Chapter XLVI: Front Matter (46)

The first ten years however Salt-petre will not be of so vile a price, but that it may be made and sold to profit; Who knows whether or no he shall live so long? And if at the utmost it should after 20 or 30 years be of so mean a price, because of this Invention of mine, yet in the interim they may all that while enjoy the profit of the same; and it may be expected from the hands of God, that He will, for the time to come, provide for them some other waies: But never will it be so vile, as to be worth nothing; and if it were so, that you could not make any Money of it, (tho’ it is impossible that it should ever be such a drug) yet (by that manuduction which I have afore given in the 1, 2, and 4_th._ Parts of my _Furnaces_; as also in _The Explication of Miraculum Mundi_; in the _2d._ & _3d._ Part of my _Pharmac. Spagyr._ and in This Second, and shall be in the following Third and Fourth Parts of the _Prosperity of Germany_;) it may be improved about many eminent uses, and so Gain be thereof made; for Salt-petre is such a Subject, as you can never have too much of, and is therefore worth our labouring after, and our endeavouring how to prepare it in good quantity, and withal, of finding out what benefit it is naturally able to afford us; for it is even a wonder to consider how great things may be done by the help thereof: It is the greatest Poison and yet may a most excellent Medicine be thereout of prepared: Colder it is than Ice, and yet hotter than any fire. It is the Generator of all things, and also their Corrupter; it vivifies and kills all things; it is heavier than gold, and yet lighter than the Wind; it is also Fire and Water, Air and Earth, Male and Female; it impregnateth and suffereth it self to be impregnated; it is light, and is also darkness; it is black and white: There are in it as many Colours as the world affords; it is fixt and volatile, corporeal and spiritual; it kindles and burns all things, and doth also quench all burnings; it is the Beginning of all things, and yet it causeth the End of all things; that which is Soft, it makes to be congealed and become stiff; and again, that which is stiff or hard, it makes soft.

O Thou Creator of all things, How great a vastness is there of
thy wonderful Works? and what a fewness is there of those who
understand, or know, or labour to know it! O thou eternal Light!
illuminate the dark breasts of the lost Sons of the World; O thou
vivifying fire, mollifie, enkindle, heat the stubborn hearts of
sluggish Mankind, that are oppressed with sleep, and frozen with
cold, that so they may seek thee, and know thee, and learn to
fear thee in true Humility, and to honour & worship thee without
Hypocrisie. _Amen._

_An Admonition, and short Repetition of those things which
are treated of in this Treatise._

_That the Friendly Reader may make this Book yet of more use and benefit to himself, I thought it worth while by way of an Overplus, again to set here afore his eyes those Secrets which have been herein mentioned, what ’tis that the use of them doth consist properly in._

_First of all, it hath been shown, how by the means of Salt-petre, all Volatile, and immature Minerals are to be brought to a ripeness both in the moist way and in the dry way, that so they may yield forth out of themselves in the melting, good durable Gold and Silver. Then I taught by what way the Volatile, Arsenical, Coboltick, and Antimonial, Auriferous, and Argentiferous Minerals, may by an easy labour, be by an artificial fusion, and extraction, and also by a precipitation into Regulus’s, and by the purification or cupellation of the said Regulus’s, by the help of Salt-petre, converted or brought into use in the dry way, and the Gold and Silver hidden in them be drawn forth. Thirdly, I have shown the extraction of Gold and Silver out of all the barren, or poorer sort of Minerals or Ores, which are not worth the charges of excocting, or the usual way of proceeding, and of the drawing them out by a singular Art, with the water of Salt-petre, and of rightly working them; which way is to be preferred far afore any usual excoction of those poorer kinds of Minerals, not only because such an extraction is performed without a melting fire, and a Furnace; but also, because in this extraction there is more obtained than is by excoction or forcing out: And yet farther, that which was Volatile in them is fixed together, and retained, by that Water of Salt-petre which would otherwise in a melting Fire fly away in fume. And more than this too, Gold and Silver may by this moist way and that with very easie Labour be extracted and in a due manner perfected, and that commodiously and with no small profit, out of any, the vilest Fossiles (or things dig’d out of the Earth) as out of disesteemed Earths, Dusts, Sands, and Flints, from whence, otherwise you cannot extract any thing neither by Excoction nor by Mercury: So that in all places of the World what coast soever, so it be somewhat a dryish soil, is to be found such kind of Earth, Clay (or Marle) Sand, Flints, and such like which contain in them a thin or sparing kind of Gold and Silver, and from which they may profitably be extracted. Verily it is a dainty Art which may be used in all parts of the World, nor is it at all burdensom to carry, but may be excellently (well, or safely) preferred till need requires. But this is to be noted that the fatter Earth or Clay must first be made red hot and burnt afore it be moistned with the Water of Salt-petre. For without so doing, the Earth would always remain thick (or clammy,) would drink up much water, and it would not easily be separated, but being burned, it suffers it self to be extracted no other than as if it were Sand. So neither do the Ore or Fossiles of Iron which are auriferous and abound with Iron, suffer the Gold to be extracted and precipitated out of them as readily as other Minera’s or Ores do. But the iron, (if then be overmuch of it) makes the Water thick and pappy like Mud. And therefore you must put into that solution a part of common Water, to make it the thinner, that so the Gold and Silver may be the easilier precipitated thencefrom. The auriferous Coppery Ores are to be burnt first, if they are sulphureous, if not, they may then be extracted, though not burnt. The sandy, stony, brittle, and pebblish, Fossiles need no other preparation but to be burnt and ground._

