveth not only for a medicine, but also for other Chymical operations (for both Copper and glass may be easily and very fairly silvered over therewith) very useful for those that are curious and love to make a shew with fair houshold-stuff; for if you get dishes, trencher-plates, salters, cups and other vessels made of glass, after the same fashion as those of silver use to be made, you may very easily and without any considerable charge silver them over therewith within and without, so that by the eye they cannot be discerned from true silver plate.

Besides the above-related good Medicines, there may be made another and especial good one out of the crystals of silver, _viz._ dissolving and digesting them (for a space of time) with the universal water, which hath been distilled by nature it self; and is known to every body: and after its digesting for a short time, and change into several colours, there will be found a pleasant essence, which is not so bitter as the above-described green liquor, which is not brought yet by heat to ripeness and maturation.

N. B. In this sweet universal Menstruum, may also all other metals by a small heat and the digestion of a long time be ripened and fitted for Medicines (having first been reduced into their vitriols and salts) and then they are no more dead bodies, but by this preparation have recovered a new Life, and are no more the metals of the covetous, but may be called the metals of the Philosophers, and of the Physicians.

_Besides Physick or physical use._

Lastly, there may be many pretty things more effected (besides the medicinal use) by means of the Crystals of silver, _viz._ when you dissolve them in ordinary sweet rain water, you may dye beards, hair, skin, and nails of men or beasts into carnation or pink red, brown and black, according as you have put more or less thereof in the water; or else, according as the hair was more or less times wetted therewith, whereby the aspect of Man and Beast (which sometimes in several occasions may not be contemned) is changed, so that they cannot be known.

This colouring or dye may be also performed with Lead or Mercury no less than with silver, but otherwise prepared, whereof in the fourth part.

Now I have taught how to make flores and tinctures of gold and silver by help of the acid spirit of Nitre. There may be many other medicines taught to be made out of them, but in regard that they belong not to this place, they shall be reserved for other places of this second, and also for the other following parts.

As by the help of the spirit of Nitre, good Medicines may be made out of gold and silver, so the like may be done out of other inferiour metals. But in regard that their description is fitter for other places of this Book, I omit them here. Yet nevertheless, I thought good to describe one preparation of every metal; after Silver therefore followeth now Copper.

_A medicine out of Copper externally to be used._

Dissolve burnt plates of Copper in spirit of salt, and abstract the spirit again from thence to a dryness, but not too hard, and there will a green mass remain behind, which you may cast in by little and little, and so distil it, as of silver hath been taught. It doth yield a strong and powerful spirit, and flores also for outward use in putrid wounds, to lay a good ground thereby for the healing.

_A medicine out of Iron or Steel._

In the same manner you may proceed with iron and steel, and there will remain behind a good crocus of a great stipticity or astringency, especially out of iron or steel, and may with good success be mixed with oyntments and plaisters.

_Of Tin and Lead._

If Tin or Lead be dissolved therein, after the abstracting of part of the spirit, they will shoot into clear and sweet crystals. But Tin is not so easily dissolved as Lead; both may safely be used for medicines. Also there may be Spirits and flores got out of them by distilling. The rehearsing of the Preparation is needless, for what for the preparing of silver hath been taught, is to be understood also of other metals.

_The use of the Crystals of Lead and Tin._

The Crystals of Lead are admirably good to be used in the plague for to provoke sweating and expel the venome out of the body; they may also with credit be used in the bloody flux. Externally dissolved in water, and clothes dipt therein and applied, they excellently cool and quench all inflammations, in what part of the body soever they do befal. Likewise the spirit thereof used _per se_ (and the flores mixed among oyntments) do their part sufficiently.

But the crystals of Tin do not prove altogether so quick in operation, though they do act their part also, and they are more pleasant than those that are made of Lead; for in Tin there is found a pure sulphur of gold; but in Lead a white sulphur of silver, as is proved in my _Treatise of the generation and nature of Metals_.

