The First Part: OF The Prosperity of Germany, &c

The First Part: OF The Prosperity of Germany, &c

In the Name of the most Holy Trinity do I begin to describe the most great Wonders of God, that I may manifest to everyone (without concealing ought) His Grace and Mercy, which He embraceth Mankind withal; and I pray God, the Father of us all, the merciful Creator of Heaven and Earth, to guide and direct this Work, that it may serve to His Divine Honour, and tend to all our welfares. Amen.

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We will enter into Franconia, and see what a wealthy and large Benediction of God is to be found therein: And I will first begin with Wine, none of the least of the most noble Creatures of God, and will demonstrate how ungrateful we shew ourselves to the bestower of all good things, and how basely we abuse His Goodness.

Every one knows what a noble Creature wine is, how strained from the Grape and made, and therefore this thing needs no further description, forasmuch as others have heretofore sufficiently enough done this task and daily Experience is an abundant testifier of the use of the same. It is behoveful here, that we only signifie how it ought to be handled better than it has hitherto been, and may so likewise bring a greater profit and utility to the tillers thereof than hitherto. Every one knows, that wine is the noblest amongst all drinks, and most conducive to health, and may and ought to be called the Purest drink: It cherisheth old men, and heats the cold, but such as are of a tender age, should deservedly shun wine, because being drunk too soon, it easily inflames the Liver, and dries it up, and stirs up various Diseases, and at last causeth Death it self. So then, there is nothing so good, but may also do hurt, nor is any thing so evil, but doth sometimes bring some benefit, according as the difference of the use is which it is applied unto; as is here evident in Wine; the which being drunk moderately, and at due seasons, doth not only excellently well digest and concoct the Meat in the Stomach, but likewise evidently strengthens the Heart, Brain, and Vital Spirits, and generates pure and sound Blood and Flesh. Contrariwise, being immoderately taken, it overflows as ’twere the Stomach, Lungs, and Liver, fills those Vessels with many evil humours, and obstructs them, so that they cannot well perform that office whereto they are destinated by GOD and Nature, but are overwhelmed with whole Troops of Diseases; for the Heart and Brain is set upon by their spiritual efficacy and hot nature and property, and is weakened, and the vital spirit is overcome and suffocated, as we see in the fire, the which when greater doth alwaies suppress and overcome the lesser.

Hence it comes to pass, that men that load themselves with daily drinkings, do little differ from new-born Calves and Geese, and are wont to be neither profitable to God, nor to Men, nor to themselves.

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In the Name of God, therefore we will proceed on in the matter we have proposed, and see by what means more profit may be reaped from Wine than hath hitherto been.

In the first place, he that aims at the bettering of any thing, must know what the thing is which he studies the amending of, and of what parts it consisteth.

Therefore, as concerning Wine, it consisteth as well as the other Vegetables of three principles, viz. of Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury (that I may use the Philosophers terms). The Mercury is its insipid moisture, and the Sulphur is that burning Spirit which is extracted or drawn out thereof. You shall thus know the thing, by this following Experiment. Put a Cucurbit full of Wine in a B. and with a gentle heat draw off what will come, but yet so, that the parts which in the destillation alter or change themselves, be each of them received apart in its peculiar Receiver. For example; If there were 12 parts of wine, or 12 measures, there ascends first only one part of spirit, which is the soul and life of the wine; after it, come ten parts or measures of insipid water; the remainder in the bottom of the Glass is a thick and austere or harsh matter, which being the Tartar or Salt of the wine, is also almost one part or measure of the wine. Of these three parts all wine is compounded, but yet partakes of one or the other of the Principles, more or less, according to its being more or less mature, or its growing in such or such a place. As for example;

The Austere Wine hath alwaies more Tartar and less Spirit than the Ripe Wines; and contrarily, the ripe wine doth abound with more Spirit than Tartar, as the Spanish and other extraneous wines witness, which do alwaies abide sweet, and plainly have no Tartar in them; the reason is this, Because in those warm Countries they are brought by the Sun to meer sweetness, and so are ripe; so that the austere Tartar or Salt is throughly changed, and concocted into a sweet Sugar. Hence it comes, that the said wines do not in the afore-proposed Examen leave any austereness, as our wines in Germany do, but rather yield twice as much spirit, and scarce the half part of insipid water: Whenas austere Wine yields about a twentieth part of spirit, the ripe German wine yields almost a twelfth part, and the Spanish a sixth part of spirit, four parts of water, and one part of fæces without Tartar. So that from good German wine there comes (as I said afore) one part of spirit, ten of water, and one part of austere or sowrish matter.

He that knows these things, will easily contrive and prepare for himself by the help thereof, at all times, be it hot or cold, good and constant, or durable wine. Neither is there any room left a man here of complaining, as if God shewed greater bounty to men one year than another. The fault of this defect is not to be imputed to God, but to our own selves, who know nothing, nor are willing to know, nor study how to help Nature; for Art can bring an assistance and help to Nature when she is impeded in her work, and is unable to bring her Fruits unto a maturity, provided the Artist removes away that which the wine naturally abounds withal, and addeth thereunto what it is destitute of.

For example, Let us examin a thin wine, which being not sufficiently concocted and ripened by the Sun, is endowed with too much sharpishness and water, and contrarily has but little of spirit; if now to such a wine, when it begins to boil or ferment, some spirit shall be added, so that it may work together with it, it will be even as well ripened in the wine-vessel, by the benefit of this fiery spirit, as if it had been ripened by the Sun, as it hung upon the Vine; insomuch, that by this means there mought be made excellent wines every year, if any had but the knowledge of thus helping them.

NB. But now such a spirit must not be such an one as that common Adult or Brandy-wine is, but a grateful and pure Essence of wine; the manner of making it I have described in my Vegetable Work. Now by how much the more this Spirit shall ferment or work with such a wine, so much the stronger and more efficacious doth the wine become: Forasmuch as all the Virtues of all the whole wine consist in the Spirit only, and the Tartar or Salt doth by its muchness make it austere and sharp. But Musts being by such an Artifice made stronger and more efficacious, do keep a longer time afterwards without corrupting, and may be carried or transported whithersoever one please; whence it comes to pass, that they are never spoiled, as they are otherwise usually wont to be, when ’tis not of ripe growth.

From these things ’tis evident, that out of one Must, grown in one and the same Autumn, there may with ease be made wines of 3, 4, or more kinds, according as there is more or less of this spirit added to the Must and fermented with it.

There is also another way, by the help whereof every austere wine is easily corrected and amended, thus: In the Vintage time, let the liquor of the Must, or of the expressed juice of the Grapes, be so boiled in peculiar Vessels, that the unprofitable moisture or tasteless water do exhale by little and little, until thou hast as much as thou wouldst, or as the efficacy of the wine, or the degree thou wouldst by correcting reduce it to, shall require: For, in the exhalation of the superfluous moisture nothing goes away, save that insipid water; but the sweetness and the austereness remains in that thick and condensate juice, like to Honey; so that that boiled mash comprehends all the strength and virtues of the wine, concentrated as it were, and condensate, and will again disclose them, if it doth again work, with water thereto added in a due proportion; but the use of this condensate Must, which as yet hath not wrought or fermented, is this, That it can be at all times carried, and most profitably sold in far remote Countries, which thing could not afore be done.

For every one knows, that when there is a cold Summer, Wines become immature and acid, and are not wont to keep; for as soon as they come to be a year old, they are covered over with a filmy skin, and being mouldy, corrupt, because they have not in them spirit enough. From whence it comes to pass, that many times Vintners, or Vineyard-keepers, suffer great loss, after that they have diligently betook themselves to dress the Vineyards for an whole year, and have lived sparingly and hardly, and working hard, have sustained their lives with Bread and Water, hoping that upon selling their wine they should scrape together a little Money, to buy them some Clothes and other Necessaries for their Family’s supportation; for the expected plenty of the wine hoped for, and of the profit accruing by the store of Money for it, when sold, hath prop’d them up with this hope; but now the wine fading and deluding their hopes, and turning into an acid and austere taste, they cannot sell it, seeing ’tis scarce worth the carriage; or if it be sold, ’tis at such a mean rate, as scarcely sufficeth to discharge the Cost of dressing it; and what shall now be done for Food, Drink, Raiment, and other Necessaries to sustain the Family?

And yet the Vines must be dressed for the next year too, and more Monies laid out upon them; but from whence shall Monies come for Food and Raiment, in the mean time? Alas, what course will they take if some such-like years should follow one another together? Either the poor miserable men must, together with their Wives and Children, famish, or else turn Souldiers, and be kill’d, or be made so desperate, as to betake themselves to thieving and robbing, and so finish their daies by an Halter: For the present world is so much estrangd from Mercy, that one will not use so much Christian Charity, as to help another in his necessity.

And besides, the ingratitude it self of men doth sometimes make others slow and fearful of administring and affording a mutual help; forasmuch as very many, when they are rid out of their incumbrances, do refuse to restore those things, or by labour to requite or make amends for the things by which they were delivered out of their Straits.

Hence it comes to pass, that he who does a friendly good turn, for such an ingrateful man, loseth his Money, and by reason of that so ill placed formerly, abhors the lending his helping hand again.

Now, that such great inconveniences may be removed, and the Vine-dressers somewhat holpen, so as that they might every year sell their wines at a beneficial price, and may never be oppressed with that foresaid detriment; it may very conveniently be done by the help of this concentration or condensation, by evaporating the Must to the consistence of Honey, the which may profitably be carried into far distant places, in which no wine is accustomed to grow, and be there sold. Such now as buy up such Must thus condensated by boiling, do now know how by dilating it with Water, to reduce it again into good wines. This Artifice therefore being so laudable, will be helpful to both, to the Vine-dresser, in yielding him presently ready Money for his Must, and to the Merchant, in easilier furnishing him with Wine, and quitting him of so much Charges in the Carriage.

But that the business may be yet the better and more clearly understood, let us see by making computation, what the benefit and profit of this condensation is.

Let us suppose then, that a Wine not ripe remains acid and weak, and that a Franconian Urn, or half an Hogshead of Frankfort measure, yields scarce a Florin, or a Doller at the utmost. Such a Wine as this will not quit the Costs of the Carriage, though but for 12 miles; [a =German= mile is three of ours.] for it degenerates by the carrying it, and becomes mouldyish, as ’twere, and turns sowre, so that the Huckster can’t sell the same, and he’l have a care how he buys such wines another time; and the Vineyard-keeper is even enforced to keep them to his great loss, forasmuch as all his safety or dependance is built thereupon.

As for the Rich men, tho’ they have some acid wine, they are not undone by the loss, for they have still by them other better wines, which they mix those worser and more acid wines withal, and so sell them off; or else they keep such thin wines till the Autumn comes, with more plentiful and riper Grapes, and to the Must proceeding from them, do they pour this thin Wine, and let it work therewith anew, and by this means it becomes vendible. But yet the Gain arising hencefrom, is sufficiently poor and mean: For by how much the thinner the acid wine is than it ought to have been, tho’ it be mixt with good Wine, yet doth this become so much the worser; nay, it sometimes happens, that both are corrupted and lost; for as much of help as the acid Wine gets from the good wine, so much of goodness doth depart even from the good wine. So that such a kind of bettering after what manner soever it be instituted, cannot be very profitable or advantageous.

For example, that I may be the better understood, let us instance in two pieces of Gold, each of which should be the value of 25 Imperials: Let them be put in the Balance and examined, and being examined, let one of them be the due weight, and let the other be less in weight or price the value of four Imperials. If now you are minded to take so much away from that piece which is of current weight, as to make them both of alike weight, you may indeed so do, but yet you are no waies benefited thereby, but rather suffer loss: Forasmuch as you took away from that piece that was of due weight, and added unto the other piece that wanted of weight, so much of its value is departed, and both pieces will be unfit to go in payment, as wanting their due value and weight. What profit therefore can hence redound unto any man? Even so is the case with the Wine, for if one should get some two load of wine, and could sell one of them for 20, and the other but for 10 Imperials, and yet should not be accounted of as vendible Wine, and now the Merchant should mix that thin wine with the better, that they may both be equal, would not that better wine become worse, and that thin wine be rendered not much the better? For my part therefore, I cannot see that such a kind of meliorating can bring much profit.

But as for my bettering and correction, it is always profitable, whereby the acid wines are not corrupted by the acid, but the good and superfluous humidity only is separated by the benefit of Art, and the good part being condensate in it self, and by it self is reduced into a narrower compass.

NB. He that is so minded, may separate from the sweet Must, a fourth part only, or a fifth or sixth part, by evaporation, and presently bring it to such a pass, as to work or ferment; for they become so much the better, by how much the more water hath been consumed by evaporation: If the Quintessence of wine be added to that working Must, the wines become the better, and the more generous. This kind of way may be made use of in those places in which the wine doth for the most part remain acid; for there needs not this Art to those Vines that Nature hath ripened.

Besides, the wines may be condensated to the thickness of Honey, that they may be thereby rendered the fitter for Transportation. Six Hogsheads, or Oma, of Must, may be so condensated, that one Hogshead will hold them; the which (if need be) may again by the apposition of 5 Hogsheads of water, which quantity it lost in the condensation, make 6 Hogsheads of wine of the very same goodness and efficacy as it would have been of before the condensation, if it never had been condensated, but been presently put out of the Press into the Barrels, to have fermented and work’d into wine after the usual manner.

NB. But now if any be desirous of making his wine better and more noble than it would have been afore the Concentration, then he must not put five, but only 4 parts of water; for should he add but three Hogsheads or parts, it would be yet better and nobler by one degree than the others: Hence is it manifest, That it is in the hands of the Artist to make and alter these wines at his pleasure, and to render them strong, stronger, and middling, and by the addition of water to give them even what efficacy and what virtues you list. But now, to all the mixtures he may add the soul of wine, if he has it, that the wines may thereby be the sooner clear and pure. For the Quintessence of any wine being conjoined with new Musts, and working with them, brings them in a short space of time to clarity and purity, so that they become transparent, but principally when they are tartarized, or full of Tartar, for the spirit of Wine brooks not any Tartar, but precipitates it in the fermentation to the bottom, or drives it away from it self, and so by consequence makes the Wine clear and transparent. But as concerning, what means the Tartarized (Spirit or) Essence of Wine is to be artificially prepared by, ’tis needless to repeat here, forasmuch as it is already described in divers of my Writings hitherto published, but especially in the Vegetable Work.

