Archidoxis, Book IV, part 2 of 2

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Metals.

NOw then we will in a few words, finish the Extraction of Quintessences from Metals; for many men have (in our time) attempted and experienced very many things in them, and have met with many things that have as it were, even constrained them to enter upon other (and those various too) wayes.

Concerning Metals. Therefore this is to be understood, viz. that they are to be devided into two parts, viz. into their Quintessence, and into their Body; both which are liquid and potable, and will not be permixed together: but the impure body, turns forth the Quintessence to its superficies, even as the Colostrum, or cream is Separated from the milk. By this way are made two fatnesses, or viscous liquors out of Metals, the which liquors are to be Separated. As for the fatnesse of the Body, tis alwayes white, even of all the Metals; but their Quintessence is coloured, even as we have explained it afore; concerning the seven Metals, they likewise have all of them the same process, and is this.

The Mettal must be dissolved into a Water, then afterwards, must this solution be destilled by a B. and be abstracted or drawn off, and putrefied so long until it be reduced into an oyl, the which oyl must be destilled out of small Glasse-Cucurbites by an Alembick, and one part of the Metal will remain in the bottom, let the which be again reduced into an oyl as before, and be destilled so long, until all the Metal shall ascend, then let it be again putrefied for a Moneth, and at length be again destilled with a gentle Fire, and the vapours will ascend first, and fall into the Receiver, the which vapours remove; Then there will ascend two obscure colours, one white, and the other answerable to the nature and condition of the Metal, and when they shall be wholly comeover, they become Separated in the Receiver. So that the Quintessence remains in the bottom, and the white colour of the Body swims at top. Separate these two by a Separating-Glass and put your Quintessence in another Glasse, and pour thereto some Purified Burning Wine, which let remain so long therewith, until it, viz. the Wine be plainly acuared, then let it be strained or Separated from the Quintessence, and more fresh be again poured on; this do so often till you perceive no more Acuity or sharpnesse. Then at last, powr on Water twice destilled; where with let it be washed and brought unto its sweetness, then keep it; by this way is prepared the Quintessence of Metals. But as for the white Colour of the body if you reduce it, you shall have thencefrom a white Malleable and Metallick body; the which cannot be known, viz. under what species or kind it is conteined. Many other wayes are to be found for the Extraction of a Quintessence, which we shall be silent in, because we account them not for true extractions of Quintessences, but onely as transmutations, in which there is no Extraction made or used.

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence from Marcasites.

THere are also to be sound, various ways as to the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Marcasites, but yet we cannot in the least account them for true Quintessences. And although they be of a greater virtue then their Quintessence is, as we teach, & discover of Arcanaes, Magisteries and Elixers; Yet notwithstanding the way and manner that we here use, in extracting the Quintessence from all Metal[…]ne Marcasites, is like to the true extractions of the Metals. And whereas we said before, that the Quintessence is the most supream virtue of things, and do yet for all that aver the contrary in Arcanaes, viz. that they are greater then the Quintessences themselves are; the reason is this, because all Arcanaes contain in them the Quintessences, and are reduced further, to such an acuity and subtilty, that they do receive thereby a far greater virtue then the Quincessence.

The same comes also to be, by reason of their Appropriate and Specisick faculty. The processe therefore of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Marcasites is thus.

Take of a Marcasite ground most exceeding small, one pound; of the eating Water, two pound; being permixt together in a Pellican, let them remain in digestion two or three moneths, and they will be reduced into a liquor; distil this liquor by the Fire, wholly, and it will come over in an oyl, the which thou shalt putresie together in a Belly or Dung, sor a moneth, then distil it as you did the Metals, and there will likewise two colours ascend, as did from the Metals, one colour white, the other the true colour of the Quintessence; leave the white, except it be of Bismute, or a white Marcasite, and then you shall know them from each other by the thicknesse. Take the undermost and reduce it to its sweetnesse, as was afore spoken of the Metals. On this wise then hast thou Extracted the Quintessence out of Marcasites, without any corrupting of their powers and virtues.

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Salts.

THe manner of Extracting the tho Quintessence out of Salts is done by a peculiar way, that so their virtues may not be diminished, viz. on this wise.

