HOLLANDUS
MEDICINAL
RECIPES
FROM HIS
SECRETS
concerning vegetall and animal work
EXTRACTED FROM
THREE EXACT PIECES
of
LEONARD PHIORAVANT
1652
CHAPTER I
QUINTESSENCE OF HONEY
Now I will open to you a great secret in the Vegetall work of honie. To wit, a marvelous nature: for it is drawn out of the most noble and pure part of the floures. The nature of Bees is such that they draw out the best of everything as is enlarged upon in the Animal Work. Therein is taught how to extract the nature of all beasts, especially as in the 84th Chapter.
Wherefore my son, know this: That all that God hath created good in the upper part of the world, are perfect and incorruptible as the heaven. Whatsoever is in these lower parts, whether it be in beasts, fishes and all manner of sensible creatures, herbs or plants, it is indeed with a double nature. That is to say, both perfect and imperfect. The perfect nature is known as the Quintessence and the imperfect is known as the Faeces or dregs, or the venomous or combustible oil. Therefore, you shall separate the dregs and the combustible oil and then, that which remains is perfect and is called the Quintessence, which will endure continually, even as the heavens endure and it can neither be dissolved with fire or any other thing. For when God had created all things and looked upon them, they were all perfect good and there was nothing lacking to any; and therefore, for loves sake I say unto thee, that God hath put a secret nature of influence in every creature, and that to every nature of one sort or kind, he hath given one coinmon influence, and to every one one of several kinds, their several influences and virtues. This is whether it be on physics or
other secret works which are partly discovered through natural workmanship. And yet, more things are unknown than are apparant to our senses. What? Do you not think that an herb is appointed for one disease which it will cure and also contains in it many more virtues than are known unto us? Yes truly, many more. I will add this as well: that if the Faeces and combustible oil be taken away from this thing, or herb, which in all things is the poison that should be taken away, that brings death to us, and the Elements should be purified and so burned together by Art, that they shall pass together by in a Limbeck and be joined together, as it were coupled in marriage, that it may root out all manner of disease from everything. This, be it herb or living thing, or be drawn from his venom, as in the 14th chapter of the Prologue of this Book is declared and also in the Prologue of the Animal Work. The manner of drawing the Quintessence out of all venemous beasts, birds, worms and flies is plainly declared, that it may help all the griefs of man, but that is specially drawn out of the blood of man, and there is likewise declared, that there is no need of things without man or beast to help such as are infected.
This is because every creature contains in himself the remedy of his disease. This remedy may be drawn out without hurting the man or beast, in order that the disease be miraculously cured as is most excellently taught in the Theorick and in the Practick. Therefore, I would write this, that thou might soon understand what marvelous force is in Honie, which is taken out of all floures and gathered into one Masse which is truly imbued with sundry virtues.
If God hath given unto other things the gift of healing, what then is there not in Honie, which is gathered from many floures and many herbs, and are all endued with a particular virtue? Truly if it be brought to his height and excellency, it will work marvelously. Now consider what lies hidden in this Quintessence and esteem it not lightly, but keep it secret as the most excellent thing of all Animal work. If this is obtained, you will need no other medicines to put away all accidents of the body.
CHAPTER II
Now I will set in hand with the practice. Take twelve quarts of the best Virgin Honie and put it in a great earthern vessel with a Lirnbeck well luted. Set this in Balneo and lute a recipient to the neck of it and distill that which will distill of it, which is boiling in your Balneo. My son, know this, that there is no common water in Honie, but only Philosophical and Elemental. For the element of Aire, oes pass first together with the element of Fire in which the Aire is contained. The air, when it rises, resembles the savor of Aqua Vitae distilled. Initially, it can not be distinguished from Aqua Vitae either by sight or by savor. Distill it then, until no more arises, the leave the vessel in Balneo five days with a Limbeck and receiver. Let it boil night and day that the matter may be dried. Cool it now, take it out an remove the receiver and Lirnbeck. That which is in the receiver pour back into the vessel over the dry matter. Set it back in Balneo and cover the mouth of the vessel witha clean, well luted dish, and let your Balneum be only lukewarm.
My son, understand that it may thus be done, for it is good that
the fire be drawn with his proper air, so as a man would stay so long, for it would be of greater force. The ancient Philosophers wrought in this sort, but the danger is, when the vessels shall be opened, the water may fly away it being as subtle as wine. For every time the air is to be drawn away, and again to be poured on, making putrefaction in a warm Balneo, but first it must be well luted and a Limbeck being set on with a receiver, you must reiterate the work, until the fire rises like red blood. There is yet another method or rule of working found out in these our days, which is in this sort.
