NB. The reason is this, because the Iron being purged in a strong Fire is heapt up as it were into goldenish Scoria which but few know of, and will believe, though it be most true. For when a Metal is so burnt with such a vehement Fire as to referable glassy Scoria, it hath gotten to it self a more noble nature, and thenceforth is able to exhibit or yield good Sol: Yea though they be the Scoria of ♀ or ♂, which thing that excellent Metallurgist Isaac Hollandus did also know, when he said, If any one makes ☽, ♁ or ♂ into Glass, and reduceth it, it will not be ☽, ♀, or ♂, but ☉: And if any one full turn ☉ into Glass, and then reduce it, it will not be ☉, but Tincture.
Nor was this knack unknown to Bracescus, who taught the making of the Philosophers stone out of the scoria of Iron, but he is laught at, by another Philosopher, though undeservedly. Though I do not know the way of extracting the Tincture out of Iron, yet this I know; that there have been many who have extracted good Sol by Aqua-regia out of the very green Scoria of Iron, when notwithstanding, the ♂ it self out of which the Scoria came was destitute of Gold; the cause whereof we showed but now.
Now if they had but known my invention of most easie preparing a convenient Menstruum for the extracting of the Tincture, and then the manner of afterwards separating the Sol again, without losing the Water, certainly they would have been able to perfect that Extraction with a great deal of benefit, whereas (not having this) they only beheld the possibility of the thing without profit.
For if this Labour be instituted according to my invention afore-written, we may extract the Venus (which commonly is in the poorer Minerals) out of them, and that with much profit and in great quantity, and the extraction being made, (whether it be done the moist way or the dry) we may by the benefit of the solution of ☽ or ♄, get out the ☉ thence whilest it is yet mixt with the water, yea and afterwards by the benefit of ♂ the Copper it self. He now that well understands the reason of this Fishing and reduction needs not to search after the Metals (or Ores) of Sol and Luna, for whatsoever Metals (or Ores) of Venus contain but even a very little portion of them, will be able to furnish a man with necessaries sufficiently enough.
But that the Reader may not think that these sayings of mine, viz. that there are subjects to be in all places found that are endued with Gold, are fictions, and are not founded upon any experiments, (for I doubt not but that abundance will not only account these sayings for falsities, but deride them too) I thought it not much from the purpose, if I shewed some little place only, where you may find such Metals (or Ores) as are endued with Gold, which notwithstanding were never brought into use, that so it may hence appear that such Golden subjects must be likewise found in many places.
Let us therefore cast an eye to a part of the Mhene, and let us get out those Treasures that are there hidden, and at present are not profitable to any, which nevertheless may be of mighty conducement and benefit to the whole Inhabitants of those parts.
The Mhene is a River most abounding with Boats and Fish; it hath its rise out of a very high pine-bearing Mountain, it is in some sort conjoined with three bordering well known Rivers, Sata, Adrana, and Nava; which again spread themselves unto the ¾ quarters of Heaven, as East, South, and North. (This piniferous Mountain is not barely one Mountain, but consists of many which are exceeding full of Pine-trees, Beech, Oakes, Birch, and other Trees set very thick together, and so yields an Harbour for both wild and tame Beasts.)
This Pine-bearing Mountain, and which is the highest in all Germany (and of which Gaspar Bruschius wrote a particular Treatise, which is exceeding profitable for such as study metallick affairs to read,) is stored with many notable Metals (or Ores.) For there was not only Gold digged out plentifully in various parts of that Mountain, many years since, (and thereupon there’s a City called Goltgangh by the Germans, as if you should say a Vein of Gold:) But withal the other more common Metals that lie here hidden do for the most part all of them contain Gold, with notwithstanding is not at this day by reason of the ignorance and unskilfulness of Men separated from them. Nor are the bare Metals only of that place all of them endued with Gold, but almost all the Earths, Sand, and Stones have Sol in them. Yea even in this time even Antimony the first Ens of Gold is digged out in that place. Therefore it may most easily be proved, that this Mountain out of which the Mhene flows forth is stuffed with Sol both in the outside and inside parts, with which proof I must at present in this place rest, least I should be too tedious. All such as are skill’d in metallick Affairs do well know, that all the metalline Ore, that they get in and about this Mountain, is endued with Gold.
The most studious searcher of nature Mathesius in Sarepta testifies that he saw an Iron Stone or Ore endued with Veins of fixt and malleable Gold.
The afore-praised Gaspar Bruschius in the description of this Mountain, mentioneth amongst other things, that in a little Town called Einsiedel, situate near the said Mountain, was a Tin mine heretofore found, by the Treasures of which the aforesaid little Town was built. There did a certain Metal-man called Sigismund Wans learn from an Italian Woman, whom he married after the death of her former Husband, how Sol was to be separated from Jupiter: From whence he got him so much riches, that even afore he died, he caused an egregious Hospital to be built, and withal contributed thereto many thousands of Crowns, with which twelve ancient Men, and three Priests should be always nourished; to the performance of which there is verily a great deal of Gold required yearly.