Chapter XLV: Front Matter (45)

And farther, that water which we speak of, serves not only to extract Gold and Silver out of the Ores, or Minera’s, (which otherwise, could not be drawn forth by any excocting or forcing) but also for the taming, and bringing to use that which is in huge Stones, Flints, and the baser Fossiles (in which, Gold and Silver are only as it were, a little sticking, and will not be thence had by any art of melting) and that with profit too well worth the Labour. So that there is scarce required 6 or 7 Loths of water to extract the Gold and Silver out of 100 _l._ of Ore; and if there were but 2, 3, or 4 Lots of Silver at the most, in 100 _l._ of such matter, yet would it be a gainful extraction, especially if the things, or subject, be Arsenical, or as yet Volatile, and cannot brook the intenseness of the fire, but are driven away by a strong blast. _For in that extraction by the water, that which is volatile, is fixed, and retained together_, that it afterwards admits of being fused, or molten, and that this is so, will evidently appear to any, experimentally. Let him but take Arsenick, and dissolve it in Aqua-fortis, and again draw off the water, and he will be able presently to melt the Arsenick, and make it red hot. Quicksilver is well known to be a very Volatile matter, but yet even that, (if the water of Salt-petre be several times drawn off thencefrom) is made so fixt as to stand and abide wholly in a most intense fire. For, that which Wood and Coals do (in a long time) perform; the very same doth such a water effect in a few hours space.

But some or other may oppose or question thus; How can it possibly be, that if those matters be so very poor, 8 or 10 pound of water should be sufficient to extract the Gold & Silver which is contained in them; for it seems as if 8 or 10 pounds of water were hardly enough to moisten 100 _l._ of Ore or Minera, but would be lost amongst such a deal of Stuff: Let such an one know, that what I have written is possible and true; I can prove it and demonstrate it even to the sight; but as concerning the administration of that Work, ’tis not fit it should be made too common.

And verily, in this sticks the main difficulty, here is the Art and Skill; ’tis not for every one to acquit himself here, and if that the gold and silver were extracted by means of this Water, yet even then the chiefest of the Art is to know how to precipitate the pure Gold and Silver thencefrom, and incorporate it, which knack I justly reserve for my Friends; for verily, this is such an Art, as by the benefit of it alone I shall renew ancient friendship with many, and moreover purchase me more new friends: And therefore let no body be angry at me, or count it amiss, that I would not publickly disclose so excellent an Invention, and put new Weapons into mine Enemies hands to hurt me withal. [_This is taught in the following parts._] And if I should do so much as clearly to mention every thing, yet nevertheless should I incurr the enmity of many men, as much as if I never had done it; and besides too, it cannot possibly be, that all things should be so nakedly and plainly decyphered to the unskilful, as that they should presently be able to do every thing. If they once make trial, and cannot do the business that they aimed at in their minds, then they curse him that writ, and bestow many a bitter wish on him, as if he had been too obscure in expressing himself, and so they despise that which is otherwise laudable.

But if so be that the possibility of a thing is only demonstrated, and no Receipt added, then they will not undertake any frustraneous Labours, nor will have cause of cursing any. But some or other may here enquire, Where shall I find such a sort of Minerals and Fossiles, out of which I may extract Gold and Silver? If any such had been to have been found, they would not have lain idle & waited for my coming; others would have taken them away long ago, and converted them to their own uses. I think it expedient to demand as well of such a one, who those others should be, that should have taken them away before thee? If their Experience be as little as thine, and thine no greater than is theirs, there’s no danger of your fore-preventing or deceiving one another, seeing you are all alike ignorant of the thing.

Think’st thou that the number of those that are experienc’d in Metals is so large? ’Tis confest, there are enough Excocters or Metal-Separators, but yet they must _per_ force leave that untouch’d which they cannot find out, seeing they know no other way of ordering their Affairs, but the old Road. It oftentimes happens, that there is more Gold driven away into the air by these Excocters, than is left behind in the fire, and yet forsooth that Crew arrogate to themselves abundance of knowledge, and perswade themselves, that they stand not in any need of any ones advice. Nor indeed do I invite them to any new Studies and Operations; let all such as list, use the same way of excocting or separation that they have learned; but if there be among them those that are not ashamed to learn better, such may be counselled. My purpose at present is, to do some acceptable Service to those that have no Mine pits, and who cannot separate Minerals or Ore in gross, as I may say, and yet would be very glad to enjoy in private some little small gleanings as ’twere of the bits or small pieces that the Excocters leave, whereby they may get sufficient gain for the commodious sustaining of Life. These are they whom I have a mind to assist; the Richer sort have enough already to fill or satiate themselves withal; nor need they any information of mine; as for the Poor, there’s no regard had to them. The whole Artifice therefore consisteth in the extracting (when there’s but a very little Water used) and then in the precipitation of the Metals, so that the Water may remain good, and fit for other uses. There’s plenty enough of poor Minerals and Fossiles even every where, and which no body regards and knows. It would not be amiss to look upon or consider of all Flints, Rocks, and Stones you meet with, and consider what property they are of.

