I have at large delivered this operation in the second part of my
Furnaces, whither I refer the Reader; where he shall not onely find a
manifold composing of this fire, but also its various use in Medicine.
But although it be needless to describe that operation there repeated,
yet it seems meet to me (for a more evident declaration’s sake) here to
adjoyn some admonitions which concern it.
XXVII. _Observations which concern the preparation of an Animal
fire._
Such a fire is for the most part drawn forth out of man’s Urine being
putrified by it self for the space of some weeks, and is by rectifying
converted into a moist and fiery essence as the second part of my
Furnaces sheweth; I have there taught a more easy manner of drawing
forth the same fire out of _Sal-Armoniack_, which is prepared out of
Urine, and by the addition of a strong _Lixivium_ it is distilled and
rectified.
I have also taught the manner of preparing the same fire out of
_Sal-armoniack_ by the Addition of _Lapis Calaminaris_, by distilling
it through a Retort.
Spirits rightly prepared after these manners are equally profitable in
Medicine, Alchymy, and other arts; because they are those which being
well made are all of them good, after what manner soever they may be
prepared.
But although these volatile animal fires do readily serve for the
performing of famous and notable things (and the fixed Salt of Urine
it self, may by Distillation and rectification be con-centrated
into another kind of fire) yet they are at a far distance from that
true Philosophical fire which the Ancients have hidden with so great
care and diligence, because that in these preparations the best and
chiefest part of the fire flies away and is lost. But this I say, that
these fiery Spirits of Urine being con-centrated even as I have taught
them to be, are indeed able to effect all those things which I have
attributed to them, and shall as yet attribute. But indeed they do not
coagulate the con-centrated fire of the Vine, which coagulation is not
the least key for the composing of an universal Medicine.
For when the Spirit of Urine attains this nature, that by coagulating
the most subtile Spirit of Wine, (when poured on it) into a Salt, this
Salt extracts the soul of Gold duely prepared; the which also, if it
be changed by it self, and converted into a dry and sweet Salt, and
be fixed, possesseth the virtues of a Medicament of a most famous and
great use in Medicine.
Every one that is illustrated, but even with the least light of nature,
shall be able by an easy business, to smell out what may hiddenly lurk
under this Salt.
From the most pure Vine is the substance of the Spirit of Wine, which
strengthens the heart of man beyond all other things, as also his
brain, and other members.
The Spirit of Urine is the purest and most subtile Mercurial Animal
Salt, not having its like in penetrating, opening, and resolving.
This subtile Mercurial, Animal and piercing fire therefore, being
joyned to the most pure vegetable, that is, the Spirit of Wine, that it
may be changed together with it into a dry Medicine, any one shall be
able by an easy conjecture to foresee what it will effect in Medicine.
But that I may make manifest the errour, and demonstrate the cause
wherefore a Spirit of Urine is so seldom prepared, which will coagulate
the Spirit of Wine into a Salt, I admonish that a respect be had by
every one of the following particulars.
For first it is to be taken notice of, that the most subtile part onely
of the Spirit of Urine, and not the more gross part, is fit for the
coagulation of the Spirit of Wine: If therefore in the preparation of
the same, the most subtile part shall be lost, through the negligence
or ignorance of the operator, it can in no wise be brought to pass,
that the more gross and dreggy part should cause that coagulation.
But that most subtile Spirit doth not onely vanish away in distillation
through an insufficiency of the Luteing not being good, but also a
great part of the same is lost before distilling, to wit, when the
Urine being successively gathered, is constrained to stand and wait
too long, so that the Spirit by little and little exhaleth and departs
into the Air, especially when it is gathered together in the Summer
or Winter time, for that fire not being patient of any extreme, is
expelled by a little heat or cold, and therefore the fittest times
for collecting the same are the Months called _March_ and _May_, or
_September_ and _October_, in which Months the Air is temperate,
neither too hot, nor too cold, those Months therefore are the fittest
for collecting and extracting of an Animal fire out of it.
