The Art of Distillation/To the Reader

by John French

To the Reader.

Here is a glut of Chymicall books, but a scarcity of chymicall truthes: Nature & Art affords variety of Spagyrical preparations, but they are as yet partly undiscovered, partly dispersed in many bookes and those of divers Languages, and partly reserved in private mens hands. When therefore I considered what need there is of, and how acceptable a generall treatise of Distillations might bee, especially to our English Nation (and the rather since Baker upon Distillations is by reason of the description of a few furnaces, and'vessels therein, besides which there is small variety either of preparations, or curiosities, sold at such a high rate) I thought I could doe them no better service then to present them with such a treatise of that subject, which should contain in it the choisest preparations of the selectest Authors both ancient, and which I have attained by my own long, and manuall experience, together with such as I have by way of exchange purchased out of the hands of private men, which they had monopolized as great secrets. But on the other hand when I considered what a multitude of Artists there are in this Nation, from many of which more and better things might be expected then from my self, I was at a nonplus in my resolutions, fearing it might be accounted an unpardonable presumption in me to undertake that which might be better performed by others. But for the avoiding of this aspersion, be pleased to understand that I present not this to the world under any other notion then of a rough draught (which indeed is the worke of the more unskillfull, and therefore of my selfe, without exception) to be polished by the more expert Artist. I rejoice as at the break of the day after a long tedious night, to see how this so ary art of Alchymie begins for to shine forth out of the clouds of reproach, which it hath a long time undeservedly layen under. There are two things which have a long time eclipsed it, viz. the mists of ignorance, and the specious lunary body of deceit. Arise O Sunne of truth, and dispell these interposed fogs, that the Queen of Arts may triumph in splendour! If men did believe what this Art could effect, and what variety there is in it, they would bee no longer straightened by, nor bound up to or lurare in verba Galeni, vel Aristotelis, but would now subscribe a new engagement to be true and faithfdll to the principles of Hermes, and Paracelsus, as they stand established without Aristotle their prince and Galen, and Hippocrates, their lords and masters. They would no longer stand dreaming forth, Sic dicit Galenus, but Ipse dixit Hermes. I desire not to be mistaken as if I did deny Galen his due, or Hippocrates what is his right, for indeed they wrot excellently in many things and deserved well thereby; That which I cannot allow of in them is their strict observation of the quudraplicity of humours (which in the schoole of Paracelsus, and writings of Helmont, where the anatomy of humours hath been most rationally and fully discussed, hath been sufficiently confuted) and their confining themselves to such crude medicines, which are more fit to be put into Spagyricall vessels for a further digestion, then into mens bodies to be fermented therein. Certainly if men were lesse ignorant they would preferre cordiall essences before crude juices, balsamicail Elixirs before slegmatick waters, the Mercury of philosophers before common quicksilver. But many men have so little insight in this Art, that they scarce believe any thing in it beyond the Distilling of Waters,and Oils, and extracting of Salts; nay many that pretend to Philosophy, and would be accounted Philosophers, are so unbeleeving, that, as faith Sandivogius, although he would have intimated the true Art to them word by word, yet they would by no meanes understand or beleeve that there was any water in the Philosophers sea. And as he in this case, so I in another know divers that will not beleeve that common quicksilver can of it selfe be turned wholly into a transparent water, or that glasse can be reduced into sand and salt of which it was made, saying that fusio vitrificatoria est ultima fusio, or that an hearb may be made to grow in two hours, and the Idea of a plant to appear in a glasse, as if the very plant it selfe were there, and this from the essence thereof, and such like preparations as these: the two former whereof may be done in half an hour, but the latter requires a longer time, but yet possible. And for the possibility of the Elixir, you shal as soon perswade them to beleeve they know nothing (which is very hard, nay an impossible thing to doe) then to beleeve the possibility thereof. If there be any such thing (say they) why are not the possessors thereof infinately rich, famous, doe many miracles and cures, and live long? These Objections, especially some of them, scarce deserve an answer; yet I shal to shew the vanity of them make some reply thereunto. Did not Artefius by the help of this medicine live 1000 yeares? Did not Flammell build fourteene Hospitals in Paris besides as many in Boleigne, besides Churches, and Chappels with large revenewes to them all? Did not Bacon doe many miracles? and Paracelsus many miraculous cures? Besides what faith Sandivogius? I have faith he incurred more dangers, and difficulties by discovering my selfe to have this secret, then ever I had profit by it, and whensoever I would discover my selfe to the great Ones, it alwayes redounded to my prejudice,and danger. Can a man that carrieth alwaies about him 10000 pounds worth of Jewels and gold, travel every where up and downe, safe, and not be robbed? Have not many rich money-mongers been tortured into confession where their money was concealed? Did you never heare of a vapouring fellow in London, that pretending to the knowledge of this Mystery was on a suddaine caught aside by money-thirsters, and by them tormented with tortures little lesse then those of hell, being forced thereby (if he had knowne it) into a discovery of it? To say nothing of being in danger of being subjected, and enslaved to the pleasure of Princes, and of becoming instrumental to their luxury, and tyranny, as also being deprived of all liberty, as once Raimundus Lullius. The truth is, the greatest matter that Philosophers aime at, is the enjoyment of themselves, for which cause they have sequestred themselves from the world, and become Hermites: Well therefore and like a philosopher spake Sandivogius, when he said, Beleeve me, if I were not a man of that state and condition that I am of nothing would be more pleasnt to me, then a solitary life or with Diogenes to live hid under a tub; for I see all things in this world to be but vaniry, and that deceit, and covetousnesse prevaile much, that all things are vendible, and that vice doth excel vertue. I see the better things of the life to come before mine eyes, I rejoice in these: Now I doe not wonder, as before I did, why Philosophers when they have attained thus medicine, have not cared to have their daies shortned (although by the vertue of their medicine they could have prolonged them) for every Philosopher hath the life to come so cleerly set before his eyes, as thy face is seen in a glasse. Thus much by way of reply to the frivolous objections of those that beleeve not the verity of this Art, and not onely so, but wil not beleeve it. If you should discover to them the processe of the philosophers stone, they would laugh at your simplicity, and I wil warrant you never make use of it. Nay if you should make projection before them, they would think that even in that there were a fallacy, so unbeleeving are they: so I finde them, and so I leave them, and shal for ever finde them the same.

