The Fourth Part: OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY

The Fourth Part: OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY

In which are revealed many excellent, usefull Secrets, and such as are serviceable to the Country: and withall, several Preparations of efficacious Cates extracted out of the Metals, and appointed to Physical uses; as also various Confections of Golden Potions. To which is also adjoyned a small Treatise, which maketh mention of my Laboratory; in the which there shall be taught and demonstrated (for the publick good and benefit of Mankind) wonderfull Secrets, and unto every body most profitable, but hitherto unknown.

The PREFACE to the Friendly READER.

Although I promised, above a year ago, in the Preface to that Book which I published of the =Nature of Salts=, that (besides Salt) I would likewise adjoyn some Broth and sugared Sawces and Seasonings to the other Meats disht out upon the Table: yet notwithstanding such as are searchers after good Arts, would not in any case allow me so much time as to prepare those Sawces; and being prepared, to dish them forth upon the Table: but earnestly requested this boon onely, =viz.= that I would not forget to furnish the said Table with Cheese and Butter. The satisfying of whose request, I confess my self very ready to yield unto, nor doe I find any other obstacle, save onely the scantness of time, which I am constrained to imploy about other affairs more necessary.

But however, seeing it is esteemed a very praise-worthy action in a Man, by diffusing his kindnesses in many places to benefit many, I have deemed it a thing well worth while, to adjoyn (setting aside other things) unto the afore-disht-out Meats those promised Sawces, with Butter and Cheese, in to boot; but yet, with as much brevity as conveniently may be.

Had a longer space of time been permitted me, I would have clarified the Sugar better, and made the Sawces more savory, which the hasty posting away of time hath hindered the performance of.

Besides, forasmuch as I have promised a Fourth Part of =the Prosperity of Germany=, together with a disclosing of excellent metallick Medicines, it hath seemed good unto me (for the fulfilling of my promise) to publish these my most efficacious Sawces under the Title of the Fourth Part of =the Prosperity of Germany=; and the rather, because I have not time sufficient for the description and detection of other Secrets.

Now by how much the viler and more contemptible cloathing these present Arcana’s do come abroad in, so much the greater and more noble virtues do they hide under their sordid or despicable rayment. I was of the mind, I confess, to have kept yet longer by me this Fourth Part, that so (being sent abroad to publick view in a more convenient season, it mought have been more adorned with Secrets of greater moment afore its being exhibited to every ones view. And amongst those Secrets, one eminent one, is the Concentration of Gold and Silver, and their reduction into such a form and figure, as that it cannot at all be known by our Enemies (who sometimes rush in upon us unlookt for), (which [sore affliction] God (of his mercy) keep us from.) And so by this means may it come to pass, that such kind of Bodies being thus hidden under an unknown Garment, will not be robb’d and taken away.

And whereas I have demonstrated in the foregoing Third Part, by what means great Treasures of Gold and Silver may easily be gotten in all places throughout all =Germany=, by the help of my Inventions; I made no question, (nor indeed can it otherwise be) but that such as are diligent House-holders will listen unto my sayings, and put in practise many of those things, especially seeing I will both counsel and assist them, as much as in me lyes.

If now the searching after so great Treasures be [not] too securely and negligently handled, it will undoubtedly come to pass, that our Country will (by such a notable Medium, and such great Treasure) be rendred even wholly invincible. History maketh mention, that the =Ægyptians= (by their skill in the Meliorating of Metals) enjoyed such vast riches, and so great a power, as that they cast from off their necks the Yoak of the =Roman= Monarchy, even untill that time in which their Books comprising the Art were burnt by the Emperour =Dioclesian=, whereby they were enforced to be subject to the Empire of =Rome=. For the most noble Art of Printing Books was in those days unknown, and their Sciences were wont to be written in Parchment with great labour and much cost; and undoubtedly they were not throughly stored with such kind of Books, whereby the =Romans= did the easilier get them into their hands and burn them.

Now when once a Writing is committed to the Press, it may be printed off in an almost-infinite Number, for a Printer will doe more in one day, than a vast multitude of Scribes would be able to write. And being it is so, who could possibly be able to scrape together out of all the places of a whole Country such a multitude of Books, thereby to root them out in these our times, and by burning annihilate them, as the =Romans= did.

This one thing I here say, =viz.= Did I but know and find that those things which I have hitherto published, would not onely be acceptable, but be also put in use and practise, it would be as a spur unto me to stir me up to adjoyn to what is already done, more and greater Secrets. Meanwhile let what is at present offered be well accepted, and what is promised, be patiently expected.

Of the word =Sawce=, and what is meant thereby.

I have obliged my self by promise, to adjoyn unto those my Meats which I have hitherto disht out upon the Table, some good Sawce and Pickle; which Meats, seeing they appertain not unto the plain common ways, but belong to a very excellent Skill or Science; it is altogether needfull, that the Sawces be correspondent thereunto, and that even they as well as the meats themselves, be by reason of their savouriness, gratefull unto the Palate. Now therefore as in the Feasts of great men, the Pickles are not set on the Table afore the Guests have fill’d themselves with Flesh and Fish, and so allayed their hunger, but are set afore them (afterwards) as so many Vehicles to drill down the Wine with the greater delectation, for such Pickles do for the most part communicate a sweeter (or toothsomer) tast to all kind of Fruits, Seeds, and Spices, and Sugar: So likewise must I, in the making and dishing out such Sawces for this Feast of mine, mind onely this business, viz. to take care of providing my self of the best Sugar, and choice Spices; and these are extractable onely out of the Metals; Saturn affording Sugar, and Sol and Lune yielding most sweet Spiceiness.

But afore I dish out my Pickles, I have thought good to set afore them a sweet Broth or Seasoning, [together] with Butter and Cheese, that haply one or other of my Guests are minded to dip a piece of Roast-meat therein, or else to tast of my Butter and Cheese, whereby they may with the greater delight tast the sweetness of the following Sawces.

And although I was minded to exhibit in this place some excellent and efficacious Metallick Sawces: yet notwithstanding I could not chuse but first present you with a fore runner as ’twere, signifying unto you, how that by the help of Salt good Broths and Sawces may be made out of the Vegetables, and Sawces, serving for the bettering of Cheese and Butter made out of Animals: that so my Treatise of the Nature of Salts may not be at all defective, and that every one may see what a most noble and most excellent Creature Salt is, which is capable of exalting the Animals, Vegetables and Minerals to a far more worthy degree by so excellent a Melioration of them.

Salt and Vinegar are commonly reputed to be the best Sawce, and ’tis most truly spoken: For amongst all the Sawces and Seasonings put unto Meats, Salt and Vinegar bear the bell; now the Vinegar is for the most part made of Wine, Fruits, Ale, Honey: But as for Salt, if it be turned by distillation and rectification into a sweet and acid Spirit, it becomes a sweet and strong Vinegar, and to be preferred before all others: so that there’s no need at all of the Vinegar of Wine, Ale, Honey, and Fruits. We will therefore shew unto such as are desirous of sweet or savoury Sawces and Picklings needfull for Flesh and Fish, and of well tasted Cheese and Butter, the way of preparing the same by the help of Salt; whereby a Man may make himself for his own Kitchin use or Cookery, various Sawces as him listeth. And having shewn this, we will proceed on to the description of metallick Sawces.

He that is desirous of a good Sawce or Pickle fit for Flesh and Fish, will not find any thing that is more fit or proper than a well-prepared and rectified Spirit of Salt, the which he may prepare with whatsoever Herbs and Spices he pleaseth, according as is agreeable to his Palate.

For example, Like as otherwise most acceptable Broaths or Sawces are wont to be made with Wine, Vinegar, Pepper, and other Spices, and are put unto the Boiled or Baked Flesh or Fish in the same Dish, or set by the same in little Sawcers, that so all those Meats may leave the more gratefull tast upon the Palate: Even so may the same be effected with Spirit of Salt, and that far more commodiously, and to better profit than if Wine or Vinegar were made use of to the confection of those well tasted Sawces. But it is my Spirit of Salt I here speak of, (which being prepared according to my prescription, is of a most delicate pleasantness,) and not of that which is most an end sold in the Apothecaries Shops, and in other such like places, and is for the most part ill prepared, and not at all rectified, and consequently by its ungratefull sharp and harsh tast, it provokes to Vomit, if it be taken into the Stomach; ’Tis likewise of a yellowish colour, and with its sharp constriction draws up the Tongue, whereas it should be more clear and transparent than Fountain Water, and by the pleasantness of its acidity excell the juices of Apples, Grapes, or Limons. And being furnished with such a sweet or pleasant Juice of Salt, I need not any Wine, Vinegar, or other sharp Juices of Grapes, Limons, Rasp Berries, Sorrel, and the like, to give a pleasant and savoury tast unto my Flesh or Fish: for it may be done far better with this good Spirit of Salt, than with Wine or Vinegar: For, that Spirit of Salt serves instead of them all, nor is it at all subject to corrupt as other Juices are, but conserves its sweet and pleasant essence without any decay. But if you would make use thereof singly or alone, then must a little Water or Sugar be mixed therewith, that the acidity or sharpness thereof may be a little allayed, and thus may it serve instead of a Sawce to be added to either baked or boiled Flesh or Fish. But now if a man be minded to add green Herbs for alterations sake of the tast, such as are Parsly, Garden Cresses, Spanish Pepper, and the like; he may beat or shred them small and moisten them with Spirit of Salt allayed with Water, and so put them instead of a cold Sawce to Flesh and Fish. But if now the Sawce is to be poured warm to the Fish and Flesh, then must a little Butter be thereto used, and that on this wise following. Take some pure and clean Water, and make it somewhat sharper (with good Spirit of Salt) then strong Wine, Vinegar, put thereunto some good Salt Butter or Fresh, at your pleasure; and likewise such Spice as (besides Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, and such like) you list to add, as also Salt if need be; put it in a little Earthen Glazed Pot, and not in a Copper or Iron Vessel, for they are altogether unfit for this Operation; set the Pot over a few Coals and heat it gently to melt the Butter, then stir it throughly about without ceasing, with a Wooden Spoon, and then being molten it assumes to it self the saline Vinegar, and the Sawce becomes thickish, the which must be then poured out to the boild and seasoned Flesh or Fish. But if green Herbs, as Chervil, Parsly, Cresses, Piperitis or Spanish Pepper, and such like are to be adjoyned thereunto, you may bruise or chop them small, and then put them into the Pot unto your hot Broath or Sawce, and mix them well together, and then presently pour out your Sawce to the Flesh or Fish, for by this means the Herbs retain their tast and greenness, and so delight the Eyes with their lovely aspect, and please the Palate with their pleasant tast, which would not be if they boiled much with the Liquour, for then they would lose both their subtile tast and green colour. Moreover, you are warily to observe in this thing, that this Broath or Sawce be not let lie upon the Coals too long, and so the Acetum separate it self again from the Butter; which to prevent, there may be mixt with the Sawce one, two, or three yelks of Eggs, which being well stirred with the same makes it the thicker, and better to stick on to the sopping when you take it out of the Dish where the Flesh or Fish is.

Such Sawces do give the Fish either boiled or fried, a most acceptable tast, and probably if some Sugar be thereto added it would do very well for Flesh too. But yet, sharp Juices or Broaths are better and more agreeable for Fish. Now after this manner may every one make his own Sawce as he listeth, and render the same with some Herbs and Spices, the more savoury unto his Palate; and consequently needs not either Wine or Vinegar, nor any other acid things.

If any one has but any pure and clean Spirit of Salt at hand, he may (by the addition of certain Herbs and Spices) prepare his Sawce as best likes him, and make it far more pleasant and delightsome than if it were made with Wine, Vinegar, or Ale-Vinegar, nor can you get these every where neither. But the Spirit of Salt may be prepared and so had every where, and therefore on that account too is it deservedly to be preferred before all other seasonings.

Now in the Winter Season, when green Herbs are not to be gotten, the pounded Roots of Spanish Pepper may serve, or Mustard Powder reduced with Sugar and Spirit of Salt into hot and cold Sawces. Nor would I have any one to be so bold [and foolish] as to contemn these my Sawces afore he hath tasted of the same; for I doubt not but that if he once comes to tast the delightsome pleasantness of the same, he will prefer them afore all other, and will give the Vinegar of Salt its due honour.

And now to give an experiment, taken out of the Treasury of Salt, unto those that are delighted with the tast of good Butter and Cheese; let them listen unto those things which here follow. If thou art desirous to prepare a durable Cheese of Cows Milk, and such Cheese as hath all the tokens of a good Cheese, viz. such as is weighty, compact, close without Eyes, and putrifying Holes, void of sliminess and bad smell, thou may’st be a Master of thy desire by observing the following Operation.

Take of Cows Milk, Sheeps or Goats Milk, or of either of these which thou hast at hand, as much as thou pleasest, or as much as is sufficient, (but amongst these Milks, Goats Milk is the best, Sheeps next, and Cow Milk inferiour to the other two both in goodness and excellency:) Heat it at the Fire, and pour it out into a wooden Vessel (N. B. Iron and Copper Vessels are not to be used in this way) and reduce the Milk into a Curd by the pouring on of Spirit of Salt. Now one Spoonfull of this Spirit is enough to curdle ten measures of Milk. This done, and the Milk and Spirit of Salt having been well stirred about with a wooden Ladle and curdled, put the same into Hair Strainers or in very clean Linnen ones, that so the Whey may drain out and be separated, then gather up the ends of your Strainer, and lay thereon heavy weights and squeeze out all the wheyish moisture. Then take your Cheese out of these Strainers, and put it into wooden Vessels, and there break it into small bits or pieces; which being thus broken, sprinkle some Salt, and some of your pure Spirit of Salt too thereupon, and mix all well together with a wooden Ladle or with your hands well cleansed: Being thus mixed, fill your Vessels or Cheese Fats [which let be] greater and lesser [as need is,] and squeeze and compress the matter well in, as they are wont to do in making of Cheeses. Then expose them to the warm Air, and dry them, and it will give you compact and durable Cheeses, not unlike to those they call Parmesant, and such as will be void of Eyes, and of fœtid and putrid Holes, Slimyness, and such like defects usually incident to the common Cheeses, nay they never are obnoxious to those faults.

The reason is, because the first Coagulation or Congelation of the Milk is made by the help of pure Spirit of Salt, which defends from all putrefaction, and not by the help of the fœtid putrid Rennet, from which nothing can proceed but Rottenness and Worms.

Then farther, the Spirit of Salt being together with [Crude] Salt sprinkled thereupon (after the squeezing out of the Whey) doth in an especial manner resist all that putrefaction that is wont to be in Cheeses, and condenseth the Cheeses, and impedes any fermentation, which dilateth the said Cheeses and makes them spongious and porous; and by thus condensing them, it makes them remain safe and free from all putrefaction.

Such Cheese therefore as is brought to this perfection, doth well deserve the preheminence above the rest, and is extolled by the praise of those Ancient Verses, viz.

Good Cheese must neither Argus be, Largus nor Magdalen, Methuselah, nor Habbacuck, nor Lazarus, [Amen.]

That is, it must not be eyed like Argus, nor tough like Largus, nor hairy and crying like Magdalen, nor hoary like Methusalem, nor light like Habbacuck, nor full of stinking holes and rotten sores like Lazarus: which defects if Cheese wanteth, it well merits the title of goodness: and such are those Cheeses which are made by the help of the Spirit of Salt; do but make such a Cheese and try whether or no it will not be of a more pleasing relish than all others are.

Such Cheeses are never corrupted, they never become tenacious, limber, full of holes, and worms. The Spirit of Salt being poured into the holes of Sheep Milk Cheese, or Cow Milk Cheese, doth either kill all the Worms or cause them to get packing, it contracteth the holes, and turns the bad Cheeses into good ones, and this my self have tried.

Thus friendly Reader, hast thou learned how to make a fit Sawce for Fish and Flesh, and likewise good and durable Cheese; it now remains that we teach thee how also to make good Butter.

If you are desirous of making good Butter by the help of Spirit of Salt, and such as is dainty, pure and yellow, and of a most delicate tast, and such as will not easily contract a ranck tast, you may obtain your desire by proceeding on this wise. Take off the Cream from good Cow Milk, and make it into Butter, afore it be any thing mouldy, or of an unpleasant tast, and separate the Butter-milk according to the usual custom, then put the Butter in a wooden Vessel, and wash it so long in pure cold Salt Water, untill there be no more Wheyishness left, and that the Salt Water do come off thencefrom, as clear as it was at first putting on, and that the Butter appears sufficiently clean, which wash it once agen, on this wise following. Dissolve in pure and rectified Spirit of Salt, as much Salt as it will dissolve in the cold: And herewithall wash your Butter anew, yet several times, and work it well with that Spirit, and by thus proceeding will it absume the residue of the Wheyishness which is the cause and rise of rankness, and which common Salt Water could not remove. This done, the Butter is to be seasoned with common Salt according to the usual manner, and thus will it abide perfectly good for a long time. But now the big Sea Salt is accounted the fittest for this purpose, which being a little heated red hot in the Fire, comes to be of a very delicate whiteness, and doth the easier admit of reduction into fine Powder, and is better than that which is boiled up in Iron, or Leaden Pans or Cauldrons.

N. B. But he that can get such a pure sort of salt of a sexangular shape like a Dye, as is prepared in my Laboratory, he may use that, as being by far the purer. As for the Vessel it self whereinto the Butter, prepared and cleaned after the aforementioned manner, is to be put, it must be ordered on this wise following. You must get you a new Oaken Barrel, and so steep it in strong Salt Water, not the common [Sea Water,] as that it may well imbibe the Salt into this Vessel must the Butter, washt as aforesaid, be prest and thrust in so tight and close, that there may not be any hole or gaping place left therein; but you must leave two Fingers breadth in the Barrel at top of the Butter, which is to be filled up with Spirit of Salt, glutted with good and pure Salt dissolved therein, that so the Butter may be well covered over, and all Air being excluded, it may keep fine and savoury a long time. Now when you would Dish out some of this Butter on the Table, you must take it out of your Tub with a clean Wooden Spoon, and not an Iron one, and wash the same in pure and clear Water afore you eat it, if you would not have it retain the sharpness of the Spirit of Salt.

Well, here is yet a better way still, viz. Take new Butter and let it melt very gently over the Coals, and it will be covered over with much frothy Cheesyness, let that froth be neatly scummed off; which being so done, it will look in the Pot like to a pure and clear Oil, pour it out very clearly into another Vessel, that the sediment at the bottom may abide behind. This Butter when ’tis cold looks just like yellow Wax, but yet is it a little softer than it ought to be, and therefore it must be well wrought its due time with Spirit of Salt impregnated with new Salt, that it may obtain the hardness of common Butter, and then be salted, and barrel’d up, and kept for use, which will be far better than the common Butter. For although this purging it by the Fire takes from it all its Cheesyness, from which it had its hardness; yet notwithstanding the Spirit of Salt gives unto it a far different and much better hardness, and causeth it to excell all other sorts in goodness and long keeping.

These things was I willing to take out of my Kitchin and set afore you, namely Sawce, Cheese, and Butter of good and exquisite tast, which if they please not the Palate of some or other, I would have him even forbear to use them. It is not without some weighty cause that I have done these things, which I well know will undoubtedly undergo the perverse Censures of Spies and Mockers, who probably will say, what Womanish Toys, and Childrens Baubles doth Glauber here Tattle about, making himself a Laughing Stock to the Women, and Female Sex, who will say of him, that by his teaching to make Butter and Cheese, he hath thrust his Sickle into the Womens Harvest. Well, let them prate as pleaseth them, Geese are not wont to utter ought else but a Goose-like Gagling. For my part I minded nothing else but to have this Treatise be a meer Woman’s Work, and Boys Play, [but yet] it will reveal to the Ignorant more good, than [is attainable] by the perverse instructions of all such Authours whose Writings are Spinn’d out to that height of subtility as to exceed every ones Capacity.

’Tis not every one that will easily apprehend those [Knacks] which I teach and reveal under this Cheese-making Trade, and these Kitchin Operations; nor indeed doth it much matter that they should understand. God will open the Eyes of such as he shall judge worthy of such great gifts, and will conceal and hide the same from the Proud and Wicked Crew.

Having thus finished this Cheese and Butter-making: Let us in Gods Name enter upon another Work of Women, and Boys Play, which Kitchin-like Labour, and Cheese and Butter-making, is meerly metallick and doth far excell in excellency and nobility the hitherto described Operations, although it be performed by the help of the self same Salt. For without Salt no imperfect Metal can be really bettered, the very title of the Art it self witnessing as much, which being stiled Alchymy, signifies no other thing than a melting of Salt: but yet I do not tell what kind of Salt is here to be understood, [or, that any kind of Salt is here meant] but thus much onely do I averr, that the transmutations of the Inferiour Metals must be effected by Salt.

Now then, forasmuch as this Treatise of mine depends on a former, intituled of the nature of Salts, as being an overplus; so it is likewise altogether necessary, that instead of Fruit and Sugar, I use Salts and Metals about the preparation of these my Sawces.

And whereas the making of the Sawces [or Sweet-meats] with Sugar, doth not onely belong to the meaner Sex, but also to the more noble, and yet nevertheless the Operation it self is nothing else but a meer washing and boiling, and a true Womens Work, we will therefore in our description bring the same upon the Stage under the Title of the Work of Women, and Play of Children.

