Chapter XXXIII: Front Matter (33)

For if common Gold, dissolved in Water, would readily coagulate Mercury, what should we further seek or desire? But this is greatly wide of the matter, seeing that in all such Solutions the Gold in digestion adheres to the injected Mercury by precipitation, and passeth with it into a white _Amalgama_, the Mercury constantly persevering in its pristine Nature, not admitting the least transmutation into Gold, the which exceedeth not the knowledge and capacity of Rusticks, but is difficult to be understood by those putatitious Doctors, who believe such things to exceed all Belief.

It is well known, that the purest Gold hath no more of perfection than what it needeth for its own defence; that hath not the least power to amend any other metal, and to render it fixt and constant, much less that it can coagulate Mercury, (the derider of all Alchymists and Sophisters) into Gold. Of both is made a white _Amalgama_, but not hard yellow Gold constant in the Fire. He that believeth not me, let him make trial himself, and he shall find it answerable to my words. Besides, all corporeal Gold refuseth solution by fixt Nitre, of which my _Aurum Potabile_ is prepared, the which, if it were yet possible, the Gold would not be hid in it, but the solution would be yellow, and would colour the skin with a subrubid or blackish colour, which my _Aurum Potabile_ doth not. Therefore its tinging Virtue consisteth not in corporeal Gold, but in a golden Tincture, from the first _Ens_ of Gold, converted into an Astral Essence, by the benefit of Art. By a like reason the _Astrum_ of _Luna_ impresseth Mercury with the nature of Silver, the _Astrum_ of _Venus_ transmuteth it into Copper, the _Astrum_ of _Mars_ converteth the same into hard Iron, the _Astrum_ of _Jupiter_ of it maketh Tin, and the _Astrum_ of Saturn investeth it with the nature of Lead. For Mercury is transmuted into that Metal, whose _Astrum_ it shall receive. So the _Astrum_ of Mercury changeth all the metals into a running _Argent-vive_, although this transmutation brings little or no profit. Nevertheless, I intend to prepare the _Astrums_ of all the metals, and thereby to shew the power of Nature and Art to the studious of the Truth, and so to manifest it to the World. The _Astrums_ of metals being extracted from their first _Ens_, they are no longer metals, but their tinging Anima’s, which at length with Mercury, become corporeal metals.

This is the true and genuine Foundation, upon which the whole structure of my _Aurum Potabile_ is built. Therefore, as pure Gold, cannot render Mercury partaker of its own golden nature; so neither Silver, nor Copper, nor any other metal, will communicate its nature to Mercury, but being precipitated, attracteth it to it self, but in no wise changeth it. Hence the Philosophers say, That the Tinctures of Metals are not to be sought in the metals themselves, but in their first _Ens._ As _Basil Valentine_;

_Quod prima Entia non efficiunt,
Hoc Aurum & Argentum non faciunt._

Which is to be well regarded by him who desires to attain his wishes.

From all these things it appears, that my _Aurum Potabile_ being made of the first _Ens_ of Gold, by Art, into an Astral Tincture, ought to be an excellent Medicine; as also, that it is such, I have largely demonstrated: For if it were not better than a common Solution of Gold, it would not change Mercury into true Gold, neither also would it have the power of transmuting a most potent Poison into an excellent Medicine. Without doubt, such Medicaments, which by the help of my _Aurum Potabile_, from most violent Poisons, are changed into so salubrious a nature, as Antidotes, do powerfully refill other Poisons and pertinacious Diseases, and may be used in Physick with great admiration. What would it profit, if the Body should be purged by an hundred stools, and at the same time the Disease doth not consist in the matter of stools, but still keeps its place, and gives no way, except it be attacked in its own quarters? Neither will it avail anything to let all the blood out of the body, if the fear of the Disease be not in the blood. Yea, if it were there fixed, and the whole mass of blood wholly corrupted, it would be in vain to undertake to amend the same by bleeding; for all the blood cannot be drawn out, without peril of Life. And if, for example sake, two or three pounds of twenty should be left in the body, to be amended by sanguifying Meats and Drinks, and good Blood to be encreased, yet the event would not be answerable, because the encreasing blood would be corrupted by the former. E. g. An Hogshead of sharp Vinegar, out of which, if you should draw all the Vinegar, leaving only the fæces or Lees, and should by degrees pour into it noble and generous Wine, the Wine would be plainly corrupted by those few fæces. Even so it is with those fixed Diseases, which have taken such deep root in the humane body, that they cannot be taken away neither by Purging, Bleeding, nor Sweating, nor by outward Anointings. Therefore they are to be tinged and amended in those places, to which they pertinaciously adhere, by the help of Tinctures or Astral Medicines, as above is done with Mercury, and Mercury sublimate, that remaining there, they may put on a better nature and quality, and no farther molest the humane body. And this is the true and genuine way of Curing radicated and incurable Diseases. Yet I would not be so understood, as if I condemned all Purgation; for Purging being used at a due time, brings no small profit. Blood-letting also being seasonably used, wants not its utility; but being often abused, is the cause of great mischiefs, and not seldom hastens on untimely death.

