Geber was invented in Europe, probably after 1300 AD. he wrote in Latin, was not a numerologist, and had no significant indication that he was reading anything in the Arabic. The "G" in Geber is soft, like a "J" in Jabir. The books with no Arabic originals, published under the name of Geber, are, using the English names,
Of these the most important is the Sum of Perfection, dating to the early 1300's. Now, these could be legitimate translations from the Arabic, though they don't read like a translation and we don't have the Arabic originals, which make these suspect. These are based on Arabic alchemical theories, but so were most of the Latin alchemical originals.
The general style of Geber is clear and systematic. This is from The Investigation of Perfection by Geber, translated by Richard Russell in 1678:
This Science treats of the Imperfect Bodies of Minerals, and teacheth how to perfect them; we therefore in the first place consider two Things, viz. Imperfection and Perfection. About these two our Intention is occupied, and of them we purpose to treat. We compose this Book of Things perfecting and corrupting (according as we have found by experience) because Contraries set near each other, are the more manifest.
The Thing which perfects in Minerals, is the substance of Argentive and Sulphur proportionably commixt, by long and temperate decoction in the Bowels of clean, inspissate, and fixed Earth (with conservation of its Radical Humidity not corrupting) and brought to a solid fusible Substance, with due Ignition, and rendered Malleable. By the Definition of this Nature perfecting, we may more easily come to the Knowledge of the Thing corrupting. And this is that which is to be understood in a contrary Sense, viz. the pure substance of Sulphur and Argentvive, without due Proportion commixed, or not sufficiently decocted in the Bowels of unclean, not rightly inspissate nor fixed Earth, having a Combustible and Corrupting Humidity, and being of a rare and porous Substance; or having Fusion without due Ignition, or no Fusion, and not sufficiently Malleable.
The first Definition I find intruded in these two Bodies, viz. in Sol and Luna, according to the Perfection of each; but the second in these four, viz. Tin, Lead, Copper and Iron, according to an Imperfection of each. And because these Imperfect Bodies are not reducible to Sanity and Perfection, unless the contrary be operated in them; that is, the Manifest be made Occult, and the Occult be made Manifest: which Operation, or Contrariation, is made by Preparation, therefore they must be prepared, Superfluities in them removed, and what is wanting supplied; and so the known Perfection inserted in them. But Perfect Bodies need not this preparation; yet they need such Preparation, as that, by which their Parts may be more Subtiliated, and they reduced from their Corporality to a fixed Spirituality. The intention of which is, of them to make a Spiritual fixed Body, that is, much more attenuated and subtiliated than it was before....
We find Modern Artists to describe to us one only Stone, both for the White and for the Red; which we grant to be true: for in every Elixir, that is prepared, White or Red, there is no other Thing than Argentvive and Sulphur, of which, one cannot act, nor be, without the other: Therefore it is called, by Philosophers, one Stone, although it is extracted from many Bodies or Things. For it would be a foolish and vain thing to think to extract the same from a Thing, in which it is not, as some infatuated Men have conceited; for it was never the Intention of Philosophers : yet they speak many things by similitude. And because all Metallick Bodies are compounded of Argentvive and Sulphur, pure or impure, by accident, and not innate in their first Nature; therefore, by convenient Preparation, ’tis possible to take away such Impurity. For the Expoliation of Accidents is not impossible: therefore, the end of Preparation is, to take away Superfluity and supply the Deficiency in Perfect Bodies. But Preparation is diversified according to the Diversity of things indigent. For experience hath taught us diverse ways of acting, viz. Calcination, Sublimation, Descension, Solution, Distillation, Coagulation, Fixation, and Inceration.
Argentvive, which is also called Mercury by the Ancients, is a viscous Water in the Bowels of the Earth, by most temperate Heat united, in a total Union through its least parts, with the substance of white subtile Earth, until the Humid be contempered by the Dry, and the Dry by the Humid, equally. Therefore it easily runs upon a plain Superficies, by reason of its Watery Humidity; but it adheres not although it hath a viscous Humidity, by reason of the Dryness of that which contemperates it, and permits it not to adhere. It is also (as some say) the Matter of Metals with Sulphur. And it easily adheres to three Metals, viz. to Saturn, and Jupiter, and Sol, but to Luna more difficultly. To Venus more difficultly than to Luna; but to Mars in no wise, unless by Artifice. Therefore hence you may collect a very great Secret. For it is amicable, and pleasing to Metals, and the Medium of conjoyning Tinctures ; and nothing is submerged in Argentvive, unless it be Sol. Yet Jupiter and Saturn, Luna and Venus, are dissolved by it, and mixed; and without it, none of the Metals can be gilded. It is fixed, and it is a Tincture of Redness of most exuberant Reflection, and fulgid Splendor; and then it recedes not from the Commixtion, until it is in its own Nature.