If we rightly look upon the Work of Women, and compare our metallick labour therewithall, there presents it self unto us, a very notable agreeableness betwixt them. The Womens Work is to boil and wash, and when they are about to boil, they set their Pots over the Fire, and having washt their Flesh, they strow thereon some Salt and Spices, and boil the same in the said Pots with Water, Wine, or Vinegar, till it be tender, and become fit to be eaten. They likewise feed the Fire they boil withall by putting Wood thereon, whereby the heat may be kept up, and no impediment may betide their Work: And this is the way and method observed by the Female Sex in their boiling.

But as to their washing off the filth from their Cloaths, they are wont in the first place to pour hot Water thereupon thereby to wash off the more gross part of the Dirt: and then they use a sharp Lee, or some Sope, or even both together to take away the remainder of the filth, and to wash out all the Spots and Dirt, then do they agen wash off the Sope and Lee with fair and hot Water: But as for the odour that the Sope leaves, and which by no washing how much or how oft soever it be done can be carried off, to get that off I say they are wont to lay their Linnen out in the open Field, and sprinkle and moisten it with pure Water, which being dried by the Sun, Air, and Wind, they do agen repeat the same labour, untill all the stinking smell of the Sope be drawn forth by the Sun and the Air, and a better and more wholsome Odour come in its room. Then at last they dry them at the Air and Sun, and being dry, they fold them up and put them in their Chests and Trunks, and keep them for their use.

Just so do we deal with Metals, when we wash off their defilements, and do by boiling turn them into wholsome Food or Medicaments; but yet we do not use common Vinegar, common Salt, and common Spices, but mineral or metallick subjects, as also a duplicate Fire, viz. one of them is a secret, philosophical, moist, cold, and vaporous Fire; and the other is the elementary and common Fire, by which we stir up the former Philosophical Fire to display its virtues, and render it powerfull and efficacious.

The elementary Fire we make with Wood, Coles, or Oil: The universal Agent, or Philosophical, Cold, Moist, Digesting, Penetrating, Mundifying, Bettering, and not Burning, but Conserving, and vaporous Fire, we seek for in Salt, and leave the Operation to the vivifying Sun and Air; which being well done, we obtain wonderfull Plants, and most efficacious Food, or Sawce for our Life.

And forasmuch as my purpose here is, to treat of such metallick and medicinal Sawces, I will here in God’s name adjoyn some of them, which being as so many samplers or patterns, every one may at his pleasure imitate in composing and making of the like. And he will here find a way of confecting some good Medicament, as clearly and evidently demonstrated by me as was lawfull for me to do, nor was it in my power to discover the same more perspicuously: And therefore I beseech every one to take in good part what is here presented, and to forbear to trouble me for the time to come with needless questions.

So then, seeing I am about to treat in this place of metallick Sawces, it is also behovefull to have a metallick Sugar and Spice, and this, Saturn will afford us in the steed of the common [Sugar] by whose help we reduce Sol and Lune as being most excellent Spices, into most effectual Medicines.

Nor would I have it seem strange to any one that I use Lead here instead of Sugar, for the inmost juice of Lead, doth exceedingly out-go the sweetness of any Sugar, which thing Isaac Holland doth very evidently testifie in his Treatise of Saturn. The Chymists do frequently extract a sweet Salt out of Lead, with distilled Vinegar, and call it the Sugar of Lead, and do very well know and find that there is such a sweetness in Lead as is not in any other Metal beside. From it therefore will we prepare our Sugar to make our metallick Sawces withall, as follows.

Take of Lead-ashes one, two, three, or more pounds, which put in a strong well glazed Earthen Pot, then pour thereupon some Wine or Ale, Vinegar, or Vinegar of Honey, as much as may over top it an hands breadth. Set your Pot upon the Coals and make the Vinegar boil.

N. B. The Ashes are to be uncessantly stirred, in the boiling with a wooden Spatula, lest they gather into one entire solid Mass: After that the Vinegar has boiled for about half an hour, and is become yellow, and as sweet as Sugar, you must decant it from the Ashes, and pour on more, and agen boil it, and extract more sweetness, and this labour must you repeat so often untill the Vinegar can extract no more sweetness; then having put all these Vinegars together, pour them gently off from the Fæces that settle in the bottom of the Vessel, and being thus Separated, filter the same through Cap Paper or by a filter, that so the Liquors may be very clear, and may give you by separation, that sweetness of the Lead which they hold up in them.

Into these clear Vinegars, therefore being put in a Glass Vessel, pour thereinto (by little and little) as much rectified Spirit of Salt, that so the yellow Vinegar may be turned into a white Milk, and may by little and little settle to the bottom like curdled Cheese, from which the Vinegar being now become agen clear is to be removed by decanting; then put the Saturnine Cheese in some strong Linnen Cloath and tie it hard up, and squeeze out the residue of the moisture, and so dry it and lay it by for use. It is a most tender Powder, of a bright snowy colour, and void of all tast; for in the precipitation, all the sweetness being introverted by the Spirit of Salt, hath hidden it self within, which doth again afterwards (when that mass shall be reduced into a Sawce) shew it self, and discovers its former tast, as we shall hear anon.

I would have the friendly Reader know, that I am not minded to produce here many and divers Operations, for I am straitned in my time, which stops me from giving you a more prolix and circumstantial description: I do onely propose some few, and leave every one to his fancy to make the rest of the Sawces or Medicaments, according to the ways here prescribed, according to his likeing, and that as many as he will, and out of such subjects as best pleaseth him.

But that I may contract these things concerning my Sawces into a narrow room, I suppose it is well enough known, that Sawces and Junkets are disht out in the second course for this end, either to close up and Strengthen the Stomach, or that if a fudling storm be at hand it may drill the readilier down into the Stomack by these kinds of Vehicles.

But yet my purpose is not directed to this end as to teach the making of such banqueting Dishes in this place, as may allure Wine into the Stomach by such an unprofitable Prodigality, and so detriment the Body it self too. No, but the main drift of my Sawces should rather be this, viz. to remove that evil which is stirred up in the Body of Man, by the common Junkets and the overmuch guzling in of Wine, and to Strengthen the Stomach, Heart, Brain, and other Members of the Body, to heal the parts that are hurt, and in particular, to restore them to their former health: And finally, to be as a kind of guide and manuduction to lead on the Ingeny of Men in such wise, as that they may by an easier way arrive unto the Knowledge of the universal Medicine.

To begin therefore, I confess that of [all] fruits preserved with Sugar, none have a more gratefull tast on my Palate than Bar-berries, and Ribes, or St. John’s Grapes as they call them; which fruits, preserved up with Sugar, do not onely get the Stomach an Appetite, but do withall allay Thirst, and do extinguish all the internal heat stirred up and kindled by overmuch drinking: The like metallick Sawce or Junket shalt thou prepare on this wise.

Buy some Steel filings of the Needle-makers, and take thereof as much as you please, dissolve them in rectified Spirit of Salt, which Solution will be green, and be of a sweetish tast; abstract the insipid Phlegm, insipid I say, for although it be a very strong Spirit of Salt that is poured upon the Iron, yet nevertheless no Spirit comes off, but onely an insipid Phlegm in the abstraction and distillation, and the Irons retains all the acidity of the Salt, and remains a red, sweetish, astringent Juice.

Take of this, and of the Saturnine Powder which we taught you the making of but now, of each alike weight, and put them into a well coated Retort, and the Saccharum Saturni will presently drink up the Juice of the Steel. Put the Retort in a Vessel fill’d with Sand, and augment the Fire by little and little that all the insipid Phlegm may be wholly drawn off. When ’tis all come off, and that acid drops begin to come, then must you apply thereunto a Glass Receiver, and the Fire is to be encreased by degrees untill the Retort be throughly red hot, which must continue so about an hour, or half an hour a least. By this means, the Spirits of the Salt which were in the Steel, do almost wholly come over into the Receiver, and do carry over with them [the Spirits] of the Saccharum Saturni, and oil of Mars, in the form of a red sublimate, which settles it self in the neck of the Retort, which sublimate when the Retort is cold and broken you must take out of its Neck, and keep it from the Air, for in the Air it will dissolve into a red, sweet, and Astringent Oil, of no small virtues in Medicine and Alchymy. In the bottom of the Retort you will find a molten Mass, resembling Lapis Hæmatitis, which being separated from all defilements, will give you a red, brittle, fusile Stone, and in some sort astringent, of great virtues in Medicine, and without doubt in Alchymy too, if it were but first made constantly to abide in the Fire. And even this too, must you keep from the Air, for it is still impregnated with the Salts, and therefore is easily resolved.

Now when you would make use of this Stone in Medicine, break a little bit thereof into small Powder (for it is no harder than other Salt, and therefore doth easily admit of grinding to Powder.) This Powder heals both internal and external Wounds and Ulcers, being administred in the quantity of two, three, four, five, six, or more Grains, according to the age and condition of the Sick, and being taken in a convenient and proper Vehicle, it is highly Sanative and a stopper of Bloud. Being applied externally to Wounds, it wonderfully forwards healing; hinders all Symptoms, and fundamentally dries, and cures all Ulcers and Fistulaes, if used outwardly and inwardly too.

It doth most safely and most certainly help all the overflowing of the Menses in Women, and is so excellent a Medicament in the Dysentery, Lientery, and other Fluxes of the Belly, that its like is not to be found.

Thus have we that true and genuine Hæmatitis of the Ancient Physicians, of which they have written so many things, but what through the carelesness of the Physicians that succeded them, and what through the length of time it became wholly lost instead of which there hath been hitherto used the insoluble and hard Stone of Iron.

The Ancients imposed upon their more noble Medicaments, Names deduced from similitudes or resemblances, as may be seen in this our living Hæmatitis, and in the dead Hæmatatis of the common Physicians, which is call’d for at the Apothecaries, and administred to stop Bloud withall; But yet it is nothing else save the Stone of Iron, and such Oar as is very rich and abounding with this Metal, the fragments of which appears [either] in the form of spear-like Stria’s or Streeks, or like a cleft stone. This our live Hæmatitis is of the same form, but soluble, and is of a very pleasant and astringent sweetness, and containeth most efficacious virtues for the allaying of all bloody Fluxes both outward and inward. Now that common and well-known Hæmatitis doth not possess any more virtues than that Iron Scinder-dust which the Smiths smite off at the Anvil, doth. And as for that red Sublimate which ascended up in the neck of the Retort, it is twice stronger in subduing the afore-mentioned diseases, but it is not of so sweet a Tast as is the Stone it self, which resided in the bottom of the Retort. And being externally applied in cleansing and mundifying old Fistulous Ulcers, it works much stronger than this our Hæmatitis (which is more pleasantly administrable in internal defects) doth. But whoever he be that knows how (by many Solutions and Coagulations) to make this Stone constant in the fire, will obtain a far more excellent Medicament: concerning which, we will speak more in the end of this Treatise.

* * * * *

This now is such a Sawce or Junket, as every good Physician and Chyrurgeon hath just cause most highly to esteem in all Fluxes and Sores, both old and new, if he would obtain that repute which he thirsteth after; for it is endued with great Virtues, whereas on the contrary, the Juyce of Sloes, the common Hæmatitis, and Crocus martis, are, in comparison of this, to be accounted of as meer dead Medicaments. I could tell you of more virtues that are in the red Sublimate, and this in an especial manner, viz. that without being either bound on, or inwardly taken, but sympathetically and at a distance, it is able to cure any issues of Blood whatever. But I shall doe better to pass these things over in silence, because to the greatest part of unskilfull Men, they will not onely seem wonderfull, but impossible likewise. However, I commend to every ones acceptation this so excellent a Medicament, for all internal and external Issues of Blood, in all wounds and hurts, as also in all the obstructions of the Spleen, Liver, and other members of the body.

After such a manner as this, may any one easily turn all the Metals into Sugars, and into most excellent Medicaments. But forasmuch as the Metals are not all of them indifferently fit to be administred inwardly to the sick, I will make mention of Gold and Silver onely as being the best of all, and pass by the others, and will teach the preparation of yet more Sawces and Junkets; Copper, Tin, and Argent-[vive] are somewhat cruder bodies, and require greater care and diligence, to have the Title of good Medicaments. We will therefore let them pass, as having Gold and Silver at hand, which are more ripe.

_The manner of Preparing a good Sawce or Junket out of Silver, which helpeth the Distempers and Diseases of the Brain._

The skilfull Chymical Physicians have assigned Silver for a Medicament for the Brain, which Assignment of theirs I acquiesce in, and doe here present you with such a Sawce or Junket as is of most especial use for the succouring of the Brain.

Take of common Aqua Fortis (such as is commonly used about the dissolution of Silver) one pound: In two ounces of which you must dissolve one ounce of pure Silver; Dissolve likewise one ounce of Lead by it self: Put both Solutions together in a glass with a wide mouth; and being thus mixt, pour thereupon as much rectified Spirit of Salt as is sufficient for the precipitation of both the Metals. Pour off the clear water from the precipitated Metals, and pour upon them some fresh water, and stir them well about; which done, and the precipitated Calx settled to the bottom, the water is to be again decanted off, and more fresh water poured thereon: and this Labour is to be so often repeated, untill that precipitated Powder be void of all Acrimony: then put it in a pure linnen Cloth placed in a Funnel, that so the remaining moisture may drain from it. Then tie the cloth very firm, and squeese out, in two balls (or squeesings) all the residue of the moisture out of that silvery Cheese, and lay the same upon Cap-paper, and that will drink up all the rest of the moisture, and will soon dry your Cheese. This Cheese (or precipitated Powder) is to be put into a well coated Glass-retort, and to be forced with a gentle fire of Sand, that so all the superfluous moisture may be separated. Then, at last, the Fire being augmented, will force out part of the Silver and Lead in the form of white Flores, ascending up in the neck of the Retort. Now when the Retort hath been thus kept red-hot for one hour, let the fire go out of its own accord, and take out the cold Retort, and break it, and you will find in the bottom of the same a white and sweet Stone, which will melt (upon a red-hot Plate of Metal) like Wax, and penetrate the same, and is volatile like Argent-vive. Two, three, four, five Grains, even to eight or ten, of this Stone ground into a Powder, being administred (respect being had to the Patient’s age and sickness) yield a most present comfort in the diseases of the Head and Brain, and so are those white Flores wont to doe likewise: but in Chymical operations they are of eminent use. Now although this Stone be it self of a fugacious nature, yet notwithstanding in progress of time it makes Mercury, together with it self, constant in the fire; of which thing I have elsewhere already mentioned in my Writings, so that I need not say any more thereof in this place.

However, I cannot omit to tell you, that, although, otherwise, there is no familiarity at all betwixt Silver, and Lead, and Salt, yet nevertheless these three may be so prepared as (by a certain mixtion) not to refuse each others society. Hence it comes to pass, that if the Salt be rightly fitted for this operation, it puts forth more powerfull virtues, and for that reason doth the Silver suffer the more, and doth by so much the sooner attain to a constancy in the fire: and so ’tis evident, that the name of Alchymy or fusing of Salt, was not imposed on this Art for nothing. For by the help of Salt, are the Metals to be molten and meliorated, which thing you may take notice of.

Another Sawce or Junket made of Gold and Silver.

Take some pure Silver, and dissolve it in Aqua Fortis, and precipitate it with Spirit of Salt, and free it from its Acrimony with common water, and squeese out the water, and lay your matter upon cap-paper to dry, and deal with it in all respects as we spake afore in the Process of Saturn. Of this Calx take three parts, and one part of Gold dissolved in the Oil of Salt; and first put your Silver Calx into a strong Glass-retort, which must be well coated, then pour thereto your yellow Solution of Gold. Place the Retort in Sand, and, first, force out your Spirit of Salt, in which forcing out, the Calx of the Silver will retain with it self the Gold; and of them both will be made a purple Stone, inclining somewhat to redness, fusile, and volatile. But the Oil of the Salt will carry up with it something of the Gold and Silver into the neck of the Retort; which, together with the aforesaid Stone, you shall take out of the broken Retort; but yet you must keep each apart, for a medicament of great moment: [both] which (if they were turned (by Solution and Coagulation) into a fix Ruby,) would doubtlesly perform their work, in the metallick Operations, with greater benefit and profit.

So have you here, briefly described, the third Junket, which, should it be described with all its Circumstances, the Process it self would in good sooth be more prolix and tedious than is fitting. And forasmuch as my Writings may seem unto many sufficiently tedious, ’tis but fit that I aim at brevity here in this place; though (on the other hand) they will seem (I well know) too short and brief unto others. But Jupiter himself pleaseth not all alike. And the birth-day of him who can satisfie all, is yet to come; for he is not as yet born. For behave thy self as thou wilt in thy actions, either in briefly delivering thy self, or in uttering thy mind in a longer discourse, thou shalt not at any rate fulfill the expectation and desire of all men. I doe therefore here dish out this Junket, and commit the care of eating the same to the Guests. Every one that will, may more accurately weigh and consider of the same, that so he may come to find, how great the Efficacy and Utility of this Process is, though delivered so very briefly.

Another Junket or Sawce, =viz.= A Confection of a Mineral =Alkermes=.

There is in the Apothecaries shops a Confection made of the Berry or Grains of Kermes, known by the name of Confectio Alkermes; in which composition, there are added to the said Berries some Pearls done into Powder, and Leaf-Gold, and Amber-grease, and other such-like corroborating Simples. This medicament being confected with Sugar, is lookt on as the chiefest amongst all those Medicines which are wont to be administred for strengthening the Heart, and it merits the praise ascribed to it. But now instead of the Leaves of Gold, (which cannot be digested or concocted by the stomach, and are therefore carried forth with the Excrements without any operation,) I will substitute another Gold, which being made suitable, and accommodated unto nature, shall be able to put forth its virtues, and supply the place of foliated Gold, in the Confection of Alkermes.

And if any one be so minded, he may omit even the grains or the berry it self (for they are not to be had every-where) and make use of this Juyce of Gold, which I am about to teach in this place, and mix it with Sugar and other Powders that are strengtheners of the Heart. For this Golden Confection of a purple Colour, doth most notably strengthen the Heart by its corroborative virtue, and the Gold it self gives a far more excellent purple or scarlet Colour than the Grains of that berry doe, which are brought us from Mompelier. The way of preparing the said Gold, is as follows.

Dissolve the Calx of Sol, or of Gold, in strong Spirit of Salt, and pour upon the Solution some three or four parts of water more than the Solution is, that so the Acrimony of the Spirit of Salt may be somewhat allayed. Being thus prepared, put thereinto a bit of Tin, and such as hath no Lead commixt therewith, which said Tin, the allayed Spirit of Salt will seize upon, and dissolve part thereof. And being also debilitated thereby, it will let fall all the Gold that it contained, in the form of a purple Powder, adhering partly on to the Tin, and part will be of its own natural colour, and settle to the bottom, but as subtile as the Atoms that fly about in the Sun-beams, and resembling little stars. When therefore the whole body of the Gold is precipitated into a most delicate and fine Powder, out of the Spirit of Salt, which will now be clear and bright: Pour off the Spirit, and take the Tin out from the Golden Powder, and wash the Powder with clean and pure water, that so none of the Spirit of Salt may be therein discerned; and being now thus prepared, it may be used instead of Gold about the Confection of Alkermes.

Moreover, if you are so minded, you may take some pure Sugar-candy, and make it up into a syrup with weak Spirit of Salt, and then put thereunto this Golden Powder with a little Amber grease and some Powder of Pearls, and so make full as good, nay a better Confection than that common Confectio Alkermes is; because a greater corroborating of the powers of the Heart, and a delicater purple Colour cannot be found in any other thing than in Gold. If now you operate aright, it cannot otherwise be but you must needs attain to this purple and golden Confection.

N. B. The Tin must be very pure and clean, for by how much the whiter it is, and the acuter sound it has, so much the fitter is it for this work. And in the Composition it self you may use this following weight or measure.

Take of the Calx of Gold one Lot [or half ounce] and dissolve it in three or four Lots of strong rectified Spirit of Salt: Pour unto the Solution twelve or fifteen Lots of pure water; then to all this, put two Lots of Tin, and set the Glass that the Solution is in, upon hot Sand, and heat it scalding-hot, but let it not boil. When it hath thus stood for one or two hours, all the Gold will be turned into Powder, of a Purple and Gold-like hue, and settle to the bottom. Then having poured out the Water, and separated the Tin, separate all the Acrimony from the Powder by several washings, and so will you have it fitted for the Confection. This done, take twelve Lots of Sugar-candy, and one Lot of rectified Spirit of Salt, and as much pure fair water as is sufficient to reduce the Sugar into a thick Syrup; Hereto add one Lot of that purple and tender golden Powder, and it will tinge all the Sugar with a Purple or Scarlet-colour. Then add likewise thereunto, two Lots of Pearls made into fine Powder, and one Quintula (about two drams and an half) of Amber-grease, mix them well together and set it by for use, as being a most efficacious Confection. And if you please, you may add to the former ingredients other strengthning and refreshing Powders. The Dose of this Confection is from 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, to 20 Grains, according as the persons are. It corroborates the Heart, Brain, and the whole Body, and doth likewise (by reason of the Spirit of Salt) allay thirst, and stirs up the appetite to food.

* * * * *

And thus much may suffice this time about Sawces or Junkets. It now remains that we likewise search after some select and harmless Purges out of the Metals too, and adjoyn them to the former. When in feastings (or merry-meetings) the Guests are wont to drink Healths to their Lords, and tope off many Cups, and store of Glasses full of strong Wine, it cannot possibly be, but that their Stomachs must be stufft with tenacious and clammy humours, and the Head much oppressed with Catthars, and the Bowels fill’d with store of wind. Now here cannot be a better and more profitable way of succouring these Stomachs and Heads, thus beset with so many tenacious humours, and of helping the whole body thus corrupted by so often repeated draughts, than by a purgative Medicine, which by expelling all the evil and offensive humours opens all the passages of the Body, and again brings the so necessary respiration. We will therefore present you here with three such purging Medicaments, and those very good ones. One is of Antimony; The second of Silver and Antimony; And the third of Gold and Antimony: Each of which, by it self, doth far exceed the other purging Medicaments made of the Vegetables.

