PARTICULARS OF THE SEVEN METALS, HOW TEY

BE PREPARED W ITH PROFIT

FIRST OF THE SULPHUR OF SOL, WHEREBY LUNA

IS TINGED INTO GOOD GOLD

Take of pure Gold, which is three times cast through ANTIMONY, and of well purged MERCURY vive, being prest through leather, six parts, make of it an AMALGAMA, to the quantity of this Amalgama grind twice as much common Sulphur, let it evaporate on a broad pan in a gentle heat under a muffle, stirring it still well with an iron-hook, let the fire be moderate, that the matter do not melt together, this Gold calx must be brought to the colour of a May-Goldflower, then is it right, then take one part of Saltpeter, one part of Sal Armonic, half a part of grinded pebbles, draw a water from it. Note, this water must be drawn warily and exactly; to draw it after the common way will not do it; he that is used to Chymick preparations, know what he has to do; and note, you must have a strong stone retort which must be coated, to hold the Spirits closely; its upper part must have a pipe, upward of half a spans length, its wideness must bear two fingers breadth, it must be set first in a distilling furnace, which must be open above, that the upper pipe may stand out directly, apply a large receiver, lute it well; let your first fire be gentle, then increase it that the Retort look glowing hot; put a spoonful of this ground matter in at the pipe, close the pipe suddenly with a wet clout, the Spirits come rushingly into the receiver; these Spirits being settled, then carry in another spoonful in this manner you proceed till you have distilled all. At last give time to the Spirits to be settled, to turn into water; this water is a hellish dissolving strong one, which dissolves instantly prepared Gold calx, and laminated Gold, into a thick solution, of which I made mention above in the third part. This is that water, which I mentioned in my SECOND KEY, which dissolves not only Gold but brings it to volatility, carrying it over the helmet whose ANIMA may afterward be drawn from its torn body.

Note, the Spirit of common Salt effects the same, if drawn in that manner, which I shall speak of afterward. If three parts of this Salt-Spirit be taken, and one part of SPIRITUS NITRI, it is stronger than Sal armonick water; and is better, because it is not so corrosive, dissolves Gold the sooner, carries it over the helmet, makes it volatile and fit to part with its Soul; you have your choice to use which you think best, and may easier be prepared thus: Take one part of the prepared Gold Calx, and three parts of the water, which you make choice of, put it into a body, lute a helmet to it, set it in warm ashes, let it dissolve, that which is not dissolved, pour three times as much water upon, that all dissolve; let it cool, separate the FECES, put the solution into a body, lute a helmet to it, let it stand in a gentle heat day and night in BA.LNEO MARIE, if more FECES be settled, separate them, digest them again in the BALNEO nine days and nights, then abstract the water gently to SPISSITUDE, like unto an oil in the bottom; this abstracted water must be poured on that SPISSITUDE; this must be iterated often, that it grow weary and weak; remember to lute well at all times. To the oleity on the bottom pour fresh water, which was not yet used, digest day and night firmly closed, then set it in a SAND CAPEL, distill the water from it to a thickness; make the abstracted water warm, put it into a body, lute it, abstract it, iterate this work, and make all the Gold come over the helmet.

Note, at the next drawing always the fire must have one degree more; the Gold being come over into the water, abstract the water gently from it in the BALNY to the oleity, set the glass into a cold place, there will shoot transparent Crystals, these are the Vitriol of Gold, pour the water from it, distill it again into an oleity, set it by for shooting, more crystals will shoot, iterate it as long as any do shoot. Dissolve these crystals in distilled water, put to it of purged Mercury three times as much, shake it about, many colours will appear, an AMALGAMA falls to the ground, the water clears up, evaporate the AMALGAMA gently under a muffle, stirring it still, with a wire, at last you get a purple coloured powder, scarlet like, it dissolves in Vinegar into a blood-redness. Extract its ANIMA with prepared Spirit of Wine, mixed with the Spirit of common Salt, entered together into a sweetness; this tincture of SOL is like a transparent RUBIE, leaving a white body behind.

Note, that without information you cannot attain unto the Spirit of Salt, if it be not sweet, it has no extractive power; to the attaining hereof, observe these following manuals; take good Spirit of Salt, dephlegmed exactly, driven forth, in that manner, as you shall hear anon.

Take one part of it, add half a part to it of the best Spirit of wine, which must not have any phlegm, but must be a meer Sulphur of wine, and must be prepared in that manner, as I shall tell you anon; lute a helmet to it, draw it over strongly, leave nothing behind; to the abstracted put more Spirit of wine, draw it over, somewhat stronger than you did the first time, weigh it, put a third time more to it, draw it over again, well luted, putrifie this for half a month, or so long as it be sweet, and it is done in Balney very gently; thus the Spirit of wine and Salt is prepared, lost it corrosity, and is fit for extracting.

Take the Ruby-red prepared Gold powder, put of this prepared Spirit of Salt and wine, so much that it stand two fingers breadth over it, set it in a gentle heat, the Spirit will be red tinged, this red Spirit must be canted off, pour a new Spirit on that which remained on the bottom, set it luted into a gentle heat, let it be tinged deeply, then cant it off, this work must be iterated, that the body of SOL remain on the bottom like CALX VIVE, which keep, for therein sticks yet more of the Salt of Gold, which is effectual in ways of Medicine, as shall be shown anon.

