THE ART OF DISTILLATION OR, A TREATISE OF THE Choicest spagirical PREPARATIONS Performed by way of DISTILLATION. Together with the Description of the Chiefest FURNACES & VESSELS Used by Ancient and Modern CHEMISTS. ALSO, A Discourse of divers spagirical Experiments and Curiosities And the Anatomy of GOLD and SILVER, with the Chiefest Preparations and Curiosities thereof; together with their Virtues. All which are contained in VI BOOKS▪ Composed by JOHN FRENCH Dr. of Physic. THE SECOND EDITION▪ To which is added, The LONDON-DISTILLER▪ Exactly and truly showing the way (in words at length, and not in mysterious Characters and Figures) to DRAW all Sorts of SPIRITS and STRONG-WATERS: To which is added their VIRTUES: With the Additions of other Excellent Waters. LONDON, Printed by E. Cotes, for Thomas Williams at the 〈◊〉 of the BIBLE in Little-britain without Aldersgate, 16●● To my much honoured friend TOBIAS GARBRAND, Doctor of Physic, and Principal of Glocester-hall, in OXFORD. SIR! IT is my ambition to let the world know upon what score it is that I do especially honour men. It is not Sir! as they are high born Heirs of the great Potentates, for which most honour them (and upon which account I also shall not deny them their due) but as they excel in honesty, and are friends to Art. That poor Philosophers should take no delight in riches, and rich men should take great delight in Philosophy, is to me an argument, that there is more delight, honour, and satisfaction in the one then in the enjoyment of the other. I once read of a Noble man's Porter that let in all that were rich apparelled, but excluded a poor Philosopher: but I should, if I had been in his place, have rather let in the Philosopher without the gay clothes, than the gay clothes without the Philosopher. As long as I have sense or reason, I shall improve them to the honour of Art, especially that of Alchemy. In the perfection thereof there are riches, honour, health, and length of days: by it Artesius lived 1000 years, Flammell built 28 Hospitals with large revenues to them, besides Churches and Chapels; for it; both they and divers more were accounted Philosophers, and wise men, which sounds more honourable in my ears then all the rattling and empty titles of honour whatsoever besides. In the perfection of this Art, I mean the accomplishing of the Elixir, is the Sulphur of Philosophers set at liberty, which gratifies the releasers thereof with three Kingdoms, viz. Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, and what cannot they do, and how honourable are they, that have the command of these? They may command Lead into Gold, dying plants into fruitfulness, the sick into health, old age into youth, darkness into light, and what not? A month would fail to give you an account of their power and dominations. Now for the effecting of this I shall besides what I have advised in the Epistle to the Reader, say only this; Court the Mother, and you win the Daughter, prevail with Nature, and the fair Diana of the Philosophers is at your service. Now if you cannot prevail with Nature for the fairest of her daughters, viz. the Mercury of Philosophers, yet she hath other Daughters of wonderful beauty also, as are the Essences and Magisteries of Philosophers, which also are endowed with riches, honour, and health▪ and any of these you may more easily prevail with their mother Nature for. This Art of Alchemy is that S●lary Art, which is more noble than all the other six Arts, and Sciences, and if it did once throughly shine forth out of the clouds whereby it is eclipsed, would darken all the rest, (as the Sun doth the other six planets) or at least swallow up their light. This is that true natural Philosophy which most accurately anatomizeth Nature and natural things, and ocularly demonstrates the principles and operations of them. That empty natural philosophy which is read in the Universities, is scarce the meanest handmaid to this Queen of Arts. It is pity there is such great encouragement for many empty and unprofitable Arts, and none for this, and such like ingenuities, which if promoted would render an University far more flourishing than the former. I once read or heard of a famous University beyond Sea, that was fallen into decay, through what cause I know not: but there was a general council held by the learned, how to restore it to its primitive glory. The Medium at last agreed upon was the promoting of Alchemy, and encouraging the Artists themselves. But I never expect to see such rational actings in this Nation, till shadows vanish, substances flourish, and truth prevail: which time I hope is at hand and desired by all true Artists, and to my knowledge, especially by yourself, upon which account I truly honour you. Now to yourself therefore I crave leave to adumbrate something of that Art which I know you will be willing for the public good to promote. I dedicate this Treatise to you, not that it is worthy your acceptance, but that it may receive worth by your accepting of it. I present it to you (as men bring lead to Philosophers to be tinged into gold) to receive the stamp of your favour, and approbation, that it may past currant, with acceptance amongst the sons of Art, whereby you will continue to oblige him who is London, Nove. 25. 1650. SIR, Your most obliged Servant, JOHN FRENCH. To the Reader. THere is a glut of Chemical books, but a scarcity of Chemical truths: Nature and Art affords variety of spagyrical preparations, but they are as yet partly undiscovered, partly dispersed in many books and those of divers Languages, and partly reserved in private men's hands. When therefore I considered what need there is of, and how acceptable a general treatise of Distillations might be, especially to our English Nation (and the rather since Baker upon Distillations is by reason of the description of a few furnaces, and vessels therein, besides which there is small variety either of preparations, or curiosities, sold at such a high rate) I thought I could do them no better service then to present them with such a treatise of that subject, which should contain in it the choicest preparations of the selectest Authors both ancient and modern, and those of several languages, and which I have attained by my own long, and manual experience, together with such as I have by way of exchange purchased out of the hands of private men, ●hich they had monopolised as great secrets. But on the other hand when I considered what a multitude of Artists there are in this Nation, from many of which more and better things might be expected then from myself, I was at a nonplus in my resolutions, fearing it might be accounted an unpardonable presumption in me to undertake that which might be better performed by others. But for the avoiding of this aspersion, be pleased to understand that I present not this to the world under any other notion then of a rough draught (which indeed is the work of the more unskilful, and therefore of myself, without exception) to be polished by the more expert Artist. I rejoice as at the break of the day after a long tedious night, to see how this solary art of Alchemy begins for to shine f●rth out of the clouds of reproach which it hath a long time undeservedly lain under. There are two things which have a long time eclipsed it, viz. the mists of ignorance, and the specious lunary body of deceit. Arise O Sun of truth, and dispel these interposed fogs, that the Queen of Arts may triumph in splendour! If men did believe what this Art could effect, and what variety there is in it, they would be no longer straightened by, nor bound up to or jurare in verba Galeni, vel Aristo●elis, but would now subscribe a new engagement to be true and faithful to the principles of He●mes, and Parace●sus, as they stand established without Aristo●le their prince, and Galen, and Hypocrates, their lords and masters. They would no longer stand dreaming forth, Sic dicit Galenus, but Ipse dixit Hermes. I desire not to be mistaken as if I did deny Galen his due, or Hypocrates what is his right, for indeed they wrote excellently in many things, and deserved well thereby; That which I cannot allow of in them is their strict observation of the quadruplicity of humours (which in the school of Paracelsus, and writings of Helmont, where the Anatomy of humours hath been most rationally and fully discussed, hath been sufficiently confuted) and their confining themselves to such crude medicines, which are more fit to be put into spagyrical vessels for a further digestion, then into men's bodies to be fermented therein. Certainly if men were less ignorant they would prefer cordial essences before crude juices, balsamical Elixirs before phlegmatic waters, the Mercury of philosophers before common quicksilver. But many men have so little insight in this Art, that they scarce believe any thing in it beyond the Distilling of Waters and Oils, and extracting of Salts; nay many that pretend to Philosophy, and would be accounted Philosophers, are so unbelieving, that, as saith Sandivogius, although he would have intimated the true Art to them word by word, yet they would by no means understand or believe that there was any water in the Philosopher's sea. And as he in this case, so I in another know divers that will not believe that common quicksilver can of itself be turned wholly into a transparent water, or that glass can be reduced into sand and salt of which it was made, saying that fusio vitrificatoria est ultima fusio; or that an herb may be made to grow in two hours, and the Idea of a plant to appear in a glass, as if the very plant itself were there, and this from the essence thereof, and such like preparations as these: the two former whereof may be done in half an hour, but the latter requires a longer time, but yet possible. And for the possibility of the Elixir, you shall assoon persuade them to believe they know nothing (which is very hard, nay an impossible thing to do) then to believe the possibility thereof. If there be any such thing (say they) why are not the possessors thereof infinitely rich, famous, do many miracles and cures, and live long? These Objections, especially some of them, scarce deserve an answer; yet I shall to show the vanity of them make some reply thereunto. Did not Artesius by the help of this medicine live 1000 years? Did not Flammell build fourteen Hospitals in Paris besides as many in Boleigne, besides Churches, and Chapels with large revenues to them all? Did not Bacon do many miracles? and Paracelsus many miraculous cures? Besides what saith Sandivogius? I have, saith he, incurred more dangers, and difficulties by discovering myself to have this secret, then ever I had profit by it, and whensoever I would discover myself to the great Ones, it always redounded to my prejudice, and danger. Can a man that carrieth always about him 10000 pounds worth of Jewels and gold, travel every where up and down, safe, and not be robbed? Have not many rich money-mongers been tortured into a confession where their money was concealed? Did you never hear of a vapouring fellow in London, that portending to the knowledge of this Mystery was on a sudden caught aside by money-thirsters, and by them tormented with tortures little less than those of hell, being forced thereby (if he had known it) into a discovery of it? To say nothing of being in danger of being subjected, and enslaved to the pleasure of Princes, and of becoming instrumental to their luxury, and tyranny, as also being deprived of all liberty, as once Raimundus Lullius. The truth is, the greatest matter that Philosophers aim at, is the enjoyment of themselves, for which cause they have sequestered themselves from the world, and become Hermit's: Well therefore and like a Philosopher spoke Sandivogius, when he said, Believe me, if I were not a man of that state and condition that I ●m of, nothing would be more pleasant to me then a solatary life, or with Diogenes to live hid under a tub; for I see all things in this world to be but vanity, and that deceit, and covetousness prevail much, that all things are vendible, and that vice doth excel virtue. I see the better things of the life to come before mine eyes, I rejoice in these: Now I do not wonder, as before I did, why Philosophers when they have attained this medicine, have not cared to have their days shortened, (although by the virtue of their medicine they could have prolonged them) for every Philosopher hath the life to come so clearly set before his eyes, as thy face is seen in a glass. Thus much by way of reply to the frivolous objections of those that believe not the verity of this Art, and not only so, but will not believe it. If you should discover to them the process of the Philosopher's stone, they would laugh at your simplicity, and I will warrant you never make use of it. Nay if you should make projection before them, they would think that even in that there were a fallacy, so unbelieving are they: so I find them, and so I leave them, and shall for ever find them the same. There is another sort of men by whom this Art hath been much scandalised, and they indeed have brought a great Odium upon it by carrying about, and vending their whites, and reds, their sophisticated oils, and salts, their dangerous and ill prepared Turbithes, and Aurum vitae's. And indeed it were worth while, and I might do good service for the Nation, to discover their cheats, as their sophisticating of Chemical oils with spirit of Turpentine, and salts with salt extracted out of any wood-ashes and such like, but here is not place for so large a discourse as this would amount to. I shall only at this time relate to you how Penotus was cheated with a sophisticated Oil of gold: for, saith he, I gave 24. ducats for the process of an Aurum potabile which was much cried ●p and magnified at Prague, but at last it proved to be nothing but a mixture of oil of Camphire, Cloves, Fennel-seed, and of Vitriall tinged with the leaves of Gold. I know I shall incur the displeasure of some, but they are sophisticating, cheating mountebancks, who indeed deserve to be bound to the peace, because many men, I dare swear, through their means go in danger of their lives. Better it is that their knavery should be detected, than a noble Art through their villainy be clouded, and aspersed. Now we must consider that there are degrees in this Art; for there is the accomplishing of the Elixir itself, and there is the discovering of many excellent essences, magisteries, and spirits, etc. which abundantly recompense the discoverers thereof with profit, health, and delight. Is not Paracelsus his Ludus that dissolves the stone, and all tartarous matter in the body into a liquor, worth finding out? Is not his Tinea Scatura a most noble medicine, that extinguisheth all preternatural heat in the body in a moment: Is not his Altahest a famous dissolvent, that can in an instant dissolve all things into their first principles, and withal is a specificum against all distempers of the liver? who would not take pains to make the quintessence of honey▪ and the Philosophical spirit of Wine, which are cordial and balsamical even to admiration? A whole day would fail to reckon up all the excellent, admirable rarities that by this spagyrical Art might be brought to light, in the searching out of which, why may not the Elixir itself at last be attained unto? Is it not possible for them that pass through many Philosophical preparations to unfold at last the riddles, and Hieroglyphics of the Philosophers? or were they all mere Phantasms? Is there no fundamentum in re for this secret? Is there no sperm in gold? Is it not possible to exalt it for multiplication? Is there no universal spirit in the world? Is it not possible to find that collected in one thing, which is dispersed in all things? What is that which makes gold incorruptible? What induced the Philosophers to examine gold for the matter of their medicine? Was not all gold once living? Is there none of this living gold, the matter of Philosophres, to be had? Did Sandivogius the last of known Philosophers spend it all? Surely there is matter enough for Philosophers, and also some Philosophers at this day for the matter, although they are unknown to us. There are, saith Sandivogius, without doubt many men of a good conscience both of high and low degree (I speak knowingly) that have this medicine, and keep it secretly. If so, let no man be discouraged in the prosecution of it, especially if he take along with him the five Keys▪ which Nollius' sets down, which indeed all Philosophers with one consent enjoin the use and observation of. 1. Seeing it is a thing divine, and celestial, it must be sought for from above, and that not without a full resolution for a pious, and charitable improvement of it. 2. Before thou betakest thyself to the work, propound to thyself what thou seekest for, and enter not upon the practice till thou art first well versed in the theory, for it is much better to learn with thy brains, and imagination, then with thy hands, and costs, and especially study nature well; and see if thy proposals be agreeable to the possibility thereof. 3. Diligently read the sayings of true Philosophers, read them over again and again, and meditate on them, and take heed thou dost not read the writings of Impostors in stead of the Books of the true Philosophers. Compare their sayings with the possibility of Nature, and obscure places with clear, and where Philosophers say they have erred do thou beware, and consider well the general axioms of Philosophers, and read so long till thou seest a sweet Harmony, and consent in the sayings of them. 4. Imagine not high things, but in all things imitate nature, viz. in matter; in removing what is Heterogeneous; in weight; in colour; in fire; in working; in slowness of working; and let not thy operations be vulgar, neither thy vessels; work diligently and constantly. 5. If it be possible, acquaint thyself throughly with some true Philosophers. Although they will not directly discover themselves that they have this secret, yet by one circumstance or another it may be concluded how near they are to it. Would not any rational man that had been conversant with Bacon, and seeing him do such miraculous things, or with Sandivogius who did intimate the Art to some word by word, have concluded that they were not ignorant of it? There have been Philosophers, and perhaps still are, that although they will not discover how it is made, yet may certify you, to the saving of a great deal of cost, pains, and time, how it is not made: and to be convinced of an error is a great step to the truth. If Ripley had been by any Tutor convinced of those many errors before he had bought his knowledge at so dear a rate, he had long before, with less charges attained to his blessed desire. And as a friendly Tutor in this, so in all spagyrical preparations whatsoever, is of all things most necessary. A faithful well experienced master will teach thee more in the mysteries of Alchemy in a quarter of a year, then by thine own studies and chargeable operations thou shalt learn in seven years. In the first place therefore, and above all things apply thyself to an expert, faithful, and communicative Artist, and account it a great gain, if thou canst purchase his favour, though with a good gratuity, to lead thee through the manual practice of the chiefest, and choicest preparations. I said apply thyself to an Artist, for there is scarce any process in all Chemistry so easy that he that never saw it done will be to seek, and commit some errors in the doing of it. I said expert, that he may be able to instruct thee aright; faithful, that as he is able, so may faithfully perform what he promiseth; and communicative, that he may be free in discovering himself and his Art to thee. The truth is, most Artists reserve that to themselves, which they know, either out of a desire to be admired the more for their undiscovered secrets, or out of envy to others knowledge. But how far this humour is approvable in them, I leave it to others to judge; and as for my part I have here communicated upon the account of a bare acceptance only what I have with many years' pains, much reading, and great costs known. There is but one thing which I desire to be silent in as touching the process thereof; as for the thing itself to be prepared, what it is I have elsewhere in this Treatise expressed; and the preparing of that is indeed a thing worthy of any one's knowing, and which perhaps hereafter I may make known to some. I am of the same mind with Sandivogius, that that fourth Monarchy which is Northern, is d●●●ning, in which (as the ancient Philosophers did divine) all Arts and Sciences shall flourish, and greater and more things shall be discovered then in the three former. These Monarchies the Philosophers reckon not according to the more potent, but according to the corners of the world, whereof the Northern is the last, and indeed is no other than the golden age, in which all tyranny, oppression, envy, and covetousness shall cease, when there shall be one prince and one people abounding with love and mercy, and flourishing in peace: which day I earnestly expect. In the mean time if what I know may add to thy experience, thou hast it freely. And if I shall see that this Treatise of Distillation pass with acceptance umongst the Artists of this Nation, I shall hereafter gratify them for their good will with two other parts of Chemistry, viz. Sublimaton, and Calcination; and I hope this will be an occasion to set the more expert Artists on work, for the communicating their experiences to the world. One thing (courteous Reader) let me desire thee to take notice of, viz. whereas every process is set down plain, yet all of them must be proceeded in secundum Artem Alchymistae, (which Art indeed is obtained by experience) and therefore many that work according to the bare process effect not what they intent; and the reason is, because there was some art of the Alchemist wanting. To conclude, if thou knowest more or better things than these, be candid, and impart them; (considering that I wrote these for them that know them not) if not, accept of the endeavours of thy Friend JOHN FRENCH. What distillation is; and the kinds thereof. I Shall not stand here to show whence the Art of Distillation had its original, as being a thing not easily to be proved, and if known, yet little conducing to our ensuing discourse. But let us understand what Distillation is, of which there are three principal and chief definitions, or descriptions. 1 Distillation is a certain Art of extracting the Liquor, or the humid part of things by virtue of heat (as the matter shall require) being first resolved into a vapour, and then condensed again by cold. 2. Distillation is the art of extracting the spiritual and essential humidity from the phlegmatic, or of the phlegmatic, from the spiritual. 3 Distillation is the changing of gross thick bodies into a thinner and liquid substance, or separation of the pure liquor from the impure feces. I shall treat of Distillation according to all these three acceptions, and no otherwise; hence I shall exclude Sublimation, and Calcination, which are of dry substances, unless I shall by the way make use of either in relation to the perfecting of any kind of Distillation. Now because all, or most of these distillations are to be performed by heat, it will be necessary to understand how many degrees of heat there are, and which are convenient for every operation, and they are principally four. The first is only a warmth, as is that of horse dung, of the Sun, of warm water, and the vapour thereof, which kind of heat serves for putrefaction, and digestion. 2 The second is of seething water, and the vapour thereof, as also of ashes, and serves to distil those things which are subtle, and moist, as also for the rectifying of any spirit or oil. 3 The third is of sand and filings of iron, which serves to distil things subtle, and dry, or gross and moist. 4 The fourth is of a naked fire, close, open, or with a blast, which serves to distil Metals and Minerals, and hard gummy things, as Amber, etc. I do not say serves only to distil these, for many of the former distillations are performed by this heat, as the distilling of Spirits and Oils, etc. in a copper still over a naked fire; but these may be distilled by the two former degrees of heat; but Minerals and such like cannot but by this fourth degree alone. Of the matter and form of Furnaces. THe matter of Furnaces is various, for they may be made either of brick and clay, or clay alone with whites of Eggs, hair, and filings of Iron, (and of these if the clay be fat are made the best, and most durable Furnaces) or of Iron, or Copper, cast or forged. The forms also of Furnaces are various. The fittest form for Distillation is round; for so the heat of the fire being carried up equally diffuseth itself every way▪ which happens not in a Furnace of another figure, as four square or triangular, for the corners disperse and separate the force of the fire. Their magnitude must be such as shall be fit for the receiving of the vessel; their thickness so great as necessity shall seem to require; only thus much observe, that if they be made of forged iron or copper, they must be coated within side, especially if you intent to use them for a strong fire. They must be madewith two bottoms, distinguished as it were, into two forges▪ the one below which may receive the ashes, the other above to contain the fire. The bottom of this upper must either be an iron grate, or else an Iron plate perforated with many holes, that so the ashes may the more easily fall down into the bottom, which otherwise would put-out the fire. Yet some Furnaces have three partitions, as the Furnace for Reverberation, and the Register Furnace. In the first and lowest the ashes are received, in the second the fire is put, and in the third of the Furnace for Reverberation, the matter which is to be reverberated. This third ought to have a semicircular cover, that so the heat may be reflected upon the contained matter. The bottom of the third and uppermost partition of the Register Furnace must be either a plate of iron, or a smooth stone perforated with holes, having stopples of stone fitted thereunto, which you may take out or put in, as you would have the heat increased or decreased. In the top or upper part of all these Furnaces where it shall seem most fit, there must be two or three holes made, that by them the smoke may more freely pass out, and the air let in to make the fire burn the stronger if need require, or else which are to be shut with stopples made fit to them. The mouths of the forementioned partitions must have shutters, just like an Ovens mouth, with which you may shut them close, or leave them open if you would have the fire burn stronger. But in defect of a Furnace, or fit matter to make one, we may use a Kettle or a Pot set upon a Trevet, as we shall show when we come to give you a description of the Furnace and Vessels. The truth is, a good Artist will make any shift, yea and in half a day's time make a Furnace or something equivalent to it for any operations. Of Vessels fit for distillation. VEssels for Distillation are of various matter and form. For they may be either of Lead, which I altogether disapprove of, for that they turn the liquors into a white and milky substance, beside the malignity they give to them; or they may be of Copper, Iron, or Tin, which are better than the former; or of Jug-metall, or Potters-metall glazed, or Glass, which are the best of all, where they may be used without fear of breaking or melting. Some make them of silver, but they are very chargeable. They that are able and willing may have the benefit of them. Of Lutes for coating of glasses and for Closures, as also several ways of stopping glasses. THe best Lute is made thus, viz. Take of Loam and sand tempered with salt water (which keeps it from cleaving) to these add the Caput Mortuum, of Vitriol, or Aqua fortis, and scaling of Iron, and temper them well together, and this serveth to coat Retorts or any glass vessels that must endure a most strong fire, and will never fail if well made. Some add Flax, beaten Glass, and Pots, and flint, etc. Take unslaked Lime, and Linseed oil, mix them well together and make thereof a Lute which will be so hard that no spirit will pierce it, and this serves for the closure of Glasses. Or, Take Loam and the white of an egg, mix them into a paste, and spread it on a cloth. This also is a good closure. Or, Moisten an Ox bladder in the white of an egg beaten to water, or in defect of a bladder use paper, and bind them round where the vessels are joined together, one over another two or three times. Or, If the spirits in the glass be exceeding corrosive, then use the Caput mortuum of Aqua fortis, Linseed oil, and chalk mixed together. If a Glass be cracked, then wet a linen cloth in the white of an egg beaten to water, and lay upon it, and upon that presently whilst it is wet, sift some unslaked Lime, and press it close with your hand, when that is dry lay on another cloth thus wet as before, and on it sift more Lime. A vessel may be stopped so close with Quicksilver that no spirit can breathe forth, by which means the glass will be preserved from breaking by the enclosed spirits, (for the head will first yield before the glass breaks) the Vessel must be made as the figure here-under showeth. This also is a good way to preserve spirits already distilled from the air. A, Signifies the head or cover. B, The body or vessel itself. C, The little glass to take out the Liquor that is in the vessel because it cannot well be poured out, as by reason of the Quicksilver which will be apt to be lost, so by reason of the form of the Vessel itself. D, A false bottom where the Quicksilver must lie, into which the head must be set upon the Quicksilver that so the Quicksilver may come above the bottom of the Head. Also you may make stopples of Glasses ground so smooth that no vapour can get forth by them, as you may see by this pattern. A, Signifies the stopple of glass ground very smooth and fit to the mouth of the Vessel. B, The glass body. But the best way is to have a crooked pipe, which may have quicksilver in it, and be well luted to the body that no spirit can get forth: and by this means the glass will never break, for the quicksilver will first yield. A, The crooked pipe. B, The glass body. Or upon the top of a glass stopple there may be fastened some lead, that if the spirit be too strong it will only heave up the stopple and let it fall down again. C, The glass stopple with lead on the top. D, The mouth of the vessel itself. Now the way to nip up ● glass, or seal it up Hermetically is after this manner. PUt what matter you please into a bolt head with a long neck or pipe, put this pipe through a pan that hath a little hole made in the bottom thereof, that the top of it may be three or four inches above the pan, close up the hole round about the pipe with clay, then put coals in the pan and kindle first those that are furthest off from the pipe that the heat may come by degrees to the pipe (for otherwise a sudden heat will break it) when the pipe is hot, blow the coals about it till it melt, then with a pair of shears cut it off where it is melted, and then with a pair of tongs close it together. Note that after you have closed it you must put the burning coals upon the top thereof, and let it thus stand till all be cold which must be done by degrees, for otherwise the glass will certainly crack in the place where it is nipped. Note that the pan must stand upon some frame, or some hollow place that there may be a passage for the pipe to come through it An Explanation of such hard words, and terms of Art, which are used in this ensuing Treatise. A Malgamation, is a calcining or corroding metals with quicksilver, and it is done thus. Take any metal except iron, beaten into thin leaves, or very small powder, mix it with about 8. parts of quicksilver (which may the better be done if both be heated first) that they may become one uniform mass, evaporate the quicksilver over the fire, and the metal will be left in the bottom as a thin calx. Calcination it a reducing any thing into a Calx, and making it fryable, and it may be done two ways, By firing By reducing into ashes. By reverberating. By Corosion By Amalgamation, Precipitation, Fumigation or vaporation, Cementation or stratification. Circulation, is when any liquor is so placed in digestion, that it shall rise up and fall down, rise up and fall down, and so do continually, and thereby become more digested and mature, for which use for the most part we use a Pelican. Clarification, is the separating of the gross feces from any decoction or juice, and it is done three ways, By the white of an Egg, By digestion, By filtration. Coagulation, is the reducing of any liquid thing to a thicker substance by evaporating the humidity. Cohgbation, is the frequent abstraction of any Ilquor, po●●ed ofttimes on the feces from whence it was distilled, by distillation. Congelation, is when any liquor being decocted to the height, is afterward by settling into any cold place turned into a transparent substance like unto ice. Corosion, is the Calcining of bodies by corrosive things. D. Decantation, is the pouring off of any liquor which hath a settling, by inclination. Deliquium, is the dissolving of a hard body into a liquor, as salt, or the powder of any calcined matter, etc. in a moist, cold place. Descension, is when the essential juice dissolved from the matter to be distilled doth descend, or fall downward. Despumation, is the taking off the froth that floats on the top with a spoon or feather, or by percolation. Distillation, is the extracting of the humid part of things by virtue of heat, being first resolved into a vapour, and then condensed again by cold. Thus it is generally taken, but how more particularly, I shall afterward show. Digestion, is a concocting, or maturation of crude things by an easy and gentle heat. Dissolution, is the turning of bodies into a liquor by the addition of some humidity. Dulcoration, or Dulcification, is either the washing off the salt from any matter that was calcined therewith, with warm water, in which the salt is dissolved, and the matter dulcified: or it is sweetening of things with sugar, or honey, or syrup. E. Elevation, is the rising of any matter in manner of fume, or vapour, by virtue of heat. Evaporation, or Exhalation, is the vapouring away of any moisture. Exaltation, is when any matter doth by digestion attain to a greater purity. Expression, is the extracting of any liquor by the hand, or by a Press. Extraction, is the drawing forth of an essence from a corporeal matter by some fit liquor, as spirit of wine, the feces remaining in the bottom. F. Fermentation, is when any thing is resolved into itself, and is rarified, and ripened, whether it be done by any ferment added to it, or by digestion only. Filtration, is the separation of any liquid matter from its feces by making it run through a brown paper made like a tunnel, or a little bag of woollen cloth, or through shreds. Fixation, is the making of any volatile, spiritual body endure the fire, and not fly away, whether it be done by often reiterated distillations, or sublimations, or by the adding of some fixing thing to it. Fumigation, is the calcining of bodies by the fume of sharp spirits, whether vegetable or mineral, the bodies being laid over the mouth of the vessel wherein the sharp spirits are. H. Hamectation, or Irrigation, is a sprinkling of moisture upon any thing. I. Imbibition, is when any dry body drinks in any moisture that is put upon it. Impregnation, is when any dry body hath drank in so much moisture that it will admit of no more. Incorporation, is a mixtion of a dry and moist body together, so as to make an uniform mass of them. Infusion, is the putting of any hard matter into liquor, for the virtue thereof to be extracted. Insolation, is the digesting of things in the Sun. L. Levigation, is the reducing of any hard matter into a most fine powder. Liquation, is a melting or making any thing fluid. Lutation, is either the stopping of the orifices of vessels, that no vapour pass out, or the coating of any vessel to preserve it ●rom breaking in the fire. M. Maceration, is the same as Digestion. Maturation, is the exalting of a substance that is immature and crude to be ripened and concocted. Menstruum, is any Liquor that serves for the extracting the essence of any thing. P. Precipitation, is when bodies corroded by corrosive spirits either by the evaporating of the spirits remain in the bottom, or by pouring something upon the spirit, as oil of Tartar, or a good quantity of water, do fall to the bottom. Purification, is a separation of any Liquor from its ●eces whether it be done by clarification, filtration, or digestion. Putrefaction, is the resolution of a mixed body into itself, by a natural gentle heat. Q. Quintessence, is an absolute, pure and well digested medicine, drawn from any substance, either animal, vegetable or mineral. R. Rectification, is either the drawing of the phlegm from the spirit, or of the spirit from the phlegm, or the exaltation of any Liquor by a reiterated distillation. Reverberation, is the reducing of bodies into a Calx, by a reflecting flame. S. Solution, is a dissolving or attenuating of bodies. Stratification, is a strewing of corroding powder on plates of metal by course. Sublimation, is an elevating, or raising of the matter to the upper part of the vessel by way of a subtle powder. Subtiliation, is the turning of a body into a Liquor, or into a fine powder. T. Transmutation, is the changing of a thing in substance, colour, and quality. V. Volatile, is that which flieth the fire. Rules to be considered in Distillation. 1. Make choice of a fit place in your house for the furnace, so that it may neither hinder any thing, nor be in danger of the falling of any thing into it that shall lie over it: for a forcing Furnace it will be best to set it in a chimney, because a strong heat is used to it, and many times there are used brands which will smoak, and the fire being great the danger thereof may be prevented, and of things of a malign and venenate quality being distilled in such a Furnace, the fume or vapour, if the glass should break, may be carried up into the chimney which otherwise will fly about the room to thy prejudice. 2. In all kinds of Distillation the vessels are not to be filled too full, for if you distil Liquors they will run over, if other solider things, the one part will be burnt before the other part be at all worked upon, but fill the fourth part of Gourds, the half of Retorts, the third part of copper vessels; and in rectifying of spirits fill the vessel half full. 3. Let those things which are flatulent, as wax, rosin, and such like, as also those things which do easily boil up, as honey, be put in a lesser quantity, and be distilled in greater vessels, with the addition of salt, sand, or such like. 4. There be some things which require a strong fire, yet you must have a care that the fire be not too vehement for fear their nature should be destroyed. 5. You must have a care that the lute with which vessels are closed, do not give vent and alter the nature of the Liquor; especially when a strong fire is to be used. 6. Acid Liquors have this peculiar property, that the weaker part goes forth first, and the stronger last; but in fermented and Liquors the spirit goeth first, than the phlegm. 7. If the Liquor retain a certain Empyreuma, or smatch of the fire, thou shalt help it by putting it into a glass close stopped, and so exposing it to the heat of the Sun, and now and then opening the glass that the fiery impression may exhale, or else let the glass stand in a cold moist place. 8. When you put water into a seething-Balneum wherein there are glasses, let it be hot, or else thou wilt endanger the breaking of the glasses. 9 When thou takest an earthen or glass vessel from the fire, expose it not to the cold air too suddenly for fear it should break. 10. If thou wouldst have a Balneum as hot as ashes, put sand or sawdust into it, that the heat of the water may be therewith kept in, and made more intense. 11. If you would make a heat with horse-dung, the manner is this, viz. make a hole in the ground, then lay one course of horse dung a foot thick, than a course of unslaked lime half a foot thick, than another of dung, as before, then set in your vessel, and lay round it lime and horse dung mixed together; press it down very hard; you must sprinkle it every other day with water, and when it ceaseth to be hot, then take it out and put in more. 12. Note that always sand or ashes must be well sisted, for otherwise a coal or stone therein may break your glass. 13. The time for putrefaction of things is various, for if the thing to be putrefied be vegetables and green, less time is required, if dry, a longer, if Minerals, the longest of all. Thus much note, that t●●●gs are sooner putrefied in cloudy weather then in fair. 14. If thou wouldst keep vegetables fresh and green all the year, gather them in a dry day, and put them into an earthen vessel, which you must stop close, and set in a cold place: and they will, as saith Glauberus, keep fresh a whole year. 15. Do not expect to extract the essence of any vegetable unless by making use of the feces, left after distillation: for if you take those feces, as for example of a nettle, and make a decoction thereof, and strain it and set it in the frost, it will be congealed & in it will appear a thousand leaves of nettles with their prickles which when the decoction is again resolved by heat, vanish away, which shows that the essence of the vegetables lies in the salt thereof. 16. In all your operations, diligently observe the processes which you read, and vary not a tittle from them, for sometimes a small mistake or neglect spoils the whole operation, and frustrates your expectation. 17. Try not at first experiments of great cost, or great difficulty, for it will be a great discouragement to thee, and thou wilt be very apt to mistake. 18. If any would enter upon the practice of Chemistry, let him apply himself to some expert Artist for to be instructed in the manual operation of things, for by this means he will learn more in two months, than he can by his practice and study in 7 years, as also avoid much pains and cost, and redeem much time which else of necessity he will lose. 19 Enter not upon any operation, unless it be consistent with the possibility of nature, which therefore thou must endeavour as much as possibly may be, to understand well. 20. Do not interpret all things thou readest according to the literal sense, for Philosophers when they wrote any thing too excellent for the vulgar to know, expressed it enigmatically, that the sons of Art only might understand it. 21. In all thy operations propose a good end to thyself, as not to use any excellent experiment that thou shalt discover, to any ill end, but for the public good. 22. It will be necessary that thou knowest all such instruments that thou shalt use about thy Furnace and Glasses, whereof some are already expressed, and some more are shown in the following page. A B C D E A, Signifies an iron rod with two iron rings at the ends thereof, which must be heated red hot, and applied to that part of the glass which thou wouldst break off. When thou hast held it there so long till the glass be very hot, then take it off, and drop some cold water where thou wouldst have it break off, and it will presently crack in sunder. These rings are for such glasses as will go into them: Thou must have divers of this sort, even of all sizes. B, An iron hook which must be heated hot, and applied to any great glass that will not go into a ring, this hook bathe a wooden handle. C, A pair of tongs which are for divers uses. D, A crooked iron to rake betwixt the grates to clear them. E, a iron rake to rake the ashes out of the ash-hole. A thread dipped in melted brimstone and tied about a glass, and then fired, may serve in stead of the iron rings, and the hook. Common distilled simple waters, are made thus. TAke what herbs or flowers you please, put them into a common cold Still, and let them distil gently. This is the form of a common cold Still. But note that this kind of water is but the phlegm of the vegetable which you distil, and hath very little virtue or odour in it; only roses and mints and two or three more have an odour, but all besides, have as little virtue as common distilled water. I do not deny but that it may be so ordered, that these kinds of waters may partake both of the smell and strength of their vegetables in a good measure, and it is thus. To make waters in a cold Still that shall have the full smell and virtue of the vegetable. TAke what herbs, flowers, or roots you please (so that they be green) bruise them and mix with them some leaven, and let them stand close covered for four or five days: then distil them after the manner aforesaid. Another way to make Water taste and smell strong of its vegetable. WHen you have distilled any vegetable in a cold Still after the usual manner (so that you take heed you dry not the herb too much, which you may prevent by putting a brown paper in the bottom of the Still, giving it a gentle fire, and turning the cake before it be quite dried) take the cakes that remain in the bottom of the Still, and the water that is distilled from thence (having a good quantity thereof) and put them into a hot Still, and let them stand warm for the space of 24 hours, then distil them. Then if you would have the water strong, put the said water into more fresh cakes, casting away the other, and do as before. This is the truest and best way to have the water of any vegetables. Also thou shalt by this way purchase some oil which is to be separated and to be kept by itself. To make water at any time of the year in a cold Still without green herbs, so that the water shall smell strong of the herb. PUt fair water into the body of the cold Still, then hang a bag full of that herb that thou wouldst have the water of, being first dried, or seed or root thereof first bruised, then make a strong fire under the Still. Note that those vegetables of which the water is made after this and the former manner, must be of a fragrant smell, for such as have but little or no smell cannot yield a water of any considerable odour. Another way to make a water taste and smell strong of its vegetables. TAke of the dry herb, or seed, or root bruised, to a pound of each, put 12, pints of spring water, distil them in a hot Still or Alembick, and the water that is distilled off put upon more of the fresh herbs, seeds, or roots; do this three or four times, and thou shalt have a water full of the virtue of the vegetable, being almost as strong as a spirit. To make the water of the flowers of Jasmin, Honey-suckles, or Woodbine, Violets, Lilies, etc. retain the smell of their flowers. The reason why these flowers in the common way of distillation yield a water of no fragrancy at all, although they themselves are very odoriforous, are either because if a stronger fire be made in the distilling of them, the grosser and more earthy spirit cometh out with the finer, and troubleth it, as it is in case the flowers be crushed or bruised (where the odour up●● the same account is lost) or because the odoriferous spirit thereof being thin and very subtle, riseth with a gentle heat, but for lack of body vapours away. The a●●therefore that is here required, is to prevent the mixtion of the grosser spirit with the finer, and to give such a body to the finer that shall not embase it: and it is thus. Take of either of the aforesaid flowers gathered fresh, and at noon in a fair day, let them not at all be bruised. Infuse a handful of them in two quarts of White-wine (which must be very good, or else you labour in vain) for the space of half an hour, then take them forth, and infuse in the same wine the same quantity of fresh flowers, this do eight or ten times, but still remember that they be not infused above half an hour, (for according to the rule of infusion, a short stay of the body that hath a fine spirit in the liquor receiveth the spirit; but a longer stay confoundeth it, because it draweth forth the earthy part withal, which destroyeth the finer:) then distil this liquor (all the flowers being first taken out) in a glass gourd in a very gentle Balneo, or over a vapour of hot water, the joints of the glass being very well closed, and thou shalt have a water of a most fragrant odour. By this means the spirit of the wine which serves to body the fine odoriferous spirit of the flowers ariseth as soon as the fine spirit itself, without any earthiness mixed with it. Note that in defect of Wine, Aqua vitae will serve; also strong beer, but not altogether so well, because there is more gross earthiness in it then in wine. The water of either of these flowers is a most fragrant perfume, and may be used as a very delicate sweet water, and is no small secret. A Furnace with his vessels to distil liquors with the steam of boiling water. A, Shows the head of the Alembick. B, The body thereof placed in a brass vessel made for that purpose. C, A brass vessel perforated in many places to receive the vapour of the water. This vessel shall contain the Alembick compassed about with sawdust, not only that it may the better and longer retain the heat of the vapour, but also lest it should be broken by the hard touch of the brazen vessel. D, Shows the brass vessel containing the water as it is placed in the Furnace. E, The Furnace containing the vessel. F, A Funnel by which you may now and then pour in water in stead of that which is vanished and dissipated by the heat of the fire. G, The Receiver. The