124 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



them over a strong fire, and, by placing 

 three alembics on each other, they 

 manage to prepare white, yellow, and 

 red flowers at the same time. I have 

 tried these ways, and find them useful ; 

 but the most potent and efficacious 

 flowers of Antimony are prepared as 

 follows : Mix red flowers of Antimony 

 with colcotar of vitriol, and sublime the 

 mixture thrice. Then the essence of 

 vitriol ascends with the flowers, and 

 they become more effectual. Extract 

 the flowers with spirit of wine, remove 

 sediment, distil spirit of wine in Bath of 

 S. Mary, till there remains a dry 

 powder, which represents the purified 

 flowers of Antimony. These I have 

 shewn to the other friars, and to many 

 who have consulted me in their spiritual 

 and physical difficulties. 



These flowers act as a gentle pur- 

 gative ; they cure tertian and quartan 

 fever, and most other diseases, so much 

 so that I have determined, by the help 

 of my Saviour Jesus and the most holy 

 Mary, His Mother, to bequeath in my 



