Chapter LIII: Front Matter (53)

Take of Cows Milk, Sheeps or Goats Milk, or of either of these which thou hast at hand, as much as thou pleasest, or as much as is sufficient, (but amongst these Milks, Goats Milk is the best, Sheeps next, and Cow Milk inferiour to the other two both in goodness and excellency:) Heat it at the Fire, and pour it out into a wooden Vessel (_N. B._ Iron and Copper Vessels are not to be used in this way) and reduce the Milk into a Curd by the pouring on of Spirit of Salt. Now one Spoonfull of this Spirit is enough to curdle ten measures of Milk. This done, and the Milk and Spirit of Salt having been well stirred about with a wooden Ladle and curdled, put the same into Hair Strainers or in very clean Linnen ones, that so the Whey may drain out and be separated, then gather up the ends of your Strainer, and lay thereon heavy weights and squeeze out all the wheyish moisture. Then take your Cheese out of these Strainers, and put it into wooden Vessels, and there break it into small bits or pieces; which being thus broken, sprinkle some Salt, and some of your pure Spirit of Salt too thereupon, and mix all well together with a wooden Ladle or with your hands well cleansed: Being thus mixed, fill your Vessels or Cheese Fats [which let be] greater and lesser [as need is,] and squeeze and compress the matter well in, as they are wont to do in making of Cheeses. Then expose them to the warm Air, and dry them, and it will give you compact and durable Cheeses, not unlike to those they call Parmesant, and such as will be void of Eyes, and of fœtid and putrid Holes, Slimyness, and such like defects usually incident to the common Cheeses, nay they never are obnoxious to those faults.

The reason is, because the first Coagulation or Congelation of the Milk is made by the help of pure Spirit of Salt, which defends from all putrefaction, and not by the help of the fœtid putrid Rennet, from which nothing can proceed but Rottenness and Worms.

Then farther, the Spirit of Salt being together with [Crude] Salt sprinkled thereupon (after the squeezing out of the Whey) doth in an especial manner resist all that putrefaction that is wont to be in Cheeses, and condenseth the Cheeses, and impedes any fermentation, which dilateth the said Cheeses and makes them spongious and porous; and by thus condensing them, it makes them remain safe and free from all putrefaction.

Such Cheese therefore as is brought to this perfection, doth well deserve the preheminence above the rest, and is extolled by the praise of those Ancient Verses, _viz._

Good Cheese must neither _Argus_ be, _Largus_ nor _Magdalen_,
_Methuselah_, nor _Habbacuck_, nor _Lazarus_, [Amen.]

That is, it must not be eyed like _Argus_, nor tough like _Largus_, nor hairy and crying like _Magdalen_, nor hoary like _Methusalem_, nor light like _Habbacuck_, nor full of stinking holes and rotten sores like _Lazarus_: which defects if Cheese wanteth, it well merits the title of goodness: and such are those Cheeses which are made by the help of the Spirit of Salt; do but make such a Cheese and try whether or no it will not be of a more pleasing relish than all others are.

Such Cheeses are never corrupted, they never become tenacious, limber, full of holes, and worms. The Spirit of Salt being poured into the holes of Sheep Milk Cheese, or Cow Milk Cheese, doth either kill all the Worms or cause them to get packing, it contracteth the holes, and turns the bad Cheeses into good ones, and this my self have tried.

Thus friendly Reader, hast thou learned how to make a fit Sawce for Fish and Flesh, and likewise good and durable Cheese; it now remains that we teach thee how also to make good Butter.

If you are desirous of making good Butter by the help of Spirit of Salt, and such as is dainty, pure and yellow, and of a most delicate tast, and such as will not easily contract a ranck tast, you may obtain your desire by proceeding on this wise. Take off the Cream from good Cow Milk, and make it into Butter, afore it be any thing mouldy, or of an unpleasant tast, and separate the Butter-milk according to the usual custom, then put the Butter in a wooden Vessel, and wash it so long in pure cold Salt Water, untill there be no more Wheyishness left, and that the Salt Water do come off thencefrom, as clear as it was at first putting on, and that the Butter appears sufficiently clean, which wash it once agen, on this wise following. Dissolve in pure and rectified Spirit of Salt, as much Salt as it will dissolve in the cold: And herewithall wash your Butter anew, yet several times, and work it well with that Spirit, and by thus proceeding will it absume the residue of the Wheyishness which is the cause and rise of rankness, and which common Salt Water could not remove. This done, the Butter is to be seasoned with common Salt according to the usual manner, and thus will it abide perfectly good for a long time. But now the big Sea Salt is accounted the fittest for this purpose, which being a little heated red hot in the Fire, comes to be of a very delicate whiteness, and doth the easier admit of reduction into fine Powder, and is better than that which is boiled up in Iron, or Leaden Pans or Cauldrons.

_N. B._ But he that can get such a pure sort of salt of a sexangular shape like a Dye, as is prepared in my Laboratory, he may use that, as being by far the purer. As for the Vessel it self whereinto the Butter, prepared and cleaned after the aforementioned manner, is to be put, it must be ordered on this wise following. You must get you a new Oaken Barrel, and so steep it in strong Salt Water, not the common [Sea Water,] as that it may well imbibe the Salt into this Vessel must the Butter, washt as aforesaid, be prest and thrust in so tight and close, that there may not be any hole or gaping place left therein; but you must leave two Fingers breadth in the Barrel at top of the Butter, which is to be filled up with Spirit of Salt, glutted with good and pure Salt dissolved therein, that so the Butter may be well covered over, and all Air being excluded, it may keep fine and savoury a long time. Now when you would Dish out some of this Butter on the Table, you must take it out of your Tub with a clean Wooden Spoon, and not an Iron one, and wash the same in pure and clear Water afore you eat it, if you would not have it retain the sharpness of the Spirit of Salt.