delineation of a Baln. M●r. which may also serve to distil with ashes. A, Shows the Furnace with the hole to take forth the ashes. B, Shows another furnace, as it were set in the other: now it is of brass, & runs through the midst of the kettle made also of brass, that so the contained water or ashes may be the more easily ●eated. C, The kettle wherein the water, ashes, or sand, are contained. D, The Alembick set in the water, ashes, or sand, with the mouths of the receivers. E, The bottom of the second brass Furnace, whose top is marked with B, which contains the fire. A water out of Berries, is made thus. TAke of what Berries you please being full ripe, put them into a gourd glass, strewing upon them a good quantity of powdered sugar, cover them close, let them stand three weeks or a month, then distil them in Balneo. After this manner Strawberries, Raspberries, Elderberries, and black Cherries may be distilled: But note that such as have stones, must first be bruised together with their stones. A sweeting water made of Elderberries. TAke of Elder berries as many as you please, press out the juice thereof, to every gallon thereof put a pint of White-wine vinegar, of the lees of Whitewine a pint, let them stand in a wooden vessel, which thou must then set in some warm place near the fire side for the space of a week, then distil them in a hot Still, or Alembick. The Furnace for a Balneum Mariae with the Alembics and their receivers. A, Shows the brass Kettle full of water. B, The cover of the Kettle perforated in two places, to give passage forth to the Vessels. C, A Pipe or Chimney added to the Kettle, wherein the fire is contained to heat the water. D, The Alembick consisting of its body and head. E, the Receiver whereinto the distilled liquor runs. The effigies of another Baln. Mar. not so easy to be removed as the former. A, Shows the vessel or Copper that contains the water. B, The Alembick set in water. But lest the bottom of the Alembick being half full, should float up and down in the water, and so strike against the sides of the Kettle, I have thought good to show you the way and means to prevent that danger. A, Shows the vessel or glass Alembick. B, A plate of lead whereon it stands. C, Strings that bind the Alembick to the plate. D, Rings through which thestrings are put to fasten the Alembick. In defect of a Furnace for a Balneum, you may make use of a pot set upon a trevet after this manner. An ounce or two of this water of Elder berries is a very excellent sudorific, and is very good in all diseases that require sweat, as also in hydropical diseases. Water out of rotten apples is made thus. TAke as many rotten apples as you please, bruise them, and distil them either in a common cold Still, or gourd glasses in Balneo. This water is of greater use in fevers, and hot distempers then the common distilled waters of any cold vegetables. It is very good in any hot distemper of the reins, and sharpness of Urine. It is very good in the inflammations of the eyes. How to make Aqua vitae, and spirit of Wine out of Wine. TAke of what wine you please, put it into a copper Still, two parts of three being empty, distil it with a worm until no more spirit come off, than this spirit will serve for the making of any spirits out of vegetables: but if thou wouldst have it stronger distil it again, and half will remain behind as an insipid phlegm: and if thou wouldst have it yet stronger, distil it again, for every distillation will leave behind one moiety of phlegm or thereabouts; So shalt thou have a most pure and strong spirit of wine. A hot Still. A, showeth the bottom which ought to be of Copper. B, The head. C, The barrel filled with cold water to refrigerate and condensate the water and oil that runs through the pipe or worm that is put through it. D, A pipe of brass or pewter, or rather a worm of Tin running, through the barrel. E, The Alembick set in the furnace with the fire under it. How to make Aqua vitae out of beer. TAke of stale strong-beer or rather the grounds thereof, put it into a Copper Still with a worm, distil it gently (or otherwise it will make the head of the Still fly up) and there will come forth a weak spirit, which is called low wine: of which when thou hast a good quantity thou mayest distil it again of itself, and there will come forth a good Aqua vitae. And if thou distillest it two or three times more, thou shalt have as strong a spirit as out of wine, and indeed betwixt which and the spirit of wine, thou shalt perceive none or very little difference. How to rectify spirit of Wine or Aqua vitae. Distil it in Balneo until the last drop that comes off be hot, and full of spirit. Note that every time there will remain in the bottom a quantity as weak as water. Note also that every time thou distillest it, when thou perceivest that a very weak water comes over, thou shalt then end that distillation. To make the Magistery of Wine, which will be one of the greatest Cordials, and most odoriferous Liquor in the world. TAke good old rich Canary Wine, put it into a glass vessel that it may fill the third part thereof, nip it up and set it in a continual heat of horse dung for the space of four months: then in frosty weather set it forth into the coldest place of the air you can, for the space of a month, that it may be congealed: And so the cold will drive in the true spirit of the wine into the Centre thereof, and separate it perfectly from its phlegm. That which is congealed cast away; but that which is not congealed esteem as the true spirit of Wine. Circulate this in a Pelican with a moderate heat for the space of a month, and thou shalt have the true magistery or spirit of Wine, which as it is most cordial, so also most balsamical, exceeding all balsams for the cure of Wounds. The form of a Pelican. The matter must be put in at the top which afterwards must be closed up. To make another Magistery of Wine that a few drops thereof shall turn Water into perfect Wine. TAke of the best Canary Wine, as much as you please, let it stand in putrefaction forty days, then distil it in B●lneo, and there will come forth a spirit, and at last an oil, separate the one from the other, and rectify the spirit. Set the oil again in putrefaction forty days, and then distil it. The feces that are left after the first Distillation will yield a volatile salt, which must be extracted without Calcination, with the phlegm of the spirit, purify it well, than impregnate the salt with its spirit, and digest them, then add the oil, and digest them together till they become a red powder, which you may use as it is, or else set it in a cellar till it be dissolved into a liquor, and a few drops thereof will do as above said. To make an oil of Wine. TAke weak spirit of Wine, distil it in a Vessel of a long neck, then pour on this spirit again upon the phlegm, distil it again, do this several times, and you shall see the oil of the Wine swim on the phlegm, which phlegm you must separate from the oil by a tunnel. If this oil be afterward circulated for a month, it will thereby become most odoriferous, and of singular virtue, and good, being both very cordial and balsamical. To extract the spirit out of Wine by the spirit of Wine. PUt spirit of Wine well rectified upon Canary on Rhenish Wine, so cautiously that it may not mix with, but swim upon the Wine, let them stand without stirring the space of 48 hours. Then will the spirit that is in the Wine rise up and join itself to the spirit that swims on the top, which you shall perceive by the weakness of the phlegm, which you must let run out at a tap, which must be made in the bottom of the vessel for that purpose, and so be separated from the spirit. To make a very subtle spirit of Wine at the first distilling. TAke white, or wheaten bread as soon as it comes forth of the Oven, break it in the middle, i. e. the upper side from the lower side, and hang it in a Glass vessel over Canary Wine, but so that it touch not the wine; then cover the vessel and let it so stand until the bread swell and be sufficiently impregnated with the Spirit of Wine, which it will attract from the Wine: then take out that bread and put in more, till you have a considerable quantity of bread thus moistened. Then put this bread into a glass body, and distil it in Balneo, and you shall have a a very subtle spirit, which you may yet rectify by Circulation. By Furnaces and Vessels made after this ensuing figure, there may be made four Rectifications of any spirit at once. These Vessels may either stand in ashes, or in Balneo. The manner of Distilling in wooden Vessels. A, Signifieth the vessel wherein the copper vessel lieth. B, The copper vessel, part of which is in the Furnace, and part in the vessel of wood. C, The vessel of wood wherein the matter must be that is distilled. D, The cooling vessel with the worm. E, The Receiver. F, The Trefoot whereon the vessel standeth. Note that the greater the Copper vessel is, and the less the wooden is, the sooner will the liquor boil. This Furnace shows how to draw forth spirits and waters out of vegetables and animals with little cost and in short time. A Balneum and a boiling Vessel made of Wood The vessel on the left hand is for a Balneum, the holes in the cover thereof are either to set in vessels over the fume of the water, or for the necks of the glasses set in the Balneo to pass through The vessel on your right hand is to boil water in for any use, also to brew in. The Spirit of any Vegetable is made thus. TAke of what vegetable you please, two pound, macerate it in six Gallons of Aqua vitae or low Wines, or Sack, for the space of 24. hours, then let them be distilled by an Alembick, or hot Still, putting to every pound of the spirit two ounces of most pure sugar. Note that the two first pints may be called the stronger spirit, and the rest the weaker spirit, or indeed the water, but if they be both mixed together, they will make an excellent middling spirit, for the former hath more of the spirit of wine, and the latter more of the virtue and odour of the vegetable. After this manner may be made the spirit of Herbs, Flowers, the Roots of Vegetables the Seeds of Vegetables Berries, Barks, Rinds, and Spices. Note that the Herbs and Flowers must be cut small, the rest bruised. If you would make it stronger, then take all the foresaid spirit, and as much more Sack or low Wines, and put them upon the same quantity of fresh vegetables and distil them; repeat this three or four times if thou pleasest. Note also that the Vegetable must be dried; because else the spirit will not be so good, as if otherwise. The form of an Alembick. A, Signifies the vessel which must be of Copper, in which the m●●● is contained, and which o● 〈◊〉 be set over a naked fire. B, Signifies the belly that is fastened to the Neck, that the Neck may the more commodiously be applied to the large mouth of the vessel. But it may be so ordered that the mouth of the upper vessel and lower vessel may be so fitted that they shall not need this Belly. C, The long Neck of the upper vessel whereby the spirit or water passing is somewhat cooled. D, The head. E, The vessel that compasseth the head, into which cold water is centinually poured after the heating. F, The long receiver. G, The top or Cock letting out the water when it is hot. The Spirit of any vegetable may suddenly, at any time of the year be made thus. Take of what Herb, Flower, Seeds, or Roots you please. Fill the head of the Still therewith, then cover the mouth thereof with a course Canvas, and set it on the Still, having first put into it sack, or low Wines. Then give it fire. If at any time thou wouldst have the spirit be of the colour of its vegetable, then put of the flowers thereof dried a good quantity in the nose of the Still. To make any vegetable yield its spirit quickly. Take of what vegetables you please, whether it be the seed flower, root, fruit, or leaves thereof, cut or bruise them small, then put them into warm water, put yeast or balm to them, and cover them warm, and let them work three days as doth Beer, then distil them and they will yield their spirit easily. To reduce the whole 〈◊〉 into a liquor which may well be called the Essence thereof. Take the whole Herb with flowers, and roots, make it very clean: then bruise it in a stone Morter, put it into a large glass vessel, so that two parts of three may be empty: then cover it exceeding close, and let it stand in putrefaction in a moderate heat the space of half a year, and it will be all turned into a water. To make an Essence of any Herb, which being put into a glass, and held over a gentle fire, the lively form and Idea of the Herb will appear in the Glass. Take the foregoing water and distil it in a gourd glass (the joints being well closed) in ashes, and there will come forth a Water and an Oil, and in the upper part of the vessel will hang a volatile salt. The oil separate from the water, and keep by itself; with the water purify the volatile salt by dissolving, filtering, and coagulating. The salt being thus purified imbibe with the said oil, until it will imbibe no more, digest them well together for a month in a vessel hermetically sealed. And by this means you shall have a most subtle essence, which being held over a gentle heat will fly up into the glass, and represent the perfect Idea of that vegetable whereof it is the essence. The true Essence or rather Quintessence of any Herb is made thus. When thou hast made the water and oil of any vegetable, first calcine, i. e. burn to ashes the remainder of the Herb, with the ashes make a Lie by pouring its own water thereon; when thou hast drawn out all the strength of the ashes, then take 〈◊〉 the Lie, being first filtered; and vapour it away, and at the bottom thou shalt find a black salt: which thou must take and put into a Crucible and melt it in a strong fire (covering the Crucible all the time it is melting) after it is melted let it boil half an hour or more, then take it out: and beat it small, and set it in a cellar on a Marble stone or in a broad glass, and it will all be resolved into a Liquor; this Liquor filter, and vapour away the humidity till it be very dry, and as white as snow. Then let this salt imbibe as much of the oil of the same vegetable as it can, but no more lest thou labour in vain. Then digest them together till the oil will not rise from the Salt, but both become a fixed powder, melting with an easy heat. To extract the Quintessence of all Vegetables. Take of what spices flowers, seeds, herbs, woods you please, put them into rectified spirit of Wine; let the spirit extract in digestion till no more feces fall to the bottom, but all their essence is gone into the spirit of Wine, upon which being thus impregnated pour a strong spirit of salt and digest it in Balneo, till an oil swim above, which separate with a tunnel, or draw off the spirit of Wine in Balneo and the oil will remain clear at the bottom, but before the spirit of Wine is abstracted, the oil is blood red, and a true Quintessence. An excellent Essence of any Vegetable may be made thus. Take of the distilled oil of any vegetable, with it imbibe the best Manna being very well depurated, until it will imbibe no more, then digest them a month, and thou shalt have the true balsam and excellent Essence of any vegetable. This hath the virtues of the vegetable whereof it was made, but in a more eminent manner. The depuration of Manna for this use is a great secret. Water or Spirit of Manna, is made thus. Take of the best Manna one part, of Nitre two parts, put them into an Ox bladder, and tying it close, put it into warm water to be dissolved. Distil this water in an Alembick, and there will come forth an insipid water, sudorificall and laxative. The Chemical Oil of the Herb or Flower of any Vegetable is made thus. Take of the Herb or Flower dried one pound, of Spring water twenty four pints, distil them in a great Alembick, with its cooler or Gopper Still, with a worm passing through a vessel of cold water. Let the oil that is drawn with the water be separated with a tunnel or separating glass, and let the water that is separated be kept for a new Distillation. Note that if this water be used two or three times in the drawing of the oil, it will be an excellent water of that vegetable from which it is distilled, and as good as most that shall be drawn any other way. After the same manner are made oil of the dry rinds of Oranges, Citrons, Lemons, But note that these Rinds must be fresh, and (the inward whiteness being separated) be bruised. The Oil commonly called the spirit of Roses. Take of Damask or Red Roses, being fresh, as many as you please, infuse them in as much warm water as is sufficient for the space of twenty four hours. Then strain and press them, and repeat the infusion several times with pressing, until the liquor become fully impregnated, which then must be distilled in an Alembick with a refrigeratory or Copper Still with a worm; let the spirit which swims on the water be separated, and the water kept for a new infusion. This kind of spirit may be made by bruising the Roses with Salt, or laying a lane of Roses and another of Salt, and so keeping them half a year or more, which then must be distilled in as much common water, or Rose water as is sufficient. Oils are made out of seeds thus. Take of what seeds you please, bruised, two pound, of spring water twenty pints, let them be macerated for the space of 24. hours, and then be distilled in a copper Still with a worm, or Alembick with its refrigerating. The oil extracted with the water, being separated with a tunnel, keep the water for a new Distillation. This Water after three or four distillations is a very excellent water, and better than is drawn any way out of that vegetable whereof these are seeds; I mean for virtue, though not always for smell. After the same manner are made oils out of spices, and aromatical woods. Oils are made out of Berries thus. Take of what Berries you please, being fresh 25. pound, bruise them and put them into a wooden vessel with 12 pints of spring water, and a pound of the strongest leaven; let them be put in a cellar (the vessel being close stopped) for the space of three months, then let them be distilled in an Alembick, or copper Still with their refrigeratory, with as much spring water as is sufficient. After the separation of the oil, let the water be kept for a new distillation. Note that the water being used in two or three Distillations is a very excellent water, and full of the virtue of the Berries. Oil is made out of any solid Wood thus. Take of what Wood you please, made into gross powder, as much as you will, let it be put into a Retort, and distilled in sand. The oil which first distils, as being the thinner and sweeter, must be kept apart; which with rectifying with much water may yet be made more pleasant; the acid water or spirit, which in distilling comes first forth, being separated; which also (being rectified from the phlegm with the heat of a Balneum) may be kept for use, being full of the virtue of the wood. After the same manner are made the oil and spirit of Tartar; but thus much note, that both are more pure and pleasant being made out of the Crystals, than out of the crude Tartar. To make a most excellent oil out of any Wood or Gums in a short time, without much cost. Take of what Wood you please, or Gum bruised small, put it into a vessel fit for it, then pour on so much of spirit of salt as will cover your matter, than set it in sand with an Alembick, make the spirit boil, so all the oil flieth over with a little phlegm, for the spirit of salt by its sharpness freeth the oil, so that it flieth over very easily. The spirit of salt being rectified may serve again. To make vegetables yield their oil easily. Distil them being first bruised, in salt water, for salt freeth the oil from its body: Let them first be macerated three or four days in the said water. Oil or Spirit of Turpentine is made thus. Take of Venice Turpentine, as much as you please, of spring water four times as much, let them be put into an Alembick, or copper Still with its refrigeratory, then put fire under it: so there will distil a thin white oil like water, and in the bottom of the vessel will remain a hard gum called Colophonia, which is called boiled Turpentine: That white oil may be better and freer from the smell of the fire if it be drawn in Balneo, with a gourd, and glass head. Common oil Olive may be distilled after this manner, and be made very pleasant and sweet, also most unctuous things, as Sperma ceti. Oil of Gums, Refines, fat and oily things, may be drawn thus. Take of either of these which you please, being melted, a pound, mix it with three pound of the powder of tiles, or unslaked lime; put them into a Retort, and extract an oil, which with plenty of water may be rectified. Note that the water from whence the oil is separated, is of excellent virtue; according to the nature of the matter from whence it is drawn. Oil of Camphire is made thus. Take of Camphire sliced thin, as much as you please, put it into a double quantity of Aqua fortis or spirit of Wine, let the glass having a narrow neck, be set by the fire, or on sand or ashes the space of five or six hours, shaking the glass every half hour, and the Camphire will all be dissolved and swim on the Aqua fortis, or spirit of Wine like an oil. Note that if you separate it, it will all be hard ag●in presently, but not otherwise. Another way to make Oil of Camphire, that it shall not be reduced again. Take of Camphire powdered, as much as you please, put it into a glass like a Urinal, put upon it another Urinal-glass inverted, the joints being close shut sublime it in ashes, inverting those Urinals so often till the Camphire be turned into an oil, then circulate it for the space of a month, and it will be so subtle that it will all presently vapour away in the air, if the glass be open. Another way to make oil of Camphire. Take two ounces of Camphire, dissolve it in four ounces or pure oil olive, than put them into four pints of fair water, disti● them all together in a glass gourd, either in ashes or Balneo, and there will distil both water and oil, which separate and keep by itself. All these kinds of oil of Camphire are very good against putrefaction, fits of the Mother, passions of the heart, etc. A few drops thereof may be taken in any liquor, or the breast be anointed therewith: Also the fume thereof may be taken in at the mouth. A true Oil of Sugar. Take of the best white Sugar-candy, imbibe it with the best spirit of Wine ten times, after every time drying it again, then hang it in a white silken bag in a moist cellar over a glass vessel that it may dissolve, and drop into it. Evaporate the water in Balneo, and in the bottom will the oil remain. This is very excellent in all distempers of the Lungs. Oil of Amber is made thus. Take of yellow Amber one part, of the powder of flints calcined, or the powder of tiles two parts; mingle them, and put them into a Retort, and distil them in sand; The oil which is white, and clear, which first distilled off, keep by itself, continuing the Distillation as long as any oil distils off, then let both oils be rectified apart in a good quantity of water. The salt of Amber, which adheres to the neck of the Retort within side, being gathered let be purified by solution, filtration, and coagulation according to art, and be kept for use. After this manner may be made Oils out of any gums which may be powdered. Oil of Myrrh is made thus. Take of Myrrh bruised, of Bay-salt, of each six pound, let them be dissolved in sixty pints of spring water and be distilled in an Alembick, or Copper Still according to Art. Oil of Myrrh per deliquium, or by dissolution, is made thus. Take Hen-egs boiled hard, and cut in the middle length-ways, take out the yolks, then fill up the hollow half way with powder of Myrrh, and join the parts together again binding them with a thread, and so set them upon a grate betwixt two platters in a cold moist place, so the liquor of the Myrrh dissolved will distil into the lower platter. Oil of Tartar per deliquium, i. e. by dissolution. Take of the best Tartar calcined white according to Art, put it into a cotton bag, hang it in the cellar or some moist place, putting under a Receiver. Oils by Expression are made thus. Take of what things you please, such as will afford an oil by expression, bruise them, than put them into a bag, and press them strongly, putting a vessel under to receive the oil. Note that they must stand in the Press some hours, because the oil drops by little and little. Note also that if you warm them before you put them into the Press they will yield more oil, but than it will not keep good so long as otherwise. After this manner are made oils of Nutmegs, Mace, Almonds, Linseed, and such like. A vomiting and purging Oil made by expression. Take of the Berries of Ebulus or Dwarf Elder, as many as you please, let them be dried but not overmuch, then bruise them, and in bruising them moisten them with the best spirit of Wine, until they begin to be oily; then warm them by the fire, and press forth the oil, and set it in the sun to be purified. Ten drops of this oil taken inwardly worketh upward and downward, and is very good against the dropsy, and all waterish diseases. The belly being therewith anointed, is made thereby soluble. Any part that is much pained with the gout or any such grief, is presently eased by being anointed with this oil. Oil of Jasmine is made thus. Take of flowers of Jasmine, as many as you please, put them into as much sweet mature oil as you please, put them into a glass close stopped, and set them into the Sun to be infused for the space of twenty days, then take them out and strain the oil from the flowers: and if thou wouldst have the oil yet stronger, put in new flowers and do as before. This is a pleasant perfume, and being mixed with oils and ointments, gives them a grateful smell: It is also used in the perfuming of Leather. After this manner may be made oil of any flowers, but because I shall keep myself to the Art of Distillation only, I shall not so far digress as to speak of these kinds of oils: only I thought good to set down the oil of Jasmine because by reason of its fragrancy it hath some analogy with Chemical oils that are made by Distillation. To make any Oil or Water per descensum. Take an earthen gourd, fill it full with wood or herbs, or what you please, being cut small, then invert it, i e. turn it upside down, and set it in the furnace, lute it well thereunto, then set another gourd of earth under it with a wider mouth that the uppermost may go into it, before you put the one into the other, you must have a little vessel or instrument of Tin with brims round about on the top, by which it must hang into the lower gourd, the body thereof being 2 or 3 inches deep, and full of holes, that the oil or water may drop through, and not the vegetable itself. Into this Instrument being first set into the lower gourd, put the mouth of the upper gourd, then make thy fire on the top, and keep it burning as long as any liquor will drop. This Figure of this furnace is thus. A, Signifies the gourd containing the matter to be distilled. B, The Furnace containing the Coals, so that they surround the upper gourd. C, The lower gourd or recipient set upon straw-rings. D, The vessel of Tin with holes and brims, which must be set in the Recipient. How to make an Oil and Water out of Soot. This may be distilled per descensum, or by retort, as thus, viz. Take of the best Soot (which shines like Jet) fill with it a glass Retort coated, or earthen Retort to the neck, distil it with a strong fire by degrees into a large Receiver, and there will come forth a yellowish spirit with a black oil, which thou mayest separate and digest. How to rectify Spirits. You must set them in the Sun in glasses well stopped, and half filled, being set in sand to the third part of their eight that the water waxing hot by the heat of the Sun may separate itself from the phlegm mixed therewith, which will be performed in in twelve or fifteen days. There is another better way to do this, which is to distil them again in Balneo with a gentle fire, or if you will put them into a retort furnished with its receiver, and set them upon crystal or iron bowls, or in an iron mortar directly opposite to the beams of the Sun, as you may learn by these ensuing signs. Retort with its Receiver standing upon Crystal bowls just opposite to the Sun beams. Another Retort with its Receiver standing in a Marble or Iron mortar, directly opposite to the Sun. A, Shows the Retort. B, The Receiver. C, The Crystal-Bowls. A, Shows the Retort. B, The Marble or Iron Mortar. C, The Receiver. How to rectify all stinking, thick black Oils that are made by a Retort, and to take away their stink. Take oil of Amber, or any such stinking oil, put it into a glass Retort, the fourth part only being full, pour on it drop by drop the spirit of Salt, (or any other acid spirit) and they will boil together; and when so much of the spirit is poured on that it boileth no more, then cease and distil it. First cometh over a stinking water, than a clear white well smelling oil, and after that a yellow oil which is indifferent good: but the spirit of Salt hath lost its sharpness: the volatile salt of the oil remaineth coagulated with the spirit of Salt, and is black, and tasteth like salt Armoniac, and hath no smell being sublimed from it. Now the reason of all this is, because the volatile salt of the oil which is the ca●se of the stink thereof, is fixed by the acid spirit of the Salt: for acid Spirits, and volatile Salts, are contrary the one to the other; and spirit of Urine or any volatile Salt, will precipitate any metal as well as salt of Tartar. These oils will remain clear, and have far more virtue, than the ordinary sort of oils have. As for common ordinary distilled oils, they need not, if they be well separated from the water with which they were distilled, any rectifying at all: and if you go about to rectify them, you will lose good part of them, and make that which remains not at all the better. But if there be any better than another for rectifying of them it is by digestion, by which means there will be a separation of what is phlegmatic which you may separate afterwards, and by this means you shall lose none of the oils. Of Compound Waters and Spirits. BOOK II. A Dissolving Menstruum. TAke Cyprus, Turpentine, and the best spirit of wine, of each two pound, distil them in a glass gourd either in Balneo or Ashes. Separate the oil from the spirit with a tunnel or separating glass, distil the spirit agaim, and so often until it favour no more of the oil of Turpentine, and then it is sufficiently prepared. This Menstruum dissolves any hard stones presently, and extracts the tincture of Coral. A Glass Gourd with its head. Another dissolving Menstruum or acetum Philosophicum. Take Honey, Salt melted, of each a pound, of the strongest spirit of Vinegar two pound; digest them for the space of a fortnight, or more, then distil them in ashes, Cohobate the Liquor upon the feces three or four times, then rectify the spirit. Note that they must be done in a large glass Gourd. This is of the same virtue as the former, if not more powerful. Another dissolving Menstruum. Take of the best rectified Spirit of Wine, with which imbibe the strongest unslaked lime, until they be made into a paste; then put them into a glass gourd and distil off the spirit in ashes: This spirit pour on more fresh Lime, and do as before, do this three or four times, and thou shalt have a very subtle spirit able to dissolve most things, and to extract the virtue out of them. Paracelsus his Elixir Subtilitatis. Take oil Olive, Honey, rectified spirit of Wine, of each a pint, distil them all together in ashes, then separate all the phlegm from the oils, which will be distinguished by many colours, put all these colours into a Pelican, and add to them the third part of the Essence of Balm, and Sallendine, digest them for the space of a month. Then keep it for use. This Liquor is so subtle that it penetrateth every thing. Usquebath, or Irish Aqua vitae, is made thus. Take a Gallon of small Aqua vitae, put it into a glass vessel; put thereto a quart of Canary sack, two pound of Raisins of the Sun stoned, but not washed, two ounces of Dates stoned, and the white skins thereof pulled out, two ounces of Cinnamon grossly bruised, four good Nutmegs bruised, an ounce of the best English Liquorish sliced, and bruised, stop the vessels very close, and let them infuse in a cold place six or eight days, then let the Liquor run through a bag called Manica Hippoeratis, made of white cotton. This Liquor is commonly used in surfeits, being a good Stomach water. Aqua Celestis is made thus. Take of Cinnamon Cloves Nutmegs Ginger Zedoary galangal Long-pepper Citron-pill Spicknard Lignum-aloes Cububs Cardamums Calamus aromaticus Germander Ground-pine Mace White Frankincense tormentil Hermodactyls the pith of Dwarf Elder Juniper Berry's Bay Berries the seeds and flowers of Motherwort the seeds of Smallage Fennell anise the leaves of Sorrell Sage Felwort Rosemary Margerum Mints Pennyroyal Stechados the flowers of Elder Roses red white of the leaves of Scabious Rue the lesser Moonwort agrimony Centory Fumitary Pimpernell Sowthistle Eye-bright Maidenhair Endive Red Saunders Aloes, of each two ounces Pure Amber the best Rhubarb, of each two Drams. dried Figs Raisins of the Sun Dates, stoned Sweet-Almonds Grains of the Pine, of each an ounce. Of the best Aqua vitae to the quantity of them all, of the best hard Sugar a pound, of white Honey half a pound, then add the root of Gentian flowers of Rosemary Pepper-wort, the root of Briony Showbread Wormwood, of each half an ounce. Now before these are distilled, quench gold being made red hot oftentimes in the foresaid water, put therein oriental Pearls beaten small an ounce, and then distil it after 24 hours' infusion. This is a very Cordial water, good against faintings and infection. Aqua imperialis is made thus. Take of the rind of Citrons dried Take of the rind of Oranges. dried Nutmeg Cloves Cinnamon, of each two ounces. the roots of Flower-de-luce Cyprus Calamus aromaticus Zedoary Galingall Ginger, of each half a pound. of the tops of Lavender Rosemary, of each two handful, the leaves of the Bay-tree Margerum Balm Mints Sage Thyme flower of Roses white Damask, of each half a handful Rose-water four pints the best White-wine a gallon. Bruise what must be bruised, then infuse them all 24▪ hours, after which distil them. This is of the same virtue as the former. Aqua Mirabilis is made thus. Take of Cloves Galingall Cubebs' Mace Cardamums Nutmegs Ginger of each a dram the juice of Salendine half a pint Spirit of Wine a pint White-wine three pints. Infuse all these 24 hours, and then distil off two pints by an Alembick. This water is very good against wind in the stomach and head. Dr. Stephen's water is made thus. Take a Gallon of Gascoign Wine Ginger Galingale Cinnamon Nutmegs Grains Anniseeds Fennel seeds Carroway seeds, of each a dram. Sage Red Mints Red Roses Thyme Pellitory Rosemary Wild Thyme Camomile Lavender, of each a handful. Beat the spices small and bruife the Herbs, letting them macerate twelve hours stirring them now and then, distil them by an Alembick or copper Still with its refrigeratory, keep the first pint by itself, and the second by itself. Note that the first pint will be the hotter, but the second the stronger of the ingredients. This water is well known to comfort all the principal parts. A famous Surfeit Water. Take of red Poppy cakes (after the water hath been distilled from them in a cold Still) not over dried two pound, pour upon them of the water of red Poppy a gallon and 〈◊〉, Canary wine three pints; add to them of Coriander seeds bruised four ounces, of Dill seed bruised two ounces, of cloves bruised half an ounce, of Nutmegs sliced an ounce, of Rosemary a handful, three Oranges cut in the middle, distil them in a hot Still; to the water put the juice of six Oranges, and hang in it half an ounce of Nutmegs sliced, and as much Cinnamon bruised, two drams of cloves, a handful of Rosemary cut small, sweet Fennell seeds bruised an ounce, of Raisins in the Sun stoned, half a pound, being all put into a bag which may be hanged in the Water (the vessel being close stopped) the space of a month, and then be taken out, and cast away, the Liquor thereof being first pressed out into the foresaid Water. This Water is of wonderful virtue in Surfeits and Pleurisies, composeth the Spirits, causeth rest, helpeth digestion if two or three or four ounces thereof be drunk, and the patient compose himself to rest. A pectoral Water. Distil green hyssop in a cold Still till you have a gallon and half of the Water, to this put four handful of dried Hyssop, a handful of Rue, as much of Rosemary, and horehound, Elecampanie-root bruised, and of Horseradish root bruised, of each four ounces, of Tobacco in the leaf three ounces, Aniseed bruised two ounces, two●quarts of Canary wine, let them all stand in digestion two days, then distil them, and in the water that is distilled put half a pound of Raisins of the Sun stoned, of Liquorish two ounces, sweet Fennel seeds bruised two ounces and a half, Ginger sliced an ounce and a half, and let them be infused in Frigido the space of ten days, then take them out. This water sweetened with Sugar-candy and drunk to the quantity of three or four ounces twice in a day, is very good for those that are ptificall, it strengtheneth the Lungs, attenuates thick phlegm, opens obstructions, and is very good to comfort the stomach. A very excellent water against the worms. Take of Wormseed bruised eight ounces, the shave of Heart's horn two ounces, of Peach flowers dried an ounce, of Aloes bruised half an ounce, pour on these the water of tansy, Rue, Peach flowers, and of Wormwood of each a pint and half, let them being put into a glass vessel, be digested the space of three days, then distil them; cohobate this water three times. This water is very excellent against the worms; it may be given from half an ounce to three ounces, according to the age of the patient. A Water against the Convulsions. Take of Ros vitrioli (which is that water that is distilled from Vitriall in the calcining thereof) two quarts, in this put of Rue a handful, of Juniper berries bruised an ounce, of Bay berries bruised half an ounce, Peony berries bruised six drams, Camphire two drams, Rhubarb sliced an ounce; digest these four days in a temperate Balneo, then distil them in a glass vessel in ashes, and there will come over a water of no small virtue. It cures convulsions in children especially, it helps also the Vertigo, the Hysterical passion, and Epilepsy, it is very excellent against all offensive vapours and wind that annoys the head and stomach. It may be taken from two drams to two ounces. An Hydropical water. Take of Wormwood, Broom blossoms, of each a like quantity, bruise them, and mix with them some leaven, and let them stand in fermentation in a cold place the space of a week, then distil them in a cold Still till they be very dry: Take a gallon of this water, and half a gallon of the Spirit of Urine, pour them upon two pound of dried Broom blossoms, half a pound of Horse Radish roots dried, three ounces of the best Rhubarb sliced, two ounces of sweet Fennel seed bruised, and an ounce and an half of Nutmegs: let them digest a week being put into a glass vessel, in a temperate Balneo; then press the Liquor hard from the feces, put this Liquor in the said vessel again, and to it put three ounces of sweet Fennel seeds bruised, Liquorish sliced two ounces, digest them in a gentle heat the space of a week, then pour it off from the feces, and keep it close stopped. This water being drank from the quantity of an ounce to four ounces every morning, and at four of the clock in the afternoon, doth seldom fail in curing the dropsy; it strengtheneth also the Liver, is very good against gravel in the back, stone, cures the Scurvy, Gout, and such diseases as proceed from the weakness and obstructions of the Liver. A Water against the Colic. Take of Aniseed three ounces. Cummin seed three drams. Cinnamon half an ounce. Mace. Cloves. Nutmeg, of each a dram. Galingall, three drams. Calamus Aromaticus dried, half an ounce. The dried rind of Oranges, two ounces. Bay berries, half an ounce. Let all these being bruised, be macerated in six pints of Mallago wine 48 hours, then be distilled in Balneo till all be dry. This water being drank to the quantity of an ounce or two at a time doth ease the gripe of the belly and stomach, very much. A Water against the Vertigo, and Convulsions. Take of black cherries bruised with their kernels, a gallon, of the flowers of Lavender three handful, half an ounce of white Mustard seed bruised, mix these together, then put some ferment to them and let them stand close covered the space of a week, then distil them in Balneo till all be dry. This water being drank to the quantity of an ounce or two or three, doth much relieve the weakness of the head and helps the Vertigo thereof, as also strengthen the sinews and expel windiness out of the head and stomach. A compound Water of Burr root causing sweat. Take the root of the great Burr, fresh, Swallow wort, fresh, The middle rind of the root of the Ash tree, of each two pound; cut them small, and infuse them 24 hours in the best White wine and Rue vinegar, of each five pints, then distil them in Balneo till all be dry, put to the water as much of the Spirit of Sulphur per Campanam, as will give it a pleasant acidity, and to every pint of the water put a scruple and a half of Camphire cut small, and tied up in a bag, which may continually hang in the water. This was a famous water in Germany against the plague, pestilence and Epidemical diseases: it causeth sweat wonderfully if two or three ounces thereof be drank and the patient compose himself to sweat. Another excellent Sudorific and plague water. Take of the best spirit of Wine a gallon, Andromachus treacle, six ounces, Myrrh two ounces, The roots of Colts-foot, three ounces, Sperma Cett, Terra Sigillata, of each half an ounce, The root of swallow wort, an ounce, Dittany, Pimpernel, Valerian root, of each two drams, Camphire, a dram. Mix all these together in a glass vessel, and let them stand close stopped the space of eight days in the Sun. Let the Patient drink of this a spoonful or two and compose himself to sweat. Dr. Burges his plague water. Take three pints of Muscadine, and boil in it Sage, and Rue of each a handful till a pint be wasted, then strain it and set it over the fire again, put thereto a dram of long Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg of each half an ounce being all bruised together: then boil them a little, and put thereto half an ounce of Andromachus treacle, and three drams of Mithridate, and a quarter of a pint of the best Angelica water. This water (which, as saith the Author, must be kept as your life, and above all earthly treasure) must be taken to the quantity of a spoonful or two morning and evening if you be already infected, and sweat thereupon: if you be not infected, a spoonful is sufficient, half in the morning and half at night; all the plague time under God (saith the Author) trust to this, for there was never man, woman, or child that failed of their expectation in taking of it: This is also of the same efficacy not only against the plague, but pox, measles, surfeits, etc. Crollius' his Treacle water Camphorated. Take of Andromachus his Treacle, five ounces, The best Myrrh, two ounces, and half, The best Saffron half an ounce, Camphire two drams. Mix them together, then pour upon them ten ounces of the best spirit of wine, and let them stand 24 hours in a warm place, then distil them in Balneo with a gradual fire, cohobate the spirit three times. This spirit causeth sweat wonderfully, and resists all manner of infection. It may be taken from a dram to an ounce in some appropriate Liquor. A distilled Treacle Vinegar. Take of the roots of Bistort Gentian Angelica tormentil of each ten drams. Pimpernell— Bay berries Juniper berries of each an ounce. Nutmeg, five drams The shave of Sassafras, two ounces, Zedoary half a dram, White Sanders, three drams, The leaves of Rue Wormwood Scordium of each half a handful, The flowers of Wall-flower bugloss of each a handful and half, Andromachus Treacle Mithridate of each six drams, Infuse them all in three pints of the best White wine vinegar the space of eight days in Frigido in glass vessels; then distil them in Balneo. This Spirit is very good to prevent them that are free from infection, and those that are already infected, from the danger thereof, if two or three spoonful thereof be taken once in a day, with sweeting after, for those that are infected, but without sweeting for others. An excellent water against the Stone in the Kidneys. Take of the middle rind of the root of Ash bruised, two pound. Juniper berries bruised, three pound. Venice turpentine that is very pure, 2 pound and a half Put these into twelve pints of spring water in a glass vessel well closed, and there let them putrify in horse dung for the space of three months, then distil them in ashes, and there will come forth an oil and a water, separate the one from the other. Ten or twelve drops of this oil being taken every morning in four or six spoonfuls of the said water dissolves the gravel and stone in the kidneys, most wonderfully. Another water for the same use. Take the juice of Radish, Lemmons, of each a pound and half: Waters of Betony, Tansey, Saxifrage, and Vervin, of each a pint. Hydromell, and Malmsey, of each two pound. In these Liquors mixed together, infuse for the space of four or five days in a gentle Balneo, Juniper berries ripe and newly gathered being bruised, three ounces: the seed of Gromel, Bur-dock, Radish, Saxifrage, Nettles, Onions, Anise, and Fennell, of each an ounce and half, the four cold seeds, the seed of great Mallows, of each six drams, the Calx of Eg-shels, Cinnamon, of each three drams, of Camphire two drams; let all be well strained and distilled in ashes. Two ounces of this water taken every morning, doth wonderfully cleanse the Kidneys, provoke Urine, and expel the Stone, especially if you calcine the feces and extract the Salt thereof with the said Water. To make an excellent Wound water. Take Plantain, Rib-wort, Bone-wort, wild Angelica, Red-mints, Betony, Egrimony, Sanacle, Blew-bottles, White-bottles, Scabius, Dandelion, Avens, Honeysuckle leaves, Bramble buds, Hawthorn buds and leaves; Mugwort, Dasie roots, leaves, and flowers; Wormwood, Southernwood, of each one handful: Boil all these in a pottle of White wine, and as much Spring water, till one half be wasted; and when it is thus boiled, strain it from the herbs, and put to it half a pound of honey, and let it boil a little after: then put it into bottles, and keep it for your use. Note that these herbs must be gathered in May only, but you may keep them dry, and make your water at any time. This water is very famous in many Counties, and it hath done such cures in curing outward and inward Wounds, Imposthumes, and Ulcers, that you would scarce believe it, if I should recite them to you: also it is very good to heal a sore mouth. The Patient must take three or four spoonfuls thereof morning and evening, and in a short time he shall find ease and indeed a cure, unless he be so far declined as nothing almost can recover him. If the wound be outward it must be washed therewith, and linen clothes wet in the same be applied thereto. Dr. Mathias his Palsy water is made thus. Take of Lavender flowers a gallon; pour upon them of the best spirit of wine three gallons: the vessel being close stopped let them be macerated together in the Sun for the space of six days, then distil them in an Alembick with its refrigeratory, then take the flowers of Sage Rosemary Betony of each a handful. Borage Bugloss Lily of the valley Cowslips of each two handfuls, Let all the flowers be fresh and seasonably gathered, and macerated in a gallon of the best spirits of Wine, and mixed with the aforesaid spirit of Lavender, adding then the leaves of Balm Motherwort Orange tree newly gathered the flowers of Stechadoes Oranges Bay berries of each an ounce. After a convenient digestion let them be distilled again, then add the outward rinds of Citrons six drams, the seed of Peony husked, six drams Cinnamon Nutmegs. Mace cardamum's Cububs of yellow Sanders of each half an ounce. Lignum Aloes, one dram the best Jujubs, the kernels taken out, half a pound. Let them be digested for the space of six week, than strain and filter the Liquor, to which add of prepared Pearl, two drams. prepared Emerald a scruple. Amber Gryse Musk Saffron Red Roses Sanders of each an ounce. Yellow Sanders Rinds of Citrons dried of each a dram. Let all these species be tied in a silken bag and hanged in the foresaid spirit. A scorbutical water, or a compound water of Horse radish is made thus. Take the leaves of both sorts of Scurvie-grass being made very clean, of each six pound: let these be bruised, and the juice pressed forth: to which add the Juice of Brook-lime Water-cresses of each half a pound, of the best White wine, eight pints. twelve whole Lemons cut. of the fresh roots of Briony four pound. Horse Radish two pound. of the bark of Winteran, half a pound. of Nutmegs four ounces. Let them be macerated three days and distilled. Three or four spoonfuls of this water taken twice in a day cures the Scurvy presently. Spirit of Castor is made thus. Take of fresh Castoreum two ounces flowers of Lavender fresh, half an ounce Sage Rosemary of each two drams, Cinnamon three drams Mace Cloves of each a dram the best rectified Spirit of Wine, three