I doubt not but that there will be found self-conceited scoffers, that will despise this so little regarded subject, as if no good thing could be made of it, because they could find nothing in it themselves. But be it known to them, that neither to me nor them all things have been discovered, but that yet many wonderful works of Nature are hidden to us: and besides that I am not the first that writ of Vitriol and its medicine. For the Ancients, our dear Ancestors, had always Vitriol in very great esteem, as the following Verse doth prove. _Visitabis Interiora Terræ, Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam._ Whereby they would give us to understand, that a true medicine is to be found in it. And the same also was known to the latter Philosophers: for _Basilius_ and _Paracelsus_ have always highly commended it, as in their writings is to be found. It is to be admired, that this Oare or Metallical seed, which may justly be called the gold of Physitians (in regard that so good a medicine can be made of it) is not changed or altered in the earth, like other things that grow in it, but keepeth always the same form and shape, until it cometh to the air, which is its earth or ground, wherein it putrefieth and groweth. For first it swelleth and groweth like as a vegetable seed doth in the earth: and so taketh its increase and grows out of the air, just as a seed of an hearb in the earth; and the air is not only its Matrix, wherein it groweth and doth increase like a vegetable, but it is also its Sun which maketh it ripe. For within four weeks at the furthest it putrefieth and groweth black: and about a fourtnight after it groweth white, and then green; and thus far it hath been described here: But if you proceed further Philosopher-like therewith, there will come forth to light at the last the fairest red, and most pleasant Medicine, for which God be praised for ever and ever, Amen. _Of the Sulphureous volatile and Acid spirit of common Salt, and of Allome._ The same way, which above hath been taught for the making of the volatile spirit of vitriol, must be likewise used in the making of the volatile spirits of common salt and allome. _The manner of preparing._ Allome is to be cast in as it is of it self, without mixing of it, but salt must be mixed with bole, or some other earth, to keep it from melting: with the spirit volatile, there goeth also along an acid spirit, whose vertue is described in the first part. The Oyl of Allome hath almost the like operation with the oyl of vitriol. Also the spirit volatile of both these, is of the same nature and condition with that which is made of vitriol: but common salt, and allome, do not yield so much, as vitriol; unless both, _viz._ salt and allome be mixed together, and so a spirit distilled of them. _Of the sulphureous volatile spirit of Minerals and Metals, and of their preparation._