Those tinged Spirits put together, abstract them gently in BALNEO, there will be left a red subtile powder in the bottom, which is the true tincture ANIMATED, or Sulphur of Gold, dulcifie it with distilled rain water, it will be very subtil, tender, and fair. Take this extracted Sulphur of SOL, as you were taught, and as much of Sulphur of MARS, as you shall hear anon, when I treat of MARS; grind them together, put it in a pure glass, pour on it so much of Spirit of Mercury, let it stand over it two fingers breadth, that the matter in it may be dissolved, see to it that all dissolve into a Ruby-like Gold-water, jointly drive it over, then is it one, and were at first of one stem, keep it well, that nothing of it evaporate, put it to separated SILVER CALX, being precipitated with pure Salt, and afterwards well edulcorated, and dried, fix it together in a fiery fixation, that it sublime no more; then take it forth and melt it in a wind-oven, let it stream well, then you have united Bride and Bride-groom, and brought them into Gold of a high degree: Be thankful to God for as long as you live.

I should give further direction, how this extracted soul of SOL should be further proceeded in, and to make it potable, which ministers great strength, and continued health unto men. But it belonging unto Medicinals, I delay it to that place, where further mention shall be made of.

At the present I will speak only how the white SOLAR body shall further be anatomized, and that by Art its MERCURY VIVE, and its SALT may be obtained. The process of it is thus:

Take the white body of SOL from which you have drawn its ANIMA, reverberate it gently for j- hour, let it become corporeal, then pour on it well rectified honey water, which is corrosive, extract its Salt in a gentle heat, it is done in ten days space, the Salt being all extracted, abstract the water from it in BALNEO, edulcorate the Salt with iterated distillings, with common distilled water, clarifie it with Spirit of wine, then you have SOL AURI, of which you shall hear more in its due place, of the good qualities it has by way of Medicine upon man. On the remaining matter pour Spirit of TARTAR, of which in another place, because it belongs unto Medicinals; digest these for a months time, drive it through a glass retort into cold water, then you have quick Mercury of SOL, many strive to get it, but in vain.

There is one mystery more in Nature, that the white SOLAR body having once lost its ANIMA, may be tinged again, and brought to be pure Gold, which mystery is revealed to very few: I shall give a hint of it, that you may not grumble at me to have concealed any point in the work.

I hope you have considered and taken to heart, what I have entrusted you withal about the Universal Stone of Philosophers in my third part, namely how it rests meerly upon the white Spirit of Vitriol, and how that all three principles are found only in this Spirit, and how you are to proceed in, and to bring each into its certain state and order.

Take the Philosophic SULPHUR, which in order is the second principle, and is extracted with the Spirit of MERCURY, pour it on the white body of the KING, digest it for a month in a gentle BALNEO, then fix it in ashes, and at last in sand, that the brown powder may appear, then melt it with a fluxing powder made of SATURN, then will it be malleable and fair Gold, as it was formerly, in colour and virtue nothing defective.

But note, the Salt must not be taken from the SOLAR body, of which I made mention formerly, in a repitation of the XII Key, where you may read of it. There may be prepared yet in another manner a transparent Vitriol, from Gold in the following manner.

Take good AQUA REGIS made with Sal armoniac, one pound, ID EST, dissolve four ounces of SALMIAC in AQUAFORT, then you have a strong AQUA REGIS, distill and rectifie it often over the helmet, let no FECES stay behind, let all that ascends be transparent. Then take thinly beaten Gold rolls, cast formerly through ANTIMONY, put them into a body, pour on it AQUA REGIS, let it dissolve as much as it will, or as you can dissolve in it; having dissolved all the Gold, pour into some oil of TARTAR, or Salt of TARTAR, dissolved in FOUNTAIN WATER, till it begins to hiss, having done hissing, then pour in again of the oil, do it so long that all the dissolved Gold be fallen to the bottom, and nothing more of it precipitate, and the AQUA REGIS clear up. This being done, then cant off the AQUA REGIS from the Gold calx, edulcorate it with common water, eight, ten, or twelve times; the Gold calx being well settled, cant off that water, and dry the Gold calx in the air, where the Sun does not shine, do it not over a fire, for as soon as it feels the least heat it kindles, and great damage is done, for it would fly away forcibly, that no man could stay it. This powder being ready also, then take strong Vinegar, pour it on, boil it continually over the fire in a good quantity of Vinegar, still stirring it, that it may not stick unto the bottom, for XXIV hours together, then the fulminating quality is taken from it; be careful you do not endanger yourself; cant off that Vinegar, dulcifie the powder, and dry it. This powder may be driven PER ALEMBICUM without any corrosive, blood-red, transparent and fair, which is strange, and unites willingly with the Spirit of wine, and by means of coagulation may be brought to a SOLAR body.

Do not speak much of it to the vulgar; if you receive any benefit by and from my plain and open information, be thus minded, to keep these mysteries secret still to thy dying day, and make no show of it, else thou art naked and lay open to the Devils temptations in all thy ways; therefore pray give attention to what I shall tell thee, for I will impart unto thee this ARCANUM also, and entrust thee upon thy conscience with it.

