The Fifth Part: OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY

The Fifth Part: OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY

Clearly and Solidly demonstrating, and as it were shewing with the Fingers, what Alchymy is, and what benefit may by the help thereof, be gotten every where, and in most places of Germany. Written and Published to the Honour of God the giver of all good things, primarily; and to the Honour of all the great ones of the Country; and for the Health, Profit, and Assistance against Forreign Invasions, of all their Inhabitants that are by due right and obedience subject unto them.

Like as the weighty command of God injoyns all Children to love their Parents, and to submit themselves unto them, with a due obedience in all lawfull and equitable things, and to yield them due fidelity: Even so likewise doth he require from every subject a due obedience to their particular Magistrates, that they most willingly obey them (with a faithfull observance, as being the Fathers of the Countrey, and to whom they are tied by all right of Fidelity) in all such things as pass not beyond the boundaries of equity, and withall it behoves each such subject to communicate any thing whatsoever that is requisite for their safety and defence, and for the repelling and beating off the Enemies.

The consideration of this dutifull service, which binds every Subject to his Magistrate, stirred me up (seeing that greivous and sudden Fire which almost destroyed all the Kingdom of Poland, and therefore fearing, lest by dilating it self it should also detriment our Countrey) to take care in publishing, some four years ago, a little Book intituled the first Part of the Prosperity of Germany. I therein taught, by what means the vast plenty of Corn and Wine might be so concentrated as to be easily preserved and kept, and so be made serviceable for the common good, and of exceeding profit, in future calamitous times.

I likewise shewed the way and manner of some other Arts, and such as are most usefull for the common good of the Countrey, ’mongst which, that discovery of making Salt-peter out of old and rotten Wood, (from which may a vast quantity thereof be had) is none of the meanest.

I have also bethought my self of another way of pleasuring my Countrey with no small benefit afore I die, and thus I intend it.

First of all, I would have the whole World know by this small Work or Treatise, that I have a mind to demonstrate the most profitable and principal secrets which I have treated of (partly openly or plainly, and partly obscurely or more darkly) in those four parts of the Prosperity of Germany, and that both to the high and low in my publick and private Laboratory, afore this year is run about. To this end, I have already the chiefest and most necessary Utensils at hand, and when all the necessary provision is gotten together and made ready, those said Arcanums which will be so exceedingly profitable to the Countrey, shall be visibly demonstrated to such as the chiefest Magistrates shall make choise of, and to other honest Citizens and Men of the Countrey. And amongst these Arcana’s which are of such great benefit, the three following ones are the most principal.

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The first is, the making of good Salt-peter out of contemptible, and every where obvious subjects.

The second is, how by the help of this Salt-peter, easily and copiously to extract the fugitive, and the fixt Gold and Silver and Copper out of the Minera’s or Oars, with a great deal of profit and mighty advantage, and that without any melting or fusion by Fire.

The third is this, the truth and certainty of Alchymy shall be shown, and it shall be proved, that it is not any vain dream, deceitfull Phantasie or Fallacy, as the greatest part and number of its haters and Ignoramus’s have hitherto slanderously reported; but that it is a most true Artifice, and of wondrous consequence, by the help of which, (it making use of Fire and Salt,) all contemptible Minerals and Metals, and which are of no great gain, as Lead, Iron, Tin, Bismuth, Cobolt, Zink, Lap Calaminaris, Marchasites, all other fugacious Minerals may be so fixed and ripened, as that much and true and constant Gold and Silver may be extracted out of them with small costs, but abundance of profit.

These three secrets verily are in my judgment of great moment and therefore are worthy for the great ones, and Princes, and other Fathers of the common Weal to be made partakers thereof by revealing the same unto them.

I have deemed it worth while, in a few words to illustrate the incredible utility thencefrom arising, that any one that hath but any reason may perceive it.

And first, as concerning Salt-peter, the whole World knows what profitable and needfull a subject it is. There can never be so great a quantity thereof prepared, but it may not onely be applied to necessary uses but also to such as bring a great deal of profit. I forbear to speak of its most great use and exceeding profit in making Gun-powder, which no Kingdoms, no Common-wealths can want to defend their Countrey withall, and drive off their Enemies.

And if there were no need of it for this thing, yet would it be of mighty moment, and bring in abundance of profit by extracting Gold and Silver out of the poorer Oars which will not bear the charges of melting, and now there will never be so much Gold and Silver, as that it will not be of any profit to a Countrey.

Nay more, if there were no want of Gun-powder, nor of Gold nor Silver, (which time when ’twill come, and how it should come, for my part I cannot see) yet (having Peter) we cannot be in want of Bread; and how great soever the plenty is of Wine, and Corn, and Fruits, yet there is never wont to be too much. Corn and Seeds being macerated with Salt peter afore they are sown, and the Roots of Vines and Trees being moistned with a very little of its liquor, do not onely grow more plenteously, but also produce more plenty of Fruits, and such as ripen far sooner, and are of a sweeter Tast, than if they were dung’d with that stinking Beasts Dung liquor. If then, Salt-peter be a subject so excellent, as that we can by no means want it, and that it may so easily be prepared out of Wood and Stones in plenty; if above all other things it makes the Earth fruitfull, if it can extract plenty of true Gold and Silver out of the contemptible Sand and Flints, what can we desire more from it, unless it be a sound and healthfull Body, whereby we may in fulness of health quietly and peaceably enjoy such great benefits vouchsafed us by God? But now this very same Salt being justly called the wonder of the World can bestow upon us, this very health we speak of.

I do affirm that Alchymy it self, or the Transmutation of the lesser, or meaner Metals into the greater or more noble, and into Gold and Silver, is not a vain dreaming dotage, and an opinion void of reason, but is the very truth it self, and confirmed by many experiments; the demonstration of which, I do, God willing, this Summer not rashly but advisedly set about shewing it by publick and evident experiments, and its use for the good of the Country.

Now then, forasmuch as the Countrey is every where sufficiently stored with Iron, Lead, Salt and other mineral matters, and such like contemptible subjects, and yet notwithstanding there is not at present any profit arising thereby; verily it cannot be, but that in a few years time (if such melting Houses were in all places made) Men would be rendred Masters of great Treasures. Who knows what God will do, and whether or no it may not so come to pass, that it may be said of the great ones of [our] Countrey as is mentioned in Holy Writ concerning Solomon. And he made Silver as plentifull as the Stones that lie in the Streets, &c.

But that I may yet more open the Eyes of the Studious after all, and show them, by what means all these things may come to pass, and fall out true, I do hereby assure him, that there’s no need of taking those Metals for this Fusion, that are already pure enough as Iron, Lead, Tin, and already fit to be imployed about Mans use; no, those common and sulphureous leaden Minera’s or Oars which are found to be uncapable of yielding profitable and venal or sellable Lead, are well enough for this Fusion and operation we speak of; and so likewise those Irony and Coppery Oars, out of which (seeing they admit not by nature of any fusion or melting) mallable fusile Copper or Iron cannot be extracted. For this Operation of ours needs not Copper, Iron or Lead to work upon, as being content with those poor sort of Oars, and with the bare Salt which the Earth is every where well replenished withall, so that there’s no cause to fear that there will ever be a want of any matter for such an Operation.

But what need I speak much of these unknown, and so very profoundly hidden secrets of nature, seeing I have openly enough taught already, in the second part of the Miraculum Mundi, by what means, pure and natural Gold may be gotten out of every Herb. This very thing I publickly demonstrated in my Laboratory above a year ago, in the presence of most learned Men, Professors, Doctours of Physick, and other Men both noble and ignoble, as their Testimonies, which are [under] hand affirm.

But there’s no need of that, forasmuch as the manner it self of the Operation is published in Print, and manifested to every one, and there can hardly pass over one years space, but that even a thousand Men or more may imitate the Operation and search into the truth it self of the business.

But that the well minded Reader may have a little more light, and may himself see what foundations the work I have undertaken is built upon, I have judged it altogether necessary in a few words to set afore your Eyes, what Alchymy it self is, and whether or no it has any foundation in Nature and Art. For if so be any ingenious Man gives an Herb, an Animal, or a Man any name, certainly he does it not rashly and without any ground, but well knows and understands for what cause he intitles any thing by such or such a name, and it is chiefly done on this account that by such assumed names the nature of the Herb, Animal, or Man, and its properties might be known. A few Examples will illustrate it the more.

What reason have the Physicians and Philosophers of old to call the Herb St. Johnswort, perforata? Because its leaves are full of small holes, and it is so signed by nature, to shew, that it has eminent virtues [and peculiarly appointed] to take away and cure external and internal stabs and wounds of the Body, and this is confirmed by experience. Why are some Herbs called Saxifragers? because their nature is, to cleave assunder and break through great heaps of Stones in their growing up, and to penetrate through old Walls, by the growth of their hard roots. Their Seeds likewise are like unto the smallest Sand and after a sort stonyish and do break the stony matter in the Reins and Bladder of Man’s Body and bring it forth. So a Serpent hath its denomination from creeping, because it wants Feet, and creeps and crawls along on the Earth.

A Shoemaker hath his title from his making and sewing of Shoes. A Black smith is not wont to be called a Gold-smith, because he works not on Gold but on Iron, and he hath his denomination from Iron, which he is occupied about.

The same is to be understood of the word Alchymy, which denoteth no other thing save a Fusion and liquefaction of Salt, and so it teacheth us, what cause it was for, that the Ancients called the Transmutation of Metals Alchymy; viz. because of the fusing or melting of Salt, without which, no particular Transmutation of the viler Metals can be perfected and accomplished. Therefore it was not an unadvised and rash action that the Ancient Philosophers did when they put the title of Alchymy on the Transmutation of Metals, but as a Gold-smith is so called from the Gold, which he is a Labourer in, so is it with this.

The name therefore doth openly point out the matter transmuting the baser Metals into the more noble, viz. Salt, which being as an universal Agent does not onely maturate and bring to due perfection the Metals generated in the Bowels of the Earth by a natural Operation, but it also does the same out of the Earth by the Operation of Art, Salt alone, and Fire alone are sufficient for the maturation and transmutation of the unripe Metals. For Salt (as being the Agent) is driven or forced as ’twere by the Fire to display its virtues upon the Metals and by exercising its power, to render them better and more noble, as Paracelsus openly witnesseth in his Cœlum Philosophorum, saying, that the Corporal mixtion of metals though commixt a long time and kept so in Fusion, is neither wont to give, (nor indeed can contribute so much as ought to their Transmutation. But if so be the metals are to be perfected by any amending, they are to be conjoyned in a spiritual commixtion, and so they come to their hoped-for amendment; and this is very agreeable to the truth, and evidently signifies, that without a saline agent and fire, there is no way of attaining to a particular transmutation and bettering in the metals. Elias the Prophet, whose name inverted yields the word Saliæ [or Salts,] did not work his most great miracles afore he came into Zarpath, or Sarepta, that is, into the melting House [or fusing Work-shop] where he filled the poor Widows Oil Vessels, that so she might have wherewith to live in a time of scarcity. For as long as the terrestrial Salts do lie hid in barren and stoney Mountains, in which there grows nothing but Juniper Bushes, and are [there] nourished by the Stars, they cannot shew forth their wonders, but they are wont then to disclose them when they come into the melting Houses. Even so is it with Salt, when it comes into the melting Shop, it doth effect so much as not onely to fill the Oil Barrels but the Cellars and Barns too, and that plentifully, but especially when the due [or suitable] Salts Elias and Elisa do come together, and Elias is carried in his fiery Chariot into Heaven, and sundred from Elisa and doth send down a double portion of his Spirit upon Elisa his Companion; by which, Elisa being strengthned and acquiring more strength than it had afore, is made fit for greater and more powerfull Operations.

But amongst those most great miracles, this was an eminent one, that after the departure of Elisa the Prophet out of this life, there was another dead Man thrown into his Sepulchre who by the touch of his Bones was restored to life.

Therefore, like as this miracle did supernaturally happen by the divine power: Even so [doth it come to pass] naturally, by the virtues of our Sal Mirabilis corroborated with a double Spirit, which doth not onely restore a dead [body] and Wood turned by the Fire into Charcoal, when it is cast into the Sepulchre, that is into the Earthen Pot or Crucible to the white Bones of our Sal Mirabilis, and bring it (in the space of one quarter of an hour) unto its former viridity and life, and with this very green Liquor of the Wood may other half dead Trees, as also other things be restored to viridity, and increase, and their former fertility, more than by any thing else: But also, even various dead insects, if they be put to our Sal Mirabilis can recover life again. And although that this may seem a new unheard of, and incredible thing, yea a meer Paradox to any one, yet is it as true as truth it self; the true way of which Operation I will (God willing) describe and shew clearly in the first Century of my general Appendix.

But although that these wonderfull Operations of my Sal Mirabilis may seem such, as to be never capable of being effected yet, to all such as know its Composition, ’tis a thing very easily accomplished. Nor can it be but that the divine wonders should be still more and more laid open by the help of my Sal Mirabilis, and be exceedingly sown abroad, and made known to such as are ignorant. Which being done, the World will conceive a far other guess Opinion of Alchymy, and judge otherwise thereof than hitherto it has done.

But that such as are admirers of the divine and natural wonders, may clearly see how large an extent those things I have hitherto discovered, are of, I cannot omit the adding of the solar Work or Smaragdine Table of Hermes, the Father of all the Philosophers, the which being in my judgment accommodated to this discourse of mine I will illustrate.

But to summ up all I will say, I have here briefly declared, that if a Spirit be elevated or sublimed from a true Salt by the help of a strong Fire, or be drawn from out of its Body, and be again returned to the same own fixed Body left behind and be restored to it in a due manner; that fix Salt, gets double the strength and virtue it had, (as hath been shown concerning my Sal Mirabilis) and does perform things wonderfull; which Hermes and Basil Valentine have hinted unto us in these next ensuing expressions.

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_Hitherto belongs the small Circular Figure, noted =Pag. 19.= at the beginning of the third Part of the Prosperity of =Germany=._

The Smaragdine Table of =Hermes=, &c.

[See it at the end of the First Part of Miraculum Mundi.]

The Ænigma of Brother Basil Valentine.

There is a Stone, of all others the least precious, out of which is extracted a fugitive [or volatile] Fire, and out of this Fire is the Stone it self made, it is of colour white and red and yet is it no Stone. In this Stone doth nature operate, and produceth a Limpid or clear Fountain, which choaketh in the Waters and swallows up his own fixed Father, untill at length a Soul be given [or restored] him, and [his] fugitive Mother be made like [him] in the Kingdom. Likewise this Stone brings power and great strength, it exceeds the Sun in Age, [its] fugitive Mother [is] prepared by Vulcan and [its] Father [was] begotten by the Spirit. Likewise the Soul, Body, and Spirit consist or abide in two, out of which, all things are; these things are of one, and is one thing, conjoyning the fix and the fugitive. They are two, and three, and one, and if thou art ignorant of this, thou will be frustrated and deprived of the effect of the Art.

Adam is placed in a Bath, in which Venus finds her like, now this Bath was prepared by that old Dragon, when he had lost his strength and power. But now this is nothing else (saith a Philosopher) but a duplicate Mercury. In this is its name hidden, which is to be sought after with all diligence and continual labour.

The Event proves the Actions.

It seemed unto me very expedient to set down here in this place, these few, but exceeding weighty words of Hermes and Brother Basil, because they do so notably square with this Work of mine which I have here described. And therefore I do here again affirm what I have often said, viz. That he who knows Salts well, but especially Niter and Vitriol, and knows how to conjoyn them, is well skilled in Medicine and Alchymy; and sufficiently enough understands that the Smaragdine Table of Hermes is Vitriol, an excellent Smaragd or Emrald, and that Niter is (according as Paracelsus and Basil Valentine have at large described) the Kingly Infant of the Sun, with whose descriptions we at present content our selves. I will make a more prolix mention of the same in my Centuries, those things that I have adjoyned here I could not, for certain reasons let slip and pass by.

Now by these few words it is manifest, what virtues Salts are endowed withall, and what miraculous effects they shew, when they are cast into the melting Fire, viz. Such Salts as are corroborated with a double Spirit poured down from above. These Salts (I say) are wont not onely to fill the poor Widows Oil Vessels, but even the Cellars and Barns with Wine and Corn.

But I would not that any should interpret it amiss, in that I make some kind of Comparison ’twixt the wonderfull virtues of Salts, and the miracles of the Holy Prophets: For verily the thing it self admits it, and by such Comparisons, the natural light is greatly strengthned, which thing we shall speak more at large of elsewhere.

Whosoever he be that well knows the nature and properties of Salts, and is something skilled in the management of the Fire, he will hereby easily learn thus much, as easily to perceive that there is such a thing, as a profitable transmution of the more vile Metals into the more noble ones.

But there are requisite to this Operation manual Arts, peculiar Furnaces, and singular Commixtions of Metals, the knowledge of all which, he must have that desires beneficially to employ himself in these Operations. The whole Operation with all the appurtenances requisite, and all the things thereto appertaining, shall (if God please) be exposed to be seen in my Laboratory this Summer. As my Writings lately published, and the Labours performed in my Laboratory the last year, do sufficiently enough testifie that I have both publickly and privately demonstrated and manifested the truth of the chiefest secrets which I have mentioned in my Writings. And as for what remained of being done the last year, this present Book promiseth the demonstration of, this Summer. What Writer alive, did ever endeavour the demonstration of the truth of his Writings by most evident experiments? None at all save Glauber.

Therefore I doubt not but that seeing this little Book offers the Countrey such great benefits and Commodity, there will not onely be some of the Vulgar sort, but also many of the Noble ones [or Magistrates] be found, to whom the reading of the same will not be a tedious thing.

And now I return again to speak of Alchymy, openly disclosing my Opinion concerning it, and firmly averring, that Salts onely have power to wash, maturate, and perfect the unripe Metals.

But some of ther may here say, if Alchymy be the fusing of Salt, by what means can it possibly ever be, that Gold and Silver should be gotten out of Salt by melting? If there were Gold in it, cannot it be gotten forth easier than by melting in the Fire? I answer, you are not so to understand it, as if huge heaps of Gold could be gotten by a bare fusing and melting of Salt. No! no such matter. But when the Metals have Salts adjoyned to them in a due manner, and so undergo a melting Fire, they do (in that fusing) display their virtues upon the Metals, and do so bring them to a maturity as to yield forth Gold and Silver. For Salts are the universal ripening Agents, both in the dry and in the moist way, as is clearly evident from the third and fourth part of the Prosperity of Germany, so that there needs no more to be spoken as to this.

But yet, that these things may not seem new, or altogether absurd, I say, that in all Salts there lies hidden spiritual Gold, but yet it cannot be extracted from them without the addition of the Metals. For all the things that are, are generated, encreased, and sustained by the Sun, (and amongst these may be reckoned up the smallest Vegetable) do contain the fugacious beams of the Sun hidden in them, which said beams may by the benefit of Art be made corporeal and fixt. This I taught and demonstrated more prolixly in the second part of my Miraculum Mundi. I will teach the same in the first Century of my general Appendix, which said Appendix shall illustrate all my Writings with more clear notes; and I will evidently show the way, by which true and natural Gold is to be gotten (by the benefit of a certain precipitating matter, out of Sea Salt, both by the dry and by the moist way. This Operation brings not any considerable profit, but doth in very truth show the possibility of the thing. But he who knows the way of conjoyning true and due [or proper] Metals with legitimate [or suitable] Salts, and of handling them in a due and true way of Fusion, will get Gold and Silver out of all the imperfect Metals, and that with no small profit; and this shall be demonstrated in my Laboratory this present Summer by God’s help.

And for the more evident proof hereof, it seems worth while to adjoyn a Story out of the Journal of William Litgou of England, [rather Scotland] who Journying through Italy, testifies that he saw in Trapundia, a City in Sicilia, much Gold excocted or drawn out of Sea Salt; which thing, seeing it agrees with my Opinion, and confirms what I say, I will add the Words of the Authour himself as they are in Latin.

“The fourth City of Sicily, is Trapundia, scituate in the West-side, and opposite to the City Biserta, seated on the Barbarian Coast of Africa, which yields pure Gold, which is exported by the Merchants into Italy, Venice, Dalmatia, and Greece. It is excocted in some Artificially made Salt-pits by the more vehement beams of the Sun, which Pits are filled and emptied every month. Now the Salt here on the Sea-shore, has a colour like the redness of a Ruby, or Corral: The City is almost the one half of it imployed about working thereupon. The Gold it self being purged is distributed throughout the whole Christian World.”

These are the words of the said Authour, I know nothing of the certainty of the thing it self, he that is desirous to find out the truth of this Relation may easily do it. As for my self, I easily credit this Relation, because of the Mount Ætna which always is burning in that Island, and because of the Sulphur too, which all the Land of Sicily abounds withall. And verily it seems a thing altogether likely, that when the Inhabitants of this Island upon the Seashore, make Salt of the Sea Water for their necessary use, by digging Pits in the Earth after the manner of all those hot Countries, and letting in the Sea Water, and that the warm beams of the Sun separate [or any of] the unprofitable sweet [or insipid] Water, in Vapour, and that that Water of Salt is endued with a notable sharpness; it extracts the Sulphur out of the Earth which is there in plenty every where, and it renders this [Sulpher] by the help of the heat of the Sun, constant, corporal and fixt, so as that it can be afterwards molten in a melting Furnace into Gold. If now the most hot beams of the Sun, and Salt Water can change common earthly Sulphur into Gold, why may not the same be done also by the benefit of Fire, Salt, and Art.