For Metals do penetrate the Body far better, and do perform their Operations with less hazard than the Vegetables do, most of which abound with a resinous clamminess, which doth often stick to the Bowels, and cause great gripings, which is not to be feared at all from metallick purgative Medicines: which (upon this account) are to be preferred before those that are prepared of the Vegetables; nor do I contemn these Vegetable Purges, for they are good, and may be made use of, where better are not at hand.

Therefore, forasmuch as I have in my time, made trial of many such Medicaments, and have in very deed found, that metallick Purges do excel the Vegetable ones both in pleasantness and efficacy, and are far safer; I could not but commend the same above all other Purges to such as come after me, but yet leaving every one at his pleasure to make use of either these or them.

A Purge of =Saturn=.

Dissolve two ounces of Lead in pure Aqua Fortis, and pour upon the Solution one ounce of Butter of Antimony, that so they may be precipitated together into a white Coagulum or Curd, whereto you must put a good quantity of fair water, and stir it very well about, that it may imbibe the Spirit of Salt which was in the Butter.

Then pour off this water, and put on more, and repeat this labour so long, untill all the sharpness be washt out of the precipitated Powder. This white Powder being dried is a most excellent Purge, educing all evil and hurtfull humours out of the Body without danger, and being administred from one Grain to ten, according as the Patient is, doth work downwards, especially when it is given in a lesser Dose. But if there be need of vomiting too, then the Dose may be encreased, especially unto those that can brook vomiting, and cast with ease. It may be used without danger as a good and safe Purge, in all such Diseases as purgative Medicaments are, and may be administred.

A Purge of =Lune=.

Dissolve two ounces of pure Silver in four ounces of Aqua Fortis, and pour upon this Solution one ounce of the Butter of Antimony, which together with the Silver will go into a white Curd, as we said but now of the Lead in the preceeding Process. Wash this Powder with common water, and dry it and administer it in the same Dose as the Saturnine Powder is to be given; and it will perform its part in all Diseases, but especially in those of the Head.

N. B. The Butter of Antimony must be made of the Regulus of Antimony, with rectified Spirit of Salt, and not with Mercury sublimate, as the common custom is.

Purging Gold.

In the first place, you must make a most strong Spirit of Niter thus, viz. put equal parts of calcined Allum and good Salt-peter into a well coated Retort, out of which is to be drawn (leisurely and by degrees into a very large Receiver luted on to the neck of the Retort) a Spirit, which will make the Receiver look red. All the Spirit being distilled, let the Fire go out of its own accord, and leave on the Receiver so long till all the Spirits are setled, and that the Receiver be become clear agen: Macerate the Lute, which joyned the Receiver on to the Retort, with water, and have an especial care when you take off the Receiver, that none of the Lute fall into the Spirit. Put the Spirit in a strong Glass, and shut it up well with Wax, that it may not exhale, for it is very strong, and is red as Bloud, because it had no water put unto it in the Receiver.

Pour two ounces of this strong Spirit upon one ounce of the Butter of Antimony, and it will presently pass into a red Solution, whereto put one ounce of pure Gold that it may be dissolved, which Solution will be redder than Bloud. Then pour in thereupon some common fair water, and the Antimony and the Gold will precipitate into a Purple Powder, which is to be washt well with water, and so dried.

Its Dose is from one, two Grains to six, (according as the Age and Party is,) it may be given in Wine, Ale, Water, or any other Liquor, which may be as a Vehicle unto it. It works without any danger, and doth safely and pleasantly (beyond all other Purges) drive out all offending Humours out of the Body of Man.

=Aurum Diaphoreticum=, or Sweating Gold.

If no water be poured upon the just-now-spoken of red Solution, thereby to precipitate the same, but that that strong Spirit of Niter be drawn off by a Retort, it then takes from the Antimony its purging and vomiting power and makes it Diaphorical. Nor needs the Purple Powder, when it’s taken out of the Glass, any washing at all, because being administred in two, three, four, five, six, or ten Grains Dose it may be safely taken, and it provokes Sweat. It is therefore very profitable in all the Diseases that are to be expelled by Sweat; yea in the Leaprosie, Gout, Dropsie, French-pox, Plague, Scurvey, and in all Feavers doth it play its part even to admiration, for (by reason of the Gold which it contains in it) it doth both provoke Sweat, and strengthen the powers of the Body.

The former Powder or purging Gold, being mixt with an equal weight of purging Lune, or purging Saturn, and molten in a Crucible, turns into a red Stone or Glass, of which, little Tablets or Pellets somewhat bigger than a Pea may be again cast or molten, and kept for use. And now when there’s need of purging, let one of those Tablets be put in to some spoonfulls of Wine and lie therein all night, and let the Wine be drunk off in the morning following, just after the self same manner as other purges are wont to be administred. For there is so much virtue extracted by the Wine out of the glazen Tablet as to give several Stools. If one Tablet or Pellet be not sufficient, then may a second, or a third, or more be adjoyned thereunto, and so left all night in the Wine, that so the Wine may work more effectually if need requires. The Tablets or Pellets remain good a long time, and may be many times applied to the self same use.

But if any one should be desirous of performing this labour even yet better, he may get a little Pot or Cup to be made for him of white Earth, and may have it glazed both inside and outside with this same Glass; for two or three Spoonfulls of Wine infused for a night in such a Cup, and drunk off next morning, are capable of purging you even as doth the other.

These are the effects of these purges in Medicine. They likewise do some good in Alchymy, if all three of them, viz. the Saturnine, the Lunar, and the Solar are reduced by melting into a Glass: this Glass being Philosophically cemented somewhat of the Silver, Lead, and Antimony will be meliorated, and turned into Gold by the Gold.

* * * * *

Now for a Farewell, take this which follows. If the God Appollo the Inventer of Medicine, would bestow his light upon any one, and by his hot Beams melt the waxen Wings of the untamed, flying, and (to his Father Dedalus) disobedient Son Icarus, (and flying out of the Isle of Creet, over the Icarian Sea,) that so he might fall down into the sweet and sulphureous Sea of the Sun, and may remain drowned therein: Then from this dead Body (which is not wont to be subdued by any other means) may a most excellent Medicine be prepared. For what way soever he is handled by otherwise, whether he be turned into a white sublimate, or be reduced into a yellow or red precipitate, he is notwithstanding always corrosive; and brings more hurt than good, and therefore may very deservedly be eschewed.

Or if we did but know the way of fixing it without any corrosivity, by those three principal Columes of all Medicine, namely Vitriol, Sulphur, and Antimony, he would undoubtedly be administrable without any fear, and be withall capable of performing great matters. For then he would not stir up and cause so many purgations, and such vehement Salivations, and other hurtfull symptoms as usually comes to pass, but would bring a most speedy help to the Sick by his gentle operation by Sweat and Urine, and get the Physician a most eminent praise.

This I would have every one know, that Sulphur has a power of killing all Corrosives, and reducing them to a sweetness, whether it be done by the dry way or by the moist. And of all Sulphurs, a Vegetable Sulphur is the fittest, which being freed from its inflamable nature, is capable of reducing [any] Corrosives, though never so great, unto a sweetness in one hours space. Nay more, any Metal being first dissolved in such like Corrosives, doth together with the same become a sweet Medicament: And so when Gold is dissolved in Spirit of Salt, and Silver, Tin, Copper, Iron, and Lead are dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and that that Corrosive Dissolvent is transmuted by a sweet Sulphur, it so comes to pass that the Metal together with the Corrosive is made a Medicament, and becomes potable. Such potable liquor of the Metals, (but especially of Gold and Silver,) and void of all Corrosivity, will you meet withall in my Medical-shop; which liquor, as well those of Silver, and Copper, as that of Gold, are red. The Liquor of Gold may be used instead of Aurum Potabile, and it guilds Quicksilver and the other Metals with a golden Colour, like as the Silver-liquor guilds Mercury, and Silver [or Copper, probably] with a Silver Hue; and the Coppery-liquor guilds Mercury and Iron with a Coppery Colour.

N. B. Aurora being inflamed with the love of Jupiter, and withdrawing him together with her self into Heaven, if both of them be again thrust down headlong by the other Gods into the Salt-Sea, they come forth out of this Bath, so delicate and so white, that she resembles the fairness of Diana; and he, the comliness of Apollo: but not as yet constant in the Fire. But when the time of bathing is over, Mars coming to the Sea Shore, draws both of them out upon a dry Island called Irony, from Iron; where they are yet once more washt by Vulcan, (who makes use of Saturns help) in a dry Bath, who washeth off the Defilements far more accurately than the Salt Sea could, for he leaves not off washing and purging them, untill all the Defilements are separated from both their Bodies, and that they be made like unto Diana and Apollo, in Constancy and comeliness.

Mars seeing that his Sister Venus, and Brother Jupiter did come forth out of the Salt Sea with so lovely a fairness, leapt thereinto himself, that so by spending some time in washing, he might rinse off those black Defilements from his black Body. But there was such store of filth washt off, as made all the Sea green and sweet, and it hid [or swallowed up] Mars himself, being now much diminished, insomuch that he could never have escaped out of that Sea, had not Sol, out of meer pity on him, dried up the water of the Sea, for old limping Saturn to come unto him, and to take poor wretched him out of the Dirt and Mire, which he also did.

But because there was such a deal of Mire and Filth as that this (slim) lame, (hopping Fellow) could not get out agen, he even there stuck fast with Mars, and so lost his Life. Of the dead Bodies of these two, viz. of Mars and Saturn, Vulcan did at length make one Head having two Faces, or a double Countenance, one resembling Apolo, the other Diana; and upon this account was the name of double-visaged Janus bestowed upon it by Vulcan.

By these few and short Operations and Processes, may any one make and devise many more such like. I am not at this time, for my part, minded to busie and trouble my self about any more tedious a description of such matters, for I guess that in what I have already said and disclosed to the unthankfull, I have too much exceeded my bounds. Every one may choose to himself those things which he shall deem most profitable, and forbear to despise that which he shall not be capable of apprehending the meaning of.

’Tis a usual Proverb, That a Cup of generous Wine must accompany Dainty Delicates.

Because therefore we have in the three precedent Sawces or Junkets, presented you with fine savoury Cates, it is but fitting that we accompany the same with three dainty draughts, and those drawn out of the best of Metals too, namely out of Gold and Silver, because the Cates or Sawces themselves were composed of the same. Our Ancient Predecessors called those Drinks of old time Nectar, or the drink of the Gods, which in our days are known by the names of potable Gold, and potable Silver.

Concerning these two, do many of Ignoramus his Fraternity babble many Stories, and falsly boast that no true potable Gold can be prepared, or be in Being without the Philosophers Stone. This conclusion of theirs is clearly untrue, for a Man may easily make Gold and Silver potable, though he hath not any knowledge at all of the universal Medicine, which is to be thus understood, viz. when the Gold and Silver either alone or conjoyned, are dissolved in a sweet and not Corrosive Menstruum, and rendred fit to be administred to the Sick in Water, Ale, Wine, or any other Liquor. For those kind of Solutions may be taken for a simple potable Gold and Silver.

But now for any one to dissolve Gold in that corroding Aqua Regis, or Silver in Aqua Fortis, and then to imagine that he hath potable Gold and Silver, he is altogether in an Errour. Potable indeed they are, because they may be drunk like other Liquors: But forasmuch as those kind of Solutions do corrode all things, and bring extream Detriment, they are justly rejected, and the rather because being poured into Wine or Ale, they defile and thicken the same; which, no true potable Gold dissolved in a Not-corrosive Menstruum, will do, but when ’tis mixt with Wine, Ale, or Water, it remains bright and clear. Besides too, true potable Gold must be of such a property, as to have no visible corporal Gold producible thereout of, and yet notwithstanding, be able to indue the meaner Metals, yea and Mercury it self with a golden nature, if they be therein boiled, or to coagulate and transmute them into Gold by the dry way in a Crucible, whether it be done with profit or without profit [it matters not.] Now this tinging virtue comes not from corporeal and dead Gold, but from a spiritual living and ringing Gold.

If therefore the common and corroding solution of Gold, cannot be accounted for a true Aurum Potabile, and that the spiritual and tinging Gold, which is dissolved without any corrosiveness should not come under this Title neither, whence I pray should it be sought for, and where should it be inquired after. I confess, I do easily perswade my self, that as for the first Ens of Gold if we did but know how to wash and purge it in such wise, as that being turned into a bloud red liquor, it would admit of Distillation by an Alembick or a Retort, we should have a better potable Gold. But where shall we find such an Artificer, as can teach us the way of preparing such a potable Gold? ’Tis therefore our best way to content our selves with such Medicaments as we have at hand, so long untill God bestoweth better upon us. This likewise I believe, that if we did but know such an Artifice as to wash and purge Mercury, in such sort as that it might pass into a ponderous and sweet Water, and if we could so adjoyn some pure Gold thereunto instead of a ferment that they might lift up [or sublime] themselves together, and again become constant and fix: that then, from them would arise a red and soluble Carbuncle, or true potable Gold. But these are onely my simple thoughts and conceptions, no dispraise to those suppositions which other men have entertained concerning this matter. So likewise if spiritual Gold, and the spiritual Sulphur of the Vine be conjoyned by the help of Salt, they give a good potable Gold, which contains in it Gold potentially, but not actually or palpably, as may be seen in my Treatise of the true Aurum Potabile, which being clear like Water, and a bright or fair potable Gold, I do adjoyn to my Cates or Sawces instead of White-wine.

But even as White-wine the longer it is kept, the yellower it grows, so likewise white Aurum Potabile doth not retain its whiteness above two or three months, but becomes more and more yellow, and is at length turned into a redness, but still retains its tinging faculty. He therefore that shall not be well pleased with the tast of [my] Wine or potable Gold, let him tarry till being more old they become yellow or red, for then they are of a pleasanter tast, as having (through long Process of time) lost their Sulphureous Tast.

But as touching the manner of making that potable Gold, as also all other unpleasant, sugacious, and unripe metallick Potions, pleasant, ripe, fix, and sweet Liquors, that shall be revealed afterwards.

Furthermore, I do here serve out instead of a good drink, the golden-coloured Soul, or my Tincture made of Niter, of which I have spoken in the second part of my Spagyrical Dispensatory. It is of as much virtue in Medicine as that potable Gold is, which I made mention of but now, but performs nothing in Alchymy or in the Transmutation of Metals; but what it would do if it were made fix and constant in the Fire, I do not as yet know, for I have not as yet brought it to that pass. But how it may be made fix shall be presently shown. This very Tincture in the degree it is at present in, produceth great effects in Medicine, yea and greater too than those which I published about it, in the second part of my Spagyrical Dispensatory. It is of a delightfull Tast to the Palate, it removes the obstructions of the Liver, Lungs, and Spleen, it provokes Urine, expels the Stone, prohibits Obstructions with the Excrements, it may be most safely used by old and young, yea even by those whose strength is much debilitated, and it is wont to afford them present help; it wonderfully Corroborates, and makes all Animals, Minerals, and Vegetables fruitfull, and this will easily appear so to be, if you do but take some Vegetable Seed and macerate in the same, and then put in the Earth, it grows far speedier and ripens much sooner than other Seeds are wont to do.

I have sometimes macerated Wheat, Barly, Pease, and the Seeds of such like Corn in this Liquor for a night, and being thus steeped, have sown it in pure Sand, and they have grown ripe far sooner than those which have been planted in good and fat Earth: which is such a thing, as hath made many Men extreamly to wonder, when they saw Corn grow in bare Sand without any other Earth or Dung, and be able to arrive to such perfect maturity.

Many other Salts there are of no great cost, and such as are to be had in vast quantity, with which, Corn being macerated and sown in barren Lands, and in such as are not dunged doth come to perfect maturity; and this I have tried not onely once, but oftentimes; and have also purposed (if God please) to bring it into publick use, in these United Provinces: to which end, the most Supreme Orders, General and Provincial, have granted me a Priviledge (or Patent) for many years; whereby it is forbidden to sow or plant barren, sandy Grounds and undunged, after this kind of way, without my consent. The main Basis of the knack lies in Sea-salt, which may be plentifully had in these places, and be easily prepared and made use of (to fatten lean and dry Grounds with) instead of Dung.

But amongst all such like Medicaments, the Tincture of Nitre bears away the Bell, for it causeth many Stalks to spring up out of one Grane, and to yield fruit, a thousand fold. Nor doth it onely make the Vegetables fruitfull, but Men too, and the terrestrial Animals, and even the Birds themselves that live in the Air. And by the same reason also may it be brought to pass, that even the Metals may be multiplied by the help thereof, as we shall declare anon, in what follows.

Both these Wines or efficacious Drinks doe very well suit with the metallick Sawces or Junkets, they heat the Body, help the concoction of the Stomach, corroborate the Spirits, give good Nourishment, drive forth out of the Body the superfluous Excrements, in a due manner by Stool and Urine, they cause Chearfulness, bestow a prosperous Health, give a comely Look, and change the Complexions into the Sanguine and best Complexion; in the accomplishment of all which things, that pure and golden coloured Tincture of Niter excells.

And here I must make a little digression, and set somewhat more clearly afore your Eyes, the four primary Complexions; from which the other mixt ones do arise, according as a Man partakes the more of this or that Complexion.

Therefore as touching the Complexions, the Ancient Physicians judged thereof according to the form and colour of the Hair, and were of this Opinion, that the Sanguine Complexion which of all others is the purest, produceth red Hairs and a white Skin full of small and bright Pores, such Men being indued with hot and moist Bloud, and of a sound Constitution are diligent, learned, pious, prone to Venery, Ingenious, Chearfull, and for the most part long liv’d, but are subject to hot Diseases, as Feavers, the Plague, and the like; and do in their nature resemble the Sun, amongst the Planets, and Gold amongst the Metals.

The Cholerick have very black Hair, a yellowish Skin, and their Bloud is hot and dry, and they are wrathfull, quarrelsome, strong, bold, Warriours, addicted to Whoredoms, subtle, wicked, false, merciless, rejoycing at others harms, as is wont to be in War. They are tormented with raging Feavers, as also with the overflowing of the Gall, and they are of the nature of Mars and Venus amongst the Planets; and of Iron and Copper amongst the Metals.

The Hairs of the Melancholy Complexion are for the most part betwixt a white and black colour, and their Skin is white. They are of a cold and dry nature, quiet, laborious, musing, industrious, sincere, pious, and mercifull, inclined rather to weeping than laughter, if they hear of any mischances, they aim at Justice, and fear God without Hypocrisie, or esteem of Men. They are subject to all kinds of Diseases, are afflicted with a debility of their Limbs, and are compared to Saturn and Jupiter amongst the Planets, and to Lead and Tin amongst the Metals.

The nature and property of the Phlegmatick is moist and cold, the Hair and Skin white, the Wit dull, a dreaming sleepy quality, negligent, carefull of nothing, obstinate, envious, slow, and gross, and unteachable, the Body consists of thick or homely Limbs, and is wont to be troubled with the Scab, Ulcers, and cold Feavers. ’Mongst the Planets the Moon, and ’mongst the Metals, Silver, are supposed not much to differ from their Disposition.

These are the marks (as is believed) of the Complexions in Men and Beasts. But yet you are to know, that one [single] Complexion doth very rarely bear absolute sway in any Man, but they are for the most part mixt, and so the denomination is given according to the predominant Complexion.

A Man that consists of a sanguine and phlegmatick property, is as it were double complexioned, and both the colour and denomination are divided, so that from red and white, yellow hairs arise, and the Men themselves are of a good, temperate and fruitfull nature; and thus is it to be understood of other Commixtions.

But forasmuch as a pure and sanguine complexion is esteemed the best and wholsomest, the Ancient Physicians in their Cures were wont to call the superfluity of any phlegmatick scabby person, Phlegm and watery Blood: [the superfluity] of the Melancholick, sad and irksome cogitations [or pensive dumps:] and [the superfluity] of Cholerick, a mad raging brain. Now of this Phlegmatick, Melancholy, or Cholerick [person] do we make a Sanguine one, that is, a Man of a sound and pure blood. Upon this account have they ascribed this property unto their Universal Medicine, viz. that it does not onely change all the imperfect complexions of Men, as the Cholerick, Melancholy, and Phlegmatick into the Sanguine; but doth also transmute all the imperfect, unripe, gross, and volatile Metals into pure Gold. For if a Medicine be of so much virtue as to convert all the Complexions into the Sanguine one, it will necessarily transmute all the imperfect Metals likewise, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury and Lune into Sol or Gold.

Now forasmuch as I have often found by the frequent Experiments that I have made, that my said Medicine, or Tincture of Nitre is wont to colour all kinds of Hair, as white, brown, black, (black I say, which may seem impossible unto many, but nevertheless is very true; for to dye white Hair with a yellow colour is a thing commonly known, but to tinge black Hair with a yellow or red colour, is a great secret) and even all other colours, none excepted, with a golden colour; and this it does while it is as yet of an unripe and flying nature: Upon this account I dare perswade my self, that if it were but brought to a fix and constant nature, it could not possibly be, but that it would bestow upon the imperfect Metals, a golden nature and perfection. But by reason of its too tender a nature, which is extreamly impatient of a Fire of Coals, I pondered upon the business more accurately, and perceived, that it is indeed a thing possible to be done, although that hitherto I never had a convenient time of perfecting of the same. And as concerning the manner how it may be done, I cannot but out of Christian Love, discover the same to my Neighbour.

