Friendly Reader,

I doubt not, but it will seem a wonder to many, that Arcana’s of so great moment and so much utility should be laid open by me, in so perspicuous and evident a description, as for every one thoroughly to know them.

However, any Body may easily perswade himself that I have not so done without weighty causes, which to reckon up here at present, I judge it not so altogether necessary, but that it will be more commodious to refer it to some other convenient time. The chiefest and which is the most over-swaying reason amongst all the rest, is this, viz. the perverseness of some abusive Men, not onely endeavouring to make my Writings envied [or hated] by Men of common rank, but also by the great ones, by their lying reproachfull slaunders; and especially most falsely averring, that those three Arcana’s which I promised in the Fifth Part of the Prosperity of Germany, are of no profit, and therefore cannot be effected with any advantage, and that I my self sought after nothing else by promising their discovery, save onely by imposing them upon [or selling them unto] others to scrape some Monies together. Now forasmuch as this is the property of Slanders, to be admitted far easilier and readilier than the truth it self, and that for this reason many have diverted their minds from the truth of this thing by busying them about these Calumnies, and so have not known how the case stands; but (on the contrary) seeing I am conscious of mine own Innocency, and am far wide of those Crimes so falsely charged on me, I have judged it most just and most highly necessary, not to suffer those most false Accusations to rest upon me, but to shew the contrary to the Eyes of the whole World, and by demonstrating and disclosing the very truth it self, to recover my honour so perfidiously and treacherously snatcht from me; the which could not possibly be done by any better way than this.

Necessity therefore required the Work it self to speak, and to defend its own self, which indeed is a true and genuine defence, and way of stopping the shameless and lying Mouths of all reproachfull Slanderers. God will in time recompence such false Mens most wicked Works, whereby they have exceedingly injured me. Mean while every one may apply these most profitable inventions to their use, and undertake the doing one or other of the Operations whereby they may reap some benefit, which I wish them from my Soul.

Nor do I doubt, but that a very many Men will, by following the Doctrine by me prescribed, and insisting upon the foot-steps of my Writings, which are founded on the truth, as being a sure Foundation, get themselves no small profit; whilest they quietly and peaceably enjoy the gainfull practising on my Arcana’s: And especially of that most easie secret, by which, fugacious and volatile Gold is extracted out of all kinds of Flints, (every where plentifully offering themselves, and so by the help of Lead, is rendred Corporeal. Which Work verily is such, as that one Man doth no ways damnifie another by, but may rather help and profit him. Therefore do I at present affirm to every body with that truth which God loves, and will defend, that all the following Operations which I manifest in the publishing this little Treatise, have been wrought by me not once onely but often times, and have been shown to many others, so that no body has any reason to doubt hereof, nor need he be sollicitous about any other thing but how wisely to manage, the Operation, and to be diligent about his labours. But if it should so fall out as that a Man should commit an errour or two, which may easily happen, let him not ascribe the errours he commits, to the Art it self, and thereupon to accuse it of falsity, but let him rather inquire into the occasions and reasons of his own errours, and without doubt by such enquiries will he attain his end, and get the hoped for fruit: in which thing, my first and second Century will by an easie Manuduction help him.

These are the things which for the truths sake and to witness it, was I willing to produce. And I do hereby signifie to every one that now my publick Laboratory is at an end, and shall remain shut for time to come, which I was willing every one should know.

[The first] Operation shewing the way of reducing any Lead, or any Vein of Lead by the help of common Salt, [and] by Coals, into Ashes, in the Furnace called Stichofen, that so the Gold and Silver may be extracted with profit.

Take of Lead or a Leaden Vein two parts, and of common Salt one part. The Lead Oar is to be ground in a Mill, and so are they to be commixt, and by little and little thrown with a Shovel upon the Coals in the Furnace, serving to make Ashes, and which has Pipes or Chimnyes fitted thereunto to receive the fume and the ascending Flores. That molten part of Metal and Salt which falls through the Grate is to be again taken up with your Shovel, and cast in upon the Coals untill the whole Metal, or all that metallick Vein shall be turned into Ashes. Then farther, all the burnt matter, is to be freed by divers washings from all the defilements, and the remaining Ashes of the Metal or Metallick Vein, is to be reduced into a Metal in a Furnace which the Germans call Stichofen. These incinerations and reductions are to be so often and so long repeated, untill you find (by making trial with some little piece) that your Lead is now fitted to be handled or wrought on in the Hearths or Furnaces by the Fire of Separation. For then in the Hearths or Tests it is changed into Litharge, whereby it may the more commodiously yield forth the Gold and Silver, which by the Fire and Salt are therein maturated.