Sol is a Metallick Body, Citrine, ponderous, mute, fulgid, equally digested in the Bowels of the Earth, and very long washed with Mineral Water; under the Hammer extensible, fusible, and sustaining the Tryal of the Cupel ... According to this Definition, you may conclude, that nothing is true Gold, unless it hath all the Causes and Differences of the Definition of Gold. Yet, whatsoever Metal is radically Citrine, and brings to Equality, and cleanseth, it makes Gold of every kind of Metals. Therefore, we consider by the Work of Nature, and discern, that Copper may be changed into Gold by Artifice. For we see in Copper Mines, a certain Water which flows out, and carries with it thin Scales of Copper, which (by a continual and long continued Course) it washeth and cleanseth. But after such Water ceaseth to flow, we find these thin Scales with the dry Sand, in three years time to be digested with the Heat of the Sun ; and among these Scales the purest Gold is found. Therefore, we judge, those Scales were cleansed by the benefit of the Water, but were equally digested by the heat of the Sun, in the Dryness of the Sand, and so brought to Equality. Wherefore, imitating Nature, as far as we can, we likewise alter; yet in this we cannot follow Nature.
Also Gold is of Metals the most precious, and it is the Tincture of Redness; because it tingeth and transforms every Body. It is calcined and dissolved without profit, and is a Medicine rejoycing, and conserving the Body in Youth. It is most easily broken with Mercury, and by the Odour [vapour] of Lead.... Likewise Spirits are commixed with it, and by it fixed, but not without very great Ingenuity, which comes not to an Artificer of a stiff neck.
Common salt is cleansed thus. First burn it [heat it strongly], and cast it combust into hot water to be dissolved; filter the solution, which congeal [crystallize] by gentle fire. Calcine the congelate for a day and a night in moderate fire, and keep it for use.
We were constrained to cleanse these from their burning Unctuosity, and from the Earthy Superfluity, which they all have. And this We could effect by no Magistery, but by Sublimation only.... Sublimation is the Elevation of a dry Thing by Fire, with adherency to its Vessel. But Sublimation is diversely made, according to the Diversity of Spirits to be sublimed ... whence it is necessary that the Artificer should apply to his Sublimation a three-fold Degree of Fire : one proportionate in such wise, that by it may ascend only the Altered, and more Clean, and more Lucid; until by this he manifestly see, that they are cleansed from their Earthy Feculency. The other Degree is, that what is of the pure Essence of them remaining in the Feces [dregs], may be sublimed with greater force of Fire, viz. with Ignition of the Bottom of the Vessel, and of the Feces therein, which may be seen with the Eye. The third Degree of Fire is, that unto the Sublimate without the Feces, a most weak Fire be administered, so that scarcely any thing of it may ascend, but only that which is the most subtile part thereof, and which in our Work is of no value.
Overall this is clear, descriptive, and shows a feeling for experimentation. The author is familiar with chemical operations, is curious and has a systematic mind.
Overall, Geber isn't a fake. He's a fine, practical alchemist who would put most modern chemistry students to shame with his lab techniques. This speaks well as to why Geber is as accepted as Jabir in the history of alchemy. Geber accepts the mercury-sulfur theory as the ideals of substances and is well-versed on making and using a variety of acids.
CHAPTER XXXVII
AN INTRODUCTION INTO THE WHOLE WORK
I. Perfection and Imperfection of Metalline Bodies, is the Subject
of this present discourse; and therefore we treat of things
perfecting and corrupting, or destroying, because opposites set
near to each other, are the more manifest.
II. That which perfects Imperfect Metals, is a commixion of Argent
Vive and Sulphur in due proportion, by a due and temperate
decoction in the bowels of clean, inspissate, and fixed Earth,
joyned with an incorruptible radical humidity, whereby it is
brough to a solid, fusible substance, with a convenient fire,
and made maleable.