Concerning this I have written in the First Part of the _Mineral Work_, _viz._ How by the Spirit of Salt Gold may be extracted out of a Flint: But as hitherto, few there are that have set about that Work, partly because they could not prepare the spirit of Salt, and partly because they knew not how to precipitate from it the extracted Gold, nor knew how to melt the extracted Calx of _Sol_ with Antimony; all which I must needs confess, is not for every one to perform. But now this Extraction which is made by the Water of Salt-petre, doth extract the Silver too, which being thence precipitated, the water remains as virtuous as afore; and indeed, if a comparison be made ’twixt this and that Extraction, there is as much difference as is between black and white, and between the day and night; therefore I say that this is a thing worth the learning, for it may be of exceeding much profit in times of affliction. Greatly is that pledge to be esteemed of, _Which_ (as the old Proverb is) _redeems its Lord_. Art is no burthen to a man to carry, but it rather carries or bears up a Man, easeth him, and makes him be of a cheerful mind, because it is a thing on which we may safely trust. It is more precious than Gold and Gems, which may be lost, but this abides firm and constant even to the Grave, and doth abundantly enrich its master.

This Extraction doth likewise serve for the drawing forth Gold out of Silver, tho’ it be not gilt, which to do is not in every ones power, tho’ many know that Silver hath Gold in it, yet if it be not of so much value as to quit the Costs that are necessarily to be expended upon it, it is left as it is; and now there is no where separated Gold out of Silver, unless it be gilt, and they see it sticking thereupon. Any other silver whatsoever, how much gold soever it possesseth, is not separated, when as though, sometimes there might be made more gain thencefrom. But I must needs confess, that the separation of the Gold from the Silver, the usual and known way is conjoined with abundance of labour, and not worth the costs spent about making the separation, unless, haply, the silver partakes much of the Gold: Whereas on the contrary, this my way of separating is done with light labour and small costs, and therefore may be used about all silver whatsoever, though it has in it never so little Gold.

But that the business may be yet more clear, and the better perceived, it will be useful to add this information. When you would separate the Gold from the Silver by Aqua-fortis, it must first be purified with Lead, by burning it upon a Test, now in this work there’s the Test, Fire, the sufficient portion of Lead, the labour and time spent hereon to be considered, and when all this is done, then the Lead has entred, together with the Copper that was in the Silver, into the Test, and may be esteemed of but as a thing just kept from being lost. Besides too, the Copper carries away with it, a good part of the silver into the Test. And altho’ that by a most vehement blast of Bellows the Test may be molten, and part of the Lead, Copper, and Silver recovered, yet the expences necessarily requisite to this operation, are more than the regain’d Metals are worth, so that these costs, charges, and troubles are too great. Then finally, when all this is done, and that the silver shall have been depured by burning, then it must after all this, be granulated, and this is some charge, and then when all this is done, it may be separated by Aqua-fortis, and being separated, be again molten into a Mass.

Now my way of working is freed from all these kind of linked labours, and so much trouble and loss of expences and time may be avoided; for when I take on me to separate any Silver, whether it has much or little Gold, I cut it into bits about the length and bredth of my Finger, so as that I but put it into my separatory Vessel; then I make it gently or by degrees red hot, to the end that the defilements may be the better washt off, and the separatory water may the better work upon it. Then pour I in the water, and suffer the Gold, Silver and Copper to be dissolved; then (after this) do I precipitate the Gold, then the Silver, then the Copper; all which operations, from the beginning to the end, are done in three or four hours space, nor requires it any expence save only the water, and a little fire, to keep the water warm, that it may the more strongly work upon and dissolve the Silver; the Metals thus separated from each other and edulcorated, may be melted; and now from thence may any one see, how much difference there is betwixt ours and the common separation of metal, by the moist way; and if there be any one that would use this way of mine, of separation, he would doubtlessly get much gain and riches, neither could any one endammage him by way of prevention, and he would get himself an exceeding profit wheresoever he be, not only out of guilt Silver, but also out of any other; for there is not a City so small, but it hath a Silversmith, who buys up the old Silver, and separates it his own way, which is very laborious and costly, and therefore he would the willinglier give his Silver to another to separate, whereby himself might be spared the labour and cost, were there but any one that would offer him his help thereabouts.

And seeing that all Copper holds Gold hidden in it, and that that Copper is not any impediment in this my way of separation, but is resolved together with the Silver, therefore doth it always bring some increase to the Gold and consequently more gain; but the labour will be yet more gainful if it be prepared with a separatory water, which hath other Golden species or things added thereto in the making, and which render the water aureous, such as are Lapis Calaminaris, Zink, the Minerals (or Ores) of Iron and Copper; for hereby is made a water that is in it self auriferous, and which doth readily (in the separation) join its volatile Gold to the Silver, and suffer its self to be incorporated; in so much that even such Silver as hath already been separated and purged, will yield Gold enough in the separation, if it be dissolved with such a separatory water, which hath been impregnated by graduating things.