Besides, it is not so convenient, that every one should know, by what means the concentrated Musts may be prepared with water, and the Tartarized Quintessence. It is sufficient in this place, to know how the Musts are to be concentrated, or brought into a narrow compass, that so they may be transported and sold. Let this be the care of the Merchants to know how to use them when they have bought them. For the Brains of the Vineyard keepers are incapable of these things. Yet nevertheless, there will be some Men who will know how to make a due use of such boiled and condensed Musts, if they can but get them, and every one may be Master of this Affair, if he has but Coppers and Kettles, necessary for such an Operation; whereby he may make store enough of Juice. But yet every Countryman can’t get such Kettles, neither will it be worth while, forasmuch as a small Portion of Wine, will not be able to quit the Costs. But whosoever bestows his Study and Moneys in exercising this Artifice, will reap thence from a great deal of Utility and Advantage. But whether he does these things, or does them not, he neither benefits, nor injures me. ’Tis sufficient, that I have evidently demonstrated to the Vineyard Masters, by what means they may always sell their Wines, whether they be ripe, or have come short of their Maturity.

But for the better instruction of the Courteous Reader, I will compute the Charges of this Operation, and show, what gain is to be expected from the Condensation of these Musts.

In the first place therefore, let us buy some Musts in those places, in which they are thin, and are sold for a mean price, viz. twelve Urnes, or six Hogsheads, or Oma’s, for xij. Imperials; [an Imperial is about 4 s. 6 d.] this Must we will condense to the Consistency of Honey, so that there may be but one Hogshead, or Oma remaining. Let the Costs requisite to this Concentration (always provided you are furnished with the Copper Vessel) be valued at half a Dollar, or thereabouts; and the charge of the Wood we’ll count an Imperial for. The Wine Cask which is to be filled with this condensate Juice, we will value at half an Imperial, its carriage forty Miles, we’ll reckon six Imperials for. All which Charges being summed up, make nineteen Imperials and an half. And so much will be the Charges of one Hogshead, or one Oma of this Condensate Must, and its Carriage forty Miles. This Must now being brought into such a place where Wines are dear, you may at any time of the year, by the addition of Water, and by Fermentation, transmute into good Wine. And that one only Hogshead being the condensate Juice of six Hogsheads of Must, will yield thee so many Hogsheads of such Wine as the Must would have been afore its Concentration. And if thou desirest to have thy Wine stronger and nobler, than as it comes out of the Press, and than it could be afore this Condensation, you may omit the putting thereunto so much water as it lost in the Condensation, and lessen it proportionably, that so those six may make no more than four Hogsheads, and they will be the more generous; the which thou shalt far better have by this means, if viz. You know how thereunto to adjoin a Quintessence.

If now, that one Hogshead of juice, which afore its Condensation was six Hogsheads, doth again yield four [and no more] it must of necessity be much better, and more noble than otherwise it would have been, had it been made after a Natural manner, (viz. just as it came from the Press.) And by this means too, it will last the better, and may be the easilier transported and sold.

So then, if in such a place as is 40 Miles distant from Wine-making Countrys, an Hogshead, or Oma, is sold but for twelve Imperials, and you have of six Hogsheads of thin Wine, made four of better, and each of these you sell for but 12 Imperials, yet you shall have 48 Imperials, out of which substract your 19 and ½ Charges, you shall have clear Gains 28 Imperials, and ½. But I have set a most low price on this Wine, for in such places which are about some 40 Miles from those Countries, in which abundance of Wines grow, an Hogshead, or an Oma, is not usually sold at the Rate of 12, but of 24 Imperials. The gain therefore of about a Wayn-load of such a thin Wine, which haply would have corrupted with lying, and never yielded any profit, doth at the least yield above fifty Imperials.

Every one now may easily see how much Gains this Artifice of the Concentration of Musts doth bring. For besides this Commodity arising from this Labour, viz. That the Musts being presently sold, yield ready Money; there is this also, that the Money being again presently disburst, opens the way for the next years profit. The Merchant also has this benefit by this Labour, that he is not enforced to pay so much Water’s carriage so long a Journey; and that he may even at his pleasure make his Wine more or less strong and efficacious; for what a deal of profit is this, for to have all the Wine of six Hogsheads, carried in one Hogshead.

Besides, the Merchant doth not only gain the price of the carriage of those five Hogsheads, but also is quitted of the fear of the Carter’s corrupting, or spoiling that Juice by the way, as is usual with them to do with Wine, drawing it out, and filling up the Vessels again with Water. This danger these Juices are not subject unto; and may be kept in great plenty in fruitful years of Wine, until you need them. For they are not wont to be corrupted, if they are but kept in pure, and well shut Vessels. By this means every Vintner may in such exceeding plentiful years, furnish himself with a great Treasure, and store of Wines, and so afterwards, when a dear year comes, reduce his Juices into Wine, and enjoy a great deal of profit.

I have to this end described this so famous an Art, that the common Vine-Masters, may have present sale for their Musts, and not be enforced so long to keep them, till some Carrier comes and enquires after Wine, but may presently get their Moneys, and may profit themselves by bestowing them to the use of their Family. So then, it fares not only well, which the Vine-Masters, and the Merchants, but also with all such as dwell in those places which yield no Wine, because by the benefit of this Medium (or Artifice) they may also drink Wine at a cheaper rate. For if any Honest Citizen provides himself with an whole Hogshead, or half an Hogshead of this Juice, he may turn it into stronger, and weaker Wines, and all times of the Year make new, and as yet fermenting sweet Musts, whensoever he pleaseth, and as oft as his need requires; and may by the apposition of Spices, or Herbs, make Aromatical, or Physical Wines; which thing cannot be effected without these Condensate Juices; forasmuch as Sweet Musts, cannot be carried by Land to any other place, for that they presently ferment, and boil up, and will either break out of the Vessels, or rend the Cask, and be lost, which (by having these Juices) is not at all to be feared. I do therefore think that I deserve exceedingly well of very many, by the faithful manifestation of this Artifice; which deed of mine, whether it be praised, or dispraised, yet will it not be despised by such men as shall apprehend, and perceive the benefit and Commodity of so great an Artifice.

It remains now, that we also describe, and set afore your Eyes the Instruments and Vessels serving to this Condensation, (without which, this Concentration cannot be effected) and withal shew the manner of proceeding, which is to be thus ordered.

In the First place, provide a Copper of such a bigness as you shall judge needful for the great, or less quantity of Juice you have; let it have a plain and even bottom, and let it have the sides about a Span high, and get it well Tinned over in the inside, and not Leaded, the which Vessel you must put in a Furnace of a sizeable bigness, and so order it, that being set in the Furnace, the Flame may come but only to the bottom, and not be able to touch the sides. The Walls of the Furnace are to be some two foot high, and must have an Iron front, or Stone Door, serving for the putting in the Wood, and registring the fire, by opening and shutting it. At the backside is to be an hole of such a bigness, as may suffice for making the fire burn by the access of the Air, and for carrying away the Smoke and Flame. But it must be so ordered, as to be covered with a broad stone, if need be, that so the fire may on such wise be registred, that the Juices may not boil over by the overmuch fire, or taste of burning. These Juices are to be so long boiled with the wood, until they begin to wax thick, and then more new Must is to be thereunto added, this addition is to be so long made, and so often repeated, until the Copper be almost filled with those thick Juices. Then the holes of the Furnace that serve for giving air, are to be shut both above and below, that there may be no flame under the Copper, but the bare heat of the fire, and a sweet and gentle warmth, which will bring the Juices by a sweet decoction to the consistence of Honey, and will condense them without any adustion, insomuch that they will become as sweet as Sugar.

These Juices, you may let out by a Pipe, or Cock placed near the bottom of the Vessel, and shutting it again, pour in more to be condensed after the same manner, until all the Musts are condensed, but you must not presently put the Condensate Juices, as soon as ever they come hot out of your Copper, into your Barrels, but let them run first into some wooden Vessel, and be there left so long till they are cool, then put them up in your Barrels, and shut them up tight, and so may you keep them whole and sound, and free from Corruption, even as long as you list: For if you should put them hot into your Barrels, and so shut them up, the Barrels would burst, or else when you open them, would (by reason of the pent-up Vapours, which can have no exhalation) break or run out.

NB. And here comes a notable Secret, which I think good to add. When the Juices have rested some two or three weeks, and be afterwards dissolved with warm water, the residue of the Tartar which would have made the wines acid, will fall down undissolved to the bottom, in the form of small and big Crystals, and being washed with common water, may be used instead of Tartar forasmuch as it is nothing else than a meer absolute Tartar. Now this separation of the Tartar, is of great concernment as to the Wine, for it thereby becomes much better than if those Crystals had remained dissolved with it. Nor is any thing lost by this means, for that the Tartar is of as much value as the Juices: And besides, the Wines will be by this means freed from their acidity, and rendred better and sweeter; which thing verily deserves to be esteemed of as a great and profitable Artifice; and which, many there are that will know to use it to their great profit.

Verily, he that is of so dull an Apprehension, as not to be capable of understanding these things, that are so clearly, and evidently manifested, will not be any whit the better by larger Discourses. But he that has a desire of setting about this work, will insinuate, or work himself by a farther Meditation into the inmost centrality as ’twere of this so great an Artifice, and will with a far juster mind bear with me, in that I have not so much time at present, as to use a more prolix, or larger Stile.

But if so be, any do desire to have this Artifice declared unto him, by a more clear delivery, let him read my Explication of the Appendix adjoined to my Fifth part of the Philosophical Furnaces; as also the Vegetable work, and there he shall find more such Artifices. Or if haply it concerns him, he may see in my Laboratory, the Furnaces and Coppers requisite to such a work, together with the Manual Operations.

I am even constrained briefly, and as it were by the bye, to insert thus much, that if some more than usually unskilful Men cannot understand those things which I have declared concerning the three Principles, viz. That all Wine must needs consist of the same, to wit, Salt, Water, and Spirit; I dare boldly and confidently averr, that he who knows how to conjoin (according to art) these three Principles, may every where make good Wine.

NB. But yet I would not have such an one perswade himself that he can do any good, if he mixeth Tartar, Water, and Spirit of Wine together, no, no, that is not the way for him to be Master of his desire. There are far other-guise Manual Operations, requisite to this Artifice, and such as I think it inexpedient to manifest in this place. Let every one be content with the things at present shown him, haply God will sometime or other bestow (on him) better.

CHAP. II.

_Treateth of Corn: Shewing what means it is to be Concentred, and Condensated by, so as to be Exported in great Quantities into other Countries, whereby both Gain and Moneys may be thereof made._

I have instructed you in the foregoing Chapter, after what manner such Wines as are of a mean price, may by the help of Concentration be conveniently transported out of one Country into others more remote, where no Wines grow, and produce good profit. The which Artifice may be of most great benefit to the Inhabitants of such Countries as abound in Wine, and want sometimes Chapmen or Merchants for the same.

’Tis very well known to every one, that in most places of Germany (but especially in Franconia, and in the other Countries adjoining) Corn is so exceedingly plenty, and of so vile a price, that the inhabitants know not what to do therewith; and for that reason it lies and rots in their Barns and Granaries, the exceeding abundance thereof either hindring the sale of the same, or the great costs and charges of Carriage hinder the Transportation of it into the lower Countries of Germany, where ’tis dear enough.

Hence comes it to pass, that the miserable Inhabitants have indeed Wine and Corn enough, but want Moneys to pay the Tributes due to the Magistrate; so that tho’ they have such plenty of the Divine Gifts, and so much Riches, yet for all that they are in great penury and want, in that they cannot sell off so much as to pay their Family’s expence, viz. Men-servants and Maid-servants wages, or so much as to sustain them. Verily, this is a punishment from the hand of God, and a singular one too, by which he corrects us ungrateful men. In time of the Wars, when a huge Scarcity pinched the Inhabitants of Germany, then the common outcry went up to Heaven, and promised largely an amendment of life; but when the War was over, and all quiet, and a most wisht-for Peace returning, then all men generally became worser, and more wicked, tho’ the goodness and bounty of God had bestowed on them such a great plenty of things so exceeding necessary: And now such great Fulness being enjoyed, they now gape after Money too, and murmur against God, as the Israelites did, who loathing, as ’twere, the plentiful abundance of things necessary, murmured at Moses.

The reason why Corn is so exceeding plenty, is this:

After the making of Peace, and sending away the Souldiers, many Commanders being weary of warfare, and abounding with Money and Horses, bought (or rather squeez’d out) of the poor Inhabitants, every where destitute of Money, most notable Farms, for a very mean price, and did set themselves with the utmost of their Industry to till the Earth, which had lain fallow a long time; which Lands became so fruitful that it even amazed all men. The poor Inhabitants too, who now had gotten a little Money, they also set their hands to the Plough, and used even the utmost of their endeavours in the tillage of the Earth: From hence it came to pass, that they were so furnished with such a vast deal of Corn in a few years space, that they knew not at all what to do therewith. As for carrying it into far distant Countries, the troublesomeness and charges of the Carriage were too great an hindrance: To lay it up in the Granaries, that the Air will not suffer them to do, tho’ in the time of Joseph such a thing was done in Egypt, where the Air being Nitrous, dry, and not so easily subject to corrupting, as ours is, preserved the Corn from Corruption.

What I have here written, hath proceeded forth from a good mind and sincere intention, and I hope ’twill do more good than hurt. I know that the eyes of many will be opened to see what a Babylonish Confusion the present World is in; I pray God to be an helper to the Good, and to be a reducer of the Wicked from the course of their Impiety, into the Right way.