III. But Imperfect Minerals are made of a coinmixtion of pure
Argent Vive and Sulphur, without due proportion, or a due de
coction, in the bowels of the unclean, not fully inspissated,
nor fixed Earth, joyned with a corrupting humidity, whereby are
brought ~orth Metals of a porous substance, and though fusible,
not sufficiently, or so perfectly maleable as the others.
IV. Under the first definition, are concluded, Sol and Luna,
each according to their perfection: Under the second Saturn,
Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, each according to their imperfection:
in which that which is manifest must be hidden, or taken away,
and that which is hidden, must be made manifest and brought
—1—
into operation, which is done by preparing them, by which, their
Superfluities will be removed, and their defects, or
imperfection supplied, and the true perfection inserted into
them.
V. But the perfect Bodies, as Sol and Luna, need none of this
preparation they must have, as may subtilize their parts, and
reduce them from a Corporality to a fixed Spirituality; that
from thence may be made a fixed Spiritual Body, in order to
compleat the Great Elixir, whether White or Red.
VI. In both these, viz, the White and Red Elixirs, there is no
other thing than Argent Vive and Sulphur, of which one cannot
act, not be without the other: It would be a foolish and vain
thing to think to make this Great Elixir or Tincture, from any
thing, in which it is not, this was never the intention of the
Philosophers, though they speak many things by similitude.
VII. And because all Metalick Bodies are compounded of Argent
Vive and Sulphur, pure, or impure, by accident, and not innate
in their first nature, therefore by convenient preparation, ‘tis
possible to take away their impurity; the end of prepara.tion is
to take away Superfluities, and supply the defects.
VIII. For we have considered the substance of Metaline Bodies,
perfect and imperfect to be one, viz. Argent Vive and Sulphur,
which are pure and clean before their coinmixtion; and by
consideration and experience, we found the Corruption of
Imperfect Bodies to be by accident; but that being prepared and
cleansed from all their Superfluities, Corruption, and fugitive
Unclean-
—2—
ness, we found them of greater brightness, clearness, and
purity, than the naturally perfect Metals not prepared, by which
consideration we attained to the perfection of this Science.
IX. The Imperfect Bodies have accidentally Superfluous Humidities,
and a Combustible Sulphureity, with a Primary Blackness
in them and corrupting them; together with an UncZean,
Feculent, Combustible., and very gross Earthiness, impedeing
rngress and Fusion: Therefore it behoves us with artificial
fire, by the help of purified Salts and Vinegars, to remove
superfluous accidents, that the only radical substance of Argent
Vive and Sulphur, may remain; which may indeed be done by
various ways and methods, according as the Elixir requires.
X. The general way of preparation is this. 1. With fire proportional,
the whole superfluous and Corrupt humidity in its
essence must be elevated: and the subtil and burning Suiphureity
removed; and this by Calcination. 2. The whole Corrupt substance
of their superfluous burning humidity and blackness, remaining
in their calx, must be corroded with the following cleansed
Salts and Vinegars till the Calx be White or Red (according to
the nature of the body) and is made clean, and pure from all
Superfluity and Corruption: These Caixes are cleansed with the
said Salts and Vinegars, by grinding, imbibing and washing. 3.
The, whole unclean Earthiness, and Combustible, gross
Faeculency, must be taken away with the aforesaid things, not
having Metallick Fusion, by coinmixing and grinding them
together with the aforesaid Caix, depurated in the aforesaid
manner: For these in the Fusion or Reduction of the Caix,
—3—
will remain with themselves the said uncleanness and gross
Earthiness, the Body remaining pure.
XI. Being thus cleansed, it is Meliorated thus. First, This
Purged and Reduced Body is again Calcined by Fire, with the
Salts as aforesaid. Secondly, Then with such of these as are
Solutive, it must be Dissolved. For this Water is Our Stone, and
Argent Vive of Argent Vive, and Sulphur of Sulphur, abstracted
from the Spiritual Body, and subtilized or attenuated; which is
Meliorated, by confirming the Elemental Virtues in it, with
other prepared things of its own kind, which augment the Colour,
Fixion Weight, Purity and Fusion, with all other things
appertaining to the true Elixir.