Take good Spirit of wine being brought to the highest degree, let fall into it some drops of Spirit of TARTAR, then take thy Gold powder, put to it three times as much of the best and subtilest common flowers of Sulphur, grind these together, set it on a flat pan under a MUFFLE, give to it a gentle fire, let the Gold powder be in a glowing heat, put it thus glowing into the Spirit of wine, cant off the Spirit of wine, dry the powder against a heat, it will be porous. Being fried, then add to it again three parts of FLORES SULPHURIS, let them evaporate under a MUFFLE, neal the remaining powder in a strong heat, and put it in Spirit of wine; iterate the work six times; at last this Gold powder will be so s soft and porous as firm butter, fry it gently, because it neals easily. Then take a coated body, which in its hinder part has a pipe, lute a helmet to it, apply a receiver, set it freely in a strong Capel, let your first fire be gentle, then increase it, let the body be almost in a glowing heat, then put in the softened well dried Gold powder, being made warm, behind at the hollow pipe, shoot it in nimbly, there come instantly red drops into the helmet, keep the fire in this degree so long, till nothing more ascends, and no more drops fall into the receiver. Note, in the receiver there must be of the best Spirit of Wine, into which the drops of Gold are to fall.

Then take this Spirit of wine, into which the Gold drops did fall, put it in a pellican, seal it Hermetic, circulate it for a month, it turns then to a blood-red stone, which melts in the fire like wax; beat it small, grind among it LUNAR CALX, melt them together in a strong pot, being grown cold, put it in AQUA FORT, there precipitates a black calx; melt it, then you find much good Gold, as the Gold powder and Spirit of wine together with the moyety, and the added LUNAR CALX did weigh, but one moyety of the LUNAR CALX is not tinged, the other is as good as it was to be used. If you hit this rightly, then be thankful to God; if not, do not blame me, I could not make it plainer unto thee.

Now if you will make this Vitriol, then take the powder formerly made, boiled in Vinegar, pour on it good Spirit of common Salt, mingled with Salt peter water, and the Spirit of Salt of Niter, this Salt peter water is made, as AQUA TARTARI is made with Saltpeter; Gold is dissolved in this water; which being done, then abstract the water to a thickness, set it in a cellar, then there shoots a pure Vitriol of SOL, the water which stays with the Vitriol must be canted off, distill it again to a SPISSITUDE, set it in the cellar, more of the Vitriol will shoot, iterate this work as long as any Vitriol shoots. If you are minded to make the Philosophers Stone out of SOLAR VITRIOL, as some phantastic men endeavour in that way, then be first acquainted and ask counsel of thy purse, and prepare ten or twelve pounds of this VITRIOL, then you may perform the work very well, and the HUNGARIAN Vitriol, and others digged out of mines will permit thee to do it. You may extract from this Vitriol also its Sulphur and Salt, with Spirit of wine, which being all easie work, it is needless to describe it.

NOW FOLLOWS THE PARTICULAR OF LUNA, AND OF THE
EXTRACTION OF ITS SULPHUR AND SALT

Take of CALX VIVE, and common Salt and neal them together in a wind-oven, then extract the Salt purely from the CALX with warm water, coagulate it again, put to it an equal quantity of new calx, neal it, extract the salt from it, iterate it three times, then is the Salt prepared.

Then take the prepared LUNAR CALX, stratifie the calx with prepared Salt in a glass viol, pour strong-water on it, made of equal quantities of VITRIOL and SALT PETER, abstract the AQUA FORT from it, iterated a third time, at last drive it strongly, let the matter well melt in the glass, then take it forth, your LUNA is transparent and blueish, like unto an ULTRAMARINE. Having brought LUNA thus far, then pour on it strong distilled Vinegar, set it in a warm place, the Vinegar is tinged with a transparent blue, like a SAPHIRE, and attracts the tincture of LUNA, being separated from the Salt, all which comes from LUNA goes again into the Vinegar, which must be done by EDULCORATION, then you will find the SULPHUR of LUNA fair and clear. Take one part of this SULPHUR of LUNA, one half part of the extracted SULPHUR of SOL, six parts of the Spirit of MERCURY, join all these in a body, lute it well, set it in a gentle heat, in digestion, that liquor will turn to a red brown colour; having all driven over the helmet, and nothing stand in the bottom, then pour it on the matter remaining of the Silver you drew the Sulphur from, lute it well, set it in ashes for to coagulate, and to fix it XI days and nights, or when you see the LUNAR body be quite dry, brown and nothing of it does any more rise, or fume, then melt it quickly with a sudden flux fire before the blast, cast it forth, then you transmuted the whole substance of Silver into the best most malleable Gold.

Of this PARTICULAR of Silver, I have made mention in another place, namely in the repitation of my XII Keys, where I wrote that the Spirit of Salt also can destroy LUNA, so that a potable LUNA can be made of it; of which POTABLE LUNA in the last part mentioned shall be made of. You must note, that further must be proceeded with LUNA, and a more exact ANATOMY must be made upon tuna; thus; When you perceive that the SULPHUR of LUNA is wholly extracted, and the Vinegar takes no more tincture from her, nor the Vinegar does taste anymore of Salt, then dry the remaining CALX of Silver, put it into a glass, pour on it CORROSIVE honey water, as you did to the Gold, yet it must be clear, and without any FECES, set it in a warmth for four or five days, extract LUNAS SALT, which you may perceive, when the water grows white. The Salt being all out of it, then abstract the honey water, EDULCORATE the corrosiveness by distilling, and clarifie the Salt with Spirit of wine, the remaining matter must be EDULCORATED and dried, pour upon it Spirit of TARTAR, digest it for half a month, then proceed as you did with the Gold, then you have MERCURY of LUNA. The said Salt of LUNA has excellent virtues upon mans body, of which I shall speak in another place. The efficacy of its Salt and Sulphur may be learned by this following process.