Well, here is yet a better way still, _viz._ Take new Butter and let it melt very gently over the Coals, and it will be covered over with much frothy Cheesyness, let that froth be neatly scummed off; which being so done, it will look in the Pot like to a pure and clear Oil, pour it out very clearly into another Vessel, that the sediment at the bottom may abide behind. This Butter when ’tis cold looks just like yellow Wax, but yet is it a little softer than it ought to be, and therefore it must be well wrought its due time with Spirit of Salt impregnated with new Salt, that it may obtain the hardness of common Butter, and then be salted, and barrel’d up, and kept for use, which will be far better than the common Butter. For although this purging it by the Fire takes from it all its Cheesyness, from which it had its hardness; yet notwithstanding the Spirit of Salt gives unto it a far different and much better hardness, and causeth it to excell all other sorts in goodness and long keeping.

These things was I willing to take out of my Kitchin and set afore you, namely Sawce, Cheese, and Butter of good and exquisite tast, which if they please not the Palate of some or other, I would have him even forbear to use them. It is not without some weighty cause that I have done these things, which I well know will undoubtedly undergo the perverse Censures of Spies and Mockers, who probably will say, what Womanish Toys, and Childrens Baubles doth _Glauber_ here Tattle about, making himself a Laughing Stock to the Women, and Female Sex, who will say of him, that by his teaching to make Butter and Cheese, he hath thrust his Sickle into the Womens Harvest. Well, let them prate as pleaseth them, Geese are not wont to utter ought else but a Goose-like Gagling. For my part I minded nothing else but to have this Treatise be a meer Woman’s Work, and Boys Play, [but yet] it will reveal to the Ignorant more good, than [is attainable] by the perverse instructions of all such Authours whose Writings are Spinn’d out to that height of subtility as to exceed every ones Capacity.

’Tis not every one that will easily apprehend those [Knacks] which I teach and reveal under this Cheese-making Trade, and these Kitchin Operations; nor indeed doth it much matter that they should understand. God will open the Eyes of such as he shall judge worthy of such great gifts, and will conceal and hide the same from the Proud and Wicked Crew.

Having thus finished this Cheese and Butter-making: Let us in Gods Name enter upon another Work of Women, and Boys Play, which Kitchin-like Labour, and Cheese and Butter-making, is meerly metallick and doth far excell in excellency and nobility the hitherto described Operations, although it be performed by the help of the self same Salt. For without Salt no imperfect Metal can be really bettered, the very title of the Art it self witnessing as much, which being stiled Alchymy, signifies no other thing than a melting of Salt: but yet I do not tell what kind of Salt is here to be understood, [or, that any kind of Salt is here meant] but thus much onely do I averr, that the transmutations of the Inferiour Metals must be effected by Salt.

Now then, forasmuch as this Treatise of mine depends on a former, intituled of the nature of Salts, as being an overplus; so it is likewise altogether necessary, that instead of Fruit and Sugar, I use Salts and Metals about the preparation of these my Sawces.

And whereas the making of the Sawces [or Sweet-meats] with Sugar, doth not onely belong to the meaner Sex, but also to the more noble, and yet nevertheless the Operation it self is nothing else but a meer washing and boiling, and a true Womens Work, we will therefore in our description bring the same upon the Stage under the Title of the Work of Women, and Play of Children.

If we rightly look upon the Work of Women, and compare our metallick labour therewithall, there presents it self unto us, a very notable agreeableness betwixt them. The Womens Work is to boil and wash, and when they are about to boil, they set their Pots over the Fire, and having washt their Flesh, they strow thereon some Salt and Spices, and boil the same in the said Pots with Water, Wine, or Vinegar, till it be tender, and become fit to be eaten. They likewise feed the Fire they boil withall by putting Wood thereon, whereby the heat may be kept up, and no impediment may betide their Work: And this is the way and method observed by the Female Sex in their boiling.

But as to their washing off the filth from their Cloaths, they are wont in the first place to pour hot Water thereupon thereby to wash off the more gross part of the Dirt: and then they use a sharp Lee, or some Sope, or even both together to take away the remainder of the filth, and to wash out all the Spots and Dirt, then do they agen wash off the Sope and Lee with fair and hot Water: But as for the odour that the Sope leaves, and which by no washing how much or how oft soever it be done can be carried off, to get that off I say they are wont to lay their Linnen out in the open Field, and sprinkle and moisten it with pure Water, which being dried by the Sun, Air, and Wind, they do agen repeat the same labour, untill all the stinking smell of the Sope be drawn forth by the Sun and the Air, and a better and more wholsome Odour come in its room. Then at last they dry them at the Air and Sun, and being dry, they fold them up and put them in their Chests and Trunks, and keep them for their use.

Just so do we deal with Metals, when we wash off their defilements, and do by boiling turn them into wholsome Food or Medicaments; but yet we do not use common Vinegar, common Salt, and common Spices, but mineral or metallick subjects, as also a duplicate Fire, _viz._ one of them is a secret, philosophical, moist, cold, and vaporous Fire; and the other is the elementary and common Fire, by which we stir up the former Philosophical Fire to display its virtues, and render it powerfull and efficacious.