Furthermore, _Calx-vive_ or _unslaked Lime_ is to be added to the Urine
(when putrified) and distilled, that the insipid water may be so much
the more easily or readily separated from that volatile fire, the
which is not done if it be distilled _per se_.
I would not pass by these few things in silence for the sake of the
Reader, and of him that is studious of good Medicines: But after what
manner Metals may be amended by this Animal fire is not here shewn,
but God willing shall by and by in the following Chapters. But we put
an end to the preparation and con-centration of Animal and Vegetable
fires, with these sayings, whose admirable virtues and faculties in
medicines, Alchimy and other profitable Arts, shall here be manifested
in order, as much as time will permit.
Look I pray you on the Elementary Sun, as also on the fire of woods,
and the virtues of light, and the virtue of both, the which all
creatures, and especially mankind it self, is constrained to make use
of for their own safety; could even the least grass bewray itself? or
any small worm be bred and live without the Sun? could any workmanship
or artifice be exercised without the help of common fire? the which, if
it were not, we should be constrained to eat unboyled Herbs, and raw
Flesh like wild Beasts: yea, the whole conversation and negotiation or
traffique among men should be wholly taken away, if earthly fire and
light should be wanting unto us.
If there were some one man onely in Some whole City or Province, or
in a whole Kingdom, who alone could make others partakers of fire and
light, would there not be made the greatest concourse of all men unto
him? but because it is known to every one, and everyone hath known by
an easy manner, how to strike it out of flints, it is had in no esteem,
for it is customary not to esteem those things which are made common,
although they are pretious. The same thing hath happened to the fire,
the which although it ought to be made of greatest account, yet it is
reckoned of no worth because it is common and vulgar.
But even as the common fire, and that known to every one, doth by
very many most profitable operations bring much good to mortals,
who can least of all want the use thereof; so also I affirm that
those artificial and hidden fires are to be very much accounted of,
because a Phisician can hardly be without them, for the preparations
of efficacious Medicines, and a Chymist can never want for the
transmutation of the more base metals into better, either of them
without the aid of those fires shall perform nothing of any great
moment in Chymical Labours.
He that works and is ignorant of such fires, what will he effect in
metallick operations? he being conversant in cold and darkness is
afflicted with the Same difficulty, as a certain brewer or baker is,
who wants wood in the winter season, or who is not able to use water,
it being congealed into ice, the one he cannot bake although he hath
the best meal, and the other brew drink although he have abundance of
the best malt.
So also goes the matter with Alchymical Affairs, the want whereof
causeth that we handle not the most noble Alchimy with any profit, but
rather receive loss from the same, daily experience being witness,
that 100 are wont to be sooner undone than that it happens to any one
man to get himself riches thereby. The blame of which discommodity is
not to be transferred on an impossibility of the art, but rather to be
imputed to the want of those moist, cold, and ripening fires extracted
out of Salts, the which after what sort they ought to be used for the
amendment of metals, as also for medicine and other arts, shall be
taught partly in this, and partly in the other Centuries.
XXVIII. _The general use of our concentred fiery and ripening
Spirits, extracted out of Salts, in the amendment and converting
of metals into more noble ones; also the preparation of many
excellent medicaments, and the increase and amendment of many
other arts, are briefly here demonstrated; the which, God
granting, shall more largely be declared in their particular use._
That I may discourse in few words whether imperfect metals may by
the operation of the more common and gross Salts, and of the fire be
broken, destroyed, cleansed, and reduced into a better form, it being
that which the fifth part of the prosperity of _Germany_ confirmeth by
divers experiments.
I affirm that the pure Spirits of Salts, do with a greater efficacy,
and far better effect the same, the which, since those simple Spirits
are able, better and more easily to perform than gross Salts, why
should not also con-centrated Spirits after the best and easiest manner
of all perform the same thing?
