CHAP. I.
The occasion of writing.

THe English Philosophical Transactions have now a long time been pub­lished, and are grown into Vo­lums; also the French Diary, doth consist of and hath compleated five Tomes: And likewise the German Academy is now imployed in putting forth their fourth Vo­lume: [Page 2] so great every where at this day hath been their studious labour, and so great is the Aemulation, and strugling of the most flourishing Nations betwixt themselves: that every one of them do seem to hope in a small time to vanquish and triumph over Nature. Truly it is a most Noble Im­ployment, and such an one as former Ages hath been unacquainted with: to which if there shall be added, the greater Munifi­cence of Kings, and Princes, there is no doubt left, but that at last from thence, there will redound great Advantage to the Publick.

All of these are imployed about new In­ventions, and observations, in the Ma­thematicks, in Natural Knowledg, or Philo­sophy, in Anatomy, in Chirurgery, in Me­dicine in General, also in the Books of Politicks, Histories, and other Books late­ly Printed to adjudge, and revive them. Also they have mixed many things which particularly belong to the Chymical Art: but they if compared with the rest are but few: although from thence a more plen­tiful crop might certainly be expected, than from any of the other Sciences.

Upon this very occasion, I evolving those kind of writings, it came into my [Page 3] mind that perhaps it were convenient, that those most excellent Academical men, were by some publick admonition excited to bestow more pains for the future upon that Art, in whose deep Well lies hid an infinite plenty of Arcana's, or secrets. To this intent therefore we have written this Book, and Intituled it Destillatoria Curiosa; I say Curiosa, for neither is it such, that it should be extold by us with high Encomi­ums, nor can it promise of it self very great advantages, or utility, but this praise is sufficient for it, if by occasion of it, a Spur shall be added to men of sublime in­genuity, and expert Artists, that thereby they may not only find out the like expe­riments, but having found them out, com­municate them without envy.

CHAP. II.
Of Colour, and of the Appearances of various Colours.

EXactly to teach the Nature of Colour, is as hard as to explain the true reason of Light, of it self most clear: Iul. C. Sca­liger, Exert. 325. Sect. 1. Rightly says, The Causes, and Essence of Colours are as full of controversy, and obscurity to the Intellect as they are manifest to the sight. Aristotle Lib. de sens. & sensit. cap. 3. Defines Colour, that it is perfiicui terminante extremitas: The ex­tremity of a terminated body that may be seen, or seen through. Neither more clear is the description of others, That it is a quality of a coloured Body. Also that it is modifyed Light. Many of the Chymists do attribute all Colours to their principle of Sulphur, others of them to Mercury: of which opi­nion what is to be thought, it is very well worth the reading of Dan. Sennertus, lib. de consensu, Cap. 11. Excellent also is what hath been delivered upon this Argument by Antonius Scarmilionius Fulginas, and [Page 5] Mr. Boyle in his Book of Colours. See also upon this subject, Petrus Maria Capenarius lib. de Atrimentis, and Iohan. Christoph. Kolhansius Tract. Optic. and others.

But these controversies not properly be­longing to our design, leaving them, we will rather note the differences of Colours; yet not all of them, since they are many; (and already amongst others) they have been sufficiently and subtilly explained by Scaliger. Exercit. 325. Sect. 6. and in the following: we will only touch upon and handle slightly such of them now, as will lead us the shortest way to our pre­fixed end.

For the material subject of Colours we distinguish them into those which are real, or true, and into such as are Emphatick, and Apparent, or seeming. A Specimen, or example of these is afforded by the Rain­bow, a Prismatick or Triangular Glass, the redness of Wine spilt upon a Napkin. These we divide again into Penetrative Co­lours, such as Obryz, or pure Gold, and Sealing Wax: and into such as are Super­ficial, of which sort are Apples appearing outwardly red, and yet are inwardly white.

Moreover Colours considered in the ab­stract [Page 6] are either Primitive, or Simple; to wit, White, Yellow, Green, Blew, Red, Black; I say considered in Abstracto, or as they are to be distributed into certain, and distinct Clauses: for otherways Green seems rather to be composed of Yellow and Blew, whe­ther it be made of Vegetables, or Minerals. So Auripigmentum, or Orpiment if mixed with Indigo; or Gum of Peru cemented with Cobalt, or Bergblau, as the Germans call it, supposed to be the Native Cadmia, or Copper-Stone: or mix Vltra Marine with Saffron and you shall see a Green Co­lour will proceed from these mixtures.

Or else they are divided into compound Colours made from the mixture of simple ones: or else they are decompositi, or doubly compounded, which are made again in infinite variety by the mixture of com­pounded ones among themselves, as may be seen upon the Palates of Painters: but if you go to the Laboratories of Chymists, there you will be supplyed with a reason very different from these, by which Co­lours may be so changed, (and that with a most delightful variety to behold) that adding what is necessary to be added, there will suddenly result, and appear new Colours.

[Page 7]1. As Spirit of Turpentine, though of it self it be clear, if it be poured upon Sae­charum Saturni, (or Sugar of Lead) which is also of it self exceeding White, if it be digested upon it, will in a small time be­come a Tincture intercely or extremely Red.

