I have in the foregoing first Century, as also in the Appendix to the fifth part of the prosperity of Germany, described the incineration or reduction into ashes, which is to be done with Coals in a peculiar Furnace, fit for torrefaction or calcining.

Though this be a laborious way and tedious, yet is it not without its benefit, provided that a great quantity (as I have already oft times said) of the not vendible minerals and metals be thereto used. But that such an incineration may be done after a more easie and compendious manner, the following way may be made use of.

Build an Hearth of good and fitting earth upon a firm foundation, put thereupon a Furnace [or an Arch] of good stones, adjoyn hereto an Oven, [or side Furnace] out of which the fire may play and emit its flame over all the said Hearth, and pass thereout of by a Chimny made for that purpose. Upon this Hearth put those metalline earths being broken in a Mill, and commix them with the Salt, and Coals reduced into powder, and leave them for twenty or twenty four hours, that they may be all well fired and heated red hot: For by this means, the salt makes the fugitive metal in some sort constant and able to brook the fire; and the wild sulphureousness leaves the metalline mineral, and adjoyns it self to the salt, and converteth it into a vitriol or Sal. Mirabilis. This twenty or twenty four hours heat, gets a constancy and fluxibility to those wild metallick veins, and doth withall by that labour so fit and prepare the salt, that it doth afterwards by an easie mutation pass into good salt peter.

After that the said minerals have gotten themselves a better state by the said Cementation, they are to be drawn out of the Fire or Hearth, with iron instruments fit for such a purpose, and new and fresh minerals are to be put in, and to be dealt withall after the same manner as we said but now.

The minerals that are taken forth are to be broken in a Mill, and then the salt to be washed off with common water, and to be afterwards used about making salt peter, the which we have taught in the Appendix.

The light Coals [or Scinders] and unprofitable earth is to be separated by water, from the metalline part, and this metalline part, or heavier limus, being reduced and molten in the Furnace called Stichofen, yields a beautifull or pure and gainfull metal.

There are sometimes found in many places of Germany, wild, fugacious, and unmeltable minerals of lead, which for that they contain in them Sulphur, Antimony, or Lapis Calaminaris, do not admit of reduction in the Furnace called Stichofen, but do either go off in fume, or turn into dross. But being first roasted after the aforesaid manner, and fitted for liquefaction, the lead, comprehending in it silver too, may be thence gotten with profit, whereas otherwise they are wont to be dealt withall without any fruit, and are therefore given over. This incineration therefore is profitably used to such degenerate minerals.

Now if so be any would deal with vendible and good metals, and would have profit from them by incineration, he must proceed this following way.

II. The manner of reducing lead into ashes, and so handling it with the spirits of salt, that gold and silver may be thence gotten with profit.

I have at large taught in my first Century, that in the ripening of metals and other chymical operations, a greater fire is endued with stronger power than a lesser, which is easie to be understood by those that have any wit.

I just now taught the maturation and bettering of unprofitable and wild metallick earths with crude and gross salt.

But forasmuch as the gross salt and a weak fire cannot of necessity put forth so much strength as a stronger fire is wont to doe, therefore for such as desire a stronger fire than the common salt, the purer part is to be (by the help of Art) drawn out of the crude salt and to be separated from its grosness and impurity, the which is easily brought to pass by distillation. And as for these fires of salts, and the procuring them in great plenty, my writings, but especially the precedent first Century, do clearly and evidently treat of them, and this second Century will yet treat of it more.

III. The operation of incinerating the lead, or reducing it into ashes.

Having built a Furnace such as is for Cementation, put therein a strong iron Pot, just after such a manner as the sand cupels [or pans] are wont to be made, let there be a Grate to make a fire on, let the Furnace be bigger or lesser according to the bigness or littleness of the Pot you would put in, or according to the quantity of lead-ashes you would make. Put fire under the Pot and heat it red hot, and put thereinto so much lead as is requisite for the covering of the bottom of the Pot; the lead being molten, stir it about in the Pot without ceasing, with an iron spoon having a long handle, the which labour will turn the lead into ashes in the space of about two hours. Take these ashes out, and put in more lead into the Pot, and repeat this labour so often untill you have gotten enough ashes. These ashes of lead are fitted to receive an amendment by the spirits of salts, and afterwards to yield their gold and silver by fusion, and that with profit.