The Process of Concentrating Corn is this:

In the first place, you are to make a Malt of your Barly, Wheat, Oats, Spelt, or any other kind of Grain or Corn, the which dry either in the Sun or in the Air, or else in an Oven heated a little, and not to be scorched and parched as it were after the Brewers custom; for so the sharp fume of the wood would stick thereunto, and make it black and bitter, and it may easily be conjectured, that there would be no good come of it, for by this means the smoak of the wood would stick on to the Corn and the Sprouts it has thrust forth, and are moistened, and so would make the Ale that is boil’d thereoutof unwholsome, and of an ungrateful bitter flavour: But now such Malt as is dried in the Air, Sun, or in a warm Stove or Oven, has no such ungrateful taste as comes from the smoak of the wood, but remains sweet and pleasant.

NB. Else you may do thus; The Corn, after it hath sprouted and hath been thrown abroad on some Floor, open to the air, and thereby been a little freed of some of its moisture, may be dried purely and quickly too in the Brewers great Coppers, in which they are wont to boil their Ale or Beer, provided it be continually stirred about with some wooden stick without ceasing, that it may be all over hot, and so become dry. But yet you must have a care that your fire be not too strong under your Copper wherein you dry your Malt, and so burn the Corn, and make it taste untowardly; this done, the dried Malt is to be ground as other Malt which is used to make Ale withal is wont to be, but yet so, that it be not too finely ground nor too grosly; for if it be too gross, and the Grains be unbroken, the water cannot sufficiently get out the Virtues and Juice in the boiling, but that the best part will remain in the boiled Grains, and so be thrown away on the Beasts in their nutriment; but if it be ground too small, it will run into heaps, and hinder the straining out of the Ale; therefore a mean is to be observed, and care taken that no errour be committed, by either excess or defect. The Malt being on this wise prepared, every one may boil his Ale according to his custom, and so much thereof as his Vessels, Coppers, and Coolers will admit of: Some do pour boiling water on their Malt, and mix them both by stirring them well together, and then let them settle for some time that the water may take into it self the strength of the same; then they draw out that water by a Tap, and pour on more, and repeat the Infusions so often, until the water can get out no more sweetness, and there remain nothing but the insipid Husks, the which are nourishment for Cattel.

NB. Othersome that have no Vessels to extract the Virtue out of the Malt in, by boiling water, do put the prepared Malt in wooden Vessels or Tubs, and pour thereon warm water or cold, and stir it very well about, and leave it so for some hours, that the Malt may be macerated; then do they put it in a Copper, and pour thereunto so much water as may keep the Malt from burning to in the boiling; and having boiled it for half an hour, they pour it out upon a bed of straw, fitted for that purpose, and placed over a Cooler, and so strain the Ale: This Labour of pouring on, boiling, and straining, is so oft repeated, till the water sucks no more sweetness out of the malt. This manner of boiling Ale is used by those only who want store of Vessels, and pretty large ones: The former way is not only better and more commodious, but likewise more fit for the boiling of a greater quantity of Ale.

NB. This is to be observed in this place, when the best and first Juice or Extraction is drawn out of the Vessel by a Tap, and fresh boiling water poured a second time on the malt in the Copper, and again drawn off by the Tap, those two waters in which the chiefest Virtue of the malt is, may be boiled and thickened by little and little in a plain or flat Copper. The third and fourth pouring on are indeed as yet good, but yet not fat enough, and seeing they are not very strong, are not worth the boiling away, for they won’t quit the costs of the Fire, and therefore are to be applied to some other uses. Now when a man is about this work, he may so order his boilings, as to have several of them one after another; and then those pourings on, viz. the second and third, remaining of the first course of boiling may be poured on the second course of boiling, in the stead of bare water: And so is it to be handled, that alwaies the first and second pouring on (and which contain in them the chiefest Virtues of the malt) may be boiled to the consistency of Honey in a Copper made for that purpose, of Evaporation; and the third and fourth pouring on may be alwaies kept for the next following course of boiling, and be poured on the malt in the room of bare water, and so are to be condensed by evaporation in a Copper, as the first and second pouring on were done withal in the first course of the boiling; and so always the 3d. and 4th. pouring on of the former course of boiling, is to be the first and second in the next following course of boiling; and this way of proceeding draws out of the malt its best and chiefest Virtues, and lessens the charge of the boiling: For the Costs would be far greater, if the third and fourth pouring on were to be boiled off per se.

NB. The Coppers and Pans necessary for the thus reducing these extracted Juices to the consistency of Honey, are already described, where mention is made of the Concentration of Wines. He that can’t well enough understand me, may take the pains to come and see my Furnaces, Coppers, and other Instruments appertaining to this work; as likewise the manual Operation, for I cannot help him any other way. And as for a larger description of these things, my time will not permit me at this instant to make it. The Juices being condensate, are to be drawn out of the Copper by a Tap fastened therein, or laved out, and being cool, put them up in Barrels, and shut them up tight, that the external air may not get thereinto; for thus may you keep them uncorrupt, even as long as you please.

NB. In your boiling them you must be very diligent that the Juices be not burnt to, by the overmuchness of your Fire, or that by being heat too hot, they boil not over; all which may be prevented by Registers (as the Chymists call them) destinated for the regulating of the Fire. This is a most compendious way of extracting the Virtues out of Corn, and of reducing them into a narrow room, the which if you order according to Art, that nothing of your Juices be spilt or lost, 8 Barrels of Malt will yield you one full of Juice, and which contains all the Virtues that were in those eight Barrels; the residue serves to fatten Beasts withal.

NB. He who knows how to convert those remains to his use, in another kind of way will do better, and extract thereoutof so much as he is constrained to lay out in buying his Corn, insomuch that he can have his Juices as it were even gratis. But of these things more hereafter.

As touching these Juices, they comprehend in them the whole Virtue of the Corn, out of which you may when you please boil Ale, make Adust or Brandy-wine or bake spiced Cakes; for if it be used to them instead of Honey, it makes them much the sweeter. These Juices therefore are to be prepared in those places in which Corn is sold at a very mean rate, and which cannot be exported to foreign parts, and is there in such great plenty, as that the Country-men know not what to do therewith, but there it lies in great Stacks and rots. Farther, they are yet prepared with greater benefit and more gain where the plenty and cheapness of wood is, the which yields no small encrease and addition to the Gains.

But that the nature and condition of this Labour may be the better understood, the following Computation will shew. Suppose I take 8 Barrels full of Corn and bring them into Malt, then boil it into Ale after the aforesaid way, and condense it into a Juice, wherewithal I fill one Barrel: This one Barrel now is far more commodious to be carried into foreign places either by Waggon or by Ship, than those 8 barrels, and will bring me double or treble the profit that 8 Medimni (a Measure containing some six bushels, or the eight barrels) of Corn. Why? because the greatest labour is already over, and there remains but very little to boil the Ale out of the Juice, as the following Example will demonstrate.

I buy me eight barrels in that place where Corn and Wood are to be had at a mean rate, and there passeth some River or other by the place, as the Mhene in Franconia, Nicer in Suevia, Visurgis in Hassia, and the Dukedome of Brunswick, Albis in Saxony and Misnia; for in all these places there is abundance of Corn, and store of Wood, and the price of each, mean enough in conscience. If now one Medimnus (or six bushels) of Corn be esteemed at the price of one Imperial, eight Medimni will yield eight Imperials; the Wood will cost one Imperial, the Labour one Florin: The juice out of the 8 barrels of Corn may be put in a Fir-Cask, as they use to do with Honey, that so in paying the carriage, it may not be accompted for Wine or Ale, but some dry Goods, and so valued by the hundred, as other dry Wares are priced; so then the Barrel will cost the Carriage by Water to some of the Maritine or Sea-coast Cities, two Florins. Now if we sum up all these Expences upon the Corn, Carriage, Fire, and Labour, they come to 12 Florins or 8 Imperials. But now, out of that one Barrel of Juice there may be made eight Barrels of the best Ale, and if you will have it somewhat smaller, then ’twill make 10 or 12, according as you boil your Ale to a stronger or weaker degree. However, this is certain, that one Barrel of Corn will yield more than a Barrel of good Ale; so that out of one Barrel of Corn may be made one and an half of strong Ale. Now then, if one of those Barrels of Ale yield three Imperials, the eight Barrels, which cost the buying, and reducing into one Barrel, and the transporting it, eight Imperials, may there be sold for 24 Imperials; from which the eight being subtracted, the remainder of the Gains is 16 Imperials, which verily is enough upon those 8 Barrels.

But put case the Corn were dearer, and the Carriage of the Juices to those places did cost more, and that those 8 Barrels of Corn, or one Barrel of Juice, did yield (besides all the costs) only 8 Imperials profit, yet would this be profit enough, and may well content a Man. I forbear to mention the other benefits and profits arising over and above besides this Gains; for by this kind of way is saved and made vendible that Corn which would else be spoiled: Besides in a plentiful time the mean-prized Corn may be bought up, concentrated and kept till a scarcity come. Nor is there any cause of fear that it will be devoured by the Mice and Rats, or be spoiled with lying, or wax mouldy, or be any other way corrupted.

Nay more, it occupies less room than the Corn would; for where one Barrel of Juice lies, there should have lain eight Barrels of Corn.

Besides, the Magistrates and Subjects may by this means reap much profit and help. The Magistrate may be satisfied by taking Corn of the Inhabitants instead of tribute. The Subjects may by the benefit of this Medium satisfie the Magistrate, and there will not need the selling his Cattle, or Sheep in the Fold, or to borrow Money upon use, and to give his Wife and Children for pledges. For there is requisite no other labour than that the Magistrate appoint a place to boil his Ale, in which the Corn may be malted, boiled and thickned into Juices. As for Wood, that he has himself and needs not lay out a farthing upon that. So now, by this means may a Country be brought to that degree of happiness as never to want Money, Corn, or any other necessary things. For where the Juices can be but brought to the Sea-towns many thousand Barrels full may be sold to those Magistrates and Merchants which send their Ships into the East and West-Indies; in which Countries may be made good Ale at any time of the Year, even in the midst of Summer, or in the Dog-daies themselves, if you have but Hops and Water at hand; the which is far better and more profitable.

For in the room of this one Barrel of Juice, there must have been stowed 8 Barrels, and yet that sometimes turns sour too, and is spoiled, the which never betides these Juices. Now such Ale prepared of the Juices by means of Hops and Water are much wholsomer than the common Ales are, because that the Fire hath consumed all the Crudities; in the boiling of the Juices or hath corrected them, and this every one will readily believe or assent unto.

Nay more, these Juices may (and that with very great profit too) be sent into those places wherein (by reason of the abundance of People there) Corn and Ale is much esteemed, as in Holland, and the bordering Countries. If the Ale-brewers could but once get such Juices, without doubt they would not be at the costs to brew it out of the Corn, for they would not need so much time to brew in, nor such Coppers, nor so many Mens help, all which they must necessarily have in the common way of brewing. In these Juices, there is much sparing of Fuel, (the which makes the common way of brewing Ale, more costly,) and of Men’s labour which doth likewise prove chargable. Nor are we silently to pass over that great benefit which they have hereby, for that good Ale and such as will not sour may be made without any danger even in the midst of the Dog-days. Every one knows what it is to brew Ale (then,) and that the brewing is at other times sufficiently troublesome, viz. so to order it as to prevent the danger of souring. But now this brewing (that I mention) is void of all this kind of fear of souring; whereas the usual kind of brewings do for the most part (in the Summer season) become sour either in the straining it through the Grains, or by standing in the Coolers: but these labours are in our brewing already dispatched, and that in those places where the charges of Labourers, Wood, and Room fit for boiling it in, are not so great.

This work therefore is of mighty profit both to the buyer and seller: For the seller can afford his Corn at a reasonable rate. And the buyer need not be at any other charges in brewing good and wholsome Ale at any time of the Year save only the hire of one man that may prepare or sit the Juices, and Hops, and Water for the boiling, and set it a-working or fermenting and pour it into the Vessels. Whereas on the contrary in the common brewing of Ale there needs many mens help, huge Coppers, and wooden Flats and a great deal of room to brew in, and store of Fire which is sufficiently dear in some Countries; all which are avoided in the brewing with the Juices. Do but consider I pray what a notable and profitable thing this would be in great Cities, and especially in those places where Houses, Fuel, and Mens labour are very dear, if such kinds of Juices were set to sale; that so every Master of a Family might buy up some Barrels of this Juice, and dissolve them at his own home with Water and Hops, in a small Copper according to his pleasure, and make the said Juices into Ale, as fat or as lean or small; and as bitter or as sweet as he listeth; and then put it up in his own purified and well cleansed Vessels, and he and his, drink thereof all the whole year; and if need be, might make either Physick-drink or Spiced-ale. And would it not be much better than the buying such Ales of the Brewers, which are sometimes either too new or too stale, and oft-times acid, impure, not well boiled, and stinking, and instead of Hops have Aloes, Xanthium or Burr, Henbane and such like Herbs put in them. For in some places, the Brewers use such kinds of Herbs and the like hurtful things, instead of Hops, to make their Ale bitter, and to save a few charges in the making their drink. Therefore all such as use to drink of such kind of Beer are never wont to be in compleat health; and especially in watery and moist places they are for the most part afflicted with the Scurvy, Melancholly, &c. which is the usual fruits of such kind of Drinks, for they obstruct the internal parts of the body and the principal members, and stir up such Diseases. But our Ales that are made of the Juices and good Hops do not only not stir up such Distempers, but do even (by their purity and clearness) resist them, and preserve men from them; but especially if such Juices be made of such Malt as has not a smatch of the smoke of Wood, but is dried in the Air, and which are so handled in the fermentation or working of them as that all the defilements settle to the bottom; for then will you have such Ale, as doth both in wholesomness and sweetness exceed such Wines as are infected with, or have a tang of, Sulphur, or that grow in a soil abounding with Chalk. They dull not the head, they do not cause windiness, they puff not up the body after the manner of other Ale; they do not stop the Urine but provoke it, and keep the Belly soluble: They are Medicinal without the addition of Physical Herbs, are sweet and wholsome, and of an excellent tast, and such as the like of them cannot be made without this medium or way.