pints. Let them be digested in a Glass (two parts of three being empty) stopped close with a bladder and Cork two days in warm ashes; then distil the spirit in Balneo, and keep it in a glass close stopped. If you would make it stronger take a pint of this spirit, and an ounce of the powder of Castoreum, put them into a glass and digest them into a cold place for the space of ten days, and then strain out the Spirit. This spirit is very good against fits of the Mother, passions of the heart which arise from vapours, etc. Bezoard water is made thus. Take of the leaves of the greater Sallandine together with the roots thereof, three handfuls and a half. Rue, two handfuls. Scordium, four handful. Dittany of Crete Carduus of each a handful and half. Root of Zedoary Angelica of each three drams. The outward rind of Citrons Lemons of each six drams. The flower of Wall-gilly-flower, an ounce and half. Red Roses the lesser Centory of each two drams. Cinnamon Cloves of each three drams. Andromachus his Treacle, three ounces. Mithridate, an ounce and half. Camphire, two scruples. Trochisces of Vipers, two ounces. Mace, two drams. Lignum aloes, half an ounce. Yellow Sanders, a dram and half. The seeds of Carduus, an ounce. Citron, six drams. Cut those things that are to be cut, and let them be macerated three days in the best Spirit of Wine, and Muscadine, of each three pints and half, vinegar of Wall gillyflowers, and the juice of Lemons, of each a pint, let them be distilled in a glazed vessel in Balneo. After half the Liquor is distilled off, let that which remains in the vessel be strained through a linen cloth, and vapoured away to the thickness of honey, which may be called A Bezoard Extract. This water is a great Cordial, and good against any infection. To make a specifical Sudorific. Take of Ginger a pound, long Pepper, and black Pepper, of each half an ounce, of cardamum's three drams, of Grains an ounce, powder them and put them into a glass with half an ounce of the best Camphire, distilled vinegar two pound, digest them a month, then separate the vinegar by expression, which must putrefy a month, and then be circulated for the space of a week, than filter it, and thou hast as powerful a Sudorific as ever was or can be made. The dose is from a dram to half an ounce, and to be drank in a draught of posset-drink. Treacle-water is made thus. Take of the juice of the green shales of Walnuts four pound. the juice of Rue, three pints. Carduus Marygold Balm of each two pints. the root of Butter-burre fresh a pound and half. Burr Angelica Master-wort fresh, of each half a pound. the leaves of Scordium, four handful. old Andromachus treacle Mithridate of each eight ounces. the best Canary, twelve pints. the sharpest Vinegar, six pints. the juice of Lemons, two pints. Digest them two days in horse dung, the vessel being close stopped; then distil them in sand. Aqua Mariae is made thus. Take of Sugar candid, one pound. Canary Wine, six ounces. Rose water, four ounces. Make of these a Syrup, and boil it well, to which add of Aqua Imperialis, two pints. Amber gryse Musk of each eighteen grains. Saffron, fifteen grains. yellow Sanders infused in Aqua Imperialis, two drams. The Mother water, commonly called Hysterical water, is made thus. Take of the juice of the root of Briony, four pound. the leaves of Rue Mugwort of each two pound. Savin dried, three handful. Mother-wort Nip Pennyroyal of each two handful. Garden basil Cretensian Dittany of each a handful and half. the rind of yellow Oranges fresh, four ounces. Myrrh, two ounces. Castoreum, an ounce. the best Canary wine, twelve pints. Let them be digested four days in a fit vessel, then distil them in Balneo. A vomiting water is made thus. Take of the best Tobacco in leaves, cut small, four ounces, Squils' two ounces, Nutmegs sliced half an ounce; put these into three pints of spring water, a pint of White wine vinegar, distil them in a hot Still or Alembick. If thou wouldst have it stronger thou mayest put this water on fresh ingredients, and distil it again. A little quantity of this water is a most safe and effectual vomit, and may be taken from the eldest to the youngest, if so be you proportion the quantity to the strength of the Patient. You may dulcify it with sugar or syrup if you please. A vomiting Water made by Platerus. Take green Walnuts gathered about Midsummer, Radish roots, of each bruised two parts, of distilled Wine vinegar four parts, digest them five days, then distil them in Balneo. This being taken to the quantity of two spoonful or three causeth easy Vomiting. A distilled water that purgeth without any pain or griping. Take of Scammony an ounce, Hermodactyls two ounces, the seeds of Broom, of the lesser Spurge, of Dwarf Elder, of each half an ounce, the juice of Dwarf Elder, of wild Asses cucumber, of black Hellebore, the fresh flower of Elder, of each an ounce and half, Polypodium 6 ounces, of Seine 3 ounces, Red sugar 8 ounces, common distilled Water 6 pints. Let all these be bruised, and infused in the water 24 hours, then be distilled in Balneo. This water may be given from 2 drams to 3 ounces and it purgeth all manner of humours, opens all obstructions, and is pleasant to be taken, and they whose stomaches loathe all other physic may take this without any offence. After it is distilled there may be hanged a little bag of Spices in it, as also it may be sweetened with sugar, or any opening syrup. A specifical Liquor against the toothache. Take of oil of Cloves well rectified half an ounce, in it dissolve half a dram of Camphire, add to them of the Spirit of Turpentine four times rectified, in which half a dram of Opium hath been infused, half an ounce. A drop or two of this Liquor put into a hollow tooth with some lint easeth the toothache presently. Of MINERALS. BOOK III. Spirit of Salt is made thus. TAke of the best Bay-salt as much as you please, let it be dissolved in spring water, and filtered, mix with this brine in a Copper vessel, of the powder of Bricks or Tiles twice or thrice as much as the Salt before its dissolution was in weight; let the water vapour away over the fire (continually stirring of it) until it be dry; Then put this powder into a glass Retort well luted, or an earthen Retort, and put it into a Furnace (a large Receiver joined to it according to art) then give fire to it by degrees until it will bear an open fire, for the space of 12 hours. Thou shalt have a very acid oil or spirit in the Receiver. That Liquor being put into a little Retort in sand may be rectified by the vapouring away of the phlegm; then keep it for use in a glass very well stopped that no air go in. Spirit of Salt is very good in Fevers putrid, also in Hydropical. A Retort and its Receiver before they be set on work. A Retort with its Receiver, set on work. Oil or Spirit of Salt may also be made after this manner. Take one part of Salt, and three parts of powder of Bricks or Tiles, and mix them together, and put them into a Retort either of glass or earth, to which put fire as before. After this manner you may make oil or spirit of Nitre Salt Gem Alum. Note that these Salts must first be calcined, which is done by exhaling their phlegm. To turn Saltpetre into a water by a mere digestion. Take of Saltpetre powdered very small, with it fill the fourth part of a Bolt-head, close it well, and let it stand in the heat of ashes or sand the space of six weeks, and you shall see good part of it turned into water, continue it in the said heat till it be all dissolved. This is of incomparable use in Fevers and against Worms or any putrefaction in the body, and indeed a most rare secret. Spirit of Salt-Armoniack. Dissolve Salt-Armoniack in distilled spirit of Urine over a moderate heat, in this spirit let Bricks beaten into small pieces and made red hot be quenched, till they have imbibed all the water, then make Distillation in a Retort in sand, or in a naked fire. This spirit is of greater strength than that is of other Salts. Oil or Spirit of Vitriall is made thus. Take of Hungarian, or the best English Vitrial, as much as you please, let it be melted in an earthen vessel glazed, with a soft fire, that all the moisture may exhale, continually stirring of it, until it be brought into a yellow powder, which must be put into a glass Retort well luted, or an earthen Retort that will endure the fire: Fit a large Receiver to the Retort and close the joints well together; then give it fire by degrees till the second day, then make the strongest heat you can till the Receiver which before was dark with fumes be clear again; let the Liquor that is distilled off be put into a little Retort, and the phlegm be drawn off in sand, so will the oil be rectified, which is most strong and ponderous, and must be kept by itself. Many call that phlegm which is drawn off in rectifying the spirit of Vitriall. This oil or spirit is very excellent in putrid Fevers, resisting putrefaction, also it opens all obstructions, and is very diuretical. A red and heavy oil of Vitrial. Take of calcined Vitriall one part, flints grossly powdered two parts, of these with spirit of wine make a Paste, distil it in a Retort, and there will come forth a red heavy oil. This is to be used rather about metals then in the body, only if the scurf on the head be anointed therewith two or three times in a week it will fall off, and the head be cured. To dulcify the Spirit of Vitriall, and of Salt. Take the spirit of Vitriall, or of Salt, the best spirit of wine, of each half a pound, distil them in a Retort together three or four times, and they will be united inseparably, and become sweet. Some put 8 ounces of the best Sugar-candy to these Spirits before they be thus distilled. Ten or twenty drops of this compound spirit being taken in any appropriated Liquor is very good in any putrid or Epidemical disease. Gilla Theophrasti, or a most-delicate vomiting Liquor made of Vitriall. Take of Crystals made out of Copper, or Iron, dissolve them in the acid phlegm that first comes forth in the distilling of common Vitriall; circulate them eight days. This Liquor must be taken in wine, and it causes vomiting instantly, and is most excellent to cleanse and strengthen the stomach and to cure all such distempers that arise from thence, as salt defluxions, Fevers, Worms, Headache, and Vertigoes, the Hysterical passion, and such like. The Dose is from a scruple to two scruples. Oil of Sulphur per Campanam. Take a large iron vessel like a platter, over it hang a glass bell that hath a nose like the head of a cold still, fill the lower vessel being narrower than the compass of the bell, or head, with brimstone, or sulphur, inflame it, so will the fume which ariseth from thence be condensed in the bell into a Liquor which will drop down through the nose into the Receiver. If in stead of this broad vessel, you take a large crucible and m●●t in it Saltpetre, and cast Sulphur upon it thus m, you shall make a great deal quicker dispatch. This spirit is of the same nature, and hath the same operations as oil of Vitriall. The Oil of Sulphur is made after a more Philosophical manner thus. Take of crude Sulphur as much as you please, put it into a melting vessel to be dissolved over the fire: being dissolved, pour it forth into seething hot water (this done ten or more times, remembering that the water must be always seething hot) and thou shalt see that the Sulphur will be like butter, than put it into a Retort, pouring on it the best spirit of Wine, then distilling it with a soft fire, and there will come forth an oil of a golden colour, of a good taste and smell, which is the true Balsam of Sulphur. The oil that swims on the spirit must be separated. This oil for the cure of all distempers of the Lungs, for all Fevers whether putrid or pestilential, and the cure of wounds and Ulcers, is scarce to be equalled. The Essence of Sulphur. Take of Sulphur vivum, as much as you please, dissolve it as well as you can in Aqua fortis (made of Vitriall and Saltpetre;) then evaporate the Aqua fortis, and then reverberate the matter till it become very red; Extract the tincture with spirit of Wine, then digest them till the essence be separated from the spirit like an oil, and sink to the bottom. This Essence also is of wonderful virtue against all putrefaction both inward and outward, a great preservative against the plague, and is wonderful balsamical, and cureth all sores both old and new, even to admiration. The oil of Arsenic is made thus. Take of Crystalline Arsenic (being first sublimed with Colcothar alone as much as you please, mix it with an equal weight of the salt of Tartar and Saltpetre, and let them be betwixt two little pots or crucibles (whereof the upper hath a hole) calcined, until no fume ascend. The matter being thus calcined dissolve in warm water that you may draw a salt from thence; the powder which falls to the bottom imbibe with the liquor of Tartar, and dry it by the fire, and this thou must do three times, then dissolve the matter in warm water that thou mayest draw out the Salt thereof, and there will remain a most white powder, and fixed, which in a moist place will be dissolved into a liquid matter like oil or butter. Aqua fortis or a strong Spirit (that will dissolve silver and base metals) is made thus. Take of Vitriall calcined two parts, of Nitre one part, grind and mix them well together, and put them into a glass Retort coated, or earthen Retort that will endure the fire, and set them into the Furnace in an open fire, and then having fitted a large Receiver distil it by degrees the space of 24 hours, then rectify the water or spirit in sand. Aqua Regia, or Stygia, or a strong Spirit that will dissolve Gold, is made thus. Take of Nitre two parts, Salt Armoniac one part, the powder of flints three parts, put them into a glass Retort coated, or earthen Retort that will endure the fire, distil them by degrees over a naked fire for the space of 12 hours, take it out and rectify it. This water will dissolve gold. Another Aqua regia is made thus. Take of spirit of Nitre, as much as you please, put a dram of crude Nitre to every ounce of it, and it will be as strong as any Aqua regia. This water will dissolve gold. To make a most strong, and vehement Aqua fortis. Take of the strongest Aqua fortis that you can get, and well rectified, a pound, of Mercury sublimed four ounces, salt Armoniac twenty ounces, mix all these together. Oil or Butter of Antimony, is made thus. Take of crude Antimony as much as you please, of sublimed Mercury a like quality, make them both into a very fine powder and mix them, and put them into a glass Retort, the neck whereof must be large. Give fire by degrees in a close reverberatory, or let the Distillation be made in sand. There will distil into the Receiver a fatness; part whereof sticking to the neck of the Retort will melt by a light fire being put to it. That fatness may be rectified in a Retort: and either be kept by itself as it is, or set in a cellar or moist place and be resolved into a Liquor. This oil might be washed in good store of water, and then there will settle to the bottom a white powder, which being oft washed in fair water till all the sharpness is gone, is then called Mercurius vitae, six or seven grains whereof is an excellent vomiting medicine. A Furnace for a close Reverberation furnished with its Retort and Receiver. A, Shows the Furnace. B, The Retort. C, The Receiver. D, The Vessel filled with cold water. How to make a water out of Antimony whereof a few drops shall purge, or sweat, and which hath neither smell or scarce any taste. Take flowers of Antimony, sublime them with salt Armoniac six or seven times, then wash away the Salt with warm water, and dry the powder, which then lay thin on a Marble in a cellar till it be dissolved (which will be in six week's time.) This water if it be taken to the quantity of twenty drops will purge, if in a lesser quantity it will sweat. To make an oil or quintessence of Metals. Dissolve what Metal, or Mineral you please, in a strong spirit of Salt (except silver which must be dissolved in Aqua fortis) draw off the phlegm in Balneo, pour on rectified spirit of Wine, digest them so long till a red oil swim above, which is the quintessence of metals, and minerals, and is a very great secret. The true Spirit of Antimony is made thus. Take of the subtle powder of the Regulus of Antimony as much as you please, sublime it of itself till it will sublime no more (still putting what is sublimed to that which remains at the bottom) or with salt Armoniac six or seven times (remembering that then you must dulcify it with warm water by dissolving therewith the salt, and dry the Precipitate afterwards.) Set this fixed powder in a cellar, laying it very thin upon a marble stone and in about six weeks or two months it will all be dissolved into water, which must be filtered. Then evaporate part of this water and let it stand two or three days in the cellar to crystallize. These Crystals purify, and dry. Mix them with three times the quantity of the gross powder of Tiles, and distil them in a Retort, and there will come forth first a white spirit, and then a red, which you may rectify in Balneo. The true Oil or Essence of Antimony is made thus. Take of the foresaid Crystals, dissolve them in good rectified spirit of wine, digest them two months in Balneo, or horse dung: then evaporate the spirit of wine, and there will remain in the bottom the true oil or essence of Antimony. Then take new Crystals of Antimony, and let them imbibe either this oil, or the foresaid spirit, till they will imbibe no more, then digest them two months in sand, and they will become a flowing fixed salt, and of excellent virtue. The aforesaid spirit, this oil, and essence of Antimony may be equalised to Aurum potabile to all intents and purposes, according to a Medicinal use, especially the sixth Essence. The dose is five or six grains. A burning Spirit made out of Lead, most fragrant and balsamical. Take the Calx of Saturn, or else Minium, pour upon it so much spirit of Vinegar that may cover it four fingers breadth, digest them in a warm place the space of twenty four hours, often stirring them that the matter settle not too thick in the bottom: then decant the Menstruum, and pour on more, digest it as before, and this do so often until all the saltness be extracted. Filter and clarify all the Menstruum being put together, then evaporate it half away, and set the other part in a cold place till it crystallize. These Crystals dissolve again in fresh spirit of Vinegar, filter and coagulate the Liquor again into Crystals, and this do so often until they be sufficiently impregnated with the salt Armoniac of the Vinegar as with their proper ferment. Digest them in a temperate Balneo, that they may be resolved into a Liquor like oil. Then distil this Liquor in sand in a Retort, with a large Receiver annexed to it, and well closed that no spirits evaporate, together with the observation of the degrees of the fire: then there will distil forth a spirit of such a fragrant smell that the fragrancy of all flowers, and compounded perfumes are not to be compared to it. After Distillation when all things are cold, take out, and cast away the black feces which is of no use. Then separate the yellow oil, which swims on the top of the spirit, and the blood red oil which sinks to the bottom of it: Separate the phlegm from the spirit in Balneo. Thou shalt by this means have a most fragrant spirit that even ravisheth the senses; and so balsamical, that it cures all old and new sores inward and outward, and so cordial that the dying are with admiration revived with it. They that have this medicine need scarce use any other either for inward or outward griefs. How to turn Quicksilver into a water without mixing any thing with it, and to make thereof a good Purgative and Diaphoretic medicine. Take an ounce of Quicksilver not purified, put it into a bolt head of glass, which you must nip up, set it over a strong fire in sand for the space of two months, and the Quicksilver will be turned into a red sparkling Precipitate. Take this powder, and lay it thin on a Marble in a Cellar for the space of two months, and it will be turned into a water, which may be safely taken inwardly, it will work a little upward and downward, but chiefly by sweat. Note that you may set divers glasses with the same matter in the same Furnace, that so you may make the greater quantity at a time. I suppose it is the Sulphur which is in the Quicksilver, and makes it so black, that being stirred up by the heat of the fire, fixeth the Mercury. A fragrant oil of Mercury. Take of Mercury seven times sublimed, and as often revived with unslaked Lime, as much as you please, dissolve it in spirit of Nitre in a moderate heat, then abstract the spirit of salt, and edulcorate it very well by boiling it in spirit of Vinegar: then abstract the spirit of Vinegar, and wash it again with distilled rain water: then dry it, and digest it two months in a like quantity of the best rectified spirit of Wine you can get. Distil them by Retort, making your fire moderate at the beginning, afterwards increasing it; then evaporate the spirit of Wine in Balneo, and there will remain in the bottom a most fragrant oil of Mercury. This oil so purifies the blood by sweat and urine, that it cures all distempers that arise from the impurity thereof, as the venereal disease, etc. The truth is, they that have this medicine well made need but few other medicines: the dose is four or five drops. To turn Mercury into a water by itself. Set this following vessel being made of iron into a Furnace, so that the three bowls thereof be within the Furnace, and the Pipe and Receiver be without. Make your Furnace so as that there be a great hole left open at the top: where you must put in your coals, shutting it afterward with a cover of stone made fit thereunto; on the top also must be holes to let in air. The Vessel for this Operation. First make your Iron vessel as red hot as possibly it can be made (or else you do nothing) having first annexed an earthen well-glazed Receiver to the bottom of it. Then put half an ounce of Quicksilver at a time in at the top (which presently stop with clay) and presently the Mercury will come over, part in a sharp Liquor, and part as crude a Mercury as it was before, which you may put in again till it be all turned to water. Note that unless the Quicksilver give a great crack presently after it is put in, it is a sign that the vessel was not hot enough. This operation being well prosecuted may produce a medicine with which none under the Philosopher's Elixir may compare. How to distil Spirits, and Oils out of Minerals, Vegetables, Bones, Horns, and faster, and in a greater quantity in one hour then in the common way in twenty four. This must be done in such a Furnace as this. A, Signifies the Furnace with its iron, or earthen distilling vessel walled in, to which a very large Recipient is joined. B, the Distiller, who with his left hand taketh off the cover, and with his right casteth in his prepared matter with an iron lad●e. C, the form of the distilling vessel. D, the same, as it appeareth inward, E, the form of the vessel not walled in but standing on the coals for other uses. This Furnace must be twice so high as wide, and the pipe must be a foot long out of the Furnace. The vessel walled in must be of earth for the distilling of Antimony, Sulphur, and such things as will corode iron: but for other things iron is most convenient. Before you make any distillation, let the vessel which is walled in be red hot, then by little and little cast in your matter, which must be cut or powdered small, and clap down the cover into the false bottom above, which is full of molten lead, and therefore suffereth no fume to go forth. When you see the fumes in the Receiver (which must be of glass) to cease; and condensed into a Liquor, then put in more matter. By this way you may make a far greater dispatch and distil a greater quantity out of the same proportion of matter, then by the common way. By this way there is no danger of breaking your Receiver, and you may end and begin when you please, and try divers experiments in one hour, and cannot make the fire too strong, and may make the spirits of such things as can hardly or not so well be made by a Retort, as the spirits of Salt, of Tartar, Hartshorn, Antimony, etc. Salt and such things as will flow must have a bowl, or powder of brick mixed with them before they be cast into the vessel, or if you please you may first dissolve what salt you please, and with red hot gross powder of Brick, imbibe the water, then cast in this powder by little and little into the distilling vessel, and the Salt by this means will yield its spirit quickly and in abundance. By either of these two ways you may make a pound of the spirit of Nitre in an hour, and of salt in two hours. Now whereas some things yield a spirit, and a thick and heavy oil, they may be rectified thus, viz. by putting them into a Retort, and distilling them in sand or ashes with a gradual heat: there will come forth the phlegm of some Liquors first, and then the spirit; and of other some the spirit, and then the phlegm, but of all these the heavy thick oil at last; which by distilling off becomes far clearer than before, which may again be rectified by spirit of salt as I have showed before, and therefore need not here repeat it. To make an oil of Lapis Calaminaris. Take of Lapis Calaminaris powdered, as much as you please, pour on it five or six times as much of rectified spirit of Salt, shake them together continually or else it will be congealed into a hard mass, which can hardly be mollified again: when no more will dissolve in frigido, put it in warm sand so long till the spirit of salt be of a high yellow colour; then pour it off and put on more till all be dissolved that will, cast away the feces, put the solution into a glass body, and distil it in sand: about the third part of the spirit of Salt cometh over as insipid as common water, though the spirit were well rectified before, for the dryness of the Lapis Calaminaris (which is the driest of all Minerals and Metals except Zink) retaineth the spirit after the phlegm is come over; let the glass cool, and thou shalt find at the bottom a thick red oil very fat, even as Olive olive, and not very corosive; keep it from the air, or else it turneth into water. It is of wonderful virtue for inward and outward griefs, for it hath in it a pure golden Sulphur. Common Sulphur mixed with this oil, and melted in a strong fire swimmeth like water above, and is transparent. This oil distilled in a Retort with pure sand in a strong fire, yieldeth a spirit like fire scarce to be contained in any vessel, and dissolveth all metals except silver, and reduceth pure spirit of Wine into an oil within a few days. To make oil of Talk. Take of the best Talk reduced into very thin flakes, make them red hot, and then quench them in the strongest Lixivium that Soap-boilers use; do this fifteen times and it will become as white as snow: then powder it very small and calcine it by fumigation i e. by the fume of some very sharp spirit as of Aqua fortis, or the like: when it hath been thus calcined for the space of a fortnight, it will become somewhat mucilaginous, then set it in any heat of putrefaction as it is (for it hath imbibed enough of the sharp spirit to moisten and ferment it) for the space of two months in a bolt head nipped up: then evaporate the acid spirit and dulcify it with distilled rain water. After this extract what thou canst out of it with the best rectified spirit of Wine, pour off the solution and evaporate the spirit of Wine, and at the bottom will be a most beautiful oil. The oil is the most glorious fucus or paint in the World. To make oil of Talk another way. Take of the foresaid powder of Talk after it hath been putrefied, and again dulcified as much as you please, put four times as much of the best circulated oil of Camphire to it, digest them in Horse dung till all the powder be dissolved, and the oil become mucilaginous, which will be within two months. This is for the same use as the former. There is required a great deal of pains and care and no small cost in the preparation of these oils. Oil is made of Bole Armoniac, terra sigillata, and such kind of clay earths, thus. Take of either of those earth's, as much as you please, break it into small pieces, and put it into a Retort over a naked fire for the space of 12 hours, and there will distil into the Receiver (which must be large) the phlegm, then white Spirits in a little quantity, yet of a grateful taste and smell. Oil out of these kinds of earth is made better thus. Take of either of these earths, which you please, as much as you will; pour upon it distilled rain water, set it in some warm place for a month or more, and the oiliness will separate from its body, of its own accord, and swim upon the water. Separate the water by a tunnel, and distil the oil with five parts of the spirit of Wine well rectified, and there will come forth an oil oil of a golden colour, swimming on the spirit which is a most excellent Balsam. Spirit of unslaked Lime is made thus. Take of unslaked Lime as much as thou pleasest; reduce it into a subtle powder, imbibe it with Spirit of Wine most highly rectified (which must be pure from all its phlegm, or else you labour in vain) as much as it can imbibe; draw off the spirit of Wine with a gentle heat, cohobate it 8 or 10 times, so will the fiery virtue of the Lime be fortified.— Take of this levigated Lime 10 ounces, pure salt of Tartar one ounce, the feces of Tartar after the salt is extracted 11 ounces; mix these well together, put them into a glass Retort coated, see that 2 parts of 3 be empty, distil them into two Receivers, the phlegm into one, the spirit into the other, which must have a little of rectified spirit of Wine in it to receive the spirit. If thou wilt separate the spirit of Wine, than put fire to it, and the spirit of Wine will burn away, and the spirit of the Lime stay behind, which is a kind of a fixed spirit. This is a very secret for the consuming the Stone in the bladder, and the curing of the Gout. Oil made out of Tile-stones, called the Oil of Philosophers. Take of Bricks or Tiles, as many as you please, break them into small pieces, make them red fire hot, then quench them in pure old Oil Olive (in which let them lie till they be cold) then take them out and grind them very small, let the powder be put in a glass Retort, coated, a fit Receiver being put thereto and distil off the oil in a naked fire by degrees, which being distilled off keep in a vial close stopped. This oil is wonderful penetrating, and is good against all cold distempers whatsoever. The Liquor or Water of Coral, is made thus. Take Salt-Armoniack well purified by sublimation, of red Coral finely powdered, of each a like quantity; sublime them so often till the Coral will no more rise up, then take the Calx of Coral that remains in the bottom of the sublimatory and put it on a marble or glass in the cellar to be dissolved; that which will not be dissolved sublime again, and do as before till all be dissolved: and so thou hast the Liquor of Coral. Note that if thou wilt have the true tincture of Coral, evaporate the humidity of the foresaid Liquor, then extract the tincture out of the powder with spirit of Wine, which spirit evaporate to the consistency of honey: and thou hast a most rare medicine. This medicine strengtheneth all the parts in the body, and cures all distempers that arise from the weakness thereof. To make a Water out of Lapis Armenus that shall have neither taste nor smell, a few drops whereof shall purge. Take of Lapis Armenus powdered small, and calcined, as much as you please, sublime it with salt Armoniac until it will sublime no more but remain in the bottom of the sublimatory, then take it out, and lay it very thin upon a marble in a cellar, and there let it lie two months, and it will be almost all dissolved into a Liquor. Or thus: Take of Lapis Armenus powdered small and calcined, as much as you please, pour upon it of distilled Vinegar, as much as will cover it four fingers breadth, than set it over a gentle heat stirring of it two or three times in an hour, for the space of six hours or thereabouts; then the spirit being tinged very blue with the powder, filter off from the feces, then pour more spirit of vinegar on the feces and do as before, till the spirit be tinged no more, then take all the blue spirit and vapour it away, and at the bottom you shall have a salt, which you must put into a calcining pot, and calcine so long in the fire till no more vapour will arise, and it become a dark red powder, than put it upon a marble in the cellar for the space of two months, and it well be dissolved into a Liquor, a few drops whereof put into a glass of beer will purge delicately. How to make a Furnace that shall of itself without any vessels which should contain the matter, being put into it, sublime Minerals, and distil all manner of Oils and Spirits out of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, and that in a very great quantity, in a very short time, and with small cost. THe Furnace is made as followeth: It may be made of one piece by a Potter, or of brick, round, or foursquare, greater or lesser as you please: if the inside be one span broad in the middle, it must be four high: one for the Ash-hole, another above the grate to the middle Coal-hole, and two above the Pipe; this pipe being made of earth or iron must be a span long betwixt the Furnace and the Receiver, and a third part as wide as the Furnace within. The Recipients must be made of glass, or very good earth well luted together; the greater the better. The first Figure. The second Figure. A, Signifies the Ash-hole, which must be as wide as the Furnace, and always open that the fire may burn the stronger. B, The middle hole of the Furnace for the putting in of coals. C, The stopple made of stone. D, The upper hole of the Furnace with a false bottom wherein sand lieth, which is there laid that the cover may lie the closer and keep in the fumes the better. E, The Cover, which must presently be clapped on assoon as the matter to be distilled is put in. F, The Pipe, which goeth out of the Furnace, and to which the Receiver is fitted. G, The first Recipient for flowers. H, The second. ay, The third. K, A Stool whereon the first Recipient resteth, in the midst whereof is a hole, through which goeth the neck of the Recipient, to which another glass is fitted. L, The Glass fitted to the Recipient for the uniting the spirits that drop down. M, Another Recipient united to the former glass, and into which the united spirits do run. N, A Stool through the middle whereof goeth a screw for the raising of that Glass which is set under the first Recipient, higher, or lower. O, P, The Grate with two thick iron bars, which lie fast, upon which four or five thinner are laid, which may be stirred when the Furnace is made clean. Thus far the first of the figures is explained, by which you may see how sublimation and distillation is made at one time, viz. of those things which will yield both flowers, and spirits, (the flowers sticking in the three upper Recipients, and the spirits dropping down into the lower.) Now follows the explanation of the second figure, which is the same with the former in respect of the Furnace itself, but differing in respect of the Recipients, which serve for the receiving of the spirits and oils of such things as yield no flowers. Therefore I shall begin with the explanation of the Receivers. G, The first crooked pipe as it is fitted to the pipe that comes out of the Furnace. H, The-Recipient with its cover, in which is one hole for one crooked pipe to go through, as you may see in the first H, and two holes for two pipes to go through, as you may see in the second H, and in H H. Note that these pipes may either be fastened to the cover being all of one piece, or they must be well luted, that no vapours may pass through. Now you must conceive that in the lower Receivers the vapour that goeth out of the first pipe goeth first into the Receiver, than out of that into the next pipe, and so forward till it cometh into the last Receiver, by which means it is much cooled (for indeed such vapours that come out of the Furnace, especially when some materials are distilled, if there were not some such art to cool them, would break all Recipients.) ay, A tub of water, wherein the Recipient stands, to cool the vapours and condense them. K, The first crooked pipe as it goeth into the Recipient. L, The second crooked pipe, whereof one end goeth into one Receiver, and another end into another. M, The last crooked pipe to which you must annex a Receiver. Now the manner of distilling is thus; Let the Furnace be full of coals well kindled, then cast on your matter, and stop your Furnace close: This Furnace needs no Retort, or other vessels to set into it, neither can you do any hurt by too much or too little fire, and you may finish your operation when you please, and in one hour try divers experiments. It saveth very much time and cost, and in one hour will do as much as can be done in another Furnace in 24. In one hour you may make a pound of spirit of Salt with four or five pound of coals, and as much flower of Antimony in a like space of time, and with as few coals. If your materials be vegetables, or horn, or bones, cut them small; If hard Minerals, let them be powdered very small; if salts, let them first be dissolved in water, which water must be imbibed with red hot coals until all the liquor be imbibed: then cast in those coals into the Furnace. If you would by this means procure the spirit of hard Minerals, as of Antimony, etc. you must take them as they come from the Mine before they have passed the fire. By this Furnace you may make the spirits of such things which will not yield them in any other way. Note that such oils and spirits as are drawn by this Furnace must be rectified in spirit of Salt, as I have above showed. Ros Vitrioli is made thus. Take of the best Danzig Vitriall, as much as you please, uncalcined, put it into a glass gourd and distil it in the sand, and there will come over a water somewhat sharpish. This Water or Ros is of greater use than the spirit or oil thereof. It helpeth all inward inflammations, as of the Liver, Kidneys, Stomach, helps the ebullition of blood, and all distempers that come from thence. This is that phlegm, which most vapour away, but it is because they know not the virtues thereof. A sweet green oil of Vitriall is made thus. Take as many Copperas stones as you please, beat them small, and lay them in a cool cellar, and in twenty or thirty days they will attract the air, and look black, and after fourteen days become whitish and sweetish, then dissolve them in distilled rain water, than filter and evaporate the water, and they will shoot into green Crystals, which you may dissolve in a Cellar per deliquium, being first beaten small, and laid on a marble stone. This liquor is that famous medicine of Paracelsus for the falling sickness, a few drops thereof being taken in any appropriated liquor. Take heed that it come at no strong fire, for than saith Paracelsus it loseth its greenness, and as much as it loseth of that, so much also of its virtue. A spirit may be drawn from hence by an ingenious Artist, that will smell like Musk, or Amber. The Sulphur of Vitriall may with spirit of wine be extracted thus. Take of the best Danzig Vitriall half a pound, dry it by a gentle fire till it be whitish, then pour on it of the best rectified spirit of Wine thirty ounces: (Note that there must come to it no other moisture than the spirit of Wine, the glass also must be very dry, else you labour in vain) then digest it in horse dung the space of a month, then decant from the feces the spirit of Wine without any troubling of it, then in Balneo evaporate the spirit, and at the bottom you will have a yellow liquor of a most wonderful stipticity. This liquor is a famous Anodynum, suppressing all noxious vapours whatsoever and causing rest. A few drops there may be taken in any specifical Liquor. A Sudorificall Water to be used outwardly. Take of sublimed Mercury very finely powdered an ounce and half, of Euphorbium powdered a scruple, spirit of Wine well rectified, and Rosewater, of each a pound, digest them two or three hours in a gentle Balneo, the neck of the vessel which must be very long being well stopped, then let them bowl a quarter of an hour: when the liquor is cold pour it from the feces, and keep it in a glass. If the back bone be bathed with this Water, or the wrist of those that be weak, it causeth sweat presently, if it be done in the bed. By which means diseases that require sweat may be cured. Also any pained place by being bathed with this Water is in a little time eased. Note that you must not bathe any place above three or four times with it, for by being too often used it contracts the skin. How to rectify Oils and Spirits of Minerals. Put the Liquor that is distilled from Minerals into the Retort, to which give fire by degrees, and the spirit will rise up into the upper Receiver, and the heavy oil will go into the middle Receiver which is the biggest of all; and into the little Receiver annexed to the end of the middle, will pass some of the spirit, which though it passeth into the middle Receiver, will not stay there, but goeth beyond it because it finds vent. Of ANIMALS. BOOK IU. Waters, Spirits, and Oils, simple and compound out of Animals. Oil and Water out of Blood is made tbus. TAke of blood as much as you please, let it stand in putrefaction in a glass vessel close covered the space of forty days, then distil it in ashes, and there will come forth a water and oil; extract the salt out of the feces with the said water, calcine the salt in a crucible, and then dissolve it in the said water, and then distil off the water (which will be a good rectifying of the water) and dry the salt very well, which then mix with the foresaid oil being first rectified, and digest them both together for the space of a month. To make the Magistery of blood. Take of the purest blood as much as you please, put it into a Pelican, that three parts of four may be empty, and digest it a month in horse dung (in which time it will swell and become as much more as it was when it was put in) then distil off the phlegm in Balneo, and in the bottom will remain the magistery of blood, which must be distilled, and cohobated nine times in a Retort in ashes, and then it is perfected. This Magistery is of excellent virtue, which being taken inwardly and applied outwardly, cureth most diseases, and easeth pain, being very balsamical. Elixir of Mummy is made thus. Take of Mummy (viz. of man's flesh hardened) cut small four ounces, spirit of wine terebinthinated ten ounces, put them into a glazed vessel, (three parts of four being empty) which set in horse dung to digest for the space of a month, then take it out and express it, let the expression be circulated a month, then let it run through Manica Hippocratis, then evaporate the spirit till that which remains in the bottom be like an oil, which is the true Elixir of Mummy. This Elixir is a wonderful preservative against all infections, also very balsamical. The essence of man's brains. Take the brains of a young man that hath died a violent death, together with the membranes, arteries, veins, nerves, all the pith of the back, bruise these in a stone mortar till they become a kind of pap, than put as much of the spirit of wine, as will cover it three or four finger's breadth: then put it into a large glass that three parts of four be empty, being hermetically closed, then digest it half a year in horse dung, then take it out and distil it in Balneo, and cohobate the water till the greatest part of the brains be distilled off. A scruple or two of this essence taken in some specifical water once in a day, is a most infallible medicine against the falling sickness. A famous spirit made out of Cranium humanum. Take of Crannium humanum as much as you please, break it into small pieces, which put into a glass. Retort well coated, with a large Receiver well luted, then put a strong fire to it by degrees continuing of it till you see no more fumes comes forth; and you shall have a yellowish spirit, a red oil, and a volatile salt. Take this salt and the yellow spirit and digest them by circulation two or three months in Balneo, and thou shalt have a most excellent spirit. This spirit is of affinity with, if not the same as that famous spirit of Dr. Goddards in Holborn. It helps the falling sickness, gout, dropsy, infirm stomach, and indeed strengthens all weak parts, and openeth all obstructions, and is a kind of Panacea. Another excellent spirit made out of Cranium, Heart's horn, or Ivory. Take of either of these, (if you take Cranium it need not be bruised at all, only broke into little pieces; if Heart's horn or Ivory, you must cut them in thin pieces) lay it piece by piece upon a net spread upon any vessel being almost full of water, cover this net with another vessel very close, then make the water boil, and keep it boiling three days and three nights, and in that time the bones or horns, will be as soft as cheese; then pound them, and to every pound thereof put half a pound of Hungarian vitrial uncalcined, and as much spirit of wine as will make them into a thin paste. This paste digest in a vessel hermetically sealed the space of a month in Balneo, then distil it in a Retort in sand till all be dry, and you shall have a most excellent spirit. This spirit is of wonderful use in the Epilepsy, Convulsions, all Fever's putrid or pestilential, passions of the heart, and is a very excellent Sudorific. This spirit may be taken from the quantity of half an ounce to an ounce in some specifical liquor. A Water and Oil made out of Hair. Fill an earthen Retort with hair cut small, set it over the fire, and fit a Receiver to it, and there will come over a very stinking Water and Oil. This water and Oil is used in Germany to be sprinkled upon fences and hedges to keep wild and hurtful Cattle from coming to do harm in any place, for such is the stink of this liquor that it doth affright them from coming to any place near it. Water of Milk is made thus. Take of what Milk thou pleasest a gallon, in it dissolve half a pound of salt, and put to it two handful of Plantain, and an ounce of Liquorish sliced, then distil it in a hot Still with a gentle fire. This water is of excellent use in hot distempers of the Lungs and Kidneys. You may put in other ingredients according to the use you would have it for. An excellent compound water of Milk for any inflammations in the eyes. Take of woman's milk a pint, of white Copperas a pound; distil them in ashes. Note that assoon as thou perceivest any sharp spirit to come off, then cease. Let inflamed eyes be washed three or four times in a day with this water, and it helpeth them wonderfully. Spirit of Urine is made thus. Take of the Urine of a young man drinking much wine, as much as you please, let it stand in glass vessels in putrefaction 40 days, then pouring it from its feces distil it in a glass gourd in sand, till all be dry, then cohobate the said spirit on the Caput Mortuum three times, then distil it in a gourd of a long neck, and there will ascend besides the spirit a crystalline salt, which thou mayest either keep by itself, being called the volatile salt of Urine, or mix it with its spirit which will thereby become very penetrating, if they be digested for some days together. Note that the pipe of the head must be wide, or else the volatile salt will soon stop it. Note that this salt is so penetrating that it penetrateth the body of the glass. This Spirit by rectification may be made so pure and subtle, that it will burn as fire, and dissolve gold and precious stones. This being often applied to any place pained with the gout, easeth it presently, it also quickens any part that is benumbed. The salt volatile is helmont's famous Medicine for the Jaundice. A compound Spirit of Urine. Take of Hungarian Vitriall a pound, the Urine of a Boy that is healthy, four pints: put these into a glass vessel well closed that three parts of four may be empty; digest them in Balneo for the space of a month, then distil them in ashes till all be dry. This spirit is of great virtue in the Epilepsy, Gout, Dropsy, Convulsions, being taken from two drams to half an ounce in some specifical Liquor. To make a spirit of Honey. Take good strong stale Mead, otherwise called Metheglin, as much as thou pleasest, distil it in a Copper Still or Alembick, with its refrigeratory, and it will yield a spirit like Aqua vitae. The quintessence of honey is made thus. Take of the purest Honey two pound, of Fountain water one pound; boil these together till the water be boiled away, taking off all the scum that riseth, then take the Honey and put it into a glass, four parts of five being empty, close it well, and set in digestion a whole year, and thou shalt have the essence of Honey swimming on the top in form of an Oil, being of as fragrant smell as any thing in the World; the phlegm will be in the middle, and the feculent matter in the bottom, of a dark colour, and stinking smell. Some make the quintessence of Honey after this manner. Take as much Honey as thou pleasest, of the best, put it into a gourd of glass, first distil off the phlegm in Balneo, then extract the tincture out from what remains, with the said water, then calcine the remaining feces and extract from thence the salt with the foresaid water being distilled off from the tincture, calcine the salt and melt it in a crucible, then let it dissolve in a cellar; then again evaporate it away, and thou shalt have