Section 62

To extraB Effence out of Vlefb,
Out of three Capons,! have oftentimes extracted an Effence in a fmall quantity , but of great (irength and nutriment, wherewith I have recovered life andftrength to fick perfons, who'e Stomacks were quite decayed , and they almoft dead for want of ncurin naenr, having not been able to eat any things in three dayes. Take Chickens, or Hens, or Capons; pluck them , and draw their Guts out ; beat them very well, and let them boyl a whole day in a Glafs-Vcffel , clofeftopt , over warm Embers, until the bone% and nefh, and all the fubflancc be diffolved into Liquor: then drain1 ft into another Vcffcl , through a Linen-cloth , and Sing away the Dregs : for the
Uf LHjtMatton*
26?
remaining Bones are fo bereft of Flefh,fent, or any other quality , that a Dcg will not fo much as frncll co them ; which is an allured Argument that their goodn^fs is boy led out. Pour the drained Liquor into a Giafs-bottle , and diflolve it into va- por in a gentle Bath ; the Effer.ce will remain in the bottom, either hard, or loft, like an Oyntment,as youpleafe,of a moft admirable vertue , and never fufficiently to be commended.
To extratt Effenccs out of Salts.
Take Salt and calcine it according to Art . if it be volatile , burn it , and grinde it very fmall : lay the Powder upon a Marble in a mojft Cellar , and fet a Pan under it to receive it as it diflolveth : let it ferment in that pan for a month j t hen fet it in Balneo, tnd with a gentle fire let it diftil : call away the fwect Water, that comes from it, and fee that which remains in the bottom, to ferment another month, theri diftil out the fwect Water, as before : and do this, while any lweet Water will run from it : keep it over the fire until the moyfture be all conl'umed ; and then what re- mains fettled in the bottom,is the Quinteflence of Salt j which will fcarcely arife to two ounces out of a pound.
To cxtratt Sjfcftces out of Herbs. Beat the Herbs, and fet them to ferment in dung for a month, in a convenient Glafs- Bottle : then diftil them in Balneo. Again, fet them in dung for a week, and diftil them in Balneo again ; and thus macerate them fo long as they will yield any Li- quor: then pour the diftilled Water upon the Herbs again, and diftil them in this Cir- culation for fix dayes,which will make it of a more lively colour : draw of the Water by Balneum.and the Effencc muft then be expreflcd out in a prefs : ferment it in dung for five days, and it will yield you the fent, colour and vermes of the Herbs in per- fection. A way to extract
The tffence of Aqua Vita:.
It is a thing bragged of by thoufands ; but not effected by any. I will hotcinic the deicription of it, which 1 have found out, together with a Friend of mine very knowing in Experiments, by the affiftanceof Latins. Provide fome rich, generous, old Wine , bury it in dung for two months , in large Bottles clofe flopt and luted, that they may net have the leaft vent. The whole bufinefs dependeth on this : for if this be not carefully look to , you willlofe both your celt, and ycur labour: the month being paft , diftil it in an ordinary Stillatory , referve the Spirits by them- felyes. The Dregs and Faces of the Wine muft be buried a^ain, and the Spirits be diftilled out as before, and referved by themfelves* Diftil the Far- ces until they fettle like Honey or Pitch : then pour on the phlegm upon them, wafh them, and lay them to dry : then put them into a Porters, or Glafs makers, Fur- nace, and with a vehement fire burn them into white Afhes : wet them with a little Water, and fet them in the mouth of the Furnace, that they may be converted
into Salt. There is no better mark to know the perfection of your work, then by cafling fome of it on a red hot PI are of Iron : if it melt and evaporate,it is well done ; othcrwifc,you muft re&ifte it. Mix the Salt with water, and put it into a Glafs bottle with a long ceckjftop it with Cork and Parchment : then fet on the Head, and kindle the fire ; the force of which , will carry it up thorow all the ftoppage into the Head, and there it fiicks to the fides like durt ; the Water will remain quiet in the bottOirijj in which you muft again mingle the Salt j and fo by a continual Circulation , draw it out of it felf, until it be divefted of allitsGrol- nefs , and obtain a more thin and fubtile Ef- fence.
