CHAP. III.

_Of the Concentration of =Vegetables=._

We have already taught in the two foregoing Chapters by what means Wine

and Corn are to be by an Artificial condensation reduced into a narrow

compass, and brought to be a gainful Merchandice. It now remains to

shew the way conducing to a condensation of the Virtues lying hid in

Herbs, Bushes, Shrubs, and Trees: (which Vegetables do most plentifully

abound in most places and yield no profit) that so even out of them as

well as from Wine and Corn may be reaped a very great profit. No body

is ignorant of this, _viz._ That there is nothing more vile and of less

esteem than the Grass (or Herbs) of the Field, and Briars or Bushes,

and Shrubs, and lofty Trees too, especially when being at a good

distance from Men’s dwellings they cannot be applied to any use, and

upon this account are they not valued at all, nor by reason of their

distance profitable to any, but there they grow and perish in those

vast woods and desart places. And this is to be seen in those most huge

Woods of _Germany_, such as are the _Ingriones_, the Wood _Ardenne_,

the _Ottonicane_, _Hercinian_, _Semane_, and _Bohemian_ Woods, and the

woods of other Countries, in which woods there rots and is spoiled

above ten times more wood than men make use of.

Now no body hath hitherto known what use to put those Woods unto; such

Woods as are not too far off from Cities or Villages, do Men make use

of for building, for firing, for boiling, or brewing, and for baking,

and other occasions, so that the Wood which is daily used, and every

year fetch’d from the bordering Woods or Forests, is thereby saved from

rotting and being spoiled.

But as for such wood as is in Mountains and Woods scituated far off

from mens dwellings, and which are not frequented, that is not of any

use at all, they are Dens and lurking places for cruel Beasts, as Bears

and Wolves; which said wild beasts do annoy and hinder other profitable

ones, as Staggs, Does, Boars, Hoggs, Sheep, _&c._ from feeding on the

wild Fruits of such places. But who is there will amend it, and bring

such places to a due or good use? What! should such vast Woods, which

are the receptacle of those cruel wild Beasts be cut down and lie a

rotting, or be consumed by Fire, so to destroy those wild beasts?

Surely no body will attempt it, as fearing the toilsomness requisite

hereunto: And besides, forasmuch as no other profit is to be thereby

expected, save an extirpation of those wild beasts, there’s no body

will take that Task upon him. Nor is it a thing so behoveful to Fire,

and burn down such huge Woods, as we read in History, that some have

heretofore done, _viz._ most great Woods have been burnt, meerly to

destroy Insects and other hurtful, wild, and ravenous beasts. There is

an hazard run in so doing, for such a Fire may spread wider, and do a

great deal of mischief.

There are such Examples which may be produced, which witness how

that Fire being put to Heaths, have (by burning thereof) crept into

the bordering Woods and destroyed them, and mightily injured the

neighbouring Inhabitants: And therefore ’tis not so advised a Work to

consume Woods by Fire; and to cut them down, that so they may lie and

rot, and be thereby rooted out, cannot be done, because of the great

costs thereto requisite.

So that such places must of necessity even remain the Receptacles of

hurtful Beasts and Thieves; for albeit that sometimes the Glass-makers

do in suchlike places build their Furnaces or Glass-houses, yet they

fall far short of consuming so much Wood by their making of glasses,

for those Woods are scarce the thinner or lesser for that: Tho’ they

spend daily in every such Glass-house twenty loads, yet such a vast

quantity as that is, will not decrease. Besides, the Glass-men do not

use all the wood without making any difference, but make choice of

the streightest and smoothest wood, such as they may best and easiest

cleave: As for shrubs and knotty _Oaks_ and _Beach_, those they touch

not. So then the best Trees only are used about their Glass Works,

and the brushy woods, as _Briars_, _Thorns_, _&c._ and which are the

most commodious hiding places for the wild Beasts, are unmeddled

withal, as being unprofitable for the Glass-makers: Nay, they let most

curious arms or branches of _Beach_ lie a rotting, and make use only

of the body of the Trees. Moreover, in such Woods as are far off, the

Glass-makers build no Houses, but do erect them as near as possible

they can, to such places as are inhabited, because they must of

necessity have commerce with men.

Farther, ’tis not a little wood that is spent in the Mines about

Metals, especially in such Mines where Iron is molten; but what we said

but now touching the Glassmen, the same is to be observed here; for

such metal-melting Houses are never erected on the high Mountains, or

are built in far remote Woods, because they must have the assistance

of Men, and water to drive their bellows-mills, and besides the place

must be such, as that all Necessaries may be brought them in Waggons,

and their Iron transported into the Cities or Towns. Nor do the

Metal-melters indifferently use any wood they meet with; nor make they

their Charcoals of every kind of wood, but leave the shrubs and bushy

woods as unfit for coaling. And therefore those great and vast woods,

tho’ there be Glass-houses and Metal-melting-shops in many places, do

remain untouch’d, because no body knows the use of them.

But now, forasmuch as I have all my life-time most accurately search’d

by a diligent observation into the wonders of God, and have not spared

any labour or costs about the secret wonders of Nature, and have

learned from Nature her self, my instructing Mistriss, that God being

a true and just Lord over his Family, did neither do, make, or create

ought without certain and just causes, which notwithstanding is not

regarded by the most part of us men, who imitate the irrational beasts,

and alwaies live without the knowledge of God and of His Works. Verily,

we have no colour of Reason at all for it, not considering that men

were created and appointed by God for another-guise end, than the brute

beasts, which are void of all Reason; and we regard not the Truth of

that old Saying, _God and Nature never make any thing in vain_.

So then, whereas this is a Truth (as assuredly it is) certainly we may

see that these huge Woods were not in vain made, but that they have

some benefit (for so they have) _viz._ a most great Treasure for such

who know it, and know how to use it. Which I will therefore shew, as

clear as the Noon-day Sun, and will so set it afore the eyes of the

blind and darksom world, that the Deriders and Contemners of natural

Philosophy, such as is to be Learned only by the fire, and not out of

_Aristotle_, may be even enforced, will they, nill they, to confess and

grant that the Fire is the true Teacher and Master of natural Arts, and

so will be; for whosoever they be that are Ignorant as to the Fire, and

that know not its wonderful efficacy, tho’ they may be most skilful

Proficients in foreign Tongues or Languages (which in the more-secret

Philosophy makes not at all to any purpose); yet nevertheless they will

not be able to accomplish any the least matter in things of so great

a moment: I do therefore say, that such men as are skilled in natural

things, are not of right to be contemned, or secretly back-bitten by

those who say, Believe not such a man that hath not attained the empty

vain Title of a Doctor in the Universities. I confess ingeniously,

that I never frequented the Universities, nor ever had a mind so to

do; for should I have so done, haply I should never have arrived to

that knowledge of Nature, which I mention without boasting, as I now

possess; neither doth it ever repent me, that I have put my hands to

the Coals, and have by the help of them penetrated into the knowledge

of the Secrets of Nature; I do not desire to disturb any one in this

way, or to thrust any out of their places; I never was willing to live

on the costs of great men, but have with my own hands gotten me my Food

and Raiment, alwaies advisedly thinking on that most known Verse;

----_Alterius non sit qui suus esse potest.

Let not him anothers be,

Who can of himself live free._

But to return to my concentration of Wood, I can with truth affirm and

will experimentally demonstrate it, that the greatest Treasure of the

World; yea, as great or greater than is in Wine or Corn, lies hidden

in Wood. Wine and Corn do require the Labour of Man for its growth out

of the Earth; but Leaves, Grass, Briars or Bushes, Shrubs, Twigs, all

sorts of Trees great and small, do come forth out of their seeds and

sprouts and grow up and encrease infinitely without any help of man at

all.

Therefore I say that more profit may be reaped of Wood than of Corn

and Wine, were the Art of extracting thencefrom so great a benefit but

known to any.

So then, forasmuch as this little Book (as being the first part of

the Treatise of concentration of things) treats of the emendation of

Vegetables only; and that of Wine and Corn is already finished; I will

now in the name of God set about Wood, Leaves, and Grass, and lay open

those most great and hitherto hidden Treasures and Riches, and set

them forth before the Eyes of the whole World. And I pray God, the

Omnipotent, Wise, Unsearchable and Merciful Lord and Father of all

Creatures in Heaven, in the Earth, Water and Air, that he would so

govern and guide my hand that I may here write and teach nothing save

only such things as serve for the Glory of his Divine name and the

health of all Mankind. _Amen._

We have shewn in the two foregoing Chapters how Wine and Corn are to be

condensed into their juices, that so they may be commodiously sent into

those places, in which profit may be gotten.

Here now falls in this question, How the Juices are to be squeezed out

of Herbs, Twigs, Shrubs and great Trees, and being pressed out what

good they serve for, seeing they are not of use for meat and drink like

those which are extracted out of Corn and Wine.

To this question I make this reply, that indeed there is not any

food to be prepared from them, but that yet other things are thence

preparable, and such as men cannot be without, _viz._ Wholesome

Medicines, and likewise Gold and Silver wherewith a man may also

buy, besides Wine and Corn, other necessaries as Garments and other

appurtenances which men stand in need of, besides meat and drink.

But to begin the work it self, we should in the first place teach

the way how juices may be squeezed out of Leaves, Grass, Shrubs, and

then afterwards shew their use. But forasmuch as none is of so weak a

judgment as to lay out Moneys or things valuable, and to bestow his

labour and sweat on such a thing whose use and profit he is ignorant

of; ’tis therefore necessary, that (before we come to teach the way

of squeezing out the Juices) we first shew, what benefit and profit

ariseth from that kind of work; that so a Man’s labour may not be spent

in vain: To give satisfaction herein, I affirm, that the greatest and

best virtues of all Vegetables are hidden in a certain Salt which the

Physicians and Philosophers call the Essential Salt. Of this Salt all

Vegetables are full, but yet, one fuller than another as experience

testifies. Such Herbs as have not much taste, as Lettuce, Coleworts,

Rapes and such like have a less portion thereof, and are therefore

easily putrefied. But such as are sharp and bite the Tongue, as

_Water-robbin_, _Arsmart_, _Laurel_, _Pepper-wort_, _Scurvy-grass_,

all the kinds of _Cresses_, all the sorts of _Radishes_, _Leeks_,

_Onions_, _Garlick_, _Mustard_, and such like; also all bitter

Herbs, as _Carduus benedictus_, _Wormwood_, _Fumitory_, _Esula_,

_&c._ all such as these are full of it. Besides, all such Vegetable

plants as are naturally sour, yield much of that Salt; amongst which,

may be reckoned, unripe _Grapes_, sour _Apples_, sour _Cherries_,

Wild _Plums_, rough (or wild) _Grapes_, the unripe _Mulberries_ or

_Black-berries_, the unripe _Barberies_, _&c._ But yet some of them

yield more, others less Salt; which inequality and changableness is

accidental, for they are as to their natural foundation like each other.

NB. Some Herbs and chiefly those which have a notable bitterness, as

_Carduus benedictus_, _Wormwood_, _Fumitory_, do (after their being

squeezed, and when their Juice is depurated, and the Phlegm draw off,

and the remaining Juice concreted or condensed in the cold,) yield

natural Nitre, and such as being put upon a burning Coal will presently

burn up in a flame, like the common Salt-petre which is usually

extracted out of the Earth digged in Stables, and so concreted, or

crystallized: As for other Herbs and Fruits which are not bitter, but

have a piercing sharpness, as all the _Cresses_, they (after their

expression or squeezing) yield a volatile Salt, which does not burn

like that which is drawn out of bitter Herbs: Such as have an acidity

in them, as _Sorrel_, _Barberries_, _Ribes_, curled _Grapes_, wild

_Apples_ and Orchard ones, and other unripe Fruits, do yield another

Salt, _viz._ a Salt tasting like the acid taste of Wine, and resembling

Tartar of Wine, in taste, virtue, efficacy & propriety.