Such Ales deserve a peculiar praise, and many would there be who would drink of Ales often, could they but get such: and would leave off the drinking troubled, unwholsome, and sulphured Wines. For my own part I will make use of such kind of Ale, and Wine, in my own house for the sustaining of mine own Family.

I could mention much more concerning such Ales if the time would permit me, but I have spoken enough already. And as for what remains unwritten here, may be gotten out of, (or understood by) the things here described. I question not but that good (or provident) Masters of Families will set about this business of preparing these Juices, and of sending them into such places where they may be sold to Ships that are bound for far Countries, and so mightily enrich those Countries with store of Money that abound with Corn.

Besides, the Brewers of Ale or Beer that are in great Cities will not disdain such an excellent Art, but will themselves buy such Juices at a considerable rate.

Princes, Nobles, and great Cities, will also provide (or buy up) great quantities of such Juices, and lay them up in their Forts and Castles, and in their Store houses as a good Treasure, that so they may have it to use in time of necessity. Nor will good (or provident) Housholders neglect to furnish themselves therewith, that so they may have wherewithal to sustain them and theirs in a time of scarcity.

In the time of Wars, eminent Captains and other Military chieftains will take care to have them, and carry them into their strong holds, and there loosen them (or put a proportionable quantity of Water to them) and turn them into good Ale; as for Water, there’s to be found (enough) of that every where, and so need not store up that, and as for Hops that is easie enough to be bought.

So then, there will be a notable benefit by this Artifice to strong Holds and Castles, and such fenced Places as fear a Siege. Briefly, Words cannot express the benefit and profit which will redound to all places, by these Juices, in times both of Peace and War.

Therefore every Magistrate who has a care of his Subjects health and preservation, will worthily and with his utmost diligence carefully provide for the having such prepared Juices, that so in times of necessity they may be at hand for use.

But now, some may object and say; I perceive and well see that this Artifice is good and profitable, but ’tis not so easie a matter for every one to purchase himself Coppers requisite for this work? To such I answer. ’Tis not so needful that every one should furnish himself with such (utensils); if there be in every City but one man only that is imployed thereabouts, who may buy off his Neighbours Corn and pay them their Money for the same, ’tis sufficient. And if others also betake themselves thereunto, there will be the more Money gotten, and the Country made the richer; neither is any reason to fear or doubt, but that, if he shall bring eight thousand Barrels of Corn condensed into a thousand Barrels of Juice unto the Cities on the Sea coast, he will sell it off for ready money. Will a thousand Barrels (think you) be sufficient (or be a drug) in some populous City wherein are daily drunk some thousands of barrels of Ale? Verily he that shall expose to sale in such a like City many thousand Barrels, would not stay long there, but would be loaden (or furnished) with ready Money for the same, by those who knew the Art of making Ale with such Juices.

I do verily believe that it would be altogether much better to sell Corn after such a manner, and so to have profit by it, than let it perish with lying; which is a great sin before God, and a shameful disgraceful thing before Men.

But further, It may be objected and said. If this Artifice of making Ale were set up in those places, in which there is wont to be a certain Tribute paid the Magistrates for every Barrel (of Ale,) it would not be allowed of, because by this means the Tribute or Customs due to the Magistrates would be diminished. This inconvenience is easily prevented, if the Magistrate impose the same Tribute of Ale on the Juices. For by this means the Tributes or Customs would not be at all diminished, but be equally as profitable upon the Juices, as upon Ale. The like may be done with the condensate Juices of Wine.

So then ’tis clearly evident, that there cannot possibly arise any detriment from these Juices, but rather infinite profits and commodity. And therefore every Magistrate should seriously cause his Subjects to make these kind of Juices of such Corn as they cannot sell, and instead of spoiling it get riches by it. Certainly this would be far better, and far more profitable for such Subjects as are very poor and go miserably tattered and naked, and have nothing to help themselves (of which sort there are not a few.) Verily there would be no want of any thing, but the Subjects as well as their Rulers would have enough: And for this reason have I willingly undergone this trouble and this labour in manifesting and laying open this Artifice.

And although I am not to expect any reward from any body for manifesting a thing of so much concernment (for this is an unthankful World) yet have I obeyed the will of God and have out of a Christian love benefited my Neighbour, and in this well-doing do I rest, no ways doubting but that God the rewarder of every good (action) will recompense in another place, this my well-doing which I bestow upon the World.

Farther, I can in a kind of a Prophetical manner predict, that if regard be had of this my wholsome Doctrine and Admonition, many Countries will in a very short time recover their former happiness, and both the highest and lowest will live in a prosperous condition; but especially those who first set upon this business afore it becomes common, will get great riches. Now then, whosoever they be that by the help and benefit of this way shall get the blessing of God, let them not forget the poor, but bestow that blessing on the cherrishing and comforting poor Orphans and Widows, to the Honour of God. For the Treasures and Riches in this temporal Life cannot be better laid out, and laid up, than in distributing them amongst the poor. For by that means there’s no fear of being spoiled of them by Thieves and Robbers; And more, in the Life to come, they shall be recompensed with a ten-fold reward.

CHAP. III.

Of the Concentration of =Vegetables=.

We have already taught in the two foregoing Chapters by what means Wine and Corn are to be by an Artificial condensation reduced into a narrow compass, and brought to be a gainful Merchandice. It now remains to shew the way conducing to a condensation of the Virtues lying hid in Herbs, Bushes, Shrubs, and Trees: (which Vegetables do most plentifully abound in most places and yield no profit) that so even out of them as well as from Wine and Corn may be reaped a very great profit. No body is ignorant of this, viz. That there is nothing more vile and of less esteem than the Grass (or Herbs) of the Field, and Briars or Bushes, and Shrubs, and lofty Trees too, especially when being at a good distance from Men’s dwellings they cannot be applied to any use, and upon this account are they not valued at all, nor by reason of their distance profitable to any, but there they grow and perish in those vast woods and desart places. And this is to be seen in those most huge Woods of Germany, such as are the Ingriones, the Wood Ardenne, the Ottonicane, Hercinian, Semane, and Bohemian Woods, and the woods of other Countries, in which woods there rots and is spoiled above ten times more wood than men make use of.

Now no body hath hitherto known what use to put those Woods unto; such Woods as are not too far off from Cities or Villages, do Men make use of for building, for firing, for boiling, or brewing, and for baking, and other occasions, so that the Wood which is daily used, and every year fetch’d from the bordering Woods or Forests, is thereby saved from rotting and being spoiled.

But as for such wood as is in Mountains and Woods scituated far off from mens dwellings, and which are not frequented, that is not of any use at all, they are Dens and lurking places for cruel Beasts, as Bears and Wolves; which said wild beasts do annoy and hinder other profitable ones, as Staggs, Does, Boars, Hoggs, Sheep, &c. from feeding on the wild Fruits of such places. But who is there will amend it, and bring such places to a due or good use? What! should such vast Woods, which are the receptacle of those cruel wild Beasts be cut down and lie a rotting, or be consumed by Fire, so to destroy those wild beasts? Surely no body will attempt it, as fearing the toilsomness requisite hereunto: And besides, forasmuch as no other profit is to be thereby expected, save an extirpation of those wild beasts, there’s no body will take that Task upon him. Nor is it a thing so behoveful to Fire, and burn down such huge Woods, as we read in History, that some have heretofore done, viz. most great Woods have been burnt, meerly to destroy Insects and other hurtful, wild, and ravenous beasts. There is an hazard run in so doing, for such a Fire may spread wider, and do a great deal of mischief.

There are such Examples which may be produced, which witness how that Fire being put to Heaths, have (by burning thereof) crept into the bordering Woods and destroyed them, and mightily injured the neighbouring Inhabitants: And therefore ’tis not so advised a Work to consume Woods by Fire; and to cut them down, that so they may lie and rot, and be thereby rooted out, cannot be done, because of the great costs thereto requisite.

So that such places must of necessity even remain the Receptacles of hurtful Beasts and Thieves; for albeit that sometimes the Glass-makers do in suchlike places build their Furnaces or Glass-houses, yet they fall far short of consuming so much Wood by their making of glasses, for those Woods are scarce the thinner or lesser for that: Tho’ they spend daily in every such Glass-house twenty loads, yet such a vast quantity as that is, will not decrease. Besides, the Glass-men do not use all the wood without making any difference, but make choice of the streightest and smoothest wood, such as they may best and easiest cleave: As for shrubs and knotty Oaks and Beach, those they touch not. So then the best Trees only are used about their Glass Works, and the brushy woods, as Briars, Thorns, &c. and which are the most commodious hiding places for the wild Beasts, are unmeddled withal, as being unprofitable for the Glass-makers: Nay, they let most curious arms or branches of Beach lie a rotting, and make use only of the body of the Trees. Moreover, in such Woods as are far off, the Glass-makers build no Houses, but do erect them as near as possible they can, to such places as are inhabited, because they must of necessity have commerce with men.

Farther, ’tis not a little wood that is spent in the Mines about Metals, especially in such Mines where Iron is molten; but what we said but now touching the Glassmen, the same is to be observed here; for such metal-melting Houses are never erected on the high Mountains, or are built in far remote Woods, because they must have the assistance of Men, and water to drive their bellows-mills, and besides the place must be such, as that all Necessaries may be brought them in Waggons, and their Iron transported into the Cities or Towns. Nor do the Metal-melters indifferently use any wood they meet with; nor make they their Charcoals of every kind of wood, but leave the shrubs and bushy woods as unfit for coaling. And therefore those great and vast woods, tho’ there be Glass-houses and Metal-melting-shops in many places, do remain untouch’d, because no body knows the use of them.

But now, forasmuch as I have all my life-time most accurately search’d by a diligent observation into the wonders of God, and have not spared any labour or costs about the secret wonders of Nature, and have learned from Nature her self, my instructing Mistriss, that God being a true and just Lord over his Family, did neither do, make, or create ought without certain and just causes, which notwithstanding is not regarded by the most part of us men, who imitate the irrational beasts, and alwaies live without the knowledge of God and of His Works. Verily, we have no colour of Reason at all for it, not considering that men were created and appointed by God for another-guise end, than the brute beasts, which are void of all Reason; and we regard not the Truth of that old Saying, God and Nature never make any thing in vain.

So then, whereas this is a Truth (as assuredly it is) certainly we may see that these huge Woods were not in vain made, but that they have some benefit (for so they have) viz. a most great Treasure for such who know it, and know how to use it. Which I will therefore shew, as clear as the Noon-day Sun, and will so set it afore the eyes of the blind and darksom world, that the Deriders and Contemners of natural Philosophy, such as is to be Learned only by the fire, and not out of Aristotle, may be even enforced, will they, nill they, to confess and grant that the Fire is the true Teacher and Master of natural Arts, and so will be; for whosoever they be that are Ignorant as to the Fire, and that know not its wonderful efficacy, tho’ they may be most skilful Proficients in foreign Tongues or Languages (which in the more-secret Philosophy makes not at all to any purpose); yet nevertheless they will not be able to accomplish any the least matter in things of so great a moment: I do therefore say, that such men as are skilled in natural things, are not of right to be contemned, or secretly back-bitten by those who say, Believe not such a man that hath not attained the empty vain Title of a Doctor in the Universities. I confess ingeniously, that I never frequented the Universities, nor ever had a mind so to do; for should I have so done, haply I should never have arrived to that knowledge of Nature, which I mention without boasting, as I now possess; neither doth it ever repent me, that I have put my hands to the Coals, and have by the help of them penetrated into the knowledge of the Secrets of Nature; I do not desire to disturb any one in this way, or to thrust any out of their places; I never was willing to live on the costs of great men, but have with my own hands gotten me my Food and Raiment, alwaies advisedly thinking on that most known Verse;

----_Alterius non sit qui suus esse potest. Let not him anothers be, Who can of himself live free._

But to return to my concentration of Wood, I can with truth affirm and will experimentally demonstrate it, that the greatest Treasure of the World; yea, as great or greater than is in Wine or Corn, lies hidden in Wood. Wine and Corn do require the Labour of Man for its growth out of the Earth; but Leaves, Grass, Briars or Bushes, Shrubs, Twigs, all sorts of Trees great and small, do come forth out of their seeds and sprouts and grow up and encrease infinitely without any help of man at all.

Therefore I say that more profit may be reaped of Wood than of Corn and Wine, were the Art of extracting thencefrom so great a benefit but known to any.

So then, forasmuch as this little Book (as being the first part of the Treatise of concentration of things) treats of the emendation of Vegetables only; and that of Wine and Corn is already finished; I will now in the name of God set about Wood, Leaves, and Grass, and lay open those most great and hitherto hidden Treasures and Riches, and set them forth before the Eyes of the whole World. And I pray God, the Omnipotent, Wise, Unsearchable and Merciful Lord and Father of all Creatures in Heaven, in the Earth, Water and Air, that he would so govern and guide my hand that I may here write and teach nothing save only such things as serve for the Glory of his Divine name and the health of all Mankind. Amen.

We have shewn in the two foregoing Chapters how Wine and Corn are to be condensed into their juices, that so they may be commodiously sent into those places, in which profit may be gotten.

Here now falls in this question, How the Juices are to be squeezed out of Herbs, Twigs, Shrubs and great Trees, and being pressed out what good they serve for, seeing they are not of use for meat and drink like those which are extracted out of Corn and Wine.

To this question I make this reply, that indeed there is not any food to be prepared from them, but that yet other things are thence preparable, and such as men cannot be without, viz. Wholesome Medicines, and likewise Gold and Silver wherewith a man may also buy, besides Wine and Corn, other necessaries as Garments and other appurtenances which men stand in need of, besides meat and drink.