CHAPTER III
They are thus drawn out and the matter is dried, as has been said. Then take common water which has been twice distilled in Balneo and pour on as much as is sufficient and set in Balneo. Cover the mouth of the vessel but don’t let the Balnewn boil. Let it stand thus for three days and three nights, moving it day and night with a wooden spatula or spoon that is clean. After this, let it cool, remove it, pour it out and strain it. Then, take a clean vessel and decant the clear liquid and then pour on the Faeces fresh distilled water (rain water best) as was done before and set the vessel in Balneo as before. Let it be cleared and put aside with the first water and pour once more fresh distilled (rain) water and once again set in Balneo. Do this as often as the water is tincted or coloured. When it no longer is tinged, you have separated the fire from the earth. Reserve the earth, or Faeces, until I tell you further what to do with it, for there is a combustible oil in it.
CHAPTER IV
Take the vessel containing the colored water and set it in Balneo with a Limbeck and receiver well luted. Distill all the water with a boiling Balneo and let the matter be well dried and cool. Then take away the Limbeck and let the vessel remain in Balneo and pour on again (from the receiver) the water over the matter and make a fire. Set a dish upon the mouth of the vessel and let it stand in Balneo three days.Stir this every day, three or four times with a clean wooden spatula. After this, let it cool, remove it and filter it. Then take a clean vessel and carefully decant the clear liquid into the vessel and right away pour on the Faeces fresh distilled (rain) water, stirring it with a wooden ladle and let it stand one day to clear (settle) and the Faeces that remain, put them in with the first Faeces which has been set aside. Then take a clean vessel and set it in a boiling Balneo un-. til it is thoroughly dry and repeat this process until there remain no Faeces in the bottom of the vessel. In this way, you shall obtain the pure element of Fire: and the element of Aire must also be so often distilled until there remains nothing in the bottom. This is the manner in which the pure elements are obtained.Separate then the water from the fire, and let it dry. This will give you a clear shining matter similar to Caxnphor.Keep the Fire well in a glass contained and the Aire with the Water in another container of glass, well sealed, until you have your earth prepared.
CHAPTER V
Take all the earth with the faeces and draw out the combustible oyle (oil) by a discensorie, that is, with two vessels joined to
gether and luted (probably needs a vacuum) until the Combustible oil passes. This oil is useful for all cold diseases and other passions. If you do not want the combustible oil, just let it fly away. Then take your earth and calcine it in a reverbatory furnace, gently, until it be all white as snow. Then take a great earthen or stone vessel and put into it this white calcined earth on which pour a goodly amount of common distilled water. Stir it with a woo6en ladle and let it stand three days in a boiling bath and keep it covered with a dish. Daily, stir it a dozen times. Let it cool, remove the vessel and let it stand to clear, for one day. Now, take another clean vessel and soft~.y pour out that which is clear. (decant) Upon the Faeces, again pour fresh distilled water and once again set it in Balneo. Cool, remove, let stand one day and decant into the first waters thus obtained. A third time pour fresh distilled water over the Faeces and.repeat the entire process. The Faeces can now be thrown away as they no longer contain any value.
Take the vessel with these three waters and set it in Balneo with a Limbeck and receiver. With a boiling Balneo, draw out the water until the matter be dry. Let it cool. Take away the Limbeck and pour the water (from the receiver) on the earth again and set it in boiling Balneo for one day Let it dissolve and clear. Decant that which is clear and put in a little distilled water on the Faeces, and let it stand for two or three hours in a warm bath. Remove it from the bath and allow it to stand for two or three hours and pour out the upper part upon the first waters and the Faeces can be thrown away. Once again set the vessel in BalneO, with the earth, or salt, and distill away the water until all be dry as before. Repeat this work until no Faeces remain in the
bottom. Drain away the water from the earth and it will be like Crystal. Pure.
