CHAP. VI.
Of the Transmutation of Metals by Projection of the Medicine.
If the Tincture of Naturalists be to be used in Transmutation, one pound of it is first to be projected upon a thousand pounds of ☉ in Flux; then your Medicine will be prepared for transmuting the Leprous humour of Metals. This is a wonderful Work in the Light of Nature, viz. that by this Spagyrick Magistery or Operation, that which before was such a Metal, should perish, and become another Metal. That renders Aristotle, with his evilly-founded Philosophy, a Fool: The Countrymen in Hungaria casting Iron for a convenient time into a certain Fountain called Zipferbrunnen, find it consumed into a Ferrugo (or Iron scurf) which melted in a strong Fire with Bellows, is presently pure Copper, which never more returns into Iron. Likewise, in the Mountain Kuttenberg (as it is commonly called) they strein a Lixivium from Marcasites, in which Iron is presently changed into the best Copper, highly gradated, and more malleable than other natural Copper. These, and many such like, are better known to Simple men than to Sophisters, for these men transmute one species into another; yet these Arts remain for the most part absconded, by reason of the notable contempt of Ignorant men, and also partly by reason of the just Envy of Artificers. In Istria I have often brought Venus beyond the 24 (alias 38) degrees, so as the colour of Sol could not ascend higher, and it was constant in Antimony, or in the Quartal Examen; this indeed I used in all Cases, as the other.
Although ancient Artists were earnestly desirous of this Arcanum, and sought the same with very great diligence, yet very few could after perfect Preparation deduce it to its end. For the Transmutation of a Minor-Metal into a better, brings with it many difficulties and hinderances; as when Tin is to be transmuted into Silver, or Copper into Gold. Perhaps GOD will have the Magnalia of Nature hid from many Men, by reason of their Sins. For sometimes it hath happened, that when this Tincture hath been prepared by Artists, and they could not bring Projection to effect, that the same (through their neglect and carelessness in keeping of it) hath been devoured by Hens, whose Feathers afterward fell off, and grew new again, as I my self have seen. This way, by abuse, through negligence of Artists, came Transmutation into Medicine and Alchymy. For when they could not use that Tincture according to their own desire, they converted the same to Renovate Men, as you shall hear more at large in the following Chapter.