2. Also Spirit of Turpentine, if it be mixed with Water, and strongly shook together, will look like Milk; although this milkiness is not lasting, but this oyly Spi­rit, ascending to the superficies is dimi­nished, or plainly vanisheth again. The like of which happens if Oyl of Olives be mixed with the Lixivium, or Lees of Vine Ashes.

3. Distilled Oyl of Aniseeds, (which is wont to coagulate, and grow thick with the cold Air,) if a Leaf of white Paper be anointed with it, and a few drops of Oyl of Vitriol be poured upon it, it will presently grow Red; I say the Oyl of Vi­triol, not the Spirit.

4. Syrup of Violets, which is of its self of an obscure Purple Colour, is changed into a vivid and brisk red, if you mix by drops with it Spirit of Vitriol: (which knack is now known to all the Apothecaries Shops) if you shall add Oyl of Tartar to this, [Page 8] a Green Colour will emerge from thence: which will perish and be lost again, If you add Spirit of Vitriol to it again.

5. Syrup of Piony Flowers, if you mix Salt of Vitriol with it, will become wholly Black: the same happens to Syrup of Clove Iuly-Flowers, if in the time of boyling it be stirred with an Iron Spatula.

6. Tincture of Coral, prepared with distilled Vinegar, mixed with the Tincture of Dasey Flowers, there will result from thence a Liquor of an obscure Blew.

7. If you mix Silvius's Sal volatile, or the like Vrinous Spirit in small quantity, with the same Tincture of Dasyes, or Roses, there will arise an obsure Blew Colour; but if you drop in a little more, it will be made an obscure Red: Neither can you make that Red Colour clear, although you should add more ( Spirit or Volatile Salt) to it. It therefore follows that acid, or sour Spirits, do strike a red Colour with clear­ness, but urinous ones with obscureness.

8. A Solution of Lead made with distilled Vinegar, appeareth clear like common Wa­ter: If you shall add to this Oyl of Tartar, ( per deliquium) which is also clear as Water, the mixture will presently grow White as Milk.

[Page 9] 9. If Antimony which is calcin'd with Nitre be boyl'd in Fountain Water, the straining will be clear, and almost with­out smell, which nevertheless by pouring any Acid upon it, will acquire a Saffron Colour, with a stinking scent.

10. Common Water in which Mercury Sublimate hath been infused, doth pre­sently grow Yellow by dropping into it Oyl of Tartar.

The solution of calcin'd Tin, mixed with dissolved Salt of Tartar becomes Blew. Dr. Willis lib. de Ferment. cap. 11.

11. Quicksilver and Sal Armoniack ground together, and sublimed in a bolt Head with a heat of Sand, will become a white Powder, which suffer'd to dissolve (by it self in the Air) will produce a clear Liquor like Spring Water, which for all its clearness, if Copper or Brass be moist­ned with it, they will appear silver'd; and if Copper Vessels be slightly rub'd with it, it will render them as if they were per­fectly silver'd: although this be rather an incrustation, (or coating of them over.)

12. But a Powder to gild with, is made thus. Dip fine Lint, made of Lin­ne-Cloath, in Aqua Regis, in which Gold is dissolved, and having cast it into [Page 10] a Crucible, make a Circular Fire about it, at a distance; and so by degrees reduce it into a Powder: But towards the end in­crease the heat by bringing the Fire nearer to the Crucible, and at last if you please, take out the Powder and free it from durt by pouring Water upon it, it will be without splendor, or shining, and is of a Violet colour; but if you rub it upon Sil­ver, the genuine splendor of Gold will appear, which afterwards will be made more splendid, and shining by polishing.

13. Lignum Acanthinum, or the Wood which is brought from Brazil, infused in common water, will communicate a plea­sant redness to it, like that of red Wine: If you pour upon this a little distill'd Vine­gar, the Liquor will appear clear like white Wine, but a few drops of Oyl of Tartar reduces the Colour to a deep Pur­ple, after which, if you drop in Spirit of Vitriol, it will be yellow like Sack: if you cast on it Salt of Lead dissolved per deli­quium (or in the Aire) the mixture will be whitish like Milk. Dr. Willis (lib. de Ferment. cap. 11.) proposeth this Expe­riment, every Branch of which will an­swer the Trial but the fourth, for we by adding Spirit of Vitriol could not produce [Page 11] a pale Yellow, but made a certain obscure Blew Colour.

14. Have in a readiness a solution of Vitriol, and likewise by it self an infusion of Galls. If you pour both of them toge­ther, you will make Writing Ink. Add Spirit of Vitriol to this, and the Blackness will clear up; then cast in Oyl of Tartar, and after a little working, and heat, there will appear a light Red, or bright Bay Co­lour: which by mixing Spirit of Vitriol again will be taken away, all clearing up again: And you may reiterate this Circle as often as you do by turns put in Oyl of Tartar, or Spirit of Vitriol: So that as often as you please you may render the Liquor of a light Red or Bay Colour, or else clear again.