Moreover, the following Experiment, for the trying the Truth of my _Aurum Potabile_, is not to be contemned. Rub some _Argent-vive_ upon a small Silver Plate, and what is superfluous, and doth not adhere, wipe off with a Linen cloth, after the manner of Goldsmiths, (or Gilders) who gild with the _Amalgama_ of Gold and Quick-silver: Digest the Silver Plate in my _Aurum Potabile_, for half an hour, or an hour, then take it out, and you shall see with how, fair a Golden Colour it will be gilt. For in this digestion the Mercury is not so heated, that it can vanish in smoak, and therefore adhereth to the Silver Plate, and is tinged by my _Aurum Potabile_ into the best Gold. Now try the same operation with another Silver Plate, rubbed over with _Argent-vive_, and digest it in a solution containing corporeal Gold, to see if that Plate will be gilt like the other. For the Plate coming out white, you will see a very great difference.

I could here add more such Experiments, if I thought it needful. If Goldsmiths (or Gilders) could gild their Silver Vessels, by such a coction (or digestion) in a solution of corporeal Gold, without doubt they would soon leave the common way of gilding by the _Amalgama_ of Mercury and Gold, because by its poisonous Mercurial fume, affecting the bodies of those who handle it, it is wont to cast them into dangerous and lasting Diseases. But because they can effect nothing by such golden solutions, they are forced to supersede their Use, and to acquiesce in the old usual way.

These few things of my _Aurum Potabile_, which is the Fourth and Last Article in my _Continuation of Miraculum Mundi_, I am constrained to publish for its defence, that every one may know I have not attributed too much to it, but that it can perform much more; the truth of which I am ready to exhibit. Therefore this is a Medicament most worthy to be presented to Great and Noble Men, as a precious Gift.

As for the Third Process in the same Work, which is offered to Physicians and Citizens, that they may by an easie labour obtain good Medicines for Mankind, and an honest livelihood; it is openly and clearly described, so that in it not the least thing is hidden or concealed, I cannot force any to believe or try the matter; I have enough to do with my own affairs; but if in my Youth I could have obtained such a Manuduction, as I have hitherto and still do administer to others, I should not have been forced to the searching out of Nature with so great charge and labours, heavy stinks, and great danger of my Life, as I have. I here again assert that which I have often asserted, _viz._ That by the fulminating of Salt-Petre with Tin and Mercury, much Gold and Silver is acquired; which thing I have often done, and as yet can do it, and do promise that in due time I will demonstrate it publickly in my Laboratory to Friends. The other point, in which I have taught how Rich men may augment or improve their Gold and Silver, much safer than they are wont to do by putting it to Usury, I have truly and candidly revealed, and have kept back nothing. NB. But that there are other waies of acquiring Riches, without great Cost and Labours at the Fire, the troublesome Exercise of Merchandise, or other things, disturbing or hurting the mind, I do in no wise deny. For the like things are every where obvious, in divers place of my Writings, especially in the 2, 3, and 4 parts of _The Prosperity of Germany_, where mention is made of an Excellent Work, by means of which an honest livelihood may be obtained in tranquility, without noise, meltings, and blowings of Bellows, and that by the help of a certain Water extracting Gold and Silver from Sand, Earth, Clay, Stones, and Minerals, without great labour and costs. And although there should not be at hand any such Earth, Sand, or Stones, which contain Gold and Silver, from which these cannot be elicited by common melting; (yet there is hardly any place in the World, where these matters do not occurr) nevertheless there is no want of Lead and Tin, from which two at all times, and in all places of the World, Gold and Silver, by the help of the said Water of Salt-petre may be extracted; which is an excellent and profitable Art, the which, lest it should die with me, I have already shewed it to some Friends.

I also here promise, that in my publick Laboratory I will shew and demonstrate various Secrets. But let no man perswade himself that I will do this to all men, without descrimination, or admit every unknown Person to this demonstration, but only those whose Piety and Candour I my self have long known, or such as shall be recommended by them, or other known Friends.

Moreover, besides my publick Laboratory, I will also have a private one, in which shall be shewed to my Friends the more curious and excellent things which I have mentioned in my Writings.

There shall be shewed rare and hitherto unknown Wonders of Nature, as Vegetable and Mineral Plants. As for example.

_Vegetables of a Metallick Nature_; of which we have spoken in the
Treatise of _The Nature of Salts_.

_Herbs springing up or growing out of hard Flints, yea, out of
pieces of Iron._

_Metals in a few hours growing up like Vegetables, by the help of
a certain Water_; concerning which, see my Description of the
Liquor of Flints, in _The Second Part of Furnaces_.

_Metals in a few hours space, like Herbs, without the addition of
any foreign matter, growing up, so that they lose nothing in the
trial of the Cupel._

Also divers manual Operations, and Compendiums not common in the Destillation of excellent Spirits, profitable both in Alchymy and Physick, such are Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Salt, _Aqua-fortis_, _Aqua-regis_, and the like, by which they are so easily and swiftly destilled, that with two or three pound of Coals, by a Body and Head, in Sand, every hour may be destilled one pound of spirit, and that so pure, sweet, and clear, that it needs no rectification.

But seeing that this is a thing unheard of, and therefore will be look’d upon by the common Chymists as a thing incredible, I cannot forbear here only to point at the way, by which it may appear possible to be done.

