Secrets of the Adepts - A Bardon Companion

Liquors, as out of Blood and Eggs. Lully Distinct. 3. Libri Essentiæ in Figuris & Tabulis
Individuorum, describes the Vegetables and Animals, in which are found these Mercuries
most readily. There is, saith he, lastly this other Secret of Nature, for the Artist of this Art to
know, and really have the knowledge of the Individuals, in which our Mercury is found most
easily. Wherefore let the Artists of this Art know, that our Mercury is found in every
Elemented Body, yet in some so remote, as to anticipate the Life of Man, before the Artist of
this Art can possess it, being extracted, as is expedient: Wherefore we do in that place reveal
those things which contain it most nearly. Of this Mercury, saith Lully, Libro Mercuriorum,
pag. 8. When we say common Mercury, we speak of that which the Philosophers understand;
and when we say vulgar, we speak of that which the Rustick understands, and which is sold in
Shops. Which Ripley in the 326th pag. of his Concordance, thus expresseth; When I speak of
Mercury, understand Mercury more common than common.
The Fifth is, The Spirit of Philosophical Wine, which Lully in Exp. 3. calls Vegetable
Mercury. So, saith he, will you have a Vegetable Salt extracted from this Individual (Honey)
which Salt is most precious, and hath the power of acuating the Vegetable Mercury, and
dissolving the two Luminaries, etc in Exp. 5. Salts he prepares out of Portulaca, Apium,
Squilla etc. with all which, saith he, you may acuate the Vegetable Mercury extracted out of
Wine, either joyntly or severally; of which lower in the fifth kind of Menstruums.
The Sixth is, The Philosophical Menstruum it self; for our present Menstruum is called
Vegetable Mercury, produced from white or red Wine.
The Seventh is, The animated Spirit or Air of every Body, in the separation of the
Elements, which Mercury being a Fire or Oyl is called Sulphur in almost all Receipts.
The Eighth is, Sal armoniack Vegetable, Animal or Mineral, the Sulphur of Nature, which
is also called our Mercury, Mercury Sublimate and Philosophers Mercury. Necessary it is we
should observe these things in the following Descriptions of Menstruums, except we would
some times confound the things themselves with the Names.
The Third Kind
Simple Vegetable Menstruums made of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, and
Oyly, or middle Salts, or (such as can neither be called fixed nor volatile)
hitherto called Essential Salts, such as are Sugar, Honey, Tartar of Common
Wine, and other Vegetables.
10. The Mellifluous Heaven of Parisinus.
In practica Elucid. p. 231. V.6. Theat. Chym.
The way of acuating this Celestial and Burning B (Spirit of Philosophical Wine) is to take of
the Substances declared to you what quantity you will: But we take the Substances of Flowers
United (that is, the Substance of New Honey, pag. 269) which we put in a Vessel to distill all
the Aquosity through Y (Balneo Mariæ pag. 270). Then we pour in three parts and more of B
upon that Substance prepared after this manner; shutting the Vessel with its Cover, called
Antenotorium, and put it in Putrefaction for the space of one Natural Day; then with three
Distillations by Z (Fire of Ashes pag. 270) we distill till we obtain all the Mercurial Part with
the whole Juice of the Blessed Substance by that Method, then repeat the aforesaid Magistery
with New Substance of Flowers, and making this Regiment four times, at the end of which,
you have reduced B solutive from Power into Act by Virtue of the Manna of the Flowers
United.
Now take a strong Glass Vessel, able to hold as much Water, as a common Pitcher, with a
Neck one span and a half long, to which another Glass Vessel, containing a fourth part only of
the Pitcher, must be joyned, and well luted: Into this Vessel put four Pounds of C (the said