N. B. But you are here to observe that the leaden Oars can indeed be commixed with the Salt, and so thrown in upon the Coals: But now Lead admits not of being so dealt withall, for it is not mixable with the Salt, and therefore it requires that the Salt be first cast in upon the Coals, and then must it be thrown in afterwards at top of it. And this way is to be observed and so often repeated and so long, always throwing in, first the Salt then the Lead, till the Lead being turned into ashes, hath wholly lost its metallick Fusion. The said ashes are to be washt with Water and reduced in the Furnace, on such wise as we spake of but now.

N. B. Other lesser Metals may be added to the Lead or to the leaden Vein or Oar, and so be reduced into Ashes together, as Tin, Iron or Copper. But yet these leaden Oars are more advantageous and profitable if they are taken alone, as being more fit for this kind of labour, seeing they have already in them Iron and Copper, and yield not any good and vendible Lead, by reason of their wild nature, and so there’s no need of burning up Copper and Tin which are already vendible.

N. B. Whilest this Incineration is done, many Metallick Flores does ascend up into the Receptacles appointed for the fume to go up in, and which are adjoyned to the Furnace, which (if need be) may be taken out, and by washings be freed from the Salt which ascended together with them, and by Reduction be restored or reduced to their former body: and will yield Lead which contains in it Silver, and is to be converted into Litharge like other Lead, that the Silver may be separated therefrom.

This likewise is heedfully to be observed in the other Minera’s or Oars turned into Ashes, that afore their Reduction, they be thoroughly washt from all the Salt, and the light filths or defilements are to be well separated from the metalline body; for if this be neglected, the Salt being forced with the strong blast of the Bellows would carry off the Metal together with it self, and the Ashes of the Coals would hinder the Fusion of the Metal it self, and reduce the same into Scoria’s.

As concerning the Reduction it self, this is well to be regarded, that the Fire must be kindled in the Furnace at least two hours afore the Ashes of the Oars that are to be reduced, are to be put in, that so the Furnace may be thoroughly bright-hot within; for if it be not through fiery-hot, the Cast in Minera’s melt not, and being not molten they lie in the Fire, and hinder the blast of the Bellows, and spoil the Operation it self.

These labours therefore require a skilfull Artificer, and one versed in such Operations, for they are not so very Facile as they seem to many, to appear to be.

Then farther, this is likewise to be noted, that if the Minera’s or Oars that you take to this Operation are full of Sulphur, and that that Sulphur is not wholly taken away by torrifying [or calcining them] it will by its fierceness reduce in the melting the body of the good Metal into Scoria’s, and instead of Metal present you with Dross. And this is that Incineration and Reduction which I have showed in my Laboratory, both to Friends and Enemies; But yet I have (since that time) found out a far easier way of doing this labour, by the help of which, one Man will do more in one day, than he could otherwise in eight days. But because this way is not as yet made common, it seems not convenient in my Opinion to divulge it here; for as much as I have determined with my self in this present Appendix to disclose onely those things which I exposed to be seen in my Laboratory by others.

By what means Gold, Silver, yea and Copper too, may with great profit be extracted out of the poor Metallick Veins by the moist way, and which cannot quit the costs of doing it by Fire.

First of all, the metallick Earths are to be made red hot, and to be quenched in cold Water, that so being made brittle they may be ground in a Mill. If Sulphur be admixt in them, then must they by a foregoing fireing be freed from the same, because the Sulphur hinders the Aqua Fortis, from duely dissolving those Oars. Being now thus prepared, they are to be put into the stronger Glasses, or into Earthen Cucurbits made of the best Clay, and the following Water is to be poured upon them, and is to cover them over three fingers breadth. The Cucurbit being filled with these matters is to be set in a Case [or Pot] full of Sand, and prepared for this use, and all the Water is to be drawn therefrom by Distillation: which is not onely all of it again recovered, but withall doth get it self an encrease or augmentation from the Salt-peter or the Salt, so that there ascends more Water by Distillation than was poured on.

The Oars are to be taken out of the Cucurbit, (or Cucurbits, if there were more Pots used) and being taken forth you must pour common Water thereupon to extract the remaining Salt thereout of, in the which Salt is found the Gold and the Silver that was in the Oars.

N. B. This is to be observed in this labour, that all the Spirits are not to be drawn off from the Oars even to the dry Salt; and this not onely to shun the dammage that might happen by breaking the Glasses, but also for this reason, viz. that there may be left behind with the Salt a little Acrimony, because of some Salts which easily pass into Salt-peter when some Aqua Fortis is drawn off them. And albeit that Aqua Fortis will easily turn the whole Body of Kitchin Salt into Salt-peter, yet notwithstanding ’mongst all the Salts one Salt admits of a speedier, another of a slow Transmutation, according as it is more or less akin in its nature unto Salt-peter.