Take of the sky-coloured Sulphur, which you extracted from LUNA, and is rectified with Spirit of wine, put it in a glass, pour on it twice as much of Spirit of MERCURY, which is made of the white Spirit of Vitriol, as you have heard in the same place. In like manner take of the extracted and clarified Salt of Silver, put to it three times as much of Spirit of MERCURY, lute well both glasses, set them into a gentle balney for eight days and nights, look to it that the Sulphur and Salt loose nothing, but keep their quantity as they were driven out of the Silver. Having stood these eight days and nights, then put them together into a glass, seal it HERMETICALLY, set it in gentle ashes, let all be dissolved, and let it be brought again into a clear and white COAGULATION, at last fix them by the degrees of fire, then the matter will be as white as snow, thus you have the white tincture, which with the VOLATILE dissolved ANIMA of SOL you may animate, fix, bringto the deepest redness, and at last FERMENT, and AUGMENT the same in INFINITUM, the Spirit of Mercury being added thereunto. And note, that upon Gold a process is to be ordered, with its Sulphur and Salt.

If you understand how their PRIMUM MOBILE is to be known, then is it needless in this manner, and now to that purpose to destroy Metals, but you may prepare everything from, or of their first essence, and bring them to their full perfection.

OF THE PARTICULAR OF MARS, TOGETHER WITH THE
EXTRACTION OF ITS ANIMA AND SALT

Take of red Vitriol oil, or oil of Sulphur one part and two parts of ordinary well-water, put those together, dissolve therein filings of Steel, this dissolution must be filtered being warmed, let it gently evaporate a third part of it, then set the glass in a cool place, there will shoot crystals as sweet as sugar, which is the true VITRIOL of MARS, cant off that water, let it evaporate more, set it again in a cold place, more crystals will shoot, neal them gently under a muffle, stirring still with an iron-wire, then you get a fair purple coloured powder, on this powder cast distilled Vinegar, extract the ANIMA of MARS in a gentle balney, abstract again the Vinegar, and DULCORATE the ANIMA.

This is the ANIMA of MARS, which being added to the Spirit of MERCURY, and united with the ANIMA of SOL, tinges Luna into Sol, as you heard about the Gold.

OF THE PARTICULAR OF VENUS, WHAT MYSTERIES
THERE ARE HID THEREIN, AND THE EXTRACTION
OF ITS SULPHUR AND SALT

Take as much of VENUS as you will, and make VITRIOL of it, after the usual and common practice; or take good Verdigreece, sold in shops, it effects the same, grind it small, pour on it good distilled Vinegar, set it in a warmth, the Vinegar will be transparent green, cant it off, pour on the remaining matter on the bottom new Vinegar, iterate this work as long as the Vinegar takes on any tincture, and the matter of the Verdigreece on the bottom lies very black; put the tinged Vinegar together, distill the Vinegar from it to a dryness, else a black Vitriol will shoot, thus you get a purified Verdigreece, grind it small, pour on it the juice of immature grapes, let it stand in a gentle heat, this juice makes a transparent tincture as green as a SMARAGED and attracts the red tincture of VENUS, which affords an excellent colour for painters, limners, and others for their several uses.

When the juice extracts no more of the tincture, then put all the extractions together, abstract the moyety of this juice gently, set it into a cool place, there shoots a very fair Vitriol, if you have enough of that, then you have matter enough, to REDUCE the same, and to make of it the Philosophers Stone, in case you should make a doubt to perform this great mystery by any other Vitriol.

Of this preparation I have spoken already PARABOLICLY in the book of the KEYS, in the Chapter of the Wine-Vinegar, where I said, that the common AZOTH is not the matter of our stone, but our AZOTH, or MATERIA PRIMA is extracted with the common AZOTH, and with the wine, which is the out-prest juice of unripe GRAPES, and with other waters also must be prepared, these are the waters wherewith the body of VENUS must be broken, and be made into Vitriol, which you must observe very well, then you may free yourselves from many troubles and perplexities.

But especially note, that the way of the UNIVERSAL with this vitriol is understood in the same manner, and is thus conditioned, as I told you in the third part of the UNIVERSAL, and pointed at the common HUNGARIAN VITRIOL, and even as well out of MARS, put PARTICULARITER to be dealt upon with VENUS. Therefore know, that it may be done with great profit, if you drive forth the red oil of Vitriol, and dissolve MARS in it. And crystallise the solution as you were told, when I treated of MARS. For this dissolution and coagulation VENUS and MARS are united, this Vitriol must be nealed under a muffle into a pure red powder, and must be extracted further with distilled Vinegar, as long as there is any redness in it, then you get the ANIMA of MARS, and of VENUS doubled, of this doubled virtue after the addition of the ANIMA of SOL, which you made in the before quoted quantity take twice as much of SILVER CALX, and fix it, as you heard when I spoke of the PARTICULAR of MARS and SOL.

