And first, as concerning Salt-peter, the whole World knows what

profitable and needfull a subject it is. There can never be so great

a quantity thereof prepared, but it may not onely be applied to

necessary uses but also to such as bring a great deal of profit. I

forbear to speak of its most great use and exceeding profit in making

Gun-powder, which no Kingdoms, no Common-wealths can want to defend

their Countrey withall, and drive off their Enemies.

And if there were no need of it for this thing, yet would it be of

mighty moment, and bring in abundance of profit by extracting Gold

and Silver out of the poorer Oars which will not bear the charges of

melting, and now there will never be so much Gold and Silver, as that

it will not be of any profit to a Countrey.

Nay more, if there were no want of Gun-powder, nor of Gold nor Silver,

(which time when ’twill come, and how it should come, for my part I

cannot see) yet (having Peter) we cannot be in want of Bread; and how

great soever the plenty is of Wine, and Corn, and Fruits, yet there is

never wont to be too much. Corn and Seeds being macerated with Salt

peter afore they are sown, and the Roots of Vines and Trees being

moistned with a very little of its liquor, do not onely grow more

plenteously, but also produce more plenty of Fruits, and such as ripen

far sooner, and are of a sweeter Tast, than if they were dung’d with

that stinking Beasts Dung liquor. If then, Salt-peter be a subject

so excellent, as that we can by no means want it, and that it may so

easily be prepared out of Wood and Stones in plenty; if above all other

things it makes the Earth fruitfull, if it can extract plenty of true

Gold and Silver out of the contemptible Sand and Flints, what can we

desire more from it, unless it be a sound and healthfull Body, whereby

we may in fulness of health quietly and peaceably enjoy such great

benefits vouchsafed us by God? But now this very same Salt being justly

called the wonder of the World can bestow upon us, this very health we

speak of.

I do affirm that Alchymy it self, or the Transmutation of the lesser,

or meaner Metals into the greater or more noble, and into Gold and

Silver, is not a vain dreaming dotage, and an opinion void of reason,

but is the very truth it self, and confirmed by many experiments; the

demonstration of which, I do, God willing, this Summer not rashly but

advisedly set about shewing it by publick and evident experiments, and

its use for the good of the Country.

Now then, forasmuch as the Countrey is every where sufficiently

stored with Iron, Lead, Salt and other mineral matters, and such like

contemptible subjects, and yet notwithstanding there is not at present

any profit arising thereby; verily it cannot be, but that in a few

years time (if such melting Houses were in all places made) Men would

be rendred Masters of great Treasures. Who knows what God will do, and

whether or no it may not so come to pass, that it may be said of the

great ones of [our] Countrey as is mentioned in Holy Writ concerning

_Solomon_. And he made Silver as plentifull as the Stones that lie in

the Streets, _&c._

But that I may yet more open the Eyes of the Studious after all, and

show them, by what means all these things may come to pass, and fall

out true, I do hereby assure him, that there’s no need of taking

those Metals for this Fusion, that are already pure enough as Iron,

Lead, Tin, and already fit to be imployed about Mans use; no, those

common and sulphureous leaden _Minera’s_ or Oars which are found to

be uncapable of yielding profitable and venal or sellable Lead, are

well enough for this Fusion and operation we speak of; and so likewise

those Irony and Coppery Oars, out of which (seeing they admit not by

nature of any fusion or melting) mallable fusile Copper or Iron cannot

be extracted. For this Operation of ours needs not Copper, Iron or Lead

to work upon, as being content with those poor sort of Oars, and with

the bare Salt which the Earth is every where well replenished withall,

so that there’s no cause to fear that there will ever be a want of any

matter for such an Operation.

But what need I speak much of these unknown, and so very profoundly

hidden secrets of nature, seeing I have openly enough taught already,

in the second part of the _Miraculum Mundi_, by what means, pure

and natural Gold may be gotten out of every Herb. This very thing

I publickly demonstrated in my Laboratory above a year ago, in the

presence of most learned Men, Professors, Doctours of Physick, and

other Men both noble and ignoble, as their Testimonies, which are

[under] hand affirm.

But there’s no need of that, forasmuch as the manner it self of the

Operation is published in Print, and manifested to every one, and there

can hardly pass over one years space, but that even a thousand Men or

more may imitate the Operation and search into the truth it self of the

business.

But that the well minded Reader may have a little more light, and may

himself see what foundations the work I have undertaken is built upon,

I have judged it altogether necessary in a few words to set afore your

Eyes, what Alchymy it self is, and whether or no it has any foundation

in Nature and Art. For if so be any ingenious Man gives an Herb, an

Animal, or a Man any name, certainly he does it not rashly and without

any ground, but well knows and understands for what cause he intitles

any thing by such or such a name, and it is chiefly done on this

account that by such assumed names the nature of the Herb, Animal, or

Man, and its properties might be known. A few Examples will illustrate

it the more.

What reason have the Physicians and Philosophers of old to call the

Herb St. _Johnswort, perforata_? Because its leaves are full of small

holes, and it is so signed by nature, to shew, that it has eminent

virtues [and peculiarly appointed] to take away and cure external

and internal stabs and wounds of the Body, and this is confirmed by

experience. Why are some Herbs called _Saxifragers_? because their

nature is, to cleave assunder and break through great heaps of Stones

in their growing up, and to penetrate through old Walls, by the growth

of their hard roots. Their Seeds likewise are like unto the smallest

Sand and after a sort stonyish and do break the stony matter in the

Reins and Bladder of Man’s Body and bring it forth. So a Serpent hath

its denomination from creeping, because it wants Feet, and creeps and

crawls along on the Earth.

A Shoemaker hath his title from his making and sewing of Shoes. A Black

smith is not wont to be called a Gold-smith, because he works not on

Gold but on Iron, and he hath his denomination from Iron, which he is

occupied about.

The same is to be understood of the word Alchymy, which denoteth no

other thing save a Fusion and liquefaction of Salt, and so it teacheth

us, what cause it was for, that the Ancients called the Transmutation

of Metals Alchymy; _viz._ because of the fusing or melting of Salt,

without which, no particular Transmutation of the viler Metals can

be perfected and accomplished. Therefore it was not an unadvised and

rash action that the Ancient Philosophers did when they put the title

of Alchymy on the Transmutation of Metals, but as a Gold-smith is so

called from the Gold, which he is a Labourer in, so is it with this.

The name therefore doth openly point out the matter transmuting the

baser Metals into the more noble, _viz._ Salt, which being as an

universal Agent does not onely maturate and bring to due perfection the

Metals generated in the Bowels of the Earth by a natural Operation,

but it also does the same out of the Earth by the Operation of Art,

Salt alone, and Fire alone are sufficient for the maturation and

transmutation of the unripe Metals. For Salt (as being the Agent) is

driven or forced as ’twere by the Fire to display its virtues upon the

Metals and by exercising its power, to render them better and more

noble, as _Paracelsus_ openly witnesseth in his _Cœlum Philosophorum_,

saying, that the Corporal mixtion of metals though commixt a long

time and kept so in Fusion, is neither wont to give, (nor indeed can

contribute so much as ought to their Transmutation. But if so be the

metals are to be perfected by any amending, they are to be conjoyned in

a spiritual commixtion, and so they come to their hoped-for amendment;

and this is very agreeable to the truth, and evidently signifies,

that without a saline agent and fire, there is no way of attaining

to a particular transmutation and bettering in the metals. _Elias_

the Prophet, whose name inverted yields the word _Saliæ_ [or Salts,]

did not work his most great miracles afore he came into _Zarpath_, or

_Sarepta_, that is, into the melting House [or fusing Work-shop] where

he filled the poor Widows Oil Vessels, that so she might have wherewith

to live in a time of scarcity. For as long as the terrestrial Salts do

lie hid in barren and stoney Mountains, in which there grows nothing

but _Juniper_ Bushes, and are [there] nourished by the Stars, they

cannot shew forth their wonders, but they are wont then to disclose

them when they come into the melting Houses. Even so is it with Salt,

when it comes into the melting Shop, it doth effect so much as not

onely to fill the Oil Barrels but the Cellars and Barns too, and that

plentifully, but especially when the due [or suitable] Salts _Elias_

and _Elisa_ do come together, and _Elias_ is carried in his fiery

Chariot into Heaven, and sundred from _Elisa_ and doth send down a

double portion of his Spirit upon _Elisa_ his Companion; by which,

_Elisa_ being strengthned and acquiring more strength than it had

afore, is made fit for greater and more powerfull Operations.

But amongst those most great miracles, this was an eminent one, that

after the departure of _Elisa_ the Prophet out of this life, there was

another dead Man thrown into his Sepulchre who by the touch of his

Bones was restored to life.

Therefore, like as this miracle did supernaturally happen by the divine

power: Even so [doth it come to pass] naturally, by the virtues of our

_Sal Mirabilis_ corroborated with a double Spirit, which doth not onely

restore a dead [body] and Wood turned by the Fire into Charcoal, when

it is cast into the Sepulchre, that is into the Earthen Pot or Crucible

to the white Bones of our _Sal Mirabilis_, and bring it (in the space

of one quarter of an hour) unto its former viridity and life, and with

this very green Liquor of the Wood may other half dead Trees, as also

other things be restored to viridity, and increase, and their former

fertility, more than by any thing else: But also, even various dead

insects, if they be put to our _Sal Mirabilis_ can recover life again.

And although that this may seem a new unheard of, and incredible thing,

yea a meer Paradox to any one, yet is it as true as truth it self; the

true way of which Operation I will (God willing) describe and shew

clearly in the first Century of my general Appendix.

But although that these wonderfull Operations of my _Sal Mirabilis_ may

seem such, as to be never capable of being effected yet, to all such as

know its Composition, ’tis a thing very easily accomplished. Nor can

it be but that the divine wonders should be still more and more laid

open by the help of my _Sal Mirabilis_, and be exceedingly sown abroad,

and made known to such as are ignorant. Which being done, the World

will conceive a far other guess Opinion of Alchymy, and judge otherwise

thereof than hitherto it has done.

But that such as are admirers of the divine and natural wonders,

may clearly see how large an extent those things I have hitherto

discovered, are of, I cannot omit the adding of the solar Work or

Smaragdine Table of _Hermes_, the Father of all the Philosophers, the

which being in my judgment accommodated to this discourse of mine I

will illustrate.

But to summ up all I will say, I have here briefly declared, that if

a Spirit be elevated or sublimed from a true Salt by the help of a

strong Fire, or be drawn from out of its Body, and be again returned

to the same own fixed Body left behind and be restored to it in a due

manner; that fix Salt, gets double the strength and virtue it had, (as

hath been shown concerning my _Sal Mirabilis_) and does perform things

wonderfull; which _Hermes_ and _Basil Valentine_ have hinted unto us in

these next ensuing expressions.

* * * * *

_Hitherto belongs the small Circular Figure, noted =Pag. 19.= at

the beginning of the third Part of the Prosperity of =Germany=._

_The Smaragdine Table of =Hermes=, &c._

[See it at the end of the First Part of _Miraculum Mundi_.]

_The Ænigma of Brother_ Basil Valentine.

