Chapter XCIX: Part I: To the well minded Reader (27)

This sudden growth of Stones and Metals, I have many years since shewed to some of my Friends, who greatly admired the same, but could not comprehend that reason thereof. Now therefore, to satisfie the Searchers after truth, I declare, that all growth, whether in the _Microcosme_, or _Macrocosme_ proceeds from a Spirit, or Volatile _Salt_, arising from two contraries, _viz._ an _Acid_ and an _Alkali_; for when an _Alkali_, and an _Acid_ Spirit meet, they cause an Effervescence, during which, there proceeds from them both a very subtil Spirit, which has the Nature and Property to make all things grow. If a Man takes this Spirit inwardly; it procures and preserves health; if it be joyn’d to an Herb, it makes it to grow and shoot up suddenly. With this Spirit we can make an Herb grow from its Seed in the midst of Winter, (but it must be in a warm Room,) so as it may be seen to grow; which my self have performed more than once. And to make it appear, that this swift growth only proceeds from a volatile Spirit, produc’d by the strife of two contraries, I’le give this instance; pour one Pound of Oyl of _Vitriol_, upon one or two Pound of calcined _Tartar_, not at once, but by degrees, and at several times, and it will cause a great strife and Effervescence, cover the _Cucurbit_ with its Head, and give Fire in a Sand Furnace, by which means a very subtil volatile Spirit comes into the Receiver. If before this Work be undertaken, a Stone hath been dissolved by the calcined _Tartar_, and a Metal in the Oyl of _Vitriol_, then the Spirit, which proceeds from them, will be much more powerful; because the Virtue both of the Stone and Metal comes over with the Spirit. In this manner may a volatile Spirit be had from all _Acids_ and _Alkalis_.

To demonstrate this further, that the growth of all things proceeds from the strife of two contraries, take this instance: Dissolve some Iron or Copper in Spirit of _Salt_, or Oyl of _Vitriol_, draw off the Flegm, in which Distillation none of the _Acid_ Spirit will come over; because it is joyn’d and concentred with the Metal, animating and disposing it to shoot up and to grow swiftly, so as the eye may perceive it grow, like a Tree with a Body, Boughs, Branches, and Twigs. Take this Spirit of _Salt_ or _Vitriol_, concentred by the ♂, as soon as you have taken it out of the Furnace, whilst it is yet warm, and break it into little Bitts, about the bigness of large Pease (if you should suffer it to grow cold, it would by attracting the Air, suddenly run into an Oyl _per deliquium_.) These pieces of animated ♂ must be joyned with its contrary, for which you can choose nothing better than a Liquor of Flints prepared in the same manner, which I have taught in the second part of my Furnaces. The Glass, wherein you put this Liquor of Flints, must be of the same wideness at the top, as at the bottom, and about an handbreadth high, and fill’d with the said _Alkalious_ Liquor, to which, put your _Acid_ concentred by the ♂, laying the pieces orderly a thumbs breadth from one another, and place the Glass, where it may not be shaken or jogg’d. As soon as these contraries are thus joyned, they begin to act upon one another; but forasmuch, as the one of these contraries is concentred by the ♂, and become hard, it cannot mingle it self with its adversary, or destroy it, so they only vex and anguish one another, in doing which, a warmth ariseth between them, and the one contrary pusheth the other to shoot and grow; the hard and dry part, _viz._ the animated ♂ drawing so much moisture from its contrary, the Liquor of Flints, as makes it heave and begin to grow in form of a Plant, with Root, Stock, Branches, and Twigs, very pleasant to behold, the growth being very swift, so as within an hour and an half, or two hours at the most, the whole Glass is fill’d with little iron Trees, which grow harder and harder, and when they are hard enough, (which will be in the space of twenty four hours) then the Liquor of Flints must be let out from it through a hole, left on purpose in the bottom of the Glass, and the Plant, or little Tree, remains. If we desire to make a more pleasant sight of it, we may take several Metals, and make them grow up like a Tree; ♂ affords a dark brown, _Venus_ a green, ♄ ♃ and ☿ a White and Grey, ☽ a Blew, and ☉ a Yellow Colour. Minerals also give different Colours from Metals; _Lapis Calaminaris_ grows not into Trees, but into the resemblance of Mountains and Rocks of a White and Greyish Colour.

If we have a mind to make Stones to grow, we proceed thus, first we melt the Stone, whether White or Coloured, into a transparent Glass, and pour it forth into a Copper Bason, where it will flow broad and thin, and will be the fitter to be broke into as small pieces as we desire. Which peices we place as before in a flat bottom’d Glass before described, which must be full of an _Acid_ Spirit mixed with water, so as it may neither be too sharp, nor too weak; for if it be weakned with too much water, it will not retain strength enough to make it grow; and if the _Acid_ be too sharp, it will dissolve the _Alkalized_ Stone, wherefore great care must be taken, as to this particular.

_N. B._ The _Magnesia_ gives a Blood-red Tree, and much more beautiful than any of the Metals: Only observe, that Metals may be made to grow with less trouble than Stones.

From what hath been said, it appears beyond dispute, that the growth of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals (Stones not excepted) proceeds from two contraries. I could easily make this out more amply and fully, but having treated of the same in other parts of my Writings, I shall let it rest here.