And now albeit that these three kinds of Salts are unlike in taste,

yet notwithstanding the one is most easily transmuted into the other,

insomuch that Tartar may be made Salt-petre, and Salt-petre Tartar. The

third sort which is more volatile than the others, and which proceeds

from the _Cresses_, _Mustard_, _Aron_, _Pepper-wort_, _&c._ will easily

be turned into either of the former.

But as concerning this last, it is virtuous in Medicine, as I have

hinted to you in several places in my other Writings, but (set aside

its Medicinal use) and it is of but little benefit. The two latter,

_viz._ The Nitrous, and Tartarous are of various use. The Dyers use

Tartar in Dying their Cloths, and Salt-petre is used to make Gun-powder

withal, and for the Transmutation of Metals, and other such like Arts,

as I have clearly proved in my Explication of my _Miraculum Mundi_.

Forasmuch therefore as both sorts of Salt are used in great quantity

throughout the whole World, and that there can scarcely be had so

much as serves for necessary use, and upon that account are always

good Commodities, and that Salt-petre is twice the value of Tartar,

therefore ’tis but fitting, and well worth while to extract Salt-petre

out of the Juices of Herbs and Trees, it being of more value, and

better price than other Salts. But if it should so be, that there

should be so much Salt-petre as that it should be of a poor price,

then may the Juices be turned into Tartar. But forasmuch as it will

not easily so happen, that there should be such a glut of Salt-petre,

it will be the best way, to improve those Juices on the making of it;

and specially because it may at all times serve for the profitable

bettering of Metals; nor can ever so great a quantity be produced, but

that it will sometime sell off. ’Tis more profitable, and better to use

it for the bettering of the meaner Minerals than to make Gun-powder

with it; and were not that most pernicious Art already too well known,

it were better to be without it, than to make it, so far should it be

(from any one) to describe the manner of making Gun-powder.

But forasmuch as neither my desire nor will tends to be any occasioner

of hurting my Neighbour by the help of Salt-petre, but inclines rather

to benefit him thereby; and to this end I have already clearly enough

disclosed many most profitable Arts which proceed therefrom, _viz._ in

my _Miraculum Mundi_, and in the Explication of the same, and moreover

shall do in the following third and fourth part of this Book, about the

bettering and concentrating of Metals: I am, verily, confident, that

none will interpret it in the worst part, if I shew the way of making

Salt-petre out of Wood and other things, that so, our Country may by

the benefit of (such) Herbs, Grass, and Wood, which otherwise, ly a

rotting, and are of no profit, be enriched (if it be only sold) with

abundance of Treasure, and may afterwards be spent on most profitable

Arts, as may be seen in the _Miraculum Mundi_, and in the Concentration

of Minerals and Metals. So that he that would not make it into

Gun-powder, has no need so to do.

Besides these Virtues of Salt-petre which we have reckoned up, there

do daily more and more new and admirable ones spring up out of the

dark, all which, were they here to be summed up they would even draw

the whole World into an admiration of them. But we will forbear to

multiply more words concerning things of such moment; for it may

easily be perceived from what has been hitherto demonstrated, and from

those Publications I have made (by my Writings) that many more, and

greater things lie hidden in this Subject, which neither I, nor others

know of. Deservedly therefore may Salt-petre, or Nitre, be termed an

Universal Subject, and Wonder of the World, notwithstanding many rude

and unskilful Fellows, will upon this saying, shrink up their Noses,

and audaciously contradict me (and say) that Nitre is not the true and

Universal Dissolvent.

But if Nitre be not that Universal Subject, then let those that prate

against this Judgment or Opinion of mine, produce another and better

Subject; which, yet, in my Opinion they will never be able to do. If

it were not an Universal Subject, how comes it to be so plentifully

found to be in all things. Is it not found in all Vegetables? Is it

not in all living Creatures that live either under the Earth, or in

the Waters, or in the Air, or on the Earth? Is it not met with (or

found) in the inmost Bowels of the Mountains, and even in the most hard

Stones? I will demonstrate it in this small Treatise by most clear

Arguments, and will most evidently evince it.

In the first place, that all Vegetables have it, is already clearly

demonstrated and proved, for I my self (and I am the first, as I know

of) made trial and turned their Juices into natural Salt-petre. But I

will now so evidently shew the truth of this thing, that even those

blind Back-biters and Detracters shall feel it with their hands.

In the first place therefore, I demand, whence the common Nitre is

gotten? Is it not out of the Earth, which is digg’d out of the Stables

where Beasts stand? For it has insinuated it self into (or joined it

self with) this (Earth) passing out of the Excrements of the Beasts in

length of time, and hath coagulated it self therein, out of which it

is at length drawn by pouring on of water, and then is boiled up into

Salt-petre. Who can deny this? I think no body can. So then if this

be granted, that Nitre is found in the Stables where Cattle stand,

the Question is, By what means, and way it came into the Stables? It

is by the help of the Urine and Excrements which the Beasts have

there cast forth. Then again, I ask whether or no those Beasts have

those Excrements from their Meat and Drink, or from elsewhere? They

cannot arise from water, forasmuch as they drink nothing but Water:

So that they must necessarily have their rise from the food they eat,

and that consists of the Vegetables, Grass, and Herbs. Therefore we

affirm, that the Salt-petre was of necessity in these Herbs, and

Grass, afore the Beasts feeding on them. For if it had not been there

it could never have been made in the Beasts Bodies that which it was

not afore. For their Stomachs contribute nothing to this Operation,

save a bare putrefaction. And besides, the Countreymen do even the

same thing, for they gather up Stubble, the Leaves that fall from the

Trees, the Grass, and such like things, and put a great quantity of

them into a Pit together, and there leave them so long, till by the

help of Putrefaction they are all turned into Dung, and therewith do

they afterwards Dung their Ground (in such wise) as is wont to be done

with the Excrements of Beasts. Therefore, forasmuch as that putrefied

Grass and Stubble doth dung the ground and render it fruitful, (as

well) as the Excrements of Beasts, it must needs be granted, that they

have likewise Salt-petre in them. For it is not the Dung, but the Nitre

in the Dung, that is, the Author of that Dunging Impregnation and

Fertility, as I have already confirmed by Arguments in my _Miraculum

Mundi_, and which will be sufficiently convincing proofs here in this

place.

I would therefore fain see that Man that dares be so bold and heady

as to deny this thing, that the Essential Salt neither is, nor can be

made, Nitre.

And now we come to treat of the Beasts in the Fields, of the Fish

in the Waters, and of the Birds in the Air, that so by a thorough

examination of all these sorts we may see, whether or no they are

enriched with Salt-petre, and whether or no their Essential Salt be

like the Essential Salt of the Vegetables, and can by the same means

pass into Nitre.

In the first place, and above all, this is here to be considered,

as a main principle, (_viz._) That all those things which dung the

Fields and Lands, and fatten them, most necessarily contain in them

Salt-petre. For from this only, and alone, comes all the fertility

throughout the whole Earth, which Axiome cannot be gainsayed. But now,

that the Animals, or Beasts, Birds, and Fishes are Partakers of the

same Virtues, I firmly gather from hence.

First of all, it is not unusual for the Gardiners to put the Horns,

Hoofs, and Bones of Beasts, to the Roots of Trees, and so cover

them over with Earth, and that on this account, because they make

them exceeding fruitful. This now is every where used: Likewise the

Gardiners do every where buy up Hens Feathers, Hens, and Pidgeons Dung;

as also from the Tanners and Curriers the Offals or Shavings of the

Beasts Skins, and their Hairs, and use them to enrich their Gardens.

The Vine-dressers also buy up the shavings of Horns of the Comb-makers

in many places where they can get them, by which, they fatten their

Vines, far better than with Dung, and that lasts for nine or ten years.

The Gardiners do likewise buy up from the Tailors bits, or pieces of

Woollen and Linen to dung their Gardens when they plant Colworts. If

they did not find any Nitre, or Fertility in them, to what end would

they lay out their Money on so base a Matter? To the Ignorant and

Unskilful, these things may seem wonderful and incredible, because

such a kind of dunging Land is not every where in use. He that is

incredulous, let him go to _Colen_ on the _Rhine_, and there he’ll

find that I have spoken nothing but the truth. All these things do

the Gardiners make use of according to their ancient custom, for from

their Predecessors learned they these Secrets. Nor know they what other

reason to alledge for their doing this, but only tell you, that they

serve exceeding well to enrich their Fields and Vineyards.

But I do assuredly affirm, that ’tis the Nitre that is hidden in these

things, performs this effect: There is therefore far more abundance of

Salt-petre in the Superfluities (as Nails, Horns, Hair, _&c._) than in

their Excrements, or Dung. And I thus prove it.

First, Because they will give you for one Sack full of the Shavings of

Horns, half an Imperial, which is as much as will buy four or five such

sacks full of Cow, or Sheeps dung.

Secondly, They will give the Tanners, or Curriers, above an Imperial

for one Cart-load of the Shavings of the Hides, whereas with the same

Money they may buy three or four Load of dung. Rags are sold for a

quarter of an Imperial. Were they not virtuous or effectual, why should

they be so dear? This here spoken, we have proved so to be, by the

customary practice of the common men only, as Husbandmen and Gardiners.

Were it lawful for me to reveal somewhat to the purpose, I could teach

how to extract out of every hundred weight of Bones, in Beasts, Birds,

and Fishes, ten pound of Salt-petre. But this is not to be divulged.

Now it remains in the next place, to confirm, that Nitre does not only

lie hidden most plenteously in the Vegetable and Animal Subjects, but

that it may be digged, or gotten out, and prepar’d of Stones, Rocks,

Cliffs, Hollows of Mountains, and out of the plain Field in a very

many other places; and this is undeniable, for ’tis evidently known,

and if need were, I could, for witness sake, make mention of many

such Testimonies. He that is desirous of knowing more, as touching

this salt of the Earth, let him peruse the ancient Philosophers. But

forasmuch, as every one hath not those Books at hand, and that many

Men cannot understand them, I will for Amplifications sake add yet

one demonstration, to shew whence that Nitre ariseth, which sticks on

to, or swells out of those moist and old Walls of Houses. Comes it

not from the Mortar, with which the Bricks are joined together? Not

only all _Stones_ are fit for making Calx, or Lime of, but also all

kinds of Stones, which break, or grow in the Waters, like Drops, or

Pebbles: Likewise, those stony things which grow in the Sea, as Coral,

the Pearl shells, or Mother of Pearl, and Shell fish of all sorts,

which being burnt, moulder in the Air, have in them plenty of Nitre,

and will easily yield it forth to those who have the way of extracting

it disclosed unto them. But this is not the place to mention it in,

because I have determined to treat here, of only expressing the Juices

of the Vegetables, concentrating them, and making them gainful or

profitable.

Forasmuch as we have hitherto understood (or shewn) that Nitre or

Salt-petre may be had from all things, _viz._ from Herbs, Wood,

fourfooted Beasts and creeping Things, from Birds in the Air, and

Fishes in the Water, yea from the very Elements themselves, as Earth,

Water, Air, and Fire; It must needs follow that it is that so much

spoken of Universal Spirit without which nothing can either be or

live: It is the begetter and destroyer of all things; in which all

things are, as I have demonstrated in my _Miraculum Mundi_, out of the

most ancient Philosopher _Hermes_. I therefore hope, that no body will

any more doubt thereof or oppose himself with a perverse stubbornness

against a truth so manifestly known. Were not the shortness of time

an impediment unto me I could most easily produce more arguments and

those too more pregnant. If any one is minded firmly to cleave to his

own stubborn perverseness, even _Hermes_ himself should he arise from

the dead, would lose his Labour in teaching him; and therefore let them

keep their contumacy to themselves.

