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Nanik Tolaram

Software Development with Go

Cloud-Native Programming using Golang with
Linux and Docker
Nanik Tolaram
Sydney, NSW, Australia

ISBN 978-1-4842-8730-9 e-ISBN 978-1-4842-8731-6

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-8731-6

© Nanik Tolaram 2023

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively
licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is
concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of
illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in
any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and
retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or
dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks,

service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the
absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from
the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for
general use.

The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that
the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and
accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the
authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or
omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral
with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional
affiliations.
This Apress imprint is published by the registered company APress
Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
The registered company address is: 1 New York Plaza, New York, NY
10004, U.S.A.
I would like to dedicate this book to my late Dad who stood by me
and encouraged me to write my very first book when I was 17 years
old. To my dearest Mum who always supported me in pursuing my
dreams and encouraged me to keep on going no matter what life
brings. To my beautiful wife and best friend for allowing me the time
to write the book and supporting me in every step of our life. To both
my sons, Rahul and Manav, for allowing me to spend time in front of
the computer on weekends to chase my dream and passion. Last but
not least, to God for giving me this life and opportunity to be where I
am in this world.
Introduction
Go has been out for more than 10 years, and open source projects
were developed using Go. The aim of this book is to show you the
way to use Go to write a variety of applications that are useful in
cloud-based systems.
Deploying applications into the cloud is a normal process that
developers do every day. There are many questions that developers
ask themselves about the cloud, like

How do containers work in a cloud environment?

How do cloud monitoring applications knows how much
memory is left for my virtual machines?
How can I build a high performance networking server in
Linux environment?
How do I scan code before deploying to the cloud to stop
code deployment if it contains related information?

and many other cloud-relevant questions.

The book talk about different topics that are relevant in today’s
cloud environment. The approach is to explain each topic at a high
level and then help you understand it by going through the details
with the code. The book uses combination of open source projects
hosted in GitHub and sample code. The open source projects chosen
are relevant to the topic. You will get a good grasp about the tool and
also how the code works internally.
Any source code or other supplementary material referenced by the
author in this book is available to readers on GitHub
(https://github.com/Apress). For more detailed information, please
visit www.apress.com/source-code.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to everyone on the Apress team who helped and guided me
so much. Special thanks to James Robinson-Prior who guided me
through the writing process and to Nirmal Selvaraj who made sure
everything was done correctly and things were on track.
Thanks to the technical reviewers for taking time from their busy
schedules to review my book and provide great feedback.
Finally, thanks to you, the reader, for spending time reading this
book and spreading the love of Go.
Table of Contents
Part I: System Programming
Chapter 1:​System Calls
Source Code
What Is a System Call?​
C System Call
sys/​unix Package
System Call in Go
Summary
Chapter 2:​System Calls Using Go
Source Code
Syscall Package
syscall Application
Checking Disk Space
Webserver with syscall
ELF Package
High-Level ELF Format
Dump Example
/​sys Filesystem
Reading AppArmor
Summary
Chapter 3:​Accessing proc File System
Source Code
Peeking Inside procfs
Reading Memory Information
Peeking Network Information
 Using the procfs Library
Code Sample
Inside the procfs Library
Summary
Part II: Containers
Chapter 4:​Simple Containers
Linux Namespace
cgroups
rootfs
Gontainer Project
Summary
Chapter 5:​Containers with Networking
Source Code
Network Namespace
Setting Up with the ip Tool
Containers with Networks
Summary
Chapter 6:​Docker Security
Source Code
seccomp Profiles
libseccomp
Docker seccomp
Docker Proxy
Container Attack Surface
Summary
Part III: Application Security
Chapter 7:​Gosec and AST
 Source Code
Abstract Syntax Tree
Modules
Sample Code
gosec
Inside gosec
Rules
Summary
Chapter 8:​Scorecard
Source Code
What Is Scorecard?​
Setting Up Scorecard
Running Scorecard
High-Level Flow
GitHub
GitHub API
GitHub Explorer
Summary
Part IV: Networking
Chapter 9:​Simple Networking
Source Code
TCP Networking
TCP Client
TCP Server
UDP Networking
UDP Client
UDP Server
 Concurrent Servers
Load Testing
Summary
Chapter 10:​System Networking
Source Code
Ping Utility
Code Walkthrough
DNS Server
Running a DNS Server
DNS Forwarder
Pack and Unpack
Summary
Chapter 11:​Google gopacket
Source Code
gopacket
Layer
Packet
Using gopacket
pcap
Networking Sniffer
Capturing With BPF
Summary
Chapter 12:​Epoll Library
Source Code
Understanding epoll
epoll in Golang
Epoll Registration
 Epoll Wait
Epoll Library
Summary
Part V: Securing Linux
Chapter 13:​Vulnerability Scanner
Source Code
Vulnerability Scanners
Using Vuls
Checking Out the Code
Running Scan
Learning From Vuls
Port Scan
Exec
SQLite
Summary
Chapter 14:​CrowdSec
Source Code
CrowdSec Project
Using CrowdSec
crowdsec.​db
Learning From CrowdSec
System Signal Handling
Handling Service Dependencies
GeoIP Database
Summary
Part VI: Terminal User Interface
Chapter 15:​ANSI and UI
 Source Code
ANSI Escape Code
ANSI-Based UI
Color Table
Styling Text
Open Source Library
Gookit
Spinner
Summary
Chapter 16:​TUI Framework
uiprogress
Code Flow
Updating Progress
Bubbletea
Init
Update
View
Summary
Part VII: Linux System
Chapter 17:​systemd
Source Code
systemd
systemctl
Hello Server systemd
go-systemd Library
Summary
Chapter 18:​cadvisor
 Source Code
Running cAdvisor
Web User Interface
Architecture
Initialization
Manager
Monitoring Filesystem
Information from /​sys and /​proc
Client Library
Summary
Index
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Argent-vive. Two, three, four, five Grains, even to eight or ten, of this
Stone ground into a Powder, being administred (respect being had to
the Patient’s age and sickness) yield a most present comfort in the
diseases of the Head and Brain, and so are those white Flores wont
to doe likewise: but in Chymical operations they are of eminent use.
Now although this Stone be it self of a fugacious nature, yet
notwithstanding in progress of time it makes Mercury, together with
it self, constant in the fire; of which thing I have elsewhere already
mentioned in my Writings, so that I need not say any more thereof
in this place.
However, I cannot omit to tell you, that, although, otherwise,
there is no familiarity at all betwixt Silver, and Lead, and Salt, yet
nevertheless these three may be so prepared as (by a certain
mixtion) not to refuse each others society. Hence it comes to pass,
that if the Salt be rightly fitted for this operation, it puts forth more
powerfull virtues, and for that reason doth the Silver suffer the
more, and doth by so much the sooner attain to a constancy in the
fire: and so ’tis evident, that the name of Alchymy or fusing of Salt,
was not imposed on this Art for nothing. For by the help of Salt, are
the Metals to be molten and meliorated, which thing you may take
notice of.

Another Sawce or Junket made of Gold and Silver.