_Of Mercury._

When you dissolve common Mercury in rectified spirit of Nitre, and abstract the spirit from it again, then there will remain behind a fair red glistering precipitate; but when the spirit is not rectified, it will not be so fair, because that the impurity of the spirit remains with the Mercury and pollutes it. This calcinated Mercury is called by some _Mercurius præcipitatus_, and by others _Turbith minerale_, wherewith the Surgeons, and sometimes other unskilful Physicians do cure the Pox; they give at once 6, 8, 10. grains, (more or less) according to its preparation and force in operation to the patient; for if the spirit be not too much abstracted from it, it worketh much stronger, than when by a strong fire it is quite separated from it; for the spirits that remain with the Mercury make it quick and active, which else without the spirits would not be such.

The other metals also, if they be not first made soluble by salts or spirits, can perform either none or but very small operation, unless it be Zink or Iron, which being easily soluble, are able to work without any foregoing dissolution, as hath been shewn above, when we treated of the oyl of vitriol. But that the sharp spirits are the cause of that operation, may hence be perceived, and made manifest; that although you take ℥ ss. of quick-silver and pour it down into the stomach, yet it would run out again beneath, as above it was poured in. But if it be prepared with spirits or salts, then but few grains of it will work strongly, and the more it is made soluble, the stronger it worketh; as you may see when it is sublimed from salt and vitriol, that it groweth so strong thereby, that one grain doth work more than eight or ten grains of Turbith Mineral, and three or four grains thereof would kill a man, by reason of its mighty strength. Also it worketh extreamly, and much more than the sublimate, when it is dissolved in spirit of Nitre and crystalized, so that you cannot well take it upon your tongue without danger. Which some perceiving, evaporate the _Aqua fortis_ by a gentle heat from it, so that the _Mercurius_ remained yellow, which in a smaller dose wrought more than the red, from which the spirits were quite evaporated. And they used it only externally, strewing it into impure sores, for to corrode or fret or away the proud flesh, not without great pain to the patient: but also without distinction of young or old gave it inwardly for to purge; which is one of the most hurtful Purges that can be used. For this evil guest, however he be prepared, cannot leave his tricks, unless he be reduced into such a substance, as that it never can be brought back to a running Mercury, for then much good can be done in physick without any hurt or prejudice to the health of man, whereof perchance something more shall be said in another place.

I cannot omit for the benefit of young innocent Children, to discover a great abuse. For it is grown very common almost among all that deal in physick, that as soon as a little child is not well before they know whether it will be troubled with worms, or with any thing else, they presently fall upon Mercury, supposing that in regard it hath no taste, it is so much the better for to get the Children to take it for to _kill_ the Worms.

But those men do not know the hurtful nature of it, which it doth shew against the sinews and Nerves: For some are of opinion, that if they know to prepare Mercury so, that it can be given in a greater dose (as is to be seen in sublimed _Mercurius dulcis_) that then it is excellently prepared: but they are in a great errour, and it were much better, it were not so well prepared, that the less hurt might be done to Man, in regard that then they durst not give it in so great a dose. For if that which is prepared with _Aqua fortis_ or spirit of salt nitre be used in the pox to men that are advanced in years, it cannot do so much hurt, because it is given in a small dose, and doth work with them, whereby nature gets help for to overcome and expel that hurtful venome, and its malignity is abated by the strong salivation, which provident nature hath planted in it, so that not so much mischief can come by it, as by _Mercurius dulcis_, whereof is given to little weak Children from ten to thirty grains at once, which commonly (unless they be of a strong nature, and do grow it out) doth cause a weakness and lameness in their limbs, so that (if they do not come to be quite lame at last) they have a long time to struggle withal, till they overcome it.

In like manner those also do err, which do shake Mercury in water or beer so long, until the water come to be gray-coloured, and so give that water or beer to little children to drink for the Worms, pretending that they do not give the substance or body of Mercury, but only its vertue. But this gross Preparation is no better than if they had ministred the running Mercury it self. Neither have I ever seen that the use of _Mercurius dulcis_, or of the gray coloured water was seconded with good success in killing of the Worms. But it is credible, that it may be done by yellow or red precipitate, in regard of its strong operation. But who would be such an Enemy to his Child, as to plague and torture it with such a hurtful and murthering medicine; especially there being other medicines to be had, which do no harm to the children, as is to be found in iron or steel, and the sweet oyl of vitriol.