Suppose that I have need of some pounds of spirit of salt, and want the opportunity of preparing it in a long time, by the force of fire, I use the following preparation. Instead of a great and continual fire, I use a separatory Art, severing the pure from the impure, dissolving common Kitchin-salt, or salt-petre, in common Water, and adding to the solution put into a Cucurbit a separatory sulphur. The Cucurbit, with a Head or Retort, (by which also the Destillation may be made) being set in sand, I kindle a fire, by which the water containing the salt may boil, and so by the sulphur, in the boiling, the pure parts are separated from the impure; the purer parts are rendered very fugacious and sweet clear spirits; the grosser, more earthy and fixed salt remaineth in the Cucurbit or Retort, of a very wonderful Nature and Property. And after this manner, from one pound of salt or salt-petre, may easily be destilled one pound of spirit of salt, or spirit of Nitre. From a pretty large Cucurbit, in ten hours, may be made ten pounds of spirit of salt, or spirit of Nitre, which two spirits being mixed together, make an _Aqua-regia_. The quantity of your spirit in each Destillation will be greater or lesser, according as your Cucurbit is larger or smaller. He that desireth to make _Aqua-regia_ by the same destillation, must dissolve equal parts of salt and salt-petre in Water, and destil by a Body or Retort.

This is indeed an excellent Compendium for all those that need a great quantity of those Spirits. Gold, Silver, as also all the other Metals, may be dissolved without _Aqua-fortis_, or _Aqua-regis_, and the like spirits, by the help of certain salts dissolved in water, which truly is also a famous Invention. So also it is with those other rare Experiments above mentioned; as for example, If a metal ought to grow in height, something contrary is to be added to it; for this, while it flieth from its contrary, arising out of the mass, groweth up as well in the dry as the moist way.

If we would have an hard Metal or Flint bring forth an Herb; the Metal, whether it be gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, or lead, are first to be reduced into a tender Powder by salts, and that Powder being put into an Earthen Vessel, is to be moistened with a certain peculiar Water, and the seeds of the Herbs to be sowed or set therein, which after they are grown to perfection, are to be no longer moistened, but the powder is to be exposed to the Rays of the Sun, which again becoming a metal or an hard stone, plainly like to another metal or stone, containeth the inhering Roots of the Herb, and causeth the Ignorant to admire how an Herb should grow out of a piece of Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, or an hard Flint. This is also certain, and not to be doubted, that the said Herbs so growing out of the Metals, do obtain the nature and properties of those out of which they arise.

Although these Experiments of Herbs thus growing afford no profit, yet they are noble Operations of Nature and Art, having more in them than they promise at the first sight, therefore I have not here brought them in vain, inasmuch as they are of no small moment.

But that I may here (at least) mention somewhat of this growing faculty of Vegetables and Metals, be it known to every one, that in my publick Laboratory shall be seen the seeds of all sorts of Herbs, and especially of Grain, as Wheat, Barly, Oats, and others, _viz._ by what means they may be so prepared, as to acquire a swift faculty of growing, and that one grain may produce ten, twenty, or thirty strong stalks, with full ears, and fruit an hundred fold.

In like manner shall be shewed to some Friends, how Salt-Petre, as the only promoter and helper of the growing faculty, may be sowed it self, so that it shall recompence the labour an hundred fold; for salt-petre multiplieth it self, and groweth up out of common salt, like other Vegetables; whence that old Proverb of sowing of salt might perhaps take its Original.

It behoveth that I here make mention of yet another wonderful thing concerning the growing faculty, to be shewn (God willing) in my private Laboratory. And it is this, that Gold and Silver do grow, are encreased and multiplied out of gross Saturn, even as the seeds of Vegetables, out of a dunged and salt Earth, so that in fifty ounces there is daily an augmentation of one ounce, if not of two. He that shall be here a good Husbandman, and skilful in ploughing of Saturn, and rendering him fertile, and of sowing or planting in him a fit seed, he will have a plentiful Harvest, answerable to the seed which he sowed, and will easily gain three or four times as much.

Therefore, because the growing faculty of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, or Metals, taketh its rise from the only and Universal Salt of the Earth, and this from the Salt of the Sea, and the Sea Salt, from the Sun, if the Divine Goodness shall grant me Life, I will shew to my Friends, how by small labour and charge, the Universal Salt fatness, fit for the rendring all barren and sandy ground fruitful, instead of Dung, may be copiously separated from Sea Salt. Yea if need require, I can easily demonstrate, that also the natural Seed of Gold, the true Universal Medicine may be prepared of the same, or that it may be acquired from the visible Ocean which is known to every Man. But seeing that belongs not to this place, we referr the Reader, desirous of such subtile knowledge, to the Treatise of the Nature of Salts, where he will find those things which will satisfie his desire.

These, and the like Experiments shall be shewn in my Laboratory, among all which, that is the most excellent, by which a Man, without the incommoding of another, and with great quietness and Tranquility, may honestly get his Food and Raiment. There shall be also demonstrated those four _Arcanums_ treated of in _the Continuation of_ Miraculum Mundi, and many other things treated of in my Writings, which many believe cannot be effected. That so I, by giving an occular Demonstration, may vindicate my Writings from the Injuries and Reproaches of the ignorant, and also leave behind me somewhat for the good of Posterity.