15. It is also a pleasant Metamorpho­sis, which is proposed by the excellent Mr. Daniel Major, the Famous Professor of the Vniversity of Denmark. Lib. de Chirurg. Infusar. Dub. 9. to this purpose. Pour into a good transparent Glass the Saphire colour'd Water, made by the help of Spirit of Sal Armoniack being put into a Brass Bason: Afterwards add the common Clys­sus of Antimony, and the mixture being shook, it will become clear: but if you [Page 12] add to it Oyl of Tartar it will be restor'd to its former Blewness.

16. Take one Ounce of the solution of Crabs eyes, made with distilled Vinegar: drop into it of the Salt Spirit of Sal Ar­moniack 120 drops, and you shall perceive the matter to grow Milky, and a white Powder will fall to the bottom, if by turns you pour upon this Liquor as many drops of Ioac. Polemanus his Tincture of the Blood­stone, after some bubling, the Powder which lay in the bottom will be dissolved again, and the whole will be changed in­to an exceeding Red transparent Liquor, indowed with a grateful Saline taste.

17. The change of light doth also cause a new Colour to appear. So we have observed, the Flowers of Convolvu­lus or Bird-weed (that sort with the Blew Flower and Ivy-shaped Leaves, with sharp points,) which Lobelius calls Asu­reum, in the day time is of a delicate Blew, but at night by Candlelight it appears of of a Violet Colour. Wooden Tables, and such like Utensils, if they be painted Blew, by day shew their own Colour, but by night they appear Greenish.

18. Let there be taken two parts of Oyl of Tartar, and one of Cows Milk: this [Page 13] mixture in a heat of Sand will grow Red, a part of the Cheesy, or Curddy part of the Milk swimming at the top, if you strain this through a Cloath, the Red Li­quor will be more transparent. Being led by the Analogy, or resemblance of this Experiment, I have thought (that I may add this by the by) whether or no the whitishness of Chyle in an Humane Body, be­ing mingled every day with the red Blood, doth not perhaps grow red upon the like account also. Although the common People wrongfully suppose, this redness is induced upon the Chyle by the Circular motion of the Blood: but motion of it self doth hardly appear sufficient for to change the Colour, unless there be hid also in the Blood it self a Saline Principle, which may continue this Tincture so many years, even to old Age, which is perfected by the assistance of the Heart, its Vessels and Heat.

These and the like Phaenomina, or appea­rances and their causes, perhaps might be conveniently demonstrated, by the smallest Particulars of which these Liquors consists. A Battel composed of some thousands of thousands which may be di­lated, and contracted at the will of the [Page 14] Commander; nay being disordered by the Enemy, may again be rallied, and re­duced into order. After the same man­ner, from the small Particles of Liquors dilated ariseth perspicuity and whiteness: but from their contraction obscurity and blackness. Again, according as the dila­tation and contraction is more or less, there will arise intermediate Colours; Yellow, Red, Green, Blew. Whether those that study the Opticks can render a more exact account let them try.

CHAP. III.
Of the different ways of Distilling, and particularly of bringing the Tincture of Simples over the Helm, or Alimbeck.

THe various ways of Distilling depen­deth partly from the variety of Fur­naces, of which some are to distil by Ascen­tion, others by Descention: to say nothing of Probatory, Cementatory, Reverberatory, or Wind-Furnaces, partly also from the difference of Vessels, of which sort are Ve­sica's, Cucurbits, or Bodies, Retorts, Phials, Alimbecks, Receivers, and others of that kind. All which Apparatus or Furniture may not only be seen in our Laboratory, but are also described both by Writing, and Figures by Andr. Libavius. Iohan. Rhenanus, and the rest of those kind of Artists.

There is also other ways of Distilling, respect being had not to the Furnaces, or Vessels, but to the Matter which comes forth during the Operation. For whilst [Page 16] the Fire worketh upon the Matter com­mitted to Distillation, Vapours ascend, which being collected again fall into the Receiver under the Form of a Liquor.

To say nothing of Sublimation [to wit, of Antimony, with Sal Armoniack] by means of which there will also arise fair, and great variety of Colours in the head of the Alimbeck.

Therefore, first, as to what concerns the Vapours, or Fumes, they also differ in their colour. For Nitre though it be a white Body, yet in Distillation (at a cer­tain time of the operation) gives red Fumes. Vitriol of it self Green, or Blew, affords white Fumes. Soot though it be never so Black, yet the Fumes which fill the Receiver are so White, that it seems to be washed within with Milk.

But secondly, as to the Liquors which are come over into the Receiver, although all of them compared together are not altogether of the same Colour; yet it is certain, if you consider almost infinite plenty of Simples, there will be very little difference or variety in them.

Those which draw Aromatical Oyls, may easily observe, that they come over not White, but Coloured: As to instance Oyl [Page 17] of Cinnamon is Yellowish, Oyl of Mace is of a Yellowish White, Oyl of Cloves is of a Yellowish Black, Oyl of Rhodium Wood is of a Yellow Colour tending to Red. And as to distilled Waters, I think it worth our remark, that every one of them (not excluding all manner of Spirits) which are commonly found in the Apothecaries Shops, every one of them I say are limpid▪ and without Colour: Notwithstanding the so great variety of Colour in the Herbs, Roots, Leaves and Flowers from whence they were distilled. All that Blackness, Greeness, Blewness, Redness, Yellowness, &c. is left behind in the bottom of the Cucur­bit, or in the Copper distilling Vessel, or Vesica, or rather perisheth: there arising (which is worth noting) nothing but limpid, and almost colourless liquor.

