Chapter LXVII: Part II (6)

And even as in the precipitation of Metals there is always some [portion] of the Waters, that puts on the nature of Salt Peter, _viz._ when the Waters that have been used, which are as it were the Seeds of Salt Peter, are implanted in an Alkalisate Salt, and so do multiply themselves in a wonderfull manner.

So likewise in the dry separation of Metals, there is in a manner, yet more Salt Peter gotten, _viz._ thus when they are separated in the melting Pots, from each other by Salt Peter, and by an artificial precipitation of one Metal after another, the Salt Peter you used is rendred fixt and Alkalizated, which Alcalizated niter is to be accounted of, as the root of Salt Peter. This root being implanted in acid Salts, is in like manner enriched with a plenteous encrease, and reduced into natural and inflamable Salt Peter; for, by it do the sharp Waters get to themselves the nature of Salt Peter, from those Alkalizate Salts. And if so be you seek not after the common Salt Peter, it is better to sow the Seed of Salt Peter (that is, some spirit of niter which you have used) into the appropriate root of Salt Peter, that is, into fixt niter. For by that means you will have (at the encrease) a wonderfull Salt Peter, which, in all operations, doth far more powerfully act than the common Salt Peter, what way soever it be mundified by; which is evidenced in my foregoing first Century.

Therefore forasmuch as in the separation of Metals by the dry way, there remains (after the operation is over) so much fixt Salt Peter as there was of nitrous Water in the moist extraction, it always abundantly supplies both Seed and Root of Salt Peter, so that they may be exceeding plentifully multiplied by other Salts, nor will you have any need of buying any more new Salt Peter for the now spoken of Labour. Verily this is a most compendious way, not onely of separating all Metals even in fusion, but also of somewhat bettering them, as shall be afterwards demonstrated.

XX. _By what means such Gold as is commixt with Iron, or Copper,
and from which (being extracted out of the Minerals) the
dissolvent has been drawn off, is to be reduced._

Let such unclean Gold be commixed with two or three parts of its weight of the Glass of Lead, and melt them in a strong Crucible. If there happen to be much Iron, it will of its own accord yield a leaden _Regulus_, which being forced by the heat of the Fire in a Cupel will leave your Gold pure, because the Glass of Lead is wont to attract unto it self Iron and Copper. But if so be there is but little Iron mixt with your Gold the _Regulus_ of Lead will not separate or precipitate in the melting, and therefore as it melts some filings of Iron are to be added, and to be accurately stirred with a red hot Iron, that so a _Regulus_ of Lead may fall to the bottom, bigger or lesser according to the muchness or littleness of the Iron you added.

XXI. _Another proper and fitting matter to reduce such Gold as hath
Iron in it._

Take of Salt Peter one part, and of Antimony four parts, reduce them into a black Glass, by melting them. This Glass being powdered and commixt with a wild or raw and not fusile Gold and so molten, precipitates the _Regulus_ of the Gold to the bottom, and brings the Iron into _Scoria_’s.

XXII. _The separation of the Antimony from the Gold._

Such golden _Regulus_’s do not admit of separation in the Cupel, like as those do which the Glass of Lead is used to. Therefore Salt Peter is to be used in the melting Pots or Crucibles, to make the separation of them.

Put this Antimonial _Regulus_ in a melting Pot, melt it down in a Wind Furnace, and being molten cast in by little and little some dry Salt Peter, that so it may seize upon the _Regulus_ and transmute it into _Scoria_’s. The _Scoria_ flowing in the Pot like water, are a sign that the Gold is well cleaned, and that all the Antimony is reduced into _Scoria_’s. Then pour it forth into a Cone that it may cool, and the pure and malleable Gold will settle into a _Regulus_ at the bottom. Now all the Salt Peter is rendred fixt in this operation, then if you put your _Scoria_’s again in the Crucible, and put into it some Coals and melt your _Scoria_ down, almost all the Antimony being freed from the Salt Peter will gather into a _Regulus_, and will again serve for reducing of more Gold; for it will as readily reduce your extracted Gold unto its former body, as the [aforesaid] Glass it self will. But this labour requires a diligent Operator who knows how to handle it with singular skill, though it be easie, and requireth not any great Artifice, but onely an accurate diligence, which use onely makes a Man skilled in.

The Salt Peter used about this labour, gets the nature of an Alkali Salt, and being put on the live Coals doth no more burn, but being dissolved in Water yields a sharp _Lixivium_, very proper for many operations, and serving instead of a Lye made with Wood-ashes. But the chiefest use thereof is this, _viz._ seeing it is the true root of Salt Peter, it may be added to other Salts, out of which in process of time, it will be notably augmented and produce new burning Salt Peter. He that has a desire gainfully to augment this fixt Salt Peter with common Kitchin Salt, and again to transmute it into inflamable Salt peter, may accomplish his desire if he makes use of the following operation.

XXIII. _The way of making most excellent and inflamable Salt Peter
in plenty, and with profit out of common Kitchin Salt and the
=Lixivium= of Salt Peter that has been used._

There is so small a difference betwixt common Kitchin Salt, and Salt Peter, that the Salt may easily be turned into Salt Peter, and that by several operations, as well by the Seed of Salt Peter as by sharp spirits, as we have taught above, or even by fixt niter which operation we will here shew.