But note, that there must be twice as much of the Spirit of MERCURY, then there was allowed in that place, but in the rest the process is alike. The Salt of VENUS must be extracted when the juice takes no more of the green tincture, then take the remaining matter, dry it, pour honey water upon it, then that Salt goes in that heat for five, or six days, and clarifie it with Spirit of wine, then is the Salt ready for your Medicine.

OF THE PARTICULAR OF SATURN, TOGETHER WITH THE
EXTRACTION OF ITS SOUL AND SALT

Most men hold and count SATURN an unworthy and mean Metal, and is abused most basely in several expeditions, whereas, if’ known in its internals, more laudable exploits would be performed with it, and many excellent Medicines be prepared of it. Being it is my intention to put an Elucidation to my former writings, to leave it after me for a legacy unto posterity, that simple men of ordinary capacity might know and conceive also of the things I formerly wrote of, which after the resurrection of my flesh myself shall bear record unto, that I have written more than was meet, which others before me have purposely concealed; it being my purpose to declare fundamentally all such particulars, which formerly at large I discoursed of in a Philosophic manner, thus; that this my Declaration made in my decrepite age be noted conscionably by those into whose hands it comes, that this my Revelation, which in Gods providence will be disposed of, to be a lamp of truth unto all the world, may not be imparted unto men unworthy of Gods mysteries, which acknowledge not the Creator of them in a pure and humble and penitent heart, perservering conversation, and a fervent purpose to incline towards him. This present writing I leave as a precious badge with an earnest proviso, that men would look and observe carefully every letter contained in this, and other of my writings, which in all fidelity I hold forth unto them:

And begin now with SATURN, who in all probability after ASTRONOMICK rules is the highest and chiefest Lord in the COELESTIAL spheres, by whose influence the SUBTERRANEAN SATURN has its life and coagulation, putting that black colour on it, the rest from the best to the worst follow after, whose splendour enlightens that whole firmament, and is incorruptible.

I should speak something of SATURNS NATIVITY, from whence he takes his off-spring, but in this place I do not hold it requisite (being there has been mention of it in several places in my other books) because it is to no purpose for novices, and to repeat all, would increase the volume, which I do not intend, purposing only to elucidate such things, which formerly have been delivered in obscure terms.

Note, SATURN is not to be thus slighted by reason of its external despicable form, if he be wrought in a due process after the Philosophers way, he is able to requite all the pains the Art-seeking labourers bestow on him, and will acknowledge him rather to be the Lord, and not the Servent; a Lords honour is due unto him, not only in respect of mans health, but in respect also of meliorating of Metals; the preparation of it is thus:

Take red Minium, or Ceruse, these are of several worths, the one is better before the other, according to their several examinations, those that are sold in shops are seldome pure, without their due additionals; my advise is, that every Artist undertake himself the destruction of SATURN, the process of it is several, of the best I give this hint:

Take pure Lead, which yields to the hammer, as much as you please, laminate it thinly, the thinner the better, hang these lamins, in a large glass filled with strong Vinegar, in which is dissolved a like quantity of the best Sal Armoniac, sublimed thrice with common Salt, stop the glasses mouth very closely, that nothing evaporate, set the glass in ashes of a gentle heat, otherwise the Spirits of the Vinegar and Sal Armoniac ascend, and touch the Saturnal lamins, at the tenth, or twelfth day you will spy a subtile Ceruse hanging on these lamins, brush them off with a hares-foot, go on, get enough of this Ceruse, provided, you buy good wares, if sophisticated, you labour in vain, Take a quantity of it, if you please, put it in a body, pour strong Vinegar on it, which several times has been rectified, and was fortified at the last rectification with a sixteenth part of Spirit of vulgar Salt, dephlegmed, and drawn over; stop the body well, or which is better, lute a blind-head to it, set the body in ashes to be digested, swing it often about, in a few days the Vinegar begins to look yellow and sweet, at the first, iterate it a third time, it is sufficient. The remnant of the Ceruse stays in the BODIES bottom unshapely, filter the tinged Vinegar clearly, that is of a transparent yellowness; put all the tinged Vinegar together, abstract two parts of it in BALNEO MARIE let the third part stay behind, this third time part is of a reasonable RUBEDA, set the glass in a very cold water then the Crystals will shoot the sooner, being shot, take them out, with a wooden spoon, lay them on a paper for to dry, these are as sweet as Sugar, and are of great energy against inflamed symptoms; abstract the Vinegar further in BALNEO, in which the Crystals did shoot, set that distillation aside, for the shooting of more Crystals, and proceed with these as you did formerly.

Now take all these Crystals together, they in their appearance are like unto clarified Sugar, or Saltpeter, beat them in a Mortar of Glass, or Iron, or grind them on a Marble unto an unpalpableness, reverberate it in a gentle heat, to a blood like redness; provided, they do not turn to a blackness. Having them in a Scarlet colour, put them in a glass, pour on a good Spirit of JUNIPER, abstracted from its oil, and is rectified several times into a fair, white, bright manner, lute the glass above, set it in a gentle heat, let the Spirit of Juniper be tinged with a transparent redness like blood, then cant off neatly from the FECES into a pure glass; with that proviso, that no impure thing run therewith, on the FECES pour other Spirit of Juniper, extract still, as long as any Spirit takes the tincture; keep these FECES, they contain Salt.