That all Gold is at first naturally generated of a pure Sulphur in the Earth, no body will indeed deny. That any Sulphur may by the help of Fire and Salt be fixed and changed into natural Gold, daily experience witnesseth, not onely in my own Laboratory, but in my Disciples Laboratories too, the which, visibly demonstrates, and even by manual Operation confirms the truth of those things which I have mentioned in the second part of my Miraculum Mundi, hereabouts.

That which is mentioned in the old Hymn of the Ancient Church-Fathers, viz. who made Gold of Rods or Twigs, and Gems of Stones, seems to the ignorant altogether as Paradoxal, new, and incredible: and from which ’tis gathered that St. John the Evangelist made Gold of Sticks of Wood, and Gems of common Stones: I can in a few words demonstrate that both are true.

Dissolve common Sulphur, or any Vegetable in common Salt, this Solution will make the Sulphur of a red colour. Keep this Solution for at least one hours space in the Fire, you shall find a little of the Sulphur changed into Gold; to the red Salt, adjoyn the Calx of Saturn, melt them by Fusion into one Body, and reduce the Lead by a Cupel, you shall find a grain of Gold, it yields indeed no profit but demonstrates the certainty and possibility of Art. But if any one shall be skilled in managing this Operation in great quantity (as shall be done this Summer in my Laboratory) he will not complain of loss, but will always get profit.

But let this suffice as to the making Gold out of any Wood, or any Herb, by the help of Fire and Salt.

Let us now see by what means Stones of manifold colours may be made by the help of Salt, out of Wood or any Herb. Adjoyn to the red Salt made of Wood, a little Powder of white Flints, put them in a Crucible, and melt them in the Fire, that they may become a red Glass, resembling almost the colour of a Ruby; if you keep them longer in the melting, the red colour will be changed into a green, and have the likeness of an Emrald: After this, comes a sky-colour, resembling a Saphir, then follows a yellow, not unlike a Jacynth: then in a longer continuance of Fire, it becomes black and like an Agath. Indeed these Stones are no harder than common Glass, but as to their colours and beauty do exactly resemble the precious natural Stones.

These two Arcanum’s indeed do as to the outside view seem not very excellent, but yet I believe, the well minded Reader, to whom I offer them as a pledge or Love-token for to remember me by, will not think them (seeing they teach the extracting of Gold out of any Wood or Vegetable, and how by white Flints to make Stones of several colours) of so small a moment or value, as they appear here to be, but will believe that he has a foundation laid open for him, to arrive to greater secrets.

As concerning these kind of wonderfull things, and Transmutations hitherto unknown to the World, and changing things into more noble and better Species, I will treat more at large in the ten Centuries, in which, my Writings shall be declared with more evident and clearer Explications, to which I refer the well minded Reader, concluding this Book with those Verses of Ovid.

_Jamque opus exegi, quod nec Jovis ira, nec Ignis, Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas._

And now, a work I finisht have, of which, =Jove’s= wrath, or flame, Or Sword, or all devouring time can ne’er raze out the name.

An APPENDIX TO THE FIFTH PART OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY.

Clearly and perspicuously revealing and declaring, (for the benefit and profit’s sake of the whole Countrey) by what means those three Arcana’s promised in the said fifth part are to be advantageously effected. Together with an adjoyned Explication of some obscurer places which are not so clearly disclosed in the third and fourth parts of the Prosperity of Germany, as likewise in the first Century.

Friendly Reader,

I doubt not, but it will seem a wonder to many, that =Arcana’s= of so great moment and so much utility should be laid open by me, in so perspicuous and evident a description, as for every one thoroughly to know them.

However, any Body may easily perswade himself that I have not so done without weighty causes, which to reckon up here at present, I judge it not so altogether necessary, but that it will be more commodious to refer it to some other convenient time. The chiefest and which is the most over-swaying reason amongst all the rest, is this, =viz.= the perverseness of some abusive Men, not onely endeavouring to make my Writings envied [or hated] by Men of common rank, but also by the great ones, by their lying reproachfull slaunders; and especially most falsely averring, that those three =Arcana’s= which I promised in the Fifth Part of the Prosperity of =Germany=, are of no profit, and therefore cannot be effected with any advantage, and that I my self sought after nothing else by promising their discovery, save onely by imposing them upon [or selling them unto] others to scrape some Monies together. Now forasmuch as this is the property of Slanders, to be admitted far easilier and readilier than the truth it self, and that for this reason many have diverted their minds from the truth of this thing by busying them about these Calumnies, and so have not known how the case stands; but (on the contrary) seeing I am conscious of mine own Innocency, and am far wide of those Crimes so falsely charged on me, I have judged it most just and most highly necessary, not to suffer those most false Accusations to rest upon me, but to shew the contrary to the Eyes of the whole World, and by demonstrating and disclosing the very truth it self, to recover my honour so perfidiously and treacherously snatcht from me; the which could not possibly be done by any better way than this.

Necessity therefore required the Work it self to speak, and to defend its own self, which indeed is a true and genuine defence, and way of stopping the shameless and lying Mouths of all reproachfull Slanderers. God will in time recompence such false Mens most wicked Works, whereby they have exceedingly injured me. Mean while every one may apply these most profitable inventions to their use, and undertake the doing one or other of the Operations whereby they may reap some benefit, which I wish them from my Soul.

Nor do I doubt, but that a very many Men will, by following the Doctrine by me prescribed, and insisting upon the foot-steps of my Writings, which are founded on the truth, as being a sure Foundation, =get themselves no small profit=; whilest they quietly and peaceably enjoy the gainfull practising on my =Arcana’s=: And especially of that most easie secret, by which, fugacious and volatile Gold is extracted out of all kinds of Flints, (every where plentifully offering themselves, and so by the help of Lead, is rendred Corporeal. Which Work verily is such, as that one Man doth no ways damnifie another by, but may rather help and profit him. Therefore do I at present affirm to every body with that truth which God loves, and will defend, that all the following Operations which I manifest in the publishing this little Treatise, have been wrought by me not once onely but often times, and have been shown to many others, so that no body has any reason to doubt hereof, nor need he be sollicitous about any other thing but how wisely to manage, the Operation, and to be diligent about his labours. But if it should so fall out as that a Man should commit an errour or two, which may easily happen, let him not ascribe the errours he commits, to the Art it self, and thereupon to accuse it of falsity, but let him rather inquire into the occasions and reasons of his own errours, and without doubt by such enquiries will he attain his end, and get the hoped for fruit: in which thing, my first and second Century will by an easie Manuduction help him.

These are the things which for the truths sake and to witness it, was I willing to produce. And I do hereby signifie to every one that now my publick Laboratory is at an end, and shall remain shut for time to come, which I was willing every one should know.

[The first] Operation shewing the way of reducing any Lead, or any Vein of Lead by the help of common Salt, [and] by Coals, into Ashes, in the Furnace called =Stichofen=, that so the Gold and Silver may be extracted with profit.

Take of Lead or a Leaden Vein two parts, and of common Salt one part. The Lead Oar is to be ground in a Mill, and so are they to be commixt, and by little and little thrown with a Shovel upon the Coals in the Furnace, serving to make Ashes, and which has Pipes or Chimnyes fitted thereunto to receive the fume and the ascending Flores. That molten part of Metal and Salt which falls through the Grate is to be again taken up with your Shovel, and cast in upon the Coals untill the whole Metal, or all that metallick Vein shall be turned into Ashes. Then farther, all the burnt matter, is to be freed by divers washings from all the defilements, and the remaining Ashes of the Metal or Metallick Vein, is to be reduced into a Metal in a Furnace which the Germans call Stichofen. These incinerations and reductions are to be so often and so long repeated, untill you find (by making trial with some little piece) that your Lead is now fitted to be handled or wrought on in the Hearths or Furnaces by the Fire of Separation. For then in the Hearths or Tests it is changed into Litharge, whereby it may the more commodiously yield forth the Gold and Silver, which by the Fire and Salt are therein maturated.

N. B. But you are here to observe that the leaden Oars can indeed be commixed with the Salt, and so thrown in upon the Coals: But now Lead admits not of being so dealt withall, for it is not mixable with the Salt, and therefore it requires that the Salt be first cast in upon the Coals, and then must it be thrown in afterwards at top of it. And this way is to be observed and so often repeated and so long, always throwing in, first the Salt then the Lead, till the Lead being turned into ashes, hath wholly lost its metallick Fusion. The said ashes are to be washt with Water and reduced in the Furnace, on such wise as we spake of but now.

N. B. Other lesser Metals may be added to the Lead or to the leaden Vein or Oar, and so be reduced into Ashes together, as Tin, Iron or Copper. But yet these leaden Oars are more advantageous and profitable if they are taken alone, as being more fit for this kind of labour, seeing they have already in them Iron and Copper, and yield not any good and vendible Lead, by reason of their wild nature, and so there’s no need of burning up Copper and Tin which are already vendible.

N. B. Whilest this Incineration is done, many Metallick Flores does ascend up into the Receptacles appointed for the fume to go up in, and which are adjoyned to the Furnace, which (if need be) may be taken out, and by washings be freed from the Salt which ascended together with them, and by Reduction be restored or reduced to their former body: and will yield Lead which contains in it Silver, and is to be converted into Litharge like other Lead, that the Silver may be separated therefrom.

This likewise is heedfully to be observed in the other Minera’s or Oars turned into Ashes, that afore their Reduction, they be thoroughly washt from all the Salt, and the light filths or defilements are to be well separated from the metalline body; for if this be neglected, the Salt being forced with the strong blast of the Bellows would carry off the Metal together with it self, and the Ashes of the Coals would hinder the Fusion of the Metal it self, and reduce the same into Scoria’s.

As concerning the Reduction it self, this is well to be regarded, that the Fire must be kindled in the Furnace at least two hours afore the Ashes of the Oars that are to be reduced, are to be put in, that so the Furnace may be thoroughly bright-hot within; for if it be not through fiery-hot, the Cast in Minera’s melt not, and being not molten they lie in the Fire, and hinder the blast of the Bellows, and spoil the Operation it self.

These labours therefore require a skilfull Artificer, and one versed in such Operations, for they are not so very Facile as they seem to many, to appear to be.

Then farther, this is likewise to be noted, that if the Minera’s or Oars that you take to this Operation are full of Sulphur, and that that Sulphur is not wholly taken away by torrifying [or calcining them] it will by its fierceness reduce in the melting the body of the good Metal into Scoria’s, and instead of Metal present you with Dross. And this is that Incineration and Reduction which I have showed in my Laboratory, both to Friends and Enemies; But yet I have (since that time) found out a far easier way of doing this labour, by the help of which, one Man will do more in one day, than he could otherwise in eight days. But because this way is not as yet made common, it seems not convenient in my Opinion to divulge it here; for as much as I have determined with my self in this present Appendix to disclose onely those things which I exposed to be seen in my Laboratory by others.

By what means Gold, Silver, yea and Copper too, may with great profit be extracted out of the poor Metallick Veins by the moist way, and which cannot quit the costs of doing it by Fire.

First of all, the metallick Earths are to be made red hot, and to be quenched in cold Water, that so being made brittle they may be ground in a Mill. If Sulphur be admixt in them, then must they by a foregoing fireing be freed from the same, because the Sulphur hinders the Aqua Fortis, from duely dissolving those Oars. Being now thus prepared, they are to be put into the stronger Glasses, or into Earthen Cucurbits made of the best Clay, and the following Water is to be poured upon them, and is to cover them over three fingers breadth. The Cucurbit being filled with these matters is to be set in a Case [or Pot] full of Sand, and prepared for this use, and all the Water is to be drawn therefrom by Distillation: which is not onely all of it again recovered, but withall doth get it self an encrease or augmentation from the Salt-peter or the Salt, so that there ascends more Water by Distillation than was poured on.

The Oars are to be taken out of the Cucurbit, (or Cucurbits, if there were more Pots used) and being taken forth you must pour common Water thereupon to extract the remaining Salt thereout of, in the which Salt is found the Gold and the Silver that was in the Oars.

N. B. This is to be observed in this labour, that all the Spirits are not to be drawn off from the Oars even to the dry Salt; and this not onely to shun the dammage that might happen by breaking the Glasses, but also for this reason, viz. that there may be left behind with the Salt a little Acrimony, because of some Salts which easily pass into Salt-peter when some Aqua Fortis is drawn off them. And albeit that Aqua Fortis will easily turn the whole Body of Kitchin Salt into Salt-peter, yet notwithstanding ’mongst all the Salts one Salt admits of a speedier, another of a slow Transmutation, according as it is more or less akin in its nature unto Salt-peter.

And therefore to prevent this errour, some humidity is to be left with the Oars. For when all the Spirits are drawn off, and the Salt is turned into Salt-peter, the Water would not be sharp enough to hold up the Gold that is extracted, when the Solution is made, for the Water would dissolve barely the Salt-peter, and leave the Gold remaining behind with the Oar.

If this errour should chance to be committed, the Salt-peter is to be extracted out of the Oars with the Water, and more new Salt must be poured on upon the same Oars together with the Aqua Regis that was drawn off by Distillation; that so this Aqua Regis having been once abstracted may not afterwards transmute all the Salt thereto added into Salt-peter. For by how much the oftner the Aqua Fortis is drawn off from the Salt, so much the less is the Salt turned by it into Salt-peter, and at length, it will come to such a pass as to remain just as it was afore the abstraction [of the so oft drawn off Spirit.] For this is the nature of Aqua Fortis, viz. to transmute half its weight of Salt into Salt-peter at the first time; the second time it transmutes but a fourth part; the third time much less; and at length will transmute none at all; but puts on the nature of Spirit of Salt; which notwithstanding is most fit to extract Gold and Copper withall out of the Oars in infinitum, if Salt be thereto added, out of which, it is wont to get it self a perpetual encrease (and be) like other Spirit of Salt.

Now then, to prevent this inconvenience, the Aqua Fortis may be left off for altogether, and those Minerals and Metallick Earths may be extracted with the Spirit of Salt onely, and Salt added thereunto: onely observing this thing in the Distillation, viz. that some of the humidity be left behind with the Oars whereby they may be the easilier taken out of the Glasses.

Moreover this is to be likewise known, that Gold, Silver, and Copper may be extracted out of their Oars or Earths even without Aqua Fortis or Spirit of Salt, if onely Salt or Salt-peter be but added. For if some Oil of Vitriol or of Sulphur be poured upon the Water of Salt-peter, or that the Water of Salt be acuated therewithall, it becomes strong enough to extract Gold, and after the extraction and distilling the Phlegm off, there follows by distilling a pleasant Spirit of Salt, or from Salt-peter a good Aqua Fortis. This labour therefore is more gainfull and less troublesome, than if Aqua Fortis or Spirit of Salt were used thereunto.

There are other easier and more compendious ways of extracting Gold, Silver and Copper out of their Earths, which, seeing they have not been as yet shown in my Laboratory, I shall silently pass them by at present and that not without reason. But yet there is frequent mention made of the like [Operations] in my first Century, in which he who has an earnest desire to know more of those kind of ways, may make enquiry.

_The Preparation of sutable and proper Waters to extract Gold, Silver and Copper out of poor Oars._

Take of Salt-peter one part, of common Aqua Fortis two parts; these being joyned together, extract Silver and also Copper. But to extract Gold out of its Oars or Minerals, there must be taken one part of common Salt, and four parts of Aqua Fortis. One pound of Salt, and four of Aqua Fortis, make four pounds and ½ of Aqua Regia, the other half pound of Salt stays behind with the Metallick Veins or Oars in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and contains the Gold that was in them, and is to be extracted with common Water.

The way of getting out the Gold and Silver out of the washt-out Salts by precipitation, and of reducing them to their peculiar bodies without detriment or loss.

If it be Water of Salt-peter and hath Silver in it, the Water of Salt being poured in, precipitates the Silver to the bottom. But if Water of Salt, and has Gold in it, the Gold is precipitated by pouring on a Lixivium which hath in it a little liquour of Flints. And now this Water it self thus mixt by pouring (other precipitating liquors on it) yields (by decoction) most excellent Salt-peter. And the Aqua Fortis and Aqua Regis, which ascended by Distillation, are fit to make new extractions of Gold, Silver, and Copper out of their Earths; and by iterated extractions (by the Salts and Waters thereto added) do they get a perpetual encrease, insomuch that in these extractions of Gold, Silver, and Copper, there are not required at all any other expences save those few, bestowed on firing. Therefore in the beginning of this Work there is not required ought else but one onely pound of Aqua Fortis, because in the progress of the Work it proceeds on to an infinite encrease, yea, enough for the extraction of many thousands of pounds.

(Hence is it that this Work is an unheard of Operation, and doth almost exceed all belief, and from which there must an immense gain of necessity accrew, because Gold, Silver, and Copper may by this means be extracted out of their poor Metallick Earths without costs.

There remains yet one thing which is to be heedfully regarded in the precipitation of the Gold and Silver. A common Lixivium cannot precipitate all the Gold out of the Aqua Regis, and therefore I bid you add to the Lixivium some liquor of Flints, and this will also appear in my first Century.

Therefore it behoves every one, clearly to see whether or no he makes use of true and genuine Liquor of Flints in his Operation, that so he may not instead of it, use a bare simple Lixivium onely, and so commit a great errour, as it hath happened to some as I have been told.

But he that can’t make true and good liquor of Flints, or else has it not at hand, may substitute in its steed, common Spirit of Urine prepared in a Copper still, which together with the said liquor precipitates all the Gold out of the Aqua Regis.

N. B. But this Gold thus precipitated by Spirit of Urine, fulminates like Gun-powder, unless it be burnt with common Brimstone afore the Reduction, and that this fulminating faculty be taken away from it, which inconvenience the liquour of Flints is not wont to bring.

N. B. If there should be much Zink, Iron, or Lapis Calaminaris in the Oars of Gold or Silver, the Aqua Fortis or Aqua Regis would not all ascend by the Distillation, nor get increase; but some part thereof would stay with those Metallick Earths, and with the Lapis Calaminaris, &c. and by adhering thereunto be concentrated: but yet there would not be any loss by that, for by the pouring on a Lixivium of Wood-ashes, may it be turned into good Salt-peter, of as much value as may easily recompence the charges of the Aq. Fortis, or Aq. Regia.

Besides, you are likewise to observe this, that if there should be Copper admixt in the Oars of the Gold and Silver, the Aq. Fortis would extract the Copper too, as well as the Silver.

But now the nearest way of separating these two Metals from each other, is this, Let Spirit of Salt be poured to the Aq. Fortis, and it will precipitate all the Silver out of the Aq. Fortis, down to the bottom and the Copper will be left in the water; which if you put some Iron into, it will stick to the Iron, and by this means be gotten out of the water.

This water now, after the Metals are withdrawn from it, is fit to make new Salt-peter with, and by addition of Vitriol to yield a new Aq. Fortis by distillation.

Alkali Salts do in the Fusing bring the precipitated Silver to its former body, which otherwise is very fugacious.

The Copper is turned into excellent Verdigrease. And so the Oars of Copper, though never so poor, may be extracted, and that with no small benefit: Because the Verdigrease made of the bare Copper is twice the price of the molten Copper it self.

_The manner of making good Salt-peter in plenty, out of Kitchin-Salt and =Calx-vive=._

Take the Stones of Lime, which have been thorowly changed or reduced into Powder by the Air, four parts: of Kitchin Salt, or Common Salt, one part, [by weight, and not by measure] whether pure or impure [it matters not:] and of this mixture is a thickish paste to be made by moistning it with Urine, or, in want of that, with Water; which is to be made up into a Pile with Wood, and so may it be made Stratum super stratum, of what bigness you please: and it may be done in a Furnace made for that purpose, or else in the open Field abroad in the Air. But you must beware in the building up of this Pile, that the mass of Salt and Calx-vive be not too thick laid, and too much; but it would be better to make it up in balls or pellets, that so they may be well fired by the flame, which must penetrate everywhere through the pervious heap or pile: which cannot be, if the mass be spread too broad, and so stop up the passages of the flame.

The heap being made as big as you are minded to have it, the fire must be put under, and so long fed, till all the wood is burnt, and the balls themselves have been red-hot, a whole hour at least: that the Acrimony of the Salt may in so great a heat be changed by the Calx-vive, and get it self a milder nature, and consequently be so much the easier transmuted into Salt-peter.

N. B. The Salt that is on this wise transmuted, is most fit for dunging Lands, and to be used instead of the common beasts dung, as I have at large taught long ago in many places of my Writings.

This is the preparation of turning Salt into Salt-peter, which Artifice, if any be minded to work about, it is necessary for him to order his Operation this following way.

The manner of making Salt-peter out of this prepared Salt.

First of all, this introverted Salt must be exposed to the open Air, and beams of the Sun; but yet so, as that the heap may not be moistned by the Rain, and it must lie in its heap the heighth of some three or four Feet; the which heap is to be wetted either with Man’s piss or Beasts; or if there be not enough of this to be had, then with bare water onely, that so the pellets or balls lying quietly for some days, may be dissolved and be mixed with the rest of the matter.

Now when the warm Air hath consumed all the humidity, and dried up the heap, the aforesaid moistning is to be repeated; which being again consumed, and the heap dried, the labour of repeated moistnings and exsiccations is to be so long continued, as long as necessity requireth: For in long progress of time is the Salt-peter generated, which must be washed out with water, and by decoction be reduced into Stria’s or Crystals.