But to begin the work it self, we should in the first place teach the way how juices may be squeezed out of Leaves, Grass, Shrubs, and then afterwards shew their use. But forasmuch as none is of so weak a judgment as to lay out Moneys or things valuable, and to bestow his labour and sweat on such a thing whose use and profit he is ignorant of; ’tis therefore necessary, that (before we come to teach the way of squeezing out the Juices) we first shew, what benefit and profit ariseth from that kind of work; that so a Man’s labour may not be spent in vain: To give satisfaction herein, I affirm, that the greatest and best virtues of all Vegetables are hidden in a certain Salt which the Physicians and Philosophers call the Essential Salt. Of this Salt all Vegetables are full, but yet, one fuller than another as experience testifies. Such Herbs as have not much taste, as Lettuce, Coleworts, Rapes and such like have a less portion thereof, and are therefore easily putrefied. But such as are sharp and bite the Tongue, as Water-robbin, Arsmart, Laurel, Pepper-wort, Scurvy-grass, all the kinds of Cresses, all the sorts of Radishes, Leeks, Onions, Garlick, Mustard, and such like; also all bitter Herbs, as Carduus benedictus, Wormwood, Fumitory, Esula, &c. all such as these are full of it. Besides, all such Vegetable plants as are naturally sour, yield much of that Salt; amongst which, may be reckoned, unripe Grapes, sour Apples, sour Cherries, Wild Plums, rough (or wild) Grapes, the unripe Mulberries or Black-berries, the unripe Barberies, &c. But yet some of them yield more, others less Salt; which inequality and changableness is accidental, for they are as to their natural foundation like each other.

NB. Some Herbs and chiefly those which have a notable bitterness, as Carduus benedictus, Wormwood, Fumitory, do (after their being squeezed, and when their Juice is depurated, and the Phlegm draw off, and the remaining Juice concreted or condensed in the cold,) yield natural Nitre, and such as being put upon a burning Coal will presently burn up in a flame, like the common Salt-petre which is usually extracted out of the Earth digged in Stables, and so concreted, or crystallized: As for other Herbs and Fruits which are not bitter, but have a piercing sharpness, as all the Cresses, they (after their expression or squeezing) yield a volatile Salt, which does not burn like that which is drawn out of bitter Herbs: Such as have an acidity in them, as Sorrel, Barberries, Ribes, curled Grapes, wild Apples and Orchard ones, and other unripe Fruits, do yield another Salt, viz. a Salt tasting like the acid taste of Wine, and resembling Tartar of Wine, in taste, virtue, efficacy & propriety.

And now albeit that these three kinds of Salts are unlike in taste, yet notwithstanding the one is most easily transmuted into the other, insomuch that Tartar may be made Salt-petre, and Salt-petre Tartar. The third sort which is more volatile than the others, and which proceeds from the Cresses, Mustard, Aron, Pepper-wort, &c. will easily be turned into either of the former.

But as concerning this last, it is virtuous in Medicine, as I have hinted to you in several places in my other Writings, but (set aside its Medicinal use) and it is of but little benefit. The two latter, viz. The Nitrous, and Tartarous are of various use. The Dyers use Tartar in Dying their Cloths, and Salt-petre is used to make Gun-powder withal, and for the Transmutation of Metals, and other such like Arts, as I have clearly proved in my Explication of my Miraculum Mundi. Forasmuch therefore as both sorts of Salt are used in great quantity throughout the whole World, and that there can scarcely be had so much as serves for necessary use, and upon that account are always good Commodities, and that Salt-petre is twice the value of Tartar, therefore ’tis but fitting, and well worth while to extract Salt-petre out of the Juices of Herbs and Trees, it being of more value, and better price than other Salts. But if it should so be, that there should be so much Salt-petre as that it should be of a poor price, then may the Juices be turned into Tartar. But forasmuch as it will not easily so happen, that there should be such a glut of Salt-petre, it will be the best way, to improve those Juices on the making of it; and specially because it may at all times serve for the profitable bettering of Metals; nor can ever so great a quantity be produced, but that it will sometime sell off. ’Tis more profitable, and better to use it for the bettering of the meaner Minerals than to make Gun-powder with it; and were not that most pernicious Art already too well known, it were better to be without it, than to make it, so far should it be (from any one) to describe the manner of making Gun-powder.

But forasmuch as neither my desire nor will tends to be any occasioner of hurting my Neighbour by the help of Salt-petre, but inclines rather to benefit him thereby; and to this end I have already clearly enough disclosed many most profitable Arts which proceed therefrom, viz. in my Miraculum Mundi, and in the Explication of the same, and moreover shall do in the following third and fourth part of this Book, about the bettering and concentrating of Metals: I am, verily, confident, that none will interpret it in the worst part, if I shew the way of making Salt-petre out of Wood and other things, that so, our Country may by the benefit of (such) Herbs, Grass, and Wood, which otherwise, ly a rotting, and are of no profit, be enriched (if it be only sold) with abundance of Treasure, and may afterwards be spent on most profitable Arts, as may be seen in the Miraculum Mundi, and in the Concentration of Minerals and Metals. So that he that would not make it into Gun-powder, has no need so to do.

Besides these Virtues of Salt-petre which we have reckoned up, there do daily more and more new and admirable ones spring up out of the dark, all which, were they here to be summed up they would even draw the whole World into an admiration of them. But we will forbear to multiply more words concerning things of such moment; for it may easily be perceived from what has been hitherto demonstrated, and from those Publications I have made (by my Writings) that many more, and greater things lie hidden in this Subject, which neither I, nor others know of. Deservedly therefore may Salt-petre, or Nitre, be termed an Universal Subject, and Wonder of the World, notwithstanding many rude and unskilful Fellows, will upon this saying, shrink up their Noses, and audaciously contradict me (and say) that Nitre is not the true and Universal Dissolvent.

But if Nitre be not that Universal Subject, then let those that prate against this Judgment or Opinion of mine, produce another and better Subject; which, yet, in my Opinion they will never be able to do. If it were not an Universal Subject, how comes it to be so plentifully found to be in all things. Is it not found in all Vegetables? Is it not in all living Creatures that live either under the Earth, or in the Waters, or in the Air, or on the Earth? Is it not met with (or found) in the inmost Bowels of the Mountains, and even in the most hard Stones? I will demonstrate it in this small Treatise by most clear Arguments, and will most evidently evince it.

In the first place, that all Vegetables have it, is already clearly demonstrated and proved, for I my self (and I am the first, as I know of) made trial and turned their Juices into natural Salt-petre. But I will now so evidently shew the truth of this thing, that even those blind Back-biters and Detracters shall feel it with their hands.

In the first place therefore, I demand, whence the common Nitre is gotten? Is it not out of the Earth, which is digg’d out of the Stables where Beasts stand? For it has insinuated it self into (or joined it self with) this (Earth) passing out of the Excrements of the Beasts in length of time, and hath coagulated it self therein, out of which it is at length drawn by pouring on of water, and then is boiled up into Salt-petre. Who can deny this? I think no body can. So then if this be granted, that Nitre is found in the Stables where Cattle stand, the Question is, By what means, and way it came into the Stables? It is by the help of the Urine and Excrements which the Beasts have there cast forth. Then again, I ask whether or no those Beasts have those Excrements from their Meat and Drink, or from elsewhere? They cannot arise from water, forasmuch as they drink nothing but Water: So that they must necessarily have their rise from the food they eat, and that consists of the Vegetables, Grass, and Herbs. Therefore we affirm, that the Salt-petre was of necessity in these Herbs, and Grass, afore the Beasts feeding on them. For if it had not been there it could never have been made in the Beasts Bodies that which it was not afore. For their Stomachs contribute nothing to this Operation, save a bare putrefaction. And besides, the Countreymen do even the same thing, for they gather up Stubble, the Leaves that fall from the Trees, the Grass, and such like things, and put a great quantity of them into a Pit together, and there leave them so long, till by the help of Putrefaction they are all turned into Dung, and therewith do they afterwards Dung their Ground (in such wise) as is wont to be done with the Excrements of Beasts. Therefore, forasmuch as that putrefied Grass and Stubble doth dung the ground and render it fruitful, (as well) as the Excrements of Beasts, it must needs be granted, that they have likewise Salt-petre in them. For it is not the Dung, but the Nitre in the Dung, that is, the Author of that Dunging Impregnation and Fertility, as I have already confirmed by Arguments in my Miraculum Mundi, and which will be sufficiently convincing proofs here in this place.

I would therefore fain see that Man that dares be so bold and heady as to deny this thing, that the Essential Salt neither is, nor can be made, Nitre.

And now we come to treat of the Beasts in the Fields, of the Fish in the Waters, and of the Birds in the Air, that so by a thorough examination of all these sorts we may see, whether or no they are enriched with Salt-petre, and whether or no their Essential Salt be like the Essential Salt of the Vegetables, and can by the same means pass into Nitre.

In the first place, and above all, this is here to be considered, as a main principle, (viz.) That all those things which dung the Fields and Lands, and fatten them, most necessarily contain in them Salt-petre. For from this only, and alone, comes all the fertility throughout the whole Earth, which Axiome cannot be gainsayed. But now, that the Animals, or Beasts, Birds, and Fishes are Partakers of the same Virtues, I firmly gather from hence.

First of all, it is not unusual for the Gardiners to put the Horns, Hoofs, and Bones of Beasts, to the Roots of Trees, and so cover them over with Earth, and that on this account, because they make them exceeding fruitful. This now is every where used: Likewise the Gardiners do every where buy up Hens Feathers, Hens, and Pidgeons Dung; as also from the Tanners and Curriers the Offals or Shavings of the Beasts Skins, and their Hairs, and use them to enrich their Gardens. The Vine-dressers also buy up the shavings of Horns of the Comb-makers in many places where they can get them, by which, they fatten their Vines, far better than with Dung, and that lasts for nine or ten years. The Gardiners do likewise buy up from the Tailors bits, or pieces of Woollen and Linen to dung their Gardens when they plant Colworts. If they did not find any Nitre, or Fertility in them, to what end would they lay out their Money on so base a Matter? To the Ignorant and Unskilful, these things may seem wonderful and incredible, because such a kind of dunging Land is not every where in use. He that is incredulous, let him go to Colen on the Rhine, and there he’ll find that I have spoken nothing but the truth. All these things do the Gardiners make use of according to their ancient custom, for from their Predecessors learned they these Secrets. Nor know they what other reason to alledge for their doing this, but only tell you, that they serve exceeding well to enrich their Fields and Vineyards.

But I do assuredly affirm, that ’tis the Nitre that is hidden in these things, performs this effect: There is therefore far more abundance of Salt-petre in the Superfluities (as Nails, Horns, Hair, &c.) than in their Excrements, or Dung. And I thus prove it.

First, Because they will give you for one Sack full of the Shavings of Horns, half an Imperial, which is as much as will buy four or five such sacks full of Cow, or Sheeps dung.

Secondly, They will give the Tanners, or Curriers, above an Imperial for one Cart-load of the Shavings of the Hides, whereas with the same Money they may buy three or four Load of dung. Rags are sold for a quarter of an Imperial. Were they not virtuous or effectual, why should they be so dear? This here spoken, we have proved so to be, by the customary practice of the common men only, as Husbandmen and Gardiners. Were it lawful for me to reveal somewhat to the purpose, I could teach how to extract out of every hundred weight of Bones, in Beasts, Birds, and Fishes, ten pound of Salt-petre. But this is not to be divulged.

Now it remains in the next place, to confirm, that Nitre does not only lie hidden most plenteously in the Vegetable and Animal Subjects, but that it may be digged, or gotten out, and prepar’d of Stones, Rocks, Cliffs, Hollows of Mountains, and out of the plain Field in a very many other places; and this is undeniable, for ’tis evidently known, and if need were, I could, for witness sake, make mention of many such Testimonies. He that is desirous of knowing more, as touching this salt of the Earth, let him peruse the ancient Philosophers. But forasmuch, as every one hath not those Books at hand, and that many Men cannot understand them, I will for Amplifications sake add yet one demonstration, to shew whence that Nitre ariseth, which sticks on to, or swells out of those moist and old Walls of Houses. Comes it not from the Mortar, with which the Bricks are joined together? Not only all Stones are fit for making Calx, or Lime of, but also all kinds of Stones, which break, or grow in the Waters, like Drops, or Pebbles: Likewise, those stony things which grow in the Sea, as Coral, the Pearl shells, or Mother of Pearl, and Shell fish of all sorts, which being burnt, moulder in the Air, have in them plenty of Nitre, and will easily yield it forth to those who have the way of extracting it disclosed unto them. But this is not the place to mention it in, because I have determined to treat here, of only expressing the Juices of the Vegetables, concentrating them, and making them gainful or profitable.

Forasmuch as we have hitherto understood (or shewn) that Nitre or Salt-petre may be had from all things, viz. from Herbs, Wood, fourfooted Beasts and creeping Things, from Birds in the Air, and Fishes in the Water, yea from the very Elements themselves, as Earth, Water, Air, and Fire; It must needs follow that it is that so much spoken of Universal Spirit without which nothing can either be or live: It is the begetter and destroyer of all things; in which all things are, as I have demonstrated in my Miraculum Mundi, out of the most ancient Philosopher Hermes. I therefore hope, that no body will any more doubt thereof or oppose himself with a perverse stubbornness against a truth so manifestly known. Were not the shortness of time an impediment unto me I could most easily produce more arguments and those too more pregnant. If any one is minded firmly to cleave to his own stubborn perverseness, even Hermes himself should he arise from the dead, would lose his Labour in teaching him; and therefore let them keep their contumacy to themselves.

We have sufficiently confirmed and that by arguments enough, that Salt-petre is an universal Subject, and every where to be found. Hence it may be easily believed that it may also be met with in woods, and that more strong, more powerful, more corporal, palpable, and visible than in any other Subject: Upon this account therefore is it to be also sought for, and drawn forth out of them too. But forasmuch as such an Extraction cannot be made afore that the Juices are prest out of the Wood, out of which Juices the Nitre is to be drawn forth, the whole Art consists in Squeezing out these Juices, but yet by another kind of way than is done with Herbs. Therefore the due Presses being fitted ready, I shall be able to shew him who requesteth it at my hands (so as he does not endamage me) the way of squeezing them. For to prostrate a work of such great moment to every ones view, whereby those that are unworthy, should partake of such great Secrets, and by which a thing of so much value should be obnoxious to a common Abuse, is not verily, either necessary, profitable, or laudable. Let not any one therefore take it amiss, that I have so careful a regard of things so considerable. Let it suffice, that I have detected the thing, wherein such great Treasures have hidden themselves, which hitherto are profitable to no body, but are easily acquirable, or to be had. Do but look a little upon those most vast Woods of Germany, which are stored with such mighty abundance of Trees, that wood is of no account. There hath been none as yet that has converted them unto their use, save a few, who in some places make Pot-ashes of the wood they burn; and yet they have but small gains therefrom, because they can’t have vent sufficient for as much as they could make by their burning the wood, nor do any use them, but Soap-boilers, and Dyers.

