If quick Mercury be added to impure gold or silver dissolved in its proper menstruum, the mercury draws to it self the invisible gold and silver from the Menstruum and mixt impurity and associates what is purest to it self, which separation swiftly succeeds. Mercury performs the same likewise in the dry way: namely, when some earth having some gold and silver, is moistned with acid water, and they are so long bruised together, till the Mercury draws the better part; which done you must wash the dead earth left, with common water, and separate the Mercury being dryed from the attracted gold and silver, by trajecting them through a skin, but the Mercury draws but one metal from the earth, and indeed the best at one time; which being separated, it draws another metal; for example, if in some one earth, gold, silver, copper and iron ly hid, the first time the mercury draws the gold, the second the silver, but copper and iron hardly by reason of their dross, but tin and lead easily, but easiest of all gold by reason of its purity like to mercury.
Another Demonstration by the dry way.
Put under a tile a cuple with lead, to which add a grain of very pure gold, most exactly weighed (for memories sake) make the gold in the cuple to fulmimate, and the lead will enter the cuple, the gold being left pale in the cuple: of which pale colour there is no other cause than the mixture of silver, drawn from the lead by the gold. But thou wilt say, that thou knowest this, that gold fulminated with lead, is made paler and weightier, by reason of the silver in the lead, left with the gold in the trial, augmenting the weight, and thence making it pale: to which I reply, though lead leave some silver in trying in the cuple, mixt with the gold added to it, augmenting its weight, and changing the colour; yet it is proved by the weight, that lead leaves more being mixt with gold in the cuple, than when tryed without gold. Hence it is proved, that gold in the fire draws its like from other metals, augmenting its weight: and this also gold doth in the moist way: for if it be dissolved in its own menstruum, together with copper, and put in digestion, and then separated, it attracts gold from the copper; which labour, though not done with profit, yet witnesseth a possibility. But if the menstruum of gold augmenting the attracting power of gold or multiplying the same were known, but diminishing the retentive power of copper, doubtless some gain were to be expected; and indeed more, if gold and copper, together be melted in fire with the dry mineral menstruum; by which means the weight of gold would be increased according to Paracelsus saying Metals mixt together in a strong fire, continued a pretty while, the imperfection vanisheth and leaves perfection in its place.
Which surely well done, is a work not wanting gain. For I freely confess, that I would sometime incorporate silver with iron, when as gold from iron gave me a good increase of pure gold, instead of fixt silver sought after. And by this means often some not thought on thing happens to Artists, as to my self with fixt silver, not rightly considering the business. Therefore medling with metals, be sure when you find some encrease, to weigh well what it was at first. For many think long trying silver with iron, by the Blood-stone, Load-stone, Emraud, lapis calaminaris, Red-talck, Granats, Antimony, Arsenick, Sulphur, Flints, &c. having mature and immature, volatil and fixt gold in them, finding in the trying good gold; that this gold is made of the silver by the help and use of the foresaid minerals, which is false, For the silver drew that gold out of those minerals, in which before it lurked volatile. Yet I deny not the possibility of changing silver, as being inwardly very like gold, but not by help of cementation with the said minerals, because that gold proceeds not from the silver, but those minerals, attracted by the silver. This labour is compared to seed cast into good ground, where dying, by its own power it draws its like to it self, whence it is multiplyed an hundred fold.
And it behoveth in this work now and then to wet the metallick earth, with proper metallick waters, being dryed up with heat (which operation is called of the Philosophers inceration) else the earth will be barren, and it behoveth that this water be neer in kind to the earth, so that when they are united they yield a certain fatness. For as it appears from sandy dry earth, moistened with rain water, not bringing forth fruit agreeable to its seed, for the small heat also of the Sun consuming the moisture, and burning the seed in the earth, which mixt with cows dung or other, keeps the water so as that it cannot be so soon consumed. By the same reason it is necessary that thy earth and water be mixt, lest thy seed be burnt up. Which work if well handled, it will not be in vain, requiring the exceeding diligence of nourishing the earth with warmth and moisture, when the earth is drown’d with too much moisture, or hath too little, it cannot increase, and this is one of the best labours, with which I draw forth good gold and silver of baser metals, requiring the best vessels, retaining the seed together with its earth, and water in its proper heat. I doubt not but this work also in a greater quantity, may be performed, firmly beleiving that the courser metals, especially lead, the fittest of all not only to be perfected into gold and silver, but also into good medicine: which without question is a Philosophick labour granted from God, as a great comfort to the Chymist, but warily to be used. For that all and singular Gods gifts he will not have common: as indeed I have found, when I had invented a very excellent work, that I shewing it to a friend, neither could I afterwards teach it to him, nor do it again for my self. Therefore indeed justly men are doubtful in writing such matters: for many seek with idleness to get the inventions of others, performed with great costs and labour. Therefore it is safer to be silent and give leave to seek, than to publish secrets, that they may undergo the pains and charges to be born in inventing high matters; nor any more hereafter may the ingrateful so impudently gape after others Labours. Therefore I would entreat all men both of high and low degree, that they would not molest and tire me hereafter with their Petitions and Epistles, and that they would not turn my good will of benefiting others to the ruin of my self, but be contented with my writings published for the profit of my neighbour. Nor do you think that I possess and promise golden mountains. For what I have written, I have writ to discover nature, in these discourses of the perfection of course metals in small quantity; For I never made trial in a great quantity, trying truth and possibility in a lesser only, in small crucibles: therefore those things which I have writ are written to that end that the possibility of the Art, may appear, of perfect metals to be wrought out of Imperfect, therefore he who hath occasion may make trial in a greater quantity: but as for my part wanting opportunity, I expect Gods blessing, whereby upon occasion I may make tryal in a greater quantity, and so receive the fruit of my labour and great charges.