We have sufficiently confirmed and that by arguments enough, that

Salt-petre is an universal Subject, and every where to be found. Hence

it may be easily believed that it may also be met with in woods, and

that more strong, more powerful, more corporal, palpable, and visible

than in any other Subject: Upon this account therefore is it to be

also sought for, and drawn forth out of them too. But forasmuch as

such an Extraction cannot be made afore that the Juices are prest out

of the Wood, out of which Juices the Nitre is to be drawn forth, the

whole Art consists in Squeezing out these Juices, but yet by another

kind of way than is done with Herbs. Therefore the due Presses being

fitted ready, I shall be able to shew him who requesteth it at my

hands (so as he does not endamage me) the way of squeezing them. For

to prostrate a work of such great moment to every ones view, whereby

those that are unworthy, should partake of such great Secrets, and by

which a thing of so much value should be obnoxious to a common Abuse,

is not verily, either necessary, profitable, or laudable. Let not

any one therefore take it amiss, that I have so careful a regard of

things so considerable. Let it suffice, that I have detected the thing,

wherein such great Treasures have hidden themselves, which hitherto are

profitable to no body, but are easily acquirable, or to be had. Do but

look a little upon those most vast Woods of _Germany_, which are stored

with such mighty abundance of Trees, that wood is of no account. There

hath been none as yet that has converted them unto their use, save

a few, who in some places make Pot-ashes of the wood they burn; and

yet they have but small gains therefrom, because they can’t have vent

sufficient for as much as they could make by their burning the wood,

nor do any use them, but Soap-boilers, and Dyers.

Besides, I never as yet saw the Man that duly attempted that Artifice,

and so administred it as to get therefrom a greater gain. For sometimes

they gather scarce an hundred weight of Pot-ashes out of the burning of

ten or twenty great Trees, and they can hardly have above five or six

Imperials for it. And now consider but the great Labour and Sweat in

burning so much Wood into Ashes, and of boiling the Ashes into a black

Salt, and then of making this Salt red hot in peculiar Furnaces, that

it may become white, green, or blueish; all this consider’d, ’twould

make a Man admire what ’tis that could stir up those that follow this

work, or order it to be done, to suffer such a quantity of Trees to be

burnt up, for so very little profit. But what need many words? They

have the wood for nothing, and (as the Proverb runs) _The half White

of the Egg, is better than the empty shell_. Haply if they knew how to

make any thing better, or more profitable out of their Wood, they would

not omit so to do.

How many hundred weight of wood, are they to burn afore they have one

hundred of Pot-ashes? But now if the Juices that are squeez’d out of

them were boiled into Salt-petre, they would get ten times the profit

with far less trouble.

Let us compute the case, and suppose that out of an hundred pounds of

Wood, there are squeezed forth twenty pounds of Juice, and that from

these twenty pounds of Juice, you have some 4 or 5 pounds of Nitre, and

that a midling Oak or Beach will load, when cleft, some ten Carts, and

each load hold twenty hundred weight. Now then, one hundred yielding

five pound of Nitre, a load of twenty hundred, yields an hundred pound

of Nitre; the Tree that is about ten load, yields a thousand weight.

Now we’ll put case that a hundred weight of Nitre yields twenty

Imperials, which being ten times multiplyed, makes two hundred

Imperials for ten loads, or for that one Tree divided into ten loads.

But to wave so accurate a computation, and not to extend it too far, we

will suppose a hundred of Wood to hold only three pound of Nitre, and

a load to be about twenty hundred of Wood; this load will yield Sixty

pounds of Niter, and the Tree ten loads, So there will be Six hundred

pounds of Niter. If now one hundred (of Nitre) will cost ten Imperials,

that Tree will yield sixty Imperials for the six hundred pounds of

Nitre. The smallness of the cost (in making it) makes the labour the

more profitable; nay, if by this invention of mine, the price of

Nitre should fall down, even to ten Imperials (which notwithstanding,

will not so easily come to pass) yet would the gain thereby be great,

yea ten times more than that which comes from the Pot-ashes. But he

that knows how to use this Nitre, for the concentrating of Metals,

(concerning which the three following parts of this Book shall treat)

will not have any cause of fear, that this Nitre will lie on his hands

and yield him no profit.

By what hath been said, the well-minded Reader will easily perceive

what vast treasures are oft-times before his eyes, and through

ignorance lie as yet unknown, and not used to advantage. What man knows

God’s end, in producing to light such great Mysteries and Secrets of

Nature, in this most filthy Dregs of the World? To give thereof a

Reason, we will not tire our understanding, but give most humble thanks

to God for such great mysteries that he hath revealed for the comfort

of many men, and will pray unto him graciously to bestow on us his

fatherly blessing, to the end that we may well use such great gifts so

freely bestowed.

But now if any should be of the mind that it is wholly unnecessary,

that this Art should be made publickly known, because that Gun-powder

is made of Salt-petre, and that by Gun-powder many Cities and most

strong holds are overthrown, and nothing is to be expected thencefrom,

but Slaughters and Destruction: To such, I answer, That it was not for

this end that I disclosed this most great and most profitable Art, that

by its base abuse I might help on these horrid Calamities; but my aims

have been chiefly at this, if haply any new Foreign Enemies should

invade our most dear Country (which is a danger we seem not far off

from) we might be able to receive them with like Arms or Weapons, and

by a just defence drive away such a Calamity.

And withal, that those most thick and vast Woods being despoiled of

their thickness, may not for the time to come be a shelter for Thieves

and Robbers, as likewise for wild beasts, all which oftentimes do much

mischief.

And farther, That many thousands of Men may get their Food and Rayment

more Commodiously and more easily, and may make good Gold and Silver

from the unprofitable Wood. For by means of this Art, thousands of

moneys may be gotten in our _German_ Countries, without any hurt to

our Neighbour. Nor is it needful to cut down any great Tree, for the

superfluous Branches or Loppings, and the shrubby briary Underwood

which is all about the Trees, and doth chiefly afford a passage to the

Stags, and hiding places to other hurtful Creatures, will be sufficient

for this kind of use or imployment.

The other Trees that grow up aloft may be preserved to build Houses

withal, which may be employed about Hunting: And besides, when the

Trees are freed from that thickness, and have thereby a free access

of Air, they will the more easily dilate their Boughs, and grow up

taller. And then too, those wild Beasts that are profitable, will (when

such vast deal of underwood or shrubbiness is taken away) meet with

fatter pasture, and with more plenty of Grass, and escape by having a

freer Course from the pursuing Woolves, which now they are letted from

by those most thick Shrubs and Bushes. But yet if so be that in such

places in which is such a deal of Wood, and to no man useful; a good

part even of the great Trees should likewise be cut down, and used

about this Artifice of ours; yet notwithstanding there would not arise

to the Possessors thereof any loss, but much Profit; and when all’s

done, there would be yet remaining a huge multitude of Trees. Consider

I pray those most spacious Woods the _Arduenne_, _Ottonick_, _Semane_,

and _Bohemian_ Woods, and many others which the Countries in _Germany_

are cloathed (or environed) with.

Can it be imagined, that they can at all be lessened by the Glass

Furnaces, or the melting of Minerals and Metals.

These places that are one year bared by cutting down the Trees, you

shall see in few years covered over again, by the benefit of nature,

with new Trees; so that it cannot possibly be, that though even a very

great many Presses should be used to press the Juices out; such a

vast immenseness of Woods should be exhausted, and make any sensible

diminution of the Wood.

But now, if any one shall believe these writings of mine, and shall,

after the afore-mentioned way, set about the Concentration of Wine, or

Corn, or Wood; I do faithfully affirm unto him, that I have in this

Book openly proposed the very naked Truth, without any disimulation,

and have not omitted any thing save the revealing of the Presses, which

for certain causes I conceal.

And therefore I certifie every one, that I will not as yet divulge this

most wonderful secret, of thus-boiling Nitre out of the Juices of Wood,

or else I would have described the Press too. Besides, though a man

should even see the Press, and know how to make it, and were ignorant

of the purification and concentration of the Juices, he would not bring

the Art to effect; so that, without my instruction, the work cannot so

easily be made publickly known. And though this seems to be a thing so

mean, yet this squeezing out of the Juices of Wood, is far beyond (or

richer) than the operations on Wine or Corn. But I doubt not but that

many, well considering of this unheard of, and very gainful Artifice,

will begin to think whether or no good Nitre may not likewise be gotten

out of other Subjects easie to come by. Now then I must methinks needs

instruct these.

The common Fossile Salt, and Sea Salt may by the benefit of this Art,

be also turned into Natural Nitre; but I judge it needless to speak

more of this, for as much as that which I have already mentioned

concerning the Wood seems abundantly enough. Breifly, God doth in all

places set before our eyes His Omnipotency, where he gives not Wood,

there vouchsafes He Stones and Bones, out of which Nitre may as well

be extracted, by those that are skill’d in this Art, as it may out of

other things. And where Fire is wanting, there is Water however. But

I know that it is certain, and past all doubt, that by the certain

experience of Art, plenty of good Nitre may be made out of Sea Water.

Now if any shall object and say; Thou affirmest that Nitre is to be

found in all places of the World, but especially in Wood and Stones;

but yet, that there are many places which have neither Wood or Stones,

& have only a Marshy Moorish Soil, which brings forth Grass only: By

what means can Nitre be there, or in what things, or what places should

it be sought for, thinkest thou there?

I answer; I have already, in what hath been said afore, confirmed,

that Nitre may be drawn in large quantity even out of Grass; but

verily there’s no such need here of so doing, to rob the beasts of

their food, and to use the Grass about Nitre-making: For the Cheese

and Butter that come from the Grass, will easily yield more than the

Nitre that’s made thereof, would; God deals not so unjustly or unwisely

with the Creatures as to give his blessings with a liberal hand to

one, and take the same away from another: No, no; The Treasure of his

Riches is inexhaustible, and he gives his Creatures largely to partake

of them; nor doth that axiome (or maxime) which is so very usual in

this perverse World, prevail at all with him, _viz._ The fall of one

is the rise of another; but his will is, that all should have their

necessaries abundantly supplyed, that every one should have enough,

and that every thing should come to perfection. Therefore it is not at

all necessary, that Nitre should be extracted out of the Food which

the Beasts live on, because it may easily be extracted out of other

Subjects which bring not any profit to Man or Beast, and this in

great quantity too. For in such plain low Countries and moist watery

grounds, where you shall not meet with either Mountains or Vallies, or

Stones, or Wood: The most gracious God hath, like a provident and wise

housholder provided for the inhabitants, giving them a certain kind of

earth inlaid with many Roots and Fibers that grow therein, which the

_Dutch_ call =Torf=, we _Turfs_, the which they use instead of Woods,

to boil with, and about other necessary uses; so that they may easily

be without the wood, which is yearly brought them in such vast quantity

out of other Countries. Now these same Turfs contain in them the like

Essential Salt as Wood does which Nitre is extracted out of.

As concerning Stones, they do not in those places shew themselves to

sight (as lying deep) if you except such as are burnt (or Bricks) and

which are brought hither to build houses withal, yet God hath bestowed

on them a matter sufficiently apt to make Lime withal, so that they

may be without, even Stones themselves. The Shell-fishes of all Sorts

(serve to this work), and sometimes the raging of the Sea, drives the

Fishes shells ashore by heaps, and like little hills, the which being

carryed by the Inhabitants into the Cities and Villages, they put them

in the Lime-Kilns, and reduce them by a strong fire into good Lime,

and that by means of the Turfy fireing we mentioned but now; so that I

do not see any reason why, in these Countries that are destitute of

Wood and Stones, there should be found less Salt-petre than in others,

in which huge quantities both of Wood and Stone are found. Nay, rather

I affirm, that there is more there, than is in almost any Country of

_Europe_; for do but compare the price of Turf and Wood, the Wood is

dearer, the other cheaper; besides the Wood is harder to press out, and

this yields its juice more easily.

So then, from all the foregoing demonstrations I absolutely conclude,

that there is not any place in the whole World, wherein great

quantities of Salt-petre may not be made.

And if I should say, that there is not to be found in the whole world

any places in which Nitre may be easier and plentifullier made than in

the low Countries of _Germany_, as _Brabant_, _Holland_, _Zealand_,

_Flanders_, _Frieseland_, the _Groningen Fields_, the County of

_Emdane_, and all those Countries which run as far as the _German_ and

_Baltick_ Sea, in this their moorish kind of ground; verily I should

not speak untruth, but if need were, I could witness it of a certainty.