_Likewise all auriferous Irony, or Coppery Ores, may be separated by common salt, without a Furnace, or melting fire, and that in the open air (as we said afore where we treated of the poorer Coppery Minera’s, or Ores:) and many hundreds of pounds may be done at one time, and with one labour, and the Gold which is extracted mixtly with the Iron and Copper, may be separated out of the solution, by the moist precipitating way there delivered, and that with a mighty profit and gain, because that same precipitation hurts not in the least either the Copper, or the Iron, as to their malleability._

_In like manner may you precipitate the Gold out of any Vitriol water, and that in quantity (when it has any in it): and on such wise too, that the precipitation of the Vitriol shall not at all change ought of its nature; and this is so compendious a way, as that if there were contained no more than one quarter of a Drachm of Gold in 100 =l.= of Vitriol, yet would not that precipitation be of no use or profit. And on this wise and manner may all other Mineral waters be precipitated._

_Moreover, as concerning the means of easily preparing the salt so as to serve for the extracting the Copper, in all Countries, but especially on the Sea Coasts, the Concentration of salt out of the waters, or the Sea will afford you no mean, or obscure Documents touching that thing; which concentration it treated of in the Book Intituled, =The Consolation of Navigators=._

_But forasmuch as there is mention made in this Treatise of a yet other certain Artificial separation of Gold and Silver out of the imperfect Metals, in which, Antimonial scoria have place, in a forenamed extraction, which I would willingly (but as yet have not) delivered; let no body so construe it, as if I either purposely, or carelesly omitted the same: No! The Case is far otherwise, and this is the true reason; seeing this Book now in hand is become more prolix than I intended, I determined with my self to reserve that most profitable process for the following third part, which God willing, I will very shortly publish, till then, I entreat the Friendly Reader to expect or wait for it with a good and patient mind._

_Mean while he may acquiesce with these two ways, =viz.= the dry and the moist, and delight himself herein, and withal take care (as far as in him lies) to have ready by him, some quantity of Salt-petre; for the following third part shall treat of nothing else but the performing and doing of processes by the help of Salt-petre. He therefore that knows how to make it in plenty at a small rate, may hope for so much the greater benefit; and this I judged expedient, to add here for admonitions sake. More shall be discovered (God willing) in the third and fourth following parts._

THE
THIRD PART
OF THE
Prosperity of Germany.

In which is Delivered,

The way of most easily and plentifully extracting _Salt-petre_ out
of Various Subjects every where Obvious and at Hand.

TOGETHER

With a succinct Explication of _Paracelsus_ his Prophecy; that is
to say, in what manner it is to be understood the _Northern
Lion_ will Institute or Plant his political or civil Monarchy;
and that _Paracelsus_ himself will not abide in his Grave; and
that a vast quantity of Riches will offer it self.

LIKEWISE

What an one that Artist _Elias_ is, of whose coming in the last
Days, and his disclosing abundance of Secrets, _Paracelsus_ and
others have predicted.

To the READER.

Friendly Reader,

_Although there are very many Causes that might disswade me from Publishing this Third and the Fourth following Part of the =Prosperity of Germany= in Print, (because of the inconveniencies and hurt done me by the perfidious =Farnner=, against whom no body hath hitherto opposed himself; but all have connived and wink’d thereat; and consequently have every one left such a perfidious Treachery unpunish’d) and incourage me to leave =Germany=, a most ungrateful =Germany= as it is. Yet notwithstanding, the Love to my Neighbours (amongst whom there are many honest and good Men to be found, who lead a troublesome kind of Life to get their daily food) hath compelled me. To such therefore as these are, would I willingly give [or hand forth] a Torch [so to direct them] that they may for time to come fare better and more easily get things necessary to uphold Life withal; but yet after such wise, as that they set their Hands to the Work, for the Gods sell not ought to those that Labour not, but all good things are sought, and found out by daily Labour and diligent search._

_Now albeit, that all those things which are throughly handled in this book are true, and so confirmed by experience as that any one may easily understand and imitate them, yet notwithstanding, I am certain that there will be a very many who by reason of their ignorance, cannot understand them, and apply them to use; because the greatest part of mankind are too much addicted to laziness, and do for the most part refuse to apply their Limbs to work, but would rather walk abroad, and discourse of Arts when they are in their cups._

_I say that these secrets of mine will no ways profit such kind of Men, for such must first learn in what manner the [necessary] Instruments are to be handled, and how the Operations are to be rightly instituted and managed in seemly Order._