Take Salts, The which you must Calcine excellently well; but if they be volatile Salts, burn them; afterwards let them he resolved into a Tenuity or thinness, and be destilled into a Water, put this Water in putresaction for a moneth, and destil it by a B. and there will ascend a sweet water, the which throw away. That which will not ascend, set again in Digestion for another moneth, and distil it as before; and do thus so often, till there be no more sweetness perceived; for by this way, hast thou now the Quintessence of Salt in the bottom; from one pound of Burnt or Calcined Salt, thou wilt scarce have two ounces. Half an ounce of this Salt Extracted on this wise (suppose common Salt) doth season meats more then half a pound of the other, for here is onely the Quintessence present, and the Body is abstracted thence-from, by the liquid Solution.

By this way is the Quintessence of all Salts Separated. But it is to be extracted from Allum and Vitriol, by another way; thus, They do not admit of a Calcination, even to fusion, as Salts do; and therefore it is Expedient, that after their Calcination, you burn them, and resolve them according to the Rule of Practise; and after that they be resolved, power on again the Waters that proceeded from them, and proceed on, according to the Process given of Salts; for much of the Essence ascends with the moisture, the which doth again thus reside at the bottome in the Composition and Putrefaction, and so come together into one.

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Stones, Gems and Pearls.

THE manner of extracting the Quintessence out of Stones, Gems and Pearls, (the Process of all which is one and the same) is the most excellent of all, and is as to the Operation thereof, very Subtile and Industrious; very, very little is the quantity of that Quintessence, which is to be had out of Gems, and by now much the subtiler and purer the Gem is, so much the lesser is the Quintessence thereof; tis scarce worth while to Extract the Quintessence from gross, great & vile or base Stones, for they have but little virtue in them, and therefore also have but very little Quint. to come forth or proceed from them. The Processe thereof is this.

Take Gems or Margarites, or Pearls, beat them into pretty big pieces, not into a Powder, and put them in a Glasse, and pour thereto the Acetum of the Roote, or Radicated Vinegar, so as to overtop it the breath of four or five fingers, and let them be digested in a horsbelly for a whole moneth, which being done, the whole matter will appear liquid; the which thou shalt extract with other Radicated Vinegar, and shake and mix them well together; so the Vinegar receives into it self the Colour of the Stone. The Coloured Vinegar must be poured out into another Glass, and powr on more Vinegar as before, so osten as there comes any Colour; now in that Colour is the Quintessence contained, the residue is the Corporality. Take therefore the Colours, or tinged Vinegar, and boil them very gently even to dryness, then afterwards wash it often with distilled Water, until it be made sweet, as above said: Then let this powder be dissolved upon a marble; thus shalt thou have the Quintessence of Gems and Pearls; but this is to be noted in the Colours of Pearls, that they are resolved into the Colour of thick Milk, and the Body of them is Sandy and viscous; and thereby may the one be known from the other. The like is it also with Crystal, its Quintessence appears at top, a certain Viscous Body remaining, by which the sufficiency or compleatnesse of those kind of Extractions may be known.

Of the Extraction of the Quiutessence out of burning things.

ALL such things we call burning, as are not used for food or drink, and do naturally burn, and feed the fire in their Bodily Substance. The Process of the Extraction of their Quintessence is this. Take the Body, cut it exceeding small, and put it into a Glazed Pot, and fill it up, and close it firmly with the Seal of Wisdom, that so it breath not out, burn it in a Circulatory Fire for twenty four hours, so as to abide in an equal Heat, and the Pot to be glowing like the Coals: Then take it out of the Fire, and putrefie it in Dung for four Weeks, then distil as much as will ascend; Let this be put in a Horse-belly to distil off all the moisture therefrom, and be set again to putrefie, until there come out no more moisture, then at length the Quintessence of that which thou hast received, and at first tookest in thy Reciver, remaines in the bottom; after this manner is the Quintessence to be Extracted out of all things that contain in them Oyl, or Rosin, or Pitch, or such like, as out of Turpentine, Fir-tree, Juniper, Cypress, &c. Likewise out of all Seeds, Fruits, and such like.

