THE TRIUMPHANT CHARIOT OF ANTIMONY; BEING A Conscientious Discovery of the many real Transcendent Excellencies included in that mineral, WRITTEN By BASIL VALENTINE A Benedictine monk.  
Faithfully Englished and published for the Common Good.  
By I. H. Oxon.  
Printed for Thomas Bruster, and are to be sold at the three Bibles near the West end of Paul's churchyard in London, 1660.   

Reader,  
IN this book are contained many excellent and precious antimonial medicines both physical and v: Some of them, even a mean Capacity may attain unto, othersome are more mysterious; and therefore 'tis very probable that the self-conceited man (who sticks not to vilify any thing that surmounts his reach) will call them Figments, hoping by his malicious subtlety to shun that deserved Reproach which his proud insulting Demeanour exposeth him unto: we have in these days many pretenders to great Mysteries, but by their Fruits you may know them; were there but any spark of modesty left in the hearts of such Impudent Ignorant persons, they would not thus blemish so noble a Science, which forsooth they would be accounted Masters of: For if it be an unseemly thing for the authorised Traditionalists to pretend a Mastership in this Faculty which concerns the Life of man, (and God knows how much 'tis hazarded by the wilfulness and rawness of many of them;) how much more blame-worthy are those fantastical harebrained upstarts, that (without either the fear of God, or any Respect to the good of their distressed Neighbour) Attempt, by the subtlest ways they can Imagine, to beguile the unwary, and to abuse the necessities of their afflicted Patients, and yet highly pretend to I know not what sublime Knowledge: I am persuaded that such as these have much injured many well disposed, tender-Ingenuities, and have retarded the Endeavours of such as pity the deplorable Estate of Mankind: This piece therefore may serve to quicken the Slow, and to settle the Wavering Mind. The Object of it is Antimony, 'tis easy to be had at a mean price, the medicines thence educeable are of great value; but yet such of them as are so, have a suitable covering, the which remove by thy diligence and 'twill recompense thy pains. Labour therefore, and humbly implore the Searcher of all hearts to vouchsafe a Blessing upon thy handy work; and whatsoever thou receivest through his mercy, be careful to improve it to his Glory and thy neighbour's Comfort. For, Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy: Farewell,  
Thy friend, J. H.   

The most material erratas, are to be Corrected as followeth.  
Page 52. l. 3. r. it Ceaseth. p. 53. l. 2. r. Alteration. p. 58. l. 10. r. restrain. l. 11. r. least. p. 80. l. 3. It first describes. p. 158. l. 2. r. thereinto.   

THE Triumphant Chariot of ANTIMONY.  
THE Fiery Stone of Antimony, its fixed tincture, and most red oil, shall in this work be briefly, but throughly taught, after an easy way and Method without any riddles or doubtful shadows. I therefore Basil Valentine, a professed Monk, and Brother of the order of St. Benedict, will fundamentally propound to the friendly Reader, a brief admonition concerning some Praecognita, which a Spagirist (carefully inquiring into the verity of Art) ought to be acquainted with: Very profoundly therefore, and heartily, let these directions be ruminated on, by him who hath a desire after a certain enjoyment of this Hermetical Science: For if any slightly value these my Proposals, doubtless his labour shall be in vain, for these things following are very worthy of due consideration. Now before I attempt the main work of this little Tract, I conceive it requisite to admonish the Spagirist, of those things which are worth his knowledge; on what Basis he ought to erect his Structure, and what Foundation trusting too, his fabric may resist impetuous storms, without declining: Therefore, as a Monk, I hold it fitting, and as a thing expedient, that when myself and thyself, Titius and Sejus, Sempronius and Cajus, shall be tributaries to death, we may leave behind us in the World, an honourable memory to the praise of God, that his Divine Majesty may be adored: By a due preparation we address ourselves unto the Journey: My stare and calling, forsooth, requires a different spirit from the vulgar.  
In this my consideration, I have noted five Observations for the diligent searcher.  
1. An Invocation on the name of God, 2. A Contemplation on the Essentiality of things. 3. Their true and incorrupt preparation. 4. Their use. 5. Their benefit or proficuousness. All which, a true chemist must remember, and without which he cannot be, nor be called a true chemist: Briefly therefore and severally these Heads shall be treated of, that a particular and the universal entire Work may thereby be brought to light, and appear perfect.  
1. First therefore, The Name of God ought to be called on religiously, with a pure heart, a sound conscience, without ambition, hypocrisy, and other abuses, such as are Disdain, Pride, Arrogance, worldly Boasting, oppression of our neighbours, and other Tyrannies and Enormities of that kind; all which, aught to be totally eradicated out of the heart, that, when it would prevail at the Throne of Mercy for the health of its Body, it may be found a pure and well prepared Temple (the Chaff being separated from the uncommixed and undefiled Corn) For verily, verily, verily, God will not be mocked, as Sophisters, and the Wiselings of this Age imagine; nor will he be sued unto as a Creator, without a true fear, a due obedience, and most humble supplication: For seeing man hath nothing, but what his most bounteous Creator bestows upon him, he having given him a Body, Life, an operating Spirit, and a most noble Soul, and freely vouchsafed his own holy Word for the support and nourishment of the Soul to eternal Life; and having for Bodily necessaries provided him Food and Raiment, and such other things as none can possibly want. It is just, that above all other things, his first Father (who hath created the Heaven and the Earth, things visible and invisible, the Firmament, the Elements, Vegetable things, and all Creatures) be with most inward humble Prayers sought unto for the obtaining of them. Most certain it is, that a wicked man shall never be acquainted with true medicine, and much less taste the truly immutable, and true celestial bread of Eternity. Primarily, and chiefly therefore, follow this Doctrine, placing all thy hope and confidence in God, humbly implore his blessing, that thy search may begin in the fear of the Lord, and so shalt thou obtain desired Wisdom; for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom: Whosoever then hath resolved in himself to seek the top of Terrestrials (that is, the knowleege of the Good, lodging in all Creatures, (which the most high hath bestowed upon man) lying dormant or covered in Stones, Herbs, Roots, Seeds, living Creatures, Plants, Minerals, Metals, and the like) let him cast behind him all worldly cares, and their appurtenances, and expect release with his whole heart, by humble Prayers, and his hope shall not fail, but he shall become worthy of the last Redemption: Of this let none doubt or despair, for he alone redeemeth Israel from all their enemies, and will truly and faithfully perform the same to such as truly and humbly call upon his name: So that the first Admonition cannot be more rightly and better practised, then by Prayers, seeing it is an invoking of God; but beware you do it not from an Hypocritical and Deceitful heart, but cordially, after the rule of the Capernaites; with firmness of Faith and Hope, as the Woman of Canaan, thereby procuring her daughter's health; and with a Christian Charity, as the Samaritan poured in Wine and oil into the wounds of the poor man near Jericho, and, on his own cost, took the care of him: Whosoever useth this invocation, and intends with a Christian charity the benefit of his neighbour thereby, without doubt, shall obtain what he so earnestly seeks for, viz. His wished for end, and proposed hope of health and richness.  
2. Next to Prayer, follows a Contemplation of all things (that is) before all other things, chiefly consider their Circumstances, Matter, Form, Original Virtues, Influence, Conjunction, the secret force of the Stars, the Elementary composure, the Generation and Forming (out of the three Principles) the things that are; Then also that every thing is reducible, and may be brought back into its first Matter and first Essentiality, which, mention is made of in my writing; that of the first Matter, the last; and out of the last, the first may be made. This consideration (next to seeking of God) is chief, Celestial, and Spiritually to be understood. The understanding of the Condition and Quality of every thing, is found out by the spiritual thoughts of man, from an outflowing speculation; and this speculating is twofold, Possible, and Impossible.  
1. The Impossible consists in superfluous Cogitations of things without or beyond nature's limits, wherein no form of Essentiality is manifest; as if a man attempted to search out the Eternity of God, which cannot be done: But it is an absolute, crazy, wicked sin against the Holy Spirit, to set upon the inquiry of his immeasureable, infinite, and eternal Deity, and to examine the unfathomable Mysteries of his Counsel and wisdom.  
2. Now the Possible Consideration admits the Theory of examining the nature of things visibLe, manifest, and having a created Form or Essence, how by help of separation each Body may be understood, that they may become profitable, the good may be segregated from the bad, and the Medicine from the lurking poison, in an Anatomical manner, by separation and rectification, that the pure may be divided from the impure, without deceit; which separation may be accomplished sundry ways, (some whereof are known to the vulgar, others not so common) as are Calcination, Sublimation, Reverberation, Circulation, Putrefaction, Digestion, Cohobation, distillation, Fixation, and other ways; all which degrees are in their order found out, learned, practised, and manifested by labour; and by which appears what is fix, what volatile, white, black, or red, and the like, helping the Artificer to discern and walk rightly in his Art with mature consideration; for consideration may trust too, or lean on a false foundation, and err, if the Kingly path be not attained too: But contrarily, Nature knows not how to err, if rightly governed by a faithful steward, to whose care she is committed: If thou (therefore) err, because thou hast not loosened Nature, and freed her from the Body whereto she's Captive; learn the Theory better, & more accurately attend thy work, that thou mayst be acquainted with the true fundamental knowledge of separating all things; and this is a chief, and the most principal thing. So then, the second Basis of philosophy is the speculating of all things and Essences, and is called the consideration of nature, for it's written First seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness &c. viz, by calling on his name, and the other things shall be added thereunto, viz. the understanding of things temporal, and enjoyment of necessaries for food and health.  
Having circumspectly accomplished the consideration of all things. (which in the precedent we called the Theory) follows in order a due preparation, which is completed by manual Operation, that some thing both profitable and active may be obtained, by means of which preparation is purchased the Knowledge of medicinal virtues: Now manual operations must with diligence and pains be carefully prosecuted; experienced Knowledge is praise worthy. But Anatomy doth judge and demonstrate the difference both of the good and the bad and their virtues. Handy Labour gives evidence that all things may be brought to the light, and be made visible: The theorical knowledge of the virtues of any subject is a good forerunner of practice, and proves a truly solid foundation, whereby one may become a true practitioner, & is nothing else than a confirmation of the good that is discovered by manual labour, whereby the secrets of Nature may be educed for profitable ends. For as in the reasonable soul the way is to be prepared by the Lord, so here an harmonious and legitimate path is to be cut out, that a progress may be made for bodily health without doubtfulness and error.  
And this is Preparation.  
4. The Preparation or Separation of the hurtful & profitable, being (by Resolution) accomplished, We come to the Use or Administration thereof: and here beware lest thou either increase or diminish the true Weight, which in the operation thou must observe [viz.] Whether or no thy remedy be weak or strong, which a physician ought afore hand to know, as whether it be injurious and hurtful, or beneficial, lest by the detriment and death of his neighbour, he exposeth his own soul to hazard.  
5. After that the Operation begins to be dilated and diffused through the parts of the body, searching for the disease for which it was administered, The profitableness or Benefit comes under consideration, by which, as the main End, is discernible, what Good the operation hath induced; for it may happen that a Medicine may hurt, and not help the diseased, which may be contrary to, or improper for the diseased; and so is rather a poison, than a Medicine for restoring health. Let every one on this account warily heed and aim at the public good, that he may observe, and them so observed commit to writing; let them not perish by oblivion, but be manifested for the use of others.  
Moreover in the use, as also in the Benefit of Medicine, it is observable, whether or no a disease be a solution of continuity, or hath only an internal seat; for the exterior differ from the interior, and so are their Remedies various. Diseases therefore are to be distinguished, whether or no they are curable by only outward Remedies, or to be expelled by inward Medicines: On which account when the centre of a disease lodgeth inwardly, and is to be throughly found out, there ought to be admitted such convenient remedies as may search unto, suddenly set upon, and divide it with the restauration of strength: otherwise the physician labours in vain, if the centre be not reached unto.  
Every physician ought to know, that no external disease, having his original and residence within, can be destroyed by outward medicines; but death and destruction would ensue thereupon. For example, if a man should endeavour to repel the out-breaking flowers of a tree, back into their centre, he would not only thereby destroy the fruit of the flower, but the juice being forced back to the centre (against the Law of Nature) from whence it had its afflux to the tree, would not only be unprofitable by this violent Reunition, but also totally suffocate it; because the moist nutriment of the earth which it desires, could not have admittance. Great therefore is the difference between new wounds made with Iron, & old Ulcers begotten from an inward distemper. New Wounds are curable by outward remedies, old Ulcers are not so: But besides the Application of Ointments, oils, balsams, & Cataplasms, they require an inward cure, that the Fountain may be destroyed, and the thence-flowing River may be dried up, by which (observing a right diet) the disease shall be easily helped. 'Tis no Art or Skill to cure a green wound, which even the Countryman with a piece of salted Hogs fat easily doth: 'Tis a piece of Art to remove the symptoms that happen to wounds, and to dry up the original of diseases.  
All ye physicians throughout the universe, all ye Doctors who practise physic, ye Masters, and learned in Medicine of both sorts, External and Internal, come hither, and examine your honourable Title, and consider in your consciences, whether you received it from God or not, or proudly usurp it in formality or not: Verily there is as vast a difference between an outward, and inward curing, as is betwixt the Heaven and the Earth.  
If you have received your Title from God, he will help, bless, and prosper you. But if you feign it, or assume it to yourself, without such a Call, ye, though Great, shall greatly fall; by which you prepare for yourselves the unquenchable fire of hell. Truly our Saviour said to his Disciples, Ye call me Lord and Master, and ye do well; so let every one that will take to himself this honourable Title, consider that he doth what is right; that is, that he abuseth not his Title, and boast not of more than he hath learned. He that will be a Doctor of both Medicines, ought well to understand both Medicines, that he may discover inwardly the disposition of the body by Anatomy, and in what member the disease hath his original, and by what means he may succour it; he also ought to understand outwardly the circumstances of Wounds and Ulcers.  
Good God what would become of the Master of both Medicines, and his Title, where will it be found, if many of such as use it were exposed to an exact trial. Heretofore the physicians themselves wrought with their own hands, especially in outward diseases, this belonging to the physician's office; But now in our Age, they have brought up their Servants to exercise Chirurgery, and thus is this most noble Art become a base Trade, which even the most illiterate blush not to practise: Yea even such also as know not how to drive an ass out of the Corn, are Doctors of Chirurgery (yet even the Physical Doctors are their Disciples) and frequently exercise it with more success, and a better conscience (that I may speak the truth) than thou, O Ambitious, titled only, unlearned physical-chyrurgeon, that boastest of both names or titles, dost.  
But pray Master Doctor, and Master physician be not angry, I beseech you, with my speech and opinion; for thou wouldst be forced to acknowledge, should I examine thee of Cuts and Stabs, &c. that thy judgement concerning such things is as large, and as much knowledge lies in thy pate, as in the head of a Hen painted on a Table. 'Tis my faithful advice to all such as are Learned (both of high and low estate) to consider judiciously and conscientiously those things that are required in Doctors and Masters, viz. the true manner of the Preparation, and the use of Medicine; then may you justly assume to yourselves this honourable Title, and you'll be able to succour the distressed, and with a pure heart praise your creator.  
By what hath been spoken, let every one examine himself, and see whether (with right) he may assume this Title; for whoever will lay claim to any Title, 'tis behooveful that he exactly understand it, and be able perfectly to give an account why he assumed it: For it is not sufficient to say with the vulgar, Behold! a great deal of stinking ordure (with honour to your ears) and to be ignorant of the cause of the stinch. Although a man often feeds on the most sweet smelling food, yet presently he casts out most fetid dung; But you are to know the cause why fragrant fruit transmutes into stinch, the ground of which is natural Putrefaction. And on the other hand (in Spices) the Odour is not solely to be respected, but a Genuine Philosopher must search into the Essence and original of that smell, and what good virtues lie therein. From stinking dung (with which the Earth is dunged and nourished, grows sweet smelling fruit; for which are many reasons, and a large Book might be written of the various Transmutations of Nature; but the chief cause of this change is Putrefaction and Digestion, and they are its chief keys; because the Fire and the Air bring or cause Maturity, so that the Earth and Water are transmuted into each other; for 'tis a certain alteration, that, of Dung, a balsam be made, and contrariwise, of balsam, Dung. But you will object and say, that I bring very rural and plain examples; I confess they are homely, but the Wise man will by his own industry consider my intention herein, how from the most low, the most high may be made, and from the high the most humble or low; how out of a Remedy a poison, and out of a poison a Remedy; out of a Sweet thing a Corrosive, and from thence a thing profitable may be produced. Good God Nature will not be throughly searched by us all; for our Life is short, and thou most just Judge hast kept to thyself many things, that Man may admire thy Creatures, of which thyself wilt be the Judge; Give me grace, that I may firmly retain my Saviour in my heart, even to my ultimate end, that besides my bodily health and food which in abundance thou hast bestowed upon me, I may also obtain the riches and health of my soul, of which I make no scruple, since thou hast shed on the wooden cross, out of thy ardent Love and Mercy, the true Sulphur of the soul for me; which heavenly Sulphur of the soul proves a poison to the devil; but to us, the greatest Medicine. I cure my Brethren by Prayers, spiritually; by Appropriate remedies, bodily; and hope that they'll watch spiritually for me, that we may all become coinhabitants in the Tabernacles of the most high God.  
But, to return to my Antimonial Philosophy.  
Be it therefore known unto the Reader, that every thing hath in itself a quickening and operating Spirit which dwells in bodies, nourisheth and preserves them: In the Elements also are living Spirits, by God's permission be they good or evil. Men and other living creatures have a living operating spirit in themselves, the which departing, a carcase only remains.  
Herbs and Plants contain in them a healthy spirit, otherwise they would be unfit for medicinal preparation and use. So both Metals & Minerals have in them their Impalpable spirit, wherein lies contained all their force and efficacy; without a spirit the body is dead, nor can it discover any lively operation: Know then rhat in Antimony lies a spirit, which effects all such things as lie hid therein, and are▪ thence educible, but invisibly, not unlike the invisible virtue that lies hid in the Loadstone, whereof in my ●ract of the Magnet I shall speak more largely. Now there is a twofold spirit; Intelligent, and not Intelligent. The Intelligent spirits are endowed with Reason (and can become when they list, impalpable, and without bodies) like us natural men; of which kind are the Elementary inhabitants, viz. fiery, as walking and wandering lights, and other bright phantasies: also inhabitants in the air, and dwellers in, and governors over the Waters, & lastly, the Earthy inhabitants, of which rank are those that frequently appear in metallic Mines, and are thence denominated Mine-Pit men: Now these are understanding Spirits, & skilled in Art, and are able to alter their shape, of whom I dare not determine any thing, but leave it to the all knowing God, whether it be expedient to deliver my judgement concerning them or not. The other spirits of the universe, and which do not operate after the afore said manner by their own innate power, are such as lie hid in man, Animals, Brutes, Plants, & Minerals, which notwithstanding have in them an operative life, which they by their works discover, evidencing that there lies an healing power in them, when they are separated from their bodies by the benefit of Art. Thus also the Spirit of Antimony manifests its virtue, and communicates it to mankind, when by a freedom from the chains and bonds of its body (that its penetrative and operating force may be awakened) it be used to that intent for which by the Artist it is ordained. Truly 'tis expedient that the master or artist & Vulcan entertain familiarity, for the fire separates the operative force and virtue; But the artificer forms and fashioneth the matter, as a blacksmith by the help of one and the same fire, and of one and the same metal viz. Iron, forms (out of that one matter) sundry and several utensils, as spits, Iron shoes, forks, plowshares &c. So also out of Antimony, many artificial things, and of diverse uses may be made: The artificer is the blacksmith forming the matter, the fire is the unlocking key, the operation and utility confirms the preparation and brings experience. O good God Would but the foolish and unwise world see and hear rightly and discreetly, and truly understand, that a sight and hearing only of what I write, may not satisfy them, without the obtaining of a truly inward useful knowledge, It would not lick up the purulent dregs, but go unto those living fountains where it may drink of the water of life. And let all know that I shall indeed make fools of many learned Masters; and on the contrary Doctors of many poor, despised, searching and inquiring scholars; all such breathing and longing spirits I invite to follow my doctrine, to observe my writings and admonitions with a cheerful heart, a faithful companion and good conscience (to whom thus enjoying I promise many things) and so shall they be effectors of their desire, and speak honourably of me, when I shall lie in my sepulchre, prolonging my fame with a lasting memorial even to the world's end.  