Take all these tinged Spirits together, filter them, abstract them gently in BALNEO, there remains in the bottom a neat Carnation powder, which is the ANIMA of SATURN, pour on it rainwater, often distilled, distill it strongly several times, to get off that, which stayed with the Spirit of Juniper, and so this subtile powder will be edulcorated delicately; keep it in a strong boiling, cant it off, then let it go off neatly, let it dry gently, for safetys sake, reverberate it again gently for its better exiccation, let all impurity evaporate, let it grow cold, put it in a viol, put twice as much of Spirit of Mercury to it, which I told you of in the third part of the UNIVERSAL, entrusted you upon your conscience with it, seal it HERMETIC, set it in a vapourous bath, which I prescribed at the preparation of the Spirit of Mercury, called the Philosophers FIMUS EQUINIJS, let it stand in the Mystical furnace for a month, then the ANIMA of SATURN closes daily with the Spirit of Mercury, and both become unseparable, making up a fair transparent deeply tinged red oil; look to the government of the fire, be not to high with it, else you put the Spirit of Mercury as a volatile spirit to betake himself to his wings, forcing him to the breaking of the glass; but if these be well united, then no such fear look for, for one nature embraces and upholds the other.

Then take this oil, or dissolved ANIMA of SATURN out of the viol, it is of a gallant fragrancy, put it into a body, apply a helmet to it, lute it well, drive it over, then Soul and Spirit is united together, and fit to transmute Mercury precipitated into SOL.

The precipitation of Mercury is done thus; take one part of the Spirit of Salt of Nater, and three parts of Oil of Vitriol, put these together, cast into it half a part of quick Mercury, being very well purged, set it in sand, put a reasonable strong fire to it, so that the Spirits may not fly away, let it stand a whole day and night, then abstract all the Spirits, then you find in the bottom a precipitated Mercury, somewhat red, pour the Spirits on again, let it stand day and night, abstract it again, then your precipitate will be more red than at first, pour it a third time upon it, then abstract strongly, then your precipitate is at the highest RUBEDO, dulcifie it with distilled water, let it strongly be exiccated. Then take two parts of this precipitated Mercury, one part of the dissolved Saturnal Oil, put these together, set it in ashes, let all be fixed, not one drop must stick any where to the glass. Then it must be melted with due additionals of lead; they close together, afford Gold, which afterward at the casting through ANTIMONY may be exalted.

I have informed you hereof where I treated of MERCURY VIVE. But note, that Mercury must not be precipitated, unless with pure oil of VITRIOL, or oil of VENUS, with the addition of the Spirit of Salt Niter: Albeit such Mercury cannot be brought to its highest fixation, by way of precipitating, but its fixed coagulation is found in SATURN, as you heard.

Beat the above said Mercury small, grind it on a stone, put it in a viol, pour on it the distilled Saturnal oil, it enters instantly, if so be you proceed right in the precipitation, seal the viol, Hermetically, fix it in ashes, at last in sand, to its highest fixation, then you have bound Mercury with a true knot, and brought him into a fixed coagulation, which brought its form and substance into a melioration, with an abundance of riches, if you carry it on a white precipitate, then you get only silver, which holds but little of Gold.

One thing I must tell thee about this process, that there is yet a better way to deal upon SATURN, with more profit, that you may not have any cause to complain against my not declaring it, take it thus; take two parts of the above said dissolved oil, or of the SATURNAL Soul, one part of ASTRUM SOLIS, and of ANTIMONIAL SULPHUR, whose preparation follows afterwards, two parts, half as much of SALT of MARS, as all these are, weigh them together, put all into a glass vial, let the third part of it be empty, set it in together to be fixed, then the Salt of MARS, opens in this compound, is fermented by it, and the matter begins to incline to a blackness, for ten, or twelve days it is eclipsed, then the Salt returns to its coagulation, laying hold in its operation on the whole compound, coagulate it first into a deep brown mass, let it stand thus unstirred in a continued heat, it turns to a blood red body, encrease the fire, that you may see the ASTRUM SOLIS to be predominant, which appears in a greenish colour, like unto a rainbow; keep this fire continually, let all these colours vanish, it turns to a transparent red stone very ponderous, needless to be projected on Mercury, but tinges after its perfection, and fixation all white Metals into the purest Gold. Then take of the prepared fixed red stone, or of’ the powder one part, and four parts of any of the white Metal, first let the Metal melt half an hour, and let it be well clarified, then project the powder upon it, let it drive well, and see that it be entered into the Metal, and the Metal begin to congeal, then is it transmuted into Gold, beat the pot in pieces, take it out, if it has any slacks, drive them with Saturn, then is it pure and malleable. If you carry it on LUNA, then put more of the powder to it then you do upon JUPITER and SATURN, as half an ounce of the powder tinges five ounces of LUNA into SOL, let this be a miracle, fool not thy Soul with imparting this mystery unto others, that are unworthy of it. Proceed with SALT of SATURN, as you were informed about MARS and VENUS, only distilled Vinegar performs that, which honey water did by the other, and clarifie it with Spirit of Wine.

