Workdiary WD27 (editorial transcript)

Workdiary 27 (Chymical recipes and notes from the late 1660s)

Content: Chymical recipes, many of them alchemical, aphorisms and notes contained in disbound pages from a small notebook of the late 1660s

General Information

[BP 44, fol. 43]
[Entry 1]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} grosse peeces of {sulphur} [part] i & calx vive [parts] ii boyl them (continually stirrig) till the {sulphur} be dissolvd; [filter], a vapor ad sicc. add a 20th part of sal Decrepit. & distill over a red Sp.

[Entry 2]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} 2 [parts] Clay & one {sal ammoniac} distill & cohobate

[Entry 3]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} {sulphur} (vel florum [eius]) sacch ana [digere] per 10 vel 12      &c

[Entry 4]
[Note: The last two words of the entry, 'sifted Ashes', are in darker ink]
[Hand: Boyle]

[Rr] the fromage [movir] made up with sifted Ashes

[Entry 5]
[Hand: Boyle]

A Colorless stone kept 12 or 18 days, in hot scales of steele (but not red hot) gave it the color of a faire Aigue marine.

[Entry 6]
[Hand: Boyle]
Ad Carunculas

{Recipe} {ounce} {half} of pouder'd savine stibium (i.e., crude {copper} {drachm} ii oare (the yellow) {ounce} vi all exactly powderd & mix incorpor with yell wax {ounce} {half} [res. pini] {drachm} ii

[BP 44, fol. 43v]
[Entry 7]
[Hand: Boyle]

F Candela when 'tis to cover a silver pipe cover it with alcool of Bol. arm.

[Entry 8]
[Note: This entry is followed by an illegible entry (perhaps two), written in pencil which has now completely faded away. The symbols for nitre and distilled vinegar (and perhaps for gold), and the words 'kept with', are all that can be deciphered from this section of the page]
[Hand: Boyle]

[Remember that the] Min Celeste may be kept in Glasse, glaz'd     th, & oaken Vessels [(but] New) & is to be kept stopt.

[Entry 9]
[Note: This entry is preceded by an illegible entry (perhaps two), written in pencil which has now completely faded away. The symbols for nitre and distilled vinegar (and perhaps for gold), and the words 'kept with' are all that can be deciphered from this section of the page]
[Hand: Boyle]

     with sack & syrup of Elder Flowers

[Entry 10]
[Hand: Boyle]

[{Recipe}] the Inefficacy of Galens Med for mad Dogs, & of viper powder in Ireland

[Entry 11]
[Note: Entry is crossed through]
[Note: The entry is followed by two or three lines written in pencil which has now largely faded away. the only words that can now be seen are 'discernd', 'men', 'The oils[?] for if']
[Hand: Boyle]

Tis <often> easyer to know what one ought to beleeve, than what Ar. did beleeve: for Natur. never contrad. hir selfe; but he may in one place contrad. what he teaches in anot: & we can aske Nature [BP 44, fol. 44] new questions by pre     vis'd [Experiments]; but so w    

[Entry 12]
[Note: The entry is preceded by two or three lines written in pencil which has now largely faded away. the only words that can now be seen are 'discernd', 'men', 'The oils[?] for if']
[Hand: Boyle]

suppose the Nature      the medium employd (as if [the]      include a Magnet [red hot] in a Box that had Iron or steele,) by &c

[Entry 13]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} the [Præror] of      is [eminent] for a      very generally op     as heat, [in being] {sal ammoniac}      a Dissolvent; &c (answerable to a      obstruent, or      of Diuretick in Physick

[Entry 14]
[Hand: Boyle]

Pollish Silver worke with Putty & Water.

(& Brasse with Tripoly & Water

[BP 44, fol. 44v]
[Entry 15]
[Hand: Boyle]

    avagants     ll comparing of Cuntrys.

