Chapter LXIII: Part II (2)

But although these volatile animal fires do readily serve for the performing of famous and notable things (and the fixed Salt of Urine it self, may by Distillation and rectification be con-centrated into another kind of fire) yet they are at a far distance from that true Philosophical fire which the Ancients have hidden with so great care and diligence, because that in these preparations the best and chiefest part of the fire flies away and is lost. But this I say, that these fiery Spirits of Urine being con-centrated even as I have taught them to be, are indeed able to effect all those things which I have attributed to them, and shall as yet attribute. But indeed they do not coagulate the con-centrated fire of the Vine, which coagulation is not the least key for the composing of an universal Medicine.

For when the Spirit of Urine attains this nature, that by coagulating the most subtile Spirit of Wine, (when poured on it) into a Salt, this Salt extracts the soul of Gold duely prepared; the which also, if it be changed by it self, and converted into a dry and sweet Salt, and be fixed, possesseth the virtues of a Medicament of a most famous and great use in Medicine.

Every one that is illustrated, but even with the least light of nature, shall be able by an easy business, to smell out what may hiddenly lurk under this Salt.

From the most pure Vine is the substance of the Spirit of Wine, which strengthens the heart of man beyond all other things, as also his brain, and other members.

The Spirit of Urine is the purest and most subtile Mercurial Animal Salt, not having its like in penetrating, opening, and resolving.

This subtile Mercurial, Animal and piercing fire therefore, being joyned to the most pure vegetable, that is, the Spirit of Wine, that it may be changed together with it into a dry Medicine, any one shall be able by an easy conjecture to foresee what it will effect in Medicine.

But that I may make manifest the errour, and demonstrate the cause wherefore a Spirit of Urine is so seldom prepared, which will coagulate the Spirit of Wine into a Salt, I admonish that a respect be had by every one of the following particulars.

For first it is to be taken notice of, that the most subtile part onely of the Spirit of Urine, and not the more gross part, is fit for the coagulation of the Spirit of Wine: If therefore in the preparation of the same, the most subtile part shall be lost, through the negligence or ignorance of the operator, it can in no wise be brought to pass, that the more gross and dreggy part should cause that coagulation.

But that most subtile Spirit doth not onely vanish away in distillation through an insufficiency of the Luteing not being good, but also a great part of the same is lost before distilling, to wit, when the Urine being successively gathered, is constrained to stand and wait too long, so that the Spirit by little and little exhaleth and departs into the Air, especially when it is gathered together in the Summer or Winter time, for that fire not being patient of any extreme, is expelled by a little heat or cold, and therefore the fittest times for collecting the same are the Months called _March_ and _May_, or _September_ and _October_, in which Months the Air is temperate, neither too hot, nor too cold, those Months therefore are the fittest for collecting and extracting of an Animal fire out of it.

Furthermore, _Calx-vive_ or _unslaked Lime_ is to be added to the Urine (when putrified) and distilled, that the insipid water may be so much the more easily or readily separated from that volatile fire, the which is not done if it be distilled _per se_.

I would not pass by these few things in silence for the sake of the Reader, and of him that is studious of good Medicines: But after what manner Metals may be amended by this Animal fire is not here shewn, but God willing shall by and by in the following Chapters. But we put an end to the preparation and con-centration of Animal and Vegetable fires, with these sayings, whose admirable virtues and faculties in medicines, Alchimy and other profitable Arts, shall here be manifested in order, as much as time will permit.

Look I pray you on the Elementary Sun, as also on the fire of woods, and the virtues of light, and the virtue of both, the which all creatures, and especially mankind it self, is constrained to make use of for their own safety; could even the least grass bewray itself? or any small worm be bred and live without the Sun? could any workmanship or artifice be exercised without the help of common fire? the which, if it were not, we should be constrained to eat unboyled Herbs, and raw Flesh like wild Beasts: yea, the whole conversation and negotiation or traffique among men should be wholly taken away, if earthly fire and light should be wanting unto us.

If there were some one man onely in Some whole City or Province, or in a whole Kingdom, who alone could make others partakers of fire and light, would there not be made the greatest concourse of all men unto him? but because it is known to every one, and everyone hath known by an easy manner, how to strike it out of flints, it is had in no esteem, for it is customary not to esteem those things which are made common, although they are pretious. The same thing hath happened to the fire, the which although it ought to be made of greatest account, yet it is reckoned of no worth because it is common and vulgar.

But even as the common fire, and that known to every one, doth by very many most profitable operations bring much good to mortals, who can least of all want the use thereof; so also I affirm that those artificial and hidden fires are to be very much accounted of, because a Phisician can hardly be without them, for the preparations of efficacious Medicines, and a Chymist can never want for the transmutation of the more base metals into better, either of them without the aid of those fires shall perform nothing of any great moment in Chymical Labours.

He that works and is ignorant of such fires, what will he effect in metallick operations? he being conversant in cold and darkness is afflicted with the Same difficulty, as a certain brewer or baker is, who wants wood in the winter season, or who is not able to use water, it being congealed into ice, the one he cannot bake although he hath the best meal, and the other brew drink although he have abundance of the best malt.