IV. The manner of bettering the ashes of lead by the spirits of salts, and of extracting thencefrom the gold and silver with gain.

First of all, you must have plenty of the spirit of salt or Aq. Regis, as concerning the easie getting such spirits, we have mentioned the way at large in the foregoing Appendix, and will yet treat more of them in this present second Century.

Besides, you must also provide your self of red or reddish kind of flints, which (besides iron) do also contain in them a volatile gold. Out of these is the tincture to be extracted by the spirit of salt, or by Aq. Regis; after that manner I delivered at large in the first Century, and in the Appendix to the fifth part of the prosperity of Germany, and will yet farther teach more clearly and more compendiously in this Century.

These extractions are to be poured upon the lead-ashes, that they may be well moistened therewithall; the unprofitable phlegm is to be evaporated by a gentle heat, and the fire to be augmented that the spirits also may follow; of which more heavy spirits there will be enough remaining in the secret Cementatory Pot, and as much as is sufficient for the due operation upon the lead, that so being bettered it may afterwards prove a gainfull emitter of its gold and silver.

He that has a desire of exercising this labour with greater profit, may satisfie his desire, if he will but pour on such extractions twice or thrice upon the said lead ashes, that they may be con-centrated by them afore they are cemented in the Cementatory Vessel, and may be reduced into the bettered lead. For by this means, all the labours and costs will be more largely recompenced, and the more plenty of gain gotten.

This now is the making the lead-ashes, whether you do either per se, or by the help of the other metals, convert it by Cementation into a better metal.

V. A brief description of the secret Cementatory Pot, which admits not of any spilling, and which is sealed with the Seal of Hermes, of which I made mention in the first Century.

Build with Stones or Clay or Potters earth such a Furnace as that is, which I described in the first part of my Furnaces, as necessary for the making of spirit of salt. But let the lower part thereof be a little broader that so the Metals being cast upon the Coals may not stick to the walls of the Furnace and so be somewhat lost, but may fall directly down on the live Coals. It must be made four square and of such a bigness as may serve the purpose according as you are minded to cement a greater or lesser quantity of metal therein.

VI. Of the Cover of the Cementatory-pot, what it ought to be, that so it may suffer nothing to goe away in fume.

This Cover of this Cementatory Box or Furnace which I told you was to be made of the Lute of Wisedom, is not properly a Cover but a Leaden Cistern, serving for the reception of those spirits which are driven up by the fire out of the Lead-ashes. This Lead receiver is to lie in another Leaden Cistern, which is to be filled with water, and ’tis to be so fitted to a pipe that is to come out of the Furnace, that the ascending spirits passing thereinto may be the better refrigerated by the water, and the sooner condensed, and saved for farther uses.

VII. Of the use and benefit of this secret Cementing Pot.

When any one has a mind to cement the Lead ashes, from which the extractions of the coloured Flints have been sometimes abstracted in the said Cementatory Box, and to graduate them, or so bring to pass that they may contain [or hold the] Gold and Silver, let him first of all fill his Furnace with Charcoal, and let him so order it that his fire may kindle by little and little till the Furnace be well heated red hot; till this is done, the Cover that is at top is to be taken so long off, that so neither the heat nor smoke may pass out at the side through the Pipe into the adjoyned Leaden Cistern.

