Section 59

Crap. II.
Of the Extraction of Waters,
THe Extraction of Waters, becaufe it is common, I will difpatch in a few words. If you would extract fweet Waters out of hot Plants , and fuch as are earthy, and retain a iweet favour in their very fubftance ; thefe being caft into a Stillatory, without any Art, and a fire made under them , yield their odors : as you may draw fweet Waters out of
%ofes^Ora»ge-flowers t Myrtle and Lavender^ and fuch-ltkf^ either with Cinders, cr in Balnco Marias ; but onely , obfervc to kindle the fire by degrees, left they burn. There are alfo in fome Plants, fweet Leaves, as in Myrtle, Lavender, C itron,and fuch-like ; which, if you mix with the Flowers, will no way hinder the favour of them, but add a pleafantnefs to the Waters: and in places where Flowers cannot be gotten , I have feen very fweet Waters extracted out of the Tendrils of them : efpecially , when they have been fee abroad a funning in a ek>fc Vcffel for fome dayes before, there is a Water, ©f no contemptible fenr,
drawn
25
drawn out of the Leaves of Bafil gentle, (especially, being aromatized with Cirron or Cloven) by the heat of a gentle Bath, heightened by degrees, an d then cxpofmg it to the San for fome time. There is an odoriferous Water extracted out of the Flowers of Azadaret, or baftard Sicarsore, very thin and full of favor. The way to finde cast whether the odor be fettled in the f'ubftancc of a Plant , or elfe in the la- perficiev or outward parts , is this : Rub the Leaves of Flowers with your fingers; if they retain the fame lent , or cart a more fragrant breath , then the odour lieth in the whole fubttance. Bat on the contrary, if ifter your rubbing, they do not onely lofc their natural fent, but begin to fiink, it flvwerh that their odour refideth onely in their fupciftcies, which being mixed with other ill favoured parts , are not onely abated, but become imperceptible. In diltilling of thele, we mult uie another Art. As for example,
T0 extract fwe t Water out of CiUfiowers,
Lilies.
Firll draw the juice out of fome wiide Musk Rofes , with a gentle hear in Balneo j then remove them , and add others : for if you let thtm Itand too long , the fene whLh reftd thin the iuperhcies is not oneiy coni'umed, but the dull fiir.kin^ vapcur which lieth in the inward pares is drawn forth. In this water, let other Rofe> be infaied for lone hours , and then taken out and frefh pu in , which the okner you do, the fweeter it will fnvll : but flop the V-.ffel clofe, left the thin fent flit cut and be dilperfed in the Air ; and fo you v\i'lha\e a moll odoti erces Water of Mn k« Roles, rhefame I adviie to be done wuh Jaimine, Gillifl wers, Lillies, aoa Vio- lets, and Cr ws-toes,and the like. But if vou are not willing to macerate thrm m their own waters, the fame may be done in Role-water. By this Art , 1 have made Waters out of Flowers of a moft fragrant Im 11, to the admiration of Anirt , of no fmail account. But becaule it happereth tometimes by the negligence of the Ope- rator, that it is infe&ed with a ftirk of burning, I will teach you
How to eorrett the filu\ of burning. Becaufc that part which lieth at the bottom f elerh more heat then the top, whence it cometh to pafs, that before the one be warm, the other is bu nr , and oftentimes Hinketh of the fire, and offendeth the nofe ; Therefore diflil yrUr Waters in Ba'nco with a gentle fire, that the pure clear Water may afcend , and the dregs fettle in the bottom with the Oyi,a great cauic of the ill favour.
How to draw agreAt quantity of Water by Vtfiillation.
Fatten fome Plates of Iron or Tin round the top of the Stitlatory j fee them upright* and let them He of the fame height with it , and in the bottom fatten a Spiggeu When the StiiUtory waxeth hot, and the elevated vapors are gathered into the Cap, if that be hot, ibey fall down again into the bottom , and are hardly condenfed hno drops: but if it becold , it prcfently turneth them into Water. Therefore pour cold Water between thofe plates , which by condenfing the vapours , may drive down larger currents into the Receiver. When the Cap, and the Water upon it begin to be hot, pull out the Spigget, that the hot Water may run out, and frefh cold Water be put in. Thus the Warer being often changed, that it way always be cold, and the warm drawn out by the Spigget, you will much augment the quantity of your Water.
Chap. T 1 1. Of extracting Aqua Vita;.