Truly, heretofore this Subject tyred my thoughts, and I have many times weighed this Problem; Whether or no amongst so great variety of Simples, there were not at least some Species, or sorts of them which would bring over the Helm or Alimbeck with themselves their own Native Colours; I mention an Alim­beck only as the chief Instrument, not excluding a Retort, or any other distilling [Page 18] Instrument. That there are some such Species in Nature which will do this, La­bour hath taught me, nor do I repent the pains; part of these I have my self observed, part I have collected from the observation of others: The Observations, and Experiments are comprised in the following Chapters. Let the Industry of others add more to them.

CHAP. IV.
Experiments in Metals and Minerals.

THat we may begin this Business, first with Metals, although if they be left to themselves, they constantly retain their Native Colours, better than Vegetables do, by reason of their solidity of sub­stance: yet being tryed with Menstruums, or dissolving Liquors, they are much vari­ed; there doth also arise much more dif­ficulty in distilling them than in Vegeta­bles. The case is the same also in Mi­nerals, although the difficulty in distilling them be somewhat less: but let the dif­ficulty be what it will, having made trials in both sorts, we will produce a few; which Experiments (if not all of them in general) yet most of them are made by the help of an Alimbeck.

CHAP. V.
Experiments upon Animals.

WE may admire in the Animal Kingdom the diversity of Colours with which the chief Master Picture-Drawer hath most curiously spotted many Fishes, and also Shells; and amongst Insects, Butter­flyes of all sorts; and among four-footed Beasts, the Leopard, Linxes, Tygers, &c. but when we come to Birds, who is there that is not amazed at the Feathers of Peacocks, and Parrots? But whatever variety there is in this kind in general, the Alimbeck makes no discovery of them, for whatsoever pas­seth over by it, as much as is hitherto dis­covered, is Whitish, only excepting from this rule those which by way of Gleaning we have annexed lest, this place should be empty.

1. From the several parts of a Stag, or Hart, various and efficacious Shop- Medi­cines are prepared, amongst which the chief are the Horns, whose Spirit being drawn by a Retort, shines with a Yellow, or rather [Page 27] Golden Colour; although I deny not when the Oyl is exactly separated it grows white.

2. Amongst Insects, Bees make Honey; from which the Water which flows at the Beginning of its distillation is White, but the following Spirit is first Yellow, and to­wards the end of a Gold Colour, and so di­stils constantly, and is of many uses in Art.

3. Of the Blew Water of Gnats, this following Experiment is produced by A­damus Lonicerus Herb. German. part. ult. pag. 349.

Basser von geme [...]nen Mussen gebraunt wird blaufarb. Dasselbe bereite also: Spreite ein Sacflein, so Laufft das Basser durch das Sacflein oder zuch in die Ra­chel. Bo du es aber in einem helm bren­nest, so Wird der helm stiufend. Water ( saith he) distilled from common Gnats is Blewish, I make it thus: Spred a Cloth over a Caldron, but put the Gnats into a Sack, or Bag: and so let them fall out of the Sack, or Cloath into the Cauldron of Water, which if you distil by an Alimbeck, the Alimbeck will contract a stink. Thus far Leonicerus. Al­though I do not deny that this way of di­stilling Gnats is partly obscure, and partly defective.

CHAP. VI.
Experiments appearing in Vegetables.

THere goes about a Story of a great Per­son that was very curious, who ha­ving called together to him certain Al­chymists, shewed them divers Simples, which having mixed together, he caused them to be committed to distillation in their pre­sence: but it happened that the Liquor as it distilled did breath forth a grateful scent of Musk. When this Illustrious Person required of these Artists a reason of this Odor, for they saw not the least Grain of Musk mixed with the Simples; They af­flicted themselves all day long, and yet could produce no reason for the thing, unless this Fragrant scent did arise from the mixture of the Simples in a certain propor­tion; at length, about the Evening, the Nobleman discovered to them the fallacy, to wit, that unknown to them, he had put Musk into the Nose of the Alimbeck.

As therefore we may counterfeit a Scent, by putting into the Alimbeck, Musk, Civet, [Page 29] or Odoriferous Flowers; In like manner 'tis possible to fain Colours since the Water in its passing carries along with it self the Tincture of those things which are imposed in the Alimbeck: provided you light on such Spectators upon whom this Leger­demain or trick may pass.

1. The most facile way of all is, by put­ting Flowers into the Beak or Spout of the Alimbeck, (for example) put in Blew-Bottle Flowers: so the Water by passing through them will gain a Blew Colour.

2. If you think it necessary to do the thing with more care, put betwixt the Beak of the Alimbeck and the Receiver, a Fistula or Pipe, wider in the middle then at each end, or Bellyed like a Bottle, in which let those Flowers be contained (the Figure is thus.)

