I ever hated Quarreling, as more agreeable to the Pevishness of Women, than the more Generous Temper of Christian Men; and have, as much as I might, alwaies declin’d it, being rather desirous to suffer injuries, to bear losses, by silence to forgo those things I might lawfully lay claim to, to undergo any thing, so that I might enjoy my beloved Peace (with which GOD has blest me hitherto). Neither have I ever, so long as I have liv’d in the World, (and I am pretty ancient) been taken, by the worst of men, for a contentious Person: But perfidious Farnner, unprovoked, urges me to this vindication of my self, by going about not only to hurt my Person, but also by a Pride no less than his Envy, to explode and defame all my Writings, and by infamous Letters dispersed abroad, to render me odious to all good men. Which wicked Enterprize, though I heard of it by many, I durst not believe, till a printed Epistle of his came to my hands, which having perused, I thought I could not enough admire his detestable Impiety, and the many scandalous names he had for me.
Art thou not ashamed Farnner, to expose my Works to the contempt of others, when thou neither dost, or ever canst understand ’em, and before now hast prais’d ’em, as may be proved from your own hand? I’m sure I never merited that you should cavil at me where-e’er you come, and proclaim my Writings unprofitable. You ought rather all your Life, in consideration of the many benefits you have receiv’d at my hands, to have behaved your self as a Man grateful to me; but instead of that, notwithstanding the Obligation that lies upon you to the contrary, you have despightfully recompensed all my kindness with the basest Ingratitude, which is directly opposite to goodness.
To what end do you deny that you had your greatest knowledge from me, and in the mean time expose it as your own, and upbraid me from whom you had it?
I never before believ’d you unfaithful, but alwaies thought you candid, and have communicated so great things to no man as to your self. I believe you will not deny your coming twice from Lochgovia to me at Kitzinga, and entreating me to communicate some Secret to you, whereby you might get a livelihood. Have you not been forced twice, being repulsed, to return home with this Excuse, That I wanted time to instruct you? And when you came the third time, I suffered my self to be perswaded, and did communicate some Secrets to you gratis, on this consideration, That you should impart those things wherewith I trusted you, to no man without my leave; which you promised by an Obligation, (viz. That you wou’d keep all things secret) under the penalty of Disgrace, and the forfeiture of all your Goods. Why hast thou falsified thy Word, and contrary to thy Promises, so wickedly ridicul’d me among all men, when with thy whole Family thou didst promise to be faithful to me? Not only Obligations, but also thine own Letters are Witnesses: Neither do I question, that if I had lost or wanted them to convince thee, thou wouldst have denied, and that with an Oath, that thou wast ever beholden to me for any thing, as thou hast already begun, and as thou in thy spightful Writings despisest all my Secrets, and proclaimest thine (which yet are mine) with praise. You doubt whether or no the reading this will make me repent that I ever trusted you with so many things, which I had never done, had not you obliged your self to labour diligently with me in my Laboratory, to produce those things for the profit of us both. But what can I do with them? They are perished and gone which yet might sufficiently have sustain’d both you and me, had not you made ’em publick.
I pray, What gain can you hope for from them, now they are every where known? Wherefore when I see those things taken from me, and by you imparted to all men, in spight of me, for your own advantage, I think fit (for I cannot hope for any farther profit from them privately) to make ’em known to the World; and by the Grace of GOD, I may live without them: But if I also should buy all thy goods which thou unjustly possessest and sellest to every man, of thee, and distribute them about the world, thou wilt see thou canst not easily recover them, or others in their room. I indeed will give you nothing for the future, neither can my unfaithful Servant, whom you have made as good as your self, give you any thing, for whatever he hath learn’d of me these two years, he has given you, which you also have laid up among your own wares and exposed to sale. Who will hereafter trust you, you have so wickedly deceiv’d me? Every man will abominate you, and shun your Partnership and Company, neither undeservedly, for the Laws of your own Obligation make this your Fate: So the merit of the Crime shall return upon the Author, and you can be more sure of nothing, than that Divine Vengeance will pursue you. I confess indeed some others, as well as you, have injur’d me, but none by so wicked an act; whom nevertheless GOD (to whom I refer’d my Cause) hath so severely punished, that each of them, by one cause or other, has brought upon himself his deserved Reward of Punishment. But I had yet farther tolerated you to exercise your Trade at your pleasure; neither had I followed you to Lochgovia, to urge your Obligation to you, but had committed Vengeance to GOD; only for that you were not content to sell those things publickly for your filthy lucre, which you had of me, and which you obliged your self to keep secret, and to take that profit to your self which was due to me, but also you have rendered me, and the things you had from me, odious; which has been so much to my disadvantage, that I can no longer bear, but am now resolved to the utmost to refute those impious and lying Calumnies, which you by your Letters have sent into the world concerning me, and to defend my self and my Works, against which you have so wickedly inveighed, that all the world may see how great your perfidiousness has been towards me, and that your Heart acted by Hellish wickedness, has raged against me with horrid Lyes, Taunts and Reproaches, contrary to all manner of Equity: You must needs know, that nothing can be more troublesome to me, than to spend that time in reproving your Lyes, which I could otherways employ to greater profit; wherefore I shall answer your trifling stories as briefly as is possible. Every wise man will easily see how frivolous your Excuse is. Do you think that any honest man will believe you, if you say you don’t owe the greatest of your Knowledge to me? No surely, for no man is ignorant of it: About two years since, you did not know how to bring a Crucible to the Fire, much less to make a trial of Brass; which you did not learn of me, but my unfaithful Servant taught it you, whom you for that cause esteem; yet seeing you know so much, how lawfully may I complain of him, what a Rascal he has been to me, and that you for that very reason have taken him to your self, that you may fish from him whatever he had learned in those two years he served me; although he did not shun you, because he was unwilling to communicate those things he had learn’d of me to any man else.
And so you make your self Master of my Secrets, and Covenant with him to undo me and mine: Is this the part of a good man? You do not only expose those things you had of me, but those also which my perfidious Servant has since given you, to be sold at a price, when you have no right to sell another mans goods, to which you have no title. We’ll come to the point and expose all your wickedness, as well your impious speeches, as perfidious actions, to the view of the world: But first of all, I will lay before you the obligations you gave me, as most sure pledges of your truth, that by the review of them, you may judge your self how honest you have been, and how faithfully you have kept your promises; and every man shall thence see, (especially those among whom you have so wickedly ridicul’d me) with what base ingratitude you have recompensed all my Favours.
