Chapter XLII: Front Matter (42)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And if I should say, that there is not to be found in the whole world any places in which Nitre may be easier and plentifullier made than in the low Countries of _Germany_, as _Brabant_, _Holland_, _Zealand_, _Flanders_, _Frieseland_, the _Groningen Fields_, the County of _Emdane_, and all those Countries which run as far as the _German_ and _Baltick_ Sea, in this their moorish kind of ground; verily I should not speak untruth, but if need were, I could witness it of a certainty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_An Admonition, adjoined as an Over-plus._

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

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

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

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