We will use for an example, the baking of Bread, and the brewing of Ale. If when the Meal is with Water brought into Dough, there be added unto it but a few grounds of Ale or Leven, the whole mass begins to heave it self up, and becoming thin [or light] is rendred fit to be baked into Bread, the which hath altogether the same property as those few Ale Grounds, or that little Leven had. And so that very self same Dough is likewise fit to make other Meal ferment, even to infinity. The same is likewise observable in the brewing of Ale, so that he who hath but once onely so much Ale Grounds [or Yest,] or levened Dough as served his turn once, may brew Ale and bake Bread even to infinity. So likewise is the same evidently manifest by the encrease of Vegetables, which may be infinitely multiplied by the Alkalizated Salt of the Earth, if you have but once their Seeds and Roots. In like manner may the same propagation be performed by another way, _viz._ by ingrafting of that which you would propagate into another of the same kind. For example, I have in my Garden excellent Apples, Pears, Cherries, or such like Tree-fruits, and I have a mind to see more of them in my Garden; therefore do I cut off some branch, or perhaps even the Tree it self to the trunk or body; of some wild, or at least not so noble a Fruit-bearing Pear Tree or Apple Tree, and therein, _viz._ in that branch or stock, do I ingraft according to Art some little boughs or cions of some other Tree that bears excellent Fruit, and which I desire to encrease, the which Tree now doth no more produce the wild and degenerate or bad Fruits, it did according to its kind, but such Fruits as the Tree whence the cion was taken, bears.

By these kind of similitudes may any one that hath understanding easily see, that it is possible by Art, to transmute one nature into another, if, _viz._ the Seeds and Roots of things are applied to this transmutation. But now if any one should plant a stalk or leaf in the digged earth, and would thereby encrease or propagate it, he will never see any success of his labour; for the stalks and leaves would rot and so no new Herb would again bud out from them as is wont to be out of the Seed and Roots.

Even on this wise is it with Salt Peter, which if it be mixed with common Salt it would not verily produce any encrease, as ’tis wont to do out of its Seed and Root, as we have already laid open.

Such likewise is the nature of Metals, touching the propagation and encrease of which their proper seeds and roots are requisite. What I pray are those Tinctures, (one onely particle of which and that no bigger than a Pea, being cast on an whole pound of Tin or Lead, transmuteth that same Metal into pure good Gold, and changeth and augmenteth it self (as being the true seed of Metals) a thousand fold, out of so gross and earthly a body into so noble and so golden a nature in so short a space of time,) what (I say) are those Tinctures, but the very seeds of Metals, and the very metallick roots. But by what means they are to be obtained, and to be brought under a Man’s power, for my part I do not know. But yet I could not but deliver my simple opinion and conceptions concerning this thing, to the studious of Art.

’Tis certain that all Metals have their rise out of one and the same Seed, but that they differ so very much amongst themselves, and that one becomes more ripe than another, is to be imputed to the diversity of accidents. In one and the same Tree are produced Blossoms, and small Fruits of an unpleasant tast; then afterwards bitter and immature ones, and at length ripe and sweet ones, and are not alike either in form, odour, or savour, nor are they of like effects, and yet do they all arise out of one beginning, _viz._ out of their Seed and Root. So is it even with Metals.

For as touching their Seed I do verily believe, that if from the most soft and as yet most immature Metals, such as _Zink_, Lead, Tin, Antimony, Bismute, Cobolt, _&c._ their stinking combustible and superfluous Sulphur, could by some Bath or other be so taken away, as that nothing may remain save onely a most pure Mercury, that then I say such a Mercury, or such a Seed of Metals may be easily transmuted by pure Gold, as being the most pure Root of Metals into a true Tincture.

But to turn common Salt into Salt Peter, the operation is thus.

Take one part of black or of any other common Salt, and mix it with two or three parts of _Calx-vive_ being reduced into Powder by lying in the Air, and lay it in such a place as lies open to the Air and Sun-beams, but yet keeps off the Rain, as we have taught in the Appendix.

Moisten this heap with the above said _Lixivium_ of Salt Peter, and being dried, repeat the moistening and drying so long, untill the ferment shall have converted all the common Salt and turned it into inflamable Salt Peter, the which doth either sooner or later happen, according as the operation hath been the more diligently or negligently handled. All being turned into Salt Peter, let an extraction be made with common Water, as the usual custom is, and lay the Reliques in the aforesaid place, and again moisten them with the said _Lixivium_ as afore, or in defect thereof sprinkle them with common Water, still moistening them after each drying, untill there be a new encrease of Salt Peter begotten, the which you are to wash off with common Water. And so this operation proceeds, or holds on even to infinity.

XXIV. _Another far more compendious way of converting common Salt,
by the help of fixt Salt Peter into excellent Salt Peter._

Mix some certain weight of common Salt dissolved _per se_ in common Water, and as much of fixt Salt Peter likewise dissolved in common Water, mix them in a wooden Vessel; in which Vessel the fixt Salt Peter being as it were a ferment will seize upon the common Salt, and turn it by fermentation into excellent Salt Peter.

He that desires a more mature Salt Peter may instead of the solution of common Salt, pour upon the fixt Salt Peter _Lixivium_, those sharp waters of Salt Peter, which have already been used about other labours, and they will seize upon that _Lixivium_ with a more vehement operation, so that of both the solutions as well the acid and spiritual, as the fixt and corporeal Peter, there will be gotten in a few hours space, the most excellent Salt Peter and such as cannot be by any other way whatsoever purchased.