And so much of the abuse of Mercury: I hope it will be a good warning unto many, so that they will not so easily billet such a tyrannical guest in any ones house, whereby the ruine thereof of necessity must follow. And that cure deserveth no praise at all, whereby one member is cured with the hurt of two or three other members. As we see by the Pox, when one infected member is cured by Mercury, and that but half, and not firm at all, that all the rest of the body is endangered thereby for the future. And therefore it would be much better that such crude horse-physick might be severed from good medicaments, and such used instead of them, as may firmly, safely, and without prejudice to other parts perform the cure, of which kind several are taught in this book. But in case that you have Patients, which have been spoiled by such an ill-prepared Mercury, then there is no better remedy to restore them, than by medicines made of metals, wherewith Mercury hath great affinity, as of gold and silver: for when they are often used, they attract the Mercury out of all the members, and carry it along with them out of the body, and so do rid the body thereof. But externally the precipitated Mercury may more safely be used, than internally, in case there be nothing else to be had, _viz._ to corrode or eat away the proud flesh out of a wound. But if instead of it there should be used the corrosive oyl of Antimony, Vitriol, Allome or common salt it would be better, and the cure much the speedier; and it would be better yet, that in the beginning good medicaments were used to fresh wounds, and not by carelesness to reduce them to that ill condition, that afterwards by painful corrosives they must be taken away. But such a Mercury would serve best of all for souldiers, beggers, and children that go to school; for if it be strewed upon the head of children, or into their cloathes, no louse will abide there any longer. In which case Mercury must by his preparation not be made red, but onely yellow, and it must be used warily, and not be strewed on too thick, lest the flesh be corroded, which would be the occasion of great mischief.

_Of Aqua fortis._

Out of Salt nitre and vitriol, taking of each a like quantity (or if the water is to be not altogether so strong) two parts of vitriol to one part of salt nitre, a water distilled is good to dissolve metals therewith, and to separate them from one another; as gold from silver, and silver from gold, which in the fourth part punctually shall be taught.

The _Aqua fortis_ serveth also for many other Chymical operations to dissolve and fit metals thereby, that they may be reduced the easier into medicaments: but because the spirit of salt nitre and _Aqua fortis_ are almost all one, and have like operations: for if the _Aqua fortis_ be dephlegmed and rectified, you may perform the same operations with it, which possibly may be performed with the spirit of salt nitre; and on the other side the spirit of salt nitre will do all that can be done with the _Aqua fortis_, whereof in the fourth Part shall be spoken more at large.

Now I know well that ignorant laborators (which do all their work according to custome, without diving any further into the Nature of things, will count me an Heretick (because I teach, that the _Aqua fortis_ made of vitriol and salt nitre is of the same nature and condition with the spirit of salt nitre, which is made without vitriol) saying that the _Aqua fortis_ doth partake likewise of the spirit of vitriol, because vitriol also is used in the preparation of it. To which I answer, that although vitriol be used in the preparation of it, yet for all that in the distilling, nothing or but very little of its spirit comes over with the spirit of salt nitre, and that by so small a heat it cannot rise so high, as the spirit of salt nitre doth: and the vitriol is added onely therefore unto the salt nitre that it may hinder its melting together, and so the more facilitate its going into a spirit. And the more to be convinced of this truth, the unbelieving may add to such spirit of salt nitre, as is made by it self, a little of oyl of vitriol likewise made by it self, and try to dissolve silver guilded with it, and he will find that his spirit of salt nitre by the spirit of vitriol is made unfit to make a seperation; for it preyeth notably upon the gold, which is not done by _Aqua fortis_.

_Of the sulphurised spirit of salt nitre._

There may also be made a spirit of salt nitre with sulphur, which is still in use with many, _viz._ they take a strong earthen retort, which hath a pipe at the top, and fasten it into a furnace, and having put salt nitre into it, they let it melt, and then through the pipe they throw peeces of sulphur of the bigness of a pea, one after another, which being kindled, together with the nitre doth yield a spirit called by some spirit of salt nitre, and by others oyl of sulphur, but falsely; for it is neither of both, in regard that metals cannot be dissolved therewith as they are done with other spirit of salt nitre or sulphur; neither is there any great use for it in physick, and if it were good for any Chymical operations, by the help of my distilling instrument might easily be made and in great quantity,

N.B. But if salt nitre be mixed with sulphur in due proportion, and in the first furnace be cast upon quick coles, then all will be burnt, and a strong spirit cometh over, whose vertue is needless here to describe; but more shall be mentioned of it in another place.