This generation of Salt-peter proceeds indeed slowly on, but yet it brings a great profit. For if once the Salt-peter be but generated in such an heap of Salt, and the reliques left after the washing out of the Peter be again put to the same heap, there will new Salt-peter be generated in process of time: so that new Salt-peter will every year offer it self to be washt out of the heap: and this work may be continued without end.

But he that would have some Salt-peter from this inverted Salt in a shorter tract of time, let him know, that the Seed or Ferment of Salt-peter must be added unto the said heap, that so this same Seed may get augmentation from the Salt, and encrease and grow, like as an herb is wont to grow in a fat and saline Earth. For all things have their Seeds, and doe draw their Encrease out of other Salts. The Seed of Salt-peter is volatile, as is its acid Spirit: its Root is fixed Niter; which being implanted in all sharp Salts, doth beget Salt-peter in a most plentifull manner, and such as is very good, or even better than that which ariseth out of those acid Salts and Alcalies.

We doe not here show this propagation of fix Salt-peter by acid Salts, because it is described in the following Labour and Operation.

Therefore like as any Vegetable may be propagated and multiplied not onely by the help of its Seed, but even of its Root too; Even just so is it with Salt-peter, for it admits of propagation and multiplication by the means both of its Seed and of its Root, as other Herbs doe.

As concerning the Seed of Salt-peter, it is very easily preparable by those who deal in metallick separations and extractions by the moist way. For if Gold be separated from Silver by Aq. Fortis; or that Gold and Silver be by it extracted out of their Oars, this very operation hath already abundantly recompenced the charges laid out thereon, and so it offers it self without any costs, and as it were Gratis.

And now, if I pour this water on, instead of common Water, upon the inverted Salt, it does not onely become good Salt-peter, but doth also yield (as being the Seed of true Salt-peter) an hundred fold encrease, after the manner of the Seed of all Vegetables, and doth the same as they do. And by how much the more of this Nitrous Seed is sown in the Earth, so much the more Salt-peter, and so much the sooner too is generated. For when a Gardener doth sow his Seed sparingly, he must necessarily have but a thin harvest: and so on the contrary is it to be understood of a plentifull harvest. And if now there should be any one that should upbraid the Gardener with the slowness of his Seed, because it produceth not Buds, nor Stalks, nor Flowers, nor Fruits in a few days space, would not he say that he cannot compell nature, for it reserves to it self its due time, and its natural course?

The very same would I have you understand here concerning Salt-peter: if haply my Enemies, those most ignorant Sheepsheads, would object against me, that seeing the Salt-peter doth not presently, in a few days, grow or spring forth from its seed sown, therefore that seed was nor true nor good, or that it is altogether impossible that Salt-peter should be generated so plenteously out of Common Salt: I answer such, as the Gardener does, ’Tis necessary to allow Nature her own appointed time.

But that it may evidently appear, that this my planting of Salt-peter, and that this augmentation may be far more evidently demonstrated, than that of any Vegetable seed; the business may be tried for confirmation sake in a small Experiment, afore you set about a more laborious and prolix exercise, and to prevent your fears of attempting it in vain.

Take the Salt prepared with the Calx-vive three pound, and put each a-part in several Earthen Vessels. Take likewise of the Water of Salt-peter already used (as being the Seed of Salt-peter) one ounce, two ounces, and four ounces: with the one ounce of that Aq. Fortis commix as much Common water as may serve to moisten one pound of the aforesaid inverted Salt: Then to the two ounces of the same Aq. Fortis, adjoyn likewise as much water as may serve to moisten the other pound of Salt with: And so doe with the other four ounces, and therewithall moisten the third pound: Set those three Pots, containing the three several pounds of the said prepared Salt, at the heat of the Sun, but so, as that the Rain may not come, and wash off all the Salt. All the moisture being consumed by the Solar heat, moisten your matters in your pots with Rain water onely, so often, as the drying needs the watering it. When two or three months are over, take out each pound separately by washing it out of the matters in each pot, and you shall find a vast difference, and shall see that that one pound of Salt which had those four ounces of Nitrous seed in it will be all transmuted into Salt-peter, save a few feces: but that pound which had two ounces of the said Seed poured upon it, will contain a lesser portion of Salt-peter; and the other which had but one ounce onely will have the least portion. Moreover, if you pour those Salt-waters you washt out, and which are not yet turned into Salt-peter, upon the feces again, and so dry it as afore, and bestow yet other three months on these exsiccations and moistnings, and then again boil the Salt-peter out of the Salt, it will be much encreased and bettered; and so you will have so much the greater encrease of Salt, by how much the longer you shall have prosecuted this Labour. Such Experiments doe demonstrate, that by how much the more Seed there is sown in a fat and salt Earth, so much the more plentifull encrease of the Seed is to be expected.

But those deriding mockers and persecutors of Art and Truth may here object and say, that the Salt-peter ariseth from the Salt-peter water onely that was put thereunto, and not from the Salt it self? But I answer, That that used Aq. Fortis is indeed the Seed of Salt-peter, but can never recover the Nature of Salt-peter without the help of some fix body: Like as the Seed of an herb cannot become an herb, unless it be cast into a moist and salt Earth, from thence doth it get its body, and so is encreased.

Verily I willingly confess, that the Spirit of Nitre may be reduced to the former nature of Salt peter, by assuming it self a body out of all the fix Salts. But yet, as far as I have hitherto known, by my manifold inquiries and investigations a long time, I could not find any other Salt (save the following) by the help of which, those Waters used about metalline Washings, may be sooner and better transmuted into Salt-peter, like as this, and the following Salts doe: And therefore I doe commend it as of the best rank for the making of Salt-peter. The manner of preparing good salt Nitre out of the extracted Oars is already revealed in the first Century, and therefore needs no superfluous repetition here.

Another Preparation of Salt for the making of Salt-peter.

Take Common Salt one part, and of a sulphureous Oar, which the Germans call Schewelkies, two or three parts, if they contain less Sulphur: But if they have Vitriol in them too, then must you take equal parts of both. Grind the sulphureous Mineral in a Mill, mix it with the Salt, and heat it red-hot by well torrifying or calcining them for two hours (in Furnaces serving for such a work,) either upon a Grate, or else without a Grate, upon Hearths; that so, during this Candefaction, the Sulphur may have ingress into the Salt, and may alter it. This Salt being washt out of the sulphureous Minera with water, and boiled till a skin gathers at top of the water, it shoots into long Stria’s or Crystals, like Salt-peter, and tasts like it, but falls into Powder in a warmish Air. If it be burnt and prepared by putting Calx-vive thereto, after the way afore going, it is convertible into good Salt-peter, but sooner and in a shorter time. If the Minera’s you use have Copper in them, or any other Metal, yet nevertheless may they be gotten out thence by fusion, for there will be nothing lost in this operation but the Sulphur; and this must have been driven away by burning it, however, if you would have any of the Metal out of the Minera.

N. B. The Caput mortuum out of which the Spirit of Salt by the addition of the Vitriol is extracted, yields such a like Salt, and very fit to make Salt-peter withall. There are also several other ways, which yield no small plenty of such Salts, and that in a manner without any costs, especially if the help of Stone-coals be thereto used. Besides too; this you are to be advised of, that (seeing the Salt is to be burnt with the Calx-vive) one Calx is better than another, for some Lime stones are more apt for the making of Salt-peter, but primarily those, which when you touch your tongue with, doe yield a fiery tast; with which sort, the Lime made of Sea-shells doth not compare as to goodness.

By what means the Root of Salt-peter is to be implanted in acid Salts, so as to be thereby augmented, like at the Root of a Vegetable, being transplanted, gets an increase from the saltness of the Earth.

Even as we have demonstrated in the foregoing discourse, that the acid Spirit of Nitre is the seed of Salt-peter, and doth encrease it self out of Alkali Salts like as an Herb doth out of the Earth: Even so by the same reason, fix Salt-peter, which is the root of Salt-peter, admits of transplantation, yet not by fixed Salts, like as the sharp Spirit does, but by sharp Salts, whereto it is to be united by implantation: For, two Acidities, and two Alkalies, cannot produce any new Essence, but two Contraries doe always produce a third. The acid Salt, which is of the meanest acidity, and which doth easiliest admit of being transmuted into Salt-peter, is the common Kitchin-Salt, which we taught the way but even now of inverting by the Minera’s of Sulphur. And if that such provision cannot be had to prepare it by, the very Kitchin-salt it self being taken both in the moist and in the dry way, would perform the same, as I have already shown in other places of my Writings. And as for the making of fix Nitre, you may meet with the way of doing that too and agen in my other Writings, and especially in that place where I have treated of the dry separation of washing of Metals, viz. when sulphureous and Antimonial Metals are washed by Nitre.

_The way of preparing Spirit of Salt, necessary for the Extracting of Gold and Copper out of their Oars; as likewise of making good Salt-peter of the matter left after the distillation is finished._

Mix with two parts of Vitriol or Allum, one part of Kitchin-salt, and throw in this mixture upon hot burning Coals, the Spirits of which are to be taken in great Leaden Cisterns instead of Receivers. This operation (besides the salt Spirit it gives) yields also sharp Flores. If any shall provide himself with double Leaden Cisterns, and shall make the Outer one to hold in it the lesser Cistern, and so fill this outer one with cold water, he shall obtain more plenty of Spirits by reason of this better refrigeration. But such Cisterns requires a great deal of Lead; for verily even those three alone which I had in my Laboratory contained a thousand and forty pounds of sheet Lead.

There may be other kinds of Receivers applied to this use, which, to reckon up, would be too tedious in this Book.

The matter remaining after the Distillation may be ground in a Mill, and one part thereof mixt with two parts of Calx-vive; and so balls are to be made thereof, and to be put upon wood and burnt, as we shewed afore, that so they may be transmuted into Salt-peter.

But besides all these, there hath been a far better and more compendious incineration, and bettering of the lesser and more perfect Metals shown and demonstrated to my friends, in my Laboratory, which requires not so many Circumstances and Labours, as the foregoing more prolix operation, which is performed by throwing Common Salt upon the Coals, does: For it is to be done in a peculiar Furnace, and with purer Salts; and being wrought about a greater work, yields very considerable profit: so that it impregnates Silver and Lead with Gold, with twenty four hours easie labour, and renders them worth the labour of separation.

In like manner, Copper may by the help of such Labours be very much amended, and gets no small portion of Silver, if it be added: so that with a little fire and a very few expences, every sort of Copper, though it has endured the fire scarce twenty four hours, is wont to be so much bettered, as to shew in the Touchstone the marks of two, three, and sometimes six Lots, according as it has been diligently and circumspectly handled. Hence comes it to pass, that by vile and every-where obvious Subjects any Silver and Lead may be maturated by little and little into Gold, and so may Copper it self be ripened without any detriment into good Silver, by a few repeated Labours. Now these operations requiring but small costs, and but a few labours to accomplish it, may be exercised without intermission, and bring vast profit. These inventions are such as never were as yet thought on by any, and so never at any time saw the Light. But now they that saw and learned, in my Laboratory, the great incineration, did not all of them see this Labour and Artifice, and apprehend its use, but such of them onely that stayed out constant, even to the end of the whole Demonstration in my Laboratory. And as for such as too soon forsook their Master and the School, they are (and indeed very deservedly) altogether ignorant of this operation. For should they have been masters of this Arcanum too, they would verily have detrimented me more, which God of his mercy prevented, and hereby provided, that all [my Arcana’s] should not fall altogether into mine Enemies hands. The Furnace which I used about the said Incineration and Melioration of Metals, is as yet in my Laboratory, and will haply there remain all this Winter. But as for mine own part, I have determined with my self to leave off Chymical Labours, communicating them to others, with whom this more compendious bettering of the Metals will be yet longer to be seen. Therefore all the whole Drove of my Enemies, though never so big, will not at all be able to oppress the truth, what mad attempts soever they make against it. For although one or another of them hath theevishly stole from me my Secrets, yet presently the Divine goodness hath largely supplied me with others. I have now laid a sure Foundation in Alchymy, and have kindled a Light for both Friends and Enemies, which will very hardly be extinguisht as long as the World endures.

But now, that some little knowledge may be had of this more compendious Incineration, and bettering of Metals, viz. of Iron, Copper, Tin and Lead into Silver, and of Lune into Gold; I say that it is to be done in a twofold manner. The first is, when the Metals are destroyed either with common, or else with prepared and moist Chymical Fires, and converted out of their own Metallick being into an Earthy nature and Essence, are imbibed with spiritual Salts, and burnt by a close Cementation, so as by their mutual efficacy and actings upon each other, to amend themselves, and afterwards by reduction and separation to yield forth Silver and Gold with profit. And this Labour admits of being exercised in as great a quantity and plenty as any one pleaseth, and is clearly void of tedious troublesomeness, and great expences, for one onely person may discharge this Operation in one onely Chimny, and that with no small quantity of matter too. Nay more, (and which is of greater moment) if any one shall in this operation make use of such Salts as they call Graduating Salts, which are easie to be got, and cost almost nothing, he will get far greater profit, especially if he shall put Copper-plates to be burnt with the Metals reduced by the said Cementation into ashes which said Plates, those Graduating Spirits will penetrate wholly and throughout, and in this penetration, better them, and bring them unto a more noble degree, so as to give on the Test, Silver impregnated with Gold. Nor is it necessary that those Copper-plates be separated by Lead in the secret Pot, so to get the Gold and Silver made in them, by the said operation, though they have already gotten a meanly-white Colour. ’Tis better and more profitable to put them yet again in some new Cementations, and urge them more with the violence of the Fire, and they will be enriched with a greater access of Gold and silver, then afterwards are they to be Separated by adding a due [quantity of] Lead, which is [thus] done, when the Lead containing the Gold and Silver, together with the Copper, are melted together into a great Cake, these are to be put in the Furnace, which the Germans call Seigerofen, that so the Lead melting may flow down, and in flowing or running down may carry away with it all the Silver and Gold that was in the Copper. By this Artifice is the Copper conserved, and is to be a new made into Plates, and to be used about new Labours, and be again enriched with Gold and Silver by Cementation.

N. B. There is not at all any need of any peculiar Lead for this Separation of the Copper, forasmuch as that Lead may be used thereabouts which is molten out of the Powders of the Cement, and already contains in it Gold and Silver, which Metals are conserved by one and the same work in the labour of Separation, and are already gotten by the Gradatory Cements out of the Minerals, and the more imperfect Metals.

And this now is my more compendious Incineration and Cementation of the imperfect Metals, to make them better and more perfect. This Operation have I shown to some Friends in my Laboratory, which will moreover be in many places exercised with profit. And now any one may easily foresee and guess, what shame mine Enemies, (who with their Diabolical Clamours and Calumnies, say my Writings are unprofitable and all over full of Lyes,) must at length be confounded withall, and how basely they have behaved themselves. Nor verily is it to be doubted but that there will be such frequent exercise and so familiar a practice of Alchymy (which is an Art that produceth infinite benefits) throughout all Europe, that even abundance of Work-men [or Trades men] will leave their Trades, and many Countrey-men leave their Plows, and set themselves about Alchymy, and by the Assistance of my Writings get themselves Food and Rayment in an easier and pleasanter way, even out of the contemptible Sand, and abject Stones. Whereupon it will of necessity follow, that in all those places where now poverty is rife, plenty of Gold and Silver will again come in sight. These are new fruits which God bestoweth in this Age. And every one that gets so far as to obtain their fruits, let him have regard to the poor and needy, and not forget his Benefactours from whom such things proceeded lest he pull upon himself the wrath and anger of God.

Moreover, there were some other Arcana’s ocularly demonstrated in my Laboratory, during the shewing of those meer prolix secrets, the reckoning up of which here I judge needless. Some of them are of no small concernment, which by the same Sinister or unlucky mishap fell into the hands of mine Enemies, and will without all doubt be by them manifested. For that very reason will I my self reveal some, in my second Century (God permitting) that it may not be concealed from any one, what excellent secrets I have disclosed for the use of mankind.

’Mongst other Arcana’s, this is none of the meanest, which, [viz.] teacheth to extract Copper, (by Waters of almost no cost or charges, out of poor Oars of Copper which are every where obvious, and are not rich enough to defray the charges necessary for a melting Fire,) and bring it to use, and that in great quantity, and so easily as that without question the poor Countrey-men that can very hardly sustain themselves, their Wives and Children, will for the time to come set about such an Operation, and get such Minera’s or Oars, or even the Scorias of them, to extract the Copper out of them and sell it, and so provide themselves Food and Rayment against a sharp Winter, whereas otherwise they must live miserably in want and poverty. The Operation it self is this.

How Copper may easily and very profitably be extracted and made corporeal (without any melting or fusion) by a certain Water of very small expences.

There are two sorts of Oars or Veins of Copper met withall, some are mixt with Sulphur, and refuse extracting with Aqua Fortis; insomuch that you must first remove the Sulphur from them by rotting as it were and burning them, afore that Salts or sharp Waters can display their virtues upon them. Now that roasting (or calcining) then, is to be done on Hearths by the flame of Wood, on which, that metalline matter broken into Powder, is to be uncessantly stirred with Iron Instruments, so long till it emits no more sulphureous stinch: This done, they admit of extraction with Aqua Fortis.

Other Minera’s or Oars which have no Sulphur admixt with them, need not this calcining, for they are to be onely heated red hot in the Fire and quencht, with Water and so broken to pieces, and then are they made fit for extraction.

But all sharp Waters which dissolve Copper may be used to extract the Copper out of poor coppery Oars, and that with profit, when the Waters are of no great costs, but are to be had for a very little charges. Such are an Acetum or Vinegar of Corn, Acetum of Woods, which any Countryman may get easily and in great quantity; also, Water of common Salt, Water of the Lees of Wine, out of which adust Wine (or Brandy) or Spirit of Wine is prepared, and which else are cast away. These two latter are of the meanest price, and may therefore be easiest of all gotten. The Operation it self is this.

The Oars being reduced into Powder must be put into small and low (Copper) Pans, about the thickness of a Span, for if they should lie too thick or compact, they would more hardly be stirred with a wooden Stick: Upon them thus lying in the Pans, pour that acid Water the heighth of a Span or at least a hands breadth above the matters; then put Fire under the Pans, let it boil strongly, and let the matter be uncessantly stirred, that so the Water coming to it in every part, it may extract all the Copper the more easily. When this Water has boiled one or two hours, and so gotten a most green colour, and that it can dissolve no more Copper, it must be poured out, and more put on, and be on such wise boiled so long till it hath gotten the same colour. Now this pouring on is to be repeated with new Water so often and so long till it imbibes (or extracts) no more greenness, which is a sign that all the Copper is extracted out of the Oars.

N. B. If there should be but little Copper in the Oars, the first Water will extract all the Copper, and so there will not need the pouring on any other Water. Nay more, it sometimes happens that even the first Water would attract more Copper if the Oars had had more of the same. Therefore the Copper is not to be precipitated out of that Water which hath not extracted Copper enough, but is to be reserved and poured upon new Oars, that it may be thoroughly impregnated with Copper, and so the precipitation with Iron may not be used in vain. For by how much the more Copper, the Waters shall be extracted (or held up in them) so much the greater is the gain, and so much the less Water is required to this Work.

It is a thing easie to be understood by him that shall thoroughly search into this Operation, and manage it with due diligence, so as to commit no errour.

N. B. If you have store of these green Waters, put in some old Iron for one or two nights, and you shall get out the Copper that will adhere unto it like filed Copper, and ’twill leave the Water white and clear, which said Water can be used no more about this kind of extraction, but may be poured upon Calx-vive mixt with Wood-ashes, and so be dried up, by the Air or the Sun, under some Roof to keep off Rain, and from this used Water, and the Calx or Lime is Salt-peter generated in such a manner as I taught afore.

N. B. This Copper which sticks on to the Iron, is to be freed from all the Saltishness by washing it with common Water, and is to be afterwards dried, and so may be used in the stead of pure Copper, for if molten it nothing at all differs therefrom, if the Operation be but well managed. Nay more, it has in it a most notable Commodity, as being more tender and more pure, and more commodious for many Operations than that gross common Copper is. ’Tis also very fit to be converted into most excellent Virdigreese, if it be moistned with sharp Vinegar and set in the heat.

Moreover I have shown in my publick Laboratory, by what means Spirit of Salt, Aqua Fortis, Aqua Regis, and my Sal Mirabilis may be easily gotten, and that in great quantity too, by a Separatory Sulphur, which is nothing else but Oil of Sulphur or of Vitriol, of which I have very clearly treated in the second part of the Miraculum Mundi. Likewise how Gold may in one quarter of an hours space be converted by the Sal Mirabilis (in a Crucible) into its first matter; or, into a red, transparent, sulphureous, and soluble Stone, which suffers it self to be dissolved by common Water into a most excellent Medicine. This golden Water being poured to the roots of Herbs, makes them to have a golden property, as concerning this thing you may consult my Treatise of the nature of Salts, and the second part of my Miraculum Mundi.

Besides, I have shown to some of my Friends, how in the extraction of Gold and Silver out of the poor Oars a Gradatory and withall fixing Spirit may be received, which is able by graduation to perfect (or exalt) any Argent-vive into Gold and Silver, according as the extraction has been made either of Gold or Silver Oars.

This so great a secret hath as yet escaped mine enemies hands, and so has that my secret incineration and cementation of Metals, of which they would likewise have been Masters had they waited but yet two or three days longer; for I presently showed such Operations to those that stayed, and unto other honest Spectators.

To these may be also added that notable Arcanum of bringing Lead in one quarter of an hours space to such a pass, by means of a graduating Fulmen, without almost any costs, as to be so impregnated with Gold as to be worth the separating.