And therefore to prevent this errour, some humidity is to be left with the Oars. For when all the Spirits are drawn off, and the Salt is turned into Salt-peter, the Water would not be sharp enough to hold up the Gold that is extracted, when the Solution is made, for the Water would dissolve barely the Salt-peter, and leave the Gold remaining behind with the Oar.

If this errour should chance to be committed, the Salt-peter is to be extracted out of the Oars with the Water, and more new Salt must be poured on upon the same Oars together with the Aqua Regis that was drawn off by Distillation; that so this Aqua Regis having been once abstracted may not afterwards transmute all the Salt thereto added into Salt-peter. For by how much the oftner the Aqua Fortis is drawn off from the Salt, so much the less is the Salt turned by it into Salt-peter, and at length, it will come to such a pass as to remain just as it was afore the abstraction [of the so oft drawn off Spirit.] For this is the nature of Aqua Fortis, viz. to transmute half its weight of Salt into Salt-peter at the first time; the second time it transmutes but a fourth part; the third time much less; and at length will transmute none at all; but puts on the nature of Spirit of Salt; which notwithstanding is most fit to extract Gold and Copper withall out of the Oars in infinitum, if Salt be thereto added, out of which, it is wont to get it self a perpetual encrease (and be) like other Spirit of Salt.

Now then, to prevent this inconvenience, the Aqua Fortis may be left off for altogether, and those Minerals and Metallick Earths may be extracted with the Spirit of Salt onely, and Salt added thereunto: onely observing this thing in the Distillation, viz. that some of the humidity be left behind with the Oars whereby they may be the easilier taken out of the Glasses.

Moreover this is to be likewise known, that Gold, Silver, and Copper may be extracted out of their Oars or Earths even without Aqua Fortis or Spirit of Salt, if onely Salt or Salt-peter be but added. For if some Oil of Vitriol or of Sulphur be poured upon the Water of Salt-peter, or that the Water of Salt be acuated therewithall, it becomes strong enough to extract Gold, and after the extraction and distilling the Phlegm off, there follows by distilling a pleasant Spirit of Salt, or from Salt-peter a good Aqua Fortis. This labour therefore is more gainfull and less troublesome, than if Aqua Fortis or Spirit of Salt were used thereunto.

There are other easier and more compendious ways of extracting Gold, Silver and Copper out of their Earths, which, seeing they have not been as yet shown in my Laboratory, I shall silently pass them by at present and that not without reason. But yet there is frequent mention made of the like [Operations] in my first Century, in which he who has an earnest desire to know more of those kind of ways, may make enquiry.

The Preparation of sutable and proper Waters to extract Gold, Silver and Copper out of poor Oars.

Take of Salt-peter one part, of common Aqua Fortis two parts; these being joyned together, extract Silver and also Copper. But to extract Gold out of its Oars or Minerals, there must be taken one part of common Salt, and four parts of Aqua Fortis. One pound of Salt, and four of Aqua Fortis, make four pounds and ½ of Aqua Regia, the other half pound of Salt stays behind with the Metallick Veins or Oars in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and contains the Gold that was in them, and is to be extracted with common Water.

The way of getting out the Gold and Silver out of the washt-out Salts by precipitation, and of reducing them to their peculiar bodies without detriment or loss.

If it be Water of Salt-peter and hath Silver in it, the Water of Salt being poured in, precipitates the Silver to the bottom. But if Water of Salt, and has Gold in it, the Gold is precipitated by pouring on a Lixivium which hath in it a little liquour of Flints. And now this Water it self thus mixt by pouring (other precipitating liquors on it) yields (by decoction) most excellent Salt-peter. And the Aqua Fortis and Aqua Regis, which ascended by Distillation, are fit to make new extractions of Gold, Silver, and Copper out of their Earths; and by iterated extractions (by the Salts and Waters thereto added) do they get a perpetual encrease, insomuch that in these extractions of Gold, Silver, and Copper, there are not required at all any other expences save those few, bestowed on firing. Therefore in the beginning of this Work there is not required ought else but one onely pound of Aqua Fortis, because in the progress of the Work it proceeds on to an infinite encrease, yea, enough for the extraction of many thousands of pounds.

(Hence is it that this Work is an unheard of Operation, and doth almost exceed all belief, and from which there must an immense gain of necessity accrew, because Gold, Silver, and Copper may by this means be extracted out of their poor Metallick Earths without costs.

There remains yet one thing which is to be heedfully regarded in the precipitation of the Gold and Silver. A common Lixivium cannot precipitate all the Gold out of the Aqua Regis, and therefore I bid you add to the Lixivium some liquor of Flints, and this will also appear in my first Century.

Therefore it behoves every one, clearly to see whether or no he makes use of true and genuine Liquor of Flints in his Operation, that so he may not instead of it, use a bare simple Lixivium onely, and so commit a great errour, as it hath happened to some as I have been told.