Besides, I never as yet saw the Man that duly attempted that Artifice, and so administred it as to get therefrom a greater gain. For sometimes they gather scarce an hundred weight of Pot-ashes out of the burning of ten or twenty great Trees, and they can hardly have above five or six Imperials for it. And now consider but the great Labour and Sweat in burning so much Wood into Ashes, and of boiling the Ashes into a black Salt, and then of making this Salt red hot in peculiar Furnaces, that it may become white, green, or blueish; all this consider’d, ’twould make a Man admire what ’tis that could stir up those that follow this work, or order it to be done, to suffer such a quantity of Trees to be burnt up, for so very little profit. But what need many words? They have the wood for nothing, and (as the Proverb runs) The half White of the Egg, is better than the empty shell. Haply if they knew how to make any thing better, or more profitable out of their Wood, they would not omit so to do.

How many hundred weight of wood, are they to burn afore they have one hundred of Pot-ashes? But now if the Juices that are squeez’d out of them were boiled into Salt-petre, they would get ten times the profit with far less trouble.

Let us compute the case, and suppose that out of an hundred pounds of Wood, there are squeezed forth twenty pounds of Juice, and that from these twenty pounds of Juice, you have some 4 or 5 pounds of Nitre, and that a midling Oak or Beach will load, when cleft, some ten Carts, and each load hold twenty hundred weight. Now then, one hundred yielding five pound of Nitre, a load of twenty hundred, yields an hundred pound of Nitre; the Tree that is about ten load, yields a thousand weight.

Now we’ll put case that a hundred weight of Nitre yields twenty Imperials, which being ten times multiplyed, makes two hundred Imperials for ten loads, or for that one Tree divided into ten loads.

But to wave so accurate a computation, and not to extend it too far, we will suppose a hundred of Wood to hold only three pound of Nitre, and a load to be about twenty hundred of Wood; this load will yield Sixty pounds of Niter, and the Tree ten loads, So there will be Six hundred pounds of Niter. If now one hundred (of Nitre) will cost ten Imperials, that Tree will yield sixty Imperials for the six hundred pounds of Nitre. The smallness of the cost (in making it) makes the labour the more profitable; nay, if by this invention of mine, the price of Nitre should fall down, even to ten Imperials (which notwithstanding, will not so easily come to pass) yet would the gain thereby be great, yea ten times more than that which comes from the Pot-ashes. But he that knows how to use this Nitre, for the concentrating of Metals, (concerning which the three following parts of this Book shall treat) will not have any cause of fear, that this Nitre will lie on his hands and yield him no profit.

By what hath been said, the well-minded Reader will easily perceive what vast treasures are oft-times before his eyes, and through ignorance lie as yet unknown, and not used to advantage. What man knows God’s end, in producing to light such great Mysteries and Secrets of Nature, in this most filthy Dregs of the World? To give thereof a Reason, we will not tire our understanding, but give most humble thanks to God for such great mysteries that he hath revealed for the comfort of many men, and will pray unto him graciously to bestow on us his fatherly blessing, to the end that we may well use such great gifts so freely bestowed.

But now if any should be of the mind that it is wholly unnecessary, that this Art should be made publickly known, because that Gun-powder is made of Salt-petre, and that by Gun-powder many Cities and most strong holds are overthrown, and nothing is to be expected thencefrom, but Slaughters and Destruction: To such, I answer, That it was not for this end that I disclosed this most great and most profitable Art, that by its base abuse I might help on these horrid Calamities; but my aims have been chiefly at this, if haply any new Foreign Enemies should invade our most dear Country (which is a danger we seem not far off from) we might be able to receive them with like Arms or Weapons, and by a just defence drive away such a Calamity.

And withal, that those most thick and vast Woods being despoiled of their thickness, may not for the time to come be a shelter for Thieves and Robbers, as likewise for wild beasts, all which oftentimes do much mischief.

And farther, That many thousands of Men may get their Food and Rayment more Commodiously and more easily, and may make good Gold and Silver from the unprofitable Wood. For by means of this Art, thousands of moneys may be gotten in our German Countries, without any hurt to our Neighbour. Nor is it needful to cut down any great Tree, for the superfluous Branches or Loppings, and the shrubby briary Underwood which is all about the Trees, and doth chiefly afford a passage to the Stags, and hiding places to other hurtful Creatures, will be sufficient for this kind of use or imployment.

The other Trees that grow up aloft may be preserved to build Houses withal, which may be employed about Hunting: And besides, when the Trees are freed from that thickness, and have thereby a free access of Air, they will the more easily dilate their Boughs, and grow up taller. And then too, those wild Beasts that are profitable, will (when such vast deal of underwood or shrubbiness is taken away) meet with fatter pasture, and with more plenty of Grass, and escape by having a freer Course from the pursuing Woolves, which now they are letted from by those most thick Shrubs and Bushes. But yet if so be that in such places in which is such a deal of Wood, and to no man useful; a good part even of the great Trees should likewise be cut down, and used about this Artifice of ours; yet notwithstanding there would not arise to the Possessors thereof any loss, but much Profit; and when all’s done, there would be yet remaining a huge multitude of Trees. Consider I pray those most spacious Woods the Arduenne, Ottonick, Semane, and Bohemian Woods, and many others which the Countries in Germany are cloathed (or environed) with.

Can it be imagined, that they can at all be lessened by the Glass Furnaces, or the melting of Minerals and Metals.

These places that are one year bared by cutting down the Trees, you shall see in few years covered over again, by the benefit of nature, with new Trees; so that it cannot possibly be, that though even a very great many Presses should be used to press the Juices out; such a vast immenseness of Woods should be exhausted, and make any sensible diminution of the Wood.

But now, if any one shall believe these writings of mine, and shall, after the afore-mentioned way, set about the Concentration of Wine, or Corn, or Wood; I do faithfully affirm unto him, that I have in this Book openly proposed the very naked Truth, without any disimulation, and have not omitted any thing save the revealing of the Presses, which for certain causes I conceal.

And therefore I certifie every one, that I will not as yet divulge this most wonderful secret, of thus-boiling Nitre out of the Juices of Wood, or else I would have described the Press too. Besides, though a man should even see the Press, and know how to make it, and were ignorant of the purification and concentration of the Juices, he would not bring the Art to effect; so that, without my instruction, the work cannot so easily be made publickly known. And though this seems to be a thing so mean, yet this squeezing out of the Juices of Wood, is far beyond (or richer) than the operations on Wine or Corn. But I doubt not but that many, well considering of this unheard of, and very gainful Artifice, will begin to think whether or no good Nitre may not likewise be gotten out of other Subjects easie to come by. Now then I must methinks needs instruct these.

The common Fossile Salt, and Sea Salt may by the benefit of this Art, be also turned into Natural Nitre; but I judge it needless to speak more of this, for as much as that which I have already mentioned concerning the Wood seems abundantly enough. Breifly, God doth in all places set before our eyes His Omnipotency, where he gives not Wood, there vouchsafes He Stones and Bones, out of which Nitre may as well be extracted, by those that are skill’d in this Art, as it may out of other things. And where Fire is wanting, there is Water however. But I know that it is certain, and past all doubt, that by the certain experience of Art, plenty of good Nitre may be made out of Sea Water.

Now if any shall object and say; Thou affirmest that Nitre is to be found in all places of the World, but especially in Wood and Stones; but yet, that there are many places which have neither Wood or Stones, & have only a Marshy Moorish Soil, which brings forth Grass only: By what means can Nitre be there, or in what things, or what places should it be sought for, thinkest thou there?

I answer; I have already, in what hath been said afore, confirmed, that Nitre may be drawn in large quantity even out of Grass; but verily there’s no such need here of so doing, to rob the beasts of their food, and to use the Grass about Nitre-making: For the Cheese and Butter that come from the Grass, will easily yield more than the Nitre that’s made thereof, would; God deals not so unjustly or unwisely with the Creatures as to give his blessings with a liberal hand to one, and take the same away from another: No, no; The Treasure of his Riches is inexhaustible, and he gives his Creatures largely to partake of them; nor doth that axiome (or maxime) which is so very usual in this perverse World, prevail at all with him, viz. The fall of one is the rise of another; but his will is, that all should have their necessaries abundantly supplyed, that every one should have enough, and that every thing should come to perfection. Therefore it is not at all necessary, that Nitre should be extracted out of the Food which the Beasts live on, because it may easily be extracted out of other Subjects which bring not any profit to Man or Beast, and this in great quantity too. For in such plain low Countries and moist watery grounds, where you shall not meet with either Mountains or Vallies, or Stones, or Wood: The most gracious God hath, like a provident and wise housholder provided for the inhabitants, giving them a certain kind of earth inlaid with many Roots and Fibers that grow therein, which the Dutch call =Torf=, we Turfs, the which they use instead of Woods, to boil with, and about other necessary uses; so that they may easily be without the wood, which is yearly brought them in such vast quantity out of other Countries. Now these same Turfs contain in them the like Essential Salt as Wood does which Nitre is extracted out of.

As concerning Stones, they do not in those places shew themselves to sight (as lying deep) if you except such as are burnt (or Bricks) and which are brought hither to build houses withal, yet God hath bestowed on them a matter sufficiently apt to make Lime withal, so that they may be without, even Stones themselves. The Shell-fishes of all Sorts (serve to this work), and sometimes the raging of the Sea, drives the Fishes shells ashore by heaps, and like little hills, the which being carryed by the Inhabitants into the Cities and Villages, they put them in the Lime-Kilns, and reduce them by a strong fire into good Lime, and that by means of the Turfy fireing we mentioned but now; so that I do not see any reason why, in these Countries that are destitute of Wood and Stones, there should be found less Salt-petre than in others, in which huge quantities both of Wood and Stone are found. Nay, rather I affirm, that there is more there, than is in almost any Country of Europe; for do but compare the price of Turf and Wood, the Wood is dearer, the other cheaper; besides the Wood is harder to press out, and this yields its juice more easily.

So then, from all the foregoing demonstrations I absolutely conclude, that there is not any place in the whole World, wherein great quantities of Salt-petre may not be made.

And if I should say, that there is not to be found in the whole world any places in which Nitre may be easier and plentifullier made than in the low Countries of Germany, as Brabant, Holland, Zealand, Flanders, Frieseland, the Groningen Fields, the County of Emdane, and all those Countries which run as far as the German and Baltick Sea, in this their moorish kind of ground; verily I should not speak untruth, but if need were, I could witness it of a certainty.

But lest my Writings should remain too obscure and unknown to such as are unskilled, and that such may not overmuch torment their Brains by unnecessary Pleadings how this may be effected, I judge it altogether necessary openly to confess the Truth before every one, and say, That Nitre or Salt-petre, were but its true use known, is justly and worthily to be accounted of as the greatest Treasure of the whole world, as being a thing by the help of which, good Health, Honours, and Riches may be purchased; and this we shall confirm in the three following parts. If then that this be granted, then this also will be yielded too, that the Subject-matter out of which it is extracted, is not to be despised, but to be highly valued; and therefore ought Wood and Turf to have their due Honour given them, concerning which, I have by many Arguments affirmed, that the one of them is every where in the upper Germany in great plenty, and the other in the low Countries of Germany, (nor doth these at all come short of the others) and that both may and ought to yield Nitre. Besides, not only the bare Turf is hereto useful, but likewise the hitherto thrown-away ashes, which are every where cast out as unprofitable.

NB. They are not useful in washing, as wood-ashes, with which the Laundresses make Lyes, and being they are not, they are thrown away as good for nought. But yet there is in them a great quantity of a certain salt, which being inverted by Art, passeth into Nitre; therefore through meer ignorance is there cast away, together with those Turfy ashes, a vast quantity of unripe Salt-petre, from whence a mighty profit might redound to those Countries, but being improvidently thrown away, is meerly lost. But yet I would not have any imagine, that the Salt which is made of the Lee of Turf-ashes, is presently Salt-petre; no, for ’tis needful that the subtilty of Art be first thereto used, afore such a Salt be brought to that pass, as to burn like Salt-petre: But yet care is to be taken, that that Art become not common, for then so Noble a thing, and so profitable to our Countries, will be known by Enemies as well as Friends; which to prevent, it must be warily handled, and the principal work here requisite is this, viz. That it may not be published so imprudently, as to render the ungrateful and unworthy partakers of the same, as well as the thankful and worthy ones.

By these things here spoken may every one see and gather, that God is no respecter of Kingdoms and Principalities, and provides for some better than for other some; all Men are His Creatures and Heirs of all His Goods, if so be they be but willing, and do not stubbornly oppose and slight the Divine Grace, and do not wantonly cast it away and neglect it: Concerning which we shall speak more in the following part, touching the Concentration of Minerals.

This we must yet farther add, viz. That common Salt-Nitre is in all Coasts, in all Tracts or Continents, and in all Countries; yea, even in all those places in which there’s neither Wood, nor Stones, nor Leaves, nor Grass, nor Earth, nor any bottom of Earth: As for example; Near Greenland, where the Sea is said to have no bottom, where the Whales are caught, and which do greatly inrich the Merchants with their fat or oil: Did they but know, that the remaining Flesh and Bones were even yet of great use, and knew they but how to turn them into Salt-petre, they would preferr it far before their Fat, for the sake of which, so much labour and trouble is undertaken; for in the flesh of one Whale only (which as it is, is not at all profitable to any man) I dare say, that there may be found 20, 30, 40, 50, yea, sometimes 100 Centenaries, or hundreds weight of Salt-petre. And so likewise the Intrails of the dried Stock-fish that are caught in Island and Norway, should I affirm, that they would even almost excel the Fish it self in value, I should not be deceived. I find no difficulty that might hinder me from affirming this to be agreeable to the Truth.