There is a Stone, of all others the least precious, out of which is

extracted a fugitive [or volatile] Fire, and out of this Fire is the

Stone it self made, it is of colour white and red and yet is it no

Stone. In this Stone doth nature operate, and produceth a Limpid or

clear Fountain, which choaketh in the Waters and swallows up his own

fixed Father, untill at length a Soul be given [or restored] him, and

[his] fugitive Mother be made like [him] in the Kingdom. Likewise this

Stone brings power and great strength, it exceeds the Sun in Age,

[its] fugitive Mother [is] prepared by _Vulcan_ and [its] Father [was]

begotten by the Spirit. Likewise the Soul, Body, and Spirit consist or

abide in two, out of which, all things are; these things are of one,

and is one thing, conjoyning the fix and the fugitive. They are two,

and three, and one, and if thou art ignorant of this, thou will be

frustrated and deprived of the effect of the Art.

_Adam_ is placed in a Bath, in which _Venus_ finds her like, now this

Bath was prepared by that old Dragon, when he had lost his strength

and power. But now this is nothing else (saith a Philosopher) but a

duplicate _Mercury_. In this is its name hidden, which is to be sought

after with all diligence and continual labour.

_The Event proves the Actions._

It seemed unto me very expedient to set down here in this place, these

few, but exceeding weighty words of _Hermes_ and Brother _Basil_,

because they do so notably square with this Work of mine which I have

here described. And therefore I do here again affirm what I have often

said, _viz._ That he who knows Salts well, but especially Niter and

Vitriol, and knows how to conjoyn them, is well skilled in Medicine

and Alchymy; and sufficiently enough understands that the Smaragdine

Table of _Hermes_ is Vitriol, an excellent Smaragd or Emrald, and that

Niter is (according as _Paracelsus_ and _Basil Valentine_ have at large

described) the Kingly Infant of the Sun, with whose descriptions we at

present content our selves. I will make a more prolix mention of the

same in my Centuries, those things that I have adjoyned here I could

not, for certain reasons let slip and pass by.

Now by these few words it is manifest, what virtues Salts are endowed

withall, and what miraculous effects they shew, when they are cast into

the melting Fire, _viz._ Such Salts as are corroborated with a double

Spirit poured down from above. These Salts (I say) are wont not onely

to fill the poor Widows Oil Vessels, but even the Cellars and Barns

with Wine and Corn.

But I would not that any should interpret it amiss, in that I make

some kind of Comparison ’twixt the wonderfull virtues of Salts, and

the miracles of the Holy Prophets: For verily the thing it self admits

it, and by such Comparisons, the natural light is greatly strengthned,

which thing we shall speak more at large of elsewhere.

Whosoever he be that well knows the nature and properties of Salts,

and is something skilled in the management of the Fire, he will hereby

easily learn thus much, as easily to perceive that there is such a

thing, as a profitable transmution of the more vile Metals into the

more noble ones.

But there are requisite to this Operation manual Arts, peculiar

Furnaces, and singular Commixtions of Metals, the knowledge of all

which, he must have that desires beneficially to employ himself in

these Operations. The whole Operation with all the appurtenances

requisite, and all the things thereto appertaining, shall (if God

please) be exposed to be seen in my Laboratory this Summer. As my

Writings lately published, and the Labours performed in my Laboratory

the last year, do sufficiently enough testifie that I have both

publickly and privately demonstrated and manifested the truth of the

chiefest secrets which I have mentioned in my Writings. And as for what

remained of being done the last year, this present Book promiseth the

demonstration of, this Summer. What Writer alive, did ever endeavour

the demonstration of the truth of his Writings by most evident

experiments? None at all save _Glauber_.

Therefore I doubt not but that seeing this little Book offers the

Countrey such great benefits and Commodity, there will not onely

be some of the Vulgar sort, but also many of the Noble ones [or

Magistrates] be found, to whom the reading of the same will not be a

tedious thing.

And now I return again to speak of Alchymy, openly disclosing my

Opinion concerning it, and firmly averring, that Salts onely have power

to wash, maturate, and perfect the unripe Metals.

But some of ther may here say, if Alchymy be the fusing of Salt, by

what means can it possibly ever be, that Gold and Silver should be

gotten out of Salt by melting? If there were Gold in it, cannot it be

gotten forth easier than by melting in the Fire? I answer, you are not

so to understand it, as if huge heaps of Gold could be gotten by a bare

fusing and melting of Salt. No! no such matter. But when the Metals

have Salts adjoyned to them in a due manner, and so undergo a melting

Fire, they do (in that fusing) display their virtues upon the Metals,

and do so bring them to a maturity as to yield forth Gold and Silver.

For Salts are the universal ripening Agents, both in the dry and in the

moist way, as is clearly evident from the third and fourth part of the

Prosperity of _Germany_, so that there needs no more to be spoken as to

this.

But yet, that these things may not seem new, or altogether absurd, I

say, that in all Salts there lies hidden spiritual Gold, but yet it

cannot be extracted from them without the addition of the Metals. For

all the things that are, are generated, encreased, and sustained by the

Sun, (and amongst these may be reckoned up the smallest Vegetable) do

contain the fugacious beams of the Sun hidden in them, which said beams

may by the benefit of Art be made corporeal and fixt. This I taught and

demonstrated more prolixly in the second part of my _Miraculum Mundi_.

I will teach the same in the first Century of my general Appendix,

which said Appendix shall illustrate all my Writings with more clear

notes; and I will evidently show the way, by which true and natural

Gold is to be gotten (by the benefit of a certain precipitating matter,

out of Sea Salt, both by the dry and by the moist way. This Operation

brings not any considerable profit, but doth in very truth show the

possibility of the thing. But he who knows the way of conjoyning true

and due [or proper] Metals with legitimate [or suitable] Salts, and

of handling them in a due and true way of Fusion, will get Gold and

Silver out of all the imperfect Metals, and that with no small profit;

and this shall be demonstrated in my Laboratory this present Summer by

God’s help.

And for the more evident proof hereof, it seems worth while to adjoyn

a Story out of the Journal of _William Litgou_ of _England_, [rather

_Scotland_] who Journying through _Italy_, testifies that he saw in

_Trapundia_, a City in _Sicilia_, much Gold excocted or drawn out of

Sea Salt; which thing, seeing it agrees with my Opinion, and confirms

what I say, I will add the Words of the Authour himself as they are in

_Latin_.

“The fourth City of _Sicily_, is _Trapundia_, scituate in the

West-side, and opposite to the City _Biserta_, seated on the

_Barbarian_ Coast of _Africa_, which yields pure Gold, which is

exported by the Merchants into _Italy_, _Venice_, _Dalmatia_, and

_Greece_. It is excocted in some Artificially made Salt-pits by

the more vehement beams of the Sun, which Pits are filled and

emptied every month. Now the Salt here on the Sea-shore, has a

colour like the redness of a Ruby, or Corral: The City is almost

the one half of it imployed about working thereupon. The Gold it

self being purged is distributed throughout the whole Christian

World.”

These are the words of the said Authour, I know nothing of the

certainty of the thing it self, he that is desirous to find out the

truth of this Relation may easily do it. As for my self, I easily

credit this Relation, because of the Mount _Ætna_ which always is

burning in that Island, and because of the Sulphur too, which all

the Land of _Sicily_ abounds withall. And verily it seems a thing

altogether likely, that when the Inhabitants of this Island upon the

Seashore, make Salt of the Sea Water for their necessary use, by

digging Pits in the Earth after the manner of all those hot Countries,

and letting in the Sea Water, and that the warm beams of the Sun

separate [or any of] the unprofitable sweet [or insipid] Water, in

Vapour, and that that Water of Salt is endued with a notable sharpness;

it extracts the Sulphur out of the Earth which is there in plenty

every where, and it renders this [Sulpher] by the help of the heat of

the Sun, constant, corporal and fixt, so as that it can be afterwards

molten in a melting Furnace into Gold. If now the most hot beams of the

Sun, and Salt Water can change common earthly Sulphur into Gold, why

may not the same be done also by the benefit of Fire, Salt, and Art.

That all Gold is at first naturally generated of a pure Sulphur in the

Earth, no body will indeed deny. That any Sulphur may by the help of

Fire and Salt be fixed and changed into natural Gold, daily experience

witnesseth, not onely in my own Laboratory, but in my Disciples

Laboratories too, the which, visibly demonstrates, and even by manual

Operation confirms the truth of those things which I have mentioned in

the second part of my _Miraculum Mundi_, hereabouts.

That which is mentioned in the old Hymn of the Ancient Church-Fathers,

_viz._ who made Gold of Rods or Twigs, and Gems of Stones, seems to the

ignorant altogether as Paradoxal, new, and incredible: and from which

’tis gathered that St. _John_ the Evangelist made Gold of Sticks of

Wood, and Gems of common Stones: I can in a few words demonstrate that

both are true.

Dissolve common Sulphur, or any Vegetable in common Salt, this Solution

will make the Sulphur of a red colour. Keep this Solution for at least

one hours space in the Fire, you shall find a little of the Sulphur

changed into Gold; to the red Salt, adjoyn the Calx of _Saturn_, melt

them by Fusion into one Body, and reduce the Lead by a Cupel, you shall

find a grain of Gold, it yields indeed no profit but demonstrates the

certainty and possibility of Art. But if any one shall be skilled in

managing this Operation in great quantity (as shall be done this Summer

in my Laboratory) he will not complain of loss, but will always get

profit.

But let this suffice as to the making Gold out of any Wood, or any

Herb, by the help of Fire and Salt.

Let us now see by what means Stones of manifold colours may be made by

the help of Salt, out of Wood or any Herb. Adjoyn to the red Salt made

of Wood, a little Powder of white Flints, put them in a Crucible, and

melt them in the Fire, that they may become a red Glass, resembling

almost the colour of a Ruby; if you keep them longer in the melting,

the red colour will be changed into a green, and have the likeness of

an Emrald: After this, comes a sky-colour, resembling a Saphir, then

follows a yellow, not unlike a Jacynth: then in a longer continuance of

Fire, it becomes black and like an Agath. Indeed these Stones are no

harder than common Glass, but as to their colours and beauty do exactly

resemble the precious natural Stones.

These two _Arcanum’s_ indeed do as to the outside view seem not very

excellent, but yet I believe, the well minded Reader, to whom I offer

them as a pledge or Love-token for to remember me by, will not think

them (seeing they teach the extracting of Gold out of any Wood or

Vegetable, and how by white Flints to make Stones of several colours)

of so small a moment or value, as they appear here to be, but will

believe that he has a foundation laid open for him, to arrive to

greater secrets.

As concerning these kind of wonderfull things, and Transmutations

hitherto unknown to the World, and changing things into more noble

and better Species, I will treat more at large in the ten Centuries,

in which, my Writings shall be declared with more evident and clearer

Explications, to which I refer the well minded Reader, concluding this

Book with those Verses of _Ovid_.

_Jamque opus exegi, quod nec Jovis ira, nec Ignis,

Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas._

_And now, a work I finisht have, of which, =Jove’s= wrath, or flame,

Or Sword, or all devouring time can ne’er raze out the name._

An APPENDIX

TO THE

FIFTH PART

OF THE

Prosperity of GERMANY.

Clearly and perspicuously revealing and declaring, (for the benefit

and profit’s sake of the whole Countrey) by what means those

three _Arcana’s_ promised in the said fifth part are to be

advantageously effected. Together with an adjoyned Explication

of some obscurer places which are not so clearly disclosed in

the third and fourth parts of the Prosperity of _Germany_, as

likewise in the first Century.