So also goes the matter with Alchymical Affairs, the want whereof causeth that we handle not the most noble Alchimy with any profit, but rather receive loss from the same, daily experience being witness, that 100 are wont to be sooner undone than that it happens to any one man to get himself riches thereby. The blame of which discommodity is not to be transferred on an impossibility of the art, but rather to be imputed to the want of those moist, cold, and ripening fires extracted out of Salts, the which after what sort they ought to be used for the amendment of metals, as also for medicine and other arts, shall be taught partly in this, and partly in the other Centuries.

XXVIII. _The general use of our concentred fiery and ripening
Spirits, extracted out of Salts, in the amendment and converting
of metals into more noble ones; also the preparation of many
excellent medicaments, and the increase and amendment of many
other arts, are briefly here demonstrated; the which, God
granting, shall more largely be declared in their particular use._

That I may discourse in few words whether imperfect metals may by the operation of the more common and gross Salts, and of the fire be broken, destroyed, cleansed, and reduced into a better form, it being that which the fifth part of the prosperity of _Germany_ confirmeth by divers experiments.

I affirm that the pure Spirits of Salts, do with a greater efficacy, and far better effect the same, the which, since those simple Spirits are able, better and more easily to perform than gross Salts, why should not also con-centrated Spirits after the best and easiest manner of all perform the same thing?

From a like reason the use of Salts shall not be of so great efficacy in the preparation of medicines, and other arts, as the useing of common Spirits is; the which, notwithstanding being still for the most part clogged with much phlegm, do of necessity not disclose so great virtues, as those con-centred fiery Spirits do which are freed from all phlegm.

The Sun-beams are for an example which do not send forth so great heat, when they are co-mixed with a moist air, as also green and wet Woods do not so vehemently burn with heat, as withered and dry ones are wont to do.

Yea if the hot beams of the Sun are con-centred in or by some hollow glass increasing the fire, or the fires of Coals by a strong blowing of the Bellows, and are as it were constrained into straights or narrow passages, they effect ten times, yea one hundred times more than those which are not centred together after such a sort. But by how much the more strictly those forces of the beams of the Sun, or of other fires are con-centred by so much the greater, stronger, and sharper heat they draw out.

A burning glass of one foot Diameter, onely enflames Wood; but one of two foot Diameter will melt Tin, Lead, and other metallick matters of that sort, which are easie to be melted, as _Bismuthum_, or the whitest, lightest, and basest kind of Lead, _Zink_, the non-splendent metallick dark matter _Koboltum_, &c. But if you extend the Diameter to four foot, the Sun-beams taking the stronger increase will melt silver and copper, and will render iron it self so bright burning hot, that it may be wrought with a hammer, as if it had been heated with Coals. This effect is to be ascribed unto the con-centring of the Sun-beams by an instrument, and to the constraining of the heat of Coals, by Bellows, or Wind.

The same thing is to be understood concerning our con-centred and moist fires, which ought to be compared, not onely with the common beams of the Sun, or with the heat of Kitchin fire, but also with those Sun-beams which are con-centred by a glass, and with the fiery heat of Coals constrained or forced by windy blasts. Whence they must of necessity be of greater virtues than the common Salts, and watery spirits of them, the which the more quick sighted will sufficiently comprehend and believe. Simple Countrey People do see this thing with their eyes, and handle it with their hands, as well knowing that the subtile, hot, sweet Spirits of Wine and Ale, (and those procuring strength to the heart,) when they are freed from all moisture by Distillation, and con-centred by Rectification; effect ten fold more than if they had still remained with their humidites.

That thou mayest understand the thing more clearly, well weigh thou Grapes, Bread-corn, or the Fruits of Trees, which we eat in that substance as the trees bring them forth unto us: and they afford us a nourishment, but not such a one, as their juice being pressed out, and separated from its dreggs, and by fermentation reduced into a clear and sweet drink.

If necessity compell, Bread corn may be used for nourishment as it is, yet not so well as when it is separated from its husks, being changed into meal, and reduced by water into a mass or lump, and Salt and Leaven added, and by fire concocted or digested into Bread of the best Savour. By the same reason Bread-corn being boiled in fair water yields a potion indeed somewhat better than the water it self, but if it be artificially handled, and boyled up into Ale or Bear, the husks are separated from the more pure juice, the which afterwards by fermentation, separates many dreggs from it, and arrives to a more noble nature, yielding a sweeter and better drink. But if the same juice be after that brought by distillation into a greater purity, and con-centred together by rectifying, that the virtues thereof may come into a narrow compass, (because it is a meer fire) it will exercise far greater virtues, than gross Bread-corn which wants a power of exercising so great virtues.

So also doth it succeed with con-centrated Salts, to wit, when the dreggs are separated from them by the help of art, and the more pure parts converted, and con-centred into a fiery substance, performing effects of great moment in Alchymy. But that Salts do commonly destroy metals, as well by a moist as a dry way, is known to every Barber, and persons of no reputation. But after what manner metals being destroyed may be reduced into more noble bodies than they were before, there hath been none hitherto (who being skilled in that artifice or craft) that have not hid it with the greatest care. Hence it hath come to pass, that nothing of profit hath been perceived from metallick transmutations, and Alchymy it self hath been made a mock of by the most unskilfull rout of ignorant ones, as if it were most false, and at the farthest distance from truth.