Do not the Salt-petre-men preferr the Nitrous Earth that’s found in old burying places (if they can have it) far beyond other Nitrous Earths? And this among others, that most excellent Examiner of Metals, Lazarus Ercker, in his Book of examining of Metals, affirms, and gives this Earth the chiefest place. Nor is it to be wondered at, that of late in Poland, towards Muscovy, where formerly great Battels have been, and many thousands of men slain, and by reason of the multitude of them, have (after the Battel) been thrown into deep Caverns of Mountains for the easier burying them) there hath been a great quantity of Salt-petre extracted out of the Earth. Were there not gain and profit to be gotten, those men that are imployed in the extracting and boiling it, would not lay out so much Money on unprofitable Ashes of Carcases.

But to pass this by, let any one make but this Experiment: Fill some Vessel with Bulls or Ox-blood, and put it in a warm place till it putrefie and be turned as it were into Earth; then extract a Lye out of this Earth, and boil it so long, till a little skin appear on the top, then lay it by in a cold place, to shoot into Crystals, or little Stones, and these will be true Nitre.

NB. There is another and more compendious way of extracting Salt-petre out of the blood of Animals, which belongs not to this place to treat of; let us but compute the account a little. If there are yearly kill’d in some great City some ten thousand Oxen, besides Calves, Hogs, Sheep, and Goats, and the blood be cast away as unprofitable, [now an hundred weight of blood yields some 5, 6, 7, or 8 pound, or more, of Nitre.] the question is, How many Hundreds of Salt-petre is lost? That this may be the more clearly evidenced, viz. That there is much Salt-petre in all Beasts, Fishes, and Birds, take another Experiment: Let a Beast, Bird, or Fish be laid in some warm place, where no Rain comes, to putrefie, out of the Carcass there will come Worms; of these Worms or Maggots take about one pound, more or less, put them in a Glass with a narrow neck, stop the glass with Paper only, and set it at the Sun, but not too hot, and in a few daies the worms or maggots will be turned into water; then pour out this water into a Copper Vessel tinn’d over, clarify it with the whites of Eggs, as Vegetable juices are wont to be clarified; then evaporate the clarified Juice, by little and little, by decoction, till it be covered over with a skin; as we have taught you in the Vegetable Juices; then set it by in a cold Cellar, and there will shoot good and natural Nitre, but especially if that Liquor shall have stood a while afore in the air.

The self-same Experiment may any one make with other Vermin that arise from Flesh or Cheese, and he shall find that even living Creatures have Salt-petre in them: so then there is nothing to be found, wherein that Universal salt of the World is not seen to be; but in some the salt doth sooner put on a Salt-petre nature, and in others it is already made Salt-petre by Nature.

Let this serve as an example, viz. The Essential or Universal salt of Vegetables, Animals, & Minerals, is indeed in its own nature nitrous, but it does not conceive any flame afore it has attracted life and flame from the Air. Further, one salt attracts that Life sooner and willinglier than another does, according as it is by Nature framed. By how much the more volatile and urinous the salts are, so much the sooner do they change themselves into Nitre; and by how much the more biting and more corrosive, so much the more difficultly and slowly do they put on the nature of Salt-petre. But because Nitre is a salt that partakes of both natures, viz. of a Urinous and Corrosive Nature, and is compounded as it were of both a Urinous and a Corrosive Salt, therefore by the help thereof one skill’d in Nature may easily help the salts, and make of them whatsoever he pleaseth. Nor is there in the nature of things any salt, but may by the help of Art be turned into Nitre; but especially those salts which are sublimed by fire, and are elevated by the force thereof; as likewise those that are in the Urine and Excrements of all Animals; yea more, Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals themselves do easily assume the nature of Nitre: This now is the first degree of salts. Another degree of salts are those that are somewhat fixer, (as the Sons of Art call them) and are such as are left in the fire, from Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals: These do more hardly pass into the nature of Nitre; but the hardest of all, are those salts which are in the third degree, as common salt, Sea-salt, Mountain or Fossile salt, Alume and Vitriol; for by Art are even these brought to that state, as to pass into true Nitre, but harder than the former, for they need a longer time for transmutation, than the abovenamed flying, volatile, and urinous salts. And therefore I would not have any of you to opinionate, that when I say in my Writings, that this or that salt may be converted into Salt-petre, assoon as ever it is extracted out of the Lixivium, or by barely calcining with fire, that (I say) it should presently be true burning Salt-petre; no, there is a yet farther time thereto required, whereto it may attract its life and soul out of the Air, and become burning or inflamable.

Every common Barber and mean-pated fellow, knows that the most Salt-petre hitherto made, hath been boiled out of a Lee, drawn out of the Earth taken out of old stables, wherein Sheep and other beasts have stood. And why, I pray, out of the old standing places of Sheep, Oxen, and the like Cattel, and not likewise out of the new? It is on this account, because old Stables do not only in long Process of time imbibe more salt out of the Excrements and Urine, and consequently yield more Salt-petre; but also those very salts (that come from the Excrements of the beasts) and which is the main thing, have in long process of time received their soul or life from the air, which new salts have not as yet attained unto: For let any one boil, and try his conclusions on the fresh Dung and Urine of Animals, as much as he list, they will never become Nitre, unless they draw their Life out of the Air. Let any one take some good Salt-petre, and mix it with Earth, and destil off the Spirit in a Retort, there will come over into the Receiver such a sharp and corroding water, as will dissolve Metals, Stones, and all other even the hardest Mercurial Bodies, and yet the Salt-petre was not corrosive before, but it hath gotten that degree of corrosivity from the fire’s operation. Contrariwise, let some good Salt Nitre be taken, and be calcined in a Crucible, with burning Coals or such-like other matters as will burn or calcine it: By this operation it will be changed into a very fiery and fixt Salt, but not so corrosive, and thus it will dissolve all Fat, Oils, Greases, and sulphureous Bodies, which thing the former corrosive Spirit will not do; for such bodies as are dissolveable by this fixt and urinous Salt, the former acid Spirit leaves them untouch’d; and on the other hand, it will dissolve those bodies which cannot be dissolved by the fixt Salt, and yet are they both extracted out of one and the same Subject, by the help of the fire. Hence may it easily be conjectured, that this is an Hermaphroditical Salt, and partakes of both natures, seeing it puts on both (or either) of them; for the Philosophical Maxim witnesseth, that every thing hath its Original out of that into which it can be changed and resolved.

Now when I pour the acid Spirit that destilled over into the Receiver on that fixt Salt again, they are both of them divested of their nature and property; the Spirit loseth his sharpness and acidity, and the fixt salt puts off its fiery nature, and so they both become again an Hermaphroditical Salt, but yet not presently, but ’tis necessary to allow them some time of standing together in the Air, whereby they may receive that life and that burning nature which the Fire hath deprived them of. But yet notwithstanding, this comes sooner to pass in this, than in other contrary subjects, because these two Contraries have heretofore already been one Salt-petre; for such as never have been Nitre, but are hereafter to be so, require a longer abode in the Air. These instructions we give to those that might haply think that Salts may be animated without the help of the Air.

And now, that I may perfectly demonstrate that Salts do get their life out of the air, without any encreasing in weight thereby, and not from elsewhere, I will give you this following example. Take 1 l. of Honey or Sugar, and let it be dissolved in ten pounds of Water, and let this Water be set for some weeks in a warm air, the Honey or Sugar will be as a magnet to this Water, and will by attracting a life out of the air turn it into sharp Vinegar, and that without any thing at all encreasing the weight of the same. By this means Water, by the addition of Honey, Sugar, Malt, or any other Vegetable Juice, will, by the operation of the hidden and attracting essential Salt, pass together with it into excellent Vinegar. But now some or other may imagine that the Honey, or the juice of the Fruit and Corn, have in them an hidden acidity, which by the help of the warm encompassing air, hath revealed it self, and so did not attract its birth out of the air: But I will shew you the contrary, as follows: Take a pound of Honey, Sugar, or some other Vegetable Juice, and force it over in a Retort into a Receiver, and you will find that there will destil over 10 or 12 lots (or half ounces) of insipid Water, and so many of acid water; the remainder is a dead ashes, and have nothing in them; the Vinegar and Phlegm that ascended, will not yield one pound of Liquor, and the Vinegar it self, with its acidity, will scarce be so strong in taste as those ten pounds of water that are turned into Vinegar by the air.

This now demonstrates, that there was not in the Honey any more acidity than what was thence drawn out by the help of destillation, for the remaining ashes have not any taste at all. But put case that the acidity which is driven out of the Retort into the Receiver by the force of Fire, should be as sharp as Aq. fortis, (when as tho’ it is scarce as sowre as Vinegar) yet would it hardly make ten pounds of Water so acid as to be compared with the other which is made by the essential Salt and the Air; so that it is evident that the acidity (as being a life) is drawn by the Magnetick Virtue of the Honey out of the air.

But as touching this Essential Salt of Vegetables, its being a Magnet, to extract an acetous spirit out of the air, and communicate it to the dead water. You are here well to observe, that the universal spirit or soul of the World may be drawn out of the Air many and sundry waies. In the aforementioned Example of Vinegar is a spirit extracted, which is fit for the converting of Vegetable Liquors into Vinegar. In Hermaphroditical salts, the Universal Nitrous spirit becomes burning, as in Wine, Ale, and Metheglin. All these are so made by the means of air, without which no Wine or Ale can ferment, and without fermentation it is impossible for a burning spirit to be generated; which said spirit is easily afterwards turned into Vinegar, and this Vinegar into Nitre, and this Nitre again into a burning Spirit or Vinegar; for every Life is of one and the same original, and may by the benefit of Art be changed out of one nature or property into another.

So likewise the same is to be understood in the generation of Salt-petre, all Salts of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals are dead, afore they get themselves a life after a magnetical manner out of the Air, and be made into Salt-petre; for amongst all salts, none deserve to be called a Live Salt, but that one of Salt-petre, which by the Philosophers is called the Watchful Dragon, which likewise at the beginning was dead, but hath got himself a Life out of the air. By all which it is most clearly manifest, that the life of all things ariseth out of the air, and that those Creatures which come not into the air want Life and that such things as already have life, are choak’d and die if the air be taken from them. Hence comes the death of all things, by a suppressing or taking away of air, (in which air the Life of all things consists) what way soever it be done by, as the aforesaid example of the Vinegar teacheth; for if Honey or Sugar were not made thin with Water, there would never have hapned that changing into Vinegar. So likewise Grapes, Apples, Pears, Barley, Oats, Wheat, were they not moistened with water, but remained dry, they never would get the nature and property of Vinegar, and that for this reason, because the air could never infuse its life into a dry and shut up body.

This they well know who are imployed in making a quantity of Vinegar; and upon this account do they in Summer time set their Vessels open to the Sun, and in the Winter, they keep them in warm stoves near the fire, and both afore and behind, and at the bottom do they make holes to give the Air entrance, that so they might the speedilier promote the changing of the Wine, Ale and Metheglin into Vinegar.

They likewise know this too, that even strong Vinegar if it be a long time shut and kept from Air, corrupts and dies. The which thing, seeing it is to be as well understood of other Subjects, as of these here, viz. Salt-petre and Vinegar, we may affirm thus much, That by how much the more of warm Air comes to the Wine or Ale, so much the sooner will they pass into Vinegar. And by how much the more of warm Air the Salts draw, so much the speedier will they draw a Life thereout-of, and put on themselves the nature and property of Salt-petre. This is the reason why the Salt-petre boilers do sometimes turn or dig up the Earth from whence they have had Salt-petre, and moisten it with water, that so the Air may the more commodiously penetrate that Earth by its operation, and infuse Nitre thereinto. But yet this business goes slowly on, and may be compared with that where a man presseth out Grapes or Apples a little, and then exposeth those Reliques of the press’d Grapes or Apples to the Air, or else grinds Malt somewhat grosly and moistens it with water and so sets it by that it may be endued with the nature and virtues of Vinegar: It would indeed come to pass, but yet much slower than if Wine, Ale, or other Drinks were set by so, without the huskiness or bran: The same is to be observed in the making of Salt-petre. By how much the more, the Air toucheth the Salts, so much the speedier will it reduce them into living Nitre. This may be seen in old walls that are built in moist places, you see how the Lime sprouts out and is converted into Salt-petre. We see not the same thing done in the inside of the wall, where the Air can cannot penetrate into it. Hence know I of a truth, that it is not the husks of the Grapes, nor the husks or bran of the Corn grows sour, but it is the thin Juice or Liquor that is either pressed out of them, or extracted with water. And I likewise see that ’tis not the Ashes, nor Calx vive, nor the like calcined things that becomes Nitre, but only the Salt that is hidden in them. Therefore seeing that all calcined things being moistned with water and for a long time exposed to the warm Air do extract a Life and become Salt-petre, and that the Ashes and Calx are like a dead Earth and never yield Salt-petre, but remain a dead Earth. Likewise, forasmuch as such Earth doth not at all conferr ought to the generation and making of Salt-petre, but is rather every where an hindrance thereunto, whereby the Air cannot associate it self to the Salt; therefore do I separate the earth, body, shell, and useless garment, and keep the Salt, and I introvert it by the Air and turn it into Salt-nitre, but yet not without the addition of Water, in which the Salt is dissolved and rendred more fit for extracting a Life out of the Air; for otherwise should the Salt remain dry this transmutation would be a tedious while a bringing to the desired end.