And even as this same extraction which is done in the moist way, by the water of Salt-petre is exceedingly eminent and of much use, as being sufficient to supply many thousands of men with food and necessaries for life, so as that they need not at all to be compelled to deceive or damnify one another; so likewise, no less excellent is the extraction, which is done by the dry way; if, _viz._ the Volatile Antimonial Minerals, or Ores (whether they contain in them Gold, or Silver, or Copper, Iron, or Tin, and what metals soever they contain in them) be molten with twice, thrice, or four times as much Antimony in a Crucible, and be (by the means of Iron) precipitated into Regulus’s; for by this work, what good soever there was in the Ores, and even the Metals themselves, may be obtained each apart: for when the Antimony hath extracted the Gold out of the Minerals, the Gold may then be first precipitated, then the Silver, lastly the Copper; and all of them with a very small cost and little labour, insomuch, that in one days time many pounds of Gold and Silver may be drawn by this art out of the Minerals: and this too by a little fire. For the Antimony penetrates the mineral like water, and dissolves what is good in it; and as for that which is of an earthy nature it casts off from it self, and brings it into scoria. But it brings the Metal to a Metalline form in the precipitation, which must then be cupellated, or purified by the help of Salt-petre. And if haply you cannot get Antimony for this work, than common Brimstone may serve in its stead, and it will perform the same thing, if the Minera be ground and mixt therewith, and be molten in a covered Pot or Crucible, and be precipitated by Iron, for so the Metals falls down in a Regulus, and the Sulphur abides behind in the scoria. But this kind of work requires a skilful Artist or Melter, who hath already been long and much versed in precipitations; for else he will be intangled therein, and not find the wish’d for success.

NB. This is to be understood of that kind of Minerals and Fossiles which partake of _Antimony_, _Arsenick_, _Cobolt_, _Marchasite_ or _Sulphur_, being such as _Antimony_ and _Sulphur_ love to seize upon and dissolve in the melting: such Minerals or Ores as have sand and stones among them, they (_viz._ _Antimony_ or _Sulphur_) will have nothing to do with them; of this kind are Granates, Talk, and such like: so neither, doth the water of Salt-petre in the moist way extend its virtue to all the Minerals, nor extracts it Gold and Silver out of all of them; but especially it acts not at all on them which are very sulphureous, unless they are first Torrified or Calcined as ’twere, and so freed from the _Sulphur_, then at length the water performs its office else not. Nor doth the water act upon Granates or other Minerals and Fossiles which are (as to the outward appearance) smooth and as it were glassy. And therefore all such must first of necessity be master’d by an incense fire, and subdued.

There are likewise to be found some Minerals and Fossiles which suffer not what they have in them to be introduced into either Lead or Antimony, or to bestow their Treasure upon them; nor will they be forced out nor cupellated, but both are and remain scoria, and do retain that form of glass which they afore had unless haply you make them stoop, and master them by a most strong blast; for by this means they suffer their Gold and Silver to be wrested from them: But they may be mastered too, if you thereto add in the fusing some Potters-ashes, or salt of the Lees of Wine, or Ashes made of Wood, and melt them together, for so by this means also will they be obedient to thee; for salts dissolve in flux all stony Minerals, and such as resemble glass and scoria, which otherwise no other fire is able to do. But to make any more accurate description of that thing, appertains not to this place, but to the following Third Part of this Book; that which we have here minded, is only to make light touches as ’twere about shewing the variety of Fossiles and Minerals; and that, if haply any one should light on such a Mineral, out of which he cannot extract the metal, neither by the help of Antimony, nor by the water of Salt-petre, he should not think it void of every thing or that he has not dexterously and conveniently enough handled the same, but may know, that the only cause is, the property of the Mineral it self.

And now, even as the Sulphureous minerals do chiefly admit of being separated by Antimony admixed in the melting, and those that are stony, not so; even so the water of Salt-petre doth more willingly extract the stony Minerals, than the sulphureous ones; but yet, if the sulphur be taken from them by Torrefaction, it is able to dissolve even these too.

But it chiefly loves those that have Stria, and are a spotted (Quartzig) sandy, poor kind of Minera: which (otherwise) you cannot extract commodiously neither by Fusion or by Mercury: But that you may never be deceived here, it will be altogether expedient to be acquainted with both ways, both with this which is done by flux, & with that moist way which is done with Water; both ways are good, and exceedingly profitable in the separation of the Minera’s or Ores; and that not only of such as may be every where had, but likewise of metalline mixtures: whether it be by melting them together, or else by some sad mischance of your Houses being burnt; or finally, if it proceed from thence, that Gold and Silver do lie hidden unknown in copper, Tin, Iron, or Lead; now they may with ease be separated from each other by both those aforesaid ways, and on such wise as that nothing may be lost.