That this doubt therefore may be taken away, and the truth it self may be more evidently placed in our view, I have resolved in my mind, by God’s assistance, to place before the eyes of the whole world, a true and profitable transmutation of metals, by a clear description, and to assert the certainty of so many writings set forth by such men, by the most true experiments, so that every one that is seasoned but even with a light or small knowledge of the fire, may by an easy business hereafter obtain some profit from them. But I will first treat of common and crude Salts, and then of the simple Spirits of those, and at length of their con-centred Spirits and Fires, which we have taught to extract out of them.

But before I attempt to describe and assert this kingly and noble art, I have been led first to shew the cause why some places do occur in the description of the same, wherein words are omitted, and signs or blanks reposed instead of the same.

Indeed this was therefore done, that the art may be concealed from the unworthy, and they in all respects to be driven from the same, and may be made known onely to Adeptists, and the Sons of Art.

Besides also that all secrets may not in all places, and without difference be divulged, but that the chief things thereof may be preserved for friends, lest they be trodden under foot, and broken to pieces by the unworthy, but that they may be left to friends as it were a certain secret stroak, and that an unknown one to others, for to fight successfully.

I therefore earnestly require of every one by a friendly Petition that he be not suddenly angry, if he be not able clearly to perceive, by the sharpness of his wit, all those things which I propose, but rather let him consider that they are not written for him, but for others; by whose capacity they can be perceived. Neither is it altogether necessary that all do know all things, neither also would it be of concernment if friends and enemies attain all those things in their understanding alike, without any difference, which I here openly produce by my descriptions; it is sufficient that some onely, and indeed those that are worthy may clearly and knowingly possess the same, and testifie the truth.

XXIX. _An infallible practice of changing the more imperfect Metals
into more perfect ones by the help of crude Salts._

As I have already a little before, and also in other places of my writings, evidently enough demonstrated that Salts, or the spirits of Salts, are in the earth, or out of the earth a universal Agent, promoting the maturation or ripening of metals: So here I again firmly affirm the same thing, and do say, that by Salts the gross bodies of metals are destroyed, and trans-changed into more noble metals, and that indeed after divers manners, and that more easily or difficultly as any one shall be more or less conversant in Chymical labours.

I will hear God willing make manifest all things, yet not to every one, but to the worthy onely; and that indeed after the manner of a Clock or Watch-maker, who taking some Clock or Watch in pieces, do lay up all the parts thereof in some place without any order; the which he that is unskilfull in the art, shall never again compose and reduce into order. But another who before hath handled that art, will by an easie labour again conjoyn all those parts, and reduce them into the former body of a Clock or Watch.

All those therefore who have experienced the foregoing labours to be perfected by the fire, shall by these my descriptions easily dispatch or accommodate themselves in future things, not easie to be understood by the rout of ignorant persons which have made no experiments in the fire; who will in vain look into those things which I have written; no otherwise than as if any one being plainly unskilfull in reading and writing, should behold written letters, and knows not what they signifie, or what argument they may contain: Such a man if he would be angry with the writer, should he not do him much injury, because as being far remote from the fault of that ignorance which hinders him, whereby he cannot read these letters which he had never learned to read.

The same thing must be understood concerning my writings, which are openly published, not for the sake of any one, but onely of those who have first learned to understand those kind of writings.

But that I may set upon the thing it self, and may teach the amendment of metals for the better, and shew the very foundation of the whole business, I say, that a true changing of them is attempted in vain, unless they are first destroyed, and wholly slain. A grain of Wheat, as Christ himself saith, will never increase or multiply, unless it first putrifies in the earth. If therefore metals ought to be destroyed by Putrefaction, that must needs be done by the help of Salts, according to the truth of the Philosophers Maxim: the corruption of one thing, is the generation of another. The death of one thing, is the life of another. Since therefore metals must die, it must needs be that death be brought on them by enemies, or contrary things, because nothing in natural or artificial things dieth, unless it be slain by its own enemy.

Since metals therefore ought to be destroyed, and killed by their enemies; it is of necessity that they are invaded, tortured, and so long vexed by the same, untill the Agent as the stronger part, be overcome by the Patient as the weaker part; that it be slain by it, [or rather the Patient be overcome by the Agent,] and be translated into a better nature, in which action the Patient ought not to depart from the Agent, but to be tortured with an un-intermitting torment.

Whosoever seeing his enemy and conceives himself of the weaker force, indeavours as much as in him lies to decline him, by retreating, but all occasions of running away and slipping aside being taken away, he is constrained to deliver his life to his enemy, who handles the Patient or suffering party according to his own pleasure, and doth whatsoever he will, therefore after the same manner is the melioration of metals, the which although they should be melted together with Salts their enemies, yet would they make little account of them, but would separate themselves from the same; so that every part of them being unhurt, would keep its own nature and essence. But if the Salts do take away the occasion of flight from metals, and do inclose them in their Prisons, that they have no way of escaping, but remain, suffer, and die, then they obtain victory over the Salt, and of slain metals are made more pure and better.