During the time that I considered not the Words of the Angel in the Sepulchre of Christ, saying, Why seek ye the Living among the Dead? and therefore search’d about in filthy Sepulchres, in which I could not find the Life. God at length vouchsafed to look upon me with his gratious and mercifull Eyes, and brought me into the right way, insomuch that leaving the Sepulchres and Monuments or Tombs of the Dead, I began to look for Life amongst the Living, and not amongst the Dead.

God onely is the alone and eternal Life, who bestoweth upon us the so much desirable Sun, (as being the Servant of God) by the help of the Air. Let us boil, roast, bake, and labour as much, and in what manner soever we please; yet shall we never find any liveliness, save from the Sun, the Servant, Minister, or instrument of the Omnipotent God. [For else] we [doe but] prepare us Medicaments destitute of virtues, of fine out-side Colours, but within, dead and full of poison, because from things wanting life, no help can be expected.

Forasmuch therefore, as we gave not life unto our own selves, neither can we defend the same against death without that one onely life coming unto us from above: it is very expedient, that, omitting the stinking dung, we betake our selves to the pure and living fountain of God, as being the Centre of all life; and doe seek for life, from the Sun, as being the great master of all the created Palace [or World.] The way of effecting this, will I reveal unto you in a few words.

If we accurately weigh with the utmost of our discretions this whole business, we clearly see it afore our Eyes, that there is no other life to be any-where found, besides that universal life which God hath implanted in the Sun, and which the Sun sends down unto us by the help of the Air. Let any one make trial, what way soever it likes him, and he shall find this most true.

If you would putrefie an Herb or Animal in a shut glass, so that the Air cannot penetrate [into it,] there will indeed be Magots generated, but they will want life so long, untill the glass being opened, they receive life and motion from the Air. If you put Herbs, or the Flesh of living Creatures chopt or bruised in a glass, and shut it close, and keep the glass for a while in hot Horse dung, or else in warm water, there will Vermine [or Maggots] be indeed generated, but yet void of life, which (the glass being opened) will begin to stir of themselves; and so having gotten life, creep out, and become greater, and will get other forms or shapes. Place likewise in a warm place, some little Barrel half full of Wine and let the bung-hole be open, that it may putrefie and begin to wax sowre; The ascending vapour will gather it self about the said Bung hole into a tenacious matter, which will yield small little vermine [or Mites,] much like those which are engendred in Cheese; and which at length will, by reason of the Air, live and creep forth. If you put a Cover over the hole, all these little Mites will again dye, because they are deprived of the Air from which Life doth proceed. Then the Cover being again taken off, and the Air admitted, they doe agen creep; and following after the Air, endeavour to get out of the Barrel: out of which, if they doe but stay some hours onely, and feel the full Air; They attain to another form, and get wings and fly away, which cannot be done without the Air, seeing that without it they can have no life.

Let such Earth as hath Seeds sown therein be so covered over, as that the Air cannot penetrate into it; which being shut out, nothing will be brought forth: or let it be some Plant, which hath already sprouted up out of the earth; if you doe but take the Air therefrom, it will cease growing and plainly wither and come to nought.

From whence it is clearly evident, that the rise of all Life is to be imputed to the Air, which very Life it self, the Sun hath first wrought in the Air, and Art knows how to extract the same again thereout of, by a certain Magnetical way, and make it visible, palpable, and sensible.

But all the Air is not meer life, but contains this same life dispersed, or dilated in it, like a great deal of water containing in it but little Salt, it self being visible, but the Salt which is therein, invisible. And just so is the life dispersed in the bodies of Men, and other Animals, and, being invisible, hath its habitation in the blood, so that, without it, the whole body would be immovable and remain dead. Now when either a Man, or any other living Creature is conversant in the open Air, he attracteth to himself by his breathing, (by a certain Sympathetical power and property) as much Air as is requisite for the Heart, (which is the Center, Receptacle, or House of the Life) for the nourishment of the spiritual Life, and as for the residue, and unprofitable part, it casts it away by the Antipathetical virtue and property of the out-blowing (breath or) expiration. So that no Man, no Animal, no Herb, no Mineral, can possibly enjoy a living and growing faculty, if this food of Life were withdrawn therefrom. Which seeing it is so, and cannot be otherwise, it doth necessarily follow, that the true universal Medicine cannot be prepared in any shut up (or close) Vessels as is commonly done. Do but look I pray upon the Birth and Generation of Salt-peter, the Body of which is nothing else but the essential Salt of the Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, which attracteth to it self the Fire out of the Air, as is well known.

Therefore, whereas all Salts are wont to be turned (by the help of the Fire and Air) into burning and live Salt-peter, and that no body can bring the same to pass without Air: we should by good right learn from thence thus much, viz. to endeavour to make our Medicaments too, alive by the Air. For a Medicine that is destitute of life will subdue and destroy a Disease even just as much as common Salt will overturn a Mountain, and throw it out of its place, without being animated as it were by the Air, and transmuted into burning and living Salt-peter. Truly therefore and by experience do I say, that all the faculty of growth, all Transplantation, and every life owes its birth to the Air, and without it do they all become dead and so remain.

The Air receives [its] vital food from the Sun, and the Sun derives its Original from God, the Center and Beginning of every Life. And therefore when we are desirous of extracting that vital food out of the Air by the help of Art, and of reducing it into a visible body, it is behoovefull and expedient, that we expose thereunto a certain Magnet, which may draw the same unto it self, and be by little and little augmented therewithall, and may grow both in quantity and virtue, even as an Herb out of the Earth; or as an Animal gets it self growth and encrease by meat and drink, and adds to it self an augmentation of strength and greatness, and at length associates it self unto [or couples with] its like, and multiplieth its kind.

Man himself doth without intermission attract to himself the Air, by the help of his Lungs; but the Heart retains onely the vital food thereof, and rejecteth all the rest like so much excrement. The Body it self also doth daily assume food and sustenance by the Mouth, but the Stomach transmits the nutriment that is separated thereout of, to the Liver, to be reduced into blood and flesh: but the Excrements, as the Dung, Urine, Sweat, and the like, it banisheth out of the body by the usual passages. Thus like wise stands the case with our Medicament. According as the Magnet is, that we expose to the said Air, so accordingly doth it attract its like out of the said Air, whereby it may get to it self, Life, Virtue, and Power. But it cannot possibly be, that it should extract that virtue and faculty simply pure and clean; No, but it gets to it self also a certain, unprofitable, and watery Essence, which is associated unto that [virtue,] which acqueity doth again go off, as a superfluous Excrement, and must necessarily bestow the Life onely upon the Magnet, that it may be therewithall encreased and strengthened. If I desire to have a Vegetable, then must I sow a Vegetable Seed; or such a Magnet is to be placed there, as may associate or adjoyn unto it self its like out of the Air. If you would have an Animal, then an Animal Seed, or Animal Magnet is to be used. But if that which I seek is to be more pure, and more constant [or lasting:] a purer Magnet must necessarily be exposed; for like doth always seek its like; love, o’ercome, and conserve it: according to the testimony of the Ancient Wise men, Nature rejoyceth with Nature: Nature overcomes Nature: Nature retains Nature.

* * * * *

And therefore seeing our purpose tends to this, namely, to extract the invisible faculty of Life, the power and virtue of the Sun out of the Air; to concentrate it, and make it corporeal, visible, and palpable; It behooves us to provide our selves with a fitting Seed or Magnet, which may earnestly attract, overcome, and hold the same. Now such Magnets are pure Gold, and the most pure Soul of Salt-peter, both of them being the true off-spring of the vivifying Sun.

Because therefore like desires its like, loves, and seeks after it, a poisonous Magnet must not be exposed [to attract] a vital food: For as is the nature of the Magnet, so likewise doth it attract good or evil out of the Air. It is a thing that Husbandmen are well acquainted withall, namely, that Wheat produceth nothing else but Wheat, and from Tares do Tares arise. If the Seed or Magnet be aureous and pure, it will also acquire to it self pure and golden Virtues, and be encreased by them.

The manner of so placing the Magnets, that (by Solutions and Coagulations) they may receive the Astral and vivifying Rays of the Sun, and may render them visible, corporeal, palpable, and durable in the Fire.

You must get made some flat and strong glass Dishes or Platters, in which you must put your Magnet the thickness of half a fingers breadth, and expose it moist to the Sun, that the unprofitable humidity may vanish by evaporation. Which done, (and in the Summer time it will be done in a few hours, especially if there were not too much of the Golden Liquor put into the Dishes) expose the same Dishes, which contain in them the [thus] dried Salt, in the night-time, open to the cold and moist Lunar Beams, that the Salt may by its magnetick virtue associate unto it self from the Air, the Water, which carries in it the universal food of the Air, and consequently may be dissolved. This Solution is to be agen set out in the day-time to the Sun-beams, which will again dry up the unprofitable moisture, and leave in the Salt, that vivifying and golden Seed, which it contracted in the cold Night and Air, together with the humidity, which is void of any virtue. The Salt being freed by the Sun from its superfluous moisture, must be again exposed at Night to the Lunar beams, that it may again imbibe the Astral virtues, and may be agen dissolved in the imbibed water, that, being the next day, as the day afore, exposed to the Sun, it may be animated anew with those same virtues: These exposings by turns [to the Sun and Moon,] must be so long and so often repeated, untill the said Magnet, (after its being dried at the day time in the Sun) will, at the nighttime, hardly admit of any moisture from the Air, and that being dry and put upon a red-hot Plate, it readily melts without fume. For then may it be applied to use, as being a constant and fix Medicament.

This interchangeable Solution and Coagulation must be repeated some hundreds of times, and every Solution and Coagulation is to be accounted for a Philosophical day.

If now in the Summer-season the heat of the Sun be not strong enough in our Countries for the effecting of this operation, the said heat may be concentred by Glasses, or metallick Instruments, and be made more efficacious, that the Coagulation may be ripened [or hastned.] But in defect of such Instruments, and want of the heat of the Sun, which is frequently over-cast with store of Clouds, you may easily forward the Coagulation with our Common Fire, and that too with a more unfailable and speedier operation than that is, wherein the drying up by the Solar heat is always to be waited for. And although this operation, which is performed in the Sun, is to be accounted of as far the better, yet notwithstanding the Sun doth operate together with our Common Fire after an invisible manner, when we cannot make use of the Sun it self. For wheresoever the Air is, there also is to be found the invisible Sun, and the occult virtue and power of life. He that can have the opportunity of using the Sun in this operation, needs not any other Fire. But the using of our Common Fire requireth a peculiar Iron Furnace, whereon the Dishes or Basons are to be placed to dry. But yet the heat must not be underneath, and strike at the bottom of the said Basons, but it must be such as may strike the heat downwards at top of the matter onely, and may gently and by little and little consume the humidity: For else there would be hazard of the Liquors boiling over, and of being lost, if the heat should be placed under the bottom of the Dishes. The Iron Furnace may be made of Iron Plates, resembling Arched work, [or Oven like] and be placed within a Stone Furnace, and have a Door fitted thereunto, that so neither Dust nor Ashes may fly thereinto, and by this way will the Salts be dried in two or three hours time. And now, that you may not need to wait till the night approacheth, you may have a wooden Box or Chest made, and covered over at the top, but pierced full of holes all round about the sides, which (with the Basons placed therein) may in the Winter-season be set abroad to the cold Air, and in the Summer-time may be placed in some moist Cellar, that so the Salts may attract from the Air the food of Life. For in all places of the World doth the Air contain in it (though in one place more plentifully, and better, than in another) that occult faculty and virtue of Life, without which, neither Men nor Animals are able to live. But by how much purer the Air shall be, so much the purer and more excellent is the acquired Medicine. As for the Transmutation of Metals, it matters not much what Air it is that you get, for every sort of Air is fit for this operation. We doe in this place manifest onely the way of fixing it: Now every one knows that a pure and clean Air is better than a gross and an impure one, and that the heat of the Sun is better than the heat of Coles, or of a Lamp.

Thomas Aquinas writes, that God with his Angels cannot want our fire, and therefore is he reproved by Paracelsus, because he saith that God cannot want the Elementary fire. Alas, Good man, he did not so accurately weigh this matter, for this proposition tends onely to this end, namely, to set afore our eyes the purity of the Fire necessary for the Coction of our Medicine. From whence it is sufficiently manifest, that a Medicament will be so much the better, by how much the purer the Fire shall be. For a gross Air begets a gross Blood. But in this operation, the Air is the Meat and Drink of our Golden Salt, but the Water or Phlegm is to be driven away by heat, it being a superfluous Excrement adhering on to that Air. Now in those manifold Solutions and Coagulations, the Magnet doth always retain some good thing, and encreaseth both in weight and virtue, and attaineth a constancy: like as Men and other Animals are encreased with Meat and Drink, and doe grow in stature, and multiply themselves. The whole work therefore of making this kingly Medicament by the help of the secret Solar fire, doth consist in a good, pure, and golden Magnet, and afterwards in a true Solution and Coagulation: Which if it be too speedy and strong, the over-much heat will burn up and consume the attracted food of Life. If therefore a Medium be not used, it so happens, as ’tis wont to be in any Earth that is too moist, and therefore not [capable of] bearing fruit. So that nothing is more necessary than to have a due regard of mediocrity, not onely in the Solution, but in the Coagulation likewise.

And this is that way by which the Solution done in the Air, and the Coagulation made in the Sun, doe reduce the Mercurial water, and the Minerals prepared with Salt into fusile and tinging Stones; which thing the Common fire will never perform in a glass closed up, and without the Air.

Note this, and believe it, and doe it, and thou wilt find what thou hast believed, come to pass.

Supper being ended, and the Drinking-bout over, ’tis time for the Guests to go to Bed, unto whom the custom of some is to present a closing Cup, made of good and profitable Herbs, ’mongst which, such as are more bitter, are for the most part in greatest esteem, because they close up the mouth of the Stomach, and beget a quiet Sleep.

Now to parallel this Custom, I will here set one down, for those that are desirous of such like bitter Potions, and such an one as they may prepare according to their pleasure, and apply to use.

Take of common Aqua Fortis, which you must rectifie by a Cucurbit, or by a Retort, that it may be bright and clear. Dissolve therein, by boiling in hot Sand, as much cupellated Silver as it will dissolve; but you are to note here, that there must not be any Copper at all in the Silver, for it would spoil the Medicament. Into the Solution pour strong and well rectified Spirit of Sal-Armoniack, so long till the Aqua Fortis makes no more Ebullition. When all the tissing and noise is over, there will be about the half part of the Silver precipitated, and settled to the bottom, and will be of an ashy colour. Place the Glass in Sand, put Fire thereunder, and boil the precipitated Silver with the Menstruum, in which boiling there will separate yet more Silver out of the Menstruum, and the residue will remain dissolved up in the Menstruum, which is to be filtered through Cap paper, and then to be evaporated by little and little in Sand, that all the humidity may be abstracted.

N. B. The Aqua Fortis and Spirit of Sal-Armoniack, turn into a liquid and volatile Salt, and have lost their corroding property, which Salt hath introverted the Silver, and drawn its bitterness forth, insomuch that both Salts are converted into one bitter and green Salt. This Salt must be dissolved, filtered, and purified by pouring Water thereon, and again drawing it off; and being hereby rendred more pure, it resolves it self in the cold Air into a green and bitter Liquor, one drop of which is able to make a whole Cupfull of Wine bitter. And this Wine being drunk is profitable to the Stomach, causeth quiet Sleep, dissipates Windiness, and keeps the Belly Soluble.

N. B. This Salt guilds over Glasses, and other glazed Vessels with Silver, nor does it vanish away but remains constant. It likewise performs other considerable effects in Alchymy, as may be seen in my other Writings, but especially in the second part of my Furnaces, of the last Edition. And thus do I leave the Guests to their rest, that they may Sleep even till broad Day-light.

The Sun being up, and some of the Guests being very droughty or thirsty with their Yesternight Surfeiting, and being tormented with overmuch Heat; they endeavour to extinguish this Inflammation of the Liver, with cold Fountain Water, or with small Beer, or with hungry and sharpning Wine. Others send to the Apothecaries for some Syrup of Roses, or Violets, and mix that with Fountain Water, and so drink it off. But the burning hot Liver is presently smitten with a sudden horrour, the Stomach is refrigerated, and beset with clammy Humours, and most an end the Limbs are debilitated, the Skin becomes Scabby and cold Feavers possess the Stomach. Instead therefore of such like drink, I will here substitute a far better cooling Potion, which shall not hinder the health, as those do, but be profitable to the same.

Take one pound of Spirit of Salt, not of that yellow, unrectified Spirit that is sold in the Shops, but of our well rectified Spirit; wherein dissolve as much Tartar as it will associate unto it self in a gentle boiling; filter the Solution through Cap-paper, that so all the Fœces which were in the Tartar, may abide in the Paper, and the Spirit of Salt itself together with the [dissolved] Tartar may pass through, bright and clear; if the Solution stands long in a cold place, part of the Tartar will shoot into Crystals, and part thereof will remain mixt with the Spirit of Salt, and give it a gratefull vinous Acidity. If you use white Tartar then the said Spirit will remain white, red Tartar tingeth the same with the colour of a Ruby. N. B. The Spirit of Salt is of such a nature, as that it makes all colours more fair. You may therefore use red Tartar to make this Potion withall, because of the loveliness of the colour, wherewith it tingeth the Spirit of Salt, for as to the virtues and efficacy of them, there is no difference to be found between them.

This Tartarized Spirit of Salt is very sweet, and tasts like an acid Wine, some drops of which, being drunk in cold Fountain Water, will not at all hurt the Liver: nor will it onely allay the droughtiness and thirst, but also stir up in the Stomach an Appetite to meat and drink. And therefore I do commend this Tartarized Spirit of Salt, beyond all other thirst-allaying Remedies, and it may be taken safely and pleasantly, both Summer and Winter, because the unripe and acid Wines being drunk with Fountain Water and Sugar, do refrigerate the Stomach, and load it with tenacious humours, and weaken the Appetite, and hinder digestion.

Most profitable therefore is this our Spirit unto those, who daily drinking much Ale, may always mix a little of the same with their Ale. For it makes the Ale to tast like an acidish Wine, it allays thirst, so that there will not need such a guzling in of so great a quantity of thick Ale, it discusseth Wind, expells Urine, hinders the generation of the Stone in the Bladder and Reins, and if it be already generated it dissolves and consumes the same, and by little and little drives out the same with the Urine. Being administred to such as are troubled with the Feaver, Gout, Stone, and Scurvy, and that in all their drink, it is a pleasant and profitable Remedy. Concerning the use of which, you may find more spoken in my Treatise, intituled, The Consolation of Sailors.

Now besides all this, there is yet one thing more that I shall here admonish you of; namely, that by the Spirit of Salts help may a Remedy be administred to many more hurtfull disorders, but especially in the stead of those sharpish Waters, unto which, Men are wont to come from far and undertake long Journeys, losing their most pretious time and Money, neglecting their Calling, their Houshold Affairs, their Wife and Children, upon the bare hope of recovering their former Health: Whereas notwithstanding, the Spirit of Salt well prepared with Tartar, and having a little Steel Powder put thereinto, will perform the very same effect as the Calibeat Waters are wont to do, and so they may avoid the loss of so much expences, and of their pretious time; and thus every one may discharge and follow his own Calling and Domestick Affairs, and yet for all that, be cured by the help of the Tartarized and Chalibeat Spirit of Salt which openeth the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen.

But what shall I say much for? Some haply there are that go the more willingly to those Waters every year for other reasons. Such as have old chiding Wives at Home, that take it very ill if their Husbands do but stir out of Doors, and are continually a plaguing them with Scoldings and ill Words, have not these think you great reason to seek some Diversion?

Young Women also love to visit these Waters and Baths, who meeting not with so much heat in their feeble and aged Husbands, as to beget them with Child, betake themselves to those Waters and Baths, where at all times they meet with active strong Companions, full of strength and Metal, who without doubt do frequent the said places, for this very end, namely, to apply warm suppositories to those cold Women, and uterine emplasters to make them Fruitfull, and to take away Sterility. Such kind of Dames being restored to their former health, and returned Home, their Husbands find (after some few Months) how effectual the use of those Waters have been upon their Wives.

Besides, it most an end happens that the Master and Mistress being absent, the Houshold Affairs are very awkwardly administred and managed by the Children, the Men-servants, and Maid servants; and that common German Proverb doth usually take place; The Cat being out of the way, The Mice upon the Shelves do play. The truth of this is sufficiently testified by frequent Examples. And therefore it is much better to drink these acid Waters at Home, whereby both Money and Time is spared, and many evils prevented. And thus much may suffice to have been said concerning a refrigerating Drink.

And now, seeing we have at hand good Cheese and Butter, good Sawces or Cates, and delicate Drink, can we not be here with content? Verily in my Judgment here’s enough disht out for one Banquet. But some may say, in very good time! Glauber [indeed] does not onely teach us the preparation of good Meats, but likewise of Cheese, Butter, Sawces, [or Junkets,] and pretious Wine, but yet tells us not from whence the Milk to make the Cheese and Butter withall is to be had, nor whence the Sugar and Spices for the Cates, and the Grapes needfull to make the Wine with, are to be gotten? What benefit have we by knowing how to make Cheese and Butter, and yet want Cows to yield us Milk? To satisfie these, we will demonstrate unto them, that even both the Milk it self, and the precious Spices, and most excellent Grapes are all attainable by the help of Salt.