The elementary Fire we make with Wood, Coles, or Oil: The universal Agent, or Philosophical, Cold, Moist, Digesting, Penetrating, Mundifying, Bettering, and not Burning, but Conserving, and vaporous Fire, we seek for in Salt, and leave the Operation to the vivifying Sun and Air; which being well done, we obtain wonderfull Plants, and most efficacious Food, or Sawce for our Life.

And forasmuch as my purpose here is, to treat of such metallick and medicinal Sawces, I will here in God’s name adjoyn some of them, which being as so many samplers or patterns, every one may at his pleasure imitate in composing and making of the like. And he will here find a way of confecting some good Medicament, as clearly and evidently demonstrated by me as was lawfull for me to do, nor was it in my power to discover the same more perspicuously: And therefore I beseech every one to take in good part what is here presented, and to forbear to trouble me for the time to come with needless questions.

So then, seeing I am about to treat in this place of metallick Sawces, it is also behovefull to have a metallick Sugar and Spice, and this, _Saturn_ will afford us in the steed of the common [Sugar] by whose help we reduce _Sol_ and _Lune_ as being most excellent Spices, into most effectual Medicines.

Nor would I have it seem strange to any one that I use Lead here instead of Sugar, for the inmost juice of Lead, doth exceedingly out-go the sweetness of any Sugar, which thing _Isaac Holland_ doth very evidently testifie in his Treatise of _Saturn_. The Chymists do frequently extract a sweet Salt out of Lead, with distilled Vinegar, and call it the Sugar of Lead, and do very well know and find that there is such a sweetness in Lead as is not in any other Metal beside. From it therefore will we prepare our Sugar to make our metallick Sawces withall, as follows.

Take of Lead-ashes one, two, three, or more pounds, which put in a strong well glazed Earthen Pot, then pour thereupon some Wine or Ale, Vinegar, or Vinegar of Honey, as much as may over top it an hands breadth. Set your Pot upon the Coals and make the Vinegar boil.

_N. B._ The Ashes are to be uncessantly stirred, in the boiling with a wooden _Spatula_, lest they gather into one entire solid Mass: After that the Vinegar has boiled for about half an hour, and is become yellow, and as sweet as Sugar, you must decant it from the Ashes, and pour on more, and agen boil it, and extract more sweetness, and this labour must you repeat so often untill the Vinegar can extract no more sweetness; then having put all these Vinegars together, pour them gently off from the Fæces that settle in the bottom of the Vessel, and being thus Separated, filter the same through Cap Paper or by a filter, that so the Liquors may be very clear, and may give you by separation, that sweetness of the Lead which they hold up in them.

Into these clear Vinegars, therefore being put in a Glass Vessel, pour thereinto (by little and little) as much rectified Spirit of Salt, that so the yellow Vinegar may be turned into a white Milk, and may by little and little settle to the bottom like curdled Cheese, from which the Vinegar being now become agen clear is to be removed by decanting; then put the Saturnine Cheese in some strong Linnen Cloath and tie it hard up, and squeeze out the residue of the moisture, and so dry it and lay it by for use. It is a most tender Powder, of a bright snowy colour, and void of all tast; for in the precipitation, all the sweetness being introverted by the Spirit of Salt, hath hidden it self within, which doth again afterwards (when that mass shall be reduced into a Sawce) shew it self, and discovers its former tast, as we shall hear anon.

I would have the friendly Reader know, that I am not minded to produce here many and divers Operations, for I am straitned in my time, which stops me from giving you a more prolix and circumstantial description: I do onely propose some few, and leave every one to his fancy to make the rest of the Sawces or Medicaments, according to the ways here prescribed, according to his likeing, and that as many as he will, and out of such subjects as best pleaseth him.

But that I may contract these things concerning my Sawces into a narrow room, I suppose it is well enough known, that Sawces and Junkets are disht out in the second course for this end, either to close up and Strengthen the Stomach, or that if a fudling storm be at hand it may drill the readilier down into the Stomack by these kinds of Vehicles.

But yet my purpose is not directed to this end as to teach the making of such banqueting Dishes in this place, as may allure Wine into the Stomach by such an unprofitable Prodigality, and so detriment the Body it self too. No, but the main drift of my Sawces should rather be this, _viz._ to remove that evil which is stirred up in the Body of Man, by the common Junkets and the overmuch guzling in of Wine, and to Strengthen the Stomach, Heart, Brain, and other Members of the Body, to heal the parts that are hurt, and in particular, to restore them to their former health: And finally, to be as a kind of guide and manuduction to lead on the Ingeny of Men in such wise, as that they may by an easier way arrive unto the Knowledge of the universal Medicine.

To begin therefore, I confess that of [all] fruits preserved with Sugar, none have a more gratefull tast on my Palate than Bar-berries, and Ribes, or St. _John_’s Grapes as they call them; which fruits, preserved up with Sugar, do not onely get the Stomach an Appetite, but do withall allay Thirst, and do extinguish all the internal heat stirred up and kindled by overmuch drinking: The like metallick Sawce or Junket shalt thou prepare on this wise.