_An Appendix or COROLLARY._

I have in the foregoing Treatise declared the use of the _Salt_ of Art, both in Physick and Alchimy, and have set down nothing, but what my self have experienced. What I have writ concerning our _Alcolized_ Spirit of Wine, is also the very truth: And tho’ what I have here set down might seem to suffice; yet I cannot, before I conclude this small Book, but mention a much greater Gift of God, than that of which I have spoken here, _viz._ that God hath vouchsafed Mankind, for preserving their Health, a Subject, wherein the Powers and Virtues of all Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, are summ’d up and united together; which Subject may be had in all places for nothing, and however contemptible it may seem to the ignorant, yet it is the matter of the highest Medicine in the World. Every Man can have enough of it from himself, needs therefore not to go to another for it. _Adam_ and _Eve_ our first Parents brought this matter with them out of Paradise; yea, every one brings it along with him from his Mothers womb.

Let no Man imagin, that I speak here of Urine, or Mans Dung, it is something else, and more despised than either of them, so that a proud Man will scarcely light upon it. I say, if a Man know this Subject, and how to make use of it in Physick, he may well account himself happy, as needing nothing of all that is in the World besides, in Case he hath only strength, place, and convenience to prepare the same. The Subject costs nothing, and the Preparation requires neither Glasses, Coals nor Furnace. I commend this Subject to Physicians above any other in the World, the Preparation being easie, and without Charges, and may be finished in few days: So that the knowledge of this Subject, and its easie Preparation, ought not to be look’d upon, as an invention of Man, but as a wonderful, and undeserved Gift of God, reserved only for those, who despise the World with all its Vanities, renounce the Devil and all his Works, and avoid the Company of wicked Men, his adherents.

Of the Three most noble STONES generated
by Three Secret FIRES.
AND

_First, Of the Stone of Philosophers, which is prepared by the
Secret Fire of the Wise._

_Secondly, of the upper and lower Thunder-stone, how they are
generated above, by the Meteorological Fire; and below, by the
secret Artificial Fire. And_,

_Thirdly, How the =Lapis Ignis=, or Fire-stone of =Basilius=, is to
be prepared out of =Antimony= by Art._

_And how these Three most noble Stones of the World, are to be used
in Physick and Alchymy. Translated out of the =High-Dutch=._

_Reader_,

In the end of the Appendix to the Seventh Part of my _Pharmacopœa Spagyrica_, I have made mention of Three Fires, which are not Common, but unknown to the World. By which are generated three wonderful Stones, which I did intend to publish. First, of the secret Fire of Philosophers, commonly called the Fire of _Artephius_, because _Artephius_ a very ancient Philosopher did first write of it, who was also envious like others, and would write nothing of it, till he came to be nine hundred Years old which way the Philosophers Stone was to be made by this Fire. These Writings have been long tossed up and down the World, before any could be certain, whether or no this miraculous Fire could be found in Nature. At length some Philosophers attain’d its knowledge, and published it for the good of the World. But because, those Philosophers were very obscure in their Writings, the Art could not be made common, but remaineth secret to this hour: So that one of a Thousand among the now reputed Philosophers, (who have fill’d the whole World with their unexperienced Writings) scarcely one is to be found, who know any thing of it. And because this secret Fire was called by the true Philosophers, _Ignis Philosophorum_, it would have becomed them, to know somewhat of it. _Helmont_ the most experienced and learned Philosopher of his time, although he had studied long in the Universities, yet he doth not Glory in any Arts he there learned: But on the contrary, he saith, that Physick, as it is taught in the Schools, is of no value. And, that not the Universities, but the Fire, made him a Philosopher. And therefore, he calls himself a Philosopher by the Fire. And without doubt, our secret Fire was known to him, as appears by his excellent Writings. For his _Elementum Ignis Veneris_, to which he attributes so many Virtues, could not well be made, without this secret Fire. A Quintessence may be drawn out of _Venus_, but that will not effect, what the Red Element of the incombustible _Sulphur_ can. _Paracelsus_, in his Book of _Sulphur_, writes, that an excellent _Elementum Ignis_ may be made out of common _Sulphur_, which he so highly commends, that he dares to say, that except a Physician hath this Element of Fire, (that is the fixed Quintessence of _Sulphur_, among his _Arcanums_, he cannot rightly be reputed a Physician, but a Money Catcher, and Robber of the Sick. In my lately published Treatise of _Sulphur_, I have also described an _Elementum Ignis_, which is certainly a very excellent Medicine against all Cold Distempers, but this is not yet fixed, but combustible, but the Element of Fire ought to be incombustible. For as long as a Medicine made out of _Sulphur_ is still combustible, and subject to blacken Silver when touched with it, it cannot be reputed the true _Elementum Ignis Sulphuris_. For the true Element of Fire of _Sulphur_ doth not make Silver black, but tingeth it with a constant Golden Colour, which cannot be washed off. As also, the Element of Fire ought to be of this Nature, to enter a Red hot Plate of Silver without fume, as Oyl sinks into dry Leather; and to tinge it Yellow. Also, it ought to tinge common ☿ into Gold, when added to it in a due heat. This Quintessence of _Sulphur_, also must not be burnt by the Fire as other Oyl, but remain incombustible. Therefore, the Philosophers have called it an incombustible Oyl, a permanent Water, _Aurum potabile_, _&c._ When it hath those Virtues, then it can perform what _Paracelsus_ attributes to it, _viz._ Wonders both in Physick and Alchymy; and by this, _Aristotle_ and his followers (who assert, that the Species of Metals cannot be transmuted) are quite out of Doors.

It is true, _Aristotle_ also saith, that the Metals cannot be transmuted, if they be not first reduced to their first matter, of which I have sufficiently treated. This our fixed Oyl of _Sulphur_ transmutes the Metals without any precedent reduction of them to their first matter. For our secret Fire hath taken away whatsoever was pernicious or combustible; so that only the purest and incombustible part remains, by which such great things in Medicine and Alchymy are performed, that it refuteth all those who speak against it; although many Impostors by their cheats, from place to place, have given occasion to speak evil of the Noblest of Arts; which hath had an ill effect heretofore upon my self.