In my Treatise called Miraculum Mundi, as likewise in that called The continuation of the same, and in that Book, of the nature of Salts, I have clearly enough shown, that all the faculty of the Growth and Nourishment of all growing and movable Creatures doth take its rise and original out of Salt alone, and that the correction or melioration, not onely of Vegetables and Animals, but even of the Minerals too, is to be sought for from the same.

But forasmuch as this bettering of the Metals meets with but little credit and is very hardly believed and understood, (nay ’tis plainly thought a thing impossible to be effected,) I could not choose but manifest and demonstrate the truth of the same unto the whole World; namely, that like as the Metals are in long process of time maturated by Salt in the Bowels of the Earth: Even so may the same be likewise maturated, mundified, and amended out of the Earth, by Salt, by the help and benefit of Art; not onely by the moist way, but also by the dry, and that with one Fire, in one Furnace, and with one Servant, whom I will in this place call The Countryman paying his yearly Rent. When his belly is continually fill’d with Coles, his Plows never cease going, so that weekly, monthly and yearly he is able to pay his master the due hire, namely Gold and Silver, wherewith all things necessary for houshold expences may be gotten.

And although this Countryman, which I will here describe, be not that [great] Country-Farmer, which I have mentioned in the Third Part of the Prosperity of Germany: yet notwithstanding he is a little one, and one that will discover so much unto the ignorant as to cause them to believe that the things which I speak of are possible to be done, and that there is a yet richer and better Countryman. But this here is to be accounted as a small Cow, and which will however supply you with Milk, Butter and Cheese, for necessary uses, if not with Sugar, Spices, and Wine too, to be set out upon the Table. If this Country fellow be too little and small for any one, he may even provide himself of a better, and learn by the consideration of this, by what means such Countrymen are to be nourished, that so the Rent may be gotten from him in its due time.

A. The little Country Tenant with one Plow. B. The Countryman with three Plows. C. The Countryman’s Cap. D. His three Plows. E. The Registers to govern the Fire by. F. The Glass set in with his Alembick and Receiver. G. The Door to shut the Crate. H. The Ash-hole. I. A Basket of Coals. [See the Fig. before the 3d. p. of the Prosperity of Germ. noted with pag. 76.]

In the first place you must prepare you some pounds of good Spirit of Salt, after the way which I prescribed with Vitriol, without which it will effect nothing, for out of this [Vitriol] it doth in the preparation carry over with it the spiritual Gold, or tinging Spirit, which said [spiritual Gold] is, in the performing of the operation, fixed, together with that spiritual Gold, which lyes hidden in the inferior Metals, and so becomes manifest.

Then (in the next place) you must build you a Furnace, which is called by the Chymists the slow Henry, or dull Harry, but I call it The little Country Farmer or yearly Renter: you may build it, I say, of what bigness you please; or for Example sake, the Tower which holds the Coles may be about Man-heighth, and about one Cubit broad in the inside, but so, that the top part and bottom part be narrower, and the middle part wider. To this Tower you must adjoyn two or three Furnaces, which are here called the Countryman’s Plows, and in which the Vessels are to be placed, which hold the Metals that are to be maturated by the Spirit of Salt, and which have a continual heat, whereby the never-ceasing coction is holpen from the Tower that contains the Coles. Now see that you make all things cleverly and well proportioned, whereby that the Fire may be well and commodiously governed, and may be conserved for twenty four hours at least, without any looking too or medling with, as may be seen by the now described Figure.

The Vessel, in which the Spirit of Salt, with the Metal, is to be exercised (or laboured) with a daily Coction, must be made of such matter as doth not flie with the heat of the fire, nor is not eaten with the sharpness of the Spirit, (but) such as may be seen in my Laboratory, and will for the most part dure and hold the Spirit of Salt a whole year without breaking.

All things being ready and fitted, the Countrymans Belly is to be filled with Coals up to the Neck, and his Head covered with a Cap, that the Fire may not find any out-let, save by the lower holes, through which, the heat may find an entrance into the adjoined Furnaces; and as for the Vessels, they are to be filled with the Spirit of Salt, and with Metals fitted for this Operation, and to be covered with their Alembicks, that the Spirits which ascend in the boiling may be received and conserved. When all the Spirits of the Salt are come over, they are to be again returned back upon the dried matter in the Cucurbit, and are to be agen drawn off by distillation. This operation and cohobation being often repeated, doth ripen and fix the spiritual Silver and Gold, whereby it becomes Corporeal: But yet the Spirit of Salt alone is not able to give Gold, but ripens Silver onely, but by the addition of other Salts, it will give Gold too. And even for the fixation of Silver, common Salt may be also added to the Spirit of Salt, that so the Spirit of the Salt may be made strong in the digestion; yea and in time so very strong, as to fume even in the cold Air, and therefore a little water may be also added besides the Salt.

Hence it comes to pass, that in one days digestion six pounds of Spirit of Salt will give seven pounds of the same; unto which, if you again add one pound of Water, and one pound of Salt, you shall have eight pound of Spirit of Salt: which by the addition of another pound of Salt, and one pound of Water more, it may be farther augmented; insomuch that the Spirit of Salt, by a continually-repeated addition of Water and Salt, gets a perpetual encrease, and the Metal is so far from being at all hindred in its maturation, as that it is daily ripened more and more. For the Agent and Patient are continually encreased, and become bettered both in quantity and quality, which verily is a most excellent work, and never so manifestly described by any body as by my self.

But that I may be yet better understood by every one, I will here adjoyn a way which every one may imitate, and which teacheth how, by the Spirit of Salt alone affording not Gold but Silver, the said operation may be instituted with Copper.

You must take care to have a Vessel made either bigger or lesser, of such matter as the Spirit of Salt cannot spoil or prey upon; And pour thereinto as many pounds of the Spirit of Salt as it will well hold, and as many pounds as there be [of Spirit,] so many ounces of Copper-plate must you put in, and to them add twice as many ounces of Salt, so that to one ounce of Copper there may be two ounces of Salt. The Spirit of Salt being drawn off even till the Copper and Salt be dry, it will be stronger and more in quantity, because, from the adjoyned Salt, it hath acquired to it self an encrease and greater Virtues. Pour this Spirit agen upon the Copper, which in the first distillation was wholly dissolved up; and boil the Spirit of Salt over the fire, that the Copper, together with the Salt, which was not carried over by the Spirit in the first distillation, may be again dissolved.

The Furnace being cool’d, Take the glass out of the Sand, and pass the Spirit of Salt with the dissolved Copper through Cap-paper, and wash the white Calx that remains in the Paper with water, dry it, and melt it with a fix Lixivial Salt, and you shall find as much pure Silver, nay, even somewhat more than the Copper had in it by its own nature. Put the green filtred Solution agen into the Cucurbit, being first well wash’t; of which, if there be six pounds, add thereunto one pound of Salt, and half a pound of Water, that so there may be seven pounds and an half, provided the Cucurbit will contain so many pounds, if not, then put the less matter therein. Then being placed in Sand, draw off the Spirit of Salt from the added Salt, even to dryness, and as much increase as you find it have above six pounds, lay it by, and add as much water to these remaining six pounds, which you must again put upon the dry matter in the Cucurbit, and then agen distill it off till the said matter be dry, and repeat the same Operation again by pouring on and distilling off. If the Spirit of Salt be augmented in quantity one pound, then put more Salt into the Cucurbit, and agen augment the six pounds of Spirit of Salt by the addition of Water, and repeat the pourings on, and drawings off after the aforesaid manner, always removing at each Distillation, the increase that is over and above six pound: and renewing the apposition of more Salt, after that the former is drawn off, untill you shall have gotten in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, or tenth Distillation as much Spirit as you at first took, to begin your Distillation, [which was six pound.] Now all the operation consisteth in this knack, namely, that you so operate, as that nothing flies away in fume, for all the encrease ariseth from the Salt and Water which you added thereunto. When you have gained thus much, you may (without adding any more new Salt) pour on the Spirit of Salt several times upon the Salt which is left remaining in the Cucurbit, and agen draw it off so often thencefrom, untill it hath brought over with it self almost all that Salt. Which [Salt] being almost wholly changed by the Spirit of Salt that was poured into the Cucurbit, Dissolve up the remaining Mass of the Copper and Salt, and the Sand being cold, take out your Cucurbit, Filter the Spirit through Cap-paper, and wash the white Powder left in the Paper, and dry it, and melt it as afore with a Lixivial Salt, and you shall have as much pure Silver as the Spirit of Salt was able to fix, of the Copper, in such a time. Then put this green Spirit of Salt into the Cucurbit together with more new Salt, and repeat the said labours ten or twelve times, and the Spirit of Salt will be always encreased and rendred more strong, and the Copper will agen yield forth Silver.

This Labour, you may at your pleasure, continue as long as you list, for you will always get some Silver, and have an encrease of Spirit. For both the Agent, viz. the Spirit of Salt, and the Patient, viz. the Copper doe encrease both as to quantity and quality.

But it may be demanded, Whenee that Silver comes? That which gave forth it self the first time we impute not unto the Spirit of Salt, as if by it made, no! but we say that it was in the Copper before, and was melted out of the Oar, together with the Copper, for this may well be. For there’s no Copper to be found which does not hold some Silver hidden in its belly: and though the Refiners have as accurately separated it as they could, yet nevertheless we doe conclude that that first Silver separated in the first Operation, was what was left of the Oar in the Copper, and remained unseparated by the Melters [or Refiners] therefrom, and was not made by the Spirit of Salt, but onely separated. And the Spirit of Salt being in its nature an enemy to Silver, does not dissolve it. But whence then did that come, which offered it self unto us the second, third, and fourth time; whereas in the first Solution, all the Silver was clearly taken out, and none at all left therein, but was all of it separated by filtration? What shall we here say, or indeed how shall we dare say otherwise, but that we believe and confess, that the Spirit of Salt did by its operation make the same of the Copper. Nor is there any reason why this should seem so very strange unto us, forasmuch as yearly, in the Earth, all Copper is naturally turned by Salt into Silver, and not onely Copper, but all the other Metals were at first, Salts: not such indeed as we use about our Cookery in the Kitchins, but such as are impregnated by the Sulphureous Stars [or Constellations.]

But forasmuch as we doe at present treat onely of Copper, we doe not therefore meddle with the rest of the Metals: for very rarely is Copper digged out of the Earth but it hath Vitriol therein, or, in defect of Vitriol, a Sulphur salted with a vitriolate salt. For any sort of Sulphur being burnt, and its fatness flaming, the sharp Salt is released, and passeth away in fume, resembling the tast, of the fiery Oil of Vitriol, and is captivated [or caught] in the great Alembick under which the Sulphur is burnt. This sharp Oil supplies the place of an Agent as to the Minera’s or Oars, in the Veins of the Earth; and doth more and more ripen the Minerals and Metals, but exceeding slowly: for Nature doth scarce attain to that limit in a thousand Years, which Art doth in a few Months time. For there are no impediments to obstruct the operativeness of our Agent, such as are the Stones, Flints, Sands, and various Earths which frequently occur, and are much abounding in the bowels of the [Metallick] Veins: insomuch that it can discharge its Operations freely, and without any Impediment at all: and besides too, we use our external fire by which we help this our Agent, and strengthen its virtues, and keep it in a continual action.

By all this discourse may every one see, that when we speak of ripening Silver out of Copper by the Operations of the Spirit of Salt, it is not contrary to nature, but altogether agreeable with the same. But now we doe not say that any one will suddenly become rich by this Labour, done with the Spirit of Salt and Copper, but we have described this Operation in this place, for this end, namely, that hereby the possibility of the thing may be learned, and that there may be good ground to believe, that even this too is most true, viz. when we write that by such or such an Agent, corroborated or fortified with such or such Subjects, and placed in such-like Digestions, Gold may be extracted as well as Silver out of the meaner Metals, which how little soever there be of, may notwithstanding prove profitable. For having once made onely some pounds of Spirit of Salt, you will not need to make any more anew, for in the digestion and maturation of the Metals, it will daily encrease, and that in a plentifull manner, and that too without any considerable costs, seeing that the Salt it self, which is to be added, is likewise cheap enough. If you make your Cucurbit of pure Silver, (for the Spirit of Salt will not work upon that) and digest your matters therein, you need not then stand in fear of the breaking of Glasses: Besides too, you may always let such a made Vessel lie in the Furnace, and as soon as ever the Spirit is drawn off, you may presently put it on agen, nor is there any need of your waiting so long, and ceasing from the work till the Vessel cool. If therefore a Tower to put the Coals in (as afore) be added to that Furnace, or Furnaces, then is it a true Countrey Farmer, or Tenant, for the sustaining of whom, there will need no other charge but that of Coals, and yet notwithstanding he gives you a perpetual gain without labour, cost, and trouble. Nay more, if we do but rightly weigh the business, we shall find that the daily encrease of the Spirit of Salt in these labours, is easily sold for more Money than the Coals will cost, so that all that Gold and Silver which is gotten out of the Metals, doth offer it self unto us for nothing. Besides, such kind of Metals may be taken for this Operation as are wont to yield more Silver and Gold than Copper, and the plentifulness thereof will be yet more, if several such kinds of Metals are joyned together and so dissolved, and digested, in which operation they better one another by a mutual action; for one supplies what another wants, and likewise from another, are those superfluities which it has in it, taken therefrom: so that (as we said afore) the mutual melioration of those Metals may be set on foot and promoted, as it were without any cost, and by a very little labour.

Whosoever he be therefore that has the knowledge and experience of the nature and property of the Metals, which they are, that have a correspondency with each other, and that love to better each the other; and is not ignorant what Agent is agreeable to Gold; such a one I say as this is, will commit unto his Countrey Tenant the care of Weekly and Monthly paying the due Rent, and will be able by this means to serve God his Creator without wicked Usury; to do good unto his Neighbour, to extricate himself out of that Diabolical Fellowship, of the impious and the great crew of evil Men; and to lead his Life in Tranquillity and Quietude; which verily is a great and singular gift of God, unto any one that can arrive unto such a knowledge.

But yet no Man hath any reason to perswade himself, should he be a Master of this Art and Science [here shewn,] that he shall be able daily to separate great heaps of Gold out of the more imperfect Metals, whereby he may be enabled to lead a vicious Life. No, for my endeavour shall (in the first place) be, not to make any wicked Man partaker of this Art.

And secondly, the whole business consisteth in the blessing of God, as we find it Written, Paul hath planted, and Apollo Watered, but God hath given his Blessing: For without this Blessing, all our Labour is but in vain: And this the Prophet David doth likewise testifie, saying, In vain do ye rise up early, and being loaden with many cares, go to Bed late, and eat your Bread with troubles: For unto them whom God is favourable doth he bestow his gifts even while they are Asleep. Moreover St. Paul saith, It is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that sheweth mercy. And therefore a wicked Man, though he should possess so great a thing, yet would he not do any good upon it, if he wanteth Gods Blessing. Besides, I do not here bring forth my little Countryman upon the Stage, as if he could help any one unto huge Treasures; no, but onely as one that can bestow so much as may suffice, honestly to live. Unless haply a Man should light upon rich Veins and metalline Oars, which should abound with much corporeal Gold, and so by this means should yield great Treasures. Now so much cannot be lookt for, from such Metals as have in them but a spiritual Gold onely, unless the true weight be found, and that there be gotten the knowledge of those Metals which have a great affinity with each other, and which being joined together yield forth Gold. Otherwise you must not expect ought else from this Operation save an honest and moderate profit.

But now, as touching what Metals they are that have such affinity, and what the true proportion of the weight is, no body hath any reason to enquire of me, for I do not as yet profess my self an expert and absolute Artist in this matter, for sometimes I have a very gainfull success of my trials that I make, and sometimes agen I get less.

I was willing therefore to shew the way here, of ripening the meaner Metals by the help of Salt, and that too in a manner without any costs: which way of so doing being by me laid open, may suffice for this time, nor did ever any reveal it before me (I speak it without boasting) or produce it unto publick view in so open a manifestation as I have done.

And now if this separation should be used about the fixed Gold onely which lies hidden in the Oars and Metals, yet mought great profit be thereby gotten in all places; for there is no place in the World in which there are not to be found such Earth, Sand, and Stones as contain in them corporeal Gold, which may be extracted by the afore prescribed way without any costs at all. But here is to be observed that those things which I have written, and clearly demonstrated concerning such separatory Operations in the third part of the Prosperity of Germany, are to be agen read over, and well lookt into.

Moreover, this is also to be known, that this maturation if instituted by the dry way, brings more profit than if done by the moist way; for in the dry way the Agent is more holpen than in the moist way, in which there is always plenty of moisture. But however, both ways namely the dry way, and the moist may be done with one and the same Fire, nor will the cost be any more than if the moist way were made use of alone by it self.

For that Tower wherein the Coals are, and which is to keep the Spirit of Salt in perpetual digestion, and to heat the adjoined Furnaces, is always bright hot at the Grate, upon which [grate] if a cementing Vessel filled with Salt and Metals be placed, there will then be even thence as much profit as by an adjoined Furnace, and so by the Fire of one Furnace, and by the self same labour and cost is a double Operation performed, and a continual rent may be expected from the double Countryman.

You must likewise note, that there is a great difference of Salts, and that one Salt is more fit for this labour, and another for that; but by how much greater the Acrimony is, that the Salt abounds withall, so much the more potent an Agent it is: insomuch that it is of great concernment for a Man to know how to concentrate the moist Fire or Agent, concerning which Concentration there is no need of mentioning any thing in this place; forasmuch as I suppose that these things which are at present spoken are sufficient enough.

Moreover I would have the Son of Art know, that the Salt of the Macrocosm or of the Ocean, which we have taught the making the Spirit of, is nothing at all so efficacious as that which is gotten out of the Microcosm: For whatsoever things are found to be in the Microcosm or greater World, the same are likewise in the Macrocosm or lesser World, namely, Man. But it is not my purpose to discourse farther of this thing in this place, but will (God so permitting) treat more at large of the same, if I come to write somewhat of the nature and signature of the greater World. For hereby great mysteries may be learned, which omitting to speak more of, I keep close to Salt and say, that that Salt which comes out of the Ocean or Sea of Man, or of some other Animal, that is, which is voided out of the Bladder, is far more fit for the Transmutation of Metals, than that which is gotten out of the Sea, as being the Bladder of the great Animal.

The Ancients have called the World the great Animal, and very rightly, for in its Center it hath a fiery heart by which (as being the great Animal) it moves it self, and conserves its life, as shall be Spoken of in another place if God shall permit, for according to the common Proverb, Man proposeth and God disposeth.

Morien was not ignorant that Arcana’s of great moment lie hidden in Urine, but hath manifestly signified it. For when he had prepared the Tincture for King Calid, he wrote upon the Vessel in which it was, these words, He that carries all things with him, needs not any others help. And having so done, he silently betook himself unto his Cell. But he had said before unto the King, In thee O King! the Medicine is, by which words, he meant Urine. For out of Man’s Urine may a fix Stone be made, which shall be manifested in other places.

Furthermore this likewise is to be here known, that it is a most notable and a true experiment and artifice in Alchymy, that is, in the true melting of Salt, when the Agent of Salt, and the Patient, or Metal, are so thoroughly conjoined and mixed, as that the Agent is disperst throughout the Patient, that so the Patient may suffer the more, and consequently that that Patient Metal may be the sooner ripened and fixed. When a Flock of Sheep being in the Fold, see the Woolf coming, they are indeed all terribly affrighted, but are not all bitten and torn, and so a part of them feel the hurt and the other part remain free. But if the Woolf seizeth upon the Sheep in the open Field, and that the Sheep are scattered far and wide so that they cannot possibly flock together, they will certainly suffer more grievously.

* * * * *

For Example sake, when I would meliorate Lead by means of Salt, whether by the moist way by Spirit of Salt or by the dry way by dry Salts, if now I cannot radically conjoin the said Salts and Lead together, I do but little to purpose, because Lead and Silver, unless prepared by singular Ingeny and Skill, are not touched upon by Salt and its Spirit, and so suffering but superficially onely they are able to resist a long time. But being radically united unto Salt by the benefit of Art, so as that they cannot be distinguisht from each other, then they suffer in all their parts and die, which death is their melioration and life. He that desires to arrive at this Goal, must rise betimes, and use a most notable diligence, for sloathfulness hedgeth up the way of coming thereunto: Even I my self am no perfect Artificer, but wait upon the Omnipotent God, expecting what he will please to bestow upon me for time to come, and I live content with my present enjoyments. Thus likewise let another do.

But if now Saturn is to be used after another way and to serve instead of Earth to receive and multiply the metallick Seed, there’s no need of dissolving it in Salts, but it will be better to have it onely swell or puft up in them, and keep in such a positure as Earth is, conserving the Seed sown therein, in a moderate humidity and in the temperate heat of the Sun, which way is also a good one and commodious for the production of good metallick Fruits, and that by the help of Salt, as the following Process shews, under this title, namely,

The Fire and =Azoth= wash =Laton=.

Some of the Philosophers have called their Patient Laton, and their Agent Azoth. But what subject that is which they meant by the name of Laton there are many Opinions of Authours concerning it, in whose Writings may be seen, that the greatest part of them do intend thereby Saturn, but yet not the vulgar: and even so is it too concerning their Azoth, or Vinegar, that being likewise diversly accepted. But be it as it will, yet this is certain, that even in the common Saturn do many abstruse secrets lie hidden, (to say nothing of the more mysterious Saturn, did we but know how to get it out.)