Forasmuch as the most excellent and learned Mr. John Rudolph Glauber, moved by a singular affection towards me, has communicated, shewen and demonstrated to me undernamed, some of those secrets whereof he is Master, and hath enjoined me to silence; I therefore bind my self, and promise upon my Credit and Reputation, and call God and my christian profession to witness, that I will divulge none of those things to any man living: but if it be so (which God forbid) that I do at any time communicate any of those things to any man, then I shall most willingly renounce all my right in those Goods, movables or immovables, which I shall possess, and give him absolute power to take them to himself, and convert them to his own use and advantage: and not that only, but I give him farther power to proclaim me perfidious and wicked, to defame me and make me abominable to all men, for which reason, the laws of Silence shall be observed by me most strictly. Nay farther, in consideration of the many benefits he has bestowed on me, I give up my self, my beloved wife, and my children to serve him in all things lawful and honest, to go when and where he pleases, and to ease his labours; and if he dye first, (which God avert) to be alike serviceable to his whole Family, which care he also has promis’d to me and mine: I promise then, (if my Fates grant me life) that I will be to my utmost, serviceable to him so long as he lives: In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and seal. Given at Kitzinga, the 15th day of June, 1652.
Testis, Spirensis Canonicatus Quæstor, Lochgoviæ & Horrhemi. Christopherus Farnnerus.
I Christopher Farnner, for the time being Canonicate Quæstor of Spire, Lochgovia and Horrheme, in the Dukedom of Wirtemberg, to all by whom these presents shall be read, make known, that the most excellent and learned Mr. John Rudolph Glauber for little or no reward, has communicated some of his secrets to me, and with me made a covenant after this manner, That I must oblige my self for what he hath already done, or hereafter shall do for me, to be all my life thankful, not only to him, but to his Children also. But for as much as ’tis most certain, this life will have an end, but we know not the time when, the first Obligation is not full and clear enough, and for that cause I bind my self and promise, (so help me God) and swear by the King of Heaven who always bears witness to the Truth; and farther, upon my Credit and Reputation, for the preservation whereof every Christian man should be induc’d to keep his promise, if (which that God would in mercy avert, I shall not cease to put up my daily Prayers) the above named Mr. Glauber and his beloved wife shall die, and leave their Children unmarried, I do oblige my self by this most solemn Oath, to observe faithfully, and as a Christian man ought, these following things: viz. I will forthwith take his Children to an inheritance with mine, and to my utmost skill, instruct them in the secrets of their dead Father, and shew them all things requisite and necessary, as fully as to my own Children; and that after this manner, That what ever of their Parents heritage belongs to them, they shall wholly possess, and they shall lawfully demand it as their proper due; and if any thing goes from him, I will redeem it, so that my Children shall lay no claim to it: on the contrary, (for those secrets communicated to me, which hereafter may redound to my profit) I make the aforesaid Mr. Glauber’s Children Heirs with mine, that they may be admitted equally to my Estate, and alike enjoy the Goods of me living: But if I Farnner, contrary to my expectation, shall depart this World before Mr. Glauber, he is bound to instruct my Children in his Art, according as they are qualifyed, only so far, as that thereby they may get their living, and that they may not be burdensome to him. He may at his pleasure instruct him that he shall esteem most fit in some secret, with which he shall afterwards teach his Brethren to get themselves maintenance. And for the same cause, I call my little Son Alexander, and surrender him to Mr. Glauber and his service, so that he may keep him as long as he shall be willing, and it shall not be in my power to take him from him according to the agreement we have both made with him: all which things are restrain’d to this on either side, That if the Parents of either part die before their Children are provided for, which God forbid, and our Children shall be free by the early death of their Parents, then each shall to his utmost, provide for his own Children.
That all these things may be observed the more firmly, I affix my Seal and name, and by my own hand writing, oblige my self so, that if at any time I falsify my word, my Children may be call’d to witness my perjury. Given at Kitzinga the 10th of September, in the year 1652.Christopher Farnner.
NB. I did not require this obligation of Farnner, neither wou’d I have taken it, but admonish’d him to be true to the first, with which I was content; for he gave me this for no other reason, but to get more out of me: But, because I had found out his cheats, and he wou’d not be advis’d for his own profit, he at last makes mention of this new obligation, in a certain epistle of his, thinking thereby I was oblig’d to a farther communication of my Art to him, tho I have often told him, that I valu’d not this last obligation but wou’d give it him again: But when he refus’d to take it, I cancell’d it, and kept it by me, for this reason, that it might be seen how he had bound himself by this new Obligation, which certainly he wou’d never have done, without very good cause.
Therefore I faithfully assure you, that I will shortly leave my House, and take a Journey farther off, to provide for my Family; my Wife too is very willing to go with me, and to be interested in our agreements, but I can’t see what shou’d oblige her to it, when it can’t be effected very commodiously: Yet I resolve, if nothing extraordinary hinder me, after eight daies, that is, on the ¹⁴⁄₄th. day of April, to depart hence, and then answer your most friendly Letters, together with my beloved Wife, and all my Family, to take part with you in all your Labours, and help you with the greatest diligence. But because I intend to be so suddenly with you, I shall write no more at this time.March 26th. 1653.
I hope you will excuse me, that I did not come to you, because hindered by my Wife’s faultiness, who telling me she wou’d come with me, privily laid Obstacles in my way; this offence wou’d not destroy a Knave: Wherefore I again intreat you not to cast me off, but continue your wonted favour to me; and I shall endeavour in my place to give you ample satisfaction; neither shall any thing hinder my speedy performance of what I have promised.
Forasmuch therefore as I have by the wicked deceit of my Wife, broken the many Promises I made of coming to you, unless I wou’d have taken her wicked Amasius or galant, as Companion in the Journey; it has at length pleased God to take her away, and so put me in a capacity, Worthy Sir, of serving you without the least impediment, wherefore I give my self wholly to your Commands: And altho’ I have been perswaded by Persons of principal Authority to marry again, I will not, but commit my self to be manag’d by your Counsel, as you were my Father. Therefore, since we are parted, if my Fates grant me Life and Prosperity, I will come to you, and commit my self to your guidance and protection, Worthy Patron; for which reason I shall forbear to write any thing at this time of your Laboratory, more than what I see in your Letters, that all things may proceed the more regularly. Wherefore, though I have been solicited by many, yet shall reject all as much as I may commodiously, in hopes of this, that when I have first gotten your consent, I may communicate my labour to some, whereby I may get a good Sum of Money: But these things shall be deferred till our happy meeting.
That he was confident he could find out all my Art by my Writings, except that the Vessels do not alwaies abide the Fire, and that the Apothecaries refused to buy his Medicines, unless he would teach them the way to prepare ’em: Again, he would give me Fifty R. Dollers for each month, for my part, as may be shewn from himself; these are his words: And if he was not oblig’d to me, why would he give me Fifty R. Dollers each Month?
From all which (and much more I might add, which for brevities sake I omit) it evidently appears, that Farnner was obliged to me, which he would never have been, had not he receiv’d some benefit from me, which render’d him bound to me: But if he is oblig’d to me, why was he so wicked, as in his lying Epistles so malapertly to despise, and disparage me and my Secrets, which he had from me? Hence then every man may perceive what they ought to judge of him, that he has both behav’d himself most perfidiously wicked toward me, and also, that he has sufficiently declar’d himself the most ungrateful in the World.