XII. The Salts and Vinegars for this work are thus prepared and
cleansed. Common Salt, and Salt Gem, as also Sal Alcali, and
Sandiver, are cleansed by Calcining them, and then casting them
into hot water to be Dissolved, which Solution being Filtred is
to be coagulated by a gentle fire, then to be Calcined for a Day
and a Night in a moderate fire, and so kept for use.
XIII. Sal Armoniack is cleansed, by Grinding it with a preparation
of Common Salt cleansed, and then subliming it in an
high Body and Head, till it ascends all pure: then dissolving it
in a Porphyrie in the open Air, if you would have it in a water,
or otherwise keeping the sublimate in a Glass close stopt for
use.
—4—
IV. Rock Alums, or Factitious, or other Alums, are cleansed, by
putting them in an Alembick, and extracting their whole
Humidity, which is of great use in this Art. The Foeces remaining
in the Bottom, Dissolve on a Porphyrie, in a moist place, or
in water, and then again extract, and keep it for life.
XV. Vitriol of all kinds is cleansed, by dissolving it in pure
Vinegar, then Distilling and Coagulating. Or first abstract its
Humidity over a gentle fire: the Foeces Calcine, and Dissolve
per deliquium, or in their own water, filtre, and Coagulate (or
if you please, the water,) and keep it for use.
XVI. Vinegars of what kind or how acute and sharp soever, are
cleansed by subtilization, and their Virtues and Effects are
Meliorated by Distillation. With these Salts and Vinegars, the
imperfect Bodies may be prepared, purified, meliorated and
subtilized, by the help of the Fire. Glass and Borax are pure,
and need no preparation.
XVII. Out of the Metalline Bodies we compose the Great Elixir,
making One substance of many, yet so permanently fixed, that the
strongest or greatest force of Fire cannot hurt it, or make it f
lie away, which will mix with Metals in Flux, and flow with
them, and enter into them, and be permixed with the fixed substance
which is in them, and be fixed with that in them which is
incombustible; receiving no hurt by any thing which Gold and
Silver cannot be hurt by.
—5—
XVIII. Hence we define Our Stone, to be agenerating or Fruitful
Spirit and Living-water, which we name the Dry-water, by Natural
preportion cleansed and United with such Union, that its principles
can never be separated one from another; to which two
must be added, a third, (for shortning the work) and that is
XIX. The generating or Fruitful Spirit, is White in Occulto, and
Red and Black on either side, in the Magistery of this work: but
in Manifesto, on both sides tending to Redness. And because the
Earthy parts are throughly and in their least particles United
with the Airy, Watery, and Fiery, so that in Resolution, no one
of them can be separated, but each with all and every one is
dissolved, by reason of the strong Union, which they have with
each other in their said least particles, the Compositum is made
one solid, uniform substance, the same in Nature, Properties,
and all other respects as that of Gold.
Geber's hermetic impress
(from Stolclus's Hermetic Garden).
-6-
CHAPTER XXXVIII
OF THE ALCHYMIE OF SULPHUR.
I. SULPHUR iS a Fatness of the Earth, thickened by a temperate
Decoction in the Mines of the Earth, until it be hardened and
made dry, homogeneal, and of an Uniform substance as to its
parts. It cannot be Calcined, (without great industry) but with
much loss of its substance; nor can it be fixed unless it be
first Calcined: but it may be mixed, and its flight in some
measure hindred, and its Adustion repressed, and so the more
easily Calcined.
II. By Sulphur alone nothing can be done, our work from it
alone cannot be perfected, the Magistry would be prolonged even
to desperation: but with its Compere (Arsenick for the White,
and Antimony for the Red) a Tincture is made, which gives
compleat weight to every of the Metals, cleanses and exalts
them: and it is perfected with out Magistery, without which it
performs to us none of these things, but either corrupts or
blackens.
III. He who knows how to commix and Unite it amicably with
Bodies, knows one of the greatest Secrets of Nature, and one way
to perfection: for there are many ways to that Elixir or
Tincture. Whatsoever Body is Calcin’d with it receives weight:
Copper from it assumes the likeness of Sd. Mercury sublimed with
it becomes Cinnabar. All Bodies, except Sol and Jupiter, are
easily Calcin’d with it, but Sol most difficultly.