—Moreover this Pipe ought to be somewhat wider in its uppermost end, and narrower in its lowermost: as is to be seen in the Figure.

[Page 30] 3. This is a Spectacle for Mountebanks to shew upon a Stage, Thus: if there be four Cucurbits or Bodies full of Water all in one Furnace, put an Alimbeck upon each of them, let it be done so that the Alimbeck may only be seen, and the Pipes, or Beaks hid. Let there be put into every Beak se­veral Flowers (for example) Blew-Bottles, Violets, Marygolds, Red-Roses, Saffron, Sanders, &c. suddenly by the help of the Fire the Liquors which are forced into the Receivers will obtain different Colours, not without the admiration of the common People which stand by. The same thing may be performed with those Bellyed Pipes put betwixt and covered.

4. This also is for ostentation, and shew: If you take one, or more Wallnuts made Hollow and Empty, and fill them with the Spirit of the roots of Saphire, coloured Pim­pernel, describ'd below in the 15th Chapter, and stop them up lightly with wax. Then before the Spectators take these Nuts thus filled, and cast them into a vessel half full of Spirit of Wine, and putting on an Alim­beck, distill it in Sand; from the heat within the Wax will be melted, and the matter flowing out, the clear Spirit will be so tinged that to admiration it will appear all Blew.

CHAP. VII.
Of Veronica or Fluellin.

BUt some body will answer; Ah! but these are fallacies. Tis true. But you must know, that these ridiculous things are also necessary, lest you be deceived your self, and that you may be able to detect the fraud of others. Aristotles Sentence concerning a wise man is this: Qui ipse non mentitur, & alium mentientem facile deprehendit. Who is not false himself, and can easily discover the falshood of others. But now passing over crafty cheats, let us proceed to Operations, which are Genuine, and agreable to truth.

Veronica, or Fluellin, is a Plant known to all the Apothecaries, and its Vertues both as to the Breast, and Spleen; also its curing of Vlcers, and Wounds, are much cryed up to the Sick. Whether it were known to the Antient Writers both Greek and Latin, is uncertain: Although Caesalpinus refers it to Diascorides, Myosotida or Mous­eare. lib. 11. cap. 214. others make it another Plant. The kinds of it are com­monly [Page 32] (by Herbalists) recorded to be eight: amongst which the most usual is that which by Caspar Bauhinus is called Veronica Mas, supina & vulgatissima. The Male Fluellin the Superior, and most common. There is prepared from it a Syrup, Conserve, Salt, Wine, and also distilled Water: of the former nothing, but concerning the Wine, and the Water, take a couple of Observations.

CHAP. VIII.
Of Camomil.

BOtanists, or Herbarists, are wont to reckon ten sorts of this Plant, amongst which the most eminent are the common Camomil with the Noble Flower Single, and with the full, or double Flower Camomil without scent, and stinking Camomil or May­weed; but I shall chiefly have to do in this place with the first sort or common Ca­momil.

The distilled Water of this is to be had in Apothecaries Shops after the manner of other waters limpid and colourless. There is also to be sold its Oyl, made by infusion from the Yellow Flowers. But that which is made by distillation from the same Flow­ers is very different from this, for it is deep­ly saturated and fill'd with a Saphire Colour, very pleasing to the sight.

CHAP. IX.
Of Lignum Nephriticum, or the wood against the Stone.

CAsper Bauhinus in pinnace Botanic. calls this Wood, Lignum peregrinum, sive Mexicanum, Aquam caeruleam reddens, i. e. The strange, or Mexican wood, colouring Water Blew. And places it among the Species or Kinds of Ash trees. Franciscus Hernandes in his Book Intituled Thesaurus Rerum Medicarum Novae Hispaniae, which afterwards was published by Nardus An­tonius Recchus in the 4th Book, chap. 25. says thus: 'Tis called Coatlis, by others Tlapalezpatl, or the Medicine of the Scarlet or Crimson coloured Blood. It is a great Trees-Shrub, with a body thick and without knobs, like the Pear-tree wood, the Leaves like Sheep Pease, or Rue, with a Yellow Flower growing among Prickles. It is also excellently described by Nicol. Monades in his History of Simples, chap. 27. in these words; Mittit Nova Hispania Ligni quoddam genus crassum & erode, Materiae piri, [Page 42] cujus usus jamdiu receptus fuit in his Regioni­bus, ad Renum vitia, urinaeque difficultates & incommoda. Postea experimento comproba­tum est, ejus Aquam in Iecoris & Leinis ob­structionibus utilem esse. Illa autem hac rati­one paratur, Lignum assutatim, & minutim, concisum in optima & lympidissima aqua fonta­na maceratur, atque in ea relinquitur donec a­qua à bibentibus absumpta sit. Dimidia Hora post injectum lignum aqua caeruleum dilutio­rem colorem contrahit, qui sensun intenditur pro temporis diuturnitate, tametsi lignum can­didum (potius ruffum) sit, caeruleum ideo dico quoniam adulteratur alio ligno simili, quod aquam croceo colore inficit, ne quis falla­tur. ‘That is, there is sent from New-Spain a certain kind of thick Wood, without Knotts, like the substance of a Pear-Tree, it hath been long made use of in these parts, against the distempers of the Kidnies, and the difficulties, and inconveniences of making Urine. After­wards it was found by experience that its Water was beneficial in the Obstructions of the Liver, and Spleen. It is prepared after this manner; The Wood being shaved and smal cut, let it be steeped in the best and clearest Fountain Water, and left in it till it be consumed by those that [Page 43] drink it: Half an hour after the Wood is put into the Water, the Water will con­tract a pale Blew, which is heightned by degrees according to the time it remains in it, and yet the Wood is White (or rather Brown.) I therefore mention this Blew­ness, because it is counterfeited with another Wood like it, (which gives the Water a Saffron Colour) lest any body should be deceived.’