Friendly Reader,

_I doubt not, but it will seem a wonder to many, that =Arcana’s= of

so great moment and so much utility should be laid open by me, in so

perspicuous and evident a description, as for every one thoroughly to

know them._

_However, any Body may easily perswade himself that I have not so done

without weighty causes, which to reckon up here at present, I judge

it not so altogether necessary, but that it will be more commodious

to refer it to some other convenient time. The chiefest and which is

the most over-swaying reason amongst all the rest, is this, =viz.=

the perverseness of some abusive Men, not onely endeavouring to make

my Writings envied [or hated] by Men of common rank, but also by the

great ones, by their lying reproachfull slaunders; and especially most

falsely averring, that those three =Arcana’s= which I promised in the

Fifth Part of the Prosperity of =Germany=, are of no profit, and

therefore cannot be effected with any advantage, and that I my self

sought after nothing else by promising their discovery, save onely by

imposing them upon [or selling them unto] others to scrape some Monies

together. Now forasmuch as this is the property of Slanders, to be

admitted far easilier and readilier than the truth it self, and that

for this reason many have diverted their minds from the truth of this

thing by busying them about these Calumnies, and so have not known how

the case stands; but (on the contrary) seeing I am conscious of mine

own Innocency, and am far wide of those Crimes so falsely charged on

me, I have judged it most just and most highly necessary, not to suffer

those most false Accusations to rest upon me, but to shew the contrary

to the Eyes of the whole World, and by demonstrating and disclosing

the very truth it self, to recover my honour so perfidiously and

treacherously snatcht from me; the which could not possibly be done by

any better way than this._

_Necessity therefore required the Work it self to speak, and to defend

its own self, which indeed is a true and genuine defence, and way of

stopping the shameless and lying Mouths of all reproachfull Slanderers.

God will in time recompence such false Mens most wicked Works, whereby

they have exceedingly injured me. Mean while every one may apply these

most profitable inventions to their use, and undertake the doing one

or other of the Operations whereby they may reap some benefit, which I

wish them from my Soul._

_Nor do I doubt, but that a very many Men will, by following the

Doctrine by me prescribed, and insisting upon the foot-steps of my

Writings, which are founded on the truth, as being a sure Foundation,

=get themselves no small profit=; whilest they quietly and peaceably

enjoy the gainfull practising on my =Arcana’s=: And especially of

that most easie secret, by which, fugacious and volatile Gold is

extracted out of all kinds of Flints, (every where plentifully offering

themselves, and so by the help of Lead, is rendred Corporeal. Which

Work verily is such, as that one Man doth no ways damnifie another by,

but may rather help and profit him. Therefore do I at present affirm to

every body with that truth which God loves, and will defend, that all

the following Operations which I manifest in the publishing this little

Treatise, have been wrought by me not once onely but often times, and

have been shown to many others, so that no body has any reason to doubt

hereof, nor need he be sollicitous about any other thing but how wisely

to manage, the Operation, and to be diligent about his labours. But if

it should so fall out as that a Man should commit an errour or two,

which may easily happen, let him not ascribe the errours he commits,

to the Art it self, and thereupon to accuse it of falsity, but let him

rather inquire into the occasions and reasons of his own errours, and

without doubt by such enquiries will he attain his end, and get the

hoped for fruit: in which thing, my first and second Century will by an

easie Manuduction help him._

_These are the things which for the truths sake and to witness it, was

I willing to produce. And I do hereby signifie to every one that now

my publick Laboratory is at an end, and shall remain shut for time to

come, which I was willing every one should know._

_[The first] Operation shewing the way of reducing any Lead, or any

Vein of Lead by the help of common Salt, [and] by Coals, into

Ashes, in the Furnace called =Stichofen=, that so the Gold and

Silver may be extracted with profit._

Take of Lead or a Leaden Vein two parts, and of common Salt one part.

The Lead Oar is to be ground in a Mill, and so are they to be commixt,

and by little and little thrown with a Shovel upon the Coals in the

Furnace, serving to make Ashes, and which has Pipes or Chimnyes fitted

thereunto to receive the fume and the ascending Flores. That molten

part of Metal and Salt which falls through the Grate is to be again

taken up with your Shovel, and cast in upon the Coals untill the whole

Metal, or all that metallick Vein shall be turned into Ashes. Then

farther, all the burnt matter, is to be freed by divers washings from

all the defilements, and the remaining Ashes of the Metal or Metallick

Vein, is to be reduced into a Metal in a Furnace which the _Germans_

call _Stichofen_. These incinerations and reductions are to be so

often and so long repeated, untill you find (by making trial with some

little piece) that your Lead is now fitted to be handled or wrought on

in the Hearths or Furnaces by the Fire of Separation. For then in the

Hearths or Tests it is changed into Litharge, whereby it may the more

commodiously yield forth the Gold and Silver, which by the Fire and

Salt are therein maturated.

_N. B._ But you are here to observe that the leaden Oars can indeed be

commixed with the Salt, and so thrown in upon the Coals: But now Lead

admits not of being so dealt withall, for it is not mixable with the

Salt, and therefore it requires that the Salt be first cast in upon

the Coals, and then must it be thrown in afterwards at top of it. And

this way is to be observed and so often repeated and so long, always

throwing in, first the Salt then the Lead, till the Lead being turned

into ashes, hath wholly lost its metallick Fusion. The said ashes are

to be washt with Water and reduced in the Furnace, on such wise as we

spake of but now.

_N. B._ Other lesser Metals may be added to the Lead or to the leaden

Vein or Oar, and so be reduced into Ashes together, as Tin, Iron or

Copper. But yet these leaden Oars are more advantageous and profitable

if they are taken alone, as being more fit for this kind of labour,

seeing they have already in them Iron and Copper, and yield not any

good and vendible Lead, by reason of their wild nature, and so there’s

no need of burning up Copper and Tin which are already vendible.

_N. B._ Whilest this Incineration is done, many Metallick Flores does

ascend up into the Receptacles appointed for the fume to go up in, and

which are adjoyned to the Furnace, which (if need be) may be taken out,

and by washings be freed from the Salt which ascended together with

them, and by Reduction be restored or reduced to their former body: and

will yield Lead which contains in it Silver, and is to be converted

into Litharge like other Lead, that the Silver may be separated

therefrom.

This likewise is heedfully to be observed in the other _Minera’s_ or

Oars turned into Ashes, that afore their Reduction, they be thoroughly

washt from all the Salt, and the light filths or defilements are to

be well separated from the metalline body; for if this be neglected,

the Salt being forced with the strong blast of the Bellows would carry

off the Metal together with it self, and the Ashes of the Coals would

hinder the Fusion of the Metal it self, and reduce the same into

_Scoria’s_.

As concerning the Reduction it self, this is well to be regarded, that

the Fire must be kindled in the Furnace at least two hours afore the

Ashes of the Oars that are to be reduced, are to be put in, that so the

Furnace may be thoroughly bright-hot within; for if it be not through

fiery-hot, the Cast in _Minera’s_ melt not, and being not molten they

lie in the Fire, and hinder the blast of the Bellows, and spoil the

Operation it self.

These labours therefore require a skilfull Artificer, and one versed in

such Operations, for they are not so very Facile as they seem to many,

to appear to be.

Then farther, this is likewise to be noted, that if the _Minera’s_ or

Oars that you take to this Operation are full of Sulphur, and that that

Sulphur is not wholly taken away by torrifying [or calcining them]

it will by its fierceness reduce in the melting the body of the good

Metal into _Scoria’s_, and instead of Metal present you with Dross.

And this is that Incineration and Reduction which I have showed in my

Laboratory, both to Friends and Enemies; But yet I have (since that

time) found out a far easier way of doing this labour, by the help of

which, one Man will do more in one day, than he could otherwise in

eight days. But because this way is not as yet made common, it seems

not convenient in my Opinion to divulge it here; for as much as I have

determined with my self in this present Appendix to disclose onely

those things which I exposed to be seen in my Laboratory by others.

_By what means Gold, Silver, yea and Copper too, may with great

profit be extracted out of the poor Metallick Veins by the moist

way, and which cannot quit the costs of doing it by Fire._

First of all, the metallick Earths are to be made red hot, and to be

quenched in cold Water, that so being made brittle they may be ground

in a Mill. If Sulphur be admixt in them, then must they by a foregoing

fireing be freed from the same, because the Sulphur hinders the _Aqua

Fortis_, from duely dissolving those Oars. Being now thus prepared,

they are to be put into the stronger Glasses, or into Earthen Cucurbits

made of the best Clay, and the following Water is to be poured upon

them, and is to cover them over three fingers breadth. The Cucurbit

being filled with these matters is to be set in a Case [or Pot] full

of Sand, and prepared for this use, and all the Water is to be

drawn therefrom by Distillation: which is not onely all of it again

recovered, but withall doth get it self an encrease or augmentation

from the Salt-peter or the Salt, so that there ascends more Water by

Distillation than was poured on.

The Oars are to be taken out of the Cucurbit, (or Cucurbits, if there

were more Pots used) and being taken forth you must pour common Water

thereupon to extract the remaining Salt thereout of, in the which Salt

is found the Gold and the Silver that was in the Oars.

_N. B._ This is to be observed in this labour, that all the Spirits are

not to be drawn off from the Oars even to the dry Salt; and this not

onely to shun the dammage that might happen by breaking the Glasses,

but also for this reason, _viz._ that there may be left behind with

the Salt a little Acrimony, because of some Salts which easily pass

into Salt-peter when some _Aqua Fortis_ is drawn off them. And albeit

that _Aqua Fortis_ will easily turn the whole Body of Kitchin Salt into

Salt-peter, yet notwithstanding ’mongst all the Salts one Salt admits

of a speedier, another of a slow Transmutation, according as it is more

or less akin in its nature unto Salt-peter.

And therefore to prevent this errour, some humidity is to be left with

the Oars. For when all the Spirits are drawn off, and the Salt is

turned into Salt-peter, the Water would not be sharp enough to hold up

the Gold that is extracted, when the Solution is made, for the Water

would dissolve barely the Salt-peter, and leave the Gold remaining

behind with the Oar.

If this errour should chance to be committed, the Salt-peter is to be

extracted out of the Oars with the Water, and more new Salt must be

poured on upon the same Oars together with the _Aqua Regis_ that was

drawn off by Distillation; that so this _Aqua Regis_ having been once

abstracted may not afterwards transmute all the Salt thereto added

into Salt-peter. For by how much the oftner the _Aqua Fortis_ is drawn

off from the Salt, so much the less is the Salt turned by it into

Salt-peter, and at length, it will come to such a pass as to remain

just as it was afore the abstraction [of the so oft drawn off Spirit.]

For this is the nature of _Aqua Fortis_, _viz._ to transmute half its

weight of Salt into Salt-peter at the first time; the second time it

transmutes but a fourth part; the third time much less; and at length

will transmute none at all; but puts on the nature of Spirit of Salt;

which notwithstanding is most fit to extract Gold and Copper withall

out of the Oars _in infinitum_, if Salt be thereto added, out of which,

it is wont to get it self a perpetual encrease (and be) like other

Spirit of Salt.

Now then, to prevent this inconvenience, the _Aqua Fortis_ may be

left off for altogether, and those Minerals and Metallick Earths may

be extracted with the Spirit of Salt onely, and Salt added thereunto:

onely observing this thing in the Distillation, _viz._ that some of the

humidity be left behind with the Oars whereby they may be the easilier

taken out of the Glasses.

Moreover this is to be likewise known, that Gold, Silver, and Copper

may be extracted out of their Oars or Earths even without _Aqua

Fortis_ or Spirit of Salt, if onely Salt or Salt-peter be but added.