T ake some pure Silver, and dissolve it in Aqua Fortis, and

precipitate it with Spirit of Salt, and free it from its Acrimony
with common water, and squeese out the water, and lay your matter
upon cap-paper to dry, and deal with it in all respects as we spake
afore in the Process of Saturn. Of this Calx take three parts, and one
part of Gold dissolved in the Oil of Salt; and first put your Silver Calx
into a strong Glass-retort, which must be well coated, then pour
thereto your yellow Solution of Gold. Place the Retort in Sand, and,
first, force out your Spirit of Salt, in which forcing out, the Calx of
the Silver will retain with it self the Gold; and of them both will be
made a purple Stone, inclining somewhat to redness, fusile, and
volatile. But the Oil of the Salt will carry up with it something of the
Gold and Silver into the neck of the Retort; which, together with the
aforesaid Stone, you shall take out of the broken Retort; but yet you
must keep each apart, for a medicament of great moment: [both]
which (if they were turned (by Solution and Coagulation) into a fix
Ruby,) would doubtlesly perform their work, in the metallick
Operations, with greater benefit and profit.
So have you here, briefly described, the third Junket, which,
should it be described with all its Circumstances, the Process it self
would in good sooth be more prolix and tedious than is fitting. And
forasmuch as my Writings may seem unto many sufficiently tedious,
’tis but fit that I aim at brevity here in this place; though (on the
other hand) they will seem (I well know) too short and brief unto
others. But Jupiter himself pleaseth not all alike. And the birth-day of
him who can satisfie all, is yet to come; for he is not as yet born. For
behave thy self as thou wilt in thy actions, either in briefly delivering
thy self, or in uttering thy mind in a longer discourse, thou shalt not
at any rate fulfill the expectation and desire of all men. I doe
therefore here dish out this Junket, and commit the care of eating
the same to the Guests. Every one that will, may more accurately
weigh and consider of the same, that so he may come to find, how
great the Efficacy and Utility of this Process is, though delivered so
very briefly.

Another Junket or Sawce, viz. A Confection of a Mineral Alkermes.

T here is in the Apothecaries shops a Confection made of the

Berry or Grains of Kermes, known by the name of Confectio
Alkermes; in which composition, there are added to the said Berries
some Pearls done into Powder, and Leaf-Gold, and Amber-grease,
and other such-like corroborating Simples. This medicament being
confected with Sugar, is lookt on as the chiefest amongst all those
Medicines which are wont to be administred for strengthening the
Heart, and it merits the praise ascribed to it. But now instead of the
Leaves of Gold, (which cannot be digested or concocted by the
stomach, and are therefore carried forth with the Excrements
without any operation,) I will substitute another Gold, which being
made suitable, and accommodated unto nature, shall be able to put
forth its virtues, and supply the place of foliated Gold, in the
Confection of Alkermes.
And if any one be so minded, he may omit even the grains or the
berry it self (for they are not to be had every-where) and make use
of this Juyce of Gold, which I am about to teach in this place, and
mix it with Sugar and other Powders that are strengtheners of the
Heart. For this Golden Confection of a purple Colour, doth most
notably strengthen the Heart by its corroborative virtue, and the
Gold it self gives a far more excellent purple or scarlet Colour than
the Grains of that berry doe, which are brought us from Mompelier.
The way of preparing the said Gold, is as follows.
Dissolve the Calx of Sol, or of Gold, in strong Spirit of Salt, and
pour upon the Solution some three or four parts of water more than
the Solution is, that so the Acrimony of the Spirit of Salt may be
somewhat allayed. Being thus prepared, put thereinto a bit of Tin,
and such as hath no Lead commixt therewith, which said Tin, the
allayed Spirit of Salt will seize upon, and dissolve part thereof. And
being also debilitated thereby, it will let fall all the Gold that it
contained, in the form of a purple Powder, adhering partly on to the
Tin, and part will be of its own natural colour, and settle to the
bottom, but as subtile as the Atoms that fly about in the Sun-beams,
and resembling little stars. When therefore the whole body of the
Gold is precipitated into a most delicate and fine Powder, out of the
Spirit of Salt, which will now be clear and bright: Pour off the Spirit,
and take the Tin out from the Golden Powder, and wash the Powder
with clean and pure water, that so none of the Spirit of Salt may be
therein discerned; and being now thus prepared, it may be used
instead of Gold about the Confection of Alkermes.
Moreover, if you are so minded, you may take some pure Sugar-
candy, and make it up into a syrup with weak Spirit of Salt, and then
put thereunto this Golden Powder with a little Amber grease and
some Powder of Pearls, and so make full as good, nay a better
Confection than that common Confectio Alkermes is; because a
greater corroborating of the powers of the Heart, and a delicater
purple Colour cannot be found in any other thing than in Gold. If
now you operate aright, it cannot otherwise be but you must needs
attain to this purple and golden Confection.
N. B. The Tin must be very pure and clean, for by how much the
whiter it is, and the acuter sound it has, so much the fitter is it for
this work. And in the Composition it self you may use this following
weight or measure.
Take of the Calx of Gold one Lot [or half ounce] and dissolve it in
three or four Lots of strong rectified Spirit of Salt: Pour unto the
Solution twelve or fifteen Lots of pure water; then to all this, put two
Lots of Tin, and set the Glass that the Solution is in, upon hot Sand,
and heat it scalding-hot, but let it not boil. When it hath thus stood
for one or two hours, all the Gold will be turned into Powder, of a
Purple and Gold-like hue, and settle to the bottom. Then having
poured out the Water, and separated the Tin, separate all the
Acrimony from the Powder by several washings, and so will you have
it fitted for the Confection. This done, take twelve Lots of Sugar-
candy, and one Lot of rectified Spirit of Salt, and as much pure fair
water as is sufficient to reduce the Sugar into a thick Syrup; Hereto
add one Lot of that purple and tender golden Powder, and it will
tinge all the Sugar with a Purple or Scarlet-colour. Then add likewise
thereunto, two Lots of Pearls made into fine Powder, and one
Quintula (about two drams and an half) of Amber-grease, mix them
well together and set it by for use, as being a most efficacious
Confection. And if you please, you may add to the former
ingredients other strengthning and refreshing Powders. The Dose of
this Confection is from 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, to 20 Grains, according as the
persons are. It corroborates the Heart, Brain, and the whole Body,
and doth likewise (by reason of the Spirit of Salt) allay thirst, and
stirs up the appetite to food.

And thus much may suffice this time about Sawces or Junkets. It
now remains that we likewise search after some select and harmless
Purges out of the Metals too, and adjoyn them to the former. When
in feastings (or merry-meetings) the Guests are wont to drink
Healths to their Lords, and tope off many Cups, and store of Glasses
full of strong Wine, it cannot possibly be, but that their Stomachs
must be stufft with tenacious and clammy humours, and the Head
much oppressed with Catthars, and the Bowels fill’d with store of
wind. Now here cannot be a better and more profitable way of
succouring these Stomachs and Heads, thus beset with so many
tenacious humours, and of helping the whole body thus corrupted by
so often repeated draughts, than by a purgative Medicine, which by
expelling all the evil and offensive humours opens all the passages
of the Body, and again brings the so necessary respiration. We will
therefore present you here with three such purging Medicaments,
and those very good ones. One is of Antimony; The second of Silver
and Antimony; And the third of Gold and Antimony: Each of which,
by it self, doth far exceed the other purging Medicaments made of
the Vegetables.
For Metals do penetrate the Body far better, and do perform their
Operations with less hazard than the Vegetables do, most of which
abound with a resinous clamminess, which doth often stick to the
Bowels, and cause great gripings, which is not to be feared at all
from metallick purgative Medicines: which (upon this account) are to
be preferred before those that are prepared of the Vegetables; nor
do I contemn these Vegetable Purges, for they are good, and may
be made use of, where better are not at hand.
Therefore, forasmuch as I have in my time, made trial of many
such Medicaments, and have in very deed found, that metallick
Purges do excel the Vegetable ones both in pleasantness and
efficacy, and are far safer; I could not but commend the same above
all other Purges to such as come after me, but yet leaving every one
at his pleasure to make use of either these or them.

A Purge of Saturn.
D issolve two ounces of Lead in pure Aqua Fortis, and pour upon
the Solution one ounce of Butter of Antimony, that so they
may be precipitated together into a white Coagulum or Curd,
whereto you must put a good quantity of fair water, and stir it very
well about, that it may imbibe the Spirit of Salt which was in the
Butter.
Then pour off this water, and put on more, and repeat this labour
so long, untill all the sharpness be washt out of the precipitated
Powder. This white Powder being dried is a most excellent Purge,
educing all evil and hurtfull humours out of the Body without danger,
and being administred from one Grain to ten, according as the
Patient is, doth work downwards, especially when it is given in a
lesser Dose. But if there be need of vomiting too, then the Dose may
be encreased, especially unto those that can brook vomiting, and
cast with ease. It may be used without danger as a good and safe
Purge, in all such Diseases as purgative Medicaments are, and may
be administred.