But lest my Writings should remain too obscure and unknown to such as

are unskilled, and that such may not overmuch torment their Brains by

unnecessary Pleadings how this may be effected, I judge it altogether

necessary openly to confess the Truth before every one, and say,

That Nitre or Salt-petre, were but its true use known, is justly and

worthily to be accounted of as the greatest Treasure of the whole

world, as being a thing by the help of which, good Health, Honours,

and Riches may be purchased; and this we shall confirm in the three

following parts. If then that this be granted, then this also will be

yielded too, that the Subject-matter out of which it is extracted, is

not to be despised, but to be highly valued; and therefore ought Wood

and Turf to have their due Honour given them, concerning which, I have

by many Arguments affirmed, that the one of them is every where in the

upper _Germany_ in great plenty, and the other in the low Countries of

_Germany_, (nor doth these at all come short of the others) and that

both may and ought to yield Nitre. Besides, not only the bare Turf is

hereto useful, but likewise the hitherto thrown-away ashes, which are

every where cast out as unprofitable.

NB. They are not useful in washing, as wood-ashes, with which the

Laundresses make Lyes, and being they are not, they are thrown away as

good for nought. But yet there is in them a great quantity of a certain

salt, which being inverted by Art, passeth into Nitre; therefore

through meer ignorance is there cast away, together with those Turfy

ashes, a vast quantity of unripe Salt-petre, from whence a mighty

profit might redound to those Countries, but being improvidently thrown

away, is meerly lost. But yet I would not have any imagine, that the

Salt which is made of the Lee of Turf-ashes, is presently Salt-petre;

no, for ’tis needful that the subtilty of Art be first thereto used,

afore such a Salt be brought to that pass, as to burn like Salt-petre:

But yet care is to be taken, that that Art become not common, for then

so Noble a thing, and so profitable to our Countries, will be known

by Enemies as well as Friends; which to prevent, it must be warily

handled, and the principal work here requisite is this, _viz._ That it

may not be published so imprudently, as to render the ungrateful and

unworthy partakers of the same, as well as the thankful and worthy ones.

By these things here spoken may every one see and gather, that God is

no respecter of Kingdoms and Principalities, and provides for some

better than for other some; all Men are His Creatures and Heirs of all

His Goods, if so be they be but willing, and do not stubbornly oppose

and slight the Divine Grace, and do not wantonly cast it away and

neglect it: Concerning which we shall speak more in the following part,

touching the Concentration of Minerals.

This we must yet farther add, _viz._ That common Salt-Nitre is in all

Coasts, in all Tracts or Continents, and in all Countries; yea, even in

all those places in which there’s neither Wood, nor Stones, nor Leaves,

nor Grass, nor Earth, nor any bottom of Earth: As for example; Near

_Greenland_, where the Sea is said to have no bottom, where the Whales

are caught, and which do greatly inrich the Merchants with their fat or

oil: Did they but know, that the remaining Flesh and Bones were even

yet of great use, and knew they but how to turn them into Salt-petre,

they would preferr it far before their Fat, for the sake of which, so

much labour and trouble is undertaken; for in the flesh of one Whale

only (which as it is, is not at all profitable to any man) I dare say,

that there may be found 20, 30, 40, 50, yea, sometimes 100 Centenaries,

or hundreds weight of Salt-petre. And so likewise the Intrails of the

dried Stock-fish that are caught in _Island_ and _Norway_, should I

affirm, that they would even almost excel the Fish it self in value, I

should not be deceived. I find no difficulty that might hinder me from

affirming this to be agreeable to the Truth.

Do not the Salt-petre-men preferr the Nitrous Earth that’s found in old

burying places (if they can have it) far beyond other Nitrous Earths?

And this among others, that most excellent Examiner of Metals, _Lazarus

Ercker_, in his Book of examining of Metals, affirms, and gives this

Earth the chiefest place. Nor is it to be wondered at, that of late

in _Poland_, towards _Muscovy_, where formerly great Battels have

been, and many thousands of men slain, and by reason of the multitude

of them, have (after the Battel) been thrown into deep Caverns of

Mountains for the easier burying them) there hath been a great quantity

of Salt-petre extracted out of the Earth. Were there not gain and

profit to be gotten, those men that are imployed in the extracting and

boiling it, would not lay out so much Money on unprofitable Ashes of

Carcases.

But to pass this by, let any one make but this Experiment: Fill some

Vessel with Bulls or Ox-blood, and put it in a warm place till it

putrefie and be turned as it were into Earth; then extract a Lye out

of this Earth, and boil it so long, till a little skin appear on the

top, then lay it by in a cold place, to shoot into Crystals, or little

Stones, and these will be true Nitre.

NB. There is another and more compendious way of extracting Salt-petre

out of the blood of Animals, which belongs not to this place to treat

of; let us but compute the account a little. If there are yearly kill’d

in some great City some ten thousand Oxen, besides Calves, Hogs, Sheep,

and Goats, and the blood be cast away as unprofitable, [_now an hundred

weight of blood yields some 5, 6, 7, or 8 pound, or more, of Nitre._]

the question is, How many Hundreds of Salt-petre is lost? That this may

be the more clearly evidenced, _viz._ That there is much Salt-petre in

all Beasts, Fishes, and Birds, take another Experiment: Let a Beast,

Bird, or Fish be laid in some warm place, where no Rain comes, to

putrefie, out of the Carcass there will come Worms; of these Worms or

Maggots take about one pound, more or less, put them in a Glass with

a narrow neck, stop the glass with Paper only, and set it at the Sun,

but not too hot, and in a few daies the worms or maggots will be turned

into water; then pour out this water into a Copper Vessel tinn’d over,

clarify it with the whites of Eggs, as Vegetable juices are wont to be

clarified; then evaporate the clarified Juice, by little and little,

by decoction, till it be covered over with a skin; as we have taught

you in the Vegetable Juices; then set it by in a cold Cellar, and there

will shoot good and natural Nitre, but especially if that Liquor shall

have stood a while afore in the air.

The self-same Experiment may any one make with other Vermin that arise

from Flesh or Cheese, and he shall find that even living Creatures have

Salt-petre in them: so then there is nothing to be found, wherein that

Universal salt of the World is not seen to be; but in some the salt

doth sooner put on a _Salt-petre_ nature, and in others it is already

made _Salt-petre_ by Nature.

Let this serve as an example, _viz._ The Essential or Universal salt of

Vegetables, Animals, & Minerals, is indeed in its own nature nitrous,

but it does not conceive any flame afore it has attracted life and

flame from the Air. Further, one salt attracts that Life sooner and

willinglier than another does, according as it is by Nature framed.

By how much the more volatile and urinous the salts are, so much the

sooner do they change themselves into Nitre; and by how much the more

biting and more corrosive, so much the more difficultly and slowly

do they put on the nature of _Salt-petre_. But because Nitre is a

salt that partakes of both natures, _viz._ of a Urinous and Corrosive

Nature, and is compounded as it were of both a Urinous and a Corrosive

Salt, therefore by the help thereof one skill’d in Nature may easily

help the salts, and make of them whatsoever he pleaseth. Nor is there

in the nature of things any salt, but may by the help of Art be turned

into Nitre; but especially those salts which are sublimed by fire, and

are elevated by the force thereof; as likewise those that are in the

Urine and Excrements of all Animals; yea more, Animals, Vegetables,

and Minerals themselves do easily assume the nature of Nitre: This now

is the first degree of salts. Another degree of salts are those that

are somewhat fixer, (as the Sons of Art call them) and are such as are

left in the fire, from Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals: These do more

hardly pass into the nature of Nitre; but the hardest of all, are those

salts which are in the third degree, as common salt, Sea-salt, Mountain

or Fossile salt, Alume and Vitriol; for by Art are even these brought

to that state, as to pass into true Nitre, but harder than the former,

for they need a longer time for transmutation, than the abovenamed

flying, volatile, and urinous salts. And therefore I would not have any

of you to opinionate, that when I say in my Writings, that this or that

salt may be converted into _Salt-petre_, assoon as ever it is extracted

out of the _Lixivium_, or by barely calcining with fire, that (I say)

it should presently be true burning _Salt-petre_; no, there is a yet

farther time thereto required, whereto it may attract its life and soul

out of the Air, and become burning or inflamable.

Every common _Barber_ and mean-pated fellow, knows that the most

_Salt-petre_ hitherto made, hath been boiled out of a Lee, drawn out

of the Earth taken out of old stables, wherein Sheep and other beasts

have stood. And why, I pray, out of the old standing places of Sheep,

Oxen, and the like Cattel, and not likewise out of the new? It is on

this account, because old Stables do not only in _long_ Process of time

imbibe more salt out of the Excrements and Urine, and consequently

yield more Salt-petre; but also those very salts (that come from the

Excrements of the beasts) and which is the main thing, have in long

process of time received their soul or life from the air, which new

salts have not as yet attained unto: For let any one boil, and try

his conclusions on the fresh Dung and Urine of Animals, as much as he

list, they will never become Nitre, unless they draw their Life out

of the Air. Let any one take some good Salt-petre, and mix it with

Earth, and destil off the Spirit in a Retort, there will come over

into the Receiver such a sharp and corroding water, as will dissolve

Metals, Stones, and all other even the hardest Mercurial Bodies, and

yet the Salt-petre was not corrosive before, but it hath gotten that

degree of corrosivity from the fire’s operation. Contrariwise, let some

good Salt Nitre be taken, and be calcined in a Crucible, with burning

Coals or such-like other matters as will burn or calcine it: By this

operation it will be changed into a very fiery and fixt Salt, but not

so corrosive, and thus it will dissolve all Fat, Oils, Greases, and

sulphureous Bodies, which thing the former corrosive Spirit will not

do; for such bodies as are dissolveable by this fixt and urinous Salt,

the former acid Spirit leaves them untouch’d; and on the other hand, it

will dissolve those bodies which cannot be dissolved by the fixt Salt,

and yet are they both extracted out of one and the same Subject, by the

help of the fire. Hence may it easily be conjectured, that this is an

Hermaphroditical Salt, and partakes of both natures, seeing it puts on

both (or either) of them; for the Philosophical Maxim witnesseth, that

every thing hath its Original out of that into which it can be changed

and resolved.

Now when I pour the acid Spirit that destilled over into the Receiver

on that fixt Salt again, they are both of them divested of their nature

and property; the Spirit loseth his sharpness and acidity, and the

fixt salt puts off its fiery nature, and so they both become again an

Hermaphroditical Salt, but yet not presently, but ’tis necessary to

allow them some time of standing together in the Air, whereby they may

receive that life and that burning nature which the Fire hath deprived

them of. But yet notwithstanding, this comes sooner to pass in this,

than in other contrary subjects, because these two Contraries have

heretofore already been one Salt-petre; for such as never have been

Nitre, but are hereafter to be so, require a longer abode in the Air.

These instructions we give to those that might haply think that Salts

may be animated without the help of the Air.

And now, that I may perfectly demonstrate that Salts do get their life

out of the air, without any encreasing in weight thereby, and not

from elsewhere, I will give you this following example. Take 1 _l._

of Honey or Sugar, and let it be dissolved in ten pounds of Water,

and let this Water be set for some weeks in a warm air, the Honey or

Sugar will be as a magnet to this Water, and will by attracting a life

out of the air turn it into sharp Vinegar, and that without any thing

at all encreasing the weight of the same. By this means Water, by the

addition of Honey, Sugar, Malt, or any other Vegetable Juice, will,

by the operation of the hidden and attracting essential Salt, pass

together with it into excellent Vinegar. But now some or other may

imagine that the Honey, or the juice of the Fruit and Corn, have in

them an hidden acidity, which by the help of the warm encompassing air,

hath revealed it self, and so did not attract its birth out of the air:

But I will shew you the contrary, as follows: Take a pound of Honey,

Sugar, or some other Vegetable Juice, and force it over in a Retort

into a Receiver, and you will find that there will destil over 10 or

12 lots (or half ounces) of insipid Water, and so many of acid water;

the remainder is a dead ashes, and have nothing in them; the Vinegar

and Phlegm that ascended, will not yield one pound of Liquor, and the

Vinegar it self, with its acidity, will scarce be so strong in taste as

those ten pounds of water that are turned into Vinegar by the air.