_Of the Clissus._

Among the Physitians of this latter age, there is mention made of another spirit, which they make of Antimony, Sulphur, and salt nitre, a like quantity taken of each, which they call _Clissus_, and which they have in high esteem, and not without cause, because it can do much good, if it be well prepared.

The inventor, for the making thereof used a retort with a pipe, as was mentioned by the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre, through which pipe he threw in his mixture. And it is a good way if no better be known: but if the Author had known my invention and way of distilling, I doubt not but he would have set aside his, that hath a nose or pipe retort, and made use of mine.

The materials indeed are good, but not the weight or proportion; for to what purpose so great a quantity of sulphur, it being not able to burn away all with so small a quantity of salt nitre. And if it doth not burn away, but only sublime & stop the neck of the retort, whereby the distillation is hindered, how can it then yield any vertue? Therefore you ought to take not so much sulphur, but only such a quantity as will serve to kindle the salt nitre, _viz._ to ℔ i. of salt nitre four drams of sulphur: but because Antimony also is one of the ingredients, which hath likewise much sulphur (for there is no Antimony so pure, but it containeth much combustible sulphur, as in the fourth part of this book shall be proved:) therefore it is needless to add so much sulphur unto Antimony, to make it burn, because it hath enough of it self. And therefore I will set down my composition, which I found to be better than the first.

Take Antimony ℔ i. salt nitre ℔ ij. sulphur ℥ iij. the materials must be made into small powder and well mixed, and at once cast in ℥ ij. thereof, and there will come over a sulphureous acid spirit of Antimony, which will mix it self with the water, which hath been put before in the receiver; which after the distillation is finished must be taken out and kept close for its use. It is a very good diaphoretick (or sweat provoking) medicine especially in feavers, the plague, epilepsie, and all other diseases, whose cure must be performed by sweating. The _Caput Mortuum_ may be sublimed into flores in that furnace, which is described in the first part.

_Of the Tartarised spirit of nitre._

In the very same manner there may also be distilled a good sweat-provoking spirit out of salt nitre and Tartar, a like quantity taken of each, which is very good to be used in the plague and malignant feavers.

The _Caput Mortuum_ is a good melting powder for to reduce the calxes of metals therewith; or else you may let it dissolve in a moist place to oyl of Tartar.

_Of the Tartarised spirit of Antimony._

A much better spirit yet may be made of Tartar, salt nitre, and Antimony, a like quantity being taken of each and made into fine powder, and mixed well together, which though it be not so pleasant to take, is therefore not to be despised. For not only in the plague and feavers, but also in all obstructions and corruptions of blood it may be used with admiration of its speedy help.

The _Caput Mortuum_ may be taken out, and melted in a crucible, and it will yield a _Regulus_, the use whereof is described in the fourth part. Out of the scoria or dross a red Tincture may be extracted with spirit of wine, which is very useful in many diseases. But before you extract with spirit of wine, you may get a red lixivium out of it with sweet water, which lixivium may be used externally for to mend the faults of the skin and to free it from scabbiness.

Upon this lixivium if you pour Vinegar or any other acid spirit, there will precipitate a red powder, which if it be edulcorated and dryed may be used in physick. It is called by some sulphur _auratum diaphoreticum_: but it is no Diaphoretick, but maketh strong vomits, and so in case of necessity, when you have no better medicine at hand, it may be used for a vomitory from 6, 7, 9, 10, 15.

Also out of the scoria there may be extracted a fair Sulphur with the spirit of urin and distilled over the Limbeck, which is very good for all diseases of the lungs.

_Of Stone-coles._

If you mix stone-coales with a like quantity of salt nitre, and distill them, you will get an admirable spirit and good to be used outwardly; for it cleanseth and consolidateth wounds exceedingly, and there will also come over a metallical vertue in the form of a red powder, which must be separated from the spirit, and kept for its use. But if you cast in stone-coles alone by themselves, and distill them, there will come over not only a sharp spirit, but also a hot and blood red oyl, which doth powerfully dry and heal all running ulcers; especially it will heal a scald head better than any other medicine, and it doth consume also all moist and spongious excrescencies in the skin, where ever they be: but if you sublime stone-coles in the furnace described in the first part, there comes over, an acid metallical spirit, and a great deal of black light flores, which suddenly stanch bleeding, and used in plaisters, are as good as other metallical flores.