A Purge of Lune.

D issolve two ounces of pure Silver in four ounces of Aqua Fortis,

and pour upon this Solution one ounce of the Butter of
Antimony, which together with the Silver will go into a white Curd, as
we said but now of the Lead in the preceeding Process. Wash this
Powder with common water, and dry it and administer it in the same
Dose as the Saturnine Powder is to be given; and it will perform its
part in all Diseases, but especially in those of the Head.
N. B. The Butter of Antimony must be made of the Regulus of
Antimony, with rectified Spirit of Salt, and not with Mercury
sublimate, as the common custom is.

Purging Gold.

I n the first place, you must make a most strong Spirit of Niter
thus, viz. put equal parts of calcined Allum and good Salt-peter
into a well coated Retort, out of which is to be drawn (leisurely and
by degrees into a very large Receiver luted on to the neck of the
Retort) a Spirit, which will make the Receiver look red. All the Spirit
being distilled, let the Fire go out of its own accord, and leave on the
Receiver so long till all the Spirits are setled, and that the Receiver
be become clear agen: Macerate the Lute, which joyned the
Receiver on to the Retort, with water, and have an especial care
when you take off the Receiver, that none of the Lute fall into the
Spirit. Put the Spirit in a strong Glass, and shut it up well with Wax,
that it may not exhale, for it is very strong, and is red as Bloud,
because it had no water put unto it in the Receiver.
Pour two ounces of this strong Spirit upon one ounce of the Butter
of Antimony, and it will presently pass into a red Solution, whereto
put one ounce of pure Gold that it may be dissolved, which Solution
will be redder than Bloud. Then pour in thereupon some common
fair water, and the Antimony and the Gold will precipitate into a
Purple Powder, which is to be washt well with water, and so dried.
Its Dose is from one, two Grains to six, (according as the Age and
Party is,) it may be given in Wine, Ale, Water, or any other Liquor,
which may be as a Vehicle unto it. It works without any danger, and
doth safely and pleasantly (beyond all other Purges) drive out all
offending Humours out of the Body of Man.

Aurum Diaphoreticum, or Sweating Gold.

I f no water be poured upon the just-now-spoken of red Solution,

thereby to precipitate the same, but that that strong Spirit of
Niter be drawn off by a Retort, it then takes from the Antimony its
purging and vomiting power and makes it Diaphorical. Nor needs the
Purple Powder, when it’s taken out of the Glass, any washing at all,
because being administred in two, three, four, five, six, or ten Grains
Dose it may be safely taken, and it provokes Sweat. It is therefore
very profitable in all the Diseases that are to be expelled by Sweat;
yea in the Leaprosie, Gout, Dropsie, French-pox, Plague, Scurvey,
and in all Feavers doth it play its part even to admiration, for (by
reason of the Gold which it contains in it) it doth both provoke
Sweat, and strengthen the powers of the Body.
The former Powder or purging Gold, being mixt with an equal
weight of purging Lune, or purging Saturn, and molten in a Crucible,
turns into a red Stone or Glass, of which, little Tablets or Pellets
somewhat bigger than a Pea may be again cast or molten, and kept
for use. And now when there’s need of purging, let one of those
Tablets be put in to some spoonfulls of Wine and lie therein all night,
and let the Wine be drunk off in the morning following, just after the
self same manner as other purges are wont to be administred. For
there is so much virtue extracted by the Wine out of the glazen
Tablet as to give several Stools. If one Tablet or Pellet be not
sufficient, then may a second, or a third, or more be adjoyned
thereunto, and so left all night in the Wine, that so the Wine may
work more effectually if need requires. The Tablets or Pellets remain
good a long time, and may be many times applied to the self same
use.
But if any one should be desirous of performing this labour even
yet better, he may get a little Pot or Cup to be made for him of white
Earth, and may have it glazed both inside and outside with this same
Glass; for two or three Spoonfulls of Wine infused for a night in such
a Cup, and drunk off next morning, are capable of purging you even
as doth the other.
These are the effects of these purges in Medicine. They likewise
do some good in Alchymy, if all three of them, viz. the Saturnine, the
Lunar, and the Solar are reduced by melting into a Glass: this Glass
being Philosophically cemented somewhat of the Silver, Lead, and
Antimony will be meliorated, and turned into Gold by the Gold.