When the Furnace is thoroughly heated, and that ’tis now time to begin the Cementation, the top of the Furnace is to be shut with its Cover, that the heat may be forced to pass through the Pipe into the Receiver. Having so done, you are to fill an Iron Spoon or Ladle of your prepared Lead-ashes, and put them into the Furnace at the fore-hole which serves for the throwing in your Coals, the which ashes are to be so put in as to cover the Coals over, but not so as to choke them but that they may have air enough to burn, and that the fire be not put out, but doe just in that manner as you are wont to distil the Spirit of Salt. By this means all the Spirits that remained yet behind in the Lead-ashes, will betake themselves into the Receiver, and the Ashes of the Lead will be bettered by the graduating and tinging spirits, and will part of them be reduced into a body, and part will yet retain the form of ashes, and fall down through the Grate to the bottom of the Furnace. Then the Furnace is to be again filled with Coals, and more Ashes are to be put thereon with a Spoon as afore, and this labour is to be continued so long till all the Ashes are consumed.

All the labour being finished, take out your Ashes together with the lead reduced into a body, melt them in the Furnace which is called Stichofen, they will melt wondrous easie, then put some small part thereof to the Test, thereby to try whether or no they are enriched enough, to be turned into a Litharge and undergoe the metallick separation.

If they won’t as yet brook the trial, let the Lead be again turned into Ashes in your Iron Pot, and repeat the whole afore prescribed labour, and that so often till at length the Lead be rendred rich enough in Gold and Silver, the which may be converted into Litharge after the usual manner, and separated from the Gold and Silver. The Litharge being taken away, and gathered together, and broken in a Mill, serves for farther uses in this operation. The Regulus of the Gold and Silver that is left upon the hearth is to be taken out and to be farther mundified in a Cupel after the accustomed way.

This is that more compendious incineration and reduction of Lead, which kind of bettering it, enricheth the operators with Gold and Silver.

N. B. That in this Cementation the sharp spirits do carry over with them some of the Volatile Lead into the Receiver, and there it settles to the bottom; the which powder being freed from all the Acrimony of the spirits by due washings, and being then dried, may be used to all such intents and operations to which the Mercury of Saturn is wont to be used, and which is made by dissolving the Lead in Aq. Fortis, and precipitating it by Salt-water.

N. B. This distilled Mercury hath more hidden under it than the other hath; for it carries hidden in it a Volatile Gold, which may be separated from it and improved about the gradation and Tincture of other Metals, and that with no small profit, concerning which we will say more afterwards.

Thus, friendly Reader, hast thou my more compendious incineration and reduction into better Metals; the which I would not hide from thee, and hereby shall I satisfie those to whom the way prescribed in my Appendix is too tedious and laborious and they may make use of this way instead of that other, which withall is easier and will without all doubt yield more Gold and Silver than that other way.

VIII. Another emendation or bettering of Lead by the graduating extractions of coloured Flints.

Extract either coloured Flints, such as have in them Volatile Gold or Sand or Clay, by the spirit of Salt or Aq. Regis, and draw off the Liquor by Distillation. If you thereto add Salt afore their extraction the dissolvent will receive encrease from the Salt, especially if done in such an instrument, in which a great quantity of extracted matters may be abstracted in a few hours, without either Cucurbits or the other commonly known distilling Vessels, and the same operation may be continued a long while. By this means, there is not onely the least loss of your dissolvent, but it rather gets no small encrease from the Salt. By this instrument also, thou maist not onely prepare great store of sharp spirits necessary for thy operation at the beginning, but likewise commodiously extract your Minerals, and separate the dissolvent again from the Minerals so extracted, so that you shall not lose the least particle of your dissolvent.

But forasmuch as all the Gold, Silver, and Copper may much easier be separated from its Menstruum, by this so unheard of and never seen instrument, than by the way of precipitation, ’tis altogether better and safer for a Man not to precipitate his extracted Metals, but rather draw off the Menstruum from them, that so he may have them dry. And though that all the spirits go not wholly off, so as that nothing of them abide with the Metals, yet they do no hurt, but rather exalt the Litharge that is put unto them into an higher degree, as it also does to the Ashes themselves of the Lead, when they are cemented together in the afore described cementing Furnace; in which Cementation the Volatile Gold is, together with the corporal Gold conserved, and which otherwise would vanish away in the common melting Fire.