Moreover you are to note, that there are also far more waies and kinds of Extracting the Quintessence from them, by which it comes forth very Odoriferous, Subtile and cleer; but those waies are not Extractions of the Quintessence, but certain Magisteries of those same things, by which some part of the Quintessence doth in the Permixion together, ascend upwards: But yet it is not a perfect Quintessence, for the Essence of Woods is a certain satness or Rosin, and thick substance, and is not therefore extracted in the form of Magisteries; but the cause hereof is this, viz. the Quintessence of the Turpentine Tree healeth Wounds; but if it shall be extracted after the aforesaid manner, of other Magisteries, it doth not Cure them, because it hath not in it the basis and foundation of the Quintessence; For verily Magisteries are on this account distinguished from Quintessences, because they only concern and respect the Complexions and Four Elements, the which is not the nature of Quintessences; Likewise they receive, or have it Spiritually, and not Materially in its proper Essence; as appears in the Chapters.

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Growing Things.

SUch we call (in this place) Growing Things, that fall off and grow again, as Herbs, Leaves, and such like And for the Extraction of the Quintessences of them, there are various wayes found out, by the addition of other things; but they ought to be extracted without the mixture of any thing; and so, as to retain their Taste, Colour, and Odour, and that they may be encreased in them, and not diminished. So if the Quintessence be extracted out of Musk, Ambergreece, and Civet, their bodies do stink afterwards, so that they are worth nothing, either in Taste, Odour, or Nature The like is to be understood of all the rest of that kind, as to the Extraction of the Quintessences. But we will not discourse of Mask, Ambergreece, or Civit, in this Chapter, because we write peculiarly of them elsewhere; and we treat at present of Growing Things only: a the Lilly, Spike, Leaves; for the Extract on of the Quintessence of which, this Process is to be observed.

Take of Growing Things, bruise them exceeding well, and put them into some fit Vessel, the which set in a Horse-belly for four weeks; then Distil it by B put them again into Horse-dung for eight dayes, and let them be again Distilled by B. M. So, the Quintessence will ascend by the Alembick, but the body will abide in the bottom. If there should ought of the Quintessence have remained in the bottom, it must be further putrified, and he proceeded with as before. Then take this Distilled Water, and put it again to this Growing Body, and so let them be digested together in a Pellican for six dayes; then the Colour will be thick, the which abstract by B. M. and the body will go away, and be severed, the Quintessence remaining in the bottom; Separate this (by a Retortive process or pressing) from the feces, and then digest this Quintessence four dayes; by this means thou shalt have it perfect in Odour, Juyciness, Taste, and Virtue, and of the Consistency of a thick substance.

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence out of Spices.

WE will now teach the manner of Extracting the Quintessence out of Spices; as Musk, Civet, Camphire, and such like; First of all, the Quintessence must be reduced into another form, and then at length be separated therefrom; and in that same separation is the Quintessence found, as follows,

Take the Oyl of Almonds. with which mix an Aromatical body, and let them be digested together in a Glass at the Sun, their proper time, until they are reduced into a Paste; afterwards, let them be press'd our from their feces; after this manner is the body Separated from the Quintessence, which Quintessence is thus permixed with the Oyl; and is to be Separated therefrom on this wise.

Take rectified burning Wine, wherewith mingle the aforesaid Oyl, and leave them in digestion for six dayes; afterwards let them be distilled by Ashes, and there will ascend the burning Wine, and with it the Quintessence; and the Oyl will remain in the bottom, without any remaining of the Quintessence. Last of all, let this Wine be Distilled by B. M. and the Quintessence will abide in the bottom in the form of Oyl, and Separated from all the like Additions.

Of the Extraction of the Quintessence from Comestible and Potable Things.

THe Quintessence of things Comestible, is to be no otherwise, then in a like form with that wherewith we are fed; as with Flesh: for the Quintessence of Comestible Things is the best nourishment. And although no Quintessence can be drawn from Flesh, (as we said afore) yet nevertheless we are well able to Extract therefrom, as to its own being or essentiality, that which may be equivalent to a Quintessence; as follows.