Now for a Farewell, take this which follows. If the God Appollo the
Inventer of Medicine, would bestow his light upon any one, and by
his hot Beams melt the waxen Wings of the untamed, flying, and (to
his Father Dedalus) disobedient Son Icarus, (and flying out of the
Isle of Creet, over the Icarian Sea,) that so he might fall down into
the sweet and sulphureous Sea of the Sun, and may remain
drowned therein: Then from this dead Body (which is not wont to be
subdued by any other means) may a most excellent Medicine be
prepared. For what way soever he is handled by otherwise, whether
he be turned into a white sublimate, or be reduced into a yellow or
red precipitate, he is notwithstanding always corrosive; and brings
more hurt than good, and therefore may very deservedly be
eschewed.
Or if we did but know the way of fixing it without any corrosivity,
by those three principal Columes of all Medicine, namely Vitriol,
Sulphur, and Antimony, he would undoubtedly be administrable
without any fear, and be withall capable of performing great matters.
For then he would not stir up and cause so many purgations, and
such vehement Salivations, and other hurtfull symptoms as usually
comes to pass, but would bring a most speedy help to the Sick by
his gentle operation by Sweat and Urine, and get the Physician a
most eminent praise.
This I would have every one know, that Sulphur has a power of
killing all Corrosives, and reducing them to a sweetness, whether it
be done by the dry way or by the moist. And of all Sulphurs, a
Vegetable Sulphur is the fittest, which being freed from its
inflamable nature, is capable of reducing [any] Corrosives, though
never so great, unto a sweetness in one hours space. Nay more, any
Metal being first dissolved in such like Corrosives, doth together with
the same become a sweet Medicament: And so when Gold is
dissolved in Spirit of Salt, and Silver, Tin, Copper, Iron, and Lead are
dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and that that Corrosive Dissolvent is
transmuted by a sweet Sulphur, it so comes to pass that the Metal
together with the Corrosive is made a Medicament, and becomes
potable. Such potable liquor of the Metals, (but especially of Gold
and Silver,) and void of all Corrosivity, will you meet withall in my
Medical-shop; which liquor, as well those of Silver, and Copper, as
that of Gold, are red. The Liquor of Gold may be used instead of
Aurum Potabile, and it guilds Quicksilver and the other Metals with a
golden Colour, like as the Silver-liquor guilds Mercury, and Silver [or
Copper, probably] with a Silver Hue; and the Coppery-liquor guilds
Mercury and Iron with a Coppery Colour.
N. B. Aurora being inflamed with the love of Jupiter, and
withdrawing him together with her self into Heaven, if both of them
be again thrust down headlong by the other Gods into the Salt-Sea,
they come forth out of this Bath, so delicate and so white, that she
resembles the fairness of Diana; and he, the comliness of Apollo: but
not as yet constant in the Fire. But when the time of bathing is over,
Mars coming to the Sea Shore, draws both of them out upon a dry
Island called Irony, from Iron; where they are yet once more washt
by Vulcan, (who makes use of Saturns help) in a dry Bath, who
washeth off the Defilements far more accurately than the Salt Sea
could, for he leaves not off washing and purging them, untill all the
Defilements are separated from both their Bodies, and that they be
made like unto Diana and Apollo, in Constancy and comeliness.
Mars seeing that his Sister Venus, and Brother Jupiter did come
forth out of the Salt Sea with so lovely a fairness, leapt thereinto
himself, that so by spending some time in washing, he might rinse
off those black Defilements from his black Body. But there was such
store of filth washt off, as made all the Sea green and sweet, and it
hid [or swallowed up] Mars himself, being now much diminished,
insomuch that he could never have escaped out of that Sea, had not
Sol, out of meer pity on him, dried up the water of the Sea, for old
limping Saturn to come unto him, and to take poor wretched him out
of the Dirt and Mire, which he also did.
But because there was such a deal of Mire and Filth as that this
(slim) lame, (hopping Fellow) could not get out agen, he even there
stuck fast with Mars, and so lost his Life. Of the dead Bodies of
these two, viz. of Mars and Saturn, Vulcan did at length make one
Head having two Faces, or a double Countenance, one resembling
Apolo, the other Diana; and upon this account was the name of
double-visaged Janus bestowed upon it by Vulcan.
By these few and short Operations and Processes, may any one
make and devise many more such like. I am not at this time, for my
part, minded to busie and trouble my self about any more tedious a
description of such matters, for I guess that in what I have already
said and disclosed to the unthankfull, I have too much exceeded my
bounds. Every one may choose to himself those things which he
shall deem most profitable, and forbear to despise that which he
shall not be capable of apprehending the meaning of.
’Tis a usual Proverb, That a Cup of generous Wine must
accompany Dainty Delicates.
Because therefore we have in the three precedent Sawces or
Junkets, presented you with fine savoury Cates, it is but fitting that
we accompany the same with three dainty draughts, and those
drawn out of the best of Metals too, namely out of Gold and Silver,
because the Cates or Sawces themselves were composed of the
same. Our Ancient Predecessors called those Drinks of old time
Nectar, or the drink of the Gods, which in our days are known by the
names of potable Gold, and potable Silver.
Concerning these two, do many of Ignoramus his Fraternity
babble many Stories, and falsly boast that no true potable Gold can
be prepared, or be in Being without the Philosophers Stone. This
conclusion of theirs is clearly untrue, for a Man may easily make
Gold and Silver potable, though he hath not any knowledge at all of
the universal Medicine, which is to be thus understood, viz. when
the Gold and Silver either alone or conjoyned, are dissolved in a
sweet and not Corrosive Menstruum, and rendred fit to be
administred to the Sick in Water, Ale, Wine, or any other Liquor. For
those kind of Solutions may be taken for a simple potable Gold and
Silver.
But now for any one to dissolve Gold in that corroding Aqua Regis,
or Silver in Aqua Fortis, and then to imagine that he hath potable
Gold and Silver, he is altogether in an Errour. Potable indeed they
are, because they may be drunk like other Liquors: But forasmuch as
those kind of Solutions do corrode all things, and bring extream
Detriment, they are justly rejected, and the rather because being
poured into Wine or Ale, they defile and thicken the same; which, no
true potable Gold dissolved in a Not-corrosive Menstruum, will do,
but when ’tis mixt with Wine, Ale, or Water, it remains bright and
clear. Besides too, true potable Gold must be of such a property, as
to have no visible corporal Gold producible thereout of, and yet
notwithstanding, be able to indue the meaner Metals, yea and
Mercury it self with a golden nature, if they be therein boiled, or to
coagulate and transmute them into Gold by the dry way in a
Crucible, whether it be done with profit or without profit [it matters
not.] Now this tinging virtue comes not from corporeal and dead
Gold, but from a spiritual living and ringing Gold.
If therefore the common and corroding solution of Gold, cannot be
accounted for a true Aurum Potabile, and that the spiritual and
tinging Gold, which is dissolved without any corrosiveness should not
come under this Title neither, whence I pray should it be sought for,
and where should it be inquired after. I confess, I do easily perswade
my self, that as for the first Ens of Gold if we did but know how to
wash and purge it in such wise, as that being turned into a bloud red
liquor, it would admit of Distillation by an Alembick or a Retort, we
should have a better potable Gold. But where shall we find such an
Artificer, as can teach us the way of preparing such a potable Gold?
’Tis therefore our best way to content our selves with such
Medicaments as we have at hand, so long untill God bestoweth
better upon us. This likewise I believe, that if we did but know such
an Artifice as to wash and purge Mercury, in such sort as that it
might pass into a ponderous and sweet Water, and if we could so
adjoyn some pure Gold thereunto instead of a ferment that they
might lift up [or sublime] themselves together, and again become
constant and fix: that then, from them would arise a red and soluble
Carbuncle, or true potable Gold. But these are onely my simple
thoughts and conceptions, no dispraise to those suppositions which
other men have entertained concerning this matter. So likewise if
spiritual Gold, and the spiritual Sulphur of the Vine be conjoyned by
the help of Salt, they give a good potable Gold, which contains in it
Gold potentially, but not actually or palpably, as may be seen in my
Treatise of the true Aurum Potabile, which being clear like Water,
