Thou wilt object, that the spirit made after this manner, is not the true spirit of salt by reason of the mixture of vitriol and allome, but mixed, and compounded. I answer; There can by this way distil no spirit of vitriol, or allome, being that which I often tryed, casting vitriol or allome into the furnace, where I received no spirit at all; the reason of this is, because these spirits are far more heavy than the spirit of salt, neither can they ascend so great a heighth, _viz._ of three spans, but are burnt, whence unless the flegme, nothing distils. Wherefore the spirit of salt that is made after this manner is not mixed, but pure and meer spirit of salt, of the same tast and vertue as that is of, that is made by it self; because in this furnace the spirit of allome and vitriol, cannot be made unless a pipe go out of the furnace neer the grate, as you may see by the delineation of the furnace, for otherwise it cannot be made; besides, these spirit are better, and more truly taught in the second part. And if it be granted that somewhat together with the spirit of salt comes forth (which is yet impossible) what hurt I pray you comes from thence either in the solution of metals, or medicine? wherefore the spirit made after this way is not to be suspected. Yet I will satisfie the incredulous, and will shew him another way without the addition of allome or vitriol, for the distilling of that spirit, but that will be in the second part of this Book, where I will teach you the furnace, by which is made spirit of Nitre, Aquafortis, and amongst combustibles, the Oyles of vegetables, and Fats of animals and other things which cannot be made by this: and by this way I will satisfie those, who are not pleased with the former. Now for want of glass receivers, we are forced to use earthen, but these cannot retain the spirit of salt made after the aforesaid wayes, in which case I could indeed discover a certain little manual, by vertue of which the aforesaid spirit may be received even in a great quantity in earthen recipients: but for certain causes I shall here be silent, and shall refer it till the edition of the second part. Let it suffice therefore that I mentioned such a thing, wherefore omitting that, I shall proceed to shew you the vertues, and use of this spirit, as well in Alchymy, as in Medicine, and other Mechanical Arts. _Of the Use of the Spirit of Salt._ It is worth while, to speak of the power, and vertues of this excellent spirit; what other Authors have clearly described, I shall here pass over, and refer the Reader to the Writings of those Authors; touching only on some few of which they said nothing.