An History of the Poisonous Tayl of Common Alchymy.

_Here follows a large Historical Digression of some great Abuses
which the Author some time underwent, but pertaining nothing to
the scope of this Treatise, I will not trouble the Reader with
it._

Now concerning our secret Fire, it is not made of Coals or Wood, or other combustible Matter, but compounded of certain Fiery Waters, which burn, but not like other Fires without the Glass, but always within the Glass; wherefore _Artephius_, as the first Author of the secret Fire, useth these words. _Our Fire is Mineral, Equal, Continual, it Vapours not unless it be too much stirred up, it partakes of =Sulphur=, and is taken elsewhere than from the matter; it pulleth down all things, dissolveth, congealeth, and calcineth, it is artificial to find; it is a short way without cost, at the least with small cost; it is moist, vaprous, digestive, altering, piercing, subtile, Airy, not violent, not burning, compassing or environning, containing but one, and it is the fountain of living Water which goeth about and containeth the place, when the King and Queen hath themselves._

This is _Artephius_’s Description of the Fire of Philosophers. _Pontanus_ hath also wrote of this Fire, to whose Epistle I refer the Reader for the more easie introduction to it.

_Artephius_ hath here plainly enough described the Matter, and the _Mercurial_ Water, and _Pontanus_ hath confirmed it. He to whom God will give it, will easily comprehend it; but _Artephius_ and _Pontanus_ teach nothing, but how to ripen the Stone of Philosophers compounded of Gold, Silver, and _Antimony_, by this secret Fire. But because several others as well universal as particular are to be easily prepared by this our Fire, I think fit to say somewhat of it. Our Fire, maturates whatsoever is put to it, whether Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, and therefore our Fire, as also the Matter of the Philosophers Stone it self, is called Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral; as also a natural, non-natural, and supernatural Fire. He who is not satisfied with this may read _Artephius_ himself, where he will find more of this our secret Fire.

Now having understood what _Artephius_ and _Pontanus_ have written of our secret Fire, I could not but describe it somewhat more openly, to shew the Artist a nearer and easier way to obtain it. I _Glauber_ can truly affirm this, That in my young days I have travelled many Countries, and diligently searched for an Experienced Philosopher, that might teach me some good. But I no where found my desire, but I often found some diligent Physician, who following _Crollius_, _Hartman_, _Beguinus_, and other Experienced Physicians, prepared their own Medicines, by which they gained Honour and Wealth, and were therewith content. Some of them had indeed read _Artephius_ and _Pontanus_, but had not light enough to understand them. I have also endeavoured to frequent the elaboraories of Princes, to learn something there. Indeed I found Processes enough there, which were sent from great Men. By following of which, and working in _Arsenick_, _Orpiment_, _Cobalt_, _Cinabar_, _Mercury_ and the like Minerals, I drew a great deal of Poison into my Body, till at length I grew weary of it, and therefore set my mind upon _Spagyrick_ Medicines, by which I have found many curious Secrets, and gain’d a sufficient Livelyhood. But yet at the same time, I attentively read the Writings of the Philosophers, and out of them learned many good things, chiefly _Basilius_, _Braceseus_, _Neusementius_ and the like good Authors; but the secret Fire of _Artephius_, or the proper Agent, I could not Learn, I have often Discoursed of it with Learned men, but always found, that they understood less of it than my self. For they had not read the Ancient Philosophers, but had spent their time in getting of Money, and sending their Receipts to the Apothecareis Shops. But after a light was enkindled in me from above, and I began to know this secret Fire, I began to have an aversion to the tedious, and troublesome work with Glasses, therefore I set it all aside, and now find my self more at ease, by this Capital work, for I make no further use of Furnaces, Glasses, or Coals, but can now do more and greater things in half a Nutshell or Eggshell, than I could before, with all my Furnaces, Glasses and Coals, for which I give incessant thanks to God, who is the giver of all Good. This I was willing to add, _viz._ that our Fire is hard to be found, but easie to be made, when known. Concerning the Matter, it is not always the same, but may be taken after several ways, yet according to the true proportion of the Fire, for this is all in all, the proper Agent must be only excited by our Fire, and carried on to the promoting of the Maturation of our Matter; for the proper Agent is here as much concerned, as the fire it self, for that alone could not work sufficiently to prepare an unripe Mineral by it self, without the help of the proper Agent, in so short a time, into a Tincture constant in the Fire, or universal Medicine. Now whoever hath a mind to do any thing with our secret Fire, must have constancy of mind, tarry at home, and beg assistance of God, whose Blessing he must wait for with Patience.

Now concerning the farther use of our secret Fire, it is thus, that all Vegetables, as Herbs, Roots, Seeds, Woods, _&c._ and all Animals, none excepted, together with all Minerals and Metals, may without Cost, be easily brought into excellent Medicaments, particularly. For our Fire _Maturates_ the purest _Anima_, or Quintessence of all things. Poysonous Subjects are converted into Medicine, sowr and bitter into pleasant and sweet. The immature is ripened; and our Fire can be better compared with nothing, than with the Sun, which gives Life to all Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, and makes the imperfect, perfect, nothing excepted. In fine, Our Fire is the greatest and most noble in the World, the Sun excepted: But God is above all, the Lord of the Creation. But what need I say much of the Melioration of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, by our secret Fire, I have said enough, if I should say more, it would render it too Common.