If therefore the Salts that are prepared by the fire are dissolved in water, and the water be together with it kept by peculiar Instruments in perpetual motion, and some heat be also thereto adjoined, so that there be not the least Atoms of the Salts to be found which have not the uncessant penetration of the warm air, and which are not animated, (because the warm air and motion do in all places touch and vivify the Salts): Such an operation as this does more in four Weeks, than if the Salt lay in the heaped up Earth and open to the air (far longer) wherein it would not in a whole years time attain to so great a change. But this perpetual agitation and heating consisteth in a certain wooden Instrument which may of its own accord by an unceasing motion heat the Salt-water, so as that every Week a growing alteration may be evidently seen and perceived. It is not of any great charge, and one may get ready as many Vessels to be filled with Salt-water to make Salt-petre with (as he pleaseth) for one Man can manage an hundred of them or more and conserve them in continual heat and motion, so that a Man may keep such an Art secret as long as he pleaseth. And as concerning the ordering the salt by the help of the fire and getting it a magnetick and attractive faculty afore it be dissolved in water to be put into the Vessels; and also how the Vessels are to be prepared, this cannot be conveniently declared in writing, but it is expedient that as well the manual operations requisite for the endowing of salt with a magnetick faculty, as the Instruments necessary for the turning it into Salt-petre be also well lookt into, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging. Any one will easily comprehend them all, and be able to imitate them; yea far easier than any gross or great work, and it may be improved in any subject whatever. It is not any sordid kind of operation, but pure and clean, it needs not any making of Lixiviums, nor any decoction, nor any evaporation, but perfecteth it self without impediment or retarding the work, and coagulates the Salt into Nitre. Verily it is a most delicate and most profitable invention, from which many others may have a beginning and flow.

Thus have we declared and proved that the soul of the World vivifying dead salts, and turning them into Salt-petre, adds not unto them either weight or encrease, and yet nevertheless it is of such abundant efficacy and power as to reduce them all to Life, which Life is no other thing but the little Bird of Hermes, and easily admits of being esteemed for the most noble amongst all the Creatures GOD hath made, set aside but the soul of Man, and may by the help of Art be again extracted out of the Salt-petre. But that I may mention the thing more openly and more clearly; I say, that the salts must (by the help of Fire and Art) first get a magnetick and attractive power and faculty afore they can draw a Life out of the air. Now then, after that the universal Life of the World is caught and fettered as it were by the salts, and hath turned the dead salts into living nitre, yet that life lies hidden in that Salt-petre invisibly, and can but a little or scarce any thing at all shew out or display its virtues by reason of the Gross body of the salt.

NB. If so be that any one shall but know how to draw out this Life again out of the Nitre, and bring it into a body, and make it visible, he shall have a thing so admirable that he’ll scarce find the like (as I believe) in all natural things. For there is such a sweet and red Liquor, as to sight, thence had, that one only small drop will tinge a thousand parts of water with a Golden colour: which (said Liquor) I have not as yet brought to a constant or fixed Medicine, but do make use of it in Medicine (as it is) and I find in it things wonderful. But this little Bird (as far as I know) cannot be again extracted out of the Nitre by any other subject than with a net artificially prepared of Sheeps-skins.

Such a worthy thing as this is, do I rank in the number of great secrets and mysteries, and I suppose it to be that work which the knowledge desiring Jason, being holpen by Medea who was most skilful in the Chymical Art, took away from the Dragon, and called it the Golden Fleece: But I would not have any one perswade himself that I speak here of such a Tincture as is extracted out of fixt Nitre (and likewise the same is extractable out of Salt of Tartar) by Spirit of Wine. No, that is no true Tincture, but the Spirit of Wine is somewhat altered and tinged by the fixt salt. But that Liquor of mine is the true, occult, and inmost Tincture, Virtue, and Life of the Nitre, and is of a golden Nature, but plainly flying and volatile, one drop whereof doth so gild an whole Imperial, as if it were gilt over with Ducket Gold. This Tincture cannot be changed or altered by any contrary Menstruum, be it Corrosive or Urinous, no nor by Aqua-fortis, or Liquor of Salt of Tartar; the like of which is scarce to be found in all nature.

For if there be a most delicate colour drawn out of the Vegetables, as Cochenele, Saffron, and such like, by the help of the Spirit of Wine, and there be dropt therein but one only drop of Aqua-fortis, the colour will presently turn pale, and if you add more, it will vanish for altogether. Or else if a drop of the Liquor of Salt of Tartar should be put therein, it would presently change colour and become duskyish. But now, this true Tincture of Nitre, or Soul of the World suffers not any change from either of the contraries. And should one have even a metallick Tincture, or extract even from Gold it self, yet would it not stand in this tryal, but would be precipitated either by the acid or the fixt salt, and separate from the Menstruums. But ours doth constantly abide in every trial, and resists both the contraries.

I do therefore repeat what I have often said, that there is more lies hidden in Nitre than many thousands of Men can perswade themselves of. But because it is so vile and abject a thing, no body thinks that there lies hidden any thing of good therein. But do but read the chiefest of the Philosophers, and you shall therein find that they do enigmatically point at Nitre, and do call it the Dragon which is to be slain by its Brother or Sister afore it parts with its Treasure; But enough of this.

The things hitherto mentioned, have I produced for this end, that my Neighbour may be the better certified concerning them. All the Philosophers Books are full of this thing, amongst whom, Hermes, and Basil Valentine excel, who have written most clearly. Paracelsus saith openly, Alchimy hath found it in Nitre. The late Philosopher Nuisment, hath published a Treatise of the Salt and Spirit of the World, and is verily most worthy the reading, which (said Book) I commend to the Reader that studies these things. Therefore do I here again repeat what I have so oft reiterated, viz. That Salt-petre is the most admirable, the most excellent, and the most powerful Subject of the whole World, whose wonderful properties cannot be enough search’d into. But because it hath its rise from dung and putrid rotten things the greatest company of foolish ones do despise it, but the small company of Philosophers and Wise-men (who are those that know what admirable virtues it has) do most highly esteem it, and set thereon a great value. The well disposed Reader will clearly find more as to its virtue and efficacy, in the three following parts.

O thou the original of all good things, and Treasure of all Treasures, vouchsafe that we may well and rightly improve this earthly and fading Treasure, and may so search after, and use it unto the end, that we lose not the chiefest good, but may rather find and keep thee for ever.

An Admonition, adjoined as an Over-plus.

In the first Chapter of this first part of the concentration of things, have I plenarily manifested, by what means, new Wines and Musts are (by the help of an Artificial condensation) to be brought into a narrow compass, that so they might be carried into far remote places wherein there are no Wines, and may there be sold to great profit. But yet I forgot to shew, by what means the savour which the winy Juices contracted in their concentration, is wholly to be taken away in the fermentation when they are again dissolved in water, that so the Wines made of those Juices may not have any untoward and unpleasant taste. ’Tis an Artifice without which no man can easily, quit himself in this Art of making Wine. But that I may certify every one hereabouts, the Medium (or Basis) necessary about the precipitation in this work is no other thing but common Sulphur excellently well purified, a little portion whereof (according to the nature and property or disposition of the Juices) is to be hereto added, which must boil up (or ferment) with the Wine, that so it may draw to it self all the filths, and all the strange odour, and savour or taste in the fermentation and by precipitation cast them down to the bottom, which being done the Wines become sweet, clear, and get a good savour. Furthermore it is to be known by what means (seeing that there are many fæces and defilements that will separate themselves out of those kinds of Wines as well as out of others, and settle to the bottom) even they are to be put to some use, that so there may not be any loss, but that the gain may be by so much the greater. Divers ways are there of making profit from them; as for instance, The remaining Wines may by pressed out in bags, or else they may be turned into Vinegar, or a spirit may be thence destilled, and the remaining gross matter be boiled in water, and the Tartar therein dissolved, and prest out in bags, that it may so shoot into Tartar. But as touching this expression I have taken care to have a peculiar Book published at Norimberg, (viz. The Treatise of the Lees of Wine.) So that it is wholly needless to make any mention of the same, in this place. The Courteous Reader may use it to his occasions, as being such a Book, in which he will find the said pressing out the Wine and Tartar, and also the making of Vinegar, clearly described, with all the circumstances thereabouts, and without all question if he rightly understands me, and sets about the work, he will do himself a great deal of good.

NB. But if so be that any shall know the Art of turning the Tartar of those Fæces into Salt-petre, (and such a thing may be done and that in a very short time) he will get twice the profit, that is to be gotten by making Tartar of them; forasmuch as he need not put himself to the inconveniency of pressing them.

In the second Chapter of this first part where mention is made of the concentration of Corn, there it has been alleadged that the remaining husks or branny parts which remain after the extraction of the Juices, may be made to yield as much yea more Moneys than will pay the costs about the Corn. But it is well known, that those reliques that are left in your boiling up of Ale, are improved to fatten Beasts with. If now a Medimnus (a measure of about some 6 bushels) of Corn doth cost half, nay even a whole Imperial, those reliques (that are left of it in working) can scarce cost less than one eighth part of that Imperial. And now out of such a Medimnus or measure of such reliques, they would very hardly when turned in the Beasts, into nutriment, have made in them two pounds growth of flesh, the price of which (said two pounds) would not amount to the eighth part of the said Imperial: Whereas now, if those reliques were handled after the afore-mentioned way of reducing Wood into Juices, they would easily yield as much, or more Salt-petre than the price of the Corn was at the beginning. So that here’s an enriching Treasure offers it self to the pious and diligent Housholder, whereby he may do good to those in need.

In the third Chapter of the first part, is mention made only of the Concentration of Wood, of the pressing the Juices out of the Wood, and of the making Nitre; But because there is not every where such great quantity of Wood, as to imploy it to the making of Salt-petre without omitting the more necessary use of it, yet notwithstanding the case may be so ordered as that a great quantity of Salt-nitre may be made of the Leaves of the Trees and the Grass that grows under the Trees, and there’s no need to cut down the Trees, if a Man has no mind so to do. Besides too, in such places where there’s but little Wood and much Corn, even the very stubble or straw (of the Corn) is fit enough to be made into Salt-petre. So that there is no place where there is not matter found for the making of Salt-petre.

And therefore I cannot forbear but must needs teach all pious Housholders (whether they have their Houses in Cities or in Villages) a certain easie Artifice, by the help of which they may gather a Treasure for their Children, without any labour and costs, and such a one as Thieves can never rob them of.

And now, seeing I have revealed in this small Book, for the benefit both of Rich and Poor, high and low, three Artifices or Workmanships by which, Wine, Corn, and Wood may be made more profitable; but yet have not brought any assisting help to such as want both Wine, Corn, and Wood, I have judged it worth the while (that so even they who have nothing, and yet nevertheless desire to provide for their Wives and Children in some honest way) to bestow on them a secret Art, whereby they may seek their advantage or profit. And I hope the thing will redound to the Honour of God, and to all our Healths.

Besides, I will shew a way to such as have no inheritance left them from their Parents, nor have any thing come to them by Marriage, by what means they may without labour and trouble get a Treasure for their Children.

First of all, Let such a one take care to have some shade or hovel made, to join to that side of his dwelling that lies in the middle ’twixt the North and the East part of Heaven, or some other more convenient place, so as to admit the Sun and Air to it, but to keep off the Rain. Under this Pent-house or Hovel, let him dig a large Pit, and with the Earth he digs out let him make banks round the Pits-mouth that so it may keep the Rain off of every side. This done, let him each day in every year, or whensoever he can conveniently carry and throw into that Pit these following matters, so long till his necessity forceth him to dig all out again, and to see how much Treasure he hath gotten, even whilest he slept. Now these matters are, All sharp and bitter Herbs, growing in by places, amongst bushes, and in the way sides, and such as the Beasts feed not on, as Esula, Cicuta or Hemlock, Hen bane, Fumitory, the thick stalks of Tabaco that are thrown away in those places where it is planted, the hard stalks of Colwort, which the Beasts eat not of, and likewise all those things they leave in their Troughs; likewise Firr tops or Apples if you have them at hand; also the Leaves that fall from the Trees in Autumn are to be gathered; also Pigeons-dung, and Hens-dung, Birds and Hens Feathers; all the Ashes which Women usually make their Lees with, and other Ashes that are not fit for that use, as also such out of which the Lixivium or Lee is already extracted; the soot of Chimneys, Hogs hairs, the horns of Oxen and Cows, and the bones which the Dogs eat not of. All these matters may he throw into his Pit, and that he may the sooner fill it, he may gather as much as ever he can from the bordering places, and throw it therein, that so in one or two years time he may with all those things fill up his Pit. Mean while he must pour into the Pit the piss gathered in his House, and that he may have enough he must also get as much as he can from his Neighbours, so as to keep the things thrown in the Pit in a continual moisture, whereby they may the sooner putrefy. In want of Urine, common Water may be taken; if Sea-water or other Salt-water can be had, it will be the better. Also the Brine of Fishes-pickle, and the salting or salt-water that Flesh is macerated (or pickled) in are of good use in this business; likewise the Blood of Oxen, Cows, Calves, Sheep, which you may easily have at the Butchers; all these things putrefying together do put on the nature and property of Salt-petre.

If now, all those matters in your full pit shall have well putrefied, then cease from pouring on any more moisture, and all the things are to be left so long till they are dried. And then if you need Money, let a Salt-petre maker be sought for, and bargain with him about the price of drawing out your Salt-petre by water, of making it, and selling it. This done, cast the remaining Earth again into the Pit, together with the remaining Lixivium that shot not into Nitre, and there leave it for a year or two, and moisten it sometimes with Urine, or if you have not this, with common Water. This Earth will again yield Salt-nitre, but not above half so much as at first.

NB. If you stand not in need of Money, let the matter lie, and as oft as it dries, so often moisten it again with the aforesaid moisture, that so the Nitre may more and more grow and increase. By this means shall such a one gather a secret Treasure, & shall not know almost how he came by it. If he needs it not himself, his Children will find it. Thieves & Souldiers will not steal it away. If one Pit be full then another may be made, that so nothing at all of those matters, which otherwise are most base, (but in this case most suitable) may be lost. Now if there were but only one in every Village that were appointed to exercise this Labour, there would be found out as it were in a small Country many thousand hundreds of Salt-petre, and so these matters still serving for the same use, there would never be any scarcity of Salt-petre. And now, Nitre being present, Gold and Silver are not far off. Let every one observe this, and esteem it. Men will sometime or other at last, become thrifty and wise, and will see what blindness they have been possessed with.

Give GOD the thanks, and be helpful to thy Neighbour. GOD hath bestowed on me, I bestow on thee, do thou likewise bestow somewhat upon thy Neighbour, and it will be well with us all.

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