The ancients knew not how to extract the Gold and Silver out of Copper as the modern Refiners are wont to do, but took them together as they lay and so applied them to any uses whether to make Bells or great Guns. Neither was the separation by _Aqua-fortis_ so much in use in those days as in ours: Nay more, if in a Mark of Silver there was no less than the quantity of a Ducket of Gold, yet notwithstanding they did not separate it, but did make it up into money as it was, as the old Coins do sufficiently testify. For it is evident that all Silver almost, partakes of Gold, and ancients being unexercised and not well versed in the Art of separation, all the Silver though never so auriferous was Coined into Money, or put to other uses; but their successours smelt out what they had done, and therefore bought up all such Money, and separated it, & made thereof an exceeding gain: so that there is not in our age so much as a Dollar, Schrenckbergick, Gross, Crucifer, even to the smallest half Penny, of Gold Coin to be had throughout all _Germany_, all being changed and bought up and wiped off the Gold. But yet there is Silver enough left, both made into money, and wrought up by the _Gold-smiths_, a Mark whereof contains, ⅛ or ¼ of a Ducket of Gold; and therefore seeing the common way of separation by _Aqua-fortis_ cannot be of use here, because the costs are too great, and the little portion of the Gold will not countervail the same; it may be done this way, and separated by either the moist, or by the dry way, and that with profit, though there should be less than ⅛th part of a Ducket in a Mark of Silver. And besides, Bells ever have much Silver in them, neither was it separated therefrom by the ancients (as we have said afore): and likewise old Tin hath a great deal of Gold and Silver in it, which was of old wont to be molten and wrought up with the Copper into Bells or great Guns. Many there are that well know, that there is Gold and Silver in these things, but how to extract them thence, they know not: For Copper admits not of being cupellated (or purified) by Lead, much less of being separated, & yet more difficult is it to do it by _Aqua-fortis_. But yet, it may be effected and that with a great deal of profit by the way which we have shewn, both the moist and dry too. And therefore he that shall be well skill’d in these operations, doing it either by melting with Antimony, or by the Water, will get abundance of profit out of your old and broken pieces of Bells: Nay should he buy them whole, yet would he get no small matter, for he may extract their Gold and Silver, and then melt them anew. For there is not barely in Bells that portion of Gold & Silver which the Copper and Tin had naturally in them, and of which the Bells are made; but also, it was the custom of the ancients, (when a new Bell was molten or founded,) to call some God-fathers or Witnesses (according to their ancient custom) who named the Bells afore they were baptized: And like as it is even at this day the usual custom every where throughout Christendom in the baptizing of Infants for the God-fathers to give their God-child some Money (or Plate) as a remembrance; so the ancients did do in the baptizing of their Bells, as they were flowing in the Furnace they cast thereinto Gold and Silver, to testify their affection to Holy uses, and also that the Bells might fuse the better, and yield a clearer sound. Upon this account I say, that ’tis no small gain that may be gotten out of old Bells, seeing there never is a Bell which is destitute of Gold and Silver.

And now the well-minded Reader sees what use this extraction and precipitation of Gold & Silver which is done either in the moist or in the dry way, is of; and that not only in Minerals and Fossiles, but likewise in metalline mixtures too, out of which there can nothing be obtained by any other way.

Who I pray will not now magnifie or highly esteem of Salt-petre, and take care about having it prepared in great plenty, and so convert it to his profit, seeing it is clearly manifest that so much good may be done with it both in Metalline Affairs and Medicine? I do what I am able, I offer my self to all good Men: If they will not listen to me, I am not to be blamed but am void of fault. Man’s Life is too short, than for one Man to be able to describe all the things that may be done by the help of Salt-petre; neither indeed is it to be wished that many should know it.