From a like reason the use of Salts shall not be of so great efficacy
in the preparation of medicines, and other arts, as the useing of
common Spirits is; the which, notwithstanding being still for the most
part clogged with much phlegm, do of necessity not disclose so great
virtues, as those con-centred fiery Spirits do which are freed from all
phlegm.
The Sun-beams are for an example which do not send forth so great heat,
when they are co-mixed with a moist air, as also green and wet Woods do
not so vehemently burn with heat, as withered and dry ones are wont to
do.
Yea if the hot beams of the Sun are con-centred in or by some hollow
glass increasing the fire, or the fires of Coals by a strong blowing of
the Bellows, and are as it were constrained into straights or narrow
passages, they effect ten times, yea one hundred times more than those
which are not centred together after such a sort. But by how much the
more strictly those forces of the beams of the Sun, or of other fires
are con-centred by so much the greater, stronger, and sharper heat they
draw out.
A burning glass of one foot Diameter, onely enflames Wood; but one of
two foot Diameter will melt Tin, Lead, and other metallick matters
of that sort, which are easie to be melted, as _Bismuthum_, or the
whitest, lightest, and basest kind of Lead, _Zink_, the non-splendent
metallick dark matter _Koboltum_, &c. But if you extend the Diameter to
four foot, the Sun-beams taking the stronger increase will melt silver
and copper, and will render iron it self so bright burning hot, that it
may be wrought with a hammer, as if it had been heated with Coals. This
effect is to be ascribed unto the con-centring of the Sun-beams by an
instrument, and to the constraining of the heat of Coals, by Bellows,
or Wind.
The same thing is to be understood concerning our con-centred and
moist fires, which ought to be compared, not onely with the common
beams of the Sun, or with the heat of Kitchin fire, but also with
those Sun-beams which are con-centred by a glass, and with the fiery
heat of Coals constrained or forced by windy blasts. Whence they must
of necessity be of greater virtues than the common Salts, and watery
spirits of them, the which the more quick sighted will sufficiently
comprehend and believe. Simple Countrey People do see this thing with
their eyes, and handle it with their hands, as well knowing that the
subtile, hot, sweet Spirits of Wine and Ale, (and those procuring
strength to the heart,) when they are freed from all moisture by
Distillation, and con-centred by Rectification; effect ten fold more
than if they had still remained with their humidites.
That thou mayest understand the thing more clearly, well weigh thou
Grapes, Bread-corn, or the Fruits of Trees, which we eat in that
substance as the trees bring them forth unto us: and they afford us a
nourishment, but not such a one, as their juice being pressed out, and
separated from its dreggs, and by fermentation reduced into a clear and
sweet drink.
If necessity compell, Bread corn may be used for nourishment as it
is, yet not so well as when it is separated from its husks, being
changed into meal, and reduced by water into a mass or lump, and Salt
and Leaven added, and by fire concocted or digested into Bread of the
best Savour. By the same reason Bread-corn being boiled in fair water
yields a potion indeed somewhat better than the water it self, but
if it be artificially handled, and boyled up into Ale or Bear, the
husks are separated from the more pure juice, the which afterwards by
fermentation, separates many dreggs from it, and arrives to a more
noble nature, yielding a sweeter and better drink. But if the same
juice be after that brought by distillation into a greater purity, and
con-centred together by rectifying, that the virtues thereof may come
into a narrow compass, (because it is a meer fire) it will exercise
far greater virtues, than gross Bread-corn which wants a power of
exercising so great virtues.
So also doth it succeed with con-centrated Salts, to wit, when the
dreggs are separated from them by the help of art, and the more pure
parts converted, and con-centred into a fiery substance, performing
effects of great moment in Alchymy. But that Salts do commonly destroy
metals, as well by a moist as a dry way, is known to every Barber, and
persons of no reputation. But after what manner metals being destroyed
may be reduced into more noble bodies than they were before, there
hath been none hitherto (who being skilled in that artifice or craft)
that have not hid it with the greatest care. Hence it hath come to
pass, that nothing of profit hath been perceived from metallick
transmutations, and Alchymy it self hath been made a mock of by the
most unskilfull rout of ignorant ones, as if it were most false, and at
the farthest distance from truth.