But thus much it will be necessary to add, _viz._ what the Subjects are, which are the most easily wrought upon by our Fire. Among Vegetables, Wine, and what pertains to it is the best; Among Minerals, _Antimony_ and _Mercury_, which is our living Gold; Among Animals, Man, and what appertains to him. You have your own choice to chuse, which you will, you have sufficient Advice, and want nothing more, but the Blessing of God, without which all is in vain.

_Here followeth the Composition, or Preparation of our secret Fire._

Three Heathenish Deities command this our secret Fire, _viz._ _Apollo_, _Diana_ and _Pluto_. _Apollo_ affords the warm Sun-shine. _Diana_ gives the cooling and refreshing Night. And _Pluto_ gives his Fiery Hellish Rain. That you may better understand it, _Apollo_ gives Wine three times, _Diana_ Milk twice, and _Pluto_ his Hellish Fire once. Out of these three Gifts, our Fire is prepared. This is the true Preparation of our wonderful Fire. To speak of this more amply, is not convenient; we must not cast Pearls before Swine, which way this Fire is to be used to any Subject, is sufficiently discovered to a Man thereunto elected by God. But there are many, who having no dependency upon God’s Blessing proceed after an evil and cheating manner, so that those _Alchymists_, or Gold-makers, are become a scorn to the Country, and no Man cares to dwell by them, lest their great and continual Fires should bring damage to his Neighbours, and this not without reason. For in making Oyl of _Vitriol_ after the common way, a Fire is kept ordinarily for forty or fifty hours, which is a very tedious Work; but the Adepts can force over a Pound of Oyl of _Vitriol_ in an hours time, with very few Coals, which thing I have already touched in my Writings, and shall say more of it in my Second Appendix. I have recommended this compendious way of making Oyl of _Vitriol_ and _Sulphur_, to some Men; but they adhered so close to their old lingring way, that they were regardless of a better, notwithstanding that the Oyl of _Vitriol_, and the _Acidum_ of _Sulphur_, are the Basis or Foundation of all the common _Hermetick_ Medicine, for all other Mineral Spirits are by them acquired easily and plentifully. That Mineral _Acid_ which is plentifully found in _Vitriol_ and _Sulphur_, is the only Agent whereby Nature _Maturates_ the yet volatile and unripe Minerals in the Earth. And also all Tinctures, which are fixed and constant in the Fire, are by the hand of the _Artist_ prepared by this, yet with the Addition of its Compeer, the external Fire. This universal _Acidum_ is our Horse-dung, and the _Stygian_ water, in which _Jason_ drowned his Dragon and made him fixed: But when I here mention _Jason_’s Dragon, it comes into my mind what happened to me, when I once attempted to make such a Dragon, which vomited out Fire, and a black poysonous Smoke, out of _Sulphur_ and _Saltpeter_: And because this History, may serve as a warning to many, who may incur much danger oftentimes by the common _Alchymy_, I will here insert it. A little before I became Bed-ridden, I had undertaken to steal from the ever watchful Dragon, that Golden _Fleece_ which he hath in his keeping, and because this fierce Dragon will part with nothing before he be half slain, or at least, laid to sleep, therefore I was busied in this work, and had made a mixture of _Sulphur_, _Niter_ and _Tartar_, and also another of _Salter-peter_, _Antimony_ and _Tartar_, each apart in an Earthen Pot, in order to Fire them for Detonation. And although I had ordered, that one Pot should first be detonated, and then the other, that the Smoke might not be too great, yet this was not done, but they were fired both together, which caused such a great, black and stinking Smoke to ascend the Chimney, that when the Neighbours saw it, they thought the House had been on fire, and cryed out, Fire, knocked at my Door, to come in to quench it, when there was none, notwithstanding this was not done in my dwelling House, but in a House remote from all others, so that it could have done no hurt to any else, if it had been burnt down, but they not being satisfied got Ladders and looked down the Chimney, and seeing no Fire there, they then said, it was Witchcraft. Out of this History, one may see what a dangerous Toyl the common _Alchymy_ hath. This work to kill the Dragon, and to spoyl him of his Golden _Fleece_, is one of the pleasantest that ever I did in _Alchymy_, except the secret Fire. For when the _Sulphur_, _Salt-peter_, _Antimony_ and _Tartar_, are denotated together, and sublimed with _Sal Armoniack_, the Golden _Fleece_ riseth in a curious Golden Colour, and tingeth the Head, and Receiver with all sorts of Colours, like unto the Rain-bow, or a Peacocks Tail, and also one sees the Foot-steps of the scaly Dragon most gloriously in the Head; which _Neusementius_ hath excellently described, in a few _French_ Verses, and hath omitted almost nothing which belongs to this Work: And because I here write of this sort of Work, it will not be amiss, to add those Verses. Concerning this, _Medea_ thus exhorts _Jason_ in _Ovid_.

_Pervigil ecce Draco, squamis crepitantibus horrens,
Sibilat & torto pectore verrit humum._

Which _Neusementius_ hath thus rendred into _French_.

Voy le Dragon veillant de fureur forcenè
Qui d’escaille bruyante a le corps entournè
Dont le gosier sifflant fumeè & feu deserre
Et qui par replis tors va baliant la terre
De sa large poitrine en la poudre imprimant
Les sinueux sillons, qu’il trace incessament.

And may thus again be put into _Latine_.