For if some Oil of Vitriol or of Sulphur be poured upon the Water of

Salt-peter, or that the Water of Salt be acuated therewithall, it

becomes strong enough to extract Gold, and after the extraction and

distilling the Phlegm off, there follows by distilling a pleasant

Spirit of Salt, or from Salt-peter a good _Aqua Fortis_. This labour

therefore is more gainfull and less troublesome, than if _Aqua Fortis_

or Spirit of Salt were used thereunto.

There are other easier and more compendious ways of extracting Gold,

Silver and Copper out of their Earths, which, seeing they have not been

as yet shown in my Laboratory, I shall silently pass them by at present

and that not without reason. But yet there is frequent mention made

of the like [Operations] in my first Century, in which he who has an

earnest desire to know more of those kind of ways, may make enquiry.

_The Preparation of sutable and proper Waters to extract Gold,

Silver and Copper out of poor Oars._

Take of Salt-peter one part, of common _Aqua Fortis_ two parts; these

being joyned together, extract Silver and also Copper. But to extract

Gold out of its Oars or Minerals, there must be taken one part of

common Salt, and four parts of _Aqua Fortis_. One pound of Salt, and

four of _Aqua Fortis_, make four pounds and ½ of _Aqua Regia_, the

other half pound of Salt stays behind with the Metallick Veins or Oars

in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and contains the Gold that was in them,

and is to be extracted with common Water.

_The way of getting out the Gold and Silver out of the washt-out

Salts by precipitation, and of reducing them to their peculiar

bodies without detriment or loss._

If it be Water of Salt-peter and hath Silver in it, the Water of Salt

being poured in, precipitates the Silver to the bottom. But if Water

of Salt, and has Gold in it, the Gold is precipitated by pouring on a

_Lixivium_ which hath in it a little liquour of Flints. And now this

Water it self thus mixt by pouring (other precipitating liquors on it)

yields (by decoction) most excellent Salt-peter. And the _Aqua Fortis_

and _Aqua Regis_, which ascended by Distillation, are fit to make new

extractions of Gold, Silver, and Copper out of their Earths; and by

iterated extractions (by the Salts and Waters thereto added) do they

get a perpetual encrease, insomuch that in these extractions of Gold,

Silver, and Copper, there are not required at all any other expences

save those few, bestowed on firing. Therefore in the beginning of this

Work there is not required ought else but one onely pound of _Aqua

Fortis_, because in the progress of the Work it proceeds on to an

infinite encrease, yea, enough for the extraction of many thousands of

pounds.

(Hence is it that this Work is an unheard of Operation, and doth

almost exceed all belief, and from which there must an immense gain of

necessity accrew, because Gold, Silver, and Copper may by this means be

extracted out of their poor Metallick Earths without costs.

There remains yet one thing which is to be heedfully regarded in the

precipitation of the Gold and Silver. A common _Lixivium_ cannot

precipitate all the Gold out of the _Aqua Regis_, and therefore I bid

you add to the _Lixivium_ some liquor of Flints, and this will also

appear in my first Century.

Therefore it behoves every one, clearly to see whether or no he makes

use of true and genuine Liquor of Flints in his Operation, that so he

may not instead of it, use a bare simple _Lixivium_ onely, and so

commit a great errour, as it hath happened to some as I have been told.

But he that can’t make true and good liquor of Flints, or else has

it not at hand, may substitute in its steed, common Spirit of Urine

prepared in a Copper still, which together with the said liquor

precipitates all the Gold out of the _Aqua Regis_.

_N. B._ But this Gold thus precipitated by Spirit of Urine, fulminates

like Gun-powder, unless it be burnt with common Brimstone afore the

Reduction, and that this fulminating faculty be taken away from it,

which inconvenience the liquour of Flints is not wont to bring.

_N. B._ If there should be much Zink, Iron, or _Lapis Calaminaris_ in

the Oars of Gold or Silver, the _Aqua Fortis_ or _Aqua Regis_ would

not all ascend by the Distillation, nor get increase; but some part

thereof would stay with those Metallick Earths, and with the _Lapis

Calaminaris_, _&c._ and by adhering thereunto be concentrated: but yet

there would not be any loss by that, for by the pouring on a Lixivium

of Wood-ashes, may it be turned into good Salt-peter, of as much value

as may easily recompence the charges of the _Aq. Fortis_, or _Aq.

Regia_.

Besides, you are likewise to observe this, that if there should be

Copper admixt in the Oars of the Gold and Silver, the _Aq. Fortis_

would extract the Copper too, as well as the Silver.

But now the nearest way of separating these two Metals from each other,

is this, Let Spirit of Salt be poured to the _Aq. Fortis_, and it will

precipitate all the Silver out of the _Aq. Fortis_, down to the bottom

and the Copper will be left in the water; which if you put some Iron

into, it will stick to the Iron, and by this means be gotten out of the

water.

This water now, after the Metals are withdrawn from it, is fit to make

new Salt-peter with, and by addition of Vitriol to yield a new _Aq.

Fortis_ by distillation.

_Alkali_ Salts do in the Fusing bring the precipitated Silver to its

former body, which otherwise is very fugacious.

The Copper is turned into excellent Verdigrease. And so the Oars of

Copper, though never so poor, may be extracted, and that with no small

benefit: Because the Verdigrease made of the bare Copper is twice the

price of the molten Copper it self.

_The manner of making good Salt-peter in plenty, out of

Kitchin-Salt and =Calx-vive=._

Take the Stones of Lime, which have been thorowly changed or reduced

into Powder by the Air, four parts: of Kitchin Salt, or Common Salt,

one part, [by weight, and not by measure] whether pure or impure [it

matters not:] and of this mixture is a thickish paste to be made by

moistning it with Urine, or, in want of that, with Water; which is to

be made up into a Pile with Wood, and so may it be made _Stratum super

stratum_, of what bigness you please: and it may be done in a Furnace

made for that purpose, or else in the open Field abroad in the Air.

But you must beware in the building up of this Pile, that the mass

of Salt and _Calx-vive_ be not too thick laid, and too much; but it

would be better to make it up in balls or pellets, that so they may

be well fired by the flame, which must penetrate everywhere through

the pervious heap or pile: which cannot be, if the mass be spread too

broad, and so stop up the passages of the flame.

The heap being made as big as you are minded to have it, the fire

must be put under, and so long fed, till all the wood is burnt, and

the balls themselves have been red-hot, a whole hour at least: that

the Acrimony of the Salt may in so great a heat be changed by the

_Calx-vive_, and get it self a milder nature, and consequently be so

much the easier transmuted into Salt-peter.

_N. B._ The Salt that is on this wise transmuted, is most fit for

dunging Lands, and to be used instead of the common beasts dung, as I

have at large taught long ago in many places of my Writings.

This is the preparation of turning Salt into Salt-peter, which

Artifice, if any be minded to work about, it is necessary for him to

order his Operation this following way.

_The manner of making Salt-peter out of this prepared Salt._

First of all, this introverted Salt must be exposed to the open Air,

and beams of the Sun; but yet so, as that the heap may not be moistned

by the Rain, and it must lie in its heap the heighth of some three or

four Feet; the which heap is to be wetted either with Man’s piss or

Beasts; or if there be not enough of this to be had, then with bare

water onely, that so the pellets or balls lying quietly for some days,

may be dissolved and be mixed with the rest of the matter.

Now when the warm Air hath consumed all the humidity, and dried up

the heap, the aforesaid moistning is to be repeated; which being

again consumed, and the heap dried, the labour of repeated moistnings

and exsiccations is to be so long continued, as long as necessity

requireth: For in long progress of time is the Salt-peter generated,

which must be washed out with water, and by decoction be reduced into

Stria’s or Crystals.

This generation of Salt-peter proceeds indeed slowly on, but yet it

brings a great profit. For if once the Salt-peter be but generated in

such an heap of Salt, and the reliques left after the washing out of

the Peter be again put to the same heap, there will new Salt-peter

be generated in process of time: so that new Salt-peter will every

year offer it self to be washt out of the heap: and this work may be

continued without end.

But he that would have some Salt-peter from this inverted Salt in

a shorter tract of time, let him know, that the Seed or Ferment of

Salt-peter must be added unto the said heap, that so this same Seed may

get augmentation from the Salt, and encrease and grow, like as an herb

is wont to grow in a fat and saline Earth. For all things have their

Seeds, and doe draw their Encrease out of other Salts. The Seed of

Salt-peter is volatile, as is its acid Spirit: its Root is fixed Niter;

which being implanted in all sharp Salts, doth beget Salt-peter in a

most plentifull manner, and such as is very good, or even better than

that which ariseth out of those acid Salts and Alcalies.

We doe not here show this propagation of fix Salt-peter by acid Salts,

because it is described in the following Labour and Operation.

Therefore like as any Vegetable may be propagated and multiplied not

onely by the help of its Seed, but even of its Root too; Even just so

is it with Salt-peter, for it admits of propagation and multiplication

by the means both of its Seed and of its Root, as other Herbs doe.

As concerning the Seed of Salt-peter, it is very easily preparable by

those who deal in metallick separations and extractions by the moist

way. For if Gold be separated from Silver by _Aq. Fortis_; or that Gold

and Silver be by it extracted out of their Oars, this very operation

hath already abundantly recompenced the charges laid out thereon, and

so it offers it self without any costs, and as it were _Gratis_.

And now, if I pour this water on, instead of common Water, upon the

inverted Salt, it does not onely become good Salt-peter, but doth also

yield (as being the Seed of true Salt-peter) an hundred fold encrease,

after the manner of the Seed of all Vegetables, and doth the same as

they do. And by how much the more of this Nitrous Seed is sown in the

Earth, so much the more Salt-peter, and so much the sooner too is

generated. For when a Gardener doth sow his Seed sparingly, he must

necessarily have but a thin harvest: and so on the contrary is it to

be understood of a plentifull harvest. And if now there should be any

one that should upbraid the Gardener with the slowness of his Seed,

because it produceth not Buds, nor Stalks, nor Flowers, nor Fruits in a

few days space, would not he say that he cannot compell nature, for it

reserves to it self its due time, and its natural course?

The very same would I have you understand here concerning Salt-peter:

if haply my Enemies, those most ignorant Sheepsheads, would object

against me, that seeing the Salt-peter doth not presently, in a few

days, grow or spring forth from its seed sown, therefore that seed was

nor true nor good, or that it is altogether impossible that Salt-peter

should be generated so plenteously out of Common Salt: I answer such,

as the Gardener does, ’Tis necessary to allow Nature her own appointed

time.

But that it may evidently appear, that this my planting of Salt-peter,

and that this augmentation may be far more evidently demonstrated, than

that of any Vegetable seed; the business may be tried for confirmation

sake in a small Experiment, afore you set about a more laborious and

prolix exercise, and to prevent your fears of attempting it in vain.

Take the Salt prepared with the _Calx-vive_ three pound, and put each

a-part in several Earthen Vessels. Take likewise of the Water of

Salt-peter already used (as being the Seed of Salt-peter) one ounce,

two ounces, and four ounces: with the one ounce of that _Aq. Fortis_

commix as much Common water as may serve to moisten one pound of the

aforesaid inverted Salt: Then to the two ounces of the same _Aq.

Fortis_, adjoyn likewise as much water as may serve to moisten the

other pound of Salt with: And so doe with the other four ounces, and

therewithall moisten the third pound: Set those three Pots, containing

the three several pounds of the said prepared Salt, at the heat of the

Sun, but so, as that the Rain may not come, and wash off all the Salt.