That this doubt therefore may be taken away, and the truth it self may
be more evidently placed in our view, I have resolved in my mind, by
God’s assistance, to place before the eyes of the whole world, a true
and profitable transmutation of metals, by a clear description, and
to assert the certainty of so many writings set forth by such men, by
the most true experiments, so that every one that is seasoned but even
with a light or small knowledge of the fire, may by an easy business
hereafter obtain some profit from them. But I will first treat of
common and crude Salts, and then of the simple Spirits of those, and at
length of their con-centred Spirits and Fires, which we have taught to
extract out of them.
But before I attempt to describe and assert this kingly and noble art,
I have been led first to shew the cause why some places do occur in
the description of the same, wherein words are omitted, and signs or
blanks reposed instead of the same.
Indeed this was therefore done, that the art may be concealed from the
unworthy, and they in all respects to be driven from the same, and may
be made known onely to Adeptists, and the Sons of Art.
Besides also that all secrets may not in all places, and without
difference be divulged, but that the chief things thereof may be
preserved for friends, lest they be trodden under foot, and broken to
pieces by the unworthy, but that they may be left to friends as it were
a certain secret stroak, and that an unknown one to others, for to
fight successfully.
I therefore earnestly require of every one by a friendly Petition that
he be not suddenly angry, if he be not able clearly to perceive, by
the sharpness of his wit, all those things which I propose, but rather
let him consider that they are not written for him, but for others;
by whose capacity they can be perceived. Neither is it altogether
necessary that all do know all things, neither also would it be of
concernment if friends and enemies attain all those things in their
understanding alike, without any difference, which I here openly
produce by my descriptions; it is sufficient that some onely, and
indeed those that are worthy may clearly and knowingly possess the
same, and testifie the truth.
XXIX. _An infallible practice of changing the more imperfect Metals
into more perfect ones by the help of crude Salts._
As I have already a little before, and also in other places of my
writings, evidently enough demonstrated that Salts, or the spirits
of Salts, are in the earth, or out of the earth a universal Agent,
promoting the maturation or ripening of metals: So here I again firmly
affirm the same thing, and do say, that by Salts the gross bodies of
metals are destroyed, and trans-changed into more noble metals, and
that indeed after divers manners, and that more easily or difficultly
as any one shall be more or less conversant in Chymical labours.
I will hear God willing make manifest all things, yet not to every one,
but to the worthy onely; and that indeed after the manner of a Clock or
Watch-maker, who taking some Clock or Watch in pieces, do lay up all
the parts thereof in some place without any order; the which he that is
unskilfull in the art, shall never again compose and reduce into order.
But another who before hath handled that art, will by an easie labour
again conjoyn all those parts, and reduce them into the former body of
a Clock or Watch.
All those therefore who have experienced the foregoing labours to be
perfected by the fire, shall by these my descriptions easily dispatch
or accommodate themselves in future things, not easie to be understood
by the rout of ignorant persons which have made no experiments in the
fire; who will in vain look into those things which I have written;
no otherwise than as if any one being plainly unskilfull in reading
and writing, should behold written letters, and knows not what they
signifie, or what argument they may contain: Such a man if he would be
angry with the writer, should he not do him much injury, because as
being far remote from the fault of that ignorance which hinders him,
whereby he cannot read these letters which he had never learned to
read.
The same thing must be understood concerning my writings, which are
openly published, not for the sake of any one, but onely of those who
have first learned to understand those kind of writings.
But that I may set upon the thing it self, and may teach the amendment
of metals for the better, and shew the very foundation of the whole
business, I say, that a true changing of them is attempted in vain,
unless they are first destroyed, and wholly slain. A grain of Wheat, as
Christ himself saith, will never increase or multiply, unless it first
putrifies in the earth. If therefore metals ought to be destroyed by
Putrefaction, that must needs be done by the help of Salts, according
to the truth of the Philosophers Maxim: the corruption of one thing,
is the generation of another. The death of one thing, is the life of
another. Since therefore metals must die, it must needs be that death
be brought on them by enemies, or contrary things, because nothing in
natural or artificial things dieth, unless it be slain by its own enemy.