A
TREATISE
OF THE
Nature of Salts:

OR, A

Clear Description, declaring by a perfect Explanation, the Nature,
Properties, and use of such Salts as are commonly known, as also
of a certain other very wonderful Salt, hitherto unknown to
the World; by whose help all Vegitables, Animals and Minerals,
without diminution of their weight, or change of their form, may
be transmuted into hard and incombustible Bodies:

WITH

A most firm Demonstration that Salt (after God and the Sun) is the
only Beginning, Original, Propagation and Augmentation of all
things; from which the greatest Treasure of the whole World; and
the greatest Riches may be obtained.

THE PREFACE.

_The manifold and various sorts of food, whether prepared of Flesh or Fish, if brought to the Table not seasoned with Salt, are not grateful to the Palate; in as much as they neither exhibit a pleasant relish, nor conduce to the health of the Body. Every man will readily assent to the truth of this trite and vulgar Maxim, if he shall consider with an accurate mind, that among all the Seasonings and Sauces of food, Salt holdeth the chiefest place, and that there is no other equal to it, so that among so many, there is no one to be preferr’d to it._

_Therefore what great and excellent Treasures, admirable Virtues, and most worthy Endowments, in which, by diligent search, and inquisition the minds of men may be occupied, are contained therein, I have determined in this present Treatise to enquire into, and declare; inasmuch as for the space of fifteen or sixteen years, I have endeavoured nothing more, than that by all my Labours I might serve the Divine Glory, and the publick good. For by my first endeavours I published a Work, treating of =Philosophical Furnaces= in five parts, and I discovered five Furnaces, adapted to the various modes of Distillation; I also shewed the way of preparing (by an artificial manner) excellent Medicines which drive away various and divers Diseases afflicting the Humane Body, which profitable and artificial Inventions, no man before me hath revealed._

_Next follows my =Mineral Work=, shewing the Original, and emendation of Metals and Minerals: To which succeedeth my =Pharmacopœia Spagyrica=, in three parts, treating of Vegetables, and by what means efficacious Medicines may be prepared of them._

_Next after these, was my Work of =the Admirable Nature and Properties of Salt-petre=, in which is solidly demonstrated, that that Miracle of all sorts, is the true Universal Solvent of Philosophers, which is subservient to the use of all men, high and low, rich and poor. That little Treatise I have called by the name of =Miraculum Mundi=, which I have augmented by an Explication and Continuation, and fenced it with a defence and Apology, against the wicked Insults of Envy and Scorn. In all these I have set before the Eyes of this blind World, the Divine Miracles and Misteries of Nature._

_After this, came out another Treatise, under the Title of the =Prosperity of= Germany, in four Books, the two latter of which are not yet Printed, but shall be published in a short time, if God shall prolong my life, which contain very profitable Precepts of the Oeconomy and Administration of things familiar._

_Then another little piece, called, =The Consolation of Sailers=; teaching how they may defend and preserve themselves in all long Voyages, as to the =East-Indies= and other parts, against Hunger, Thirst, and other incommodities of that kind, to which they are wont to be Obnoxious._

_Moreover, =A Treatise of Tartar, Vinegar, and Spirit of Wine=, shewing their easie attainment and preparation._

_To these I have adjoined, =a Treatise of= Aurum Potabile, and another of true =Aurum Potabile=, or the =Universal Medicine=, and other Apologetical Writings, in which I have not only set forth the perfidious unfaithfulness of men, but have also revealed many excellent Sciences, that by all these Writings I might illustrate the Divine Glory, and contribute to the benefit and profit of my Neighbour, by giving him as it were wholsom and excellent food, whereby both his Body and mind may be equally refreshed._

_And although the said Meats be wholsome, of a good Savour, and contain their own Salt; nevertheless, it seems to me necessary, to salt them as it were afresh, and to season them with a certain Sauce, that they may be tasted with so much the greater appetite and pleasure. And I have so much the more a mind to do this, as I more studiously endeavour to observe that precept of the ancient Doctors, that no Meat should be brought to the Table without Salt. For it was a received custom in former time in well ordered Families, to set the Salt first upon the Table before any other Dish, and not to take it away till all other Dishes were first removed: The which indicates, that Salt is a most profitable thing, and an highly necessary gift of God, therefore of right claimeth the precedency of other Meats in setting upon the Table, and of remaining there, till they are again removed. But that this most Noble and Divine Gift, may the better be understood by the ignorant, and may be made more known than hitherto it hath been, I cannot pass by, but I must indulge my self, as my time will allow, in a few words, and as it were by the bye, to shadow out, and depict its great and admirable efficacy, for the profit of Mankind. But here I shall speak but of few things, and that very compendiously, the studious of Divine Wonders may find the rest in the Writings of other pious and diligent Men, if he hath a desire to know more._