This [...], or knack, is now a daies commonly known, and certainly except it were so well known, it w [...]uld be more esteemed. Of which Fire is an Example: which although there be no­thing more admirable then the nature of it, yet we despise it as a common thing; which were it brought from the remotest parts of the Indies, and sudden­ly and unthought-of shewed to us, I doubt not with how much amazement we should contemplate it.

CHAP. X.
Of the Dregs of Wine, of wild Carna­tions, or Pinks, and Parsley.

OLd Wine deposits two sorts of Ex­crements; to wit Dregs, and Tartar. The Dregs are the grosser, and earthly parts of the Wine which after fermentati­on it lets fall (like Slime and Mudd) to the Bottom of the Vessel, it not being void of a useful saltness, from whence the Wine gains strength: So that taken from this root as it were, and put into another Vessel, it will not endure any long time, but will easily degenerate.

Concerning the usefulness of these Fae­ces, or Dregs, we have a testimony in Brandy, or Spirit of Wine, which the Vint­ners, and Distillers make from them: That we may omit other uses now, which are not unknown to the common people.

But this we suppose is hardly taken no­tice of by every body, that an Oyl is to be prepared from these Faeces or Dregs which ascends the Alimbeck of a Green Colour. In [Page 48] this Operation 'tis to be observed, that that Oyl is most green which distilleth last, but this Greenness doth vanish with length of time: Nay presently, if you rectify the Oyl, it being changed into a Yellowishness. Let the distilling vessels be well covered with Tin, lest you suppose the Tincture doth arise from the erotion of the Copper in its passage. Many affirm that from the pressings, or husks of Grapes, an Oyl may be likewise made, after the same manner, which will ascend Green. Wild Pinks, or Carnations whilest they are in Flower, and running up to Seed, if the whole Plant be fresh gathered, cut small, and distilled af­ter the usual manner, there commonly swims on the top of the Water drawn by the Alimbeck, a Greenish Oyl.

You will find the same thing to be true, with the Garden Smallage, or Parsley di­stilled after the same manner, if you have wrought aright: but this Greenness is but temporary, and of small duration. But the Oyls of Chervil, and Parsley which are to be seen in the Shops, are wont to be prepared by long fermentation, and are of a deep Gold Colour, which they constantly retain.

CHAP. XI.
Of wild Flower-de-luce.

IT is called Iris, and receiveth its name from the similitude it hath to the Rainbow, it being variously painted with the colours of divers Flowers. From the Form of the Roots it may conveniently be divided into Classes, the first of which is contained under that of the Bulbous, or round rooted, and are in number twenty: the other sort is tuberous, or full of swel­lings, and of this sort truly there is but one: The third sort is Geniculate, knot­ted, or jointed on the stems, of which there is about sixty four; the jointed are are subdivided into broad leav'd, narrow leav'd, and dwarfs. First the broad leav'd, which is called by Casper Bauhinus, the com­mon wild German Flower-de-luce, which is so well known, that it is called in the Shops our Orris, or flower-de-luce. They commonly reserve only its root, from whence they make juice, Oyl by infusion, and a Powder called Faecula: The blewish Flowers are beheld for their neatness, but [Page 50] never preserved or kept. Moreover, Ioachi­mus Camerarius in his Notes upon Petr. An­drea, Mathiolus German Herbal, which was printed 1590 at Frankfort, to wit, upon the first Book, cap. 1. fol. 2. layeth down an observation concerning these blew Flowers worthy our noting, in these words, Das Basser aus den Blumen der schonen jris destilliret, ist gut fur die Bassersucht: and ist solches viel [...]raffti­ger, Wann also dasselbe destilliret wird, dak es der blvmen natvrlich Iarbe be­halte, tvie den solches ohne allen fremb­den Busa Bivictlich geschehen-san. Water (says he) distilled from Flower-de-luce Flowers is available in the Dropsy, and is the more efficacious if it be so distilled that it re­tains the native colour of the Flowers: as also it may easily be perform'd without any strange additament. And truly except we will im­pute the crime of falshood to Camerarius, there is a way to be found by which a blew Water may be distilled from that Plant, but the way of doing this Camera­rius himself ought to have discovered to have freed himself from censure, lest there arise a suspition in the Readers, that the thing is done by the Artifice mention'd above, in Chap. 4. for whether or no the [Page 51] Water distilled by the common method will be Blew, we have not yet had lea­sure to try.