_Adspice squamosum tumidumq; furore Draconem
Semper in excubias aures frontemque minacem
Vibrantem, & nullo claudentem lumina somno
Qui crista linguisq, tribus præsignis, & uncis
Dentibus horrendis, patulo de gutture Flammas
Sibilat, & fumis atratis inficit auras,
Adspice multiplices Gyros quos ponderè Caudæ
Insinuat Terræ, cum longa volumina ducit
Perque superficiem reptat, cum pectore lato
Verrit humum, relegens eadem vestigia semper._

And in _English_ may sound thus,

_Behold this scaly Dragon swel’d with Ire,
His Crest doth brandish, with a dreadful Brow;
Nere closeth Eyes, nor Ears, nor yet retires
From dismal noise, and horid Teeth to shew:
From his broad Throat flames issue out
Black fumes infect the Air about.
Behold the Rings, which his encircled Tail
Casts on the Earth, whilst he doth form his Coil;
With his broad Breast he creeps upon its Face
Sweeping the ground, always in the same Trace._

Here in few words the Philosopher describes the whole Work, how to spoyl the Dragon of his Golden _Fleece_. But only to those, who easily understand these Verses, whose eyes God hath opened, and are already pretty well skilled in this Art. But to the unexpert all remains dark. Reading only will not do it, but you must put your hand to the Work, if you will attain to any thing. I have, for several years together, read, sought, and laboured in vain, before I found the right way of obtaining this Golden _Fleece_. And when at length I became Master of this Art, I could not but admire that it was so easie a thing, and yet so difficult to be learned out of Books. _Paracelsus_ and _Neusementius_ write the plainest of this, of which two expert Men, I first learned this Art, but afterwards I found a more Compendious way, so that I can now perform the whole Work, with the Charge of one Ducat [or ten Shillings] in a very short time. But I must leave it to others to do, being yet detained in my Bed by my sickness: So that I can do no more, than to shew to others by my Writings and Instructions, the ready way to the Land of Promise.

_Of the Second Fire, and its marvelous Fire-stone, which is
generated by it._

We know, that Fire generates Stones, every one according to its Nature. The secret Fire of the Philosophers, engenders the Philosophers Stone, which is a universal Medicine for Men and Metals, as we have already heard. That the Meteorical fire, from whence proceeds Lightening and Thunder, generates also Stones, is known to all, for the Air procreates the same things, which are found upon the Earth. Therefore _Hermes_ in his _Smaragdine_ Table hath very well said, That whatsoever is beneath is also above, and what is above, is also beneath, by which, marvellous things are done. We know, that Frogs and Grashoppers and the like, which are procreated in the Air, have fallen down with the Rain. I have read in a certain Historian, that once a Calf fell down with the Rain.