_There are abundance of Men who (if they hap to read some Chymical Writings, or hear others talk of the profitableness of them, (they) are presently inflamed with such a love, that they will even wholly devote themselves to Chymistry on the hopes of growing rich. And now when they have proposed any thing to themselves, and attempt to do it, if they hap to have a sparkle of Fire light on their hands, or that by reason of some other obstacle, all things do not immediately fadge to their minds, they throw away the Tongs, and the Crucibles upon the Ground, and detest (or curse) the Author, because he hath not Written clear enough, and that they do not presently extract great store of Gold._

_Let not such as these at all perswade themselves that they can receive any instruction from these my Writings; for my Writings require Men that are diligent, whose minds are never wearied with labour, and who are not sloathful, and impatient of Labour. Now to the studious (searchers) and especially to such Children (or Disciples) adopted or chosen by God, all these things will be unto them clear, manifestly evident, and easie to be imitated._

_For as much therefore as I have spoken many things in the First and Second Part of the =Prosperity of Germany=, concerning the making and use of Nitre, I do now go on in God’s Name, and do teach in this third part, by what easie ways Nitre may be variously made, and be fruitfully and profitably used both by Noble Men and common Men; so that there is not a man in the whole World, but may (if he please) get great benefit thereby._

_The Omnipotent God, the Author and giver of every good thing, bestow upon us to be able to enjoy and make use of his Gifts, that all things may tend to the Honour of his most Holy Name, and to the Safety and Preservation of us all._ Amen

_Of the Preparation of SALT-PETRE._

I shewed in the First Part of the _Prosperity of Germany_, the way whereby Wood may be concentrated and turned into excellent Nitre, and which otherwise is every where for the most part consumed by lying rotting in the Woods, and yields no benefit at all unto any Man.

This Operation is to be done with the help of a certain Press artificially contrived for that particular business, the due (or right) description of which, we gave you in the _Continuation of Miraculum Mundi_. But the circulatory Vessels by which the Lixivium of the wood (or the distilled Liquor out of the wood) is to be excited and heated by the Air, have not as yet been described; and therefore we have determined to do it in this Third Part. This Figure therefore represents them, and its use; and is as follows.

There must be two Boxes (as ’twere) made of Boards, each of them of like bigness and capacity, as the Figure (or Letter) A shews. These Boxes are to be so placed, that a Vessel may be set under one end of each Box, to receive in it (if need be) the Lixivium poured into them: Let one of the Boxes or Vessels be filled top full of Horse-dung, Hens, or Pigeons-dung; or else with the Leaves of the Trees, amongst which Fir-tree Leaves are best; then pour thereupon so much of this Lixivium which we shall make a description of by and by, so much as may suffice to moisten the Dung or Leaves contained in the Box or Vessel, and a little to over-top it. The next day (after you have so done) when you judge that all the matter is throughly wetted, let the Lixivium run out by a Tap, the which said Lixivium you must pour into the other Box filled with the like matters, and which stands just against it. Let these things stand thus wetted for some days; In the mean time, the matter contained in the first Box, grows hot, and the useless moisture being most plentifully resolved into Vapours out of the Lixivium, the said matter doth daily get more and more efficacy. As long as you observe the heat of this Box to continue, and the evaporation of moisture to last, so long must it be left in the same positure whereby the Lixivium, thus poured on, may by its notable power consume and dissolve the Dung, or the other matters contained in the Box, and turn them into Water. And here you are to observe this direction. You must always put in new matter instead of that which is turned into Liquor, and so one Box may be always at all times kept full of the matters. But now when your materials being put in the first Box, begin to cool, the Lixivium which now lies in the second Box or Vessel, must be poured upon the matters yet warm, in the first Box, that so it may again contract a heat thence-from by little and little, and so may dissolve those matters. And now whilst these things are thus detained in the first Box or Vessel, the materials that are in like manner put in the second Box do heat each other, and the unprofitable Phlegm evaporateth: Now as long as this second Box vaporateth, the Lixivium must not be drawn out of the first Box and be poured thereinto, but all the matters are to be left to heat or burn (as it were) themselves. And when you perceive that the materials cool, then the Lixivium must be drawn off from the matters in the first Box, and be poured upon them in the second Box; and hereby the matters contained in the first Box will again wax hot, be burnt, and be turned into Liquor. By how much the oftner and longer this repeated pouring on of Lixivium is done, so much the more, and sooner are the materials consumed; from which matters thus consumed, a most excellent Salt-petre may afterwards be made, for the heat makes the matters rot. Now then to make trial (if it be well enough done) take some of this Lixivium boil it away to a sufficient height for Chrystallization, set it in a cold place to shoot, dry the salt you find, being dry, put it on a live Coal, which if you find it burn up, it is a sign that it is full time to draw off, and take all your Lixivium to the intent that Salt-petre may be thereof made by due evaporation and coagulation. But if you chance to find it otherwise, and that the salt does not flame up, the Lixivium must lie longer in the Boxes to be heated and animated by the Air which is magnetically attracted by means of the heat: This labour being rightly ordered, there may be made excellent Salt-petre out of the said matters by the help of a convenient Lixivium, in ten or twelve Months space without any costs, save some small trifle about the Lixivium; neither is the Work so grievous or troublesome, for there is nothing more required but that the Lixivium be several times poured out of one Box into the other.