_N. B._ If any one has a mind of getting a greater quantity of Salt Peter, he may first dissolve his common Salt in the sharp Water of Salt Peter, and [mix it] in that self same _Lixivium_, [_viz._ of Peter,] and after the mixing of these two contrary solutions evaporate the common Water, that the Salt Peter may shoot into Crystals, of which there will indeed be a greater quantity, but then it will not be so good as that which was made by the first operation.

XXV. _Another gainfull way of making good and burning Salt Peter
out of common Salt, by the help of fixt Salt Peter._

Commix equal parts of the _Scoria_’s of fixt Salt Peter that you have used, and of the common Kitchin Salt together, and add thereunto twice as much _Calx-vive_ first reduced into Powder by lying in the Air, [as they both weigh.] Of this mixture make up round Balls, and so pile or stow them with Wood, that it may be a _Stratum Superstratum_, [or a Bed of each orderly,] as the Chymists call it. Kindle your pile of Wood and let all your Balls be red hot for an hour: And the fixt Salt Peter will by a wonderfull inversion transmute the nature of the common Salt, and turn it into Salt Peter, but yet not inflamable till the Salts have been moistned some due time, and so attracted a life out of the Air, and made fit to conceive a flame, or to burn.

_N. B._ If instead of Rain water you use such Waters as you have already used and extracted your Minerals withall, to moisten your mass with, then will you thence get in some few Weeks space, an inflamable Salt Peter.

But forasmuch as in the extraction of Minerals and separation of Metals, there will be such a great quantity of sharp nitrous Waters, and likewise of fixt Salt Peter offer themselves for the accomplishment of this operation, and so great a benefit and gain is gotten by that so plentifull an augmentation of your Salt Peter (which hath already Sufficiently profitably paid your costs) out of vile and common Salt; hence clearly follows, that all those hitherto described labours and operations are effected, in a manner without any costs or expences, which is indeed an unheard of thing, but yet most true, and exceeds the belief of ignorant Men.

XXVI. _The reduction of Silver extracted out of the Minerals, and
freed from the =Aq. Fortis= by abstraction, [or drawing off the
said =Aq. Fortis=.]_

The Silver from which _Aq. Fortis_ has been drawn by Distillation, needs not any matter to help on fusibility, for as much as it doth of its own nature admit of a very easie Flux; but that the Fugitive Spirits that adhere unto it would carry away somewhat of the same. So now, to prevent this discommodity, you may add unto such a Silver a little of the fixt Salt separated out of the _Lixivium_ [of fixt Peter,] the which Salt Alkaly will mortifie the acid spirits so, that they shall not be able to carry off any thing at all in the melting.

XXVII. _The reduction of extracted Copper._

If the Copper be not mixt with any other Metals, and be but little in quantity, it may be reduced so in Crucibles by it self, but if it be in a plentifull quantity it may be done by blast.

But where it contains Iron or _Lapis Calaminaris_, (which two the Minerals [of Copper] do frequently abound withall) there it admits not of reduction per se without the help of other matters, because of the Iron, _Zink_, or _Calaminaris_; which Minerals associating themselves with the Copper, in the melting are wont to make it brittle. But this inconveniency may be prevented the following way.

XXVIII. _The way of making Copper, which hath Iron in it malleable
by reduction._

Mix such Copper as hath in it _Lapis Calaminaris_ or Iron, with common Salt, and put it in a Crucible and melt it, that so the Salt may associate or draw unto it self the Iron or _Lapis Calaminaris_ out of the Copper, and turn them into _Scoria_’s, leaving the Copper, which will settle to the bottom and go into a _Regulus_.

XXIX. _By what means Copper is to be separated from the Silver, if
they are both together extracted out of the Mines, and the Silver
has not been precipitated out of the solution by the Water of
Salt, but the dissolving =Menstruum= hath been abstracted from
them so conjoyned both together._

If the Silver be more in quantity than the Copper, then the Copper is easily extracted out of the other by the Water of Salt wherein a little Tartar hath been dissolved. For Salt and Tartar do readily dissolve Copper, and leave the Silver.

But if the Copper bear the Bell, and there be more of that than the Silver, then will it be better to precipitate the Silver first by the Water of Salt, out of the first extraction of the Minerals; and afterwards the Copper will be likewise freed by abstracting the dissolving _Menstruum_, insomuch that each of these two Metals are gotten apart.

XXX. _If the extracted Copper comprehends in it any Gold, by what
means the Gold may be therefrom separated._

Albeit if a solution of _Saturn_ or _Lune_ being poured on the dissolved Copper, and well shook with the same solution will fish out some Gold, yet it gets not all unless it be debilitated by some _Lixivium_. But now the _Lixivium_ being poured thereunto that so the solvent being debilitated may the easier let go its Gold thereby, hath with it this inconveniency, _viz._ that the solvent is made wholly unprofitable to be used about any more extractions. Nay more, there’s also this discommodity, that if an error be committed by pouring on a little more _Lixivium_ than is expedient, there will also precipitate some of the Copper together with the Gold.