_Of the Sulphureous spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis._

If you take one part of sulphur, two parts of nitre, and three parts of vitriol, and distill them, you will get a graduating _Aqua fortis_, which smelleth strongly of sulphur; for the sulphur is made volatile by the salt nitre and vitriol. It is better for separating of metals, than the common _Aqua fortis_.

If silver be put in, it groweth black, but not fixed; some of it poured into a solution of silver a great deal of black calx will precipitate, but doth not abide the tryal. You may also abstract a strong _sulphureous_ volatile spirit from it, which hath like vertue as well internally as externally for bathes, and may be used like unto a volatile spirit of Vitriol or Allome.

_Of the Nitrous spirit of Arsenick._

If you take white Arsenick and pure salt nitre of each a like quantity ground into fine powder, and distill them, you will get a blew spirit, which is very strong, but no water must be put into the receiver, else it would turn white, for the Arsenick, from which the blew cometh, is precipitated by the water. This spirit dissolveth and graduateth copper as white as silver, and maketh it malleable but not fixed. The remaining _Caput Mortuum_ maketh the copper white, if it be cemented therewith, but very brittle and unmalleable, but how to get good silver out of Asenick and with profit, you shall find in the fourth part. In physick the blew spirit serveth for all corroding cancrous sores, which if they be anointed therewith, will be killed thereby, and made fit for healing.

_To make a spirit of Sulphur, crude Tartar and Salt nitre._

If you grind together one part of Sulphur, two parts of Crude Tartar, and four parts of salt nitre, and distill it Philosopher-like, you will get a most admirable spirit, which can play his part both in Physick and Alchymy. I will not advise any body to distill it in a retort; for this mixture, if it groweth warm from beneath, it fulminateth like Gunpowder; but if it be kindled from above, it doth not fulminate, but onely burneth away like a quick fire; metals may be melted and reduced thereby.

_To make a spirit out of Salt of Tartar, Sulphur, and Salt-nitre._

If you take one part of salt of Tartar, and one part and a half of Sulphur, with three parts of salt nitre, and grind them together, you will have a commposition, which fulminateth like _Aurum fulminans_, and the same also (after the same manner as above hath been taught with gold) may be distilled into flores and spirits, which are not without special Vertue and Operation. For the corruption of one thing is the generation of another.

_How to make a spirit of saw-dust, sulphur and salt nitre._

If you make a mixture of one part of Saw-dust made of Tilia or Linden-wood, and two parts of good sulphur, and nine parts of purified and well dryed salt nitre, and cast it in by little and little, there will come over an acid spirit, which may be used outwardly, for to cleanse wounds that are unclean. But if you mix with this composition minerals or metals made into fine powder, and then cast it in and distill it, there will come not only a powerful metallical spirit, but also a good quantity of flores, according to the nature of the mineral, which are of no small vertue: for the minerals and metals are by this quick fire destroyed and reduced to a better condition, whereof many things might be written: but it is not good to reveal all things. Consider this sentence of the Philosophers. _It is impossible to destroy without a flame, The combustible Sulphur of the Calx, which the digged Mine doth doe._

Also fusible minerals and metals may not only be melted, therewith, but also cupellated in a moment upon a Table in the hand or in a nut-shell; whereby singular proofs of oares and metals may be made, and much better, than upon a Cupel, whereof further in the fourth part of this book. Here is opened unto us a gate to high things; if entrance be granted unto us, we shall need no more books to look for the Art in them.

_To make metallical spirits and flores by the help of salt-nitre
and linnen cloth._

If metals be dissolved in their appropriated Menstruums, and in the solution (wherein a due proportion of salt nitre must be dissolved) fine linnen rags be dipt and dryed, you have a prepared metal, which may be kindled, and (as it was mentioned above concerning the saw-dust) through the burning away and consuming of their superfluous sulphur, the mercurial substance of the metal is manifested. And after the distillation is ended, you will find a singular purified calx, which by rubbing coloureth other metals, as that of gold doth guild silver, that of silver silvereth over copper, and copper calx maketh iron look like copper, _&c._ which colouring though it cannot bring any great profit, yet at least for to shew the possibility, I thought it not amiss to describe it; and perchance something more may be hid in it, which is not given to every one to know.