—7—
IV. The less Humidity any body has, the easier it is Calcin’d
with Sulphur; it Illuminates every body, because it is Light,
Alum, or Salt, and Tincture. It is difficultly Dissolved, because
of its deficiency of Saline parts, but abounding with
Oleaginous. It is easily sublimed because of its Spirit; but if
it be mixed with Venus, and United to it, it makes a wonderful
Violet Colour.
V. That Sulphur is a Fatness of the Earth appears from its easie
Liquefaction, and Inflamability, for nothing is inflamed but
what is Oleaginous, or melts easily by Heat, but what has such a
Nature: yet has it a perfecting middle Nature in it; but this
middle substance, is not the cause of the perfection of Bodies,
or of Argent Vive, unless it be fixed: ‘Tis true, its not easily
made to fly; (this he means doubtless of its Spirit or Oyl;) yet
it is not perfectly fixed: from whence it is evident, that
Sulphur is not the whole perfection of the Magistery, but only a
part thereof.
VI. Sulphur commixed with Bodies, burns, some more, others
less; and some resist its combustion, and some not; by which may
be known the difference between those Bodies which are wanting
in perfection, tho’ prepared for the great work. Sol is not
easily to be burned by Sulphur: The next to this is Jupiter,
then Luna, after that Saturn, then Venus, that is more easily
burnt, which is farther distant from the Nature of the Perfect.
—8—
VII. Also from what Radix the imperfect Body proceeded or was
generated, it appears from the diversity of Colours after Combustion:
Thus Luna obtains a black mixt black mixt with Azure:
Jupiter, a black mixt with a little Redness: Saturn a dull
black, with much Redness and a Livid Colour: Venus, a black with
a Livid; if it be much burnt, if but a little, a pleasant
Violet: Mars, a black dull Colour. But if Sulphur be commixt
with Sol, he obtains an Intense Citrine Colour.
VIII. Sol and Luna Calcin’d with Sulphur, being reduced, return
into the Nature of their own proper Bodies. Jupiter, Calcin’d
and reduced, recedes its greater part: Saturn has sometimes a
greater, sometimes a lesser part destroyed. But Saturn and
Jupiter are both preserved, by a right and gentle Reduction, yet
they rather tend to another Body than their own, as Saturn into
a dull Coloured (Regulus of) Antimony, Jupiter into a bright
Coloured (Regulus of) Antimony. Venus is diminished in the
Impressions of Fire in her reduction, but withal ponderous,
augmented in weight, soft, of a dull Citrine Colour, partaking
of blackness: And Mars is more diminished in the Impression of
the Fire than Venus; by which things are found out, the Nature
of all Bodies that are altered.
IX. The Preparation of Sulphur. 1. Take the best Green Sulphur
Vive, Grind it to a subtil Pouder, Boyl it in a Lixivium of Pot-
Ashes and Quicklime, gathering from the Supersities its
Ogliness, till it, appears to be clear. Stir the whole with a
Stick, and immediately decant the Lixiviurn with the pure
—9—
parts of the Sulphur, leaving the more gross parts behind: let
the Liquor cool, and pour upon it a fourth part of the quantity,
of Spirit of Vinegar; so will a white Pouder precipitate, white
as Milk, which dry with a gentle Heat, and keep for use.
X. 2. Take of this prepared white Sulphur; Scales of Iron
Calcin’d to Redness, Roch—Alum well Calcin’d ana One Pound,
Common Salt prepared, Half a Pound: Incorporate all these well
by Grinding them together with Vinegar, that the whole may be
Liquid, which then boil, stirring it till it be all very black:
then dry and grind to a fine Pouder, which put into an Aludel of
a Foot and half high, with a large Cover; and let the Cover of
the Alembick have a broad Zone or Girdle, for Conservation of
the Spirits elevated, then sublime according to Art; the light
Flos which adheres to the sides of the Alembick, cast away, for
it is combustible, defiled, and defiling. But the close,
compact, or dense Matter sublimed in the Zone, put by it self
into a Phial, and Decoct it upon an Ash Heat, so long till its
Combustible Humidity be exterminated, then keep it in a clean
Vessel for use: Note, that Sulphur and Arsenick sublimed from the
Calx of Copper, are more whitened, than when sublimed from the
Caix of Iron.
-10-
-10ACHAPTER
XXX IX
OF THE ALCHYMIE OF ARSENICK.