To prevent therefore these inconveniencies, the solution of the Copper which contains in it Gold, is to be drawn off even unto driness, in my secret and by me invented distilling Vessel, in which Vessel it may easily and in great plenty be done; and the following _Menstruum_ which dissolveth onely Copper and not Gold is to be poured upon the dried matter, that the Copper may be dissolved, and the Gold (be it either much or little) may remain in the bottom undissolved. The dissolved Copper may be precipitated out of the Water with a _Lixivium_, whereto is added some of the Liqour of Flints, and be washt and dried, and with strong Vinegar be turned into a most delicate Verdigreace. The Water that is thus made use of, if it be poured on Alkalizated Salts yields good Salt Peter.

He that does not much regard that green colour may separate the dissolvent from the Copper by Distillation, and again use the same for the like dissolving of new Copper.

But now there must be in the Copper So much Gold as to quit the costs of this labour, and to prove gainfull; otherwise it is better to leave the Gold with the Copper than to buy it at so dear a rate.

XXXI. _The making of such a =Menstruum= as dissolveth the Copper
and drives from it self, or precipitates the Gold._

This dissolvent is no other than _Aq. Fortis_, wherein a little Tartar is dissolved. For the Tartar being an enemy to the Gold, is wont to precipitate the Gold out of the solutions like as common Salt doth Silver out of _Aq. Fortis_. By this way may all the Copper be easily separated from the Gold, concerning which, more shall be spoken in its due place.

XXXII. _Another reduction of Copper that hath Gold in it, and the
perfect separation of the Copper from the Gold._

Add to such Copper that hath Gold in it, some Silver, and melt it with so much _Regulus_ of Antimony as is twice the weight of the said Metals thus together taken. Separate the said _Regulus_ together with the Copper from the Silver by the addition of Salt Peter, that so the Silver may retain with the Gold that was in the Copper, the which is to be afterwards separated if it be worth the while. Now it is not necessary presently to separate it, forasmuch as it is far better many times to abstract such a Copper that has Gold therein from such a Silver, that so the Silver may be enriched with a great quantity of Gold by so many abstractions; the which abstractions require but very little costs besides the charges of the Fire and Crucibles.

For all the Salt Peter used hereabouts, together with all the Copper and all the _Regulus_ of Antimony may be thencefrom again recovered, by him who rightly knows the precipitation. Besides, there lies hid under this operation, some great matter as concerning the amending of the Metals. For it is a way of arriving to the knowledge of impregnating all Silver by Copper, with Gold, and Copper it self with Silver; concerning which thing there are more instructions to be found in other places of my Writings.

These things may at present suffice, touching the reduction of the Metals extracted out of the poor Mines, and [concerning those things which by reason of the hasty Edition of the Appendix to the fifth part of the prosperity of _Germany_ were omitted therein;] the which defects the well minded Reader may from hence supply.

XXXIII. _A brief description of the above mentioned artificial
Instrument, by the help whereof the spirits necessary for the
extraction of the Metals out of the poor Mines that contain in
them Gold, Silver and Copper, are plentifully prepared, the
Minerals themselves extracted, and the dissolving =Menstruums=,
again easily separated from the Metals._

This incomparable and by me newly found out Instrument, being most profitable and commodious for the easie extractions of Metals, and preparations of the dissolving _Menstruums_, is made of a peculiar earth, and is almost of the figure or likeness of a Bakers Oven, and is either of a bigger or lesser size, according to the quantity any one has a mind to labour in; In the forepart it hath a Door, and in the end [or top] or very near it, it hath an Outlet. To the Cover serving instead of an Alembick, a great receiving Vessel is to be fitted, fit for the reception of the outgoing spirits. After that the Furnace is heated, the prepared Salts being put in peculiar Pots or Crucibles made of the best earth are to be put with a pair of Tongs prepared for this peculiar use into the Instrument, and all the spirits will be drawn off with a speedy Distillation. Now there is no danger here of breaking the Instruments, and the Distillation may be done in the space of one or two hours, how great a quantity soever of Salt was used to the Distillation. When the Distillation is over, the Pots that were put into that Instrument or Furnace are to be again taken out with your Tongs, and presently other Pots filled with Salts are to be put in the room of them you took out, and the spirits again driven out by a new Distillation. This labour may be kept on as long as one pleaseth, or as long as he hath any matter to distill withall; because the Vessel never cools as long as the Distillation is continued. This Furnace therefore is most notably fit for the Distillation of a great quantity of Salts, and that by a labour which is so exceeding speedily finished.

The same way of Distillation is to be observed in the extraction of Minerals or Metalline Earths, the which can be far sooner extracted and far speedier this way, than by that described in the Appendix which is to be done by heating the Glasses.

After the same manner is the dissolving _Menstruum_ it self speedily again abstracted from the extracted Metals, and being thereby preserved without any loss is to be applied to farther use. This Instrument therefore doth so compendiously and easily dispatch all those said labours, that (set aside your Fire and Salt) the plentifull making your spirits, the abundant extraction of the Minerals, and the separation of your _Menstruum_’s from the extracted Metals and its preservation, are in a manner done without any costs.