Buy some Steel filings of the Needle-makers, and take thereof as much as you please, dissolve them in rectified Spirit of Salt, which Solution will be green, and be of a sweetish tast; abstract the insipid Phlegm, insipid I say, for although it be a very strong Spirit of Salt that is poured upon the Iron, yet nevertheless no Spirit comes off, but onely an insipid Phlegm in the abstraction and distillation, and the Irons retains all the acidity of the Salt, and remains a red, sweetish, astringent Juice.

Take of this, and of the Saturnine Powder which we taught you the making of but now, of each alike weight, and put them into a well coated Retort, and the _Saccharum Saturni_ will presently drink up the Juice of the Steel. Put the Retort in a Vessel fill’d with Sand, and augment the Fire by little and little that all the insipid Phlegm may be wholly drawn off. When ’tis all come off, and that acid drops begin to come, then must you apply thereunto a Glass Receiver, and the Fire is to be encreased by degrees untill the Retort be throughly red hot, which must continue so about an hour, or half an hour a least. By this means, the Spirits of the Salt which were in the Steel, do almost wholly come over into the Receiver, and do carry over with them [the Spirits] of the _Saccharum Saturni_, and oil of _Mars_, in the form of a red sublimate, which settles it self in the neck of the Retort, which sublimate when the Retort is cold and broken you must take out of its Neck, and keep it from the Air, for in the Air it will dissolve into a red, sweet, and Astringent Oil, of no small virtues in Medicine and Alchymy. In the bottom of the Retort you will find a molten Mass, resembling _Lapis Hæmatitis_, which being separated from all defilements, will give you a red, brittle, fusile Stone, and in some sort astringent, of great virtues in Medicine, and without doubt in Alchymy too, if it were but first made constantly to abide in the Fire. And even this too, must you keep from the Air, for it is still impregnated with the Salts, and therefore is easily resolved.

Now when you would make use of this Stone in Medicine, break a little bit thereof into small Powder (for it is no harder than other Salt, and therefore doth easily admit of grinding to Powder.) This Powder heals both internal and external Wounds and Ulcers, being administred in the quantity of two, three, four, five, six, or more Grains, according to the age and condition of the Sick, and being taken in a convenient and proper Vehicle, it is highly Sanative and a stopper of Bloud. Being applied externally to Wounds, it wonderfully forwards healing; hinders all Symptoms, and fundamentally dries, and cures all Ulcers and Fistulaes, if used outwardly and inwardly too.

It doth most safely and most certainly help all the overflowing of the Menses in Women, and is so excellent a Medicament in the _Dysentery_, _Lientery_, and other _Fluxes_ of the Belly, that its like is not to be found.

Thus have we that true and genuine _Hæmatitis_ of the Ancient Physicians, of which they have written so many things, but what through the carelesness of the Physicians that succeded them, and what through the length of time it became wholly lost instead of which there hath been hitherto used the insoluble and hard Stone of Iron.

The Ancients imposed upon their more noble Medicaments, Names deduced from similitudes or resemblances, as may be seen in this our living _Hæmatitis_, and in the dead _Hæmatatis_ of the common Physicians, which is call’d for at the Apothecaries, and administred to stop Bloud withall; But yet it is nothing else save the Stone of Iron, and such Oar as is very rich and abounding with this Metal, the fragments of which appears [either] in the form of spear-like Stria’s or Streeks, or like a cleft stone. This our live _Hæmatitis_ is of the same form, but soluble, and is of a very pleasant and astringent sweetness, and containeth most efficacious virtues for the allaying of all bloody Fluxes both outward and inward. Now that common and well-known _Hæmatitis_ doth not possess any more virtues than that Iron Scinder-dust which the Smiths smite off at the Anvil, doth. And as for that red Sublimate which ascended up in the neck of the Retort, it is twice stronger in subduing the afore-mentioned diseases, but it is not of so sweet a Tast as is the Stone it self, which resided in the bottom of the Retort. And being externally applied in cleansing and mundifying old Fistulous Ulcers, it works much stronger than this our _Hæmatitis_ (which is more pleasantly administrable in internal defects) doth. But whoever he be that knows how (by many Solutions and Coagulations) to make this Stone constant in the fire, will obtain a far more excellent Medicament: concerning which, we will speak more in the end of this Treatise.

* * * * *

This now is such a Sawce or Junket, as every good Physician and Chyrurgeon hath just cause most highly to esteem in all Fluxes and Sores, both old and new, if he would obtain that repute which he thirsteth after; for it is endued with great Virtues, whereas on the contrary, the Juyce of Sloes, the common _Hæmatitis_, and _Crocus martis_, are, in comparison of this, to be accounted of as meer dead Medicaments. I could tell you of more virtues that are in the red Sublimate, and this in an especial manner, _viz._ that without being either bound on, or inwardly taken, but sympathetically and at a distance, it is able to cure any issues of Blood whatever. But I shall doe better to pass these things over in silence, because to the greatest part of unskilfull Men, they will not onely seem wonderfull, but impossible likewise. However, I commend to every ones acceptation this so excellent a Medicament, for all internal and external Issues of Blood, in all wounds and hurts, as also in all the obstructions of the Spleen, Liver, and other members of the body.

After such a manner as this, may any one easily turn all the Metals into Sugars, and into most excellent Medicaments. But forasmuch as the Metals are not all of them indifferently fit to be administred inwardly to the sick, I will make mention of Gold and Silver onely as being the best of all, and pass by the others, and will teach the preparation of yet more Sawces and Junkets; Copper, Tin, and Argent-[_vive_] are somewhat cruder bodies, and require greater care and diligence, to have the Title of good Medicaments. We will therefore let them pass, as having Gold and Silver at hand, which are more ripe.

