Essence, untill
the last Judgment; and it is true, for so soon as it feels the force of
the fire, it flies away in a Vapour with all its parts, because it is
volatile.

Some of the common Laborators, having thus prepared _Antimony_, they
take one part out because of its consumption, that they may the better
operate it, they mix with it one part of _Salt-Armoniac_, one part of
the _Vitrum_ (with others _Titrum_) one part of the _Rebooth_ (with
others _Cadoli_) wherewith the Bodies are cleansed; this mixture they
cast upon a pure _Luna_, and if there were eight Ounces of the _Luna_,
they found ten Drams of good Gold in the separation, and sometimes more;
and by this work they gained wherewithal to bear their Charges, the
better to attend upon, and attain unto the great Work. The ignorant
called this an induction into the Silver, but that is false; for this
Gold is not brought into it by the Spirits, but every kind of Silver
hath one Ounce of Gold more or less in the Mark (or 8 Ounces) for Gold
is so united with the Nature of Silver, that it cannot be separated from
it, either by _Aqua fort_, or common _Antimony_, as the _Gold-smiths_
know.

But when the aforesaid Composition is cast upon the _Luna_ in the flux,
then happens such a separation, that the _Luna_ doth freely let go the
Gold implanted therein into the _Aqua fort_, and is separated from it,
letting it precipitate and sink to the bottom, which otherwise could not
be done at all. Therefore it is not an induction into the _Luna_, but a
bringing out of it.

But we return again to our proposed Work; for we would have only the
Oil, which was only known to the Wise, and not to the Ignorant.

When you have rubified the _Antimony_ very well according to the former
Directions, you must have in readiness a Spirit of wine well rectified,
pour it over the red Powder of _Antimony_, set it four daies and nights
in a gentle _Balneum Mariae_, that it may dissolve very well. And if
then any of it remain undissolved, pour fresh Spirit of Wine upon it,
set it again into the Bath as aforesaid, all will be well dissolved; and
if perhaps any more _Faeces_ remain, they will be very few, cast them
away, for they are good for nothing. Put the Solution into a
glass-Gourd, with a Head luted upon it, set it into _Balneum Mariae_,
with its receiver to take the Spirits, distil slowly with a slack heat,
till all the Spirit of Wine be come over, pour it in again upon the dry
matter, draw i