Chap,
ijo Natural Magick. Sgo^io
Chap. XIV. What Magift tries arey and the Sxtrattion of then*.
I Said, That Qjiinteflences do participate of the Nature of mixt Bodies . on the contrary, a Magiftcry taketh i he temper of the Elements : io, that it neither extradteth the Spirits nor the Tin&ure , bur a certain mean between both. A Ma- giftery therefore , is what can be cxtra,Sied out of things without reparation of the Elements. Eflences do oftentimes keep the colour of the Bodies out of which they are extta&ed : Tinctures always do it , Magi cries never. The means of cx- tra&in^ Magiftci ies,is various, according to the diver fuy ot Natures in things. 1 will fet down tor an example and pattern
How to cxtrAtt a Magiftery of Ctmst Coral and Pearl.
Beat the Gemsanci fet them in igm reverber (ill they be calcined j mi* them with an equal quantity of Salt -Peter , and diffolve them in Aqua Vtx* : pour out that whLh is hq ihed , and let the remainder of the Powder be caicined better* then lay ic in AqttaVttA a°ain , and do this till it be all diflolvcd. Set this water in a hot Furnace, until the moyflure be all evaporated ; ar d what fhall remain in the bottom, i« the Magiftery ©t Gems. Pearls mu i be d.flblved in Vinegar ; and if poflftble , in juice of Lemmons. Yon may augment the ftrength of the Vinegar by ihoie things , w iich , as I fhewed you in AqnaVtt* , do quicken the Vertue of it, that is its own Salt, being diflolved and macerated in Balneo, or in Fimo, for a month % then diftil the Menftruum , and in the bottom will remain the Magiftery of Pearls.
Of Charges.
I will deliver to you the way that I ufe ; for the Paracelfians do either conceal it , ot notknowit. Beat your Gum very fmall , and diffolve ic in t^qua V.t liquified, pour that out, and put in frtfh : let them macerate for a month ; and when all is diflolved, mix the waters all together, and let ic evaporate over a fire; foin the bottom will remain the Magiftery of Charabc. It willuke away fears in the Face, and cure the Vertigo.
The Magijlcry of Cnaiacum
is an excellent Remedy againft the Pox , and is thus extracted. Take the (havings cf Lignum Guaiacum,or the duftof it , Which Turners wrk off : for the file , by continual Frication, heats ic , and exhaufteth the beft Spirits. Lay it in clarified Acftta Va be when ic hath !u:ked out the oylinels and fuMlance of it , (train it oat , and pour in frefh. Then ftir ic about , until the water become coloured again ; ftrain that out alto, and put in as much more , until the Water do not alter its colour any more. Then ftrain itinapfefs, and diftil the juice through Linen-cloth ; ard then boy 1 ic till the moyfturebeconfumed .- theOyl, or Gum, or Magiftery will remain of * bright colour, and moft fwcet fent , which you would think impoffible to refide in fuch Wood. You may extract the fame in a fliorter time j but it will not be of the fame value t for if you lay the daft of Guaiacum in diftilled Fountain-water , boyl it for half a day , ('rain it, diftil it thorow a cloth , and let the moiflare eva- porate over a fire : the fame Gum will fettle in the bottom. Youmuftchufe the moft Gummy Wood , which being held neer a Candle, will Iweat out akinde of Oyl.
The Magiftcrj of Ltgnttm Aloei.
Take the (having of the Wood Worked off, as the former , with a Turners Wheel j lay k in *A q»a Vn*. till it colour it ; then ftrain ic out , and lec the rnoyfture evapo- rate
Of T>iJlillation. 271
rare over i fire • and in the bottom of the Giafs , you will finde * rjioft odoriferous OyJ, cxcclLntto be u'.ed in fweet Comments.