This now demonstrates, that there was not in the Honey any more acidity

than what was thence drawn out by the help of destillation, for the

remaining ashes have not any taste at all. But put case that the

acidity which is driven out of the Retort into the Receiver by the

force of Fire, should be as sharp as _Aq. fortis_, (when as tho’ it

is scarce as sowre as Vinegar) yet would it hardly make ten pounds of

Water so acid as to be compared with the other which is made by the

essential Salt and the Air; so that it is evident that the acidity (as

being a life) is drawn by the Magnetick Virtue of the Honey out of the

air.

But as touching this Essential Salt of Vegetables, its being a Magnet,

to extract an acetous spirit out of the air, and communicate it to the

dead water. You are here well to observe, that the universal spirit

or soul of the World may be drawn out of the Air many and sundry

waies. In the aforementioned Example of Vinegar is a spirit extracted,

which is fit for the converting of Vegetable Liquors into Vinegar. In

Hermaphroditical salts, the Universal Nitrous spirit becomes burning,

as in Wine, Ale, and Metheglin. All these are so made by the means of

air, without which no Wine or Ale can ferment, and without fermentation

it is impossible for a burning spirit to be generated; which said

spirit is easily afterwards turned into Vinegar, and this Vinegar into

Nitre, and this Nitre again into a burning Spirit or Vinegar; for every

Life is of one and the same original, and may by the benefit of Art be

changed out of one nature or property into another.

So likewise the same is to be understood in the generation of

Salt-petre, all Salts of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals are dead,

afore they get themselves a life after a magnetical manner out of the

Air, and be made into Salt-petre; for amongst all salts, none deserve

to be called a _Live Salt_, but that one of _Salt-petre_, which by the

Philosophers is called the _Watchful Dragon_, which likewise at the

beginning was dead, but hath got himself a Life out of the air. By all

which it is most clearly manifest, that the life of all things ariseth

out of the air, and that those Creatures which come not into the air

want Life and that such things as already have life, are choak’d and

die if the air be taken from them. Hence comes the death of all things,

by a suppressing or taking away of air, (in which air the Life of

all things consists) what way soever it be done by, as the aforesaid

example of the Vinegar teacheth; for if Honey or Sugar were not made

thin with Water, there would never have hapned that changing into

Vinegar. So likewise _Grapes_, _Apples_, _Pears_, _Barley_, _Oats_,

_Wheat_, were they not moistened with water, but remained dry, they

never would get the nature and property of Vinegar, and that for this

reason, because the air could never infuse its life into a dry and shut

up body.

This they well know who are imployed in making a quantity of Vinegar;

and upon this account do they in Summer time set their Vessels open

to the Sun, and in the Winter, they keep them in warm stoves near the

fire, and both afore and behind, and at the bottom do they make holes

to give the Air entrance, that so they might the speedilier promote the

changing of the Wine, Ale and Metheglin into Vinegar.

They likewise know this too, that even strong Vinegar if it be a long

time shut and kept from Air, corrupts and dies. The which thing, seeing

it is to be as well understood of other Subjects, as of these here,

_viz._ Salt-petre and Vinegar, we may affirm thus much, That by how

much the more of warm Air comes to the Wine or Ale, so much the sooner

will they pass into Vinegar. And by how much the more of warm Air the

Salts draw, so much the speedier will they draw a Life thereout-of,

and put on themselves the nature and property of Salt-petre. This is

the reason why the Salt-petre boilers do sometimes turn or dig up

the Earth from whence they have had Salt-petre, and moisten it with

water, that so the Air may the more commodiously penetrate that Earth

by its operation, and infuse Nitre thereinto. But yet this business

goes slowly on, and may be compared with that where a man presseth

out Grapes or Apples a little, and then exposeth those Reliques of

the press’d Grapes or Apples to the Air, or else grinds Malt somewhat

grosly and moistens it with water and so sets it by that it may be

endued with the nature and virtues of Vinegar: It would indeed come to

pass, but yet much slower than if Wine, Ale, or other Drinks were set

by so, without the huskiness or bran: The same is to be observed in

the making of Salt-petre. By how much the more, the Air toucheth the

Salts, so much the speedier will it reduce them into living Nitre. This

may be seen in old walls that are built in moist places, you see how

the Lime sprouts out and is converted into Salt-petre. We see not the

same thing done in the inside of the wall, where the Air can cannot

penetrate into it. Hence know I of a truth, that it is not the husks of

the Grapes, nor the husks or bran of the Corn grows sour, but it is the

thin Juice or Liquor that is either pressed out of them, or extracted

with water. And I likewise see that ’tis not the Ashes, nor Calx vive,

nor the like calcined things that becomes Nitre, but only the Salt

that is hidden in them. Therefore seeing that all calcined things

being moistned with water and for a long time exposed to the warm Air

do extract a Life and become Salt-petre, and that the Ashes and Calx

are like a dead Earth and never yield Salt-petre, but remain a dead

Earth. Likewise, forasmuch as such Earth doth not at all conferr ought

to the generation and making of Salt-petre, but is rather every where

an hindrance thereunto, whereby the Air cannot associate it self to

the Salt; therefore do I separate the earth, body, shell, and useless

garment, and keep the Salt, and I introvert it by the Air and turn it

into Salt-nitre, but yet not without the addition of Water, in which

the Salt is dissolved and rendred more fit for extracting a Life out of

the Air; for otherwise should the Salt remain dry this transmutation

would be a tedious while a bringing to the desired end.

If therefore the Salts that are prepared by the fire are dissolved in

water, and the water be together with it kept by peculiar Instruments

in perpetual motion, and some heat be also thereto adjoined, so that

there be not the least Atoms of the Salts to be found which have not

the uncessant penetration of the warm air, and which are not animated,

(because the warm air and motion do in all places touch and vivify the

Salts): Such an operation as this does more in four Weeks, than if

the Salt lay in the heaped up Earth and open to the air (far longer)

wherein it would not in a whole years time attain to so great a change.

But this perpetual agitation and heating consisteth in a certain wooden

Instrument which may of its own accord by an unceasing motion heat

the Salt-water, so as that every Week a growing alteration may be

evidently seen and perceived. It is not of any great charge, and one

may get ready as many Vessels to be filled with Salt-water to make

Salt-petre with (as he pleaseth) for one Man can manage an hundred

of them or more and conserve them in continual heat and motion, so

that a Man may keep such an Art secret as long as he pleaseth. And as

concerning the ordering the salt by the help of the fire and getting it

a magnetick and attractive faculty afore it be dissolved in water to

be put into the Vessels; and also how the Vessels are to be prepared,

this cannot be conveniently declared in writing, but it is expedient

that as well the manual operations requisite for the endowing of salt

with a magnetick faculty, as the Instruments necessary for the turning

it into Salt-petre be also well lookt into, with all the appurtenances

thereto belonging. Any one will easily comprehend them all, and be able

to imitate them; yea far easier than any gross or great work, and it

may be improved in any subject whatever. It is not any sordid kind of

operation, but pure and clean, it needs not any making of Lixiviums,

nor any decoction, nor any evaporation, but perfecteth it self without

impediment or retarding the work, and coagulates the Salt into Nitre.

Verily it is a most delicate and most profitable invention, from which

many others may have a beginning and flow.

Thus have we declared and proved that the soul of the World vivifying

dead salts, and turning them into Salt-petre, adds not unto them

either weight or encrease, and yet nevertheless it is of such abundant

efficacy and power as to reduce them all to Life, which Life is no

other thing but the little Bird of _Hermes_, and easily admits of being

esteemed for the most noble amongst all the Creatures GOD hath made,

set aside but the soul of Man, and may by the help of Art be again

extracted out of the Salt-petre. But that I may mention the thing more

openly and more clearly; I say, that the salts must (by the help of

Fire and Art) first get a magnetick and attractive power and faculty

afore they can draw a Life out of the air. Now then, after that the

universal Life of the World is caught and fettered as it were by the

salts, and hath turned the dead salts into living nitre, yet that life

lies hidden in that Salt-petre invisibly, and can but a little or

scarce any thing at all shew out or display its virtues by reason of

the Gross body of the salt.

NB. If so be that any one shall but know how to draw out this Life

again out of the Nitre, and bring it into a body, and make it visible,

he shall have a thing so admirable that he’ll scarce find the like (as

I believe) in all natural things. For there is such a sweet and red

Liquor, as to sight, thence had, that one only small drop will tinge

a thousand parts of water with a Golden colour: which (said Liquor) I

have not as yet brought to a constant or fixed Medicine, but do make

use of it in Medicine (as it is) and I find in it things wonderful. But

this little Bird (as far as I know) cannot be again extracted out of

the Nitre by any other subject than with a net artificially prepared of

Sheeps-skins.

Such a worthy thing as this is, do I rank in the number of great

secrets and mysteries, and I suppose it to be that work which the

knowledge desiring _Jason_, being holpen by _Medea_ who was most

skilful in the Chymical Art, took away from the Dragon, and called it

the Golden Fleece: But I would not have any one perswade himself that

I speak here of such a Tincture as is extracted out of fixt Nitre (and

likewise the same is extractable out of Salt of Tartar) by Spirit of

Wine. No, that is no true Tincture, but the Spirit of Wine is somewhat

altered and tinged by the fixt salt. But that Liquor of mine is the

true, occult, and inmost Tincture, Virtue, and Life of the Nitre,

and is of a golden Nature, but plainly flying and volatile, one drop

whereof doth so gild an whole Imperial, as if it were gilt over with

Ducket Gold. This Tincture cannot be changed or altered by any contrary

Menstruum, be it Corrosive or Urinous, no nor by _Aqua-fortis_, or

Liquor of Salt of Tartar; the like of which is scarce to be found in

all nature.

For if there be a most delicate colour drawn out of the Vegetables, as

Cochenele, Saffron, and such like, by the help of the Spirit of Wine,

and there be dropt therein but one only drop of _Aqua-fortis_, the

colour will presently turn pale, and if you add more, it will vanish

for altogether. Or else if a drop of the Liquor of Salt of Tartar

should be put therein, it would presently change colour and become

duskyish. But now, this true Tincture of Nitre, or Soul of the World

suffers not any change from either of the contraries. And should one

have even a metallick Tincture, or extract even from Gold it self, yet

would it not stand in this tryal, but would be precipitated either by

the acid or the fixt salt, and separate from the Menstruums. But ours

doth constantly abide in every trial, and resists both the contraries.

I do therefore repeat what I have often said, that there is more lies

hidden in Nitre than many thousands of Men can perswade themselves of.

But because it is so vile and abject a thing, no body thinks that there

lies hidden any thing of good therein. But do but read the chiefest of

the Philosophers, and you shall therein find that they do enigmatically

point at Nitre, and do call it the Dragon which is to be slain by its

Brother or Sister afore it parts with its Treasure; But enough of this.

The things hitherto mentioned, have I produced for this end, that

my Neighbour may be the better certified concerning them. All the

Philosophers Books are full of this thing, amongst whom, _Hermes_, and

_Basil Valentine_ excel, who have written most clearly. _Paracelsus_

saith openly, Alchimy hath found it in Nitre. The late Philosopher

_Nuisment_, hath published a Treatise of the Salt and Spirit of the

World, and is verily most worthy the reading, which (said Book) I

commend to the Reader that studies these things. Therefore do I here

again repeat what I have so oft reiterated, _viz._ That Salt-petre is

the most admirable, the most excellent, and the most powerful Subject

of the whole World, whose wonderful properties cannot be enough

search’d into. But because it hath its rise from dung and putrid

rotten things the greatest company of foolish ones do despise it, but

the small company of Philosophers and Wise-men (who are those that

know what admirable virtues it has) do most highly esteem it, and set

thereon a great value. The well disposed Reader will clearly find more

as to its virtue and efficacy, in the three following parts.

O thou the original of all good things, and Treasure of all Treasures,

vouchsafe that we may well and rightly improve this earthly and fading

Treasure, and may so search after, and use it unto the end, that we

lose not the chiefest good, but may rather find and keep thee for ever.