_As for the Original of Salt, which is drawn out of the Ocean, as an Universal Storehouse, Writers are divided into divers parts and Opinions. Some think that those Salt Fountains, which in many, and various places of the Earth break forth from their Springs, and by the help of boiling, yield their Salt, do not take their beginning from the Ocean, but from a Salt peculiarly generated, and brought forth in many places of the Terrene Globe, like Metals. And they establish their Opinion by this Argument; That the Water of those Fountains much exceedeth, oftentimes, that of the Sea in saltness; and on the contrary, the Sea Water being brought by long and tedious Passages through the Earth, necessarily looseth its saltness, and therefore leaving its Salt, it ought to come forth plainly sweet, or insipid. This reason, at the first sight, seemeth so agreeable to truth, that one can hardly think the matter to be otherwise. But most Springs of sweet Water, in their first rise were Salt, which penetrating the passages of the Earth, have deposited their Salt in the same, to nourish the Earth, and that they might come forth sweet for the daily use of Man. Whence they have given rise to so many, and such various Rivers, which again return in that Universal Store-house the Sea, or Ocean, by which incessant and Reciprocal Flux, they are impregnated with Salt, and Communicate the same to the Earth, that it may never labour under a want of due nourishment, but may render Minerals, Stones, Trees, Grass, Beasts, and even Men also, partakers of the same perpetually, and so may serve as well for the Sustentation, Propagation, and Conservation of Irrational, as Rational Animals, the which no man of a sound mind can deny, except he will also deny the Circulation of the Blood in the Body of Man, or =Microcosm=, which is plainly unknown to not a few, and will say, that the blood in the little Toe, or little Finger, or left Ear, or other places, doth not arise from the Liver, the Universal Fountain of Blood, but that it is particularly generated and produced by the Vital Spirit, in those very parts, which savoureth not a little of Absurdity._

_Seeing therefore, that the constant Circulation of the Blood in the =Microcosm=, can be in no wise deny’d, why should not also such a Circulation in the =Macrocosm= be admitted as true? For as the Blood of the Human Body arising from the Liver, diffuseth it self through all the Passages and Veins of the Body, as well small as great, and Conserveth the life of the whole, nourisheth all the parts, and augmenteth the good juices, which are changed into Flesh, Bones, Skin, and Hairs in the Members themselves, and leaving the unprofitable Phlegm to be expelled by the Pores of the skin: So also is it with the Nutriment and Universal Aliment of the great World, while the Salt water without intermission, of the great Sea, or Ocean, encompassing the whole Globe of the Earth, by many small and great passages or Veins, passeth through all the parts of the Earth, and nourisheth and sustaineth them with its Salt, that Minerals, Metals, Stones, Sand, Clay, Shrubs, Trees, and Grass may be nourished and grow, and in growing take their encrease. The rest of the Water being freed from all saltness, is exterminated as a superfluity in the Superficies, and being diffused into various Springs, as well small as great, is expelled, no otherwise than the superfluous sweat of the Blood in the =Microcosm=, by innumerable passages and pores. But that in many places of the Earth, the Water doth not leave its salt, but carrieth it along with it self, that may very well come to pass for divers reasons. For first, the most excellent Governour, by His Divine Providence, hath most wisely ordained and appointed, that a salt water of this kind, which men could in no wise be without, should break forth out of the Earth, and it is thus effected: The Sea-water every where passing through the passages and clefts of the Earth, in some places is dried up by the Central fire, and coagulated into hard and great pieces, which being digged up by men, and dissolved by the help of Water, and freed from its fæces, is boiled up in fit Vessels, and reduced into a pure =Salt=._

_But if it happeneth that other Water passing through those passages, findeth pieces of Salt of this kind, it dissolveth so much of the same as it can carry along with it, and afterwards is boiled into Salt after various manners, according to the greater or lesser quantity of Salt it hath carried along with it._

_But that one Salt Fountain is richer in Salt than another, the cause of the difference is in the Water, which passing by, doth more or less associate it self with the Salt, and so is made stronger or weaker._

_These few things are sufficient for the refelling of their Opinion, who assert, that Saline Fountains do not draw their original from the Sea, but are generated and produced in a peculiar manner in the Earth, by the help of the Stars._

_But if this should seem credible, nevertheless it would seem more credible, that the Sun and Stars casting their Rays and Influences into the Ocean or Seas, should there generate Salt, which afterwards penetrating through the pervious passages of the Earth, should convey due nourishment to the same._

_This reason may also be assigned of the greater or lesser quantity of Salt in Fountains or Salt-springs, that those passages which receive salt water from the Sea, differ in scituation of place, and are also differently disposed or allotted by the sea-water it self, which being various and manifold (in respect of saltness) differs much in one place from another._

_For by how much the nearer the Sea-water is to the =North=, it contains so much the less salt, so that oftentimes it scarcely holds the tenth or twelfth part of Salt. But the nearer it is to the =South= or the =East=, it is inriched with so much the more salt. For this reason, in many places of the =East= and =West Indies=, the sea aboundeth and swelleth with so great a force of salt, that when it is stirred up by the vehement impetuosity of Tempests, it casts out with its surges a copious spume or frothy scum upon the shore, which being afterwards dried by the Rays of the Sun, the Inhabitants are wont to use for the salting of Flesh and Fish. Experience teacheth, that in places of this sort, four pounds of Sea-water yield one pound of salt, and the fertility of those Lands also indicates the great quantity of salt, which without any cultivation or human labour, both Winter and Summer inrich the Inhabitants with most excellent Fruits. But those Regions scituated near the Arctick Pole, or North, do not enjoy so great a fertility, because they want the greater and more penetrating Beams of the Sun, and do not exhibit so great a quantity of Salt, which is the cause of all fertility, and therefore those Regions are denied so large and spontaneous a fruitfulness._