The Afarifterj of Wtne, c tnmonly called the Spirit of Wive. I will firftfet down the Parace.fian way of extracting it , and a'teiwirds my own; b caufe wc cannot ufc that in our Countries. P^ur fome lit ong generous good Wine into a Glafs-Bottle : fo that it may fill two parts of ir • itoK the mouth t-f ic very exactly , either with He m tu Sigillam , or a ftrong Glue , which } fluli here- after deicrihe unto you ; and to tec it in Fimo three cr four months , with an un- intermitted fire. In the Winter fet it out in the Fioft for a month, and let it f re- zc s the Spirit or Magiftery will retire into the C entre , became its fiery Eflence make: h it uncapable of conglaciation. Break the Vcfl'd, caft away the congealed part, aod relerve the liquid which being circulated in a Pelican for a men' h , will yield you what youfeek for. My way is, to put the aforefaid Wine into a round Qlals-Veffei : let it ferment in Fimo, conglaciate it, as I fhall fhew you ; and then breakin" the Vcflel torefcrve the unfrozen liquor, in which you will finde a great desi of vertuc : but if you defirc to have it better, you may perleft ic by Circulation.
Chap. XV.
How to extraft linftures,
ATinaure i* thepureft arid moft aftive part of a coloured body extracted ; the noblert Eflence in a Compound. It is extracted out of Gems , Flowers, Roots, Seed-, and fuch-like. It differeth from a Quint eflence in this , that it efpe- cially draweth the colour of the Body from whence it is extracted ; and rc-quireth Art, and Cunning, and diligent Attendance , more then labour. It is feparattd by Diilillation , clear from any oylinefs or matter ; free from the commii.ion of other Elements , or any impure fubltance ; it imitateth the clearneis and perfpi- cuityof the Air: and in thatbrightnels rcprefents thecoiour of the Gem or Flowtr, from whence it was drawn ; of ib pore a fubftance , that in many ycers it will not have any dregs in it , but will continue in a perpetual cleernefs , fubtiity, and firength. After the ext ration, the matter remainethdifcoloured, andulelefsfor any tning. I will prefent tome examples to you how to extra& the Tincture out of Metals and Flowers, &c.
How to draw out the Tirtfure of Gold.
If the Vermes of this never-iufficicntly-praifed Met al, were known, a? well for the health of the Body, as the conveniency of mens living, it would he adored with a greater devotion then it is already. The Apes of wife Nature, cunning inquirers in Exoeriments , perceiving a certain Glory and Brightnels in Gold , and an at- tractive or magnetick Vertue , (if I may fofay) which at firft fight draws every mans eye to look upon its Majelty and Beauty, and tempts our hands to touch and handle it , and even our mindes to defire it , fo that even Infants do rejoyce, and laugh at the fight of it , and reach their arms out after it, and catch it , an i will bv no means part from it ; prefently conjectured, that there was fome extraordinary Vertue in ic for the health of man. Aftrologers , feeing it contend with the !>un in Beams, Brightnefs and Glory , and to have a Prerogative of Majefty among Metals , like the Sun among the ctars , do therefore fet it down for a Cordial , and a Deftroyer of Melancholy, and all the ill Companions of it. Refiners fay , That the Elements are foproportionably mixt intheCompofition of it , fo pure and compacted, that they account it a moft exactly tempered body, and free from corruption : in which there is nothing deficient nor fupcrfluous ; fo compact and clofe, that itwillnoc one y endure the fire without confumption , but will become more bright and re- fined by it. Ic will alfo lie under Ground thoufands of yeers without contracting any tuft : neither will itfoul the hands like other Metals, or hath any ill fent or taftc in it. Wherefore, fay they, being taken into our Bodies * it muft needs reduce the
zyz Natural Magick. 2>0O^io.
