Written by that Noble and Learned Philosopher, Roger Bacon.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Basilius Valentinus and Cable, Daniel
Stibium or Antimony, as the Philosophers say, is composed of a Noble Mineral Sulphur, which they accounted to be the black secret Lead of the Wise.
The Arabians call it Asmat or Azmat; the Alchymists retain the Name Antimony.
Addition. The Moors call it Antimony, others call it Alabaster, or Tarbason. By the Arabians and Spaniards it is called Alcohol. Avicennæ c. 7. calls it Artemed. Alexius of Piedmont, in his seventh Book of Secrets, calls it Talck, even as John Jacob Wecker renders it in his Books of Secrets; but Talck is far different from Antimony. Pliny, Book 33. Chap. 6. of Antimony. Dioscorides gives a preparation of Antimony, Book 5. Chap. 39. They call it also Stibi, Stimmi, &c. The Germans call it Spies glass, or as George Fabricius would rather have it, Spies glantz. Gerlandius calls it Black Alcophil, Altofel, or Alirnu, others Cosmet, and it is twofold, Masculine and Feminine.
It will lead us to the consideration of higher Mysteries, if we behold and discern that Nature wherein Gold is exalted, even as the Magi have found that this Mineral is by God ordained under the Constellation of Aries, which is the first Celestial Sign, wherein the Sun takes its Exaltation, though this be not regarded by the Vulgar; yet discreet people will know, and the better observe, that even in this place also the Mysteries and Perpetuity may in part be considered with great benefit, and in part discovered.
But some ignorant and indiscreet people think, that when they had Antimony, they would deal well enough with it by Calcination, others by Sublimation, and some by Reverberation, thereby to obtain its great Mystery and perfect Medicine. But I tell you, that here in this place it availes not in the least, either Calcination, Sublimation, or Reverberation, whereby afterwards a perfect extraction can or might be done or effected with profit, to transmute the meaner into a better Metallick virtue; for it is impossible for you.
Be not deluded; some of the Philosophers which have wrote of such things, as Geber, Albertus Magnus, Rasis, Rupecissa, Aristotle, and many others: But observe this: Some say, that if Antimony be made to a Vitrum or Glass, the bad volatile Sulphur is gone, and the Oil which may be prepared out of that Glass, will be a very fixt Oil, and will really give an ingress and Medicine of perfection to the imperfect Metals.
These words and opinion are good and true, but it will not be nor appear such indeed; for I tell you truly, without concealed speeches, that if you lose any of the aforesaid Sulphur in the Preparation or Burning, for a small fire may easily prejudice it, you then have lost the true penetrating Spirit, which should make the whole Body of Antimony to a perfect red Oyl, which should also ascend over the helm with a delightful sent, and curious Colours; observe likewise, that the whole Body of this Mineral, with all its Members, should be but one Oyl, and ascend over the helm without any loss of weight, excepting the feces.
How should the Body be brought to an Oil, or yield its pleasant Oil, if it be brought to the last being of its degree, for Glass is in all things the utmost and last.
You shall likewise know that you shall not obtain that perfect noble Oil in the least, if it be extracted with corrected Vinegar poured upon the Antimony, nor yet by Reverberation; and although its various colours may appear, yet is it not the right way; you may indeed get an Oil, but you must know that it hath no part of the Tincture, or power of transmutation in it.