IT is thu=; done : Take ftrong rich Wine growing in dry places , as on Vifeuvhis, conamonlv called Greek- wine, or the tears or firft running of the Grape. Diflil thii in a Glals-Rctort wiih Cinders t or in Balneo , or elfe in a long neckedStill. Draw out the third pari of k , and refervc the reft ; for it is turned into a perfect ' fhirp
Of 'Distillation* zjj
(harp Vinegar j there remaining cnely the carcafe of the Wine : for the life and cenuoui part is taken cut. Then dittii the lame again, an i the third time j alwayes drawing off but a third part.Then prepare a Veffd with a ionger and Mraighter neck, of thiee cubits, and diftil it again in this: at laft , put ic into themouih or the Vcflel, cover it with Parchment , and let on the Cap of the Stil.atory , and kindle the fire : thethin ipirits of the Wine, wiil pafs through all , ard fall down into the Receiver ; and the palegm , which cannot get pafl'age , will fettle to the bottom. The note of perie^ depuration from phlegm, will be , if a rag being dipt in ir, and fet on rirc, do burn quite away : or, if fome of ic, being dropt on a plain board , be kindled into flame , doth leave no moyliure or mark of it. But all the work de- pendcth on this, that the mouth of the Veffelbe exactly Hopped and doled . l'otbar thcleaft Spirit may not finde venc and flie into Air. The fittelt thing to Hop them with, is an Ox's Bladder , or fome other Beads ; for being cut into broad fillets, and wtiile ihey be wet, rolled and tied about where the mouths of the Veflels meet; ic will alone keep in the expiring vapors. You may oblerve this in the Diltillation of it. The 'loals being hoc, the Vcffel boyleth , and a mod burning Spirit of the Wine, afcendeth througn the neck of the VeiTel : it is hot below , and cold on the top, till it getteth up into the Cap , then,cncountring wich cold, ic turncch into wa- ter , and runnech down by the nofe into the Receiver : and what was a long time afcending, then, in a fmall interval of time, flows down again td the under-placed Glafs. Then, the Cap being cold, fendeth down that quality through the neck into the very belly of the Stillatory , until the Spiric , being feparated from the phlegm, workech the fame effw Spirit runneth in vifiblc into the Receiver : for when the phlegm afcendeth , there will appear bubbles in the Cap, and Hreams, which will run into the water through the note. Then I take away that dead carcafe of the Wine, and pour in frefh Wine, and extract the spirit out of that the fame way.
To do the fame a more comfendiom way, Thofe who defire to do this in a fhorter time,mu!f make a Brafs Vcflel, of the bignefs of an ordinary Barrel, in the form of a Gourd ; but the nofe of the Cap mull be made of Glafs,or Brafs of fifteen or twenty foot, winding about with circling Revolutions, or mutual croflings, or as it were with the circling of Snakes , which they muft fer in wooden Vcflels, full of cold water, that pafling through, it may be received into the Receiver. For when it hath dilHlled the third part of the Wine in three hours,they mutf caft out the rcfidue,and put that which is dilHlled into the Stillarory again j and the fecond time di I ill out a third part : fo alfo the third time in the lame day. At length , they put it into a Stillacory with a longer neck , and feparate the phlegm from it, Some make the Cap with three or four heads , fetting one upon another , all being pervious but the uppermoft ; and every one having his nofe, and his particular Receiver. They fit th^m to the Veffel with a long neck, fet them on, binde them and lute them, thac they have no vent : the water which diHilleth out ot the uppermost head, is cleereft and moll perfect : that out of the lowelt , more imperfect, and mnftbe referved afunder ; for rhey will be of differenc eftimation : thehigheft will becleercfrom all phiegm, the lower full of it, the middle in a mean between both.
How to make Aqua Vitae of new Wine*
It may be done without the charge of Coals and Wood : for it may worthily be cal- led * we?' neither doth it require the attendance of a learned Artilt , but of an ignorant Clown , or a woman : for this Spirit is drawn out meerly by the vehe- ment working of Nature, to free her felf without any other help whatever. When the Wine is run out of the prsls into the Ho; fhead, and other Veflels , and begin- neth to purge,place an earthen neck , or one of wood , being two cubits in len;th, upon the Hung-hole of the Veflcl : let the Cap uo^fctbe neck , and luce the joynts very elofe, that there may be no vent : fet the Receiver under the note to take the Water Which floweth down. Thus thine cxhaltations being elevated by the working
N n Sp?-
25$ Natural Magic k. 2?00^io.
Spirits of the Wine, are converted into Water, meerly for the work of Nature,with • out the help of fire, which therefore hath his particular vermes, which we will pals over now, and mention them in another place.
Chap IV.
tJow to diftil with the heat of the Shu.