NB. There are yet, besides the other aforenamed several sorts of matters that offer themselves, out of which, Salt-petre may be made by the help of the Boxes, & a due Lixivium far speedilier & plentifullier; but I judge it not needful to divulge every thing: Likewise there may be made a convenient Lixivium to prepare Salt petre sooner, by and after another manner, to wit, in a dry form, without such putrifying as is done in the Boxes or Circulatories; but even this Artifice too, will I reserve yet a little longer for my Friends.

Nay yet more, there may be (by a yet secreter and shorter method) excellent Salt-petre extracted by the means of such a Lixivium in three hours space, and that with most great profit: And this way of preparing Salt-petre, I do preferr before all the others, and have found it the most excellent (Petre) of them all.

_The =Lixivium= is on this wise made._

Make you a strong Lixivium of Wood-ashes, and when you burn the unprofitable Wood in the Woods into ashes, make by the same labour of your Fire some good Lime of stones fit for such a purpose; Then quench this Calx or Lime with Water, that so it may fall into powder, then pour thereon as much of the Lee of the Wood-ashes now spoken off, as is sufficient, mixt it with a wooden _Spatula_, and repeat this mixing and stirring it very often, some days following, that so the Lee may be made the stronger by reason of the Lime, and be like Fire, the which has an excellent virtue to putrefy the vegetables and animals, and to turn them into burning Salt-petre. (See the foregoing Figure belonging to this Operation noted at the top page, 1.)

A. Sen die 2 Kasten. B. wie die Kasten in wendig anzusehen. C. der
Mist, oder die Holtz: blätter, wormit die Kasten gefullet. D. Der
Sumpff, oder das Geschir, daerin die Lauge abgezapff et wird. E.
die Pump. F. der Man, der die Lauge aus dem Sumpff auff die Materi
in den Kasten pumpet. G. der gelöcherte bodemin den Kasten. H.
der vnteste bodem, wor, auff die Lauge sonder aus zurinnen stehen
bleibet.]

_Here the Cock fits that hatches the Basilisk, by the top of the
Chest._

A _Are the two Chests._

B _The appearance of the Chests within._

C _The Horse-dung, or Leaves of Trees, wherewith the Chests are
filled._

D _The Cistern or Vessel to receive the Lixivium._

E _The Pump._

F _The Man that pumps the Lixivium out of the Cistern, upon the
matter in the Chests._

G _The Bottom of the Chests full of holes._

H _The second or lowermost Bottom where the Lixivium is kept
without running out._

_Another way of making Excellent Salt-petre in great Quantity out
of Lime and the Lee of Wood._

Take the aforesaid Lime and Wood-ashes, of each as much as you will; and twice as much Horse-dung or Cows-dung, mix these matters exactly in a wooden Vessel or Tub, with Mans Urine or beasts Piss, and make it of the thickness as the thicker sort of Mortar that the _Masons_ use, is wont to be of. You must have good store of this Paste made. Then make a certain arch of boards, which said arch must be some three, four, six or more feet broad, and deep or high, and the length of it must be double to that (or twice as much, as broad, and deep, or high) according to the conveniency of the place, and the quantity of Salt-petre you would make. The arch thus made, must be all over dawbed with the aforesaid mixture, the thickness of an hands breadth, just as we see Vaults, or Arches built up, of Stones and Lime upon wooden arches. Now when all is duly ordered, there must be put some Fire in under the vault of the arch, at first it must be very gentle, least the arch (of wood) as being the very foundation and supporter of the (other) arch should presently kindle and be burnt, which must not be, but be kept whole rather, untill the arch or covering thereon which is made of Lime, Ashes, and Dung, be perfectly dried. This done, there must be dawbed on, upon the said arch formerly made, more of the aforesaid prepared Calx, of about an hands-breadth thickness, and you will find that the humidity of this latter mass or second arching will be in a short time attracted by the first arch, and that this second pargetting will soon be dried: When this is done, there must be again the third time made another dawbing on, after the afore-prescribed manner. And this Operation is to be so long and so often repeated untill the arch be a foot or two in thickness, which when so, it is strong enough, nor needs it any more its wooden prop, and therefore now the Fire may be put thereto, and it may be burnt. And thus have you a vault or arch prepared, which is a most commodious instrument to make a quantity of Salt-petre by: And now if occasion require, and the condition of the place will permit, there may be built or made three or four arches after the same manner; though it be better to have them placed one by another, and to be of less magnitude or capaciousness; for so they are more convenient for Operation, as any one that practiseth hereabouts will easily apprehend and find.

Likewise it is better to build this arched Vault which we have called an Arch, long and narrow, than short and broad, because the Fire being put under one part of such a long Chimney-like Vault, will very well diffuse its heat to every place thereof, and so keep the arch continually hot.

When this Chimney like vault is wholly dry, it must be again moistned with Mans or Beasts Piss, that it may thence contract more new humidity, which we observe will easily be, seeing we know that it is made up of Horse or Cows-dung, and not barely of Lime, for then it would not so readily and easily receive the humidity, as when Dung is mixt with it; the wetted Chimney-arch must be dried by the force of Fire put thereunder, the which may also be a little augmented proportionable to the bigness and thickness of the vault or arch.

