Secrets of the Adepts - A Bardon Companion

two or three Hours, in a Fire somewhat remiss, and not any thing more distilling through the
beak of the Alembick, let the Vessel cool, and then pour the same Water (Aqua Vitœ, or Spirit
of Philosophical Wine) which you kept before stopt in the Receiver, upon the matter again:
This matter therefore being dissolved, distil the Water again in Balneo, as before, which
having taken away, the Receiver you must keep well stopt from respiring: then set the Urinal
in Ashes, and dry the matter; being dryed, dissolve it in again with the Water which you kept
in the Receiver; and if you see the dissolution is not clear and diaphanous, you must transmit
it so often through a Filter or Linnen Cloth, and so oft dissolve and congeal it by turns, as
before, till it be set free from all Terrestreity, and appear clear and splendid: then may you be
assured, that the impure and corruptible part is separated, and you will see the whole matter
transmuted into an Oyl. But now, most dear Son, you must proceed to the composition of our
Mercury, and Sal Armoniack, the Powers and Virtues whereof are so many and so great, as
scarce to be comprehended within the expression of Man. The way of which operation is thus:
You must know the weight of the Salt or Oyl which you beheld in the bottom of the Vessel
depurated, and pour to it so much of our Spirit (that is Aqua Vitœ rectify’d so, as to burn a
Cloth steeped in it) as will be four Fingers above it, or let there be six parts more of the
weight of the Aqua Vitœ, than is the Salt or Oyl: the whole being mix’d together, put into an
Urinal with a Cover or Antenotorium well luted, that it respire not: putrifie in Balneo the
space of two Natural Days, then take off the Antenotorium, and put on an Alembick, with a
Receiver, close the Joynts well, and distil in a Furnace of Ashes with a slow Fire: which
distillation must be continued till the Beak or Head discover no Veins, but suddenly after the
Veins disappear, lay aside the Receiver with the distilled Water (Spirit of Philosophical Wine)
and stop it close, for now comes the animated Spirit (Spirit of Wine impregnated with the
Essence of Tartar) which hath the power of vivifying its Body (or Caput Mortuum) then
continue the same distillation, in the end augmenting the Fire, that if any part of Phlegm
remain, it may exhale and be removed by that degree of heat: Lastly, the Vessel being cold,
take out the matter and grind it: know the weight of the matter, and pour to it four parts of
Aqua Vitœ more than is the Earth (Caput mortuum) and covering the Vessel close with its
Antenotorium, putrifie as before, then putting an Alembick to it with a Receiver, well luted,
distill as before, in a Furnace of Ashes: the Soul being with its Spirit gone over, with the same
Signs of Veins, as before, appearing, repeat the same Magistery three times: For then will you
have the Spirit perfectly animated, and the Body exanimated and calcined: This Spirit with
the Soul (of Tartar) is indeed capable of disposing every Physical operation, but in this place
we will use it for the vivifying of the calcined Earth: Take therefore the aforesaid Earth out of
its Vessel, and grind it, then put a little of it upon a red hot plate, which if it melt like Wax
without fume, is a sign of perfect exanimation; if this sign appear not, this Magistery must be
reiterated, till you have obtained that sign. Then know the weight of the Earth, upon which
pour a fourth part of the animated Spirit, an the Vessel being covered close with its
Antenotorium, set it in Balneo two or three days to be congealed, or till it be congealed; which
done, remove the Antenotorium, putting on a Head, and distill in a Furnace of Ashes without a
Receiver, that if there be any part of Phlegm, it may be from thence removed, for that which
comes out from this distillation will be insipid, of no favour or esteem in the Form of Rain
Water: Then again pour on a fourth part of the animated Spirit, as before, and congeal in
Balneo, as before, then distil the Phlegmatick moisture by Ashes, as before, and thus repeat
the aforesaid Magistery, till the Earth hath drunk up and attracted to it all its animated Spirit,
and attain’d to such a sign, that if you put a small quantity of it upon a Fire-hot Plate, the
major part fume away, which will be a sign that the matter is disposed for the subliming of
our most precious Mercury, which hath the power of dissolving any Metal whatsoever with
the preservation of its Vegetive and Germinative form. Take therefore the aforesaid pregnant
Earth, and put it into a Bolt-head (Sublimatory) with a long Neck, which you must lute very