_Anaxagoras_, a famous Philosopher, prognosticated in his Life-time, that after he was dead, a great Stone should fall down from the Air, to the Earth, which also came to pass. We also know, that sometimes great pieces of Iron have fallen down, not compact, but sticking one part to another like drops. And also, every Body knows, that Stones are cast down by Thunder and Lightening, which Stones are formed and concentrated by the Lightening, and so have assumed the Nature of a Stone; for in the Lightening is hid a very miraculous Property seeing that Lightening is a Fire of quite another Nature, than our common Fire, which breaks in pieces all hard things which resist, but toucheth not what maketh no resistance. It hath very often happened, that the Lightening hath broken a Mans Bones, without hurting his flesh. We have also known, that it hath melted the Sword in the Scabbard, and left the Scabbard whole. This Stone generated by Lightening, hath quite another Nature than common Stones, for it is not transparent like a Pebble or Sand-stone, which melt in the fire. Neither hath it the Nature of transparent and hard Gems, which do not melt in the fire, and yet keep their Lustre, neither can the fire reduce it into Lime, as it doth a Chalk-stone. In a word, it can be compared with no Stone in the World. Its shape is also wonderful, for it is generally sharp at both ends, but yet they are not all of one Figure or shape, they are generally smooth on the outside, and of a milky Colour, and reddish within. I have one which is Triangular like a Star, and if you turn it, ’tis like a Heart, of which I never saw the like. I have also one which is Cole-black, which is rough both within and without, it is a wonder to me, that this Stone will not strike fire with Steel, notwithstanding it is generated by fire. We may also by Art make Lightening out of Iron or Steel, in which also is generated a strange Stone. The Thunderbolts love all things which are combustible, especially Gun-powder, for the Lightening it self proceeds from _Saltpeter_ and _Sulphur_, and that is the reason, why it so often strikes into Towers, where Gun-powder is kept, and also it useth to strike Old Oak Trees, which contain _Sulphur_ and _Saltpeter_, also upon Church Steeples, but seldomer in the open Fields. I once saw in _Germany_, where the Thunder had stroke a Tower of Gun-powder, and although it was four square, yet it run so about it, and took out a piece of Stone-work all round, as if it had been cut out with Tools, because it could no where find entrance. Strange things are done by Lightning, it sometimes killing the Horse, and not hurting his Rider, and again killing the Rider, and not hurting the Horse, because it is no common Fire, but a concentrated Meteorical fire: It hath no resemblance of the fire of the Sun, much less of our common Fire, but our secret Fire of the _Chaldeans_ hath some Agreement with it, because it is made of Iron or Steel, and _Saltpeter_: Therefore it cannot be much unlike the fire of Lightening, for that is also generated out of _Saltpeter_ concentrated, and _Sulphur_. Steel is concentrated _Sulphur_, that hath also Power to concentrate _Saltpeter_, and so to generate this marvellous Fire. The Meteorical Thunder-fire is a terrible one, but our Steel-fire _is_ more wonderful in its Essence and Operation, as we shall heer by and by, for incredible things are wrought by it, so that even the Stone of Philosophers, never so well prepared, is not to be compared with it. _Query_, whether this Thunderbolt which is cast down by the Lightening be of any Virtue, or whether it be a dead and unprofitable Stone? I answer: It hath been always reputed, that if a Thunderbolt be kept in any house or place, the Thunder and Lightening will never strike into it. Whether this be true, I cannot tell, yet this I know, that those who keep them esteem them highly, I my self have one, which I much esteem for its marvellous Figure, for turn it which way you will, it always represents a Star or a Heart. Many strange things are performed by this Thunderbolt. I have seen several Foresters break it into pieces of the bigness of a Pea, which they put into a Bullet-mold, fill’d up the Mold with melted Lead, and did believe, that they could not miss any wild Beast at which they should shoot it. I have also seen some Souldiers make such Bullets, and formerly believed, that they could pierce any thing with them, that otherwise they could not shoot through. I have also seen others, who have put pieces of this Stone into the pummels of their Swords, and believed, that this took away their Adversaries Courage when they should encounter them, and so they might easily Conquer them. These and the like things, I have seen done with it. But whether this be so or no, it is probable that there should be some ocult Virtues in those Stones. For seeing that all Stones are good for somewhat, why should this marvellous Thunderbolt only be good for nothing? Some cause Women in Labour to hold these Stones in their hands, to facilitate their Labour; they also say, that it encreaseth Womens milk, if it be put into their drink. Others put them into the hand to stop Blood. If one could do any good with it, one might easily, by the help of a certain Magnet, attract a great many of them from the Air, as you shall hear anon. Now again, to return so our Fire and Fire-stone, I affirm for truth, that our secret Fire and Fire-stone, in its Essence and Efficacy, is more wonderful than the Meteorick Lightning and Thunderbolt. For our Fire doth not burn or flame, but when we will have it, otherwise it is like a dead Black-stone, if you only keep the Air from it, it will remain a Stone as long as you please. If you put it into a Glass and stop it very close, and keep it under water never so many years, it will still remain Fire, and not be hurt. For our _Chaldaick_ Fire, when once prepared, will not burn, but remain good for ever, if you keep it from Air and Water. It is sufficiently known, that the ancient Heathens put burning Lamps into their Vaults, of which Lamps I have seen many, that were digged out of Mines in _Colen_. Some of these Lamps were found in some burying Vaults burning, when they were first opened, but as soon as the Air touched them went out. But our _Chaldaick_ Fire remains dead, when kept close, and is kindled by the Air. I call it dead, but it is rather a dormant Fire. This our secret Fire hath so strange a Property, that it is able at all times to attract Fire out of the Air, not only in the hot Summer, but also in the cold Winter Nights, when the Sun is farthest off. By the help of this Fire, I believe, I could at certain times light a Candle, either under or above the Earth. The _Maccabees_ set their Sacrifice on Fire by this, and not with common Wood, or Coal, fire, as the Vestal Virgins in _Rome_ were forced to feed it with Wood continually that it might not go out; if by chance or neglect it went out, those Virgins were buried alive; in so great esteem, had the _Jews_ and the Heathens, their Fires.

Now as for the use of our secret Fire, no Man may be so bold as to discover the Power thereof to the World, for things incredible are to be done by it, which are better to be concealed, than made publick: Yet I will a little touch at it. The secret Fire of it self is of no use in Physick, but great Secrets may be prepared by it, both in Medicine and _Alchimy_. First, out of our fiery Mass may be driven a living _Mercury_ of _Mars_, which is the most noble Subject to prepare an extensive Tincture, both for Men and Metals, for of all _Mercuries_ of Metals, this is the best. When our Fire is melted into a thick water, and this fiery water poured upon a subtil Calx of Gold, and digested with it, it will attract the yellow Colour from the Gold, and leave it white, yet the Tincture is not yellow, but as green as Grass, out of which an excellent Medicine may be made; it is also profitable in _Alchimy_. For it is also of this Nature, that if you put a Solution of Gold and Silver into it, they will be joyned together without Precipitation, which is not usual to be done. One may also squirt this fiery water, by peculiar Springs, to a great distance, and thereby fire any Combustible matter. If you will, you may also shoot this our Fire in a dry form, out of great and small Guns, to fire any thing with it. I believe, that by the help of this, one might fire a great Canon under water, by which you may fright Fish up to the Surface of the water in deep Ponds, so that you may catch them with small Nets. One may also drive away all hurtful wild Beasts, as Bears, Wolves, Foxes, nay even Lyons, Tygers and Dragons, out of the Wilderness. One may also drive away High-way-Men, Murtherers out of their Ambuscades, and catch them. In a word, many strange things may be done with it, which for certain Reasons I dare not mention. The greatest and the best thing that may be done by this secret Fire, is the preparing of the _Mercury_ of _Mars_, as also after a Magnetical manner to draw the Lightning which way one please. I have had this Fire now for above twenty years, and durst not own that I had Such a thing, now I am near my end, I was willing to let it be known, that there is such a Fire in Nature. If I did not fear, that malicious Men would abuse this secret Wonder-fire, I would have been plainer, but the time is not yet come for the doing those great things, but when _Elias_ the _Artist_ shall come, he will not fear to make great Alterations in the World, by the help of this Fire. He will establish much good, and abolish all that is evil, but I have said enough of this at this time. I have indeed told you here that it will be done, I do not desire, neither shall I live till it shall come to pass, for such great Changes will not be made with ease, but with great Zeal. God preserve the Pious, and shew them a way over the Mountains, where they may live secure from this _Sodomitish_ Fire, _Amen_.

