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from Sulphur, made of the Glass of Antimony by distilled Vinegar. But if in this Operation you persuade yourself
you have separated the Pure from the Impure, you will be deceived: for this Water imbibes a certain Salt, which
infects the Tincture; but Spirit of Wine rectified is its proper Menstruum: because That only assumes the volatile
Sulphur thereof, and hath no Commerce with the Salt.
The same happens in Tincture of Corals, which is extracted with Spirit of Wine distilled upon Orange Pills: for here
you obtain not the sincere Tincture of Corals; because, by this Menstruum, the pure Sulphur is not separated from
the Body of the Corals. The like Error to be committed in many other Things, I have observed by Experience, which
should be esteemed the best Mistress, unless we take it for granted that chargeable and fruitless Processes are
necessarily required in this Art. But that I may conclude with the Tincture, whence all this Discourse hath
proceeded; I would have no man to think this to be the Aurum Potabile of Philosophers: for this would be a very
great Error in Philosophy, and give occasion to Sophisters (as their manner is) to prefer their Sophisms before the
Truth itself. Though this Tincture is most precious, and a Tincture of Gold, yet it hath only assumed the Colour of
Gold: but the weight thereof, which is proper to Aurum Potabile, adheres not thereunto.
Touching the potable Medicine here is not place of speaking, unless I would trangress the limits, which I have at this
time prescribed myself, of Commenting upon the Triumphant Chariot of Antimony, which our Basil Valentine hath
made for it is so truly magnficent. Otherwise, I should declare, how sol might be prepared by Venus and Vulcan, so
as in the space of two hours to resolve itself into Mercury united with Bacchus, leaving very few feces; which
Mercurial Menstruum may again be separated from the resolved Gold; and so you might acquire a most grateful
Liquor very ponderous, which can never afterward be reduced to its former Consistence. This very Operation I have
showed to some Curious Lovers of Chymistry. But of these elsewhere another Occasion of Writing will be given.
[LABOUR, NECESSARILY REQUIRED]
When the Fermentation is made, I shall have need of a vast Quantity of Paper to declare all the Arcanum s of
Nature, which by this Medicine are effected beyond the Opinion of all men. I urge this so much the more earnestly
to the Physician, that he may consider those things which I propose Philosophically, betake himself to labour,
perform this Preparation of Antimony, and deduce it to Use; then, he himself will dayly find more Praise, and learn
from it more Operations than any of the other Physicians could have prescribed him.
When you shall have brought Antimony so far, and duely perfercted your Work, in which you are to act prudently,
and the matter is to be largely and profoundly weighed, that by Labour you may acquire Experience; then may you
boast that you have obtained the Magistery, which is known or communicated to few. This Magistery mix d with a
solution or Tincture of Corals, and exhibited with Cordial Water effects Wonders in Diseases, that are to be cured by
purifying the Blood. And whatsoever Distemper is offered to you, in which the Blood is corrupted by any Accident,
this Magistery heals it, exhilarates the Heart, promotes Chastity and Honesty, and renders man apt and fit for
everything he takes in hand.
For all these Benefits to the Creator and Conserver of all Things, thanks is always to be given from the bottom of
our Heart; because he hath with so great Compassion respected his Creatures, Infirm both in body and Mind, and
supplied us with Means, by which the Diseases of either may be healed, and we in every necessity obtain solace,
assistance and perfect Help.
Now my Intention is to proceed, and speak somewhat of the Arcanum of Antimony, but with very great Brevity.
Take of Antimony most subtlely pulverized One Part, of Sal Armoniack*, so called, which is brought from Armenia,
*Of Antimony and Sal-Armoniack equal parts are to be taken, which Basilius seems to intend, but I know not how he
forgot to mention it.
also pulverized; mix these, and putting them into a Retort distill them together,*
*That with one and the same labour, the Sal-Armoniack together with the Antimony, may be distilled and sublimed,
such an instrument, as this I here show you, describing all its Parts, may be made.
A.. is the Furnace. B. the Retort. C. the Recipient. D. the Aperture wit ha Pipe of a Moderate bigness, on which may
be set the Alembeck E. The other Furnace is F, which containing a Moderate Fire, sublimes what falls into the
receiving Vessel up into the Alembeck E. And so the Matter which is distilled from Retort B, by the Fire of the
Furnace F, is presently sublimed; Which may not only be useful in this Case, but also in every Sublimation of other
Matters.
and upon that which comes forth in the Distillation pour common distilled Rain-water, but let it first be made hot,
and so by edulcorating remove all the Salt, that no Acrimony may remain, and the Antimony will appear like pure,
white shining Feathers. Dry them with subtle Heat, and having put them in a Glass circulatory or Pelican, pour on
them good and perfectly rectified Spirit of Vitriol, and Circulate the Mixture till both be well conjoined* and united,
then distill the whole, and pour on Spirit of Wine, circulate again; then let seperated be made, and remove the Feces
settling to the Bottom, but keep the Arcanum which remains mixt with the Spirit of Wine and Vitriol.
*This Union must be so firm, as in distilling one may not be separated from the other; otherwise you will lose your
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