may diftil not onely with fire , but with the Sun and Dung. But the laft tainteth the ditf illed Waters with a fcurvy fent. The Sun cxtra&eih the belt Water, and very uleful for many Medicines. The heat of the fire changeth the Nature of things , and caufeth hot and fiery qualities in them. Wherefore in all Medicines for the eyes , we muft ufe Waters extracted from the Sun : for others do fret and corrode the eye, thefe are more gentle and foft. The Sun extra&eth more Water then the fire, becaufe the vapours do prclently condenfe and drop down j which they do not over the fire, becaufe they are driven up with a force , and ftick to the fides of the Stillatory, and fall down again into the bottom. There are other advantages which (hall be explicated in their proper places. Befides , it is good Husbandry : for the work is done without wood, or coals^ or labour. It is but filling the Vcflels with the Ingredients, and fetting them in the Sun, and all the pains is pat*. Therefore to explain the manner in a few words : Prepare a Form of three foot in height, two in breadth, and of a length proportionable to the number of the VefTels you intend to fet to work : if many, make it longer ; if a few , let it be fhorter. Board up that fide of the Form next the Sun, left the heat do warm the Receivers , and make the Water afcend again. In the middle of the upper plank of the Form, make feveral holes for the necks of the Glafles to pafs down through. When the Sun hath pafled Gemini , (for this muft be performed in the beat of Sum* mer only) fet your form abroad in the Sun. Gather your Herbs before Sun- rife, pick them and cleanfe ihem frcm dwft and durr of mensfeer, from the" urine and ordure of Worms and other Creature7, and fuch kind of filth and pollutions. Then , left they fhould foul and foil the Water, fhake them, and wipe them with clothes ; and laftly, wafti your hands, and then, them, and dry them in the ftiade : when they arc dried, put them into the Glaffes,take Come wire-Cittern ftrings,and windc them into round clues ; f© that being let go , they may untwine themfelv es again : put one of thtfe, into the mouth of each Glafs, to hinder the Herbs from falling out, when the Glafles are turned downwards. Then thurft the necks through the holes ef the Form into the Receivers, which are placed underneath , and admit them into their bellies : fatten them together with lintn bands , that there may be no vent s and
place the Receivers in difhes of water, that the vapor may the fooner be condenfed. All things being thus provided , expofe them to molt violent heat of Sun-beams ; they will prclently diflblve them into va- pors , and Hide down into the Receivers. In the evening, after Sun-fer, remove then, and fill them with frefc Herbs. The Herb Polygonum, or Sparrows-tongue, bruifed, and thus diftilled , is excellent for the in- flammation of the eyes, and other difeafes. Out of S.Johns-mxxjs drawn a water good againft cramps,if you wafti the part affe&ed with it : and others alfo there are, too long to rehearfe. The manner of Diftilling , this Figure exprcfleth.
CHAP.
Of 'Distillation*
Chap. V.
How to dr*w Oyl by Exprejfion.
VrV^E have treated of Waters, now we will fpeak of Oyls, and next of Eflences0 * Thefe require the induftry of a moft ingenious Artificer : for many the moft excellent Eflences of things, do remain in the Oyl , as in the radical moyflure , fo clofe, that without the greatcft Art, wit, cunning, and pains, they cannot be brought to light : fo that the whole Art of Diftillation dependeth on this. Thecheifell means is by Exprelfion ; which, though it be different from the Art of Diftillation, yet bccaufe it is very neceffary to it , it will not be unneccflary to mention here. The general way of ir, is this : Take the Seeds out of which you would draw Oyl, blanch them , and ftrip them of their upper Coats , either by rubbing them with your hands, or picking them off with your nails. When they are eleanfed, caft them into a Marble-Morter , and beat them with a wcodenPeftle : then fprinklc them with Wine, and change them into a Leaden-Morter : fet them on the fire , and ftir them with a wooden-Spoon. When they begin to yield forth a little Qylinefs, take them from the fire,and prepare in readinefs two plates of Iron of a fingers thicknefs, and a foot-fquare : let them be fmooth and plain on one fide , and heated fo, that you can fcarce lay your finger on them ; or , if you had rather , that they may hifs a little when water is caft upon them , wrap the Almonds in a linen-doth being wetted, fqueeze them between thefe plates in a prefs : fave the Expreflion, and then fprinkle more Wine on the preffed Almonds or Seeds : allow them tome time to
-inbibe it : then fet them on the fire, ftir them, and fqueeze them again , as before, until all their Oyl be drawn out. Others put the Seeds when they are bruifed and warmed,into a bag that will not let the Oyl ftrain thorow ; and by twining two flicks
. about, prefs them very hard and dofe : then they draw the Oyl out of them , when they ate a little fettled.
To draw Oyl out of Nutmegs*
Beat the Nutmegs very carefully in a Morter , put them into a Skillet , and warm them , and then prefs out the Oyl which will prefently congeal. Wherefore , to make it fiuide and aprer to penetrate, diftil it five or fix times in a Retort, and it will be as you defirc : or elfe, caftfome burning Sand into it, and mix it. and make it into Rolls ; which, being put into the neck of a Retort, and a fire kindled, will the firft time remain liquid.
To extrdl Oyl out of Citron- feed
we muft ufe the fame means. Blanch and eleanfe them : an Oyl of a Gold-colour will flow out : they yield a fourth part ; and it is powerful Antidote againftPoyfon and Witchcraft ; and it is the beft Menftruum to extract the fent out of Musk, Civet and Amber, and to make fwect Oyntments of, becaufe it not quickly grow rank.