20. Altho Glauber, &c.
Here he contemns my way of extracting Tartar from the lees of wine, when yet it was a year since clearly and perspicuously describ’d and published at Norimberg, which Farnner cou’d never correct. But he bragg’d that he had found by a certain position another compendium, which indeed might be, since it is easier to add something to an Art once found, than to find the Art it self, but it does not become him to disswade men from this Art which is already described, and which may be had gratis, and to despise it and bragge among all men of his own inventing a better. What good men will think of these bold malignities may be easily judg’d: but if I had writ nothing of these things, who would have taught him that there was Tartar in the lees of wine? But I not only found and writ what was in them, but also largely taught how they might be usefully extracted.
Yet this trifler dares as impudently, as falsly say, that he had corrected it, and added to it, and therefore wou’d not let it go without his price.
After the same manner he deals with my other secrets (which, tho he had them of me, he braggs that they are his own) with which he proceeds, as with the lees of wine, namely with my Alkahest, Panacæa, Melioration of wine, compendious distillation of Corn, preparation of vinegar, correction of beer and others in many places.
Whence cou’d he have known what was meant by my Alkahest and Panacæa, or how small wines and and beers should be meliorated, how Corn without adustion shou’d give plenty of burning spirit, and whether there was Tartar in the lees of wine or not, and how it might be extracted thence, except he had seen and learn’d all these things of me? of which also I had many years since publickly made mention in my writings, which is so well known that he cannot deny it, how much soever he opposes the truth.
21. All Copper Ores.
In this place Farnner teaches that Copper Ores are to be separated, when, yet they are not separated but melted, that thence the Copper may come forth, which Copper if it contains silver being mix’d with a due weight of lead, it is separated: but Mines of copper are never separated, which he does not understand, and so he betrays his ignorance in these terms. This way of separating is sufficiently known, and every where where copper mines are found, is wrought in abundance and cannot be hid. He that possesseth Copper mines, will easily find men that will thence elicite the copper, and afterwards separate it, neither will any man need to go to Farnner on that account. Indeed I wonder at his extream impudence, that he was not afraid to promise that he wou’d teach others so many Sciences, of which if he knew the half part, his village wou’d not hold all the furnaces he wou’d need for the demonstration of them.
Further, for these and the following Sciences, which yet; are the most difficult and laborious of all, he requires no money, but for a certain reward promises to demonstrate them all.
22. From Tests and Cupels.
He has drawn this separation also from my writings, that therewith he might fill his calumnious letters: neither do I believe he cou’d do it before he had seen me do it. It is done by the powder of coals, as I have plainly described in my Chymical Colloquie.