_Of Gun-powder._

Of this mischievous composition and diabolical abuse of Gunpowder much might be written: but because this present world taketh only delight in shedding innocent blood, and cannot endure that unrighteous things should be reproved, & good things praised, therefore it is best to be silent, and to let every one answer for himself, when the time cometh that we shall give an account of our stewardship, which perhaps is not far off; and then there will be made a separation of good and bad, by him that tryeth the heart, even as gold is refind in the fire from its dross. And then it will be seen what Christians we have been. We do all bear the name, but do not approve our selves to be such by our works; every one thinketh himself better than others, and for a words sake which one understandeth otherwise, or takes in another sense than the other (and though it be no point, whereon salvation doth depend) one curseth and condemneth another and persecuteth one another unto death, which Christ never taught us to do, but rather did earnestly command us that we should love one another, reward evil with good, and not good with evil, as now a dayes every where they use to do; every one standeth upon his reputation, but the honor of God and his command are in no repute, but are trampled under foot, and Lucifers pride, vain ambition, and Pharisaical hypocrisie or shew of holiness, hath so far got the upper-hand with the learned, that none will leave his contumacy or stubbornness, or recede a little from his opinion, although the whole world should be turned upside down thereby. Are not these fine Christians? By their fruit you shall know them, and not by their words. Woolves are now clothed with sheeps skins, so that none of them almost are to be found, and yet the deeds and works of Woolves are every where extant.

All good manners are turned into bad, women turn men, and men women in their fashion and behaviour, contrary to the institution and ordinance of God and Nature. In brief, the world goeth on crutches. If _Heraclitus_ and _Democritus_ should now behold this present world, they would find exceeding great cause for their lamenting and laughing at it. And therefore it is no marvel, that God sent such a terrible scourge as gun-powder is upon us; and it is credible, that if this do not cause our amendment, that a worse will follow, _viz._ thunder and lightning falling down from Heaven, whereby the world shall be turned upside down for to make an end of all pride, self-love, ambition, deceit and vanity. For which the whole Creation doth wait, fervently desiring to be delivered from the bondage thereof.

Now this preparation, which is the most hurtful poyson, a terror unto all the living, is nothing else but a _fulmen terrestre_ denouncing unto us the wrath and coming of the Lord. For Christ to judge the world is to come with thundering and lightning: and this earthly thunder perchance is given us for to put us in mind and fear of that which is to come, but this is not so much as thought on by men, who prepare it only for to plague and destroy mankind therewith in a most cruel and abominable manner, as every one knoweth.

For none can deny but that there is no nimbler poyson, than this gunpowder. It is written of the Basiliske, that he killeth man only by his look, which a man may avoid, and there are but few (if any at all) of them found: but this poyson is now prepared and found every where.

How often doth it fall out, that a place wherein this powder is kept is stricken with thunder as with its like, in so much that all things above it are in a moment destroyed, and carryed up into the air? Also in sieges, when an Ordnance is discharged, or Mines blown up, all whom it lays hold on, are suddenly killed, and most miserably destroyed. What nimbler poyson then could there be invented? I believe there is none, who will not acknowledge it to be such.

And seeing that the ancient Philosophers and Chymists were always of opinion, that the greater the poyson is, the better medicine may be made of it, after it is freed from the poyson, which with us their posterity is proved true by many experiences; as we see by Antimony, Arsenick, Mercury, and the like minerals, which without preparation are meer poyson, but by due preparation may be turned into the best and most effectual medicaments, which though not every one can comprehend or believe, yet Chymists know it to be true, and the doing of it is no new thing to them. And because I treat in this second part of medicinal spirits, and other good medicaments, and finding that this which can be made out of gunpowder, is none of the least, I would not omit in some measure, and as far as lawfully may be done, to set down its preparation: which is thus performed.

_How to make a spirit of Gunpowder._

Your distilling vessel being made warm, and a great receiver with sweet water in it, being applyed to it without luting, put a dish with gunpowder, containing about 12. or 15. grains a piece, one after another into it; in the same manner as above was taught to do with gold. For if you should put in too much of it at once, it would cause too much wind and break the receiver.

