Promissis hominum diffidas,
Deus solus fidem servat
A mundo fides exulat.
In God alone repose thy trust,
With Mens pretence be not beguil’d;
God onely keepeth Faith, is Just,
Which from the World is quite exil’d.
If many years ago, I had known those things which I now do, it would have profited me much in being aware of the dissembled sanctity of impostours. But what is past cannot be recalled: Let these things at this time suffice to be spoken of the knowledge of Sand and Stones, every Man may look further for himself, and search out and learn more. If any Man findeth any good from what I have written in this Book, let him give God thanks, and be mindfull of the Poor; if not, let him look upon himself as unworthy to be partaker of it. For I have here written more perspicuously, than any Philosopher hath done before me, in which I rest. It now remains that we should say something concerning the easie way, and incomparable invention, by whose benefit Sol may be extracted from Sand and Stones, in great quantity and with a considerable gain. Which invention hath been hitherto unknown to the World, and it is almost impossible that a better should be found. But that the searcher into Art may see that this new invention of mine, is of all the most easie for the extracting of Gold from Sand or Flints, and that the World hath never known the like, I have thought fit to shew in what this Compendium consists, and it is thus. It is sufficiently known with what labour and costs the ancient Workers in Metals, and even those at this day, have extracted, and do extract Gold from Sand and Stones, viz. when first they burn the Oars or Stones, then grind it in peculiar Mills accommodated to that purpose, with Argent-vive and water, where the Argent-vive draweth to it self the Sol, and the Stone goeth away in the washing, and the greatest part of the Argent-vive is strain’d from the gold through Leather, which may again serve for the same use. Then in Iron Retorts they drive out the residue of the Argent-vive, which yet adhered to the Sol, which is saved; then they melt the Sol. In which operation they lose much of the Argent-vive, which in the grinding and washing goeth away: so that often times the charge of the Mercury is no less than the gain of the gold. Therefore by this way nothing can be gotten from a poor Mine. But this is the easiest way they have to separate Sol from its Oar or Stones.
Another way is, when they mix the washed Oar (which the Germans call Schlicht) with its weight of Litharge, and melt it with Bellows, then cupel the Regulus of Saturn, and so they obtain the Sol which was in the Oar. Which way of melting, is also dear, because much of the Lead is lost: But yet they are obliged to follow this way, who know no better. Now I will compare my way with this, that it may be evident which of them is the most easie and profitable. As for my method of extracting, it chiefly depends upon four singular Compendiums, by which the operation is rendred easie. The first of which is a water of small cost, which may be copiously prepared, without Distillation.
The second is a singular Metal, of which the Kettles or Pans are made, in which the Stones or Sand is boiled with the water of small cost, and yet are not corroded nor consumed. And when the water shall have dissolved and imbibed the Sol in the Sand, the Oar, Sand, or Stones, with the water are to be taken out of the boiling Vessel, and put into another Vessel adapted to this use, with a bottom all over perforated with small holes [like a Colender] and first covered with inside, with a thin Matt, then the water will drop down through the Sand and Matt into another Vessel placed under it; moreover more hot water is to be poured upon the same Sand, and let to run through it, which water will also extract the gold which as yet remained in the Sand. And after this Elixiviation, the Sand, (which is now of no use) is to be taken out of the filtering Vessel, and this labour to be continued so long, untill no more Sand is to be extracted.