Such metallick subjects therefore, the spirit of salt, they being put into it, assaulteth, and as much as it can dissolves them. This solution being distilled out of a glass retort by sand, with the more gentle fire, sends forth nothing but a meer and unsavoury phlegm, the fiery essence it self remaining with the mineral in the Retort, the which if it be more and more urged, and the fire more increased, that it may become plainly burning bright, then that mineral cannot longer retain the fire of the salt, but dismisseth it, which descending into the receiving vessel, is condensed into a thick and fiery oyl, which is afterwards to be kept in strong and well stopt glasses, because it fumes without intermission, and desires to return into the air, as it were its Chaos from whence it came forth.
This fire is the operator of great effects in Alchymy and Medicine, of which effects very few have known how to discourse. But it hath far different properties and qualities from that which is extracted out of Vitriol, whereof it shall be afterwards treated.
And although through the help of this fire, incredible things may be performed as well by Chymists as Physicians, and other Artificers; yet it is a consuming, destroying, and also a ripening fire; neither hath it the least of the most noble Pearl with it whereof we have made mention above, and the which in this preparation is converted into such a fire.
That Pearl, if it should be extracted or allured out of Salt, in my simple opinion it were to be extracted not by the benefit of the fire, but through the endeavour of metallick and attracting subjects.
But although I do not profess my self to be so skilfull a Master, and do not arrogate to my self the knowledge of so precious a pearl, yet I cannot but bewray that small little spark of Nature which God hath granted unto me, that so every one may have a clear knowledge and sight of what admirable mysteries Salt doth hide in its own vile body.
XIV. The manner whereby that most precious Pearl of Salt may at least wise in some respect be rendred conspicuous or apparent.
Even as I have admonished in my foregoing writings, that the powers, colours, and virtues of all Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals are found concentred in Fire and Salt, so also I now affirm and assert the same thing that by Salt through the benefit of Fire, all Vegetables, Animals, and Metals, may in their own species, nature and properties be increased and propagated into an infinity. So that we have the seeds of them.
For example sake, I prepare Kitchin Salt by the fire, that its tartness being lost, it puts on the nature of an Alcali or Lixivial Salt, I mix some parts thereof with some barren earth, or with naked sand, the which I moisten with water, in these I sow the seeds of vegetables, that they may be nourished by that Salt and may grow, which in thus growing do obtain their own proper figures, virtues and colours, they appear green, yellow and red, sky-coloured, purple coloured, and white, &c. and have a sweet, sour, sharp, bitter, savour, even as God hath bestowed on every particular kind its own proper nature, which operation proceeds from this one onely Salt, and the fiery beams of the Sun being tempered with air.
When therefore Beasts are fed with these Herbs growing, and receiving nourishment from the Salt, they are of necessity also nourished and increased by the same; even as also the same Herbs growing from the same Salt do supply nourishment and increase themselves.
But if any one could obtain the true seed of Gold, and increase that seed by the help of Salt and Fire; he might (without doubt) obtain great plenty of Gold, but God will not have it that the tail of the Goat should be as long as the Cows, the which being lifted up with too much pride, would strike out her own eyes with her too long tail.