XXXIV. _Now follows an explication of some secrets effected by the
help of my =Sal. Mirabilis=, concerning which there is mention
made in the second part of =Miraculum Mundi=._

It is clearly evident from many places of my Writings, and principally in the second part of _Miraculum Mundi_ that my _Sal. Mirabilis_ is diversly prepared; hence it follows of course, that the use thereof is different. For it hath one use when (after the spirit is thencefrom distilled) it is taken out of the Cucurbit, and hath as yet a corrosive nature. Contrarily, it hath another kind of use when this corrosive Salt is dissolved in common Water, and filtred, and set in the cold, that so the best part thereof may shoot into long Crystals, which having no corrosive power, serve for a peculiar use. It hath likewise another use when it is deprived of all corrosivity and turned into a sweetness, as I have shown in many places of my Writings. This is to be known by such as would use it, for this or that labour, that so they may commit no error, but be thereby rendred Masters of their desires the more easily.

We will therefore make inspection into some of those principal secrets which are declared in the second part of _Miraculum Mundi_, and examine whether or no they can be effected after the same manner I prescribed?

XXXV. _By what means any Water, Wine, Ale, Vinegar and other
liqours may be coagulated in a few hours space into hard pieces
like Ice, by the =Sal. Mirabilis=._

For such a coagulation of all watery and moist things, well edulcorated (as the Chymists phrase is) _Sal. Mirabilis_ is to be taken and such as is shot into long Crystals, prepared of an equal weight of Salt and good Oil of Vitriol, because a most great driness ariseth from the Oil of Vitriol.

Such an excellently well prepared _Sal. Mirabilis_, and which is shot into long Crystals, is to be reduced (by calcination in the Sun) into a fine powder, that so it may lose all its moistness and yet not melt. For if it melts, then it would need grinding again; one part of this calcined _Sal. Mirabilis_ is able to coagulate three parts of Water, Wine, Ale, or any other liqour which it is mixed withall, into a dry matter like to Ice, insomuch that it may be carried in a Sack or a Sieve full of holes.

But what use such a coagulation may serve for, would be too tedious to declare in this place. Any one will find what use is to be thereof made, if he well meditates upon the thing.

XXXVI. _The separation of the Water, Wine, or Ale, from the =Sal.
Mirabilis=._

The coagulated liquors may be commodiously separated from the _Sal. Mirabilis_ by Distillation; but the aquosity of the coagulated Wine and Ale are to be separated onely by Distillation, and the grosser part remains behind in the Cucurbit with the Salt. But the _Sal. Mirabilis_ is by calcination, again freed from all impurity, and again made white and fit for any other such like new effect.

_N. B._ I doubt not but that there are other ways of coagulating watery liqours into Ice, concerning which we shall say somewhat in their due place.

XXXVII. _How the sharp spirits of Salts, as =Aq. Fortis=, =Aq.
Regis=, Spirit of Salt, Spirit of Vitriol, of Allum, and the like
may be coagulated into hard Salts, not unlike to frozen Water._

This coagulation of sharp Spirits out of Salts, is done the same way as the coagulation of common Water, and other sweet liqours is performed by; but the separation ought to be done in Vessels of the best Earth, or in Glass, because of their sharpness. And certain it is, that with these coagulated Spirits of Salts many things of great moment may be done, the mentioning whereof we for brevity sake do here pass over.

For I have purposed to demonstrate at this time, some secrets onely which are mentioned in the second part of _Miraculum Mundi_, and to assert the truth of them.

By these two described coagulations any one may easily learn that the coagulation of other moist things are possible to be done.

XXXVIII. _How the head of a fountain may be stopped up by this
=Sal. Mirabilis=._

It sometimes happens that there breaks out a Spring of Waters in some places where it proves offensive and hurtfull. And forasmuch as they are sometimes very difficult to be stopt up, I will set down a way in this place of stopping it by _Sal Mirabilis_, but chiefly to this end, that the nature and property of things may be throughly learned, and besides, that even Arts and Sciences themselves do sometime bring no small help, especially when no counsel avails. Take therefore of your _Sal Mirabilis_, heated red hot as much as is sufficient, wrap it up in a linnen cloth and thrust it into the hole of the Fountain, and it will be turned with the Water into an hard Stone, and thereby enforceth the Fountain to seek it self some other passage.

XXXIX. _The way of separating the Phlegm from subtile Spirits._

Because the Volatile and sulphureous Spirits of Salts are of great efficacy in Medicine, and principally when their Phlegm or aqueous humidities are removed from them, the which thing every one can’t bring to pass, I have therefore judged it worth while, even for the sake of the Sick, to discover an easie way of so doing, by my _Sal. Mirabilis_ as follows.

Fill a Glass Cucurbit half full with _Sal. Mirabilis_, pour thereupon the Volatile Spirit of Vitriol, Niter, or common Salt, and distill thence by B. the most subtile Spirit, the which will come off, and leave the unprofitable Phlegm behind with the _Sal. Mirabilis_, the which (by heating red hot) you may again render fit for new operations.

XL. _Another and easier way, yea even almost an incredible and
miraculous one of freeing Wine, Ale, Vinegar, Brandy, and all
other moist liquors from their unprofitable Phlegm in a moment of
time, by my =Sal. Mirabilis=._

The precedent coagulation of moist liquors ariseth from that most great driness which lies hid in the _Sal. Mirabilis_. But this way we now deliver, proceedeth from the concentrated cold of moist Fires, which Fires we have treated of in the first Century, and ’tis thus.