CHAPTER VI
Take a great glass that will bear the heat and put into it your Fire and your Earth and pour your Aire upon it and set it to distill in a furnace, in a pot with sand or ashes, with a Limbeck well luted, having a hole in the uppermost knottie part that a funnel may be put in when there shall be a need of Infusion. When as the humidity that it hath received be half consumed, then fortify your fire a little,gradUally until you see the water start to boil. Keep the fire in this state until the liquid boils out so that only a pint remains. Remove the fire, let the glass cool and take away the receiver and open the hole in the Limbeck and put in a glass funnel. (Note Limbeck NOT removed from vessel)Pour in all the water that distilled over into the receiver. Plug the hole in the Limbeck and set the iecipent to the neck again and lute it well. Distill again making the same observations and practices as before. Do this ten times. The tenth distillation being complete, let all pass together as the earth is made volatile. So the Aire, the Water, the Fire and the Earth will ascend together by the Limbeck and be brought into one substance which were in four. One together in nature and now simple as the incorruptible heaven, yet are they not fixe6: but notwithstanding they are so coupled together and so intertwined; that by no means can they be separated. They will continue now together as one body, forever; even as the Christal].ine and uncorruptible heaven, which notwithstanding, is compounded of the four Elements. What do you think of this, my Son? Cannot this Quintessence help every disease that now infects man through his most excellent temperature, whether it be in heat, cold, moist or dry. For all are in it that he may distribute unto every one that which is necessary; even as the heaven when need requireth, gives unto the earth all things as coldness, heat or moisture. And yet, it is neither hot, cold, moist or dry, but of one simple essence, and that imbued with such a nature that it giveth unto everything that which is necessary. In like manner, this is what this Quintessence does. Therefore my son, Rejoice~ Give the Almighty God thanks which has opened these things unto the Philosophers.
CHAPTER VII
Now my son, if you would bring this Quintessence to even greater perfection, take a great circulatory or Pelican, that is a great glass that hath a great head similar to a Limbeck, and in the top of the head, a hole by which the matter may be poured in by means of a funnel. This hole is to be stoppered. Out of the head comes two arms bending around into the belly. This permits that which goes up to descend again, through the arms back into the belly of the Pelican. This is the form of the vessel or Pelican, that distills one into the other.
1. Take then your Quintessence and put it into a Pelican and set this into ashes. Better yet, put it into salt, prepared and dried • (like a sand bath) Regulate the fire so that it is like the heat in summer, the extreme heat.The Quintessence will rise like red oil and fall down again by the arms of the Pelican. By repeated ascensions, the Quintessence will become thick like wax or syrup. So much so that it will remain in the bottom eventually, and no longer ascend. At this point, fortify your fire so that the Quintessence will again ascend and descend. Maintain this heat until it again will not ascend but remains in the bottom. Make the fire even stronger that it will once again ascend and descend.Keepthis same heat until. it again rise no more.
2. Observe this manner of augmenting the fire until the water be fixed and the glass turns red hot.This will take about twenty four hours all-together. If at the end of this time, the Quintessence no longer arises, it is indeed fixed and is brought into his highest virtue. Remove it from the glass while still hot or it will become hard as wax when cooled and you will have to break the glass to remove it. For when hot, like wax it will become liquid. But when cool it congeals and pierces every hard thing, as oil does any leather. Its colour is likeaRuby, and through shining like a Christal, it gives light in the dark, sufficient to read by. What do you think of this, my son? Are there not many strange bodies created by God? Truly he has imbued the Philosàphers with no less gifts, for they that can look into the secrets of nature, shall see it to be an incredible operation.For this is gathered by Bees of the subtlest parts of all plants, trees, floures and fruits, and at that time when floures break out and trees bud. It is worthily called the Philosopher’s Stone, for it is fixed and liquifiabie as Wax and as the mineral Stone transmutes the impure metals, so does this one alter diseases.
Hereby it appears that this bears the bell among all the Vegetals; whereas it being yet in his grossness and impure, it is but of small value for.any use in Physick by whatever means it may be boiled or skimmed off, but always retains his nature because it consists of all the fruits of the earth, plants and trees.Whereof one herb is hot, another cold, another dry and yet another moist, one astringent, one laxative, some corrosive and others venomous. So, diverse herbs have diverse qualities.
3. It comes about that if it helps one disease, by and by it hinders anOther for everything wOrks according to its properties when as is there made separation in the body. And of this separation is engendered bloud and other humours. They are just like gunpouder in that so long as they sit still, there comes no harm therefrom. But if it be brought to the fire, it will at once demonstrate its secret nature and is kindled with a destructive fire. A fire which cannot be quenched with water, for the cold and dry, hot and moist, strive among themselves, a wind is stirred up that breaks all things near it. The same thing happens with Honie, that when it comes to the area of the Liver, it separates there and shows its nature to pass up and swell with wind. It is no surprise then, that the veins of the Liver can be broken by contention. When this occurs, linposthumes are created in different places and causes such inflammations that the veins break esaily. Although many highly recommend Honie, these are not Philosophers nor do they understand the nature of it. But when it is prepared as a Simple, fixed as Wine, then it is the most potent of Medicines among the Vegetals. There is nothing like it.