These and such like Arcana’s with many most profitable discourses have been seen and heard in my Laboratory, a tedious and needless Repetition of which I willingly omit.

Finally, to mention somewhat by way of addition, ’tis necessary that I say onely thus much, that happily in some short time, the business will so come about that many Men will not for the time to come take on them such a deal of care about the laborious, costly, and uncertain ordering of Mine-pits, but will rather lay hold on and manage (and that with greater profit) such as can be had and gotten better on the outside of the Earth. But especialy there will not be a few who will set about these Cementations of mine for gains sake, for they have many times many lying idle by them, and which yields them no profit, which by this assisting way they will augment, and without doubt it will be effected too by many.

Verily I cannot at all see (as far as I know) whether there can be found any honester and certainer way of sustaining Life in the whole World, than this true melioration of Metals, which brings with it so great a benefit. For even Merchandise it self though it be so very gainfull, yet doth it stick amidst Sins, as firmly as a Nail does in a Wall.

The Services of Lords and great Men are laborious and full of servitude, which many have experienced. And as for War, that snatcheth away abundance of Men by an immature death.

Far better therefore is it to live quietly with one’s Family in some poor Cottage, and to feed on a piece of Bread, than to hunt after uncertain Riches by most great dangers. Therefore I doubt not but there will be many found for time to come, who being holpen by my Writings, will more commodiously sustain themselves together with their Wives and Children, than hath been hitherto done. Nor do I at all doubt, but that many will take it very untowardly, that I have so manifestly and so perspicuously revealed all things. For this is often done and daily is it, that I am upon that account reprehended by others, as the following Letter may witness, the like of which I could have here added more had I so listed.

There is no Body can satisfie all. Even Jupiter is not the same (or alike acceptable) to all: One is troubled with hear, another is burdened with cold. What things soever I have written, they are clear and evident to such as are skilfull in the Art, and have understanding in the business, and therefore they had rather I had written more darkly. But the unskilfull and ignorant do judge that I have plaid the Sophister in Writing, because they hit not the mark.

But all their judgments and Censures mought be tolerated whatever they be that they pass upon my Writings, did they not by reason of their ignorance, contemn the good things themselves, and say of such things as are most true, that they are Fallacies and Lies: but this needs not seem strange to any, forasmuch as such wicked contemnings proceed from those that by reason of ignorance and blockishness do no better understand the business. But this is plainly diabolical, to be highly benefited by any one, and to be made partaker of such great secrets, and yet afterwards impudently to deny the same and say, that they never had any good thing conferred upon them. The detestable malice and impiety of these Men hath enforced me to manifest in this Appendix, so many excellent secrets, which I would at no time have laid open, had I not been so treacherously deceived by those perfidious Men.

This is the Letter written unto me, of which I made some mention even now.

“Thou hast written too clearly, and again too manifestly; beware lest God stir not up against thee another new Farnerian Devil, to punish thy easiness [or forwardness] of publishing such Mysteries. For they are not to be profaned by the ungodly, let not the present corruption of Men deceive thee, and that blindness [of theirs] which for the most part ariseth therefrom; for all wicked Men are not blind, I know many Farners that are defiled with all kinds of Evil, and yet are not all of them so blinded as thy Farner is. Nay, their Wit is so penetrative and so clear-sighted, that should they but read the divine Books that thou hast published there would not be a secret in all nature, but they would know it; nay more, they would in a short time perfect that Philosophick Work. Which should it so come to pass, (the more’s the grief) what a many Slaughters, what Whoredoms, how many ruinings! And what evils of all sorts would break in upon mankind; of the which, thou thy self (though innocent) would’st be the cause. I know that the detestable Calumnies of the impious Farner enforced thee to publish them, for he every where reported and to all, that thou wert ignorant of them. But my most dear Sir, what is your knowledge as a thing of nothing, unless another likewise knows that you know it? God knows that thou knowest, for he gave thee thy knowledge. Thine own conscience also knows it. What? Cannot these two most plenarily bless or make a Wise Man happy? The pleasure that depends on the Opinion of Men is unhappy. In vain do we seek after true Felicity without us, if so be its solid principle or foundation should be within us. What matters it, if Men think thee to be less learned than thou art, as long as the very light it self of nature shines unto thee? I would to God that I could once accomplish that, which, by thy divine Books it is most certainly manifest unto me, thou hast perfected, and let all Men believe me to be a most stupid Fellow; I wish not thus, as if I did at all doubt of the truth of any Work. For though I should have perfected the whole work an hundred times, I could scarce be more certain of the truth thereof [than now.] He that knows the way of concentrating Fire, and of uniting the terrestrial Sun to this concentrated Fire, and the Arcana’s of Fermentations doubts not, nor seeks after any thing more. I may boldly say, that seeing nature doth perform whatever she has a mind unto, by these three, it must necessarily be, that it should do some most eminent thing. But if I could but once have finished the Work it self amidst those thousand of businesses that have hitherto withheld me, and kept me off from the Operation, I should have been long ago able to wind my self out of the intricacies of this present Age, and wholly devoted my self unto God, and to the most holy Philosophy. I beseech thee therefore my [dear] Master, and entreat thee by God and by the most laudable charity thou owest thy Neighbours, to write more obscurely for the time to come, nay, and if it may be, to wrap over the Books thou hast already published with some new cloudings, lest that celestial treasure fall into the hands of the unworthy, and so become hurtfull to pious Men. Pardon Sir the liberty of my complaint, for there is no other cause thereof save piety to God, and a Zeal to the most Learned, most upright Man, and one that too well deserves from ungratefull mankind. And albeit thou knowest not me, yet canst thou not be unknown to the Curious, seeing thou hast Written such wonderfull things. Nor can there be any one that shall but once have read over thy Books, but he will be highly obliged unto thee, if he has but any light of Justice [or Righteousness] remaining in him, &c.”

Many such like Letters as these, have been ofttimes sent me from learned and skilfull Men, tending to this end, to warn me not to publish such excellent secrets for the time to come. Yet nevertheless, amongst those that are rendred partaker of such, there are some who (although the Operation it self has been sometimes manually showed them very perspicuously and clearly,) are notwithstanding so sottish and ignorant, as that they cannot imitate the aforeshown Operation. But some there are also that are come to such an heighth of Treachery, as that (being either seduced by their own false malice, or drawn away with the desire of profit,) they deny even the truth, certainty and stability of that very thing themselves have manually experienced, and dare to say it is false, this verily is an astonishing and detestably malicious wickedness, and justly and deservedly gives every one an occasion to shun such devilish Men more than a Dog or Snake.

I Glauber may justly and deservedly be compared with a burning Candle, by serving others, am I consumed; have not I by the publishing such very excellent Writings kindled a clear and new light to the whole World, and added and consumed mine own peculiar Oil, and that in vain too, as reaping no recompence proceeding from a gratefull mind?

_An Explanation of some obscure places which are to be met withall in the Third and Fourth Part of the =Prosperity of Germany=, and in the first Century._

In the Third Part of the Prosperity of Germany.

In the Operation which teacheth to extract Gold and Silver with profit, out of all Oars or Metallick Earths, in Page 360, =A.= signifies =Lapis Calaminaris=.

Page 361. =A.= is once met withall there, and signifies the same =Lapis Calaminaris=.

_In Page 370, the same Letter =A=, once put, signifies the same =Lapis Calaminaris=._

_In Page 370. =b.= where we treat of the Waters used about Washing or Edulcoration, and show their use, the Letter =B.= signifies pieces of Cloth, and the Letter =C.= the shells of Eggs, and all Cockle-shells and Muscle-shells, [or Shell-fish] of all kinds, in the water and out of the water: but the Letter =D.= denotes the Feces or Lees of Wine._

In the same Page, the Letter =E.= shows or signifies Eggshells, and the Shells of all Shell-fish.

The Letter =F.= signifies Stones and Lime.

In Page 371. =a.= the Letter =G.= signifies Oil of Vitriol.

In the Fourth Part of the Prosperity of Germany.

In Page 397. =b.= the Letter =A.= signifies one part, and =B.= three parts.

_In Page 398. =a.= by the first =X.= is understood =Alkalies=, and by the other =X.= is meant a fixt Salt, helping on Liquefaction or Fusion._

Here follow some profitable Operations, and which appertain to the Extraction of Metallick Earths; they are indeed treated of, or published in the first Century; but because of the omitting of some words, they are hard to be understood: which, forasmuch as they comprise the things that primarily concern the Extraction of Gold and Silver, it seemed to me a matter worth the while to insert the same in this Appendix, the which (as I hope) will not be unacceptable to those that search after such great Secrets.

31. _By what means volatile Gold is to be compendiously extracted by the moist way, out of coloured Flints, red Talk, Granates, Sand, Clay, and such-like Oars or Minerals, and made corporeal._

First of all, such Minerals are to be heated red-hot in the Fire, and be quenched, then ground with Mill-stones, and are to be put in Stone-Pots, or Waldenburg-Pots, or Colein-Pots, that in them they may be moistned with pouring Aqua Regia thereupon. These Pots you must put Coals about, and heat them well. The Minera’s being together with the Aqua Regia well heated, there must be poured thereupon so much Common warm water, as will suffice to wash off the Aqua Regia. Being on this wise moistned, they are to be put into great Pots made of good Potters Earth, having a many little holes in the bottom, over which is some Cap-paper to be spread, that nothing of the Oars fall out through the holes, but the water onely may distill down. After that all the first water is run out, you must pour on more hot water, and these pourings on are to be so often repeated, till the water tasts on more saltish, for then it has carried off with it the Aqua Regia that contained the Gold in it.

N. B. The Pots are to be set upon a Bench or Dresser that hath holes in it, so that the [Waters] may pass through the bottoms by the holes, and Vessels may be set there-under.

N. B. The Minerals may also be put in Barrels, having a double bottom, such as those Barrels are in which they use to wash out the Salt-peter with Common water out of the Earth. And now after the same manner are the pourings on of Common water to be so long continued till there is no more saltishness perceived.

N. B. Albeit that there is no more tast of saltness discernable, yet nevertheless some of the Salt doth as yet abide with them, [viz. with the Oars] and which is to be turned into Salt-peter, on this wise following.

32. _How good Salt-peter is to be made with profit even out of these Oars._

Mix these Minera’s that are thus deprived of their Gold with an equal weight of Calx-vive and Wood-ashes, then heap them up in a heap under some Shed or Pent-house, and moisten them for half a year, or for an whole year by repeated pourings on, of either Man’s piss or Beasts, as often as (after the drying up of the moisture) need requires. In want of Piss you may use Common water. By this means the Aqua Regia, which was not thoroughly washt off with the warm water, and so remained behind in the Oars, will, by the assistance of Urine, or even of Rain-water, convert the Salt in the Calx-vive into good Salt-peter, which is to be washt off like other Salt-peters, and be reduced into Stria’s or Crystals. The remaining matter being freed of the Salt-peter by washing it off, may be again put under the same Shed or Roof, to keep off the Rain, and be exposed to the Air and Solar heat, and be moistned with Urine, and it will in its season again yield Salt-peter, and will even keep doing the same for many following years, if it be dealt withall on the like manner. And so even the very Aqua Fortis it self, which remained behind in the Oars, will bring its benefit. The reason of this manner of Salt-peter making is this, because the Aqua Fortis, or Spirit of Nitre, is as it were the seed of Salt-peter, and is of this nature, viz. when it is put among other Salts, (like as when some Vegetable seed is sown in the Earth,) it augments it self thereby, and is multiplied, even as the Seeds of Herbs are wont to doe. And haply, hence came that old Proverb, of sowing Salt, which the unskilfull and ignorant mock at, saying, How can it be possibly done, that Salt should be sown and multiplied, seeing the Rain can dissolve it and wash it away? These foolish ones did not know either what Salt was to be sown, or how. Evident it is, that even this is the sentence and opinion of the ancient Philosophers, that even Salt may be sown and multiplied in the manner of Vegetables.

N. B. Out of the extracted Oars or Minerals being conjoyned with Calx-vive and Wood-ashes, may Salt-peter be made, in a few days space, by moistning the matters with pouring on, even barely Common water, and so drying it up again: but then there will not be such a quantity, as when more continued and more frequent pourings on of Urine have preceded.

N. B. It is likewise a thing possible to be done, to make good Salt-peter even in one days space, with the Waters used about the Edulcoration [or washing of the Oars] if they be poured upon Calx-vive so long till all the noise [or tissing ceaseth] which is made in the Solution. And thus out of the sharp water of Salt-peter, and the fix Salt in the Calx-vive is presently generated Salt-peter, shooting into long and delicate Crystals, after that the superfluous moisture shall have been thence drawn off in a Copper-pan. The remaining Salt-peter water must be again boiled in a Copper even to the appearance of a thin skin, and then be set in the cold to shoot more Salt-peter; these Labours are you to go on withall untill all the Salt-peter be boil’d out.

I think now that I have written and delivered all things perspicuously and clearly: He that cannot comprehend them, must even let them alone as an Ass must the Harp.

As concerning the sharp Waters which are used about the Extracting of Gold out of the Minerals or Oars, so as the Gold may not be lost that is in them, but be conserved, and that with profit, there are several ways that offer themselves, amongst which we have thought good to produce these following.

33. _The ways of Reducing volatile and fixt Gold unto a body, out of the Edulcorating Waters (so called) with which the Gold aforesaid hath been Extracted out of the Oars; and also of usefully or profitably improving the said already used Waters themselves._

He that desireth to enter upon the best way, may pour into the Solution of the Gold, or into the Water containing the dissolved Gold, a Solution of Silver or Lead, and in such a quantity as he shall guess the Gold is of, that is dissolved in the Water. As for Example.

Suppose there be two or three Lots [Lotones or half Ounces] of Gold in the water, there must then likewise be dissolved so many Lots of Silver or Lead in Aqua Fortis, or thereabouts; which Solution is to be (be it more or less) put to the said water, and to be well mixt by a strong shaking it to and fro, till it becomes like Milk. When it shall have settled, it must be shaken again, and those strong agitations must be several times repeated in an hours space. Then all being well settled, the clear water is to be poured off, and the grosser matter is to be put in a Filter, that so all the humidity may by distillation [or filtration] be removed from the dissolved Lune, or dissolved Lead, and the Metals themselves may afterwards by reduction be reduced into their pristine body, by such an help as we will presently teach.

N. B. If the Silver or the Lead should not have extracted all the Gold out of she Water, or drawn it to themselves, which may easily happen, yet notwithstanding there is not any loss of the same. For, because the Aqua Regia being debilitated by pouring plenty of water thereupon is rendred unfit to extract any Oar anew, there may be poured into that edulcorating Water out of which the Gold is already drawn by the Solution of Silver or Lead, a sharp [or strong] Lixivium made of Wood-ashes and Calx-vive, and rendred a little sharper by a little Liquor of Flints. For the Flints doe precipitate all the Gold out of the Solutions. And now the Aqua Regia being kill’d by the Lixivium, lets fall every Metal that it has in it, whether it be onely Gold, or Copper, or Iron, in the form of a yellow Powder: This Powder is to be dried, and to be reduced after that manner which I told you but now, that I would teach.

The same Gold may likewise be gotten out of the Aqua Regia (first debilitated by Common water) very commodiously by a Solution of Mercury or Quicksilver put thereinto; The Mercury abides in the Aqua Regia, and the Gold falls to the bottom like a tender fine Powder, which being washt and made corporeal by reduction will be 24 Carracts fine. And as for getting the Mercury out of the Aqua Regia, it is not to be better done than by pouring thereinto a sharp Lixivium, by which the Mercury is constrained to fall down to the bottom like a yellow Powder, which is profitable for such-like precipitations. The Aqua Regia and the Lixivium serve for to make Salt-peter withall.

The Edulcorating-water out of which all the Metals are already reduced [or precipitated] being boil’d in Coppers, till a skin appear at top, and then poured out into other Coppers or wooden Vessels, yield excellent Salt-peter, fit for the distillation of Aqua Fortis for a new Operation. He that is skill’d in managing this work, will get as much Salt-peter as will pay the costs of the Aqua Fortis; insomuch, that the Gold is extracted without any costs. For five or six pound of Aqua Fortis, which holds in it two or three pound of dissolved Salt, and is precipitated with a sharp Lixivium of Calx-vive yields about some ten pounds of Salt-peter: and this will certainly answer the price of the Water or Aqua Fortis; and so you will have Gold extracted out of the Stones without expence or charges.

34. _Another and better way of getting out the Gold that is Extracted out of the Oars, out of the =Aqua Fortis=._

Make, by Calcination, some Ashes, of one part of Tin, and four parts of Lead, and put them in an Iron-pot, whereto pour the extracted Gold, or the Aqua Fortis containing the Gold, boil it and continually stir the Calx with an Iron rod, that so all the sharp Spirits may cleave to the Lead and Tin ashes, and the Phlegm onely may exhale. After that the said Calx of the Metals hath concentrated all the Spirits, and is become wholly dry, let it be taken out, and be cast upon Coals in a secret Melting-pot or Crucible, in which operation the fire forceth out all the Spirits into the Recipient, which are to be again made use of for new Extractions. The volatile Gold, and which is mixt with Iron, adheres to the Calx of the Metals, and is to be reduced in the Furnace which the Germans call Stichofen; whereby the Lead impregnated with the Gold, and exalted by it, is gotten, which by reparation yields the Gold and Silver.

N. B. If that Lead should not contain Gold enough as to be worth the while of separating it on the Cupel [or Test] it is to be again commixt with Tin, and be reduced into Ashes, and by this Calx are new Extractions to be Concentrated, that so by the so many repeated Labours, the Lead is at length made rich enough, and yields (by separation) a good portion of Gold and Silver.

If (in the separating) the matter be turned by the blast of Bellows into Litharge, it is not needfull to melt such a deal of Lead on the Tests, which would require so much fire. But however, it is a thing feasable for the Gold to be gotten out of [or by] the Tests without melting, which shall be taught afterwards.

35. How an =Aqua Regia= is easily acquired for the Extraction of Stones.

Forasmuch as Spirit of Salt may be had in great quantity, you need onely dissolve some Salt-peter therein, and this Solution is to be used to extract the Minerals withall. For the Spirit of Salt being made stronger by the Salt-peter, doth readily and willingly seize upon the tender Gold that is in the Stones. And as for the Spirit of Salt, it may be used as it comes over in the first distillation without any rectification.

36. An easier way of getting an =Aqua Regia= usefull for extraction.

Because that these Operations do always bring forth Silver impregnated with Gold, and that Aqua Fortis is requisite to make the Separation of them; the Solution of Silver may be used, and so the labour of the aforesaid incineration be omitted. Into the Aqua Regia wherewith you have extracted the Gold, pour in a Solution of Silver, and it will fish out the greatest part of the Gold out of the Aq. Reg. and is, [viz. the Aq. Reg.] to be afterwards made use of to a new extraction, and be again divested of its extracted Gold by a Solution of Silver. In want of a Solution of Silver, the extract is to be concentrated with the Ashes of Lead, and you must proceed (by driving off the Spirit out of the Ashes, and by reducing the same Ashes in a Furnace,) after the same manner as we taught you but now in our foregoing directions.

N. B. You are here to note, that the Aq. Fort. which containeth in it the dissolved Silver, and is poured into the Aq. Reg. or nitrous Spirit of Salt, doth add an encrease unto these same Waters. For the Aq. Fort. doth corroborate the Spirit of Salt far better than Salt-peter doth.

37. _How the Silver (wherewith the Gold has been separated out of the =Aq. Regia=) is to be gotten [or reduced] out of its =Calx=._

After that the Solution of the Silver being poured into the Aqua Regia, hath extracted the greatest part of the Gold; the Aqua Regia is to be poured off clear from the Silver remaining in the bottom, and is to be used about new Extractions. But if so be it should yet contain Iron in it, it must be concentrated by Lead-ashes. The white Calx of Silver is to be put upon some Cloth over a glass or stone Vessel, and so is to be freed from the remaining Aqua Regia, which will drop from it; and by pouring on of warm water, it must be altogether rid of the Aqua Regia, which as yet adheres thereunto. This done, your Linnen-cloth being strong and three double, the Common water is to be squeezed strongly thereout of, and the Calx it self laid by, to dry; which may afterwards be reduced in the Secret Crucible, or be used about a Cementation of Lapis Calaminaris into Gold and Silver.

38. _How the said =Calx= of Silver is to be reduced without any loss of its weight, and without any Detriment._

Forasmuch as this white Calx of Silver is made so very volatile by the Salts, as that it cannot be reduced at all in the common melting Pots or Crucibles without great Detriment, there is no way of preventing that loss more commodiously than this which follows.

Mix this silvery Calx with an equal weight of a Sal Alkali, and cast it into the secret red hot Crucible, wider at bottom and narrower at the top, the which you must cover with its Cover made of the Lute of Wisedom. By this means will the Calx melt, nor will it lose any thing by fume, nor will it penetrate into the melting Pot or Crucible: and so the Silver impregnated with the Gold will be conserved without hurt, which being granulated the Gold may be separated by Aq. Fortis: Now this very Solution of the Silver by the Aq. Fortis, may be again used to gather [or separate] more new extracted Gold, and so will afterwards produce the Silver to be reduced the same way we instructed thee, and so give thee a perpetual Separatory Operation of Gold and Silver, which may every where be exercised with a great deal of profit.