and a bright or fair potable Gold, I do adjoyn to my Cates or Sawces
instead of White-wine.
But even as White-wine the longer it is kept, the yellower it grows,
so likewise white Aurum Potabile doth not retain its whiteness above
two or three months, but becomes more and more yellow, and is at
length turned into a redness, but still retains its tinging faculty. He
therefore that shall not be well pleased with the tast of [my] Wine or
potable Gold, let him tarry till being more old they become yellow or
red, for then they are of a pleasanter tast, as having (through long
Process of time) lost their Sulphureous Tast.
But as touching the manner of making that potable Gold, as also
all other unpleasant, sugacious, and unripe metallick Potions,
pleasant, ripe, fix, and sweet Liquors, that shall be revealed
afterwards.
Furthermore, I do here serve out instead of a good drink, the
golden-coloured Soul, or my Tincture made of Niter, of which I have
spoken in the second part of my Spagyrical Dispensatory. It is of as
much virtue in Medicine as that potable Gold is, which I made
mention of but now, but performs nothing in Alchymy or in the
Transmutation of Metals; but what it would do if it were made fix
and constant in the Fire, I do not as yet know, for I have not as yet
brought it to that pass. But how it may be made fix shall be
presently shown. This very Tincture in the degree it is at present in,
produceth great effects in Medicine, yea and greater too than those
which I published about it, in the second part of my Spagyrical
Dispensatory. It is of a delightfull Tast to the Palate, it removes the
obstructions of the Liver, Lungs, and Spleen, it provokes Urine,
expels the Stone, prohibits Obstructions with the Excrements, it may
be most safely used by old and young, yea even by those whose
strength is much debilitated, and it is wont to afford them present
help; it wonderfully Corroborates, and makes all Animals, Minerals,
and Vegetables fruitfull, and this will easily appear so to be, if you do
but take some Vegetable Seed and macerate in the same, and then
put in the Earth, it grows far speedier and ripens much sooner than
other Seeds are wont to do.
I have sometimes macerated Wheat, Barly, Pease, and the Seeds
of such like Corn in this Liquor for a night, and being thus steeped,
have sown it in pure Sand, and they have grown ripe far sooner than
those which have been planted in good and fat Earth: which is such
a thing, as hath made many Men extreamly to wonder, when they
saw Corn grow in bare Sand without any other Earth or Dung, and
be able to arrive to such perfect maturity.
Many other Salts there are of no great cost, and such as are to be
had in vast quantity, with which, Corn being macerated and sown in
barren Lands, and in such as are not dunged doth come to perfect
maturity; and this I have tried not onely once, but oftentimes; and
have also purposed (if God please) to bring it into publick use, in
these United Provinces: to which end, the most Supreme Orders,
General and Provincial, have granted me a Priviledge (or Patent) for
many years; whereby it is forbidden to sow or plant barren, sandy
Grounds and undunged, after this kind of way, without my consent.
The main Basis of the knack lies in Sea-salt, which may be plentifully
had in these places, and be easily prepared and made use of (to
fatten lean and dry Grounds with) instead of Dung.
But amongst all such like Medicaments, the Tincture of Nitre bears
away the Bell, for it causeth many Stalks to spring up out of one
Grane, and to yield fruit, a thousand fold. Nor doth it onely make the
Vegetables fruitfull, but Men too, and the terrestrial Animals, and
even the Birds themselves that live in the Air. And by the same
reason also may it be brought to pass, that even the Metals may be
multiplied by the help thereof, as we shall declare anon, in what
follows.
Both these Wines or efficacious Drinks doe very well suit with the
metallick Sawces or Junkets, they heat the Body, help the concoction
of the Stomach, corroborate the Spirits, give good Nourishment,
drive forth out of the Body the superfluous Excrements, in a due
manner by Stool and Urine, they cause Chearfulness, bestow a
prosperous Health, give a comely Look, and change the Complexions
into the Sanguine and best Complexion; in the accomplishment of all
which things, that pure and golden coloured Tincture of Niter
excells.
And here I must make a little digression, and set somewhat more
clearly afore your Eyes, the four primary Complexions; from which
the other mixt ones do arise, according as a Man partakes the more
of this or that Complexion.
Therefore as touching the Complexions, the Ancient Physicians
judged thereof according to the form and colour of the Hair, and
were of this Opinion, that the Sanguine Complexion which of all
others is the purest, produceth red Hairs and a white Skin full of
small and bright Pores, such Men being indued with hot and moist
Bloud, and of a sound Constitution are diligent, learned, pious, prone
to Venery, Ingenious, Chearfull, and for the most part long liv’d, but
are subject to hot Diseases, as Feavers, the Plague, and the like;
and do in their nature resemble the Sun, amongst the Planets, and
Gold amongst the Metals.
The Cholerick have very black Hair, a yellowish Skin, and their
Bloud is hot and dry, and they are wrathfull, quarrelsome, strong,
bold, Warriours, addicted to Whoredoms, subtle, wicked, false,
merciless, rejoycing at others harms, as is wont to be in War. They
are tormented with raging Feavers, as also with the overflowing of
the Gall, and they are of the nature of Mars and Venus amongst the
Planets; and of Iron and Copper amongst the Metals.
The Hairs of the Melancholy Complexion are for the most part
betwixt a white and black colour, and their Skin is white. They are of
a cold and dry nature, quiet, laborious, musing, industrious, sincere,
pious, and mercifull, inclined rather to weeping than laughter, if they
hear of any mischances, they aim at Justice, and fear God without
Hypocrisie, or esteem of Men. They are subject to all kinds of
Diseases, are afflicted with a debility of their Limbs, and are
compared to Saturn and Jupiter amongst the Planets, and to Lead
and Tin amongst the Metals.
 The nature and property of the Phlegmatick is moist and cold, the
Hair and Skin white, the Wit dull, a dreaming sleepy quality,
negligent, carefull of nothing, obstinate, envious, slow, and gross,
and unteachable, the Body consists of thick or homely Limbs, and is
wont to be troubled with the Scab, Ulcers, and cold Feavers. ’Mongst
the Planets the Moon, and ’mongst the Metals, Silver, are supposed
not much to differ from their Disposition.
These are the marks (as is believed) of the Complexions in Men
and Beasts. But yet you are to know, that one [single] Complexion
doth very rarely bear absolute sway in any Man, but they are for the
most part mixt, and so the denomination is given according to the
predominant Complexion.
A Man that consists of a sanguine and phlegmatick property, is as
it were double complexioned, and both the colour and denomination
are divided, so that from red and white, yellow hairs arise, and the
Men themselves are of a good, temperate and fruitfull nature; and
thus is it to be understood of other Commixtions.
But forasmuch as a pure and sanguine complexion is esteemed
the best and wholsomest, the Ancient Physicians in their Cures were
wont to call the superfluity of any phlegmatick scabby person,
Phlegm and watery Blood: [the superfluity] of the Melancholick, sad
and irksome cogitations [or pensive dumps:] and [the superfluity] of
Cholerick, a mad raging brain. Now of this Phlegmatick, Melancholy,
or Cholerick [person] do we make a Sanguine one, that is, a Man of
a sound and pure blood. Upon this account have they ascribed this
property unto their Universal Medicine, viz. that it does not onely
change all the imperfect complexions of Men, as the Cholerick,
Melancholy, and Phlegmatick into the Sanguine; but doth also
transmute all the imperfect, unripe, gross, and volatile Metals into
pure Gold. For if a Medicine be of so much virtue as to convert all
the Complexions into the Sanguine one, it will necessarily transmute
all the imperfect Metals likewise, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus,
Mercury and Lune into Sol or Gold.
 Now forasmuch as I have often found by the frequent Experiments
that I have made, that my said Medicine, or Tincture of Nitre is wont
to colour all kinds of Hair, as white, brown, black, (black I say, which
may seem impossible unto many, but nevertheless is very true; for
to dye white Hair with a yellow colour is a thing commonly known,
but to tinge black Hair with a yellow or red colour, is a great secret)
and even all other colours, none excepted, with a golden colour; and
this it does while it is as yet of an unripe and flying nature: Upon
this account I dare perswade my self, that if it were but brought to a
fix and constant nature, it could not possibly be, but that it would