a most white salt, which let imbibe as much of the tincture as it will; digest them for three months, and thou shalt have an essence of Honey. An essence of Honey may be made thus. Take of Honey well despumated as much as you please, pour upon it as much of the best rectified spirit of Wine as will cover it five or six fingers breadth, digest them in a glass vessel well closed (the fourth part only being full) in a temperate Balneo the space of a fortnight, or till the spirit be very well tinged, then decant off the spirit and put on more till all the tincture be extracted, then put all these tinctures together, and evaporate the spirit till what remains begin to be thickish at the bottom and of a golden colour. This is a very excellent essence of Honey, and is of so pleasant an odour that scarce any thing is like to it. It is so cordial that it even revives the dying if two or three drops thereof be taken in some cordial water. A most strong Spirit of the Vinegar of Honey. Take a pound of Honey, put to it of the best White wine vinegar six pints, an ounce of white Pepper bruised small, of the strongest Mustardseed bruised three ounces, put these into a glass vessel that three parts of four may be empty, digest them in a temperate Balneo, or set the vessel in the sun for the space of a fortnight, then distil them in Balneo, and thou shalt have a spirit far sharper than the common spirit of Vinegar. This spirit is stronger, and better than any common distilled Vinegar for the dissolving of hard things, and extracting the tinctures out of things. Oil or quintessence of Wax. Take of the best Wax a pound, as much of pure sand well washed from all its impurity, and again dried; First melt the wax, and then mix the sand with it very exactly, than put them into a glass Retort well coated, fit a strong Receiver to it, and set it in sand, give it fire by degrees, continuing it four days, which at last must be very strong, and there will come off a spirituous oil, which must be rectified seven times in a glass Retort, every time changing the Retort, and you shall have a subtle oil of a golden colour. This oil extracts the virtues out of all flowers presently, being set in the sun, it is wonderful Balsamical for the cure of wounds or ulcers both inward and outward, it also being applied outwardly easeth all pains, quickens any deadened member, as in the palfie. Water is made out of any flesh thus. Take what flesh you please, the bloodiest part thereof, unwashed, being cut very small, and then bruised (or if it be a feathered fowl, take it being chased up and down until it be wearied, and then suddenly strangled, the feathers being plucked off without out putting of it into water; and being thus plucked bare, and the bowels taken out, cut the flesh, bones, gizzard, liver, heart,) and pour upon it as much water as will be sufficient, with what spices and herbs thou pleasest, then set it over a gentle fire in an earthen vessel glazed the space of 24 hours, than put the head upon it and lute it close, and there will distil off a comfortable restorative water. Water or Liquor is made out of flesh thus. Take of what flesh you please, or feathered fowl prepared as before, bruise it small, and put it into a copper vessel tinned within side, without any water being put to it, put a cover to it and lute it close, and set it in Balneo, or over the vapour of seething water, and if the flesh be tender it will be turned into a clear liquor the space of 12 hours, if harder it will require a longer time: You may put in what spices or herbs you please to give it a good relish and odour; after all is done you may strain it and keep it for use being very restaurative and good for weak stomaches that cannot concoct hard meat. If this be digested in a Pelican, or bolt head a fortnight, it will be far better. After this manner may be preserved Snails Worms, and such like: which are very medicinable. A very excellent restorative Liquor. Take of the heart, lungs, and liver of a Calf, the same parts of a Fox new killed, cut them small, put to them a quart of Shel Snails well scoured in salt water; let them be put into a copper vessel tinned within side, and covered close that no vapour come forth, set this vessel over the vapour of seething water, and in 24 hours or thereabouts, they will be for the most part of them turned into a Liquor of themselves; then take out this Liquor and put it into a large Pelican, or Bolt-head, putting to them a quart of old Mallago wine, Rosemary flowers, Betony flowers, S flowers, Marsh wallow-flowers, of each a handful, half a pound of Raisins of the Sun stoned, Mace and Nutmeg of each two drams: digest all these together the space of a fortnight, then pour off that which is clear from the feces and sweeten it with sugar, or syrup of Gilly flowers, and let the Patient thereof five or fix spoonfuls, three or four times in a day. This Liquor recovereth the decaying strength wonderfully; they that by reason of their weakness, can neither eat or digest any manner of common meat, will in a short time be sensibly strengthened if they drink a quarter of a pint of this morning and evening. It is very good in consumptions, and repairs the radical moisture marvellously. A Balsam made of Bears fat. Take of Bears fat a pound, distil it in a Retort, and rectify it three or four times: to this thus rectified put the tincture of Rosemary and Sage made with spirit of Wine, of each three ounces, mix them well together, in these infuse Cloves, Cinnamon, Saffron, Nutmegs, of each three drams, in warm ashes the space of a night, then strain them and put to the oil four ounces of the best wax melted, and mingled well together. This is a most incomparable balsam for the Gout, and Palsy. The Oil of Snakes and Adders. Take Snakes or Adders when they are fat, which will be in June or July, cut off their heads and take off their skins, and unbowel them, and put them into a glass gourd; and pour on so much of the pure spirit of Wine well rectified, that it may cover them four or five finger's breadth; stop the glass well, and set it in Balneo till all their substance be turned into an oil, which keep well stopped for your use. This oil doth wonderful cures in recovering hearing in those that be deaf, if a few drops thereof be put warm into the ears. A Noble man of Germany that was famous for curing the deaf used this as his chiefest medicine, by which they say he cured those that were born deaf. The Quintessence of Snakes, Adders, or Vipers. Take of the biggest and fattest Snakes, Adders, or Vipers, which you can get in June or July, cut off their heads, take off their skins, and unbowel them, then cut them into small pieces, and put them into a glass of a wide mouth, and set them in a warm Balneo, that they may be well dried, which will be done in three or four days. Then take them out, and put them into a bolt head, and pour on them of the best alcolizated Wine as much as will cover them six or eight fingers breadth. Stop the glass hermetically, and digest them fifteen days in Balneo, or so long till the Wine be sufficiently covered, which pour forth; then pour on more of the foresaid spirit of Wine till all the quintessence be extracted: Then put all the tinged spirits together: and draw off the spirit in a gentle Balneo, till it be thick at the bottom, on this pour spirit of Wine Caryophyllated, and stir them well together, and digest them in a Circulatory ten days, then abstract the spirit of Wine, and the quintessence remaineth at the bottom perfect. This quintessence is of extraordinary virtue for the purifying of the blood, flesh, and skin, and consequently of all diseases therein. It cures also the Falling-sickness, and strengthens the brain, sight, and hearing, and preserveth from Grey hairs, reneweth Youth, preserveth Women from Abortion, cureth the Gout, Consumption, causeth sweat, is very good in, and against pestilential infections. Viper wine is made thus. Take the best fat Vipers, cut off their heads, take off their skins, and unbowel them, than put them into the best Canary Sack; four or six according to their bigness, into a gallon: Let them stand two or three months, then draw off your wine as you drink it. Some put them alive into the Wine, and there suffocate them, and afterwards take them out, and cut off their heads, take off their skins, and unbowel them, and then put them into the said Wine again, and do as before. This Wine hath the same virtue as the foregoing quintessence, it also provoketh to Venery, and cures the Leprosy, and such like corruption of blood. Kunrath's famous Water, called Aqua Magnanimitatis. Take of Pismires or Ants (the biggest, that have a sowrish smell, are the best) two handsuls, spirit of wine a gallon, digest them in a glass vessel close shut the space of a month, in which time they will be dissolved into a Liquor, then distil them in Balneo till all be dry. Then put the same quantity of Ants as before, digest and distil them in the said Liquor as before: do this three times, then aromatize the spirit with some Cinnamon. Note that upon the spirit will float an oil, which must be separated. This spirit is of excellent use to stir up the Animal spirit: in so much that John Casimire Palsgrave of the Rhine and Seyfrie of Collen, General against the Turks, did always drink of it when they went to fight, to increase magnanimity and courage, which it did even to admiration. This spirit doth also wonderfully irritate them that are slothful to Venery. It also provoketh Urine even to admiration. It doth also wonderfully irritate the spirits that are dulled, and deadened with any cold distemper. This oil doth the same effects, and indeed more powerfully. This oil doth besides what is spoken of the spirit, help deafness exceedingly, two or three drops being dropped into the ear after it is well syringed, once in a day, for a week together. It helpeth also the Eyes that have any film growing on them, being now and then dropped into them. Another-Aqua Magnanimitatis is made thus. Take of Ants or Pismires a handful, of their Eggs two hundred, of Millepedes i. e. Wood louse one hundred, of Bees one hundred and fifty, digest all these in two pints of spirit of wine being very well impregnated with the brightest Soot. Digest them together the space of a month, then pour of the clear Spirit, and keep it safe. This water or spirit is of the same virtue as the former. Water of Dung is made thus. Take of any dung as much as thou pleasest, whilst it is fresh, put it into a common cold Still, and with a soft fire distil it off; it will be best if the bottom of the Still be set over a vapour; if thou wouldst have it be stronger, cohobate the said water over its feces several times: for we see there is great virtue in dung, it makes ground fertile, and many sorts thereof are very medicinable. A water of Doves dung is made thus. Take of Dove's dung dried as much as you please, to every pound put a pint of Rhenish wine, in which let it steep all night in a gentle Balneo, then distil it in a glass gourd in ashes: Cohobate this Liquor three times, if there be any volatile salt mix it with the water. This water is very excellent against all obstructions of the kidneys, bladder, it helpeth the Jaundice presently, two or three spoonful thereof being drank once every morning and evening. A Water made of Horse dung. Take of the dung of a horse that is fed in the stable as much as you please, let it stand two days out of the Sun, and out of the wet, to every pound of this pour a pint of white wine, let them stand in a warm Balneo a fortnight; then distil them in a glass gourd in sand, cohobate this three or four times; if there be any volatile salt, mix it with the water. This Water is very excellent against the bastard pleurisy, stitches, wind, obstruction of the reins, bladder, very good in a dropsy, jaundice, scurvy, etc. If three or four spoonfuls be taken every morning in the water of Juniper berries, it also causeth sweat. A Water smelling like Amber, made by Paracelsus out of Cow dung. Take of Cow dung and distil it in Balneo, and the water thereof will have the smell of Amber gryse. This water is very excellent in all inward inflammations. An excellent Sudorific made of the young buds of Heart's horn. Take of the young buds of Heart's horn, whilst they are full of blood and moist; bruise them into a paste, then mix as much Canary wine as will make a very thin paste, distil them in ashes till they be very dry. This is an excellent Sudorific in all burning Fevers and Epidemical diseases; if a spoonful be taken by itself, or in any appropriated Liquor. Oil out of Bones and Horns, is made thus. Take of what bones you please, reduce them to a gross powder, put them into a Retort, putting a strong fire by degrees thereunto; and there will come forth an oil, and volatile salt, both which thou mayest mix together, and digest them into an essence, the oil being first rectified with spirit of wine. The Water of Swallows against the Falling sickness. Take of Swallows, cut them into pieces without separating any thing from them, six ounces, of Castoreum cut small an ounce, mix them together, infuse them 12 hours in half a pin● of Canary wine, than put them into a glass gourd and distil them in sand till all be dry, then cohobate the Liquor three times. This water being drank to the quantity of two spoonful every morning, cureth them that have the Falling sickness. Oil out of Eggs is made thus. Take of the yolks of eggs boiled very hard, rub them in pieces with your fingers, then fry them in a pan over a gentle fire, continually stirring them with a spoon till they become red, and the oil be resolved, and flow from them; then put them into a hair cloth, and so press forth the oil. This oil cleanseth the skin from any filthiness contracted by heat; it cureth pustles, chaps, excoriations, ringworms, but especially all burnings. A Water of the whites of Eggs that will cure a wound without any visible scar. Take as many eggs as you please, boil them very hard, then cut them in the middle and take out the yolks, filling up the cavities with some of those whites being first bruised into a paste, than put both sides of the egg together as before, and tie them together with a thread, and with a string hang them in the middle of a gourd glass that they touch not the sides, stop this glass very close and set it in Balneo, and you shall see those whites which were bruised drop down into a Liquor: which you must gather up out of the bottom of the glass, and keep. You will have very little of this Liquor. This Liquor applied to any green wound with a feather cures it presently wheresoever it be, without any visible scar. It cures most wonderfully all wounds in the eyes. A Water of Crabs is made thus. Take Crabs or Craw-fish, as many as you please, break them to pieces, then macerate them in water of Sengreen for the space of a day, then distil them, cohobate the water three times. This Water is of singular virtue in all manner of inflammations inward and outward. An Oylor Liquor is made out of Crabs eyes thus. Take of Crabs eyes very finely powdered five parts, oil of Tartar Per Deliquium six parts (This oil of Tartar must be made of salt of Tartar after it hath flowed in the fire) digest them in horse dung the space of a month, then coagulate the Liquor and make an extraction with the best rectified spirit of Wine that can be made (or else you lose your labour) then evaporate the spirit of Wine, and there remains an oil at the bottom. This oil is of wonderful virtue in all putrid Fevers, and such like distempers, also in all obstructions, especially of the Kidneys. Water of Spawn of Frogs is made thus. Take of the Spawn of Frogs gathered in March, as much as you please, put a handful of Salt to every quart, and put them into a common cold Still and with a gentle fire distil off the water till no more will distil. A compound water of the Sperm of Frogs. Take of the sperm of Frogs gathered in March about the new of the Moon, four pound, of Cow dung fresh, six pound, mix them well together, and let them stand the space of a day, then distil them in ashes. This water allays all hot pains both inward, and outward, especially of the Gout. Another compound water of the sperm of Frogs. Take of the Sperm of Frogs gathered in March, two pound, and half, the Urine of a young man three pints, new Treacle two ounces and a half, white Vitrial, Salt, Alum, of each four ounces, then distil them, and put to the water an ounce and half of the Salt of Vitriall, Camphire, and Saffron, of each an ounce. This water being applied outwardly helpeth all pains, especially of the Gout, and such like, also allayeth hot or cold swellings; It also stauncheth bleeding. A Miscellany of spagyrical Experiments and Curiosities. BOOK V. The spagyrical Anatomy of Water. WAter seems to be a body so very Homogeneal, as if neither Nature or Art could discover any Heterogeneity in the parts thereof: thus indeed it seems to the eye of the vulgar, but to that of a Philosopher far otherwise, as I shall endeavour to make credible by presenting to your consideration a twofold process of the discovering the dissimilary parts thereof; whereof the one is natural only, and the other artificial; But before I speak of either, it must be premised, that in the element of Water there is great plenty of the spirit of the World, which is more predominant in it then in any other element, for the use and benefit of universal nature; and that this spirit hath three distinct substances, viz. Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury. Now by salt we must understand a substance very dry, vital, and radical, having in it the beginning of corporisication, as I may so call it: by Sulphur, a substance full of light and vital heat, or vivifying fire, containing in itself the beginning of motion: by Mercury, a substance abounding with radical moisture, with which the Sulphur of life, or vital fire, is cherished and preserved. Now these substances which are in the Spirit of the World make all Fountains, and Waters, but with some difference, according to the predominancy of either. This several predominancy therefore is the ground of the variety of productions; I say, of productions, because all things are produced out of Water: for Water is both the sperm, and the Menstruum of the World; the former, because it includes the seed of every thing; the latter, because the sperm of Nature is put refied in it, that the seed included in it should be actuated, and take upon it the divers Forms of things; and because by it the seed itself, and all things produced of seed grow, and are increased: Now this being premised, I shall show you what the natural process is, which I shall make plain by instancing in three several productions, viz. of the spawn of Frogs, of Stones, and of Vegetables. The Spawn of Frogs is produced after this manner, viz. The Sulphur which is in the Water, being by the heat of the Sun resolved, and dissolved, is greedily, and with delight conceived by the Element of Water, even as the sperm of a Male is by the Matrix of the Female, and that upon this account. The Water wants siccity, which the Sulphur hath, and therefore exceedingly desiring it, doth greedily attract it to itself: Sulphur also wants humidity, and therefore attracts the humidity of the Water: Moreover the humidity of the Water hath the humidity of the Salt laid up occultly in it: also the Sulphur cherisheth the humidity of the fire, and desires nothing more than the humidity of the Salt, that is in the Water. Sulphur also contains the siccity of the Salt, whence it is that Salt requires a siccity from the Sulphur. And thus do these attractive virtues mutually act upon each others subject. Now by this means there is a conception made in the water which now begins to be turgid, puffed up, and troubled, as also to be grosser, and more slimy, until out of the spermatick vessels the spermes be cast upward, in which spermes after a while appear black specks, which are the seed of the Frogs, and by the heat of the Sun, are in a short time turned into the same; by which it appears there are dissimilary parts in Water. 2 Stones are produced out of Water that hath a Mucilaginous Mercury, which the Salt, with which it also abounds, fixeth into Stones. This you may see cleared by putting stones into the water, for they will after a time contract a mucilaginous slimy matter, which being taken out of the water and set in the Sun, becomes to be of a stony nature. And whence come those stones, gravel, and sand which we see in Springs? they are not washed down out of the Mountains and Hills (as some think) from whence the waters spring, neither were they in the earth before the Springs broke forth, (as some imagine) and now appear by washing away of the earth from them; for if you dig round about the springs, even beyond the heads of them, you shall find no stones at all in the earth, only in the veins thereof through which the water runs; Now the reason of the smallness of these stones, is the continual motion of the water, which hinders them from being united into a continued bigness. I shall make a further confirmation of this in the artificial process of manifesting the Heterogeneity of Water. I shall here only add the assertion of He●●ont, saying that with his Altahest all stones, and indeed all things may be turned into Water? If so, than you know what the Maxim is, viz. All things may be resolved into that from whence they had their beginning. 3 Vegetables are produced out of Water, as you may clearly see by the Waters sending forth Plants that have no roots fixed in the bottom; of which sort is the Heart called Duck-weed, which putteth forth a little string into the Water, which is as it were the root thereof. For the confirmation of this, that this Heart may be produced out of mere Water, there is a Gentleman at this time in the City, of no small worth, that saith he had fair water standing in a glass divers years, and at last a Plant sprang out of it. Also if you put some Plants, as Water-mint, etc. into a glass of fair water, it will germinate, and shoot out into a great length, and also take root in the Water, which root will in a short time be so increased, and extended, as to fill up the glass: but you must remember that you put fresh water into the glass once in two or three days. Hereunto also may be added the experiment of Helmont, concerning the growth of a tree; For (saith he) I took two hundred pound weight of earth dried in an oven, and put it into a vessel, in which I set a Willow tree which weighed five pound, which by the addition of water to the earth, did in five years' time grow to such a bigness, as that it weighed one hundred sixty nine pound; at which time I also dried and weighed the earth, and within two ounces it retained its former weight. Besides, the ancients have observed that some Herbs have grown out of snow being putrefied: and do not we see that all Vegetables are nourished, and increased with an insipid water, for what else is their juice? If you cut a Vine in the month of March, it will drop divers gallons of insipid water, which water if it had remained in the trunk of the Vine, would in a little time have been digested into leaves, stalks, and grapes, which grapes also by a further maturation would have yielded a Wine, out of which you might have extracted a burning spirit; Now I say although this insipid water be by the specifical Sulphur and Salt of the Vine fixed into the stalks, leaves, and grapes of the vine, yet these give it not a corporificative matter, for that it had before, and an aptitude and potentiality to become what afterwards it proves to be: for indeed stalks, leaves, and grapes were potentially in it before, all which now it becomes to be actually, by virtue of the Sun, and of the aforesaid Sulphur and Salt, whereof the two latter were originally in the small seed, and therefore as I said could not add any bulk to them. Moreover do not we see that when things are burnt and putrefied, they ascend up into the air by way of vapour, and fume, and then descend by way of insipid dew, or rain? Now what do all these signify but that from water are all things produced, and in it are dissimilary parts? 2 The artificial process is this: take of what water you please, whether Well water, Fountain, River, or Rain water, as much as you please, let it settle three or four hours, until the slime thereof separates itself: then digest it the space of a month; after which time evaporate the fourth part, by a very gentle heat, and cast it away being but the phlegm, then distil off the remainder of the water till the feces only be left, which feces will be a slimy saltish substance: this middle substance distil again as before, casting away every time the fourth part, as phlegm, and keeping the feces by themselves for a further use; and this do seven times. Note that after the fourth or fifth distillation the water will distil over like milk, colouring the head of your Still so that it can hardly be washed or scoured off. This pure water after the seventh distillation will leave no feces behind: and if you digest it three months' it will be coagulated into Stones and Crystals, which some magnify very much for the cure of inward, and outward putrefactions, out of which also may be made a dissolving spirit. Note that as this water stands in digestion you may see divers curious colours. Now as for the feces which I spoke of (which indeed all waters even the sweetest leave at the bottom) being as I said a saltish slime, and in taste as it were a Medium betwixt Salt, and Nitre; take them and distil them in a Retort in sand, and there will first come forth a white fume, which being condensed descendeth in a strait line to the bottom, next will come over a red Oil of great efficacy, exceeding the virtues of the spirit of Salt or Nitre. For confirmation of part of this process, take May due gathered in a morning (when it hath not reigned the night before) and put it into a glass vessel, covered with a parchment pricked full of holes, and set it in the heat of the Sun for the space of four months, and there will store of green feces fall to the bottom, the residue of the water being white and clear. Now by all this you may conclude what manner of dissimilarity there is in the parts of water. I shall add but one observation more, and so conclude this subject. Take a slint out of River water, and put it into a gourd glass, pour upon it as much River Water as will fill the glass, evaporate this water till the flint be dry, then pour on more fresh water, do this so long till the flint will fill up the glass, (for in a little time it will fill it up, and become to be of the form or figure of the glass) for it attracts to itself the mucilaginousnesse of the water, which indeed is a slimy saltish matter, and the true matter of Stones. And thus thou shalt have that done by Art in few days, which Nature would have been perfecting many years, and indeed just such a flint as is produced in the Rivers. Any one that should see this flint in the glass would wonder how it should come in there. You may break your glass and take out the flint. There are divers such processes which may be used, but in effect they demonstrate but little more concerning the potential Heterogeneity of water, and therefore to avoid tediousness, I shall here end with the Anatomy of Water, concerning which if any one can make a further illustration, let him be candid and impart it, and I shall be glad to learn of him, and in the mean time let him accept of these my endeavours. The spagyrical Anatomy of Wine. I Shall not speak here of the juice of grapes as being naturally divided into Wine, Tartar, and Lees, but of Wine as artificially divided into pure Spirit, Phlegm, and Feces. 1 The spirit is that hot, subtle, pure, clear, cordial, and balsamical substance, which ariseth with a small heat after four or five distillations, being indeed but the twentieth part of the Wine. This spirit is not that inebriating substance of the Wine as most think, for a man may drink the spirit that is extracted out of ten pints of Wine without distempering of his br●in at all, when as perhaps he would be distempered with drinking a pint or two of the Wine. Now this spirit contains in it a subtle Armoniac, and essential Sulphur inseparably conjoined, which indeed are the life of the spirit, and may be separated from the Mercurial or watery part thereof, which after separation of them remains inspid, but yet of wonderful subtlety. They may be separated thus: First rectify the spirit as high as you can the ordinary way: then rectify it once or twice in th●se following vessels. Now this spirit or Aqua vitae, is in all Vegetables, as you may see in Malt, and Vegetables that are put refied before they be distilled, which then yield a burning spirit; yet it is in Wine more than in any other Liquors: I say Liquors, for if you take eight gallons of Sack, and as much Wheat, which is a solid body, the Wheat being malted, will yield more Aqua vitae than the Sack. 2 The phlegm is that which remains after the spirit is distilled off, and is a putrid, insipid, cold, narcotick, and inebriating Liquor, debilitating the stomach and offending the head. A few spoonfuls of this will presently make a man drunk, nay the phlegm of half a pint of Wine will make a man drunk, when as two pints of Wine itself would hardly do it: whence you may collect what a great corrector of Malignant spirits, and vapours the spirit of Wine is; which, whilst it is mixed with the phlegm before distillation, doth temper and correct this inebriating quality thereof, and as it doth thus, so also being given (I mean the pure deflegmated spirit) to them that are already inebriated, doth much allay their distemper. This phlegm therefore being of so narcotick a quality is the cause of Palsies, and such like distempers. Moreover it is to be observed that when this phlegm is to be distilled off, there remains at the bottom a viscous corrosive matter, which by reason of its viscosity is the cause of obstructions, and by reason of its corrosiveness the cause of the gout, colic, stone, etc. 3 This feces being distilled yields a sharp spirit, and fetid oil, which leave behind them a saltish substance, out of which when the salt is extracted, there remains an insipid earth. Now if any shall object against what I have asserted, and say that Aqua vitae, or spirit of Wine are inebriating, the causes of Palfie, stone, gout, colic, weak stomaches, and such like: as we see by daily experience in those that are given to the drinking of these Liquors: to which I answer it is true: but then I must distinguish of Aqua vitae, and spirit of Wine, for there is a common Aqua vitae, and spirit of Wine, of which also they make Aniseed water by putting a few Aniseeds thereunto, and other such like waters, as Clove, Angelica, Lemmon, etc. With which this Nation is most abominably cheated, and their health impaired. But these are not rectified throughly, but three parts of four of them are an insipid Narcotick phlegm, containing in it the feces I spoke of, all which I can in a day separate from the true pure spirit, which spirit rather prevents than causes such distempers: And the truth is, all the goodness of the Wine is from this pure spirit. The famous Arcanum, or restorative Medicament of Paracelsus, called his Homunculus. FIrst we must understand that there are three acceptions of the word Homunculus in Paracelsus, which are these. 1 Homunculus is a superstitious image made in the place or name of any one, that it may contain an astral and invisible man; wherefore it was made for a superstitious use. 2 Homunculus is taken for an artificial man, made of Sperma humamum Masculinum, digested into the shape of a man, and then nourished and increased with the essence of man's blood; and this is not repugnant to the possibility of Nature and Art. But is one of the greatest wonders of God which he ever did suffer mortal man to know. I shall not here set down the full process because I think it unfit to be done, at least to be divulged: besides, neither this nor the former is for my present purpose. 3 Homuncu●us is taken for a most excellent Arcanum or Medicament extracted by the spagyrical Art, from the chiefest staff of the natural life in man, and according to this acception I shall here speak of it: But before I show you the process I shall give you an account why this Medicament is called Homunculus; and it is this. No wise man will deny that the staff of life is the nutriment thereof, and that the chiefest nutriment is Bread and Wine, being ordained by God and Nature above all other things for the sustentation thereof. Besides Paracelsus preferred this nutriment for the generation of the blood and spirits, and the forming thence the Sperm of this Homunculus. Now by a suitable allusion the nutriment is taken for the life of man, and especially because it is transmuted into life: and again the life is taken for the man, for unless a man be alive he is not a man, but the carcase only of a man, and the basest part thereof, which cannot perfectly be taken for the whole man, as the noblest part may. In as much therefore as the nutriment, or aliment of life may be called the life of man, and the life of man be called man; this nutriment extracted out of Bread and Wine, and being by digestion exalted into the highest purity of a nutritive substance, and consequently becoming the life of man, being so potentially, may Metaphorically be called Homunculus. The process, which in part shall be set down allegorically is thus: Take the best Wheat and the best Wine, of each a like quantity, put them into a glass, which you must hermetically close: then let them putrefy in horse dung three days, or until the Wheat begin to germinate, or to sprout forth, which then must be taken forth and bruised in a Mortar, and be pressed through a linen cloth, and there will come forth a white juice like milk; you must cast away the feces: Let this juice be put into a glass, which must not be above half full; stop it close and set it in horse dung as before, for the space of fifty days. If the heat be temperate, and not exceeding the natural heat of a man, the matter will be turned into a spagyrical blood, and flesh, like an Embryo. This is the principal, and next matter, out of which is generated a twofold sperm, viz. of the father and mother, generating the Homunculus, without which there can be made no generation, whether humane, or animal. From the blood, and flesh of this Embryo let the water be separated in Balneo, and the air in ashes, and both be kept by themselves. Then to the feces of the latter distillation let the water of the former distillation be added, both which must (the glass being close stopped) putrefy in Balneo the space of ten days, after this distil the water the second time, (which is then the vehiculum of the first) together with the fire, in ashes, then distil off this water in a gentle Balneo, and in the bottom remains the fire which must be distilled in ashes. Keep both these a part. And thus you have the four Elements separated from the Chaos of the Embryo. The feculent earth is to be reverberated in a close vessel for the space of four days: In the interim distil off the fourth part of the first distillation in Balneo, and cast it away; the other three parts distil in ashes, and pour it upon the reverberated earth, and distil it in a strong fire; cohobate it four times, and so you shall have a very clear water, which you must keep by itself: Then pour the air on the same earth, and distil it in a strong fire, and there will come over a clear, splendid, odoriferous water, which must be kept apart: After this pour the fire upon the first water, and putrefy them together in Balneo the space of three days, than put them into a Retort and distil them in sand, and there will come over a water tasting of the fire: let this water be distilled in Balneo, and what distils off keep by itself, as also what remains in the bottom, which is the fire, keep by itself. This last distilled water pour again upon its earth, and let them be macerated together in Balneo for the space of three days, and then let all the water be distilled in sand, and let what will arise be separated in Balneo, and the residence remaining in the bottom be reserved with the former residence. Let the water be again poured upon the earth, be abstracted, and separated as before, until nothing remain in the bottom, which is not separated in Balneo. This being done, let the water which was last separated be mixed with the residue of its fire, and be macerated in Balneo three or four days, and all be distilled in Balneo, that can ascend with that heat, and let what remains be distilled in ashes from the fire, and what shall be elevated is aerial; and what remains in the bottom is fiery. These two last Liquors are ascribed to the two first principles, the former to Mercury, and the latter to Sulphur, and are accounted by Paracelsus, not as Elements, but their vital parts, being as it were the natural spirits and soul, which are in them by nature. Now both are to be rectified, and reflected into their centre with a circular motion, that this Mercury may be prepared with its water being kept clear, and odoriferous in the upper place, but the Sulphur by itself. Now it remains that we look into the third principle: let the reverberated earth being ground upon a marble imbibe it's own water, which did above remain after the last separation of the Liquors made in Balneo, so that this be the fourth part of the weight of its earth, and be congealed by the heat of ashes into its earth, and let this be done so oft, the proportion being observed, until the earth hath drunk up all its water. And lastly let this earth be sublimed into a white powder, as white as snow, the feces being cast away. This earth being sublimed and freed from its obscurity is the true Chaos of the Elements, for it contains those things occult, seeing it is the salt of nature, in which they lie hid, being as it were reflected in their centre. This is the third principle of Paracelsus, and the salt, which is the matrix, in which the two former sperms, viz. of the man and woman, the parents of the Homunculus, viz. of Mercury and Sulphur, are to be put, and to be closed up together in a glazen womb sealed with Hermes seals for the true generation of the Homunculus produced from the spagyrical Embryo: and this is the Homunculus or great Arcanum, otherwise called the nutritive Medicament of Paracelsus. This Homunculus or nutritive Medicament, is of such virtue that presently after it is taken into the body, it is turned into blood, and spirits. If then diseases prove mortal because they destroy the spirits, what mortal disease can withstand such a medicine, that doth so soon repair, and so strongly fortify the spirits as this Homunculus being as the oil to the flame, into which it is immediately turned, thereby renewing the same? By this Medicament therefore, as diseases are overcome, and expelled, so also youth is renewed, and grey hairs prevented. An Artificial way to make Flesh. TAke of the crumbs of the best wheaten bread assoon as it comes forth out of the Oven being very hot, as much as you please, put it into a glass vessel, which you must presently hermetically close. Then set it in digestion in a temperate Balneo, the space of two months, and it will be turned into a fibrous flesh. If any Artist please to exalt it to a higher perfection according to the Rules of Art, he may find out, how great a nourisher, and restorative Wheat is, and what an excellent medicine it may make. Note that there must be no other moisture put into the glass besides what is in the bread itself. Paracelsus his way for the raising of a dead bird to life, and for the generating many Serpents of one, both which are performed by putrefaction. A Bird is restored to life thus, viz. Take a Bird, put it alive into a gourd glass, and seal it up hermetically, burn it to ashes in the third degree of fire, then putrefy it in horse dung into a mucilaginous phlegm, and so by a continued digestion that phlegm must be brought to a further maturity (being taken out, and put into an oval vessel of a just bigness to hold it) by an exact digestion, and will so become a renewed bird: which saith Pa●acelsus is one of the greatest wonders in Nature, and shows the great virtue of putrefaction. 2 Cut a Serpent into small pieces, which put into a gourd glass which you must Hermetically seal up, then putrefy them in horse dung, and the whole Serpent will become living again in the glass, in the form either of worms or spawn of fishes; Now if these worms be in a fitting manner, brought out of putrefaction, and nourished; many hundred Serpents will be bred out of one Serpent, whereof every one will be as big as the first. And as it is said of the Serpent, so also many other living creatures may be raised, and restored again. To make an artificial Mallago Wine. First take a wine barrel well hooped and dressed, with one end being open, to which a close cover must be well fitted, which must be to take off and put on at pleasure. Set it in a warm place Winter or Summer, and fill it full with clear and pure water, to each three gallons, put six pound of the best Mallago Raisins, which you must bruise in a stone Mortar, and then strew upon the water, upon each twenty gallons of which you must cast a handful of Calxvive, then cover the vessel close with the cover, and cast clothes upon it to keep it warm, and let it stand four or five days to work as Wine or Beer do when they be new: then see if the Raisins be risen up to the top of the Water; if so, then put them down again, and cover it again as before; let them thus stand three weeks or a month together, the Raisins being every fourth or fifth day put down in case they rise up. Then put a tap into the vessel three or four fingers above the bottom, and try if it be good, and taste like Wine; if not, let it stand a while longer, but if so, draw it off into another wine vessel, and to every twenty gallons that you have drawn off, put a pint of the best Aqua vitae, two new laid Hen-egs, and a quart of Alicante beaten well together, and let it stand in a cellar as other wine doth, till it be clear and fit to be drunk. To make an artificial Claret wine. Take six gallons of water, two gallons of the best Cidar, put thereunto eight pound of the best. Mallago Raisins bruised in a Mortar, let them stand close covered in a warm place the space of a fortnight, every two days stirring them well together, then press out the Raisins and put the Liquor into the said vessel again: to which add a quart of the juice of Rasp-berries, and a pint of the juice of Black cherries, cover this Liquor with Bread spread thick with strong Mustard, the Mustard side being downward, and so let it work by the fire side three or four days, than tun it up, and let it stand a week, & then bottle it up. And it will taste as quick as bottle-beer, and indeed become a very pleasant drink, and indeed far better, and wholesomer than our common Claret. An artificial Malmsey. Take two gallons of English honey, put it into eight gallons of the best Spring water, set these in a vessel over a gentle fire, when they have boiled gently an hour take them off, and when they be cold put them into a small barrel or run let, hanging in the vessel a bag of spices and set it in the cellar, and in half a year you may drink thereof. To make an excellent aromatical Hyppocras. Take of Cinnamon two ounces, Ginger an ounce, Cloves and Nutmegs of each two drams, of white Pepper half a dram, of cardamum's two drams; of Musk Mallow seed, three ounces. Let all these be bruised, and put into a bag and hanged in six gallons of Wine. Note that you must put a weight in the bag to make it sink. Some boil these spices in Wine, which they then sweeten with sugar, and then let run through a Hyppocras bag, and afterwards bottle it up, and use when they please. A single Hippocras bag, or Manica Hippocratis. When you would have this or any other Liquor to be very clear, you may use the triple Hippocras bag, for what feces passeth the first will stay in the second, and what in the second will stay in the last. Note that these bags must be made of white Cotton. A triple Hippocras bag is only one hanging above another after this manner. To make an excellent Hippocras Wine in an instant. Take of Cinnamon two ounces, Nurmegs, Ginger, of each half an ounce, Cloves two drams bruise these small, then mix them with as as much Spirit of Wine as will make them into a paste, let them stand close covered in a glass the space of six days in a cold place then press ou● the Liquor, and keep it in a glass. A few drops of this Liquor put into any Wine giveth it a gallant relish, and odour, and maketh it as good as any Hippocras whatsoever, and that in an instant. Note that if the Wine be of itself harsh, it will not be amiss to sweeten it with Sugar, for thereby it is made far more grateful. This also being put into Beer will make it very pleasant, and aromatical. Another way to make Hippocras, or to make any Wine to taste of any vegetable in an instant. Take what Wine you please, and according as you would have it taste of this or that spice, or any other vegetable, of one or more together, you may drop a few drops of the distilled oil of the said spices, or vegetables into the Wine, and brew them well together, and you may make in an instant all sorts of Hippocras or other Wines: as for example, if you would have Wormwood Wine, two or three drops of oil of Wormwood put into good Rhenish-wine, being well brewed together, will make a Wormword Wine exceeding any that you shall meet withal in the Rhenish-wine houses. To make a good Rasberry-wine. Take a gallon of Sack, in which let two gallons of Raspberries stand steeping the space of twenty four hours; then strain them, and put to the Liquor three pound of Raisins of the sun stoned; let them stand together four or five days, bring sometimes stirred together: Then pour off the clearest, and put it up in bottles, and set it in a cold place, If it be not sweet enough you may add some Sugar to it. Two other ways to make it all the year at an instant. Take of the juice of Raspberries, put it into a bottle, which you must stop close, and set in a cellar, and it will become clear, and keep all the year, and become very fragrant. A few sponfulls of this put into a pint of Wine sweetened well with Sugar gives it an excellent and full taste of the Raspes. If you put two or three ounces of the Syrup of Raspes to a pint of Wine it will do as well, but than you need use no other Sugar, for that will sweeteen it sufficiently. To make Mead or Metheglin that it shall taste stale and quick within a fortnight and be fit to drink. To every three gallons of water, put one gallon of the purest Honey, put what herbs and spices you please, boil it, and skim it well, now and then putting in some water. When it is sufficiently boiled take it off, and when it is almost cold, put it into a wooden vessel, and set it by the sire side, cover it over with Bread spread thick with the strongest Mustard, the Mustard side being downwards, and so let it stand three days, and it will work, only put a cloth over it: Then ton it up, and after a week draw it forth into bottles, and set it into a cellar, and after a week more you may drink of it, for it will taste as quick as bottle beer that is a fortnight old, and indeed as stale as other Mead will in half a year. To make a Spirit of Amber-gryse that a few drops thereof shall perfume a pint of Wine most richly. Take of Amber-gryse 2. drams, of Musk a dram, cut them small, and put them into a pint of the b●st rectified Spirit of Wine, close up the glass Hermetically, and digest them in a very gentle heat till you perceive they are dissolved. Then you may make use of it. Two or three drops or more if you please of this Spirit put into a pint of Wine, gives it a rich odour. Or if you put 2. or 3. drops round the brims of the glass it will do as well. Half a spoonful of it taken either of itself, or mixed with some special Liquor, is a most rich Cordial. An excellent sweet Water. Take a quart of Orenge-flower water, as much Rose-water, add thereto of Musk-mallow seeds grossly bruised four ounces, of B●njamin two ounces, of Storax an ounce, of Labdanum six drams, of Lavender flowers two pugils, of sweet Marjoram as much, of Calamus Aromaticus a dram, distil all these in a Glass Still in Balneo, the vessels being very well closed that no vapour breath forth. Note that you may make a sweet water in an instant by putting a few drops of some distilled oils together into some Rose-water, and brewing them well together. To purify and give an excellent smell, and taste unto oil Olive that they that loathe it may delight to eat it. Take of a good sort of oil Olive though not of the best, put the same into a vessel of earth or copper, that hath a little hole in the bottom thereof, which you may stop with wax or a cork to open at your pleasure. In this vessel for every quart of oil add four quarts of fair water, and with a wood●n spatle or spoon, beat them well together for a quarter of an hour's space, and when you have so done, op●n the hole in the bottom, and let out the water, for the oil doth naturally fleet above, as being the lighter body▪ and assoon as the water is passed away, stop the hole, and put in other cold water, and begin a new agitation as before, and work in the like manner divers times as you did at the first, till in the end the oil be well cleansed and clarified. If the last time you work it with Rose-water it will be so much the better than hang in the midst of the oil a course bag full of Nutmegs sliced, and Cloves bruised, and the rinds of Oranges and Lemons cut small, and