But that no man may suspect that I wrest any word of Farnner’s, in his obligations given to me, to his disadvantage, or my own ends, I have taken care to have his own hand-writing view’d by Notaries and Witnesses, who will attest, that what I have printed is word for word the same with what I have in writing under his own hand.
A Specification of those Chymical Secrets which Farnner learn’d of Glauber, and in the trial found true, and of those which yet are found and brought to trial; where it must be known, that those, of which there is no mention made here, if Glauber should relate them, they would not answer his expectation in Practice, according to his information: Also the Charge which he must be at who will make trial of those Secrets after a right manner, is here added.
About which these things are to be considered: It is made chiefly of Antimony; to which, according to his common way, Sulphur is added; which done, another Separation is made, in which, from a whole pound of Sulphur and Antimony, no man shall receive more than three ounces of the purest Sulphur. There are indeed two other Subjects, which produce a golden Sulphur better than Antimony; but I have found a way to extract a thick and pure Sulphur from all sorts of Metals (except Luna and Sol) and Minerals, and after Glauber’s manner to make Tinctures. All these Secrets annexed will be taught for the price named.
2. To reduce Minerals and Metals into Dross, after Glauber’s way, to reduce them to nothing, and then without Charge to bring them to their own Species again, or to turn them into fluid Oil, or Powder, or Tinctures; which things bear an affinity to those above: For Twenty R. Dollers.
3. Glauber’s Alkahest, and a way to prepare it, perhaps unknown to Glauber, and built upon a more firm foundation; Fifty R. Dollers.
4. The Trial of all sorts of Brass, but not of every sort at once, for every one must have a particular Practice.
5. To make store of Flowers of Coral for a little Cost; ten R. Dollers.
6. To make melted Tin hard, that it shall shine and sound like [Silver]; Ten R. Dollers.
7. To make white Vitrifications upon Vessels; for Ten R. Dollers.
8. Plenty of Spirit of Salt.
This is not prepar’d after Glauber’s way, and though Glauber was so great a Lyer as to affirm, that in a clear Fire fifty pound of this Spirit might be prepared in one day, yet he cannot produce above one or two pound: Wherefore my invention is much better, and my Spirit is pure, but Glauber’s has Vitriol mix’d in it.
And though I gave Glauber a great Sum of Money to communicate these Secrets to me, yet I have not found any of them true, according to his Information, but was fain, with great industry to seek other waies of working those abovenamed.
And for those that follow, though they may seem to be derived to me from Glauber, yet they have not succeeded by his Information, but I was forced to go another way to work, which will hardly be found by Glauber.
9. To prepare good store of the Spirits of Vitriol, Nitre, Salt, Aqua fortis, Aqua Regis, also Sulphur, after a manner not yet known, and which will scarce be known to Glauber; forty R. Dollers.
10. To produce plenty of volatile Mineral Spirits, which Spirits ascend the Still before the Phlegm; but the abovenamed after the Phlegm.
NB. These Spirits have the same taste that Spirit of Wine hath, and evaporate like it, and are void of corroding: neither do I doubt, but I can produce such Spirits from Metals also, though in metallicks I have made no trial yet.
11. Flowers of Minerals and Metals, almost without diminution, compendiously under a refrigeratory cover, which Glauber never saw; Ten R. Dollers.
12. The Quintessence of all Vegetables: Although Glauber, in his Tract, promised to bring that also to light, yet he never performed it from all Vegetables, but only from hot, which give Oil, which is of no moment; but that from cold, to wit, Herbs, is artificial. Thirty R. Dollers.
13. To give new strength to dead and eager Wines, and make them as good as ever, or better; Two Hundred R. Dollers.
NB. Note here, That I very much run against Glauber’s Tract of Vinary Secrets; and if my own Industry had not taught me more than that, I might indeed, according to his instruction, encrease the strength of Wine, but with an ingrateful relish, so as I could never hope to try eager Wines according to Art. But now I cannot only bring to maturity all sorts of Liquors from both sweet and sowre Grapes, and other sorts of Fruits; and give them new strength in the Hogshead, but also render them pallatable to all men. Whoever hath tasted Glauber’s Wines, and shall afterwards taste mine, will easily discern a difference.
14. To give any Wines what relish I please.
15. To prepare a burning Spirit of all sorts of Bread-Corn in abundance, with great ease and profit, very much like that which is made of the Dreggs of Wine, and sustaining all Trials: There are already eight pounds of it in trial, whether they will bear a Voyage by Sea, or not; they are sent beyond Sea, which if they will undergo; Two hundred R. Dollers.
NB. Further, I knew how to reduce all burning Spirits into one form; as, the Spirit of Juniper, or Bread-Corn, like to Brandy, or to make spirit of Wine like spirit of Bread-Corn or Juniper, so that it shall not be discerned of what subject ’tis made.
Neither do I doubt, but that I know also how it comes to pass, that some Liquors carry’d beyond Sea, are corrupted: Which therefore, if by the benefit of this trial, the Certainty is made known to me, a good reason, and after what manner it may be help’d, may be learn’d of me for a trifle.
16. To encrease the strength of all sorts of Beer, that they shall have equal Virtue with Rhenish-Wine, and yet the Beer lose nothing of its relish, but be both more pleasant and durable; for when thus order’d, it will not so soon sowre; but if it be decay’d, which will happen to Wine in time, the Vinegar which will arise from it, will be as good as Wine Vinegar: fifty R. Dollers.
17. To give sowre Beer its natural sweetness, and in fourteen days to make it sell for fresh; and so, though turn’d three or four times, to make it sweet in fourteen daies time without fail.
18. To produce Vinegar of Bread-Corn, and such other things, very like Wine-Vinegar in all things without fail; fifty R. Dollers.
19. To prepare Vinegar of green woods, an Hundred measures daily, together with Oil of Wood, without Charge; but if any man will have this like other Vinegar, it requires rectifying, which will ask some time and cost: Ten R. Dollers.
20. Although Glauber delivered in a little Tract, a way to make Tartar of the burnt Lees of Wine, yet I have alwaies committed many Errours, by following his very Oral instructions, till bethinking my self, I at last made it with fruit, and plainly reduced it to Crystals.
NB. Whoever will follow the Directions of that Tract, may.
21. To separate every Oar of Copper with profit, and from thence to produce Gain.
22. Of that sort of Copper Oar, if by chance they have any ☽ from thence, to separate it with fruit, without loss of the Copper and Lead.
23. To separate Lead from Tests and Cupels, for small Cost, and as little Labour.
24. To separate Gold and Silver by melting.
25. To build a Furnace, in which one may both torrifie, melt, and try Metals in the Probations of Cineritium; containing the small Trials of an hundred Crucibles, or more, only heat with Wood.