bestow upon the imperfect Metals, a golden nature and perfection.
But by reason of its too tender a nature, which is extreamly
impatient of a Fire of Coals, I pondered upon the business more
accurately, and perceived, that it is indeed a thing possible to be
done, although that hitherto I never had a convenient time of
perfecting of the same. And as concerning the manner how it may
be done, I cannot but out of Christian Love, discover the same to my
Neighbour.
During the time that I considered not the Words of the Angel in
the Sepulchre of Christ, saying, Why seek ye the Living among the
Dead? and therefore search’d about in filthy Sepulchres, in which I
could not find the Life. God at length vouchsafed to look upon me
with his gratious and mercifull Eyes, and brought me into the right
way, insomuch that leaving the Sepulchres and Monuments or
Tombs of the Dead, I began to look for Life amongst the Living, and
not amongst the Dead.
God onely is the alone and eternal Life, who bestoweth upon us
the so much desirable Sun, (as being the Servant of God) by the
help of the Air. Let us boil, roast, bake, and labour as much, and in
what manner soever we please; yet shall we never find any
liveliness, save from the Sun, the Servant, Minister, or instrument of
the Omnipotent God. [For else] we [doe but] prepare us
Medicaments destitute of virtues, of fine out-side Colours, but
within, dead and full of poison, because from things wanting life, no
help can be expected.
 Forasmuch therefore, as we gave not life unto our own selves,
neither can we defend the same against death without that one
onely life coming unto us from above: it is very expedient, that,
omitting the stinking dung, we betake our selves to the pure and
living fountain of God, as being the Centre of all life; and doe seek
for life, from the Sun, as being the great master of all the created
Palace [or World.] The way of effecting this, will I reveal unto you in
a few words.
If we accurately weigh with the utmost of our discretions this
whole business, we clearly see it afore our Eyes, that there is no
other life to be any-where found, besides that universal life which
God hath implanted in the Sun, and which the Sun sends down unto
us by the help of the Air. Let any one make trial, what way soever it
likes him, and he shall find this most true.
If you would putrefie an Herb or Animal in a shut glass, so that
the Air cannot penetrate [into it,] there will indeed be Magots
generated, but they will want life so long, untill the glass being
opened, they receive life and motion from the Air. If you put Herbs,
or the Flesh of living Creatures chopt or bruised in a glass, and shut
it close, and keep the glass for a while in hot Horse dung, or else in
warm water, there will Vermine [or Maggots] be indeed generated,
but yet void of life, which (the glass being opened) will begin to stir
of themselves; and so having gotten life, creep out, and become
greater, and will get other forms or shapes. Place likewise in a warm
place, some little Barrel half full of Wine and let the bung-hole be
open, that it may putrefie and begin to wax sowre; The ascending
vapour will gather it self about the said Bung hole into a tenacious
matter, which will yield small little vermine [or Mites,] much like
those which are engendred in Cheese; and which at length will, by
reason of the Air, live and creep forth. If you put a Cover over the
hole, all these little Mites will again dye, because they are deprived
of the Air from which Life doth proceed. Then the Cover being again
taken off, and the Air admitted, they doe agen creep; and following
after the Air, endeavour to get out of the Barrel: out of which, if they
doe but stay some hours onely, and feel the full Air; They attain to
another form, and get wings and fly away, which cannot be done
without the Air, seeing that without it they can have no life.
Let such Earth as hath Seeds sown therein be so covered over, as
that the Air cannot penetrate into it; which being shut out, nothing
will be brought forth: or let it be some Plant, which hath already
sprouted up out of the earth; if you doe but take the Air therefrom,
it will cease growing and plainly wither and come to nought.
From whence it is clearly evident, that the rise of all Life is to be
imputed to the Air, which very Life it self, the Sun hath first wrought
in the Air, and Art knows how to extract the same again thereout of,
by a certain Magnetical way, and make it visible, palpable, and
sensible.
But all the Air is not meer life, but contains this same life
dispersed, or dilated in it, like a great deal of water containing in it
but little Salt, it self being visible, but the Salt which is therein,
invisible. And just so is the life dispersed in the bodies of Men, and
other Animals, and, being invisible, hath its habitation in the blood,
so that, without it, the whole body would be immovable and remain
dead. Now when either a Man, or any other living Creature is
conversant in the open Air, he attracteth to himself by his breathing,
(by a certain Sympathetical power and property) as much Air as is
requisite for the Heart, (which is the Center, Receptacle, or House of
the Life) for the nourishment of the spiritual Life, and as for the
residue, and unprofitable part, it casts it away by the Antipathetical
virtue and property of the out-blowing (breath or) expiration. So that
no Man, no Animal, no Herb, no Mineral, can possibly enjoy a living
and growing faculty, if this food of Life were withdrawn therefrom.
Which seeing it is so, and cannot be otherwise, it doth necessarily
follow, that the true universal Medicine cannot be prepared in any
shut up (or close) Vessels as is commonly done. Do but look I pray
upon the Birth and Generation of Salt-peter, the Body of which is
nothing else but the essential Salt of the Vegetables, Animals, or
Minerals, which attracteth to it self the Fire out of the Air, as is well
known.
 Therefore, whereas all Salts are wont to be turned (by the help of
the Fire and Air) into burning and live Salt-peter, and that no body
can bring the same to pass without Air: we should by good right
learn from thence thus much, viz. to endeavour to make our
Medicaments too, alive by the Air. For a Medicine that is destitute of
life will subdue and destroy a Disease even just as much as common
Salt will overturn a Mountain, and throw it out of its place, without
being animated as it were by the Air, and transmuted into burning
and living Salt-peter. Truly therefore and by experience do I say, that
all the faculty of growth, all Transplantation, and every life owes its
birth to the Air, and without it do they all become dead and so
remain.
The Air receives [its] vital food from the Sun, and the Sun derives
its Original from God, the Center and Beginning of every Life. And
therefore when we are desirous of extracting that vital food out of
the Air by the help of Art, and of reducing it into a visible body, it is
behoovefull and expedient, that we expose thereunto a certain
Magnet, which may draw the same unto it self, and be by little and
little augmented therewithall, and may grow both in quantity and
virtue, even as an Herb out of the Earth; or as an Animal gets it self
growth and encrease by meat and drink, and adds to it self an
augmentation of strength and greatness, and at length associates it
self unto [or couples with] its like, and multiplieth its kind.
Man himself doth without intermission attract to himself the Air, by
the help of his Lungs; but the Heart retains onely the vital food
thereof, and rejecteth all the rest like so much excrement. The Body
it self also doth daily assume food and sustenance by the Mouth, but
the Stomach transmits the nutriment that is separated thereout of,
to the Liver, to be reduced into blood and flesh: but the Excrements,
as the Dung, Urine, Sweat, and the like, it banisheth out of the body
by the usual passages. Thus like wise stands the case with our
Medicament. According as the Magnet is, that we expose to the said
Air, so accordingly doth it attract its like out of the said Air, whereby
it may get to it self, Life, Virtue, and Power. But it cannot possibly
be, that it should extract that virtue and faculty simply pure and
clean; No, but it gets to it self also a certain, unprofitable, and
watery Essence, which is associated unto that [virtue,] which
acqueity doth again go off, as a superfluous Excrement, and must
necessarily bestow the Life onely upon the Magnet, that it may be
therewithall encreased and strengthened. If I desire to have a
Vegetable, then must I sow a Vegetable Seed; or such a Magnet is
to be placed there, as may associate or adjoyn unto it self its like out
of the Air. If you would have an Animal, then an Animal Seed, or
Animal Magnet is to be used. But if that which I seek is to be more
pure, and more constant [or lasting:] a purer Magnet must
necessarily be exposed; for like doth always seek its like; love,
o’ercome, and conserve it: according to the testimony of the Ancient
Wise men, Nature rejoyceth with Nature: Nature overcomes Nature:
Nature retains Nature.