Curcuma, or Turmerick roots are vulgar­ly known, but the entire Plant few are acquainted with. The figure or picture shews it to be Indian Saffron (to which the name of Curcuma is added) also it is clearly described by Iacob Bontius in lib. 6. Histor. Oriental. cap. 30. put out by Gu­lielmus Piso in his Works printed 1658. He attributes to it the Leaves of white Hellebore, and purple Flowers, with a fruit prickly, or like the outward hairy barks of Chessnuts, which includes a Seed of the form of a Pea. If there be poured well rectified Spirit of Wine upon the Powder of common Turmerick, the Liquor being di­stilled somewhat swifter than ordinary, will be of a light yellow Colour, which yellowness will continue so long only as it shall be kept in a cold and shady place: but it is easily dissipated, and caus­ed to vanish, by the rayes of the Sun, or any other heat. But if any do contend that this yellowness is caused by the com­ing over of very small particles of the Turmerick with the Spirit, by reason of the swiftness of the distillation, I will not stiffly deny it.

CHAP. XII.
Of Sun-dew.

SOme Plants comprehend many Species or kinds under them, as Tulips, Hawk-weed, Cranes-bill, Orchis, or Dog­stones, Treacle Mustard, and Grass. Others contain no variety of kinds, in as much as we hitherto know of; as Annise, Cym­balaria, or Bastard-Italian-Navelwort, Wall-Rue, Matthiolus his Orpine. Others hold a middle betwixt these, and contain but few Species or sorts: As, Goats-Rue, Li­quoriss, Celandine. And the last of the three is the most ample, containing un­der it, amongst other sorts, a Plant of a most excellent structure, which from a dewy Liquor which stands upon the leavs of it, even when the Sun is hottest in Summer, is commonly called Ros Solis, or Sun-dew. Nor do our Botanists know more then two species, or sorts of it: of which one sort is called Sun-dew with the round Leaf, and is the most usually known in the Shops. The other which [Page 53] is rarer with us, is wont to be called Sun-dew with the longest Leaf.

CHAP. XIII.
Of Blew Pimpernel, and of Curcu­ma, or Turmerick.

THe Family, or kind of Pimpernels may be conveniently divided into two Classes. The first contains those Pimpernels called Sanguisorbae, or Burnet, of which there are four sorts: to wit, the greater, the lesser which is hairy or rough, the lesser which is smooth, and that which is without scent. Of the latter sort are those Pimpinels commonly known by the name of Pimpinella Saxifraga, of which five kinds are reckoned up by Bouhinus in Pinac: that is the greater with the white boss or Top, the other greater, the greater with the red boss or Tuft, and the lesser with the thin Leaf. To which may be added those which were unknown to Bouhinus: Pimpinella Cadanensis Maxima of Iacobus Cornutus, and the Pimpinella Maxima Ca­dan. with the long red spire or ear, and that with the red ear conglomorated, or heaped together, of Robert Morisons; also Pimpi­nella [Page 56] Agnimonoides, of the Physick Garden of Padua.

But besides all the aforementioned, there is another sort which grows with us, in the Fields near the City, which for certain reasons we call the Blew Pim­pinel; the same also may be found near Steinford, a place six Miles distance from hence, where it is propagated in the Phy­sick-Garden of the Court; and also at Frankfort by the way side.

If you regard its Figure, it doth not seem to belong to those sort of Pimpinels called Sanguisorbes, but to that other sort called Saxifraga's, amongst them to these called Major Vmbella, Candida, or the great­er with the white boss, or Tuft, to which it approacheth very near. But again it doth differ from it; First, In the Native Soil, or place of its growth: for Blew Pimpinels grow in a blackish Earth, but the other in a sandy. Secondly, The root of Blew Pimpinels is outwardly of a gray colour, and inwardly is white: the other root is white both without and within. Thirdly, These roots do abound within with a blewish juice, which is never seen in the common sort, for which cause it hath seem'd convenient to me to [Page 57] give it the name of Blew Saxifrage Pim­pinel.

CHAP. XIV.
Of Cinnamon.

BY reason of the difficulties, and length of Navigations, there hath been re­lated both by the Ancient Greek, as well as Latine Authors, many uncertain, and also fabulous things concerning Cinnamon. And from hence, heretofore there hath sprang so many controversies amongst Botanists, about the differences and iden­tities of Cinnamon, and Cannella; which quarrels will be easily determined by reading of the writings of latter Au­thors.

The most noble sort of Cinnamon is the Cannella Zeilanica, or the Cinnamon of Zei­lan: the next to this, is that of Malaver, or Iava: the next is, the Peruvian. Nor must we pass by the Clove Cinnamon, or Clove Bark, so called from its tast, which in this Age begins to be brought to us from the Southern Provinces of America, called Guiana.