Now if any surviving me shall dispute in my School against me, when dead, my writings will answer abundantly for me, and I certainly know that my disciples will not be unmindful of the benefit they have reaped, but preserve the majesty of truth, which hitherto we have always obtained, to the confusion of falsity and lying, and always shall obtain it to the world's end.  

The sorts of Antimony.  Moreover the courteous & favourable student of Art, aught to know the several sorts and kinds of Antimony.  
One sort is pure, fair, of a golden nature, and abounds with Mercury. Another abounds with Sulphur, and largely differs from that of the golden property, and temperature: For in the former sort are fair, long, shining Radii, or Lines, whereby 'tis distinguishable from the latter; For the difference of the goodness of the sorts of Antimony is as much as is betwixt the flesh of four footed beasts, & of fishes, which have some agreement and affinity, as to the name, and (if you will) essence, but in goodness are different. The ingenuous student must also know that a great many men have written of the inward virtues of Antimony, but most few are they, who have learned the basis of its virtue, or found how they might possess it, and since they only talk and speak groundlessly, they lose their honour in that, for which intent (of honour) they betook themselves to writing.  
He that will write of Antimony, needs a great consideration and most ample mind, and various rules of its preparation and assured end; wherein it may with profit be used, that so he may give a certain undoubtful testimony of what is good or what is evil, what helpful and what poisonous.  
'tis no small thing truly to search out Antimony, thereby to know its essence and at length by diligence and experience, to obtain the knowledge of it, to take away its poison, (so much cried out against by the clamours of the vulgar) and by a better omen to transmute it into wholesome medicine. Many inquirers or Anatomists have hunted some here, some there, and miserably handled, tormented, and crucified Antimony, in so much that 'tis both unexpressible and incredible. But (really) they have not found out, or accomplished any profitable operation, wandering from the true end, propounding to themselves things that are false, and thereby shadowing their sight, from being able to discern the mark.  
Antimony may deservedly be compared (& so also Mercury) to an infinite Circle, and painted with all sorts of colours, and by how much the more it is sought into, so much the more is found out and learned, (so that your progress therein be right and true;) In a word, one man's life is too too short, perfectly to be acquainted with all its mysteries.  
It is the worst of poisons, the which being separated therefrom, it becomes the supremest medicine, and is to be administered for inward and outward diseases. Which to many moles will seem incredible, and will be adjudged vanity and folly, but yet may be pardonable in them, because of their ignorance and want of judgement: but verily they are exceedingly to be blamed, who not knowing, have no desire after knowledge nor any will to learn.  
Antimony hath four qualities, it is hot and cold, moist and dry, and imitates the four seasons of the year: it is also fixed and volatile: the volatile part is not void of poison, but the fixed part is altogether free there from.  
Hence comes it to pass, that many unskilful men write what they neither know, nor understand, which may (for that reason) be adjudged monstrous, & one of the seven wonders of the world: there being none that either hitherto hath been found or is at present to be found, who hath fundamentally learned all its faculties, virtues, and powerful operations, or hath so far tried its force & efficacy, that nothing more may be therein seen, than he by his own experience knows. If any such can be met withal, he is well worthy to be drawn in the Triumphant Glorious Chariot of the ancient Emperors, when they had gotten some notable victories: But in my opinion the chariot Smiths are likely of but light employment about chariots of this kind: many artificers in this age being overwhelmed with their thoughts, have sought after Riches only in Antimony, and have neglected the benefit that its wont to bring to such as are diseased, the which utility ought notwithstanding first of all to be sought after, that the wonders of the Lord may be manifested, and due thanks given to him. It cannot indeed be denied, but that in Antimony Riches may be found, although neither thou nor I may believe it, since both of us are but Scholars and Disciples in its search; although haply I have seen more therein, and experimented more, then either thou or such as thou art (that boast exceedingly much, and arrogate a large portion of Learning to themselves) are able to learn to morrow or next day; yet let none grieve at his fortune, nor despair, for God doth wonderfully distribute his merciful rewards; but yet the World abounds with such as are ungrateful, who contemn the blessings of God, esteeming Wealth better than true riches, and therefore God hath set a Cloud before their eyes, that such being blinded, may not know those secrets that lie hid under a metallic Form. All people, even in these days, cry out, Riches, riches, and imitate the saying of the Epicurean, If our Bodies would enjoy anything, our Souls must willingly search after it; frequently repeating the foolish wish of Midas, so often spoken of by the Poets: Many therefore do here consult with themselves, how from Antimony they may obtain their hoped for riches: But because in their Commentaries and devices they mind not their Creator, nor render a sacrifice of praise, and neglect that charity due to their neighbour, they in vain feel in the horse's mouth, whose age, force and strength, they remain ignorant of: So in the Wedding at Cana of Galilee, they indeed tasted and drank of the Wine, and knew it to be made of Water; but the manner of its Transmutation they were not acquainted with, for our Saviour kept that Miracle to himself alone, for the confirmation of his Omnipotency. I do therefore affirm, that the Mysteries of all things, and those secrecies that are implanted in the Creatures by the Creator, aught to be inquired into, and sought after from him: Although 'tis incredible and unlikely, that a man should attain to a perfect knowledge, any more than they aforementioned could understand our saviour's Miracles; yet 'tis not forbidden us to seek, because by study and diligence we may come to learn, so much as to prevent the causes of complaining of the loss of our health and riches; and also may find cause enough to rejoice in such things, as by search we find out, for which, let God, who is well worthy, be for ever praised.  
Whosoever therefore will be a true Antimonial Anatomist, let him first consider the division or opening of its body, that after a due manner, and in due season, and in its own seat, he make his attempts, without erroneous deviations.  
Secondly, Let the Regiment or Governance of the Fire be observed, that it be not too great nor too little, that it grows not too cold nor too hot (for in the fire lies the very Art) that its living Spirits may be forced out, released, and set at liberty, to perform their operating virtues.  
Thirdly, let the use be observed, together with the certain measure and quantity, as before in my five necessary chemical Heads or Observations I have denoted, yet I'll repeat them parabolically.  
By the Division or Anatomical part, the chief thing receives its preparation; but in & by the fire is it adduced to profit and use: Even as a Butcher cuts an Ox, (which he hath killed) into several pieces; but yet 'tis not fit for use being crude; but must be concocted by the fires heat, which takes away the rawness of the flesh, and prepares it for useful nutriment, (for if an householder should eat crude flesh, it would be rather a poison then Food; because the heat of man's stomach is too weak for concocting such a crude gross body.) Even so also, (my friend) Mayst thou conclude concerning Antimony, which seeing 'tis a crude gross poison, and being Mineral, hath a more hard indigestible Body, then living Creatures have; it cannot be digested in the stomach, without a precedent preparation and concoction, but death would soon follow so strong a Medicine. Above all things (as to Antimony) let its poison be taken away, and let it be so handled and ordered that it may never be reducible into poison any more, even to eternity: even as Vinegar can never more be reduced into wine, out of which it was made by Putrefaction, not from thence (viz. Vinegar) can a Spirit of Wine be extracted, but it is Vinegar, and so it will remain.  
But contrarily if by distillation the spirit of Wine be separated from its aquosity, and be elevated into its own exaltation, 'twill never be changed into vinegar in a whole age, but will always remain spirit of Wine, as Spirit of Vinegar will still continue to be Spirit of Vinegar: But the manner of the generation of this Wine-Vinegar is wonderful; for of it, is made a thing different from what it was before in its vegetative Essence; for in the distillation of Wine, the spirit of the Wine comes first, the watery part residing in the bottom; but in the distillation of Vinegar, the spirit riseth last, as elsewhere hath been treated of. The Spirit of Wine therefore makes things votatile, because itself is volatile; but the fixed Spirit of Vinegar fixeth them, viz. The mineral and vegetable Medicines that they are enabled to operate upon fixed things, and heal fixed diseases, which things observe very diligently, for therein lies an an entrance of great concernment.  
Antimony ought therefore so to be prepared (which its own proper Vinegar is able to do) that its poison may be taken away, and transmuted into Medicine, which never more for the future retains any poison, but rather is sufficient to expel all sorts of poisons. The preparation of Antimony consists in the keys of alchemy only, by which it is opened, divided and separated; such are Calcination, Reverberation, & Sublimation: Also in the Extraction of its Essence, which is vivified into Mercury, which Mercury is to be precipitated into a fixed Powder: moreover by art may an oil be thence made, which is most exceedingly profitable for the healing of the French disease: and so other preparations are found out by the benefit of chemistry.  
For Example, A workman intending to make Ale out of barley, Wheat, or other Fruits, 'tis needful that he passeth through all these degrees before he extracts its Essence, and convert it into a noble drink. First of all, he must macerate it in water, until the fruit be broken, (as I exactly observed, when being a young man I was in Holland and England) and this is nothing else but putrefaction; This being done let the water run therefrom; and the corn thus macerated, gather up into an heap, and leave it so for some season, that (of its own accord) it may grow warm, and this is called digestion, which being finished, dry the corn thus prepared in the air, or at the heat of a fire, which is Reverberation or coagulation; being dried, let it be ground in a Mill like meal, and this is its Vegetable calcination; all these things being performed, it is to be boiled with water, that so the most noble spirit of the grain may be extracted by, and joined unto the Water, which before its preparation could not have been done: Thus then is the crude water changed into Ale, and this is distillation after a gross manner: The little leaves of the Hops that are at last mingled with it, are the Vegetable and preservative salt, keeping the Ale from perishing by a new putrefaction: The Italians and Spaniards have but a small Knowledge of this process: in the upper Germany, also in the country of Rhine (being my country) few there are that are herewith acquainted: All the aforesaid degrees being completed, then by clarification is a new separation made, and a little ferment or yeast added to the boiled Ale, which stirs it up to motion, that it lifts up itself of its own accord, and by that Ebullition is the troubled separated from the clear, the impure from the pure, by convenient standing and time, from whence the Ale attains its due perfection, and can operatively penetrate and accomplish that for which intent 'tis given. As long as the operative spirit is hindered by impurity, it cannot perform its Office and work, which is apparent in Wine, which before its settling and standing, it cannot perform its operation; but only after the separation of the pure from the impure; which is hereby discernible, because that neither wine nor ale will inebriate, as long as they are new and unpurified, and are not capable of then emitting their operating spirits, but of this enough.  
Now after all this, a new separation may be instituted by a vegetable sublimation, whereby the spirits of Wine or Ale may be reduced to another Drink, viz. (Aquavitae) which also is extractable out of either of their feces, which being done, and the operating spiritual virtue separated from its body, and abstracted by fire, there remains nothing behind but only a warrish and dead Sediment, and by rectification, this Aquavitae may be so exalted, that by a frequent and artificial abstraction it may become most pure, without any phlegm or water accompanying it, and then one pound is more efficacious than twenty pounds or more were before, for it speedily penitrates and inebriates, being reduced to this high Degree of Volatile virtue.  
Thou therefore that art desirous of art, if thou wouldst obtain Knowledge from my Writings, and Wealth, Riches, and true Medicine from Antimony, consider well what I have afore said, for therein the least Letter hath its signification, and there's not a word writ in vain, verily in my writings all about, are many words variously placed, which if the artificer did consider and understand what the true intent is, and in what the Mark lies, it would not grieve him to read over every leaf several times, and to engrave every word in a Table of Gold, and take notice, that although I have made use of rustical and gross Examples, yet are they of great concernment; I will not praise my own books, it being too unbeseeming; but let trial be made, and they shall be found truly praiseworthy: I have the rather used such gross examples, that (because the virtue of Antimony lies most profoundly hid, and is to be drawn out of most secret places) by such Examples, a way may be opened for thee, that thou mayst sooner obtain thy end, and begin in a convenient manner, and bring thy diligent search to an happy issue. Antimony may be compared to a Bird flying in the air, which turns herself sometime here, sometimes there, even as the air drives her: so here a man or artist is the Wind, who drives Antimony where it pleaseth him, and brings it under a constellation in that place which he hath assigned it, for he can make it red, yellow, white or black, even as it seems him best, (having good respect to the governance of his Fire) wherein he shall assuredly discern that Antimony passeth all the colours which are wont to be found in Mercury, at which do not make such great admiration, for Nature permits many things which neither I nor thou shall be able totally▪ and throughly to learn to day, to morrow, or next day: When an illiterate man takes up any book he knows not what the writing thereof contains, and is totally ignorant of the signification of the Letters therein, which he gazeth on as a Heifer on a new door; but when that unskilful man shall be informed as to the signification and use of those Letters, he than ceaseth to esteem it any science more, but counts it a thing common and very facile, the use and intent whereof he perfectly understands, so that nothing seems to him secret or obscure in that book, when both the reading and true apprehension of its Contents are discovered and well conceived by him.  
In like manner Antimony is as it were a book for unexperienced men to read, whom I faithfully admonish with all my heart, (if they would participate of the benefit of that book) that they first consider its Letters, know and pronounce them, that to read, may be familiar unto them, (the which by practising) they may deservedly be advanced unto a higher form or Classis in the school, in which school, truly experience is the master, which by the trial discovers who shall obtain the Garland, and be worthy its Enjoyment before another.  
Moreover, I will not that thou be ignorant, how many men daily, but foolishly, and very inconsiderately, cry out crucify, crucify, against all that administer poisons unto men, and prepare their accustomed Medicine thereof, whereby so many men are miserably destroyed, of which Nature, are Mercury, arsenic, and Antimony, and with these unseasoned clamours do the unlearned physicians most of all cry out, themselves being absolutely ignorant what real poison, and what a true remedy is, how a separation is to be begun and perfected, that so out of Poison the evil of its Nature may be removed, and a better substituted: I do therefore myself also speak & cry out against all such as dangerously administer to man such poisonous things, not versed in their due preparations, for Mercury, arsenic, Antimony and the like, (in their substance without preparation) are plainly venomous and so remain; But yet after a necessary Preparation, Extraction, Mortification, and Victory over their poison, they verily become a Medicine sufficient to resist all other internal poisons, and fundamentally to Eradicate them. And certainly when that which is poisonous shall by due preparation be so ordered, that it is no more noxious for the time to come, it then resists all such poisons as it finds unprepared, and prepares them in such manner, that they also lay aside their venenosity, and become conformable unto it, although both were hurtful and poisonous at first.  
Here I shall stir up amongst the learned a great contention, as to the true meaning of this my writing, whether or no what I now mention be possible or not concerning which many a censure will be past: Some suppose that from the aforesaid things, their venomous qualities can not be altogether removed by any means, no wonder indeed, that the knowledge of this thing is hid from their eyes, and that they do not at all think of Learning the wonders of this Universe. Othersome, but a very few will readily confirm my Doctrine of the Transmutation of evil into what is better. Consider, that even physicians will confess, that the evil wherein a Disease doth lodge, may be converted into good, and if they allow so far, it may not be unlawful for me also to affirm, that the evil which lies hid in a physical or Medicinal subject, may be transmuted into better, that it may be administered with safety, rightly and wholsomely. But whereas Experience, and the manner of proceeding is known to, but a very few, there will be but a very small number that will with constancy, adhere to the defence of my proposed opinion, without yielding up to the clamours of the Multitude, whose cries are Poison, Poison, Poison, as those impious Jew's throated it out against our ever blessed Saviour, crucify him, and avowing him the readiest and worst of poisons, when as he was, and is indeed the Panacea of our souls, redeeming of us from sin, death, the devil and Hell, although the proud insulting Scribes and Pharisees denied him, yet assuredly it both was and will remain a certain truth (let the Enemies of truth be broken to pieces) even to Eternity; nor shall be ever convicted of falsity, by either Death, Devils, or the Gates of Hell.  
So I know that many trifling wanderers, lazy Doctors, empirics, and many other Intruders into physic, will clamour out against Antimony, crying, A Crucifige; but yet it will endure, when those ignorant Medicasters shall be broken to pieces (I speak not here of those honest physicians, who adjudge it no shame to receive instruction) it will, I say, remain, and by the virtue of it's due preparation, potently subdue and conquer its enemies, when as the wicked haters and deriders of Antimony shall perish, together with the bloodthirsty enemies of Christ.  
I tend my speech to you skilful Doctors, who persuade Kings and Princes, &c. yea, and warn them to beware of this or that Medicine, as being hurtful, poisonous, and dangerous; how ridiculous you appear in my eye, I forbear to mention, for I well perceive and find, that though in their own esteem they are most learned men, yet they speak only according to opinion, ignorantly, and without any true observation, on which account they cannot either judge or speak otherwise; and if it should happen that a man should have drunk such a poison, and be even burst asunder, even there, by the help of God, would I administer such an Antidote of my own preparation (which, out of mere charity, I always am careful of having ready by me) which should timely expel all the poison, and cast it out: Although thou, Mr. Doctor, who neither observest or understandest, wilt say 'tis false and a lie; it matters not, I know how to defend my own, and by approved experience to confirm it; I have tried it, prepared it, and (if so liked me) could produce testimony of its operation from the hands of many. And if I were to dispute in a methodical legitimate order with that Doctor, as prepares not any of his Medicines, nor knows how to do it, but commits the charge and care thereof to another: I am confident that I should outstrip him in his function of administering suitable remedies, & tumble him down to a place more low, with shame enough, he being ignorant of what he administers to his Patients, and unacquainted with the Qualities of his Medicines, whether white, black, red, caeruleous, yellow, hot, cold, moist, or dry, or what they be: He reads of them only in Books, and by length of time obtains a possession of them, (or, as it were, a possession) nor endeavours he after any more acquaintance with them: Most righteous God what will these do? what care do these men take of their consciences? how will they succour the sick? Woe, woe, In the last day they'll find the end thereof, and deservedly find whom it is that they have pierced. Their thoughts are altogether after money, when as if they rightly minded their Vocation, they would night and day think how to obtain farther for the augmentation of their renown: But labour being burdensome unto them, they let that pass, and run on, and defend their Cure with prating, but yet with a checking Conscience, and without any foundation: And let thus much suffice them.  
Coals, to such men, are out of use, nor do they want them, but keep their money to bestow it on better uses: Vulcan has but small familiarity with them, their Furnaces for distillation are only in the apothecary's Shop, and thither also they rarely come: A little piece of Paper, stuffed with a Recipe, completes all things; the which, a servant with his Pestle and Mortar, composeth: Most bounteous God change the time, put a period to their pride, land off the Trees lest they grow up to Heaven; crush the giants, lest they heap up mountain upon mountain, and be assistant to those that trust upon thee, that they may stand before their hateful enemies.  