_Of the Third secret Fire, and the wonderful Stone that is
engendered by it._

That pious Philosopher _Basil Valentine_, in his Triumphant Chariot of _Antimony_, teacheth, how to prepare a stone by Distillation and Rectification out of the purest part of _Antimony_, and calls it the _Stone of Fire_ because this Stone is prepared by Fire out of fiery Subjects: And also because it expelleth all Diseases from the Body of Man, and consumeth them as common Fire doth Wood. He also saith, that this Fire-stone can transmute Silver into Gold, although in a small quantity. The highly experienced Philosopher _Helmont_, makes mention of almost such a Stone, which he saith, he saw in _England_ with one _Butler_, and tells of wonderful things that the said _Butler_ did with it. Now by reason of my diligent search into Nature and the Blessing of God, such a Stone hath fallen into my hands, with which I can do the same things in Physick and Alchimy, which _Basil Valentine_ ascribes to his Fire-stone, and _Helmont_ to _Butlers_ Stone: I could not but leave to posterity, that it is possible to prepare this Stone out of _Antimony_. The Art consists in this, that you first bring the _Antimony_ by Sublimation, Distillation and Rectification to the greatest Subtilty, and afterwards again concentrate this subtil Spirit into a hard Stone, which Stone when it is not fixed (being then useful in Medicine) is of a reddish Colour, and easily melted, and penetrates all Bodies. But if by it you would graduate Silver into Gold, you must first fix it, to abide the _Cupel_, but being once fixed, it will not then perform in Medicine what it would before. It is worth much more, when unfixed to be used in Physick, than when it is fixed for the tinging of Silver. For the health of Men is more precious than Gold or Silver. And with an universal Medicine, that will Cure all internal and external Diseases, you may get Gold and Silver enough. I have at this present time, but a very little of this Stone left, but am resolved in a little time to make a good quantity of it, that I may therewith serve my sick Neighbours. For it works strange things as you shall hereafter hear. This our Stone is so powerful in its working, that we dare not give it in substance, for one Grain of it serves for twenty Doses or more, and each of them hath power to expel from the Body whatsoever is hurtful. This Medicine opens all Obstructions, and you shall hardly find any other comparable to it. The best way to use it is to keep it whole, and not to powder it, and then it is fit to be used both inwardly and outwardly. If you will use it inwardly, then put a few bits of it into a Glass, and pour Spirit of Wine upon it, in which a little Sugar is dissolved, and so let it stand till you have occasion for it. If you will purge any Body with it, you must put a few drops of it into a spoonful of Wine or Beer, or any other Liquor, and give it to the Patient, and order him to be kept warm, then the Medicine will work in his Body, like fire upon Wood, and consume whatever impeded his health, and drive it out by all the Emunctories, _viz._ by Vomit, Stool, Sweat, Urine and Spitting, and leaves no impurity in the Body, and so it expels all Fevers and Agues, however distinguished. It also cures the Plague, _Leprosie_, Gout, the falling Sickness in young and old. It takes away all obstructions of the Body, _viz._ of the Liver, Spleen, and Lungs, it expels all ill Humours, contained in the Cavity of the _Thorax_ and all other parts of the Body. This our Stone also opens the Obstructions of the Mesentery, carries off all Slime, and Salt watry Humidities. It cleanseth the Stomach and Guts from all pituitous and bilious Slime. It also draws all hurtful Humours out of the Brain, takes away noise in the Ears, Comforts the hearing and sight, takes away every Toothach in a moment, fastens loose Teeth, and hinders their fouling. It takes away all the Vices of the Throat, Mouth and Tongue, and suffers no uncleanness or foulness to abide thee. It is a pitty to see that no Physician hath a Remedy for the Toothach, but either pulling them out, or stopping them when hollow with _Narcoticks_ or hot Oyls, which are indeed no cure: Now forasmuch as this Disease troubled People of all Ages, and few know any Remedy for it, I think it necessary to set down a never failing Cure. ’Tis true, most Toothachs may be put off by Purging, and need not so painful a Cure, as drawing. Out of Pity to those, who are troubled with the Toothach from their infancy, I here declare the Remedy. ℞. Of our Fire-stone, as much as a Pea, and put it into your Mouth, with half a Spoonful of Wine, keep it in your Mouth as long as you can, or so long till the Stone hath drawn your Mouth full of Rheume, then spit it out, and again put the Stone into your Mouth, with as much Wine as before, and keep it there till your Mouth is again fill’d with Rhume, then again spit it out, and continue doing this so long, till you have spit out half a Pint of Rhuemy Spittle, not reckoning the Wine. The next day again draw out the same quantity; do this every Morning fasting so long, till no slimy matter, but only a clear insipid water comes out, which is a certain sign that your Head and Brain is freed from all superfluous Moisture. When this is done, for a great while you will be free from all noxious Rhumes, or Salt defluxions, which fall from the Head to the Teeth, and there cause pain. This our Fire-stone doth not only draw all noxious Humours from the Head, but also out of the Stomack, Lungs, Liver and Spleen, and carries them out of the Body, by the Mouth, as well or better than any common Purge. But if the Body should be too full of ill Humours, so that our Fire-stone, should not be able to draw them all out that way, then you must take some of it inwardly extracted as before mentioned. But because this our Stone is yet unfixed, and therefore sometime causeth Vomits, and some are not able to bear Vomiting, therefore you may prevent it, by putting distilled Vinegar with Sugar upon the Stone, instead of Brandy, and so extract it, and this Extract will cause no Vomits, but only work by Stool: This is enough to be said for the Cure of the Toothach. But if Parents were sufficiently knowing, and careful of their Children, they might in their Childhood prevent the greatest part of this Mischief, by causing them daily to wash their Mouths, and behind their Ears, with cold water. But in those who are come to Maturity, our Fire-stone is the best of Remedies and never fails. It also cures the Scurvy in the Mouth, when little hot Pimples appear, and the decay or washing of the Gums. This Stone being held in the Mouth with Wine, also preserves Old Men from Apoplexies, Catarrhs, and the like. Let this suffice to be spoken concerning the Virtues of our Fire-stone, in the curing of internal Diseases. But because the Variety of Distempers is great, I will there set down the true way of using it, that none may err in its Application.