39. Another way teaching to reduce fugacious Silver with greater profit.

Put upon the Rudder of thy Silvery Ship, the little Fish called Remora, that so it may be freed from its speedy flight, and abide quiet. Melt thy said Ship together with the Remora that fits on the Rudder in the secret four-square melting Pot, in which melting together, there is not onely recovered all the Silver without any Detriment, but it doth also get an increase of its weight, out of the white Bristles or Fins of the little Fish, and becomes enriched with Gold by its Bloud: so that this Additament yields (in the Reduction) a greater quantity of better Silver than other Additaments do. But as concerning other Commodities or Benefits that this fugacious Silver bestows, it shall (God willing) be taught afterwards.

Thus much was I willing at present to teach and reveal, concerning the extracting of volatile Gold out of Stones and the poorer Oars, and of a successive graduating of Silver into Gold. There shall be more taught elsewhere.

40. _A gainfull extraction out of the poor Oars or Minera’s of Silver and Copper, by the moist way._

These Minerals or Oars are to be dealt with after the same way as we showed above about the Minera’s of Gold, viz. they are to be heated red hot, quenched, and ground with Mill-stones and be moistned with Aqua Fortis, and to be extracted after the like manner as the Oars or Minera’s of Gold are, all the difference being onely in the Waters; for Aqua Regis is to be used to extract the Gold with, and Aqua Fortis for the extraction of the Silver. If therefore there be the Minera’s of Gold and Silver at hand, the Gold is to be extracted by Aqua Regis, and the Silver by Aqua Fortis; and both the Solutions are to be mixt together, in which mixion the Silver precipitates to the bottom in the Aqua Regis, and withall fisheth out the Gold out of the Aqua Regis.

Neither is it here any impediment if the Oar of Silver should also contain Copper in it, which will be extracted together with the Aqua Fortis. For the Silver and Gold fall down to the bottom, and the Copper abides in the Aqua Regia, which is again fit to extract more Gold withall, and may indeed be used as many times as any one shall please. The Copper it self is extracted out of the Aqua Regis by Iron Plates, but they tinge the Aqua Regis with a yellow colour, and therefore make it altogether unfit for any farther labours of this kind. Better is it therefore to concentrate it upon the Ashes of Lead, that so that spiritual Iron in the Aqua Regis, may convert some of the Lead into Gold by Gradation, and the Aqua Regis it self having been so often used may be yet again used.

41. _Another far easier way of plentifully extracting Gold and Silver out of the poor Minera’s or Oars, Sand and Clay, and the like Minerals without the Fire of melting._

Fill a Glass Cucurbit, or one made of the best Earth, and excellently well luted a little more than half full, with the Minera, Sand, or Stones containing in them, fugitive and fix Gold, and hereupon pour as much of the following Menstruum as is sufficient to moisten them; then presently put on an Alembick (for assoon as ever the dissolving Water is poured on the Oars or Minera’s, it presently works and fumes) and draw off therefrom (in Sand) all the humidity by Distillation: that so in the distilling the Gold it self may be dissolved, and the Aqua Regis it self may by Distillation be recovered; which is again profitable for a new Operation, as we shall tell you by and by. All the moisture being drawn off, let the Cucurbit cool in the Sand, and then take it out, and put in some Water, that the Minera’s and Salt may be softned. Now extract very carefully and diligently, all the Salt out of the Oar, in which said Salt is the Gold that is extracted out of the Oars or Minera’s, and boil it up into a red Salt, to which must be added some Litharge, and so must be molten in such Pots as will not break. The Litharge will imbibe all the Gold, which how it is to be separated from the Lead, we will presently teach in the following discourse.

42. The preparation of the Water necessary to this extraction.

For the extraction of Gold, Salt is to be dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and for the extraction of Silver, you must dissolve Salt-peter in Aqua Fortis. With these Waters, of which you may furnish your self with plenty without any great labour, moisten the Oars and then distill them off again from the said Oars, and they will be always fit for such like Operations, insomuch that you need never to make new Waters. Nay more, in all the several Operations and Extractions of the Oars, they will be more and more augmented, so that if thou usest but at first no more than two pounds of the same Waters, they may suffice thee for infinite extractions.

N. B. By this means, all the Gold, how little soever, may be extracted by thee out of all Flints, Sand, and other Minerals without any expences, the Fire onely excepted.

This also is expedient for me here to show, that sometimes there are to be found fugacious Minera’s of Gold, and coloured Flints which are sufficiently rich with Gold, and are painted as ’twere with delicate colours, viz. green, sky-colour, and red: but in the heating them red hot, those colours vanish, and leave the Flints white. Such as these admit not of heating red hot, like as others do, which retain their colours in a red hot Fire. Therefore such must be reduced into Powder without any previous heating red hot, and you must extract them [as they are] that so the volatile Gold may be attracted by the Aqua Regis, which said Gold being abstracted [again] by the Ashes of Lead commits it self to [or imbibes it self in] the said Ashes, which are to be reduced by the help of the secret Crucible; in which Reduction, the Gold becomes corporeal and admits of being separated from the Lead with profit.

N. B. Such Stones may likewise be mixed with the sharp coagulated Spirits, and these [Spirits] may be forced over by a Retort: For so, the fugitive Spirits of the Salts carry over with them the Volatile Gold, and make a very excellent Gradatory-water, transmuting fugitive Mercury into Gold, with greater profit, than if this very volatile Gold had been made Corporeal with Lead.

This secret is none of the least of those which teach the Extraction of Gold out of colour’d Flints or Stones.

Such a volatile Gold may also pass into other Metals by gentle Cementations, and so become fix, and will bring no small profit, nay rather a greater benefit than if it were gotten out by fusion. In such Cementations, the volatile Gold hath time of getting a body with the other Metals, and of acquiring a fixity, and is as it were a golden Seed, which augments it self into Gold, in, or out of the Metallick Earth.

43. Another Water to Extract Gold and Silver withall.

For Gold, let Salt; for Silver, let Salt-peter be dissolved in the Water [or Aqua Fortis] and let be thereto added as much Oil of Vitriol as half the Salt as you put. This Water extracteth Gold and Silver out of the poor Minera’s Sand and Stones, and requireth the same operation as the precedent ones doe. It is likewise augmented even to infinity, insomuch, that Gold and Silver may be extracted out of the poor Mines without Costs, if you except but the fire.

N. B. Oil of Sulphur does the same that Oil of Vitriol doth, and therefore may it serve instead thereof in such Extractions of Gold and Silver.

44. _Another far easier way of plentifully Extracting Gold and Silver out of the poor Minera’s or Oars, with very little or in a manner no Costs at all._

Mix the Oars or Minera’s with their due Waters, and therewithall fill small Pots or Crucibles made of the best Earth, which put near one another in a great Iron pot. Put an Alembick upon the Pot, and draw off the Spirits by distillation, which [Spirits] will requite all thy disbursements, and will so give thee Gold Gratis, which you are to wash out of the Oars with Water, and get it [or corporifie] by Saturn.

45. Another yet easier way.

Moisten the Oars with their due Waters, cast them in by little and little upon the live Coals, and that in such a manner as we taught thee about distilling Spirit of Salt. By this Distillation the Spirits pass into the receiving Vessels, and the Gold and Silver are dissolved and stay behind with the Sal Mirabilis, and is to be washt out of the Oars with Water, and to be molten with Saturn. Thus is gotten the Gold and Silver that was in the Minera’s or Oars, without any expences, and the Spirits quit all the Costs.

46. How Gold and Silver may plentifully be extracted out of Fat Clay.

Although that the Extraction of Gold and Silver by moist waters is a sordid operation, as was aforesaid at the beginning, yet is it not done without profit; because the Gold and Silver may be gotten out of the Waters by precipitation, and of the used Waters may Salt-peter be made. But now the case is far otherwise with fat Clay, for that, it being fat, the Spirits hide themselves therein, that the one half thereof can hardly be recovered, unless such an Earth be freed of its fatness by heating it red-hot: and this requires some labour to effect it.

But seeing that in all places of the World, wheresoever any Earth is, there is such a kind of Earth, and that in no small quantity, that contains Gold and Silver: and there hath not as yet been any body that hath endeavour’d to reduce it to any profit, and bring it into use, but especially when it contains not in it so much Gold and Silver as to defray the charges of separating it by Lead. But I have found out a very easie way of doing it with profit, and I think it my duty to disclose that Artifice for the publick good; and it is thus:

Mix such an Earth as contains therein Gold and Silver with the Water of Vitriol, which I have afore described, and make it up into balls somewhat bigger than ones fist, which throw orderly and by little and little into my first Furnace, or into my second distillatory Furnace, and draw off the Spirit by Distillation. The dissolved Gold and Silver remaining in the Sal-Mirabilis is to be extracted out of those balls broken small, with warm water, and to be reduced by Lead, after the afore described manner.

47. By what Artifice Gold may be plentifully and easily extracted out of Granates, Agates, Saphires, Rubies, Sand, or other hard Minerals which suffer not themselves to be tamed neither with Lead, nor with sharp Waters.

It is certain that all Granates, what Colour soever they are of, or what place soever you meet with them in, whether you have them out of Rivers, or wash them out of Sand or fat Clay, or that you find them in the high Mountains and Rocks; they always contain in them much Gold: but by reason of their Glassy nature, they cannot by any means be extracted with Aqua Fortis or strong Waters, nor can they by reason of the hardness of their bodies fusion be molten with Lead. Hence it is, that as hitherto they have never been so handled as to have their Gold extracted out of them with profit, and therefore are they neglected as unprofitable, unworthy, abject, and contemptible Minerals, whereas notwithstanding it is a thing feasible for a man to enjoy their Gold and Silver with a little labour, and as it were without any trouble. But now what course must we take to doe this, seeing they elude the sharpest powers or efficacy of all strong or sharp Waters, whereby their heart may be penetrated, and Gold may be extracted out of their bowels? I answer; They are to be overcome by Concentrated Spirits, and which are reduced to the form of Salt, as also by a fusile Salt of Lead, and be so divested of the Gold they contain in them, and without this will the victory over them hardly be obtained. For Spirits being reduced to the form of Salt, doe abide the fire most patiently, and perform a double labour; one by their Acrimony, the other by a strong fire, insomuch that nothing can escape their power, and therefore all things are tamed and subdued by them, and doe afterwards readily obey the virtues or power of Saturnine Salt, and yield forth their Gold by fusion.

48. _A Demonstration, above the reach of any Confutation, shewing that more Gold and Silver may be gotten out of the Oars or Minera’s of Gold and Silver, by the hitherto prescribed ways, by sharp Waters or Salts, and in a manner without Costs, than is wont to be done by many Expences, and by the fire of Melting._

I believe it is not unknown to any one that is but a little acquainted with the knowledge of the Minera’s of Gold, that the Gold cannot be gotten out of them without the addition of Lead, or the help of some matter rendring the fusion more easie. And now when such Oars contain but little Gold, and contrariwise much Lead, or matters requisite to promote fusion are of necessity to be thereto used, how can it be, that that little portion of Gold or Silver should recompense or defray such great expences? Therefore such poorer Oars have hitherto lain as cast-aways, as being uncapable of bearing the Expences of reparation, and so are not put to any use, nor are at all profitable.

But admit that the Oars do contain as much Gold and Silver, as that the Costs of melting may be repaid by them; yet such a fusion, compared with this invention of mine of Extracting Gold and Silver with Waters and Salts, is as if you should compare Water with Wine, or the night with the most brightsome day, which have no comparison.

For, first of all, the common melting of Metals is accompanied with far greater Expences, than that Extraction of mine with Salts, which verily needs but a very little charge. Then farther, it can never be, that all the Gold should be so perfectly Extracted out of the Oars, but that some of the same will abide in the Scoria’s; besides, the volatile Gold and Silver, which must necessarily be blown off by the vehement blast of the bellows, and the acuteness of the fire, and so be lost.

Now amongst all the conveniencies that arise from the Extracting of Gold and Silver out of the poor Mines, that is none of the meanest, viz. that not onely all the fix Gold and Silver are conserved by the Salts, but also the Volatile too, and this latter is made fix and constant in the fire, together with that former fixt part, whereas by the Fusing fire it is all of it lost.

N. B. For the Waters of the Salts doe make the volatile Spirits of Gold and Silver, and which otherwise would vanish away fix and constant; for by a strong blast and force of fire are they rendred yet more fugacious. Hence comes it to pass, that [there is but the] one half part of that Gold extracted by the fire of the usual way of melting, that the Waters of Salts get out of the Oars. Upon this account my Invention doth not onely yield this commodiousness as to get both the fix and volatile Gold and Silver together, without any detriment out of the Oars, but also gets not a little in sparing Coals, (not to mention this, that one man does more in the Extraction of Gold and Silver by Salts, than three men are wont to doe in the common way of Fusion.

* * * * *

By what hath now been said, it is evidently apparent, what a deal of benefit and profit this invention will bring in all places of Germany. For this Extraction may be used commodiously and profitably, not onely in all Minera’s or Oars both rich and poor ones, but also may be used in Extracting the Gold and Silver out of all colour’d Flints, wherewith all Rivers, Brooks and Fields do abound.

But some or other may haply say here, by what means can it possibly be, that Gold and Silver should be extracted out of the Stones that lie too and agen every where in the Streets? I answer such, that indeed it is very rare to find fix Gold and Silver in such Stones, but yet they have in them a spiritual, unripe and volatile Gold, which is not onely made fix and constant in the extraction made by Salts, but it doth likewise turn some of the Lead it self that is added in the fusing and separating it into its own nature by Graduation. Hence ’tis evident, that in all places of the Terrestrial Globe wheresoever Stones are, good Gold and Silver may be gotten with profit, by a little labour and small costs. Praise and glory be eternally given to the most bountifull Lord God for such Inventions. Amen.

* * * * *

These are the Secrets which I publickly demonstrated and divulged [or communicated] in my Laboratory, for the benefit of my Countrey. And I do now again affirm and witness that if even the very bare Letter be observed, no body can err. And if so be that any one should change this or that order, and so think to better the Operations, and should err, let him not lay the fault upon me who have Written the naked truth, but let him blame himself.

I had several other things of no small moment, to have spoken to here at present, the which I shall God willing very suddenly dispatch in my second Century, for the present time does not permit it.

And in the said Century will I declare with a yet clearer and easier manifestation, those Secrets here disclosed, the which could not at present be done because of my too much hast.

And now I wish to all the pious Students after this so great an Art, a large and plenteous blessing from the mercifull Lord God, as to this so very excellent a Work, that the poverty and want of abundance of miserable People may be supplied in many places. Which if it be (as I hope it will) it will exalt the honour and glory of the most high, and will encrease the Prosperity of the Countrey, and withall will check and keep under the most base attempts of mine Enemies. But especially if the counsel that I have proposed in my first Century, (viz. that every one may have liberty to exercise such Operations,) takes place. This being granted, it cannot be, but that Gold and Silver and Copper will every where be gotten out of the Earth, with the help of these my Writings, to the great profit and benefit of all the whole Countrey.

And so I conclude this so much hastned Appendix, wrested from me occasionally by perverse Men. Those things that I have not in such or such a place clearly and evidently enough expressed for want of time, I will express God willing in my second Century with a clearer Explanation, and thither do I refer the well-minded Reader.

The End of the Appendix.

THE SIXTH and Last PART OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY.

In which the Arcana’s already revealed in the Fifth Part are not onely illustrated with a clearer Elucidation; but also such are manifested as are most highly necessary to be known for the Defence of the Country against the Turks: Together with an evident Demonstration, adjoyned [shewing] That both a particular and universal Transmutation of the imperfect Metals into more perfect ones by Salt and Fire is most true; and withall, by what means any one that is endued with but a mean knowledge in managing the Fire, may experimentally try the truth hereof in four and twenty hours space.

To the Friendly READER, Health.

I taught in the First Part how the over-abounding quantity of Wine and Corn is to be Concentrated, that it may abide uncorrupt for a very many years, and when necessity requires it may be an help to many in need.

In the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Parts I taught the Extraction of both fix and unfix Metals, to great profit, and almost without any Costs, out of the bodies of vile, poor Minerals and Metallick Earths, which will not quit the Costs of a Fusing-fire, and this to be done by no costly Waters; and withall, how to bring them into use, which no body afore me ever did. And did not I disburse a great deal of Monies in building a convenient Laboratory, in which I produced such most profitable things to the view of every one, and demonstrated them to be true? And what have I reaped for these so great benefits I have done, but a most ungratefull casting off their remembrance? Have not all the things I have taught been accused of falsity and deceit both to the high and low, by those who have so audaciously dared to deny the Melioration of Metals by Fire and Salt? These have also asserted, that the making of Salt-peter of Common Salt is altogether impossible; and they have affirmed it to be a thing quite contrary unto nature, that Metals should be gotten out of the poorer sort of Metallick Earths by the help of a Water made of Salt-peter; but yet that even this is most certainly true, the Appendix of my Fifth Part, and my Second Century, doe demonstrate by indubitable Experiments.

And albeit that the three said =Arcana’s= are evidently enough delivered and described, so as even to be palpably felt by the hands of those that know how to manage the Fire, yet notwithstanding they have brought but very little benefit as yet, because that although they are most true, yet are they contemned and disregarded by unskilfull Men, out of meer Envy and most perverse hatred, and doe even yet stick in contempt.

However, not regarding these [base dealings] and that I may mete them all things in full measure, I have a mind yet farther to detect some secrets, by which there may redound to the Country very notable fruits: And that not onely by converting the many Metallick Earths that contain in them Gold and Silver, and which have not hitherto been profitable to any unto a gainfull and a beneficial use; but also by defending the Country against the most dangerous invasion of the =Turks=, who are the Capital Enemies of the whole Christian World, and that by so strong and efficacious a defence, as never any mortal man did yet contrive the like of.

As to what belongs to Mineral Treasures, I have exhibited a sufficiently clear and manifest description of them in the second, third, fourth and fifth Part of the Prosperity of =Germany=, and also in the Appendix to the fifth Part, and in the second Century. But yet there is nothing so perfect and absolute but that in process of time there may be added and adjoyned thereto some new thing, and somewhat of perfection: Witness my Instrument which I mentioned in the second Century, by the help of which, Gold, Silver and Copper are easily and plentifully extracted out of their Metallick Earths, and that on such wise, as that there are requisite no other Costs but the bare Charges of the fire. And farther, this way would bring no small profit even from those Metallick Earths which are ranked amongst the poorest sort of Oars; if it were well known, and exercised in many places, there would flow thencefrom most mighty profit throughout all =Germany=, and the said Instrument would by its assistance wonderfully promote the same.

For although I have heretofore publisht several ways of preparing sharp Waters, and of extracting the Metals with them out of the poor Minerals; (and yet even these ways bring no despicable gain) yet they perform not that which is wont to be accomplished by the help of the said Instrument. For this Instrument serves not onely to extract those sharp Waters in a greater quantity, but is also far fitter and more convenient for the Extraction even of the Metals themselves out of their Earths, and for the separation of the Dissolving =Menstruum= from the Metals, than those Glass Vessels are, which have been commonly used about this Operation.

Therefore it much concerns him that employs himself about these kind of Operations, well and thoroughly to know its Use. I made indeed some mention of the same in my Second Century, but yet not so clearly as for any one thoroughly to understand its Use by what I there spake. Therefore I have thought it expedient to give here somewhat a clearer and more perspicuous description of the same, that so I may not seem to be at all wanting in my diligence unto any one, but may be said to have done all things with a due candour and openness.

_The Description of the Instrument, serving for the plentifully preparing of Spirits, and for the easie extraction of Metals out of their Oars, without much Cost._

This Instrument is to be made of good Earth, that can sustain both the Fire and the Spirits; Metals are unprofitable to make it with, because they doe not long resist the Corrosion of the Spirits; But now, that the said Instrument may the longer abide in the Fire, its outside superficies must be fenced with Iron bonds. This Earthen Vessel therefore must be made of such an Earth as abides the violence of the Fire, and resisteth the Corrosivity of the Spirits, so as that it breaks not nor chaps with too much heat, nor be corroded and eaten thorough by the Corroding Spirits. Such Earths there are enough of too and agen in Germany. Moreover, this said Instrument may be made greater or lesser, according as you are minded to prepare a greater or lesser quantity of Spirits; But however, it must not be made too big, for then (if it exceeds a due magnitude) it will not abide the fire so well. Therefore is it necessary to have several of these Instruments made, if a man be minded to make at one and the same time a great quantity of Spirits. But if any be minded to set about this Operation so as to have huge quantities of Spirits, it will be his best way to have his Instrument made of Iron plates, such as the Armourers use, and to strengthen them with Iron rods, and so fence it both in the inside and on the outside every-where with Lute or strong Clay. For by this means the Instrument being made of a sufficient bigness for the work you would put it to, will in its inward superficies hold the Corroding Spirits, and in its outward superficies undergo the violence of the fire without detriment, and be far more commodious than so many little Instruments that are made onely of Earth.

Of the Form and Figure of this Instrument.

The matters out of which the sharp Spirits are to be drawn, are not to be put nakedly in [as I may say] into the Instrument it self, but are to be put in some strong Earthen-pots and so put in, that after the Spirits are distilled off they may be again taken forth, and other Pots fill’d with new matter may be put in, in their room; and this to be so often done as need requires.

And seeing the Salts that are to be distilled are not put naked into the Instrument, but are put in, in Earthen-pots; the Instrument must necessarily be so prepared, as that those Pots may be put in as often as need is, and be again taken forth, when the Distillation is done, and new ones be put in, in their stead.