And therefore seeing our purpose tends to this, namely, to extract

the invisible faculty of Life, the power and virtue of the Sun out of
the Air; to concentrate it, and make it corporeal, visible, and
palpable; It behooves us to provide our selves with a fitting Seed or
Magnet, which may earnestly attract, overcome, and hold the same.
Now such Magnets are pure Gold, and the most pure Soul of Salt-
peter, both of them being the true off-spring of the vivifying Sun.
Because therefore like desires its like, loves, and seeks after it, a
poisonous Magnet must not be exposed [to attract] a vital food: For
as is the nature of the Magnet, so likewise doth it attract good or evil
out of the Air. It is a thing that Husbandmen are well acquainted
withall, namely, that Wheat produceth nothing else but Wheat, and
from Tares do Tares arise. If the Seed or Magnet be aureous and
pure, it will also acquire to it self pure and golden Virtues, and be
encreased by them.

The manner of so placing the Magnets, that (by Solutions and

Coagulations) they may receive the Astral and vivifying Rays
of the Sun, and may render them visible, corporeal, palpable,
and durable in the Fire.
Y ou must get made some flat and strong glass Dishes or Platters,
in which you must put your Magnet the thickness of half a
fingers breadth, and expose it moist to the Sun, that the
unprofitable humidity may vanish by evaporation. Which done, (and
in the Summer time it will be done in a few hours, especially if there
were not too much of the Golden Liquor put into the Dishes) expose
the same Dishes, which contain in them the [thus] dried Salt, in the
night-time, open to the cold and moist Lunar Beams, that the Salt
may by its magnetick virtue associate unto it self from the Air, the
Water, which carries in it the universal food of the Air, and
consequently may be dissolved. This Solution is to be agen set out in
the day-time to the Sun-beams, which will again dry up the
unprofitable moisture, and leave in the Salt, that vivifying and
golden Seed, which it contracted in the cold Night and Air, together
with the humidity, which is void of any virtue. The Salt being freed
by the Sun from its superfluous moisture, must be again exposed at
Night to the Lunar beams, that it may again imbibe the Astral
virtues, and may be agen dissolved in the imbibed water, that, being
the next day, as the day afore, exposed to the Sun, it may be
animated anew with those same virtues: These exposings by turns
[to the Sun and Moon,] must be so long and so often repeated, untill
the said Magnet, (after its being dried at the day time in the Sun)
will, at the nighttime, hardly admit of any moisture from the Air, and
that being dry and put upon a red-hot Plate, it readily melts without
fume. For then may it be applied to use, as being a constant and fix
Medicament.
This interchangeable Solution and Coagulation must be repeated
some hundreds of times, and every Solution and Coagulation is to be
accounted for a Philosophical day.
If now in the Summer-season the heat of the Sun be not strong
enough in our Countries for the effecting of this operation, the said
heat may be concentred by Glasses, or metallick Instruments, and
be made more efficacious, that the Coagulation may be ripened [or
hastned.] But in defect of such Instruments, and want of the heat of
the Sun, which is frequently over-cast with store of Clouds, you may
easily forward the Coagulation with our Common Fire, and that too
with a more unfailable and speedier operation than that is, wherein
the drying up by the Solar heat is always to be waited for. And
although this operation, which is performed in the Sun, is to be
accounted of as far the better, yet notwithstanding the Sun doth
operate together with our Common Fire after an invisible manner,
when we cannot make use of the Sun it self. For wheresoever the Air
is, there also is to be found the invisible Sun, and the occult virtue
and power of life. He that can have the opportunity of using the Sun
in this operation, needs not any other Fire. But the using of our
Common Fire requireth a peculiar Iron Furnace, whereon the Dishes
or Basons are to be placed to dry. But yet the heat must not be
underneath, and strike at the bottom of the said Basons, but it must
be such as may strike the heat downwards at top of the matter
onely, and may gently and by little and little consume the humidity:
For else there would be hazard of the Liquors boiling over, and of
being lost, if the heat should be placed under the bottom of the
Dishes. The Iron Furnace may be made of Iron Plates, resembling
Arched work, [or Oven like] and be placed within a Stone Furnace,
and have a Door fitted thereunto, that so neither Dust nor Ashes
may fly thereinto, and by this way will the Salts be dried in two or
three hours time. And now, that you may not need to wait till the
night approacheth, you may have a wooden Box or Chest made, and
covered over at the top, but pierced full of holes all round about the
sides, which (with the Basons placed therein) may in the Winter-
season be set abroad to the cold Air, and in the Summer-time may
be placed in some moist Cellar, that so the Salts may attract from
the Air the food of Life. For in all places of the World doth the Air
contain in it (though in one place more plentifully, and better, than in
another) that occult faculty and virtue of Life, without which, neither
Men nor Animals are able to live. But by how much purer the Air
shall be, so much the purer and more excellent is the acquired
Medicine. As for the Transmutation of Metals, it matters not much
what Air it is that you get, for every sort of Air is fit for this
operation. We doe in this place manifest onely the way of fixing it:
Now every one knows that a pure and clean Air is better than a
gross and an impure one, and that the heat of the Sun is better than
the heat of Coles, or of a Lamp.
Thomas Aquinas writes, that God with his Angels cannot want our
fire, and therefore is he reproved by Paracelsus, because he saith
that God cannot want the Elementary fire. Alas, Good man, he did
not so accurately weigh this matter, for this proposition tends onely
to this end, namely, to set afore our eyes the purity of the Fire
necessary for the Coction of our Medicine. From whence it is
sufficiently manifest, that a Medicament will be so much the better,
by how much the purer the Fire shall be. For a gross Air begets a
gross Blood. But in this operation, the Air is the Meat and Drink of
our Golden Salt, but the Water or Phlegm is to be driven away by
heat, it being a superfluous Excrement adhering on to that Air. Now
in those manifold Solutions and Coagulations, the Magnet doth
always retain some good thing, and encreaseth both in weight and
virtue, and attaineth a constancy: like as Men and other Animals are
encreased with Meat and Drink, and doe grow in stature, and
multiply themselves. The whole work therefore of making this kingly
Medicament by the help of the secret Solar fire, doth consist in a
good, pure, and golden Magnet, and afterwards in a true Solution
and Coagulation: Which if it be too speedy and strong, the over-
much heat will burn up and consume the attracted food of Life. If
therefore a Medium be not used, it so happens, as ’tis wont to be in
any Earth that is too moist, and therefore not [capable of] bearing
fruit. So that nothing is more necessary than to have a due regard of
mediocrity, not onely in the Solution, but in the Coagulation likewise.
And this is that way by which the Solution done in the Air, and the
Coagulation made in the Sun, doe reduce the Mercurial water, and
the Minerals prepared with Salt into fusile and tinging Stones; which
thing the Common fire will never perform in a glass closed up, and
without the Air.
Note this, and believe it, and doe it, and thou wilt find what thou
hast believed, come to pass.
 Supper being ended, and the Drinking-bout over, ’tis time for the
Guests to go to Bed, unto whom the custom of some is to present a
closing Cup, made of good and profitable Herbs, ’mongst which,
such as are more bitter, are for the most part in greatest esteem,
because they close up the mouth of the Stomach, and beget a quiet
Sleep.
Now to parallel this Custom, I will here set one down, for those
that are desirous of such like bitter Potions, and such an one as they
may prepare according to their pleasure, and apply to use.
Take of common Aqua Fortis, which you must rectifie by a
Cucurbit, or by a Retort, that it may be bright and clear. Dissolve
therein, by boiling in hot Sand, as much cupellated Silver as it will
dissolve; but you are to note here, that there must not be any
Copper at all in the Silver, for it would spoil the Medicament. Into the
Solution pour strong and well rectified Spirit of Sal-Armoniack, so
long till the Aqua Fortis makes no more Ebullition. When all the
tissing and noise is over, there will be about the half part of the
Silver precipitated, and settled to the bottom, and will be of an ashy
colour. Place the Glass in Sand, put Fire thereunder, and boil the
precipitated Silver with the Menstruum, in which boiling there will
separate yet more Silver out of the Menstruum, and the residue will
remain dissolved up in the Menstruum, which is to be filtered
through Cap paper, and then to be evaporated by little and little in
Sand, that all the humidity may be abstracted.
N. B. The Aqua Fortis and Spirit of Sal-Armoniack, turn into a
liquid and volatile Salt, and have lost their corroding property, which
Salt hath introverted the Silver, and drawn its bitterness forth,
insomuch that both Salts are converted into one bitter and green
Salt. This Salt must be dissolved, filtered, and purified by pouring
Water thereon, and again drawing it off; and being hereby rendred
more pure, it resolves it self in the cold Air into a green and bitter
Liquor, one drop of which is able to make a whole Cupfull of Wine
bitter. And this Wine being drunk is profitable to the Stomach,
causeth quiet Sleep, dissipates Windiness, and keeps the Belly
Soluble.
N. B. This Salt guilds over Glasses, and other glazed Vessels with
Silver, nor does it vanish away but remains constant. It likewise
performs other considerable effects in Alchymy, as may be seen in
my other Writings, but especially in the second part of my Furnaces,
of the last Edition. And thus do I leave the Guests to their rest, that