_But that Salt which the Unskilful have been accustomed to have in little or no regard, may be had in greater honour, I neither could or would any longer pass by its due Name in silence, and therefore I have called it the greatest Treasure, and most ample Riches of the World._

_Moreover, that I may prove and demonstrate, that this common abject salt, known to every man, (in which the life, conservation, growth, and propagation of all the Creatures consisteth, and which is the beginning and end of all things) doth deserve this title, and that a greater Treasure is not found in the Earth; it will be necessary to do this, that I make manifest the infallible Verity of the Mysteries of GOD and Nature._

_But I desire of the unprejudiced Reader, that he will not be offended at the vileness of abject and contemptible salt, nor think that I, in giving this Title to it, and calling it the greatest Treasure and chiefest Riches of the whole World, have exceeded or given it too great honour. For so great and honourable a Title doth of right belong to it, and should as yet be insignized with a greater, if a greater by me could be attributed. And I easily perswade my self, that if those who are captivated by the hunger of Gold, shall see this Book, and read the Title, they will conceive no other thing in their minds, than the description of the great Universal it self, or the revelation of great Riches and massy Treasures, which they will hope to find in this Treatise, never dreaming that poor abject and contemptible salt should be set before them, and therefore will say, What is all this noise about a handful of Salt? Who could have thought that =Glauber= would have dared to have given such a Title to Salt? But I earnestly require of thee, my Friend, that thou wouldst patiently read those things which in this Writing I have put before thine eyes, concerning Salt, and that thou wouldst accurately examine them, that thou maist apprehend me to have written the pure and sincere truth. If they exceed the capacity of thy mind, and thou hast not hitherto learned or understood the same from the Books of others, I would have thee to understand that all men have not knowledge of all things, and that the Omnipotent GOD hath left many =Sciences= to Posterity, which he hath hitherto concealed from the proud and haughty. Read over and over the true Writings of the ancient Philosophers, that thou maist know, and throughly know, that those men who have searched the most intimate Penetrals of Nature, had salt in great estimation, to have industriously concealed its Mysteries and =Arcanums= from the ingrateful World, which now in these last times are brought to light, for thee and all others, to be received as incomparable Gifts, with a grateful mind._

_Therefore Reader bend thine Ears, and open thine Eyes, overgrown with blindness and darkness, attend to those good things which I shall discourse to thee of salt; if thou wilt make trial, and will search them throughly by an accurate examination, whether they agree with God, Nature and Truth, I doubt not, but thy mind will be enlightened with a great light, and thou wilt become as a man renovated; but if with a proud mind thou shalt refuse to learn and understand those things, or scoff or mock at them, thou shalt be reckoned amongst the number of Fools, and perpetually abide in the same, although =Aristotle= himself, and all the Professors and Doctors should sit upon thy long Ass-ears, and thou with the same shouldst endeavour as an Ass with a sack to cover thy foolish Pride and proud folly. It is much better for a man to know many things, and measure or estimate himself in his own way or manner, than to know nothing, and bear himself out with the vain pride of his own ignorance. I have never seen any man endowed with true knowledge, who hath preferred himself to others; on the contrary, I have found very many, who being stirred up by envy, hatred, and inhumane malice, do nothing sooner or more readily, than insult and make a mockery at pious men, to whom the Divine Bounty hath granted his Gifts, and as it were, devour them with their Wolf-like Teeth, which diabolical wickedness the Divine Justice in its own time will not suffer to escape unpunished._

_Thus much I was willing to say to the proud Caviller; now therefore attend to those things which I shall speak concerning Salt._

A
TREATISE
OF THE
Nature of Salts, &c.

I. _Of the Nature of SALT._

That it may be demonstrated in a _Compendium_, how many good things, as first the Tranquility of our mind, the chiefest Temporal Good, the Conservation of our Bodily Health, the great Riches and Treasures, and other things which are necessary for humane use, are latent or hidden in the despicable Body of Salt; in the first place let us hear what our Saviour Christ himself saith, who is the Truth, the Light, and the Life, in the Gospel of St. _Luke_, Chap. 14. Ver. 34. and in _Mark_, Chap. 9. Ver. 50. _Salt =(saith he)= is a good thing._ And in _Luke_, Chap. 18. Ver. 19. _No man =(saith he)= is good, but God alone._ But he calleth his Disciples the Salt of the Earth, and addeth, _If the Earth wanteth salt, it is unprofitable, neither doth it bring forth Fruit_. And Dung it self, without Salt, is of no use. This is as if he should have said, Salt is the most noble thing of the whole World; and yet amongst Fools the most abject and contemptible. Be ye like to this, and do the Will of God, and as Mediators, lead Sinners to GOD, which otherwise cannot be done. _I am your Head, your Master, and go before you; tread ye in my footsteps, follow me, I am the Way_, &c.