All the moisture being consumed by the Solar heat, moisten your matters

in your pots with Rain water onely, so often, as the drying needs the

watering it. When two or three months are over, take out each pound

separately by washing it out of the matters in each pot, and you shall

find a vast difference, and shall see that that one pound of Salt which

had those four ounces of Nitrous seed in it will be all transmuted into

Salt-peter, save a few feces: but that pound which had two ounces

of the said Seed poured upon it, will contain a lesser portion of

Salt-peter; and the other which had but one ounce onely will have the

least portion. Moreover, if you pour those Salt-waters you washt out,

and which are not yet turned into Salt-peter, upon the feces again,

and so dry it as afore, and bestow yet other three months on these

exsiccations and moistnings, and then again boil the Salt-peter out of

the Salt, it will be much encreased and bettered; and so you will have

so much the greater encrease of Salt, by how much the longer you shall

have prosecuted this Labour. Such Experiments doe demonstrate, that by

how much the more Seed there is sown in a fat and salt Earth, so much

the more plentifull encrease of the Seed is to be expected.

But those deriding mockers and persecutors of Art and Truth may here

object and say, that the Salt-peter ariseth from the Salt-peter water

onely that was put thereunto, and not from the Salt it self? But I

answer, That that used _Aq. Fortis_ is indeed the Seed of Salt-peter,

but can never recover the Nature of Salt-peter without the help of some

fix body: Like as the Seed of an herb cannot become an herb, unless it

be cast into a moist and salt Earth, from thence doth it get its body,

and so is encreased.

Verily I willingly confess, that the Spirit of Nitre may be reduced

to the former nature of Salt peter, by assuming it self a body out of

all the fix Salts. But yet, as far as I have hitherto known, by my

manifold inquiries and investigations a long time, I could not find

any other Salt (save the following) by the help of which, those Waters

used about metalline Washings, may be sooner and better transmuted into

Salt-peter, like as this, and the following Salts doe: And therefore

I doe commend it as of the best rank for the making of Salt-peter.

The manner of preparing good salt Nitre out of the extracted Oars

is already revealed in the first Century, and therefore needs no

superfluous repetition here.

_Another Preparation of Salt for the making of Salt-peter._

Take Common Salt one part, and of a sulphureous Oar, which the

_Germans_ call _Schewelkies_, two or three parts, if they contain less

Sulphur: But if they have Vitriol in them too, then must you take

equal parts of both. Grind the sulphureous Mineral in a Mill, mix it

with the Salt, and heat it red-hot by well torrifying or calcining

them for two hours (in Furnaces serving for such a work,) either upon

a Grate, or else without a Grate, upon Hearths; that so, during this

Candefaction, the Sulphur may have ingress into the Salt, and may alter

it. This Salt being washt out of the sulphureous Minera with water, and

boiled till a skin gathers at top of the water, it shoots into long

Stria’s or Crystals, like Salt-peter, and tasts like it, but falls

into Powder in a warmish Air. If it be burnt and prepared by putting

_Calx-vive_ thereto, after the way afore going, it is convertible into

good Salt-peter, but sooner and in a shorter time. If the Minera’s

you use have Copper in them, or any other Metal, yet nevertheless may

they be gotten out thence by fusion, for there will be nothing lost in

this operation but the Sulphur; and this must have been driven away

by burning it, however, if you would have any of the Metal out of the

Minera.

_N. B._ The _Caput mortuum_ out of which the Spirit of Salt by the

addition of the Vitriol is extracted, yields such a like Salt, and

very fit to make Salt-peter withall. There are also several other

ways, which yield no small plenty of such Salts, and that in a manner

without any costs, especially if the help of Stone-coals be thereto

used. Besides too; this you are to be advised of, that (seeing the Salt

is to be burnt with the _Calx-vive_) one Calx is better than another,

for some Lime stones are more apt for the making of Salt-peter, but

primarily those, which when you touch your tongue with, doe yield a

fiery tast; with which sort, the Lime made of Sea-shells doth not

compare as to goodness.

_By what means the Root of Salt-peter is to be implanted in acid

Salts, so as to be thereby augmented, like at the Root of a

Vegetable, being transplanted, gets an increase from the saltness

of the Earth._

Even as we have demonstrated in the foregoing discourse, that the acid

Spirit of Nitre is the seed of Salt-peter, and doth encrease it self

out of _Alkali_ Salts like as an Herb doth out of the Earth: Even so

by the same reason, fix Salt-peter, which is the root of Salt-peter,

admits of transplantation, yet not by fixed Salts, like as the sharp

Spirit does, but by sharp Salts, whereto it is to be united by

implantation: For, two Acidities, and two Alkalies, cannot produce any

new Essence, but two Contraries doe always produce a third. The acid

Salt, which is of the meanest acidity, and which doth easiliest admit

of being transmuted into Salt-peter, is the common Kitchin-Salt, which

we taught the way but even now of inverting by the Minera’s of Sulphur.

And if that such provision cannot be had to prepare it by, the very

Kitchin-salt it self being taken both in the moist and in the dry way,

would perform the same, as I have already shown in other places of my

Writings. And as for the making of fix Nitre, you may meet with the way

of doing that too and agen in my other Writings, and especially in that

place where I have treated of the dry separation of washing of Metals,

_viz._ when sulphureous and Antimonial Metals are washed by Nitre.

_The way of preparing Spirit of Salt, necessary for the Extracting

of Gold and Copper out of their Oars; as likewise of making good

Salt-peter of the matter left after the distillation is finished._

Mix with two parts of Vitriol or Allum, one part of Kitchin-salt, and

throw in this mixture upon hot burning Coals, the Spirits of which

are to be taken in great Leaden Cisterns instead of Receivers. This

operation (besides the salt Spirit it gives) yields also sharp Flores.

If any shall provide himself with double Leaden Cisterns, and shall

make the Outer one to hold in it the lesser Cistern, and so fill this

outer one with cold water, he shall obtain more plenty of Spirits by

reason of this better refrigeration. But such Cisterns requires a great

deal of Lead; for verily even those three alone which I had in my

Laboratory contained a thousand and forty pounds of sheet Lead.

There may be other kinds of Receivers applied to this use, which, to

reckon up, would be too tedious in this Book.

The matter remaining after the Distillation may be ground in a Mill,

and one part thereof mixt with two parts of _Calx-vive_; and so balls

are to be made thereof, and to be put upon wood and burnt, as we shewed

afore, that so they may be transmuted into Salt-peter.

But besides all these, there hath been a far better and more

compendious incineration, and bettering of the lesser and more perfect

Metals shown and demonstrated to my friends, in my Laboratory, which

requires not so many Circumstances and Labours, as the foregoing more

prolix operation, which is performed by throwing Common Salt upon the

Coals, does: For it is to be done in a peculiar Furnace, and with

purer Salts; and being wrought about a greater work, yields very

considerable profit: so that it impregnates Silver and Lead with Gold,

with twenty four hours easie labour, and renders them worth the labour

of separation.

In like manner, Copper may by the help of such Labours be very much

amended, and gets no small portion of Silver, if it be added: so that

with a little fire and a very few expences, every sort of Copper,

though it has endured the fire scarce twenty four hours, is wont to

be so much bettered, as to shew in the Touchstone the marks of two,

three, and sometimes six Lots, according as it has been diligently

and circumspectly handled. Hence comes it to pass, that by vile and

every-where obvious Subjects any Silver and Lead may be maturated by

little and little into Gold, and so may Copper it self be ripened

without any detriment into good Silver, by a few repeated Labours. Now

these operations requiring but small costs, and but a few labours to

accomplish it, may be exercised without intermission, and bring vast

profit. These inventions are such as never were as yet thought on by

any, and so never at any time saw the Light. But now they that saw

and learned, in my Laboratory, the great incineration, did not all of

them see this Labour and Artifice, and apprehend its use, but such

of them onely that stayed out constant, even to the end of the whole

Demonstration in my Laboratory. And as for such as too soon forsook

their Master and the School, they are (and indeed very deservedly)

altogether ignorant of this operation. For should they have been

masters of this _Arcanum_ too, they would verily have detrimented me

more, which God of his mercy prevented, and hereby provided, that all

[my Arcana’s] should not fall altogether into mine Enemies hands. The

Furnace which I used about the said Incineration and Melioration of

Metals, is as yet in my Laboratory, and will haply there remain all

this _Winter_. But as for mine own part, I have determined with my self

to leave off Chymical Labours, communicating them to others, with whom

this more compendious bettering of the Metals will be yet longer to

be seen. Therefore all the whole Drove of my Enemies, though never so

big, will not at all be able to oppress the truth, what mad attempts

soever they make against it. For although one or another of them hath

theevishly stole from me my Secrets, yet presently the Divine goodness

hath largely supplied me with others. I have now laid a sure Foundation

in Alchymy, and have kindled a Light for both Friends and Enemies,

which will very hardly be extinguisht as long as the World endures.

But now, that some little knowledge may be had of this more compendious

Incineration, and bettering of Metals, _viz._ of Iron, Copper, Tin and

Lead into Silver, and of _Lune_ into Gold; I say that it is to be

done in a twofold manner. The first is, when the Metals are destroyed

either with common, or else with prepared and moist Chymical Fires,

and converted out of their own Metallick being into an Earthy nature

and Essence, are imbibed with spiritual Salts, and burnt by a close

Cementation, so as by their mutual efficacy and actings upon each

other, to amend themselves, and afterwards by reduction and separation

to yield forth Silver and Gold with profit. And this Labour admits of

being exercised in as great a quantity and plenty as any one pleaseth,

and is clearly void of tedious troublesomeness, and great expences,

for one onely person may discharge this Operation in one onely Chimny,

and that with no small quantity of matter too. Nay more, (and which

is of greater moment) if any one shall in this operation make use of

such Salts as they call Graduating Salts, which are easie to be got,

and cost almost nothing, he will get far greater profit, especially

if he shall put Copper-plates to be burnt with the Metals reduced by

the said Cementation into ashes which said Plates, those Graduating

Spirits will penetrate wholly and throughout, and in this penetration,

better them, and bring them unto a more noble degree, so as to give on

the Test, Silver impregnated with Gold. Nor is it necessary that those

Copper-plates be separated by Lead in the secret Pot, so to get the

Gold and Silver made in them, by the said operation, though they have

already gotten a meanly-white Colour. ’Tis better and more profitable

to put them yet again in some new Cementations, and urge them more with

the violence of the Fire, and they will be enriched with a greater

access of Gold and silver, then afterwards are they to be Separated by

adding a due [quantity of] Lead, which is [thus] done, when the Lead

containing the Gold and Silver, together with the Copper, are melted

together into a great Cake, these are to be put in the Furnace, which

the _Germans_ call _Seigerofen_, that so the Lead melting may flow

down, and in flowing or running down may carry away with it all the

Silver and Gold that was in the Copper. By this Artifice is the Copper

conserved, and is to be a new made into Plates, and to be used about

new Labours, and be again enriched with Gold and Silver by Cementation.

_N. B._ There is not at all any need of any peculiar Lead for

this Separation of the Copper, forasmuch as that Lead may be used

thereabouts which is molten out of the Powders of the Cement, and

already contains in it Gold and Silver, which Metals are conserved by

one and the same work in the labour of Separation, and are already

gotten by the Gradatory Cements out of the Minerals, and the more

imperfect Metals.