Since metals therefore ought to be destroyed, and killed by their
enemies; it is of necessity that they are invaded, tortured, and so
long vexed by the same, untill the Agent as the stronger part, be
overcome by the Patient as the weaker part; that it be slain by it, [or
rather the Patient be overcome by the Agent,] and be translated into a
better nature, in which action the Patient ought not to depart from the
Agent, but to be tortured with an un-intermitting torment.
Whosoever seeing his enemy and conceives himself of the weaker force,
indeavours as much as in him lies to decline him, by retreating, but
all occasions of running away and slipping aside being taken away,
he is constrained to deliver his life to his enemy, who handles the
Patient or suffering party according to his own pleasure, and doth
whatsoever he will, therefore after the same manner is the melioration
of metals, the which although they should be melted together with Salts
their enemies, yet would they make little account of them, but would
separate themselves from the same; so that every part of them being
unhurt, would keep its own nature and essence. But if the Salts do take
away the occasion of flight from metals, and do inclose them in their
Prisons, that they have no way of escaping, but remain, suffer, and
die, then they obtain victory over the Salt, and of slain metals are
made more pure and better.
This thing is done in the fire by the moist and dry way, of which
enough hath been spoken already.
This is the whole and intire art, and there needs no other superfluous
teachings; yet he whom these things doth not Suffice, let him read the
following operations thorough, wherein he shall find truth, and see
with his eyes, and handle with his hand; those things which have been
heretofore impossible to him, and very many more.
XXX. _After what manner Metals may be slain by their enemies and be
transmuted into better._
Unto Metals not one but many enemies are adverse; and part of those
enemies are enemies to some and friends to others, but the other part
is friendly to some, and at enmity with others. For example sake.
Nothing more prosecutes Gold with an hostile hatred than burning
Sulphur and sulphurious Salts, such as are Alcalies, and crude tartar;
the cause of this hatred is, because Gold is nothing else, but a
fixed Sulphur, and therefore it disagreeth by a capital hatred, with
every burning Sulphur; Silver and Lead do love every _Sulphur, and all
sulphureous Salts, such as are Vitriol, Salt Peter, Salt Armoniack, and
the like_, the which they stand in need of for their colour; they have
an hatred against _Kitching Salt, because it is of a mercurial nature_,
and therefore not requiring its help, but onely desiring a Sulphur and
Tincture, _Copper, Iron, and Argent vive_, or Quicksilver do possess
both natures, to wit, _a mercurial and sulphureous one_, and for that
cause they prosecute all Sulphurs, and any Salts with love.
Tin is an enemy of all Salts, whether they are sulphureous or mercurial
ones, when it is slain by Sulphur and Salt, and recalled unto life, it
obtains a more pure and thin or fine body, whether of Gold or Silver,
according as it shall be handled.
Moreover, if any should desire to obtain as yet a better essence out
of better metals, its necessary that he slay them by their enemies,
and raise them up again by their friends; by how much the greater and
vehement the enemies are whereby metals are slain, by so much the more
those metals do suffer, and with so much the more famous and better
bodies do they re-arise.
The whole art therefore consisteth in this, that metals are overwhelmed
by their greatest enemies, are slain by them, and after death are
separated from them, and that by their best friends, are restored unto
a better life.
Thou hast the whole art, neither doth any other thing remain than that
thou attempt the matter, and set to thine hand.