But seeing I but now treated of the precipitation of Metals and Minerals, I think it worth while, to shew the cause of that precipitation, that so the studious of Art may have a more certain foundation of this thing. That which is to be separated, must of necessity be a bound up or fast knit body, for else it would not need any reparation; therefore forasmuch as one Metal knits up, or incloseth another, they cannot be separated from one another, but by the breaking or destruction of the bonds which they are tied withal, and knit each within another; this destruction now, is to be done by the Fire, both in the moist and likewise in the dry way. Copper, Tin, Iron, and Lead, may in the dry way be separated from Gold and Silver, if they are Cupellated together on a Test: For then the superfluous or burning _Sulphur_, in the imperfect Metals acts upon it self and reduceth its own proper Body or Metal into Scoria, and seeing that there is a great part of Lead therein, those Scoria are fluxile, and it doth by little & little (as much of it as goes into scoria) insinuate it self or slide into the porous Tests of Hearths. But the Gold and Silver which have no superfluous _Sulphur_, do remain unhurt upon the Test, washt and clean & do now shew themselves in their clarity & brightness; This is the separation of the good from the bad, or the combustible from the incombustible, which is done by the force of Fire only, and solely: by which, the imperfect Metals are by the help of Lead converted into brittle scoria, and so creep into the Tests, and separate themselves from the perfect Bodies; and this is a very easie work, and well enough known to every body, and is by the Refiners called Cupellation. But now in this separation, there’s only a separation made of the imperfect Metals from the perfect, but the Gold and Silver remain mixt together, and if you would have each apart too, then ’tis necessary that the one be dissolved and separated from the other by a most strong _Aqua-fortis_. But if the portion of the Silver be more than the Gold, then the Silver is dissolved by a common _Aqua-fortis_ made of Salt-petre and Vitriol, and so the Gold will fall to the bottom: and this way of separation is well enough known and used by all the Refiners and Goldsmiths; but if there be more Gold than there is Silver, then do they dissolve the Gold by _Aqua-regia_, and so the Silver remains undissolv’d; nor is the _Aqua-regia_ any thing else but a strong water of Salt-petre, in which some _Sal-armoniack_ is dissolved; for the common or simple water of Salt-petre doth dissolve the Silver only and leaves the Gold; and contrariwise the _Aqua-regia_ dissolves the Gold only, and meddles not with the Silver; but if they know not the right way of ordering the _Aqua-regia_, they are wont to add to the Gold in the melting so much Silver as may make up three times the weight that there is of the Gold, and so they separate it by _Aqua-fortis_, which (kind of operation) we call (=die Quartz=).

There is yet another way of separation, which is known unto them, and this is done by Cementation, if (_viz._) divers Metals are commixt together, and they are mixt with Vitriol, Salt, and Tiles, _Stratum super stratum_, and so kept together a while for some due time in a continual fire; then the Salt and Vitriol do assume to themselves the imperfect Metals, and leave the most perfect, that is the Gold, alone. Cementing doth also attract Silver and Iron, Copper and Lead; but this kind of separation is only used to impure Gold, perfectly to purifie it.

There is yet another way of separation, which is done by Antimony, and is likewise only used to Gold, to cleanse it from its impurity and vitiosity. There is also another way of separating by fusion, in which, if you would have a metalline mixture which hath Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Tin, and Lead in it, to be separated into its several kinds, then the mixture must be granulated and burnt with Sulphur, and being burnt, it must be melted in a Pot, and so by precipitating it either with Lead or Iron, one Metal must be separated orderly from another; which way is wont to be used (as far as I know) but by few, because they are not so understanding in Nature, nor know any cause why one Metal separates it self from another, sooner and more readily out of the mass or metalline mixture, and settles to the bottom.

But that the ingenious Lover of Art may have some directory, as ’twere, and some occasion to consider with himself more deeply, and may have a willingness to undertake so excellent and profitable an Art, I have a mind to discover the cause of the precipitation. It is sufficiently evident, that _like rejoiceth with like_, and that there’s a disagreement ’twixt unlike things. Oil loves to be mixt with Oil, & Water is willingly united with Water, but not at all with Oil, lest by a _medium_ intervening. Hence it is, that for as much as one Metal is of a different nature from another, that such as are alike, love each other, and such as be unlike do abhor and shun each other; and therefore when there are divers Metals in one mass, and that you would separate them, it is necessary that you do it by adding such a thing as is of affinity to the more imperfect part, and is at Enmity with the perfecter part. As for examp. Sulphur is a friend to all the Metals, save Gold, and that it hates; but yet it loves (even in the imperfect Metals) one better than another: for by how much the more like they are thereunto, and the more imperfect, so much the more readily is it a friend or enemy thereto. And therefore when the Sulphur shall have been put into the mass in the combustion, then the most noble parts flie off, and do their best to free themselves from the fellowship of the imperfect and unclean metals; but yet they cannot rid themselves without some assistance; and therefore if some sulphureous or imperfect Metal shall be put to the sulphureous mass, then the sulphur laies hold upon it, and lets go the more perfect part, tho’ not so pure as yet, but it needs a greater purification; concerning which there may be read more at large in the Explication of my _Miraculum Mundi_. This work is called _Precipitation_, when the more perfect part is precipitated and separated from the more vile, and that out of one and the same mixture. The same reason is there in the precipitation made in the moist way, if (_viz._) _some_ Metals, or _all_ together, be dissolved in the water, one is thence precipitated after another orderly. First, That which is the most noble and most perfect, then the 2 & 3, and so regularly, until they are all precipitated. This is that most excellent and hitherto wholly unknown, and most gallant Invention wherewith I hope to become serviceable to my Friends.