[Page 62] But the History of Cannella is above all others most exactly described by Guliel­mus Piso, cap. 1. and 2. of his Mantissae Aromaticae, which he hath described and annexed to his splendid and neat work, De Indiae utriusque re naturali atque Medica. Printed Anno 1658 at Amsterdam. I confess I was not a little joyed when I turning over this Volumn, first beheld the Cut or Figure of the intire Cinnamon Tree: having been troubled at the negligence, shall I say, or ignorance of the rest of Herbarists, for almost every one of them in their Commentaries, have hardly afforded us but one Leaf, with a Berry, with a small Pipe, or Stem. Moreover, because this Author, as Iohan. Iohnstonus (who follows his steps in his Hist. Nat. de Ar­boribus,) is not to be found in every bo­dies hands, and that besides there is hardly any hope left, that this Tree will ever be procured to grow in our colder Cly­mat: Therefore we esteem so much of this Cardinal, and most fragrant Spice, that being led by the example of Piso, I have caused its Effigies to be ingraved, and that it might be the better known to our Countrymen, have taken care to in­sert it in this place.

[Page 63]

[Page 64] But that we may draw nearer to what we design, there is made of this Bark a Water to be had in the Shops; which if you reckon to be the first of Aromatical, or spicy ones, you will not be mistaken; for it is so cordial and friendly to the Vi­tal Spirits, and doth so powerfully expel Wind in the Stomack and Guts, and also is so grateful, and pleasing to the Palate, that it leaves other Spices much behind it. They are wont to distil it with Wine, or without with Borage Water: either way that which first distils over the Alim­beck, is of a Milky colour. But this Milkiness is hardly native, or true, but doth proceed from the Oyl, with which this Spice doth abound: which being dispers­ed through the Water in small Particles, causeth a Milky colour: And if these, as it were Atomes, shall by length of time be united, they will be carried to the top of the Liquor, and there will shew themselves small Oyly drops of a Golden colour, leaving the Water clear: although that Oyl, if it be somewhat more plen­tiful, doth usually at last fall to the bottom.

[Page 65] Nor ought this so to be interpreted, as if this milky Colour were only pro­per to Cinamon water: for it appeareth also in the Water of Cloves, Nutmegs, and the rest of waters drawn from Spices. But I thought fit to name Cinamon above the rest, because, as we said a little before, it doth excel other Waters. And also, because it is more frequently used every where.

CHAP. XV.
Of Corrals.

THere are three kinds of Corrals: Red, Black, and White. The White may also conveniently be distinguished into branched, starred, joynted, and that which is warty, or knobby. There is also a sort of Corral which is Red without, and Black within. But that which is prised above the rest in Medicine, is the Red called the Male Corral, of which Pedac. Dioscorides. lib. 5. cap. 139. Thus: Sea Corral is a Shrub, which drawn to the top of the Water growth hard presently, and swims, and as it is incompassed with aire it concretes, or har­dens. Much of it is found in a Promontory by Syracuse. The name of which is Pachyno. The most commended is the Red sort, of the Co­lour of a Daffidil stalk, or of the deep coloured Sardix or Orient bright Purple. Being of a long and round figure easy to break, and of a like hardness in every part of it: again, it is of the scent of Oreweed, or Sea-grass. It is very full of small branches, and is like in form to [Page 67] the Shrub Cinamon. The like description to this Pliny hath lib. 32. Histo. Natur. but that he erroneously alledgeth that these Berries or litle Balls, which are worn for ornament about womans Necks, do grow of their own accord on this small Sea tree: for it is sufficiently known at this day, that they are made by Turning; and that also might as well have been known heretofore. Of the same reddish Beads, is to be under­stood the most antient of Poets, Orpheus, in his peculiar verses of Corral, in which he elegently prosecutes the vertues of it, and the Fables of it also.

Concerning this bright sparkling Cor­ral, whether or no the true tincture of its genuine Colour, can be extracted, hath been already examined: The Solutions made with Iuice of Lemmons, or of Bar­berries, although they delight us with a false shew, yet they will not answer the thing designed: Neither also will those Liquors which after abstraction remain of a Red Colour in the bottom of the Vessel. Of this sort may be seen many Processes or Methods in Anselm. Boetius. lib. 11. Histor. Gemm. & Lapid. cap. 154. But many more in Io. Lodov. Gansius Histor. Corral. caput 7. Also amongst other late Authors. The [Page 68] business consists in this point, that a rea­son may be shewed, how without the ad­dition of any suspected thing, there may be drawn either by Alimbeck, or Retort a Red Liquor from Corrals, that is, a Genuine and true Tincture.

CHAP. XVI.
The Conclusion: Containing three sorts of Observations.

SInce we have spoken concerning Co­lours emerging, and resulting from mixture in the second Chapter: we shall not seem to wander from the matter, if by way of Colophony or conclusion, we produce also by way of Example, the various ef­fervescencies, and incalescencies of things, to­gether with their attenuation, and coagula­tions. These also are Chymical, and afford much light towards the Knowledg of Na­ture, and of the differences of Acid, and Vrinous Salts. As also it will easily appear from hence, which Saline Spirits will either suffer themselves to be joyned to each o­ther, or refuse it. Which Doctrine, as it contains under it the foundation of some of the most noble Operations, and is not commonly known to all men: So upon its own account it seems worthy to be an­nexed to our Distillatory, by way of Man­tissa, or overplus.