Take one pound of the abovesaid _Sal. Mirabilis_, put it in a strong Glass, and pour thereupon two parts or pounds of the con-centrated and cold Fire of some Salts, whether it be of Vitrol, or common Salt, or Salt Peter, whose Fire excells the Fires of other Salts; and let them lie quiet for some hours, and there will be made an Icy mass of them both, the which you shall in the Winter time set out in the Snow or in some cold place which by how much the colder so much the better; where the longer it abides in the cold, the more will the cold Fire be con-centrated, and consequently so much the greater matters may by such a con-centrated body be effected.

XLI. _The receiving or catching the breath of Men, as they sit in
some warm Stove, and the changing it into the form of Ice._

If thou hast a mind to create a kind of admiration amongst thy Guests or Friends when they are with thee, and to give them some profitable recreation, you may accomplish your desire the following way.

Carry with thee a Glass full of the moist Fire of Salt, and which is coagulated by the _Sal. Mirabilis_, and hath stood some hours in the cold, into the warm Stove, and hang it up over the Table by a thread or small line, when your Guests are set at the Table, and when they ask you what this signifies, you may tell them that you will for their Recreations sake, shew them some pleasant diversion; after they have made an end of eating and drinking. Upon this they will all of them have a desire to see those tricks and ever now and then cast up their eyes upon the Glass. But after that the Glass has there hang’d a minute or half minutes space, the breath of the Men that sit about it will presently apply it self to the Glass, and stick on to the outside thereof like Snow, and cover it all over; and thicken more and more, insomuch that in a short time it will have a thick and hoary beard, all about consisting of natural Ice; and will so long keep on its encreasing as the con-centrated cold lasts in the Glass. Then at length the Glass growing a little hot, after the internal cold of the con-centrated Fire is consumed, that Icy beard begins again to melt and being resolved, to distill into a Water, for the receiving of which distilling drops some Vessel is to be set under. This is a wonderfull Distillation of Men’s breath, which coming out of their mouths in their discoursing, is reduced by the concentrated Fire of Salt into Ice, and at length, again into Water by the heat of the Stove.

This so speedy an operation or transmutation of a moist and watery vapour into natural Ice, seems indeed at the outside view to be but a vile and unprofitable thing; but if it be but well minded by the sight of the internal mind, it not onely begets a most great admiration, but withall opens the most excellent knowledge of natural things.

Such as greedily hunger after Gold will say, what benefit comes from these tricks? had Gold but distilled from the Glass we would have saved it, what need we any Water? or if it had been noble or generous Wine, we could have prized such an ingenious knack, and drunk it off. Take away that filthy Water and bring us the gallant Wine. Such discourse as this, let one of thy Friends purposely utter, being thereto first suborned by thee, that so thou maist the more delight the rest of thy Friends that are ignorant of these things, by thy presently satisfying him that is so desirous of Wine, saying, that if thy Friends and Guests do desire better Wine, thou art ready to draw it them. Upon this, thy Guests will diligently listen and desire to see what better Wine thou wilt draw them out of thy Celler. The chiefest of these will well know that thou hast not in thy Cellar such variety of Wines.

In the mean while, have ready some small Glasses which contain some Ounces, filled with the concentrated Fires of Salts, and well shut and strings tied ready unto them; now when thou hast a mind to give them a relish of thy Art of bettering Wines, and rendring them more generous, command a Cann of common Wine to be brought thee, and give it to thy Guests to drink. But now when they shall perceive that it is the same sort of Wine they had formerly, and that thou hast not given them any better, thou shalt satisfie them by the following way.

XLII. _A momentary operation of rendring any common Wine more
generous, and exceedingly bettered by the cold Fires of Salts;
and that in the presence of many Men._

Command one of those Glasses prepared for this purpose to be brought unto thee, and let it down by the thread into the Glass full of Wine, which being done, the con-centrated cold that lies in thy little Glass, which thou hang’st in the greater one of Wine will draw to it self the watery and unprofitable parts of the Wine, and change it into an incipid Ice. And by how much the longer you leave that little Glass in your Wine, so much the more Water will be drawn there out of, and the Wine will be made the more generous thereby. But the sooner you take it out, the less Water will be separated; so that out of one Cann of Wine you may by this means give your Guests several sorts of Wine to drink, or rather may let them better the Wine themselves even according to their pleasure. For by this operation the unprofitable Water being drawn out of the Wine and turned into Ice, is separated and taken away; part therefore of the Water being taken away, the remainder must necessarily be much more efficacious and more sweet than it was afore, when it had Water conjoyned as yet with it.

A Master of a Family using this Artifice may make for himself and his Guests, divers Wines though drawn out of one Barrel.

Now such a secret is not onely full of Curiosity, but also of profit, and may prove helpfull and do much good several ways. I could if need required declare a thousand conveniencies, and Commodities proceeding therefrom. But because I judge it needless to spend time in declaring them, I will at present mention onely some few, remitting the rest to the following Centuries, in which shall be made mention of them according as the [matter and] time requires or permits.

XLIII. _The amending of any midling or smallish Ale in the Winter
Season, as well at Home as Abroad._

It sometimes happens that a Master of a Family hath but onely one sort of Wine or of Ale in his Cellar, the which he is accustomed to drink, and puts not in his Cellar any better Wine or Ale either by reason of poverty, or else because the Cellar lies open to every body, both Men-servants and Maid-servants, and they will to the best Tap, and so he fears it will be too chargeable.