_An Admonition, adjoined as an Over-plus._

In the first Chapter of this first part of the concentration of things,

have I plenarily manifested, by what means, new Wines and Musts are

(by the help of an Artificial condensation) to be brought into a

narrow compass, that so they might be carried into far remote places

wherein there are no Wines, and may there be sold to great profit. But

yet I forgot to shew, by what means the savour which the winy Juices

contracted in their concentration, is wholly to be taken away in the

fermentation when they are again dissolved in water, that so the Wines

made of those Juices may not have any untoward and unpleasant taste.

’Tis an Artifice without which no man can easily, quit himself in this

Art of making Wine. But that I may certify every one hereabouts, the

Medium (or Basis) necessary about the precipitation in this work is no

other thing but common _Sulphur_ excellently well purified, a little

portion whereof (according to the nature and property or disposition

of the Juices) is to be hereto added, which must boil up (or ferment)

with the Wine, that so it may draw to it self all the filths, and all

the strange odour, and savour or taste in the fermentation and by

precipitation cast them down to the bottom, which being done the Wines

become sweet, clear, and get a good savour. Furthermore it is to be

known by what means (seeing that there are many fæces and defilements

that will separate themselves out of those kinds of Wines as well as

out of others, and settle to the bottom) even they are to be put to

some use, that so there may not be any loss, but that the gain may

be by so much the greater. Divers ways are there of making profit

from them; as for instance, The remaining Wines may by pressed out

in bags, or else they may be turned into Vinegar, or a spirit may be

thence destilled, and the remaining gross matter be boiled in water,

and the Tartar therein dissolved, and prest out in bags, that it may

so shoot into Tartar. But as touching this expression I have taken

care to have a peculiar Book published at _Norimberg_, (viz. _The

Treatise of the Lees of Wine_.) So that it is wholly needless to make

any mention of the same, in this place. The Courteous Reader may use

it to his occasions, as being such a Book, in which he will find the

said pressing out the Wine and Tartar, and also the making of Vinegar,

clearly described, with all the circumstances thereabouts, and without

all question if he rightly understands me, and sets about the work, he

will do himself a great deal of good.

NB. But if so be that any shall know the Art of turning the Tartar of

those Fæces into Salt-petre, (and such a thing may be done and that in

a very short time) he will get twice the profit, that is to be gotten

by making Tartar of them; forasmuch as he need not put himself to the

inconveniency of pressing them.

In the second Chapter of this first part where mention is made of the

concentration of Corn, there it has been alleadged that the remaining

husks or branny parts which remain after the extraction of the Juices,

may be made to yield as much yea more Moneys than will pay the costs

about the Corn. But it is well known, that those reliques that are

left in your boiling up of Ale, are improved to fatten Beasts with. If

now a _Medimnus_ (a measure of about some 6 bushels) of Corn doth cost

half, nay even a whole Imperial, those reliques (that are left of it in

working) can scarce cost less than one eighth part of that Imperial.

And now out of such a _Medimnus_ or measure of such reliques, they

would very hardly when turned in the Beasts, into nutriment, have

made in them two pounds growth of flesh, the price of which (said two

pounds) would not amount to the eighth part of the said Imperial:

Whereas now, if those reliques were handled after the afore-mentioned

way of reducing Wood into Juices, they would easily yield as much,

or more Salt-petre than the price of the Corn was at the beginning.

So that here’s an enriching Treasure offers it self to the pious and

diligent Housholder, whereby he may do good to those in need.

In the third Chapter of the first part, is mention made only of the

Concentration of Wood, of the pressing the Juices out of the Wood, and

of the making Nitre; But because there is not every where such great

quantity of Wood, as to imploy it to the making of Salt-petre without

omitting the more necessary use of it, yet notwithstanding the case

may be so ordered as that a great quantity of Salt-nitre may be made

of the Leaves of the Trees and the Grass that grows under the Trees,

and there’s no need to cut down the Trees, if a Man has no mind so to

do. Besides too, in such places where there’s but little Wood and much

Corn, even the very stubble or straw (of the Corn) is fit enough to

be made into Salt-petre. So that there is no place where there is not

matter found for the making of Salt-petre.

And therefore I cannot forbear but must needs teach all pious

Housholders (whether they have their Houses in Cities or in Villages) a

certain easie Artifice, by the help of which they may gather a Treasure

for their Children, without any labour and costs, and such a one as

Thieves can never rob them of.

And now, seeing I have revealed in this small Book, for the benefit

both of Rich and Poor, high and low, three Artifices or Workmanships

by which, Wine, Corn, and Wood may be made more profitable; but yet

have not brought any assisting help to such as want both Wine, Corn,

and Wood, I have judged it worth the while (that so even they who have

nothing, and yet nevertheless desire to provide for their Wives and

Children in some honest way) to bestow on them a secret Art, whereby

they may seek their advantage or profit. And I hope the thing will

redound to the Honour of God, and to all our Healths.

Besides, I will shew a way to such as have no inheritance left them

from their Parents, nor have any thing come to them by Marriage, by

what means they may without labour and trouble get a Treasure for their

Children.

First of all, Let such a one take care to have some shade or hovel

made, to join to that side of his dwelling that lies in the middle

’twixt the North and the East part of Heaven, or some other more

convenient place, so as to admit the Sun and Air to it, but to keep off

the Rain. Under this Pent-house or Hovel, let him dig a large Pit, and

with the Earth he digs out let him make banks round the Pits-mouth that

so it may keep the Rain off of every side. This done, let him each day

in every year, or whensoever he can conveniently carry and throw into

that Pit these following matters, so long till his necessity forceth

him to dig all out again, and to see how much Treasure he hath gotten,

even whilest he slept. Now these matters are, All sharp and bitter

Herbs, growing in by places, amongst bushes, and in the way sides, and

such as the Beasts feed not on, as _Esula_, _Cicuta_ or Hemlock, Hen

bane, Fumitory, the thick stalks of Tabaco that are thrown away in

those places where it is planted, the hard stalks of Colwort, which the

Beasts eat not of, and likewise all those things they leave in their

Troughs; likewise Firr tops or Apples if you have them at hand; also

the Leaves that fall from the Trees in Autumn are to be gathered; also

Pigeons-dung, and Hens-dung, Birds and Hens Feathers; all the Ashes

which Women usually make their Lees with, and other Ashes that are not

fit for that use, as also such out of which the Lixivium or Lee is

already extracted; the soot of Chimneys, Hogs hairs, the horns of Oxen

and Cows, and the bones which the Dogs eat not of. All these matters

may he throw into his Pit, and that he may the sooner fill it, he may

gather as much as ever he can from the bordering places, and throw it

therein, that so in one or two years time he may with all those things

fill up his Pit. Mean while he must pour into the Pit the piss gathered

in his House, and that he may have enough he must also get as much as

he can from his Neighbours, so as to keep the things thrown in the Pit

in a continual moisture, whereby they may the sooner putrefy. In want

of Urine, common Water may be taken; if Sea-water or other Salt-water

can be had, it will be the better. Also the Brine of Fishes-pickle, and

the salting or salt-water that Flesh is macerated (or pickled) in are

of good use in this business; likewise the Blood of Oxen, Cows, Calves,

Sheep, which you may easily have at the Butchers; all these things

putrefying together do put on the nature and property of Salt-petre.

If now, all those matters in your full pit shall have well putrefied,

then cease from pouring on any more moisture, and all the things are to

be left so long till they are dried. And then if you need Money, let a

Salt-petre maker be sought for, and bargain with him about the price

of drawing out your Salt-petre by water, of making it, and selling it.

This done, cast the remaining Earth again into the Pit, together with

the remaining Lixivium that shot not into Nitre, and there leave it for

a year or two, and moisten it sometimes with Urine, or if you have not

this, with common Water. This Earth will again yield Salt-nitre, but

not above half so much as at first.

NB. If you stand not in need of Money, let the matter lie, and as oft

as it dries, so often moisten it again with the aforesaid moisture,

that so the Nitre may more and more grow and increase. By this means

shall such a one gather a secret Treasure, & shall not know almost how

he came by it. If he needs it not himself, his Children will find it.

Thieves & Souldiers will not steal it away. If one Pit be full then

another may be made, that so nothing at all of those matters, which

otherwise are most base, (but in this case most suitable) may be lost.

Now if there were but only one in every Village that were appointed to

exercise this Labour, there would be found out as it were in a small

Country many thousand hundreds of Salt-petre, and so these matters

still serving for the same use, there would never be any scarcity of

Salt-petre. And now, Nitre being present, Gold and Silver are not far

off. Let every one observe this, and esteem it. Men will sometime or

other at last, become thrifty and wise, and will see what blindness

they have been possessed with.

Give GOD the thanks, and be helpful to thy Neighbour. GOD hath bestowed

on me, I bestow on thee, do thou likewise bestow somewhat upon thy

Neighbour, and it will be well with us all.

THE SECOND PART

OF

The Prosperity of Germany,

Wherein is shewn,

By what means Minerals may be Concentrated by Nitre, and turned into

Metalick, and better Bodies.

_For the benefit of my Country, and of all such as affectionately and

industriously follow after Metalick Affairs._

Friendly Reader,

_I have taught in the first part of this Book, by what way the

Vegetables, as Wine, and Ale, are to be concentrated, whereby they may

yield more profit than hitherto they have done, and also, how Wood

is to be reduced into Salt-petre. In this present Second part, shall

be taught, how the Salt-petre is to be used, and how, by it Minerals

may be Concentrated, and wrought into Metalick Bodies. And as to this

Concentration, thus stands the case; that is to say, forasmuch as a

good part of Minerals are of very little use, and lie neglected as

things of no worth, and prove not profitable to any one, (whereas if

there were Men that understood but the Art of it, there might redound a

great benefit to the Lands where they are). It hath seemed to me worth

while to declare it to my Country, nor doubt I but that there will

arise some diligent ingenuities, who will lay the thing to heart, and

take care thereabouts, and will even set their hands to the work it

self, and thence get much profit; which to me would be very pleasing

and acceptable. Therefore (in the Name of God) will I set about the

manifestation of the Gifts of God (which lie every where unknown, and

wholly disesteemed, and which yield no Man any fruit) and lay them

open before the Eyes of the whole World, that so they may be better

known hereafter, and be of more benefit to the Country. And I beseech

the most Wealthy, and the most Ancient Housholder, our most merciful

Father, to bestow a Blessing, and good success on this my endeavour,

that it may tend to the Honour of his most Holy Name, and the health of

all our Souls._ Amen.

_Of the difference of Minerals, and what is understood by the

Name of Minerals._

As concerning the word _Mineral_, why all Fossile and Metalick Mines

are so called afore they have been wrought upon, and brought by the

fire into Malleable Metals, I judge it but of small moment to make any

tedious Comment thereupon; besides, others have long ago thoroughly

treated of that, and yet it makes but little to the thing it self. But

my purpose is (at present) to teach, what means such little esteemed

Minerals may be made useful, and profitable by; but afore I begin this

work, I will recite, and shew the many sorts of Minerals that there be;

then next that, I will shew how, by the benefit of fire, and the hands

of the Artificer, they may be converted into better bodies, and become

useful, and profitable for Mankind.

Under the Name of Minerals are comprehended, or reckoned these

following, _viz._ _Antimony_, _Auripigment_, White, Yellow, and Red

_Arsenick_, _Cobolt_, _Lapis Calaminaris_, _Zink_, _Bismute_, or the

_Silvery Marchasite_, likewise the _Golden Marchasite_, _Pyrites_, or

_Copperas_ stones, _Vitriol_ of various kinds; as also, its kindred,

may be added to the number of Minerals. And albeit, that some do also

referr Alume, Salt-petre, Sal Armoniack, Sal Gem, and others of that

kind to the rank of Minerals, yet cannot I acknowledge them for such,

or reckon them up amongst the number of the above mentioned, seeing

there is nothing Metalline to be found in them: Such only therefore do

I call Minerals, that have in them a Metalline nature, and which do

admit of being joined with other Metals, and of being molten together

with them in the fire, and out of which the known Malleable Metals, may

be extracted. These are they which I intend to treat of, and will see,

what good is thencefrom extractable.