But he that can’t make true and good liquor of Flints, or else has it not at hand, may substitute in its steed, common Spirit of Urine prepared in a Copper still, which together with the said liquor precipitates all the Gold out of the Aqua Regis.

N. B. But this Gold thus precipitated by Spirit of Urine, fulminates like Gun-powder, unless it be burnt with common Brimstone afore the Reduction, and that this fulminating faculty be taken away from it, which inconvenience the liquour of Flints is not wont to bring.

N. B. If there should be much Zink, Iron, or Lapis Calaminaris in the Oars of Gold or Silver, the Aqua Fortis or Aqua Regis would not all ascend by the Distillation, nor get increase; but some part thereof would stay with those Metallick Earths, and with the Lapis Calaminaris, &c. and by adhering thereunto be concentrated: but yet there would not be any loss by that, for by the pouring on a Lixivium of Wood-ashes, may it be turned into good Salt-peter, of as much value as may easily recompence the charges of the Aq. Fortis, or Aq. Regia.

Besides, you are likewise to observe this, that if there should be Copper admixt in the Oars of the Gold and Silver, the Aq. Fortis would extract the Copper too, as well as the Silver.

But now the nearest way of separating these two Metals from each other, is this, Let Spirit of Salt be poured to the Aq. Fortis, and it will precipitate all the Silver out of the Aq. Fortis, down to the bottom and the Copper will be left in the water; which if you put some Iron into, it will stick to the Iron, and by this means be gotten out of the water.

This water now, after the Metals are withdrawn from it, is fit to make new Salt-peter with, and by addition of Vitriol to yield a new Aq. Fortis by distillation.

Alkali Salts do in the Fusing bring the precipitated Silver to its former body, which otherwise is very fugacious.

The Copper is turned into excellent Verdigrease. And so the Oars of Copper, though never so poor, may be extracted, and that with no small benefit: Because the Verdigrease made of the bare Copper is twice the price of the molten Copper it self.

The manner of making good Salt-peter in plenty, out of Kitchin-Salt and Calx-vive.

Take the Stones of Lime, which have been thorowly changed or reduced into Powder by the Air, four parts: of Kitchin Salt, or Common Salt, one part, [by weight, and not by measure] whether pure or impure [it matters not:] and of this mixture is a thickish paste to be made by moistning it with Urine, or, in want of that, with Water; which is to be made up into a Pile with Wood, and so may it be made Stratum super stratum, of what bigness you please: and it may be done in a Furnace made for that purpose, or else in the open Field abroad in the Air. But you must beware in the building up of this Pile, that the mass of Salt and Calx-vive be not too thick laid, and too much; but it would be better to make it up in balls or pellets, that so they may be well fired by the flame, which must penetrate everywhere through the pervious heap or pile: which cannot be, if the mass be spread too broad, and so stop up the passages of the flame.

The heap being made as big as you are minded to have it, the fire must be put under, and so long fed, till all the wood is burnt, and the balls themselves have been red-hot, a whole hour at least: that the Acrimony of the Salt may in so great a heat be changed by the Calx-vive, and get it self a milder nature, and consequently be so much the easier transmuted into Salt-peter.

N. B. The Salt that is on this wise transmuted, is most fit for dunging Lands, and to be used instead of the common beasts dung, as I have at large taught long ago in many places of my Writings.

This is the preparation of turning Salt into Salt-peter, which Artifice, if any be minded to work about, it is necessary for him to order his Operation this following way.

The manner of making Salt-peter out of this prepared Salt.

First of all, this introverted Salt must be exposed to the open Air, and beams of the Sun; but yet so, as that the heap may not be moistned by the Rain, and it must lie in its heap the heighth of some three or four Feet; the which heap is to be wetted either with Man’s piss or Beasts; or if there be not enough of this to be had, then with bare water onely, that so the pellets or balls lying quietly for some days, may be dissolved and be mixed with the rest of the matter.

Now when the warm Air hath consumed all the humidity, and dried up the heap, the aforesaid moistning is to be repeated; which being again consumed, and the heap dried, the labour of repeated moistnings and exsiccations is to be so long continued, as long as necessity requireth: For in long progress of time is the Salt-peter generated, which must be washed out with water, and by decoction be reduced into Stria’s or Crystals.

This generation of Salt-peter proceeds indeed slowly on, but yet it brings a great profit. For if once the Salt-peter be but generated in such an heap of Salt, and the reliques left after the washing out of the Peter be again put to the same heap, there will new Salt-peter be generated in process of time: so that new Salt-peter will every year offer it self to be washt out of the heap: and this work may be continued without end.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another Preparation of Salt for the making of Salt-peter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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