Take a Comestible Thing, cut it in pieces, and put it into a Vessel, or great Jugg, very well luted, and let it boyl for three dayes; then afterwards strain out that which shall be in the Pot, and distil it by a B. So there will first of all ascend a certain wateriness, the which when it shall be all come over, the Quintessence will be left in the bottom. This is the highest Nutriment, beyond all the others that we can set down, or declare: And in respect of nourishing, it is like to a Quintessence. Likewise, the Quintessence may be Extracted out of Potable things sundry wayes; but this is the true Process which we account as the chiefest, fittest, and most profitable for this Work.

Tale any Potable thing, shut it up in a Pellican, as it is, with its whole substance, and digest it for a Month in Horse-dung, but 'twill be the better to leave it so for a year or more, and you shall find in the Pellican a certain digested somewhat; Separate this same by a B; afterwards by Ashes; and lastly, by Fire. By this means shalt thou have Three Quintessences, which are in like manner in all Poteable things, and that for many causes, as we set down more at large in the Treatise of their Generations.

These Three Quintessences thus extracted, and each of them put into its peculiar Vessel, the two latter are to be further digested, and then put into a B. M. and there will ascend more of the former Quintessence; this do so often until no more of the former doth ascend, and by this means are they very excellently well separated.

And whereas I have so briefly taught the Quintessence of all things, and the so short way of their Extraction, there's no cause for any to wonder at the hasty running of my Hand, or Quill. Because they are each of them well and sufficiently delivered so; nor are the Quintessences so succinctly, or briefly written of by us, but that the Work and Labour necessary thereunto is most evidently demonstrated: What need is there of many Writings to stir up a nauseate, both to our selves and Readers. For tis to be confidered that exercise and use teacheth all things. But now, as to the wonderful virtues and faculties of the Quintessence, thus extracted after the aforesaid way, we have partly taught already, and shall more cleerly manifest (in the last Books) that which belongs to this Part of the Archidoxis: and so shall have abundantly enough discovered the Quintessence of all things. And although that many men afore us, have in various instructions and documents written some great matters of Quintessences, yet nevertheless we do not account of what they have written, as for a Quintessence; the cause whereof we have sufficiently disclosed afore. We perceive also by their Writings, that Verdigreece, or greenness of Brass, was accounted by them the Quintessence of Venus, which is not so; but the Crocus of Venus, is the quintessence of Venus, which is to be thus understood; Flos Aeris, or the flower of Brass, is a transmutation with, and partaking of the substance, is gross and subtile together, and is extracted out of all the Venerean Complexion, or our of the whole Complexion of Venus, and therefore it cannot be a Quintessence; but the Crocus of Venus is (as we have taught) the true Quintessence, for it is a Poetable thing, divided from the body without Corrosion and permixtion, tis very subtile; yea, more then I am willing to write down here, because I would shun prolixity. So likewise the Crocus of Mars, and the Rust thereof, hath been hither to accounted for a Quintessence, but it is not so; But the Crocus of Mars, is the Oyl of Mars. Concerning these things, we set down more of them about Transmutations, in our Philosophy.

A Quintessence therefore is to be thus understood, viz. That it is no other thing but a certain Separation of the virtues from the body, wherein the whole Medicinal Virtue and Essence is; But as for the Flos Aeris, and Flos of Mars, and many more such like, viz. What they are, shall be delivered in the place of Magisteries.

The like judgement must be had of the Vegitables, and Herbs, and such like, as of the Metals. And although we have set down very noble, and many virtues of the Quintessence; yet nevertheless we have recited but the smallest part of their Virtues and Qualities; but we have chiefly declared thus much, that these things may be somewhat understood: but as to the quality and quantity of all their Virtues and excellency, that is not done by us in the least. Hereby may be hinted unto us, the greatness of that power which is in our hands, did we but know how to use it well. Hence also is manifest the cause why man was Created, and all things in Earth made subject to him; Likewise why nothing, be it good or be it had, proceedeth forth without a cause; the which we declare more clearly in the Book of the Nature of Things; for that fundamental, and basts, brings with it a faith strongly bent upon the Creator, and an hope of his Love towards us, as of a Loving Father to his Children; and therefore we must not snatch at every shadowy and vain Faith, but ought to behold God only, and Nature, and the Art of Nature. Wherefore good reason have we to in voak him only in this life, and for ever; and believe that only which we see so to be; and neither Receive, or Approve of any thing that doth not agree with Nature, but is besides the way thereof.

The End of the Fourth Book, &c.