All Philosophers do suppose, that the Heart in Saturn is better than that in Gold it self, and for that reason do they call Lead a Leaprous Gold, and say, that if it could be mundified by a true washing, some great matter would proceed thereout of. Many Men have very much busied themselves about this washing, but yet have not attained unto ought else, save that they have brought the Saturn into a white, fugacious, and liquid Body, concerning which labour I have made mention in this Treatise of metallick Cates and Sawces, and also in the third Part of the Prosperity of Germany.

In my judgment, the common Saturn is a commodious Earth, for the reception of a metallick Seed, and for bringing the same unto multiplication Witness Paracelsus himself who tells us, that Saturn may be compared to the Earth, for all such things as it seizeth on it makes like it self, and turns them into Earth, viz. in the common Fire, for Paracelsus here intends that.

But now, if some metallick Seed be sown in Saturn, as being a commodious metallick Earth, and that such an Earth and such a Seed be moistned with a due metallick Water, and be exposed to the fruit producing and vivifying Sun, the earth together with the Seed, doth by reason of the moistning caused by the pouring on, or affusion of the mineral Water, swell up, and become porous, and receives and conserves the Water, so that the ripening Sun cannot dry up the Earth, and consequently burn up the Seed. And by how much the oftner the Earth is moistned with the mineral Water, and the Sun expelleth the said humidity, so much the speedier doth the Seed ripen, and attain to his maturity.

For like as the Husband-man when he is about to sow this Corn, chooseth such a ground, as contains a fat and tenacious mould, which may not be washt away with the Rain, nor suffer the due nourishment to be withdrawn from the Seed; for if the Seed be sown in Sand, a little Rain can easily wash away the Sand and Seed, and impede the faculty of growth, which in a fat and tenacious Soil is not wont to happen. For the Water or Rain should but onely moisten the Earth, that it may not be too closely comprest, but become porous and admit of the Rains penetrating unto the Seed: which when so, then is there hopes of the Seeds sprouting, in such a fat Earth which swells up by means of the Water, and of bringing forth its Fruit.

Even just after the same manner are the metallick Seeds to be sown, and ripened; and for Example sake, let us take the vulgar and common Saturn, (well mundified) for that Earth, into which we will sow such a Seed as having a great affinity with Saturn, loves to be augmented therein, whereby it may bring forth fruit. And like as the Seed of any Animal requires an Animal Matrix, as a Field or Earth to be multiplied in, and hath not any affinity with the common Earth: Even so likewise doth a metallick Seed require a metallick Earth, Matrix, or Ground, wherein it may germinate and be multiplied.

Now this multiplication is on such wise made, as is done in the Animals, by the conjunction of Male and Female, one performing the office of the Agent, and the other of the Patient. So then, we will make some trial in this Process which is here annexed, not for the intent of getting great Treasures thereby, but for the sake of searching into, and getting the knowledge of Nature; we will take the Male in the room of the Seed, and the Female instead of the Ground or Field, and we will try whether or no the Seed will admit of multiplication.

Let us therefore take the common Saturn for the Feminine Matrix, and Antimony of the Male-like-seed, which we will sow into its own Matrix, as Husbandmen are wont to do. I do not gain-say but that there are other Seeds, and probably better to be found to be implanted in Saturn, than Antimony is: But yet here I content my self with this of Antimony, as having an intention of onely shewing at this present, by what way it may appear that a metallick Seed may be brought to a faculty or possibility of growth in the Saturnine Earth. And upon this account for Demonstrations sake of this Labour, was I willing to use Antimony, it being a masculine Seed of a Saturnine kind. For common Saturn is usually accounted for the true first Ens of Lune, and Antimony for the true first Ens of Sol, and they are in very deed found so to be. For you shall not find any Lead without Silver, nor any Antimony without Gold; so that I strongly perswade my self that from those two, there cannot arise ought else but what is good and profitable, did we but know how legitimately to compound and handle them. And although I do not profess my self to know many things, yet will I simply tell you my opinion, concerning the way which I suppose such a Commixtion and Maturation may be effected by.

A Philosopher saith thus,

_By Gold and Silver you will nothing do, Unless you use their first Ens thereunto._

The first Entities of both these are Lead and Antimony, the latter of which, (viz. Antimony,) is not to be admitted in that impure state that we find it in, unto the former, as unto its Bride or Spouse, but must first be washed in a hot and sharp Lixivial Bath, that it may thereby attain to a delicate silvery whiteness, and shine like a Star in the Firmament; which Antimony thus purged, is called by Paracelsus, the signed Star.

But yet I would not have any one to think, that I do here mean the common stellate Regulus of Mars, which would be dissolved in Spirit of Salt, and would separate it self from the Lead, which ought not to be: But that signed Star must be so prepared, as not to admit of being dissolved in Spirit of Salt, for else it will not serve for this Work. It must be so concreted as if it were so many thin Shells (one within another,) and so very hard as to be able to cut Glass, and to strike Fire out of a Flint. This signed Star being so washt, is to be sown into its own Matrix, and by the solar Heat and fruitfull Rain, to be promoted and enforced unto growth.

Take of the thus prepared masculine Seed, or signed Star, [A] parts, and of the feminine kind, [B] parts, melt the signed Star in a pure Crucible, unto which being molten cast the Woman in, which being cast in, there is presently made a sweet Conjunction and Commixtion of them both in that infernal Heat, in which they familiarly couple together.

The Mass being commixt, is to be poured out of the Crucible through wet Brooms into cold water, and is to be reduced into Grains, and so the masculine Seed or Husband will be legitimately and duely mixt with its Earth or Ground, or Wife: which Earth together with the Seed which it contains is to be put into a firm Vessel, which fears not the violent corrosion of the Spirit of Salt, but in such a quantity as that scarcely a tenth part of the Vessel may be filled therewithall: Then must there be put thereon as much mineral Water, namely pure Spirit of Salt, as the Cucurbit can bear, and Fire is to be put thereunder, whereby the Spirit of Salt is to be again drawn off, by which Operation, the Earth together with the included Seed will day by day be refreshed, be moistned and swell up, by reason of the Spirit of Salt, no otherwise than as if you should moisten some dry and as it were parched Earth, with Water. For the Saturn is not dissolved by the Spirit of Salt, but onely swells up, and becomes foliated, and yet remains whole or entire, nor is it much unlike unto lovely lookt Talk, which shines with a delicate whiteness: and therefore the Philosophers say, sow your Gold in white foliated Earth. Without doubt they meant not common Gold, for then they would not have said, our Gold, but would have simply said onely Gold, had they not intended a peculiar Gold, or first Ens of Gold.

N. B. I cannot by any means omit to give you thus much notice, namely, He that cannot hit upon the manner of preparing the said signed Star, may endeavour the making of common Saturn aureous, particularly after this manner, as follows. Extract with Spirit of Salt out of the Oars or Veins and metallick fugacious Earths, the spiritual Gold that lies hidden therein, and extract or draw off this Spirit thus impregnated with Gold from Saturn, which Spirit may by this means be all agen had, and be used about new extractions. And as for the Gold which the Spirit extracted, that the Saturn hath imbibed, and indues it self thereby with a golden nature; which if you imbue or moisten with many such extractions, that goldenness will, as I may so term it, grow up or increase in each cohobation, and the Spirit of Salt it self will become augmented.

If now the Saturn be imbued with a sufficient Portion of spiritual Gold, it must be reduced by X, or Alkalies, that so the spiritual Gold may be made corporeal, which will exhibit it self pure unto you, after that the Saturn shall be driven away on the Test. But yet there is no need of doing this, seeing it will be better to granulate the Saturn, and by those repeated cohobations to draw off the Spirit of Salt agen, being each time impregnated with that spiritual Gold, and so by this means will you enrich your Saturn with the greater plenty of Gold. And being so enriched it must be reduced by a fixing X, in my secret Crucible, which neither suffers any thing to go away in fume, nor to run out; in which reduction the spiritual Gold and the fugacious Saturn it self are fixed, so that both Gold and Silver are found on the Test with great profit, this labour requiring no other costs save those of the Fire.

This Operation which separates fugacious and fix Gold out of the Oars and Stones, is far better than that which is made by the Solutions of Lune and Saturn, described at large in the third part of the Prosperity of Germany. For here, we do not need either Aq. Fortis or Vinegar for the Solution of Saturn or Lune, neither need we the same to get the extracted Gold out of the Spirit of Salt, but being free from that labour and costs, we [onely] draw off from Saturn, that Spirit which hath extracted the Gold, which [Saturn] attracts and holds the volatile and fix Gold that was in the extraction, insomuch that there is not requisite to this labour of drawing off the extractions from Saturn, any thing else save onely Coals and Fire. Add hereunto also, the gainfull encrease which daily comes in by the addition of Salt and Water, by which the Spirit of Salt is day by day augmented without any costs.

N. B. When the Spirit of Salt becomes too strong by reason of the Salt put thereto, that Water wherewith the Oar is washt, after the first extraction of the Spirit of Salt, [or after it hath first been extracted with Spirit of Salt] may be made use of [and put thereto] instead of common Water. For it is somewhat sourish, and hath likewise a golden nature.

N. B. Praise God, and forget not the Poor, seeing thou art sufficiently informed and taught by what means thou maist get great Treasures.

The things I here write, are not for this end, namely, to teach others how to make great heaps of Gold, but onely to shew them a way of attaining to a good Medicament, and withall, of knowing and perceiving by the same labour, that the melioration of the Metals is altogether possible and certain.

Whoever he be that could attain so far as to bring Antimony and Lead, as being the first Ens of Gold and Silver, into a certain Dissolvent, so as that the one would not precipitate the other; then at length would he have entrance upon the right way, which leadeth unto great things, like as also Gold and Silver being dissolved in one and the same Menstruum gives beginning to things of great moment. I dare affirm therefore, that he that can reduce Gold and Silver, or Antimony and Lead, with Salt, into an agreement, hath opened a most strong Gate which leads unto a great Treasure; for then the Patient must suffer even unto death, and must die, out of whose dead Body, new and living Bodies do afterwards come forth.

Although I have often told you in my Writings that Gold has no greater enemy than combustible Sulphur, and that nothing is more inimicitious to Silver than Salt, and nothing more displeasing to Mercury than a strong Lixivium, and that amongst these contraries there is a perpetual Antipathy so long, untill they are constrained by Art and Skill to become friends and mutually to embrace each other: yet notwithstanding; this will not be so easily fesible by every prating Boaster, and that makes a great noise by his lofty vapouring speeches; no, but for the sake of these very Men, are such great Arcana’s justly and deservedly wrapt up in darkness, and indeed ’tis fit they should so be.

Moreover if there be required a great suffering, ’tis necessary that both the Gold and Silver, as being Male and Female, should suffer together and not barely the one or the other apart: for hereby this Regeneration will be made so much the nobler and the more magnificent. For Example, make a Circle, and cut or divide it with Diameters crosswise [or at right Angles through the Center] so that the extreams of the Diameters which divide themselves in the middle or central point of the cross may touch the Circle, and that of those four extreams [or Semi-diameters] one may touch above, and the other beneath, and the other twain may reach, one to the right side, and t’other to the left. Place the Gold in the uppermost extream marked with the letter A, and his enemy, namely Sulphur, in the lower extream, which the letter C, demonstrates. In like manner place Silver on the left side of the Gold, at the letter B, and its enemy, viz. Salt on the right side marked D, and you will see how aversly these enemies behold each the other. The Sol looking about him espies his capital enemy, Sulphur, directly opposite unto him, and hath Lune at his left side, and Salt at his right; and very willingly would he enter into friendship with Lune, and Salt which are joyned at his side, if they but would, or indeed could. But he honours not his capital enemy Sulphur, with so much as a look. The Lune placed by the side of the Sun, does not permit the Salt to joyn it self with the Gold. For when the Salt is with the Sol, it clearly hinders the Lune from associating it self with the same. Nor can it possibly be that Salt, Lune and Gold should enter into a thorough familiarity. Thus too is it with Lune, who hath her capital enemy diametrically opposite unto her, and very willingly would she enter into friendship with both her neighbours, viz. Sol and Sulphur, if they were not such great enemies (to each other,) and refused this familiarity. For if Lune associates unto her self the Sun, then Sulphur denies to come into the society. If she admits the Sulphur as her companion then, then Sol is excluded, as abominating the friendship with his enemy Sulphur. Much less therefore can Lune be the companion of them both together. See the Fig. in the Book of Dialog.

But now if the Gods please, that these four capital enemies, should unite in one sociable amity, and that wonderfull regenerations should arise from this new familiarity, (then) do they command Vulcan to heat in the Fire this Circle comprizing those four capital enemies, thus constituted in the four aforesaid extreams, and casting such hatefull looks upon each other, and yet not knowing how to escape out of the Circle, and to press them together more and more with his Hammer by little and little, untill all four being driven into one mass, do come together into one body, which body doth then obtain a power of reconciling all enemies, and of effecting great matters.

By this here spoken may any one easily conjecture, what great suffering there is in this Conjunction, and what great streights do afflict these enemies, when each of them must thus against their will enter into friendship with his capital enemy. Verily we find them to be such sufferings as have not their like again, and therefore do they produce to light, such great and such wonderfull regenerations. Now whatsoever it be that is exercised in but a small suffering, the same doth admit of but small emendation.

The greater the suffering, the greater the melioration, so that that affliction which brings with it even death it self, brings with it also so much the more noble and magnificent Regeneration and Resurrection. He that suffers not in this World, shall not have the Crown put upon him after his Resurrection. By how much the greater and more innocent the suffering and affliction of this life is, so much the greater, and fairer a Crown may be expected in the other World.

The Grape is prest so long, till it be rid of all its juice, this juice doth indeed bring a sweet and pleasant delightsomness unto mortal man, but the Grape it self which the juice is prest out of, ceaseth to be a Grape, and perisheth through defect of juice, and passeth into nothing. But unto the noble Vine, hath God given this benefit, that it yearly bears not barely one but many Grapes together: All which being pluckt off, it doth nevertheless produce the following year no fewer, but rather more Grapes; and still remains a blessed and fruitfull Vine, because it is furnisht with roots and fertile Boughs. On the contrary, they that have devoured the good and sweet juice themselves, remain always hungry and thirsty, and that for this reason, because they guzle down the juice too new and fresh, whereby their Bellies swell, and they receive no nutriment therefrom.

This is a thing certain and undoubted, that the bodies of the Metals become by suffering and dying far more excellent and more noble. He therefore that knows that the patient is to be subjected unto its own agent, and doth also understand by what way they are to be conjoined, will never labour in vain, but will reap the wished reward of his pains.

When the agent doth touch onely the superficies of the patient, and penetrates not into its heart or root, there will verily be but a very little good done, save onely this, viz. That the Agent being afore rendred aureous, is able to give unto its patient also a golden nature, and to bring the same to an aureous degree, and to bestow upon it the perfection of Gold: but that melioration which is done onely by it self proceeds on very slowly.

As concerning the manner of enduing the Spirit of Salt with an aureous nature, that so it may the sooner render its patient a partaker of golden virtues, we have spoken of that already, and demonstrated it clearly enough; he that does not understand, we cannot help him any other way.

N. B. When the Eagle, the Servant of Jupiter, hath with his beak and talons pluckt out the coagulated beams of the Sun out of the Cliffs and Rocks, and brings them unto Jupiter, he is so very bountifull, that he sends down the same unto us by the Rain, which is of so much efficacy, as that all the Herbs upon which it falls are bettered, and the martial, venereal, saturnine, Lunar and mercurial Herbs do put on the golden nature of the Sun; so efficacious is the golden Rain of Jupiter, if the Eagle hath first brought unto him the coagulated rays of the Sun.

And that I may be the better understood, and that it may be known, that the Melioration of Metals may be accomplished by a dry Agent, full as well, yea and better, and more profitably than by a moist Agent; I have judged it a thing worth while to adjoyn the following Process under the Title of the Great Country Farmer.

And let the studious Artist know, that the amending of the Metals by the dry way, by the operation of dry Salt, is far more easie, and may likewise be dispatcht in a greater quantity, than is wont to be done by the moist way: and that there is nothing required to this operation save Salt and Coals, be the Metals that are to be fixed, even what they will.

For Example, if a man be desirous to fix Saturn, or to procure unto it a Silvery nature, there needs not pure Lead be taken for this work, seeing he may have the Oar or Vein thereof for much less price; and indeed there is some that is a wild and sulphureous Oar, which yields not, in the melting, any good Lead, and may be had in great plenty in some places of Germany that I know of, for a very small price, or rather for none at all. Such a wild Oar of Lead as this is, which yields neither good Lead, nor is fit for the Potters to glaze their Pots withall, by reason of its hard fusion, doe I chuse for my operation, not onely because it costs less than other such Oars of Lead doe, but for this reason too, because it hath store of Sulphur, and fit enough for fixation.

This Vein or Oar doe I bring into small Powder, and mix as much Salt thereto as need requires, then cast it in upon the Coals, in such a Furnace as I have described to make store of Spirit of Salt in: The Salt and the Sulphur exercising their vehement or powerfull virtues upon the Lead, causeth it to be afflicted with terrible dolours, insomuch that part thereof ascendeth on high [or sublimeth] with part of the Salt, and betakes it self into Receivers fitted on for that purpose. In which sublimation, the Salt and the Lead ascend in a spiritual manner, and contrary to their will, suffer spiritually, and so are constrained to enter into friendship, finding a place of quietude in those cold Receivers, and there setling together. The residue of the Oar, and part of the Salt being burnt up, and emitting no more flores, but falling down through the Grate like Ashes, more new or fresh Coals must be put into the Furnace, and new matter must be thrown thereupon, as afore; and this Labour is to be continued so long, as it shall please any one to follow it. Now by this, the Saturn is far more vehemently afflicted, than in the moist way by the Spirit of Salt; And if unto the Oven [or Receiver] receiving the fume, and in which the flowers of the Salt and Lead settle, there shall be applied yet several Receivers, there will then be therein caught store of Spirit of Salt, which being rectified, may be agen made use of in the moist way. The flowers being taken out of the Oven or Receiver into which the fume goes, are to be agen thrown in upon the live Coals in the Furnace, that they may suffer anew and be sublimed. After that they are all sublimed again on this wise, they are to be agen taken out of the Oven, and be cast in upon the live Coals; and must be afflicted with these Labours so often repeated, untill they become fix and ascend no more, but fall down into the Ashes. Which being washt, will yield a Salt profitable for many things, and will quit all the costs which have been laid out upon Lead, Salt, and Coals; so that the Spirit of Salt which is gotten, and that which is amended in the Lead Oar by the Salt, cost nothing. The Ashes being washt are to be reduced, in a Furnace, by blast, and be so often tormented, till a good portion of Silver be gotten by this operation, which the elaborated matter, being purged by a due separation upon the Tests, will give. And so shall you have Gold and Silver by the benefit of this operation, by which [operation] we have manifested unto you the Great Country Farmer paying his yearly Rent.

Now like as Saturn is dealt withall in this operation, even so are the other Metals wont to be handled too; but yet you must observe the Regiment of the fire, which, according to the diversity of the Metals, must also be diversly administred. And even the Commixtion it self requires good heeding, as being a business of no small moment.

Moreover, in this operation you must also note, That one Salt is more fit for this operation than another is; for by how the sharper nature they have, so much the more commodious and profitable doe they shew themselves to be. So Common Salt sublimed, as is done in this Labour, will operate far stronger than Common Salt it self unsublimed. Besides, there are Salts to be found which work yet far more powerfully, yea so strongly, as that they need not the help of an external fire, but doe produce their effects even in the cold. The operation of which, in the moist way, if any be desirous to promote and strengthen by an external fire, he may so doe, in a Lamp-Furnace, and free himself of the charge of Coals, and be exempt from that frequent Labour by which the Fire is to be maintained.

Some moist Fires are of such great virtues, as that they need not any Lamp-fire, but a small golden thread or wire in burning Spirit of Wine is capable of administring heat sufficient.

And the burning Spirit, if made of Leaves, Grass, rotten Fruit, or Corn, and Grape-stones or husks will be but of small costs, or in a manner none at all. Now a pound of such Spirit being placed with a Golden wiek in a convenient Lamp will suffice for three or four days, and give heat enough. But yet nevertheless, that moist fire doth ripen its Metal without the help of any external fire at all, and yields its profit, but then it requires a longer space of time.

Put case therefore, that I make my moist fire so strong as to be able to perform its office in the cold, and that it needs not any external fire: And if I were to make a fire, it would needs require one Ducket’s charge: If now, standing any-where, it yields me two Golden Duckets out of the maturated Metal, it wou’d doe well enough, and abundantly recompence the labour and costs expended. For there’s nothing wanting of the Metal [you took to ripen] save that which is changed into Gold and Silver.

And forasmuch as I can set by many such Vessels, and those great ones too, there’s no doubt to be made, but that my gain will be the greater, and that with very little labour. For now, at first, the labour of preparing the moist fire, is in a manner no labour at all, for in three or four days may be so much made as is sufficient for the maturating of a great deal of Metal. For this fire may be compared to a Seed, which being sown in the Earth afore Winter, doth in the Summer-season produce store of Fruit, and fit to be reaped.

And though this maturation proceeds on exceeding slowly, and excludes all hast, yet it brings with it this benefit, namely, that it requireth no other labour in the Winter-time, but to be onely once laid by, and the perfecting thereof must be committed to God and Time.