NB. You must take good heed, that the fire you put under be not too much augmented, and so hurt your arches, but let it always be such as may suffice to dry your arch by little and little, or else the Dung will be burnt up, and the already generated Salt-petre will be spoiled, for the Fire can easily endamage the Petre.

But now when we shall have often thus moistned the said arches with Piss, and shall take notice that they (_viz._ the arches) do attract no more thereof (_viz._ of the Piss) as being already filled with the Salt of the Urine, the which may be done in some four or six Weeks time, there must be little bits broken off with an Iron Instrument in several places of the arch, and these bits must be powdered and be dissolved in Water so to make a Lixivium of it, be filtred, and after a due evaporation made, must be Chrystallized and dried; the dried Salt matter must be put upon the Fire to see if it will flame or not: If we shall find it thus to be and to burn like Salt-petre, we must break down all the arch, and by the help of a certain Mill, reduce it into powder very fine, and pour hot Water thereupon, to extract the Lixivium with, then evaporate it as much as is convenient, and set it by in a cool place to Chrystallize; this artifice of Boiling and Chrystallising shall be declared in proper Figures or Cuts in the end of this Work. But now if so be we perceive that the Salt extracted out of those little bits of the arch do not as yet flame up, ’tis a sign that it is not as yet sufficiently animated by the air: For the air gives life, which the Fire strongly attracteth, so that by the help of the Fire the air and life are attracted, whereby the Salt is animated and made inflammable. The Fire therefore here, is to be again administred (or put under) and the arched matter to be continually moistned with Rain water; and that Rain water is best, which (if it may be had) falls down when the Wind is in the North; though when there is no Rain water to be had, other water may be substituted in its stead. This pouring on of water is to be so long continued (always, permitting the Furnace or Arch to be rightly dried afore it be sprinkled with new water) untill the Salt, sticking in the arch, be found to be sufficiently animated by the benefit of the fire and air, and be inflammable when you make trial thereof by the aforesaid method.

This is a compendious way of making good Salt-petre in quantity enough, by only Lime, Wood-ashes, and Mans or Beasts Piss. If you proceed rightly on, you may get you a great quantity of Salt-petre in a most short space of time, and that for small costs, & in a manner no labour at all. The Lime and Ashes from whence the Petre is extracted, may be mixed again with new lime and new ashes, and other arched vaults be made thereof, upon which Urine must be continually poured in like manner as we taught afore, that so they may be animated by the help of fire and air into Salt-petre. But if you have always at hand new Calx, or Lime and ashes, it is better to make new arches, thereof in the place of those you have pulled down, and to imploy the residue of that, out of which the Salt-petre hath been already extracted about dunging some barren Soil, especially the moister sort of Ground, because it is impossible so thoroughly to separate all the Salt that nothing abides behind in the reliques.

This way I communicate to all, but I reserve for my Friends only the way by which, with the help of other Waters that cost nothing, and may be had in every place, a far greater quantity of Salt-petre may in a yet shorter time be prepared by the said arches, than is done by the help of Mans or Beasts Urine. Nay more, there are some waters which in eight days time, we have observed to have been coagulated into burning Salt-petre, which secret verily may be practically improved with most notable benefit in all parts of the World that Men live in.

Besides the subjects already mentioned, here offer themselves to our Hands many others which are obvious to all, of which such arches may be made, and which will yield more Salt-petre than the afore recited matters will; but let what has already been delivered, suffice. I cannot here forbear, but must tell you that there are some subjects to be found which (without the making the aforesaid arches, though there lie notwithstanding abundance of secrets therein) will bring a most notable benefit, and that belong not to this place, and which may be changed in three hours space into excellent Petre; which labour (or operation) I keep for my Friends, and should it be divulged, it would bring nothing but hurt, and therefore it is better to be silent: There shall more secrets be delivered in the following discourse, where we speak of the Northern Monarche.

_Here follows another way of plentifully extracting =Salt-petre=
out of Rocks and Stones without Vegetables or Animals._

To the intent therefore that it may be sufficiently evidenced, and that I may prove it to be true, that Salt-petre is an universal Salt or Subject, and is consequently contained in all the things the World possesseth, I judge it a thing worth while to set down here some proofs or trials thereto accommodated.

It hath been sufficiently enough already shown in the first part of the _Prosperity of Germany_, that good Salt-petre may by Art be extracted out of all the subjects of the World: But the way of so doing was not at all disclosed. For as much therefore as all Men do so greedily desire it, I determined with my self to describe first of all, the Presses requisite to the extraction of Salt-petre out of Wood, to the end that so it may evidently appear unto all Men, that it is a thing agreeable to nature, and that it is most easily accomplishable, to press a juice out of any Wood, which may be turned by the air into good Salt-petre. But as for the circulatory Vessels, I was not willing (then) to communicate them, but rather kept them a little longer for my Friends, which said Vessels I have notwithstanding set down in this Third Part.