_Of the true use of this Medicine in Diseases._

In all Fevers or Agues, let them be Quotidians, Tertans or Quartians, you must always give our Medicine two hours before the fit, and keep the Patient from the cold Air. In the Plague, Pleurisie and other hot Fevers, you must not delay the using of this Medicine, but as soon the Patient is taken, give him a Dose of our Medicine, let it work with him in a warm Room. And if the Disease abate not, give him the next day another Dose more or less, according to the condition of the Disease and the Patient. And you must beware of Bleeding, if the Patient be strong enough to endure a Purge, but if the Patient should not have sufficient strength, and yet the heat encrease, then you may abate the heat by taking away a little Blood, but not too much, that the strength may not be exhausted with the Blood, and the evil yet remain in his Body, for by Purging, only that which is hurtful is expelled, and the good remains.

In the Epilepsie, you must use this Medicine only every other, or every Third day, as long as there shall be occasion.

In the Stone of the Kidneys and Bladder, once in a Fortnight.

In the Dropsie, once a Week.

In the Cholick, once after you have used a Clyster.

In the Leprosie, once a Week.

In the Gout of all sorts, once in three or four Days, until the pain is gone.

In Obstructions of the Lungs, Liver, Spleen and Mesentery, once or twice one after another.

In the Venereal Disease, you must use it every Third day, and Sweat between whiles, till the Disease is gone.

In the _Hypocondriack_ Melancholy, Scurvy and the like Distempers, which proceed from Salt and Cholerick Blood, you must take a Dose every Third day, till the Disease is gone.

In all sorts of Scabs and impurity of the Skin, which proceed from watery Blood, you must take it once or twice, and apply outwardly a fixed white _Sulphur_.

In the Dysentery or Bloody Flux, use it but once and it stays the Flux.

_Of the outward Use of our Fire-Stone._

If our Antimonial Fire-stone be boyled for some hours in Sallad-oyl, it draws out of it many Virtues, so that being only outwardly applyed, it doth much good in Physick. The Oyl becomes red in the boyling, and if it doth not so, it is a sign, that it hath not been well boyled, but if it be well done, it will do what I here say. First, this Oyl is good to heal all fresh Wounds, and old Sores, if you dip Pledgets in it, and lay them thereon, and so keep it from the Air with a Plaister of Wax. It also cures all Bruises, being anointed with it, or a Cloth dipt in it, and laid over the Bruise. A little Cotton being dipt in it, and applyed to the Navel with a Nutshel, purgeth those, who are easily moved, as well, as if they had taken it inwardly: And if being so applyed, it should not work with Men, that are not easily moved, you may inject a Dram of it Clysterwise by a Syringe, and then it will open the Body, and carry all slime and filth from the Guts, and is certainly the best Remedy in the World against the Cholick. For it doth not only draw what is bad out of the thick Guts, as Clysters do, but also out of the small Guts, yea even out of the Stomach, to the ease and admiration of the Patient. This Oyl also applied to the Navel and Clysterwise, immediately helps Women, who are troubled with the _Suffocation_ of the Matrix, for which Disease the World cannot afford a better Remedy. And without doubt this Oyl hath many more Virtues than I yet know, but time will discover them; for I have not had it long, but am resolved to have a good quantity of it made to serve the Sick: And no doubt, but in a short time this high Medicine of the Stone and Oyl, will be known to all _Europe_. For it will far outdoe the whole _Galenick Apparatus_ of Medicine. Certainly those Physicians, who serve in Armies, should not be without this incomparable Medicine, which is of so small Carriage, and doth so great things. For one Ounce of this will make at the least a Thousand Doses, and so by consequence many may be cured by it. If every _Chyrurgian_ in an Army, should have but half an Ounce of this Stone, for inward use, and some Ounces of the Red Balsome, for outward use, the Lives of many Souldiers would be saved, which for want of it must dye. The threatning of Armies is already over our Heads. God send us what is good for our Souls, and preserve the Pious from evil. And so we end this Book of the _Firestones_. If it please God, the Seventh part of the Prosperity of _Germany_ shall shortly follow.

De Purgatorio Philosophorum:
OR,
A TREATISE concerning the Purifying Fire of the Wise Men.

_With which, the Philosophers cleanse their =Mineral=, =Animal=,
and =Vegetable= Subjects, and exalt them to the highest degree of
Purity, in order to prepare =Universal Medicaments= from them,
for the Bodies of Men and Metals._

_Which Purgatory Fire is Called =Ysopaica=, by the ancient
Philosophers, that is, to say, the Art of washing with Fire._

_Together, with a subjoyned instruction, how, by means of the Salt
of the World, out of all Metals and Minerals, a living =Mercury=
may in quantity be prepared._

_From the =High-Dutch= faithfully Translated into =English=._

_Reader_,