As soon as you have conveighed it into the vessel, shut the door, and the gunpowder will kindle, and give a blast that it maketh the receiver stir, and a white mist or steam will come over into the receiver. As soon as the powder is burnt, you may cast in more before the mist is settled, because else the distilling of it would cost too much time, and so you may continue to do until you have spirit enough. Then let the fire go out, and the furnace grow cool, and then take off the receiver, pour the spirit with the water that was poured in before (the flores being first every where washed off with it) out of the receiver into a glass body, and rectifie it in a B. through a limbeck, and there will come over a muddy water, tasting and smelling of sulphur: which you must keep. In the glass body you will find a white salt, which you are to keep likewise. Take out the _Caput Mortuum_, which remained in the distilling vessel, and looks like gray salt, calcine it in a covered crucible, that it turn white, but not that it melt; and upon this burnt or calcined salt, pour your stinking water, which came over through the limbeck, and dissolve the calcined white salt with it, and the feces which will not dissolve cast away. Filtre the solution, and pour it upon the white salt, which remained in the glass body, from which the sulphureous spirit was abstracted before, and put the glass body (with a limbeck luted upon it) into sand, and abstract the sulphureous water from it, which will be yellowish, and smell more of sulphur than it did before. This water if it be abstracted from the salt several times, will turn white, almost like unto milk, and tast no more of sulphur, but be pleasant and sweet. It is very good for the diseases of the lungs. Also it doth guild silver, being anointed therewith, although not firmly, and by digestion it may be ripened and reduced into a better medicine.

The salt which remained in the glass body, urge with a strong fire, such as will make the sand, wherein the glass standeth red hot, and there will sublime a white salt into the limbeck, in taste almost like unto salt Armoniack, but in the midst of the glass body, you will find another, which is yellowish, of a mineral taste and very hot upon the tongue.

The sublimed salts, as well the white which did ascend into the limbeck, as the yellow, which remained in the glass body are good to be used in the plague, malignant feavers and other diseases, where sweating is required; for they do mightily provoke sweating, they comfort and do cleanse the stomach, and cause sometimes gentle stools.

But what further may be done in Physick with it, I do not know yet.

In Alchymy it is also of use, which doth not belong to this place. Upon the remaining salt which did not sublime you may pour rain water, and dissolve it there in the glass body, (if it be whole still) else if it be broken, you may take out the salt dry, and dissolve and filtre and coagulate it again, and there will be separated a great deal of fæces. This purified salt, which will look yellowish, melt in a covered crucible, and it will turn quite blood red, and as hot as fire upon the tongue, which with fresh water you must dissolve again, and then filtre and coagulate; by which operation it will be made pure and clear, and the solution is quite green before it be coagulated, and as fiery as the red salt was before its dissolution.

This grass green solution being coagulated again into a red fiery salt, may be melted again in a clean and strong crucible, and it will be much more red and fiery.

N. B. And it is to be admired that in the melting of it many fire sparks do fly from it, which do not kindle or take fire, as other sparks of coals or wood use to do. This well purified red salt being laid in a cold and moist place, will dissolve into a blood red oyl, which in digestion dissolveth gold and leaveth the silver: this solution may be coagulated, and kept for use in Alchimy.

There may also a pretious Tincture be extracted out of it with alcolized spirit of wine, which Tincture guildeth silver, but not firmly.

And as for use in Physick, it ought to be kept as a great Treasure. But if the red fiery salt be extracted with spirit of wine before gold be dissolved therewith, it will yield likewise a fair red Tincture, but not so effectual in Physick as that unto which gold is joyned. And this Tincture can also further be used in Alchymy, which belongeth not hither, because we only speak of medicaments.

_Of the use of the Medicine or Tincture made of Gunpowder._

This Tincture whether with or without gold, made out of the red salt, is one of the chiefest that I know to make, if you go but rightly to work, and prepare it well; for it purifieth and cleanseth the blood mightily, and provoketh also powerfully sweat and urine; so that it may safely and with great benefit be used in the Plague, Feavers, Epilepsy, Scurvy, in _Melancholia Hypochondriaca_, in the Gout, Stone, and the several kinds of them; as also in all obstructions of the Spleen and Liver, and in all diseases of the Lungs, and it is to be admire that of such a hurtful thing such a good medicine can be prepared. Therefore it would be much better to prepare good medicaments of it, to restore the poor diseased to health therewith, than to destroy with it those that are whole and sound.