And this now is my more compendious Incineration and Cementation of the

imperfect Metals, to make them better and more perfect. This Operation

have I shown to some Friends in my Laboratory, which will moreover

be in many places exercised with profit. And now any one may easily

foresee and guess, what shame mine Enemies, (who with their Diabolical

Clamours and Calumnies, say my Writings are unprofitable and all over

full of Lyes,) must at length be confounded withall, and how basely

they have behaved themselves. Nor verily is it to be doubted but that

there will be such frequent exercise and so familiar a practice of

Alchymy (which is an Art that produceth infinite benefits) throughout

all _Europe_, that even abundance of Work-men [or Trades men] will

leave their Trades, and many Countrey-men leave their Plows, and set

themselves about Alchymy, and by the Assistance of my Writings get

themselves Food and Rayment in an easier and pleasanter way, even out

of the contemptible Sand, and abject Stones. Whereupon it will of

necessity follow, that in all those places where now poverty is rife,

plenty of Gold and Silver will again come in sight. These are new

fruits which God bestoweth in this Age. And every one that gets so far

as to obtain their fruits, let him have regard to the poor and needy,

and not forget his Benefactours from whom such things proceeded lest he

pull upon himself the wrath and anger of God.

Moreover, there were some other _Arcana’s_ ocularly demonstrated in

my Laboratory, during the shewing of those meer prolix secrets, the

reckoning up of which here I judge needless. Some of them are of no

small concernment, which by the same Sinister or unlucky mishap fell

into the hands of mine Enemies, and will without all doubt be by them

manifested. For that very reason will I my self reveal some, in my

second Century (God permitting) that it may not be concealed from any

one, what excellent secrets I have disclosed for the use of mankind.

’Mongst other _Arcana’s_, this is none of the meanest, which, [_viz._]

teacheth to extract Copper, (by Waters of almost no cost or charges,

out of poor Oars of Copper which are every where obvious, and are not

rich enough to defray the charges necessary for a melting Fire,) and

bring it to use, and that in great quantity, and so easily as that

without question the poor Countrey-men that can very hardly sustain

themselves, their Wives and Children, will for the time to come set

about such an Operation, and get such _Minera’s_ or Oars, or even the

_Scorias_ of them, to extract the Copper out of them and sell it, and

so provide themselves Food and Rayment against a sharp Winter, whereas

otherwise they must live miserably in want and poverty. The Operation

it self is this.

_How Copper may easily and very profitably be extracted and made

corporeal (without any melting or fusion) by a certain Water of

very small expences._

There are two sorts of Oars or Veins of Copper met withall, some are

mixt with Sulphur, and refuse extracting with _Aqua Fortis_; insomuch

that you must first remove the Sulphur from them by rotting as it were

and burning them, afore that Salts or sharp Waters can display their

virtues upon them. Now that roasting (or calcining) then, is to be done

on Hearths by the flame of Wood, on which, that metalline matter broken

into Powder, is to be uncessantly stirred with Iron Instruments, so

long till it emits no more sulphureous stinch: This done, they admit of

extraction with _Aqua Fortis_.

Other _Minera’s_ or Oars which have no Sulphur admixt with them, need

not this calcining, for they are to be onely heated red hot in the Fire

and quencht, with Water and so broken to pieces, and then are they made

fit for extraction.

But all sharp Waters which dissolve Copper may be used to extract the

Copper out of poor coppery Oars, and that with profit, when the Waters

are of no great costs, but are to be had for a very little charges.

Such are an _Acetum_ or Vinegar of Corn, _Acetum_ of Woods, which any

Countryman may get easily and in great quantity; also, Water of common

Salt, Water of the Lees of Wine, out of which adust Wine (or Brandy)

or Spirit of Wine is prepared, and which else are cast away. These two

latter are of the meanest price, and may therefore be easiest of all

gotten. The Operation it self is this.

The Oars being reduced into Powder must be put into small and low

(Copper) Pans, about the thickness of a Span, for if they should lie

too thick or compact, they would more hardly be stirred with a wooden

Stick: Upon them thus lying in the Pans, pour that acid Water the

heighth of a Span or at least a hands breadth above the matters; then

put Fire under the Pans, let it boil strongly, and let the matter be

uncessantly stirred, that so the Water coming to it in every part, it

may extract all the Copper the more easily. When this Water has boiled

one or two hours, and so gotten a most green colour, and that it can

dissolve no more Copper, it must be poured out, and more put on, and be

on such wise boiled so long till it hath gotten the same colour. Now

this pouring on is to be repeated with new Water so often and so long

till it imbibes (or extracts) no more greenness, which is a sign that

all the Copper is extracted out of the Oars.

_N. B._ If there should be but little Copper in the Oars, the first

Water will extract all the Copper, and so there will not need the

pouring on any other Water. Nay more, it sometimes happens that even

the first Water would attract more Copper if the Oars had had more of

the same. Therefore the Copper is not to be precipitated out of that

Water which hath not extracted Copper enough, but is to be reserved

and poured upon new Oars, that it may be thoroughly impregnated with

Copper, and so the precipitation with Iron may not be used in vain. For

by how much the more Copper, the Waters shall be extracted (or held up

in them) so much the greater is the gain, and so much the less Water is

required to this Work.

It is a thing easie to be understood by him that shall thoroughly

search into this Operation, and manage it with due diligence, so as to

commit no errour.

_N. B._ If you have store of these green Waters, put in some old Iron

for one or two nights, and you shall get out the Copper that will

adhere unto it like filed Copper, and ’twill leave the Water white

and clear, which said Water can be used no more about this kind of

extraction, but may be poured upon _Calx-vive_ mixt with Wood-ashes,

and so be dried up, by the Air or the Sun, under some Roof to keep off

Rain, and from this used Water, and the _Calx_ or Lime is Salt-peter

generated in such a manner as I taught afore.

_N. B._ This Copper which sticks on to the Iron, is to be freed from

all the Saltishness by washing it with common Water, and is to be

afterwards dried, and so may be used in the stead of pure Copper, for

if molten it nothing at all differs therefrom, if the Operation be but

well managed. Nay more, it has in it a most notable Commodity, as being

more tender and more pure, and more commodious for many Operations than

that gross common Copper is. ’Tis also very fit to be converted into

most excellent Virdigreese, if it be moistned with sharp Vinegar and

set in the heat.

Moreover I have shown in my publick Laboratory, by what means Spirit of

Salt, _Aqua Fortis_, _Aqua Regis_, and my _Sal Mirabilis_ may be easily

gotten, and that in great quantity too, by a Separatory Sulphur, which

is nothing else but Oil of Sulphur or of Vitriol, of which I have very

clearly treated in the second part of the _Miraculum Mundi_. Likewise

how Gold may in one quarter of an hours space be converted by the _Sal

Mirabilis_ (in a Crucible) into its first matter; or, into a red,

transparent, sulphureous, and soluble Stone, which suffers it self

to be dissolved by common Water into a most excellent Medicine. This

golden Water being poured to the roots of Herbs, makes them to have a

golden property, as concerning this thing you may consult my Treatise

of the nature of Salts, and the second part of my _Miraculum Mundi_.

Besides, I have shown to some of my Friends, how in the extraction of

Gold and Silver out of the poor Oars a Gradatory and withall fixing

Spirit may be received, which is able by graduation to perfect (or

exalt) any _Argent-vive_ into Gold and Silver, according as the

extraction has been made either of Gold or Silver Oars.

This so great a secret hath as yet escaped mine enemies hands, and so

has that my secret incineration and cementation of Metals, of which

they would likewise have been Masters had they waited but yet two or

three days longer; for I presently showed such Operations to those that

stayed, and unto other honest Spectators.

To these may be also added that notable _Arcanum_ of bringing Lead in

one quarter of an hours space to such a pass, by means of a graduating

Fulmen, without almost any costs, as to be so impregnated with Gold as

to be worth the separating.

These and such like _Arcana’s_ with many most profitable discourses

have been seen and heard in my Laboratory, a tedious and needless

Repetition of which I willingly omit.

Finally, to mention somewhat by way of addition, ’tis necessary that I

say onely thus much, that happily in some short time, the business will

so come about that many Men will not for the time to come take on them

such a deal of care about the laborious, costly, and uncertain ordering

of Mine-pits, but will rather lay hold on and manage (and that with

greater profit) such as can be had and gotten better on the outside of

the Earth. But especialy there will not be a few who will set about

these Cementations of mine for gains sake, for they have many times

many lying idle by them, and which yields them no profit, which by this

assisting way they will augment, and without doubt it will be effected

too by many.

Verily I cannot at all see (as far as I know) whether there can be

found any honester and certainer way of sustaining Life in the whole

World, than this true melioration of Metals, which brings with it so

great a benefit. For even Merchandise it self though it be so very

gainfull, yet doth it stick amidst Sins, as firmly as a Nail does in a

Wall.

The Services of Lords and great Men are laborious and full of

servitude, which many have experienced. And as for War, that snatcheth

away abundance of Men by an immature death.

Far better therefore is it to live quietly with one’s Family in some

poor Cottage, and to feed on a piece of Bread, than to hunt after

uncertain Riches by most great dangers. Therefore I doubt not but there

will be many found for time to come, who being holpen by my Writings,

will more commodiously sustain themselves together with their Wives

and Children, than hath been hitherto done. Nor do I at all doubt,

but that many will take it very untowardly, that I have so manifestly

and so perspicuously revealed all things. For this is often done and

daily is it, that I am upon that account reprehended by others, as the

following Letter may witness, the like of which I could have here added

more had I so listed.

There is no Body can satisfie all. Even _Jupiter_ is not the same

(or alike acceptable) to all: One is troubled with hear, another is

burdened with cold. What things soever I have written, they are clear

and evident to such as are skilfull in the Art, and have understanding

in the business, and therefore they had rather I had written more

darkly. But the unskilfull and ignorant do judge that I have plaid the

Sophister in Writing, because they hit not the mark.

But all their judgments and Censures mought be tolerated whatever they

be that they pass upon my Writings, did they not by reason of their

ignorance, contemn the good things themselves, and say of such things

as are most true, that they are Fallacies and Lies: but this needs

not seem strange to any, forasmuch as such wicked contemnings proceed

from those that by reason of ignorance and blockishness do no better

understand the business. But this is plainly diabolical, to be highly

benefited by any one, and to be made partaker of such great secrets,

and yet afterwards impudently to deny the same and say, that they never

had any good thing conferred upon them. The detestable malice and

impiety of these Men hath enforced me to manifest in this Appendix, so

many excellent secrets, which I would at no time have laid open, had I

not been so treacherously deceived by those perfidious Men.

_This is the Letter written unto me, of which I made some mention

even now._

“Thou hast written too clearly, and again too manifestly; beware

lest God stir not up against thee another new Farnerian Devil, to

punish thy easiness [or forwardness] of publishing such Mysteries.