But forasmuch as old Men’s Stomachs, when they sometimes feed on Stock-fish dried, or on Martelmas Beef, or Fish, by reason of its debility through old Age, cannot perform its office of Concoction: The Ale or Wine may by the help of this secret be presently rendred stronger, especially in the Winter Season, in which Season a warmer and stronger draught of Ale and Wine is more beneficial than in the former months, and then they can better brook the want of the same. But some may object and say, where shall I get such a concentrated cold as may enable me to extract the Water out of the Wine? hereunto I answer that there will be many that will prepare it for time to come and will spare it to others; and yet no body needs so great a quantity thereof neither. If a Master of a Family hath but one onely half pound of the same, he may use it his whole life time, if he but keep it so as that the Glass break not and spill it. For when he hath taken away the Water of one or two Pots of Ale or Wine, let him remove the Ice from the Glass, and set it again in the cold till he needs it. For such a cold concentrating Magnet always keeps its virtues, and is never corrupted, but always fit for the effecting of many wonderfull things.

_N. B._ If you have not those fires of Salts the heavy Oil of Vitriol, Oil of Salt, or _Aq. Fortis_ may be used hereabout; but yet these Oils do not in any comparison perform what those concentrated Fires of Salts are able to effect. But however they demonstrate the thing it self though they bring no great store of profit, and this any one may easily understand.

For there is a great difference betwixt the watery and not watery Fires of Salts, any common and simply bare Water cannot become so cold as the Water of any Salt, and this Salt-water cannot be so cold as a common Spirit of Salt, nor can this Spirit by any means arrive to that degree of cold as a concentrated Spirit usually attains to. So a skin of Leather is never so cold as Wood, nor Wood as a Stone, nor a Stone as an heavy Metal; the difference proceeding from the thickness of the compaction, for verily any thing will concentrate the more cold or heat and fix it with it self, by how much the compacter and thicker body it shall be of. For it is the property of a concentrated cold to kill a thing and to make it hard and stiff. Contrarywise a concentrated heat gives a speedy life, and correction, and emendation, and this experience it self teacheth.

O happy Man is he that can make a Metalline Salt as compact and thick, and heavy as a Metal, and can by conserving it a due time in the heat of the Fire, that the heat may by little and little and gradually be concentrated and fixed therein, make it fusile. Without doubt such an one would get a Tincture that would cure the most grievous Diseases, and change the imperfect Metals into perfect. For it is the Fire onely that begets a maturity to any thing, and by how much the stronger and greater the Fire is so much the speedier and better amending of any thing may be expected.

These things which I have here briefly declared are of greater moment, dignity, and weight than any one can believe; and besides there’s no doubt but that there will shortly some step forth, who will without any fear testifie the verity of Art, by changing imperfect Metals and turning them into pure Gold; so common will Alchymy become in this Age, which was neither heard of nor seen before in this World. Nay more, Men will make this Art so familiar unto them that they will not much esteem even of particular Tinctures.

But why God permits such things to be done, is to us wholly unknown, thus much we see onely, that doubtless there will follow some great change in the World; happy shall they be who having the fear of God before their eyes, and are of a pure mind, cannot be hurt by the Devil nor Sin his Mother.

XLIV. _Wherein this secret is beneficial to those that travel in
the Winter Season._

Necessity doth sometimes enforce old Men to undertake a Journey in the Winter, which, if no urgent hast forceth, may be so ordered that at Noon and Night quiet rest may be always taken in such a place in which is plenty of Meat and Drink.

But if so be that an urgency of occasion requires a going on forward, whether one ride on Horseback, or in a Coach or Waggon, and that either the Snow render the way difficult, or some Wheel of the Waggon be by chance broken, and so the journying Person hindred from coming to the place aimed at in the appointed time, he is sometimes by this means constrained to turn aside to a poor Peasants lodging, or if his fortune be a little more favourable, he is necessitated to Inn in some poor Village, where he can neither meet with Wine or good Ale; he now that thus journieth may out of the poor Wine or Ale make himself better Wine or Ale, and the better provide for his health if he hath about him, such a magnet in some small Glass that attracteth Ice to it.

XLV. _What profit those that sail in the Sea may have by this
secret._

It may so happen that a Man taking Ship with hopes of arriving in a short space of time to the end of his Voyage, though he has some little of good Wine or Ale, may be enforced if the Wind prove contrary to stay longer upon the Sea; his good Wine therefore and his Ale being spent, he may make that small Beer in the Ship which the common Marriners drink of, better, and preserve his own health.

XLVI. _How by the help of this secret the unprofitable Phlegm of
Brandy made of Corn may be taken away, that so it may become
equal to the spirit that is made of the lees of Wine._

To the effecting of this business there is required a greater Magnet, which may remove that Phlegm then needed to the Wine or Ale, because Brandy is of an hotter nature than Wine or Ale, which do more willingly let go their wateriness than adust Wine is wont to do.

XLVII. _By what means the superfluous waterishness is to be taken
away from the weaker or waterisher Vinegar, that so it may be
made stronger._

The waterishness of the weaker or more aqueous sort of Vinegar doth suffer it self to be more easily extracted by the help of that Ice-attracting Magnet, and the rather because it, _viz._ the Vinegar puts on an Icy form much sooner than any other Drinks.