set the vessel in Balneo for two or three house's, and I suppose he that loathes oil will be easily by this means drawn to a liking of it. Another way. Set oil Olive in the sun in summertime until there settle good store of foul, and gross Lees, from the which by declination pour out the clear oil, and keep it till the next winter, and after the same hath been congealed with some frosty weather, the oil will be most sweet, and delectable to the taste. After this manner you may clarify all thick oils, and all kinds of grease, but than you must use warm water in stead of cold. To purify Butter that it shall keep fresh and sweet a long time, and be most wonderful sweet in taste. Dissolve butter in a clean glazed or silver vessel and in a pan or kettle of water with a slow, and gentle fire, then pour the same so dissolved into a basin that hath some fair water therein, and when it is cold, take away the curds, and the whey that remain in the bottom. And if you will be at the charge thereof, you may the second time for it must be twice dissolved) dissolve the Butter in Rose-water, working them well together: the Butter thus clarified will be as swe●t in taste as the marrow of any beast, by reason of the great impurity that is removed by this manner of handling the fifth pa●t thereof being dross, which makes the Butter many times offensive to the stomach. To make Butter taste of any vegetable without altering the colour thereof. When the Butter is taken out of the cherne and well worked from the ser●us part thereof, mix with the said Butter as much of the oil o● that vegetable which you like best, till the same be strong enough in taste to your liking, then temper them well together. If you do in the month of May mix some oil of Sage with your Better it may excuse you from eating Sage with your butter. If you mix the oil with the aforesaid clarified Butter, it will be far better, and serve for a most dainty dish, and indeed a great rarity. To make Cheese taste strong of any vegetable without discolouring of it. You may mix the distilled oil of what vegetable you would have the Cheese taste of, with the curd, before the whey be pressed out; but be sure you mix them very well that all places may taste alike of it; you may make it taste stronger, or weaker of it as you please by putting in more or less of the oil. To purify and refine Sugar. Make a strong Lixivium of Calx vive, wherein dissolve as much course Sugar as the Livivium will bear, then put in the white of Eggs (of 2 to every part of the Liquor) being beaten into an oil, stir them well together, and let them boil a little, and there will arise a scum which must be taken off as lo●g as any will arise, then pour all the Liquor through a great woollen cloth bag, and so the feces will remain behind in the bag, then boil the Liquor again so long till some drops of it being put upon a cold plate will, when they be cold, be congealed as hard as salt. Then pour out the Liquor into pots, or moulds made for that purpose, having a hole in the narrower end thereof, which must be stopped for one night after, and after that night be opened, and there will a moist substance drop forth which is called Molosses, or Treacle, then with potter's clay cover the ends of the pot, & as that clay sinketh down by reason of the sinking of the Sugar, fill them up with more clay, repeating the doing thereof till the Sugar shrink no more. Then take it out till it be hard, and dried, then bind it up in papers. To make a vegetabl● grow and become more glorious than any of its species. Reduce any vagetable into its three first principles, and then join them together again being well purified, and put the same into a rich earth, and you shall have it produce a vegetable far more glorious than any of its species. Note how to make such an essence, look into the first book, and there you shall see the process thereof. To make a Plant grow in two or three hours. Take the ashes of Moss, moisten them with the juice of an old dunghill being first pressed forth, and strained, then dry them a little, and moisten them as before, do this four or five times, put this mixture being neither very dry, nor very moist, into some earthen, or metalline vessel; and in it set the seeds of Lettuce, Purslain or Parsley (because they will grow sooner than other Plants) being first in pregnated with the essence of a vegetable of its own species, (the process whereof you shall find Book 1. page 32, 33.) till they begin to sprout forth, than I say, put them in the said earth with that end upwards which sprouts forth: Then put the vessel into a gentle heat, and when it begins to dry, moisten it with some of the said joice of dung. Thou mayest by this means have a Salad grow whilst supper is making ready. To make the Idea of any Plant appear in a glass, as if the very plant itself were there. The process of this thou mayst see, pag. 32. and therefore I need not here again repeat it, only remember that if you put the flame of a candle to the bottom of the glass where the essence is, by which it may be made hot, you will see that thin substance which is like impalpable ashes or salt send forth from the bottom of the glass the manifest form of a vegetable, vegetating and growing by little, and little, and putting on so fully the form of stalks, leaves, and flowers in such perfect, and natural wise in apparent show, that any one would believe verily the same to be naturally corporal, when as in truth it is the spiritual Idea, endued with a spiritual essence; which serveth for no other purpose, but to be matched with its fitting earth, that so it may take unto itself a more solid body. This shadowed figure assoon as the vessel is taken from the fire, returns to its ashes again and vanisheth away, becoming a Chaos, and confused matter. To make Firre-trees appear in Turpentine. Take as much Turpentine as you please, put it into a Retort, distil it by degrees, when all is distilled off▪ keep the Retort still in a reasonable heat, that what humidity is still remaining may be evaporated, and it become dry: Then take this off from the fire and hold your hand to the bottom of the Retort, and the Turpentine that is dried (which is called Colophonia) will crack asunder in several places, and in those cracks or chaps you shall see the perfect effigies or Firre-trees which will there continue many months. To make Hartshorn seemingly to grow in a glass. Take Hartshorn broken into small pieces, and put them into a glass Retort to be distilled, and you shall see the glass to be seemingly full of horns, which will continue there so long till the volatile salt come over. To make golden mountains as it were appear in a glass. Take of Adder's eggs half a pound, put them into a glass Retort, distil them by degrees, when all is dry, you shall see the feces at the bottom turgid, and puffed up, and seem to be as it were golden mountains, being very glorious to behold. To make the representation of the whole World in a Class. Take of the purest salt Nitre as much as you please, of Tin half so much, mix them together, and calcine them Hermetically, than put them into a Retort, to which annex a glass receiver, and l●●e them well together, let there be leaves of gold put into the bottom thereof, then put fire to the Retort, until vapours arise that will cleave to the gold: augment the fire till no more fumes ascend, then take away the Receiver, and close it Hermetically, and make a lamp fire under it, and you will see presented in it the Sun, Moon, Stars, Fountains Flowers, Trees, fruits, and indeed even all things, which is a glorious sight to behold. To make four Elements appear in a glass. Take of the subtle powder of Jet an ounce and half, of the oil of Tartar made per Deliquium (in which there is not one drop of water besides what the Tartar itself contracted) two ounces, which you must colour with a light green with Vardegrease, of the purest Spirit of Wine ringed with a light blew with Indigo, 2. ounces of the best rectified Spirit of Turpentine coloured with a light red with Madder 2. ounces. Put all these into a glass, and shake them together, and you shall see the Jet which is heavy and black fall to the bottom and represent the earth; next, the oil of Tartar made green representing the element of water, falls: upon that swims the blue spirit of Wine which will not mix with the oil of Tartar; and represents the element of air: uppermost will swim the subtle red oil of Turpentine which represents the element of fire. It is strange to see how after shaking all these together they will be distinctly separated the one from the other. If it be well done, as it is easy enough to do, it is a most glorious ●ight. To make a perpetual motion in a glass. Take seven ounces of Quicksilver, as much Tin, grind them well together with fourteen ounces of Sublimate dissolved in a cellar upon a Marble the space of four days, and it will become like oil Olive, which distil in sand, and there will sublime a dry substance, than put the water which distils off back upon the earth, in the bottom of the Still, and dissolve what you can, filter it, and distil it again, and thi● do four or five times, and then that earth will be so subtle, that being put into a vial the subtle atoms ●hereof will move up and down for ever. Note that the vial or glass must be close stopped, and kept in a dry place. To make a Luminous Water that shall give light by night. Take the tails of Glow-worms, put them into a glass Still, and distil them in Balneo, pour the said water upon more fresh tails of Glow-worms, do this four or five times, and thou shalt have a most Luminous Water, by which thou mayst see to read in the dark night. Some say this Water may be made of the Skins of Herring; and for aught I know it may be probable enough: for I have heard that a shoal of Herrings coming by a ship in the night have given a great light to all the ship. It were worth the while to know the true reason why Glow-worms, and Herring and some other such like things should be luminous in the night. To make a vapour in a chamber that he that enters into it with a candle shall think the room to be on fire. Dissolve Camphire in rectified Aqua vitae, and evaporate them in a very close chamber where no air can get in, and he that first enters the chamber with a lighted candle will be much astonished, for the chamber will seem to be full of fire, very subtle, but it will be of little continuance. You must note that it is the combustible vapour, with which the chamber is filled, that takes flame from the candle. Divers such like experiments as this may be done, by putting such a combustible vapour into a box, or cubboard or such like, which will▪ assoon as any one shall open them having a candle in his hand, take fire, and burn. To make a powder that by spitting upon shall be inflamed. Take a Loadstone, powder it, and put it into a strong calcining pot, cover it all over with a powder made of Calx vive, and Colophonia, of each a like quantity, put also some of this powder under it: when the pot is full cover it, and lute the closures with potter's earth, put them into a furnace, and there let them boil, then take them out and put them into another pot, and set them in the furnace again, and this do till they become a very white and dry Calx. Take of this Calx one part, of salt Nitre being very well purified four parts, and as much Camphire, Sulphur vivum, the oil of Turpentine, and Tartar, grind all these to a subtle powder and searse them, and put them into a glass vessel, then put as much Spirit of wine well rectified, as will cover them two fingers breadth, then close them up and set the vessel in horsedung three months, and in that time they will all become an uniform paste: evaporate all the humidity, until the whole mass become a very dry stone: then take it out and powder it, and keep it very dry. If you take a little of this powder and spit upon it, or pour some water upon it, it will take fire presently, so that thou mayst light a match, or any such thing by it. To fortify a Loadstone that it shall be able to draw a nail out of a piece of wood. Take a Loadstone, and heat it very hot in coals, but so that it be not fired, then presently quench it in the Oil of Crocus Martis made of the best steel, that it may imbibe as much as it can. Thou shalt by this means make the Loadstone so very strong and powerful, that thou mayst pull out nails out of a piece of wood with it, and do such wonderful things with it that the common Loadstone can never do. Now the reason of this (as Paracelsus saith) is because the Spirit of Iron is the life of the Loadstone, and this may be extracted from, or increased in the Loadstone. To make Quicksilver Malleable in seven hours. Take of the best lead, and melt it, and pour it into a hole, and when it is almost congealed make a hole in it, and presently fill up the hole with quicksilver, and it will presently be congelated into a friable substance, then beat it into a powder, and put it again into a hole of fresh melted lead as before, do this 3, or 4, times, then boil it being all in a piece in Linseed oil the space of six hours; then take it out and it will become malleable. Note that after this, it may by being melted over the fire be reduced into quicksilver again. A thin plate of the said Mercury laid upon an inveterate Ulter takes away the malignity of it in a great measure, and renders it more curable than before. A plate of the said Mercury laid upon tumors would be a great deal better repercussive than plates of lead, which Surgeons use in such cases. The powder of the friable substance of Mercury before it be boiled in the oil is very good to be strewed upon old ulcers, for it doth much correct the virulency of them. To reduce Glass into its first principles, viz. sand and salt. Take bits or powder of Glass as much as you please, as much of the Salt which Glassemen use in the making of Glasses: melt these together in a strong fire: Then dissolve all the melted mass in warm water, then pour off the water and you shall see no Glass, but only sand in the bottom, which sand was that which was in the glass before. This con●utes the vulgar opinion, viz. that the fusion of Glass is the last fusion, and beyond all reduction. To write or engrave upon an egg, or pebble, with wax or grease. Make what letters or figures you please with wax, or grease, upon an egg or pebble, put them into the strongest Spirit of Vinegar, and there let them lie 2. or 3. days, and you shall see every place about the letters or figures eaten or consumed away with the said Spirit, but the place where the wax or grease was, not at all touched: the reason whereof is because that the Spirit would not operate upon the said oleaginous matter. To make artificial Pearl, as glorious as any oriental. Dissolve mother of Pearl in Spirit of vinegar, then precipitate it with Oil of Sulphur per Campanam, (and not with Oil of Tartar, for that takes away the splendour of it) which adds a lustre to it: when it is thus precipitated, dry it, and mix it with whites of eggs, and of this mass you may make Pearls of what dignesse or fashion you please: before they be dried you may make holes through them, and when they be dried they will not at all, or very hardly be discerned from true, and natural Pearls. To make a Mineral perfume. Dissolve Antomony, or Sulphur in the Liquor or Oil of flints or pebbles, or crystals, or sand, coagulate the solution into a red mass, pour thereon the Spirit of urine, and digest them till the Spirit be tinged, then pour it off, and pour more on, till all the tincture be extracted, put all the tinctures together, and evaporate the Spirit of urine in Balneo, and there will remain a blood red Liquor at the bottom, upon which pour Spirit of wine, & you shall extract a purer tincture, which smeleth like garlic, digest it three or four weeks, and it will smell like balm, digest it longer, and it will smell like Musk or Amber-gryse. Besides the smell that it hath, it is an excellent Sudorific, and cures all diseases that require sweat, as the plague, putrid fevers, lues venerea, and such like. The Oil or Liquor of sand, flints, pebbles, or crystals, for the aforesaid preparation is thus made. Take of the best salt of Tartar being very well, by two or three dissolutions, and coagulations, purified, and powdered in a hot mortar, one part, of flints, pebbles, or crystals being powdered, or small sand well washed, the fourth part, mingle them well together, put as much of this composition as will fill an eggshell into a Crucible set in the earthen Furnace, (expressed page 83.) and made red hot, and presently there will come over a thick, and white spirit, this do till you have enough, then take out of the Crucible whilst it is glowing hot, & that which is in it is like transparent glass, which keep from the air. The Spirit may be rectified by ●and in a glass Retort. This Spirit is of excellent use in the gou●, stone, ptisick, and indeed in all obstructions, provoketh sweated, and urine, and cleanseth the stomach, and by consequence effectual in most diseases. It being applied externally cleareth the skin, and makes it look very fair. Take that which remains at the bottom in the crucible, and beat it to powder, and lay it in a moist place, and so it dissolveth into a thick fat Oil: and this is that which is called the Oil of sand, of flints, pebbles, or crystals. This Oil is of wonderful use in medicine, as also in the preparation of all sorts of Minerals. This oil being taken inwdarly in some appropriated Liquor dissolves tartarous coagulations in the body, and so opens all obstructions. It precipitates metals, and makes the calx thereof more weighty, than oil of Tartar doth. It is of a golden nature: it extracts colours from all metals, is fixed in all fires, maketh fine Crystals, and Borax, and maturifieth imperfect metals into gold. If you put it into water there will precipitate a most fine white earth, of which you may make as clear vessels as are China-dishes. Note that all sand, flints, and pebbles, even the whitest, have in them a golden sulphur, or tincture, and if a prepared lead be for a time digested in this oil it will seem as it were gilded, because of the gold that will hang upon it, which may be washed away in water. Gold also is found in sand and flints, etc. and if you put Gold into this oil it will become more ponderous thereby. To make Steel grow in a glass like a tree. Dissolve Steel in a rectified Spirit of salt, so shall you have a green and sweet solution, which smells like brimstone, filter it, and abstract all the moisture in sand with a gentle heat, and there will distil over a Liquor as sweet as rain-water (for Steel by reason of its dryness detains the corosivenesse of the Spirit of salt, which remaineth in the bottom like a blood red mass, which is as hot on the tongue as fire, dissolve this red mass in oil of flints, or of sand, and you shall see it grow up in two or three hours, like a tree with a stem, and branches; prove this tree at the test, and it yieldeth good gold, which this tree hath drawn from the aforesaid oil of sand, or flints, which hath a golden sulphur in it. To melt any metal in ones hand without burning of the hand. Take a little calcining pot in your hand, make in it a lane or course of the powder of any metal, then upon it lay a lane of Sulphur, Salt-peter and Sawdust, of each a like quantity, mixed together, put a coal of fire to it, and forthwith the metal will be melted into a mass. An observation upon the beams of the Sun and heat of the fire, how they add weight to Mineral, and Metalline bodies. 1. Take any Mineral Liquor and set it in an open vessel in the sun for a good space, and it will be augmented in quantity, and weight. But some will say that this proceedeth from the air: to the which I answer and demand, whether the air had not this impregnation from the sun, and what the air hath in itself that proceedeth not from the sun and stars. 2. Put this liquor in a cold cellar, or in a moist air, and you shall find that it increaseth not in weight, as it doth in the sun, or in the fire (which hath in this respect some analogy with the sun) I do not say but haply it might attract some little moisture which is soon exhaled by any small heat: 3. Dissolve any sulphurous, and imperfect metal, as Iron, Copper, or Zinke, in Aqua fortis, or any other acid spirit, then abstract the Spirit from it, make it glowing hot, yet not too hot, that the Spirit may only vapour away, then weigh this metalline Calx, and set it in a crucible over the fire, but melt it not, only let it darkly glow, let it stand so 3, or 4, weeks, then take it off, and weigh it again, and you shall find it heavier than before. 4. Set any sulphurous metal, as Iron, or Copper, with sixteen or eighteen parts of Lead on a test made with ashes of wood, or bones in a probatory furnace: first weigh the test, copper and lead before you put them into the furnace, let the iron or copper fly away with the lead, yet not with too strong a heat, then take the test out, and weigh it, and you shall find it (though the metals are gone) when it is cold to be heavier than it was when it was put into the furnace with the metals. The question is now whence this heaviness of all the aforesaid Minerals and metals proceeded, if that the heat of the fun, and fire through the help of the Minerals and metals be not fixed into a palpable Mineral, and Metalline body? 5. Set a test with lead, or copper in the sun, and with a concave glass unite the beams of the sun, and let them fall on the centre of the metal, hold the concave glass in your hand, and let your test never be cold, and this will be as well done in the sun, as in the fire. But this concave must be two foot in Diameter, and not too hollow or deep, but about the eighteenth or twentieth part of the circle, that it may the better cast its beams forth, and it must be very well polished. 6. Calcine Antimony with a burning glass, and you shall see it smoke, and fume, and be made drier than before, yet weigh it and it will be heavier than before. I shall take in, for the confirmation of all this, a relation of Sir Kenelm Digby concerning the precipitating of the sun beams. I remember (saith he) a rare experiment that a Noble man of much sincerity, and a singular friend of mine, told me he had seen, which was, that by means of glasses made in a very particular manner, and artificially placed one by another, he had seen the sun beams gathered together, and precipitated down into a brownish, or purplish red powder. There (saith he) could be no fallacy in this operation. For nothing whatsoever, was in the glass, when they were placed, and disposed for this intent; and it must be in the hot time of the year, else the effect would not follow. And of this magistery he could gather some days near 2. ounces in a day, and it was of a strong volatile virtue, and would impress it spiritual quality into gold itself (the heaviest and most fixed body we converse withal) in a very short time. I leave it now to the reader to judge whether the beams of the sun, and heat of the fire add weight to Minerals, and Metals. To extract a white Milky substance from the rays of the Moon. Take a concave glass and hold it against the Moon when she is at the full in a clear evening, and let the rays thereof being united fall upon a sponge, and the sponge will be full of a cold Milky substance, which you may press out with your hand, and gather more. De-La-Brosse is of opinion that this substance is of the substance of the Moon: but I cannot assent to him in that, only this I say, if this experiment were well prosecuted, it might produce for aught I know, such a discovery which might be the key to no small secrets. To condense the air in the heat of smmer and in the heat of the day, into water. Fill an earthen vessel unglazed, made pointed downward, and fill it with snow-water (which must be kept all the year) in which is dissolved as much Nitre as the water would dissolve: Let the vessel be close stopped. Hold this vessel against the sun and the air will be so condensed by the coldness of the vessel that it will drop down by the sides thereof. How two sorts of volatile salts will be fixed by joining them together. Take a strong Lixivium made of unslaked lime, and evaporate it, and whereas you would expect to find a salt at the bottom there is none, for all the salt in the Lixivium is vapored away, and the more the Liquor is evaporated the weaker the Lixivium becomes, which is contrary to other Lixiviums: Also if you take Spirit of vinegar, and evaporate it, you shall find no salt at the bottom. Now if you take the clear Lixivium of Lime, and Spirit of vinegar, of each a like quantity, and mix them together, and evaporate the humidity thereof, you shall find a good quantity of salt at the bottom, which tastes partly hot, and partly acid. This salt being set in a cold cellar on a marble stone, and dissolved into an oil, is as good as any Lac virgins to clear, and smooth the face, and dry up any hot pustles in the skin, as also against the Itch, and old ulcers to dry them up. To make an unguent that a few grains thereof being applied outwardly will cause vomiting or looseness as you please. Take Lapis infernalis, mix therewith of distilled oil of Tobacco as much as will make an ointment: Keep it in a dry place. If you would provoke vomiting, anoint the pit of the stomach with five or six grains thereof, and the party will presently vomit, and as much as with taking of a vomit. If you would provoke to looseness anoint about the navel therewith, and the patient will presently fall into a looseness. Note that you must give the patient some warm suppings all the time this medicine is working. Note also, and that especially, that you let not the ointment lie so long as to cauterize the part to which it is applied. To make a medicine that half a grain thereof being taken every morning will keep the body soluble. Take of the distilled oil of Tobacco, of which let the essential salt of Tobacco imbibe as much as it can. Then with this composition make some Lozenges by adding such things as are fitting for such a form of medicine: Note that you put but such a quantity of this oily salt as half a grain only may be in one Lozenge. One of these Lozenges being taken every morning, or every other morning, keepeth the body soluble, and is good for them as are apt to be very costive in their bodies. Note that you may put some aromatical ingredient into the Lozenges that may qualify the offensive odour of the oil, if there shall be any. To make a Cordial, stomachical, and purgative tincture. Make a tincture of Hiera picra with Spirit of wine well rectified, and aromatized with Cinnamon or Cloves. Two or three spoonfuls of this tincture being taken in a morning twice in a week wonderfully helps those that have weak and foul stomaches, it openeth obstructions, and purgeth viscosities of the stomach and bowels, cureth all inveterate headache killeth worms, and indeed leaveth no impurities in the body, and is very cordial: for it exceedingly helps them that are troubled with faintings. There is nothing offensive in this medicine but the bitterness thereof, which the other extraordinary virtues will more than balance. Another. Dissolve Scammony in Spirit of Wine, evaporate the one moiety, then precipitate it by putting Rose-water to it: and it will become most white, for the black and fetid matter will lie on the top of the precipitated matter which you must wash away with Rose-water. Then take that white gum being very well washed, and dry it (if you please you may powder it and so use it, for indeed it hath neither smell nor taste, and purgeth without any offence, and may be given to children or to any that distaste physic, in their milk or broth without any discerning of it, and indeed it doth purge without any manner of gripe. I was wont to make it up into pills with oil of Cinnamon or Cloves which gave it a gallant smell, and of which I gave a scruple which wrought moderately and without any manner of gripe) than dissolve it again in Spirit of Wine being aromatized with what spices you please, and this keep. This tincture is so pleasant, so gentle, so noble a purgative that there is scarce the like in the world, for it purgeth without any offence, is taken without any nauseating, and purgeth all manner of humours, especially choler, and melancholy, and is very Cordial. It may be given to those that abhor any medicine, as to children or those that are of a nauseous stomach. The dose is from half a spoonful to two or three. Note it must be taken of itself, for if it be put into any other Liquor, the Scammony will precipitate and fall to the bottom. After this manner you may prepare Jollap by extracting the gum therefore, and then dissolving it in Spirit of wine. By this means Jollap would not be so offensive to the stomach, as usually it is, for it is the gum that is purgative, and the earthliness that is so nauseous. Jollap being thus prepared is a most excellent medicine against all hydropic diseases, for it purgeth water away without any nauseousness or gripping at all. To reduce distilled Turpentine into its body again. Take the oil of Turpentine, and the Colophonia thereof (which is that substance which remains in the bottom after distillation) which you must beat to powder. Mix these together and digest them, and you shall have a Turpentine of the same consistency as before, but of a fiery subtle nature. Pills made of this Turpentine, are of excellent use in obstructions of the breast, kidneys and the like. To make the distilled Oil out of any herb, seed or flower in an instant without any furnace. You must have a long pipe made of tin, which must have a bowl in the middle with a hole in it as big as you can put your finger into it: by which you must put your matter that you would have the Oil of. Set this matter on fire with a candle or coal of fire, then put one end of the pipe into a basin of fair water, and blow at the other end, and the smoke will come into the water, and there will an oil swim upon the water: which you may separate with a tunnel. To make water, and the tincture of any vegetable at the same time, which is an excellent way to draw out the virtue thereof. This must be performed by these following vessels. A, Signifies the Furnace itself. B, The Retort which stands in water or sand, wherein the matter to be distilled is put, instead whereof, if you please you may put a gourd glass with a head to it. C, The pipe. D, Another vessel where is more fresh matter out of which the tincture is to be drawn, and which stands upon ashes with a fire under it. E, The furnace with a pan of ashes. F, The receiver. G, The hole of the furnace to put in coals, to heat the second matter. A way to separate fresh water from salt without a furnace or much trouble. Take a Cauldron with a great and high cover having a beak or nose, set it upon a trefoot, and under it put fire: let this be filled with salt water, and there will presently distil off a good quantity of fresh water into a receiver, which must be joined to the nose of the aforesaid cover. This is of good use for Seamen that want fresh water, for by this means they may distil a good quantity in 24. hours, especially if they have any considerable number of the aforesaid vessels, a figure whereof is this which follows. A way to purge and purify troubled and muddy waters. Fill a great pot with pudled water, put a soft and gentle fire under it, lay some sticks across on the pot brims, and upon the sticks lay clean wool or a sponge well washed: Now the wool drinks up the vapours that ascend, which then you must wring out, and lay on the wool again, and this you may do till you have as much clean water as you desire. The manner of this distillation is described thus. A, Signifies the pot. B, The fire. C, The sticks. D, The wool. This is of use for them that can come at no other waters but what are troubled, as it falls out many times in some places. Another way to purify any thick, muddy or feculent Liquor. This is performed by shreds of any white woollen cloth in vessels as you see hereafter expressed. A, Signifies the vessels. B, The shreds. Note that the shreds must be first wet in fair water, and the feculent matter be put into the uppermost vessel. Note also whereas here be two receivers, that in many cases one may be sufficient. This way serves for the purifying of decoctions, juices, or dissolutions of salts from their feculency, for that which is distilled by the shreds is as clear as Crystal, when what remains is very feculent. To keep fire in a glass, that whilst the glass is shut will not burn, but assoon as it is opened will be inflamed. First extract the burning spirit of the salt of tin in a glass Retort well coated; when the Retort is cold, take it out and break it, and assoon as the matter in it, which remains in the bottom thereof after distillation, comes into the air, it will presently be inflamed. Put this matter into a glass vial, and keep it close stopped. This fire will keep many thousand years and not burn unless the glass be opened: but at what time soever that is opened it will burn. It is conceived that such a kind of fire as this was found in vaults when they were opened, which many conceived to be a perpetual burning Lamp, when as indeed it was inflamed at the opening the vault, and the letting in air thereby which before it lacked, and therefore could not burn. For it is to be conceived that there is no fire burns longer than its matter endures, and there is no combustible matter can endure for ever. There may be many uses of such a fire as this, for any man may carry it about him, and let it burn on a sudden when he hath any occasion for fire. A Lamp Furnace is made thus. A, Signifies the Candlestick, which must be hollow, and full of water. B, The top of the candlestick which must he wide to contain good store of water for to fill up the Candlestick as the candle riseth up. C, The candle, which must be as long as the Candlestick. D, The vessel that contains either water, sand, or ashes for any vessel to be set into; also to contain any matter itself that is to be distilled, or digested. E, A glass vessel standing in digestion. F, A narrow mouthed stopple to be put into the candlestick to keep the candle upright, and that must be made of tin, with holes in it. G, The cover for the vessel D, which is to be put upon it when any thing is decocted, or kept warm in it. H, A Still head to put upon the vessel D, when you would distil any thing in it. Note that if you make all these vessels large you may do many considerable things without much labour, or trouble. In the vessel D, if it be large, you may stew meat, which if you put in at night and cover it close, you may have it ready for your breakfast in the morning, and so according to the time you put it in you may have it for dinner or supper. Also you may keep any thing warm in the night, and at all times, and divers such uses as these it may be used for. Note that the candle will still rise up till it be quite burned out, and an ordinary candle will last twice as long this way as it will out of the water. If you would have one candle last a long time as twelve or twenty hours, you must either make your candlestick very long that it may contain a long candle, or make your candle big and the wick small, or make your candle of such matter as will not presently be consumed. Note also that if you would have a great heat, your candle must be great, and also the wick thereof great; but if gentle, let your candle be small. Another Lamp furnace. There is another sort of Lamp furnaces with three candles after this manner. The use of this is when you would have a constant fire that should give a stronger heat than one candle in the former furnace. And the truth is, that if your candles be big (as you may make them as big as you will) you may have as strong a heat this way as by ashes in an ordinary furnace. To make a Candle that shall last long. Take unslaked lime, powder it and mix it with your tallow, and so make your candle of that, or else you may make candles of Castle-sope which will serve for such uses as these, viz. to burn in such a Lamp furnace. Note that it is the salt that is in the lime, and soap that preserves the tallow from burning out so fast as otherwise it would. To make a lasting and durable Oil. Take unslaked lime, Bay-salt, oil Olive of each a like quantity, mix them well together, and distil them in sand, cohobate the oil upon the same quantity of fresh lime, and salt: and this do four or five times. By this means will the oil be clear and impregnated with what salt was volatile in the lime, and salt. Now that saline impregnation is that which gives a durableness to the oil. Note that this oil whilst it is distilling is of a most fragrant smell: I have some of it which I distilled seven times, and it is as pure, subtle and odoriserous as many common distilled oils of vegetables. This oil besides the durableness of it is also good against any inveterate ache in the limbs. A Lamp made with this oil will continue burning six times as long as a Lamp made of other oil, as also it burns very sweet. There must be a great deal of care used in making of it, or else you will quickly break your glasses: also you must take very strong lime, such as the dyers use, and call calk. Philosophical bellows. A, Signifies that which blows a fire for the melting of any metal or such like operation, and it blows most forcibly with a terrible noise. B, That which blows a Candle to make the flame thereof very strong for the melting of glasses, and nipping them up. C, That which any one may hold in his hand to blow the fire strongly upon any occasion. Now the manner of the using them in this: you must first heat them very hot, then put the noses thereof (which must have a very small hole in them, no bigger than that a pin's head may go in) into a vessel of cold water, and they will presently suck in the water, of which then being full turn the noses thereof towards the candle or fire which you would have blown. As for the figure C, it must have a mouth drawn up round and hanging out an inch from the face, which mouth (the whole compass of the face being heated first) you must dip in cold water, and it will suck in water as the noses of the former did. This than you must hold-close to the fire that it may be heated, and it will blow exceedingly, as otherwise it will not, viz. if it be cold. If you put sweet water into such a vessel you may perfume a chamber exceedingly, for a little quantity thereof will be a long time breathing forth. Note that these kinds of vessels must be made of copper, and be exceeding well closed, that they may have no vent but by their noses. An excellent invention to make a fire. This fire is durable, sweet, not offensive by reason of the smoke or cinder as other coal fires are, beautiful in shape, and is not so costly as other fire, burns as well in a chamber even as Char-coal. This fire may either serve for such distillations as require a strong, and lasting heat, or for ordinary uses either in the Kitchen, or chambers. A new invention for Baths. Seeing by bathing and sweeting most diseases are cured, especially such as proceed from wind, hot and distempered humours or cold and congealed humours; because all these are rarified, and evaporated by transpiration in sweeting, or bathing, I thought it a thing much conducing to man's health to set down such a way of bathing and sweeting that might be very effectual, and appropriated to any particular disease or distemper. I shall therefore here commend to you a way of bathing by distillation, the manner of which you may see by these ensuing vessels. A, Signifies a hot still with two pipes going into two wooden vessels; In this Still you may put either herbs, spices, with water, or with Spirits, and distil them, by which means they that are in the vessels will presently be forced into a sweat by virtue of the subtlety of the vapours. And this indeed is as good and effectual a way for sweeting as any can be invented: You may by this means appropriate your ingredients to the nature of the diseases. B, A vessel wherein a man sits in the bath. Now this vessel hath in it a door for the easier going into it, which fashion is far better, and more convenient, then to be open only at the top. C, A long vessel where a man that is weak, and not able to fit up, lies and is bathed. Now you must note that these vapours most not be hotter than the patient can beer: also if the vapour come forth too hot upon the body of the patient, he may by putting a pipe upon the end of the pipe that comes into the vessel, divert the hot vapour from his body, and so it will not offend him that way. Note that the patient, assoon as he begins to be faint, must come forth or else he will suffer more prejudice, then good by his bathing; and also to prevent him from fainting let him take some Cordial, or cold Beer, which will much revive him, and make him endure his bathing longer, as also make him sweat the more. Assoon as the patient comes forth, let him go into a warm bed, and sweat as he is able to bear it, and take some posset drink, or broth or such like warm suppings, as also some good Cordial if he be very faint. The patient may according as his strength will bear, and his disease require, bathe, more seldom or oftener. An artificial hot Bath, from the same principles as the natural Bath is. Before I set down the process of making an artificial hot Bath, I shall premise some things concerning the true nature and original of a hot Bath. Now the clearest and best account that I ever heard or read, of the cause of the heat in Baths is that which is given by monsieur de Rochas, and that in a demonstrative way; His words are these. As I was (saith he) with some of my companions wand'ring in Savoy, I found in the valley of Lucern betwixt the Alps a hot spring; I began to consider the cause of this heat, and whereas the vulgar opinion is, that the heat of fountains is from mountains fired within, I saw reason to think the contrary, because I saw snow upon a mountain from whence this hot spring came, unmelted, which could not possibly but have been dissolved by the hot fumes of the mountains, had they been fired. Whereupon being unsatisfied I with my companions and other labourers (whom I could very hardly persuade to undertake such a business by reason they were afraid that fire would thereupon break forth out of the ground and consume us) got tools and set upon digging to find out the true cause of the heat of this fountain. After we had digged 15. days (having before perceived the water to be hotter and hotter by degrees as we came nearer to the source) we came to the original of the heat, where was a great ebullition: In three hours more we digged beyond this place of ebullition and perceived the water to be cold, yet in the same continued stream with the other that was hot: upon this I began to wonder much at the reason of these things. Then I carried to my lodging some of this hot water (which was both saltish and acid) and evaporated it, and of forty ounces I had in the bottom five drams of saltish matter, which I then yet farther purified, and extracted thence three drams of pure nitrous Hermetick salt; the other two ounces being a slimy sulphurous substance. Yet with this I was not satisfied, but with my labourers went again to the place, and digged twelve days more, and then we came to a water which was insipid as ordinary fountain Water, yet still in a continued stream with the saltish and hot water. At this I wondered much, whereupon I digged up some of the earth where the cold, and saltish stream runned, & carried it home with me, and our of a hundred weight thereof, I extracted a good quantity of nitrous salt, which was almost fluxile. When I had extracted as much as I could, I laid the earth aside, and in 24. hours it was all covered over with salt, which I extracted, and out of a hundred weight of this earth which I call virgin earth, I had four pound of this kind of salt which is contracted in the aforesaid 24. hours: and so it would do constantly. Now this satisfied me concerning one doubt: for before I was unsatisfied how there could be a constant supply of that salt which made the water saltish, seeing there was but a little distance betwixt the insipid water and the hot water, and the constant stream of water washed away the salt which was in that little space: for I perceived that this kind of earth attracts this universal salt of the world partly from the air in the cavities of the earth, and partly from the vapours that constantly pass through the earth. After this I took some of that earth where the ebullition was, and carried it home, and proved it, and I perceived it to be a sulphur mine, into which the former acid saltish water penetrating caused an ebullition, as do salt of Tartar, and Spirit of Vitriall being mixed together, and also water poured on unslaked lime. After this I began to question how it was that this sulphur mine was not consumed, seeing so much matter passeth from it daily: but when I began to understand how all things in the earth did assimilate to themselves whatsoever was of any kind of affinity to them, as Mines convert the tools of miners into their own substance in a little time, and such like experiments of that nature, I was satisfied. And after all this I understood how this universal salt of the world was to be had, and I could at any time mix it with water, and pour that water upon sulphur, and so make an artificial hot bath as good as any natural bath whatsoever. Note that no salt in the world but this nitrous salt will do it, as I often tried: And this salt is to be found in all hot baths, and to be prepared artificially. Thus far Mounseur de Rochas. Something like unto this Helmont seems to hold forth, saying that there is a Primum ens salium, or semina salium, which are all seated in waters and vapours and give them an acidity, but as yet have no saline taste, until they meet with such principles, and be received into certain matrices in the earth which may make them put forth this potential saltness into act: and according to this diversity of places that this water or vapours, being impregnated with those seeds of salt, go through, ariseth the diversity of salts, as Alum, sea-salt, Nitre, etc. Then upon this account the earth through which the cold, acid, saltish water abovesaid run through, did specificate that potential salt which was both in the water, and vapours, into a nitrous salt, (by which means was that kind of salt in that place) but whether this primum ens salium be so unspecificated, or quid Hermaphroditicum as he asserts, or no, it matters not much to my purpose; it sufficeth if that earth through which that acid nitrous water runs, attracts and multiplies an acid nitrous salt, with which the water being impregnated, and running through a sulphurous mine causeth an ebullition. All this being premised, I shall now endeavour to illustrate how nature may in this be imitated, as that an artificial hot bath may be made by such like principles, as the natural hot bath consists of, being artificially prepared. Now these principles are the sulphur mine, and the acid nitrous salt; the former requires no further preparation (as saith Mounseur de Rochas,) if it be pure: the latter is to be prepared two manner of ways: for either it is to be extracted, as saith the aforesaid author, out of the waters of the bath by evaporating them away, or by condensing the nitrous air (for indeed as many judicious philosophers are of opinion, the air is wholly nitrous, as it appears by the condensation of it in cold places into Nitre) which his virgin's earth did do, into a salt, which was acid, and almost fluxil. Now when I say that the nitrous salt is to be thus prepared, I do not say that this is the full preparation thereof, for indeed it is yet further to be prepared, and that is by giving it a greater acidity. I question much whether or no the salt being prepared after the aforesaid ways do retain that acidity which is required for that ebullition I spoke of, and which the nitrous acid water had before it came to the Mine of Sulphur. For indeed the aforesaid author when he affirmed that he could at any time make an artificial hot bath, did not say he used the salt prepared only after the 2. former ways, viz. by extracting it out of the waters of the bath, and making it with his virgin earth which did attract, and condense the nitrousnesse of the air, but withal by making it so acid that it might cause an ebullition when it came to be joined with a sulphur Mine. Now then how to give this Nitre a sufficient acidity is the great question. For the better effecting of this we must consider whence that nitrous water (above mentioned) in the earth had the greatest part of its acidity. As to that, it must be remembered that the virgin earth through which the acid nitrous water did run, did condense the nitrous air or vapours into a nitrous salt, and withal it is to be considered that before this nitrous air or vapour, before it be condensed, even when it is near unto condensation is acid, and part of it before condensation is mixed with the water, and so renders it acid. Now that waters have great part of their acidity from the acid vapours of acid Minerals both Henricus ab Heers, and Jordan upon Mineral waters affirm: and that salts unbodied, are far more acid than when they have assumed a body, is clearly manifest in this, viz. that spirits of salts, which I call salts unbodied because they have lost their body, are become very acid because unbodied; if so in Spirits that have lost their bodies, why not after some proportion in those that have not yet assumed a body, as vapours of Nitre, or nitrous air being near to congelation, and