He that well understands this precipitation, will gain much, but if he only meddles with this operation in a careless manner, and meerly customary as ’twere, and so not know the reason it self, why such, or such a thing is, he may worthily be compared to an Ass that carrys a sack, but knows not what is therein contained, nor whither he is to carry it. Therefore I will yet farther add a more clear information. Iron precipitates Copper out of both the dry and moist solution; Copper precipitates silver both in the moist and dry solution: _Mercury_ doth chiefly precipitate Gold, and altho’ Copper, Iron, Tin, and Lead, do also precipitate Gold and Silver, yet each Metal hath its own peculiar precipitation, and farther note, that Precipitations done with Salts do exceed those done with the Metals, for by them may all the Metals be precipitated; and this hath even hitherto been kept secret.

And besides, one Metal does not only precipitate another, but doth likewise change or alter it. As for examp. If I put the Plates of Copper in a solution of Silver, then (whether the solution or operation be done either in the moist way or in the dry way) the silver precipitates it self by means of the Copper. And if I but know how to manage that business knowingly and skilfully, the Silver will also graduate some of the Copper into Silver in the precipitation, and there will be gained more silver than was put in the solution. In like manner, if I precipitate Copper with Iron, out of a solution of Copper, then doth the Copper precipitate it self by reason of the Iron, but withal, some part of the Iron doth exalt it self in the precipitation into Copper; and seeing that this kind of operation is confirmed by often Experience, there is none can safely question it. But I do not say, that in such a gradation all the Iron is turned into Copper, or all the Copper into Silver; nor did I ever try it; but yet I readily believe, that it is a thing possible to be done by reiterated workings. Mercury precipitates Gold most willingly, but only in the moist way, for in the dry way it cannot subsist; but to precipitate it in that way, Iron serves excellently well; Copper also and Lead are profitably useful hereabout also, but yet Iron is better.

There is a singular precipitation of Silver with Mercury, which I will here mention. The Chymists some hundreds of years ago, made Silver out of Cinnabar, but without any benefit or profit; neither did their silver they got come from the Mercury, but from that silver which they added to the Cinnabar. They took common Cinnabar, made of Quick-silver and Brimstone, and brake it into small bits, about the bigness of the Nail of ones Finger, and made Layes, or _Stratum super stratum_, thereof, with filings of pure Silver, then they luted up all well, and kept it in a moderate heat for 20, 30, or 40 hours, and by this way they found that their Cinnabar, which at first was red, was made black; this matter they cupellated with Lead upon a Test, and so got as much Silver as was the weight of the Mercury in the Cinnabar.

NB. As much silver as they got, so much wanted there of the silver they put unto it, and so there was no Gain made from hence; and they supposed (but falsly) that the Quicksilver extracted the soul out of the silver put thereunto, and that therefore the said silver was rendered volatile. Nor indeed is it contrary to Reason, that _Argent-vive_ should extract the soul from Silver, & thereby convert it self into silver; and that on the other hand, this exanimated silver be made wholly volatile, if it be not animated anew by other Metals; and this is what some have done and attained to, by the help of Lead.

But the Operation which I treat of at present is rather an attraction or precipitation of silver by Mercury, and this precipitation is to be done in the moist way, and is most wondrous easie; nor is it without Encrease or Gain, provided you are willing to wait its time, and ’tis thus.

If one part of purer silver be dissolved in _Aq. fortis_, and in the solution two parts of Rain-water be added to one Part of _Aq. fortis_, and there be likewise thrown in three or four parts of Quick-Mercury, and all this be left some daies or weeks in a cold place, unmoved, then the silver precipitates it self out of the Water to the Mercury, and the Mercury dissolves it self into the Water, and both together yield a wonderful representation of growing things, like Mountains and Vallies, and certainly is of a most pleasant aspect. The result of which is this, _viz._ if they stand so a long time and shall be afterwards edulcorated and reduced by Lead, then the Silver gets no small encrease from the Mercury: But yet there’s no gain to be thence had unless those out growings (or representations of fine things) be suffered to operate and germinate above a Year: And this, few operators will yield to do, and to be withheld so long a time from the fruits of their Labours. Now the reason of this operation is thus: The _Aqua-fortis_ is a moist and cold Fire, and ripens as well as the dry and hot fire, but he need be a skillful Artist that sets upon this Work.