This thing is done in the fire by the moist and dry way, of which enough hath been spoken already.

This is the whole and intire art, and there needs no other superfluous teachings; yet he whom these things doth not Suffice, let him read the following operations thorough, wherein he shall find truth, and see with his eyes, and handle with his hand; those things which have been heretofore impossible to him, and very many more.

XXX. _After what manner Metals may be slain by their enemies and be
transmuted into better._

Unto Metals not one but many enemies are adverse; and part of those enemies are enemies to some and friends to others, but the other part is friendly to some, and at enmity with others. For example sake.

Nothing more prosecutes Gold with an hostile hatred than burning Sulphur and sulphurious Salts, such as are Alcalies, and crude tartar; the cause of this hatred is, because Gold is nothing else, but a fixed Sulphur, and therefore it disagreeth by a capital hatred, with every burning Sulphur; Silver and Lead do love every _Sulphur, and all sulphureous Salts, such as are Vitriol, Salt Peter, Salt Armoniack, and the like_, the which they stand in need of for their colour; they have an hatred against _Kitching Salt, because it is of a mercurial nature_, and therefore not requiring its help, but onely desiring a Sulphur and Tincture, _Copper, Iron, and Argent vive_, or Quicksilver do possess both natures, to wit, _a mercurial and sulphureous one_, and for that cause they prosecute all Sulphurs, and any Salts with love.

Tin is an enemy of all Salts, whether they are sulphureous or mercurial ones, when it is slain by Sulphur and Salt, and recalled unto life, it obtains a more pure and thin or fine body, whether of Gold or Silver, according as it shall be handled.

Moreover, if any should desire to obtain as yet a better essence out of better metals, its necessary that he slay them by their enemies, and raise them up again by their friends; by how much the greater and vehement the enemies are whereby metals are slain, by so much the more those metals do suffer, and with so much the more famous and better bodies do they re-arise.

The whole art therefore consisteth in this, that metals are overwhelmed by their greatest enemies, are slain by them, and after death are separated from them, and that by their best friends, are restored unto a better life.

Thou hast the whole art, neither doth any other thing remain than that thou attempt the matter, and set to thine hand.

For example sake, I will add an operation. Slay a light metallick matter by the sharp Spirits of sulphurious Salts, that it may become a white calx; free this from the Salt Spirits, by water being poured thereon, the which being freed, cannot be reduced into a metallick body by any violence of fire. Likewise slay mercurial metals as are B. by mercurial, Salts their enemies, and change them into white calx’s, the which being freed from their saltness, _will be liquid or flowable_; mix those calx’s, to wit, the mercurial and sulphurious being slain, put them into a double vessel of cement, cover the uppermost with a certain plenty of B. fence well the juncture of the cementing vessel with clay, set them into a cementing furnace, and at the beginning administer a gentle fire, that the calx’s may rise up against or assault each other, and the fixed sulphur may bind the fugitive flowable and mercurial calx’s, D. for although in the cement something would depart into smoak, yet that is intercepted by E. and after a certain manner is thus exalted into the degree of F. Too much fire is not presently to be joyned to the cement or plaistering it self, that some time may be granted to the matter that is swift of flight, whereby it may adjoyn it self unto the fixed matter, and may also become fixed and constant with the same for four hours space, therefore the fire shall be somewhat the more slack, and afterwards for the space of eight or ten hours, it shall be kept in a clear bright burning heat, that G. may not melt: the said time being ended, the fire is to be extinguished, and the cementing vessel to be taken away, in G. a black or brittle body shall be found containing Silver, the easy separation whereof we shall afterwards hear.

The calx of both metals being coagulated into a hard stone, if by grinding it be reduced into powder, and be put into a furnace fit for this thing, a metallick body will be attained, being impregnated, not with a little Gold and Silver, especially if the metals shall be slain, not by the Spirits of common Salts, but with gradatory martial waters. In this cement, H. is rendred aureal or golden, and I. is silvery, by one and the same endeavour. The profit also it self is of no small moment, especially if this operation be exercised with the greater quantity, and the bigger instruments alwaies to supply or afford Silver being pregnant with Gold for separation.

XXXI. _A brief and compendious manner of extracting and rendring
corporeal, a volatile Gold out of coloured Flints, Red Talck,
Granates or Red Marble Stones, Sand, White Clay and the like
metallick earths._

At the beginning, these mineral or metallick earths are to be made bright burning hot, to be quenched in cold water, and to be broken in a mill, into meal or powder.

After that they are thus broken, thou shalt put them into some Waldenburge, or Cullein Can, and shalt pour so much of _Aq; Regis_ on them, that they may onely be moistened, and let them, together with the Can, be placed in a fire of coals, and incompassed therewith, to be made hot; after that the minerals and _Aq; Regis_ have waxed well hot together, so much hot water is to be poured on those very minerals as shall be necessary for the extracting of the _Aq; Regis_.