bodying, and impregnant with Spirits of Nitre? Now I say that nitrous vapours, or nitrous air being a salt unbodied, are not so acid as Spirits of Nitre, because they are more phlegmatic and crude, which phlegm they lose by being congealed into a salt: yet for all this, they are far more acid than the body of salt: and this is that which Helmont understands, when he saith that the esurine salt being incorporificated is far more active, in giving taste and odour then when it hath received its body by becoming a specificated salt. Furthermore how Nitre shall become sufficiently acid for the aforesaid operation is the great matter to be required into. We must therefore consider which way we may unbody Nitre (seeing it is scarce possible to get it before it hath received its body) and that is done two ways, either by forcing of it into a most sharp Spirit, which is too acid for our intention, or by digesting the whole substance of Nitre into a Liquor moderately acid, which indeed serves for our purpose, and the process is this. Take the purest Nitre you can get, dissolve it in rain water so as that the water imbibe as much of it as it can. Then put this nitrous water into a common earthen vessel unglazed, which you must set in a cellar. You shall see this vessel in a short time to be white all over on the outside as with a hoar frost, which whiteness is partly the flowers of the Nitre being the purest part thereof penetrating the vessel, and partly the nitrous air condensed into Nitre by the coldness of the vessel, as also assimilated to the Nitre that penetrated the vessel. I said by the coldness of the vessel, because such is the coldness of an earthen vessel wherein is Nitre, dissolved in water, that it will being set in snow by the fire side forthwith be freezed. This Nitre you must strike off with a feather, and when you have a sufficient quantity thereof, as three or four pound, put this, or the nitrous salt extracted from bath-waters into a bolt head of glass, (a pound in each bolt head) that two parts of three be empty, nip it up, and set it in ashes, and give it a reasonable strong fire, viz. that the upper part of the boul of the bolt head be as hot, as that you can but well suffer your hand upon it, and you shall see that the Nitre will be dissolved every day a little, and in 2. or 3. month's time be wholly dissolved, and become acid, but not so acid as the Spirit thereof; then put it into a glass gourd with a head, and distil it off, and in the bottom you shall find an acid nitrous salt almost fluxil, not unlike the salt which Mounseur de Rochas found in the evaporating of this water. Then pour the distilled Nitre water upon the said salt, & then it is for your use. The use of these principles or ingredients is this, viz. make fountain water sufficiently acid with this nitrous Liquor, then pour it upon a sufficient quantity of the best Sulphur Mine, or Sulphur vivum in a large wooden vessel where the patient is to be bathed, and you will see the water presently heated so hot as the patient is able to bear. The inward use of these bath-waters is by reason of the Nitre in them, to dissolve gross humours, open obstructions, cleanse the kidneys and bladder, and by reason of the sulphur to dry, mollify, discuss, and glutinate, and to help all uterine effects proceeding from cold and windy humours. Note that they must be drunk warm, and in a good quantity, or else they will do more hurt then good. The outward use of this is for such ill effects as are in the habit of the body, and out of the veins, as of palsies, contractions, rheums, cold humours, affects of the skin and aches, for they resolve, discuss, cleanse, mollify, etc. Now for the manner of bathing I shall not prescribe any thing, but leave this to the discretion of the physician, who is to give order and directions for all the circumstances about it: for indeed every one is not to bathe when, and how he pleaseth, but must apply himself to an able physician, and submit himself to his judgement and experience, or else may receive either prejudice, or no benefit thereby. An artificial Tunbridge, and Epsa me Water. It is granted by all, that Tunbridge Water proceeds from an iron mine, but how it attracts that acidity and that ironish and vitriolated taste and odour, seeing upon evaporation thereof, there remains little or no vitriall or salt of iron at the bottom, is the great question; Now for the solution of this, we must consider how many ways a subterraneal mineral, or metal may communicate its acidity to waters, and that saith Henricus ab Heers, upon Spaw-waters, it doth three ways: one, when the water passing through the mines, carrieth along with it some of the dissoluble parts of the mine, to which is consonant the saying of Aristotle: Such are waters, as is the nature of those Mines through which they pass, as also of Galen when he saith, that pure water passing through Mineral Mines carry with them some of the substance of the Mines. The second way is when the vapours arising from sermented Minerals and Metals, are mixed with waters. Now that vapours retain the odour, and taste of those things, from whence they are raised, Aristotle in his fourth Book Sublimium affirms, and also Helmont when he saith that some parts of the iron Mines being by fermentation turned into a vapour retain the odor and taste of the Mine by virtue of the acid esurine salt, and are not presently reduced into a body, and also artificial vapours of the iron Mines have more virtue, & activity, (I mean those parts that are raised by a strong fire in a furnace from the Mine of iron) than iron itself when it is melted. The third is, when a great quantity of vapours arising from the aforesaid fermented Mines is elevated, and by the coldness of the ambient earth is turned into an acid water, which as it passeth through the earth meeteth with some springs of water, and mixing with them gives them a pleasant acidity. And this is the best of all acid wtaers being clear and very pure. This being premised I shall now proceed to the process of making artificial waters like to those of Tunbridge and Epsome: of the former viz. Tunbridge thus; Take of the Mine, or o'er of iron, beat it very small, and put it into the furnace expressed page 83. and there will come forth an acid Spirit, and flowers, which you must mix together till the acid Spirit extracts the salt out of the flowers, then decant off the clear liquor which will have a strong taste and smell of iron. A few drops of this Liquor put into a glass full of fountain water give it the odour and taste of Tunbridge water, and communicates the same operations to it. It openeth all obstructions, purgeth by urine, cleanseth the kidneys, and bladder, helpeth the pissing of blood, the stopping of the urine, and difficulty of making water, it allayeth all sharp humours, cureth inward ulcers, and impostumes, cleanseth and strengtheneth the stomach, and liver etc. Note that fountain water being made moderately acid with this acid ironish Liquor may be taken from a pint to six pints, but by degrees, and after the taking of it moderate exercise is to be used, and fasting to be observed till all the water be gone out of the body, which will be in seven or eight hours. Epsome water is made artificially thus. Take of the mine of alum, or alum stones, powder it very small, and distil it in the furnace expressed page 83. and there will distil over a certain acid alluminish water, which must be mixed with a double quantity of Niter water (the preparation whereof is set down in the process of making the artificial hot bath). Now you must know that Epsome water hath a certain kind of acid taste which is partly aluminous and partly nitrous; which proceedeth from nitrous air, and vapours arising from the fermentation of aluminous Mines, being first mixed together, and then mixed with the fountains passing through the earth. If you put a few drops of this Liquor into a glass full of fountain water it will give it the odour, and taste of Epsome water, that you shall scarce discern them asunder either by that odour, or operation. This water is purgative, and indeed purgeth especially all sharp burning humours, cools an inflamed, and opens an obstructed body; cleanseth the kidneys and bladder, cureth inward ulcers, and impostumes, is a very good preservative against the consumption, etc. Fountain water made acid with this Liquor may be taken from a pint to six or eight, but by degrees, and after it moderate exercise must be used, and fasting till the water be out of the body, only some thin warm suppings may be taken to help the working thereof. Some take this water warm. To make artificial precious stones of all sorts of colours. Take Crystalline white pebble-stones that are very white throughout and have no mixture of any other colour, which you shall find in fountains and on the sands of the sea. Put them into a crucible, make them glowing hot (covering the crucible) then cast them into cold water, by which means they will crack, and be easily reduced into a powder; Take the powder thereof, and put the like quantity of pure salt of Tartar thereto, which salt must not be made in any metalline but glass vessels, that it may have no mixture of any other colour. To this mixture you may add what colour you please, which must be of a mineral or a metalline nature, than put them into a very strong crucible which must be but half full, and then covered, and there melt them in a strong fire till they become like glass. Note that when this mixture is in melting you must put an iron rod into it and take up some of it, & if there appear no corns of gravel in it, it is enough; If otherwise, you must melt it longer. The especial minerals and metals that give colours are these, viz. Copper, iron, silver, gold, Wismut, Magnesia, and granats. Common copper makes a sea-green; copper made out of iron a grasse-green; granats, a smaragdine-green; iron yellow, or a Hyacinth colour; silver, white, yellow, green, and granat colour; gold a fine sky colour; Wismut common blue; magnesia, an amethyst colour: And if you will mix two or three of these together, they will give other colous. For copper and silver mixed together give an amethyst colour: copper, and iron a pale green; Wismut, and magnesia, a purple colour; silver and magnesia divers colours like as an Opal. If you would have this mass not to be transparent but opac, you may add the calx of tin to it when it is in melting: as if you would make Lapis lazuli; then ●o your mixture coloured with Wismut add the calx of tin, and this mixture when it is almost ready to congeal cast into a mould where some powder of gold hath been scattered, and by this means it will become full of golden veins very like true lapis lazuli, which is very pleasant to behold. You may by these foresaid preparations cast what forms or figures you please, of what colour you please. The Metals, and Minerals for the making of colours ought to be thus prepared, viz. Plates of copper must be made red hot, and then quenched in cold water, of which then take five or six grains, and mix them with an ounce of the aforesaid mixture, and melt them all together, and they will colour it sea-green. Iron must be made into a Crocus in a reverberatory fire, and then eight or ten grains thereof will tinge the mixture into a yellow, or hyacinth colour. Silver is to be dissolved in Aqua fortis and precipitated with Oil of flints, then dulcified with water, and afterward dried, of this five or six grains give a mingled colour. Gold must be dissolved in Aqua regis, and precipitated with the Liquor of flints, then sweetened, and dried, and five or six grains thereof giveth the finest saphir colour to an ounce of the mixture If gold be melted with regulus martis nitrosus, five or six grains thereof give to an ounce of the mass a most incomparable rubine colour. Magnesia may be powdered only, and then ten or twelve grains thereof make an amethyst colour. Wismut must be dissolved in Aqua regis, and precipitated with Liquor of flints, then sweetened, and dried; and then of this four or five grains turn an ounce of the mass into a saphir colour, but not so natural as gold doth. Granata may be powder only, and then ten or fifteen grains thereof tinge an ounce of the mass into a fine green colour not unlike to the natural Smaragdine. To prove what kind of metal there is in any Ore, although you have but a very few grains thereof, so as that you cannot make proof thereof the ordinary way with lead. Take two or four grains (if you have no greater quantity) of any Ore that you have, put it to half an ounce of Venice-glass, and melt them together in a crucible, (the crucible being covered) and according to the tincture that the glass receiveth from the Ore, so may you judge what kind of metal there is in the Ore; for if it be a copper o'er, than the glass will be tinged with a sea-green colour. If copper and iron, a glasse-green. If iron, a dark yellow. If tin, a pale yellow. If silver, a whitish yellow. If gold, a fine sky colour. If gold and silver together, a Smaragdine colour. If gold, silver, copper, and iron together, an amethyst colour. A pretty observation upon the melting of Copper and Tin together. First make two bullets of red copper of the same magnitude, make also two bullets of the purest tin in the same mould, as the others were made: weigh all four bullets, and observe the weight well: then melt the copper bullets first, upon them being melted put the two tin bullets, and melt them together, but have a care that the tin fume not away. Then cast this molten mixture in the same moulds as before, and it will scarce make three bullets, but yet they weigh as heavy as they did before they were melted together. I suppose the copper condenseth the body of the tin, which before was very porous, which condensation rather adds than diminisheth the weight thereof. A remarkable observation upon the melting of Salt Armoniac, and Calx vive together. Take Salt armoniac, and Calx vive, of each a like quantity, mix, and melt them together. Note that Calx of itself will not melt in less than eight hours with the strongest fire that can be made, but being mixed with this salt melts in half an hour, and less, like a metal, with an indifferent fire. This mixture being thus melted becomes a hard stone, out of which you may strike fire as out of a flint, which if you dissolve again in water, you shall have the Salt armoniac in the same quantity as before, but fixed. Note that hard things have their congelation from Salt armoniac, as horns, bones and such like; for little fixed salt can be extracted from them, only volatile and armoniac. An ounce of any of these volatile salts, (as of horns, bones, amber, and such like) reduced into an acid Liquor by distillation, condenseth, and indurateth a pound of Oily matter. An easy and cheap powder like unto aurum fulminans. Take of salt Tartar one part, Saltpetre three parts, Sulphur a third part, grind these well together, and dry them. A few grains of this powder being fired will give as great a clap as a musket when it is discharged. To make an Antimonial cup, and to cast divers figures of Antimony. Take the best crude antimony very well powdered, Nitre, of each a po●nd, of crude Tartar finely powdered two pound, mix them well together, and put them into a crucible, cover the crucible, and melt them, and the regulus will fall to the bottom, and be like a melted metal, then pour it forth into a brass mortar, being first smeared over with Oil. Or, Take two parts of powdered Antimony, and four parts o● powder of crude Tartar, melt these as aforesaid. This regulus you may (when you have made enough of it) melt again and cast it into what moulds you please, you may either make cups, or what pictures you please, and of what figures you please. You may cast it into forms of shillings or halfe-crowns, either of which if you put it into two or three ounces of wine in an earthen glazed vessel, or glass, and infuse in a moderate heat all night, you may have a Liquor in the morning which will cause vomit: of which the dose is from two drams to two ounces and half. Note that in the Wine you may put a little Cinnamon to correct and give a more grateful relish to it. It is the custom to fill the Antimonial cup with Wine, and to put as much Wine round about betwixt that and the little earthen cup where it stands, and so infuse it all night, and then drink up all that Wine: but I fear, that so much Wine will be too much as being three or four ounces when as we seldom exceed the quantity of two ounces of the infusion of Antimony. These cups, or pictures will last for ever, and be as effectual after a thousand times infusion as at first: and if they be broken at any time, (as easily they may being as brittle as glass) they may be cast again into what forms you please. Note that he that casts them must be skilful in making his spawde, as also in scouring of them, and making them bright afterwards: for if they be carefully handled they will look even as bright as silver. BOOK VI. The spagyrical Anatomy of Gold, and Silver, together with the Curiosities therein, and chiefest preparations thereof. I Shall first endeavour to show whence Gold had its original, and what the matter thereof is. As Nature (saith Sandivogius) is in the will of God, and God created her: so nature made for herself a seed, (i) her will in the elements. Now she indeed is one, yet she brings forth divers things; but she operates nothing without a sperm: whatsoever the sperm will, nature operates, for she is as it were the instrument of any artificers. The sperm therefore of every thing is better, and more profitable than nature herself: for thou shalt from nature without a sperm, do as much as a goldsmith without fire, or a husband without grain or seed. Now the sperm of any thing is the Elixir, the balsam of sulphur, and the same as Humidum Radical is in metals: but to proceed to what concerns our purpose. Four elements generate a sperm, by the will of God, and imagination of nature: For as the sperm of a man hath its centre, or the vessel of its seed in the kidneys: so the four elements by their indesinent motion (every one according to its quality) cast forth a sperm into the centre of the earth, where it is digested, and by motion is sent abroad. Now the centre of the earth is a certain empty place, where nothing can rest: and the four elements send forth their qualities into the circumference of the centre. As a male sends forth his seed into the womb of the female, which after it hath received a due portion casts out the rest, so it happens in the centre of the earth, that the magnetic powder of a part of any place attracts something convenient to itself for the bringing forth of something, and the rest is cast forth into stones and other excrements. For every thing hath its original from this fountain, and there is nothing in the world produced but by this fountain: as for example, set upon an even table a vessel of water, which may be placed in the middle thereof, and round about it set divers things, and divers colours, also salt, etc. every thing by itself: then pour the water into the middle; and you shall see the water to run every way, and when any stream toucheth the red colour, it will be made red by it, if the salt, it will contract the taste of salt from it, and so of the rest; Now the water doth not change the places, but the diversity of places changeth the water. In like manner the seed or sperm being cast forth by the four elements from the centre of the earth unto the superficies thereof passeth through various places, and according to the nature of the place is any thing produced: if it come to a pure place of earth, and water, a pure thing is made. The seed, and sperm of all things is but one, and yet it generates divers things, as it appears by the former example. The sperm whilst it is in the centre is indifferent to all forms, but when it is come into any determinate place, it changeth no more its form. The sperm whilst it is in the centre can as easily produce a tree, as a metal, and an herb as a stone, and one more precious than another according to the purity of the place. Now this sperm is produced of elements thus. These four elements are never quiet but by reason of their contrariety mutually act one upon another; and every one of its self sends forth its own subtlety, and they agree in the centre. Now in this centre is the Archaeus, the servant of nature, which mixing those spermes together sends them abroad, and by distillation sublimes them by the heat of a continual motion unto the superficies of the earth: For the earth is porous, and this vapour (or wind, as the philosophers call it) is by distilling through the pores of the earth resolved into water, of which all things are produced. Let therefore as I said before, all sons of Art know that the sperm of metals is not different from the sperm of all things being, viz. a humid vapour. Therefore in vain do Artists endeavour the reduction of metals into their first matter, which is only a vapour. Now saith Bernard Trevisan when philosophers speak of a first matter they did not mean this vapour, but the second matter which is an unctuous water, which to us is the first, because we never find the former. Now the specification of this vapour into distinct metals is thus. This vapour passeth in its distillation through the earth, through places either cold, or hot; if through hot, and pure where the fatness of sulphur sticks to the sides thereof, than that vapour (which philosophers call the Mercury of philosophers) mixeth, and joineth itself unto that fatness, which afterward it sublimes with itself, and then it becomes, leaving the name of a vapour, and unctuosity, which afterwards coming by sublimation into other places, which the antecedent vapour did purge, where the earth is subtle, pure, and humid, fills the pores thereof, and is joined to it; and so it becomes gold: and where it is hot, and something impure, silver. But if that fatness come to impure places, which are cold, it is made lead: and if that place be pure and mixed with sulphur, it becomes copper: for by how much the more pure and warm the place is, so much the more excellent doth it make the metals. Now this first matter of metals is a humid, viscous, incombustible, subtle substance, incorporated with an earthy subtlety, being equally, and strongly mixed per minima in the caverns of the earth. But as in many things there is a twofold unctuosity (whereof one is as it were internal, retained in the centre of the thing lest it should be destroyed by fire, which cannot be without the destruction of the substance itself wherein it is: the other as it were external, feculent and combustible) so in all metals except gold, there is a twofold unctuosity: the one which is external, sulphurous, and inflammable, which is joined to it by accident, and doth not belong to the total union with the terrestrial parts of the thing: the other is internal, and very subtle, incombustible, because it is of the substantial composition of Argent vive, and therefore cannot be destroyed by fire, unless with the destruction of the whole substance, whence it appears what the cause is that metals are more or less durable in the fire: For those which abound with that internal unctuosity are less consumed, as it appears in silver, and especially in gold. Hence Rosarius saith, the philosophers could never by any means find out any thing that could endure the fire; but that unctuous humidity only which is perfect, and incombustible. Geber also asserts the same, when he saith that imperfect bodies have superfluous humidities, and sulphureity generating a combustible blackness in them, and corrupting them; they have also an impure, feculent and combustible terestriety so gross, as that it hinders ingression, and fusion: but a perfect metal, as gold, hath neither this sulphurous or terrestrial impurity; I mean when it is fully maturated and melted, for whilst it is in concoction it hath both joined to it, as you may see in the golden Ore, but when they do not adhere to it so, but that it may be purified from them, which other metals cannot, but are both destroyed together if you attempt to separate the one from the other: Besides gold hath so little of these corruptible principles mixed with it, that the inward sulphur or metalline spirit doth sometimes and in some places overcome them of itself, as we may see in the gold which is found very pure sometimes in the superficies of the earth, and in the sea sands, and is many times as pure as any refined gold. Now this gold which is found in sands and rivers, is not generated there, as saith Gregorius Agricola in his third book de Re Metallica, but is washed down from the mountains with fountains that run from thence. There is also a flaming gold found (as Paracelsus saith) in the tops of mountains, which is indeed separated of itself from all impurities, and is as pure as any refined gold whatsoever. So that you see, that gold although it had an extrinsecall sulphur and earth mixed with it, yet it is sometimes separated from it of itself, viz. by that fiery spirit that is in it. Now this pure gold (as saith Sandivogius) nature would have perfected into an elixir but was hindered by the crude air, which crude air is indeed nothing else but that extrinsecall sulphur which it meets with and is joined to in the earth, and which fills with its violence the pores thereof, and hinders the activity of the Spirit thereof; and this is that prison which the sulphur (as saith the aforesaid author) is locked up in, so that it cannot act upon its body, viz. Mercury, and concoct it into the seed of gold; as otherwise it would do: and this is that dark body (as faith Penotus) that is interposed betwixt the philosophical Sun and Moon, and keeps off the influences of the one from the other. Now if any skilful philosopher could wittily separate this adventitious impurity from gold whilst it is yet living, he would set sulphur at liberty, and for this his service he would be gratified with three kingdoms, viz. Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, I mean he could remove that great obstruction which hinders gold from being digested into the Elixir. For, as saith Sandivogius, the Elixir, or Tincture of philosophers, is nothing else but gold digested into the highest degree: for the gold of the vulgar is as an herb without seed, but when gold (i) living gold (for common gold never can by reason that the Spirits are bound up, and indeed as good as dead and not possibly to be reduced to that activity which is required for the producing of the sperm of gold) is ripened it gives a seed, which multiplies even ad infinitum. Now the reason of this barrenness of gold that it produceth not a seed is the aforesaid crude air, viz. impurities: You may see this illustrated by this example. We see that Orenge-trees in Polonia do grow like other trees, also in Italy, and elsewhere, where their native soil is, and yield fruit, because they have sufficient heat, but in these colder colder countries they are barren and never yield any fruit, because they are oppressed with cold: but if at any time nature be wittily and sweetly helped, than Art can perfect what nature could not. After the same manner it is in metals; for gold would yield fruit, and seed in which it might multiply itself, if it were helped by the industry of the skilful artist, who knew how to promote nature, (i) to separate these sulphurous and earthly impurities from gold. For there is a sufficient heat in living gold, which if it were stirred up by extrinsecall heat, to digest it into a seed. By extrinsecall heat I do not mean the heat of the celestial Sun, but that heat which is in the earth and stirs up the seed, (i) the living spirit that is in all subteraneall sperms to multiply, and indeed makes gold become gold. Now this is a heat of putrefaction occasioned by acid spirits fermenting in the earth, as you may see by this example related by Albertus Magnus, but to which the reason was given by Sandivogius. There was saith the former author, certain grains of gold found betwixt the teeth of a dead man in the grave: wherefore he conceived there was a power in the body of man to make and ●ixe gold: but the reason is far otherwise, as saith the latter author: for saith he, Argent vive was by some physician conveyed into the body of this man when he was alive, either by unction, or by turbith, or some such way, as the custom was; and it is the nature of Mercury to ascend to the mouth of the patient, and through the excoriation of the mouth to be avoided with the phlegm. Now than if in such a cure the sick-man died, that Mercury not having passage out remained betwixt the teeth in the mouth, and that carcase became the natural vessel of Mercury, and so for a long time being shut up was congealed by its proper sulphur into gold by the natural heat of putrefaction, being purified by the corrosive phlegm of the carcase, but if the mineral Mercury had not been brought in thither, gold had never been produced there: And this is a most true example that as mercury is by the proper sulphur that is in itself, being stirred up and helped by an extrinsecall heat, coagulated into gold, unless it be hindered by any accident, or have not a requisite extrinsecall heat, or convenient place, so also that nature doth in the bowels of the earth produce of Mercury only gold and silver, and other metals according to the disposition of the place, and matrix; which assertion is further cleared by the rule of reduction, for if it be true that all things consist of that which they may be reduced into, than gold consists of Mercury, because (as most grant, Paracelsus affirms, and many at this day profess they can do) it may be reduced into it. There is a way by which the tincture of gold which is the soul thereof, and fixeth it, may be so fully extracted that the remaining substance will be sublimed like Arsenic, and may be as easily reduced into Mercury as Sublimate. If so, and if all Mercury may be reduced into a transparent water, as it may (according to the process set down page 75. and as I know how another better and easier way to turn a pound of Mercury of itself into a clear water in half an hour, which is one of the greatest secrets I know, or care to know, together with what may be produced thence, and shall crave leave to be silent in) why may not that water in some sense, if it be well rectified, be called a kind of living gold out of which you may perhaps make a medicine, and a menstruum unfit for the vulgar to know. It appears now from what is premised that the immediate matter of gold is probably Mercury, and not certain salts and I know not what as many dream of, and that the extrinsecall heat is from within the earth, and not the heat of the sun, as some imagine (because in the hottest countries there is all, or almost all gold generated) who if they considered that in cold countries also are, and as in Scotland were gold mines in King James his time, would be of another mind then to think that the celestial sun could penetrate, so as to heat the earth so deep as most gold lies. I now having in some measure discovered what the intrinsical, and extrinsecall heat, and the matter of gold is, I shall next endeavour to explain what those three principles are, viz. Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, of which Argent vive, and gold consist: Know therefore that after Nature had received from the most High God the privilege of all things upon the Monarchy of this wourld, she began to distribute places, and provinces to every thing, according to its dignity; and in the first place did constitute the four elements to be the princes of the world, and that the will of the most High (in whose will Nature is placed) might be fulfilled, ordained that they should act upon one another incessantly. The fire therefore began to act upon the air, and produced sulphur: The air also began to act upon the water, and produced Mercury: the water also began to act upon the earth, and produced salt. Now the earth not having whereon to act produced nothing, but became the subject of what was produced. So then there were produced three principles, but our ancient philosophers not so strictly considering the matter described only two acts of the elements, and so named but two principles, viz. Sulphur and Mercury: or else they were willing to be silent in the other, speaking only to the son of Art. The Sulphur therefore of philosophers, (which indeed is the sulphur of metals, and of all things) is not, as many think, that common combustible sulphur which is sold in shops, but is another thing far differing from that, and is incombustible, not burning, nor heating, but preserving, and restoring all things which it is in, and it is the Calidum Innatum of every thing, the fire of nature, the created light, and of the nature of the fun, and is called the Sun; so that whatsoever in any thing is fiery, and airy, is sulphur, not that any thing is wholly sulphureous, but what in it is most thin, and subtle, having the essence of the natural fire, and the nature of the created light, which indeed is that sulphur which wise philosophers have in all ages with great diligence endeavoured to extract, and with its proper Mercury to fix, and so to perfect the great Magistery of nature. Now of all things in the world there is nothing hath more of this sulphur in it then gold and silver, but especially gold, insomuch that oftentimes it is called sulphur, (i) because sulphur is the most predominant, and excellent principle in it, and being in it more than in all things besides. Mercury is not here taken for common Argent vive; but it is the Humidum Radical of every thing, that pure aqueous, unctuous, and viscous humidity of the matter, and it is of the nature of the Moon, and it is called the Moon, and that for this reason, viz. because it is humid, as also because it is capable of receiving the influence and light of the Sun, viz. sulphur. Salt is that fixed permanent earth which is in the centre of every thing that is incorruptible, and inalterable, and it is the supporter and nurse of the Humidum Radical, with which it is strongly mixed. Now this salt hath in it a seed, viz. its Calidum Innatum, which is Sulphur, and its Humidum Radical which is Mercury; and yet these three are not distinct or to be separated, but are one homogeneal thing, having upon a different account divers names: for in respect of its heat, and fiery substance it is called Sulphur, in respect of its humidity, it is called Mercury, and in respect of its terrestrial siccity it is called salt, all which are in gold perfectly united, depurated, and fixed. Gold therefore is most noble, and solid of all metals, of a yellow colour, compacted of principles digested to the utmost height, and therefore fixed. Silver is in the next place of dignity to Gold, and differs from it in digestion chiefly, I said chiefly, because there is some small impurity besides, adhering to silver. Now having given some small account of the original matter, first, and second, and manner of the growth of gold, I shall in the next place set down some curiosities therein, and preparation thereof. The preparations are chiefly three, viz. Aurum potabile, which is the mixtion thereof with other Liquors: Oil of gold, which is gold liquid by itself without the mixture of any other Liquor: and the tincture, which is the extraction of the colour thereof. Dr. Anthony's famous Aurum potabile, and Oil of gold. Dissolve pure fine gold in Aqua regis according to art (the Aqua regis being made of a pound of Aqua fortis, and four ounces of salt Armo niack distilled together by Retort in sand) which clear folution put into a large glass of a wide neck, and upon it pour drop by drop Oil of Tartar made per deliquium, until the Aqua regis which before was yellow become clear, and white, for that is a sign that all calx of gold is settled to the bottom: then let it stand all night, and in the morning pour off the clear Liquor, and wash the calx four or five times with common spring water, being warmed, and dry it with a most gentle heat. Note, and that well, that if the heat be too great, the calx takes fire presently like Gunpowder and flies away to thy danger and loss, therefore it is best to dry it in the sun, or on a stone, stirring it diligently with a wooden spatle. To this calx add half a part of the powder of sulphur, mix them together and in an open crucible let the sulphur burn away in the fire, putting a gentle fire to it at the first, and in the end a most strong fire for the space of an hour, that the calx may in some manner be reverberated, and become most subtle, which keep in a vial close stopped for your use. Then make a Spirit of urine after this manner, viz. Take the urine of a healthy man drinking Wine moderately, put it into a gourd, which you must stop close, and set in horse-dung for the space of forty days, then distil it by Alembick in sand into a large receiver, until all the humidity be distilled off. Rectify this Spirit by cohobation three times, that the Spirit only may rise. Then distil it in sand by a glass with a long neck, having a large receiver annexed, and closed very well to it, and the Spirit will be elevated into the top of the vessel like crystal without any aqueous humidity accompanying of it. Let this distillation be continued, until all the Spirits be risen. These crystals must be dissolved in distilled rain-water, and be distilled as before, this must be done six times, and every time you must take fresh rain-water distilled. Then put these crystals into a glass bolthead, which close Hermetically, and set in the moderate heat of a Balneum for the space of fifteen days, that they may be reduced into a most clear Liquor. To this Liquor add an equal weight of Spirit of Wine, very well rectified, and let them be digested in Balneo the space of twelve days, in which time they will be united. Then take the calx of gold abovesaid, and pour upon it of these united Spirits as much as will cover them three fingers breadth, and digest them in a gentle heat, until the Liquor be tinged as red as blood; decant off the tincture, and put on more of the aforesaid Spirits, and do as before till all the tincture be extracted, then put all the tincted Spirits together, and digest them ten or twelve days, after which time abstract the Spirit with a gentle heat, and cohobate it once; and then the calx will remain in the bottom like an Oil as red as blood, and of a pleasant odour, and which will be dissolved in any Liquor. Whereof this Oil may be the Succedaneum of true gold. If you distil the same solution by Retort in sand there will come over after the first part of the menstruum, the tincture with the other part thereof; as red as blood, the earth which is left in the bottom of the vessel being black, dry, spongious and light. The menstruum must be vapoured away, and the Oil of gold will remain by itself, which must be kept as a great treasure: and this is Dr. Anthony's Aurum potabile. Four or eight grains of this Oil taken in what manner soever wonderfully refresheth the Spirits, and works several ways, especially by sweat. The true Oil of Gold. Take an ounce of leafe-gold, dissolve it in four ounces of the rectified water of Mercury expressed page 75. digest them in horse-dung the space of two months, then evaporate the Mercurial water, and at the bottom you shall have the true Oil of gold, which is radically dissolved. Another process hereof you may see page 71. A Tincture of Gold. Dissolve pure gold in Aqua regis, precipitate it with the Oil of sand into a yellow powder, which you must dulcify with warm water, and then dry it (this will not be fired as Aurum fulminans) This powder is twice as heavy as the gold that was put in, the cause of which is the salt of the flints precipitating itself with the gold. Put this yellow powder into a crucible, and make it glow a little, and it will be turned into the highest, and fairest purple that ever you saw, but if it stand longer it will be brown. Then pour upon it the strongest Spirit of salt (for it will dissolve it better than any Aqua regis) on which dissolution pour on the best rectified Spirit of Wine, and digest them together, and by a long digestion, some part of the gold will fall to the bottom like a white snow, and may with Borax, Tartar and salt Nitre be melted into a white metal as heavy as gold, and afterwards with Antimony may recover its yellow colour again, then evaporate the Spirit of salt, and of Wine, and the gold Tincture remaineth at the bottom and is of great virtue. Another Tincture of Gold. Take of the aforesaid yellow Calx of gold precipitated with Oil of sand, one part, and three or four parts of the Liquor of sand, or of crystals; mix them well together, and put them into a crucible in a gentle heat at first, that the moisture of the Oil may vapour away (which it will not do easily because the dryness of the sand retains the moisture thereof, so that it flieth away like molten alum, or borax) when no more will vapour away, increase your fire, till the crucible be red hot, and the mixture cease bubbling: then put it into a wind furnace and cover it that no ashes fall into it, and make a strong fire about it for the space of an hour, and the mixture will be turned into a transparent Ruby. Then take it out, and beat it, and extract the tincture with Spirit of wine, which will become like thin blood, and that which remains undissolved may be melted into a white metal as the former. Another tincture of Gold. Hang plates of gold over the fume of Argent vive, and they will become white, friable, and fluxil as wax. This is called the Magnesia of gold, as saith Paracelsus, in finding out of which (saith he) philosophers, as Thomas Aquinas, and Rupescissa with their followers took a great deal of pains, but in vain, and it is a memorable secret and indeed very singular for the melting of metals that are not easily fluxil. Now then gold being thus prepared, and melted together with the Mercury, is become a brittle substance, which must be powdered and out of it a tincture may be drawn for the transmuting of metals. Another Tincture. Take half an ounce of pure gold, dissolve it in Aqua regis, precipitate it with Oil of flints, dulcify the calx with warm water and dry it, and so it is prepared for your work. Then take Regulus Martis powdered, and mix it with three parts of salt Nitre, both which put into a crucible and make them glow gently at first, then give a strong melting fire, and then this mixture will become to be of a purple colour, which then take out, and beat to powder, and add to three parts of this, one part of the calx of gold prepared as before, put them into a wine furnace in a strong crucible, and make them melt as a metal, so will the Nitrum antimoniatum in the melting take the calx of gold to itself, and dissolve it, and the mixture will become to be of an Amethyst colour. Let this stand flowing in the fire till the whole mass be as transparent as a Rubine, which you may try by taking a little out and cooling of it. If the mixture do not flow well, cast in some more salt Nitre. When it is completely done cast it forth being flowing into a brazen mortar, and it will be like to an oriental Rubine; then powder it before it be cold, then put it into a vial and with the Spirit of Wine extract the tincture. This is one of the best preparations of gold, and of most excellent use in medicine. Another Tincture. First make a furnace fit for the purpose, which must be close at the top and have a pipe to which a recipient with a flat bottom must be fitted: When this furnace is thus fitted, put in three or four grains, not above at once, of Aurum fulminans, which assoon as the furnace is hot, flieth away into the recipient through the pipe like a purple coloured fume, and is turned into a purple coloured powder, then put in three or four grains more, and do as before, till you have enough flowers of gold (that which flieth not away but remaineth at the bottom, may with borax be melted into good gold) then take them out and pour upon them rectified Spirit of Wine tartarizated, and digest them in ashes till the spirit be coloured blood red, which you must then evaporate and at the bottom will be a blood red tincture of no small virtue. Aurum fulminans. Take the purest gold you can get, pour on it four times as much Aqua regia, stop your glass with a paper, and set it in warm ashes, so will the Aqua regia in an hour or two take up the gold, and become a yellow water, if it be strong enough: (be sure that your gold hath no copper in it, for then your labour will be lost) because the copper will be precipitated with the gold, and hinder the firing thereof) then pour on this yellow water drop by drop pure Oil of Tartar made per deliquium, so will the gold be precipitated into a dark yellow powder, and the water be clear. Note that you pour not on more Oil of Tartar than is sufficient for the precipitation, otherwise it will dissolve part of the precipitated gold to thy prejudice. Pour off the clear Liquor by inclination, and dulcify the calx with distilled rain-water warmed. Then set this calx in the sun, or some warm place to dry, but take great heed, and especial care that you set it not in a place too hot, for it will presently take fire, and fly away like thunder, not without ●reat danger to the standers by, if the quantity be great. This is the common way to make Aurum fulminans, and it hath considerable difficulties in the preparation. But the best way is to precipitate gold dissolved in Aqua regis by the Spirit of salt Armoniac or of urine, for by this way the gold is made purer than by the other, and giveth a far greater crack and sound. Note that the salt of the Spirits which is precipitated with the gold must be washed away, and the gold dulcified as before. A few grains of this being fired give a crack and sound as great as a musket when it is discharged, and will blow up any thing more forcibly, far than gunpowder, and it is a powder that will quickly and easily be fired. This is of use for physic as it is in powder, but especially it is used in making the foregoing tincture. To make gold grow in a glass like a tree, which is called the golden tree of the Philosophers. Take of Oil of sand as much as you please, pour upon it the same quantity of Oil of Tartar per deliquium, shake them well together that they be incorporated and become as one Liquor of a thin consistence, then is your Menstruum or Liquor prepared. Then dissolve gold in Aqua regia, and evaporate the Menstruum and dry the Calx in the fire, but make it not too hot, for it will thereby lose its growing quality, then take it out and break it into little bits, not into powder, put those bits into the aforesaid Liquor (that they may lie a finger's breadth the one from the other) in a very clear glass. Keep the Liquor from the air, and you shall see that those bits of the calx will presently begin to grow; first they will swell, than they will put forth one or two stems, then divers branches and twigs so exactly, as that you can not choose but exceedingly to wonder. This growing is real, and not imaginary only. Note that the glass must stand still, and not be moved. Another way. Calcine fine gold in Aqua regis, that it become a calx, which put into a gourd glass, and pour upon it good and fresh Aqua regia, and the water of gradation, so that they cover the calx four fingers breadth, this Menstruum abstract in the third degree of fire until no more will ascend. This distilled water pour on it again and abstract it as before, and this do so often till you see the gold rise in the glass, and grow in the form of a tree having many boughs and leaves. To make-Gold grow and be increased in the earth. Take leaves of gold, and bury them in the earth which looks towards the East, and let it be often soiled with man's urine, and doves dung, and you shall see that in a short time they will be increased. The reason of this growth I conceive may be the golds attracting that universal vapour and sperm that comes from the centre through the earth (as hath been spoken in the anatomy of gold) and by the heat of putrefaction of the dung purifying and assimilating it to itself. A remarkable observation upon a golden Marcasite. There is found a certain stone in Bononia, which some call a golden Marcasite, some a solary Magnes, that receives light from the sun in the day time, and gives it forth in the dark. About this there have been much reasoning amongst Philosophers, as whether light be really a body, or any kind of substance, or any accident only, and whether this stone had any gold in it or no, and what it did consist of. He that first discovered it thought that he had found a thing that would transmute metals into gold, (by which it appears that there seemed to be something of gold in it or something more glorious than gold) but his hopes were frustrated by a fruitless labour, notwithstanding which I conceive there might be some immature or crude gold in it; for crude gold is a subject (being there is some life in it) that is most fit to receive the influences of the sun according to the unanimous consent of all Philosophers, and therefore is by them not only called Solary but Sol (i) the Sun itself. It is prepared for the receiving of light thus, it is calcined two ways, first it is brought into a most subtle powder with a very strong fire in a crucible; secondly, being thus brought into a powder, is made up into cakes as big as a dolor, or a piece of eight, either with common water alone, or with the white of an egg, put those cakes being dried by themselves into a Wind Furnace S S S, with coals, and calcine them in a most strong fire for the space of four or five hours. When the furnace is