I do therefore admonish all my Brethren, who live with me in this cloister, that they constantly help me in their Prayers for more plenty of true Medicine, and that God would enlighten its hateful deriders, and reclaim them from their errors, whereby they may come to acknowledge the power of the Creator placed in his Creatures, and may hear it apparently and perspicuously, and may understand the very inward secrets (by their endeavours and Anatomy) which lie most deeply hid under the outward form; & I hope that the Almighty Creator will hear our Prayers, which if he please not, during mine and my brethren's lives, yet haply after our decease some may repent them, to whom so much Grace may be given, that their darksome, blind, and dimmed eyes, may receive sight, and by a true enlightening, find the lost Groat, the which God grant. Amen.  
Now therefore, having decreed to deliver a perfect, and my absolute opinion of Antimony, I think convenient to speak a few words touching its name: Observe therefore, It was formerly called by the Arabians, Asinat; by the Chaldeans, Stibium; by the Latines 'tis to this day called Antimonium; but the Germans, (studious in their own proper Language) call it Spisglâsse, i. e. speared or radiated Glass, because its substance is in such a form, and out of it may be made Glass (either apart, or by addition) of divers colours, lying hid therein, and educible therefrom. Let every one on that account consider, that the Observations of the Chaldeans, Arabians, Latins, Germans, and other People, about Antimony, were not in vain, but that both its virtue and use might equally and deservedly be taken notice of, and 'tis very likely and credible, that by succeeding heresy its praise and virtue died, for truth may be oppressed by the enemy's violence, the Devil being by God permitted to act many things, because of our Transgressions and blindness.  
Satan, you know, is man's enemy, and now that the verity of sincere Medicine may be impeded and totally drowned, he makes use of all his Art and endeavours, that the power of God may be eclipsed, and no thanks ascribed to him for his implanted Blessings, and that natural remedies and redresses may be removed from man.  
But seeing 'tis not so much requisite to dispute and discourse much of the name of Antimony, because its Title neither helps nor hinders, and because all the praise consists in its preparation, and in that power which by nature is given to it, and by the Creator bestowed on it: I shall omit to mention more of its name, and come to describe its efficacy and operation, by which its virtues may be laid open, and immortal praise may be obtained. Yet before I come to rehearse the virtues of Antimony, seeing (by my own acknowledgement) that it is a mere poison: I will propound an Example, how one poison attracts another like to itself, more effectually than any other thing whatsoever. For (friendly Reader) observe that the true and inadulterate unicorn's horn, casts from itself all sorts of poison, which is thus evidenced: Draw a circle with the said Horn about a Spider, and he will never get out, because he flies from what is contrary to him; but if another poison be put thereto, he would not fly or run from it, but passing through it, would go out of the Circle.  
Moreover, if a little piece of Silver, hollowed, be made swim in a vessel full of water (wherein put some poison) place the said Horn thereunto, and let there not be any bodily or corporal touch, and yet you shall see it to repel the said piece far from it, which will fly upon the Water, even as a Duck foreseeing the Fowler: But if it be placed, viz. the Horn nigh to a piece of pure unadulterated Bread, swimming upon the Water, it will presently attract the Bread unto itself, without any corporeal touch, and the Bread will follow the Horn round about, according as you move it, which is most miraculously wonderful in nature, that each thing should attract its like, and contrarily hate and abandon what is opposite unto it: From whence, the physicians have taken occasion to consider how to attract poison by poison, and things not Venomous, by things void of poison, after a Magnetical manner. And thus poisons is expelled two several ways.  
First, By its contrary, which opposeth and resists the venom, as I have spoken of the unicorn's ●orns.  
Secondly, By its like, that one poison may extract the other Magnetically; yet so, that the attractive poison be first prepared, that its venenosity may be transmuted into Medicine, sufficiently able to destroy the poison by its attractive power: So Soap washeth Grease out of cloth, though itself was at first a fatness; but when it is prepared of Lime, oil, and other things, by boiling and separation (chiefly by the help of salt) it ceaseth to defile of to spot, but rather takes them away; so (by the help of God) in like manner poison by precedent preparation, may cease to be poisonous, extracting it, dissipating it, and restore to former health: But that I may give thee, and the Students of Art, opportunity of being acquainted with the gifts of Nature, and what poison is, or how to be adjudged, whether good or bad, or what it is, I shall make use of some Examples for confirmation of the truth, and the discovery of falsity and error; which proudly arrogant Medicasters or physicians, by reason of their sluggish and droanish laziness are unacquainted with.  
Take an egg frozen with cold in the Winter season, put it into exceeding cold Water for a little while, and then the frigidity of the Water will extract the coldness of the egg, and reduce it to its pristine estate; So, whosoever shall have any member benumbed with cold, let him speedily apply cold Snow water thereunto, and so one cold will extract another, and the Member shall be heated: So to any member possessed with a fervent burning heat, let be applied some warm, hot matter (to wit, Spirit of Wine rectified, or the Quintessence of Sulphur, both which are fiery in the supremest degree) and you shall see that the one heat attracts the other, by the force of magnetism from the member whereto it is applied, and administers not only rest, but perfect health. I could confirm my sayings with many undeniable Examples; Take the Sperm of Frogs, appearing in the Spring, put them upon a Tile, dry them at the Sun and powder them; insperge of this Powder on the venomous bitings of Snakes and water-Serpents, and 'twill induce a good basis for their healing, insomuch that other Medicines will complete the cure 〈◊〉 a linen cloth oftentimes moistened with the said Frog-spawn, dried, cut in p●●ces, and applied, will perform the same.  
I ●ill also lead thee to the fundamentals of truth, by another ensample▪ viz. Take a living Toad, dry him first at the Sun, then in a covered Pot well luted, bring him to ashes, pound him, and lay the powder on venomous bitings, or such accidents, and you shall see one venom attracting the other; and the reason is, because by burning or calcination, the virtue of the Toad is opened, and rendered effectually powerful to attract its like poison.  
Let this certain, indubious, and directory example, of poison attracting its like, serve thee instead of the rest: If therefore any one be infected with the Plague, and shall cautiously and diligently observe this thing, he shall find that I have written most true; now the best preservatives in the Plague are, the Star of the Sun, and the Spirit of Mercury administered together, now the Spirit of Mercury operates, by attracting to itself poisons of a like nature, as a true cure of all venomous accidents: But because the Star of the Sun (by whom (as an operating vivifying Sun) all things are generated) doth after a manner conquer universally every thing, I have placed the supremest active power in the virtue of the Sun; that is, in its Star, from whence all Metals and Minerals do principally obtain the original of their Generation and Increase, of which I shall treat more at large, when I shall come to make manifest the Star of the Sun unto thee, thine own conscience bearing me witness.  
Under the which Solar nature, Antimony is contained, and deserves observation, for it produceth the self same effects as Gold doth, and acts as much as corporeal Gold can do; but it hath not attained the virtue of the Star of the Sun, but fears and trembles before him; and although Antimony may well boast of his vast surpassing of the most fundamental medicines, yet falls he short of universally accomplishing that, which the Star of the ●un hath (by testimony of a Celestial virtue) in itself, and is able to perform.  
I omit to speak of the Star of Mercury, although it springs from the same matter as the aforementioned do, yet because of the penetrative force of the Star of the Sun, it yields to it as its superior.  
All my Books do harmoniously follow experience, even as links in a chain, or as Brass stamps Brass: Let the virtues of what is therein mentioned, be exactly considered, and judiciously experimented by the Fire; for thus these writings of mine, my business, my proposals and medicines are to be brought to a certain end and conclusion, and ought (if only a right Judge be present) to obtain the true Hereditary seat, and by means of that attempted way, bear away the honour and Renown: Now Vulcan, a glorious Artificer, as to the Fire (his own Element) is the only Judge; concerning which, hear an Example of a certain and indubitable Experiment: When a flintstone is smitten against a Steel, a Fire is stirred up by their mutual collision and violent motion; the hidden Sulphur or occult Fire is discovered by that striking, and is by the Air enkindled, so that it burns actually and sensibly; the Salt remains in the Ashes, and the Mercury flies away like combustible Sulphur. From hence you may understand a certain manner how to proceed with Antimony, viz. That his Mercury be separated from his Sulphur and Salt, by mediums, granted us by nature. As the Fire (Whilst lying in its matter) operates nothing, either profitable or permanent, unless it be made manifest; so all remedies, except they are separated from their more gross parts, and are rectified, loosened, clarified, and artificially prepared (by which all men may acknowledge that there's a separation made of the pure from the impure) and except the metallic: art be removed from the rich, pure Metal, there's no ground of any certain and infallible hope; all which transites cannot be done without the true manner of opening and loosening the Body by the Regiment of Fire.  
In a word, I thus unfold the Nature of Antimony.  
All secret things (whilst hidden) are esteemed arts, the secret being revealed ceaseth to be an art, and becomes a Trade, as I have elsewhere taught.  
The Bee sucks Honey from the Flowers by an art which God hath given him, wherein the Virtue, Juice, and comforting faculty of Medicines is contained, and out of which is openly or everywhere a Medicine made; and contrarily, from the sweetest Honey may a Corrosive be made, and the worst of poison, which experienced men only know, and (after Observation) believe: Yet honey is not to be rejected or despised, which, (notwithstanding its most excellent sweetness) becomes destructive to its own medicinal faculties, if a corrisive be prepared therefrom, but, that the unversed and unexperienced physician knows not its preparation: here therefore will I fix a cross even to the judgement day, for ignorant and unlearned physicians.  
Now honey is thus prepared, Out of the Excrements of bruit beasts, the meadows and dunged fields produce several Flowers, Herbs, and Plants, (the earth's young ones) from these Plants, Herbs, and Flowers, the Bees extract a Juice or Quintessence, of which an Alteration is made, or a Generation of one thing from another, viz. a meat or Honey differing from the first savour and form; out of honey is prepared for man a most commodious, sweet, and most profitable food for many things: Out of the same Honey may be prepared an intoxicating Essence, most destructive to man and beast.  
Consider therefore O physician, whatsoever thou art, young or old, learned or unlearned, rich or poor, a Workman or Artificer, or whatever thou art, follow me and Nature, I will fundamentally teach thee the truth without any lie; In what thing profit, and that which is good and right is, and in what injury is, and how thou shalt be able to separate the good from the evil, the lowest from the highest. Verily out of Antimony may be prepared a Medicine, (but all its venenosity must be first changed into Medicine) which may be able to blot out and consume all Diseases, and to penetrate, in the manner of fire. Know therefore that Antimony ought to be prepared into a true Stone like to fire, as to its virtue, as I have said; on which account the Quintessence of Antimony is by me called the Stone of Fire; for if it shall have been first brought to its own coagulation; and if our stone of fire shall be truly prepared (of which, at the end of this Tract I shall write more largely) its Operation is not unlike those things, which consume malign Humours, and purify the blood even to the utmost degree, performing all such things as are found in potable gold. Be therefore entreated my Doctor, (and yet no Doctor, when as to this day thou hast learned no due preparation, and much less, Cognizance of the use of my Medicines) that thou judge me not by thy opinion only, having no other Witnesses than the unexperienced imaginations of thine own brains. But rather address thyself to labour, learn the way of preparing Antimony, how it is to be proceeded withal, how its poison is to be rejected and separated, and a salubrious wholesome Remedy introduced in its room; which if thou hast done, thou mayst truly judge of those things which formerly were, and at present are to thee unknown.  
O miserable worldly Sophisters, who are loaden, and with child as it were, of false wisdom, ye lean on a deceitful Foundation, ye fly in the airy imaginations of your own fancies, and are altogether ignorant of the place of your rest: I do therefore admonish you, as you will give an account at the dreadful day of Judgement to the Son of God, that you seek and learn what things you must use, that you may perform your duty, leaving the remainder unto God, who will bless you, and afford his help unto you.  
O slow asses and drones, who care not to make any progress in Learning, and fear to black your hands with coals, be not hasty to judge, neither give any farther occasion of pulling that Sentence upon yourselves, which your children's children may write against you in a book incorruptible,  
Above all things let every physician be cautious, that he prescribe nothing averse to Nature or to his cure, lest his hope of restoring Health deceive him. As if spirit of Wine should be poured into the water of separation, a great conflict and burning would suddenly follow, because one nature cannot brook the other: But he that knows how to unite and conjoin them Philosophically in distillation, will be able by the help thereof to make things momentary. So the oil or liquour of Tartar, and Vinegar cannot be united by reason of their mutual hatred (although they both sprang from the same fountain) differing from each other, as much as fire and water; so than the physician in his undertaking a cure, ought heedfully to inquire into all circumstances that respect his patient, and having so examined, let him consider and use such right Mediums as may remove the evil, lest destruction ariseth from that which should have remedied the Disease.  
As when a red hot iron is quenched in Aquafortis, & oil of Tartar forthwith poured thereunto, thou shalt scarce preserve thy glass from breaking, but those contrary Natures, will cast out fire from themselves in the manner of Gunpowder, concerning which, our Doctor with his gown being ignorant, is forced to hold his peace.  
Ah wretched men, unlearned Doctors, unexperienced physicians, who write tedious Receipts in a long paper: O ye Apothecaries that set over the fire great cauldrons sufficient to boil the meat of noble men's houses, and to hold enough for an hundred persons, how long will ye be blind, anoint your eyes with a Collyrium and balsam, that the scales may be taken off, and your Eyes may obtain a true sight, which the Lord vouchsafe unto you, that you may acknowledge his wonders, and consider his works, let Love and Charity to your Neighbour take root within you, that you may be searchers after true Medicine, which the King and Heavenly Prince of all, hath formed by his own omnipotent arm, and eternal wisdom, and freely given for the benefit of the most noble creature, Man, viz. For his help and health in the greatest necessity.  
O deplorable, putrid, and stinking bag of worms,, ah poor little Worm and vilest of creatures, what thinkest thou that thus feelest after the Husks, and leavest the kernels, nor ever thankest thy creator for them, after whose image thou wert created, nor ever givest praise unto him for all his wondrous works?  
Return, Return unto thyself delineate or paint thyself out, and make a Resemblance of thy Effigies, that it may shame thee of all thy ingratitude, because tho● hast not hitherto sought that which Go● hath hidden in those good things he hat● granted unto us, and infused into hi● creatures, that a Sacrifice of Praise ma● be returned unto him. But I shall hold my peace, and from bewailing this misery, blindness, and error, (wherein the world is drowned) I shall restain● myself, left by the trickling down of tears my writings should receive defilement, from which I can hardly abstain. I am an ecclesiastical man, implanted into: Church-order, whereto I shall subject myself with my heart and mouth as long as my soul lives in this miserable body: I am on that account compelled to refrain, nor dare I write any thing of myself▪ unless it be suitable to my Order, else I would lift up my voice like a Trumpet, and were I but a temporal Judge, I would have audience at the hands of those contumacious men, who as yet not knowing the truth (but are ignorant) do slanderously persecute it, calumniate, reproach, and oppress it with all their strength. Most good God, most high Lord of hosts, that sittest in thy Glorious Throne, governest the Heavens and the earth which thou hast created, conservest the stars, disposest the elements, & the firmament, that they may run their course, before whom all the World trembles, the internal Spirits fear; Look down for once upon the vanity of this unthankful World: Teach the Sons of men inwardly to acknowledge what thou hast outwardly set before their Eyes, that thou Mayst be glorified in thy Throne, truly known in thy power, and worthily praised in thy infinite government & rule.  
Truly I (wretched and worthless man do give all thanks to thy most glorious mjesty for those great miracles and blessings, of health and riches which thou hast vouchsafed me, I cannot give thee any more in this World, which is but temporary and corruptible.  
But now in my writing of Antimony, I shall discover its beginning truly, of what original, and how it obtains superiority and government; how it may be elevated into its perfect operation: I will propound its root and its generation in the bowels of the Earth, to what predominating star it is subject, what Elements they are which have concocted it. Let therefore the studious artist know that Antimony is nothing else but a fum● or mineral vapour, produced above by the stars, and then digested by the Elements into a coagulated form. Let all know, that Antimony receives its Essence, Virtue, Faculty, Operation, and all qualities, as to its initium, o● birth, and root, as the Mercury of the Vulgar doth; but with an harder coagulation. Seeing that it is reduced to a more hard confirmation or coagulum, then common running mercury, which wants this induration, and the reason is, because it participates of a more thick salt, (out of the three principles) although with respect to its three principles, the salt obtains in it the smallest room, yet it hath more thereof then common mercury hath; from which means it obtains its coagulation; because 'tis salt that gives hardness in all things, which hardness common Mercury wants, because of its small portion of salt: In which mercury, a combustible sulphur is invisibly implanted, always keeping it in flux, prohibiting its coagulation, nor can it be coagulated without the addition of other metallick Spirits, which in the matrix of Saturn are most potently effused, and to be there had beyond all the other metals, and otherwise it cannot be accomplished without the stone of the Wise men, by which its three principles are made harmonious, and threby it obtains a fusil malleable, soluble, and conjugable body like to the other metals, otherwise mercury is running mercury still, and so remains until this quality be taken from it. And on that account all animal and vegetable things are too too weak to bring mercury unto a fix, permanent and malleable hardness (though some imagine the contrary) because they are not of a metallick kind: for mercury is a mere fire, whence 'tis, that he can not be burnt by any fire, there's no fire touches him, at least so, as totally to destroy, for he either suddenly flies away, and is spiritually resolved into an oil incombustible, or else after fixation he abides constant that none can abstract from him any thing more; and by this it appears also, because of him may be made whatsoever can by art be made of gold, for after a due coagulation he is in all things like to gold, because he enjoys the same root, stock, and original, as gold doth: But seeing it is not my purposed aim to speak more prolixly of mercury here, and by speaking to introduce disputations, but simply and candidly to describe the true fundamental original of Antimony, farewell mercury, that the discourse of Antimony may be continued, but yet that which I have spoken of mercury; parabolically, for your farther meditation, is not mentioned in vain, but that Antimony may thereby be the more rightly understood, it also being endowed with a mercurial original.  