Put the minerals thus moistened with the water into great pots, and those made of the best earth, having many little holes in the bottom, on which lay paper for sustaining of the minerals that they may not fall out through the holes, but may dismiss the water onely. After the first water is gone forth, other hot water is again to be poured on, and this effusion of water is so long to be continued, untill it depart with the very same sweetness as when it was poured on, and no longer offers any sharpness to the tast. So the common and hot water brings away with it the _Aq. Regis_, and the _Aq. Regis_ Gold out of the minerals.

The earthen pots may be placed in a bench bored thorough with holes, through which their bottoms may pass, that so the water may be received in vessels set under them.

_N. B._ The minerals may also be put into barrels or hogsheads having a double bottom, such as are used for the cleansing of Salt-Peter, that so water may be so long poured on them, untill all the acrimony be extracted by the water.

XXXII. _After what manner out of Minerals being extracted, a true
Salt-Peter may as yet be gotten with profit._

The minerals being after the said manner freed by extraction, they are to be co-mixed with an equal weight of _calx vive_ and wood ashes, and cast together into an heap under some open gallery or room, that now and then it may be moistened with Urine, or in want of that with Rain-water, as oft as they shall be dryed.

In this operation the _Aq. Regis_, which remained in the minerals, and was not wholly extracted by the hot water by the help of the Urine or Rain-water, changeth the Salt in the _calx vive_ into the best Salt-Peter, the which may be washed off with Rain-water, and boiled up after the wonted manner.

Therefore after the said minerals have been handled for half or a whole year after the said manner, and are by rinceing deprived of the Salt it self, they may again be (under an open Gallery or Roof so exposed to the air, that Rain come not at it) collected into an heap and be handled after the former manner, for the supplying (in their own time) new Salt Peter, the which may be done for many years together. So also from that _Aq. Regis_ which could not be drawn forth from the minerals, a profit is received.

The cause of this Salt Peter, its being made, is this, because the _Aq. fortis_, or _Aq. Regis_, or Spirit of _Nitre_ in the same Waters, contains as it were the seed of Salt Peter, it obtains that nature, that like an Herb it may take an increase from other Salts, and be multiplied; whence perhaps the old proverb arose, to sow Salt, which thing the ignorant have received with mock, saying after what sort can Salt be sown and multiplied, when it is solved and drawn from Rain-water? But it hath lain hid from those, what kind of Salt it is, and after what manner it is to be sown; the which we have here demonstrated, also the saying of the Ancient Philosophers, asserting that Salt may be sown and multiplied like Vegetables.

As to what pertains to those sharp waters, whereby gold is extracted out of minerals, by what skill they are to be handled as also without loss, yea that they may render that gold with profit; the following operations are to be observed.

XXXIII. _A way shewing the extraction of a volatile and fixed Gold
out of the Water, from which the Minerals are withdrawn, and the
profit which may be received by that Water._

The best way is this, into the solution of gold, or into the water which containeth gold, pour in the solution of _Lune_ or _Saturn_ more or less, even as you suspect more or less of gold to be in that water: As for example. Let there be in the water two or three half ounces of gold, dissolve thou therefore about two or three half ounces of silver, or lead, in _aq. fortis_, and pour this solution into the water containing the gold, be it more or less, mix them well together by shaking or stirring, that the water may obtain the form of milk; after they have settled in quietness, shake or stir them again, and repeat this motion for divers times the space of one hour, and at length suffer all quietly to settle to the bottom. Separate all the clear water from the sediment by pouring it out, and strain the sediment itself through a filtre, that the water may be wholly separated from the silver.

This silver is to be dried, and reduced into its former body, after the manner which shall by and by follow.

_N. B._ If the silver or lead had not extracted all the gold, the which may easily happen, yet that gold is not lost, for because sweet water whereby the _Aq. Regis_ is weakened is present, the which now remains unfit for another use of extracting out of minerals; now by the solution of _Lune_ or _Saturn_ deprived of their gold, a sharp _Lixivium_ made of wood-ashes, and _Calx vive_ may be poured on the same, with which a little .......... is to be added or admixed. For .......... do precipitate or fix all gold in solutions.

After this manner the _Aq. Regis_ is killed, and every metal which it has yet retaineth, it dismisseth like a yellow powder, whether it be gold alone, or mixed with copper or iron, which powder is to be dried, and reduced after the manner which shall strait-way be taught.

_N. B._ That the water after the total precipitating of the metals, being exhaled in a Copper Kettle unto a thin skin, and exposed in peculiar vessels unto the cold, it will afford thee a beautifull Salt-peter, concreted or grown together into drops or Ice-acles, whereof thou may’st again make an _Aq. fortis_, to be again made use of for the like operations.

He that shall rightly operate shall get so much Salt Peter as will recompence the charges of the _Aq. fortis_, and _Aq. Regis_: So that he shall extract his gold without costs. For five or six pounds of _Aq. fortis_, wherein two or three pounds of Salt is dissolved, and the which hath at length been precipitated by a sharp _Lixivium_ prepared with _Calx-vive_, doth render ten pound of Salt Peter, the which doth answer the price of five pound of _Aq. fortis_, and this is the manner of extracting gold out of minerals without cost.

