Magnalia naturae: or, the philosophers-stone lately expos'd to publick sight and sale; being a true and exact account of the manner how Wenceslaus Seilerus the late famous projection-maker, at the Emperours court, at Vienna, came by, and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection, by projecting with it before the Emperor ... / By John Joachim Becher ... [by] Wenceslaus Seilerus ... Published at the request ... especially of Mr. Boyl [sic].

  • Johann Joachim Becher
Date:
1680
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Magnalia naturae: or, the philosophers-stone lately expos'd to publick sight and sale; being a true and exact account of the manner how Wenceslaus Seilerus the late famous projection-maker, at the Emperours court, at Vienna, came by, and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection, by projecting with it before the Emperor ... / By John Joachim Becher ... [by] Wenceslaus Seilerus ... Published at the request ... especially of Mr. Boyl [sic]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/48 (page 5)
    [5] to place therein ; This was the firfl Chymical Operation' that ever fryer Wenceflans performed in all his Life, and for which he was fo unfit,that he plac’d the Crucible up- fidedown, fo that the old Father hirnfeli was forced to fet it in its right Pofture. They put the Pewter Plate broken and folded together into the Crucible, which be¬ ing prefently melted, the Father took out fonie of the Pouder (fo much as would lay upon the point of a Knife) which was in one of the four Boxes, and wrapping it- in a little wax, he caft it into the Crucible upon the Pewter* and commanded his Affiffant fryer Wencejlaus to blow up the f ire, adding thefe Words,. A7ow I fo*11 fee whether I have well deciphered the Characters, and whether l have v found out the ufe of this Ponder. As foon as ever the Powder was caft in, the Pew¬ ter flood ftill, came to a fuddain Congelation. Then the Fire was fuffered to go out, and the Crucible to wax cold, which being broken, there was found a ponderous mafs of Metals, very yellow and variegated with red lines: Upon which the Father made Fryer Wenceflans to go out into the Town, upon pretence of getting a Book to be bound, and wifhed him to go to fome Gold-fmith, and fhew him this Mafs of Metal, alleadging to him , That he had fome ancient Roman Coins of Gold, which he had melted down, but for want of a fufficient f ire and other Defefls, he had not done it exaitly; and therefore he defired the Gold-fmith to melt it over again, and caft it in an Ingot; The Gold-fmith gratified him therein, and Fryer mucefuns,at the Command of the Father took off a fmall piece, which he Preferved,and then asked the Gold- fmith, What the reft was worth ? Who,after he had weigh¬ ed and tryed on the Touehftonc, did value it at Twenty Ducats (which are worth two Crowns a piece) at .which Rate Fryer iVenceflaus fold it to; him, and receiving the Money, returned joyfully home. The old father did on*