Observe, mark and understand this, commit it to thy memory, viz. That all minerals, as also all metals are born of one Principium or beginning, to wit, of a vapour, which the superior stars do as it were extract from the Element of the Earth, by a certain distillation of the macrocosm or greater world, the influx of which upper astral heat, operates upon things below, by an aereal fiery p●operty, infu●●ing it in, spiritually and invisibly. Which vapour is resolved in the Earth, and flows, as it were, into water; from which mineral water, all metals are seasonably brought to their maturity and perfection, and of it is made this or that metal or mineral, according to the predominating power of one of the three principles, or that which it abounds withal, be it one, or two, or all, equally tempered together, from whence 'tis that some metals are fixed, othersome not fixed, as are Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Tin, and Lead; moreover besides those known metals, out of the same three principles (according to the various commixion of them) are sundry and divers minerals generated and produced, such are vitriol, Antimony, Marcasits, and other like Flectrams, and minerals, all which to reckon up, would be superfluous; Now whe●e●s Gold in its own asterism and Generation becomes suddenly impregnated with, and receives a portion of a more pure and perfect Sulphur and mercury than the other minerals and metals have, therefore its operative power and virtue is more large and effectual in acting then the ●tars of the other metals, and minerals are, and on that account, in the star of the Sun all things appear more perfectly (if at least it shall be, by the benefit of the fire, reduced to its maturity) then are to be found in the rest of the metals and minerals. And yet notwithstanding is there one only mineral, (frequently mentioned by me) wherein the Sulphur of the Sun is found to be as strong (yea and stronger) then in the Sun itself, even as also there are two sorts of metals found, wherein those dominations do abundantly triumph of which this is no place to treat: but I shall go on to finish the description of the Nature of Antimony. Antimony therefore is a mineral having its mineral vapour turned into water, which spiritual Emanation of the stars, is the true star of Antimony; which water in the Element of the Earth, by the strength of the stars, and also of the Fire dwelling in the air, being dried, became by coagulation a palpable thing; out of which, Antimony is generated and brought forth in a form, wherein sulphur bears the sway. Mercury hath the next portion, and salt the least; although it hath received salt enough to become an hard unmalleable form. As to its quality it is dry and cold, its cold and moisture are not much, even as common Mercury and corporeal gold itself, hath more of heat then cold: Let these things suffice concerning the matter and the 3 Principles of Antimony, and how by the Archaeus in the Element of the Earth, It became perfect. But because such a narrow, Philosophical search is not of so much concernment to the Students of Art, and most men value not in what centre the star of Antimony Resides, and from whence 'tis sprung, but would rather learn what good lies in it, and would understand its preparation and reduction to a due state, that the virtues and operations thereof; so much everywhere, by all, spoken of, may not be to them unknown: I shall therefore omit to delay them with long doubtings, but will briefly and sincerely write those things which in my private labour I have observed to be in Antimony: Although, for the shortness of life none can perfectly learn all, because in its preparations, miraculous accidents do follow each other, degree following degree, colour following colour. One virtue, faculty, and operation succeeds another.  
Antimony therefore is no light or trivial poison, but a chief one, and most high, being deadly both to man and beast; from whence the common physicians, and ignorant plebeians (having no true knowledge of Medicine) reject the use of Antimony as Poisonous; & physicians forbid it to noble men, as dangerous; and the Academical professors do bark out and howl (even to madness) to their disciples, a Caveto: O beware of Antimony for its a merely absolute poison: Now the inhabitants of Towns, or Cities on these clamours forbid the use of Antimony, and with those out cries have most men been stirred up, that even to my Age or time, they'll not hear of Antimony, nor give any trust unto his medicines, although immense and unspeakable things are found therein: Well, be it so, verily I speak the truth and my writings are void of falsity: I call God my creator to witness, that there is not a more noble medicine under the heavens, wherein a capital rich-pillar may be placed, than is in Antimony, and deservedly on that account ought there to be fixed and erected.  
My Son; mark my sayings; Reader, observe my writings, wise men, Consider the Antimonial experiments which I do mention; My theory is founded upon nature, and my practic on experience, most frequently demonstrated & producing its effect to the admiration of many incredulous people; I do confess as formorly I have done, that Antimony at first before its preparation is a mere poison. But good M. doctor, or bachelor, or physician, (but yet without any true degree,) since thou art buried as to Art, and only beatest the bush, what dost thou talk for, let me also speak too, remember what thou sayest and consider that doctrine which I propound unto thee; Antimony (Sayst thou) is poison. Ergo, none ought to use it; a miserable conclusion good M. doctor and bachelor or M. physician with your red cap: The best treacle is made of poison or of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, from whence it hath its denomination. And therefore none may take it into their bodies, because a poison is therein: what? doth this doctrine please you? is this voice acceptable to your ears? Antimony after preparation ceaseth to be a poison, and the whole of it being by spagyric Art transmuted, becomes medicinal, even as treacle is made of the venomous viper; But before its preparation thou shalt not receive any profit or benefit from Antimony, but rather discommodity and danger.  
Now if thou intendest to become an Antimonial disciple (having first prayed) frequent the School of Vulcan beyond all other things, who is the master and teacher of all secrets, (which the meanly learned men do deride, and by their slothful laziness never come to be acquainted with any secret from him, putting off the manifestation of any Arcanum by their own sluggishness,) nor is there any remedy in the world to be prepared without fire, let them cry out as they list, though never so madly.  
But what shall we speak of these haters of Antimony, let us not value them, unless they can bring to the light something better and more excellent than Antimony is; seeing that especially out of Antimony, may like remedies be had as lie hid in Gold and the Mercury of the vulgar, (the star of the sun only excepted) from both which may an Aurum Potabile be made to heal the leprosy, and the spirit of Mercury is the chief Top remedy of the french disease and many others. Although those contemning fellows neither know nor are able to search it out. An ignorant man can no more judge, than the ass (being ignorant of symphony) can instruct the shepherd how to handle his pipe. He therefore that would truly judge, ought afore to learn all such things as he intends to deliver his judgement about, and to know as well from experience as from books that which is true and that which is false, that so he may judge aright.  
But before I address myself to the manner of proceding, I may perchance meet with some who will inquire whence minerals and other venomous subjects attract their poison, what the essentiality of poison is, & from whence generated in all things; how (the poison being removed) that thing may be converted unto medicine & safely administered without danger. I shall therefore inform you, concerning the influence of poison, the which may be considered, naturally & supernaturally.  
Therefore the first reason why God (the supreme guide, and governor of the stars, the creator of Heaven and Earth,) hath thought good to set before us sensible poisons, especially in minerals, is that by their first constitution, miraculous and powerful operation there planted by God, a man might see that his intent of thus exposing them to view, was, that there might be a distinction between good and evil, even as in his law, he hath prescribed us the knowledge of things to be done and to be left undone, viz. of good to be embraced and of evil to be avoided; After the same manner as the tree in Paradise was placed before our first parents, the use whereof tended to good, but the abuse to evil, which command of God being violated misery and destruction step't in.  
2. Another cause is that the good and the evil being known, the evil might be avoided and reduced unto a better state; for it's not the will & pleasure of God that men drowned in destruction should totally perish, but that returning from evil, they proceed to what is better, and avoid the loss of their souls; On that account hath he by similitudes placed before us good and evil, which in like manner is to be found in the command of his mouth verbally, and in the work of creation, that we may choose things tending to health, and avoid things tending to destruction.  
3. Thirdly, poison is also produced by the stars, wherein are malevolent and con●rary conjunctions and oppositions of the Planets, whence it falls out that the planets become infected and then cause in this inferior world and microcosm plagues and other venomous diseases; The like may you conceive of the comets.  
4. Fourthly, poison is also Produced by the fighting of two contraries, as for example, if a man exceedingly angry, or sad, or boiling with rage should drink, a deadly poison would thereby be enkindled.  
5. Fifthly; For illustrations sake, weapons may be ranked under the form of poisons, if by them, any one receive a mortal wound, (in which the abuse of weapons consists;) But if they be employed for defence and preservation of life, therein, their use is lawful and converted unto medicine.  
6. Sixtly and lastly, The cause of poison becomes apparent from considering nature. Whatsoever fights against her is a poison to her, as in some men, they being not able to bear some meats, those meats being contrary to nature, become a poison, but to such as love them, a medicine; But principally, venenosity is extracted from an earth of a Mercurial substance (I speak of mineral poisons) which being immature, indigested, of a form contrary to nature, and of hard concoction (which hinders maturity and perfection,) the whole body becomes thereby as it were a Crude mineral; As if a man should devour crude or raw wheat, his stomach would hardly concoct it, but weakness and inconveniences would seize upon the whole body, because of the deficiency and weakness of natural heat to digest it.  
But the wheat being maturated by the fire of the macrocosm, aught to be again boiled or concocted by a lesser fire that it may be digested by the microcosm, as I have aforesaid concerning the eating of flesh; hence 'tis evident that seeing Antimony is crude, volatile and not maturated in the Earth, or enough decocted, it cannot be born by the stomach without terrible torment of the body, and destruction, because of the debility of natural heat, too insufficient throughly to digest it; experience teacheth thus much, that all purging medicines (be they mineral, animal, or vegetable) are of a poisonous substance, because of the predominating, Mercurial, volatile essence that is in them, which volatile spirit is the cause of casting out those things that are found in man, yet they do not set upon the root of that disease which is fixed, because fixed remedies only do throughly search out and radically expel fixed diseases, which to unfixt purgations is not granted, they, being like a violent torrent, sweep away what lies in their compass, but do not work upon the fixed earth. Now fixed and prepared Purgatives do not operate by stool, but show themselves only by sweat and and other means, and hunt out the very kernel and not the husk or shell and chaff of the disease, as volatile, unfixt and unprepared purges do, they only expel the crust as it were, and cover of what is excrementitious, but as to the centre of the disease, that they reach not unto.  
Be it on that account known to every one, of what state, age, or title soever, that the venomous Essence must be totally removed out of Antimony, before it can be transmitted into Medicine, and be entitled with the name of a Remedy. harken therefore to the separation of Antimony, of the good from the bad, of the fixed from the volatile, of distinguishing what is helpful from what is poisonous, if at least we would obtain profit with honour, and verity, which cannot be accomplished without the separation of Vulcan or fire, who is the artificer, as to all such things. For whatsoever Vulcan leaves imperfect in the macrocosm, that the microcosm repairs and amends by a new Vulcan, which maturates what is crude, and perfectly concocts it, making separation of the pure from the impure; And let it not seem strange that the pure and the wholesome can be segregated from the impure and unwholesome, and that a remedy can (by the benefit of fire) be made out of that which is hurtful; Because 'tis evidenced by daily experience in the probation and inspection of colours discovered by the fire: for separation, and fire making a fixation, take away the venom and in its room substitute a Salubrious remedy. 'tis the fire then, that separates the poison from the medicine, the good from the evil, which thing none of the physicians either can or dare set their seals unto, unless they have contracted a most intimate familiarity with Vulcan, and obtained that infernal Bath of Amity, wherein the bride being washed from all her uncleanness may enter with her bridegroom into a legitimate bed; O worldly subtlety that despisest or dost not understand my writings, didst thou but know what I have now said unto thee, what may be called fixed, and what volatile, what the separation of the Pure from the impure means, thou wouldst turn off many things to Lethe's Lake, and contemn those trifles wherein thou trustest and follow me. For in me (these are the words of Antimony) shalt thou find a Mercury, Sulphur, and salt, most useful remedies for the health of man; the Mercurial part lies hid in the Regulus, the Sulphur in the redness, and the Salt in the Black Earth which remains in the bottom. These three rightly separated and again counited by a due artificial manner, that a fixation without any poison may be accomplished, give just cause of boasting to the Artist, that he hath obtained the stone of fire, which may be made of Antimony both for man's health, his food and raiment. For in Antimony Mayst thou find all the colours of the universe, as white, black, red, green, blue, ash-colour, yellow, and colours innumerable, diversely preparable by incredible mixtures, diversely to be known and several ways to be administered in sundry cases, every sort to be orderly disposed according to an appointed method; I will therefore in several particles make manifest how medicine is to be prepared, how poison is to be ejected, fixation to be instituted, things that are to be separated how to be begun withal, that the evil may be conquered and the good may overcome. 'tis well known to studious Artists, that Antimony doth not contain the virtue of one only gem in itself, as the other metals which (in their kind) are attributed but to one; But universally contains the virtues of all stones, which appears by the various colours, which by the regiment of fire it doth yield forth; of this colour some, othersome of another sort &c.  
It's pellucid shining redness is attributed to a Carbuncle, Rubine, and Corals; Its whiteness to the Diamond and crystal: It's blue and sky colour to the Saphyr; It's green to a Smaragdine; It's yellow to a Hyacinth; It's black to a Granate, which naturally carries in it an Occult hidden blackness; But in relation to metals; It's black is ascribed to Saturn, Its redness to Mars, yellow to the Sun, Green to Venus, sky colour to the Moon, white to Mercury, its various mixed colour to Jupiter; But as all the colours expressed in stones and metals are found in Antimony, so therein also all the virtues and faculties of remedies are to be found according to the Reason of the colours, which though they are all found in Antimony, 'tis notwithstanding impossible that one man alone should be throughly acquainted with them all, for the shortness of life prohibits one man alone to learn all those Arcanums which nature carries with it; sometimes in its preparation, a most acid vinegar is extracted by distillation; After another way and manner is prepared from it a perfect and transparent redness, sweet and pleasant as honey or the purest Sugar; Then again of a sudded 'tis prepared into the bitterness of wormwood; Another while it imitates the Acrimony of the oil of salt, and so one nature succeeds another: sometimes again 'tis elevated by sublimation into the Olympian Mountains in the manner of a flying Eagle, red, yellow and white, being forced down per descensum it yields various particular colours and preparations, as also by reverberation, 'tis also converted into a metal like to lead and into pellucid glass, white, red, yellow, or black or of any other colour, but all the sorts of this glass are not with safety to be used in medicine, unless tried by a previous examen.  
Antimony may also be resolved into various and several wonderful oils, either alone by itself, or else with the addition and commixtion of other things, of which oils some are only to be outwardly used, and anointed on wounds or ulcers, othersome may be taken inwardly and drunken; It yields also marvelous extractions which discover themselves so various in colour, that the oracle of Apollo can hardly divine and reckon up the wondrous mutations of its nature manifested and opened by the help of fire; There's also made thereof quicksilver, and Sulphur Combustible, like to the common Sulphur, whereof Gunpowder may be made; as also a true and natural Salt and many other things. I'll therefore now begin to treat of the preparation of Antimony, to wit of Its essence, magistry, Arcanum and Elixir, and its particular Tincture, which studiously observe: where (towards the latter end) I shall rehearse somewhat of the preparation of the stone of fire, I'll also recite many other secrets, but little known, or else neglected in the world, because the Egyptians, Arabians and Chaldeans are long since dead, who exercised this Art, which may abundantly serve as the head and fountain of true and inadulterate medicine.  
Observe therefore diligently and orderly all my preparations, as I shall lay them open unto thee, of which not one is without fruit and profit, It's due state being observed; for the fixed medicines of Antimony heal fixed diseases, and unfixd, heal diseases not fixed: so crude Antimony (not its prepared glass) doth unload and purge the ventricle only, but suffers the cause of the disease to remain. I now therefore begin at the several sorts of the ordering of Antimony and make evidence of all the keys of its preparation, which by fire only is manifested, as a new birth, in that vocation or calling prescribed by God: The solution or preparation of the mineral of Antimony is done by sundry sorts of fire and regiments of Art, by which its medicinal force and operation is extracted by heat, and seeing that Antimony is of a mixed colour, of a dull reddish black with a little shining whiteness. I'll first describe its first destruction, or calcination, which is thus brought to pass.  
Take Hungarian Antimony, or any other, (the best) grind it upon a marble into most subtle powder, lay this powder thin and sparingly in a plain Earthen vessel, round or square, which let be made with rims about the height of two fingers breadth; Place this vessel on a calcining furnace, administer at first a Gentle fire of coals, and when the stibium begins to fume, stir it with a little iron rod to and again, without ceasing, until it ceaseth to emit any Vapour; but if in the calcination the Antimony chanceth to melt and run into balls, Take off the vessel from the fire and let the stibium cool, and grind it again, and do as afore, which must be so often done, until it neither fumes nor runs together any more, but remains in the form of white Ashes, for then is your Calcination perfect.  
Take now this stibium thus calcined put it into a goldsmith's Crucible, Place it at a violent fire, that the Antimony may flow like pure clear Water, and that you may know when the glass of stibium hath attained a perfect and pellucid colour, put into the crucible a long cold iron, and the glass will stick thereunto, which strike of with an hammer, and so separate it, and hold it up against the light, which if it be transparent 'tis good and perfect glass.  
But the Reader and Tyro in this Art, (for I write not to experienced Artists, who have a long time endured the heat of the fire, and so its a slight and easy thing to them to make glass of Antimony, but to young followers of Pyrotechny) ought to know that all glass be it made of what it will, either of a mineral, or a metal, or other things, aught to have its due perfection, that it may shine thoroughly, may operate and be moreover further prepared for medicine.  
The Antimony thus melted in the Crucible, Take a plain and broad dish or platter of Laton, which (first) well warm, lest it break; pour in the stibium by little and little, and very thinly, and thou shalt have a yellow transparent fair glass. And this way of preparing the glass of Antimony without any addition is the best, which in its operation discovers a greater virtue, and this is that which I call pure glass, the other sorts being made by the addition of Borax, and other such things, for example.  
Take Antimony one part, Venice Borax two parts, grind them together, put them in a crucible, and place them at a most violent fire, until they melt together, pour them out into a Dish of Latton warmed, by little and little, and let it run thin, and thou shalt have (if thou hast rightly proceeded) a red transparent glass like to a Rubine, the redness or which glass may be extracted with spirit of Wine by a long circulation in the fire, and administered with very great success, for a most noble Medicine.  
There may be also made of Antimony a white glass after this manner, Take Antimony one part, Venice Borax four parts, grind them together, and flux or melt them in a crucible as aforesaid, first twill become yellow, but by a longer continuance in the fire, it will become most white, which you may try by putting thereinto a cold Iron, and examine if the colour be perfect or not, and proceed as above.  
There may be prepared also out of Antimony, glass of several other colours, but I have only set before you such as I have learned by experience, & know their Tendency to health, nor do I judge it necessary to fill up paper with too much talking, and by unprofitable verbal circuits to prove irksome to the Reader, and the rather, for that there hath been declared unto thee (as to the glass made of Antimony) the chiefest colour, viz. A transparent Redness: The blackness which at first was its associate fled away with the fume after a spiritual manner, because according to that spiritual kind, by the violence of fire the poison is blotted out, and taken away by calcination, although the glass be not absolutely destitute of poison, but holds (as yet) a great portion thereof in itself.  
I will go on therefore to acquaint thee, how the poison may be altogether taken away from the glass, the pure from the impure, and a new separation of that which is hurtful, from what is helpful may be instituted; that the Tongue of the Eloquent may be loosened, and cause given him of propagating my praise to the world's end, which without all question my Disciples will cheerfully perform, when they come to see and perceive with their eyes, and feel with their hands, that I have written the naked truth for their profit and renown, and have left behind me as it were a memorable Testament.  
Now the first separation of the Sulphur from its own body and extraction of the Tincture from the Salt is thus brought to pass.  
Take pure glass of Antimony made without any addition, as I have taught thee, grind it to the consistency of meal or slower, put it into a glass bolt head having a broad bottom, whereto pour strong, rectified, distilled Vinegar, set it at a gentle heat, or in the summer time in the Sun, stirring or shaking it twcie every day; until the Vinegar resemble the colour of molten gold, which separate from the glass, and reaffuse new distilled Vinegar, do as afore, and as soon as that is coloured, take it out, viz. the tinged liquour, which change so often and extract until the Vinegar will not be coloured any more; conjoin all these extractions, filter them, and abstract the Vinegar by an Alembeck in B. M. and a dark-red or yellowish powder will remain at the bottom; to which powder, pour pure distilled Rain Water, and take it again off, pouring more new thereupon, and do so several times; by which means the sharpness will be taken away, and the powder will remain sweet and pleasant. Grind this powder upon a Marble or glass first heated, and place it in a new alembic, whereon power Spirit of Wine rectified to the very supremest perfection, three fingers high, and so a Tincture of Antimony most pleasantly red, is extracted, some feces residing at the bottom; This extraction is sweet▪ and profitable, and such a remedy as (without experience) is scarcely to be believed.  