_The manner of Preparing a good Sawce or Junket out of Silver,
which helpeth the Distempers and Diseases of the Brain._

The skilfull Chymical Physicians have assigned Silver for a Medicament for the Brain, which Assignment of theirs I acquiesce in, and doe here present you with such a Sawce or Junket as is of most especial use for the succouring of the Brain.

Take of common _Aqua Fortis_ (such as is commonly used about the dissolution of Silver) one pound: In two ounces of which you must dissolve one ounce of pure Silver; Dissolve likewise one ounce of Lead by it self: Put both Solutions together in a glass with a wide mouth; and being thus mixt, pour thereupon as much rectified Spirit of Salt as is sufficient for the precipitation of both the Metals. Pour off the clear water from the precipitated Metals, and pour upon them some fresh water, and stir them well about; which done, and the precipitated Calx settled to the bottom, the water is to be again decanted off, and more fresh water poured thereon: and this Labour is to be so often repeated, untill that precipitated Powder be void of all Acrimony: then put it in a pure linnen Cloth placed in a Funnel, that so the remaining moisture may drain from it. Then tie the cloth very firm, and squeese out, in two balls (or squeesings) all the residue of the moisture out of that silvery Cheese, and lay the same upon Cap-paper, and that will drink up all the rest of the moisture, and will soon dry your Cheese. This Cheese (or precipitated Powder) is to be put into a well coated Glass-retort, and to be forced with a gentle fire of Sand, that so all the superfluous moisture may be separated. Then, at last, the Fire being augmented, will force out part of the Silver and Lead in the form of white Flores, ascending up in the neck of the Retort. Now when the Retort hath been thus kept red-hot for one hour, let the fire go out of its own accord, and take out the cold Retort, and break it, and you will find in the bottom of the same a white and sweet Stone, which will melt (upon a red-hot Plate of Metal) like Wax, and penetrate the same, and is volatile like _Argent-vive_. Two, three, four, five Grains, even to eight or ten, of this Stone ground into a Powder, being administred (respect being had to the Patient’s age and sickness) yield a most present comfort in the diseases of the Head and Brain, and so are those white Flores wont to doe likewise: but in Chymical operations they are of eminent use. Now although this Stone be it self of a fugacious nature, yet notwithstanding in progress of time it makes _Mercury_, together with it self, constant in the fire; of which thing I have elsewhere already mentioned in my Writings, so that I need not say any more thereof in this place.

However, I cannot omit to tell you, that, although, otherwise, there is no familiarity at all betwixt Silver, and Lead, and Salt, yet nevertheless these three may be so prepared as (by a certain mixtion) not to refuse each others society. Hence it comes to pass, that if the Salt be rightly fitted for this operation, it puts forth more powerfull virtues, and for that reason doth the Silver suffer the more, and doth by so much the sooner attain to a constancy in the fire: and so ’tis evident, that the name of Alchymy or fusing of Salt, was not imposed on this Art for nothing. For by the help of Salt, are the Metals to be molten and meliorated, which thing you may take notice of.

_Another Sawce or Junket made of Gold and Silver._

Take some pure Silver, and dissolve it in _Aqua Fortis_, and precipitate it with Spirit of Salt, and free it from its Acrimony with common water, and squeese out the water, and lay your matter upon cap-paper to dry, and deal with it in all respects as we spake afore in the Process of _Saturn_. Of this Calx take three parts, and one part of Gold dissolved in the Oil of Salt; and first put your Silver Calx into a strong Glass-retort, which must be well coated, then pour thereto your yellow Solution of Gold. Place the Retort in Sand, and, first, force out your Spirit of Salt, in which forcing out, the Calx of the Silver will retain with it self the Gold; and of them both will be made a purple Stone, inclining somewhat to redness, fusile, and volatile. But the Oil of the Salt will carry up with it something of the Gold and Silver into the neck of the Retort; which, together with the aforesaid Stone, you shall take out of the broken Retort; but yet you must keep each apart, for a medicament of great moment: [both] which (if they were turned (by Solution and Coagulation) into a fix Ruby,) would doubtlesly perform their work, in the metallick Operations, with greater benefit and profit.

So have you here, briefly described, the third Junket, which, should it be described with all its Circumstances, the Process it self would in good sooth be more prolix and tedious than is fitting. And forasmuch as my Writings may seem unto many sufficiently tedious, ’tis but fit that I aim at brevity here in this place; though (on the other hand) they will seem (I well know) too short and brief unto others. But _Jupiter_ himself pleaseth not all alike. And the birth-day of him who can satisfie all, is yet to come; for he is not as yet born. For behave thy self as thou wilt in thy actions, either in briefly delivering thy self, or in uttering thy mind in a longer discourse, thou shalt not at any rate fulfill the expectation and desire of all men. I doe therefore here dish out this Junket, and commit the care of eating the same to the Guests. Every one that will, may more accurately weigh and consider of the same, that so he may come to find, how great the Efficacy and Utility of this Process is, though delivered so very briefly.