But to return to Salt, we will hear the opinion of others concerning it: There is here no need to cite the Writings of Philosophers at length, seeing they are at hand, and from them it may be manifest to every man, that next after GOD, the Sun, and Fire, they have esteemed it the most Noble Creature, and have given to it Honours as it were Divine. The Heathens would not sacrifice to their gods without Fire and Salt. If you read the Old and New Testament, you shall find that God himself hath commanded to have regard to Salt. In the Gospel of St. _Mark_ you shall find that all men are to be seasoned or preserved by Fire, and all sacrifices with salt, and that the Lamp or Light upon the Altar was never to be put out, but to be kept in continual Burning. In the Christian Church, this manner is still observed, that no Infant is baptized, without some Light or Candle be present, and the Priest sprinkles a little salt upon the mouth of the Baptized, with these words, _Receive the salt or seasoning of Wisdom_; as if he should say, _Learn to understand and know God and be not like the Beast, which hath no understanding_. These Ceremonies are observed in some places at this day. The Greek Church baptizeth with fire and water, by that Rite indicating the Holy Ghost to be like to fire, because he warmeth the cold hearts of Men, enliveneth them, and turneth them to GOD. God Himself calleth himself a consuming Fire; and the Holy Ghost hath alwaies appeared in the form of Fire, and shewed Himself to the Disciples of Christ in fiery Tongues. The _Abysini_ professing the Christian Religion in _Africa_, under the most Potent King and Priest _Prester John_, baptize with Fire and Water, and make a sign or mark in the Foreheads of the men which are baptised, by Burning. In short, there is not any man among the Heathens, Jews, Turks, and Christians, who doth not highly value Fire and Salt, of which notwithstanding he knoweth no more than a mad-man, or than a Swine, or an Ox, or other irrational Beasts, which pass their life without understanding. But these two Creatures of God, to wit, Fire and Salt, are one and the same in the foundation of Nature; for Fire produceth Salt, and Salt is again converted into Fire, and Fire into Salt, so that by a mutual conversion they are alwaies changed one into the other. Therefore _Hermes_ the Father of Philosophers faith, _That which is above, is as that which is below, and that which is below, as that which is above_; as you may read in his _Smaragdine_ Table. The Sun or Fire is above, Salt is below, which is by an easie way rendered combustible, like the sun or fire; as I have taught in many places of my Writings, and all Philosophers, with an unanimous consent, do confess, that the greatest Secret lieth hidden in fire and salt. Hence is the word Alchymy from fire and salt, which penetrate all things, and Fire is the Symbol of GOD, who hath alwaies exhibited himself to mortal eyes, in the form of Fire: But Salt is the Symbol of Eternity, inasmuch as it defendeth and preserveth all things from Corruption.

There are some who determine the Evangelist _John_ to have understood Hermetick Philosophy; and there is yet extant an Hymn, composed and sung by the ancient Fathers, in honour of the same _John_, in which occurr these words: _Who maketh Gold of Rods or Twiggs, and Gemms of Stones_. Nevertheless I leave those things to every man’s judgment, and here I only say this, That both Heavenly and Earthly Mysteries were known to the Prophets and Apostles.

But although I have never taken in hand so great a Philosophick Work, nevertheless it is so known to me from the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles, and from the Light of Nature, that by comparing things Divine and Humane, I could easily subject it to the Eye, but that power is not allowed me, and therefore I trust that no man will make an evil Interpretation of what I have said, seeing that thereby I aim at nothing but the glory of God, and the profit of my Neighbour.

There is no need for any man to seek many things from the Old and New Philosophers, seeing that by reading and considering the Divine Writings of _Moses_, the Prophets and Apostles, he may obtain his desire, and may without doubt, in them, find the Stone of Philosophers described, provided he shall have but a little knowledge of Nature. I will say no more, but that the infallible Truth occurrs in those. All these things are to be taken so, that things Divine may be understood in a Divine sence, and Natural things in an Elementary sence, without changing or mixing, seeing that they have no Communion among themselves.

But lest it should seem to any, to be absurd, that St. _John_ the Evangelist should make Gold of Sticks or Twiggs, and Gemms of Stones, as the said Hymn teacheth, by an Art indeed great, and to be admired, I have thought it necessary to open and shew to the Unskilful by what means that might be done.

In the first place, this was possible to St. _John_, as he was a man abundantly gifted with the Holy Spirit, and seasoned with the Salt of Wisdom, so that he might perform this action supernaturally, as well as naturally, seeing that he was endowed by the holy Spirit, without all doubt he had also the natural Light in his possession.