cold take them out, and if they be not sufficiently calcined the first time, (which is known by their giving but little light,) then reiterate the calcination after the same manner as before, which is sometimes to be done thrice. That is the best which is made with the choicest stones that are clean, pure, and diaphanous, and gives the best light. With this being powdered you may make the forms of divers animals of what shapes you please, which you must keep in boxes, and they will receive light from the sun in the day time, give light in the night, or in a dark place, which light will vanish by degrees. The virtues of the aforesaid preparations of Gold. With the aforesaid preparations the Ancients did not only preserve the health and strength of their bodies, but also prolong their lives to a very old age, and not that only, but cured thoroughly the Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Elephantia●ts, Leprosy, Melancholy, Madness, the Quartain, the Gout, Dropsue, Pleurisy, all manner of Fevers, the Jaundice, Lues venerea, the Wolf, Cancer, Noli ne tangere, Asthma, Consumption, the Stone, stopping of Urine, inward Impostumes, and such like diseases, which most men account incurable. For there is such a potent fire lying in prepared gold, which doth not only consume deadly humours, but also renews the very marrow of the bones, and raiseth up the whole body of man being half dead. They that use any of these preparations for any of the foregoing diseases, must be take themselves to their bed for the space of two or three hours, and expect sweeting to ensue, for indeed it will send forth sweat plentifully, and with ease, and leave no impurity or superfluity in the whole body. Note that they must take it for ten days together in appropriated Liquors. Let young men that expect long life, take any of the aforesaid preparations once in a month, and in the morning; but they must abstain from meat and drink, till the evening of the same day, for in that time that matter will be digested into the radical humour; whereby the strength of the body is wonderfully increased, beauty doth flourish most wonderfully, and continues till extreme old age. Let old men take it twice in a month, for by this means will their old age be fresh till the appointed time of death. Let young women and maids take it once in a month after their menstrua, for by this means they will look fresh and beautiful. Let women that are in travel take it, and it will help and strengthen them to bring forth without much pain, notwithstanding many difficulties. Let it be given to women that have past the years of their menstrua once or twice in a month, and it will preserve them very fresh, and many times cause their menstrua to return, and make them capable again of bearing children. It cures the plague, and expels the matter of a carbuncle by sweat most potently. Whn I say that this, or it will do thus or thus, I mean any one of the forenamed preparations, viz. Aurum potabile, Oils, or Tincture of gold. The preparations of Silver in general. All the several preparations of gold may, except that of Aurum fulminans, be applied to silver, of which being thus prepared the virtues are inferior to those of gold, yet come nearer to them then those of any other matter whatsoever, or howsoever prepared. Note that silver hath some peculiar preparations which neither gold or any other metals are capable of. A green Tincture of Silver. Take fine silver, and dissolve it in twice so much rectified Spirit of Nitre, then abstract half of the said Spirit in sand, let it stand a day or two in a cold place, and much of the silver will shoot into Crystals, and in oft doing most of it. These Crystals are very bitter, yet may be made into pills, and taken inwardly from three grains to twelve; they purge very securely, and gently, and colour the lips, tongue, and mouth, black. If in this dissolution of silver before it be brought to crystals, half so much Mercury be dissolved and both shoot together into crystals, you shall have a stone not much unlike to alum. This purgeth sooner, and better, and is not so bitter; It coloureth the nails, hair, skin, if it be dissolved in rain-water; with a lovely brown, red, or black, according as you put more or less thereof. Take of the aforesaid crystals of silver, mix with them a like quantity of pure Saltpetre well powdered, then put this mixture into the distilling vessel expressed page 76. at the bottom of which must be powdered coals to the thickness of two fingers breadth, then make a strong fire that the vessel and coals be red hot, put in a dram of the aforesaid mixture, and it will presently sublime in a silver fume, into the recipient, which being settled, put in more, and so do till you have enough Take out the flowers, and digest them in the best alcholizated Spirit of Wine, that thereby the tincture may be extracted, which will be green. A green Oil of Silver. Take of the abovesaid crystals of silver one part, of Spirit of salt armoniac two or three parts, digest them together in a glass with a long neck, well stopped, twelve or fourteen days, so will the spirit of salt armoniac be coloured with a very specious blue colour, pour it off, and filter it, than put it into a small Retort, and draw off most of the Spirit of armoniac, and there will remain in the bottom a grass-green Liquor. Then draw off all the Spirit, and there will remain in the bottom a salt, which may be purified with Spirit of Wine, or be put into a Retort, and then there will distil off a subtle Spirit, and a sharp Oil. This green Liquor is of great use for the gild of all things presently. If you take common rain-water distilled, and dissolve, and digest the aforesaid crystals of silver for a few days, you shall after the appearance of divers colours find an essence at the bottom, not so bitter as the former, but sweet, and in this Liquor may all metals in a gentle heat by long digestion be maturated, and made fit for medicine; but note that they must first be reduced into salts, for than they are no more dead bodies, but by this preparation have obtained a new life, and are the metals of Philosophers. To make Oil of Silver per deliquium. Take of the aforesaid salts, or crystals of silver, and reverberate them in a very gentle fire, then put them into a cellar on a marble stone, and they will in two month's time be resolved into a Liquor. To make a Liquor of Silver, that shall make the glass wherein it is so exceeding cold, that no man is able for the coldness thereof to hold it in bis hand any long time. Take the aforesaid salt of silver, pour upon it the spirit of salt armoniac and dissolve it throughly, and it will do as abovesaid. With a glass being full of this Liquor you may condense the air into water in the h●at of the summer, as also freeze water. To make silver as white as snow. Take of the calx of silver made by the dissolution of it in aqua fortis, dulcify it, and boil it in a Lixivium made of soap-ashes, and it will be as white as any snow. To make the silver tree of the Philosophers. Take four ounces of aqua fortis; in which dissolve an ounce of fine silver, then take two ounces of aqua fortis in which is dissolved half an ounce of argent vive, mix these two Liquors together in a clear glass with a pint of pure water, stop the glass very close, and you shall see day after day a tree to grow by little and little, which is wonderful pleasant to behold. I Have set down several vulgar preparations of gold and silver, and of almost all things else, I shall now crave leave to give an account of some philosophical preparations of the Philosopher's gold and silver. For indeed the Art of preparing of them is the true Alchemy, in comparison of which all the Chemical discoveries are but abortives, and found out by accident, viz. by endeavouring after this. I would not have the world believe that I pretend to the understanding of them, yet I would have them know that I am not incredulous as touching the possibility of that great philosophical work which many have so much laboured after, and many have found. To me there is nothing in the world seems more possible, and whosoever shall without prejudice read over the Book entitled the New Light of Alchemy, shall almost whether he will or no (unless he resolves not to believe any thing though never so credible) be convinced of the possibility of it. What unworthiness God saw in gold more than in other things, that he should deny the seed of multiplication (which is the perfection of the creatures) to it, and give it to all things besides, seems to me to be a question as hard to be resolved, yea, and harder than the finding out the Elixir itself, in the discovering of which the greatest difficulty is, not to be convinced of the easiness thereof. If the preparations were difficult many more would find it out then do (saith Sandiv●gius) for they cast themselves upon most difficult operations and are very subtle in difficult discoveries which the Philosophers never dr●a●ed of. Nay saith the aforesaid author, if Herme● himself were now living, together with the subtle-witted Geb●n, and most pro●ound Fa●mund lully, the would be accounted by our Chemists not for Philosophers, but rather for learners. They were ignorant of those so many distillations, so many circulations, so many calcinations, and so many other innumerable operations of Artists now a days used, which indeed men of this age did find out and invented out of their books. Yet there is one thing wanting to us which they did, viz. to know how to make the philosopher's stone, or physical tincture, the processes of which according to some philosophers are these. The process of the Elixir according to Paracelsus. TAke the mineral Electrum being immature, and made very subtle, put it into its own sphere, that the impurities, and superfluiries may be washed away, then purge it as much as possibly you can with Stibium after the Alchymisticall way, lest by its impurity thou suffer prejudice. Then resolve it in the stomach of an Ostrich, which is brought forth in the earth, and through the sharpness of the Eagle is confortated in its virtue. Now when the Electrum is consumed, and hath after its solution received the colour of a Marigold, do not forget to reduce it into a spiritual transparent essence, which is like to true Amber, then add half so much, as the Electrum did weigh before its preparation, of the extended Eagle, and oftentimes abstract from it the stomach of the Ostrich, and by this means the Electrum will be made more spiritual. Now when the stomach of the Ostrich is wearied with labour, it will be necessary to refresh it and always to abstract it. Lastly, when it hath again lost its sharpness add the tartarizated quintessence, yet so that it be spoilt of its redness the height of four fingers, and that pass over with it. This do so often till it be of itself white, and when it is enough, and thou seest that sign, sublime it. So will the Electrum be converted into the whiteness of an exalted Eagle, and with a little more labour be transmuted into deep redness, and then it is fit for medicine. The process of the Elixir according to Divi Leschi Genus Amo. TAke of o●r earth through eleven degrees, eleven grains, of our gold, and not of the vulgar, one grain, of our lune, not of the vulgar, grains two; but be thou admonished that thou take not the gold, and silver of the vulgar, for they are dead, but take ours which are living, than put them into our fire, and there will thence be made a dry Liquor: First the earth will be resolved into water, which is called the Mercury of Philosophers, and in that water it will resolve the bodies of the Sun, and Moon, and consume them that there remain but the tenth part, with one part, and this will be the Humidum Radicale Metallicum. Then take the water of the salt Nitre of our earth, in which there is a living stream if thou diggest the pit knee deep, take therefore the water of it, but take it clear, and set over it that Humidum Radical, and put it over the fire of putrefaction and generation, but not such as was that in the first operation. Govern all things with a great deal of discretion, until there appear colours like to the tail of a Peacock, govern it by digesting of it, and be not weary, till these colours cease, and there appear throughout the whole, a green colour, and so of the rest, and when thou shalt see in the bottom, ashes of a fiery colour, and the water almost red, open the vessel, dip in a feather, and smear over some iron with it, if it tinge, have in readiness that water which is the menstruum of the world (out of the sphere of the Moon so often rectified, until it can calcine gold) put in so much of that water as was the cold air, which went in, boil it again with the former fire until it tinge again. The process of the Philosopher's stone according to Pontanus. TAke the matter, and grind it with a physical contrition, as diligently as may be, than set it upon the fire▪ and let the proportion of fire be known, viz. that it only stir up the ma●ter, and in a short time, that fire without any other laying on of hands, will accomplish the whole work, because it will putrefy, corrupt, generate, and perfect, and make to appear the three principal colours, black, white, and red: And by the means of our fire, the medicine will be multiplied, if it be joined with the crude matter, not only in quantity but also in virtue. Withal they might therefore search out this fire (which is mineral, equal, continual, vapours not away, except it be too much stirred up; partakes of sulphur, is taken from elsewhere then from the matter; pulle●h down all things, dissolveth, congealeth, and calcines, and is artificial to find out, and that by a compendious, and near way, without any cost, at least very small, is not transmuted with the matter, because it is not of the matter) and thou shalt attain thy wish, because it doth the whole work, and is the key of the Philosophers, which they never revealed. The Smaragdine table of Hermes from whence all Alchemy did arise. TRue, without all falsity; certain, and most true. That which is inferior is as that which is superior; and that which is superior is as that which is inferior, for the accomplishing of the miracles of one thing. And as all things were from one, by the mediation of one, so all things have proceeded from this one thing by adaptation. The Father therefore is the Sun, and the Mother thereof the Moon; the wind carried it in its belly; The Nurse thereof is the earth. The father of all the perfection of the whole world is this: The virtue thereof is entire, if it be turned into earth. Thou shalt separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the thick, sweetly, with a great deal of judgement. It ascends from the earth up to heaven, and again descends down to the earth, and receives the powers of superiors, and inferiors. So thou hast the glory of the whole world: Therefore let all obscurity fly from thee. This is the strong fortitude of the whole fortitude, because it shall overcome every thing that is subtle, and penetrate every solid thing, as the world is created: Hence shall wonderful adaptations be, whereof this is the manner, wherefore I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having three parts of the philosophy of the whole world. It is complete, what I have spoken of the operation of the Sun. FINIS. THE London-Distiller, Exactly and truly showing the way (in words at length and not in mystesterious CHARACTERS and FIGURES) to draw all SORTS OF SPIRITS AND STRONG-WATERS: To which is added their Virtues, with Additions of many Excellent WATERS. LONDON, Printed by E. Cotes, for Thomas Williams, at the Sign of the Bible in Little-Britain, 1652. THE DISTILLER OF LONDON: OR, Rules and Directions for extracting and drawing of Low-Wines and Spirits, to be redistilled into Rich-Spirits, Strong-Waters, or Aquavitae. WHereas some of the Professors of Distillation, in and about London, have heretofore usually drawn Strong waters, and Aqua vitae, etc. out of Wines, Low wines, and Small Spirits, etc. by one alone immediate extraction, operation, or distillation, (contrary to the most approved form of working in this our Art) and have been so opinionated of their own hereditary erroneous ways, that they have esteemed the manner and order here taught, to be altogether unnecessary and improvident, in that there is here required Redistillation, which they have ever thought to be superfluous: Not considering, that what they save by their seeming thrift, they lose double in the excellency of their Wares, and otherwise. Wherefore that such may not only acquit themselves of an aspersion of ignorance (not undeservedly cast upon them) but also vindicate both their own, & the Companies reputation, for time to come: The directions following are henceforth by them and every Member of the Company, and their Successors, duly and exactly to be observed and practised from time to time for ever hereafter. That all Wines, Lees of Wines, Low Wines, and Spirits, under proof whatsoever (intended for making of rich or high Spirits, Strong Waters, or Aqua vitae, etc.) be first distilled, extracted, or drawn into strong Proof-Spirit, whereby they may be corrected and cured of their natural, harsh, distasteful, unsavoury, or evil qualities, before they be compounded with ingredients, or extracted and drawn into rich or high Spirits, Strong waters, or Aqua vitae; according to Art, and as is required in the ensuing Rules. And because many gross absurdities have been frequently practised in adulterating some, and abusing others, of the materials used in Distillation, and otherwise by Distillers, by such as only respect their own particular gain regarding neither the profit or credit of Distillers that have been necessitated to make use of such their il-conditioned Wares: Wherefore that these grievances may be removed for time to come, the Directions following are strictly to be observed and practised by all the Members of this Company and their Successors, from time to time for ever. That no Afterworts or Wash (made by Brewers, etc.) called Blue John, nor musty, unsavoury, or unwholesome Tilts, or Dregs of Beer or Ale; nor unwholesome or adulterated Wines, or Lees of Wines; nor unwholesome Sugar waters; musty, unsavoury, or unwholesome returned Beer or Ale; nor rotten, corrupt, or unsavoury Fruits, Drugs, Spices, Herbs, Seeds, nor any other il-conditioned materials of what kind soever, shall henceforth be distilled, extracted, or drawn into Small Spirits, or Low Wines, or be any other ways used, directly or indirectly, by any the Members of this Company, or their Successors, at any time hereafter for ever. And whereas of late times the Small Spirits or Low Wines, made and sold, as well in and about London, as elsewhere in this Commonwealth, have been generally complained of, for their mean, weak, and poor condition; whereby many inconveniences have fallen upon most of the Distillers in general; And that not through the alone practices of such, as have no just title to, or interest in this incorporation; but even by some of the Distillers themselves, who (notwithstanding their pretences of being necessitated thereunto) have justly deserved reproof, for yielding to be Actors in a thing of such ill consequence to Distillers in general. Wherefore, that those abuses and disorders may now be taken away, and the like prevented for time to come, the ensuing Rule is duly to be observed and practised. That no Small spirits, or Low wines, shall henceforth be distilled, extracted, or made, and be allowed to be sold, put to sale, or used by any of the Members of the Company, or their Successors: but such only, as out of which, by one alone redistillation, extraction, or operation, may be produced in quantity, at least one third part thereof, of good strong Proof-spirit, such as is required in the Rules ensuing, for making rich, or high Spirits, Strong waters, or Aqua vitae, etc. under such pains, penalties, and punishments, as by the Laws of the Commonwealth, Ordinances, or Orders of the Company, or otherwise, may be imposed or inflicted on the contemners, neglecters, or opposers of these Directions. Rules and Directions for THE COMPANY OF DISTILLERS OF LONDON, in general. But more especially for such of them, as now do, or hereafter shall make VINEGARS, etc. WHereas upon due examination it hath plainly appeared, That many insufferable inconveniences have of late-faln upon this Company, and their Trade, in general; by reason of the disorderly and abusive expense and employment of Brewer's Afterworts (called Wash;) Insomuch, that thereby not only those of this Company that have had no hand herein, but even the Distillers themselves that have been the Delinquents, have intolerably suffered both in their Reputation and great decay of their Trades, by these their alone inconsiderate practices. For Reformation of the present disorders and abuses, and future prevention of the like, these ensuing Admonitions and directions are strictly to be observed and practised, viz. That no Member or Members of this Company, or their Successors, nor any of them, at any time hereafter, for ever, by any way or means whatsoever (directly or indirrectly) shall or may, use, dispose, convert or employ, any Afterworts (or Wash, made by the Brewers or others) into Vinegar, Bear-eager, or Ale-eager, or either of them; or to or for any other use or employment whatsoever, except only to distil the same into Low wines or Spirits, to be ●edistilled into Proof-spirit for the uses aforesaid, according to the true intent and meaning of these Directions, as they and every of them respect their Oaths by them taken (when they were made free, and received into this Incorporation:) And will undergo the penalties provided, or to be provided, by the Ordinances of this Company, or otherwise, to be imposed or inflicted on the Contemners, Neglecters, or Opposers hereof. Rule I. PRovide three sweet Tuns (or smaller Casks) place them orderly on Scantlings; provide good sound white Rape, and such well conditioned liquid Materials as are proper for this use, what sufficeth (not musty in any case.) Then number your Tuns, 1, 2, 3. Fill Tun 1, with Rape within six inches of the Bungue stop the Bungue with Cork or Wood very close, and let it stand, and in few days it will gather heat, then being conveniently hot, fill up the vessel within three inches of top full, with your liquid Materials without Dr●gs: stop it close again: And at that instant, in like manner as before, fill Tun 2, with Rape, after a few days, that will be hot as the former was, then finding it conveniently hot, draw off Tun 1, and put it into Tun 2, and stop both close: At the present fill Tun 3, with Rape, and order it in every respect, as you did the former. And when Tuns, 1 and 3, have gathered he●t sufficient, fill up Tun 1, with fresh Liquor (as at first) and draw off Tun 2, and put it into Tun 3, and so let Tun 2, gather sufficient heat again; Then draw off Tun 1, and put it into Tun 2. And at that present, you may draw off Tun 3, and put it into a store Cask; for having passed three times through the Rape, it is thereby become to be good merchantable Ware. And so in like order, supply one Vessel from another, till you have finished your work according to Art. When all your liquid Materials are spent, so that you have no more to continue your work, then be sure your Tuns stand near full, till you are provided of more Liquor, to put upon your Rape; for if your Rape (standing dry) should wax hot, you having nothing proper to supply the same, your Rape will soon decay, and be utterly spoiled. In Summer or warm weather, the Rape will gather sufficient heat in two or three days; but in Winter it will require more time. Rule II. TAke 20 Quarters of good sound Malt, convert it into 100 Barrels of good serviceable Ware (at the most) you must allow to this quantity, good sweet Hops at least 56 pound. And being well wrought according to Art, put it into sweet Cask (Sweet-oyls-but are best) fill them within 8 inches of the Bungues (being laid upon Scantlings in the Sun) let not the Head work over at the Bungues, and it will sink to the bottom. Prepare little covers of wood fit to cover the Bungues, and larger covers to lay over them, to defend it from Rain falling into the Cask. Let the Bungues stand open only, when the Sun shines hot upon the Cask; but in close or wet weather and nights, let both covers be always kept on. When the first Head of the Liquor is fallen, then draw it from the Lee, into another clean sweet Cask; and so afterward from Cask to Cask, as there shall be cause, till it come to perfection: Then draw it off into another sound Cask, and so house it for use. The largest Cask are the fittest to house, and keep Wares in for store. If your Wares grow long and ropy, than put a fit quantity of Alum into it, work it well together according to Art, and it will grow short again. THE DISTILLER OF LONDON: OR, Rules and Directions for Preparing, Composing, Distilling, Extracting, and making of rich Spirits, Strong-Waters, Aqua Vitaes, etc. CHAP. I. Of Aqua vitae, the first sort, The greater quantity. TAke strong Proof spirit 10 Gallons, Aniseeds bruised 1 pound, Distil them into strong Proof Spirit according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Aniseeds bruised 1 ounce 4 drams, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art. CHAP. II. Aqua vitae, the second sort. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Aniseeds 2 pound, Carraway seeds Coriander seeds and 4 ounces. Distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Aniseeds 3 ounces and a quarter, Caraway seeds Coriander seeds three drams. distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art. CHAP. III. Of Aniseed Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Aniseeds the best bruised five pound, distil them into strong Proof spirit; dulcify it according to Art with five pound of white Sugar. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Aniseeds the best bruised 8 ounces, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify it according to Art with 8 ounces of white Sugar. Aniseed water strengtheneth the Stomach, breaketh phlegm, and helpeth digestion. It is also excellent against the Tisick, and shortness of breath; and against wind in the Stomach and Body. CHAP. IU. Of Angelica Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth; Angelica roots a pound and a half or Angelica herb green 7 pound and a half, Aniseeds 16 ounces, flice the roots thin, or bruise them & the seeds, distil them into strong Proof spirit; dulcify with 5 pound of white Sugar. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 8 pound, Angelica roots 2 ounces and a quarter; or Angelica herb green 12 ounces, Aniseeds 1 ounce 5 drams, Slice the roots thin, or bruise them and the seeds, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with 8 ounces of Sugar. Angelica water is very cordial, strengtheneth the Stomach and inw●rd parts: and is a good Preservative against the plague and other infections. CHAP. V. Of Wormwood Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Aniseeds bruised one pound, Wormwood common, leaves and seeds, stripped, and dry 2 pound, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Aniseeds bruised 1 ounce and 5 drams, Wormwood common, leaves and seeds stripped, and dry 3 ounces and an half, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar half a pound. Wormwood water consumeth and breaketh Windel, killeth Worms, hindereth Vomiting, provoketh appetite, and strengtheneth the stomach. It is also a great Cordial, and is very good against pains of the head proceeding of a cold cause. CHAP. VI Of Balm Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Herb balm dry ●3 pound, Aniseeds 1 pound; distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; dulcify with white sugar what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 8 pound Herb, balm dry 4 ounces and an half, Aniseeds 1 ounce 5 drams, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar eight ounces. Balm water is good against the infirmities of the Mother, and is very comfortable for women in the time of their pains to take a little of it, for the sooner and safer provoking of a speedy delivery. It is also a Cordial and strengtheneth the heart. CHAP. VII. Of Mint Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Spear Mint dry 3 pound, Aniseeds best 1 pound, distil them into strong Proof spirit; dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Spear Mint dry 4 ounces and 3 quarters, Aniseed 1 ounce and 5 drams, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white sugar what sufficeth. Mint water comferteth and strengtheneth the Stomach, Heart, Liver, and Spleen, helpeth coneoction and is good against vomiting. CHAP. VIII. Of Rosemary Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Rosemary stripped and dry 30 ounces, Aniseeds of the best 16 ounces, distil them in to strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 8 pound, Rosemary stripped and dry 3 ounces, Aniseeds of the best 1 ounce 5 drams, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Rosemary water is very good against Dys●ntery or Bloody Flux, proceeding of a cold cause, either drunk or three spoonfuls thereof administered in a convenient Glister. It also preserveth from vomiting, strengtheneth the Stomach, quickeneth the Sight, and comforteth the Brain. CHAP. IX. Of Limon, or Orange Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Limon or Orange pills dry 30 ounces, Aniseeds of the best 16 ounces, bruise the pills and seeds; distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Limon or Orange pills dry 3 ounces, Aniseeds of the best 1 ounce 5 drams, bruise the pills and seeds, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Limon water strengtheneth and reviveth the feeble Spirits aromatizeth the Stomach, and is a great Cordial. It also openeth obstructions, exceedingly breaketh wind in the Stomach, is as an healing Balsam to all the inward parts, and is a great Restorative to man's Nature. CHAP. X. Of Stomach Water the less. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Spear Mint, dry, Lovage roots dry, Aniseeds of each 1 pound, Calamus Aromaticus, Ginger, Sweet Fennell seeds, Imperatoria roots, Wormwood dry and stripped, of each 8 ounces, Carraway Coriander seeds, of each 6 ounces. Cummin seeds Cloves of each three ounces, Bruise them that are to be bruised; distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; dulcify with white sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 8 pound, Spear Mints dry, Lovage roots dry, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce 5 drams; Calamus Aromaticus, Ginger, Sweet Fennell seeds, Imperatoria roots, Wormwood dry and stripped, of each 7 drams, Caraway Coriander seeds of each 5 drams, Cummin seeds Cloves of each 2 drams and an half, Bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. CHAP. XI. Stomach Water the greater. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Calamus Aromaticus 6 ounces, Guaiacum green Bark, Avens Roots dry, Galingale of each 4 ounces, Citron pills dry, Orange pills dry, White Cinnamon of each 3 ounces; Wormwood Common dry, Wormwood Roman dry, Spear Mint, Rosemary tops, Costmary, Sweet Marjoram, Wild Thyme, all dry of each 2 ounces. Nutmegs Cinnamon of each 2 ounces and an half. Cubebs Cardamums of each 1 ounce and an half. Sweet Fennell seeds, Coriander seeds, of each 5 ounces; Aniseeds a pound and half; bruise them all that are to be bruised; Distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar ten pound according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Calamus Aromaticus 5 drams, Guaiacum, green Bark, Avens roots dry, Galingale of each 4 ounces, Citron pills dry, Orange pills dry, White Cinnamon of each 3 drams and a quarter, Wormwood Common dry, Wormwood Roman dry, Spear Mint Rosemary tops, Costmary, Sweet Marjoram, Wild Thyme, all dry, of each a dram and half, Nutmegs Cinnamon of each 2 drams, Cubebs Cardamums of each a dram and a quarter, sweet Fennell seeds, Coriander seeds, of each half an ounce, Aniseeds 2 ounces 3 drams, Bruise them all that are to be bruised, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 16 ounces, according to Art. CHAP. XII. Margerum Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Sweet Marjoram dry 3 pound, Aniseeds 16 ounces, Caraway 4 ounces, Calamus Aromaticus 6 ounces, bruise them, distil and dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Sweet Marjoram dry 5 ounces, Aniseeds 1 ounce 5 drams, Caraway 3 drams and a quarter, Calamus Aromaticus 5 drams, bruise them, distil and dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces according to Art. Margerum water is good against the infirmities of the Liver and Spleen, causeth freeness of breathing, and strengtheneth the Stomach and inward parts. CHAP. XIII. Vsquebach. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Aniseeds 1 pound, Cloves 2 ounces, Nutmeg, Ginger, Caraway seeds of each four ounces: distil them into strong proof Spirit according to Art. Then add to the distilled water Licorice Spanish, Raifins solis of each 2 pound, bruise the Licorice and Raisins; dulcify with brown Sugar 5 pound, stir them well together, and so let it stand ten days, and then (being fine) draw it off and keep it for use. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Aniseeds 1 ounce 5 drams, Cloves a dram and half, Nutmeg, Ginger, Caraway seeds of each 3 drams, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; then add to the distilled water Licorice Spanish, Raisins solis, of each 3 ounces a dram and half, bruise the Licorice and Raisins, dulcify with brown Sugar 8 ounces, stir them well together, and so let it stand ten days, and then (being fine) draw it off and keep it for use. Vsquebach cureth the infirmities of the lungs, warmerh the Stomach, and causeth expectoration. CHAP. XIV. Balsamint Water. The greater quantity. Take strong proof Spirit what sufficeth, Balsamint dry two pound, Aniseeds best 1 pound, Caraway seeds 4 ounces, Limon pills dry 8 ounces, bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Balsamint dry 3 ounces a dram and half, Aniseeds best one ounce 5 drams, Caraway seeds 3 drams, Limon pills dry 6 drams and an half, bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces according to Art. Balsamint water comforteth the Stomach and expelleth wind. CHAP. XV. Rosa solis. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Cinnamon of the best 8 ounces, Cloves 2 ounces, Nutmegs, Ginger, Caraway seeds, of each 4 ounces, Marigold flowers, Aniseeds, of each 16 ounces, bruise them, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; then add to the distilled water Licorice Spanish 1 pound, Raisins solis, Brown Sugar, of each 5 pound, Red Sanders four ounces, bruise i Licorice and Raisins, stir them well together, and let them stand 12 days, then being clear it may be drawn for use. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Cinnamon of the best 6 drams and an half, Cloves a dram and half, Nutmegs, Ginger, Caraway seeds of each 3 drams, Marigold flowers, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce and 5 drams, bruise them, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, then add to the distilled water Licorice Spanish an ounce 5 drams, Raisins solis, Brown Sugar, of each 8 ounces, Red Sanders 3 drams, bruise the Licorice and Raisins, stir them well together, and let them stand twelve days, then being clear it may be drawn for use. This Rosa-solis is good against cold infirmities of the Stomach, helpeth digestion and expelleth wind. CHAP. XVI. Clove Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Cloves of the best 10 ounces, Aniseeds 16 ounces, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Cloves of the best 1 ounce Aniseeds 1 ounce and 5 drams, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Clove water helpeth digestion, breaketh wind, provoketh Urine, comforteth the Heart, and strengtheneth the Stomach, Liver and all the inward parts. CHAP. XVII. Cinnamon Water Common. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Cinnamon of the best 5 pound, Aniseeds 10 ounces, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 7 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Cinnamon of the best 8 ounces, Aniseeds 1 ounce, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 12 ounces. CHAP. XVIII. Cinnamon water Proper. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Cinnamon best large ten pounds, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, take white Sugar 12 pound and an half, Rose water four pound, make them into a Syrup, and dulcify therewith according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Cinnamon best large 16 ounces, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, take white Sugar 20 ounces, Rose water 6 ounces 3 drams, make them into Syrup, and dulcify therewith according Art. Cinnamon water is good against loathing of the Stomach, and a stinking breath. It also strengtheneth the Heart, Liver, Lungs, and Spleen, and comforteth the Brain and Sinews. CHAP. XIX. Sweet Fennell seed Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, sweet Fennell seeds five pound, Caraway seeds 4 ounces, Aniseeds 16 ounces, distil them into Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Sweet Fennell seeds 8 ounces, Caraway seeds 3 drams, Aniseeds an ounce and five drams, distil them into Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Fennell water is good against the naseousnesse of the Stomach, and easeth the pain thereof; digesteth Phlegm and expelleth Wind. CHAP. XX. Marigold Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Marigold flowers new gathered, picked clean, 2 pecks heaped, bruise them, Sweet Fennell seeds, Aniseeds, of each 10 ounces, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar five pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Marigold flowers new gathered, picked clean, what sufficeth, bruise them, Sweet Fennell seeds, Aniseeds of each 1 ounce, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Marigold water comforteth the inward parts, and is good against infection. CHAP. XXI. Caraway Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Caraway seeds 30 ounces, Aniseeds 10 ounces, Rosemary dry 4 ounces, Limon pills dry, Cloves of each 3 ounces, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar five pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Caraway seeds three ounces, Aniseeds 1 ounce, Rosemary dry 3 drams, Limon pills dry, Cloves of each 2 drams and an half, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Caraway water is profitable against the cold grief of the Stomach, and Bowels, comforteth them and breaketh wind. CHAP. XXII. Nutmeg Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Nutmeg 20 ounces, Aniseeds 10 ounces, bruise them, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 5 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Nutmegs best 2 ounces, Aniseeds 1 ounce; bruise them, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 8 ounces. Nutmeg water comforteth the Spirits, discusseth wind, Aromatizeth the Stomach, causeth a sweet breath, and provoketh Urine. CHAP. XXIII. Precious Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit ten gallons, Enula Campana Avens Angelica Cyprus Calamus Aromaticus Sassafras Roots of each 5 ounces. Zedoary, Galingale, of each 4 ounces, Cassia lignea, Lignum Rhodium, Yellow Saunder of each 3 ounces, Citron Orange pills dry, of each 6 ounces, Cinnamon White, Nutmegs, Maces, Ginger, of each 5 oun. Cinnamon best 20 ounces, Cloves, cardamum's, Cubebs, of each 2 ounces, and an half, Sweet Chervile seeds, Basil seeds, of each 3 ounces and an half, Coriander seeds, Sweet Fennell seeds of each ten ounces, Aniseeds 20 ounces, bruise them, distil them into Proof spirit, and dulcify with fine Sugar 15 pound according to Art; Let it stand till it be fine, then draw it off, and add Musk one dram: Ambergreese 4 drams; then let it clear and draw it for use. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Enula Campana Avens Angelica Cyprus Calamus Aromaticus Sassafras Roots, of each half an ounce. Zedoary, Galingale, of each 3 drams, Cassia lignea, Lignum Rhodium, Yellow Sanders, of each 2 drams and an half, Citron Orange pills dry of each 4 drams and 3 quarters; Cinamons' White, Nutmegs, Maces, Ginger, of each half an ounce, Cinnamon best 2 ounces, Cloves, cardamum's, Cubebs of each 2 drams, Sweet Chervile seeds, Basil seeds of each three drams, Coriander seeds, Sweet Fennell seeds, of each 1 ounce, Aniseeds 2 ounces, bruise them, distil them into Proof spirit, and dulcify with fine Sugar 24 ounces according to Art, let it stand till it be fine; then draw it off and add Musk 6 grains, Ambergreese 24 grains; then let it clear and draw it for use. Precious water is good against the Plague and Malignant ●eavers: It also comforteth the Spirit, strengtheneth the Heart preserveth the Senses, and relieveth languishing Nature. CHAP. XXIV. Wind Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Enula Campana roots dry, Aniseeds of each 1 pound, Cyprus roots, Bark of the roots of Bay tree, or as much leaves, Sassafras with the Bark, Cinnamon white, of each 6 ounces, Calamus Aromaticus, Orange pills, dry of each 4 ounces, Clary, Red Mints, Calamint, Elder flowers, Camomile flowers, of each 5 ounces, Sweet Fennel seeds, Caraway seeds, Angelica seeds of each 3 ounces and an half, Coriander seeds, Cardamums, Cubebs, Grains of Paradise, Cloves, Ginger of each 2 ounces and a half, Pepper long and white of each 10 drams, bruise them all grossly, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 10 pound, draw it for use when it is perfectly clear. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Enula Campana roots dry, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, Cyprus roots, Barks of the root of Bay tree, or as much leaves, Sassafras with the Bark, Cinnamon white, of each 4 drams and 3 quarters, Calamus Aromaticus, Orange pills dry, of each 3 drams, Clary, Red Mints, Calamint, Elder flowers, Camomile flowers, of each half an ounce, Sweet Fennell seeds, Caraway seeds, Angelica seeds, of each 3 drams, Coriander seeds, Cardamums, Cubebs, Grains of Paradise, Cloves, Ginger, of each 2 drams, Pepper long and white, of each 1 dram, bruise them all grossly, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 16 ounces, draw it for use when it is perfectly clear. CHAP. XXV. Water to procure Sweat. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Butter-bur-roots dry, 2 pound, Valerian, (common) Roots, Aniseeds, of each one pound, Vincetoxicum roots, Sassafras roots, with the Bark of each 8 ounces, Angelica herb dry, Carduus Benedictus, Great Valerian Herb and Roots, all dry; Scordium, of each twelve ounces, Cowslip Marigold flowers, of each 10 ounces. Juniper Berry's 20 ounces, bruise them all, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art; dulcify with white Sugar ten pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Butter-bur-roots dry, 3 ounces a dram and half, Valerian (common) Roots, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, Vincetoxicum roots, Sassafras roots with the Bark, of each 6 drams and a half; Angelica Herb dry, Carduus Benedictus, Great Valerian Herb and Roots, all dry, Scordium of each, one ounce a dram and half, Cowslip Marigold flowers, of each 1 ounce, Juniper Berry's 2 ounces, bruise them all, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art; dulcify with white Sugar 16 ounces. CHAP. XXVI. Surfeit Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Juniper berries two pound, Enula Campana Roots dry 1 pound, Calamus Aromaticus, Galingale, of each 4 ounces, Wormwood, Spear Mint, Red Mint, all dry, of each 2 ounces and an half, Caraway seeds, Angelica seeds, of each 2 ounces, Sassafras Roots with the Bark, White Cinnamon, of each 3 ounces, Nutmegs, Mace, Cloves, Ginger, of each 1 ounce, Red Ropy flower 4 pound, Aniseeds 2 pound and an half, bruise them all, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 10 pound. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Juniper berries 3 ounces a dram and half, Enula Campana Roots dry 1 ounce 5 drams, Calamus Aromaticus, Galingale, of each 3 drams, Wormwood, Spear Mint, Red Mint, all dry, of each 2 drams; Caraway seeds, Angelica seeds, of each a dram and a half, Sassafras Roots with the Bark, White Cinnamon, of each 2 drams and a half, Nutmegs, Mace, Ginger, Cloves, of each 3 quarters of a dram, Red Poppy flower 6 ounces and a half, Aniseeds 4 ounces, bruise them all, distil them into strong Proof spirit, dulcify with white Sugar 16 ounces. CHAP. XXVII. scorbutical Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Horse Reddish roots dry 2 pound, Enula Campana roots dry, Aniseeds, of each 1 pound, Water Winter Garden Cress' Taragon, Balsamint, Scurvigrasse (Garden) Wormwood, Brookelime, Trefoil (Water) Sweet Chervile, of each 6 ounces, Arsmart 8 ounces, Mustard Bank-cresse Rocket Reddish seed, of each 3 ounces. Citron Orange pills dry, Cinnamon White, Mace, of each 4 ounces: Bruise them all, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth; for use take 7 parts of this Spirit, and 1 part of juice of Lemons, (or more) mingle them together, and dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Horse Reddish roots dry, 3 ounces a dram and half, Enula Campana roots dry, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, Water Winter Garden Cresses, Tarragon, Balsamint, Scurvygrasse (Garden) Wormwood, Brookelime, Trefoil (Water) Sweet Chervile, of each half an ounce and three quarters of a dram, Arsmart three quarters of an ounce and half a dram, Mustard Bank-cresse Rocket Reddish seeds, of each 2 drams and an half, Citron Orange pills dry, Cinnamon White, Mace, of each 3 drams and a quarter, bruise them all, distil them into strong Proof spirit, according to art, dulcify with white Sugar 1 pound; for use take 7 parts of this spirit, and 1 part of juice of Lemons (or more) mingle them together, and dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth. CHAP. XXVIII. Plague Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Butter-bur-roots dry 1 pound, Garden Common Valerian roots dry, Angelica roots, Imperatoria, Gentian, Enula Campana, Snakegrass roots, of each 6 ounces, Contra Yarva, Zedoary, Galingale, of each 4 ounces, Rue leaves dry, White Horehound, Scordium, Carduus Benedictus, of each 5 ounces, Elder flowers, Lavender, Maces of each 3 ounces, Citron pills dry, Juniper berries, of each 8 ounces, Green Walnuts with the husks 1 pound, Venus' treacle, Mithridate, of each 2 ounces, Aniseeds best a pound and half; Camphire 1 ounce; distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 10 pound; For use, let the party infected take of this water 1 ounce, mingled with warm Posset drink (or any water proper in that case) and be kept very warm and sweat well thereon. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Butterbur roots dry 1 ounce and 5 drams, Garden Common Valerian roots dry, Angelica roots, Imperatoria, Gentian, Enula Campana, Snakegrass roots, of each half an ounce and 3 quarters of a dram, Contra Yarva, Zedoary, Galingale, of each 3 drams and a quarter, Rue leaves dry, White Horehound, Scordium, Carduus Benedictus, of each half an ounce, Elder flowers, Lavender, Mace, of each 2 drams and a half, Citron pills dry, Juniper berries, of each 6 drams and a half, Green Walnuts with the husks 1 ounce 5 drams, Venus' treacle, Mithridate, of each a dram and half, Aniseeds best 2 ounces 3 drams and a half, Camphire 3 quarters of a dram, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth; For use, let the party infected take of this water 1 ounce mingled with warm posset drink (or any water proper in that case) and be kept very warm, and sweat well thereon. CHAP. XXIX. Lavender Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Lavender leaves dry three pound, Lavender flowerrs dry 2 pound, Maces half a pound, or Nutmegs 1 pound, Lavender Coffin dry 2 pound, Stoechadoes half a pound, bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Lavender leaves dry, 4 ounces 3 quarters and half a dram, Lavender flowers dry, 3 ounces a dram and half, Mace 6 drams and a half, Nutmeg one ounce, 5 drams, Lavender Cotten dry 3 ounces a dram and half, Stoechados 6 drams and a half, bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into proof Spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 16 ounces. Lavender water helpeth the passions of the Heart, Palsies, Cramps, Apoplexies, and restoreth the speech lost. CHAP. XXX. Sage Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Great Sage dry 3 pound, Red Sage dry 2 pound, Lavender flowers, Sage flowers, of each 1 pound, Lavender Cotten dry, Southernwood dry, of each 8 ounces, Nutmegs ten ounces; Bruise or beat them as is most proper, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Great Sage dry 4 ounces 3 quarters and half a dram, Red Sage dry 3 ounces a dram and a half, Lavender flowers, Sage flowers, of each 1 ounce a half and 1 dram, Lavender Cotten dry, Southern wood dry, of each 6 drams and a half, Nutmegs what sufficeth; Bruise or beat them as is most proper, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with white Sugar 16 ounces. Sage wattr is good for such as are of a cold and phlegmatic constitution, and for such as are heavy and dull of spirit. CHAP. XXXI. Ros solis Proper. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Ros solis gathered in due season, and clean picked, 4 pound, Juniper berries 3 pound, Sassafras rooted with the Bark, Caraway seeds, of each four ounces, Marigold flowers 1 pound, Aniseeds 1 pound and an half, Bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; Take hereof 7 pound, add thereto 1 pound of water treated of in the 23 Chapter dulcified Licorice bruised one pound, dulcify with white Sugar ten pound: If you add none of the aforesaid water, then in stead thereof take Musk 1 dram, Ambergreese 3 drams, colour it with the tincture of July flower, or Roses what sufficeth according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Ros solis gathered in due season, and clean picked, six ounces 3 drams and a quarter, Juniper berries 4 ounces 6 drams and a half, Sassafras roots with the Bark, Caraway seeds, of each 3 drams and a quarter, Marigold flowers 1 ounce a half and 1 dram, Aniseeds 2 ounces 3 drams and a half, Bruise them that are to be bruised, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; Take hereof ten ounces 1 dram and a half, add thereto 1 ounce 5 drams of water treated of in the 23 Chapter dulcified. Licorice bruised 1 ounce 5 drams, dulcify with white sugar what sufficeth, If you add none of the aforesaid water, then in stead thereof, take Musk six grains, Ambergreese 18 grains; colour it with the tincture of July flower, or Roses what sufficeth, according to Art. Ros so●●s proper, openeth obstruction, relieveth decaying Nature, comforteth the Stomach, quickeneth Appetite, and is good against the Falling sickness. CHAP. XXXII. Water of Flower. The great quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, and put it into a wide mouthed Pot, (or other Vessel) stopped very close; Take those several flowers following in their seasons, and being clean picked, put them to the spirit in the Pot, viz. Cowslips, Wood been, Stock gilly flower of all three sorts, Damask Musk Roses, Sweet Brier flowers, Clove July flowers, Llilium Convallium, Jasmine, Citron Orange flowers, or pills dry, Tillia Flowers, Garden Limon Wild Thyme flowers, Lavender Marigold Chamomile melilot Elder Flowers, of each half a pound, Being furnished with all your flowers as above, when you would distil them, add to them Aniseeds 2 pound, Coriander 1 pound, bruise the seeds, It were best to bruise all the flowers, as you put them up into the spirit, for their more orderly working, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art, then add to the distilled water Roses, July flowers, Elder flowers of each 1 pound, after twelve day's infusion it may be drawn off; then dulcify it with white Sugar 10 pound, and being fine it may be drawn for use. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit, 1 gallon; and put it into a wide mouthed pot (or other vessel) stopped very close; take those several flowers following in their seasons, and being clean picked, put them to the spirit in the pot: viz. Cowslips, Wood been, Stock Gilly flower of the 3 sorts, Damask Musk Roses, Sweet Brier flowers, Clove July flowers, Lilium Convallium, Jasmine, Citron Orange flowers, or pills dry, Tillia flowers, Garden Limon Wild Thyme flowers, Lavender Marigold Chamomile melilot Elder Flowers, of each 6 drams and a half, Being furnished with all your flowers as above, when you would distil them, add to them Aniseeds 3 ounces a dram and half, Coriander 1 ounce 5 drams, bruise the seeds, it were best to bruise all the flowers, as you put them up into the spirit, for their more orderly working, distil them into strong Proof spirit according to Art; Then add to the distilled water Roses, July flowers, Elder flowers, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, after 12 day's infusion it may be drawn off; then dulcify it with white Sugar 1 pound, and being fine it may be drawn for use. CHAP. XXXIII. Water of Fruits. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 10 gallons, Juniper berries 4 pound, Quince Pipping parings dry, of each 2 pound, Limon pills, Orange pills dry, of each 1 pound, Nutmegs four ounces, Aniseeds 2 pound, Cloves 2 ounces, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, to the spirit add Strawberries, Raspisses bruised, of each 5 pound, stir them well together, and after ten days it being clear, may be drawn off; then dulcify with syrup made as is hereafter taught, and so let it stand till it be clear, and then draw it off for use. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gallon, Juniper berries 6 ounces 3 drams and a quarter, Quince Pipping parings dry, of each 3 ounces a dram and half, Limon pills, Orange pills dry, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, Nutmegs 3 drams and a quarter, Aniseeds 3 ounces a dram and half, Cloves 1 dram and a half, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, to the spirit add Strawberries, Raspisses bruised of each 8 ounces, stir them well together, and after 10 days, it being clear, may be dawn off; then dulcify it with syrup made as is hereafter taught, and so let it stand till it be clear, and then draw it off for use. CHAP. XXXIV. Avens' Water. The greater quantity. Take strong Proof spirit what sufficeth, Avens roots 4 pound, Orris roots, Nutmeg Yellow Sanders, Mace, of each 2 ounces, Lignum Rhodium, Saffron, Storax, Benjamine, of each 1 ounce, Angelica roots 3 ounces, Limon pills green half a pound, Sweet Fennell seed, Aniseeds, of each 1 pound, Cloves 10 drams, Roman Wormwood, Mint dry, of each 3 handfuls, Red Roses, Stoechas flowers, of each 4 handfuls, Sweet Marjoram, Balm, Burnet, Thyme, all dry of each 6 handfuls, Alkermes berries 2 ounces, Bruise them all that are to be bruised, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with Syrup● thus made; Take Rose water 4 pound, white sugar 10 pound, boil it to a syrup height, then strain it, and put it to the fire again, add thereto confection of Alkerms 4 ounces, Syrup of Gilly flowers 1 pound, Ambergreese (dissolved in Rose water) 1 dram; and so let these boil a little, till they be incorporated with the Syrup, and so keep it for use. The lesser quantity. Take strong Proof spirit 1 gall. Avens' roots 6 ounces 3 drams and a quarter, Orris roots, Nutmeg Yellow Sanders, Mace of each a dram and half, Lignum Rhodium, Saffron, Storax, Benjamine of each 3 quarters of a dram, Angelica roots 2 drams and a half; Limon pills green 6 drams and a half, Sweet Fennell seeds, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, Cloves 1 dram, Roman Wormwood, Mint dry, of each what snfficeth, Red Roses, Stoechas flowers, of each what sufficeth, Sweet Marjoram, Balm, Barnet, Thyme, all dry, of each what sufficeth, Alkermes berries a dram and half, Bruise them all that are to be bruised, distil them into Proof spirit according to Art, dulcify with Syrups thus made; Take Rose water 6 owces 3 drams and quarter White Sugar 1 pound, boil it to a Syrup height, then strain it, and put it to the fire again, add thereto Confection of Alkerms 3 drams and a half, Syrup of Gilly flowers 1 ounce 5 drams, Ambergreese (dissolved in Rose water) 6 grains; and so let these boil alittle, till they be incorporated with the Syrup, and so keep it for use. Avens' water is a great Cordial, strengtheneth the Spirit, comforteth all the inward parts, and preserveth from Consumptions, and Mesadnesse. Additions to enrich these precedent Chapters, to which (by Numbers) these are referred. Additions to the first and second Chapters. TAke July flowers, Roses, Poppy and Sanders, or any of them severally, what sufficeth; and in●use them in Aqua vitae, or Proof spirit, till the tincture be be drawn out; then draw off the spirit, and reserve it (close stopped) for use. When you have occasion to use it, take 8 ounces thereof to 7 pound and a half of this water, and you will give it a sufficient colour, or you may take more at pleasure without inconveniency. Additions to the third Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Aniseeds, White Sugar, according to Art. of each five pound, or what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take Aniseeds, White Sugar, according to Art. 8 ounces. Additions to the fourth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Caraway seeds, Coriander seeds, of each 3 ounces, Calamus Aromaticus, Zedoary, of each 4 ounces, Aniseeds, Cassia lignea, of each 8 ounces, Angelica Rootes 8 ounces, (or Herb Angelica 2 pound) white Sugar 2 pound and half, or what sufficeth. The lesser quantity. Take Caroway seeds, Coriander seeds, of each 2 drams and a half, Calamus Aromaticus, Zedoary, of each 3 drams and 3 quarters, Aniseeds, Cassia lignea, of each 6 drams and a half, Angelica roots 6 drams and a half, or Herb Angelica 3 ounces a dram and half, White Sugar 4 ounces, or what sufficeth. Additions to the fifth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Cinnamon, Cubebs of each 4 ounces, Sweet Fennell seeds, Aniseeds of each 8 ounces, Cloves, Caraway seeds, Nutmegs, of each 3 ounces, Wormwood dry 10 ounces, White Sugar, 2 pound and a half, (or what sufficeth). The lesser quantity. Take Cinnamon, Cubebs, of each three drams and a quarter, Sweet Fennel seeds, Aniseeds, of each 6 drams and a half, Cloves, Caraway seeds, Nutmegs, of each 2 drams and a half, Wormwood dry 1 ounce, white Sugar 4 ounces, (or what sufficeth.) Additions to the sixth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Garden Thyme, Penny royal, of each 3 handfuls, Cardamums 2 ounces, Sweet Fennell feeds, Aniseeds, of each eight ounces, Balm dry 1 pound, Nutmeg, Ginger, Calamus Aromaticus, Galingale, Cinnamon, of each 4 ounces. The lesser quantity. Take Garden Thym, Penny royal, of each what sufficeth, cardamum's a dram and half, Sweet Fennell seeds, Aniseeds, of each 6 drams and an half, Balm dry 1 ounce 4 drams, Nutmeg, Ginger, Calamus Aromaticus, Galingale, Cinnamon, of each 3 drams and a quarter. Additions to the seventh Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Spear Mint dry, Aniseeds, of each one pound, Calamus Aromaticus 4 ounces, White Sugar 2 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take Spear Mint dry, Aniseeds, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, Calamus Aromaticus 3 drams and a quarter, White Sugar 4 ounces. Additions to the eight Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Sweet Fennell seeds, Cinnamon, of each 8 ounces, Aniseeds, Rosemary dry of each 1 pound, Caraway 2 ounces, Spear Mint dry, 2 handfuls, White Sugar 2 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take Sweet Fennell seeds, Cinnamon of each 6 drams and a half, Aniseeds, Rosemary dry, of each 1 ounce five drams, Caraway 1 dram and a half, Spear Mint dry what sufficeth, White Sugar 4 ounces. Additions to the ninth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Caraway seeds 4 ounces, Aniseeds, Limon pills dry, of each 1 pound, White Sugar 2 pound and a half, in like manner and quantity make your Composition, with Orange pills dry according to Art. The lesser quantity. Take Caraway seeds 3 drams and 3 quarters, Aniseeds, Limon pills dry, of each 1 ounce 5 drams, White Sugar 4 ounces; In like manner and quantity make your Composition with Orange pills dry according to Art. Additions to the twelfth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Cinnamon 5 ounces, Cloves 2 ounces, Limon pills dry 3 ounces, Sugar 2 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take Cinnamon half an ounce, Cloves a dram and half, Limon pills dry, 2 drams and a half, Sugar 4 ounces. Addition to the fourteenth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Sweet Fennell, Cinnamon, of each 5 ounces, Nutmeg 3 ounces, Sugar 2 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take Sweet Fennell, Cinnamon, of each 4 drams, Nutmegs 2 drams and a half, Sugar 4 ounces. Additions to the fifteenth Chapter. Take and add to the spirit half as much as the rule of every particular Ingredient therein expressed, and in stead of Sanders give it the tincture of Roses, July flowers, or Poppy, what sufficeth according to Art. Additions to the eighteenth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Musk, Ambergreese, of each half a dram, White Sugar candy in stead of common white Sugar, what sufficeth according to Art. In respect that Musk in some cause, may give offence to the receiver: it is requisite to omit the use there of in some of your water of this kind, to serve for such special uses. The lesser quantity. Take Musk, Ambergreese of each 3 grains, White Sugar Candy in stead of Common white Sugar, what sufficeth according to Art. In respect that Musk for some causes may give offence to the receiver, it is requisite to omit the use thereof in some of your water of this kind to serve for such special uses. Additions to the ninteenth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Sweet Fennell seeds 5 pound, Caraway seeds four ounces, Aniseeds 1 pound, Cinnamon eight ounces, Cloves 2 ounces, Sugar 2 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take Sweet Fennell seeds 8 ounces, Caraway seeds three drams and a quarter, Aniseeds 1 ounce 5 drams, Cinnamon 6 drams and a half, Cloves a dram and half, Sugar 4 ounces. Additions to the twentieth Chapter. The greater quantity. Take Cinnamon, Sweet Fennell of each 5 ounces, Caraway, Cloves of each 2 ounces, Marigolds 2 gallons, Sugar 2 pound and a half. The lesser quantity. Take Cinnamon, Sweet Fennell, of each 4 drams, Caraway, Cloves of each a dram and half, Marigolds what sufficeth, Sugar 4 ounces. Additions to the twenty third Chapter. [The Syrup for dulcifying the water is thus to be made. Take Apricocks, Quinces, Cherries, English Currants, of each what sufficeth, all full ripe, and of equal weight, when they are thus prepared as followeth; The Furnace used in the drawing of the preceding Spirits and waters. A, showeth the bottom which ought to be of Copper. C, The barrel filled with cold water to refrigerate and condensate the water and oil that run through it. D, A pipe of brass or pewter, or rather a worm of Tin running through the barrel. E, The Alembick set in the furnace with the fire under it. Excellent Waters for several uses. CHAP. I. A water to cause Hair fallen to grow again. TAke Mountain Hyssop, Mountain Calamint, leaves of Southernwood, of each two handfuls, Canary Wine Urine Hony Milk of each two pound. Mustard seed half a ponud, bruife what is to be bruised, Macerate them three days, then distil them in Balneo. CHAP. II. A water to cause hair taken off never to grow again. Take seeds of Henbane bruised 2 pound, lay it a while in some moist place, then add great stone-crop half a pound, distil it according to Art. Another. Take blood of Frogs Terrae Sigillatae Sumach Roses Sorrell Housleeks what is sufficient. Macerate them together 24 hours, then distil them in Balneo. CHAP. III. A water to take away spots in the Face. Take Asaph's Milk four pound, White wine 1 pound, the inside of two new loaves, 12 Eggs with the shells, Sugar-Candy 3 drams, Mix them well together and distil them. CHAP. IU. A water against Scabs. Take Sorrell water 2 pound, Juice of Plaintane, Rose water, of each 4 ounces, Juice of Lemons 2 ounces, Lytharge 6 ounces, Ceruse, Sublimate, of each half an ounce, Sulphur vive 3 drams, bruise them that are to be bruised; then infuse them 24 hours, and after distil them according to Art. CHAP. V. A water to preserve the Sight. Take Fennell Vervains Eye-bright Endive Betonies' Red Roses Venus Hair of each three handfuls. Bruise the Herbs and macerate them 24 hours in white wine, (as much as is sufficient) then distil them in a limbeck in Balneo. Another. Take Fennell Celandine Sage Rosemary Vervain Rue of each equal parts. Prepare as it before. CHAP. VI A water to restore the sight decayed. Take Fennell Celandine vervain Rue Leaves of Enula Fuller's Teesell Milfoile of each one handful. Camphire half a dram. Bruise them and distil them in an Alembick. CHAP. VII. A water against the Gout. Take Licorice half a pound, Aniseeds 1 pound, Cinnamon 3 ounces, Galingale Ginger Roots of Iroes Enula Campana Seeds of Fennell Caraway Amomum Ammi Peony Basil Savory Marjoram of each one ounce. Juniper Berry's 2 ounces, Ground Ivy half a handful, Long Pepper, Calamus, Spikenard, Mace, of each 3 drams, Valerian 1 dram, Roots of Angelica half an ounce, Cyprus 4 ounces, Lignum Aloes half an ounce, Sugar 4 ounces, Maliga Wine, or strong Ale 32 pound, Prepare and distil them according to Art. This water taken inwardly strengthens cold and weak Stomaches and breaks the Stone. Outwardly applied it easeth the Gout, enlargeth Sinews that are shrunk, and is good against all aches and passion proceeding from melancholy and cold. CHAP. VIII. A Water for the Web and spots in the Eyes. Take Rue Plantain Red roses Red Poppies vervain Celandine leaves of each 1 ounce. Red rose water 1 pound, Rich white wine 1 pound and an half, Tutia prepared 1 dram, Aloes Hepatick an ounce and a half, Cloves 1 ounce, Powder, prepare and distil them according to Art. Drop the water into the Eyes morning and evening. CHAP. IX. A water for Tetters, Fistulas, Cankers, etc. Take strong white Wine Vinegar 8 pound, Wood Ashes 1 pound, Infuse them 3 days natural, and stir them twice a day, than put thereto unslaked lime 1 pound, let it stand other three days, and stir it as before, when it is well settled, Filtre off the clear Lee, and put thereto Shall Gem Salt Alkali Salis Vitae Salt Armoniac Salt of Tartar of each one dram. Calx of Egg shells, and Calx vive, of each 1 dram, Grind all these together, and temper them with the said Lee; put them into a Glass lembick and distil them in Balneo; give it the first 24 hours no more heat than will make it, and keep it warm: after that distil it off according to Art. CHAP. X. A water agoinst redness of the Face and to beautify the Skin. Take Wild Purslane Mallows Nightshade Plantain with the seeds of each three handfuls. The Whites of 12 Eggs, Lemons number 12, Roch Alum, 4 ounces, prepair and distil them according to Art. Another. Take Calx of Egg shells, White Coral pulverised, of each 2 ounces, Salt calcinated, and Borax, of each 6 ounces, Gum Tragagant 5 ounces, Roots of white Lilies, number 6, White Soap 8 pound, Styrax, Calamita, Belzoin, of each 4 ounces, Mix and distil them by Alembick. Another of the same virtue. Take Wine Vinegar half a pound, Lytharge of gold 1 ounce and a half, Ceruse 1 ounce, Sal Gem 6 drams, Roch Alum half an ounce, Borax, Sulphur vive, Salt Nitre, of each three drams, Camphire half a dram, prepare and distil them according to Art. CHAP. XI. A water against the inordinate Flux of Tears. Take ripe Strawberries as many as you please, set them to digest in Horse dung 15 days, then distil them in Balneo. Or thus, Take Flowers of the white Thorn, Leaves or tops of the Willow, Eye-bright, of each what sufficeth, distil them as before. CHAP. XII. A water against redness of the Eyes. Take juice of Celandine Rue vervain Fennel of each three ounces. Tops and leaves of Roses of each what sufficeth▪ Sugar Candy 3 ounces, of the best Tutia Sanguis Drac●nis of each four ounces. Bruise them that are to be bruised, and distil them according to Art. CHAP. XIII. A Water to cleanse and dry a sharp Ulcer. Take Crude Alum 2 ounces, white of Eggs, number 15. Juice of Purslane Plantain Nightshade Nicotian Houseleek Water of Meadsweet Trinity grass Roses of each 4 ounces. Labour them well together and draw off the Water by an Alembick of Glass in Balneo. CHAP. XIV. A water to make the Teeth white. Take Alum 6 ounces, Common Salt 3 ounces, Myrrh Mastic Cloves of each 6 drams. Mix, bruise and distil them according to Art. CHAP. XV. A Water to take away the marks of the Small Pox. Take Mastic Myrrh Aloes Hepatick Nard Sanguis Draconis Olibanum Opopanax Bdelium Carpobal samum Saffron Gum Arabic Liquid Storax of each 2 drams and a handful Beat what is to be beaten, then add thereto of clear Turpentine equal weight: distil them according to Art. CHAP. XVI. A Water to Cicatrize Ulcers. Take red Wine 2 pound, Plantain water half a pound, Rose water four ounces, Juice of Plantain vervain Shepherd's Purse Knotgrass Centaury the less Comfery the greater and lesser of each 2 ounces. Crude Alum 1 pound, Cypress Nuts 3 ounces, pomegranate flowers half an ounce, pomegranate pills 3 ounces, Galls half an ounce, Bark of the Oak, Sumach, of each five drams, Turpentine 3 ounces, Crude Honey half a pound, Mastic, Olibanum, of each ten drams, sarcocol 2 ounces, Burnt Vitriol, Burnt lead, of each 1 dram, Bowl Armoniac 3 ounces, Cassia lignea halfan ounce, Round Birtwort 3 ounces. Powder what is to be powdered, then mix and distil them. Another. Take Mastic Myrrh Olibanum sarcocol Mummy of each 3 drams. Frankincense 1 ounce, Nutmegs Cinnamon Cloves Cubebs of each 2 drams. Cyprus' Nuts half an ounce. Flowers Barks of Pomegranates, of each 1 dram. Bole Armoniac 1 ounce, Sanguis Draconis half an ounce, Red Roses 3 drams, Roch Alum 1 pound, Vitriol 7 drams, Clarified Honey 1 ounce, Aqua vitae a pound and half, White Wine 1 pound, Juice of Plantain Nightshade Comfery of the greater and lesser of each 4 ounces, Water wherein iron hath been quenched 4 pound, Powder what is to be powdered; and infuse them all night in Aqua vitae, in the morning draw forth the water by Alembick. CHAP. XVII. A Water for Ulcers. Take White Wine 4 pound, Plantain water 2 pound, Alum half a pound, White Copperas 5 ounces, Crude Honey 1 pound, Licorice Rasped 1 pound, Bowl Armoniac 5 ounces, Camphire an ounce and half, Mercury sublimated 2 drams, Bruise what is to be bruised, and distil them by Alembick. CHAP. XVIII. A Water for hollow Ulcers. Take Fountain water, Red Wine, of each 2 pound and a halt, Red Roses four ounces; Flowers Rinds of Pomegranates, of each 2 ounces and a half. Sumach 2 ounces Sage a handful Comfery the greater and lesser of each half a handful. sarcocol 3 ounces, Mastic 2 ounces, Olibanum 1 ounce, Honey 1 pound, water of Turpentine a pound and a half, bruise what is to be bruised, and distil them through a lembick of Glass with a gentle fire. CHAP. XIX. A Cicatrizing Water. Take water wherein Iron hath been quenched four pound, Aqua Balsami veri four pound, Turpentine a pound and half, Crude Honey 1 pound, Alum 10 ounces, white Copperas five ounces, Bole Armoniac 7 ounces, Mercury sublimated half a dram, leaves of Plantain, Comfery the greater, middle and lesser, Teasill, Knotgrass, St. john's Wort, of each a handful and a half, Frankincense 2 ounces, Olibanum, White Sanders, of each half an ounce, Red Roses, a handful and a half, Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon, of each 3 drams; for the first distillation; then take Turpentine 1 pound, Mastic 3 drams, pure resin 6 ounces, Cinnamon, Cloves, of each 2 drams; pomegranate rinds half an ounce, Cyprus Nuts 1 ounce and a half, White Copperas two ounces, Alum 3 ounces, Olibanum 4 ounces, Sanguis draconis an ounce and a half, Aqua Balsam. veri 1 pound for the second distillation: Afterwards, Take Flowers of St. john's Wort, Sage, Rosemary, Carduus Benedictus, Centaury, of each 1 ounce, Mastic, Red Sanders, of each 3 drams, Wood of Aloes 2 scruples, Cubebs one dram, Aqua vitae half a pound, Burnt Alum, White Tartar, of each an ounce and a half, Myrrh half an ounce, Earth Worms in powder 1 dram, the middle Bark of the Oak 6 ounces, Cassia lignea three drams, White Copperas 1 ounce, Rinds of Pomegranates half an ounce, Cinnamon 2 drams, Flowers of Pomegranates 1 dram, Guaiacum four ounces, Carpobalsamum, Xylobalsamum, of each 1 dram, Myrtles, Mummy, of each 2 drams, Borax half an ounce, Cloves 2 drams, tormentil Gentian of each 2 drams and a half, Round Birtwort This is for the last distillation, afterwards add Burnt Alum half an ounce, White Copperas 2 drams, Mastic 1 ounce in fine powder, and then keep it for use. CHAP. XX. A water for hollow Wounds. Take Fountain water, Red Wine, of each 2 ounces & an half, Red Roses 4 ounces, Pomegranate flowers, pomegranate rinds, of each 2 ounces and a half, Sumach 2 ounces, Sage 1 handful, both the Co●feries, of each a handful, Alum half a pound, sarcocol 3 ounces, Mastic 2 ounces Olibanum 1 ounce, Honey 1 pound, water of Turpentine a pound and a half. Prepare the Ingredients according to Art, and then distil them all together in a glass lembick with a gentle fire. CHAP. XXI. A water for Wounds and Ulcers. Take Calx vive extinct in Fountain water 8 pound, Plantain water four ounces, Rose water 2 pound. Heat all these together, afterward let them stand and clear, pour forth all the clear to the lembick, and put to it Honey 2 pound, Alum 1 ounce, Borax Mastic of each three ounces. Olibanum four ounces, the middle Bark of the Oak dried 3 ounces, powder what is to be powdered, and distil them according to Art. CHAP. XXII. A water to make the Teeth white. Take the first distilled water of Honey which is white, one pound, Alum half a pound, Sal Nitre White Salt of each one ounce. Water of Lentisk leaves 1 pound, Mastic two ounces, White Vinegar White Wine of each 2 ounces. Mix and distil them according to Art, & reserve the water. CHAP. XXIII. A water against the Colic. Take Muscadel, or Malmsey four pound, Nutmegs, Galls, of each 1 dram. Cinnamon Cloves Grains of each two drams. Powder the ingredients grossly, and infuse them in the wine 24 hours, then with a soft fire draw off the water according to Art. CHAP. XXIV. A water for a cold Stomach. Take Citron and Orange pills dried, of each 2 ounces, Rosemary, Mints, of each one handful. Cinnamon Cloves Cubebs Cardamums Nutmegs Ginger of each a dram and a half. Sage, pennyroyal, Thyme, of each one handful, Caraway seeds Aniseeds Fennel seeds of each four drams. Bruise what is to be bruised, and infuse them all the space of 24 hours in Canary wine four pints, then distil them in Balneo according to Art. CHAP. XXV. Water of Sage Compound. Take Sage Margerum Thyme Lavender Epith●●um Bet●● of each 1 ounce. Cinnamon half an ounce, Ireos' Roots of Cyprus Calamus Aromaticus of each 1 ounce. Storax, Benjamin, of each a dram and a half, Infuse them four days in four pound of spirit of Wine; then distil them in Balneo. CHAP. XXVI. Lavender water Compound. Take flowers of Lavender, Lily of the Valley, of each 24 handfuls, Peony Tillia Flowers of Rosemary Sage of each half a handful. Cinnamon Ginger Cloves Cubebs' Galingale Calamus Aromaticus Mace Messelto of the Oak of each a dram and a half. Peony roots one ounce and a half, of the best Wine what sufficeth, infuse them in the Wine two days, then distil them in Balneo Mariae. This water is good against the Falling sickness, Convulsion fits, and the infirmities of the Brain. CHAP. XXVII. A pectoral Water. Take the Liver of a Calf, the Lungs of a Fox, of each number 1, Liverwort Longwort Sage Rue Hyssop of each one handful. Roots of Enula Gladiol of each half an ounce. Seeds of Anise Caraway Fennell of each half an ounce. Flowers of Borage and bugloss, of each two drams; infuse them the space of 24 hours in rich old Wine what sufficeth. Water of Scabius Carduus Benedictus of each four ounces. Hyssop 2 ounces; then distil it in Balneo Mariae. Another. Take leaves of Scabius, Veronica, of each two handfuls, Venus' Hair Sage Hyssop Horehound Liverwort Licorice of each one handful. Flowers of Borage bugloss Violets of each half a handful. Roots of Enula Campana Licorice Flowers of Ireos of each half an ounce. Aniseeds Fennel seeds of each one dram. Choice Cinnamon, oriental Saffron, of each half a dram, let them be bruised and cut, be digested in water of Scabius Veronica, of each one pound, water of Hyssop half a pound, white Wine 3 pound, let them digested two days be distilled in Balneo Mariae; add Sugar Candy what sufficeth. This water openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Lungs, and strengtheneth them. CHAP. XXVIII. Aqua Splenetica. Take roots of Fern 2 ounces, roots of Parsley, Polypody, of each an ounce and a half, roots of Round Birt wort, Lovage, Calamus Aromaticus, Acorns of the water, of each 1 ounce, chosen Rhubarb; barks of Tamarisk, Copperas, Ash, of each half an ounce, Lovage Seeds of Caraway Cummin Anise of each two drams. Scolopendria, tops of Wormwood, Fumiterre, Dodder, leaves of Agrimony, Ceterach, of each a handful and a half: Rich Wine 8 pound; let them be digested two days, and then distil them in Balneo Mariae. This water strengtheneth the Spleen, openeth and provoketh Urine. CHAP. XXIX. Aqua Febrifuga. Take roots of Viper's grass, Cinquefoil, Tormentill, Dictamum, of each 6 drams, Seeds of Citron, excorticated, Carduus Benedictus, Carduus Mariae, Sorrel, of each half an ounce, of all the Sanders of each 1 dram, of the Cordial flowers of each 1 handful, Goats Rue one handful, Heart's horn rasped half an ounce, pour upon them bruised water of tormentil, Cychorie, Carduus Benedictus, Carduus Mariae, Wild Poppy, of each what sufficeth; let them be macerated three days in a glass close shut, afterward add Citrons bruised number six, Juice of Endive, Carduus Benedictus, Plantain, of each one pound, Borage, Scordium, of each half a pound; let them be distilled in Balneo Mariae. This water is convenient in Fevers, especially malignant Fevers; because it driveth away the malignity, and resisteth putrefaction. CHAP. XXX. Aqua Damascena Odorifera. Take Ireos Flowers Cloves Cubebs Cinnamon Grains of Paradise Calamus Aromaticus of each one ounce. Margerum Thyme Bay leaves Rosemary Flowers Red Roses of each a handful. Lavender flowers three drams, of the best Wine 3 measures; let them be macerated ●nd distilled: to the distilled liquor add Musk half a scruple, Civet 6 grains. This water beateth, drieth, cutteth, discusseth, and chiefly strengtheneth the Heart and Head. CHAP. XXXI. Aqua Hysterica. Take roots of Dictamnum seeds of Daucus, of each one ounce, Cinnamon, Cassia lignea, Balm, of each two scruples, Oriental Saffron 1 scruple, New Castorium 1 scruple and a half, of all these mixed make a powder, to which let be poured water of Rue two pound and a half: let them stand in infusion four days, and then distil them in Balneo Mariae. CHAP. XXXII. Aqua Nephretica. Take roots of Enula Campa●a, Cammock, Pimpernell, Radish of each one ounce, Parsley, Lovage, of each 7 drams, leaves of Lovage, Parsley, of each one handful, Saxifrage cum toto two ounces, Flowers of Broom, Balm, Rosemary, of each half a handful, Elder one handful, Berries of Juniper, Myrtle, Alcakengie, Anifeeds, of each 2 ounces, cut them and infuse them the space of 8 days in 12 pound of the best white Wine, then let them be distilled. This water openeth and provoketh Urine: the dose is one spoonful. CHAP. XXXII. Aqua Aperitiva. Take roots of Eringo, Viper's graft, Fern, the greater Centaury, of each half an ounce roots of Fennell, Banks of Capp●ris, Tamarisk, Ash, of each three drams, Barks of Citrons two drams and a half; Seeds of Carduus Benedictus, chicory, of each half an ounce, Seeds of Endive, Cresses, Citrons, Scariol, of each two drams, Polytricon Adianthum Ceterach Dodder Scolopendria Betony Endive of each a handful and a half. Tops of Thyme Epithymum Hops Flowers of St. john's Wort Broome Borage Balm of each 1 handful. Small Raisins 1 ounce: Cinnamon 1 dram, and a half, Spec. Dialace. half a dram, Carduus Benedictus Water of Hops Scolopendria Paul's Betony of each one pound. Rhenish Wine two pound and a half, let them stand two days in a warm place in a vessel close stopped: afterward distil them in Balneo. This water openeth the obstructions of the whole body, but especially of the Liver, Spleen, and Mesentery. FINIS. A Catalogue of the Materials and Ingredients used in the precedent Rules. ROOTS. ANgelica Avens Butter-burr Calamus Ar●maticus Cyperus, long Contra-yerva Enula-campana Galingal Gentian Ginger Horse Radish Imperitoria Licorice Lovage Orris Sassafras Scordium Snakegrass Valerian Common Garden Great Vincetoxicum Zedoary WOODS. LIgnum Rhodium Sanders Red Yellow. BARKS and PILLS. BAy-tree Roots Cassia Lignea Cinnamon Common White Citron Guaiacum Limon Orange Pippins Quinces Sassafras. HERBS. ANgelica Arsmart Bay-leaves Balm or Bawm Burnet Brooklime Balsamint or Costmary Carduus Benedictus Chervile, sweet Clary Calamint Cress' Water Garden Winter Bank Costmary or Balsamint Horehound, white Lavender leaves Lavender Cotton Mint Speir Red Marjoram, Summer Peny Royal Rosemary Rocket Ros sol●s Rue Sage Red Great Scurvygrasse Common Garden Stoechados Southernwood Scordium Thyme Wild Garden Limon Tarragon Trefoil, Water Valerian, great Wormwood Common Roman FLOWERS. COwslip Citron Camomile Elder Gillyflowers, Clove Gi●iflowers, Stock, three sorts Jasmine Lavender lilium Convallium Marygold Melilot Orange Poppy, Red Roses Red Damask Musk Bryer Saffron Sage Stoechas Tillia or Lindentree Thyme Garden Limon Wild Woodbine (or Honeysuckle.) SEEDS. ANise Angelica Basil Caroway cardamum's Cress, Bank Chervile, sweet Coriander Cummin Fennel, sweet Grains of Paradise Mustard Radish Rocket Scurvygrasse Garden Wormwood; common. FRUITS. Apricots Alkerms Berry's Barley, Maulted Barley, Maulted cardamum's Cherries Currans Foreign English Cubebs Cloves Grapes Hops Juniper Berry's Maces Nutmegs Pepper White Long Quinces Raspis, Red Raisins, sol. Strawberries Saffron Walnuts green with husks Zedoary. JUICES. Lemons Walnuts green with the Husks Others of divers kinds. AMbergreese Alum Benjamin Camphire Confection of Alkermes Mithridate Musk Treacle, Venice Syrup of Gillyflowers Storax Sugar of divers sorts. Liquid Materials. Wine's of all kind's Beer and Ale Afterworts, or Wash Sugar-Waters Tilts, Dregs, Lees, or Grounds of Beer or Ale. Lees of Wines Spirits of Wine Rose-water. FINIS. An Alphabetical Table of all the Oils, Waters, Experiments, and Curiosities contained in the six foregoing Books. A. Oil of Adders, 97 Quintessence of Adders, 98 Air in the heat of the summer, and the heat of the day to condense into water, 137 The form of an Alembick. 31 Oil of Amber, 38 Spirit of Ambergreese, 123 Oil or Butter of Antimony, 70 Water of Antimony, 71 Spirit Essence of Antimony. 72 An Antimonial Cup to make 165 Water of rotten Apples, 24 Aqua vitae of Wine, 24 Aqua vitae of Beer, 25 Aqua vitae to rectify 26 Aqua vitae Irish, 45 Aqua fortis, 69 Another, 70 Aqua Regia, Another, 69 Terms of Art Explained, 8 Oil of Arsenic, 68 Aurum Po●abile of Doctor Anthony, 175 Aurum Fulm●nans, 180 B. THe Delineation of a Balneum Mariae, 21 Another, 22 Another, 23 A Balneum of Wood, 29 Balsam of Bears Fat, 97 For Baths a new Invention, 152 A Hot Bath Artificial from the same principles as the Natural Bath is, 154 bellows Philosophical, 150 Water of Berries, 21 Oil of Berries, 35 Bezoard Water, 58 Bezoard Extract, 59 A dead Bird to raise to life, 118 Oil Water Magistery of Blood. 89 Oil of Bole Armoniac, 79 Oil of Bones, 101 Essence of man's Brains, 90 Doctor Burgess Plugue Water, 53 Burnt-root water compound, 52 To purify Butter, And to make Butter taste of any Vegetable without altering its colour, 125 C. Oil of Camphire several ways to make, 37 A Candle that shall last long, 148 Spirit of Castor, 58 To make Cheese taste strong of any vegetable without discoloring it, 125 Aqua Coelestis, 46 Water against the Colic, 51 Water against Convulsions, 50. 51 Water of Coral, 81 Water of Crabs, 102 Oil of Crabs Eyes, 103 Spirit of Cranium Humanum, 91 D. DIstillation, and its kinds, 1 Vessels for Distillation, 3 Rules for Distillation, 12 Common distilled Waters, 17 Distilling in wooden Vessels, 29 To Distil Spirits of Minerals, Vegetables, Bones, Horns, etc. 76 Water of Dung Doves Dung Cow Dung Horse Dung 100 101. E. Oil Water of Eggs, 102 To engrave upon an Egg or Pebble with wax or Grease, 132 The four Elements to make appear in a Glass, 128 Water of Elder Berries, 21 Elixir Subtilitatus of Paracelsus, 45 The Process of the Elixir according to Paracelsus, 188 according to Divi leschi Genus Amo, 189 F. FIre; to keep Fire in a Glass that whilst the Glass is shut will not burn but as soon as it is opened, will be inflamed, 144 For Fire an excellent invention, 151 To make Fir trees appear in Turpentine 127 Water of Flesh, 95. 96 Flesh to make Artificially, 118 Water of the Spawn of Frogs: simple and compound, 103. 104 Furnaces the Matter and Form, 2 A Furnace to distil liquor with the steam of Boiling water, 20 Furnaces for four rectifications at once, 28 A Furnace to distil per descensum, 41 A Furnace for Reverberation, 71 A Furnace that shall of itself (without any vessels to contain the matter being put into it) sublime Minerals, and distil all manner of Oils and Spirits, 82 A lamp Furnace. 146. 148 G. Glass' to nip or seal Hermetically, 7 A Glass Gourd, 44 To reduce Glass into Sand and Salt, 132 Oil Tincture of Gold, 166. 167. 178. 179. To make Gold grow in a Glass, 181. 182. To make Gold increase in the Earth Observations upon a Golden Marchasite 182 The virtues of the preparations of Gold, 183 Oil of Gums, 36. 37. H. WAter and Oil of Hair, 92 Spirit of Hartshorn, 91 A sudorific of the young buds of Hartshorn, 101 Hearts horn seemingly to grow in a Glass, 128 To reduce the whole Herb into a liquor, 32 To make the Idea of any Herb appear in a Glass, 32 To make the Quintessence of any Herb, 32 Homunculus of Paracelsus, 114 Water Quintessence of Honey, 93 Essence of Honey, 94 Vinegar of Honey, 95 An Hydropical water, 50 Hippocras Aromatical, 120 A Triple Hippocras bag Hippocras Wine made in an instant 121. 122 Hysterical water; 61 I. OIl of Jasmine, 40 Aqua Imperialis, 47 Spirit of Ivory, 91 K. Kunraths' Aqua Magnanimitatis, 99 L. WAter of Lapis Armenus, 81 Oil of Lapis Calaminaris, 79 Spirit of Lead, 72 Spirit of Lime unstaked, 80 Liquor restorative, 96 Liquor thick and muddy to purify, 143 To fortify a Loadstone that it shall be able to draw a Nail out of a piece of Wood, 131 Lutes for Glasses, 4 M. A Quadratus Magnanimitalis of Kunrath, 99 Aqua Magnanimitatis another, 100 Malmsey Artificial, 120 Spirit of Manna, 33 Aqua Mariae, 60 Mead, or Metheglin to make Stale in a Fortnight, 123 A Medicine that half a grain taken every morning, will keep the body soluble, 138 Dissolving Menstruums, 44, 45 Oil of Mercury, To turn Mercury into water 74 Oil of Metals, 71 Any Metal to melt in ones hand without burning of the hand, 134 To prove what kind of Metal is in any Ore by a few grains of it, 164 Water of Milk, 92 Aqua Mirabilis, 48 From the rays of the Moon to extract a Milky substance, 136 Mother water, 61 A perpetual Motion in a Glass, 129 Golden Mountain to make appear in a Glass, 128 Elixir of Mummy, 90 Oil of Myrrh, 38 Oil of Myrrh per deliquium, 39 O. OIls by expression Oils vomitive and purging 39 Oil per descensum 40 O●ls thick, black, and stinking to rectify, 43 Oils of minerals to rectify, 88 Oil Olive to make smell and taste sweet, 124 Oils to distil out of any Herb, Seed, etc. in an instant without a Furnace, 140 Oil lasting and durable, 149 P. Palsy water of Mathias, 56 Pearl Artificial, 132 pectoral water, 49 The form of a Pelican, 27 A Perfume mineral 132 Plague water, 52 To make a Plant grow in two or three Hours, 126 To make the Idea of a Plant appear in a Glass, 127 A Powder that by spitting upon shall be inflamed, 130 A cheap Powder like unto Aurum Fulminans, 165 Purging water operating without pain, 62 Q TO turn Quicksilver into water without mixing any thing with●t, 73 To make Quick silver Malleable in 7 hours, 131 R. OIl of Rosins, etc. 37 Retorts, 64 Spirit of Roses, 34 S. SPirit of Salt, 63 Another. 64 Salt Peter water, Spirit of Salt Armoniac 65 Spirit of Salt to dulcify, 66 How two volatile Salts will be fired by joining them together, 137 An observation upon the melting of Salt Armoniac, and Calx vive together, 165 Oil of Sand, Flints, etc. 132 scorbutical water, 57 Oil of Seeds, 35 The preparation of Silver, A green Tincture of Silver, 185 A green oil of Silver, Oil of Silver per deliquium, A liquor of Silver that shall make the glass where in it is so cold, that no man is able to hold his hand on it any long time 186 S. TO make Silver as white as Snow The Silver tree of Philosophers 187 A Cold Still, 17 A Hot Still, 25 The Smaragdine table of Hermes from whence all Alchemy did arise, 191 Oil of Snakes, 97 Quintessence of Snakes, 98 Oil of Soot Water of Soot 41 Spirits to rectify, 42. 88 To make Steel grow in a Glass like a Tree, 134 Doctor Stephen's water, 48 Stone in the Kidneys, a water against, 54. 55. Precious Stones Artificial of all sorts and colours, 162 The process of the Philosopher's Stone according to Pontanus, 190 A specifical Sudorific, 59 A Sudorificall water, 87 Oil of Sugar, 38 Sugar to refine, 126 Oil of Sulphur per Campanum, 67 Oil of Sulphur Essence of Sulphur 68 An observation upon the heat of the Sun, and heat of the fire how they add weight to the Metalline and Mineral bodies, 135 Surfeit water, 48 Water of Swallows, 101 T. OIl of Talk 78. 79 Oil of Tartar per deliquium, 39 Spirit of Turpentine, 36 Oil of Tile stones, 80 A Tincture Cordial, stomachical, and purgative, 138. 139 An observation upon the melting of Tin and Copper together, 164 Liquor against the Tooth ach, 62 Treacle water, 60 Treacle water Camphorated of Crollius, 53 Treacle Vinegar, 54 To reduce distilled Turpentine into its body again, 140 V. TO make a Vapour in a Chamber that he that enters into it with a Candle shall think the room on fire, 130 Any Vegetable spirit to make, 30 Spirit of Vegetables to make suddenly at any time of the year, To make a Vegetable yield his Spirit quickly, 31 Essence Quintessence of any Vegetable, 33 Chemical oil of any Vegetable, 34 To make Vegetables yield their Oils easily, 36 To make a Vegetable become more glorious than any of its species, 126 Water and Tincture of any Vegetable to make at the same time, 141 Water against the Vertigo, 51 Quintessence of Viper's Viper Wine 98 Oil or Spirit of Vitriol, 65 Oil of Vitriol, 66 Spirit of Vitriol to dulcify, 66 Liquor of Vitriol vomitive, 66 Ros Vitrioli, 86 Green Oil of Vitriol, 86 Sulphur of Vitriol, 87 An Unguent that outwardly applied will cause vomiting or looseness, which you please, 137 Vomiting water Vomiting water of Platerus 61 Spirit of Urine simple, 92 Spirit of Urine compound, 93 Whisky. 45 W. TO make Water in a cold Still which shall have the smell and virtue of the vegetable, 17 Anotherway Another 18 To make Water at any time of the year in a cold▪ Still without green Herbs, so that the Water shall smell strong of the Herb, 18 To make Water of Jasmine, Violets, etc. retain the smell of the Flower, 19 Water per descensum, 40 Water against worms, 50 Water for wounds, 55 Anatomy of Water spagyrical, 105 Sweet Water, 123 Luminous Water to give light by night, 129 To separate fresh Water from Salt, 141 To purify muddy Water, 142 Tumbridge and Epsome Water Artificial, 160 Oil of Wax, 95 Spirit of Wine to rectify Magistery of Wine 26 Another Oil of Wine 27 Spirit of Wine to extract by Spirit of Wine Spirit of Wine very subtle at the first distilling 28 Anatomy of Wine spagyrical, 111 Malego Claret Wine Artificial, 119 Raspberry Wine, 122 Oil of any solid Wood, 33 To make oil of any Wood without much cost, 36 The Representation of the whole World in a Glass, 128 An Alphabetical Table of the Diseases and Infirmities for which Cures or Remedies are prescribed in the foregoing Books. A. Abortion to preserve from 98 Ague quartain 183 Apoplexy 183 Asthma 183 B. Beauty to continue till extreme old age, 184 Belly to loosen 40 Against gripe of the Belly 51 Birds dead to raise to life 118 Obstructious of the Bladder 100 101 Bleeding to staunch 104 Blood, to purify 74. 99 ebullition of Blood 86 Blood to increase 117 Body to keep soluble 138 Brain to strengthen 98 Obstructions of the Breast 140 Burnings 102 C. Cancer 183 Carbuncle 184 Chaps to cure 102 Choler to purge 139 Cold distempers 80 Colic a causer of 140 Consumption 97. 98. 183 Convulsions 91. 93 Cordials 24. 28. 47. 59 123. 138. 139 D. Deafness 97. 99 Digestion to help 49 Dropsy 40. 51. 91. 93. 101. 183. E. Elephantiasis 183 Epilepsy 91. 93. 183 Excorato●ns 102 Eye inflammation of 24. 92 Film in the Eye 99 F. Face a paint for 79 Face to clear and smooth 137 Fainting 47. 138 Falling sickness 90. 91. 98. 102 Fever 65. 66. 63. 101. 103. 133. 183. Phlegm thick to at●nuate 49 G. Gold to dissolve 69. 91 Gout 40 Gout a causer of 113. 133. 183 H. Grey Hairs to preserve from 98. 107 Head wind in 48. 52 Head scurf thereof to take away 66 Head pain of 66. 138 Heart passions of 38. 58 Hearing to strengthen 98 Hydropical diseases 20. 24. 50. 139 Historical passions 50. 66 I. Jaundice 100 101. 183 Infection preservatives against 47. 53. 54. 59 90 Inflammations inward 101. 183 Inflammation inward and outward 103 Itch 137 K. Kidneys Inflammation of 86 Kidneys distemper of 92 Kidneys obstruction of 100 103. 140. L. Leprosy 99 183 Liver to strengthen 51 Liver inflamed 86 Long life to cause 184 Looseness to cause 138 Lungs distempered 38. 68 92 Lungs to strengthen 49 M. Madness 183 Maids to make look beautiful 184 Measles 52 Melancholy 183 Melancholy to purge 139 Members dead to quicken 95 Mother fits 38. 58 N. Noli me tangere 183 O. Obstructions to open 49. 62. 91. 138 Obstructions a causer of 113 P. Pains ●ot to ease 103. 104 Palsy 56. 95. 97 Palsy a causer of 113 Plague 53. 68 133. 1●4 Pleurisy 49. 183 Bastard plewisie 101 Pox 53 Ptisick 49. 133 Purging medicines 71. 81 To purge away water 139 To purge without gripping 139 Pustles 102 Putrefaction preservatives against 38. 65 R. Reins obstructions of 101 Rest to cause 49 Ring worms 102 S. Scurvy 51. 58. 101 Many Serpents to generate of one, 118 Sight to strengthen 98 Sinews to strengthen 52 Skin to purify 98 Skin to cleanse 102. 133 Skin to make look fair 133 Skin hot pustles of 137 Sores old and new 66 The spirits to compose 48 The spirits to refresh 177 Stomach things good for 46. 49. 50 Stomach wind of 48. 50. 52 Stomach gripe of 51 Stomach inflammation of 86 Stomach to strengthen 91 Stomach to cleanse 133 Stomach to purge 138 Stomach nouseousnesse of 139 Stones precious, to dissolve 93 Stones hard, to dissolve 44, 45 Stone 51. 133 183 Stone in the kidneys 55 Stone in the Bladder 80 Stone a causer of 13 Stitches 101 Strength decayed 97 Surfeit 46. 49. 53 Sweat to cause 52. 53. 59 71. 87. 91. 98. 101 133. 177. 184 Swelling hot or cold 104 T. Toothache 62 U. Venery to provoke 99 Lues Venerca 133. 183 Vertigo 50. 52. 66 Ulcers 68 9 5 Old Ulcers to dry up 177 Noxious vapours 87 Vomiting to cause 66. 70. 137. 166 Urine to provoke 55. 99, 133. 183 Urine stopped 183 W. Wind 100 Wolf 183 Women in travel to cause to be delivered without great pain 184 Worms 50. 65. 66. 138 Wounds 26. 55. 56. 68 95 Green wounds 102 Wounds in the Eye 102 Y. Youth to renew 117 An Alphabetical Table of the Waters and Spirits treated of in the LONDON-DISTILLER. A. A Niseed water 10 Angelica water 11 Aqua Aperitiva 60 Aqua vitae 9 Avens water 34 B. Balm water 12 Balmsamint water 17 C. Caraway water 21 Cicairizing water 52 Cinnamon water common 19 Cinnamon proper 20 Clove water 16 Colic water 54 D. Aqua Damasena odorifera 59 E. Eye waters 45. 46. 48. F. Face water for 44. 47 Aqua Febrifuga 58 Fennell seed water 20 Flowers water of 32 Fruits water of 33 G. Gout a water for 46 H. Hair waters for 43. 44 Aqua Hysterica 59 L. Lavender water 29 Lavender water another 56 Limon water 14 M. Margerum water 16 Marigold water 21 Mint water 12 N. Aqua Nephretica 60 Nutmeg water 22 O. Limon and Orange water 14 P. pectoral water 56. 57 Plague water 28 Marks of the Small Pox a water for, 50 Precious water 23 R. Ros solis proper 31 Rosa solis 81 Rosemary water 13 S. Sage water 30 Sage water another 55 Scabs a water for 44 scorbutical water 27 Aqua Splenetica 58 Stomach water 15. 16 Stomach water another 55 Surfeit water 26 Sweat to cause a water 25 T. Teeth waters for 49. 54 Tetters a water for 49 U. Ulcers waters for 49. 50. 51 Vsque bath 17 W. Wind water 24 Wormwood water 11 Wound waters 53. 54 An Alphabetical Table of the Diseases for which Cures or remedies are prescribed in the foregoing Treatise. A: APoplexy 30 Appetite to provoke 12. 31 B. Bloody Flux 13 Body wind in 10 Bowels cold grief of 22 Brain to comfort 13. 20 Brain infirmities of 56 Breath shortness of 10. 16 Breath stinking to help 20 Breath sweet to make 22 C. Cankers 47 Colic 54 Concoction to help 13 Consumption to preserve from 35 Convulsion fits 56 Cordials 11. 12. 14. 35. Cramp 30 D. Digestion to help 10. 19 Dysentery 13 E. Eye spots in them 46 Eye web of them 46 Eye redness of 48 F. Face spots there of to take away 44 Face redness of it 47 Falling sickness 31. 56 Fevers 24 Fistula 47 Phlegm to break 10 Phlegm to digest 21 G. Gout 46 H. Hair fallen to cause to grow again, 43 Hair taken off to cause never to grow again 43. 44. Head pain of 12 Head to strengthen 59 Heart to strengthen 12. 13. 20. 24. 59 Heart to comfort 19 Heart passions of 30 I. Infection preservatives against 11. 20 Inward parts to strength. n 11. 16. 19 21. 35. L. Liver to strengthen 13. 19 20. 57 Liver Infirmities of 16 Liver obstructions of 61 Lungs infirm to cure 17 Lungs to strengthen 20. 57 M. Melancholic sadness 35 Mesentery obstructions 61 Mother infirmities of 12 N. Nature to restore 14 Nature languishing to relieve 24. 32. O. Obstructions to open 14. 31 P. Palsy 30 Plague 28 Plague preservatives against 11. 24 Small Pox marks to take away 50 S. Scabs 44 S●●rey 28 Senses to preserve 24 Sight to preserve 45 Sight to quicken 13 Sight decried to restore 45 Sinews to comfort 20 Skin to beautify 47 Speech lost to restore 30 Spirits enfeebled to revive 14 Spirits to comfort 24. 35 Spleen to comfort 13 Spleen infirmities of 16. 61 Spleen to strengthen 20. 58. Stomach to strengthen 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Stomach wind of 10 Stomach to Aromatize 14. 22 Stomach to warm 17. 55 Stomach to comfort 18. 19 31 Stomach loathing of 20 Stomach pain of 21 Stomach Nauseousness of 21 Stomach cold grief of 22 Surfeit 26 Sweat to procure 25 T. Tears inordinate flux of 48 Teeth to make white 49. 54 Tetters 47 Tisick 10 U. Ulcers 51. 54 Ulcers to cleanse 49 Ulcers to Cicatrize 50. 51 Ulcers hollow 52 Vomiting to stay 12. 13 Urine to provoke 19 22. 58. 60. W. Wind to break 12. 18. 19 21, etc. Women in labour to cause easily to be delivered 12 Worms 12 Wounds 54 Wounds hollow 53 FINIS.