For example sake, I will add an operation. Slay a light metallick
matter by the sharp Spirits of sulphurious Salts, that it may become
a white calx; free this from the Salt Spirits, by water being poured
thereon, the which being freed, cannot be reduced into a metallick body
by any violence of fire. Likewise slay mercurial metals as are B. by
mercurial, Salts their enemies, and change them into white calx’s, the
which being freed from their saltness, _will be liquid or flowable_;
mix those calx’s, to wit, the mercurial and sulphurious being slain,
put them into a double vessel of cement, cover the uppermost with a
certain plenty of B. fence well the juncture of the cementing vessel
with clay, set them into a cementing furnace, and at the beginning
administer a gentle fire, that the calx’s may rise up against or
assault each other, and the fixed sulphur may bind the fugitive
flowable and mercurial calx’s, D. for although in the cement something
would depart into smoak, yet that is intercepted by E. and after a
certain manner is thus exalted into the degree of F. Too much fire is
not presently to be joyned to the cement or plaistering it self, that
some time may be granted to the matter that is swift of flight, whereby
it may adjoyn it self unto the fixed matter, and may also become fixed
and constant with the same for four hours space, therefore the fire
shall be somewhat the more slack, and afterwards for the space of
eight or ten hours, it shall be kept in a clear bright burning heat,
that G. may not melt: the said time being ended, the fire is to be
extinguished, and the cementing vessel to be taken away, in G. a black
or brittle body shall be found containing Silver, the easy separation
whereof we shall afterwards hear.
The calx of both metals being coagulated into a hard stone, if by
grinding it be reduced into powder, and be put into a furnace fit for
this thing, a metallick body will be attained, being impregnated, not
with a little Gold and Silver, especially if the metals shall be slain,
not by the Spirits of common Salts, but with gradatory martial waters.
In this cement, H. is rendred aureal or golden, and I. is silvery, by
one and the same endeavour. The profit also it self is of no small
moment, especially if this operation be exercised with the greater
quantity, and the bigger instruments alwaies to supply or afford Silver
being pregnant with Gold for separation.
XXXI. _A brief and compendious manner of extracting and rendring
corporeal, a volatile Gold out of coloured Flints, Red Talck,
Granates or Red Marble Stones, Sand, White Clay and the like
metallick earths._
At the beginning, these mineral or metallick earths are to be made
bright burning hot, to be quenched in cold water, and to be broken in a
mill, into meal or powder.
After that they are thus broken, thou shalt put them into some
Waldenburge, or Cullein Can, and shalt pour so much of _Aq; Regis_ on
them, that they may onely be moistened, and let them, together with the
Can, be placed in a fire of coals, and incompassed therewith, to be
made hot; after that the minerals and _Aq; Regis_ have waxed well hot
together, so much hot water is to be poured on those very minerals as
shall be necessary for the extracting of the _Aq; Regis_.
Put the minerals thus moistened with the water into great pots, and
those made of the best earth, having many little holes in the bottom,
on which lay paper for sustaining of the minerals that they may not
fall out through the holes, but may dismiss the water onely. After the
first water is gone forth, other hot water is again to be poured on,
and this effusion of water is so long to be continued, untill it depart
with the very same sweetness as when it was poured on, and no longer
offers any sharpness to the tast. So the common and hot water brings
away with it the _Aq. Regis_, and the _Aq. Regis_ Gold out of the
minerals.
The earthen pots may be placed in a bench bored thorough with holes,
through which their bottoms may pass, that so the water may be received
in vessels set under them.
_N. B._ The minerals may also be put into barrels or hogsheads having a
double bottom, such as are used for the cleansing of Salt-Peter, that
so water may be so long poured on them, untill all the acrimony be
extracted by the water.
XXXII. _After what manner out of Minerals being extracted, a true
Salt-Peter may as yet be gotten with profit._
The minerals being after the said manner freed by extraction, they are
to be co-mixed with an equal weight of _calx vive_ and wood ashes,
and cast together into an heap under some open gallery or room, that
now and then it may be moistened with Urine, or in want of that with
Rain-water, as oft as they shall be dryed.
In this operation the _Aq. Regis_, which remained in the minerals, and
was not wholly extracted by the hot water by the help of the Urine
or Rain-water, changeth the Salt in the _calx vive_ into the best
Salt-Peter, the which may be washed off with Rain-water, and boiled up
after the wonted manner.