26. Further, a Furnace, in which, without Bellows, one may try a good quantity by the Probations of Cineritium.
And Lastly, Forasmuch as the lesser Trials have deceived me, if I went to work on a greater quantity, I will teach wherein my chief skill consists.
1. In the lesser trial I have found, that with the Spirit of Wine, as ’tis generally prepar’d, I can make an Anatomy of all Vegetable, Animal, Mineral, and Metallick Subjects, separate their three Principles, make the volatile fix’d, and the fix’d volatile, and force ’em through a Limbeck.
2. To force the Anima and Salt of Gold through the Limbeck, and to reduce it, well mix’d with its Spirit and volatile Salt, into a potable body like Vegetable Essences.
But because Gold may be reduced into such a sort of Essence, it will not be very hard to render the imperfect Metals and Minerals, with their Three Principles, potable: and these Principles are inseparable in their volatility; wherefore I doubt not but they may be fix’d.
3. Furthermore, I have found by small trials the way of taking all Corrosion from all Corrosive Spirits, by this general Spirit, and of reducing them (by the help of Divine Providence) into sweet Oils or Menstruums; which if it answer the desire in large quantities, (and I don’t doubt it) Glauber with his Alkahest, which indeed is not wholly to be despis’d, must be forc’d to hide: for I have hopes, that by the assistance of Divine Providence, whatsoever subject I shall propose to my self, I can separate and purge its three Principles; lastly, join them, and so produce a better subject and more pure: But ’tis true, seeing I was so often deceived in the lesser trial, I did not interpret it as Truth, but Speculation. However, I can effect very well whatever I have here said, as well in the great as lesser.
4. But forasmuch as so many excellent, as well as new, Secrets, offer themselves, that I can’t chuse but clearly know them, and therefore ’tis impossible that I should make all those Secrets abovenamed profitable to my self: And although I am now about many things, that hereafter a great quantity of them may be expos’d by me to be sold in pounds and hundreds; yet I shall not be so envious to refuse a Communication of them to any man for the named Reward; nor keep from him any knowledge I can give him.
Yet he must know, that it is very troublesome to instruct any man that is altogether ignorant and void of skill in Chymistry; Therefore whoever will learn any of these things of me, let him either come to me, or signifie his wind by his Letters, thus: To Christopher Farnner, Canonicate Quæstor of Spire, &c.
These are the words of the perfidious Farnner, which he hath used in his most false and wicked Writing.
This, good Reader, is the Beginning or Preface of that Lying Writing, in which he hath exposed to Sale those Secrets he had of me, and found good: Besides, he adds, That those Secrets which he had of me, which do not succeed according to his desire, are not added; but those only whose Truth he has found in the trial.
Now we’ll open this Pedler’s-Stall, and look through all its parts, to see what is in it.
Here Farnner saies my Panacea, for the greatest part, is prepared of Antimony; besides, there are yet two other subjects, from which a purer Sulphur may be extracted, than that which is drawn from Antimony: Which vain fancies he may vend, or what else he will, I can’t hinder him, seeing I have taught him to extract nothing but a pure Medicinal Sulphur from Antimony, by the benefit of a singular Liquor, which I call Alkahest. He adds also, That he can extract the same Sulphur from all sorts of Metals and Minerals (except ☉ and ☽) and after Glauber’s way convert them into Tinctures.
I declare against this his first Position: Farnner here saith, That Panacea may be prepared from Antimony for the most part, and promises to communicate it to any man that desires it, for a certain price, to wit, thirty R. Dollers. But thou hast seen, gentle Reader, how strongly he bound himself, by his Obligation given to me, to keep secret those things I had taught him, and communicate them to no man, under the Penalty of Disgrace, and the forfeiture of all his Goods. I confess indeed, being cajol’d by his frequent solicitations, I taught him the way of preparing the Panacea, but from no subject but Antimony. This Panacea of Antimony Farnner exposes to sale, for thirty R. Dollers; and moreover has taught that Preparation to many, from whence great profit hath redounded to him; when yet this was not lawful for him to do: But he shall be forced e’re long to give his Reasons for so doing, and I will one day see if I can have a remedy for this evil. I will now only shew how wicked he has been to me: Wherefore I am compelled to expose those secrets he had of me and every where makes common, to the view of the whole World, that no man shall need to give Money to Farnner for ’em, or any other reward, but may come to the knowledge of them for nothing: for if that knowledge is divulg’d by Farnner, who unjustly, by the publication of it, endeavours to heap up to himself Fame and Riches, I may well communicate them to all men faithfully, that every man may save his money: But because this Panacea is prepared by the benefit of a hot and Saline Liquor, which I call Alkahest, therefore ’tis necessary that he who desires this Panacea should first know the Preparation of the Liquor it self, without which he can effect nothing. Indeed it grieves me, and I am very hardly brought to discover and divulge to the World so excellent a Menstruum, by which so many rare Medicaments may be prepared; and I had never done it, had not this perfidious Farnner chang’d and adulterated it and its use in the Preparation of the abovenamed Panacea of Antimony and others, from Minerals, Animals, and Vegetables, and by prostituting and communicating it to all men. I think him, indeed, a Boar out of the Forest, broke into my Garden of Flowers, that has with his snout routed up all the many Fruits, which with much sweat and labour I have planted; but the deed will once be rewarded.
Now follows a very short Description of the Preparation and use of that Liquor, needfully requisite in Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral Medicaments: And though I might teach another and far better way of preparing it, yet there’s no necessity for throwing all my Pearls before Swine: It is sufficient, to my sorrow, that I cannot recal those which this unfaithful Farnner has sent abroad, and am forc’d to behold their destruction with the greatest trouble.
Of this Menstruum the Modern Philosopher Helmont makes mention in some places of his Writings, and attributes wonderful Effects to it, which he exhibits in the Preparation of Medicaments, and gives it the name Alkahest; which name Paracelsus also remembers; but in few words, it is the same as if we should say Alkali est; for when the Letters l and i are joyn’d with a dash, it produces the word Alkahest. But what moved Helmont to call it Alkahest, we shall not here dispute: I indeed believe he did it, thereby to demonstrate its Nature and Essence; for in German Alkahest is as Al gar heis, or Al zu hees; but in the Brabantick Idiotism, which was the Mother Tongue of the Author, it sounds Althohees, that is, very hot, and so the name answers to the Essence; for this Liquor is nothing but a meer fiery Water, by whose immense and Secret heat Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, if they are put into it a certain time, are forthwith purged, ripened, and made better, so that they become excellent and wholesome Medicaments, which without this fiery water cou’d not be done. This Menstruum then, is nothing but an igneous Liquor, prepared of urinous Salts, which is endowed with those Virtues which are attributed to it in my Treatise of Flints.