The Feces left behind hold the poison, and the Extraction receives the Medicine only, which Medicine may successfully be administered to men and beasts, both inwardly and outwardly.  
For if four grains of this extraction be administered, and several times repeated, it expels the leprosy & the Lues Venerea, purifies the corrupt blood, resists melancholy: opposeth poisons, heals the asthmatic, and most other diseases, if it be rightly and orderly used.  
But if the afore mentioned yellow powder, before its Extraction with the Spirit of Wine, be ground on a warmed stone, and if Eggs be boiled to an hardness and divided long ways, and the Yelke taken out, and the Cavity filled with this yellowish powder, and placed in a cold moist place or Wine cellar for some days, it will be resolved into a yellow liquour, which liquour heals all new wounds and solutions of continuity, if presently at the beginning it be administered and anointed upon the Wounds, with a fine feather, strengthening and defending the Wound by superposition of a Wound plaster, it hinders corruption and Putrefaction, heals new Wounds with suppuration and tumour, so that Praise and Thanks ought deservedly to be ascribed to the only creator, for these merciful Gifts, In old Ulcers and Gangrenes, use this Extraction or balsam of Antimony, it will not leave thee or forsake thee in thy necessity, but thou wilt sing of its Praise, and the Virtues which it's endowed with, as I have done, and of its successful use in external griefs: The Gangrene, Cancer, Polypus, wolf, Ulcers of the Legs, and all such like eating and creeping diseases, fly before this remedy, and leave the house at Liberty for former health to re-enter. if well fixed Medicines be discreetly taken inwardly, and other convenient Remedies applied outwardly. I am wont to reduce the glass of Antimony into at oil by an alembic two ways, thus. Take the glass made out of the Mineral of Antimony, grind it most exceeding small, extract it with distilled Vinegar, which Extraction being made, abstract the Vinegar by B.M. and to the remaining matter, pour on spirit of Wine, and again extract it, put this Extraction, thus, twice dulcorated by the Spirit of wine into a vessel Luted, and exceedingly well shut, circulate or pelicane it for a whole month, then by a singular artifice let it be distilled by itself without any addition, and so shalt thou have a sweet, pleasant, and wonderful Medicine in the form of a clear red oil, out of which is the stone of fire made. This oil is the supreme Quintessence which can possibly be written of Antimony, as may be seen in my admonition, where I have briefly spoken thereof, where I said that four instruments were requisite as to its preparation, and a fifth which Vulcan dwells in, that is, four preparations are to precede its perfection, and the fifth is the benefit, and right application of the work in man's body. For example,  
The first Labour is calcination or melting into glass.  
The second is digestion, by which the Extraction attains perfection.  
The third is coagulation.  
The fourth is distillation into an oil, by which distillation the thin is separated from the thick, after which separation succeeds fixation, by the ultimate and last coagulation by which the matter is reduced into a transparent stone of fire, which after all these Operations, may be fermented in metals, because it hath a very penetrative faculty, but much inferior to the virtues of the ancient and true stone of the Philosophers, because it tingeth not universally but only particularly as I shall in the end demonstrate, when I come to treat particularly of the stone of fire.  
The afore described oil doth (before its coagulation) operate whatsoever is beneficially useful for a physician to know, in curing distempers, eight grains (before coagulation) being taken in pure Wine, makes a man young, frees him from the Asthma, and causeth that whatsoever Excrescenscies grow on man, as nails hair, &c. fall away, and new to be generated in their room; so renovating as if a man were but newly born, as the phoenix (which fabulous story I mention for Examples sake) is renewed by the fire, and this Medicine is much less combustible than the wings of the unknown Salamander.  
Moreover it consumes all the symptoms of man's body in the manner of a consuming fire, whereunto it may be compared; it expels and casts out all that evil which Aurum Potabile is able to do; but the star of the Sun only, overcomes all the medicines in the World, if being rightly prepared, it be brought to a due fixation; for the Star of the Sun, and the star of Mercury (which even of itself is very potent) are generated and spring from the blood of their own mother, and from the living overflowing channel of health.  
Nor let it trouble thee that this extraction with distilled Vinegar, and Spirit of wine hath thus been reduced to a most subtle purity, and exalted to the very height by Vulcan, for it neither purges by stool, nor yet by vomit; but by sweat, Urine, and spital. it casts out the cause of every Disease, and restores whatsoever became co●rupted, by means of accidental symptoms.  
The common glass of Antimony most smally ground or beaten, and six grains or thereabouts, (according to the strength of the sick) being administsed, having been first infused in a little wine in a warm place over night, and purely strained in the morning, and the infusion drunk provokes to stool, and oftentimes stirs up Vomit, because of the crude mercurial quality which remains in the glass, on which account let every wise and prudent physician, consider with himself, and look well how he useth the glass as to Purgations, and let him rightly examine, and in due manner administer it, Now I, being hindered by the shortness of time, it cannot be expected that I should throughly search every thing, and the rather, for that many more men there are in the world, who have abilities to search, which if rhou wilt do, thou shalt receive the largest portion of praise next myself, and I will also in these Writings of mine, commend thee even when I am buried in my assigned Sepulchre, for thy diligence in finding more Experiments. Although I never saw thy face, and should have haply a little controverted with thee, wert thou at present borne or brought forth into the world.  
The common glass of Antimony may be also converted into an oil, praise worthy, by the addition of something, which may without danger be given to the epileptic, and is thus prepared.  
Take the glass of Antimony, grind or beat it exceeding well, pour upon it the juice of unripe Grapes. Digest them in a glass bolt head with a plain bottom, excellently well Luted, then abstract the juice, and dry the powder, and grind it with twice its weight of clarified Sugar, moisten it with distilled Vinegar, distil it in the name of God through a Retort, and at the end augment the fire, and so thou shalt extract a Red oil, which clarify with the Spirit of Wine even to transparency; a Dose of which administered in a little Quantity, is found to be very profitable. To this oil may be added some Spirit of Salt, and both projected on the subtle Calx of Gold prepared by its own water, extracted by an Alembeck, which I have else where taught in my Writings, and 'twill extract the Tincture of Gold only, without seizing upon its body, this Fermentation being made, enough paper would not be procured to describe all the mysteries which appear therein, far beyond the thoughts of man: But I advise the physician that he listen unto, and mark my philosophical proposals, that he labour and bring the preparation unto use, so shall he daily obtain honour, and be throughly acqu●inted with more Operations than any physician is able to prescribe unto him.  
When thou hast proceeded with Antimony thus far, and rightly obtained this process (wherein 'twill be expedient, that thou behave thyself very discreetly, and learn the things with diligent cogitations, and try it by Labour and working) thou Mayst boast of that magistry thus by thee obtained, and discern the vast ignorance wherein most men lie enthralled.  
This Magistry mixed with a solution or Tincture of corals, and given in drink with some comforting water, operates even to admiration in dysenterian diseases and stops all infirmities proceeding of impure blood, makes glad the heart, excites chastity and honesty, and in a word makes a man quick and ready in all his undertakings. For all which benefits let us ascribe most humble thanks to the creator and conservator of all things, who hath bounteously vouchsafed unto us miserable in body, and sick in Soul, remedies for both diseases; supplying us with refreshment and help or succour, in all our necessities, I will also in few words deliver an arcanum of Antimony.  
Take Antimony and salt ammoniac subtly ground or beaten, of each equal parts, mingle them and distil them by a Retort, dulcorate that which comes over with distilled rain Water heated, and put upon it, which being abstracted, and together with it, viz. the Water, all the acrimony and taste of the Salt, the glass of Antimony will remain in the bottom like white shining small, feathers, which subtly dry in a very gentle heat; this done, put them into a Pelican, or circulatory glass, whereto pour the best rectified Spirit of white Vitriol, both which let be circulated until they shall be well united, distil them, and being distilled, pour Spirit of Wine upon them, which circulate as before, and so will there be a separation, and some Feces will stay in the bottom, but the Arcanum remains united to the Spirits of Wine, and Vitriol. Which Arcanum if it be yet once more rectified, one drop thereof drunk with a little Rose-water, operates more potently than a whole kettlefull of their boiled pottage; It quickens the Appetite, corrects the stomach, drives out melancholy, generates good moved, helps Concoction, and is the best Treasure for allaying the Risings of the Matrix, and for the colic that can be. Which most Laudable Arcanum cannot be bought for, and valued by any silver.  
Having spoken of the Arcanum of Antimony, I shall now speak of its Elixir which is thus made.  
Take (with the Help of God) of Antimony ground, or beaten, two parts, of Salt ammoniac one part, sublime them, that which it sublimed drive over by a Retort into a Recipient three times, every time separating the Faeces, then by dulcoration evaporate the Sal ammoniac, which matter of Antimony being well shut in a vessel, reverberate at a gentle Fire, by little and little, until it becomes like to the mineral of Cinaber, then pour upon it distilled Vinegar, and extract its redness, separate the Vinegar, and pour upon the powder, the Spirit of Wine, which extract in B. M. and this Extraction will be most pure, some Feces being left in the bottom; put now this Spirit of Wine, or this Extraction into a bolt head, pour thereon a little Quintessence of Rhubarb and corals, three or four drops, whereof being given to a man, do gently provoke to stool, and purgeth without any Gripings, if thou hast rightly prepared it, it lightens the blood, and is a most profitable and pleasant Remedy for those who desire gentle purges; But perhaps some physician or other will wonder how 'tis possible that this Medicine can purge so mildly, seeing that Antimony is of itself, most exceedingly penetrative, and is here commixed with Rhubarb, which of itself is likewise a purgative Medicine; But desist from wondering, for Antimony is by this means destroyed, that his poisonous and purging Quality, cannot operate upon any thing, as long as 'tis mixed with another simple, purging Medicine; for this simple hath only a natural opening power. But prepared Antimony by this means, fled from its Labour of the Expulsion of any thing from the Vent●i●le, can leisurely find out some other way, whereby to operate and perform that Office for which it was appointed.  
Believe me (for I have no Reason to falsify or to lie) this Elixir thus prepared, can in the same manner-purge and penetrate the body, as Antimony purgeth Gold, and if I were to account, and number up all its Virtues, I suppose it necessary to entreat at the hands of God, a longer life, that so I might more plentifully understand and try the wonders of his divine Majesty, and having experienced them communicate them to others that they, together with me, acknowledging and observing those wondrous things may give all praise and thanks to God their creator.  
But that I may go through with my purposed intention, which is so far to describe the virtues of Antimony, as I have experimentally Learned, I shall be silent as to things hidden from and not composed by me; nor would it be handsome for me, to judge of other men's actions and things unknown unto my experience, but leave them to another judge, who hath by his own industry made trial: it being impossible for one man fundamentally to learn all, because of the shortness of life, and the new accidents that daily happen in operations about the said Antimony.  
Moreover be it known to all, that Antimony doth not only purge Gold and separate all extraneous additions therefrom, but performs the same operation in the bodies of men, and other living creatures, which I shall prove by an homely example. If a householder intends to fatten a beast, but especially an hog, let him give him in his meat (three days before he shuts him up) half a dram of crude Antimony, by which means his appetite to his meat will be, whetted, and stirred up within him, and heel soon grow fat; and if he hath any hurtful quality or disease in his liver, or be leprous, he shall be healed: This example will seem somewhat gross to the ears of delicate men; but I intended it for illiterate men, or country people, in whose brains the more subtle Philosophy is a mere stranger, that they may discern that experimentally, which for examples sake I have made use of, that so they may the sooner credit my other writings, wherein I speak more abstrusely: But because there's a great difference between the bodies of men and beasts, I have no intent (by this example here induced) that crude Antimony should be given to men also; because that the beasts are able to bear and concoct much crude meats; which is not permitted to the tender nature and complexion of man to do.  
He therefore that will successfully and with profit make use of Antimony ought above all things to be experienced, and exactly to know the preparation thereof, and furthermore to consider the nature of his patient, whether he be old or young, strong or weak, lest through the physician's error, the patient be destroyed in steed of being cured: I now speak as to the weight of the dose wherein the supreme magistry is contained; But if I should make use of circumstances and tedious ensamples for the further illustration of every thing, I should be to long: I will therefore omit to speak any more thereto, and address myself to another preparation or fixation of Antimony: for as the spirit of wine separated from its body heats and warms a man, if it be drunk; but if outwardly applied, it extracts all the causes of inflamed members: on the contrary vinegar, cools and refrigerates both inwardly and outwardly, although it be of the same original and kind, and merely for this reason, because vinegar is made by digestion alone, whence follows the putrefaction of the wine with a vegetable fixation; But the spirit of wine is made by the separation of distillation, or by a vegetable sublimation, by which the spirit of wine is made volatile. Even so Antimony (according to this or that manner of preparation) doth wonderfully display his gifts, and that, even beyond man's apprehension.  
It is thus fixed.  
Take of Antimony most subtly powdered, as much as you please, put it into a bolt head, pour upon it as much Aquafortis as will cover it 6 inches, or half a foot high, place it at a most gentle fire to extract for ten days, filter the extraction that it may be free from the feces; Then draw off the Aquafortis by ashes or sand, even to a dryness, & there will remain a yellow powder at the botrome, whereto pour destilled rain water, place it at a continual heat, and you shall have a red extraction, filter it, abstract the water per B. Even to a dryness, and a red powder will reside behind: Hereto pour destilled vinegar, which, in the heat, will by little and little grow red, and leave some whitish feces, distil this vinegar by ashes, and reverberate that red powder which stays behind three days in a constant open fire, & then extract its tincture with spirit of wine, & separat the remaining feces. All which things being accomplished abstract the spirit of wine per B. and there will remain a red powder, fixed, and constant, which doth wonderfully perform its office: for if half a dram be taken three times in a day (morning, noon and evening) or oftener (which you may do without any injury) it drives forth coagulated blood out of the body, and in time opens dangerous apostems, radically cures the Lues venerea, produceth new hair, and notably renews a man.  
Now having sufficiently spoken of the fixed powder and extraction of Antimony, I shall forbear to speak more about it, and come now to treat of its flores, which may be made sundry ways: And here most men can neither tell what to speak, or what to answer, as being altogether ignorant of this artifice and such like, there will be some (but an exceeding small number) of my disciples, who are earnestly desirous of the spagyric Art, that will give heed unto my sayings, and will censure otherwise then the most will do; To you therefore (my disciples) I have to say, if ye will follow me take up my cross; suffer even as I have suffered, learn to undergo persecutions as I have done, waver not as to your intended labour, pray uncessantly, work without irksomeness; and thus doing, God who heard my prayers, will not forsake you in yours, whose goodness I thankfully acknowledge with hearty sighs, and ocular tears. Now as to my admonition touching the flores of Antimony. I do declare that they admit of sundry and various preparations, as is known to all Spagyrists; Some by the admixtion of salt ammoniac drive them downward per descensum, out of a retort, and dulcorate them by extracting the salt ammoniac, and these flores being of a most white colour, do much: Others make use of some particular appropriated instruments, having little pipes or necks, that the Antimony enjoying the liberty of the air may ascend.  
Others perform their sublimation in a strong fire, over which they place three convenient pots, and extract white, yellow and red flores together, which I have also attempted without any error; But when I would rightly use the flores in medicine, I am wont to mingle Colcotha of Vitriol with the red flores, and to sublime them together three several times, for thereby the essence of the vitriol coascends, and the flores become the stronger; which having done, I extract the flores with spirit of wine, and separate the remaining feces and distil off the spirit of wine per B. M. Until a dry powder is left.  
And these are my prepared flores, which I administer to my brethren, and other sick persons addressing themselves unto me, whose souls I administer spiritual comfort unto by virtue of my office; and whose bodies I succour by virtue of faith and confidence. These flores purge gently, without excess of stools, and have taken away many Tertians and quartans, and consumed other diseases; But I have decreed by the help of God and the blessed Virgin Mary, to compose a memorable Testament and leave behind me, in my old age, a catalogue of all such cures as I have happily perfected, that I may openly ascribe thanks due to God; and my successors may know my hearty good will, and together with me, admire and acknowledge those wonders of God, which he hath hid in nature, and which by my labour I have extracted: 'tis worth the reader's knowledge, to understand, concerning the sublimation of Antimony and its flores, that as to its condition, it is not unlike to that water which flows down from the most high towering Mountains; Thus therefore may a man judge of the difference of water; some break forth even in the loftiest mountains, and were there far higher mountains, yet would the water climb up thither, (for in truth there are plentiful fountains in the tops of the stateliest hills) othersome lie hidden in the bowels of the earth, and by tedious and hard digging are found out. Now as to their difference I say, that the Matrix of the terrestrial water is, in many places, more potently furnished with the rich treasures of water, then in others, because all the Elements have a proper and own Matrix of begetting easily, or more difficultly, by the force and virtue of the stars, from which the elements themselves are generated and procreated. Now if that Matrix be strong in the Earth, it potently casts forth its seed by a strong expulsion, even unto the highest of the European Alps, or the top of the Babylonian Tower: They that are not very wise, hearing me so to speak will lay madness to my charge, or cry out that I am drunken with new wine, even as the Jews dealt with the Apostles in the feast of Pentecost. As is the elevation of the waters, so is the sublimation of flores, whereof (viz. of the waters,) those that appear in the highest mountains are more wholesome and cool then the well waters and such as are obtained by digging; so, if the matter be lifted up, by the force and violence of fire, into the mountain of the ancient wise men, long since deceased, the earth will stay behind in the bottom, out of which a salt may be extracted for its proper use. And by sublimation is made a separation of the good from the bad, of the pure from the impure, of the thin from the thick, and medicine becomes thereby distinguishable from poison.  
We poor, wretched, miserable men, being after death (which for our iniquities we have deserved) buried in the earth, are seasoned with salt until we putrify, and at length are raised up by the heavenly fires heat, are clarified and listed up to a celestial sublimation and exaltation, where being purged from all the impure dregs, and feces of sin, we become the sons of God and heirs of eternal life, which our merciful God grant unto us. But I hope that none will reprove me, because of my comparing things corporeal, with things spiritual, and heavenly sublimation with the earthly in this my example. For I have not done it (Causelessly, understanding by mine own experience what is white, or what is black, whether it be a cloudy or clear heaven; I'll therefore pass to another preparation of Antimony.  
'tis expedient that my Art-desiring disciple do understand, and remember by my philosophical teaching, that the extractions of Antimony and of all other things do differ exceedingly among themselves in their operations, which difference is not either in the matter, nor known from the matter, out of which it is extracted, but depends upon the preparation, and addition, whereby the whole virtue is extracted, experience being witness. And this I shall illustrate and confirm by an example, thus; whatsoever is extracted either from Antimony or from other things by the spirit of wine, obtains an operation far different from that which is extracted with strong vinegar. The chief cause whereof I have already mentioned, for all extractions with spirit of wine do provoke to stool most powerfully, whether they be made of Antimony or other purging things, as herbs, roots, seeds, and the like. (I speak as to the first extraction) contrariwise whatsoever is extracted with vinegar doth not provoke to siege, as doth the other, but rather constipates and binds by a singular medium. Whereby the volatile is made fixed.  