Likewise it seemed not expedient unto me to reveal unto such as are enemies, the transformation (or changing) of Animals, much less of Minerals into Salt-petre. Yet however I have done so much by my Manuduction, as for any wise Men easily to understand the same by what hath been exhibited, and I have in some sort opened it, that such things are possible to be done. But I have not so clearly shown the way of effecting the same, least I should take away the occasion of other Mens exercising their ingenuity in bethinking themselves how it is to be done: Otherwise, it is not prohibited any one to seek a fuller information, from those that have knowledge in these affairs.

Therefore forasmuch as the way of extracting Salt-petre out of Stones, is look’d on as a most impossible thing by such as are not skill’d in this Art, I have determined to describe the same, for the sake and benefit of such as succeed us; The knack of this Artifice consisteth more in the knowing of the Stones, than in the extracting of the Salt-petre out of them, for the extraction is not any other way to be done, than as the making of their Lee out of the common Nitrous Earth is wont to be, concerning which thing, _Lazarus Ercker_ hath written at large. The knowledge therefore of the Stones, and the preparation of them whereby they may communicate (or let go) their Nitre unto Water, is the principal thing, and without that, there cannot be any thing done in this Operation.

First of all therefore ’tis necessary that the lover of Chymistry knows, that there are various Stones to be found that yield Salt-petre, _viz._ all such Stones of which (being commonly calcined by the force of the fire) they make Lime for to build houses withal. For there lies hidden in these kind of Stones, abundance of Salt-petre, which cannot be gotten out thence by the help of common Water by any kind of way or method: But when they are burnt with a violent Fire, they yield an hot Salt, extractable by the benefit of common water; which Salt indeed is not Salt-petre, but yet may most easily be turned by the air into Petre, like as it was formerly Salt-petre afore the Stone was burnt, and now first got another nature by the burning.

The truth of this thing, _viz._ That there resides natural Salt-petre in all Stones, which may be burnt into Lime, may be proved on this wise following:

Take of these Stones which Lime may be made of, ℥ _ss._ or ℥ _j._ powder it very fine, pour thereupon as much of the best _Aqua-fortis_: Place the Glass in which this matter is contained, in a warm place upon ashes or sand, that the stone may be dissolved in the _Aqua-fortis_: After it hath thus stood for about one quarter of an hour, take out your Glass out of the ashes or sand, though the stone be not wholly dissolved as yet, and pour thereon drop by drop, some Lixivium of wood, untill the ebullition of the Lee or Lixivium poured upon the dissolved stone ceaseth, and (the noise ceasing) you shall perceive some kind of Salt produced from them thus commixt, _viz._ from the dissolved stone and the Lixivium. Pour some common Water upon this Salt, so much as may serve to dissolve the Salt in a warm place, the solution being made let the Liquor be filtred, or be strained through some thin Linen cloth, that so the part of the stone undissolved, and the fæces may abide behind in the Filter or Linen cloth: The filtred Liquor must be coagulated into Salt by evaporating it away in a brass Vessel, then you are to weigh it: And now that we may exactly know, how much Salt-petre was in that ℥ _ss._ of the stone, you must proceed on farther thus:

Take the same quantity of _Aqua-fortis_ as you used but now, about the solution of the Lime-stone, and pour thereon likewise the same quantity of Lixivium, that you used about the precipitation of the dissolved stone, and let there be made a precipitation, let the precipitated matter be coagulated into the substance of a salt, and then also weigh how much this quantity of salt is: and now, as much less weight, as you observe to be in this salt than in the first Salt in which the Lime-stone is, so much Salt-petre was there in that half ounce of Lime-stone. This is a most certain trial, and by this means may we most easily find how many pounds of Salt-petre, are contained in an hundred weight of stones.

NB. To the end that the proof you make, may be most certain, we must use the lesser Centenary, or hundred weight, as being more usual, and more accommodate for the trying of Metals.

And albeit, that the using of Aqua-fortis to this Operation, is altogether without profit, where you would extract that salt in great plenty out of the stones, yet notwithstanding, it is not so slight or trivial a thing to know a certain way of trying what stones do most abound with Salt-petre, that so if we have a mind to extract Salt-petre out of them, we may take those, in which it lies in a plentiful manner.

Besides, those stones which do commonly yield a Calx or Lime by Calcination, and which the Bricklayers use; there are found other stones, out of which there cannot be made any Lime by Calcination, and yet nevertheless, abundance of Salt-petre may be thence extracted without any previous Calcination. He that delights himself in this work, must exactly know aforehand such kind of stones: Forasmuch as no body would easily perswade himself that Salt-petre is contained in them. Nor do I think that ever afore this time the way of extracting Salt-petre out of these kinds of stones was used; but whether there was no body that knew that there was Such a Salt contained in them, or judged it a thing not to be regarded, this I know not. But this I know well enough that that way of extracting Salt-petre out of them was never observed and used in _Germany_, though there lies a most notable quantity of Petre in them, and easily extractable thence, did we but know the way.

Therefore, forasmuch as there is plenty enough of such stones in all places, and that Salt-petre may easilier be made of them, than of wood, I could not forbear, but must needs open and disclose this artifice for the good of the Country, and clearly explain it in this place.