Give God thanks and be generous to the poor.The dosage of
this is one grain and it must be taken morning and night on
an empty stomach until the disease is gone.Now Praise God.
CHAPTER VIII
ROSE SOLIS
Diseases of the Eyes, Rheums, Inflammation, Diseases of the Heart, Wolf, Inflammation of the Liver or Stomach; drives away dreams and fantasies, good for bites of venomous beasts, against poison that has been drunk, for pestilence, muscles, tendons, wounds and other ailments, and Canker.
Now my son, I will teach thee the greatest mystery or secret amongst all vegetable things, whose force and strength has been kept secret amongst all the ancient workmen, and they have bound themselves, one to another by Oath, that they should not utter, in their books or their writings, the strength of this herb which is called ROSE SOLIS’ and in the German tongue: SINDAWE. Whosoever. hath not the whole vegetable work, he cannot attain to the strength of this herb. For in that work is comprehended all the force of medicinal things. And this work of vegetables is not come to the hands but only of the ancient sworn Artificers, which were skill-full in the liberal Arts.
But now my son, I will open it unto thee with adjuration, that thou shall keep this hidden knowledge secret. First, my son, you must understand, that this herb is the herb of the Sun, upon which the Sun spreads his beams and influences as he does upon gold in the veins of the mines;and he pours out his influences more upon this herb than upon any other herb which is created of God As it is evidently known to the ancient Philosophers, this herb far surmounts all other herbs which spring out of the earth just as the sun surmounts all other planets in the heaven, and hath greater force and power of influence than any other thing created of God in the firmament. So this herb excels all others in virtue and therefore this herb is arrayed with another color, other leaves and stranger shape than all other herbs. And his nature is such, that
the hotter and drier the country is in the time of the year and the heat of the Sun, and the more that the Sun doth heat and burn him, this herb is the more moist and filled with dew So much so that upon one branch will hang a thousand drops of dew. As a test, strike this herb with a slender twig so that the drops which fall from it will fall into a large glass vessel and you will see it filled up with a marvelous dew. Now if the Sun is extremely hot, those branches will, in less than half and hour, be filled with more dew than ever before~ And if you strike the branch twenty times with the rod, each time it will be once again laden with dew. It is almost enough that we see no other miracle than this, where the dewey humor arise in so short a time even though the Sun scorches up all the other herbs. The hotter it is, the more moist will this herb be, as if sprinkled with water. Hereupon may we gather his marvelous qualities and judge that there is some secret operation hid in it. If you will keep this water, thusly gathered, in a glass vessel, you can with it cure all the diseases of the eyes whether they come of Rheums or of inflammations. It helps all the pains and diseases of the heart, it cools the liver and the stomach that is inflamed and mitigates all the pains of the head that comes from heat. It drives away all dreams and phantasies and is good to kill the Canker and the Wolf. It is useful against the biting of venomous beasts, against poision drunk, if it be taken by the mouth. It is also helpful in cases of pestilence and it is good for many other diseases and ailments as well.
CHAPTER IX
This herb has the color of the Sun, for his color is dark red, divided with yellow lines and his shape is like a star. His proportion is like a heavenly Planet and consists of seven branches.
Afterwards, take a large glass curcurbite and put all three of your elements in it and set it into ashes with a Limbeck and Receiver fitted and luted. Make the fire in the furnace gentle at first then increase it gradually until the fire and aire be passed and the Limbeck turn red within. Then make the heat moderate until all the element of fire be passed and the head becomes blood-red and the water and aire shall swim upon it like oil. In this way, the three elements are brought to their highest essence and are perfectly rectified.