There are various and divers such cold Fires, that promote the maturation of the Metals, and may be gotten out of divers Subjects, namely, out of Tartar, Urine, Hairs of Animals, Horns, Calx-vive, Soot, the Blood of Animals, the Feathers of Birds, the Bones of Horses, Oxen, and other Beasts, cut of which such a fire is very difficultly prepared, one of them, here reckoned up, excepted, out of which the said fire may by an easie labour and business be made, and without costs. It is therefore a great gift of God, and an especial grace from our Creator, if he maketh us possessors of such a Country Farmer, which being sustained without any costs, doth notwithstanding very largely pay his yearly Rent. To God therefore are uncessant thanks to be returned for so great a benefit.

But we have said enough of these moist and dry Metal-ripening Fires; what way soever any one is minded to chuse, that way may he follow, for it lyes in his own free choice. If he chance to err, let him not lay the blame upon me, who out of a good mind have undertaken these labours of writing, but cannot thrust the chewed meat into any ones mouth. I will by God’s permission show the wonders of God to some friends this next Summer, that so such as come after us may likewise have occasion of praising God, and of giving him thanks.

But even as the common Earth, when it is moistned with often showers, and now and then freed of them by the heat of the Sun, retains in it self a fruitfull Salt, and doth necessarily acquire a fertility: So likewise our Earth doth not onely daily encrease in goodness, but in weight too, and becomes more ponderous: but you must not think that this heaviness or weight proceeds from the Spirit of Salt’s insinuating it self into the porous Earth, no: For if the said Mass should be but onely eight days time in the digestion, and the Spirit of Salt be [then] washt off, yet would it be encreased a quarter part; which ponderosity comes indeed from the Spirit of Salt, out of which the Saturn draws something unto it self for nutritious sake, as the Common Earth does out of the showres of Rain, and becomes more weighty.

For if there were no occult and nitrous virtue in the Rain, it would conduce but little to fertility; and if there were no spiritual and astral Gold, or spiritual and astral Sun in Salt, the immature Metals could not be ripened by the same. By how much the oftner therefore, a good Spirit of Salt is drawn off from the Saturnine Earth, and Saturnine Seed, so much the sooner also doth that Seed arrive unto its full ripeness. For at every turn [of drawing off] something of the good part of the Spirit of Salt remains behind, attracted by the Earth and Seed, from which the melioration and augmentation doe arise: as may be seen in the Vegetable Seeds which sprout forth out of the Earth, and are encreased by the help of Rain.

The possibility of these things I have seen, but have not hitherto brought the said matters to a full maturity, or to speak more rightly, I have not finished the whole operation. He that is minded to make a thorough trial, may so doe: and if he misseth the effect of his endeavours, let him not blame me, for I doe not aim at drilling on any one by my perswasions, to bestow his charges on an uncertain thing. But I mention these things that so the nature of Metals as also of Salts may be known, and that (by the help of this knowledge) the Writings of the Philosophers may be the better understood. For the labour here proposed avoucheth the truth of those Operations which the Philosophers call their Calcination, Dealbation, Incineration, Ascention, Descention, Cohobation, Inceration, Distillation, Sublimation, Volatilization, Maturation, Fixation, and say that all these and the like Chymical Operations may be made in one Vessel, with one Fire, in one Furnace, without any change of the Labours, Vessels, or Fire.

For the Philosophers have described their greatest secrets and Arcana’s parabolically, and in Riddles, but especially the Poets, as Ovid, Virgil, and many others, who are very hard to be understood by those that have not the knowledge of the nature of Metals, which being once known and understood, renders the meaning of the Poets easie. For the Poets were wont to impose one while such a name upon such a Metal, another time another name upon another Metal, which custom of theirs, he that does not heedfully mark will easily fall into an errour, and miss the apprehension of their meaning.

For Example, in one place they call Copper Venus, in another, the Wife of Mars, in another, the Sister and Wife of Jupiter. And so deal they with Silver too, one while they call it Lune, by and by Diana or Jana, another time Vesta. Apollo is by them stiled one while Sol, then Phœbus, then Latons, so that it is exceeding necessary, for those that are desirous to learn ought out of their Writings, to be well acquainted with those different names and Appellations. And although the Poets do account all the Metals for the Sons of Saturn, yet do they sub-distinguish them and stile them, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, &c.

The common Lead is Saturn, and so is Antimony, Saturn, Bismute, Tutia, Lapis Calaminaris, the Ashy Colour, Yellow, White, and red Magnesia are termed by the name of Saturn: The white Marcasite and Zink are deemed to be of the Family or Pedegree of Jupiter: Orichalcum or white and red Copper, are stiled by the name of Venus. But according as Venus is impregnated, and according as the Copper is white or red, so hath it its name. The red Copper is as yet a Virgin. Forasmuch therefore as the Poets have committed unto Writing the Transmutation of the Metals under the Cover, and vail of Fables, and have made mention of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Venus; it can never possibly be, that he who knows not this different distinction can understand their meaning. And for an Example hereof, consider but the Fable of Diana and Apollo, brought forth at one Birth by Latona, who was gotten with Child by lying with Jupiter, and was driven into exile by jealous Juno, and having a long time suffered Persecution by the biting Serpent Python, and being driven to flye through all the Countries of the World, did at last after many grievous labours and troubles pass over the tempestuous Sea into the Island Ortygia, and betook her self to her Sister Asteria, by whom she was received, and begat these Twins, viz. Diana and Apollo.

Who will be able to apprehend the meaning of this Fable, save he that well understands the nature of the Metals? Verily no body will so much as dream of or smell out ought of those Mysteries, unless he shall meet with such like Histories in his metalline labours, and then at length will he understand what the meaning of the Philosophers is. But for Example sake, let us take two Metals which have an affinity with each other, namely Jupiter and Venus, these I joyn together, that so the Woman may be impregnated with the masculine Seed. Latona therefore being great with Child, I cast her forth into exile, that she may be continually persecuted by the biting Serpent Python, untill she flies through the Salt and stormy Sea, into the Island Ortygia, to her Sister Asteria, dwelling in the Island Ortygia, and there bring forth the fair Diana and Apollo. Now these things are easily understood, were but the genuine Appellations substituted in the room of such strange terms, of which thing I have onely some knowledge, but do not profess my self a perfect Interpreter. Yet methinks I cannot choose but say somewhat. The venemous Serpent Python is a sirname of Appollo, for he is produced by the efficacy of the Sun, and is that corrosive Salt which doth so long afflict and torment the impregnated Latona all over the dry part of the World, untill she betakes her self by the Sea, that is, by that strong Salt Water, unto her Sister, that is, unto pure Venus, and precipitates her self, and brings forth the fruits of Jupiter, namely, Diana and Apollo together. The Poet doth here mind both the moist and the dry way together, when the Metal is wrought with a due Cement, and made fix it is [then] dissolved with the Salt Water of the Sea, and pure Plates of Venus are put into it thus dissolved, that so the pure Metal may draw unto it self her impregnated Sister, who brings together with her Gold and Silver, which having been so long hidden in its body doth now manifest it self.

It is indeed the better to fix the Metals by Cements, and so to render their fugacious Gold and Silver compact, which may be as well done in the moist way by sharp Waters and moist Fires. But if the Metals, legitimately impregnated, do first pass through a dry and burning hot Fire, and are afterwards yet once more transmitted through the moist and cold Fires, then Pluto sends the mundified Soul out of Purgatory unto Neptune, by whom it is carried into Paradise, where it doth afterwards remain safe and free from all danger of the Serpent.

Upon occasion of the aforesaid Fable, and particular Transmutation of the inferiour Metals, this is to be yet more observed, that every Jupiter is not fit to impregnate Latona, but that onely which is yet living, efficacious, young, and full of Seed is able to impregnate Latona. For Latona carried with her no more but the Seed onely of Jupiter into the Island Ortygia, and left behind her all the body of Jupiter.

Moreover this is to be considered, that Latona did bring forth Diana first, in the Bosom or Lap of Venus, that is, of the Midwife, but Diana, presently after she was Born, performed the office of a Midwife in receiving her Brother Apollo in her Lap, which thing is sufficiently manifest unto those who have laboured (though but little) in the Metals. For should the Nativity of Apollo have preceeded, Venus could not have received him, for which reason Diana ought to come forth first, that so she might the more commodiously receive Apollo from Latona. I know not how by any means it may be proposed more clearly.

Every one that does but know the nature of the Metals doth well understand, that when Gold and Silver are spiritually dissolved in one Water, and that plates [of Mars probably] are put in to the Solution of the Gold and Silver, neither of those Metals will adhere to the Plates. But if the Plates of Copper are put into that Bath, he shall presently see that all the Silver that was in the Water will adjoyn it self thereunto. And now, after that the Silver is thus precipitated and sticks on to the Copper, the Gold will likewise fall down out of the Solution, and apply it self to the Silver; which labour I have more at large handled in the third part of the Prosperity of Germany. It could not therefore otherwise be, but that Latona must first bring forth Diana, and Apollo afterwards, seeing that Venus the Sister of Latona could be helpfull onely in the bringing forth of Diana. It was therefore necessary that Diana her self should be an assistant in the Birth of her Brother Apollo, for otherwise he could not have been Born.

My time admits not of producing any more such similitudes in this place. We will defer them till some other time, namely, for the Edition of the Work of Saturn, wherein shall be taught how the most vile, and most abject Metals are to be maturated by the benefit of Salts, whereby they may in a particular way yield forth Gold and Silver.

But forasmuch as I cannot divine, what impediments may put a stop to the edition of the work of Saturn, and that in this very Treatise here is often mention made of Saturn. It cannot I think be any ways hurtfull, if some good thing be yet farther adjoyned. And such things as are here manifested of Saturn, it will not be needfull agen to mention them in other places, seeing there doth yet still remain matter enough for to fill a whole Book of the Secrets of Saturn. And there lie such wonderfull Secrets under the vile and dirty Garment of Saturn, as being manifested, would exceed all the belief of unskilfull Men. For he is not onely an expert Fisher in Fishing Pearls out of the Salt Sea, but is withall an expert Hunter, in driving the Wild Beast out of his green Grove or Cops, and of catching him in his Nets, as we have told you in the foregoing third part of the Prosperity of Germany.

Nay, he is a bathing Gentleman of singular skill, who by his bathing and washing his Children, adorneth them with the comeliness of Diana and Apollo. When he is alone, he serves onely for Apollo and Diana to wash off their accidental impurities and defilements, that so they may recover their natural fairness. The other Metals can’t brook his so over sharp and rigid bathing, but are rather suffocated and killed therein, than become more fair and more pure. But if Saturn shall have first washt himself even unto the highest whiteness, in a Bath of common Salt, he is not then so austere and severe, but prepares for his Children a far more tolerable Bath, which being agreeable [or proportionable] to their Weakness and Sickness, renders them all fairer and more pure. His greatest virtue consists in his Water which doth both particularly and universally free the Metals of all their defilements. I have often had a particular experience [hereof,] and yet daily can (God be praised) shew and teach the same unto others. But I cannot do any such thing in an universal way, and inform others as to that; nor do I vainly brag of so great a matter, though I have my thoughts as touching the manner how this thing may be effected. Nay the more I conceived about that matter, the lesser would I boast of the same.

Verily it is a great shame to boast of that thing, of which thou hast not even the smallest knowledge, or at least dost not know any thing else, but what thou hast drawn in, by the reading of other Writers. ’Tis a common proverb, That those Cows which Bellow, or Low overmuch, are said to yield the least Milk, and that this is a thing true, yea most true, experience it self doth testifie.

The Chymical Art is become at present so common, that almost every body, after he hath but viewed over one or two Chymical Books, (though he never moved his hands to the Work, nor understands so much as the Chymical Terms themselves) is nevertheless wont impudently and lyingly to boast of the knowledge of the universal Medicine. Nay thou shalt see some to proceed on to that heighth of boldness, as even to write Books of so great a Secret, and to dare promise the Revelation of the same unto others, and yet for all this know nothing at all, and have not so much as any the meanest foundation, but rely solely upon that knowledge, which (being as we said afore, drawn out of other Writers) causeth in them a most uncertain hope, of a thing most extreamly obscure.

He that is not a stranger unto, nor ignorant of metallick affairs, can easily discern the Lyers from the true Writers, and can judge who are true, and who false. Such as do know somewhat are not wont to make a bragging noise of their skill. On the contrary, those Brethren of Ignorance do offer unto every one that most secret miracle of Art and Nature, namely, the universal Medicine, which thing a true Philosopher neither ever did, nor ever will do. But as for the revealing of the particular washings, purgations, and meliorations of the Metals, whereby Gold and Silver are to be extracted, if any one doth know these things and discloseth them, and desires not to bury his Talent in the Earth, he does well.

Neither would any one be endammaged by such a discovery though those particular Arcana’s should be known even unto all Men, and that every body could effect such Operations; for nothing could redound from them but great gain throughout all the World.

But these things here mentioned may sufficiently serve for an evident and manifest admonition for every one to beware of the Books of such Writers, (but why do I say Writers? they are rather Collectors and Describers, who after the manner of Botchers do patch up new Books our of old cast Garments) and to give no credit at all unto them as containing nothing of truth in them, and to think that those kind of Men betake themselves to this Book-patching Trade, meerly to get their Bread by.

Some such Men have I known, that provide not either for their Food or Rayment any other way, than by the sale of such false Philosophical Books, which they have from the Printers to sell to others, receiving a certain price for their labour, which they bestow in profering them to Sale. O miserable Philosopher! Who doth not know so much as to get his Food at Home in his own House, but is constrained to shift after it by the bare selling of such kind of Books. Let this here spoken be as a warning. If need required, and occasion were, I would not fear to divulge their names too; who having not any the least knowledge of nature, do nevertheless dare to offer the Revelation and Confection of the great universal unto others, and cast such a great blemish of reproach upon the most noble Chymical Art, as makes it much contemned, whereas a more noble and more excellent Art cannot be found. I’le not censure any, but yet it would become the magistrate to examine those great Philosophers, whether or no they were actually and in very deed skill’d in that great universal, (which they boast so wonderfully of, and write Books of such great moment, and promise to teach others too, as if they excelled even Hermes himself in the knowledge of the Art) and if in the proof or tryal they gave good satisfaction, and confirmed the truth of their Writings by a real and true melioration of the Metals, then to honour, defend, and protect them, as rare and singular Philosophers. But if they know nothing nor could perform ought of their pretended Art, the magistrates would not do unjustly if they punished such men, and made them exemplary, seeing too that they endeavour to asperse and backbite other honest men, who are endued with the skill and knowledge of such great things, with lying reproaches. A good Gardener being wont to gather good Honey out of the Bee hive which he has in his Garden, if he finds a Nest of Wasps or Hornets any where near, built in some hollow Tree, and that they steal away the Honey from his Bees, he right worthily destroys such a Nest, and roots out of his Garden those Thieves and Robbers of his Honey, that so for the future they may not detriment them any more.

Were but one or two of those Fellows handled in such a manner the rest would be deterred and would not so easily promise others by their deceitfull Writings, the making of the Philosophers Stone, which they are so extreamly ignorant of. Certain it is therefore, that no true Philosopher, were he a partaker of the great universal, will indifferently offer the same unto all Men, and calumniate (without any cause given) those that are so innocent (and who have forgotten more than others have learned) and publickly bespatter them with most false Lyes before the whole World, to the great detriment of the Persons so abused.

But to return to my purpose, and to shew in this place yet another very considerable Arcanum of Saturn, you must know, that I have already published divers great secrets in this fourth and third preceeding part, but cursorily onely, because I have not as yet attained to the one half part of their most great utility, and I was willing onely to shew what things mought be done.

But forasmuch as I have fortified their use with good and sharp Weapons, and that one or other sometime lighting thereupon by chance, and reaping great profit therefrom, may possibly judge that he is no ways at all bound or beholding unto me for the same; I was willing for the better information, and instruction sake, to adjoyn these few things, which are very weighty and considerable.

In divers places of the foregoing third part, and of this fourth part too, I have the preparation of the Mercury of Saturn and Lune, that is, I have shewn how Saturn and Lune may be reduced out of their Solutions, by the help of Salt, into a Snow like, fusile, fugacious, pure and dry Water; which Waters are by me called the Mercuries of Saturn and Lune, by reason of their fusile and volatile nature: They are metallick Waters not wetting the hands, and yet by reason of their form do they bear the name of Water, because being put into a Crucible, and molten with a small Fire, they are pellucid and transparent like unto Fountain Water, insomuch that they may be seen through even to the very bottom: But yet the Water of Saturn is of a more transparent clarity than the Water of Lune is.

But forasmuch as our main scope in this place is to make some mention of the use of the Saturnine Water, we will let pass other matters, and declare some of the virtues of the said wonderfull Water in the melioration of the Metals.

Let the lover of Art therefore know, that the Saturnine Water doth display its virtues in washing the Metals that are to be amended. For if any imperfect Metal, as Iron, or Tin, or Copper, be adjoyned thereunto, and held in such a Vessel, as in which, that Water cannot by means of its fugaciousness vanish away, nor through its subtile and penetrating power run out, and that it be digested for a while in such a Vessel, this Saturnine Bath seizeth upon, washeth, and purgeth the Metal, and transmuteth it into a better and more pure Metal, but yet with no great profit, for it onely shews the possibility.

But yet if some tinging Species be adjoyned thereunto, it does not onely make a pure washing, but likewise exalteth and tingeth the same, according as the tendency of the adjoyned subject is, either unto a white or a red Tincture. But what those Species are, there’s no need of disclosing them to every one. ’Tis sufficient that I have laid open the Water, and the use thereof in the washing of the Metals.

But that the Saturnine Bath may the sooner and readier seize upon the Metals, and wash them, it is the best way, to add one third part of the Mercurial Water of Lune, to the Mercurial Water of Saturn: which Waters do very readily conjoyn, and each help the other in the washing, and do also tinge, according as the property of that Tincture is, which is adjoyned thereunto. I will for Example sake adjoyn the manner, which shall both shew the possibility of the thing, and administer occasion of farther search.

Dissolve one ounce of pure Silver in Aq. Fortis, and three ounces of common Lead, in more Aq. Fortis, mix both the Solutions together, and precipitate them, either with common Salt Water, or with Spirit of Salt, which is all a case. Pour off the Aq. Fortis from the Coagulum, after its being settled to the bottom, which said Coagulum, you need not wash with Rain Water, for this Work, but press the liquor onely through a thick Cloath and so free it of its humidity; this done, dry this metallick Cheese by the Fire, and you shall have a Bath very fit to wash Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. And now when you are minded to try whether or no the success will fadge well, divide your Bath into three parts, and wash those three Metals on the following manner.

N. B. Let no Body take it in evil part, that I here silently pass over my secret bathing Laver, serving to wash the Metals in, and not permitting the Water it self to go away in fume: He that is minded to try this Operation, may for the first time make use of Crucibles, which, although they may bring some loss by letting go part of the Saturnine Bath, yet notwithstanding they will demonstrate the success of the business, and the loss by them caused may afterwards be prevented by due Mediums. The manner of using the Bath aforesaid, is as followeth.

Take of the filings of pure Iron, Copper or Tin one part, mix it with three parts of our dry Bath, and put the matter thus mixt into an earthen Vessel, which hath the compactness of Glass, such as those are, which are made at Siburg near Colen, at Bamberg in Franconia, and at Waldenburg, near Cassela in Hassia, and in other places of Germany. (N. B. The common Vessels and Crucibles cannot retain this Water, but it penetrates through them like Oil.) Heat your Vessel so hot as to cause the Water together with the Metals to melt and flow well, in which liquefaction, part indeed of the water will pass away in fume, but this loss may be easily prevented.

When therefore your Metal hath been thus boild for about one quarter of an hour, part of the same will be found washt and turned into good Silver: nor must you thus understand me as if the Silver in the said Water were onely precipitated by the Metal, and that no part of the Metal it self underwent any Transmutation. For albeit that that Silver which was added to the Saturnine Water be precipitated by the adjoyned Metal, and returns into its former Body, yet nevertheless there is more Silver gotten than was added to the Water. For that Saturnine Bath while it is occupied about the dissolution of the Metal, doth by the efficacy and Operation of the adjoyned Lune, exalt and tinge part of the Metal to an higher degree.

But although this labour does not promise any golden Mountains, it is here put for this end onely, namely, that the possibility of the thing may be learned hereby: yet notwithstanding, if any one did but know how to adjoyn to this Saturnine Water, a golden Ferment, instead of a silvery one, it could not otherwise be but that he would get no contemptible gain and profit: yet if the same Operation be so instituted with a white Ferment, as that not any the least part thereof may go away in fume, and be lost of the Bath, it will bring no loss. N. B. Neither is it always needfull that the Ferments of pure Metals be adjoyned to this Saturnine Bath, for I think that apt Minerals may be found, which may be adhibited in the room of aureous and argenteous Ferments. Nay more, I do likewise think that such subjects may be adjoyned to this Saturnine Mercurial Water, as may be therein fixed into white and red Tinctures; the thing it self I have not as yet tried, nor do I profess my self so great a Master, for I propose to my self this onely end in my Writing, namely, to shew unto such as are desirous after transmutations, the way of arriving unto the truth it self. For it will be far easier for every one that searcheth into the business more thoroughly, and that maketh more accurate tryals, to find out far greater things, yea much more than he could ever believe. More such Woman-like Washings, and more Boys Plays shall (God willing) be manifested in my Work of Saturn.

