Silver doth not answer to Gold in its round body, in which it remaineth, yet it exceedeth Copper in roundness, which sometimes also remaineth pure and round, if it be in a small quantity.
Iron and Tin do not admit the Examen of Lead by the Cupel, for indurating the Lead, they deprive it of all flux, so that by combustion it is reduced into a powder.
Argent-vive is by the Fire wholly driven away into the Air, in which nevertheless keeping a perpetual flux, its signature of perfection may be judged of in the Cold, which perfection exceedeth that of the other imperfect Metals, and cometh near to gold and silver; for being diffused into small grains, it exhibiteth in running a round or spherical body, imitating melted Gold: So that it is not without reason, that the Ancients in its signature have used the signs of ☉, ☽, and a square; being within wholly Gold and Silver, if it be coagulated; the truth of which many Experiments have demonstrated to me, made by the Waters of gradation, as they are called; Experiments, I say, which I have performed in small Instruments, for hitherto I could not make them in great ones, and in a large quantity. If any young man shall have a desire to try the same, let him in the first place beware that he use not corrosive and eating waters, and by this means render the Argent-vive more fugacious.
It behoveth that he seek and know true sulphur, which if it shall be red, he shall also bind it with a red bond; but if white, he shall preserve its colour constant, and bind it with a white bond; otherwise it is wont to vanish in fume.
These few things I could not pass by, but signifie to the studious of the Divine Signature of Metals and Planets. Let every one occupy the powers of his Ingeny in the exercise of this Science, that he may become expert in the wonders of things, especially of those which lie hid in the words or names imposed upon things signed by the Ancients, who have found out great Secrets, as well Celestial as Terrestrial, and have comprehended them in those. Some such words of the Ancients I would have interpreted here, but that in so doing I should have divulged those things which are not vulgarly known, for which cause it is better to pass them by in silence. He that will bend his endeavours to so great a Science, may obtain many wonderful things; but of these enough; it sufficeth at the present to have laid the Foundation, the rest I leave to him, who being prompt to the study of seeking, shall bring his mind to the acquiring of this knowledge; if he shall once get into the right path, he will find out more than he seeketh or desireth. Also Mountains, Woods, and Countries, by their signatures do not only indicate the Treasures and Riches, given them by God, but are also wont to foretell their own Fates, as their Rise, Encrease, and Destruction. It remains, that we briefly examin, and take a short view of the signatures of salts, with what notes or marks they are signed by God, and also by what they signifie their natures and properties; for without doubt, they have their signatures, and especially the common and vulgar Salt, the which, wherefore should it not have its signature, seeing that it is the original of all other things? There is not found any Herb or Weed so vile, any Worm so abject, which wanteth its marks given it by God, by which it manifesteth to us its nature and virtues. I have above indicated the Sun by a Circle, and Salt to be designed by a square added to it: and in the Sun and Salt all earthly things as Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, to have the beginning and end of their generation, propagation, and encrease; also all things being risen from the sun and salt, to be signed by the Almighty God, with certain signatures, from which their nature, powers, virtues, and properties may be known; neither have I only asserted, but also affirmed, that all the Mysteries of Languages and Words may be searched out and known by those signs, to wit, the Circle and Quadrate.
These things are so certain and true, that they are beyond all confutation, which I will make plain to every one, by one only Argument, not exceeding the Capacity of a simple Boy, if the envious Brethren of Ignorance, being lifted up by their great pride, shall refuse to undertake it. That the Sun is conveniently and appositely signed with a Circle, no man will deny, because it never sheweth it self to the sight in any other figure than a round fiery Sphere, which sign being attributed to the Sun, by the Ancients, so remaineth even to this day.
The Ancients have also signed Salt with a square, which by the length of time, and the negligence of men, hath vanished, so that every one hath signed the species of salts according to his pleasure, one in this, another in another manner; and by this occasion peculiar Characters are invented by almost every Chymist, whence one useth not that which another doth. But at this day among them, for the most part, Salts are signed in the following manner. The common Kitchin Salt hath the Character of a Circle, cut by a line transverse: Salt-petre hath a Circle representing the form of an Egg, and cut by a line drawn from the top to the bottom; But who was the Author of those Characters to these Salts, I know not, neither is it much matter, whether a man know, or not know it; but without doubt they were men who had never seen Salts brought to their highest Purity: For vulgar salts, as they are every where found, have not their proper figure and form which they ought to have, and which they obtain after their cleansing: So the vulgar and simple salt, as it is made from the Sea, or salt Fountains, or dug out of the Earth, hath not its true and proper signature, neither can it have, by reason of its many earthy feculencies; but after all its fæces are removed, and it hath obtained a great purity and cleanness, its own true signature, to wit, a square then appeareth, and indicateth the sign which is due to it. I have already demonstrated this to be true in my Treatise of the Nature of Salts, where I have taught by what means every common Kitchin Salt is to be so purged, that it shall be no longer rough, foul, obscure, and astringent, but clear and transparent like Crystal, both in small grains, and greater pieces, of a sweet savour, and a square or cubical figure, and which way soever it is thrown, alwaies exhibiteth four Angles, like to a square, as if it were formed by Art: Going forth in this most pure form, it seemeth thus to speak to Mortals: Here ye see my true and natural form, given to me by the Sun my father, in the body of the Water my mother, which the Earth indeed hath covered with a rough and vile Garment, but Art hath again taken it off (praised be God) restoring to me my pristine form, to the future advantage of many sick; therefore as I was created from the beginning, so now I appear, without any impediment, to perform those things for which I was appointed by Divine Creation.
If the Sun in the Firmament could by any accident be so defiled and corrupted, that he should lose his Light, it could in no wise be that any thing in the whole World could remain alive for one day. Which thing Experience it self sheweth us, when the Moon interposing between the Sun and our Eyes but for one hour, depriving us of his Rays; in which Case the Sun in no wise suffereth, nor is in any manner corrupted, but only hindred for that little time, from transmitting to us his vivifying Rays. Therefore if so small an Impediment in the Orb of the Earth can cause so many Diseases, and other Incommodities to men, why should not also the fæces obscuring Salt, eclipsing its natural form, and rendering it more ignoble, be a detriment and impediment to its Powers and Virtues? Let every man judge, if a gross and impure Salt can be as commodious to all Men and Beasts, as that which hath been restored to the highest purity of its Body.
Seeing therefore that it is the great interest of Mankind to enjoy such a pure Salt, I have determined to prepare a quantity of it, according to that manner of purging it, prescribed in my Treatise of the Nature of Salts, that I may be able to accommodate many therewith. I have hope, that at length the Eyes of Mortals will be opened, that they may see how for a long time they have been seduced by blind Leaders, and finding this, will have a greater regard to their own health. Truly there is but a very small Labour and Cost required for the cleansing of common Salt, to free it from its earthy fæces, and render it clear, transparent, and in the Water of a Cubical Figure, and that without the addition of any foreign thing, only by solution, filtration, and coagulation of its own proper spirit.
If by these Operations you shall bring salt to its highest purity, you may boldly assert, that you have acquired such a salt as the pure Sun operated in the pure Water at the beginning; when the Sun, seated in the height of the Firmament, would very freely perform his Office, yet being hindered by gross and turbid Clouds, interposing between him and the Earth, whereby he cannot render us partakers of his all-warming Rays, we ought not to impute the fault to the sun, inasmuch as he is not in fault, but rather to those thick and dark Clouds, which hinder us of his splendour and efficacy.