XXXIV. _Another and better manner of extracting gold by Aq. Regis._

Take of .......... by torrifying made into ashes, pour the extraction into an iron Pot, and stir the _Calx_ with an iron _Spatula_ while it boileth. All the sharp spirits do stick fast to the .......... the phlegm alone vanisheth by exhalation. When therefore the spirits are wholly con-centred with the .......... and .......... are dried, they are to be put into a close Tigil or Crucible upon Coals in a secret Crucible or melting Pot, then the fire expels the con-centred spirits into a receiving vessel; the which spirits may be used for a new extraction. A fugacious gold mixt with iron, remaineth with the .......... which Calx being reduced in a Furnace fit for those operations, which the _Germans_ do call _Stichofen_, draws out a lead mixt with gold, the which being expelled by a Cupel enricheth the operators with the best gold and silver.

_N. B._ But if such lead should not contain so much of gold and silver, as that it should deserve a separation by a Cupel, that is again to be mixt with .................... and to be reduced into ashes, and the operation is so long to be repeated, untill the lead being rich enough in gold, may deserve that separation.

The separation is also to be perfected with the Bellows, lest so great a plenty of lead should be melted out of the Tests, which operation requires much fire, yet the lead may be collected or conjoyned in the Test without a wastefull melting, as shall be taught hereafter.

XXXV. _An easie making or composing of Aq. Regis, for extracting of
minerals._

Because a plenteous quantity of spirit of Salt is easily prepared, the Salt Peter is onely to be dissolved therein, and with that solution minerals are to be extracted. For the Salt Peter strengthens the spirit of Salt, that it can so much the more easier set upon and snatch to it the tender gold in those minerals.

The same spirit of Salt, may also without any rectifying be administred for this operation, to wit, such as ascends in the first Distillation.

XXXVI. _Another as yet more easier way of preparing Aq. Regis for
extraction._

Because silver doth always in this operation bewray its being impregnated with gold, which is to be separated by _Aq. fortis_, the solution of silver is also fitly used to extract after this manner.

Pour the said solution into _Aq. Regis_ which hath extracted gold, that the silver may attract the greatest part thereof to it self. But the same _Aq. Regis_ may again extract other gold, and be attracted by the solution of silver.

But if there should be no solution of silver in readiness, the gold extracted is con-centred with and the operation is perfected by the means or after the manner abovesaid, by driving the spirit out of the .......... and by reducing it in a Furnace, called by the _Germans_ _Stichofen_, as was said before.

_N. B._ _Aq. fortis_ being dissolved therein, or poured on or into _Aq. Regis_, or the nitrous spirit of Salt, it adds an increase and strength to the _Aq. Regis_, because _Aq. fortis_ doth corroborate the spirit of Salt better than Salt Peter.

XXXVII. _How the Calx of silver, which hath fished out gold by Aq.
Regis, is to be recovered._

When the solution of silver is poured into _Aq. Regis_, and the chiefest part of the gold is extracted; rest is so long granted unto it, that the Calx of the silver may settle to the bottom, and afterwards the _Aq. Regis_ by pouring it forth is separated, cleared from the Calx of the silver, again to be used for a new extraction; unless perhaps as much of iron had been admixed with it, in which case .......... the white Calx of the silver is put into some Cloath laid in an earthen or glass Tonnel, and hot water is to be poured on it, to take away with it the _Aq. Regis_, which is left in the Calx of the silver. The remaining water is to be pressed out of the Towel or Cloath, and the Calx dried, and reduced in the secret Crucible, or is made use of in the con-centring of .......... into silver or gold, _viz._ gold and silver.

XXXVIII. _After what manner precipitated silver is to be reduced
without a loss of its weight._

Seeing the greatest fugacity is procured unto this Calx of silver, so that its former body cannot be restored unto it in common Crucibles without great loss, this discommodity cannot after a more convenient manner be prevented than by that which follows.

Mix thou an equal weight of .................... with this volatile Calx, and cast it into a close bright burning Crucible, that is narrow above, and broad beneath; the which after thou hast covered with a Cover, and well fenced with the lute of Wisedom, thou shall melt the matter together, nothing whereof shall depart into smoke, neither shall so much as the least of it pierce through the Crucible, and all the Silver which the gold received is by this means attained without any loss.

This silver thou shalt by fusion reduce into grains, and shalt separate the gold from the same in _Aq. fortis_. And thou shalt again apply the silver thus reduced unto a new labour, in which labour thou proceeding without intermission shalt have a continual separatory operation of gold and silver; and this labour thou mayest exercise with great profit in all places.

XXXIX. _Another manner of reducing a fugacious or volatile silver,
with greater profit._

Place thou at the Stern of this little golden Ship, a little fish whose name is _Remora_, that it may be spoiled of its swiftness and may be at a stand, cast this silver little Ship with the little fish _Remora_, sitting at its Stern, into a close and square Tigil or Crucible, that by fusion they may depart into one body. In this fusion not onely all the silver is returned without any loss into its former body, but also is by the white _Finns_ of the little fish, augmented with a certain increase of its weight, and becomes more golden; so that by this additament more of better silver is gotten, than if by the addition of other things it had been restored to its former body.