It is evident that some of the ancient Philosophers maturated their Universal Medicine by a moist fire, as you may see in _Artephius_ and others. Othersome Philosophers extracted a certain secret water, or universal Menstruum and dissolvent out of the Nitrous Sea, and did thereby perform most notable things, but they always kept it secret, and the description they have made thereof, hath been obscured, or painted over with Riddles, or dark expressions, when they say, that ♄ draws his secret water out of the Sea, of as clear brightness as the Moon: which way of drawing it belongs not to this place to shew: only thus much is hinted, that out of Nitre may be drawn an Universal Menstruum, which is more excellent than the Corrosive Spirit of Nitre, which said Spirit doth indeed dissolve all things, but after the manner of corrosives, whereas this which ♄ draws and is of the clear brightness of the Moon, hath nothing of Corrosivity in it, but is mild and sweet, and wets not the hands, or tingeth them, as that Corrosive doth; and altho’ such a water be Volatile, and not fixt, yet is it of such a nature as to constringe, and fix other fugitive, and unfixt things. ’Tis a thing most worthy of admiration to consider how those Natures have a mutual love each to the other, and embrace one another, and are converted the one into the other. And thus much may suffice to have been spoken concerning the precipitation of the Metals out of both the dry, and moist solutions.

Let no body seek to fish ought more out of me by their Letters; but as for such as formerly have been my friends, and even now are, or shall hereafter be, to these I will not deny any thing, always provided, that nothing be done against a _decorum_ (as they use to say) or a discreet behaviour.

But now if any one thinks that (if he comes flying from the East or West) I must presently lay aside all my business, and only attend upon doing and answering what he demands: No, that’s a thing my Affairs won’t permit me to do, for I have somewhat else to manage. And therefore would I forewarn such an one, that he enters not on such a Journey afore he be certain whether or no it stands with my convenience or not. For this hath many a time already happened unto me, _viz._ for some one to come with a desire of knowing this or that secret, who (when I would have told it him, but that I had no time then to accommodate him) hath gone away stomaching at me, and began to reproach me publickly afore all Men, as if I were some inhumane, or merciless fellow, and would not satisfy his request. Some also there have been, who out of the meer malice of their mind have divulged, that I my self have nothing, seeing they can get nothing from me; there are many such perverse kind of men to be found, who make no Conscience of enervating, or sucking out the very Marrow of the Bones of others, so as they may be but benefited thereby themselves; which verily is a great evil and inhumanity. How often have such kind of men come unto me, whom, (when they have spoken with their kind words unto me, and also carry the garb, and outside show of very honest Men, and promised all decent thankfulness) I have satisfy’d, and yet have afterwards fled off from, and broken their Faith: Therefore it is the best way for him who has any singular thing, to bury it over in silence, and so he need not fear of being drained by others, that know how (by the perswasive flattering Art) to get out his skill, and give no thanks afterwards for the same.

If I had not already began to describe the _Prosperity of Germany_, certainly I would not now begin; but forasmuch as I have taken upon me to finish what I have begun, I will stand to my promise, and will in like manner shortly publish (if God shall see it good) the third and fourth part.

And seeing that in both the following parts, the melioration, or concentration of the Metals, is chiefly to be done by the help of Salt-petre, I was willing more amply to confirm in this second part, that which I wrote in the first part of the Generation of Salt-petre. And I do again and again averr with the greatest asseveration, that such a generation of Salt-petre out of wood is very true, and is founded on Nature her self.

Now must I proceed a little onwards, and withal demonstrate to the simple, that the putrefactory Stomack, in which the wood is digested and putrefied, and which transmuteth all wood, and resolves likewise all Leaves and Grass in a short time, transmutes and reduceth it into Dung, is as the stomack of Animals is, and this may be done in a most vast Quantity, as hath been proved in the first part of the _Prosperity of Germany_; and this no Mortal Man can ever refute, _viz._ that the essential salt, or salt of Nature, is no other thing but Salt-petre, but is not as yet burning, or flaming up, until it be animated by the air, and conceive a life thencefrom, the essential salt of Vegetables, barely such, is not so, _viz._ Salt-petre, as hath been sufficiently manifested.

Now whatsoever gives fertility and power of growth, is Nitrous; if therefore there lay hid no Nitre in Minerals, as in stones, why would the Gardiners carry slackt Lime into their Fields, and use it instead of Dung to dung their Fields withal? Whence doth the Salt-petre come that grows on upon old Walls, if not from the Lime? What is the reason that the Salt-petre men do seek after old ruined walls, to make Salt-petre thereout of, were nothing in them? I verily believe that this is an indubitable Argument, that there is Salt-petre hidden in all things: For the salt of the World, or the Universal Essential salt, is nothing else but Salt-petre, when it hath after a due time attracted a life out of the air, to which end my secret circulatory instrument was invented, that such an animation might be the more conveniently brought to pass.

Nor do the other kinds of salts, _viz._ Sal-Gem, the salt made out of the natural salt fountains, or sea-salt, likewise all salts which are made out of the Lees of Wood ashes, or of Lime, also Alume and Vitriol, all these are not so widely different from salt-petre, but they may easily be transmuted, and converted into salt-petre by the animation of the air, by the help of my circulatory vessel; but for the better perception of the operation, I will subjoin this Example.