they may Sleep even till broad Day-light.
The Sun being up, and some of the Guests being very droughty or
thirsty with their Yesternight Surfeiting, and being tormented with
overmuch Heat; they endeavour to extinguish this Inflammation of
the Liver, with cold Fountain Water, or with small Beer, or with
hungry and sharpning Wine. Others send to the Apothecaries for
some Syrup of Roses, or Violets, and mix that with Fountain Water,
and so drink it off. But the burning hot Liver is presently smitten with
a sudden horrour, the Stomach is refrigerated, and beset with
clammy Humours, and most an end the Limbs are debilitated, the
Skin becomes Scabby and cold Feavers possess the Stomach.
Instead therefore of such like drink, I will here substitute a far better
cooling Potion, which shall not hinder the health, as those do, but be
profitable to the same.
Take one pound of Spirit of Salt, not of that yellow, unrectified
Spirit that is sold in the Shops, but of our well rectified Spirit;
wherein dissolve as much Tartar as it will associate unto it self in a
gentle boiling; filter the Solution through Cap-paper, that so all the
Fœces which were in the Tartar, may abide in the Paper, and the
Spirit of Salt itself together with the [dissolved] Tartar may pass
through, bright and clear; if the Solution stands long in a cold place,
part of the Tartar will shoot into Crystals, and part thereof will
remain mixt with the Spirit of Salt, and give it a gratefull vinous
Acidity. If you use white Tartar then the said Spirit will remain white,
red Tartar tingeth the same with the colour of a Ruby. N. B. The
Spirit of Salt is of such a nature, as that it makes all colours more
fair. You may therefore use red Tartar to make this Potion withall,
because of the loveliness of the colour, wherewith it tingeth the
Spirit of Salt, for as to the virtues and efficacy of them, there is no
difference to be found between them.
This Tartarized Spirit of Salt is very sweet, and tasts like an acid
Wine, some drops of which, being drunk in cold Fountain Water, will
not at all hurt the Liver: nor will it onely allay the droughtiness and
thirst, but also stir up in the Stomach an Appetite to meat and drink.
And therefore I do commend this Tartarized Spirit of Salt, beyond all
other thirst-allaying Remedies, and it may be taken safely and
pleasantly, both Summer and Winter, because the unripe and acid
Wines being drunk with Fountain Water and Sugar, do refrigerate the
Stomach, and load it with tenacious humours, and weaken the
Appetite, and hinder digestion.
Most profitable therefore is this our Spirit unto those, who daily
drinking much Ale, may always mix a little of the same with their
Ale. For it makes the Ale to tast like an acidish Wine, it allays thirst,
so that there will not need such a guzling in of so great a quantity of
thick Ale, it discusseth Wind, expells Urine, hinders the generation of
the Stone in the Bladder and Reins, and if it be already generated it
dissolves and consumes the same, and by little and little drives out
the same with the Urine. Being administred to such as are troubled
with the Feaver, Gout, Stone, and Scurvy, and that in all their drink,
it is a pleasant and profitable Remedy. Concerning the use of which,
you may find more spoken in my Treatise, intituled, The Consolation
of Sailors.
Now besides all this, there is yet one thing more that I shall here
admonish you of; namely, that by the Spirit of Salts help may a
Remedy be administred to many more hurtfull disorders, but
especially in the stead of those sharpish Waters, unto which, Men
are wont to come from far and undertake long Journeys, losing their
most pretious time and Money, neglecting their Calling, their
Houshold Affairs, their Wife and Children, upon the bare hope of
recovering their former Health: Whereas notwithstanding, the Spirit
of Salt well prepared with Tartar, and having a little Steel Powder put
thereinto, will perform the very same effect as the Calibeat Waters
are wont to do, and so they may avoid the loss of so much
expences, and of their pretious time; and thus every one may
discharge and follow his own Calling and Domestick Affairs, and yet
for all that, be cured by the help of the Tartarized and Chalibeat
Spirit of Salt which openeth the Obstructions of the Liver and
Spleen.
But what shall I say much for? Some haply there are that go the
more willingly to those Waters every year for other reasons. Such as
have old chiding Wives at Home, that take it very ill if their
Husbands do but stir out of Doors, and are continually a plaguing
them with Scoldings and ill Words, have not these think you great
reason to seek some Diversion?
Young Women also love to visit these Waters and Baths, who
meeting not with so much heat in their feeble and aged Husbands,
as to beget them with Child, betake themselves to those Waters and
Baths, where at all times they meet with active strong Companions,
full of strength and Metal, who without doubt do frequent the said
places, for this very end, namely, to apply warm suppositories to
those cold Women, and uterine emplasters to make them Fruitfull,
and to take away Sterility. Such kind of Dames being restored to
their former health, and returned Home, their Husbands find (after
some few Months) how effectual the use of those Waters have been
upon their Wives.
Besides, it most an end happens that the Master and Mistress
being absent, the Houshold Affairs are very awkwardly administred
and managed by the Children, the Men-servants, and Maid servants;
and that common German Proverb doth usually take place; The Cat
being out of the way, The Mice upon the Shelves do play. The truth
of this is sufficiently testified by frequent Examples. And therefore it
is much better to drink these acid Waters at Home, whereby both
Money and Time is spared, and many evils prevented. And thus
much may suffice to have been said concerning a refrigerating Drink.
 And now, seeing we have at hand good Cheese and Butter, good
Sawces or Cates, and delicate Drink, can we not be here with
content? Verily in my Judgment here’s enough disht out for one
Banquet. But some may say, in very good time! Glauber [indeed]
does not onely teach us the preparation of good Meats, but likewise
of Cheese, Butter, Sawces, [or Junkets,] and pretious Wine, but yet
tells us not from whence the Milk to make the Cheese and Butter
withall is to be had, nor whence the Sugar and Spices for the Cates,
and the Grapes needfull to make the Wine with, are to be gotten?
What benefit have we by knowing how to make Cheese and Butter,
and yet want Cows to yield us Milk? To satisfie these, we will
demonstrate unto them, that even both the Milk it self, and the
precious Spices, and most excellent Grapes are all attainable by the
help of Salt.
In my Treatise called Miraculum Mundi, as likewise in that called
The continuation of the same, and in that Book, of the nature of
Salts, I have clearly enough shown, that all the faculty of the Growth
and Nourishment of all growing and movable Creatures doth take its
rise and original out of Salt alone, and that the correction or
melioration, not onely of Vegetables and Animals, but even of the
Minerals too, is to be sought for from the same.
But forasmuch as this bettering of the Metals meets with but little
credit and is very hardly believed and understood, (nay ’tis plainly
thought a thing impossible to be effected,) I could not choose but
manifest and demonstrate the truth of the same unto the whole
World; namely, that like as the Metals are in long process of time
maturated by Salt in the Bowels of the Earth: Even so may the same
be likewise maturated, mundified, and amended out of the Earth, by
Salt, by the help and benefit of Art; not onely by the moist way, but
also by the dry, and that with one Fire, in one Furnace, and with one
Servant, whom I will in this place call The Countryman paying his
yearly Rent. When his belly is continually fill’d with Coles, his Plows
never cease going, so that weekly, monthly and yearly he is able to
pay his master the due hire, namely Gold and Silver, wherewith all
things necessary for houshold expences may be gotten.
 And although this Countryman, which I will here describe, be not
that [great] Country-Farmer, which I have mentioned in the Third
Part of the Prosperity of Germany: yet notwithstanding he is a little
one, and one that will discover so much unto the ignorant as to
cause them to believe that the things which I speak of are possible
to be done, and that there is a yet richer and better Countryman.
But this here is to be accounted as a small Cow, and which will
however supply you with Milk, Butter and Cheese, for necessary
uses, if not with Sugar, Spices, and Wine too, to be set out upon the
Table. If this Country fellow be too little and small for any one, he
may even provide himself of a better, and learn by the consideration
of this, by what means such Countrymen are to be nourished, that
so the Rent may be gotten from him in its due time.
A. The little Country Tenant with one Plow. B. The Countryman
with three Plows. C. The Countryman’s Cap. D. His three Plows. E.
The Registers to govern the Fire by. F. The Glass set in with his
Alembick and Receiver. G. The Door to shut the Crate. H. The Ash-
hole. I. A Basket of Coals. [See the Fig. before the 3d. p. of the
Prosperity of Germ. noted with pag. 76.]
In the first place you must prepare you some pounds of good
Spirit of Salt, after the way which I prescribed with Vitriol, without
which it will effect nothing, for out of this [Vitriol] it doth in the
preparation carry over with it the spiritual Gold, or tinging Spirit,
which said [spiritual Gold] is, in the performing of the operation,
fixed, together with that spiritual Gold, which lyes hidden in the
inferior Metals, and so becomes manifest.
Then (in the next place) you must build you a Furnace, which is
called by the Chymists the slow Henry, or dull Harry, but I call it The
little Country Farmer or yearly Renter: you may build it, I say, of
what bigness you please; or for Example sake, the Tower which
holds the Coles may be about Man-heighth, and about one Cubit
broad in the inside, but so, that the top part and bottom part be
narrower, and the middle part wider. To this Tower you must adjoyn
two or three Furnaces, which are here called the Countryman’s