Therefore after the said minerals have been handled for half or a whole
year after the said manner, and are by rinceing deprived of the Salt
it self, they may again be (under an open Gallery or Roof so exposed
to the air, that Rain come not at it) collected into an heap and be
handled after the former manner, for the supplying (in their own time)
new Salt Peter, the which may be done for many years together. So also
from that _Aq. Regis_ which could not be drawn forth from the minerals,
a profit is received.
The cause of this Salt Peter, its being made, is this, because the
_Aq. fortis_, or _Aq. Regis_, or Spirit of _Nitre_ in the same Waters,
contains as it were the seed of Salt Peter, it obtains that nature,
that like an Herb it may take an increase from other Salts, and be
multiplied; whence perhaps the old proverb arose, to sow Salt, which
thing the ignorant have received with mock, saying after what sort
can Salt be sown and multiplied, when it is solved and drawn from
Rain-water? But it hath lain hid from those, what kind of Salt it
is, and after what manner it is to be sown; the which we have here
demonstrated, also the saying of the Ancient Philosophers, asserting
that Salt may be sown and multiplied like Vegetables.
As to what pertains to those sharp waters, whereby gold is extracted
out of minerals, by what skill they are to be handled as also without
loss, yea that they may render that gold with profit; the following
operations are to be observed.
XXXIII. _A way shewing the extraction of a volatile and fixed Gold
out of the Water, from which the Minerals are withdrawn, and the
profit which may be received by that Water._
The best way is this, into the solution of gold, or into the water
which containeth gold, pour in the solution of _Lune_ or _Saturn_ more
or less, even as you suspect more or less of gold to be in that water:
As for example. Let there be in the water two or three half ounces
of gold, dissolve thou therefore about two or three half ounces of
silver, or lead, in _aq. fortis_, and pour this solution into the water
containing the gold, be it more or less, mix them well together by
shaking or stirring, that the water may obtain the form of milk; after
they have settled in quietness, shake or stir them again, and repeat
this motion for divers times the space of one hour, and at length
suffer all quietly to settle to the bottom. Separate all the clear
water from the sediment by pouring it out, and strain the sediment
itself through a filtre, that the water may be wholly separated from
the silver.
This silver is to be dried, and reduced into its former body, after the
manner which shall by and by follow.
_N. B._ If the silver or lead had not extracted all the gold, the
which may easily happen, yet that gold is not lost, for because sweet
water whereby the _Aq. Regis_ is weakened is present, the which now
remains unfit for another use of extracting out of minerals; now by
the solution of _Lune_ or _Saturn_ deprived of their gold, a sharp
_Lixivium_ made of wood-ashes, and _Calx vive_ may be poured on the
same, with which a little .......... is to be added or admixed. For
.......... do precipitate or fix all gold in solutions.
After this manner the _Aq. Regis_ is killed, and every metal which it
has yet retaineth, it dismisseth like a yellow powder, whether it be
gold alone, or mixed with copper or iron, which powder is to be dried,
and reduced after the manner which shall strait-way be taught.
_N. B._ That the water after the total precipitating of the metals,
being exhaled in a Copper Kettle unto a thin skin, and exposed in
peculiar vessels unto the cold, it will afford thee a beautifull
Salt-peter, concreted or grown together into drops or Ice-acles,
whereof thou may’st again make an _Aq. fortis_, to be again made use of
for the like operations.
He that shall rightly operate shall get so much Salt Peter as will
recompence the charges of the _Aq. fortis_, and _Aq. Regis_: So that he
shall extract his gold without costs. For five or six pounds of _Aq.
fortis_, wherein two or three pounds of Salt is dissolved, and the
which hath at length been precipitated by a sharp _Lixivium_ prepared
with _Calx-vive_, doth render ten pound of Salt Peter, the which doth
answer the price of five pound of _Aq. fortis_, and this is the manner
of extracting gold out of minerals without cost.