The Instrument therefore must be of a like bigness both above and below, and ’tis no matter to have it much exceed the heighth of your Pots you put in.

One side of it must have a Door to put in the Pots at, and to take them out again, the which Door must be made to shut handsomly after your putting in and taking forth.

To the other side must be fitted a Pipe somewhat large, by which the Spirits may have a passage forth into the Receiver. And the Instrument must be on such wise placed in the Furnace, as that the Door and Pipe may lie without the said Furnace. To the Pipe must be added another Leaden Pipe, twining round like a Serpent, and therefore is by the Chymists called a Serpent [or a Worm:] the which must be set in a Vessel full of Water, that so the Spirits passing out may be cooled and be caught in the Recipient.

Of the use of the Instrument.

When you will distill your Spirits, you must put thereinto so many Pots filled with your prepared Salts as your Instrument can hold, then close the Door well, and put Fire in the Furnace. This done, the Spirits will ascend out of the Pots thus heated in the Instrument, and finding no other out-let but by the Pipe and Worm, they will enter into them, and being there cooled will run down into the Receiver. You shall know if all the Spirits are forced out of the Salts or not, when they cease to flow out through the Worm into the Recipient. Which when you shall perceive, you must open your Door and take out the Pots in order, and then put in new, that so the Distillation may be continued on without any delaying. But now, those Pots that are to be put a-new into the Instrument, must be set nigh the Furnace a while, that they may grow hot: for else being put in cold, they would not brook the sudden heat, but chap and break. When all the Spirits are distilled off, then you may put in other new Pots in the room of them you took out, and the Operation is to be so long and so often repeated as need shall require, or as any one has a mind to do. The Salts that remain behind in the Pots you take out, are to be moistned and macerated with some Phlegm or weak Spirit, and they do again, sometimes emit Spirits by Distillation, but yet not in such quantity as at first they did.

This is that way of preparing sharp Waters usefull for the extractions of Copper and Gold. But as for Aqua Fortis requisite for the extracting of Silver, it cannot be prepared by this same Instrument, because it will corrode the Worm or Leaden Pipe, if it should pass through it, which the Spirit of Salt and Aqua Regis do not do.

N. B. When therefore you would make an Aq. Fortis, you must make you another twining Pipe or Worm of some other Metal which will not be preyed on by the Aqua Fortis, or else set some other Stone Vessels to the Nose of the Pipe that goes out of the Furnace.

It is also a thing possible to be done, to make such strong Acetum of Corn and Honey by the addition of some Salts, as that it shall not onely extract Gold and Silver, but also Copper and Lead out of metallick Veins or Earths.

Thus much may at present suffice to be spoken concerning the preparation of sharp Waters needfull for the extraction of Metals out of the Oars. The preparation [or Operation] it self follows.

How Metals are to be extracted out of their Earths or Oars, by the help of this Instrument.

The preparing or fitting of the Minera’s or metallick Earths for extraction, hath been described in the Appendix of the fifth part, and therefore needs not be repeated here.

But as we there showed, that the roasted [or calcined] and powdered Oars were to be put into Glass or Stone Cucurbits, that so they might be moistned with the sharp Waters, and be macerated [setting the Cucurbits] in warm Sand; so the very same thing is to be done here, this onely excepted, that [viz.] the earthen Pots supply the place of Glass and Stone Cucurbits, and the Instrument it self in which the extraction is made, performs the office of Sand: After the extraction, the Water impregnated with the extracted Metals is poured off, and the remaining matter it self is washt by pouring common Water thereupon, after such a manner as hath been prescribed in the Appendix of the fifth part.

_By What means the Metals extracted by the dissolving Water out of the Oars are to be separated from that same sharp Water without any Detriment, nay rather with an augmentation of the said Water._

We have taught in the Appendix of the fifth part, that if a Man be not minded to precipitate the Metals out of the Solution by the contraries, viz. by Alkalizate Liquors, then there is no commodiouser and nearer way than that which separates the dissolving Water from the extracted Metal, by Distillation in Glass or earthen Vessels.

If now any one is minded to encrease his dissolving Water in this separation he may be Master of his desire by adding thereto common Salt, and drawing off the Water from it, which said Water will by this means be encreased and rendred stronger. And now there will come no inconvenience to the Metals themselves that are held up in that Water, in that some Salt remains with them, (no,) for in the reducing them, the said Salt gets them an easier and readier Fusion and Flux.

But yet it is not necessary to leave the Salt with the Metals, seeing it is better to separate it from the Metals with common Water, and so use it again to the same labours rather than let it be lost in the melting.

The Reduction of the Metals from which the dissolving Water is separated.

Albeit that that Reduction hath been already described in my second Century, yet I thought it worth while here again to repeat the same in a few words.

It is to be done two manner of ways, and that partly in Crucibles, and partly in the melting Furnace which the Germans call Stichofen. The pure Metals, as the Gold and Silver are wont to be molten and reduced in Crucibles: the Copper may be reduced in the said Furnace, and needs nothing to be added about its Reduction. But for the reducing of Gold and Silver, fix Salts, the Glass of Lead, Borax and other additions of that kind, (of which we have made mention in the second Century) may be made use of. And as touching the addition of those matters which are wont to be used to promote the easier Fusion, this is primarily to be regarded, whether or no the Metals are pure and alone [by themselves] or else have other Metals mixt with them, that (so acordingly) convenient additions may be applied. For if the Gold should also have Copper or Iron in it, then there cannot be any better thing added than Antimony, which reduceth the Gold by one and the same labour [or Operation] and also separates the Copper and Iron therefrom, which thing, other such like matters that are used to make the Fusion the easier, do not perform. Therefore it is necessary that he who would set himself about such Operations, do well understand the Artifice of a metallick Fusion, and so administer or order his labours by adding or taking from, according as the subject requires and as is best. It is impossible to prescribe such things to any one in such a manner as to make him presently understand, learn, and imitate the same.

Some other manual Operations which are needfull to be known in the use of this Instrument and which may be exercised.

First of all, it would be no small or mean Compendium, [or good Contrivance] if this same Instrument were composed of two or three parts, taking for the lowermost part a broad Iron Pot, and so to set on the upper part with its Door and Pipe thereto annexed. And because the bottoms of the Iron Pots do a little bow rounding, and that yet notwithstanding the Pots you put therein may not stand leaning or awry, the bottom is to be made level with calcined Allum, that so the Pots put in upon that may stand upright. From hence likewise ariseth this Commodity too, that if your Pots should chance to break, and the dissolvent run out, it would not be so lost but would lodge it self in the burnt Allum, and may easily be recovered in the preparation of the sharp Waters and be applied to use.

Secondly, the Instrument may likewise be so prepared, as that the Pots may be put thereinto by taking off the upper part, and then the Pots being put in, the upper part must be adjoyned again to the nether part, and [so] be again covered with its Cover; for being thus, there needs not the Door in the side to put the Pots in by.

N. B. There must be some Notch or Channel likewise fitted to the top of that upper part, which being filled with Sand may receive in it the Cover, and so prevent the out-let of the Spirits that way, by means of its tight shutting; as we have taught in the second part of the Furnaces. The Instrument prepared on this wise, will haply be more commodious to many Men, than if it had a Hole or Door in the side. But every Man may choose either this or the other way, which he pleaseth.

Thus have I now taught, and opened the use of my more secret way of easily preparing the sharp Spirits of Salts in great quantity, and the manner of dealing about the Extraction of Metals out of the poorer metallick Earths: Away (I say) most easie to do such great things, and which was never as yet known unto the World.

But yet I doubt not but that the Metals will for the time to come be plentifully and very profitably extracted (and so applied to common use) by the help of this Artifice and Instrument, out of the poorer Minera’s which contain in them Gold, Silver, and Copper, and which will not quit the costs of the Fire; and forasmuch as by the help of this Instrument, the sharp Spirits of Salts may be gotten easily and in large quantity, not onely for the Extraction of the Minerals, but also for the concentrating of moist Fires, and seeing that wonderfull things may be done by the help of those Fires; I do therefore commend it to the Studious of Art, as a thing of better esteem than ordinary, and have sufficient reason of so doing. For to omit the saying, that those cold Fires do give an excellent Magnet for Water or Ice, they do also abound with such virtue as by which they can ripen and better the Metals; the which we will make a larger description of, in what follows.

Besides too, there may haply be effected far greater matters with those cold Fires, as to the defence of the Countrey against the Turk, that Capital and Bloud-thirsty Tyrant and Enemy of the Christians, in some cases than with Gun-powder: if such moist Fires be cast into places a prety distance off by suitable Instruments, or be forced out of those lesser and greater Guns and War-like Canes, they will bring far greater Detriment to the Enemies than Gun-powder is want to do.

By this means, one weak Woman will in some cases be able to repel many armed Men; but this is a thing which such Men as are unskilfull in natural affairs, will deny till it be made manifest, and used against the Turk. Therefore I have a mind to set aside all other businesses, and to make those kinds of admirable Fires to the utmost of my power in great quantity, forasmuch as I well and assuredly know how great Detriment may be brought upon the Turks by the help thereof.

Fires they are which any one may carry about with him like Waters; they will not burn or overthrow Horse and Man sooner than any have a mind they shall. Nay yet more, if any has a mind to fortifie their Virtues, he may by adding other Fire-breathing matters, make them far more vehement and efficacious, and do far greater matters with them as being much more hurtfull than with those simple Fires.

And now seeing I have so very much commended the concentrated Fires of Salts, to

1. Diligent and provident Masters of Families, thereby to take away the superfluous watriness from their smaller Wines, Ales, and other Drinks, and so to concentrate them, and carry them (in case of necessity) into the strong and fenced Cities;

2. To the poor Chymists, that they might by them correct and better the Metals and so help their own poverty and want;

3. And to the Christian Chieftains of War, and faithfull Rulers of the Countrey, that they may stoutly resist the Turks, that are the sworn Enemies of the Christians.

I judge it altogether necessary to treat of them somewhat more clearly.

By what means and way this threefold use of cold Salts may be most profitable to the Countrey.

First of all, the concentrated Spirits of Salt may bring most great advantage, by concentrating the poorer sort of Wines, the which they make better, as is shown in the second Century: when the superfluous Water is removed from them, insomuch that they do not onely keep their goodness constant and durable, but may likewise be far more commodiously and easily transported out of one place into another, so that necessity requiring, they may be more easily transported out of such places as are more remote from Cities and fenced places into the stronger holds and fenced Cities, and so be conserved.

It is as yet fresh in every ones Memory how miserably the case stood with Men in the foregoing War, which lasted thirty years. If any Farmer had his Cellars full of Wines, and the Soldiers break in to the Countrey, did horribly abuse the gifts of God, that which they could not consume by their detestable Gluttony, they wickedly spilled upon the ground; the Soldiers I say, and such Men as profest themselves Christians, and durst boast of the Christian Religion. From hence may it easily be conjectured what it would be, if such a multitude of Turks should over-run our Countrey, which imminent evil, God of his mercy turn away from us.

In the days of Noah, the Men then lived in all security, and not at all regarded the Preachings and Admonitions of that godly Man, by which he exhorted them unto Repentance for 120 years together, they did Eat, they Drank, Married and gave in Marriage, till the Floud swept them all away, and there was no more room for Repentance left, as sacred Writ testifies.

We reade of Sodom and Gomorra, that the Inhabitants of those Cities being even drown’d in Leachery, did so despise the reproofs and warnings of the godly Man Lot, untill a Fire was sent upon them from the wrath of God and consumed them.

Who is there that in this Season feareth God, and lives piously? He that is the strongest oppresseth the weaker, nor does at all think on this, that there is one far more powerfull than he himself is, who comes when he pleaseth, and punisheth such powerfull Oppressours. But these things, and such warnings of this nature are plainly mockt at.

Did not God sufficiently enough warn us the last year 1660, and shewed unto us his wrath, by those dreadfull Tempests and Storms, and Earthquakes, wherewith almost all Europe trembled. Doth he not also this very present year (1662) shew us his self-same displeasure? What portends that Comet that was seen in the Heaven, any one may easily guess what it means. Verily it threatens nothing else but evil, especially because it extended its Tail contrary to the usual wont of other Comets, towards the upper part of the Heaven, just as if it should say, I will show unto the Men, that ’tis not this or that Countrey, this or that Enemy that shall chastise you, but ’tis the King himself of all Kings, who is in Heaven, that hath purposed to punish you for your Wickedness; whose Rod ye may [yet] divert from you that is stretcht out to punish you, if you apply your selves to him by serious Prayers, true Repentance, and unfeigned amendment of your Lives, now whilest you have time allotted ye to repent in, if such admonitions as these can but find entertainment with you. And what I pray will this warm Winter bring upon us, the which being destitute of all cold Ice and Snow hath permitted the Trees to flour in the very month of February, and the Medows to be clad in Flowers, and ripe Cherries to be seen? Without doubt, nothing else but all kinds of poysonous Diseases and which will speedily kill Men, and with which mankind will be afflicted; and if so be that an intense cold should yet follow, which may easily be, there would doubtlesly follow a great Dearth of Grain and Provision by spoiling the Wine and Corn, whose buddings are already come so far forth, as that the cold may easily destroy them. And now are we not sufficiently enough admonished by these fore-runners and signs of the wrath of God coming on us, and hanging over our Heads?

Besides all this, let us consider that great Conjunction of all the Planets in Sagitary, such as hath never been since that time in which all the Planets were in Conjunction in Aquarius. And this Conjunction [in Aquary] preceded the deluge, which destroyed all mankind by the breakings in of the Waters, Noah and his onely excepted. But as concerning what that great Conjunction in Sagitary the next year 1663 will show us, and bring upon us God knows. Sagitary is a martial sign, and deadly, and portends nothing but Dissentions, Seditions, and uproars of War; and therefore prophesieth unto us nothing but bloudy Wars, insomuch that it is much to be feared that this ungratefull World will be consumed, and blotted out as ’twere by Fire, and the Sword, and the anger of God: which evil, God of his mercy turn away from us. Certainly these Conjunctions are not wont to fore-signifie or bring along with them any good. But I heartily wish I may prove a Liar in this case, though I fear me, that there is more evil coming upon us than will be welcome unto us.

For when God sheweth us any thing with his Finger, it should be of more concernment unto us than all humane Writings, for they may err. But God never does any thing in vain and without cause. Never did there at any time a Comet shew it self in the Air but many Calamities succeeded it. That old Proverb may very likely prove true, which the Ancients have pronounced, viz. that it will come to pass in the year 1660, that Alchymy will begin to flourish, but will bring along with it such changes for [some] years following, and such dreadfull changes too, that the third part of Men will perish with Famine and Pestilence, the third part will perish with Fire and Sword, and there will be but a third part onely left.

But yet I would not that you should take or look upon this my prognostication on such wise as if all these things should infallibly come to pass as I have predicted. No, I was willing onely to open to you my Meditations upon the years to come. For all things are seated in Gods power alone, in whose hands onely and alone we know our firm helps and assistance to be ready for us, and therefore do not in the least confide in our own strength and power, which are more vain than are all fading things.

But forasmuch as there are natural means granted us, of driving away our Enemies, we may well use them as far as in us lies, for that it belongs unto every Christian Man, to do his utmost to repell with all his power the common Capital Enemy of all Christendom.

And now therefore that I my self may not be found to be the least in defending my Countrey, I have determined to exhibit in this Book the help and assistance that I can afford, and this is not Money and Wealth which I have not, but by offering such artificial inventions, and disclosing them, whereby the Enemies may be valiantly resisted. For in all things we see, that many times far greater things may be done with Wisedom and Prudence, than with Strength and Fortitude, and this is clearly evident in the most efficacious Operations of Gun-powder, which produce far greater effects than Mens hands, though never so strong, could ever bring forth.

’Tis well known, that the use of Gun-powder was not always known, but was first found out by a certain Monk in Germany, in the year of our Lord 1380, who by chance lighted on the finding of its dreadfull strength. Neither is there any one ignorant, what great Victories they that well knew its use, obtained over their Enemies afore it was made manifest. But when it became publickly known, then it served both Parties, so that neither part had more advantage by it than the other, and then the deciding the Controversie consisted (next the blessing of God) in the multitude of the Men, of which their power was composed, and not in Art. And like as it seemed a meerly incredible thing at first when it was heard of, that a Powder of such mighty force could be made of such vile Subjects, viz. Brimstone, and Salt-peter, and Charcoals: Even so will it at first exceed all belief, when it shall be heard say that Waters may be prepared out of such Subjects, which said Waters can doe such wonderfull, and so many great things.

It is also reported [or Chronicled] that the said Monk did not search after Gun-powder purposely, but being addicted to Chymistry, and occupied about Operations upon Salt-peter and Sulphur, endeavoured to distill a Water from them. Now these being mixt, and by chance taking fire, he perceived them to break every thing, and rend it into pieces: And hence came that man to know the unheard-of Virtues of Salt-peter and Sulphur, which being so thoroughly contrary to each other, made such great concussions or shakings. The same thing hapned even unto my self, for purposing to make sharp Waters out of Sulphur, Salt-peter, and other Salts fit for my purpose; I perceived in such Operations, that far greater things mought be brought to pass by such firey Waters than could be done by Gun-powder. Nevertheless, I buried these Secrets in great silence, nor manifested I them to any man, though I knew them above these twenty years; fearing this, that should they be known, they might be as Instruments in the hands of the Christians to torment one another with.

But now seeing God hath vouchsafed to bestow a peace upon the whole Christian World, and that the Turks doe begin more and more to persecute and vex the Christians by their Tyrannical Persecutions, and endeavour even thoroughly to root them out, as they have already made a beginning in Hungary of their detestable attempts, I advised with my friends whether or no it would not be expedient to detect and lay open those Secrets to the Christians, that so they may be used against the Turks, and I was advised by these my friends to proceed on in the revealing of them. Upon this account (all other businesses laid aside) I wholly betook my self to this very one thing, to get great store of those kind of firey Waters in readiness, which may be made use of as most substantial bucklers or defence both offensively and defensively against the Turks. Now I have done this the more willingly and readily, because they kill no man, but doe onely so far debilitate them, that they may be overcome, and easily taken and made Captives. For were this invention of mine such as would kill men, I would never have at any time produced it in publick, and thus divulged it. And therefore I am even yet of this mind, that that Monk Barthold did not well in divulging the preparation and use of Gunpowder, by which such a multitude of Men are destroyed and slain.

But by this Invention of mine, no man is slain, and yet the victory wrested out of the Enemies hands. And the Enemies being taken alive and made Captives, may be constrained to work, and in my opinion may bring more benefit than if they were slain.

I doubt not but that the things I here propound may seem impossible even to the wisest [sort of] men of this World; nor indeed is it to be wondred at if it be so; for they are unheard-of Secrets, and unseen, and so exceed all belief. I dare not here trust my Pen too much, though I could disclose them in a few words, and so, as to bring every one to acknowledge the truth hereof, and to feel it as it were with his hands. But I must deal warily, lest such sharp, and yet not killing, weapons fall into the Enemies hands.

* * * * *

But yet that I may in some sort satisfie the desirous Reader, I doe signifie unto him in brief, that all the whole Art lyes coucht in this knack, that vast quantities of those artificial Waters may be gotten without great Expences; and being prepared, may be afterwards applied to use by some certain secret Instruments both offensively and defensively. For those watry Fires, or firey Waters which I speak of, are of such a burning nature, that neither Men nor Horses whom they touch are able to resist [or endure] them; And yet they doe not kill, unless one be minded to slay others, and then they must have a more peculiar preparation. But as they are by themselves, they kill none, but doe extreamly disturb both Horse and Man, that it makes them even impatient of the pains, and so forceth them upon one another, whereby their order being broken, they ruine themselves. This done, the victory is as it were given into the adverse parties hands, whereby they can without any labour vanquish and take their Enemies Captives. I dare not to say any more hereabouts, this onely I add by way of overplus, that even Women (where Men are wanting) may not onely (by this invention of mine) drive off the Enemies from any fenced place, but they may force them out again out of the place, or o’erwhelm the Company of them that are entred with Stones. Though this seems an incredible thing, yet is it most true, and will without doubt, after it shall come to light, in a short time serve as a most notable defence for the Countrey.

And as touching the easie, and not at all costly preparation of the moist Fires and their due use, together with the Instruments hereto requisite; all this shall be shown and detected to those onely who both can and will use them against the Turks. But to others not, and this we were willing to signifie by way of admonition or advice.

This little, but yet exceeding weighty Secret, and which may be used against our Countries Enemies with most notable benefit, I have revealed enough of at this time. Mean while I hope, that even this very year the Enemies of the Christian World will be notably endamaged by it, which God of his grace and mercy grant, that it may be a solace and help to the Christian World so dreadfully persecuted by the Turk, even for the honour and glory of his holy Name. Amen.

_Now follows the third use, and that consists in the melioration of the Metals, by which also great benefit may redound to the Countrey._

As for such things as concern the true and indubitable melioration of Metals by Salt and Fire, I have already sufficiently enough demonstrated in the fifth part of the Prosperity of Germany, and in the Appendix thereunto.

But seeing my true demonstration there made, seemed not sufficiently clear and evident to not a few, and that therefore they have most lyingly dared to aver, that there is no such thing as a true transmutation of Metals, and that such like Affirmations as these are meer fables, meer falsities, and meer dreams: Therefore I could not choose but (to stop the mouths of such wicked Men, and shame them,) to lay open and publish an evident and palpable truth.