I. ARSENICK, is also a fatness of the Earth, as is afore
declared of Sulphur, having an inflamable substance, and a
subtil matter like to Sulphur; but it is diversified from
Sulphur in this, viz. That it is easily made a Tincture of
Whiteness, but of Redness with great difficulty; whereas Sulphur
is easymade a Tincture of Redness, but of Whiteness, most
difficultly.
II. Of Arsenick, there is a Citrine and a Red, which are
profitable in this art, but the other kinds not so: Arsenick is
fixed as Sulphur, but the sublimation of either is best from the
Calx of Metals: But neither Sulphur nor Arsenick, are the
perfective matter of this Work, they not being compleat to
perfection, though they may be a help to perfection, as they may
be used. The best kinds of Arsenick, are the Scif file, the
Lucid, and Scaly.
III. This Mineral also (like as Sulphur) has a perfecting middle
Nature in it, which yet is not the cause of the perfection of
Bodies, or of Argent Vive; unless it be fixed; but being fixed,
this Spirit is an agent of the White Tincture: What we have said
of Sulphur in the former Chapter, at Sect. 5 may be understood
here.
-11-
IV. Because in Arsenick the Radix of its Minera, in the action
of Nature has many inflamable parts of it resolved, therefore
the work of its separation is easie, this being the Tincture of
Whiteness, as $ulphur is of Redness.
V. To prepare Arsenick. Being beaten into fine pouder, it must
be boiled in Vinegar, and all its combustible fatness extracted
as in Sulphur, Chap. 38. Section 9. Then take of the prepared
Arsenick Copper calcin’d ana one Pound: Alum calcin’d, common
Salt prepared, ana half a Pound: Having ground them well
together, moisten the mixture with Spirit of Vinegar, that it
may be liquid, and boil the same, as you did in the Sulphur:
Then sublime it in an Aludel, with an Alembick, of the heighth
of one foot: what ascends white, dense, clear, and lucid, gather
and keep it, (as sufficiently prepared) for the use of the Work.
VI. Or thus: Take of Arsenick prepared by boiling, filings of
Copper, ana one Pound: Common Salt, half a Pound: Alum calcined
four Ounces; grind them exactly with Spirit of Vinegar, then
moisten till they be liquid, and stir them over a fire till the
whole be blackened. Again, Imbibe and dry, stirring as before,
do this a third time, then sublime as above directed.
VII. To fix Arsenick and Sulphur. They are fixed two ways, viz.
1. By manifold Sublimations. 2. By precipitation of them sublimed
into heat. The first way, Reiterate their Sublimations in
the Vessel Aludel, till they remain fixed. This Reiteration is
made by two Aludels, with their two Heads, or Covers
—12—
in the following order, that you may never cease from the Work
of Sublimation, until you have fixed them. Therefore to soon as
they have’ascended into one Vessel, put them into the other, and
so do continually, never suffering them long to abide, adhering
to the sides of either Vessel, but constantly keep them in the
elevation of fire, till they cease to sublime.
VIII. The second way. This is by praecipitating it sublimed into
heat, that it may constantly abide therein, until it be fixed:
and this is done by a long glass Vessel, the bottom of it (made
of Earth not of Glass, because that would crack) must be
artificially joyned with good luting; and the ascending matter,
when it adheres to the sides of the Vessel, must with a Spatula
of Iron, or Stone, be put down to the heat of the bottom, and
this precipitation repeated, till the whole be fixed.
IX. To sublime Arsenick. Take Arsenick, filings of Venus ana one
Pound, Common Salt half a Pound: Alum Calcin’d four Ounces,
mortifie with Vinegar, stirring over a fire till all be black:
Again, Imbibe and dry, stirring as before, which repeat again;
the sublime, and it will be profitable.
—13—
CHAPTER XL
OF THE ALCHYMIE OF THE MARCHASITE.
I. The MARCHASITE is sublimed two ways, 1. Without Ignition.
2. With Ignition, because it has a two-fold substance, viz. One
pure Sulphur, and Argent Vive mortified. The first is profitable
as Sulphur; the second as Argent Vive mortified, and moderately
prepared. Therefore we take in this last, because by it we are
excused from the former Argent Vive, and the labour of
mortifying it.