And first of all we’ll speak of _Antimony_.

_Antimony_ is the noblest Mineral of all, not only because it doth

for the most part contain Gold in it, but upon this account too,

because more eminent Medicines may be thencefrom prepared for the use

of Mankind. In the Mine-pits it has its peculiar Veins; that which is

found in _Transilvania_, hath some little bigger portion of Gold in

it, and is accompted of as the best in all _Europe_, next that is the

_Hungarian_ ♁, which likewise doth sometimes contain no contemptible

portion of Gold; next is the _Fechtenbergick_, which is found at

a small Town call’d, in the _German_ Tongue, _Gold-Gronack_; the

_Polonian_ sort, and that which is found in most places of _Germany_,

contains but little Gold, or none at all; but there is some which has

much Silver in it, and (for the most part) is neither wont to be used,

nor desired, or sought for, save by the Letter Founders, and these

use it to make their Matters flow. Also many do use it (_viz._ ♁) in

Medicine, and do much good therewith, but it hath certain Enemies who

are none of the wisest, and so is hated, and rejected. But yet there

lies in it more hidden good, than all its Enemies are able to conceive

of, witness my _Panacea_, which is mentioned in the second part of my

_Pharmacopœia Spagyrica_.

And _Basil Valentine_, certainly an excellent Philosopher, writ the

Triumphant Chariot in its Honour, which is an exquisite Book and

profitable to read.

But as concerning the way of making a Regulus out of Antimony, and as

to the uses it serves for, that I have described in the fourth part of

my Furnaces. Moreover, as to the manner of depurating Gold thereby, and

cleansing it from all Heterogeneous mixtures, and as to the graduating

of silver, thereby, that it may become Golden, all this have I spoken

of in the Explication of my _Miraculum Mundi_; and as to what other

effects may profitably be done, therewith in Metalick Operations, shall

be shown, partly in this Treatise, partly in the third and fourth

ensuing parts. As concerning the way of separating it in quantity out

of the Ore, _per descensum_, is to be seen in _George Agricola_’s Book,

that he wrote of the Metalick Art, and in others; nor indeed belongs it

to this place to speak thereof.

_Of_ Arsenick.

_Arsenick_ likewise is a good Fossile, or profitable Mineral, and is

put to many Uses. It also hath its singular, or distinct Veins in the

Earth, whence it is taken; it is forced out of the Ore by Ascension,

and Descension, and is purified for use: It is found white, yellow,

and red. Also some silvery Minerals or Ores do in their solution, or

melting; yield much Arsenick, which the Melters of the Ores do catch

in Chimneys or Funnels made for that purpose, and keep it for use;

concerning which, you may read in _George Agricola_’s Writings. So

likewise, _Cobolt_ yields Arsenick, and so do some Golden Minerals, or

Ore; that which is separated from a Minera of Gold, _per descensum_,

is very red, and auriferous; and this, those that deal with Metals,

have experience of; which, if they separate not from the Gold Ore afore

they melt it, it carrys away a great part of the Gold, and hides it in

its Belly in the melting, so that they would not have so much Gold as

there is in the Ore. For indeed, such a kind of Arsenick, is an unripe

Gold, as shall be hereafter proved: So then, there lies more hidden

in that Contemptible, and Venomous Arsenick, than any one will easily

perswade himself to believe. There are also Medicines prepared out of

it, but such, as serve only to be externally applied, in inveterate,

and virulent Evils, as the Cancer, and Fistula. It is also used in

Colouring and Dying Cloaths, concerning which, you may peruse my other

Writings.

_Of_ Auripigment.

This Mineral is in a manner of the same Essence that Arsenick is of;

but this does not come forth of Minera’s, or Metalline Ores, but

hath peculiar Veins of its own, in which it is generated; it is an

unripe Mineral, and doth for the most part also contain Gold. It is

exceedingly Poisonous and Volatile, and therefore it is but little

used, save only by Painters. It can be fixed by Nitre, and it makes

Copper white, and brittle, as Arsenick doth: And it suffers it self to

be sublimed out of its yellowness, into Transparent Rubies, which are

used for Ornaments sake.

_Of_ Cobolt.

Amongst all the Minerals that are to be found _Cobolt_ is the most

poisonous; it’s an unripe silver, and it ofttimes yields in melting

good silver, yet one sort more than other; some also there is which

hath not any Silver at all, and is used about the sky-colour’d Smalt,

to help make it, with an addition of Fusile Sand, and Potters Ashes.

But when they meet with that which has Silver in it, they separate

it thencefrom by Fusion; besides, it may be so fixt by the help of

Salt-petre as to yield permanent Silver, as shall anon be spoken of.

_Of the_ Silvery Marchasite.

The silver Marchasite, or Wismuth, is a known Mineral; it’s every where

found to and again in the silver Mine-pits, as well as Cobolt is, but

yet it is much more fixt than Cobolt; neither is it of so poisonous a

Nature. It is gotten out of its Ore, or Minera, most easily by a small

flame of wood fire, and is used by the Pewterers to make their Pewter

hard, sounding, and fluxile. Likewise, out of its scoria or drossy

parts, is the blue Smalt also prepared, which the Potters use to glaze

their Pots, and the Glass-men to make sky-colour’d Glasses. It doth

very frequently abound with much silver, and ’tis rare to find any that

is wholly void of silver: And if it holds so much silver, as is of more

value than the Marchasite can be sold for (as ’tis barely _Bismute_)

they separate it, if not, they leave it in it. For if an hundred weight

doth not contain 20 or 30 Lots, or half Ounces they do not separate it,

because the Marchasite will yield so much. But now, the Silver may be

gotten out of the Marchasite, by Salt-petre, so as that the remaining

Marchasite shall lose nothing of its goodness nor be at all spoiled, as

I have shewed in the Explication of my _Miraculum Mundi_.

_Of the Golden_ Marchasite.

The name of _Marchasite_ is proper to every unripe Metallick matter

(and is) of as many sorts as there are Metals; hereupon the matter

which has Gold in it, is called the Golden Marchasite; that which has

Copper, the Coppery; that which has Iron, the Irony, and so that which

abounds with Sulphur, is called the Sulphureous Marchasite. But now

there is Sulphur in all the Marchasites, and sometimes Arsenick too,

but (the Golden ones) have more of Gold than the other Marchasites

have; Besides, out of all kinds of Marchasites proceeds (for the most

part) a Vitriol, which shews the nature of that Metal, which the

Marchasite contains; one while Copper, sometimes Iron; ’tis rare to

find a Marchasite that hath no Metal at all in it; if it hath nothing

of Gold, Silver, or Copper, yet has it Iron, and gives out of it self

a Vitriol useful for Dyers, and which such as prepare _Aqua-fortis_

cannot be without.

_Of_ Zink.

_Zink_ is a Volatile Mineral, or a half ripe Metal when it is drawn

out of its Ore. It is much clearer and brighter than Tin, yet not so

malleable and fluxile as Tin is, and it is usually put to Tin to make

it brighter and harder. We have it not much growing in _Germany_, but

great quantity of it is every year brought us by the Merchants out of

the _East-Indies_. The way how to prepare it for Medicinal uses, have

I described in the first part of the Philosophical Furnaces. It is

a golden but an unripe Mineral, it gives Red Copper a Yellow Colour

and turns it into Brass, as _Lapis Calaminaris_ doth; and indeed that

same Stone is nothing else but unmeltable _Zink_, and this _Zink_ may

properly be called a fusile Lapis Calaminaris; for as much as both

of them partake of one nature. But with _Zink_, there is most an end

conjoined Lead too, and then it is not fit to make Brass of, unless

the Lead be first taken thereoutof; so it is at _Goslaria_, where

together with the Minera or Ore of _Zink_ is Lead also digg’d out mixt

amongst it, and is called a Lead Ore, though there be contained in

that Ore, four times more of Zink than there is of Lead, and yet they

burn up the Zink for to have the Lead, which Lead hath some Silver in

it. In the melting it flies away in fume, and it is a volatile and

combustible Mineral, and sublimes it self up into the holes of the

Furnace, whereupon the Melters or Founders are constrained to knock

it off frequently, least it should too much lessen the Furnace; this

matter they knock off, they call Calmei (which is Lapis Calaminaris)

and which turns red Copper into Brass, with encrease (of its weight);

and so verily by means of the not-knowing or being skill’d in this Ore,

a great quantity is yearly burnt up and lost. Sometimes the founders

do gather somewhat of the Zink, which is most excellently excellent;

but that Ore might be melted with far greater profit, if they did not

so burn up the Zink, and force it into fume, but seeing men are hardly

drawn back from an old custom, it must be born with.

But yet (I say again) if that Ore were handled in a due manner, there

would redound far greater profit thencefrom than now doth. Such a kind

of Mineral as this is doth Westphalia also yield, which the founders

there accompt for a Leaden Ore, because it has some load mixed with it,

but when it comes to be freed or molten it goes (all) away in fume, and

therefore they say, it is also a Calmei or Calaminaris Ore, and so it

lies unused.

_Of =Calmei= or =Lapis Calaminaris=._

_Calmei_ Ore is digged out in many places in _Germany_, but there is

none of such note as that which is found at _Aquisgrane_, for that is

wholly void of all kind of Leadyness, and much different from that of

_Goslaria_, or _Westphalia_; and therefore it is also very fit to make

Brass of, which is there made in plenty, and farther, this has Gold in

it, though not so much as to quit the Costs of separating it. But there

is no Mineral richer with Gold than this, and could it but be ripened

(and I doubt not at all of the possibility of so doing) a good deal of

Gold might be drawn out from thence.

As concerning what else may be performed with that Mineral, I have

formerly told you in my First and Second Part of Furnaces, nor is it

needful to treat of the same thing more at large in this place.

_Of Common_ Sulphur.

_Sulphur_ or _Brimstone_ is the most known, most used, and most

combustible Mineral of all. As touching its uses in Medicine, and

in Alchimy, about the separation of Metals; may you find something

mentioned by my self, in the writings I formerly published, and in the

writings of others too.

But at present we will only mind you of this, _viz._ That it is the

very Foundation and Root of all the Metals; for tis rare to find any

mine wherein _Sulphur_ does not shew it self. Very many places in the

World, is _Sulphur_ both made and digged out of the Earth, in very

great quantity, & that chiefly in _Island_, and in _Italy_, nigh to

those always burning Mountains, _Heckla_ and _Vesuvius_; it is also

drawn out of Marchasites _per Descensum_ in many places of _Germany_,

so that enough of it may every where be had for a little money.

These are the chiefest Minerals that I ever knew of, and these are they

which are commonly sought after, and applied to use. But now, besides

these, there are so many various kinds of Fossiles and Minerals to be

met withal, that one cannot reckon them all up, or give them peculiar

Names. One contains Sulphur, and Arsenick, another, Cobolt and Sulphur;

another Antimony, and Arsenick, and of that kind are there very many

more. But yet those that we have reckoned up, are the most known, and

most in use, and therefore shall at present be sufficient for us to

speak of.

Having now taught what Minerals are, and which of them are most known &

used; I will now teach, in the next place, by what means they may (by

the help of Salt-petre, & of other Subjects) be fixed, concentrated,

imbodied, or brought into Metals, so as to be rendred profitable for

the use of Mankind, and which otherwise lie every where to and again

neglected and, are wont to be of no esteem.

And as to the Concentration of Minerals, thus stands the Case with

them; they are either to be fixed & subdued, as ’twere by the help of

Salt-petre, that so they may not so suddenly fly away in fume in the

fire, and be burnt up, but may abide the fire and suffer themselves to

be molten; or they are to be reduced into bodies by the help of Metals,

that so they may come in use, and that by augmenting the Metals, as

Lapis Calaminaris does, or they are to be purifyed, separated, and made

better, as shall be mentioned of _Sulphur_, _Antimony_, and the others,

that so those kind of Minerals of which there lies to and again, at

present, great quantities, wholly neglected, and profitable to no body,

may hereafter be of use and benefit.