And this is no great task for me to do, for I was many years ago certain of the truth hereof, and therefore can easily set it afore the Eyes of others, and that not onely particularly [or a particular transmutation] but also universally, insomuch that even the blind may see and palpably feel, that the transmutation of Metals is not an old Wives Fable, but is a certain and firm Science, and what is risen even from the foundation of nature her self. If now I shall prove it to be thus, I have then I hope secured my affairs, and have not onely defended the Writings my self have sent abroad, but withall the most true assertions of other honest Men, and so shall have evidently demonstrated those things which to the greatest part of Men seems a thing impossible to be done.

Albeit that there are many who have left us the truth in their Writings, yet are they so involved in obscurity, that such as know not the Fundamentals of the Art, can never learn ought of certainty from them. Whence it comes to pass, that so many Men have vainly attempted the Art, and therefore the Art it self hath been mightily despised.

The Transmutation of Metals is not a thing of so small a moment (as that eminent Philosopher Sandivogius witnesseth) in his Preface prefixed to his Writings; where he also tells us, that he that obtains the knowledge of the same, so as to transmute any imperfect Metal into a more perfect one, though it be done without benefit, hath met with an open Gate, and entrance leading to greater matters, and this is also exceedingly agreeable with the truth. For if any one shall take some imperfect Metal, and by handling or dealing with it with such or such matters, shall find that it is advanced to a golden or silvery nature, may more deeply look into the business with fuller and more accurate Meditations, and [at length] wholly search it out, viz. whence that bettering proceeds, and by what means or in what manner his labours are to be contrived.

And now when such an one doth make fix and constant, such or such a Metal by the benefit of the Fire, and useth no other matter about the Operation but Salt, and doth really find a true melioration of the Metal, certainly he cannot ascribe it to any other thing but the Fire and Salt: and now whereas he assuredly knows, that the melioration of Metals can be perfected by the help of no other thing but of Fire and Salt, he will not need to search for any other, but will rather wholly apply himself thereunto, whereby he may most commodiously deal with the Metals by the means of Fire and Salt, and better them with profit. And if now he be once Master of his desire, he will gain sufficiently thereby. But if not, he cannot blame the Art but himself, who indeed sees the possibility of the Art but hath not (yet) entred in by it, or through it to the great Treasures it discloseth, so as to take to himself a due or competent part. But forasmuch as such happy Men are very seldom found, who find the Key that opens the Doors to such Mysteries, I judged it a thing worth while if I did here detect this very Key, and show by what means the Gate (by which the closest of Arts is made fast) is wont to be opened. And if now it shall please the Studious Artist to enter thereinto, he may with all my heart, and so enjoy those Treasures. I will not pass the bounds I have intended to observe: it is sufficient for me to have shown the right and kingly way, wherein every one may go that listeth, that so he may arrive to his wisht for end.

But as for the Key that unlocks the Closet of Art in true Alchymy, I do confidently affirm, that Salts are such Keys, and especially Salt-peter, and also common Salt and Vitriol, each of which is of it self efficacious enough to open the Door which shuts the Parlour or Closet of Arts in Alchymy. But one Salt joyned with another as is expedient and in convenient wise as Art requires, does effect more and show greater power than if it abode alone, and this my Writings do too and agen largely shew. But those Salts are in an especial manner more excellent as to power and virtues than others are, those I say which being first made volatile or spiritual are afterwards made corporeal, like as the following example doth evidently demonstrate.

_An evident demonstration of the possibility of transmuting the viler Metals by Salt and Fire into more noble ones._

Take of Vitriol two parts, and of good Salt-peter one part, mix them well, and being mixt distill an Aqua Fortis therefrom, with this Water, dissolve Silver or Lead, and pour into the Solution some Spirit of Salt, or else some common Salt onely dissolved in Water, that so the dissolved Metals may be turned into white Powder, and precipitate to the bottom of the Vessel. This done, wash off the Aqua Fortis from the Calx of Silver or Lead, with Rainwater, and you shall find it to be one quarter part encreased, and this augmentation cannot be washt off with any Water. Now these saline Spirits do make the Lune and Saturn so very volatile, fusile, and flying, that they melt in a small heat and penetrate all hard Bodies. Upon this account I called those fugacious and fusile Metals, by the name of a Mercury, which said Mercury of Lune, or of Saturn hath assumed to it self onely so much of the Salts as it needed, to amend it self in the Fire, when they mutually act upon each other, and the Salt maturates the Metal.

But what course shall we now take with these Metals, seeing they are so very volatile, that they cannot resist the indifferently strong force of Fire, and therefore go away in fume? And forasmuch as they abide not the Fire and do not die, by what means can they be amended?

There is no better way to be taken with them here, than (for prevention of their volatility) to add to them some metallick body, into which, the fugacious exceeding fusile, and Salt Metal may hide it self, and so brook the Fire. And amongst these six metallick Bodies, I know not as yet of any better than Tin reduced into Ashes, which is most fit for this Operation, because it is the most unfit or hard to melt of any the Calx’s of the rest of the Metals.

If therefore you will make experiment of this Operation, adjoyn to one part of the Mercury of Lune or Saturn two parts of the white Ashes of Tin, which being well mixt and put into a Glass Cucurbit well fenced with Lure, set it into Sand, put Fire thereinto by little and little untill the matter in the Glass be well heated; in this darkish red hot heat, leave it so long untill some part of the matter doth ascend by sublimation up into the Alembick placed at top, and up the neck of the Cucurbit. Then you must put on another Alembick, and take out all the sublimate out of the former Alembick, and put it back upon its matter in the Cucurbit, and it is to be again left so long in the Fire, untill there doth again ascend some part by sublimation into the Head. This being taken out of the Head is to be again put into the Cucurbit, and to be added to its own matter, (and to be proceeded with) till again some portion sublimes up out of the matter into the Alembick. Now these labours are to be so often repeated, untill there ascends no more matter up into the Head, and all the matter abides behind in the bottom of the Cucurbit fixt. This being done, a stronger Fire is to be administred, that the Metals may be operated upon by the Salts. For by how much the more and longer they endure the violence of the Salts, so much the better do they grow, which being taken forth and reduced by the adding unto them their due matters and being separated by a Cupel do yield forth a notable encrease of Gold and Silver.

This undoubted Experiment and evident Demonstration, doth (by its evident Operation) clearly and perspicuously teach and prove the melioration and transmutation of the Metals into better and more pure; but if this way seems to any very laborious and full of troubles, I will show him a more compendious way and such as is of less labour, for the sake of searching out the truth.

Fill a Hassiak Crucible (one of the best make) with the self same mixture, viz. one part of the Mercury of Saturn, and two parts of Tin-ashes, and squeeze in the matter thereinto with your Thumb pretty hard, and fit at top of this Pot, another somewhat lesser, so as that they may shut close and tight at their mouths, and one may not fall off from the other, if they be turned (topsie turvy:) Now in this upper Pot, put some Plates of Copper in, afore you place it on the lower one, yet on such wise that in the turning the Pots (up and down) they fall not out of their places. Each Pot likewise is to be well fenced with Lute such as will not chap when it is dried, and yet it may be mended if it should a little cleave by dawbing some more on, and this is done, that no fume at all get out. The Lute being dried, place this double Pot or Crucible in a circular Fire, and augment the Fire more and more, and move it nearer and nearer it untill it be well heated. Then put thereto larger Coals, and cover the Pot all over with them, that it may be every where red hot, in which great heat of the Fire it is to be left some two or three hours. Then being cool, take out and open your Pot, and you shall find the Copper Plates in some sort tinged with a white colour, but yet this colour is not so constant and fix as to abide in the Cupel or on the Test with its Body. Therefore necessity requires that those Plates be dissolved in Aqua Fortis, and be precipitated by pouring thereon Salt dissolved in common Water, in which precipitation the Silver Calx settles to the bottom. This Calx being freed of its Saltness by pouring Water thereon, and being dried, is to be wrapt up in a Plate of Lead, or some sheet Lead made as thin as Paper, and be put on a red hot Test, in which there must be a little Lead in Flux, which may the more readily receive the silvery Calx wrapt up in the leaden Paper, and which is volatile, and may hinder it from going away in fume; the Lead being consumed, there will be a grain of Silver abiding on the Test, which being dissolved in Aqua Fortis, will let fall some Gold to the bottom. If any of the remaining matter in the Crucible be to be reduced, then boil it with Lead, and let it be reduced into Scoria’s: out of the Regulus will there also remain on the Test a grain of Silver containing Gold in it. But this way brings no profit, as being here taught for this onely end to demonstrate the possibility of the thing. But if you would get any profit by such an Operation, it will be altogether necessary to use such Vessels in which nothing at all may go away in fume, but all the matter may abide together, and may so get a fixity and constancy: and this cannot be done in Crucibles, but it will bring a profitable melioration by the said way.

Some may now demand from whence that Gold and Silver should come? whether out of the Lead or out of the Tin? doubtlesly it comes from both. And therefore seeing the Copper Plates in this Cementation, as likewise the cementing powder it self have put on a golden and silvery nature, can any one doubt that this is a true Transmutation by Fire and Salt? And this is especially manifest even from the Copper Plates, which had nothing at all toucht them, save the saline Spirits ascending up out of the Cementatory Powder, which in the heat of the Fire penetrated the Copper, and amended it in so short a time. Is there any one now so blinded as that he cannot here see, that this bettering the Metals proceeded from Salt and Fire. Certainly no body will be able to heal him that is blinded with such a darkness of his sight, and therefore must he even lie all his lifes time in such obscure mists. For this Operation is set down so clearly and evidently that it may be even felt and perceived with the hands.

N. B. If so be any one is desirous of getting more Gold and Silver by the help of this Operation, he may use the Mercury of Lune instead of the Mercury of Lead, for it will yield far more than Saturn will.

I could exhibit no small variety of these kind of Experiments, but that the shortness of time bids me stop, and forbear their description; those that cannot learn ought from these things, greater ones will not be at all usefull unto them. Thus have I a-new evidently demonstrated, that a particular melioration of the Metals is done by, and proceeds from Salt and Fire alone.

An infallible demonstration, that a true tincture or universal Medicine may be made by Salt and Fire, for the melioration of Metals.

Recipe one pound of the Mercury of Lead, or rather of Lune, of the Ashes of Tin two pounds, mix these matters together and put them into a Glass Retort coated, and put it in Sand, or rather in an open Fire, and give a Fire by degrees. In this Operation, the Salts inhering in the Mercury of Saturn or Lune, do display or exercise their virtues upon Jupiter, and seize upon it and leave the Lune or Lead, and ascend up into the neck of the Retort like Mercury sublimate, and are very heavy and ponderous, and do very rarely fall down into the Receiver, because they presently settle assoon as ever they feel any Refrigeration. Therefore it is needfull that the neck of the Retort be somewhat wide, that so the Mercury sublimate may meet with space and room enough, and may not by wanting room break the Retort. Now when the Retort has been kept three hours in a red hot heat, which time is requisite for the Mercury sublimate to ascend in, then cease from continuing or keeping on your Fire, that so it may cool. Then take out the sublimate out of the neck of the Retort when cold, and you shall find about some eight Lots 4 Ounces, and proceed with it the way following, as we shall by and by tell you.

Mix the Reliques or what is left, with two parts of Regulus of Antimony made with Iron, and melt it into a body: Wash off the Regulus and Tin from the Silver with Salt-peter, and you shall have your Silver not onely encreased by the Jupiter, but also indued with somewhat of a golden nature; as much as the Salts could maturate in so short a time, which is indeed a speedy Transmutation. But if you use Mercury of Saturn, there will not follow much amendment in so short a time. Yet nevertheless, that even the truth it self may even by this means be searcht out, there may be added a little Lead, and be boiled and reduced into Scoria’s, in which there will remain a grain of Silver, which will give you information, how much melioration the saline Spirits are able to bestow in three or four hours space.

But this is not the right way of getting profit, for as much as it shows onely the possibility of the thing.

But if you would have any profit by such an Operation, you must get you a Cucurbit for this sublimation made of good and vitreous or glazefying Earth; and the sublimed Mercury must be taken forth of the Alembick, and be again added to the dry matter lying in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and this Operation of subliming it must be so often repeated, till there ascend up no more, and that all abides fix with the Tin. Then is a stronger Fire to be put thereto, and the Jupiter and Saturn will be maturated by the Salt as we taught afore. And if now any be minded to take that same sublimated matter, as it ascended in the first sublimation, and would make it fix and constant (per se) in a Glass, he would get a Tincture that will in projection tinge with a white and red colour, but yet I never have as yet tried the latter of these. However I doubt not, but it may be done. For seeing that this sublimed matter, doth (though it be so volatile) penetrate the Plates of Copper, by three or four hours time cementation, and turns somewhat of the said Plates into the nature of Gold and Silver by graduation, how much more would it do, if being brought to a due fixity and constancy, it should be projected into some molten and flowing Metal? For that in such a white sublimate (principally in that which proceeds from Lune) there lies hid also an occult redness, and may be manifested by the Fire, this I say, mine Eyes have seen, and mine hands have felt, but have not as yet brought the Operation to its compleat end, by reason of various lets and want of time.

Farther, by such a sublimate Mercury may likewise be wrought various Transmutations, which I think not fit to divulge. It is in its nature fugacious and volatile, and yet notwithstanding doth it in process of time make all other volatile and fugacious matters, such as are Arsenick, Auripigment, Cobolt, and even the most flying of all, viz. common Mercury, fix and constant, which effect is to be attributed to the Salt onely. He that knows rightly to manage this Operation, will not labour in vain, but will be rendred a partaker of great secrets, which thing I leave to the Sons of Art, as a Testament or Will.

But yet that I may kindle some little Torch for to guide the desirous Reader, and may make him more certain of a true Tincture, which this abject Mercury sublimate showing it self in a white colour hides in it, I have thought good, yet farther to add this following way.

Extract out of this sublimate a running Mercury, vivifying and separating it by apt and magnetick subjects; and evaporate a little portion or particle thereof, of about the bigness of a Pea, in a Silver Spoon; when ’tis all gone, you will find a purple Powder left in the Spoon. If you cast this Powder upon hot boiling Lead, you will find after its blowing off, a grain of Gold on the Test. The Spoon it self will bear the mark of a purple spot in that place, in which the Mercury went away in fume, and it cannot be blotted or rubbed out, because the Mercury hath deeply impressed the Tincture in the Spoon.

Now may some or other say unto me, whence did that little grain of Gold left on the Cupel, and that purple spot which tinged the Silver Spoon, proceed, came it from the Lead or from the Tin, or from the Silver, or out of the saline Spirits? The greatest part of Men will say it proceeded out of the Lead, Tin, or Silver. But I say, that it did indeed come out of the Lead, Tin or Silver, but that the Tincture adjoyned thereunto is for the most part the true Soul of Niter, which the Mercury took unto it self, and again left it and forsook it assoon as ever it was vexed or forced with the Fire. But I doubt not but that if such a Mercury impregnated with the Soul of Niter, were fixed and made constant in the Fire, it would afford an universal Tincture.

I confess I have tried many a time this Operation in small Experiments, which sometimes answered not my desires, what diligence soever I used thereabouts; but when I attempted it in a greater quantity it never succeeded. This thing seems to be posited in the will and pleasure onely of the Omnipotent God, who will not have those his so great Mysteries and Gifts profaned. I have indeed (like unto Moses) seen the promised Land, but yet I do not know whether or no God will bring me thither in this Life, that so I may enjoy those most precious Fruits.

And if God should not vouchsafe me that benefit, yet do I willingly rest content with this, that I have seen with mine Eyes, and felt with mine hands the truth of the Art more than once, which Art so many thousands of Men do so greedily gape after, but yet not with such good hap and success as to find it out or see it.

I have I say seen the truth, but not the Tincture brought to its end or perfection, but yet have I seen its beginning which makes me certainly assured so far, as that I dare to affirm, and confidently aver, that there is in nature such a thing as a true Tincture, and that it may by Gods blessing be prepared by an Artists hand. I have not yet had so much quiet and so much time as to undertake this so weighty a Work. Yet now I have a resolution to set aside all worldly cares, solicitudes and businesses, and to attempt and wait upon this kingly Work, and expect what the divine grace will bestow upon me. For we are to look for all good things from above, for else we labour in vain, whatsoever diligence we make use of.

These things I was willing to publish for the Assertion sake of the truth, and to prove that there was in nature a true Tincture, that so it may evidently appear that Metals may be transmuted both universally and particularly. And if by some desperate Men or by a sudden and immature death (which chances God of his mercy graciously keep from me) all the Mediums or means of perfecting so great a Work, and finishing it should be cut off from me, yet notwithstanding the truth it self will be able to bear witness to my sayings when I am dead and gone. For I have by me even yet those Silver Plates tinged with Purple Spots, which can at all times witness the truth of those things I have here delivered. For it is an impossible thing that Silver should be tinged with a purple colour without a Tincture. If therefore there is to be found the truth in that white and fugacious sublimate, what I pray would be found in the fix and Fire-abiding red Tincture? Would it not be, that effects of far greater moment would be produced by such a Tincture. The Ancients therefore that desired firmness of health and a long life, bestowed such labours and sweats upon getting a true Medicine for humane and metallick Bodies, and some of them arrived to their wisht-for end, but the greatest part of them were deceived with vain labours, and frustrated of their conceived hopes.

If any Man did certainly know that there were in some places to be found mighty treasures of Gold, Pearls, and Precious Stones, and it were granted every one to search after them for his own proper advantage, what think you, he would be lazy and slow, and would not set himself to seek after them. But if any should so order his search that like a blind Man, he neither knows nor sees what it is he seeks after, or in what place it is to be sought by him, certainly such an one would labour in vain, and lose both his time, pains, and costs; and this usually betides the greatest part of Men, for they spend their labours in vain in their search after this Work, because (like blind Men) they neither know what they are to seek, nor where. But yet ’tis credible that there would not such a multitude of them have stray’d from the truth, had but any one so clearly and perspicuously shown and pointed as it were with the Fingers at the place where the Treasure lyeth hidden, as I have now done.

And although the envious and lying Devil should oppose the truth even with his greatest power, and should most cruelly rage against it, yet notwithstanding he will not be able to shew us any one Man that hath produced and brought the truth forth to the light with greater perspicuity and evidence than Glauber hath.

I have therefore yet once more at present shown by a most evident demonstration even before the whole World, and have asserted it for a truth, that not onely the more imperfect Metals do admit of being really transmuted by Salt and Fire into the more perfect ones, but withall, that by them, [viz. Fire and Salt] a Tincture may be made.

And now let all mine enemies visible and invisible ones, open and secret ones, what name soever stiled by, come forth and publickly produce the true Transmutation of Metals, with a clearer and more conspicuous manifestation than I have here done. I acquiesce with what I have hitherto spoken; if God shall please I will divulge admirable things in my next third Century. In this little Treatise there are laid open onely four secrets, but yet so clearly and conspicuously that no body hath as yet manifested such and so eminent things with clearer and more perspicuous expressions.

For that first Instrument is clearly enough described, by the help of which, not onely a great plenty of all sharp Spirits may be prepared with very little costs and easie labour, and the four-fold use of these Spirits is able to bring most great profit to the Countrey.

1. All Gold, Silver, and Copper are thereby extracted out of the poorer sort of Oars which Germany abounds with every where, and that in a far easier manner than by fusion, and are so brought to a very gainfull improvement, to the great benefit of all Germany, the which hath never been hitherto done.

2. Of the said Spirits is made a Water-attracting Magnet, for the bettering of poorer Wines, that so they may keep good, and be the easilier transported out of one place into another, as I have signified in my second Century. It is a secret which offers gain both to the rich and poor, and may be prepared in great plenty.

3. The imperfect Metals are sundry ways bettered by those saline Spirits, of which may be made vast quantities as I have shown in this Work or Book, and this melioration my Writings do variously teach and treat of.

4. By the help of these fiery Spirits of Salts, preparable in mighty plenty, which is a thing commodiously to be done by the Instrument described in this Book, may the Turks who are the Enemies of the Christian World be resisted without any Bloud-shed. Concerning these fiery Waters, which being such a notable destruction on the Enemies, this is here to be noted, that immense quantities of them are easily gotten without any Distillation and with very little expences.

For if much be to be effected by them, it is necessarily requisite to have vast quantities of them in readiness, without which, no great matters are in this case to be accomplisht. But as concerning the manner of so greatly endammaging the Turks by these moist Waters I cannot so accurately describe the same here, as being a meer stranger to, and ignorant in military affairs. However I will briefly and in few words shaddow out, what way I think it may be done by, viz. to resist and mightily endamage the Enemies by them.