What other profits any one may be able to obtain through the help of this volatile silver, we will God willing hereafter teach.

These are the things which I at this time have been willing to teach, concerning the extraction of a volatile gold out of stones, and the more poor minerals, as also of the extending or bringing forward silver by successive degrees into gold; of which matter more things shall be spoken in other places.

XL. _An operation, teaching to extract Stones and Minerals, or
Mines that are poor in Silver, and Copper by a moist way._

These matters being made bright burning hot, are to be quenched with water, then moistened and extracted with _Aq. fortis_; after the same manner as was taught above concerning the minerals of gold, and no difference is here met with but in the waters extracting, since gold is extracted with _Aq. Regis_, and silver with _Aq. fortis_.

If the minerals or mines of gold and silver are at once in readiness, the gold is extracted by _Aq. Regis_, and the silver by _Aq. fortis_, and the solutions are to be united, in which dissolving, the silver being precipitated by the _Aq. Regis_, doth also snatch with it the gold from the _Aq. Regis_; and although copper shall be present with the mine of silver, and it be extracted together with the silver by _Aq. fortis_, yet it is no impediment to the operation, for the silver and gold do sink to the bottom, and the copper is retained by the _Aq. Regis_ to be afterwards administred for a new operation, and that indeed as often as any one shall be willing.

The copper is recovered from the _Aq. Regis_ by thin plates of iron being put therein, which operation makes the _Aq. Regis_ red, and wholly unfit for the like labours.

Therefore the iron being then spiritual, promotes something out of the lead unto the degree of gold, and so the _Aq. Regis_ being thus often used, it is again rendred profitable.

XLI. _A more easy manner as yet by far, of plentifully extracting
Gold and Silver out of poor mines, as Sand, White-Clay, and other
the like minerals, by fire without fusion._

The mine or mineral _Argilla_, or White-Clay, _&c._ containing a volatile and fixed Gold, being rosted or calcined, and broken in pieces in a mill, fill thou a glass gourd therewith fenced with clay, or made of the best earth, half full, and pour so much of the following _menstruum_ on that matter, as that it may be well moistened: but as soon as that _menstruum_ is poured thereon, it presently begins to give a smoak, wherefore it is altogether necessary, that thou presently put a head on the gourd or body, which is to be set in sand, and all the moisture separated by distilling, and that while the distillation is performing the gold may be dissolved, but the solving matter it self is to be collected in a receiver by it self, the which hath the virtues of _Aq. Regis_, and may be again applyed for use, as shall by and by be shewn.

After that all the humidity is come forth, take the gourd (being cold) out of the sand, and pour some water on the matter that it may become soft, and that a Salt may be extracted from it, wherein the Gold lurketh, which was contained in the mine; coagulate the Lixivium being full of Gold, into a Red-Salt, the which by adding Litharge, is to be melted in such Crucibles which are not broken.

The Litharge draws the Gold unto it out of the Salt, which is to be separated from the Lead, after that manner which shall be shewn in the following Chapters or Treatises.

XLII. _The preparation of a Water necessary for the extracting of
Gold._

Take of .................... this water of small charges, which thou shalt prepare plentifully without trouble, pour upon mines, and again separate it by distillation, to be again used in new labours, that there may be no need to prepare it again anew, because this doth not onely alwaies remain effectual, but also is increased in every operation: So that thou mayest be able to extract mines and minerals _ad infinitum_, if so be thou shalt prepare but one pound or pint at the first.

_N. B._ By this means all Gold how little soever it be, is plentifully extracted out of flints, sand, and any other minerals, without any cost excepting fire.

XLIII. _Another water for extracting silver._

Take .................... this water extracteth silver out of the poor mines of silver, sand, and stones; the operation of the same, is like the former one, and its increase is like the increase of the former water, so that after this manner silver may be plentifully extracted out of poor minerals, and no other cost is required besides fire.

_N. B._ Instead of .......... may .......... be taken since it performs the same thing in extracting, which the other performeth.

XLIV. _Another easie manner of plentifully extracting gold, and
silver out of poor minerals, it being of little or no cost._

Mix thou the mine or minerals with the requisite waters, fill with the same .................... of good earth, set them near each other in a great .......... put it in .......... and distill the spirits, which pay all the charges, and which supply gold and silver without any costs, the which is to be received by lead.

XLV. _Another more easie manner of extracting gold and silver out
of minerals._

Mix the mine or mineral with the requisite waters, and moisten it by degrees, cast the whole into .......... the spirits depart into a receiving vessel, and in the time of distillation, the gold and silver are dissolved by that dissolvant, the which being extracted, remain with or among .......... and are rinced by water out of the mineral, so that they are attained without costs, and the spirits being collected in the receiving vessel, do recompence all charges.

XLVI. _An easie operation of plentifull extracting gold and silver
out of fat white Clay or Potters-earth._

Although gold and silver be extracted out of minerals by moist waters, by a troublesome operation as we have taught in the beginning, yet such an extraction brings no small profit, because they may be freed from those waters by precipitation; and those very waters do readily serve for the making or preparing of Salt Peter. With a fat Argilla or white Clay, the matter goes otherwise, because the spirit hath crept into the fat earth, and scarce a half part is received, unless the earth be first deprived of its fatness by making burning bright, it being that which doth also require its own peculiar labour.