But if so be that any one has a mind to precipitate the Metals extracted out of poor Mines, after the manner prescribed in the Appendix, to the intent he may after the precipitation make Salt Peter of the remaining Waters, he may reduce the Calx’s of the Metals, and principally of the Gold very easily and without any loss, by this following way.

IX. The manner of reducing the precipitated and washed Calx of Sol without any loss.

The precipitation of Gold by Lixiviums, Liquor of Flints, Spirit of Urine, Solution of Mercury, hath been clearly enough described in the Appendix to the fifth part of the prosperity of Germany; but yet the reduction of the same was past over in silence, because of the too much hast of the said Book. Therefore it seemed unto me necessary to insert the same here, for their sakes, who have but little knowledge, or in a manner none at all in these affairs; for should I go to propound such a thing for the skilfull Chymists, I should but do what is already done, especially because he deserves not the name of a Chymist who is ignorant of the reduction of the solar Calx.

But forasmuch as it may so happen, that even the unskilfull may set about this extracting of the Minerals, and yet be ignorant of the way of reducing the Gold though they should have extracted it; therefore have I judged it not amiss to illustrate that reduction by my describing thereof here, the which being divers, according as the precipitation is made by such or such a means, doth also require different operations.

X. The reduction of the solar Calx precipitated by the Liquour of Flints.

Albeit that Borax reduceth every Calx of Sol to its former body, if it be therewith mixed and melted in a Crucible, yet that would prove too dear, if somewhat a greater quantity thereof be required for the reduction; for there must be of it at least twice or thrice as much in weight as is of the Gold, if you would have a due reduction of the Gold made. The reason is this, because the Flints precipitated to the bottom together with the Gold, and so sticking on to the Gold impead its fusion so that it cannot rightly come together into its due body. Hereupon is it necessary that there should be the double or treble weight of Borax added to the Gold if you would have all your Gold return unto its former body without detriment.

But whereas there are also other matters to be found which make the Gold fusible and are not so dear as Borax is, the use of such things is to be admitted, but especially when a great quantity of Gold is to be reduced. Otherwise if it be but little Gold that is to be reduced, and you have not the aforesaid matters at hand, one may for such a small trial use Borax. But where there is a greater quantity to be reduced the following matter will be found to be far more profitable and beneficial.

XI. How the Gold which is precipitated by the Liquor of Flints, is to be melted without Borax, by the Glass of Lead only, which is of a far meaner price.

Take of your Gold precipitated by the Liquor of Flints and dryed, one part, of Glass made of Lead and beaten into powder, three parts; the which mix well with the Gold and put into a Crucible, which said Crucible let be put into another bigger one (for which operation the Hassion pots are most fit) that so if the Gold chance to flow out of the inner pot, it may stay in the outer and be conserved. For the Glass of Lead is of such a nature that it usually perforates or runs through the pot. Having thus done put your twofold Crucible containing your commixed matters into a wind Furnace, such an one as I have described, and when you have covered it, put Coals under it [or about it] and urge your fire for one quarter of an hour, that all may well flow, then pour it out, and separate the Regulus of Gold with a stroke or two from the glass of the Lead; which said Glass hath attracted to it self all the flinty matter, and suffers the pure and malleable Gold to settle to the bottome into a Regulus.

N. B. If your glass of Lead be still yellow as it was before the operation, ’tis a sign that all the Gold is separated therefrom; but if it be of a green colour ’tis a sure sign that it has as yet some Gold mixed with it. For Gold being mixed with Glass shews its being there by yielding a skie-colour, the which skie-colour is necessarily changed in the yellow glass of Lead into a green; because every yellow and skie colour do in their commixtion beget a green.

Now then that you may get out the reliques of the Gold out of the leaden Glass you must proceed the following way.

XII. By what means the Glass of Lead which as yet contains in it some reliques of Gold is to be dealt withall, that it may let them goe out of its body.