Here it is to be noted, that this Menstruum may be prepar’d of more than one Subject; for Nature is Copious, and sets before our eyes many various Ingredients, from which, by the help of Art, divers things may be effected; as may be evidenc’d in this admirable Liquor, which may be made not only of the common Sal terræ, or Salt Peter, but also of the fix’d Salt of all Vegetables, and especially of Tartar; ’tis no matter of what Subject it is prepared, for it has still the Same Virtues that are ascribed to it, forasmuch as, if a right Preparation be made, the common Sal terræ and the fix’d Salt of Vegetables are of one and the same Nature and Essence: For the genuine Sal terræ, or Salt-Petre, may be made of Salt of Tartar; and of Sal terræ, or Nitre, a fixed Salt, like Salt of Tartar; of Spirit of Wine, Salt of Tartar; and of Salt of Tartar spirit of Wine: of Wine-Vinegar, Nitre; and of Nitre, corrosive Vinegar. So those Salts partake of either nature, and will be manag’d at pleasure; neither are they undeservedly by the ancient Philosophers, called Hermaphroditick Salts. Wherefore it is not for any one to be offended at its base original, and accordingly undervalue it; ’tis no matter wherein the good consists, ’tis sufficient to say it is good, and may be converted to good uses: Good things ought to be so much the more esteem’d, by how much the more mean and base their original may have been, for Nature and true Art use both base and abject things in their Works, and nevertheless, their desires are accomplished: But on the contrary, the vain reason of Man in his labour aims at nothing but Sublimity and specious Notions, and therefore brings nothing to a good end, but destitute of a happy success, finishes his fruitless labours with great damage.
To conclude then, take this advice; Be not offended at this wonderful Liquor, because of its mean original, but let the Work praise the Work-man.
If any man will prepare this Menstruum of Salt-Petre, he must extract and coagulate that Salt from the earth with common water, and adding coals or some other vegetable Sulphur, fix or calcine it so long, till it be resolv’d in the Air into a fiery liquor, then the preparation is finished. But because that sort of earth, from which this salt is extracted, cannot be found every where, in its stead, you may take Nitre well cleans’d, which must be melted in a Crucible, upon which you must cast a small quantity of coals and that so long, till the coals upon the flowing Nitre will take fire no more, but remain dead upon it, for then your Nitre is fix’d and prepar’d, so as from it, this so admirable water may be made, which is made after this manner; While the fix’d Nitre flows yet in the Crucibele, pour it into a brass mortar that in that it may cool, then beat it to powder, and spread it on a Glass table plac’d in the Cellar, or some other moist place, that there it may flow; so you have that fiery water which is endowed with so many wonderful virtues in the preparation of medicaments of vegetables, Animals and Minerals, of which I made mention before. But if you wou’d make such a liquor of Tartar, which will be best for preparation of Medicaments of vegetables and Animals, then you must bring common Tartar made pure by Calcination, Filtration, Solution and Coagulation, and by flints purg’d from all impurity, into a fair and bright Salt, mixing six or eight parts of the purest Tartar with one part of flints well pulverated, which mixture you must melt in a cover’d Crucible, and pour it into a brass Mortar to cool: This bright and white fiery mass you must reduce into powder and put it into a Glass body, and pouring rain water thereon, boil it upon hot Ashes, for then the rain water will dissolve the Tartar only, and leave the Flints at the bottom, like a Mucilaginous matter which draws to it self all the impurity of the Tartar, which before, by the common solution and filtration cou’d not be taken away, and so keeps it, that the Salt of Tartar, is by this means freed and purg’d from all impurity: then you must filtrate this solution, and draw the water from it by a limbeck, that so that Chrystalline fiery liquor may remain in the Glass: And this is that preparation by which vegetables and animals are reduced into the best medicaments; but to prepare metallick Medicaments, and especially for the making them better, liquor of Tartar is not to be added, but only liquor of the Salt of fix’d Nitre, which is not prepared by coals, but by the Regulus of Antimony, and that after this manner;
Put three parts of clean and pulverated Nitre to one part of Regulus Martis, put this mixture into a Glass wash’d clean, and by a prudent increase of fire, make it boil a little in a Fixatory Furnace, and in this degree of fire, leave it five or six hours, then take it out that it may cool, then very finely pulverize it, and pour upon it rain water, and the Nitre, which by the Regulus of Antimony comes out fix’d, wash out; and lastly abstract the water, so you will produce a fiery liquor fit for use in metallick operations.
NB. This fixation may be as well made in cover’d Crucibles, as in Glasses, and is good enough, only the management of the fire must be observed, neither let the heat from the begining be too intense, least your Nitre evaporate before it be brought to a fixation, but keep a gentle fire, and it will effect the fixation in conjunction with the Antimony.
Take an herb, root, or seed, beat it very small in a stone Mortar, then put it into a glass, and pour upon it so much of this fiery Menstruum, as that the herb may be sufficiently imbrued in it, afterwards set it upon sand some days, or boil it, that of the herb and Menstruum may be made a thick liquor, which done put to it as much spirit of Wine, well dephlegmated, as there was of Alkahestick Liquor, and well mix them, in a small heat, lest the spirit of Wine evaporate; so long digest it, till the separation shall be made, and your Alkahest, with the fæces, will go to the bottom, but the spirit of Wine, with the Essence and Virtue of the Herb, will stay at the top, which afterward, though never so much stirr’d, will not mix, but each remains still in his own place: pour all that whole matter into a wide-mouth’d Glass, and there let it settle; then separate the Medicine which the spirit of Wine has extracted from the Herb, with a gentle inclination from the Alkahestick Liquor, which retains with it self the fæces of the Herb, so you will have the Virtue and Essence well corrected and perfectly ripen’d in the spirit of Wine, which abstract from the Essence of the herb in a Bath, and the Medicine which remains like a red juice, and endowed with great Virtues, keep and use it as it is ordain’d by God and Nature. But the Alkahestick Liquor, mixed with the fæces of the Herb, Calcine in an earthen Vessel, that all the relish and scent of the Herb, which remains in it, may be exhal’d from it, and afterwards dissolve it in Water, and filtrate it, and draw it to a fiery Liquor, so it will be as good as it was before, and you may put it to the same uses as often as you please.
Animals are to be bruised after the same manner in a Stone Mortar, and with the Alkahestick Liquor digested, and by spirit of Wine separated, and in Vegetables the labour is the same.
But Metals in their proper Corrosive Menstruums must be dissolv’d precipitated, wash’d, edulcorat’d, exsiccated, and then lastly with the Alkahestick liquor poured on, digested, dissolved, and with spirit of wine separated and reduc’d into a potability.
But Minerals which may be pulveriz’d need not be dissolv’d and brought to a calx, but ’tis sufficient, that after pulverisation with the Alkahestick liquor poured on, they be digested, and by spirit of wine separated.