XLVIII. _It may be quæried whether or no this bettering of Wine, Ale, Vinegar, Brandy, and other Drinks, and rendring them stronger and sweeter, may be done in great plenty, or whether it is to be accounted of as a curiosity onely?_

For answer, verily it is a most excellent secret most aptly satisfying the curious inquiry of mortal Men, which the World as yet never knew, and yet it can effect such unheard of things, which it is not necessary that they should be divulged.

As touching the plentifull separation of Water from Wine, Ale, or other Drinks [in great quantity] the same may be done and that with profit, and in some places bring no small gain to him who knows how rightly and artificially to accomplish the same. I have done enough as to my affairs in laying it open; we must not boil meat for the slothfull and thrust it into their mouths. Let them get it themselves if they will, and rightly take care of their own matters.

XLIX. _Whether or no likewise a great quantity of cold Fires out of
Salts may be easily prepared._

For answer, yes, so great a quantity of them may be prepared as a Man would wish for, or as his necessity shall enforce him to desire. But because such cold Fires of Salts are the effecters of admirable and incredible things which the World never knew of, therefore the copious preparing and getting of them deserves to be concealed. Let therefore every one be content with those things which I have published in the first Century: haply in process of time more may follow.

L. _How my =Sal Mirabilis= can free watery Oils of their
superfluous humidity._

Mix one pound of this my _Sal Mirabilis_ reduced by warmth into a fine Powder, with ten or twenty pounds of good Oil Olive, or new Linseed Oil; the _Sal Mirabilis_ is to be commixt warm with the Oil, and being well stirred about with it, draws to it self all the Water, and settles to the bottom of the Vessel, from which the clear Oil is to be separated by pouring it off; and all the Water and impurity of the Oil is to be severed from the _Sal Mirabilis_, that so it may be recovered and be again profitable for such like operations.

LI. _The way of taking off the mustiness or stink from a Vessel
corrupted or grown musty by lying, that it may be again fit to
put more Wine into._

Smear over the inside hollowness of such a Vessel with the concentrated moist Fire of Salt, that it may be every where wetted, and sprinkle thereupon so much of the _Sal Mirabilis_ as will stick thereunto. For so that cold Fire of concentrated Salt, with the attracted _Sal Mirabilis_ will become hard and not run, and stick on to the Vessel; and that said Fire will in a few days space burn up all the mouldiness and stinch, just as if the common Fire of Wood had been used thereabouts. The Vessel being washed with boiling Water is again rendred fit and convenient to put Wine into.

This operation is not here taught for some stinking Vessels sake that is not worth the while, but to this end, that other secrets of greater moment, and which are profitable, may be learned thereby and known. For under these operations lie hidden many wonderfull things, and such as the greatest part of the Readers will not consider. But to what end is it to light up a Torch before such Men, that are left by God in blindness and darkness, and hath not vouchsafed to bestow on them any Eyes.

LII. _The manner of preferring all kinds of Fruits, Eggs, Onions,
and other moist Fruits of the ground a long time from corrupting._

The sweet or dulcified _Sal Mirabilis_ is to be well dried by the help of the Fire, and being put in some Vessel with Fruits, Eggs or such like, with a thick and close laying [or bed of one upon the other] doth by its driness so preserve all things, and by its attracting virtue of all corrupting humidity, that for a long time they feel not the least corruption.

LIII. _Question. Why doth the =Sal Mirabilis=, which Corn has been
macerated withall afore its sowing, and some whereof is mixed
with the Earth, [or sown] attract the Rain, coagulate it, and
hold it with it self longer than other Salts?_

For answer, this is to be imputed to its most great driness which it abounds withall.

LIV. _The preparation of the =Sal Mirabilis=, so as that it may
become an universal Medicine for all Vegetables._

The _Sal Mirabilis_ as it is of it self, is by reason of its corroding virtues which it as yet retains plainly unfit for the multiplication of the Vegetables, for that being so used would prove more hurtfull than profitable. Upon this account it is necessary that to one part of it be added two parts by weight, of the best _Calx-vive_, which being moistened with Water and made up into Balls, are to be well heated red hot for an hour, that so all the corrosivity being introverted the _Sal Mirabilis_ may be Alkalizated, and used to the Vegetables for an universal Medicine; for it conserves its attracting force, and loseth it not in the heating red hot.

LV. _What’s the reason that Wood lying long in the Water wherein
=Sal Mirabilis= is dissolved, is turned into an hard Stone?_

For answer, this operation is to be ascribed to the incredible astringent property and nature, that the _Sal Mirabilis_ is endued withall.

LVI. _To reduce an half dead Tree to life again by the help of =Sal
Mirabilis=, that it may revive and begin again to sprout out._

Mix with the digged up Earth, with which the Roots of the Trees are covered, one, two, three or more pounds of the _Sal Mirabilis_, according to the bigness or littleness of the Tree, and again, cover over the Roots with the same, and pour upon the Earth it self, some Rain water, that being thereby moistned, the Roots may the better partake of the Salt that is mixed with it.

By this means, the Tree will attract to it self the Medicine or good nutriment out of the Salt, and will be cherished and refreshed just as a piece of bread or other food being given to an hunger-starv’d Man restores him his strength again.