Elements and humors into a right temper , allay the exceflive , and fupply tbe de- fective, takeaway all putrefaction, refrefh the natural heat, purge the blood , and encreaie it ; and not onely cure all ficknefles,but make us healthy, long-lived , and almott immortal. rKAimldtu^%ji''mmdtu , and other Phyfuians of the beft eftecm, do attribute to Gold , a power to corroborate and ftrengthen the Heart , to dry up fuperftuities and ill humors , to exhilarate and enliven the Spirits with its Splendor and Beaury, to ftrengthen them with ks Solidity, temper them with its Equality, and preferve them from all difeafes , and expel Excrements by its Weight : by which it confitmeth Youth , refioreth Strength, retardeth old Age, corroborateth the prin- cipal Parts, openeth the Urinary Veflels, and ail other pafl'agcs, being ftopt : cureth the Falling-ficknefs, Madnefs, and Leprofie , ( for which caufe, Ojiander the Divine, wore a Chain of Gold about his neck ) and alfo Melancholy , and is moft excel- lent again ft Poyfon and Infections of the Plague. We will now examine whe- rher the old or new Phyfitians knew the way to prepare it aright , to perform thefe admirable Effects. Nicmder doth mightily cry up for an Antidote againft Poyfon, Fountain-water in which Gold hath been quenched ; fuppofing , that it imparteth fome of its Venue to the Water in the cxtin&ion. Diofcorides , Taulm t£ginetay and Aetittt* affirm the fame. ^Avicenna faith, That the filings of it helpeth Melan- choly , and is nfed alfo in Medicines for the fhedding of the Hair, in liquid Me- dicines,or reduced into very fine Powder ; it is ufed in Collyriums, or Medicines for the Eyes, for the pain and trembling of tbe Heart, and other paflions of the Minde. Tlinj ufeth it burnt in an earthen Pipkin , with a treble quantity of Salt ; whereby it wiil communicate its Vertue , but remain entire and untouched it felf. He alio makes a Decoction of it wiih Honey. LfrUrpliut Ficinvt* faith , It is Of a folid fubftance , and therefore muft be attenuated, that it may penetrate the Body. £ui he is ignorant of the way of it , onely he advifetfj to give it in Cordial- waters, being beaten ouc into thin Leaves ; for fo the Water will fuck out the Vertue of it: or elfe by extinguHhing it in Wine. There are feme of Pliny's Scholars, who would have the parts of a Hen laid in melted Gold, until it confume it felf ; for the parts of a Hen are Poyfon to Gold. Wherefore Ficinut mixeth Leaf-Gold in Capon-broath. iThus far the Grecians, Latines, and Arabians , have difcourfed concerning the Ex- traction of the Tincture of Gold ; but they have erred far from the Truth : for what a vanity is it to imagine, that quenching it in Water , can extract the Vertue of it? or, that the heat Of Man's Body , though it be liquified and be made potable, can draw any thing from it, when the force of the moft vehement fire is ineffectual, and cannot work upon it ? I have made trial of it in a moft violent fire for the fpace of three months , and at laft I found it nothing abated in weight, but much meliorated in colour and goodnefs ; fo that the fire, which confumeth other things, doth make this more perfect. How then can it be concocted by the heat of Man's Body, which is fcarce able to concoct Bread ? And how can it impart its Vertue by Ex- tinction , when neither A fit* Vita , nor any ftrong Waters can alter the colour or taiteof it ? 1 will fet down what 1 have feen. The later learned Men, and curious I:*quirets into Nature, affirm, That the Magiftery, Secret and Quinteffence of Gold, cocfifteth ia the Tincture : fo that the Vertue, Power, Life and Efficacy of it , re- lldeth in the Colour. Wherefore it will be no frhall Secret to know how to ex- tract tke Tincture ; no fmall labor and pains : for thofe who pretend to fpeakof it, do it fo intricately and obfeurely , that they rather feem to ©bfeure it, or not to un- derhand it, then to difcovcr or teach it. Know therefore , that the Tincture canuot be extracted, but by perfectly diffolving it in Strong Waters ; and that ic cannot be diffolved, as the work requireth, in common Aqua Fortu, or Royal Wa- ters , becaufe thecorrofive Salts in them, are not perfectly and abfolutely diffolved into Water . Wherefore you muft learn by continual folution and immiftion , fo to diftil them, that the whole fubftance of the Salt may be melted; which muft be done by reiterating the Operation. I have informed you, what Salts are eafie to be fcpa- rated, the which muft onely be ufed in this Work. After perfect folution , caft in that Menftruum or Water , which I have often mentioned for the Extraction of Ef- fences or Colors. I have wkh great joy beheld it attract to itTelf thcGolden,Ycllow,