For they are not to be profaned by the ungodly, let not the present

corruption of Men deceive thee, and that blindness [of theirs]

which for the most part ariseth therefrom; for all wicked Men are

not blind, I know many Farners that are defiled with all kinds of

Evil, and yet are not all of them so blinded as thy Farner is. Nay,

their Wit is so penetrative and so clear-sighted, that should they

but read the divine Books that thou hast published there would

not be a secret in all nature, but they would know it; nay more,

they would in a short time perfect that Philosophick Work. Which

should it so come to pass, (the more’s the grief) what a many

Slaughters, what Whoredoms, how many ruinings! And what evils of

all sorts would break in upon mankind; of the which, thou thy self

(though innocent) would’st be the cause. I know that the detestable

Calumnies of the impious Farner enforced thee to publish them,

for he every where reported and to all, that thou wert ignorant

of them. But my most dear Sir, what is your knowledge as a thing

of nothing, unless another likewise knows that you know it? God

knows that thou knowest, for he gave thee thy knowledge. Thine own

conscience also knows it. What? Cannot these two most plenarily

bless or make a Wise Man happy? The pleasure that depends on the

Opinion of Men is unhappy. In vain do we seek after true Felicity

without us, if so be its solid principle or foundation should be

within us. What matters it, if Men think thee to be less learned

than thou art, as long as the very light it self of nature shines

unto thee? I would to God that I could once accomplish that, which,

by thy divine Books it is most certainly manifest unto me, thou

hast perfected, and let all Men believe me to be a most stupid

Fellow; I wish not thus, as if I did at all doubt of the truth of

any Work. For though I should have perfected the whole work an

hundred times, I could scarce be more certain of the truth thereof

[than now.] He that knows the way of concentrating Fire, and of

uniting the terrestrial Sun to this concentrated Fire, and the

_Arcana’s_ of Fermentations doubts not, nor seeks after any thing

more. I may boldly say, that seeing nature doth perform whatever

she has a mind unto, by these three, it must necessarily be, that

it should do some most eminent thing. But if I could but once have

finished the Work it self amidst those thousand of businesses that

have hitherto withheld me, and kept me off from the Operation,

I should have been long ago able to wind my self out of the

intricacies of this present Age, and wholly devoted my self unto

God, and to the most holy Philosophy. I beseech thee therefore my

[dear] Master, and entreat thee by God and by the most laudable

charity thou owest thy Neighbours, to write more obscurely for the

time to come, nay, and if it may be, to wrap over the Books thou

hast already published with some new cloudings, lest that celestial

treasure fall into the hands of the unworthy, and so become

hurtfull to pious Men. Pardon Sir the liberty of my complaint, for

there is no other cause thereof save piety to God, and a Zeal to

the most Learned, most upright Man, and one that too well deserves

from ungratefull mankind. And albeit thou knowest not me, yet canst

thou not be unknown to the Curious, seeing thou hast Written such

wonderfull things. Nor can there be any one that shall but once

have read over thy Books, but he will be highly obliged unto thee,

if he has but any light of Justice [or Righteousness] remaining in

him, _&c._”

Many such like Letters as these, have been ofttimes sent me from

learned and skilfull Men, tending to this end, to warn me not to

publish such excellent secrets for the time to come. Yet nevertheless,

amongst those that are rendred partaker of such, there are some who

(although the Operation it self has been sometimes manually showed them

very perspicuously and clearly,) are notwithstanding so sottish and

ignorant, as that they cannot imitate the aforeshown Operation. But

some there are also that are come to such an heighth of Treachery, as

that (being either seduced by their own false malice, or drawn away

with the desire of profit,) they deny even the truth, certainty and

stability of that very thing themselves have manually experienced, and

dare to say it is false, this verily is an astonishing and detestably

malicious wickedness, and justly and deservedly gives every one an

occasion to shun such devilish Men more than a Dog or Snake.

I _Glauber_ may justly and deservedly be compared with a burning

Candle, by serving others, am I consumed; have not I by the publishing

such very excellent Writings kindled a clear and new light to the

whole World, and added and consumed mine own peculiar Oil, and that in

vain too, as reaping no recompence proceeding from a gratefull mind?

_An Explanation of some obscure places which are to be met withall

in the Third and Fourth Part of the =Prosperity of Germany=, and

in the first Century._

In the Third Part of the Prosperity of _Germany_.

_In the Operation which teacheth to extract Gold and Silver with

profit, out of all Oars or Metallick Earths, in Page 360, =A.=

signifies =Lapis Calaminaris=._

_Page 361. =A.= is once met withall there, and signifies the same

=Lapis Calaminaris=._

_In Page 370, the same Letter =A=, once put, signifies the same

=Lapis Calaminaris=._

_In Page 370. =b.= where we treat of the Waters used about Washing

or Edulcoration, and show their use, the Letter =B.= signifies

pieces of Cloth, and the Letter =C.= the shells of Eggs, and all

Cockle-shells and Muscle-shells, [or Shell-fish] of all kinds, in

the water and out of the water: but the Letter =D.= denotes the

Feces or Lees of Wine._

_In the same Page, the Letter =E.= shows or signifies Eggshells, and

the Shells of all Shell-fish._

_The Letter =F.= signifies Stones and Lime._

_In Page 371. =a.= the Letter =G.= signifies Oil of Vitriol._

In the Fourth Part of the Prosperity of _Germany_.

_In Page 397. =b.= the Letter =A.= signifies one part, and =B.= three

parts._

_In Page 398. =a.= by the first =X.= is understood =Alkalies=, and

by the other =X.= is meant a fixt Salt, helping on Liquefaction or

Fusion._

Here follow some profitable Operations, and which appertain to the

Extraction of Metallick Earths; they are indeed treated of, or

published in the first Century; but because of the omitting of some

words, they are hard to be understood: which, forasmuch as they

comprise the things that primarily concern the Extraction of Gold and

Silver, it seemed to me a matter worth the while to insert the same in

this Appendix, the which (as I hope) will not be unacceptable to those

that search after such great Secrets.

31. _By what means volatile Gold is to be compendiously extracted

by the moist way, out of coloured Flints, red Talk, Granates,

Sand, Clay, and such-like Oars or Minerals, and made corporeal._

First of all, such Minerals are to be heated red-hot in the Fire,

and be quenched, then ground with Mill-stones, and are to be put in

Stone-Pots, or _Waldenburg_-Pots, or _Colein_-Pots, that in them they

may be moistned with pouring _Aqua Regia_ thereupon. These Pots you

must put Coals about, and heat them well. The Minera’s being together

with the _Aqua Regia_ well heated, there must be poured thereupon so

much Common warm water, as will suffice to wash off the _Aqua Regia_.

Being on this wise moistned, they are to be put into great Pots made

of good Potters Earth, having a many little holes in the bottom, over

which is some Cap-paper to be spread, that nothing of the Oars fall out

through the holes, but the water onely may distill down. After that

all the first water is run out, you must pour on more hot water, and

these pourings on are to be so often repeated, till the water tasts on

more saltish, for then it has carried off with it the _Aqua Regia_ that

contained the Gold in it.

_N. B._ The Pots are to be set upon a Bench or Dresser that hath holes

in it, so that the [Waters] may pass through the bottoms by the holes,

and Vessels may be set there-under.

_N. B._ The Minerals may also be put in Barrels, having a double

bottom, such as those Barrels are in which they use to wash out the

Salt-peter with Common water out of the Earth. And now after the same

manner are the pourings on of Common water to be so long continued till

there is no more saltishness perceived.

_N. B._ Albeit that there is no more tast of saltness discernable, yet

nevertheless some of the Salt doth as yet abide with them, [_viz._

with the Oars] and which is to be turned into Salt-peter, on this wise

following.

32. _How good Salt-peter is to be made with profit even out of

these Oars._

Mix these Minera’s that are thus deprived of their Gold with an equal

weight of _Calx-vive_ and Wood-ashes, then heap them up in a heap under

some Shed or Pent-house, and moisten them for half a year, or for an

whole year by repeated pourings on, of either Man’s piss or Beasts,

as often as (after the drying up of the moisture) need requires. In

want of Piss you may use Common water. By this means the _Aqua Regia_,

which was not thoroughly washt off with the warm water, and so remained

behind in the Oars, will, by the assistance of Urine, or even of

Rain-water, convert the Salt in the _Calx-vive_ into good Salt-peter,

which is to be washt off like other Salt-peters, and be reduced into

Stria’s or Crystals. The remaining matter being freed of the Salt-peter

by washing it off, may be again put under the same Shed or Roof, to

keep off the Rain, and be exposed to the Air and Solar heat, and be

moistned with Urine, and it will in its season again yield Salt-peter,

and will even keep doing the same for many following years, if it be

dealt withall on the like manner. And so even the very _Aqua Fortis_ it

self, which remained behind in the Oars, will bring its benefit. The

reason of this manner of Salt-peter making is this, because the _Aqua

Fortis_, or Spirit of Nitre, is as it were the seed of Salt-peter, and

is of this nature, _viz._ when it is put among other Salts, (like as

when some Vegetable seed is sown in the Earth,) it augments it self

thereby, and is multiplied, even as the Seeds of Herbs are wont to doe.

And haply, hence came that old Proverb, of _sowing Salt_, which the

unskilfull and ignorant mock at, saying, How can it be possibly done,

that Salt should be sown and multiplied, seeing the Rain can dissolve

it and wash it away? These foolish ones did not know either what Salt

was to be sown, or how. Evident it is, that even this is the sentence

and opinion of the ancient Philosophers, that even Salt may be sown and

multiplied in the manner of Vegetables.

_N. B._ Out of the extracted Oars or Minerals being conjoyned with

_Calx-vive_ and Wood-ashes, may Salt-peter be made, in a few days

space, by moistning the matters with pouring on, even barely Common

water, and so drying it up again: but then there will not be such a

quantity, as when more continued and more frequent pourings on of Urine

have preceded.

_N. B._ It is likewise a thing possible to be done, to make good

Salt-peter even in one days space, with the Waters used about

the Edulcoration [or washing of the Oars] if they be poured upon

_Calx-vive_ so long till all the noise [or tissing ceaseth] which is

made in the Solution. And thus out of the sharp water of Salt-peter,

and the fix Salt in the _Calx-vive_ is presently generated Salt-peter,

shooting into long and delicate Crystals, after that the superfluous

moisture shall have been thence drawn off in a Copper-pan. The

remaining Salt-peter water must be again boiled in a Copper even to

the appearance of a thin skin, and then be set in the cold to shoot

more Salt-peter; these Labours are you to go on withall untill all the

Salt-peter be boil’d out.

I think now that I have written and delivered all things perspicuously

and clearly: He that cannot comprehend them, must even let them alone

as an Ass must the Harp.

As concerning the sharp Waters which are used about the Extracting of

Gold out of the Minerals or Oars, so as the Gold may not be lost that

is in them, but be conserved, and that with profit, there are several

ways that offer themselves, amongst which we have thought good to

produce these following.

33. _The ways of Reducing volatile and fixt Gold unto a body,

out of the Edulcorating Waters (so called) with which the Gold

aforesaid hath been Extracted out of the Oars; and also of

usefully or profitably improving the said already used Waters

themselves._

He that desireth to enter upon the best way, may pour into the Solution

of the Gold, or into the Water containing the dissolved Gold, a

Solution of Silver or Lead, and in such a quantity as he shall guess

the Gold is of, that is dissolved in the Water. As for Example.

Suppose there be two or three Lots [Lotones or half Ounces] of Gold in

the water, there must then likewise be dissolved so many Lots of Silver

or Lead in _Aqua Fortis_, or thereabouts; which Solution is to be (be

it more or less) put to the said water, and to be well mixt by a strong

shaking it to and fro, till it becomes like Milk. When it shall have

settled, it must be shaken again, and those strong agitations must be

several times repeated in an hours space. Then all being well settled,

the clear water is to be poured off, and the grosser matter is to be

put in a Filter, that so all the humidity may by distillation [or

filtration] be removed from the dissolved _Lune_, or dissolved Lead,

and the Metals themselves may afterwards by reduction be reduced into

their pristine body, by such an help as we will presently teach.

