Book of Truth and the Philosophers — 1664 German MS (1664) - Page 22

Take 1 pound of Antimony stibij. Ground small and well
purified, and 1 ounce ℥ of Flowers of Salt $\ominus$ Blumen.
Mix them well together in a digestion vessel,
and while it stands in the fire f:, add
Iron $\mars$ to it, which has stood long in the fire,
so that the Antimony well turns the mountain possibly a reference to turning the material over or achieving a peak reaction.
When that has happened, add
a pound ℔ of Antimony, and drive it from the front.
You can do this for a 3rd or 4th time,
and the last time let it
stand in flux fl:, then pour it
onto a stone so that the Star $\ast$ The "Regulus of Antimony," a star-like crystalline structure prized by alchemists
is purified more clearly as a Star.
Keep two tiles so that it has
a good [seal], and bind it with an iron
and lute seal with alchemical clay it well. Let it dry—
and place it well in a glass furnace gl: ofen, so that
it becomes perfectly fixed and prompt.
Then out with this crucible-box?,
ferment it in
wild doses original: "wilder Dosen" (of the matter of Antimony).
To make it stronger, extract it in
distilled vinegar A. D. F. likely standing for Acetum Destillatum...? and draw it off again.

Thus you can see what it is worth in all
tests. Take graded Water $\nabla$.
Take Iron $\mars$, let it [be] in Water, and bring at all
times the best Copper $\venus$ into it that you
may have. However, as much as
the Antimony you put in. And in the flask
done. And write with diligence through it.
Thus an Oil Ollium comes over that
is advantageous and grades the
Salt $\ominus$, though not yet [perfectly]. So one proves it
often from its dead head Caput mortuum / the leftover dregs.
Gathering other things is dog-work original: "hündisch",
for testing is where most
of the effort lies.

The Tincture that follows
is fixed Iron $\mars$, as mentioned here.
And Iron, which you have made fixed with the Star,
do with it as the
highly learned write. And fixation
with Strong Water A. f. / Aqua Fortis / Nitric Acid of this piece,
as follows. $\checkmark$