This secret or Arcanum ought very carefully to be looked unto, but a very few do consider it; for many things lie hid and profoundly shut up in this mystery, which many masters, and servants, yea and many knowledge-pretending Sophisters have not seen unto this day:  
The extraction of Antimony is performed two several ways, to wit, with vinegar and spirit of wine, the vinegar doth condense, but the spirit of wine doth of itself provoke urine and siege, as I have frequently mentioned, and especially in my twelve keys, that the extraction of the glass of Antimony is a gentle Purge, but the extraction of Antimony with vinegar, doth not purge at all, which is most certainly true, which experiment is a cause of more mature consideration and further-reaching thoughts, by which considerations nature gives & produceth a true Philosopher. And it is altogether miraculous, that those things which at first have been extracted with spirit of wine should retain a purging quality, when as, on the contrary, if the glass of Antimony be at first extracted with vinegar, and the vinegar being separated it be again extracted with spirit of wine, there's no such poisonous and purging faculty then left, but 'tis totally taken away, and not a footstep thereof, remaining, so as to cause siege, yet it can operate by sweat, and other ways; especially by spittle and vomit, it can perform its office, and seeks about, if it can find out any thing unfitting, It purgeth the blood, heals the Peripneumonia, is profitable for the asthmatic, and conduceth to other diseases; It allays any violent cough of what sort soever, and it is a divine remedy:  
And this extraction is perfected by common vinegar. There is also another extraction viz.  
Take powdered Antimony: pour thereupon destiled vinegar, not common vinegar, but that which is extracted from its own mineral, close it up well, and place it at the heat of the Sun, and so in time the vinegar will become as red as blood, separate this extraction, and filter it, distil it in sand by an alembic, and in its drawing over it will represent wonderful colours most delectable to the fight, This oil at length comes to be bloud-like, and leaves many Feces, and may be profitably used in most Diseases.  
For in the leprosy its Glory appears, and its, virtue becomes manifest, the French Pox lately brought into our country is consumed and dried up thereby, and it operates several other miraculous things, if that the physician hath regard to its right use, and observes a true Preparation; let him diligently consult with Experience, and remember without forgetfulness.  
Antimony is also prepared after this ensuing manner.  
Take of Antimony and red Tartar of each equal parts, grind them exceeding well together, and burn them in a pot well luted, (lest the Spirits exhale) until the Tartar be burnt, which you must do in a wind Furnace, beat or grind the matter thus combust very small, whereto pour common warm water, strain it as you would a Lixivium; by which means a Liver will be made, (for that Title our ancient predecessors put upon it) dry this Liver, put it into a Cucurbit, and pour Spirit of Wine thereon, filtre it through a thick paper, and abstract it in B.M. to a third part; this extraction may be used, but very sparingly, and with very great discretion, wherein is to be observed a notable miracle, viz. That the Spirit of Wine once abstracted will not be united to the Red extraction any more from whence it was separated, but swims on the top thereof▪ as oil swims on the surface of water. But if this Spirit of wine be again poured upon new Liver, it extracts as afore; but this second Extraction poured on the former, will not at any rate commix, which really is greatly to be admired at, but who can declare all the great wonders of God, or observe those gifts which the creator hath implanted in his Creatures, most profoundly to be considered.  
I have a little before mentioned an Extraction of Antimony with Vinegar and Spirit of wine; now if the Vinegar be separated from that Extraction by B.M. and the powder remaining be put in a moist place, it will resolve into a wound-Liquor or yellow oil, which in new wounds acts wonders ineffable, and in like manner in old, it hinders, and absolutely prevents any symptoms from taking root, and resists putrefaction.  
The other or second extraction out of this powder before its solution with Spirit of Wine, doth also show its effect, and in inward diseases gives place to no other remedy.  
I have in my precedent writings most frequently propounded the way of its preparation, and in this antimonial admonition, abundantly repeated it, because I know how much utility and how great secrets lie hid therein, and therefore hope that those Repetitions in my Writings will not be tedious or troublesome to the Learner; for what I write, is not causelessly written; But my speakings are short, and contain a large extent within them; and albeit they are manifold and frequently rementioned, yet are they most obscure to such as are unexperienced and unprofitable to children and Infants, and most beneficial to the Disciple of Art only.  
There's also gotten another Extraction by a caustic water, and 'tis thus: Grind equal parts of vitriol and common Salt together, and distil from them a water Per Latus, or retortwise: Increase and urge the fire, and so shall you extract a liquour like unto melted Butter or oil, which keep for its proper use.  
Powder the Caput mortuum, and dissolve it in a Cellar into water which gather apatt, and filtre through Paper: Then take Hungarian Antimony most finely ground or powdered, put it into a broad bottomed glass, and pour upon it that water, set it at a gentle warmth, where if you let it abide its season, it will at the beginning resemble the violet colour of the ●methyst; which when 'tis brought to this pass, augment the fire, and thou shalt have the colour of a Transparent Saphyr, and from this Saphyrick colour will precipitate a white powder by the help of common water poured thereon, which inwardly taken, operates by stool and Vomit like as the Extraction of Crude vitriol doth.  
The solution in the Cellar which was extracted from the Caput mortuum, doth truly transmute the thin leaves of Mars, if boiled therein, into Copper, Experience being witness: now harken to me, and consider somewhat further.  
Pour the oil, or the aforesaid water spoken of in the process, upon Crocus Martis, being first reverberated with Sulphur to a redness, place it in some heat, and extract the blood red Tincture of Mars, then take of this Extraction one part, of the red Extraction of Antimony burnt with Salt Petre, and prepared with spirit of wine three parts, of the water of Mercury made apart by injection into an hollow pipe, one part; of the Calx of the Sun dissolved in this caustic water, half a part, mix them, and by effusion, out of one Vessel into another, purge them, then forthwith abstract them by ashes in a fire meanly strong, but the whole will not come over, for there will reside in the bottom a fair, red, fixed solution very profitable for old Ulcers. The remaining Caput Mortuum begets by resolution in a dark place so sharp a liquour that scarce any Aqua fortis can compare with it in acrimony or sharpness, but of this enough.  
Out of Antimony may also be prepared a white powder thus.  
Take of Hungarian Antimony and Salt Petre thrice depurated and ground together, equal parts, burn them in a new pot wherein hath been no grease, in a fire of circulation, you must not cast in all at once, but by little and little, and apart, which the ancient Spagyrists call by the name of puffing (for 'tis necessary that the Students in Art be acquainted with their strange terms, which as to country Language is unknown) that puffation or injection being accomplished, powder that hard remaining matter in the pot, put it into a vessel of glass, and pour thereunto common water warmed, and when the matter shall have settled, separate it, and pour on more, which do sometimes, that the Salt Petre may be extracted; dry and powder the matter, and mix it again with an equal part of Salt petre, proceed as before, and do thus three times, then grind the matter which remains, and pour thereunto the best spirit of Wine, and circulate it for a month in Cucurbit or Circulatory well shut, then burn on it new spirit of Wine, nine or ten times, which labour being done; dry the powder leisurely, and in a melting Crucible, let it be well heated red hot, for an whole day at the fire.  
Out of this powder, being resolved in a moist place, either upon a Table of Glass, or Stone, or in the Whites of Eggs, is made a liquour, which by the heat may be again dried into a powder; Verily this powder operates many very gallant things, scarce credible without Experience. It works not of a sudden, but by little and little, and time must be granted for the production and discovery of its force and virtue.  
Let any one who is afflicted with an inward Aposteme, take constantly of this powder, five or six times every day, in spirit of Wine, or mere Wine, fifteen grains at a time, and he shall be healed, and the blood shall by little and little be ejected, and the Patient be come perfectly well.  
He that is afflicted with the French Disease within his body, let him use this powder, and he shall be radically cured. It produceth new hair, purgeth the blood, and doth many other good things which we omit for brevity's sake. For I cannot expound every thing with that plainness, and so perspicuously, as that every one should become a great physician, by the bare reading of my Writings, without any pains or labour, no, let them endure the burden, (as is reasonable) and let him know that the country man that thresheth and worketh on the corn will eat the best bread.  
But now I proceed too much into the open Field, in which the ancient Fowlers catch their Larks, whom the younger will speedily follow with their Nets, for my stile (as all my Writings witness) hath a peculiar method, even as other Philosophers have likewise done before me; But now that my Philosophy is changed by the process therein immixed, let not any Reader wonder at it; for my Philosophical speech having description of the processes therein, is different from another bare speech that hath no manifestation; Mark this difference, neither accuse me of being changeable in my intention, in my philosophical stile, preparation and process: for in my philosophical speech, thou shalt learn & observe the Theory, but the process together with admonition sufficient, doth teach the practice, and on that account, are perspicuous and sufficient words to be made use of thereabouts.  
A balsam may also be prepared out of Antimony (not crude, but out of its Regulus) profitable for very many diseases, from which the Mercury of Antimony may be vivified, viz.  
Take of Hungarian Antimony, and crude Tartar, of each equal parts, Salt Petre half a part; grind them and flux them in a wind Furnace, pour them forth into a Cone, and let them cool; Let the Regulus thus made be in like sort purified in the fire by Tartar, and Salt Petre, three or four times, and so it will become white like to silver (that hath passed the fulmination) and the Examen of Lead. Grind this Regulus, pour unto it (in a glass) the oil of iuniper or Spirit of Turpentine, (which ascends first in distillation, and is clear like to Water) shut your glass well, place it in B.M. at a moderate heat, and that Spirit or oil will grow red in the manner of blood, pour it off, and rectify it with Spirit of Wine. It hath the same Virtues as the balsam of Sulphur hath, as I shall advise thee when I come to speak of Sulphur; for the preparation of both is in a manner alike: Three drops of this balsam taken in warm Wine only thrice in a week, heals the Diseases of the Lungs, the Astmah, Ptysick, pleuritic, and such as are afflicted with an old Cough.  
There are also made of Antimony several oils, some by themselves, others by addition, and have not the same Virtues, but diverse from each other, according to the manner of the preparation; I will speak a parable unto thee, many living Creatures live only in the Earth, as worms, Serpents, and other kinds, and sometimes new sorts are generated by corruption, formerly unknown. Others live in the water, as Fishes; Others in the air, as Birds; others in the fire, as the Salamander, and there are found in the hot Islands and burning countries, other wonderful Creatures, of which we are ignorant, who conserve their Life by the solary heat, and presently die at being brought into another air.  
So Antimony prepared with a watery addition, operates otherwise then if prepared with a fiery one; and although every preparation thereof be done with fire, without which its virtue is not detected, or opened; yet note and consider that an Earthy addition works divers from a watery one; and so suitably, if Antimony be by the fire elevated Per se into the air, and further prepared, it obtains a several virtue, according to its several preparations.  
The chiefest oil and Sulphur of Antimony is thus made, without any addition of aught else.  
Take Ungarian Antimony, beat it grossly, put it into a glass cucurbit, with a plain bottom, pour thereto the true Vinegar of the Philosophers, viz. The Vinegar with its own Salt, Lute up the glass, putrefy it in Horse Dung, or in B. M. for forty days, and the body becomes again opened, and is made more black than Ink, which is a sign of a perfect solution.  
But good God, why do I speak or write, I suppose that I shall meet with most few that will credit this Testament which I leave unto my disciples: yet some few will be found, who acknowledging these wonders, and acquainted by Experience with them, will more circumspectly consider them, and give me honourable thanks when I lie rotting in my Tomb, because I have by the gift of God, set free from prison that Virtue which is united to the Creature, and made it operative.  
Another way of bringing Antimony over the helm, without any addition, is this: Make Regulus of Antimony, Tartar, and Salt nitre, as I have afore spoken, powder that Regulus, put it into a great round glass, in a gentle fire in Sand, and the Antimony will sublime; but every day brush down with a feather, whatsoever is sublimed, into the bottom of the glass, and thus do until it will sublime no more, but a fixed precipitate Regulus remains in the bottom: but know that this work will require time ere the work appear; grind this precipitate, and leave it in a Cellar upon a polished stone, for half a year, and then 'twill be resolved into a red liquour, and some Feces will remain, for the Salt of Antimony will only melt, filter this liquour, and abstract the phlegm in an Alembeck, till a thick liquour be left, which lay aside in the Cellar, and 'twill be congealed into crystals of a reddish white, and if they be again purged, they will be altogether white: this is the true Salt of Antimony, which I have frequently made; dry it: mix one part of this Salt, with three parts of Venetian Earth, distill it with a strong fire, and there will come, first white Spirits, then red, the which do also resolve into white, rectify this spirit Gently in a dry Bath, and thou shalt have another oil of Antimony, but much inferior to the former, and 'tis rather a Spirit than an oil, because this Salt is spiritually forced out. It hath frequently deserved praise in quartan fevers and others; it breaks the Stone of the Bladder, provokes Urine, cleanseth filthy Serpentine or creeping Ulcers, (which have their Operation from Mars) being outwardly applied. It purgeth the blood like to the Salt of Gold, and may be used in many other Diseases, but it is not so perfect as the red oil of Antimony is, whose Sulphur hath been separated, purged, and brought to the highest degree.  
The Sulphur and the Salt of Antimony having been described, together with their preparation and medicinal use, I will pass to the description of its Mercury, and its medicinal virtue.  
Take therefore the Regulus of Antimony eight parts, the Salt of man's urine, clarified, and sublimed; salt armoniac, and salt of Tartar, of each one part, mix the Salts, and thereto pour strong vinegar, Lute it with the Lute of wisdom, and digest the salts for a month in a continual heat, then distil off the Vinegar by Ashes until the Salts remain dry, which being done, mix with them three parts of Venetian Earth, urge them by a Retort with a strong fire, and thou shalt have a wonderful spirit, pour this Spirit upon the powdered Regulus, and putrify them together two months, then abstract the Vinegar, and to the Remainder add four times as much filings of Mars, and distil it by the force of fire in a Retort, the spirits of the Salts will bring the Mercury over with them in the manner of a fume, but thou must place instead of the Recipient, a large glass full of Water, that the spirits of the salt may mix therewith; but the Mercury will come together, and be converted into true quick Mercury in the bottom of the vessel. Thus may the Artificer extract living and running Mercury out of Antimony, which hath been by many a one everywhere studiously sought after, now therefore will I come to make known its use in medicine.  
Take (with the help of God) one part of this Mercury, press it through a skin of Leather, pour thereunto four parts of the red oil of Vitriol, rectified to the supremest height, abstract the oil, and the spirits of the oil will remain with the Mercury, urge the fire, and somewhat will sublime, throw back the sublimate upon the Earth remaining in the bottom, and pour again thereupon as much new oil, sublime it as formerly, and iterate it three times: The fourth time cast back your sublimate again upon its own Earth, grind it together, and it will be pure like crystal, put it in a Circulatory, and pour thereon as much oil of Vitriol, and thrice the quantity of the spirit of Wine, circulate it even to separation, and so the Mercury resolved into oil will swim at the top in the manner of oil Olive; separate this oil, and put it into another Circulatory glass, and pour thereunto sharp distilled Vinegar, and by this means the oil will recover its weight within twenty days, or thereabouts, and will settle to the bottom, and whatsoever is poisonous remains in the vinegar, the which will be cloudy and blackish, and this is a miracle contrary to Nature, that an oil at first swimming, should in the end settle to the bottom: But note, that even the oil of Vitriol is heavy, and therefore bears up the Mercury, which in its separation is not as yet altogether pure; but when that light impurity is received by the Vinegar, than doth the oil recover its own weight, and being made compact goes to the bottom, and this is the oil of the Mercury of Antimony, And is the fourth Pillar of all Remedies. Now where ever thou art who be'st Leprous, I will procure for thee a means of health; This oil heals the Apoplexy, comforts the Brain and Reason, excites the vital spirits of the brain; and whosoever shall use this oil daily, for some time, and is afflicted with any Distemper, he shall lose both his nails and hair, and become young again: the blood is thereby purged, and every evil expelled: the French Disease is but a spot to this Medicine, which in a very little white radically ejects it; the praise of this Remedy cannot be described with either Tongue or Pen: Ah miserable clod of earth, and bag of worms why dost thou delay to offer a sacrifice of Praise to thy Creator, for those Remedies which he hath granted unto thee? O ye bragging boasters of both medicines! come unto me, a Monk, and servant of God, I will lay open to your Eyes, what you never saw before, and will show you the way of health, which as yet you have not observed; Now if any one knows better preparations, let him not be silent, but speak: I am desirous to learn, nor is it a shame unto me to make further enquiry, and to search out that light which as yet I have not seen; for I have oft said, no one is able because of the brevity of Life, to perceive all the secrecies of nature.  
But whatsoever Artificer hath less experience than I have, and doth not throughly understand my Writings, I shall advise him to be silent, and nor presume to correct or disgrace them with unseemly prating, and many unprofitable words; because he hath not heard them in the school, nor rightly understands the processes; my terms are different from those which are in use with my adversaries, who are ashamed of Labour, the which is necessary as to the planting of good Trees, and engraffing of wholesome fruits; whence it happens that relying on a wild Tree they never come to any sweet bough of a gentle Garden Tree unskilful man! do not at the very first word judge the things thou dost not know, nor condemn that which neither by knowledge or study, thou hast attained unto.  
Many Country people indeed, say that the Fishes die in the water by reason of cold, but whoever affirm it, speak ignorantly and indiscreetly, and what cannot be proved, for if in the Winter Season, when the Superficies of the Water is mightily congealed and frozen, there be little holes made by breaking the Ice, not a Fish will perish by reason of the cold, but if the Ice of Ponds or other waters be not broken, the Fish will certainly die, not because of the Frigidity, but the want of the air which cannot penetrate through all the Ice; For 'tis clearly evident, that no living Creature can live without the use of air; whence 'tis, that the Fishes are choked under the Ice, and are not killed with cold; I apply this Example thus.  
It is necessary in Antimony, that (because of its manifold use) holes be made by the miner in the mountain, that it may enjoy the air, and then 'tis behooveful that it be prepared with Water, air, and Fire, lest its fruitfulness be choked in the Earth, instead of its being manifested by the various preparation of the physician, for the hoped-for correcting and qualifying of distempers, which was the ground of its searching after.  
Most miserable man that art an hater, and despiser of Antimony, and criest out that 'tis a mere poison, where is thy Eloquence and rhetoric to defend thyself withal?  
And seeing thou dost not understand, neither white, black, nor any other Colour in this business, as to the preparation of Antimony, and art a stranger to its virtue and benefits, thou mayest justly hold thy peace, and suffer these speeches and writings to pass by thy ears, (because of thy unskilfulness) like an impetuous Torrent, agitated by the wind; But beware lest the wind & the waves increasing, thy broken little Ship be totally drowned. Now to avoid this danger, do as the Apostles did; seasonably imploring help by thy prayers unto thy sleeping master, not hypocritically, but with a pure and sincere heart, and so thou shalt be saved, and really find, that the sea and the winds will be tractable unto thee, and thou shalt bring all things to the desired end.  
Good God were but this the mind of man, in following after somewhat with study and labour, without doubt the Muses and Fortune would be propitious unto him; and that Disciple of Art would find, that health and prosperity would attend him in his Closet of Art, and habitation of Grace, so as that he should perceive a sure Foundation, a full unspotted and constant Corner stone, whereon he may with safety rest, and found his own Conscience, and so the unprofitable tattling of Disputers, with the sick would be omitted, and cast out of the schools, and the silent man would take his turn also, and publicly assert and prove that a Castle built of stone is not so easily combustible as a pigeon-house, or a thatched roof, or an old wooden nest of a stork, that is dried every year in the sun.  