Dissolve as much Sal-Gem, sea salt, or salt made out of the salt fountains, or common salt which is frequently used in boiling of meats, or salt made of Wood ashes, or of the stones of Calx-vive, in Aq. fortis, as much as the water will assume to its self, or be able to dissolve, and let it again cool; then the salt does not concrete or shoot granularly, any more but into longish Cones like salt-petre. Pour off the Aq. fortis, or Salt-petre water, and dissolve it, _viz._ the salt, again in a Lixivium of Lime, and cristallize it, so shall you have therefrom a Natural, or Genuine Salt-petre, and no less combustible than any other Salt-petre that is digged out of the stables where Cattle have stood. Then again may there be, by the said Salt-petre water, more salt prepared, either common salt, or salt out of Herbs, or Wood, and be dissolved and crystallized, from whence results a new salt-petre, and this operation may be so long repeated, until all the salt-petre water be turned together with the salt, into salt-petre.

This transmutation of salt-petre is perfected in some hours, and from hence may a worthy reward for your pains be reaped, could it be otherwise performed than in Glasses; and indeed, out of one pound of salt-petre, would there come an hundred pounds of petre, if a part of the transmuted salt be still distilled anew into water, and more new salt be by it again transmuted. But there is no such need of setting about a work so laborious, seeing there is at hand a far speedier, or more dexterous way of doing the same, if _viz._ those salts shall be animated by the air, by the circulation that I have contrived, and so be turned into salt-petre in great quantity: which animation, or hatching as ’twere, may be done in vast quantity by easie labour, and little costs, the air (as we use to say) turning or making both sides of the Leaf: For one portion continually kindles and animates another, no otherwise than as a little Leaven doth a great Mass of Dough, and as a little Fœces, or Yeast, yea, as little as will lie in a Spoon, serves to ferment a whole Vessel of Ale; the same is done here. And indeed, common salt-petre may be implanted into other salts, even as a Vegetable Seed is sown in the Earth, so as thence to get in a short space of time a great encrease, even an hundred, or a thousand-fold.

But the sluggish Companions who had rather fatten themselves with eating, drinking, and sleeping, and wholly give themselves to laziness, who is able to wait so long in the expectation of this thing? Alass for ye, ye sloathful, lazy, and devouring Gluttons, with what face dare ye so manifestly to betray your laziness? I pray, if you put out your Money to Use, and have 5 or 6 _per C._ as we use to say, a Year, must you not expect the years revolution afore ye receive it? And besides, you run here a hazard too, least your Debtor breaks, and defraud you of the very Principal it self: If you lay out your Moneys on building Houses, so to make a great gain thereby, may not your Tenant be reduced to such wants as not to have wherewithal to pay you, unless haply, out of the very Stubble, or Litter of his poverty? May not your Ships which float about in the Sea, be cast away by Storms and Tempests, or be taken by Pirates? Why are ye not as Patient in your expectation as the Husbandman is, who after he hath sown his Grain, must wait a whole year afore he reaps with advantage what he hath sown. Nay, yet more, if he be pretty fortunate, he scarce gains 6 in the 100, the costs and pains being reckoned; and in the mean time he is in fear, lest the Corn should be blited by the cold, or being near ripe, should by a bad season be spoiled and corrupted in the field. If there happens a year that is droughty, then the Corn cannot grow up high, or ’tis eaten by the Mice; but now in the preparation of Salt-petre all those Cares are saved, and 100 Dollars may yearly yield thee 2, 3, 4, or more gains, and that without any wronging thy Conscience, and without endamaging any other, and without Extortion; for if thou hast much Salt-petre, thou maist promise thy self much gold and silver also, for there will alwaies be such as buy it up; and if thou attentively heedest, thou hast so much delivered thee in my Writings, as that thou thy self maist spend it all on the melioration and Separation of Metals: Nor needest thou, if thou thinkest it good, sell any of the same. Nor is there any reason that thou should be asham’d or repent of such a Work, because one man is sufficient, without any others help, to manage the greatest operation: nor need there great expence, save only a little to build a Small Cottage, wherein the Salt-petre may be kept dry. If you have huge Woods at hand, you may make your Salt-petre out of wood; if you want wood, then out of the dung of Horses, Oxen, or other Beasts, and Sheep, or else out of even common Salt, which we use in seasoning our Meats, out of wood-ashes, and out of Lime: Whatever it be prepared from, it will not cost much, for 1 _l._ of Salt will yield thee 1 _l._ of Salt-petre.

But haply some or other may be in the mind to think or demand, why _Glauber_ himself sets not about this work, and reserve the whole Gain to himself? To these I answer, that I am not of Such a greedy desire, as to wish for all to my self; nor will it at all be unacceptable to me, if another hath likewise somewhat; nor will it be at all less lawful for me to do for my self so much as seemeth me good, as for any other to take his liberty, and to do to himself as seemeth him good. Besides too, I am not of the mind to make the thing so very common, but will see whom I communicate ought unto, that so it may be applied to good uses, and not come into the hands of the Unworthy.