Therefore, as concerning those stones which are here mentioned, there is such a plentiful store of them in most places, that they even make whole Mountains; they are in substance like a soft and tender stone, whitish in colour, [or of a shining colour] ashy colour’d or reddish, and are easily broken, and may be fashioned into all kind of shapes, or figures; and therefore they are frequently used about building Houses, for the making various Ornaments about the House, as for the corners of the Houses, the Doors, Windows, Steps or Stairs, or other External Ornaments. As long as they are yet in the Mountain, and not exposed to the air, they are of a considerable hardness enough, and do always hold it. When being used about Buildings, they are put in such places, where they may abide at all times dry, or else always moist.

But if so be they are one while dry, and another while moist, and are always obvious to the air [or weather] they easily become soft, and there scales off from them yearly, a little portion of the back of a Knifes thickness, like Meal, so that they are yearly lessen’d, and are not at all fit to build stable, or durable Houses with. The Stone-Cutters can easily distinguish these kind of stones from others, nor do they willingly use them where there is plenty of others to be had. And now, if you should go about to make your trial with these stones, like as you did with those that they make Lime of, according to the afore delivered Probation, so to know what quantity of Salt-petre is contained in them, it will not succeed so, because the Salt-petre becomes Volatile in the Calcination of it, and doth for the most part fly away into the air: and much less can you with [bare] water extract ought out of the Crude, and not Calcined stones; for such do not yield any Salt-petre at all, unless they have been placed in a moist air for about half a years space, whereby they may of themselves fall in pieces; for being so ordered, they easily yield forth their saltness to the water that is poured on them, and consequently yield plenty of Salt-petre. Of which thing, this is a most certain Testimony, if (_viz._) such stones are laid in some dry place, whereto the Rain cannot come, and we do most frequently sprinkle them with common water, and they do thereby turn into a powder. And if it fall out otherwise, ’tis a sign that there is very little Salt-petre to be found in them, and that the labour you shall bestow about them will be in vain. But such stones as grow soft, and fall in pieces, in six or eight Months time, do promise notable Rewards for your Labour, _viz._ a great quantity of the wisht for salt; an hundred weight of these kind of stones thus fallen in pieces, will easily yield you ten pound of Salt-petre, more or less according to the Condition of the stone. The extracting of the Lee, or salt, is done with common water, in the same manner as the Lixivium is otherwise extracted out of that Earth which is digg’d up in the Stables where Beasts stand; which way of extracting Salt-petre, of coagulating and perfecting it, is clearly and perfectly enough described by _Lazarus Ercker_, heretofore the Emperours chief Overseer of the Metallick Affairs, in his most experienced Book of his Art of the proving of Metals; insomuch, that I esteem him to have rendred the hardest, or most difficult part, very clear, and therefore I will referr the well minded Reader thither.

But for as much as every one cannot buy himself a Book of such great bulk, only to get thereby the knowledge of the way of extracting and evaporating Salt-petre, I have judged it worth while to set down here for the sake of the Chymical Students, such directions as the aforesaid _Lazarus Ercker_ hath delivered us hereabouts. For I was never of the mind to cast off such things as have been well delivered by other men; I only add unto them, those things that are mine: Let others do the like, that are the Authors of any new thing, that so there may arise some benefit thereby unto our Neighbours, for whose sake, that we may (_viz._) serve them, the most great and blessed God hath bestowed on us such various knowledge.

But that we may get a certain knowledge of distinguishing the said stones, I think it altogether necessary to treat of them more at large.

Therefore although this kind of stones are plentifully enough, to be found every where in the World, yet they are not known, or regarded, because we cannot perswade our selves, that there is any the least portion of Salt-petre contained in them; for albeit, that an hundred pounds of such stone should contain in it ten pound of Salt-petre, and we should reduce the same into a most subtile powder, and should labour to extract from thence a Lixivium or Lee, with either cold or hot water, yet should we not hereby get so much as one Ounce of Salt-petre. The reason is this, because there is not to be found in such a stone as soon as ever it is digged out of the earth, any Corporal Salt-petre, which may be extracted by means of water, but there lies hidden only a certain Soul or Magnet of Salt-petre, by the virtue of which, that which gives a Corporeity thereunto is to be first attracted out of the air, to the end that Salt-petre may arise thencefrom. And this is hereby evident, for were it otherwise, and were there in that stone any Corporeal Petre at the first digging, it must necessarily be extracted thencefrom by the help of water; but we find it impossible to make any such extraction, unless that stone be before laid for some certain time in the air, and doth, together with its softness, acquire (or make) Salt-petre in a Magnetical manner.

But for all this, we know that this our reason so exceedingly well founded, will not yet satisfie the unskilful, unless we make it yet more clear unto them with other Expressions, and various Examples; but I pray how is it possible to declare all such Circumstances to one that is utterly ignorant. ’Tis too much labour to boil Meat for another, and to thrust it into his Mouth too. It is surely sufficient enough to have shown the truth, and discovered the way by which the operation is to be contrived, though all things be not founded on such palpable Reasons.