Nevertheless, you may also at your pleasure render metals brittle and frangible, viz. By the help of the Regulus of Antimony, so that they may be pulveriz’d, then pouring your Menstruum upon them, dissolve, digest and convert them into Medicine: Which method is certainly good; You may also proceed another way with metals prepar’d by Antimony, viz. Mix them with three parts of pure Nitre, and in a Glass or earthen vessel, by the dry way dissolve, digest, fix, and by spirit of wine prepare into Medicine, which also will be good, for it is more profitable to operate by the dry than by the moist way, as it is customary to be done in vegetables and Animals.
And this is the shortest method of reducing Animals, Vegetables and Minerals by the Alkahestick liquor to the best Medicaments.
But how imperfect metals or Minerals, which otherwise in a Cupel or Cineritium trial, leave no gold or silver behind them, are to be brought to maturity and fix’d, that afterwards in the Cineritious trial, they may give a perfect gold and silver is done another way, whose process is this:
Mingle and melt so much (Regulus) of Antimony with the imperfect metals or minerals as may render them friable, that they may be pulveriz’d, with these mix three parts of the purest Nitre, and this mixture close stopt up, put upon a fire in glass or earthen vessels to fix for some hours, afterwards take it off, and as they are melted pour them out, that they may give the regulus which is to be taken away, and with lead put into a Cupel and reduc’d to dross, then that gold and silver which the imperfect metal or Mineral got in the fixation, stays in the Cupel which may be examined by the lesser weights of probation, whence it will appear how great a fixation so little time will produce.
This is the plenary and fundamental instruction of the use of Tartar purg’d by flints, to extract the essence of vegetables and animals and of Nitre fix’d by coals and Regulus of Antimony, which begets a penetrating, correcting, bettering or ripening and purifying fiery, but not corrosive, virtue, which goes beyond all things, penetrates and corrects as above written, I have attributed to it. But least the ignorant of natural things should esteem and proclaim this a corrosive liquor, we will prevent them, and shall endeavour to demonstrate, that this liquor is no way a corrosive, but an enemy to and destroyer of all corrosives.
Like loves its like, with it is mingl’d, and immutably stays with it, as may be seen in spirit of Salt, Vitriol, Alum, Nitre, Vinegar and other corrosive spirits when they are mixed. But unlike things if they are join’d, are contrary to themselves, and fight against each other, and forcibly withstand one another so long, till the strong o’er comes the weak and kills and destroys it or produceth another substance from it: that may be seen if this fiery liquor of Tartar or Nitre be mix’d with a corrosive Spirit, for it can not consist with it, because contrary to it, then which of these is the stronger, destroys the weaker and takes its nature to it self.
And this difference arises from the unlikeness of the nature of either liquor, for one corrosive does not destroy another, as also one fix’d urinous liquor does not destroy another urinous liquor; because one contrary fights against another contrary, but not against his like, so ’tis true, as hence may be fully demonstrated, that this fix’d liquor of Tartar or Nitre is not corrosive, but only a fiery water and a perpetual enemy to all corrosives, and both kills and takes away their corrosive faculty from them. But some will say that the corrosive Spirits of Salt, Alum, Nitre, Vitriol and such like are fiery waters: I confess it, but yet with this distinction, those Spirits are indeed hot waters, but not vivifying, but rather cold and killing fiery waters, which no way ripen, purge or correct Vegetables, Animals and Metals, but destroy and kill all things they are mix’d with. But the fix’d liquor of Nitre or Tartar is contrary, and ripens, purifies and brings to perfection all it is mix’d with, which is impossible to all corrosives, whence it is as clear as the Sun, that it is no destroying corrosive, but a correcting fire.
Now follows another Clause of Farnner’s Epistle.
I much wonder that Farnner was not afraid to offer this process to others at a price, which is plainly and clearly described in many places of my Books: and is done only by Nitre, by which sulphurous metals (but not all metals and minerals, as he vainly boasteth) are reduc’d to dross, from which by spirit of wine, a metallick tincture may be extracted, as we have shewn above in the tract of the Alkahest: that dross is truly fiery, and therefore easily attracts air, and is turn’d into oil, of which I have largely treated in the second and fourth parts of (Furn.) and in the mineral work especially in the explication of the wonder of the world, as also in my Hermetic Colloquies.
In this Paragraph Farnner openly betrays his vanity, bragging, and hellish calumny, in reprehending the industry and labour of good men, and boasteth of a more firm foundation than perhaps I know of; whence it will appear to any man of Understanding, what this most ungrateful of men would be at, namely, which is the only thing he can do, he would do what he could to bring those Secrets I intrusted him with into contempt with all men, and introduce his own foolish trifles.
First, he saies, Glauber’s Alkahest, and presently subjoins another and better foundation or way of preparing it: which if he points at any thing but my Alkahest, why then does not he forbear mentioning and contemning my Alkahest? for he does contemn it, and endeavours to prove, that that way or fundamental is unknown to me. Now he exposes it to sale at fifty R. Dollers.
’Tis true, Farnner did not mention this as a vendible, for it is not worth purchasing with Money of him: for the common way of trying money has been shewn not only by many provers of Metals, as Lazarus Ercher, George Agricola, and many others, but I my self also in many places of my Writings, and especially in my explication of the Wonder of the World, have fully and exactly taught it, which Farnner can never be able to mend nor imitate.
You must know what belongs to this Process that Farnner did not learn this Preparation of me, but of another man, which pleases him extreamly, though ’tis of no moment. But he most unworthily calls them Coral Flowers, which he exposes to sale at ten R. Dollers, seeing they are not Flowers, but rather to be called a Cremor; for when in a very hot fire they are reduced into a white Calx, from this Calx, by the help of Water, is drawn a Cream after this manner: The calcin’d Corals are put into common Water, and left in the Water a whole night, then in the top will appear a little skin, as is usual in Calx viva, which must be taken off to dry. Lastly, while that is doing, another little skin appears, which is also to be taken off, and that so often, till the Water will give no more.
I know also, that this Powder is held up by some Apothecaries as a certain singular Secret, (but that indeed exceedeth it) which is prepar’d of Calx viva, which I have also shewn to some that have attributed great things to this Powder, who, the Experiment being made, seeing me produce true things, What need is there, said they, to burn precious Corals, when common Chalk (or Calx viva) will give the same thing as Corals, and they prepar’d no more Powder of Corals, but of Calx viva.
Therefore this does not deserve to be called a Secret.