First of all, this is the nature and property of these moist Waters. As to outward view they are like Water, and may be handled or dealt with as other common Waters, but their inward virtue is nothing but a meer Fire. And because these moist Waters may be thrown not onely with the hands, but with greater Warlike Engines or Guns a good way off, by artificial Instruments prepared for that purpose; therefore is the use of them manifold, and as necessity requires may they be used several ways for the expulsion and overcoming of the Enemies. We will illustrate our meaning by an example. Suppose I am in a City or Castle besieged by the Enemies, and that I have by me some of those kind of Instruments which are accommodated to this use for the moist Fires. If now the Enemy should set upon the Trench, Wall, or a Bul-wark, and I were furnished with that defensive Water of mine, should stand behind the Wall or Bul-wark in that place which the Enemy sets upon, he could not possibly come at me; for those moist Fires may be cast by the said Instruments far without the City, like a fiery showr of Rain, or like a Cloud, which Rain being forced out of but one onely Instrument would dilate it self far and wide upon many hundreds of Men, and whatsoever it touched it would hurt and burn like common natural Fire, and it would especially blind their sight, so that the Men would not be able to look up or see. If now the Enemies should make their attempt upon any place, and there should be shoured down upon them such a fiery Rain, and by hurting their Eyesight make them quite blind, how would they be able being blinded to get over the Walls or Bul-warks? I do believe that if they should have gotten over the Walls or Forts, and be made thus blind, they would be heartily glad if they could but get out again and recover their own party. But it would be better to beat them off, and blind them when they come with their Ladders to scale the Walls, than to permit them to approach any nearer. But yet if it should so happen that the Enemies had gotten even into the City it self, and there were some Houses in the principal places or streets in which the defendants may rally themselves and that such Houses were furnisht with such moist Fires, and that such fiery showers were shot out thence so blinding them that they durst not open their Eyes, what I pray would they be able to do, being blinded and clearly deprived of the use of their sight? Would they not throw away their Arms and solely mind the getting the Fire out of their Eyes, and yet it would hardly be so done in half a days time, nay if it should touch their Eyes in pretty quantity, it would scarse be quencht in two days time, and if they should go to wipe their Eyes with their hands, then would they make their torments much more intolerable, and would add more Fire to their Eyes, because their hands are likewise moistned and plagued with that continual shour. And now may not such unbidden Guests be overwhelmed and slain with Stones cast on them out of the adjoyning Houses? And may not one Single Woman with such a little Instrument onely filled with these moist Fires defend her House against an hundred Soldiers. Verily in my opinion there may be made a better defence with such a little Instrument that one may carry about with him, than with ten or even an hundred Musquets. For 100 Musquets require 100 Men, all which when they have discharged their Guns once, and have slain some ten or twelve Men (and yet it is not wont usually to happen so in such cases neither) they need some time to load their Musquets again, if they would keep on shooting. But this Instrument may be used even by Women, two or three of whom will haply do more hurt to the Enemy than twenty or thirty, yea haply one hundred Men are able to do with their Musquets. And if the Women and other weak Men do but blind their Enemies, the armed Men may take them thus blinded Prisoners; that so not being killed but made Slaves, they may be set to Work and Till the Land, and this would be far more profitable than the killing of them would be. So then, may not an hundred Soldiers by the help of my Instruments defend any Fortress with greater and more certain defence than a thousand Men could otherwise do. Verily I believe they may. For these blinding Fires of mine, or fiery Clouds and Rain being adjoyned to other usual and customary military Weapons, will most mightily endamage the Enemy, nor will there need so many Soldiers, for the Citizens themselves may use the other [customary] Arms, and the Women and Children may use the Instruments, whereby they would haply defend themselves more strongly than if they committed their defence to chosen and registred Souldiers.

For these Instruments, (by which the moist Fires are driven far off upon the Enemies like fiery showers and Clouds of Rain, and that without intermission, and as oft as ever need requires) although they be great, yet a few Men may govern or manage them, so that it will be impossible for the Enemies to effect any considerable enterprize in besieging any City. But it is needfull to place such Instruments that thus squirt forth Fire, behind the Walls and Bul-warks, that the Enemies great Ordinance may not hurt or destroy them. Verily I cannot so very accurately and compleatly show what [the best] way [is] of endamaging the Enemies by the help thereof, for this the practice it self will better shew us. I can furnish forth the Instruments themselves and the moist Fires belonging thereunto. I commend the use of them unto the Souldiers, who may learn to use them as they shall find good by experience I do again repeat what I have hitherto so often spoken, and I do affirm, that with one such Instrument may some thousands of Men be blinded in a moments time, and being blinded what I pray can they then do? If so be that others shall endeavour to come to help them and fetch them off, they may likewise be blinded, nor can they run away, and therefore must necessarily be taken Prisoners. And this in my judgment may be done in Hostile Invasions and Sieges.

But now whether or no there may be any use of such Instruments in Battailes and Conflicts with the Enemies, I do not well know, but that a City, Castle, or House may be defended by their means, and so drive off the Assailants, is a thing evident and undoubted. Should there be a thousand Enemies beset the House of some particular Citizen, yet must they depart if onely such a fiery Cloud or Rain (the Doors and Windows being shut) should be shoured down upon them. For so they would be rendred blind and not be able to see or find the Door, as it was in Lots time, when his Enemies environed his House to have out those two Strangers, they were smitten with such blindness that they were constrained to leave the House, and it was permitted Lot, and his, to pass out of the same without any impediment. And is it not lawfull for us to smite our Capital Enemies the Turks with blindness, and to defend our selves, our Wives and Children?

God himself saith, I will encompass those that are mine, with a Wall of Fire, and defend them against their Enemies. Briefly, this invention of mine, of making such a fiery Mist or Rain, is an incomparable defence and safeguard, the like of which was never as yet known in the World. And now may any one easily conjecture what may be done offensively with this same invention. For example, suppose ’tis necessary to take such or such a place from the Enemy, but now there is not time enough left, nor are there Souldiers enough for the enterprize; and therefore some Stratagem must be used to become Masters of one of the Gates at least whereby the Souldiers may be let in.

And now in my judgment some Gate may be seized on and that easily by the help of these moist Fires of mine, and ’tis thus, let some Souldier or other fit for such a design, be taught the use of my Fire-spiting Instruments, and when he understands it, he may be clad in Countrey Habit, and so let him go to them upon the Guard, and in the Court of Guardhouses in which they be, let him shour in upon them a fiery, Eye-blinding, and forcibly hissing shour. [This done] how can the Guarders possibly resist those that come to the Gate and are ready to enter in? Nay more, the Souldier thus clad may have a Granadoe given him to carry in a Sack, which being filled with those moist Fires, may of its own accord (without any benefit of Gun-powder) leap assunder and fill all the whole room with his blind making Dew, he may throw into those Watch-houses where they keep Guard, and so make all that are there present unfit to fight. And if so be there should be more of those Houses than one, the same Souldier may likewise have more such Granadoes given him, one of which he may throw into each House. Nay farther, if need be, and that you would have it fadge better and have it more certainly succeed, there may be sent several Souldiers with such Fire-breathing Granadoes to several Gates, to o’erwhelm the Watch-men and possess them. For the Watch-men suspecting no evil from one Countrey-man onely, will not cry out Arm, Arm, but let him in without any impediment. Such Fire-breathing Balls or Granadoes may be made of Iron, Copper or Earth, which however, properly are not Fires as long as they feel not the Air, and they then become Fires onely, when any one is so minded to have them such, breaking every thing in their reach like Gun-powder burning, and depriving all such as are present of their sight, and making them Sick. Granadoes made on this manner, and of about the bigness of a Mans Head, do not of their own accord conceive a flame without Air, nor do they flie assunder, or at all operate. But if you would that the Air be let in whereby they may operate, there must be a little Spicket or Tap to be drawn out of the Granadoe, that so the Air entring in may vivifie the Fire that lies in the Ball or Granadoe. Such a Granadoe being thrown into any Watch house, the Watch men will without doubt presently run and take it up and see what it should be, and what end it was thrown in there for; then as they all of them stand round and contemplate upon the novelty, if any of them hap to draw out the Spicket, which without all question they would do, the Air gets in, and the Fire enkindles and breaks that Granadoe thus stuft with that venemous Fire all to pieces, and so will strike them all down together. And may not now the Souldiers in the mean time hasten and break in to that fenced place without any let, and become Masters of the Gate? Verily methinks it should succeed very well. I tell you my thoughts of the business, I never tried the thing it self nor do I ever desire to try. Such as have a desire to try it, and have occasion and opportunity of doing it, may more accurately contemplate thereupon, and so will they find what way they may most conveniently detriment their Enemies most of all by. I have laid the foundation, others must valiantly proceed on and bring the thing to a most usefull Issue. However I do not doubt but that the most part of Men that shall hear me say, that there may be such effects produced by these fiery Waters, that may equal the dreadfull Operations of Gun-powder, will mock at me, and judge it an impossible thing; nor will it be any thing strange they should, because they have not any knowledge of nature.

Before those dreadfull virtues of Gun-powder were known, certainly no body would have believed the same, had they heard it told, that it were a possible thing to hurry or throw such a great Ball of Iron, into so far a place with so little Powder. And now it is a thing so very common, that he that will not believe it will be laught at. Even so, those things I have here mentioned of moist Fires will seem extraordinarily wonderfull and absurd to the ignorant, untill they shall see with their Eyes, and feel with their hands, that the Turks shall even this very Summer feel it if God permit, and vouchsafe me health so long. If God (I say) shall permit, which I would have you understand, as thus, viz. unless the wrath of God shall be so enkindled against the Christians, and shall therefore put a stop, and prevent the accrewing of any benefit, by any help how great soever it be. For when God pleaseth to punish any Countrey with deserved afflictions, certainly no Instruments of defence will at all help or do ought.

These things was I willing to declare at present, to demonstrate in what manner the Enemies power may by such Artificial moist Fires, and a peculiar kind of Granadoes, such things as never were as yet known in the World be broken. There are verily other far greater effects, and which exceed Mans belief, that may be effected by these my newly found out Fires; and such as are not to be written but to be revealed onely unto those that are truly well Willers to the common Weal, and who study how to destroy the Capital Enemy of all the Christian World. But thus much I add, that by these Artificial, Secret, and unknown burning and flame-conceiving Fires, far greater things may in my judgment be effected at any time whensoever one is minded, than by Gunpowder, for that it operates not afore it be enkindled with the Fire. But my Fires are enkindled and inflamed by the Air, and therefore must necessarily exeed Gun-powder in the production of greater effects, and this time will manifest.

Those common Granadoes being thrown into any City may be covered with wet Hides or Cloaths and be quenched, so as not at all to operate, but it cannot be so with my Instruments. And therefore it is not without cause that I prefer them afore Gunpowder.

’Tis not expedient to make any larger discourse concerning these matters, and to take up any more room by revealing more. I could verily in a few words so disclose these things that every one mought be able palpably to feel, and visibly to see them, and so as that he would assuredly know that far greater things mought be effected by these my Fires than by Gun-powder. They may together with the Gun-powder use these my moist Fires as they think good and as need requires. And I do not question but that hereafter Wars will be waged after another manner than hath hitherto been done, and force must give place to Art. For Art doth sometimes overcome strength. We will illustrate the business by an example.

When any little weak Man Fights with a bigger and stronger than himself, and they have both of them like skill in the use of their Arms, the stronger over Masters the weaker and Conquers him. But now if the little Man be better skilled in the use of Weapons than the greater and stronger one is, he beats him and becomes the Victour. And when two are of equal Stature and Strength; they smite alike forcibly, and beat one another alike, just as your Laundresses that beat Cloaths with a wash Beetle, so do these lay on blows on each other with like measure. So among the Ancients did they fight Man to Man, and the strength of the blows prevailed. But when Gun-powder was found out, then a few could kill and put to flight a greater number than themselves.

And now again ’tis every where known, that Men now a days do again fight with equal hand, as ’twere, neither party having more help [by Art] than the other party hath: save that the stronger party doth for the most part get the Victory, so that the Wars in our time consist not in Art, but in the multitude and company of Men. Mean while I firmly hope that if the use of my moist Fires be but known, there will be another kind of Warfare than now is, by fighting on equal Terms with blows as the Countrey fellows do, and whereby the stronger can overmaster and subdue the weaker. But now by the help of Art, the weaker may overcome the stronger. And if so be that Art and strength concur together they are wont to be most efficacious. David with his sling shewed the skilfulness of his Art, and subdued that great Goliah, who little expected such a mischance from such a little Shepherd. And like as Goliah mocked at David with his Sling, so perhaps will the Turk have us in derision, should we meet him with such Water-throwing Instruments. But even as that great Goliah was smitten down by a Stone of the Shepherd, so may the Turk be easily burnt and radically rooted out by those moist Fires, if the Christians will themselves.

But some or other may here object and say, suppose some perfidious Christian should happen to flie to the Turks, and put such Weapons into their hands, to use against the Christians agen, what shall we do then? [I answer,] such [a mischief] may be prevented by an accurate diligent wariness, that these secrets be not revealed to every body, but to such onely as are known, and that have possessions, Wives, and Children: for such will hardly be allured or corrupted with any reward. Besides too, the vulgar will not be so easily apprehensive of all things hereto requisite, seeing the Art consists not barely in one or two, but in many things [or circumstances.] It cannot therefore be that such inventions should so easily fall into the Enemies hands, and that for several causes which I forbear to reckon up here. Nay more, if necessity should require there mought (by accurate meditation) a farther inquisition be made, whereby more such inventions mought be found out. For this may easily be effected by Men of a quick piercing Wit, viz. by their diligent search to add to what is found out and to better the same, for ’twill be a facile thing to do. For nature being so most exceedingly richly stored can never at any time be thoroughly found out. And therefore even I my self do hope in some short time greatly to augment [or meliorate] the said Inventions of mine. If God vouchsafe me life, there shall be even yet produced by me to light wonderfull things, which will miraculously promote the safety and happiness of my Countrey, and especially if I shall but find amongst Men a thankfull remembrance thereof.

Moreover, I doubt not but that abundance of Men will wonder if they shall see these my newly invented Warlike Instruments to be published in Print, which is a thing that I would never do, for I have resolved to make such onely partakers of the knowledge of the same, as stand in need thereof.

But because I have conferred with one or two (whom I thought to have born me a loving and friendly mind) about these things, and spake to them too openly about the very business it self, they got some part of the Art it self, and saw the very Instruments in the Workmens hands whom I had taken order with about making them, and without doubt perswaded themselves that they had the full knowledge of the whole Art. Presently upon this they were become invisible and withdrew themselves, insomuch that I suspect that those perfidious Men have repaired to the Courts of some great Men, to offer and sell these my inventions as if they were their own. Now then to meet with such treacherous perfidiousness, I thought good to publish openly somewhat concerning these matters, that so every one may know that whatever Men shall sell such secrets as their own, they were not invented by them but by me, and they have fraudulently stolen them from me. But I except those here, to whom I have revealed them to this intent, that, viz. they may make use of them against the Turk.

And because I can methinks prophetically as it were conjecture that these my newly invented military Instruments will be desired and sought after by a great many both high and low, I judged it a thing worth the while, to take care for the getting some of those same Instruments, and also those moist Fires thereunto appertaining to be prepared, and sent into those places, where they may detriment or annoy the Turks. For without doubt there may be far stronger resistance made with these newly invented Instruments against those our Capital Enemies, than can ever be done with Gun-powder. For Gun-powder is never wont to operate afore it be kindled with the Fire, which kindling and inflamation Water will hinder, and now my moist Fires are not at all impeded thereby. And upon this account it is a thing altogether possible that a fiery Globe [or Granadoe] may be as well emitted [or be as forcible] out of the deep Waters with [or by] them, as it may with Gun-powder out of the Water, the which seems indeed incredible, but yet is very easie to him that is endued with the knowledge of these things.

There yet rest a few admonitions to be given, viz. that no body pass his sentence upon these my secrets here disclosed, with a prejudiced and forestalled judgment, unless he has a mind to slur himself with an infamous mark, but let him have patience, till he of his own knowledge perceive the whole Basis of the business. Many things there be that lie as yet hidden, which (as Prophesies tell us) must be manifested before the Worlds end. This time draws nearer and nearer, though so few believe it. For my part I am verily of this Opinion, that there is such a wonderfull time at hand, the like of which hath neither been seen or heard of from the time of the Floud even to these our days. I pray God to Defend the Pious, and to Convert the Wicked, Amen.

The End of the First Part.

THE SECOND PART OF GLAUBER’S WORKS.

The First CENTURY, OR Wealthy Store-House of Treasures. BEING A General Appendix to all his hitherto-published Writings.

The which doth not onely illustrate all obscure places, as well in his Philosophical and Medicinal as Chymical Writings, and explain those hard places to be understood; but also do so abundantly supply those which are defective, that the learned and the unlearned, the highest and the lowest, and more, the meanest Workmen and Husbandmen, may sufficiently be able to comprehend that Glauber hath in all his Writings, written the pure and simple Truth, and hath again brought to light the most noble Art of Alchymy which hath so long lain hid in darkness hitherto; and hath discovered it for the common good of Mankind.

LONDON, Printed in the Year MDCLXXXIX.

THE PREFACE.

Courteous Reader,

That every promise becomes a debt, is reported by a common Proverb or By-word, and therefore to stand to ones word or promise, is a thing which procures a great Ornament or grace no less to =Juniors= than to =Seniors=. Since therefore in my Writings I have ingaged my Faith or Credit through the promising of some little Works, and yet have not been able, by reason of the scantiness of time, hitherto to satisfie the expectation and desire of very many, by publishing of the same; yea since greater Discommodities and Impediments being cast in my way, do hinder me from day to day whereby I cannot write more things, although I have nothing more in my desires than that in standing to my promise, I may acquit my credit, and set forth the said little Works; to wit, my Vegetable Work, my Work of =Saturn=, my Book of Dialogues or Discourse, the fourth part of my =Spagyrical Pharmacopœa= or Chymical Dispensatory, and my admirable little Book, of the concentring of the Heaven and Earth: truly they being Treatises containing most excellent Arcanums or Secrets, and the most worthy ones whereof Men can be made partakers, notwithstanding I am of necessity destitute of time for the writing of any Treatise peculiarly, and for that cause I am constrained to insist in a nearer path, and for the sake of promoting the publick good, to send forth the said Treatises in publick by a less labour and trouble. The present Treatise notified with the Title of an universal Chest or Cabinet full of Riches, or of a general Appendix of all my Writings hitherto exposed to the publick view performs this, whereby all things which have been either the more briefly and obscurely spoken in them are with a more clear or perspicuous illustration explained, or things that have been wholly omitted are supplied, and by the same endeavour the promised Treatises are added, yet not in that order wherein they ought otherwise to be written down, and the which order here to be observed, would administer very much trouble; but wherein all the secrets have in process of time been made known unto me, and committed to Paper. But it is free for any one to add according to his own Judgment, Medicinal Secrets unto Medicinal ones, Mineral Secrets unto Mineral ones, Chymical Secrets unto Chymical ones, if it shall so please him, and time shall also permit the same, which it in no wise permitteth unto me, every one that acquiesceth and is content with these things may consider, if a certain Cook should set a Dish on the Table filled with the best Meats, as being destitute of time, to put every sort of Meat in a several Dish, whether he could of right be angry with him, or by whisperingly prating, he could dare to say, he was to be blamed as being not skilfull in the affairs of the Kitchin, because collecting so many delicate and such dainty Meats into one Dish, and daring to set them on the Table? I suppose not any one could of right complain of such a deed of any Cook; the Cook, desiring to have it taken in good part, such Meats as he had, such he sets before them; he that refuseth to take of them, may use his own liberty, and may let those Meats alone, which he is not compelled to receive, even as the Cook also may be constrained by none in preparing of the same according to his own will or judgment.

Whatsoever Meat doth not please the Pallate of one, yet will not be ingratefull to the Pallate of another, but on the contrary gratefull, seeing one Food is wont to savour or relish this Man, and another the other, neither is he inordinately affected with the disdain of confused Meats, who taketh of those which relish him, and leaveth the rest for others.

Let every one that blameth these Writings do the same, not in hastily taking them in evil part, but in friendly and courteously excusing me that I have not sent them abroad in a more harmonious order.

They are like unto a certain true and great Cabinet or Chest, filled with very many excellent Secrets, being reduced into my knowledge through a successive diligent search of thirty years and so collected into one heap, that they might either be conserved for my own or at some time be made of publick use or service: out of this Chest every one shall be able to exhaust those =Arcanums= and =Secrets=, which shall please him or serve his uses.

As to what concerns my self, because I daily behold sometimes this Man, sometimes that Man being snatched away by death, to be carried forth and committed to the Earth, I may easily conclude rationally with my self, that those changes or chances will in a short time happen also unto me; I should commit a very grievous offence or errour, that so many costs, labours and troubles, of so many and so great Secrets being consumed in vain, I should carry them away with me under ground, and not bestow them for a common good: I shall here perform the office of a good House-holder, or skilfull House-keeper or Steward, who after that he hath made abundant of Provision for Winter-cloathing for himself, his Wife, Children and whole Family, if he hath as yet plenty of Linnen and Woollen Cloth remaining, he doth not cast them away, but rather casts them together into a Chest, so long to be kept, untill he shall obtain an occasion of administring them for the use of his Neighbour. In the name of the Lord therefore, in making a beginning with the opening of my Chest of Treasures, I will empty it out by little and little by degrees, and will offer it for a common use, that out of so many Treasures, every one may convert unto his own use, what things he shall judge to be profitable unto him; to wit, a Physician Medicinal things, and a Chymist Chymical things, even as every one shall discern any thing to be fit for his own use, every one of what rank soever shall find those things wherewith he might be content, so indeed that whatsoever he shall not meet withall in the first, second, or third Century may be found in the rest, for which things sake, if ten Centuries shall not be sufficient, I will adjoyn other ten or more, that so I may remove from me all those cares, and carefulnesses wherewith the custody of so great Treasures hath importuned and affected me for so many years. Like unto a travelling Woman, who with the greatest desire expecteth the hour of her delivery, and who desireth the beholding of her Fruit, do I desire that time wherein all things shall be printed in Letters. The Almighty God bestow on me so much presence of mind, health, and strength, and prolong my Life so far, that I may finish it to his Honour, and the Succour, Comfort and Profit of all Mankind. Amen.

THE FIRST CENTURY: OR GLAUBER’S Wealthy Store-House of Treasures.

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