[Entry 16]
[Note: The entry is followed by an illegible material in badly faded pencil. Most of the rest of the page is blank.]
[Hand: Boyle]

    ing of Words by     g &c, for fleets

[BP 44, fol. 45]
[Entry 17]
[Note: The entry is preceded by illegible notes in pencil, including one on 'Armen[ia]' and one dealing with musk. Similarly the entry is followed by illegible notes in pencil, of which one begins 'The whole world is as', another begins 'These submissions are the', one deals with '14 rows & 26 in one Row' and the the last deals with 'The degree of Coldest condens']
[Hand: Boyle]

(Remember to send for

[BP 44, fol. 45v]
[Entry 18]
[Note: There is an indecipherable note in pencil written above this entry]
[Note: The page on which this entry appears is crossed through]
[Hand: Boyle]

The Divisions of Philosophers are often to be look't on like those of Geographers & Natigations; where Diff. Dominions or Names do not always argue differing Soyls & Waters.

[Entry 19]
[Note: The page on which this entry appears is crossed through]
[Hand: Boyle]

Remember to apply this to the Stages of N's Progresses

[Entry 20]
[Note: The page on which this entry appears is crossed through]
[Hand: Boyle]

I exam. not whose such an Op. was but whose it shud be, & it <be true> I conclude it ought to be mine

[Entry 21]
[Note: The page on which this entry appears is crossed through]
[Note: The entry is followed by an illegible passage written in faded pencil]
[Hand: Boyle]

Who <employ> your Int. or their Fancys <to> chuse their Opinions, & <leave it to> their Understandings, only to Maintain them.

[Entry 22]
[Note: The entry is preceded by an illegible passage written in faded pencil]
[Note: The page on which this entry appears is crossed through]
[Hand: Boyle]

Remember the Concentrat. of Beams in the Præface to the II Tome.

[Entry 23]
[Hand: Boyle]

Remember that in hot Regions by the Ordinary Concours of the Air & Sun oft Eggs are hatch'd <in to Birds>

[BP 44, fol. 46]
[Entry 24]
[Note: This recipe is written very hurriedly in a very sloppy script, and the transcription may note be accurate. In addition, the exact location where the marginal insertion 'from {salt} of Potashes' should be inserted is not clear.]
[Hand: Boyle]

Ol. Ess. I. 6 {ounce} tru Ess. Ol.      4 {ounce} of Succ. 6 {ounce} incorp. these with 4 {ounce} of tafafa in a morter. Then ad {ounce} 8 of the pure volatil Sp. {sal ammoniac} true Vol. tafafa {ounce} 7. 20 ounces of the pure V. Sp. {urine} & {ounce} 8 of the [common[?]] sp. of Terp & 2 Gall. of {spirit of wine} [easier]. Draw these all over the helm once. <from {salt} of Potashes> This multip. by Destill. from common oyle.

[Entry 25]
[Hand: Boyle]

The Creation. The Flood. The oyl ponderous as {gold}. The liq. ascending & in the Air made Astral, falling againe. Moses's Manna & the Tal & sweet unctuosity imbibd out of it. The little man that went out before 7. The heated Arme. The Chaotic Net as a Recipient. The water reaching to saffron, niter, &c & the Masse the [7] among them {mercury}. the {salt} [urinae]. Common [{mercury}] an abortive. Columb. Dian & {copper}. That the [experiment]. may be made (but in much longer time, & with more Ch. & Diff. with [parc] alone./ The Chaotic, Salvatory & Rationall [unknown abbreviation] & 88 at the top of the last of the 20 [unknown abbreviation] before multipl. 9. for the [menstruum]/ half a coccos, kindled & almost killd him./ The separable earth of Paz./ The internal Magn./ Irene [BP 44, fol. 46v] The specific for {lead}./ The sh. oyl. Liquid & coagulated./ The Baracle & paz with the Ferm. or {tincture} will make a min. perp

[Entry 26]
[Hand: Boyle]

(The common Sapo requires a Gallon of {spirit of wine} [unknown abbreviation] to 8 {ounce} of it)

[Entry 27]
[Hand: Boyle]
[Retrospective marginalia:]
q

Remember that Anarus (or Aranus) is the matter of the Bombast./ & needs no addition. (unlesse perhaps at last & tis an oyl or oleiforme.

yet if this oyl be united with ana of the Bomb. of Tart. & that of {nitre} they will all come over toget. into one [menstruum].

