Tyro-chymicus instructus epistola hermetica

II

That is to say, joining the volatile spirit to the fixed dry body. Both of these proceed from the same root and universal nature. This is well explained by that sincere Anonymous Gaul The Anonymous Frenchman in his unique discourse upon the Turba The Assembly of the Philosophers, which exists immediately after the assembly of the Philosophers. I advise you to read it through with a diligent eye. I also ask your Excellence to read with an attentive mind the anonymous French author in volume 6 of the Theatrum Chymicum The Chemical Theater around page 162. The title is "Instruction of a Father transmitted to his Son, concerning the Solar Tree," and so on. There, I hope, you will well recognize your error.

The moist part, therefore, is our universal mercurial spirit. It is acquired by means of our wine, as Lullius Ramon Lull says. Thus it is deservedly called aqua ardens burning water or alcohol, spirit of wine, and aqua vitae water of life. This furthermore cannot be had without the Philosophical wine, rightly fermented. And the dry, perfect body is the salt from the black tartar potassium bitartrate deposits from wine of that same wine. It is wisely extracted by means of Vulcan fire, as Paracelsus says in his Congeries of Chemistry chapter 11. It is extremely purified and reduced to the ultimate perfection. Then it is the perfect body of the Philosophers and the true ferment of the Stone, as Guido de Montanor testifies in the Preface to his Scale of the Philosophers. This Tartar is called Black blacker than black. From it, the Salt of Wisdom of the wise is wisely extracted. When it is perfectly purified, it is called gold and the perfect body, as Guido confirms in the place cited. Before its perfect purification, however, the Philosophers said it was leprous Gold and an imperfect metal. Hence, Antonio de Aba-