There is another sort of men by whom this Art hath been much scandalized, and they indeed have brought a great Odium upon it by carrying about, and vending their whites, and reds, their sophisticated oils, & salts, their dangerous and ill prepared Turbithes and Aurum vitæ's. And indeed it were worth while, and I might doe good service for the Nation, to discover their cheats, as their sophisticating of Chymical oils with spirit of Turpentine, and salts with salt extracted out of any wood ashes and such like, but here is not place for so large a discourse as this would amount to. I shal only at this time relate to you how Penotus was cheated with a sophisticated Oil of gold, for saith he I gave 24 duckets for the process of an Aurum potable which was much cryed up and magnified at Prague, but at last it proved to be nothing but a mixture of oil of Camphire, Cloves, Fennel-seed and of Vitrial tinged with the leaves of Gold. I know I shall incurre the displeasure of some, but they are sophisticating, cheating mountebanks, who indeed deserve to be bound to the peace, because many men, I dare swear, through their means go in danger of their lives. Better it is that their knavery should be detected, then a noble Art through their villany be clouded, and aspersed.

Now we must consider that there are degrees in this Art; for there is the accomplishing of the Elixir it self, & there is the discovering of many excellent essences magisteries, and spirits, & c. which abundantly recompence the discoverers thereof with profit, health, and delight. Is not Paracelsus, his Ludus that dissolves the stone, and all tartarous matter in the body into a liquor, worth finding out? Is not his Tinea Scatura a most noble medicine, that extinguisheth all preternatural heat in the body in a moment? Is not his Altahest a famous dissolvent, that can in an instant dissolve all things into their first Principles, and withall is a specificum against all distempers of the liver? who would not take paines to make the quintessence of honey and the philosophicall spirit of wine, which are cordial and balsamical even to admiration? A whole day would fail to reckon up all the excellent, admirable rarities that by this spagyrical Art might be brought to light, in the searching out of which, why may not the Elixir it selfe at last be attained unto? Is it not possible for them that passe through many philosophical preparations to unfold at last the riddles, and Hieroglyphicks of the Philosophers? or were they all meer Phantasmes? Is there no fundamentum in re for this secret? Is there no sperme in gold? is it not possible to exalt it for multiplication? Is there no universal spirit in the world? Is it not possible to finde that collected in one thing, which is dispersed in all things? What is that which makes gold incorruptible? What induced the Philosophers to examine gold for the matter of their medicine? Was not all gold once living? Is there none of this living gold, the matter of Philosophers, to be had? Did Sandivogius the last of knowne Philosophers spend it all? Surely there is matter enough for Philosophers, and also some Philosophers at this day for the matter, although they are unknowne to us. There are, saith Sandivogius, without doubt many men of a good conscience both of high and low degree (I speak knowingly) that have this medicine and keep it secretly. If so; let no man be discouraged in the prosecution of it, especially if he take along with him the five Keyes which Nollius sets down, which indeed all Philosophers with one consent enjoyne the use and observation of.