My Disciples attend rightly with the utmost of your understanding to my simple plain admonition, studiously and diligently seek the Centre which is scarce or never known by the outward face; search throughly its virtue with a careful expectation, even as an Hunter doth after a wild Beast, Mark the print of the footsteps in the snow, that you take not a Stag înstead of a do, or an Hare for a Fox, through their footsteps ill-understood, and worse judged of: cast forth your Net, but rightly, and then you shall have it well stored with the best Fishes, spread open your Nets discreetly & carefully, bind on your snares and entrapments, and so shall the Fowler effectually and successfully satisfy his own desire. In a word, that I may give my ultimate Admonition unto the curious Seeker, I do advise thus; Dear Fowler, expose thy Nets and thy voluble feathers deliberately unto the Wind, and thou Mariner attend well on thy compass when thou sailest in the deep Sea, night and day, and art frequently tossed with tempestuous storms, now here, now there; For thus observing, thou shalt not fail in thy hopeful Expectations, but in the end shalt take something with profit; and arrive with my ●hip to its Port, from the remotest countries, with augmentation of thy wares and adventures.  
But why do I spend time in speaking or comparing; I do but tread and thresh the empty stalks and straws, in the manner of tattling Sophisters, for my Writings are so born, that but few Letters in them will pass by, without some fruit, and be extinguished without the sparks of some benefit; But verily, they do contain in them a certain Doctrine and Instruction, that the Labour of writing is to me a kind of Recreation and Delight.  
Well! I will retire or go back, one pass in the manner of a Fencer, and induce into the Laboratory a new school or Learning, viz. of external things, that I may declare and manifest the Reason or Cause, and Preparation of Antimony, that it may be approved as most profitable for outward Distempers (as indeed it is) I'll therefore give you the process in a very few words.  
My Disciple and Lover of Art, who desirest thoroughly to search into nature's secrets, and to find out the most hidden mysteries, that thou mayst distinguish betwixt day and night, light and darkness I say unto thee.  
Take one part of the best Ungarian Antimony, and half a part of common, or of fosile salt, of potter's Earths not baked six parts, grind and mix them well together; distil them with a strong fire, and a red oil will forthwith flow or distil forth, from which abstract the phlegm by distillation, that a red powder may remain dry in the bottom, grind it, and let it be resolved upon a Marble stone, and thence will issue a red Pellucid balsam, far more noble than other vulnerary balsams, most profitable in old Wounds, which the common physicians with their plasters, Unguents, oils, & Ligaments, do esteem as dangerous & to be suspected, and are with derision compelled to take off the bridle & Trappings from the Horse, and lay them aside, and lead him back again into the stable from whence they brought him. My custom of speaking now contains no other thing; for a Monk cannot write all things so clearly, as the reason and necessity of the work requires, because he is not versed in the circumstances of such business; he is (I say) ignorant of their terms, that he cannot illustrate them formally or orderly enough; and he entreats pardon for any Transgession of that kind committed by him, and in like manner will he show his forward readiness to serve all Christians night and day in his spiritual Office, and he will reward the kindness of the Reader with his daily Prayers. This oil is found to be most wholesome in old Ulcers and Wounds, of the greatest moment, nor are there many remedies above it or equal thereunto, except an oil of Antimony prepared with common Mercury sublimate, which in healing of Cancers, gangrenes, wolves, Noli me tangere, is more potent and noble; But in fistulas and creeping Ulcers, the afore prescribed oil, doth experimentally show its force in many incredible accidents, even to admiration, which I forbear to rehearse, lest I should be thought to be ambitious and greedy after Honour, which vice I have always fled from, do fly from, and will fly from, by the help of God, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  
'tis thus prepared.  
Take of common Mercury well mortified and most purely sublimed, and of Antimony, of each equal parts, grind them, mix them, and distil them by a Retort (which can hold the Spirits) three times, rectify this oil with spirit of wine, and 'tis prepared, being of a bloud-like colour; at the beginning it was white and resembled Ice, or molten Butter: This oil performs many wonders, which without it, 'twould be impossible in Nature to believe, could be amended, but yet notwithstanding its virtue, faculty, and operation, herein appears in making good out of evil.  
Another most profitable for external wounds, may also be prepared, with addition.  
Take of Antimony and Sulphur, of each one part, Salarmoniack and Salt of Urine clarified, of each half a part, Calx vive or quicklime two parts. Grind, mix, and distil them, if any thing sublimes, scrape it off, and grind it again with the Caput mortuum, pour thereunto the oil which thou abstractedst, distil it as afore, and thus do three times, and 'tis prepared: old malign and contumacious Ulcers, refusing every remedy, do not despise this oil, it is most strong, most penetrative, and lays a foundation of most certain healing, even as the oil of Vitriol doth.  
There's also prepared a wonderful Vulnerary balsam composed of many things, whereof Antimony is one.  
Receive of sulphur four Ounces, melt it in the fire very gently, mix thereto half a pound of Quick silver, stir it with a stick until it comes into a mass, which grind or beat, because it is prepared, as Cinaber is wont to be prepared; grind with it of Antimony four Ounces, Red arsenic four ounces, Crocus martis two ounces, powdered Bricks eight ounces, let them be sublimed together according to art, in a glass vessel, and thou shalt have Rubies not unlike the Oriental ones, (as to the colour) (for they are volatile, and have nothing fix in them.) Let these Rubies be most neatly separated from the Cinaber, which in the subliming did coascend with them, grind them, and extract them with Vinegar, which done, abstract the Vinegar in B. M. by little and little, and the remaining powder grind most finely small, and extract it with spirit of wine in another vessel, separate the remaining feces, and digest this extraction with spirit of wine, in a vessel well luted, in B. M. for a month, Then abstract the spirit of wine (as you did formerly the vinegar,) put the remaining powder into a Cucurbit with a round bottom, and put it into a vessel full of water in a pit, that it may therein swim like a boat, and so in a few days it will resolve into a fair transparent liquor, most profitable for old ulcers and wounds, if they be anointed with a feather dipped therein, and a common vulnerary plaster laid thereupon; It will not leave thee destitute of help, especially in those outward wounds which are old and uncapable of any other remedy.  
But those solutions of continuity which depend upon some inward cause, are not to be understood or meant in this place; but for the healing of such, somewhat more is requried; which verily cannot be recovered without inward Remedies, which dry up and radically put out the symptoms and centre of the disease, although there are but few masters in the world at this day, who circumspectly and exactly think of, and consider the thing which at present I do write. Would man but consider the miserable state and positure of our life, whereinto we are slipped by the fall of our first parents; (which lapse or fall, original sin and all kinds of calamities have followed, yea many and grievous diseases frequently too, wherewith we are oppressed,) he would spend his time more rightly and profitably, that so he Might (out of Christian charity) find out a means for his neighbour's health, which is laid upon him as a duty, by the prince of heaven; But because most men do trifle away and lose their time about toys and trifles, and refuse labour as being troublesome, they remain in their old opinion, and are good stewards of their flesh, fearing the wearing out their hands with the washing them, and the anointing of them with oil, fearing also that by buying much soap to purge & wash themselves, they should increase the merchant's price; Poor miserable men, what have we in this world whereof we may boast, strangers we are in our conduct, having our dwelling with God, who hath given us all things for our use whilst we live here, without pledge; we ought on that account bodily and spiritually so to behave ourselves unto him, as faithful stewards towards their masters, that we may with a good conscience stand in that day, when all these bestowed goods shall return unto him, and that heavenly householder shall require an account from all his servants; left through means of our sins and unthankfulness, we be cast out into the utter prison of torment, where shall be gnashing of teeth. Did but a man always think thereupon, it would not be strange for his heart, never to think of committing any evil, but would most diligently perform his office, that he might serve his neighbour; But the world very little or nothing at all gives respect hereunto, but grasps up money right or wrong; the Potentates care not, the commons help them forward; they defend force by the name of equity, that themselves may also enjoy a portion of ill gotten goods, and may as 'twere rightly devour like Lords and Masters, the goods of their servants. Beware, I say, lest the bones stick in your throat, and the fish bones pierce and adhere to your heart.  
But these Admonitions are but in vain; ridiculous and contemptible unto the world, for when a while since I went on Pilgrimage to S. James of Compostella according to a vow, it being a difficult journey, and returned back unto my convent (for which I bless God even to this day) I did believe that many would both rejoice and praise God together with me, for those holy relics which for the help and comfort of our convent, and all the poor I brought with me; But few amend their lives, and but few testify their thankfulness to God for so large a benefit; but have rather increased their derisions, their contumelies, and their blasphemies: But the just judge well knows how to punish them at the last day: But of this enough. I return to Antimony, Out of which is another remedy prepared most profitable for all fevers, and also in time of the plague.  
Take of Antimony excellently well ground or beaten, without any addition, distil it with a strong fire in a Retort, whereto let be united a large glass recipient. Iterate it three or four times, for so at length will be produced a red powder, which extract with destilled vinegar, Circulate the extraction in a gentle fire for ten days, than forthwith distil it to the Abstraction of the vinegar; urge the remainder by a peculiar Artifice that it may pass into an oil, which yet circulate and pelican it, until the phlegm be gone, and it be again reduced into a powder: the vinegar must at first be separated in the distillation, and the oil (Coming last) must be gathered in a new receiver. This oil cures Quotidians, Tertians, and Quartain fevers, four grains being given with the destilled water of carduus benedictus, and the sick covered so that he may sweat.  
The same dose with Spirit of wine or destilled vinegar (according as the plague at first seized on the patient, either with burning or cold) doth most potently expel the plague, as three of my brethren can testify, who were, taken with the plague and having made their wills and given up themselves to death, were delivered by this Arcanum, and from that time forward did more highly esteem my medicine then before, and did assist me, both with their Prayers, and manual labour, (after performing the worship and service of God) so carefully, that at length, together with me, they attained to many secrecyes and experiments, whence, by the industry of them, and other my brethren, more secrets of nature were detected and opened in one year, then in a long time before, for which I gave them thanks (even to my last age) and moreover will be heartily thankful, because they well deserved it both of me, and other honest Christians. But because they died before me, I do supplicate the Heavenly chieftain for their Reward, who without doubt hath paid unto my btethrens a sufficient Premium in Heaven, that they may be joyfully supplied with a Celestial recompense, in the stead of that which is taken from them in this Life, and which could not have been paid them by unskilful and ungrateful men.  
There's also another Vulnerary oil made of Antimony, by an Addition, Thus.  
Receive of Antimony, sulphur, and salt Petre, of each equal parts, shut them under a Campane, according as is customary; but you will do better if you use an alembic with a Recipient, and you shall gather more oil than Per Campanam, as to its colour it resembles common oil of sulphur, but it is much stronger, because of the addition, and operates more potently than the common vulnerary oil of sulphur doth, it is inwardly administered for diseased Lungs, and outwardly administered to putrid filthy ulcers, the Dose inwardly is three drops with spirit of Wine, outwardly 'tis used only with a wound plaster laid thereon, thou shalt find it an excellent Remedy in all evils.  
Another profitable oil for Gangrenous Diseases and old Ulcers is thus prepared.  
Receive of Antimony ground or powdered, one pound, of common salt, half a pound, of potter's Earth unbaked five pounds, mix them, grind them, and distil them in a Retort, and a yellow oil will come forth, all the spirits being come forth, put the matter into another glass, abstract the phlegm, put the remaining powder in a Cave upon a Marble, and 'twill resolve into a liquid balsam, most profitable for serpentine creeping, and Gangrenous evils, especially in the face of a man, or breasts of a woman: I could write more things of this balsam, but that I fear, that the unskilful and tattling sophister, will say that (in his opinion) I write too much, and teach many things in Paper, which I never found by use, but only conceived in my imagination.  
Another oil, may also be thus made.  
Receive of Antimony four parts, salt ammoniac one part, grind them together and sublime them with a gentle fire, & so the salt will lift up with itself the blood-like sulphur of Antimony, grind this sublimate well, & for every pound of the crude Antimony that you sublime, add five ounces mo●e of Antimony to the sublimate, & su●li●●●● it as afore. This sublimate will be excellently well dissolved in a moist place, or else separate the salt therefrom, and dry it by little and little, and thou shalt have a sulphur combustible, like the common sulphur sold everywhere. Extract this sulphur (in time) with distilled Vinegar, and separate the Vinegar in B. M. by a gentle heat, extract or draw out its Tincture, and the remaining Powder draw over or distil into a Recipient by a subtle Artifice; if the studious Artist doth rightly proceed in this way, he shall find a sweet excelling oil, without any Corrosion or danger; It heals the Peripneumonia, expels the dolour of the sides and let the asthmatic take thereof in the morning, and at evening going to bed two grains, with the Elixir or spirit of Wine; it heals pectoral Diseases and casts forth all impurities from the breast, and it hath been useful to me, and helpful to many a one, even beyond hope. But seeing that in other preparations I have sufficiently described the virtues of Antimony, I suppose it needless to repeat them again in this place, lest I become tedious to the studious, and excite in them I know not what suspicions. The liquour, made of this sulphur (as I have already said) is most profitably used in outward Remedies, it takes away all the filth of the skin, and if a little oil be thereto admixed, it takes away the Pimples and spots of the hands, if anointed therewithal. It makes the skin bright, and heals the Alopecia or head scab.  
The sulphur of Antimony is also prepared yet another way.  
Boil Antimony beaten or ground, two hours or more in a strong Lixivium made of Ashes, filter the Antimony and pour thereunto most strong Vinegar, and a red sulphur will settle to the bottom, pour away the phlegm and dry the powder; extract the Tincture with distilled Vinegar, as in the former sulphur, bring it into an oil by distillation, which is not unprofitable, but yet weaker than the other precedent, where by the benefit of sublimation with salt ammoniac, the body of Antimony is opened and realeased.  
Now follows three preparations of Antimony chiefly necessary for a Spagirist, viz. The preparation of a vinegar out of its proper mineral: The signed star of the Philosophers, and Philosophical Lead, much esteemed of by many, who have believed that out of it might be made the true Mercury of the Philosophers, but it is impossible, neither is there so much granted by God thereunto, that in, or from Antimony, the Mercury of the Philosophers should be found; or the first Ers, Argent vive, and first water of perfect metals, out of which is made the great stone of the Ancient Philosophers. But this Primum Ens is found in another Mineral, in which (having Relation to metals) the operation is higher than that of Stibium, although that this hath its particular profit. Note well, That the Pillar as 'twere of internal and external Medicine is to be had in every shop or place of vendible things, were it but rightly prepared; which I have oftentimes said, and there wanteth nothing but that the Artificer learn to discern the Nature of minerals and metals, and with exactness observe the preparation and use of Antimony, whereupon a right Judgement will follow, and not before. I will therefore accomplish my promise, and satisfy the wishes of my Disciples, and perfectly teach the Knowledge of the ultimate and true separation of the good from the bad, beginning at the preparation of the philosophical Vinacre of Antimony.  
The Aes or mineral out of which Antimony is melted and purged, beat or grind exceedingly small, put it into a glass Phyal with a most long Neck, pour thereunto destilled rain water, that the glass may be half full, Lute it and putrefy it in Horse Dung until the Aes or mineral begin to boil, and to froth, or spume, and ascend or work up, then take it out, because this is a sign that the body is opened; put this digested matter into a Cucurbit well Luted, and abstract the water which will be a little Acid, which being drawn off, increase the sire and somewhat will sublime, this sublimate being commixed with the Faeces, let it be again moistened with the water which was extracted from it, and distil it as before, and iterate this Labour so often until it hath purchased the Acrimony of the strongest distilled vinegar, but the sublimate doth decrease in every distillation. pour this vinegar thus prepared upon new Aes or antimony-mineral in a pelican, that it may swim three singers over it, let it stand in a gentle heat twelve days, so the vinegar will become red and be more acid, separate this most purely, and distil it per B. abstracting the Vinegar, and a redness will remain at the bottom, which extract with spirit of Wine, and 'twill be a supreme medicine, rectify the Vinegar again in B. that the phlegm may be separated, and then dissolve therein its own proper salt, viz. one ounce of salt to four ounces of vinegar, distil it strongly in Ashes, and so the vinegar will be more fortified, it refrigerates in a wonderful manner beyond the force of common Vinegar, it allays the gangrene that is enkindled by gunpowder, and such other burning accidents, if it be ground with the soul of Saturn into an Ointment, and applied like a cataplasm: Being mixed with the water of Endive, and with the fixed part of salt petre, burnt and prepared with sulphur, it divides and cures the squinancy, and extinguisheth heat.  
In the Plague a full spoonful drunk at a time, and outwardly also applied upon the Bubo, with a third part of the distilled water of the combust sperm of Frogs, extracts the poison and refrigerates  
The signed stone of Antimony is by many a one much esteemed of, and most men have earnestly attempted its preparation; some have enjoyed their wishes, the intent and purpose of others hath come to nothing, many have believed that this star is the true matter of the philosopher's stone; imagining it so over-hastily, because Nature hath freely formed this star of its own accord, but I deny it: (These men leave the King's high way; and do journey through unfrequented rocky places where the wild goats do live and the birds of prey do build their nests) 'tis not given to this star to be the matter of so noble a stone though the chiefest of Medicines lie therein. It is thus made.  
Take of Ungarian Antimony two parts, filings of Sttele one part, burnt Tartar four parts, melt them together and pour them out into a goldsmith's Crucible, wherein they are wont to purge Gold Let it cool, separate the Regulus from the Scoria and Faeces, grind it or beat it, and again add of burnt Tartar three times its weight, and melt it as afore, separate, grind it, and again add thrice its weight of burnt Tartar, melt it, and so the Regulus shall be purged; If thou hast proceeded aright (which is here the main thing) thou shalt have a white star shining like to pure silver, and divided, as if the most accurate Painter had described it with its Radij or beams. This Star sublimed with salt ammoniac; grows red, for the Tincture of Mars ascends, this sublimate may be resolved (in a Cellar) into an oil profitable for wounds.  
This Regulus or Star may be often destilled by the fire, with the stony Serpents, so that in the end being totally consumed, he associates himself to the serpent; the which being finished, the Artist will have a most burning matter, and altogether fiery, wherein many artificial things lie hidden, and this matter is also resolved into an oil, which ought to be brought over by distillation, and then rectified until it be pure and clear▪ Its use in the body, and to be administered inwardly, is thus. Mix no more than three drops only with some convenient liquour, as two Ounces of Wine or some distilled water, according to the Nature of the disease, and so give it, and but twice only in a week: 'tis expedient therefore that the physician respects the causes of Diseases, and the complexion of the sick, that he may with safety use his remedies. But this oil is of a most great Acrimony, wherein lie many things, not fit to be revealed unto the common people, but to be reserved as certain secrets for Philosophers, who have daily sustained most bitter Labours: Well then, whoever thou art that followest my steps, be not dejected in so doing, thou shalt find as I have found by my hard pains, which I wish unto thee withal my heart.  
I have prescribed unto thee things enough even from the beginning, whereby thou mayst find the end, but many die, who (as yet) have not attained the beginning, and perish before the obtaining of the magistry, I will on that account leave behind a book of Rudiments or Principles, that my Disciples being acquainted with the first experiments, may the sooner arrive to the wished end, and give God and me thanks. In this oil is this wonderful thing observable, that it operates upon crystals calcined for three days, and extracts their salt, which done, the oil is yet once more to be distilled by a Retort, and so hast thou a Remedy so potent, that it breaks and expels the stone of the bladder, and perfects many other things.  

