But to return to my purpose: I will demonstrate by evident examples and operation, that the inmost and most hidden nature and properties of things, are wont to be most evidently manifested and obtained, by attracting, and repelling magnets. For all the things that are, have their enemies and their friends, as shall be proved in the following operations.
XCIV. An operation demonstrating or affirming, that the internal and hidden natures and properties of things may be manifested and obtained by attractive or repulsive magnets.
Dissolve some lots of lead, and such as is wholly void of silver, in Aq. Fortis, and precipitate the lead by pouring thereunto some salt water, this [precipitated lead] wash with fair water and dry it. Take some three or four ounces of this Calx of lead, and thereto admix a fifth part of pure gold, being first reduced into most pure and most subtile Atoms, on such wise as hath been taught in other places of my writings; but if you have not at hand such a Calx, use another Calx of gold prepared any kind of way, but yet the first Calx is the fittest for this operation. Melt both the Calx’s, viz. the leaden and golden one in a crucible, that the lead may become a fusile stone; but the gold Calx will (by this operation) be much heavier, and be white, this whiteness is nothing else save pure and good silver, drawn out of Saturn by Sol sympathetically, and made visible, which (afore) lay hidden in the lead in a spiritual and invisible manner.
But some may here demand; forasmuch as there is so much silver hidden in all lead, whence comes it that none are found that get it out from thence? I answer, that there are indeed a many that would get out great masses of silver out of lead, did they but understand the art, and could so bring it to effect. But seeing they are ignorant of the natures of metals and their properties, and know not how to do any thing, they cannot become masters of their wishes. Now in this extraction, there is a two-fold cause presents it self, viz. Sympathy, and Antipathy. The gold by reason of the kin and amity it hath with the lead, draws thencefrom unto it self the spiritual silver; and because of an inbred hatred it has to salt, it drives away the same from it self. The gold therefore (in extracting the spiritual silver out of the lead) hath an assistant, aiding it by a contrary operation, and so bringing to pass, that there is so much the more silver extracted, because the salt being added to the lead, doth by reason of that inbred enmity and difference ’twixt it and silver drive this, [viz. the silver] away from it as its enemy.
And although that out of such lead prepared with salt may silver be always molten, yea without adding any gold thereunto, meerly because of the inimicitiousness that is between silver and salt, whereby is caused that the silver is thrust out of the lead by the same as by its enemy; yet so much silver is not gotten by that way, no not by the half, as is drawn out by the addition of gold.
For when the gold attracts, and the salt expels, there are made two actions together, the one by Sympathy, the other by Antipathy, both aiming at this mark, viz. to extract the hidden silver and gold out of the lead.
Let there be evaporated in a cupel two small centenaries or hundreds weight, each of like weight; and to one of the centenaries add some pounds (of the proportionable small weight as the centenaries are) of pure gold, and there will come from that centenary more silver by the help of the gold, than from the other, whereto was added no gold: But the gain by this operation will not be much, or haply none at all; but this is onely to shew, that it is verily possible, for gold being put upon the cupel with lead, to get some silver thereout of, and to be more in weight; which effect is produced onely by a sympathetical faculty. Be now if salt doth also lend to gold its assistance, then is there a twofold operation of a double operator; whilst in extracting of the silver out of the lead, the gold is occupied in attracting, and the salt in expulsion.
These things were of necessity to be laid open by me, forasmuch as they teach by what means the inmost and most pure parts are to be separated from the more gross; so that every one may know the natures and properties of things themselves, viz. with what love they imbrace each other, or what hatred there is betwixt them.
By this experiment then, may any wise and understanding man easily learn and believe, that even out of salt peter or [any] other white body, the red soul may be extracted. Whosoever therefore shall know how to get these helpers, viz. Sympathy and Antipathy for his purpose, shall never labour in vain, but shall at all times reap fruit by his labours.
And as we have shewn that out of any lead, by the help of gold, a good part of silver may be extracted; so likewise may the same be clearly proved to be done with the other metals, and which may also be effected without the help of gold. Yet nevertheless the more fixt metal doth more readily and willingly atract the more volatile and purer part of the other impurer metals, than an unclean metal doth, and even much more readily yet, when there is afore adjoyned to that metal from which any thing is to be extracted, an enemy of that thing which you labour to extract.