1. Seeing it is a thing divine, and celestial, it must be sought for from above, and that not without a ful resolution for a pious, and charitable improvement of it.
2. Before thou betakest thy selfe to the work, propound to thy selfe what thou seekest for, and enter not upon the practicke til thou art first wel versed in the theory, for it is much better to learn with thy braines, and imagination, then with thy hands, and costs, and especially study nature wel, and see if thy proposlals be agreeable to the possibility thereof.
3. Diligently read the sayings of true philosophers, read them over again and againe, and meditate on them, and take heed thou doest not read the writings of imposters instead of the Books of the true Philosophers. Compare their sayings with the possbility of Nature, and obscure places with cleare, and where Philosophers say they have erred doe thou beware, and consider wel the general axioms of Philosophers, and read so long til thou seest a sweet Harmony, and consent in the sayings of them.
4. Imagine not high things, but in all things imitate nature, viz. in matter; in removing what is Heterogeneous; in weight, in colour; in fire; in working; in slownesse of working; and let not thy operations be vulgar, neither thy vessels; work diligently and constantly.
5. If it be possible, acquaint thy self throughly with some true Philosophers. Although they wil not directly discover themselves that they have this secret, yet by one circumstance or another it may be concluded how neer they are to it. Would not any rational man that had been conversant with Bacon, and seeing him doe such miraculous things, or with Sandivogius who did intimate the Art to some word by word, have concluded that they were not ignorant of it? There have been Philosophers and perhaps stil are, that although they wil not discover how it is made, yet may Certifie you, to the saving of a great deal of cost, pains, and time, how it is not made: and to be convinced of an errour is a great step to the truth. If Ripley had been by any Tutor convinced of those many errours before he had bought his knowledge at so deare a rate, he had long before, with lesse charges attained to his blessed desire.

And as a friendly Tutor in this, so in all spagyrical preparations whatsoever, is of all things mofst necessary. A faithful wel experienced master wil teach thee more in the mysteries of Alchymie in a quarter of a year, then by thine owne studies and chargeable operations thou shalt learn in seven years. In the first place therefore, and above all things apply thy selfe to an expert, faithful, and communicative Artist, and account it a great gain, if thou canst purchase his favour, though with a good gratuity, to lead thee through the manual practice of the chiefest, and choisest preparations. I said apply thy self to an Artist, for there is scarce any processe in all Chymistry so easie that he that neer saw it done wil be to seek, and commit some errours in the doing of it. I said expert, that he may be able to instruct thee aright, faithful; that as he is able, so may faithfully performe what he promiseth; and communicative, that he may be free in discovering himselfe and his Art to thee. The truth is, most Artists reserve that to themselves, which they know, either out of a desire to be admired the more for their undiscovered secrets or out of envie to others knowledge. But how far this humour is approvable in them, I leave it others to judge; and as for my part I have here communicated upon the account of a bare acceptance onely what I have with many years paines, much reading, and great costs known. There is but one thing which I desire to be silent in as touching the processe thereof; as for the thing it selfe to be prepared, what it is I have else where in this Treatise expressed; and the preparing of that is indeed a thing worth of any ones knowing, and which perhaps hereafter I may make knowne to some. I am of the same mind with Sandivogius, that that fourth Monarchy which is Northerne, is dawning, in which (as the ancient Philosophers did divine) all Arts and siences shal flourish, and greater and more things shal be discovered then in the three former. These Monarchies the Philosophers reckon not according to the more potent, but according to the corners of the world, whereof the Northerne is the last, and indeed is no other then the golden age, in which all tyranny, oppression, envie, and covetousnesse shal cease, when there shal be one prince and one people abounding with love and mercy, & flourishing in peace: which day I earnestly expect.

In the mean time if what I know may adde to thy experience, thou hast it freely. And if I shal see that this Treatise of Distillation passe with acceptance amongst the Artists of this Nation, I shal hereafter gratifie them for their good wil with two other parts of Chymistrie, viz. Sublimation, and Calcination; and I hope this wil be an occasion to set the more expert Artists on work, for the communicating their experiences to the world. One thing (courteous Reader) let me desire thee to take notice of, viz. whereas every processe is set down plain, yet all of them must be proceeded in secundum Artem Alchymistæ, (which Art indeed is obtained by experience) and therefore many that work according to the bare processe effect not what they intend; & the reason is, because there was some art of the Alchymist wanting. To conclude, if thou knowest more or better things then these be candid, and impart them; (confidering that I wrote these for them that know them not) if not, accept of the endeavours of thy Friend

John French.