II. The intire way of the sublimation of this Mineral is, by
grinding it to pouder, and putting it into an Aludel, subliming
its Sulphur without Ignition; always and very often removing
what is sublimed. Then augment the force of the fire into
Ignition of the Aludel. The first sublimation must be made in a
Vessel of Sublimation, and so long continued, till the Sulphur
is separated; the process being successively and orderly
continued, until it is manifest that it has lost all its
Sulphur.
III. Which may be known thus: When its whole Sulphur shall be
sublimed, you will see the colour thereof changed into a most
pure White, mixt with a very clear, pleasant, and coelestine
colour: Also you may know it thus: Because if it has any Sulphur
in it, it will burn and flame like Sulphur; but what shall be
secondly sublimed after that sublimate, will neither be
inflamed, nor shew any properties of Sulphur, but
—14—
of Argent Vive mortified, in the reiteration of sublimation.
IV. You must get a solid, strong, well baked Earthen Vessel,
about three foot high, but in breadth Diametrically no more than
that a hand may commodiously enter: The bottom of this Vessel,
(which must be made so that it may be separated and conjoyned,
must be made after the form of a plain wooden Dish, but very
deep, viz, from its brim to the bottom about seven or eight
Inches; from that place, or moveable bottom to the head, the
Vessel must be very thickly and accurately glazed within: Upon
the head of the Vessel must be fitted an Alembick, with a wide
Beak or Nose: Joyn the bottom to the middle, with good tenacious
lute (the Marchasite being within that bottom) then set on the
Alembick, and place it in a Fornace, where you may give as
strong fire, as for the fusion of Silver or Copper.
V. The top of the Fornace must be fixed with a flat Hoop, or
Ring of Iron, having a hole in its middle, fitted to the
greatness of the Vessel, that the Vessel may stand fast within
it: Then lute the junctures in the circuit of the Vessel and the
Fornace, lest the fire passing out there, should hinder the
adherency of the subliming flowers, leaving only four small
holes, which may be opened or shut in the flat Ring or Hoop
aforesaid, through which Coals may be put in round about the
sides of the Fornace: Likewise four other holes must be left
under them, and between their spaces for the putting in of
Coals, and six or eight lesser holes, proportionate to the
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magnitude of ones little finger, which must never be shut, that
thereby the fire may burn clear: Let these holes be just below
the juncture of the Fornace, with the said Iron Hoop.
VI. That Fornace is of great heat, the sides of which are to
the height of two Cubits, and in the midst whereof is a Round,
Grate, or Wheel filled full of very many small holes close
together, (wide below or underneath, but small above, or in the
superior part,) and strongly annexed to the Fornace by luting,
that the Ashes or Coals may the more freely fall away from them,
and the said Grate be continually open for the more free
reception of the air, which mightily augments the heat of the
fire.
VII. The Vessel is of the aforesaid length, that the Fumes
ascending may find a cool place and adhere to the sides,
otherwise was it short, the whole Vessels would be almost of an
equal heat, whereby the sublimate would fly away, and be lost.
It is also Glased well within, that the Fumes may not peirce its
Pores and so be lost; but the Bottom which stands in the fire is
not to be Glazed, for that the Fire would melt it; nor unglazed
would the matter go through it, for that the Fire makes it
rather to ascend.
VIII. Not let your Fire be continued under your Vessel, till you
know that the whole matter is ascended into flowers, which you
may prove by putting in a Rod of Earth well burned with a
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Hole in its end, through a Hole in the Head, about the bigness
of ones little Finger, putting it down almost to the middle
there, or nigh the matter from whence the sublimate is raised;
and if any thing ascends and adheres to the Hole in the Rod, the
whole matter is not sublimed, but if not, the sublimation is
ended.
IX. That the Marchasite consists of Sulphur and Argent Vive, it
is sufficiently evident; for if it be put into the fire, it is
no sooner Red—Hot, but it is Inflamed and burns: also if mixed
with Venus, it gives it the Whiteness of pure Silver; so also if
mixed with Argent Vive, and in its sublimation it yields a
Coelestial Color, with a Metalick Lucidity.
X. To prepare the Marchasite. Take the fine Pouder of the
Mineral, spread it an Inch thick over the Bottom of a large
Aludel, and gather the Sulphur with a gentle fire. When that is
ascended; take off the Head or Alembick, and having applied
another, augment the Fire, then that which has the place of
Argent Vive Ascends, as we have before declared.