Had a longer space of time been permitted me, I would have clarified the Sugar better, and made the Sawces more savory, which the hasty posting away of time hath hindered the performance of.
Besides, forasmuch as I have promised a Fourth Part of the Prosperity of Germany, together with a disclosing of excellent metallick Medicines, it hath seemed good unto me (for the fulfilling of my promise) to publish these my most efficacious Sawces under the Title of the Fourth Part of the Prosperity of Germany; and the rather, because I have not time sufficient for the description and detection of other Secrets.
Now by how much the viler and more contemptible cloathing these present Arcana’s do come abroad in, so much the greater and more noble virtues do they hide under their sordid or despicable rayment. I was of the mind, I confess, to have kept yet longer by me this Fourth Part, that so (being sent abroad to publick view in a more convenient season, it mought have been more adorned with Secrets of greater moment afore its being exhibited to every ones view. And amongst those Secrets, one eminent one, is the Concentration of Gold and Silver, and their reduction into such a form and figure, as that it cannot at all be known by our Enemies (who sometimes rush in upon us unlookt for), (which [sore affliction] God (of his mercy) keep us from.) And so by this means may it come to pass, that such kind of Bodies being thus hidden under an unknown Garment, will not be robb’d and taken away.
And whereas I have demonstrated in the foregoing Third Part, by what means great Treasures of Gold and Silver may easily be gotten in all places throughout all Germany, by the help of my Inventions; I made no question, (nor indeed can it otherwise be) but that such as are diligent House-holders will listen unto my sayings, and put in practise many of those things, especially seeing I will both counsel and assist them, as much as in me lyes.
If now the searching after so great Treasures be [not] too securely and negligently handled, it will undoubtedly come to pass, that our Country will (by such a notable Medium, and such great Treasure) be rendred even wholly invincible. History maketh mention, that the Ægyptians (by their skill in the Meliorating of Metals) enjoyed such vast riches, and so great a power, as that they cast from off their necks the Yoak of the Roman Monarchy, even untill that time in which their Books comprising the Art were burnt by the Emperour Dioclesian, whereby they were enforced to be subject to the Empire of Rome. For the most noble Art of Printing Books was in those days unknown, and their Sciences were wont to be written in Parchment with great labour and much cost; and undoubtedly they were not throughly stored with such kind of Books, whereby the Romans did the easilier get them into their hands and burn them.
Now when once a Writing is committed to the Press, it may be printed off in an almost-infinite Number, for a Printer will doe more in one day, than a vast multitude of Scribes would be able to write. And being it is so, who could possibly be able to scrape together out of all the places of a whole Country such a multitude of Books, thereby to root them out in these our times, and by burning annihilate them, as the Romans did.
This one thing I here say, viz. Did I but know and find that those things which I have hitherto published, would not onely be acceptable, but be also put in use and practise, it would be as a spur unto me to stir me up to adjoyn to what is already done, more and greater Secrets. Meanwhile let what is at present offered be well accepted, and what is promised, be patiently expected.
Of the word Sawce, and what is meant thereby.
I have obliged my self by promise, to adjoyn unto those my Meats which I have hitherto disht out upon the Table, some good Sawce and Pickle; which Meats, seeing they appertain not unto the plain common ways, but belong to a very excellent Skill or Science; it is altogether needfull, that the Sawces be correspondent thereunto, and that even they as well as the meats themselves, be by reason of their savouriness, gratefull unto the Palate. Now therefore as in the Feasts of great men, the Pickles are not set on the Table afore the Guests have fill’d themselves with Flesh and Fish, and so allayed their hunger, but are set afore them (afterwards) as so many Vehicles to drill down the Wine with the greater delectation, for such Pickles do for the most part communicate a sweeter (or toothsomer) tast to all kind of Fruits, Seeds, and Spices, and Sugar: So likewise must I, in the making and dishing out such Sawces for this Feast of mine, mind onely this business, viz. to take care of providing my self of the best Sugar, and choice Spices; and these are extractable onely out of the Metals; Saturn affording Sugar, and Sol and Lune yielding most sweet Spiceiness.