_Another Junket or Sawce, =viz.= A Confection of a Mineral
=Alkermes=._

There is in the Apothecaries shops a Confection made of the Berry or Grains of _Kermes_, known by the name of _Confectio Alkermes_; in which composition, there are added to the said Berries some Pearls done into Powder, and Leaf-Gold, and Amber-grease, and other such-like corroborating Simples. This medicament being confected with Sugar, is lookt on as the chiefest amongst all those Medicines which are wont to be administred for strengthening the Heart, and it merits the praise ascribed to it. But now instead of the Leaves of Gold, (which cannot be digested or concocted by the stomach, and are therefore carried forth with the Excrements without any operation,) I will substitute another Gold, which being made suitable, and accommodated unto nature, shall be able to put forth its virtues, and supply the place of foliated Gold, in the Confection of Alkermes.

And if any one be so minded, he may omit even the grains or the berry it self (for they are not to be had every-where) and make use of this Juyce of Gold, which I am about to teach in this place, and mix it with Sugar and other Powders that are strengtheners of the Heart. For this Golden Confection of a purple Colour, doth most notably strengthen the Heart by its corroborative virtue, and the Gold it self gives a far more excellent purple or scarlet Colour than the Grains of that berry doe, which are brought us from _Mompelier_. The way of preparing the said Gold, is as follows.

Dissolve the Calx of _Sol_, or of Gold, in strong Spirit of Salt, and pour upon the Solution some three or four parts of water more than the Solution is, that so the Acrimony of the Spirit of Salt may be somewhat allayed. Being thus prepared, put thereinto a bit of Tin, and such as hath no Lead commixt therewith, which said Tin, the allayed Spirit of Salt will seize upon, and dissolve part thereof. And being also debilitated thereby, it will let fall all the Gold that it contained, in the form of a purple Powder, adhering partly on to the Tin, and part will be of its own natural colour, and settle to the bottom, but as subtile as the Atoms that fly about in the Sun-beams, and resembling little stars. When therefore the whole body of the Gold is precipitated into a most delicate and fine Powder, out of the Spirit of Salt, which will now be clear and bright: Pour off the Spirit, and take the Tin out from the Golden Powder, and wash the Powder with clean and pure water, that so none of the Spirit of Salt may be therein discerned; and being now thus prepared, it may be used instead of Gold about the Confection of Alkermes.

Moreover, if you are so minded, you may take some pure Sugar-candy, and make it up into a syrup with weak Spirit of Salt, and then put thereunto this Golden Powder with a little Amber grease and some Powder of Pearls, and so make full as good, nay a better Confection than that common _Confectio Alkermes_ is; because a greater corroborating of the powers of the Heart, and a delicater purple Colour cannot be found in any other thing than in Gold. If now you operate aright, it cannot otherwise be but you must needs attain to this purple and golden Confection.

_N. B._ The Tin must be very pure and clean, for by how much the whiter it is, and the acuter sound it has, so much the fitter is it for this work. And in the Composition it self you may use this following weight or measure.

Take of the Calx of Gold one Lot [or half ounce] and dissolve it in three or four Lots of strong rectified Spirit of Salt: Pour unto the Solution twelve or fifteen Lots of pure water; then to all this, put two Lots of Tin, and set the Glass that the Solution is in, upon hot Sand, and heat it scalding-hot, but let it not boil. When it hath thus stood for one or two hours, all the Gold will be turned into Powder, of a Purple and Gold-like hue, and settle to the bottom. Then having poured out the Water, and separated the Tin, separate all the Acrimony from the Powder by several washings, and so will you have it fitted for the Confection. This done, take twelve Lots of Sugar-candy, and one Lot of rectified Spirit of Salt, and as much pure fair water as is sufficient to reduce the Sugar into a thick Syrup; Hereto add one Lot of that purple and tender golden Powder, and it will tinge all the Sugar with a Purple or Scarlet-colour. Then add likewise thereunto, two Lots of Pearls made into fine Powder, and one Quintula (about two drams and an half) of Amber-grease, mix them well together and set it by for use, as being a most efficacious Confection. And if you please, you may add to the former ingredients other strengthning and refreshing Powders. The Dose of this Confection is from 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, to 20 Grains, according as the persons are. It corroborates the Heart, Brain, and the whole Body, and doth likewise (by reason of the Spirit of Salt) allay thirst, and stirs up the appetite to food.

* * * * *

And thus much may suffice this time about Sawces or Junkets. It now remains that we likewise search after some select and harmless Purges out of the Metals too, and adjoyn them to the former. When in feastings (or merry-meetings) the Guests are wont to drink Healths to their Lords, and tope off many Cups, and store of Glasses full of strong Wine, it cannot possibly be, but that their Stomachs must be stufft with tenacious and clammy humours, and the Head much oppressed with Catthars, and the Bowels fill’d with store of wind. Now here cannot be a better and more profitable way of succouring these Stomachs and Heads, thus beset with so many tenacious humours, and of helping the whole body thus corrupted by so often repeated draughts, than by a purgative Medicine, which by expelling all the evil and offensive humours opens all the passages of the Body, and again brings the so necessary respiration. We will therefore present you here with three such purging Medicaments, and those very good ones. One is of Antimony; The second of Silver and Antimony; And the third of Gold and Antimony: Each of which, by it self, doth far exceed the other purging Medicaments made of the Vegetables.