But now this Saturnine dry Bath may be prepared much easier, on this wise following; choose you out such an Oar or Minera of Lead, which is very pure and clean, and hath nor either Iron, or Copper, or any other Metal admixt therewithall: (N. B. If Silver be likewise in the Oar, it rather profits than hinders, but the said Oar must not have much earth mixt in it, and that which is on to it must be taken from it by washing off the same with fair Water.) One, two, three, or more pounds of this leaden Oar thus washt, must be put into a strong Cucurbit, and so many pounds of Spirit of Salt must be (put on and) drawn off thencefrom, which Spirit of Salt, as being a moist and Philosophical Fire, will reduce the pure Oar of Lead, which it toucheth every where and in all places of the same, into a bright, Snowy, easily Meltable, and fugacious Calx, which is to be well washt with Water and be dried: This is that metallick Bath, and that dry Water of the Ancients, which wets not the hands, and which is able to perform admirable things in the Metals.

But that this Philosophical and moist Calcination of the Oar of Lead, may be accomplished without any costs, some Salt Water must be poured upon the Spirit of Salt, in the Cucurbit, that the Salt may ascend together with the Spirit, and may augment the same with so great a quantity of Spirit, as may quit the costs of the Oar and Fire, and yield you the dry Saturnine Bath for nothing, which said Bath may be employed various ways about the washings and emendations of the Metals. For out of the Oars which never underwent the burning by the Fire, and were never as yet deprived of their growing faculty, this Bath thus prepared is to be preferred far afore that, which is made of the molten Metal.

I do here open to the studious of Art, the Gate that leads unto most great secrets, which were never so clearly manifested by any Man. It must necessarily therefore be, that either God must put a stop, or that the Operator or Labourer himself must be of a stupid and simple capacity, if he cannot learn from these instructions, as much as to live in quietude, and so furnish himself with Food and Rayment.

If therefore God shall vouchsafe his Blessing unto thee in the use of this secret, then give unto him, the bestower of all good things, thy utmost thanks, and be not unmindfull of the Poor. Sustain thy life by the works of thy hands, and let thy light shine before the blind, neither bury the same enviously in the Earth. Do good to every one, that it may be discerned and appear what Tree thou art. Entertain not too great an opinion of thy self, but remember that thou art a Man and mai’st err and fail. Give no body occasion of quarrelling and brawling. If an unjust conflict be brought upon thee, commit thy self wholly unto God, and he will succour thee. Give place to the greater, and spare the lesser, God will defend thee and suppress thine Enemies.

The Heathen Philosophers accounted the Prophet Ezekiel as a clownish Philosopher, because he wrote so very clearly of the Divine Mysteries. For they took it very untowardly, that he was not so envious, as to involve such great Mysteries in silence, but wrote so openly of the same.

He that will now-a-days make it his design to wind himself out of the crew of Sophisters, and such kind of Philosophers that putteth together hurtfull Books, consisting of fine Spun, and seducing words onely meerly for their own gain, and without any profitable information at all in them; he I say that would free himself from such, overcome them, and bear away the prize, must imitate that countrey man, who on a time entring into a Fencing School at Norimberg did behold the Fencers artificially combate together so strongly and so long, untill all the others being tired, and forsaking the Stage, there remained but onely one as sole victor; who, with a disdainfull look, contemning all the rest, assured himself of the victory.

Being therefore about taking up the Prize-Money there deposited, out steps the Countryman, saying, you shall not have the reward, except you beat me too off the Stage: Fight therefore he must with the Countryman, or forsake the prize; but promising himself an assured Victory, he exerciseth his most curious and artificial postures, which he had learned in the fencing School, thereby to make a speedy dispatch with the Countryman, supposing that the Countryman would be frighted, and laying down his Weapons, quit the Stage. The Countryman being no ways scared stood very quiet (as confiding in his own strength) so long, till the Fencer approaching nearer with his oblique Flourishes, made as ’twere a Wheel afore his Nose, whom the Countryman struck all along, with such a smart blow as made the Hair of his Head flye off, and the Bloud run about his Ears. So artificial a Combatant as this being o’erthrown, he was asked by that plain Countrey Fellow, whether or no he would yet once more try the fortune of the Play, but he would no more prove the Countrey down-right blows of a Non-Citizen, but left both the Money and Honour of the Victory to the Countryman, who being asked how he durst adventure upon so artificial and experienced a Fencer, and could so o’ercome him, he replied, that he perceived the Fencer used many oblique Skippings, but was no strong Man: and therefore I opposed my strength to his artificial Flourishes, and so with one blow struck him down. By this History it is evident, that that finely Spun, and sophistical prating of the Schools, makes nothing to the purpose but a certain experience, and an infallible knowledge of things both is and so remains the sole Mistress.

For the sake of those that are lovers of divine and natural Miracles, ’tis expedient that I yet farther manifest some certain secrets of Salt, which are hitherto altogether unknown, and shall be shewn unto my Friends in my Laboratory. Nor do I at all doubt, but that some few will be found who will easily understand these things, and look on them as things credible. But I matter not, whether they credit me who speak the very truth or not. It sufficeth me that I can not onely perform the things I say, but likewise shew them to Friends, whereby they may be able to reap some benefit and profit therefrom.

Salt may be so introverted by the Operation of the Fire, as that it shall lose its sharp properties, and acquire a sweetness, and be brought by the help of other Vegetables and of Water, unto Fermentation, and so yield a good and sweet burning Spirit, a clear, sweet, and strong white Ale, conserving its tast for many years; various drinks, not unlike in tast to the Wine made of Honey and Fruits of Trees, strong and clear Vinegar, and white Tartar, fully as profitable for such Operations, as the common and natural Tartar of Wine is wont to be used about, and may be with those others [afore mentioned] prepared with small charges.

The Air and Fire do in a short time transmute Salt, into true natural Salt-peter, which is no small profit.

The Fire doth likewise very easily endow common Salt with such kind of properties, as render it capable of fatning and dunging barren Fields, Vines, Fruit Trees, Hops, and all other Garden Herbs as well as Sheeps or Beasts Dung.

Salt is also so changed by the Fire in few hours time, as to put on a magnetick nature, and attract the moisture and water out of the Air, and to retain it with it self a long while, and therefore is not easily dried up by the Sun. Corn, as Oats, Barley, Rye, Wheat, Pease, Beans, and other Seeds being steeped in such a Salt for a Night, do by means thereof, grow up the speedier out of the Earth. It is very profitable therefore in the Summer Season, wherein there’s scarcity of Rain, and especially in sandy Grounds, because it holds the Rain Water a good while, so that it is not so easily dried up by the Sun. Besides, too, that Salt is of such attracting virtues as that one ounce thereof, being put in some little Glass to two ounces of Water, hardens all this Water, in the likeness of Salt, so as that you may carry the same about you in a Paper; whereas there were two parts of Water to one of Salt.

This Salt abounds with yet many other wonderfull virtues, some of which I have declared in my Treatise, of the Nature of Salts, stiling it by the name of Sal Mirabilis, and that not without good cause. It is of the form of Salt-peter, and is void of all Acrimony, it is a little bitterish to the tast, and is of a Balsamick Nature. For being rub’d on Beef or other such like Flesh, it keeps the same, though exposed to the open Air, from being infested with Magots, and from being corrupted: And therefore it is an efficacious subject, with which as being a most efficacious Balsom, dead Bodies are conserved from corruption. It converts all things put into it, in long process of time, into an hard Stone, and abounds with many other wondrous virtues, which (for certain causes,) I pass by in silence at this time. Paracelsus calls it Sal Enixum, but I Sal Mirabilis.

Nor ought it to seem at all wonderfull, that common Salt doth so easily obtain by the Operation of the Fire, a better and sweeter quality. I do in very deed affirm, that not onely the common Kitchin Salt, but even those too, which are of a most biting corrosivity, as Aqua Fortis, Aqua Regia, Oil of Salt, of Sulphur, and of Vitriol, may by a certain sweet Vegetable, (without the addition of any contrary Salt) be brought to such a pass in three hours time, as that a Man cannot perceive the least Corrosion at all in them. Nay more, if this very Salt hath dissolved up any Metals, it does not part with them, but holds them still: so that the corrosive Solution of Gold which is made with Oil of Salt, becomes a sweet liquor, which likewise comes so to pass, with the Solutions of Silver, and of the other Metals: so that by this way excellent Medicaments may most easily be made out of Metals.

New Wines being fermented with such a Salt, do change their Tartar into sweet Wine, and become clear in a months time, and suddenly have both the tast and odour as old Wines usually have. Certainly it is a secret of very great concernment, when by reason of the coldness of the Air, the Wines cannot attain unto their due maturity. N. B. There appertains to this fermentation, a singular and excellent Artifice, by which the Wines and other drinks are promoted to a speedy and strong fermentation, insomuch that the Wine boils in the Vessel, though the Vessel should be set out to the Snow and Ice in the coldest time of Winter: whereby the Wines must needs be made better, stronger, and sweeter. It is a very artificial invention, hitherto concealed by me, but now I am minded to reveal the same unto my Friends.

By the same Salt too, Wine, Ale, Metheglin, and other drinks may be in short time turned into good and sharp Vinegar without the help of the Sun, or of a warm Stove.

If therefore any one needs for his Operations any distilled Vinegar, he may even distill it in wooden Vessels, without any Sparkle of Fire, onely in the Air, by the proper efficacy of the liquors themselves, and by the help of the Air: and this in such wise, as that a whole Barrel of distilled Vinegar will not cost so much as one Token, the Barrels or Vessels excepted, which verily is a most Artificial Distillation.

Thus likewise by the same means may a sweet burning Spirit be distilled out of Ale, Wine, and other the like Liquors.

Any common Wine may be rendred so strong by the help of a certain sweet Salt and artificial fermentation, as that it cannot be drunk because of its strength. Some Pots full onely thereof, being poured into a Barrel full of small Wine, will make the same so strong, as to equalize it with generous Wine. He that is so minded may add some sweet Spices in the fermentation, and so make it the more sweet, more efficacious, and more wholsome, and so a little quantity thereof being poured into another Barrel will make all the Wine therein contained become sweet and good.

Out of common Salt may easily be made good Allum and Vitriol, no less usefull for the Dyers than the natural are.

It is likewise a thing easily feasible, and that too in few hours space, to turn the same into a fiery nature, and make it have the same property as the Salt made of Wood Ashes, and of the burnt Lees of Wine and such like, and as Pot Ashes have, and may serve for the Soap Boilers and be applied to the same uses that those Salts are used for.

Moreover, store of sweet Spirit of Salt may be gotten with small charges out of common Salt, serving not onely for the preparation of many excellent Medicaments, but also for the maturation of the meaner and unripe Metals, as we said afore.

These and the like wonderfull things, yea and very many such effects incredible to the unskilfull doth that contemptible and common Salt produce, to the exceeding benefit and profit of mankind: which excellent things I neither would nor could (for the honour of God, the giver of all good things, and for the sake and profit of mankind) any longer conceal. But some or other may object and say, if by the help of common Salt, such great things may be effected, why do not you prefer the same before Salt-peter, which you have so exceedingly praised in the third Part of the Prosperity of Germany, and have constituted it the Monarch as it were of the whole World: whereas notwithstanding it is so venemous a Dragon as is wont to devour all things. Can’t these two Salts I pray, namely the common and Salt-peter, divide the Government of the World between them, and bear sway and command both together.

To such I answer, that although that common Salt be the producer of many wonderfull effects, yet must it needs give place unto Salt-peter, which being inflamed and on Fire is wont to overturn huge Mountains, and blow them up into the Air, which thing seeing common Salt cannot do, ’tis but fitting and right that it should be dignified with so great a Title. However, being by the Operation of the Fire and Air made equal unto Salt-peter, and performing the same effects, it may then worthily be graced as Salt-peter is with the Title of Monarcy.

* * * * *

The effects which I have attributed to common Salt and Salt-peter, I can every hour shew, in very deed, to be most true. Ill therefore do they do, that bark against me for saying that Salt-peter is a universal Dissolvent, and that endeavour by their tatling reproaches to obstruct the truth.

Why do they not produce some better thing, seeing they will not admit of this universal Dissolvent? such Men as these do nothing else but bewray their own foolishness, and kick against the Pricks.

Had they ever done ought, or set their hands to work, for the sake of searching throughly into nature, they would never so boldly contemn, and reject that, which they never as yet understood. They behave themselves very basely, and clearly discover unto all Men’s view, that they have suckt in their uncertain and foolish Opinions, by the bare reading and hearing of uncertain and dubious Writers, whose meaning notwithstanding they understand not; for my part I remain constant in my Opinion, and say, that Salt-peter is an universal Dissolvent, and is able to dissolve all the things in the whole World, if it be made use of in three forms or shapes. Whatsoever the acid Spirit thereof, or the Eagle with its sharp Claws cannot effect, its fixed Salt, or the fiery Lyon will accomplish: and whatsoever is impossible to be done by these two, the Griffon which hath its rise from the Eagle and Lyon, will artificially perform.

N. B. The acid Spirit of Niter doth not dissolve sulphureous subjects, but mercurials onely: Contrarywise, the fix Niter doth not seize upon mercurial subjects, but sulphureous ones; but the flame of Salt-peter performs both: which verily is wonderfull, that things so unlike should in some few hours time be extracted out of one and the same subject. For the corrosive Spirit prepared out of Salt-peter by Distillation, and likewise the fix Salt, are most bitter enemies to each other, which ruinating and slaying one another, and being dead, return agen unto that which they were afore, and partakes of both natures; which the Ancient Philosophers do clearly point out unto us by the Griffon, which is headed and winged like an Eagle, and the hinder part of its Body like a Lyon, as we have mentioned more at large in the foregoing third part of the Prosperity of Germany.

Upon him that rightly understands this ancient Fable of the Griffon, Lion, and Eagle, doth the Sun shine, for he will get no small profit to himself thencefrom. Whatsoever the Corrosive Eagle dissolves and tears a-pieces, that the fix and fiery Lion precipitates. And whatsoever the Lion devours, that the Eagle doth agen snatch from him: but they kill each the other, of whole dead bodies the Griffon exists, which hath the body of the Eagle and Lion. By how much the oftner this labour is repeated, so much the more potent and stronger doth the Griffon come to be, [especially] if both the Eagle and the Lion have filled themselves with food and are grown fat; or by how much the bigger the Eagle and the Lion are grown, by such Subjects as are agreeable unto them, afore their mutual fighting; the Griffon doth also become of magnitude proportionable.

Once every day therefore may such a conflict, slaughter, revivification, and transmutation of these two fighting and capital Enemies, viz. the Eagle and Lion into the Griffon be made. But if you would have it profitable, then must Vulcan sharpen Saturn’s Sythe, by which he may divide the Griffon [in twain,] and may turn whatever proceeded from the Eagle, into the Eagle again; and may transmute that which arose from the Lion into the Lion agen. When the dominion of the Griffon is divided, and that the Eagle bears sway onely over his birds, and the Lion onely over his beasts, like two Kings, then all is well, and there’s no war. But if once the Eagle endeavours to snatch away from the Lion his prey, then ariseth a great war, and of so long a continuance, till they have slain each the other, of whose bodies the Gods doe make the Griffon. But when the Griffon becomes too disdainfull, and affecteth Tyranny, and designs to bear rule over birds and beasts together, he is agen divided by Vulcan, by the perswasion of old Saturn, that so he may return by a reiterated transmutation into the Eagle and Lion: which wheel [or rotation] of reciprocal transmutation doth never rest, but converts it self [or turns it self round] in a perpetual course for Man’s punishment, as long as it shall please the most high God, who, at last, will put an end to all fightings, slaughter, and contention, that afflict this world: at which time all the Eagles and Lions which ever were in the world, shall be turned into the Great Griffon, which will rend and overthrow the whole Earth.

This time all pious Souls doe expect and wait for with ardent desire, and many sighs, that they may be at last freed from the talons of the Eagles, which rend all things a-pieces, and from the claws of the roaring Lions, and enjoy everlasting peace and quietude.

Thus much may suffice to have been spoken of Salt-peter at this time, which, how it may be prepared very plentifully, and with great profit, out of the Salts of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, I have already declared in the foregoing third Part of the Prosperity of Germany. He now that dreams of so managing his affairs as to reap benefit and profit to himself thencefrom, may inquire into the business by a more accurate meditation and search. Yet let him know, That Salt-peter may be very easily made of many vile Subjects, which may be every where had: of which Salt, if you have plenty, you cannot want other things. For not onely most excellent Medicaments against all kinds of Diseases may be made with Salt-peter, as likewise the growing faculty of Fruits springing out of the Earth, be promoted, as of Corn, Wine, and such-like things necessary for the sustaining of the life of Man; but also pure good Gold may very easily, but with great profit, be gotten out of the imperfect Metals.

Seeing then, that by means thereof, a man may be supplied with firm health, food, and rayment, and with Gold and Silver, what other thing is there, I pray, that he can want? That which I have so often said, I doe here repeat and affirm, That there is not in the whole World any subject that can compare with Salt-peter, much less be preferred before it.

Such a noble, yea so kingly a Subject therefore as this is, well deserves to be most highly honoured by us, and to be searcht into by the utmost of our endeavours, because of the so great benefits it bestows upon Mankind. We will therefore proclaim and pronounce Salt-peter to be the Monarch of the whole World, though all its and my enemies, who endeavour to bespatter our honour and repute with the brands of infamy, doe even burst for malice.

O most foolish men, with how vain a hope doe ye expect the Lion and Monarch from the North, as the Jews doe their Messiah, who came above 1600 years ago. The Lion of the North, and the Monarch of the World is even at this time present, and hath always been, but yet hath been known but by a few; the full and perfect revelation of which, God alone knows. I doe verily think the time is now at hand; These things which are known unto us concerning him, are all of them but particulars, and very few too. But if the said Northern Lion shall find out and dig forth the treasures which lye hidden in the Mountains, then will he at last exhibit his power to be seen, and shew himself to be the Monarch of the whole World.

Salt-peter is that great and fire-spitting Dragon, the keeper of the Golden Apples, and that venomous Basilisk which kills all things with his looks. If he be but fixt and made constant in the fire, then is he that Salamander living in the fire, and that Phœnix the bird of the Sun, which having gathered pure Gold out of the Sand, useth it to the making of her nest, and arriving to its utmost old age, burns her self; out of whose Ashes other Phœnix’s are produced.

He that desires to know more of the Griffon, Phœnix, Dragon, Basilisk, and Salamander, all which doe exceedingly thirst after Gold, and dig it out of the Earth and keep it, may read Pliny, and other the ancient Writers of natural things; as also Ambrosius Calepine’s Dictionary of eight Languages, and of the last Edition.

The Conclusion.

These (O friendly Reader) are the things which I was willing to publish at this time for the Countries good; Had I had more time and opportunity, I would have added more profitable secrets, and such too as are of no small moment. If I find that these here written are acceptable, I will in a subjoyned Appendix make a clearer interpretation of such obscure places as may be herein met with.

N. B. I would have the friendly Reader here know, that although I have written these Four Parts of the Prosperity of Germany clear enough, above my other [Writings] [or more clear than the others] yet notwithstanding I have reserved for my self and my friends somewhat amongst all the Processes, and ways of operation, so that I know how to effect the preparations of Salt-peter, and to make use of its various properties, in extracting Gold and Silver out of the Oars, and in the melioration of the imperfect Metals, and transmuting them into Gold and Silver much easier, and far more compendiously, and with much less costs.

The things which I have written, I have written for every one, Friends and Foes together; The other, and those better Secrets, I have reserved to my self and my friends. This shall now (God willing) be my chiefest care, that my Laboratory, in which the truth of the whole business shall be shown unto my friends, may be fitted up and made ready. In the mean time, the Princes and Noble men, whose territories such metallick treasures are in, and cannot be extracted by the help of common fusion, may consider, whether or no it will be agreeable to their minds to make use of these my Artificial, and not vulgar Operations in extracting the Gold and Silver by Salt and Salt-peter out of such-like auriferous subjects. If it shall seem unto them a thing worth while, to institute such operations for the profit of their Countries, they may send unto me a fit person, and one that knows how to deal in the fire, and one that is of a silent disposition, and of good education, who may learn the very work it self in my Laboratory.

But they that are Lords of such places as doe not contain in them those auriferous Minera’s or Oars, and can nevertheless get store of them from the bordering Countries, and are desirous of amending them, and using them for their profit, we deny not to shew and disclose the Art unto them too, (the persons always considered,) namely that artificial and moist Extraction of the volatile and fix Gold, not onely out of Minerals, Stones, Sand, and Clay, but likewise out of the already-molten Metals themselves, as Lead, Tin, Iron, and Copper; in which Metals, there is often times hidden much Gold and Silver, which admits not of being extracted by the common melting Fire; but is easily drawn thereout of, by the maturation and separation that is caused by Salt and Salt-peter, and so brought to common use.

All these things we will not be loth to make friends partakers of, as likewise of other rare and artificial inventions, and such as are profitable to all kinds of men, none excepted; which are such things as will bring much profit to my Country, and shall be shewn in my Laboratory, publickly, and privately unto friends: but with this proviso, namely, if the said friends will faithfully promise unto me, that they will with a faithfull silence conceal those secrets which they shall see and learn from me, and improve the same, onely to the honour of God, to the comfort of the sick, to the help and succour of poor Widows and Orphans, and to the defence of the Truth; and not use them to Diabolical disdain, and detestable pride, and other fooleries and vanities.

The End of the Fourth Part of the Prosperity of Germany.

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