150 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



them putrefy two months, then distil 

 vinegar gently, and mix with that which 

 remains a fourfold weight of steel filings ; 

 distil over a strong fire through the 

 retort ; the spirit of salt will then carry 

 the Mercury with it in form of smoke ; 

 let it be driven into a large glass receiver 

 full of water : the spirit of salt then 

 mingles with the water, but the Mercury 

 is precipitated to the bottom, as true 

 Mercury.* This is the way in which 

 running Mercury is prepared from Anti- 

 mony : we must now go on to describe 

 its uses. 



Take, in the name of the Lord, one 

 part of this Mercury, and strain it 

 through leather ; take four parts of 

 highly rectified oil of red vitriol ; extract 



* Certain secrets which were deeply concealed in the 

 days of Basilius are now included among the common pro- 

 cesses of chemists No person could now be regarded as a 

 true chemist who is ignorant of the method by which Mer- 

 cury is composed out of Antimony, whether that which 

 Basilius teaches, or anolher method, for various artists have 

 excogitated various ways, and that which has been success- 

 fully proved by one is by him favoured in proportion. How 

 many Alchemists in those times could elicit the Mercury of 

 Antimony ? Yet they looked down on Basilius, forsooth, and 

 upon his whole system. 