For Metals do penetrate the Body far better, and do perform their Operations with less hazard than the Vegetables do, most of which abound with a resinous clamminess, which doth often stick to the Bowels, and cause great gripings, which is not to be feared at all from metallick purgative Medicines: which (upon this account) are to be preferred before those that are prepared of the Vegetables; nor do I contemn these Vegetable Purges, for they are good, and may be made use of, where better are not at hand.

Therefore, forasmuch as I have in my time, made trial of many such Medicaments, and have in very deed found, that metallick Purges do excel the Vegetable ones both in pleasantness and efficacy, and are far safer; I could not but commend the same above all other Purges to such as come after me, but yet leaving every one at his pleasure to make use of either these or them.

_A Purge of =Saturn=._

Dissolve two ounces of Lead in pure _Aqua Fortis_, and pour upon the Solution one ounce of Butter of Antimony, that so they may be precipitated together into a white _Coagulum_ or Curd, whereto you must put a good quantity of fair water, and stir it very well about, that it may imbibe the Spirit of Salt which was in the Butter.

Then pour off this water, and put on more, and repeat this labour so long, untill all the sharpness be washt out of the precipitated Powder. This white Powder being dried is a most excellent Purge, educing all evil and hurtfull humours out of the Body without danger, and being administred from one Grain to ten, according as the Patient is, doth work downwards, especially when it is given in a lesser Dose. But if there be need of vomiting too, then the Dose may be encreased, especially unto those that can brook vomiting, and cast with ease. It may be used without danger as a good and safe Purge, in all such Diseases as purgative Medicaments are, and may be administred.

_A Purge of =Lune=._

Dissolve two ounces of pure Silver in four ounces of _Aqua Fortis_, and pour upon this Solution one ounce of the Butter of Antimony, which together with the Silver will go into a white Curd, as we said but now of the Lead in the preceeding Process. Wash this Powder with common water, and dry it and administer it in the same Dose as the Saturnine Powder is to be given; and it will perform its part in all Diseases, but especially in those of the Head.

_N. B._ The Butter of Antimony must be made of the _Regulus_ of Antimony, with rectified Spirit of Salt, and not with _Mercury_ sublimate, as the common custom is.

_Purging Gold._

In the first place, you must make a most strong Spirit of Niter thus, _viz._ put equal parts of calcined Allum and good Salt-peter into a well coated Retort, out of which is to be drawn (leisurely and by degrees into a very large Receiver luted on to the neck of the Retort) a Spirit, which will make the Receiver look red. All the Spirit being distilled, let the Fire go out of its own accord, and leave on the Receiver so long till all the Spirits are setled, and that the Receiver be become clear agen: Macerate the Lute, which joyned the Receiver on to the Retort, with water, and have an especial care when you take off the Receiver, that none of the Lute fall into the Spirit. Put the Spirit in a strong Glass, and shut it up well with Wax, that it may not exhale, for it is very strong, and is red as Bloud, because it had no water put unto it in the Receiver.

Pour two ounces of this strong Spirit upon one ounce of the Butter of Antimony, and it will presently pass into a red Solution, whereto put one ounce of pure Gold that it may be dissolved, which Solution will be redder than Bloud. Then pour in thereupon some common fair water, and the Antimony and the Gold will precipitate into a Purple Powder, which is to be washt well with water, and so dried.

Its Dose is from one, two Grains to six, (according as the Age and Party is,) it may be given in Wine, Ale, Water, or any other Liquor, which may be as a Vehicle unto it. It works without any danger, and doth safely and pleasantly (beyond all other Purges) drive out all offending Humours out of the Body of Man.

_=Aurum Diaphoreticum=, or Sweating Gold._

If no water be poured upon the just-now-spoken of red Solution, thereby to precipitate the same, but that that strong Spirit of Niter be drawn off by a Retort, it then takes from the Antimony its purging and vomiting power and makes it Diaphorical. Nor needs the Purple Powder, when it’s taken out of the Glass, any washing at all, because being administred in two, three, four, five, six, or ten Grains Dose it may be safely taken, and it provokes Sweat. It is therefore very profitable in all the Diseases that are to be expelled by Sweat; yea in the Leaprosie, Gout, Dropsie, French-pox, Plague, Scurvey, and in all Feavers doth it play its part even to admiration, for (by reason of the Gold which it contains in it) it doth both provoke Sweat, and strengthen the powers of the Body.

The former Powder or purging Gold, being mixt with an equal weight of purging _Lune_, or purging _Saturn_, and molten in a Crucible, turns into a red Stone or Glass, of which, little Tablets or Pellets somewhat bigger than a Pea may be again cast or molten, and kept for use. And now when there’s need of purging, let one of those Tablets be put in to some spoonfulls of Wine and lie therein all night, and let the Wine be drunk off in the morning following, just after the self same manner as other purges are wont to be administred. For there is so much virtue extracted by the Wine out of the glazen Tablet as to give several Stools. If one Tablet or Pellet be not sufficient, then may a second, or a third, or more be adjoyned thereunto, and so left all night in the Wine, that so the Wine may work more effectually if need requires. The Tablets or Pellets remain good a long time, and may be many times applied to the self same use.

But if any one should be desirous of performing this labour even yet better, he may get a little Pot or Cup to be made for him of white Earth, and may have it glazed both inside and outside with this same Glass; for two or three Spoonfulls of Wine infused for a night in such a Cup, and drunk off next morning, are capable of purging you even as doth the other.