_N. B._ If the Silver or the Lead should not have extracted all the

Gold out of she Water, or drawn it to themselves, which may easily

happen, yet notwithstanding there is not any loss of the same. For,

because the _Aqua Regia_ being debilitated by pouring plenty of water

thereupon is rendred unfit to extract any Oar anew, there may be poured

into that edulcorating Water out of which the Gold is already drawn by

the Solution of Silver or Lead, a sharp [or strong] _Lixivium_ made of

Wood-ashes and _Calx-vive_, and rendred a little sharper by a little

Liquor of Flints. For the Flints doe precipitate all the Gold out of

the Solutions. And now the _Aqua Regia_ being kill’d by the _Lixivium_,

lets fall every Metal that it has in it, whether it be onely Gold, or

Copper, or Iron, in the form of a yellow Powder: This Powder is to be

dried, and to be reduced after that manner which I told you but now,

that I would teach.

The same Gold may likewise be gotten out of the _Aqua Regia_ (first

debilitated by Common water) very commodiously by a Solution of Mercury

or Quicksilver put thereinto; The Mercury abides in the _Aqua Regia_,

and the Gold falls to the bottom like a tender fine Powder, which being

washt and made corporeal by reduction will be 24 Carracts fine. And as

for getting the Mercury out of the _Aqua Regia_, it is not to be better

done than by pouring thereinto a sharp _Lixivium_, by which the Mercury

is constrained to fall down to the bottom like a yellow Powder, which

is profitable for such-like precipitations. The _Aqua Regia_ and the

_Lixivium_ serve for to make Salt-peter withall.

The Edulcorating-water out of which all the Metals are already reduced

[or precipitated] being boil’d in Coppers, till a skin appear at

top, and then poured out into other Coppers or wooden Vessels, yield

excellent Salt-peter, fit for the distillation of _Aqua Fortis_ for a

new Operation. He that is skill’d in managing this work, will get as

much Salt-peter as will pay the costs of the _Aqua Fortis_; insomuch,

that the Gold is extracted without any costs. For five or six pound of

_Aqua Fortis_, which holds in it two or three pound of dissolved Salt,

and is precipitated with a sharp _Lixivium_ of _Calx-vive_ yields about

some ten pounds of Salt-peter: and this will certainly answer the price

of the Water or _Aqua Fortis_; and so you will have Gold extracted out

of the Stones without expence or charges.

34. _Another and better way of getting out the Gold that is

Extracted out of the Oars, out of the =Aqua Fortis=._

Make, by Calcination, some Ashes, of one part of Tin, and four parts

of Lead, and put them in an Iron-pot, whereto pour the extracted Gold,

or the _Aqua Fortis_ containing the Gold, boil it and continually stir

the Calx with an Iron rod, that so all the sharp Spirits may cleave to

the Lead and Tin ashes, and the Phlegm onely may exhale. After that

the said Calx of the Metals hath concentrated all the Spirits, and is

become wholly dry, let it be taken out, and be cast upon Coals in a

secret Melting-pot or Crucible, in which operation the fire forceth out

all the Spirits into the Recipient, which are to be again made use of

for new Extractions. The volatile Gold, and which is mixt with Iron,

adheres to the Calx of the Metals, and is to be reduced in the Furnace

which the _Germans_ call _Stichofen_; whereby the Lead impregnated with

the Gold, and exalted by it, is gotten, which by reparation yields the

Gold and Silver.

_N. B._ If that Lead should not contain Gold enough as to be worth

the while of separating it on the Cupel [or Test] it is to be again

commixt with Tin, and be reduced into Ashes, and by this Calx are

new Extractions to be Concentrated, that so by the so many repeated

Labours, the Lead is at length made rich enough, and yields (by

separation) a good portion of Gold and Silver.

If (in the separating) the matter be turned by the blast of Bellows

into Litharge, it is not needfull to melt such a deal of Lead on the

Tests, which would require so much fire. But however, it is a thing

feasable for the Gold to be gotten out of [or by] the Tests without

melting, which shall be taught afterwards.

35. _How an =Aqua Regia= is easily acquired for the Extraction of

Stones._

Forasmuch as Spirit of Salt may be had in great quantity, you need

onely dissolve some Salt-peter therein, and this Solution is to be

used to extract the Minerals withall. For the Spirit of Salt being

made stronger by the Salt-peter, doth readily and willingly seize upon

the tender Gold that is in the Stones. And as for the Spirit of Salt,

it may be used as it comes over in the first distillation without any

rectification.

36. _An easier way of getting an =Aqua Regia= usefull for

extraction._

Because that these Operations do always bring forth Silver impregnated

with Gold, and that _Aqua Fortis_ is requisite to make the Separation

of them; the Solution of Silver may be used, and so the labour of the

aforesaid incineration be omitted. Into the _Aqua Regia_ wherewith you

have extracted the Gold, pour in a Solution of Silver, and it will fish

out the greatest part of the Gold out of the _Aq. Reg._ and is, [_viz._

the _Aq. Reg._] to be afterwards made use of to a new extraction, and

be again divested of its extracted Gold by a Solution of Silver. In

want of a Solution of Silver, the extract is to be concentrated with

the Ashes of Lead, and you must proceed (by driving off the Spirit out

of the Ashes, and by reducing the same Ashes in a Furnace,) after the

same manner as we taught you but now in our foregoing directions.

_N. B._ You are here to note, that the _Aq. Fort._ which containeth in

it the dissolved Silver, and is poured into the _Aq. Reg._ or nitrous

Spirit of Salt, doth add an encrease unto these same Waters. For

the _Aq. Fort._ doth corroborate the Spirit of Salt far better than

Salt-peter doth.

37. _How the Silver (wherewith the Gold has been separated out of

the =Aq. Regia=) is to be gotten [or reduced] out of its =Calx=._

After that the Solution of the Silver being poured into the _Aqua

Regia_, hath extracted the greatest part of the Gold; the _Aqua Regia_

is to be poured off clear from the Silver remaining in the bottom, and

is to be used about new Extractions. But if so be it should yet contain

Iron in it, it must be concentrated by Lead-ashes. The white Calx of

Silver is to be put upon some Cloth over a glass or stone Vessel, and

so is to be freed from the remaining _Aqua Regia_, which will drop

from it; and by pouring on of warm water, it must be altogether rid

of the _Aqua Regia_, which as yet adheres thereunto. This done, your

Linnen-cloth being strong and three double, the Common water is to be

squeezed strongly thereout of, and the Calx it self laid by, to dry;

which may afterwards be reduced in the Secret Crucible, or be used

about a Cementation of _Lapis Calaminaris_ into Gold and Silver.

38. _How the said =Calx= of Silver is to be reduced without any

loss of its weight, and without any Detriment._

Forasmuch as this white _Calx_ of Silver is made so very volatile

by the Salts, as that it cannot be reduced at all in the common

melting Pots or Crucibles without great Detriment, there is no way of

preventing that loss more commodiously than this which follows.

Mix this silvery _Calx_ with an equal weight of a _Sal Alkali_, and

cast it into the secret red hot Crucible, wider at bottom and narrower

at the top, the which you must cover with its Cover made of the Lute of

Wisedom. By this means will the _Calx_ melt, nor will it lose any thing

by fume, nor will it penetrate into the melting Pot or Crucible: and so

the Silver impregnated with the Gold will be conserved without hurt,

which being granulated the Gold may be separated by _Aq. Fortis_: Now

this very Solution of the Silver by the _Aq. Fortis_, may be again used

to gather [or separate] more new extracted Gold, and so will afterwards

produce the Silver to be reduced the same way we instructed thee, and

so give thee a perpetual Separatory Operation of Gold and Silver, which

may every where be exercised with a great deal of profit.

39. _Another way teaching to reduce fugacious Silver with greater

profit._

Put upon the Rudder of thy Silvery Ship, the little Fish called

_Remora_, that so it may be freed from its speedy flight, and abide

quiet. Melt thy said Ship together with the _Remora_ that fits on

the Rudder in the secret four-square melting Pot, in which melting

together, there is not onely recovered all the Silver without any

Detriment, but it doth also get an increase of its weight, out of the

white Bristles or Fins of the little Fish, and becomes enriched with

Gold by its Bloud: so that this Additament yields (in the Reduction)

a greater quantity of better Silver than other Additaments do. But as

concerning other Commodities or Benefits that this fugacious Silver

bestows, it shall (God willing) be taught afterwards.

Thus much was I willing at present to teach and reveal, concerning the

extracting of volatile Gold out of Stones and the poorer Oars, and of a

successive graduating of Silver into Gold. There shall be more taught

elsewhere.

40. _A gainfull extraction out of the poor Oars or Minera’s of

Silver and Copper, by the moist way._

These Minerals or Oars are to be dealt with after the same way as we

showed above about the Minera’s of Gold, _viz._ they are to be heated

red hot, quenched, and ground with Mill-stones and be moistned with

_Aqua Fortis_, and to be extracted after the like manner as the Oars or

Minera’s of Gold are, all the difference being onely in the Waters; for

_Aqua Regis_ is to be used to extract the Gold with, and _Aqua Fortis_

for the extraction of the Silver. If therefore there be the Minera’s of

Gold and Silver at hand, the Gold is to be extracted by _Aqua Regis_,

and the Silver by _Aqua Fortis_; and both the Solutions are to be mixt

together, in which mixion the Silver precipitates to the bottom in the

_Aqua Regis_, and withall fisheth out the Gold out of the _Aqua Regis_.

Neither is it here any impediment if the Oar of Silver should also

contain Copper in it, which will be extracted together with the _Aqua

Fortis_. For the Silver and Gold fall down to the bottom, and the

Copper abides in the _Aqua Regia_, which is again fit to extract more

Gold withall, and may indeed be used as many times as any one shall

please. The Copper it self is extracted out of the _Aqua Regis_ by

Iron Plates, but they tinge the _Aqua Regis_ with a yellow colour, and

therefore make it altogether unfit for any farther labours of this

kind. Better is it therefore to concentrate it upon the Ashes of Lead,

that so that spiritual Iron in the _Aqua Regis_, may convert some of

the Lead into Gold by Gradation, and the _Aqua Regis_ it self having

been so often used may be yet again used.

41. _Another far easier way of plentifully extracting Gold and

Silver out of the poor Minera’s or Oars, Sand and Clay, and the

like Minerals without the Fire of melting._

Fill a Glass Cucurbit, or one made of the best Earth, and excellently

well luted a little more than half full, with the Minera, Sand, or

Stones containing in them, fugitive and fix Gold, and hereupon pour as

much of the following _Menstruum_ as is sufficient to moisten them;

then presently put on an Alembick (for assoon as ever the dissolving

Water is poured on the Oars or Minera’s, it presently works and fumes)

and draw off therefrom (in Sand) all the humidity by Distillation:

that so in the distilling the Gold it self may be dissolved, and the

_Aqua Regis_ it self may by Distillation be recovered; which is again

profitable for a new Operation, as we shall tell you by and by. All the

moisture being drawn off, let the Cucurbit cool in the Sand, and then

take it out, and put in some Water, that the Minera’s and Salt may be

softned. Now extract very carefully and diligently, all the Salt out

of the Oar, in which said Salt is the Gold that is extracted out of

the Oars or Minera’s, and boil it up into a red Salt, to which must

be added some Litharge, and so must be molten in such Pots as will

not break. The Litharge will imbibe all the Gold, which how it is to

be separated from the Lead, we will presently teach in the following

discourse.