But forasmuch, as the work, which I treat at present of, is an altogether new thing, and unknown to any men, the necessity of the thing requires, that we do a little more openly and clearly exhibit (and set down) the whole knack.

We presuppose, that it is a thing well known already, even to all, that each thing hath in it its peculiar magnet, by the benefit of which, it attracteth unto it self from the air, or earth, whatsoever is profitable for it; and especially, because we have largely treated thereof in our Works; insomuch, that we deem it altogether needless to repeat the same here. However ’tis requisite that I add thus much, _viz._ That the Minerals do abound with a certain Magnetick Virtue, more than other things do; and that they do attract their Life, Figure, or Shape, and Essence, out of the air, like as the Animals do, that so they may be nourished, and encrease; but being destitute, or deprived thereof, they are observed to be as it were dead, and bound, or wholly void of vigor.

As for Example. Let the Minera, or Ore of Vitriol, or Alum, be digg’d out of the Earth, that the Vitriol, or Alum in this Minera, be already duly digested and ripened, the salt may even presently be extracted thereout of, with common water. But if they have not as yet attained their full maturity, there is no salt extracted thence, unless the Minera be first torrified, or calcined. Nay more, a Minera, or Ore, that is yet less ripe, will not yield any Salt, neither by the force of the fire, nor without it; but must be yet farther exposed to the air for some time, that so it may first attract that out of the air, that is requisite to make Vitriol or Alum of, and thus (these things being first done) the Alum, or Vitriol, is most easily gotten thereout of, by a convenient Extraction and Evaporation.

We made mention in the second part of the _Philosophical Furnaces_, of a certain Minera, or Ore of Vitriol, which is plentifully found at [_Herckeroda_ in _Hassia_] sticking in that Earth, which in that place they make their Crucibles or Pots, in great quantity with; and we shewed a way of making a red and sweet Oil of Vitriol thereof, yet with this Caution, _viz._ That we shall not have from the said Minera, not the least portion at all of this Oil, if we do not expose it, broken in bits, to the cold air, for half a year, that so it may fall into powder. Such as have heeded this going to work, have made thereof amost sweet Oil; but such as have neglected the doing this, which I published out of a sincere heart, and have reduced the said Mineral into fine powder, and laboured to extract a salt thencefrom, by boiling it in simple water, bestowed their labour in vain, because of their refusing to expose that Minera for a while to the air, and they received not so much as one Grane of Vitriol; and thereupon they took occasion to slander me, and to accuse me of Lying.

But now, when they have observed that this Mineral that they cast away, being exposed to the air, had attracted therefrom a salt by its Magnetick Virtue, when it had lain so long as to mould into powder of its own accord, and that thereout of a Vitriol doth proceed, they were enforced to believe that there lay hidden some Vitriol in those stones; which notwithstanding, could not be extracted by means of water, and so they have afterward publickly confessed, that what they afore gainsay’d, or oppos’d, was agreeable to the truth.

Thus likewise, there are various sorts of Copper (Ores) endued with an attractive power, and upon that account, there cannot be separated any Metal, by fusion, when it is first taken out of the Earth, unless we have first exposed it for some Months unto the Air.

Every Nitrous Earth, out of which Salt-petre hath already been extracted, doth (when it is again exposed to the air) attract Salt-petre anew, and this we observe to happen in all Wood-ashes, but especially in Lime-stones Calcined; for, it attracteth more salt out of the air, than its weight was afore its being Calcined. For, at the first time, you will scarce get _ij._ or _iij._ ℔. of salt out of a centenary, or hundred weight; now by how much the longer it lies exposed to the air afterwards, so much the more plenty of salt doth it yield, as is sufficiently well known already. He that is ignorant of that we speak, or else cannot understand it, let him make trial, and he shall find that what we say is a truth. Such as are Ideots do extreamly need these kind of Admonitions, that so, the business being the better understood, we may take from them all occasion of ignorantly detracting from my Writings.

I say again, that if the stones which we here treat of, are but well known, though they do not at the first yield any salt, by endeavouring to extract it with simple water, yet is there no difficulty at all therein, nor should we at all mind that, but let them only be left in the air for some due time, and by this means they will plentifully enough attract, and yield us, by a convenient extraction, good Salt-petre. The Ancients did extract Salt-petre, chiefly out of stones, which way of Extraction is now wholly lost, or out of use. All the _Europeans_ do now extract their Salt-petre out of the Earth of the Stables where Beasts stand; albeit, that the very Name it self of Salt-petre, doth declare, what matter it was first produced out of, _viz._ out of Rocks and stones: For ’tis as much as to say, salt educed out of Rocks.

Nay, even to this day there is Salt-petre extracted out of Rocks in the _East-Indies_, the which they transport thence in Ships into our Lands: Our Commonwealth of _Amsterdam_ only doth yearly receive some thousands of hundreds of that Salt, which is extracted out of the bare Rocks without the addition of any other thing; I wonder what the reason is, that, that way of extracting is unknown to us _Germans_; surely I impute it meerly to the want of skill to manage this business.

Thus therefore do we think we have sufficiently declared that Nitre may in very deed be extracted out of stones; and that so clearly that I cannot see what reason any have to misbelieve my words.