These are the effects of these purges in Medicine. They likewise do some good in Alchymy, if all three of them, _viz._ the Saturnine, the Lunar, and the Solar are reduced by melting into a Glass: this Glass being Philosophically cemented somewhat of the Silver, Lead, and Antimony will be meliorated, and turned into Gold by the Gold.

* * * * *

Now for a Farewell, take this which follows. If the God _Appollo_ the Inventer of Medicine, would bestow his light upon any one, and by his hot Beams melt the waxen Wings of the untamed, flying, and (to his Father _Dedalus_) disobedient Son _Icarus_, (and flying out of the Isle of _Creet_, over the _Icarian_ Sea,) that so he might fall down into the sweet and sulphureous Sea of the Sun, and may remain drowned therein: Then from this dead Body (which is not wont to be subdued by any other means) may a most excellent Medicine be prepared. For what way soever he is handled by otherwise, whether he be turned into a white sublimate, or be reduced into a yellow or red precipitate, he is notwithstanding always corrosive; and brings more hurt than good, and therefore may very deservedly be eschewed.

Or if we did but know the way of fixing it without any corrosivity, by those three principal Columes of all Medicine, namely Vitriol, Sulphur, and Antimony, he would undoubtedly be administrable without any fear, and be withall capable of performing great matters. For then he would not stir up and cause so many purgations, and such vehement Salivations, and other hurtfull symptoms as usually comes to pass, but would bring a most speedy help to the Sick by his gentle operation by Sweat and Urine, and get the Physician a most eminent praise.

This I would have every one know, that Sulphur has a power of killing all Corrosives, and reducing them to a sweetness, whether it be done by the dry way or by the moist. And of all Sulphurs, a Vegetable Sulphur is the fittest, which being freed from its inflamable nature, is capable of reducing [any] Corrosives, though never so great, unto a sweetness in one hours space. Nay more, any Metal being first dissolved in such like Corrosives, doth together with the same become a sweet Medicament: And so when Gold is dissolved in Spirit of Salt, and Silver, Tin, Copper, Iron, and Lead are dissolved in _Aqua Fortis_, and that that Corrosive Dissolvent is transmuted by a sweet Sulphur, it so comes to pass that the Metal together with the Corrosive is made a Medicament, and becomes potable. Such potable liquor of the Metals, (but especially of Gold and Silver,) and void of all Corrosivity, will you meet withall in my Medical-shop; which liquor, as well those of Silver, and Copper, as that of Gold, are red. The Liquor of Gold may be used instead of _Aurum Potabile_, and it guilds Quicksilver and the other Metals with a golden Colour, like as the Silver-liquor guilds _Mercury_, and Silver [or Copper, probably] with a Silver Hue; and the Coppery-liquor guilds _Mercury_ and Iron with a Coppery Colour.

_N. B._ _Aurora_ being inflamed with the love of _Jupiter_, and withdrawing him together with her self into Heaven, if both of them be again thrust down headlong by the other Gods into the Salt-Sea, they come forth out of this Bath, so delicate and so white, that she resembles the fairness of _Diana_; and he, the comliness of _Apollo_: but not as yet constant in the Fire. But when the time of bathing is over, _Mars_ coming to the Sea Shore, draws both of them out upon a dry Island called _Irony_, from Iron; where they are yet once more washt by _Vulcan_, (who makes use of _Saturns_ help) in a dry Bath, who washeth off the Defilements far more accurately than the Salt Sea could, for he leaves not off washing and purging them, untill all the Defilements are separated from both their Bodies, and that they be made like unto _Diana_ and _Apollo_, in Constancy and comeliness.

Mars seeing that his Sister _Venus_, and Brother _Jupiter_ did come forth out of the Salt Sea with so lovely a fairness, leapt thereinto himself, that so by spending some time in washing, he might rinse off those black Defilements from his black Body. But there was such store of filth washt off, as made all the Sea green and sweet, and it hid [or swallowed up] _Mars_ himself, being now much diminished, insomuch that he could never have escaped out of that Sea, had not _Sol_, out of meer pity on him, dried up the water of the Sea, for old limping _Saturn_ to come unto him, and to take poor wretched him out of the Dirt and Mire, which he also did.

But because there was such a deal of Mire and Filth as that this (slim) lame, (hopping Fellow) could not get out agen, he even there stuck fast with _Mars_, and so lost his Life. Of the dead Bodies of these two, _viz._ of _Mars_ and _Saturn_, _Vulcan_ did at length make one Head having two Faces, or a double Countenance, one resembling _Apolo_, the other _Diana_; and upon this account was the name of double-visaged _Janus_ bestowed upon it by _Vulcan_.

By these few and short Operations and Processes, may any one make and devise many more such like. I am not at this time, for my part, minded to busie and trouble my self about any more tedious a description of such matters, for I guess that in what I have already said and disclosed to the unthankfull, I have too much exceeded my bounds. Every one may choose to himself those things which he shall deem most profitable, and forbear to despise that which he shall not be capable of apprehending the meaning of.

’Tis a usual Proverb, _That a Cup of generous Wine must accompany Dainty Delicates_.

Because therefore we have in the three precedent Sawces or Junkets, presented you with fine savoury Cates, it is but fitting that we accompany the same with three dainty draughts, and those drawn out of the best of Metals too, namely out of Gold and Silver, because the Cates or Sawces themselves were composed of the same. Our Ancient Predecessors called those Drinks of old time _Nectar_, or the drink of the Gods, which in our days are known by the names of potable Gold, and potable Silver.