NB. That Corals, Pearls, Pearl-shells, and Tortoise-shells, as well those that are in the Sea, as those that are in Running Rivers, if they are burnt together, are brought into a true and natural Lime, like that which is made of burnt Stones, needs no probation. He that will not believe me, let him go to Holland, and other Sea-Ports, and he shall see that the men of those Countries do not use Lime made of Stones, which are wanting in those places to build Walls, but that which is made of burnt Shells, which the Sea in great abundance casts upon the shore; which yet, is not so good as that which is made of Stones, which some Lovers of Curiosity have also brought them from Germany.
And this Paragraph, by right, ought to have been omitted, for it is not worth Ten R. Dollers, requiring no Art in the making it; and I my self taught it many years since, as well in the First part of the Mineral Work, as in the Fourth part of my Furnaces; and it is made by Regulus of Antimony, of which one part is mix’d with 12 parts of melted Tin, and no more, for otherwise the Tin would be made brittle, and rendered unuseful; rather if one part of Regulus is mingled with twenty parts of melted Tin, it will come out hard enough. And farther, it may as well and rightly be made of Zink, as by Regulus of Antimony, and needing no great matter of Labour, melts sooner than Regulus of Antimony.
These Vitrifications also, which he exposes to sale at Ten R. Dollers, are of no moment, for they are prepar’d of Glass of Lead, Tin-Ashes, and Flints, and Wood-ashes.
In Holland this Preparation is very common: whether Farnner is excellent at it or no, I much doubt; How then shall he teach others? And if he does excel, who will be the better for it? For no man studies these Curiosities, or so much as looks after them, or covets them.
But although Glauber, &c.
Here Farnner again vomits at me a mighty heap of his infernal Lyes, which are as noisome as any dead Carcass, as if he intended to infect me with their venom; but these stories do not at all agree with his other; for here he saies, Although he had with a great Sum of Money purchased certain Secrets of Glauber, yet he had made no Examen of them, but he was forc’d to convert them to other uses. In the beginning of his Calumnious Paper, he thus writes: A Specification of those Chemical Secrets which the under-written Farnner learn’d of Glauber, and in the Trial found True.
Here any impartial man may see what to judge of this double:Tongu’d Monster. Here he denies what before he confess’d; he both calls them Glauber’s Secrets, and here affirms, that they never succeeded to his purpose: which if true, Why does he prefix my Name to them, if he never made trial of them? But if they have succeeded, and in the trial he has found ’em true, as he above confesses, Why does he here deny it? Can the same thing be True in one place, and False in another? Certainly I can refute such horrid Lyes no way better than by his own words. For if I should say, See here, there, or in that place thou lyest, he would not care, but answer, He did not lye at all, but spake the truth; and I might represent a Contest between two scolding Women, one whereof calling the other Whore, and the other throwing back upon her the same things; but this will do nothing; wherefore I shall take another method.
In the first Obligation he gave me, he expresly saies, That I had communicated, demonstrated, and shewn him some Secrets: But if they were not for his use, why did he give me a valid Obligation, to keep those secrets from the publick? Not bent to these things, Why did he in all his Letters (which he sent me, and which are kept safe to confirm what I say) confess, and profess, that he, his Wife and Children, were bound to me, and that he wou’d come to me, that with his he might serve me all my Life.
If none of my secrets have succeeded to him, Why did he give me long since a new Obligation to be grateful to me? as I have demonstrated from his obligations and extracts out of his Epistles.
NB. What! Cou’d he not make trial of those things he had of me, in eighteen Months time? But if the trial has prov’d the truth of those things, and he has bound himself to me by a new Obligation; Why then does he dare to say, That none of those things which I communicated to him, prov’d successful? Why two years after? Now he is alienated from me, and having broken his Promises of coming to me, and working with me in my Laboratory, (being married again) is an Excuse for his absenting himself, yet he asks me to communicate to him more secrets, and then he’ll come. NB. But if the first secrets have not stood the Test, why does he desire more of me?
For he might know over and over in two years time, whether my Writings wou’d conduce to him or not.
In one Epistle, in which he boasts of killing a man, he writes thus: Wherefore I again and again intreat you not to cast me off, but do to me according to your wonted Favour. I will on all occasions, as I have promised, in my place, satisfie you; neither will I cause that any thing should therein be desir’d; for which reason also I will effect it both better and sooner.
From these and the like words, which in two Epistles he us’d to me, I could collect nothing of Fraud, and perhaps at that time he meant none. But when he had kill’d that Man, and married another Wife, all his Promises and Obligations were to no purpose. And from that very time, all his endeavours have tended only to do me what hurt he could, and he daily hates me more and more; which at last appears more publick in these his lying Calumnies.
Indeed, I am apt to think the Devil and that Murder had possessed his Heart. NB. For his Epistle to me witnesseth, that for fourteen daies together he had sought occasion how he might catch that man with his Wife, and bloodily revenge himself upon him; I suppose, by the instigation of Satan, whereby both the Man was kill’d in his Sins, and the Woman with many wounds compell’d to a lewd kind of Life; of both which Crimes Farnner is yet guilty in his own Conscience, and (unless a speedy Repentance follow on his part) he will never be freed from them. But if in a sudden passion he had done it by chance, he might merit some excuse.
But to endeavour it fourteen daies together, is nothing but a Devilish Revenge and Cruelty, which can by no means be excus’d in a Christian, though he do it never so secretly.
But besides, he uses evil Arts; for he drew my Servant to him by Flattery, and receiv’d him into his intimate friendship, notwithstanding he knew I turn’d him away for his infidelity. What he writes, that he bought his Secrets of me at a great price, is a pure falsity. Indeed he forc’d a small Reward upon me, half of which I gave him back again, and what I kept he got over and over by communicating my Secrets to other men, so that he has fully receiv’d what he gave me; and by this his communicating to others, (which was done unknown to me) he broke his Promise; which nevertheless for Peace sake I passed by. Wherefore, if he will confess the Truth, I am sure he can never say that he bought all those Secrets I intrusted him with, at so great a price.
Hitherto we may believe how much Money has come to him; for since he has sent abroad his institory Letters five months ago, (nay, as I am told, two years ago) before I could know it: he could not chuse but get money by it, when forthwith he with my perfidious Servant proceeded to that insolence, as in a knit Society with some of Frankford, he caused his Calumnies to be every where spread, and sent abroad, not only throughout upper Germany and Belgia, but also into France, and other Foreign Countries, to get Money. Yet, according to my hopes, this institory Ware-house (by the Grace of GOD) will soon fall.
In this Paragraph also he goes on after his manner to disgrace me, accusing me of Lyes, as if it was false, and impossible to prepare fifty pound of Spirit of Salt in one Furnace, and in one day; and adds, that this Spirit is not so good as his, for Every man for himself: but this is done by adding Vitriol.
Which Vitriol does not hurt the Spirit of Salt, as is demonstrated in many places of the First Part of my Furnaces; and he denies that fifty pound or above may be prepar’d in one day in my Furnaces, when yet it may be done commodiously enough, and needs no farther proof.