Melt that Glass of Lead in a well covered pot, that I mean in which you suppose some Gold to be, and being well molten cast in a little iron filings, and mix it well by stirring it with an iron rod, and leave it in the fire thus molten, for one quarter of an hour, that the sulphur of the Glass may be killed by its corroding of the iron, and may let fall a leady Regulus wherein the Gold will be, and which (in the first melting) the Glass held up, will separate it by the Cupel from the Lead.

N. B. But here you are to observe that the filings of the iron are to be used very sparingly to this precipitation; for by how much the more iron is added, so much the greater will the Regulus of the lead be, and consequently require a greater Cupel, which is not so necessary.

For put case the Glass of Lead in which the Gold is suspected to be is about one pound weight, and there is but about a Quinta, or certain small weight of Gold; now it is not necessary to have any more than one Lot of Lead or thereabouts, precipitated thereout of into a Regulus, to which precipitation is required no more than one Lot of the filings of Iron. For the Regulus of Lead precipitated out of the Glass, doth for the most part answer in weight, to the weight of the Iron filings used about the precipitation, or to speak more clearly, you will get so much leaden Regulus, as the Iron is you added.

The remaining Glass becomes black and is unprofitable for any farther melting with Gold, but yet needs not be cast away, because those Scoria’s do yet contain much Lead, and therefore serve to be mixt with such Pots as you have used and broken about Metals, or with other wild and hardly fusile metallick Veins, to render them fusible, being I say commixt with these, and put in the Furnace which the Germans call Stichofen, do not onely yield forth all their Lead, but withall draw out the Metals out of those matters which were mixed with them in the melting. But they are principally profitable for the melting and reducing of those Metals, which do not onely very difficultly admit of fusion by themselves, but withall do, being mixed with the Ashes of Tin, so much the more difficultly suffer themselves to be reduced by melting, unto their former bodies. But in defect of such Metals and Minerals, as are not but with much adoe tamed by Liquefaction, you may put to that black Glass of Lead, one fourth part onely of filings, or Scoria’s of Iron made into powder, that so both the matters thus commixt may be molten in the Furnace Stichofen. So by the addition and help of the Iron, all the Lead will be reduced to its former body, and will withall extract out of the Iron whatsoever of Gold and Silver lay therein hidden; so that by this means there may be reaped a great benefit from this reduction of the Glass of Lead. But yet that Lead is to be tryed by a foregoing tryal, whether or no it be rich enough in Gold and Silver to quit the costs of separation? For if it be not, it must be used to the afore described incineration, that so there may be no loss either of the Gold or the Lead.

XIII. The preparation of the Glass of Lead, for the reducing such Gold as being precipitated by the Liqour of Flints, is of difficult fusion.

Take of white and fusile Flints [or Pebles] one part, and of Minium, or any other Ashes of Lead, or else even of Litharge it self four parts, each of which being powdered apart, you are to commix and melt them well in a strong double Pot, then pour them out, and you will have a Hyacinth-coloured Glass, the which Glass is to be powdered and mixt with the Gold, and it makes the Gold Powder which resisteth melting fusible.

XIV. Another way of reducing Gold precipitated by the Liqour of Flints.

To one part of this hardly-melting Gold which is precipitated by the Liqour of Flints, admix two or three parts of Litharge, which matters put in a strong double Pot, and cover it well, and melt them well down in a Wind Furnace, that the Litharge may draw unto it self all the Flints, and all the Gold may separate. Having separated the Regulus from the Scoria’s of the Lead, you must precipitate these Scoria’s, which do as yet hold in them some small portion of Gold into a small leaden Regulus, with the filings of Iron, as we shewed you but now, that so you may also have even that residue of Gold. The Scoria are conserved by being reduced in the Furnace Stichofen, according to the operation already spoken of.