ANIMA AND SALT

Take Pumice-stones, sold in shops, neal them, quench them in old good wine, neal them again, and quench them as you did formerly, let this nealing be iterated a third time, the stronger the wine is you quench withal, the better it is, after that dry them gently, thus are they prepared for that purpose. Pulverize these Pumice-stones subtilly, then take good Tin, laminate it, stratifie it in a cementing way in a reverberating furnace, reverberate this matter for five days and nights in a flaming fire, it draws the tincture of the metal, then grind it small, first scraping the Tin-lamins, put it in a glass body, pour on it good distilled Vinegar, set it in digestion, the Vinegar draws the tincture, which is red-yellow, abstract this Vinegar in BALNEO, edulcorate the ANIMA of Jupiter with distilled water, exiccate gently, proceed in the rest as you did with the ANIMA of SATURN, viz., dissolve radically in, or with the Spirit of MERCURY, drive them over, pour that upon two parts of red MERCURY precipitated, being precipitated with this VENEREAN sanguine quality, then coagulate and fix; if done successfully, you may acknowledge JUPITERS bounty, that gave leave to transmute this precipitate into Gold which will be apparent at their melting, it performs this also, it transmutes ten parts of LUNA into Gold, if other SULPHURS be added thereunto; force no more on JUPITER, its all he is able to do, being of a peaceable disposition, he told all what he could do. The process about this Salt, is, to extract it with distilled rain-water, clarified with Spirit of wine.

OF THE PARTICULAR OF MERCURY VIVE, AND
OF ITS SULPHUR AND SALT.

Take of quick MERCURY, sublimed seven times, MB. SEMIS, grind it very small, pour on it a good quantity of sharp Vinegar, boil it on the fire for an hour, or upward, stirring the matter with a wooden spatule, take it from the fire, let it be cold, the Mercury settles to the bottom, and the Vinegar clears up; if it be slow in the clearing, let some drops of Spirit of VITRIOL fall in the Vinegar, it does precipitate the other, for VITRIOL precipitates MERCURY VIVE, SALT of TARTAR precipitates SOL, VENUS and common Salt, does precipitate LUNA, and MARS does the like to VENUS, a LIXIVIUM of Beech-ashes does it to VITRIOL, and VINEGAR is for common Sulphur, and MARS for TARTAR, and SALTPETER for ANTIMONY. Cant off the Vinegar from the precipitate, you will find the MERCURY like a pure washed sand, pour on it Vinegar, iterate this work a third time, then edulcorate the matter, let it dry gently.

Take two ounces of ANIMA of MARS, one ounce of ANIMA of SATURN, one ounce of ANIMA of JUPITER, dissolve these in six ounces of MERCURIAL Spirit, let all be dissolved, then drive it over, leave nothing behind, it will be a Golden water, like a transparent dissolution of SOL, your prepared and edulcorated MERCURY must be warmed in a strong viol, pour this warmed water gently on it, a tissing will be, stop the viol, then the tissing is gone; then seal it HERMETICE, set it in a gentle Balney, in ten days the MERCURY is dissolved into a grass green oil, set the viol in ashes for a day and night, rule your fire gently, this green colour turns into a yellow oil, in this colour is hid the RUBEDO, keep it in the fire, and until the matter turn to a yellow powder, like unto Orpiment; when no more comes over, then set the glass in sand for a day and a night, give a strong fire to it, let the fairest Ruby-RUBEDO appear, melt it to a fixedness with a fluxing powder made of SATURN, it cones now to a malleableness, one pound of it contains two ounces of good Gold, as deep, as ever Nature produced any. Remember the poor, do not precipitate thyself into an infernal abyess, by forgetting thyself in not doing the duties you ought to perform in regard of the blessing.

Take quick Mercury, being often sublimed, and rectified with CALX VIVE, put it in a body, dissolve it in a heat, in strong NITROUS water, abstract the water from it, the corrosiveness which stays there, must be extracted with good Vinegar, well boiled in it; at last abstract this Vinegar, the remainder of it must be dulcified with distilled water, and then exiccated.

Afterward on each pound must be poured LIE. 1., of the best Spirit of wine, let it stand luted in putrefaction, then drive over what may be driven, first gently, then more strongly, from that which is come over, abstract the Spirit of wine PER BALNEUM, there stays behind a fragrant oil, which is ASTRUM MERCURII, an excellent remedy against venereal diseases.

Seeing the SALT and ASTRUM of Mercury is of the same Medicinal operation, I hold it needless to write of each particular, and will join their operations into one, and declare of it in the last part about the Salt of Mercury, because they are of one effect in Medicinal operations. Take the made oil, or ASTRUM MERCURII, which by reason of its great heat keeps its own body in a perpetual running, casting it on the next standing earth, from which you formerly drew the oil. Set it in a heat, the oil draws its own salt; that being done, put to it a reasonable quantity of Spirit of wine, abstract it again, the Salt stays behind, dissolved in the fresh Spirit of wine, being dulcified by cohobation; then is the MERCURIAL SALT ready, and prepared for the Medicine, as shall be mentioned in the last part.

MERCURY is able to do no more, neither PARTICULARITER, nor UNIVERSALITER, because he is far off from PHILOSOPHERS MERCURY, although many are deceived in their fancies to the contrary.