[Entry 28]
[Hand: Boyle]

With out Essential Saponary [menstruum] one may draw a true <{gold}> pot. the Scor. made by injected {nitre} upon a Reg. made of 2 [parts] Reg {antimony} simpl. & one of {gold}

[Entry 29]
[Note: Square brackets surrounding 'of {mercury}' and 'q. an commune' are author's own]
[Hand: Boyle]

The [menstruum] [or {mercury}] soph. draws out of paz about a 1/4 [part] of {tincture} or oyl; which being fixt upon a due prop of {gold} [q. an commune] goes one up. 10 & that with more liq. 1 up 100 & so &.

[Entry 30]
[Hand: Boyle]

Bomb. may be multipl. by the Essential oil itself draws from Talk.)

[Entry 31]
[Hand: Boyle]

Keep our Melago stiring till it be pulverable with it's own [Phl.] extract the Chrystals make a sapo of them (a little opend by a slit calcin.) with ol. Ess. Junip. & by cohob. unite & bring this over with <most> high Rectif. Sp. of {urine}

[BP 44, fol. 47]
[Entry 32]
[Hand: Boyle]

Aug. 15th. The matter of the [unknown abbreviation] is the unct. [part] of Talc but that of [unknown abbreviation] is [incoroi]

[Entry 33]
[Hand: Boyle]

The Eben will relent <much> in the Air

[Entry 34]
[Hand: Boyle]

Our Sp. V. is ex tale & is really unct. or oleag. & will swim on water

[Entry 35]
[Hand: Boyle]

Each Eg is a Separ. Elem. (viz {earth} and {water}) but made without Destillat.

[Entry 36]
[Hand: Boyle]

The Magnet draws 4 or 5 pints in a day

[Entry 37]
[Hand: Boyle]

Tasafa, (especially by the help of the [magnet]) is putrifyd; then subslimd into dry salt (in 2 months, but <to gaine the> forma liquida; it requires 5 months more.

[Entry 38]
[Hand: Boyle]
[Retrospective marginalia:]
15
q (margin, at 'the other 3')

From {ounce} i of Paz draw {drachm} ii of {tincture} reduce the rest into neg. imbibe gradatim {drachm} i till you have united it with 9 drams of neg. then put the other 3 & unite that 18 times the neg. may exceed the {tincture}. This poud will upon com. paz make an Eb. which (once or 2 invigorated) will upon co neg. make a Min. Perp.

[Entry 39]
[Hand: Boyle]

By an Eg.'s reaching {lead} & is meant that it radically dissolves it into a Liq. distinct from the [menstruum]. [An] or after the 6 or 7th eg. it reaches paz & all other such bodys.

[Entry 40]
[Hand: Boyle]

Bbt multipl. it self from somthing it extracts from the bodys it works on.

Tis best preservd by immersed sol. As the [unknown abbreviation] is, by being diluted with it's owne liquid parent.

[Entry 41]
[Hand: Boyle]

Paz hath in it a separable {earth}

[Entry 42]
[Hand: Boyle]

A [menstruum] (short of the 3 noblest) wil so only reduce {mercury} sub. as also Ars. into sweet, & innoc., & efficac. oils.