But by which of those powers he effected this, is not for us to know, nor doth it behove us to know. But because few will believe that St. _John_ wrought the same by natural means, and many not believing in Nature and Art, will only say, that it could never be that Wood should be transmuted into Gold, and Stones into Gemms. And although the later should be in some sort credible, by reason of the alliance or likeness between Stones and Gemms, nevertheless the former, by reason of the great disagreement between Woods and Metals, inasmuch as they belong to divers Kingdoms, they object, exceeds all Belief, and other Objections of this sort, may be found among the Unskilful, by reason of the external species of place. But such things are wont to move no admiration in Philosophers, much less any doubt, seeing that they are not ignorant how great familiarity there is of the Vegetable Kingdom with the Mineral, both which have their Rise from the same Subjects, _viz._ Salt and Fire, which their Anatomy doth clearly demonstrate. And although this may exceed the Capacity of some, yet it doth not thence follow that it is not true. If all things were to be spoken truly and openly, I confess there would be found a very small number of those who rightly understand Nature, seeing that almost all men who have but frequented a School for some years, and obtained any thing of Latin, whether they understand Nature, or are ignorant of her, will be taken for Philosophers, traduce those Philosophers who are illuminated by the light of Nature, with strange Cavillings and wicked Lyes, every where setting forth themselves by their own ignorance. Therefore it is no wonder that the Secrets of Nature should lie hid, and by the ignorant and unskilful of this sort be all taken for Fables and foolish Whimsies, which their Sheeps Brains cannot reach. But who is able to cure this Evil? Perverse manners are to be left with a perverse World. But that I may prove and demonstrate that it is not altogether impossible for Art to transmute Wood into Gold, I will point out by what means it may be done.

First, Then it is manifest before all things, that all Wood and every Herb hath its original from a certain sulphureous salt, to which Metals also owe their Rise and greatly agree in similitude, and by an intimate agreement in the same name; so that how easily a Mineral suffereth it self to be changed into a Vegetable, and that again into a Mineral, I have signified in other places of my Writings. Indeed if you shall look upon the external difference of any Wood or Herb, and a Metal, it will indeed appear great; but being reduced to their first matter, they will not differ in any discrimination; as is manifested in my _Continuation of Miraculum Mundi_.

Therefore if the first matter of Vegetables be adjoined to any metallick seed, this is nourished by that; and again, if a metal be reduced to its first matter, and any Vegetable seed put to it, that will be changed into a Vegetable; which Experience hath often shewed me. But if those two had not a great affinity with each other, they would not so easily admit of a mutual conversion one into the other; the seeds indeed differ between themselves, but they agree in the first matter, which appeareth thus: If a sulphureous salt, not corrosive, be mixed with sand, and moistened with water, and the seeds of divers Herbs sowed in it, for every seed doth thence attract its own nourishment, every one, according to its species, producing its like, endowed with various colours, smell, and proper taste, powers, and virtues, all which proceed from one only salt, and are manifested by the heat of the Sun, and the operation of the internal Archeus. But to make the matter more clear, it is to be known that the principals of Vegetables are Water, Salt, and Sulphur, from which also Metals take their original, and not from running Mercury, as many think. For that _Argent-vive_, in its own peculiar nature, is also a metal arising from the same three principles, from which the other metals, and all Vegetables draw their original; _viz._ from Water, Salt, and Sulphur, which their Anatomy maketh manifest. Here the rout of Unskilful men will take Counsel to resel this my opinion, inasmuch as it will seem worthy of credit to few. But the cause of this incredulity is the rudeness and unskilfulness of men of this sort, who having no Experience in Natural things, nor in no wise enlightened by the Light of Nature, are blinder than a Mole.

Those things which hitherto I have so often, and with so many words inculcated, the same I here repeat and affirm, to wit, That a Metal may be converted into a Vegetable, and that again into a Metal, and that no Vegetable is found, from which a natural and yellow Sulphur, in all things like to the Mineral, may not be prepared; and this Sulphur prepared of any Vegetable, if it be adjoined to any fixed metallick Sulphur, it is maturated by the same, into a metal, yet not without a _medium_; as I have often indicated in my Writings, and that _medium_ I have said to be Salt. Therefore whosoever knoweth how to adjoin any immature sulphur, whether Vegetable or Mineral, to any ripe Metal, the fixed and constant sulphur of Gold and Silver, will be nourished and encreased by the Vegetable or Mineral sulphur, not fixed, and will transmute that into the species and property of the other, as the Ferment shall be white or red, in like manner as the seed of any Vegetable doth. So gold and silver may be made of a sulphureous salt, according to any ones will, which nevertheless requires a due time, seeing that a transmutation of this sort is perfected gradually, and by a due heat, as also in the propagation of Vegetables & Minerals it is wont to be done. From these things it appears, that this Transmutation is the meer Work of Nature, which many Experiments which I have made, and yet am able to make, do evidently demonstrate; therefore there is no reason why such things should seem so wonderful or absurd to any.

Whether St. _John_ performed the Transmutation of which we have spoken, by the help of any natural Art, or whether he did the same by a Divine Power, we will not here dispute; but let it suffice to have demonstrated that such things may be performed by a natural reason.

For when Wood, Bread, or piece of a Bone; or also any Herb shall be adjoined to its own salt, in due manner of Art, and reduced to its first matter, that salt transmuteth the Flower, Bread, Wood, or Herb into a sulphureous salt, which encreaseth the growing faculty of Vegetables and Minerals. A salt of this sort being mixed with a small quantity of white Flint reduced to powder, and melted in a strong Fire, will give a red and pellucid stone or glass, which if it be kept long in the Fire, it turneth green, and at length black, like a Coal, and acquireth so great hardness, that it may be cut and polished after the manner of other precious stones. Here the desirous of Art may see, that by one and the same way, and in one and the same time, that Gold may be prepared of Wood, and fair and pellucid stones, of various colours, of white Flints. But that the Eyes of the studious of Divine and Natural things, may be the better opened, I will more clearly expound what the first matter is.