From all which a wise man may easily judge how good a Christian Farnner is, whose mouth uttereth nothing but wickedness, contempt, and contention, and except my inward faculties fail me, the envy of his heart, his hatred, lyes, and infernal calumnies, shall be display’d.
What is his spirit of Salt to me, or mine to him? Let him prepare it after his way, and I will do it my way, when need requires: Wherefore does he endeavour to defile my things with his, since they cannot be deservedly reprehended by any man, much less by him.
In this place may be seen the inhumane and devilish nature of this wicked fellow; for he scarce utters three words but he proceeds to my disparagement.
But what hath Glauber to do with his spirits, for he does not use them? and if he does need them, he can make them without him.
What does he care, if you can prepare them after a better way than he, which yet never can be?
Whatever Glauber has writ of these things is worth the reading; and he can defend both himself and it, neither can you or yours spot his fame, which is so well known to the World.
Here Farnner ventures to promise a way of preparing volatile spirits, which is eight years since fully described by Glauber, in the second part of his Furnaces, whither I referr the Reader.
But if any man will explore another man’s nature, let him permit him to speak, and he shall easily know what temper he’s of; but especially that, of all things, may easily be discern’d in a drunken or angry man, who can very hardly conceal his internal blemishes. In like manner we may see by Farnner that he endeavours to hide his lying Proceedings in my name. What if I had seen his way of preparing metallick flowers, what profit or loss should I sustain by it? He glories of those things which merit no praise. He promises to make metallick Flowers under a frixatory Cover, when yet Flowers can’t be made under it, for they are not Flowers when the metals are burnt under a frixatory Cover, into a Calx, or reduc’d to ashes, there is, and so remains a heavy Calx: but the Flowers of metals shou’d be brought to a very light sort of Flowers by Sublimation; as is describ’d at large in the First Part of my Furnaces.
Farnner indeed, with his Shop, leaving his filthy knife, should rather have gone to the Chymical School a little, than (being ignorant of Chymical terms) sold his heavy Calxes or Metals to other men for light Flowers, and despised Glauber’s way of preparing Flowers, which yet has been reprehended by no man. These his Flowers, with his Coral Flowers, are course Meal, which don’t deserve the name of Flowers, but Cream. Indeed, if Farnner had not so vehemently inveighed against me, I had not display’d him thus, nor deign’d his vain Proceedings one word of answer.
Yet ’tis no matter, though good men are sometimes in this life bark’d at, and provok’d by mad Dogs, since it often happens that by this means excellent things are made publick, which otherwise would lie secret.
Here you may see, candid Reader, that wicked Farnner’s endeavours tend to disturb the quiet of all good men, and destroy my well-grounded and yet irrefutable Writings by his foolish Opinions, which he shall never be able to do, no more than a little Whelp is able to attack an armed man, whom by his barking he cannot hurt.
My Tract which I writ of the Essence of Vegetables, and printed at Norimberg, under the Title of The First Part of the Spagyrick Pharmacopæa; neither Farnner, nor any man else, could reject or contemn; but that little Tract will defend it self.
I have made publick many and excellent inventions, but no man can shew one place wherein I reprehended and brought into contempt other mens Works, as this Farnner does. If he would act as a good man ought, and had any thing against me, he should speak it to my face, and not abuse me so wickedly behind my back.
It troubles me Indeed, that I communicated this excellent secret of encreasing the Virtue of acid Wines, and making them better, to Farnner. What he writes, that he found out those things, is a pure Lye, which he had of me; when nevertheless he is not afraid to tell so impudent a Lye, as that he had found out a better foundation of that Secret, which is most notoriously false; for neither he nor any other man, nor I my self, can find any thing better than the pure Essence of Wine, conducing to that Work; which Essence of Wine, by the strength of its innate fiery Nature and Property, all sorts of immature Wines may be ripen’d in fermentation, and turn’d to a brisk Staple, and good Wine, in which lies all the Art.
For he that knows this, may also correct acid Wines, yet let him have a care that he does not take foul Brandy-wine, as Farnner has done, wherewith he has done it, as he saies.
This excellent Art, and heretofore unknown, to him that knows how to handle Wines, may serve instead of many; and this unfaithful Farnner might have receiv’d much profit from it, if he had not made it publick; but since he has every where publish’d it, there shall henceforth no profit accrue to him nor me, if I should be destitute of better things, for he has defamed this excellent Secret every where by his lying Epistles sent abroad.
As for me, though he has taken from me the great profit which redounded to me from it, by his prating and lyes, I do not this from such a trouble of mind as will happen to him, if he shall be forced indeed to want all its fruit.
If this perfidious Farnner had hid this Secret, he would have needed no other Arts, neither need he have sold it for an hundred Duckets, but he might from it have procur’d to himself sufficient whereon to live. A greater damage has happen’d to me by his publication than I can declare; and I very hardly endure that so excellent and profitable a Secret should be despised; neither will any good man approve it, especially they that sustain loss by it, and for that cause will alwaies abhorr him. He might have gotten enough by it, in secret, and without detriment to his Neighbour, but that he was minded rather to marr the profit and propagate the damage of not only himself, but me, and many others that have knowledge of it; which no man can deny to be a wicked act.
That Reward which Farnner gave me for communicating to him my Secrets, in all amounted to but sixty or seventy Ungarici (an Ungaricus is Nine Shillings of our Money,) which yet, from the communication of those Secrets I trusted him with, he receiv’d again, so that all those things which he had of me, cost him little or nothing. Nevertheless, he does not stick to say, That he gave me a great sum of Money for my Secrets, which yet I refused to take; and though he twice made a Journey of Fifteen miles to me, that he might get something out of me, yet I deny’d him, and communicated nothing to him, till he came the third time, and learn’d some of my Secrets, and afterwards, when he had oblig’d himself to work with me in my Laboratory, I communicated more to him. Neither had I shew’d him the least of those many Secrets for his Present, which will never compensate the damage I have sustain’d by him, had not he oblig’d himself under the loss of all his Goods, as also his Credit and Reputation, that he, his Wife and Children, should serve me so long as I should live, as plainly appears from his Obligations given to me.
But if he had given me a Thousand Ungarici, or Duckets, and I had known he would have expos’d this Secret to sale, I would rather have given him all of it back again, than suffer’d it to be made common. Neither can his vain Excuse, That he exposes his own inventions, and not mine, to sale, profit him any thing; when ’tis evident enough, that nothing in the nature of things can be found, which may render small Wines better than the Anima or Quintessence extracted from other Wines; for the Anima of Wine only, and nothing else, can encrease the strength of Wine. Neither is the comparison of this melioration of Wines incongruous with two torn Garments, neither of which can be worn; but if either of this is cut, and that which yet is whole and good, is sewed to the other, and so of two torn, one whole Garment is made; then that Garment may be worn, when yet, before, neither of them was useful.