But let this suffice as to the making Gold out of any Wood, or any Herb, by the help of Fire and Salt.
Let us now see by what means Stones of manifold colours may be made by the help of Salt, out of Wood or any Herb. Adjoyn to the red Salt made of Wood, a little Powder of white Flints, put them in a Crucible, and melt them in the Fire, that they may become a red Glass, resembling almost the colour of a Ruby; if you keep them longer in the melting, the red colour will be changed into a green, and have the likeness of an Emrald: After this, comes a sky-colour, resembling a Saphir, then follows a yellow, not unlike a Jacynth: then in a longer continuance of Fire, it becomes black and like an Agath. Indeed these Stones are no harder than common Glass, but as to their colours and beauty do exactly resemble the precious natural Stones.
These two Arcanum’s indeed do as to the outside view seem not very excellent, but yet I believe, the well minded Reader, to whom I offer them as a pledge or Love-token for to remember me by, will not think them (seeing they teach the extracting of Gold out of any Wood or Vegetable, and how by white Flints to make Stones of several colours) of so small a moment or value, as they appear here to be, but will believe that he has a foundation laid open for him, to arrive to greater secrets.
As concerning these kind of wonderfull things, and Transmutations hitherto unknown to the World, and changing things into more noble and better Species, I will treat more at large in the ten Centuries, in which, my Writings shall be declared with more evident and clearer Explications, to which I refer the well minded Reader, concluding this Book with those Verses of Ovid.
Jamque opus exegi, quod nec Jovis ira, nec Ignis,
Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas.
And now, a work I finisht have, of which, Jove’s wrath, or flame,
Or Sword, or all devouring time can ne’er raze out the name.