And first of all, as to the fixation of the Minerals, the way of

proceeding is thus, _viz._ The Mineral is to be powdered, and to be

mixt with equal weight of burning Salt-petre, and so to be fired, that

the combustible and volatile part of the _Sulphur_ may be forc’d away,

and the Mineral may afterwards brook the fire the better, and be molten

and forced downwards (_per descensum_); which operation I have treated

of in the explication of my _Miraculum Mundi_, and therefore think it

needless to repeat the same thing again here. By this mean therefore

may _Arsenick_, _Auripigment_, _Cobolt_, _Zink_, _Bismute_, and other

Volatile Minerals be in some sort fixt by the inflaming and burning

up with Salt-petre, so as afterwards to endure the fire, and to yield

forth the good they have in them. There’s also another way of imbodying

Volatile Minerals, _viz._ by the benefit of Metals; if the Metals and

Minerals are joined together in a due measure, and be likewise united

together by the virtue of a Cementing fire; then doth the volatile

Mineral penetrate it self into the Metal, and becomes Metalline,

and doth also encrease the Metal, as is evident in Calmei or Lapis

Calaminaris, which being joined with red Copper and cemented, enters

into it, augments and encreaseth it, and turneth it into Brass; whereas

there cannot be any Metal educed out of the Calmei by the usual way of

melting. In like manner may all Arsenical minerals be (by cementation)

introduced into Copper, & made corporeal; and these do not colour the

Copper yellow as Calmei doth, but make it white, nor is the Copper

rendred maleable thereby but britle; but yet ’tis not without profit;

for if that white Copper be handled after a convenient manner of

taming or over-mastering it, then the Gold and Silver that was in the

Arsenick, betakes its self into Regulus’s, which are to be depurated in

a Test or Cupel, or else by the help of Salt-petre; but there cannot

any metalline body be made out of Arsenick, Auripigment, or Cobolt, by

bare melting. The way of proceeding with it is thus; The Copper is to

be cut into small bits, and to be moistned over with _Linseed_ Oil,

and the Arsenick, Auripigment, Cobolt or any other Realgar is to be

powdered and strewed thereupon, and so a bed of Copper, and a bed of

Arsenick to be put one a top of another in a melting Pot; then the Pot

is to be well covered and fenced with Lute, and placed in a circulatory

fire, and the fire is to be put nearer and nearer to it, until the

Pot is through red hot, then let it cool, and you shall find that the

Arsenick hath gotten ingress into the Copper, and makes it black and

brittle. The Copper thus burnt, may be reduced into powder, and burnt

with good Salt-petre, whereby the Volatile Gold and Silver which was

contained in the Arsenick, is made corporeal, and abides as constant

upon the Test as other fixt Metals do; so that by this means permanent

and good Gold and Silver may be gotten out of every sort of Arsenick,

Auripigment, Cobolt, and the other volatile, venomous and base minerals.

NB. This kind of operation is very dangerous to those that are

unskilful, and who being unversed in the Chymick Art, have not learned

to take heed to themselves. And therefore it behoves every one to

beware of doing ought rashly or heedlesly. He that knows not how to

carry himself (or his business) warily, let him forbear to meddle at

all with this labour or process: But as for one who is better versed,

and pretty well experienc’d, he may set about this work safely and will

gain by it: Because there is oftentimes found Arsenick and Auripigment

that hath in it much hidden volatile Gold and Silver, and which cannot

be retained in the common way of melting by Fire, but will totally fly

away: But now if it be imprinted in the Copper by Cementation, and

fixt in the same by Salt-petre, and then precipitated by means of Lead

or Iron into Regulus’s, it will render all that fixt which afore was

unfixt and flying. But as concerning such a Cementation and Fixation to

be done by Nitre, will be manifested by the following process.

NB. But you are carefully to observe, that one mineral must help

another in the separation of their Gold and Silver (if you would

undertake this Labour for profit): For so each will produce what it

has in more abundance, and thou wilt have a greater reward for thy

pains and costs. For example, I prove and try Auripigment or Arsenick,

and find that it is auriferous, and I have a mind to perfect it and

turn it unto my use; hereupon do I look for such Copper as is likewise

auriferous, (and indeed there’s plenty enough of such every where):

Into this Copper do I introduce my auriferous Arsenick by Cementation,

and that I may not need to cupellate (or blow off) the same upon a Test

(for the very Labour of so doing will cost more than the gains will

be of that separation) I do precipitate the Gold that is therein into

a Regulus, which Regulus being purified, I obtain the Gold that was

contained in that Arsenick and Copper, neither is there any need of

cupellating all the Copper. But that the precipitation of the Regulus

may be the more commodiously done, I proceed on this wise. I find out

some Antimony of a good sort, and which is of a Golden nature; likewise

such Iron as hath Gold in it, both which, _viz._ the Iron and the

Antimony, may easily be gotten, and then I set on the separation which

I thus institute.

First of all I implant the auriferous Arsenick into the auriferous

Copper (if such may be had) then reduce I these into powder, and fire

them with an equal admixt weight of burning Salt-petre; by this means

the Arsenick is made a little more fixt, and suffers it self to be the

better dealt withal in the fire, but if you are well skilled in this

kind of labour you may spare your Salt-petre and may melt down your

Copper (burnt with the Arsenick and powdered) with an equal weight of

Antimony. And if of its own accord it lets fall a Regulus out of it

self, then there needs no precipitation, the Regulus may be laid by,

and that which remains may be likewise precipitated into a Regulus with

common Iron; and this (last Regulus) is also of use, as shall hereafter

follow: But if not (that no Regulus falls) then that Mass may again be

put into a Crucible, be molten, and a little Iron filings be cast in

to make it settle; the which must be stirr’d about with a red hot Iron

rod, and when it’s well molten, ’tis to be poured out into an Iron

Cone; which being cool, the Regulus may be knockt off, in which Regulus

will you have the Gold that was in the Arsenick, Copper, Antimony

and Iron. This Regulus must be cupellated either by Salt-petre in a

Crucible, or with Lead upon a Test; which done, you will have the Gold

that lay hid, and shut up in the afore-mentioned Minerals.

But now, if one hath a mind to make that separation yet more

compendious, and to have greater benefit thereby, he may add to that

Copper burnt by the Arsenick, some Silver burnt with Brimstone, and

so melt it with the Antimony, and by the means of _Mars_ precipitate

them into a Regulus, then the Silver will so much the better draw to

it self the Gold out of the Arsenick and Antimony, and yield (in the

separation) greater benefit.

NB. If so be a man be not skilful in this operation, let him forbear

his Silver a little, and add some Silver to the Regulus by melting

them, and then afterwards purifie the Regulus by Salt-petre; for so the

Gold that is in the Regulus associates its self to the adjoined Silver,

and inricheth it with no little increase, _viz._ according as the

Minerals have had more or less Silver, in the making their separation.

And this is such a work as seems sufficiently able commodiously to

sustain life; but it requires an experienced Artist, not a giddy headed

fellow. Neither have I written this process for those who are not as

yet well versed in Pyrotechny, but for such who are well skill’d and

dexterous; and although this kind of operation needs no great store

of Art, yet notwithstanding, every one will not rightly perfect it,

and therefore do I warn such as are not well skill’d in Pyrotechny

to desist from this labour, and betake themselves to some other, and

set themselves about doing such things in which haply they are better

skill’d, and not to lay the blame on me, when they are frustrated of

their expectation, as if I had not dealt faithfully and sincerely in

my writing, but let them rather impute it to their own preposterous

rashness and unskilfulness; and what loss soever they bring upon

themselves, let them impute it only to their own (misconceptions).

To deal plainly with you, that labour is conjoyned with some

difficulty; but yet if any one be diligent and well exercised in the

Pyrotechnical Art, the operation will succeed in such an ones hands

very pleasantly; nor will he want a worthy profit, especially if he

takes such Minerals as are richest, and use them about this separation.

But some perhaps will say, Whence shall I have those so good Minerals?

Who demonstrates to me, which are auriferous, and which are not

auriferous, which are good, and which are to be rejected, that so least

being deluded in this, I should lose all my labour? I would have such

a one know, that if he has not gotten so much skill and experience as

to prove a Mineral, whether it be auriferous, or not, he is not at all

fit to take upon him this Labour of separation, and he were far better

advised, if he wholly abstained from setting about it. But yet that I

may not omit ought which may seem to be desired from me, I will over

and above add here in this place, what way Minerals may be proved by,

whether they be auriferous or not, and ’tis on this wise to be done;

all Realgars, as Arsenick, Auripigment, Cobolt, and others of that

kind, are first of all to be implanted into Copper by cementation,

then are they to be molten, or throughly purged and subdued with Lead

(like as you do with a crude Mineral); after this, there comes out a

certain little silvery Pellet, and this you are to prove as you would

for Gold. Now according to the moreness or lessness of the same, so is

the business to be ordered, and compute to be made, whether or no the

said Mineral is worth the pains of separation as aforesaid. Likewise

the Copper it self may be cupellated with Lead alone, and then the

remaining silver Pellet be proved for the Gold, with Aqua-Fortis;

but as for the Antimony, and Iron, they may be well melted jointly

together in a Test under a Cover or Muffel, or in a clean Crucible in a

Wind Furnace, with this observation, that there be used twice as much

Antimony as Iron, and so a Regulus will settle, which is to be purged

or tried with Lead in a Test, and kept flowing till all the fugacious

parts are evaporated, which done, there is found a silver Pellet, which

is to be proved with Aqua-fortis, how much Gold it has.

NB. This probation, or trial is to be accounted of as a certain and

lawful trial, but such though as you may easily err in the doing of,

and so may have nothing, though it had in it a good part of Gold; for

the Antimony will not easily suffer it self to be vanquished, or go

off, but it will break the Test, or Cupel, and the little Pellet which

is the probatory Globulus betakes it self (by reason of the fierceness,

or eating penetrativeness into the Test) so that the Proba or trial

it self, may most easily become fallacious, and yield no certain

discovery. Which to remedy, the business is to be thus managed, after

that your two parts of Antimony shall have been well melted in the

Crucible, with your one part of Iron, there must be put thereinto a

little dried Salt-petre powder, and the Pot, or Crucible must again be

covered over, and care taken to make them melt well together; then are

they to be poured out into an Iron Cone first smeared over with Wax,

and when ’tis cold, the Regulus is to be knockt off from the Scoria,

to which must be added twice or thrice the weight thereof of Lead,

and the Regulus of the Antimony doth in the melting-pot separate it

self by Salt-petre from the Lead, and the Lead is to be afterwards

cupellated, and so that goes all off, and the true weight is had. But

albeit, that this description be clearly enough delivered, yet certain

I am, that one in ten will not understand it aright, and therefore it

is behoveful, more fully to inform, and clearly to shew the Reduction

of that Regulus into scoria by Salt-petre. To make this trial or proof

’tis not needful to take a huge vast pot to fill with Iron, ’tis

sufficient to take of Iron 100 _l._ of the smaller probatory weight,

and 200 _l._ of Antimony, both which are to be molten together, and

to be precipitated with a little Salt-petre, for so the Regulus doth

the better separate it self from the scoria’s, the which is then to

be washt and purified by Lead and Salt-petre. This Regulus that comes

from the Antimony and Iron, put with three times its weight of Lead in

a clean Crucible, and make them well to flow in a wind Furnace, but

cover your pot close that no Coals fall in, and so hinder the work,

then take off the cover and throw in a little powdered Salt-petre, and

again cover the Crucible, and above all things have a care that there

fall not in any Coals, and let them lie and operate a little upon each

other, then the Salt-petre imbibes all the Antimony, Iron, and Lead,

and thereby becomes hard. This being done, some more Salt-petre is to

be again cast in, and you must make them flow together, and so all the

whole parcel of Antimony, Iron, and Lead, betake themselves into the

Salt-petre, and pass into scoria, but part of the Lead remains whole

or free, and is not scorified, and therein will the Gold be, which the

Antimony and Iron had immixed in them, which if it be blown off on a

probatory Cupel, or Test, under a Muffel, there will then remain the

true weight.