This now is not to be at all accompted as a meer fable, but the very pure truth: For in that edifice, the Effigies of the Founder Sigismund Wans, and the Foundress Barbary, are yet to be seen even at this very day. Of which likewise Matthew Merianus in his Description of Franconia, maketh mention. But it is sufficiently enough evident (besides these Testimonies) that this Mountain is repleat with Metals (or Ores) and especially with Golden ones, both within and without, and hence arose that Proverb of the ancients, viz. That the Country-man doth in this Pine-bearing Mountain oftentimes throw a stone at an Ox (or Cow,) that is more worth than the Ox it self. Strangers give credit hereunto, as Italians and others, and do yearly visit this Mountain, and dig the Gold out of those places where they know there lies much hidden, and take it up at their backs, and carry it away with them: And many such there have been with me, who have afforded their help to strangers in digging out Gold: Who forasmuch as they knew not the manner of extracting it (and that they understood by others that I also dealt in Metals,) brought me various kinds of Earths, Stones, Sands, Clays, that I might try what was in them: and they did all of them abound with Gold.
The Country-men that live about that Pine-bearing Mountain do daily for Gaine’s sake carry such earths and stones, endued with Gold, unto Norimberge; which one or other likewise buys, extracting thence by melting excellent Gold.
But now if so be these men did but know the extraction of ☉ by the help of Aqua-fortis only (without melting) out of the earths and stones (as is here taught): the needy Country-men might live like the richest Citizens, the Citizens like the Nobles, and the Nobles like Princes; which seeing it hath not so pleased God (to have it) all (these) things have remained hidden. Every one may easily believe the things I here utter, Seeing it is already taken for granted that this Mountain doth abound with egregious Metals (or Ores,) and especially with Golden ones. Upon this accompt therefore the most Noble Marquess of Arspach who is Lord of this Pine-bearing Mountain hath prohibited any Foreigner from exporting such Earths (or Ores) thence for the time to come; and though he hath thereby done something to it, yet he cannot wholly hinder it, forasmuch as that Mountain is too vast and large.
But now when I pass down from this pine-bearing Mountain along the Mhene downwards, to such places as are more plain (or even ground) where Wine and Corn grows, there’s no body seeks after Sol and Luna there, but each man professeth himself well enough content with the Wine and the Corn, nor hath there been any Metal digged thence or there sought for many years: Because they thought that no plains can produce Metals, which thing I judge to be false, and do gain-say it; and contrary-wise affirm that there are some parts in plains, that as to the production of Metals may be compared with the most high Pine-bearing Mountain. Now, elsewhere there ly high Mountains of each side of all the Mhene, out of which there comes a mighty quantity of Wine, but the Metals ly hid to all.
Besides these, I my self tried, that there are Ores of all kinds to be found on both sides the Mhene throughout all the East of Franconia even to Maguntia where the Mhene runs into the Rheine, but yet as far as I know, there is not any Metal anywhere digged but Iron only; and therefore neither can I positively shew and direct to such or such Mine-pits, out of which you may apparently get Gold and Silver, but as is said, there are every where found some footings (as ’twere) that contain Gold and Silver, and that such Stones in the Mhene are rarely without Metal: But no body proves or tries them, or puts them to use.
At Bamberg (which is an Episcopal Metropolis) men are become more diligent, insomuch that they have found out several places wherein is to be had the Metal (or Ore) of Sol: Such as this Metal (or Ore) of Sol, hath been very oft-times brought me by the Inhabitants of that City, but all of it in a manner did contain a fluxile and immature Gold, which cannot be extracted by the common way of melting, but vanisheth away into the Air, and so I did not at that time much esteem it, but left it as an unprofitable Ore. But now I have found that such fluxile Metals (or Ores) of Sol may be brought in use, not by the help of a vehement melting, but only by a nitrous Water, in which this kind of fluxile Metal (or Ore) of Sol is fixed in the extracting it, and then stays in the melting, and yields perfect Sol.
Concerning such a fixation of fluxile Sol in stones, by a nitrous Water, I did not at that time know it, otherwise this knowledge of mine would have been extraordinarily profitable to the Inhabitants of those places. Yea and the Bishop of Bamberg himself who is a great Lover of the Metals gave me some proofs of his Clemency for services of no moment that I did him, so that I would then gladly have bestowed my utmost power in lieu of his favours, but nothing could be effected by the way of melting, because of the volatility of such a Metal. But now there may be gathered very considerable Treasures by the benefit of nitrous Water. For not far from Bamberg, there is found a Stone of great bigness that is exceeding full of Granates, which are about the bigness of Millet or Hemp-seed: Besides too, all the Mountains of that place do most plentifully abound with Metal (or Ore) of Sol.
There is such a Vein of unripe Gold, not far from Bamberg, that lies thwart the Mhene, which much hinders the Vessels, and especially those Boats which are wont to bring vast quantities of Boards, Beams, &c. yearly; insomuch that they cannot always get over it, but at such time only when the waters are increased. Now in the Summer time, when Rain hath not fallen awhile, this Vein is seen bare, when the water is fallen away some Ells height; and hereupon the Mariners have smote against it with force, and Tools thereby to remove it, if possible, but all in vain.
But for as much as I never was minded to run thither, nor yet am so conditioned, as that envious Dog, who having hay under his possession, could neither eat it himself, nor would suffer the Ox to eat the same; therefore I was willing to lay open these things: I cannot at present say any more of this fluxile Ore of ☉; yet if any one desires more, let him repair to an Inhabitant and Citizen of Bamberg, by name N. N. a Farrier, who many times delivered to me that kind of ore during my aboad at Kitzing. This man will satisfy every ones request, and will shew where it is to be found.
There have verily been others that have brought unto me various kinds of Ores; but I have long since forgotten their names. If you only seek, you will find in that place, abundance of such Golden Metal (or Ores) but all of them in a manner, fluxile (or crude,) and possessing but little fixt Gold, and although they should not have in them any fixt ☉, and that not any thing could thence be extracted by the way of melting, yet notwithstanding it is now known to D. G. by what means (by the liquid way of Nitrous water) all the fluxile (or crude) ☉ may be abundantly extracted out of the stones, be fixed, and be turned into good ☉ with abundance of profit.