[BP 44, fol. 47v]
[Entry 43]
[Hand: Boyle]

Reductif. {Recipe} ban. {ounce} v, salis decr. {ounce} iii. M. F. P. si opus, adiice Ars. {drachm} v; &, (si prac.) carb. partem [duum] [resp] totius. [Linus] mist. partes 2, corp. reduce partem unam

[Entry 44]
[Note: The entry appears to be incomplete and stops after only a few words. the remainder of the page after this entry is blank.]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} {tin} [parts] 8, {mercury} [part] i

[BP 44, fol. 48]
[Entry 45]
[Hand: Boyle]

Remember Workmanship. Self-enjoyment. Improvident. Pusillan. take it to be answer indistinctly Counterpoyson:

[Entry 46]
[Note: The square brackets surrounding 'Atomology' are author's own]
[Hand: Boyle]

Inadæquate negative Conceptions. Take hold of, but not Graspe: Dress of Matter. Use or Wisd. [undisce] vera for being Too curious. Perform. our Underst. cannot reach to the maner. of Subserv. to the Person, & the End. Unconceiv. Excellency. Superemint. Knol. Unconceivable Perf: Architectonic wisdom. subservient - as to - &c. exprehensive Faculty - so many steps by which the mind ascends from the View Directive - contracted Nature & Intellect: concernd in the Fabric. Fermentative Agitat: & consequently, Collision: Mask's of Matters. Analyticall Putref. or Fermentatio. Incongr. to it self: energetic particles. Congenealness intrinsic Ferments. then to pass on, to what tis high time to prceed to release the fetterd or impr. part Heroisme Prejudicacy. feeble reason [stretgret] or smal of signific./ Chance, or unguided Mot. of Matter [Atomology] Impenetrable Extension./ to Physiologize Anticipation./ Cogitative Beings,/ Materialists,/ Corporealists. Directives Principle/ Fortuitous Mechanisme / Histrionicall &c/ Philos. or Philosophizing Engine.

[BP 44, fol. 48v]
[Entry 47]
[Hand: Boyle]

Aurorian, or Corpuscular Philosophy & Probationary Hypoth. Notions, Rules &c.

[Entry 48]
[Note: The remainder of this page after the entry is blank]
[Hand: Boyle]

Dissolve the frame is not Presumable. Permananency in a separate state & the person he sustains & the tenor of his Doctrine.

[BP 44, fol. 49]
[Entry 49]
[Note: Fol. 49 is an octavo sheet, like the other pages in this workdiary, folded in half and with entries are written on both side of the fold. In addition, the entries in each fold of the page are written in opposite directions -- that is, the top of the writing direction in the left-hand fold is the bottom of the writing of the right-hand fold, and vice-versa. The entries in the left-hand fold are written in very light pencil which has rendered them largely illegible. The transcription below of the first few lines must remain uncertain. These lines are followed by 4-5 lines which are largely illegible but in which the words and symbols, 'sal volat. of oils', '{tartar}', '{silver}', 'ens {copper}is' and 'glass' can be discerned.]
[Hand: Boyle]

1) [qo] {tincture} of [Can[???]]
2)      of things to be seald up
3) The      of [dry sol]
4) The use of Sol. {gold}
5) The making of {salt} {antimony}
[Remember] Subl. & C V
fetid ol. {tartar}

[Entry 50]
[Note: Above this entry, and starting the righ-hand fold of the page, are some mathematical calculations, written in very light pencil, which cannot be deciphered]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} 2 {pound} of Aloes in powder, to one of the berrys of Miss. of w. thorne; or apple or peare. Sun them or saltem keep them for 4, 5, or 6 in F Pils of [then] to a dr. [glue] over night

[Entry 51]
[Hand: Boyle]

The Syr. is mad of ana of berrys of Miss & sugar left without fire to ferment.

[Entry 52]
[Hand: Boyle]

{Recipe} Fresh spearewort, beaten or, the Dry with a little strongth.

[Entry 53]
[Note: The following page, fol. 49v, consists of illegible recipes written in very faint pencil which have defied all attempts atdecipherment]
[Hand: Boyle]

Abstract {spirit of wine} rect. (but not At Cohob:) 4 or 5 times from good C. V. with a Str. Fire at lest.