Chapter LVIII: Front Matter (58)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_Another Preparation of Salt for the making of Salt-peter._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the Third Part of the Prosperity of _Germany_.

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

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

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

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

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

_The Letter =F.= signifies Stones and Lime._

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

In the Fourth Part of the Prosperity of _Germany_.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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