Now concerning the Philosophers Lead.  
Let the searcher into Art, know, that Antimony is of kin to common Lead: For even as some trees expel and drives out from themselves their too much Rosin (which is their Sulphur) (as is seen in the Cherry tree, and other trees) ejecting and casting out their gum; but othersome (abounding with over much Mercury) produce out of themselves, other heterogeneous plants, as appears in the oak and Apple, which bring forth Bastards and Monsters, &c. Even so the Earth hath its abortives that are rejected from the pure metals in the separation. Now seeing Antimony being of affinity to Saturn, is thrown out from him, by reason of his too much Sulphur, neither (in his Nativity) could arrive to the perfection of a fusil body, he remained a mineral, for his over abounding quantity of hot sulphur hath overcome, and hindered the Mercury (through the want and defect of cold) from coagulation into a fusible body.  
But the Lead of Antimony is no other thing than its Regulus, which is not as yet malleable, & as I have said, is produced by the copulating and fusing of Regulus and steel in the fire, whereby the star is made, out of which many have erroneously sought for, the stone of the ancient Philosophers, but in vain: But as for the remedies, thence educible by preparation, I have already demonstrated, and will not repeat them.  
But on this account doth the Regulus admit of the name of Lead, because that that which Stibium gives of itself from its own glass, if it be melted for three hours, (being first cemented) in a wind Furnace, in a well shut Crucible with the salt of Saturn, and then taken out it becomes malleable, and more weighty than before, because it hath received malleability and increase from the salt, that it is become a compact and ponderous body. Nor is there much difference betwixt the signed star, and Lead of Antimony, although many Artificers propose a difference, for both are made of Regulus, and may be prepared into the same Medicine as I have said, and Here I'll cease, and next to the following Appendix, manifest the stone of fire.  
Let God be favourable, and open the ears and Hearts of such as are stubborn, and bless them, that knowing the miracles of Nature they may praise his omnipotence and be assistant to their Neighbours, Amen.    

The Appendix  
FINALLY note, That there are other uses of Stibium, as in typographical Characters: also sigils and characters, (of wonderful virtue) are made with metals mixed, under certain constellations and planetary Conjunctions, and by a certain commixion are made looking glasses, or speculums of divers faces or shapes and proprieties, also little tingling Bells and statues, which for that they appertain not unto medicine, nor belong unto my calling, I will here desist, and leave their handling to other Artificers.   

ACROSTICHON.  
AT the Beginning when the Earth conceived me,  
No Parent had I but the Heaven alone,  
Then a faithful helper (that so I might he borne)  
Jason the duplicate was chosen for to be,  
My Virtue is the gift of solar heat,  
Of Fire debarred, I sweat not any blood;  
Now don't neglect Pluto thy mate to make  
In fighting let him also be the heater,  
Vulcan doth show the way to honour true  
Methusalem, unto thee giveth thanks.   

OF THE Triumphant Chariot OF ANTIMONY, AND WHAT THE STONE Of Fire is.  
ON a time by serious Prayers poured out before God, (being absolved & quitted from superfluous thoughts, and worldly affairs I decreed to meditate on such spiritual cases, as might be useful for a more thorough search into the condition of Nature, I therefore resolved with myself to get me some wings that so I might fly unto the superior stars, and make inspection thereunto, as (by the Testimony of the Poets) Icarus and Dedalus have done. But when I approached overneer to the Sun, my wings were burnt by his heat, and down I tumble headlong into the deepest sea; But because I called upon God in my necessity; he sent me aid and help from Heaven, whereby I was reedeemed from destruction and danger. For an angel from Heaven came unto my succour who Commanded the water to stand still, and there was opened a great abyss, like a most high mountain, where walking up and down, I would needs search whether or no it were possible (as the sons of men speak) that there should be a familiarity between things most high, and things most low, and whethet or no, the supreme stars have received from the creator, force and virtue, sufficient for the production of things in the earth like unto themselves, and having searched through all, I found it certainly true, which our ancient Teachers have long since left behind them for our Instruction, and Information (if we are desirous Disciples after truth and verity) and have set down as fundamental, for which I gave most cordial thanks to the omnipotent God, and author of all wonderful things.  
Briefly, I find that all minerals flow from the Celestial Stars, and have their original out of an Aqueous Vapour, which having been a long time nourished by the stars, is reduced by the Elements into a palpable form; whence, that vapour is dried, and the waterishness loseth its dominion, and the fire (after or next to the water) by the benefit of air bears the sway, that out of the water the fire may be made, and out of the fire and the air, the earth may be made, which notwithstanding are found inseparable in all the corporeal things of the world before their resolution. The first matter therefore of all bodies is water, which by the dryness of the fire and the air is changed into earth.  
But because I have determined to teach, how the stone of fire is to be prepared out of Antimony, and because it doth not only cure men, but particularly cures even Metals also. It is convenient to advise what the stone of fire is; what its mineral is; whether or no a stone can be made without matter, and also of the ultimate difference, kinds and use of stones.  
Let the Holy Spirit be assisting in this my determination, that I may truly explain this art as far as is lawful, from whence▪ I hope for an eternal absolution from my chief confessor, who eternally sits in the throne of grace, and that from eternity, and will bear witness of all things, when the last sentence and decretory Judgement shall pass upon all men, without protestation or Appellation.  
In the first place, and above all other things know that the true Tincture of Antimony, which is a medicine both for men and metals, is not to be made of crude melted Antimony, such as the drugsters and the merchants sell, But out of its mineral or Aes, as 'tis digged out of the Mountains, and that too, made into glass: But how to perform that extraction is all the art, and workmanship; and whosoever finds it shall be thereby enriched with health and wealth. Know also (friendly Reader) that the prepared, fixed, and permanent Tincture of Antimony (which I call the stone of fire) is a penetrating, spiritual, fiery essence reduced into a coagulated matter, and may be compared to the Salamander which cannot be burnt, but is purged and conserved in the fire. But our stone of fire doth not ting universally as the stone of the Philosophers doth, which is made of the essence of Gold, nor hath it so much virtue granted it: But it tinctureth particularly viz. Luna, Jupiter, and Saturn into Gold; It toucheth not Mars and Venus, but only as to what may by this separation be in part produced from them. Also one part of this Tincture can transmute but five parts, so as to remain constant in the trial, colour, and weight, In Saturn and Antimony itself; when as contrariwise the true, ancient, and great stone of the Philosophers doth perfect innumerably. But yet this can be yet exalted it its own augmentation. And its Gold is pure, and constant.  
The Mineral of the stone of fire or of the Tincture is the Mineral or Aes of Stibium out of which (as I have afore mentioned) it is made, but how it is done, and what virtues and operations are therein I will presently declare.  
Moreover the Reader may observe that many stones tinge particularly, (for all fixed ting powders are by me called stones) but yet one tingeth deeper than another; as first; The stone of the Philosophers which far transcends all others. Next which are the Tinctures of the Sun, and of the Moon &c. As to the white. Then the Tincture of Vitriol or Venus, and the Tincture of Mars, both which contain in them the Tincture of the Sun, if they have been formerly brought unto fixation; next to these follow the Tincture of Jupiter and Saturn for the Coagulation of Mercury and then finally the Tincture of Mercury itself, this is the difference and multiplicity of Stones and Tinctures, which notwithstanding are all generated out of one seed and one principal Matrix, from whence also flows the true Universal one, and without these no metallick Tincture can be given.  
And verily 'tis not in other things of what name soever; I value not stones and Gems as to my present purpose, for I will speak not of such now, since that they contain in them a medicinal virtue only; I will also omit animal and vegetable stones, as appartaining to medicine solely, being unprofitable in metallick operations; As the virtues of which Mineral vegetable and animal stones, are contained in the philosopher's stone together, and at once. Salts cannot ting, but are only a Key to the preparation of stones, otherwise, they are impotent of themselves; (At least, as to what belongs to metallick and mineral Salts) and now I speak to the purpose if thou rightly understandest me, as to what difference I suppose to be between mineral Salts) they ought not to be rejected, (neither can they) in Tinctures, in whose composition none can be wtthout them; for in them is found an excellent treasure by which every fixation and constancy hath its original and foundation.  
Some body will now haply inquire (Whom I do not upon this account reprehend) whether or no without matter such a stone can be made; I say, No. For every thing necessarily hath its own matter, but diversely. The animals, theirs; The minerals, theirs, and vegetables their matter: Yet consider exactly, that nobody without fermentation; (of which in the end of the work of the preparation of the great stone where I consider the transmutation of other metals with profit;) which cannot be wanting, is profitable or fit for any stone. Although at the beginning a bodily form & corporeal essence, visible & palpable be taken, yet out of such a bodily essence the heavenly and spiritual vision (for I cannot otherways call it) ought to be extracted, which was at first infused into that body by the stars, and also begotten and concocted by the Elements, which spiritual essence ought in like manner palpably and formally to be again changed with a little fire by the regiment and disposing of the microcosm into a Palpable, fixed and constant matter. I speak without any imagination into an openfield, if I were wise I should not so much as whisper, and would refrain my hands from writing. Therefore all Tinctures of metals ought so to be prepared, that they may singularly love the metals, and earnestly and solely desire to be united to them, and to perfect them, just like two lovers who burning with love cannot rest until they are united and accomplish their desires; then at last, they rest and are multiplied by the will of God; man lies subject to many and wonderful diseases, which in some, do debilitate and take away the strength of nature; Those diseases may be dealt withal by antidotes; and that man may be restored to his former health.  
But love it is, that overcomes all other diseases, for which is no redress, or help but by a reciprocal love, and because that the desire of both sex is mutual, 'tis only extinguished by satisfaction of the inflamed and hungry longing; many things may be testified of the power of love, which doth not only seize upon the younger sort, but the elder also, who in their extreme age, do not only dote, but even grow mad by the fury of love. There are other diseases which imitate or follow the natural complexions of men, and so assualt one more than another; But love sets upon all without distinction, rich and poor, old and young, nor fears it any net that may be laid to trap it; In other natural diseases the grief possesseth only some certain members, the others being peaceable and quiet; But love captivates the whole body, all its essence, form, and substance, not the least part escaping; for the heart is so filled with heat, that it is dispersed through out all the veins and sinews. And (as I may so speak) love reigning in its power, seizeth upon the sense, reason, and thoughts, and withdraws a man from his mind, that he forgets, omits and disestems every thing; he contemns God; God's word, promises, wrath, threats and punishment (I speak of inordinate & forbidden love) nor can any thing recall him from that love, he is unmindful of his office, of his condition and vocation; he tramples upon admonitions, despiseth the adhortations of his well wishing neighbour, yea he shuts his eyes from most things, that he sees not his own destruction; stopping his ears to the faithful advice of such as do admonish him. It deprives many a one of sleep, takes away the appetite to food, procures a neglect of labour and arts, that so love may be followed and waited on. Many fall into a melancholy sadness, because of love, especially if things do not presently succeed according to desire, and they consume away like a candle, yea some lose both life and soul, as is apparent by examples. But such a one cares not, he contemns the dangers both of soul and body, which indeed is a dreadful thing, let this suffice, for 'tis unseemly for me who am an Ecclesiastical man, to give place to such things in my heart, even as (be not offended with the word) hitherto all my life time I have forborn it, and moreover will supplicate my God and Lord that I may conserve myself for my bride (the Christian Church) to which by a faithful vow I have devoted myself. But this I induce for examples sake only, that so I might discover and evidence, that all Tinctures ought to have a love to the metals, (else they cannot enter into true friendship) and by a true penetrative love attain to Melioration or a better condition.  
Let us now come to the preparation of the stone reserving its use to the latter end; And since this stone is of a most penetrative and mere fiery property, let it be boiled with fire and ripened as other things of the world; but yet differently according to the different natures of things, even as there are divers fires.  
1. The first fire is celestial, instituted by God, whereby charity is kindled and faith towards the most high God, most holy Trinity, and our most merciful Saviour Jesus Christ, which faith will never deceive us, nor forsake us in any necessity, but will deliver our souls from eternal destruction.  
2. The second fire is the Sun, or Elementary fire produced from the Sun, which brings all things in the macrocosm to maturity.  
3. The third is corporeal, whereby all meats and medicines are boiled and prepared, which men cannot want either for health or nourishment.  
We also find in the Holy Scripture, that before the last judgement, God will consume this visible world with fire, but what fire this will be, let us refer it to the judgement of the most high.  
There's also mention made in the word of God of another, or an eternal fire, which is reserved in hell for the eternal punishment of the damned; (being infinite and without ceasing, God permitting it; and not only for them, but for the devils also, from which fire I pray the almighty God to preserve us; whence I do faithfully admonish all, that they pray uncessantly that the call and life of every one, may have an harmony betwixt them, for thereby shall he conserve himself and be delivered by God from that infinite punishment.  
Now let all know, that our stone of fire ought to be boiled and maturated with the corporeal fire of the microcosm, even as other meats and medicines are; for at the farewell of the operative fire of the macrocosm, doth the fire of the microcosm begin the production of a new generation, and therefore let no man wonder at this coction.  
Wheat grew and ripened by the elementary fire of the macrocosm, and a new coction and maturation is again produced by the corporeal fire of the microcosm, that so man may further use that blessing for his own conservation, and that he may enjoy even the utmost, and the least thing, which (by the first and great world, was under operation and working on.  
The true oil of Antimony out of which the stone of fire is prepared, is of a most sweetly pleasant property, and is thus purged and separated from its own Earth, place a glass filled therewithal in the Sun, and it emits from itself sundry and admirable beams like to the ready Rubine, shining with a fiery brightness, resembling other wonderful Colours and shapes, like to manifold Speculums exposed unto the solar brightness.  
But hear me, thou studious Lover of art and truth, if thou desirest to make a farther progress in experience, Take in the name of the most high, the Aes or mineral of Antimony born after the Rising of the Sun, one part, of the purest and best mundified salt petre, as much, grind them, and mix them exceedingly well, place them in a gentle fire, burn or fire them together according to art, (this is the work, and this is the Labour) then shalt thou find a dark, dusky, coloured matter remaining behind, of which make glass, out of which being powdered, extract a most red Tincture with a most strong vinegar, distilled and made out of its own proper mineral, abstract the vinegar in B. M. and there will remain a powder which yet again extract with spirit of Wine rectified unto the height, and some feces will remain, and thou shalt have a most red extraction, profitable in medicine.  
This is a most pure sulphur of Antimony separated to the utmost, which if thou hast two pounds of, add four ounces of the salt of Antimony (made as I have afore taught thee) thereto, mix them, and circulate them in a vessel well shut for a month at least, so will the salt be united to the extraction, if any feces remain let them be separated, than first of all distil off the spirit of Wine in B. M. and that being abstracted, augment the fire, and there will come forth the most sweet, pellucid red oil, with many miraculous colours, rectify this oil in B. that a fourth part may remain, and 'tis good. Which being done, take of the quick mercury of Antimony already spoken of, and pour thereto a red oil of Vitriol made out of Iron, and supremely rectified, distil the phlegm in sand, from the mercury, and thou shalt have a precipitate, a fairer than which cannot be seen, nor a more profitable in old wounds and ulcers, for it dries up accidental humours, from whence martial diseases have their Rise, where (also) the united spirit of the oil assists him.  
Take of this precipitate, and of the aforesaid dulcorated oil of Antimony equal parts, mix them, put them into a glass well shut, in a gentle continual heat, & the precipitate will be dissolved in the oil and be fixed, consume all the phlegm in the fire, and then shall you have a fix, dry, red, fusible powder, emitting no fume; My disciple, I will now speak in the manner of the Prophets, foretelling things to come: When thy studies have guided thee thus far in Philosophy, and thou hast perfected the Labour of Antimony, which I have prescribed thee, thou hast a medicine both for men and metals, it is sweet and safe, it penetrates, it moves not the belly, it corrects and expels what is evil; If thy progress hath been right, this medicine will reward thee in thy health and food, that nothing in the world shall be wanting unto thee, for which thou owest unto God a sacrifice of praise.  
My God I now speak with a saddened mind, being an Ecclesiastical man, for I do not know whether I have done right or otherwise, whether too much or too little: I leave it to every one's judgement: ye that are my disciples make trial as I have done, if you attain to your end, give praise to God, and thank me who am your master, if ye err from the way, blame yourselves, for I am not the cause of your errors.  
I have spoken enough, I have written enough, yea so clearly that none can teach more clear, unless a man would purposely run into Hell, and there drown himself, uttering things prohibited by the creator, and eating of the tree placed in the middle of Paradise: but what I have done, shall suffice me, until I can more largely judge of what is lawful as to this thing, and now I'll speak a few words of its use.  
The use consists in the view of the person and observation of his complexion, as to human health, see thou givest neither too much nor too little, that thou neither burden nature nor deny her what is sufficient. Albeit it hurts not, although too much be given, for it helps lost health and resisteth poisons.  
Yet know that three or four grains at a dose, is sufficient for the expulsion of all diseases, being given with spirit of wine; This stone or Tincture penetrates all the joints of the body, and far transcends other Arcanums, it doth most readily take away the Pthisis, and all diseases arising from the Lungs, the Asthma, the Cough, lepree, and Lues venerea; the Plague, jaundice, dropsy, and all fevers, it expels any poisonous drink, 'tis profitable for such as are infected by a philter or love potion; it comforts the head, the brain, and what is of affinity to them, the stomach, the Liver; it heals the diseases of the reins, it purgeth corrupt blood, expels malign humours, lessens the stone of the bladdet, and drives it forth, heals the windy Dysury, &c. It brings back the vital spirits, compresseth the suffocatian of the Matrix, provokes the Menstrues, and allays their overflowings, it begets fruitfulness, and sound seed in both sexes.  
Outwardly. This stone of fire (but yet it must be be also taken into the body and a suitable wound plaster externally applied) heals the Gangrene, and all other corroding diseases, the scab, and infirmities arising from the corruption of the blood, and the Noli me tangere: In a word, this stone (as a particular Tincture) is a remedy, for almost all the diseases whereto man is subject, which experience shows, together with the way, if only thou be'st a true physician sent and called by God.  
I will write no more of Antimony, I have acted my part, let another also act his, that the mysteries of God may be laid open (before the world's end) to the glory of him, and for the health of men; I'll hold my peace, and return to my monastic order, until I shall have made larger progress in my Philosophy, that I may also write those things which I have a long time decreed, viz. of Vitriol, common sulphur, and the Magnet, their beginnings and virtues, may it please the Prince of Heaven to bestow upon us health of body, and eternal welfare of our souls in the unsearchable joys of his celestial delight, Amen.  
I conclude this Tract of Antimony, those things, which I have written of the red oil of Antimony made of its purified sulphur, and of its spirit which is prepared of its salt, observe, and therewith compare this last Doctrine of the stone of sire, wherein if thou whettest thy wit and mind, from this comparing wilt thou find their conjunction, for the Basis and Foundation is one and the same, and the Amiry and friendship is the same, by which health is attained unto, and the lamenting Stag caught by a pleasant cheerful hunting.  
The Water, Fire, air, Earth, yea all things shall be reduced into powder and Ashes, whatsoever is borne of them, doth also in time perish: The mercy of God only endures to all Eternity, which alone Man enjoys, for which let us be thankful.   
FINIS.