XV. Another way of rendring the Gold precipitated by the Liqour of Flints fusible.

Take of the said Gold one part, and the fixt Salt made of Salt Peter and Tartar, by combustion or calcination, three parts; commix them and melt them down in a crucible well covered. In this co-melting the Salt swallows up the Flints, and the Gold being at liberty settles to the bottom. Pour out the molten mass, and separate the Regulus of the Gold from the Salt, the which being dissolved with common water gives you your Liqour of Flints, to be again used to precipitate more extracted Gold.

This Salt doth not so easily perforate the Crucibles as those Glasses of Lead do, and therefore is it to be accounted of as the best and easiest of all these three prescribed ways.

XVI. The way of reducing Gold, precipitated by the spirit of Urine.

The spirit of Urine or of Sal. Armoniack doth perfectly precipitate all the Gold out of the Aq. Regis; the which being washed and dried, doth not admit of reduction after the manner of the other Gold, for if it be but onely heated a little before it becomes red hot, it presently takes fire, and fulminates with a far more dreadfull noise than any Gunpowder. For if you put a small portion of the same, and no bigger than a Pea in a Silver, Iron, or Copper Spoon, and put it on the Coals that it may wax hot, it will give such an horrible crack, that ’twill even dull the hearing, and make a dent in the Spoon as if it had been beaten in with a Hammer. From whence it may easily be conjectured, that if somewhat a bigger quantity be put in a Pot on the Fire, it would make Pot and Furnace flie, by its so dreadfull thundring a stroak into most small shivers.

So then there is need of great wariness, to prevent the happening of so great danger, which is easily prevented by the following manner of operating.

XVII. By what means the fulminating force of Gold precipitated by a Lixivium, or spirit of Urine is to be taken away.

Mix with this Gold precipitated by a Lixivium, or by the spirit of Urine, half a part of Sulphur reduced into Powder, and let the said Sulphur be removed therefrom by burning amidst live Coals; for so being despoiled of that fulminating force, it may without danger be reduced by any kind of such matters as promote fusibility.

XVIII. By what means Gold that is despoiled of its fulminating force, by means of Sulphur may be reduced.

Forasmuch as this Gold is void of all impurity, there needs [not] the addition of such matters as promote fusion, seeing it is of it self prone enough to melt. But yet least some grains of the Gold should stick on to the Pot, ’tis expedient to add some portion at least of such a kind of matter as accelerates or hasteneth fusion. And for this work, Borax, and the dry Liqour of Flints are excellent, of which if you add but one half part onely to such Gold, (or, if you take of the Flints prepared with Salt of Tartar) it will by that means presently melt, and the Borax, or Liqour of Flints will not retain the least doit of the Gold.

XIX. The manner of reducing the Metals that are not gotten out of the Waters by precipitation, but are freed from them by abstracting them.

The Metals which are extracted out of the Mines, and freed from the waters by the abstracting of the dissolvent, cannot be so pure as those are which settle to the bottom by precipitation. For it is very rare for Gold and Silver to be found in metalline Veins, Stones, or Clay, without being commixed with other Metals; because for the most part, Copper is mixt with Silver, and Copper or Iron with Gold, the which being unseparated in the reduction makes the Gold and Silver impure. But now in the precipitation one Metal is freed after another from the Menstruum, and are not mixed with each other. But on the contrary, in the way of abstracting it, all the metals remain mixt together without any separation, and require a new separation and consequently a double labour, and more expences.

This inconveniency may be easily remedied by him who is versed in the knowledge of my dry separation of Metals. I have mentioned it in divers places of my writings, So that it would be needless to trouble the Reader with a superfluous rehearsal of the same in this place.

But forasmuch as every one hath not by him all my writings, I believed that it would be worth while, if I should here set down that Laver or Bath which washeth off the Metals with the help of Salt peter by the dry way. For, without the knowledge of this Artifice of separating the extracted Metals from each other, there would be yet requisite much labour, and much costs for the obtaining of the said Metals. But they are very easily, and with little labour, and with small costs separated the one from the other by the way here by us described, and indeed with more gain than is wont to be had by the way of precipitation.

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.