Being therefore earnestly intent upon the search hereof, viz. from whence these nitrous Waters should chiefly proceed, I found that the Mountain nigh that place, extending it self for some miles, was every where full of Salt-petre, and that it stuck in the Rocks themselves, out of which whatsoever is on the Mountain grew. I did therefore diligently search out, what condition those Stones were of, which the workmen dig’d out in these places, and I knew that there was a great quantity of Salt petre contained in them, insomuch, that as many Mountains as here (abouts) seem to be replenished with the same: Nay more, if you shall break one or two of those Stones with which the Houses of the Village of Cossel are built, you shall find every where in them abundance of Salt-petre. I went to visit the place it self where those Stones are digged out, but found not any Salt-petre among the digging, because the Air had not as yet displaied its Virtues thereupon: But I observed that in those stones exposed a while to the Air, there was plenty of Salt-petre. He that would see it with his own Eyes, let him go into any House of the Cossel Village, whose Walls are of ancient standing, and he shall find that there is abundance of Salt-petre in those stones, and withal, that the Pillars belonging to the Bath-house do yearly wax less, for as much as scalings of the thickness of the back of a Knife do still fall off, by the power of the separated Salt-petre, as I have often very accurately and curiously observed. If the Earls or Counts did but know the true use of this excellent and o cult Treasure, they would get far greater riches out of that bare Mountain only than by all the County. I doubt not but that seeing I have in this place detected this Treasure, there will some be found that will labour for their own profits sake to find it out.
Not far off from the said Mountain the whole Earth abounds with Iron, not in the form of Veins but of Reins, insomuch that the Metal of Iron offers it self in various particles or pieces of diverse magnitudes; for in some places it is found as big as an Hazle-nut, or an Acorn; in other places as big as an Egg, or ones Fist, yea and as big sometimes as ones Head, which by the force of the Fire is made facile and yields abundance of Iron; nor did I ever yet meet with any Metal of that sort more excellent than that is, but no body knows it, though it may be commodiously prepared or fitted for the use of Man, because there is in this place plenty enough of Wood and Water to be had [for such a purpose.]
This Mountain stretcheth out it self some miles, reaching as far as Iphovia, and the jurisdiction of the City of Wurtzburg; so that the chiefest and greatest part thereof is seated in the Bishoprick of Wurtzburg: And therefore might immense and vast Treasures be gotten, were there but such as were lovers of Art and would make themselves skill’d in the Operation.
Besides, this Mountain yields abundance of white and red Gypsum, which may be reduced to an exceeding whiteness by the force of the Fire.
Besides this too, we have known Marble and Alabaster digg’d out hence, and yet it has not been very durable, for it becomes nitrous after it hath lain exposed a while to the Air, and falls to powder, and yields plenty of Salt-petre, were it but rightly managed, for there’s no want of Wood here.
There is yet moreover found in the said Mountain another Castle which is called Swansburg, and belongs to the Bishoprick of Wurtzburg, where the Soldiers did heretofore use the Metallick Rods, to search after, and to see if they could find (by the using them) some Treasures; and they tried whether or no (the Castle being burnt by the occasion of the War) any such Treasures lay any where hidden. What they found I do not yet know: But this I know, that the said Rods did shew good Metal to be every where (thereabouts) The which thing gave occasion of explaining or unfolding the said matter in its proper places. Besides this, they digged up nothing else but such nitrous stones for some fathoms depth. I once viewed this place, and found that the stones extracted some years afore out of this Mountain were altogether brittle, and is a manifest token that the whole Mountain is fill’d with Salt-petre.
There is besides this Mountain, another nitrous one that I know of, of the like condition in the mid-way ’twixt Kitzing and Wernfeld (and is about a miles distance from Carlstadt) but that which is here had, differs from the former in this, viz. that the stones which it exhibits are of a red colour, nor are they so much impregnated with Salt-petre, as those of Kitzing aforesaid, for they are richer in Petre, and are of a more ashy colour.
There are likewise such kind of stones also that they cut or dig forth at the Mhene near the City Rotenfeldt, but they have not in them so much Salt-petre as those have that are found in the Cossel and Swansburg Mountain.
There’s abundance of such stones in several places in France, but my purpose is not to mention them all, for I was minded to mention such only as my self have seen, and that are near bordering upon the Mhene.
They that have a mind to deal with them may make their search, and they will find in all Countrys of the Earth fit stones for their purpose, the which we may hereby know, if being kept a while in the Air, they wax soft, and scale off in most thin leaves, and there sticks to your Fingers in rubbing them off, a reddish Meal.