OF THE PARTICULAR OF ANTIMONY, TOGETHER WITH
THE EXTRACTION OF ITS SULPHUR AND SALT

Take good HUNGARIAN Antimony, pulverise it subtilly to a meal, calcine it over a gentle heat, stirring it still with an iron wire, and let it be albified, and that at last it may be able to hold out in a strong fire. Then put it into a melting pot, melt it, cast it forth, turn it to a transparent glass, beat that glass, grind it subtilly, put it in a glass body of a broad flat bottom, pour on it distilled Vinegar, let it stand luted in a gentle heat for a good while, the Vinegar extracts the Antimonial tincture, which is of a deep redness, abstract the Vinegar, there remains a sweet yellow powder, which must be edulcorated with distilled water, all acidity must be taken off, exiccate it; pour on it the best graduated Spirit of wine, set it in a gentle heat, you have a new extraction, which is fair and yellow, cant it off, pour on other Spirit, let it extract as long as it can, then abstract the Spirit of wine, exiccate, you find a tender yellow subtile powder of an admirable Medicinal operation, is nothing inferior unto potable SOL.

Take two parts of this powder, one part of SOLAR SULPHUR, grind these small, then take three parts of SULPHUR of MARS, pour on it six parts of SPIRIT of MERCURY, set it in digestion well luted, let the SULPHUR of MARS be dissolved totally, then carry in a fourth part of the ground-matter of the Sulphur of ANTIMONY, and of 501, lute and digest, let all be dissolved, then carry in more of your ground Sulphurs, proceed as formerly, iterating it so long till all be dissolved, then the matter becomes a thick brown oil, drive all over jointly into one, leave nothing behind in the bottom, then pour it on a purely separated LUNAR CALX, fix it by degrees of fire, then melt it into a body, separate it with an AQUAFORT, six times as much of SOL is precipitated then, above the ponderosity the compound did weigh, the remainder of LUNA serves for such works you please to put it unto.

The ANTIMONIAL TINCTURE being extracted totally from its VITRUM, and no Vinegar takes more hold of any tincture, then exiccate the remaining powder, which is of a black colour, put it into a melting pot, lute it, let it stand in a reasonable heat, let all the sulphureous part burn away, grind the remaining matter, pour on it new distilled Vinegar, extract its Salt, abstract the Vinegar, edulcorate the acidity by cohobation, clarifie so long, so that the water be white and clear. If you have proceeded well in your manuals, then the lesser time will be required to extract the ANTIMONIAL SALT, as you shall hear of it.

Whereby you may observe, that the ANTIMONIAL SULPHUR is extracted in the following manner, and is of the same Medicinal operation, but is of a quicker and speedier work, which is a matter of consequence, and worthy to be taken notice of.

A SHORT WAY TO MAKE THE ANTIMONIAL
SULPHUR AND SALT

Take good Vitriol, common salt, and unslaked lime, of each one pound, four ounces of Salt-armoniac, beat them small, put them in a glass body, pour on it three pounds of common Vinegar, let it stand in digestion stopped for a day, put it afterward into a retort, apply a receiver to it, distill it, as usually an aqua-fort is distilled.

Take of the off drawn liquor, and of common Salt, one pound each, rectifie them once more, let no muddieness come over with it, all must come clear. Then take one pound of pulverised antimonial glass, pour this Spirit on it, lute well, digest, and let all be dissolved; then abstract the water in BALNEO MARIE, there remains in the bottom a black, thick, fluid matter, but somewhat dry, lay it on a glass table, set it in a cellar, a red oil flows from it, leaving some FECES behind, coagulate this red oil gently upon ashes, let it be exiccated there; then pour the best Spirit of wine on it, it extracts a tincture which is blood red, cant off that which it tinged, pour other Spirit of wine on the remainder,

let all redness be extracted, thus you have the tincture or ANTIMONIAL SULPHUR, which is of a wonderful Medicinal efficacy, and is equivalent unto potable Gold, as you heard in the former process.

And its preparation serves now to proceed with its PARTICULITER, as I showed in the former. This black matter, which stayed behind after the extraction of SULPHUR, must be well exiccated, extract its snow-white Salt with distilled Vinegar, edulcorate it, clarifie it with Spirit of wine, observe its virtues in MEDICINA, of the which in the last part.

Thus I conclude my fourth part also. Other mysteries in Nature, and some augmentations might be here annexed, but I wave them, mentioning only the chiefest of them, and are such, which may be wrought easily, and in a short time, and whereby good store of riches may be gotten.

The rest, which are not of that importance, and may easily draw NOVICES into errors, bringing no profit for the present, may in good time by careful practice be found out and obtained.

If you only know these, whereby health and wealth is obtained, then these metalline Sulphurs in their compounds may bring great profit unto you, to write of all these circumstantially, is impossible to one man, it is of an infinite labour; call upon God for grace and mercy: A fundamental Theory affords the practical part, from thence flow infinite springs, all from one hand. If you go otherwise to work, then I entreated you to do by the Creator of heaven and earth, then all your actions will be RETROGRADE unto a temporal DISASTER.

I should annex here the efficacies of other Minerals, which are next unto Metals; but seeing they are of no ABILITY unto TRANSMUTATION of Metals; but are only Medicinal, and are qualified to do their work to the admiration of those that make use of them, I leave them at this time. The Almighty has put wonderful virtues into Metalline Salts, which have been found approved several ways.

End of the Fourth Part