Seeing that therefore in all places of the world, wheresoever earth is found, such fat white Clays containing gold and silver do plentifully offer themselves, and none hath been hitherto found, who hath indeavoured to extract and bring them to use, especially whenas they contain but little of gold or silver, not able to defray the charges of the lead bestowed.

I could not but open a very easie way of performing that thing with no small profit, the which is perfected by the following labour.

Mix such an earth containing gold or silver, with .......... or of that greater one, and cast it by degrees into my first or second Distillatory Furnaces, and draw forth the spirits by distilling, that the solved gold or silver may remain in .................... From that which is broken by a Mill or grinding .......... is washed off with hot water, and is reduced by lead as is shewed before.

XLVII. _After what manner by the help of art, gold may be easily
and plenteously extracted from the sand of =Granates=, =Agaths=,
=Saphyrs=, and =Rubies=, and other stoney Mineral earths, which
do neither admit of fusion, nor Lead, nor sharp Waters._

It is certain that all _Granates_ or Marbles, the red, black, ash-coloured, duskish, also of whatsoever colour they are, or wheresoever they are found, whether in Brooks or Rivers, or in Sand, or fat Earth, or in high Rocks, do always contain much of Gold, but that by reason of their glassy nature, they cannot be tamed by _Aq. fortis_’s, and by reason of their most difficult fusion cannot be wrought by Saturn or Lead; for that cause they have made none partaker of their gold, and they have been neglected as unprofitable earths, whenas notwithstanding they being handled by little labour, they are able to afford much gold.

Some one therefore may ask, because they cannot be subdued either by lead or _Aquæ fortis_’s, what course must be taken, that gold may be extracted out of their bowels? I answer. .................... and also by a Fusible .................... they may be so overcome, that the gold which they have may be withdrawn from them with profit, for .......... because they can bear the fire, they are .......... and perform by a double labour, one through their sharpness, and another by reason of a strong fire, so that nothing is safe from so great forces, but all things are constrained to yield unto so great violence. Hence they do willingly afterwards enter the Salt of Lead, and in time of melting do readily draw out their gold.

XLVIII. _A most firm demonstration, that sharp Waters and Salts
after the manner of the ways hitherto described, do draw forth
more Gold and Silver as it were without cost, out of Mines or
Minerals containing Gold and Silver, than sumptuous or costly
melting Fires._

It is not unknown to every one that is seasoned but even with a mean knowledge of gold bearing Mines, that without the addition of Lead or other flowable things, Gold can in no wise be melted out of them, whenas therefore there is little Gold in those, and nevertheless much of Lead or other matters is required to be added for an easie fusion or melting sake, who shall be fit for the undergoing of so great costs? Hence it hath come to pass that such poor minerals could bring nothing of profit in common.

It being also granted, that there is so much of Gold and Silver in Minerals, that they will defray the charges of fire and fusion, and afford Gold and Silver with profit, yet such operations are not comparable to my inventions using Waters and Salts, no more than as Water to Wine, or Night to Day.

For first, fusion or melting far exceeds in its costs the extraction which is perfected by Salt and Waters. And then it can never be brought to pass that fusion should expell all the Gold and Silver out of Mines and Minerals, but leaves some thereof in the drosses, next also there is made a loss of all the volatile Gold and Silver, which are cast forth by a most strong fire, and driven away into the air; on the contrary, of the more ample and wealthy profits, which the extraction of Gold and Silver out of Minerals bringeth, this is not the least, that not onely all the Gold and Silver which is fixed, is drawn out without any detriment or loss, but also those two metals being as yet volatile are extracted at once and made fixt and constant in the fire, whenas notwithstanding by the vehemence of a melting fire, they are wholly dispersed and reduced into nothing. For the Waters of Salts do fix the volatile fugative spirits of Gold and Silver, the which by the vehement blasts of Bellows, are rendred as yet far more volatile, so that by the help of fusion scarce half the Gold is gotten which the extraction by the Waters of Salt affordeth.

Add to this, that not onely all the Silver and Gold, as well the volatile as the fixt is gotten together without any loss, but also the charges of Coals are far less, and one operatour may perform as much of this extraction of Gold and Silver, as three in the labour of fusion or melting.

From hence it is easily to be seen, how much profit and fruit may be gained by this my most excellent invention in all places of _Germany_. For this extraction is not onely for extracting Gold and Silver as well out of rich as poor Mines, but also snatcheth out all the Gold and Silver, in Flints tinged with any colour, wherewith all Brooks, Rivers, and Fields are filled.

Now follow some particular transmutations of the imperfect Metals into more perfect ones, by common fire, and Crude Salt, and by the not common con-centred moist fire of Salt.

XLIX. _A fundamental and evident demonstration, that a true
transmutation, or trans-changing of Metals may be exercised in
all places of the earth, wheresoever Men may dwell, yea in the
least Cottages of Countrey folks, and indeed by the same matters
and vessels which are found in them._