Take away the receiver and stop it well, until your earth be prepared. Realize that in the dust and Faeces there remains yet a combustible oil which can be extracted by a discensory, if so desired. It is good against the cold-Gout, for members that are numb and sinews that are too much mollified. If thou be weary of this labor, put this powder or Faeces into a reverberatory that they be mingled with a gentle fire until it becomes white as snow. When this is done, put it into a large stone curcurbite and pour on it a large quantity of double-distilled water. It matters not how much you pour on. Stir it well with a wooden ladle or spoon five or six times, always re-covering it well. After four days, allow it to cool and let it stand four days and settle. Decant the clear hguid!carefully from the Faeces and into another clean vessel. As before, pour on (fresh) double-distilled water and stir it with a wooden spoon. Set it in Balneo for two days then allow it to cool and settle. Then decant the clear liquid off and combine it with that first obtained thusly. Repeat this operation for the third time, then throw away the Faeces as they are no longer good for anything.
In the outerpart it is broad but near the ground it is narrow, It appears to be as if it were a heavy, tender substance, outwardly hot and moist, inwardly cold and dry. The left side of it is cold and moist and the right side hot and dry, and it is most temperate as Gold. Wherefore his Elements cannot be separated one from another as in other herbs, but it may be purged from his Faeces, for his fixing letteth that the Elements cannot be separated, for the fire will ascend with the air by the Balneum as we will hereafter teach. The earth may be separated from his Faeces, and the Faeces likewise from the fire and air, although it does not have many dregs. Some Latin writers call it LINGUA AVIS or Bird’s-tongue; some call it SOLARIA, of the Sun, of LUNARIA it is called the Moon; the Fleming calls it SINDOW. The old Philosophers have kept secret the qualities as yet for the marvelous effects that it works. And it is a marvel, says Arnold Villanueva, that a man should die that every day eats some of it in his gross substance. What will it then work when it is brought into his fine-ness and cleansed from his Faeces? It has this great virtue in it that if it is put into a glass where there is poison mixed with wine, or in any other cup where there is poison, the glass will instantly shatter~
If the container is made of stone, or alabaster or the like, the wine will proceeed to boil vehemently as if there were a fire underneath the container. The wine will then run out of the container until nothing is left. Also if anyone carries this herb with them and comes across an enemy, not only will the enemy not have power over the individual, but must, in fact, serve the carrier of the herb. If anyone is bewitched in body or in his art, that is in his Cookery, Brewing or Baking, or by any other means, this
carried onthe person will set them free from the witchcraft. If it is tied upon the belly of a woman who is pregnant, the woman
will immediately be delivered even though the baby had died and was rotten within.The herb when carried on the person, or when a little is eaten daily, as it is being used, it will prevent the occurrence of the Falling Sickness.
Further, if a person suffers from apoplexy such that his mouth be drawn aside and he is incoherent, his senses will be restored if the juice of this herb, which has been strained is adininistered orally. If the herb is hung about the neck of one possessed, the person will be still as a lamb and the power of the possessing spirit will be taken away. Prove it for yourself and you will find it is indeed true~
Bleeding from the nose is stopped if the herb is held in the mouth. Those who are wearied from travel, if they will take some of the juice in wine, they will before long be refreshed as if they had never taken the trip or performed and labors. It comforts the sinews and muscles, the tendons and all of nature. Also, it will heal wounds if taken forten days in wine or ale and if the wound is washed with the same mixture and bound with a àloth dampened in the same. Toothaches can be alleviated if the herb is placed next to the teeth.
All these things have been done many times and proven effective. Consider: if~1t will do such marvelous things while still encumbered and weakened with its own gross matter, what wonders will it not work when brought to perfection? My son, know this for the truth, that there is no herb thatgrows on the earth that can compare to this in strength and effectiveness. Therefore, make sure that you
don’t negleôt it but be niindfull ever to keep the secret from those that are not of the nature of children and from the ignorant. For if this herb were to become scarce and its properties were to be made known to all, it would become more highly prized than gold or precious stones, for the effects of the Quintessence are marvelous as you will see.
CHAPTER X
Now it remains that we teach how this herb may be brought into his highest degree and to his Quintessence.First, it is .to be gathered, the same having his course in his own house. That is, in the Lion and the Moon behold him with a sinister quadrate aspect Pick the herb whole along with roots, leaves and flowers and see that no dirt or earth cling thereto and that no other herb be mixed with
it. It isalso very important that the herb does not get wet or moist in any way. Therefore, pick it not when it rains but, rather, when the Sun is shining brightest
Gather a large amount of the herb and pulverize it well in a mortar made of marble and put it in a Curcurbite made of Stone with a head and receiver luted and set it in Balneo. Let all the water distill away until the herb is dry like powder There will rise together with the water, the color of fine gold....
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