Also metallick bodies are transmuted by another means, namely by the benefit of a tinging metallick spirit, as one may see in aurum fulminans, sometimes kindled upon a smooth clean metallick plate, fixing a very deep golden tincture upon the plate, so that it may bear the Touch-stone. The same also happens in the moist way, where plated metals put into a gradatory spirit made of Nitre, and certain minerals, being pierc’t by the spirit, obtain another kind agreeing to the spirit. But if one doubt of the metallick gradation, made with aurum fulminans; he may try the certainty from the often fireing of fresh aurum fulminans, upon the same plate; for he shall see that it is not the colour of the metal, and outwardly gilded, but deeply tinged. Likewise one may try the certainty by a humid spirit, if the transformed metals are tryed, whence the mutual action and passion of subtilized spirits plainly appears, for the power of spirits is very great, and incredible to one not exercised; and this gradation of inferiour metals, Philosophers both ancient and modern, doe not only confirm, but also diggers of minerals taught by experience, that mineral vapours by penetration change courser into purer metals, Lazarus Ercker being witness, that iron is changed into a good natural copper in green salt waters, & that he saw a pit, in which iron nailes and other things cast in, by the penetration of a cupreous spirit were turned into a good copper. I do not deny that metallick dissolutions of some metals do stick precipitated to the plates, and to make them of a golden, silver, or cupreous colour; for it is well known, that iron cast into a vitriol water not to be turned into copper, but to draw copper out of the water, of which thing we treat not here, confirming the possibility of metallick transmutations by a tinging and piercing spirit; therefore I again maintain that great power is in metallick spirits; look only upon course and opake earth, and besides that clear and limpid water with which the clearer and more powerful air proceeding from the water cometh from the earth. Are not whole Countries drownded with water, sometimes Towns and Cities taken away? Cannot the air destroy the strongest Houses; especially shut up in the Earth, shake the Land for some miles, and afterward demolish whole Cities and Mountains with the death of Men? all which things are done naturally. Wind artificially raised by Nitre threatens a far greater danger, which no man can deny. Although that corporeal Elements exercise so great power, yet they cannot pierce metals without hurt, nor stones and glass, and things soon penetrated by fire. Therefore not by an occult but a manifest power of Sun and Fire, which it hath over metals, stones and glass, which are easily pierc’t by them without any impediment: and why should not metals compact of a certain metallick subtile and piercing spirit be penetrated by help of fire, and changed into another species? As is already spoken of Aurum fulminans and aqua gradatoria. Therefore there is no doubt of the possibility of the metallick tingent spirit changing courser metals into finer, both by the dry and moist way; For Metals may be purified the same way as Tartar and Vitriol, and other salts, namely by the benefit of much water. For it is manifest that vitriol is purged with iron and copper mixt with it, namely dissolved and coagulated in much water, so that it waxes as white as allom; which purification is but a separation of the metal from the salt, made by the benefit of much water debilitating the salt, so that it cannot longer retain the mixt metal, which is precipitated like some slime, not unprofitable, because the chiefest part of the vitriol, from which is the greenness, viz. Copper, Iron, and Sulphur. And as by help of separation metals are drawn from vitriol, more perfect than salts; so also it is with metals when the perfecter and better part is separated by help of precipitation: as for Tartar, it is purified by the addition of water, but its better part is not precipitated as in vitriol, but the courser part which is its blackness and fæculency. As for example; Common Tartar by the often solution (made with a sufficient quantity of water) and coagulation is made very pure and white, because in every solution made with fresh clear water, it always becomes purer; and not only by this means white Tartar, but also red and feculent, is reduced into transparent crystals, and indeed very speedily by vertue of a certain precipitation; whose limosity is the cause of the obscurity of the crystalline salt of tartar, and is nothing else but an unsavory thing, dead and useless, mixt with the tartar in its coagulation in Hogs-heads of Wine, and separated again by power of solution.
And these examples of the two salts of Vitriol and Tartar, are not in vain set down, because they shew the difference in precipitation: For in some Metals, by force of precipitation, the courser part is separated; but in other, the better and choicer, according to the prevalency of this or that part.
In Vitriol, the better part (Copper and Iron) is the least, which is precipitated and separated from the courser and greater part, viz. Salt; But, in Tartar, the courser and less part is precipitated and separated from the greater and better part clarify’d: The like is in Metals. Therefore, let every one be wary in separating; and consider before, whether the better or courser part of the Metal is to be precipitated; without which Knowledge, no Man can meddle with this Business. Let also the Workman be ware, who expects any profit from his labour, of Corrosive Waters; as Aqua fortis, Aqua Regia, Spirit of Salt, Vitriol, Allom, Vinegar, &c. in the Solution from which no Good proceeds, as utterly destroying and corrupting all and each of them; proving the same in these words, From Metals, by Metals, and with Metals, Metals are made perfect. Metals are also purified, maturated and separated from their Vices, by Nitre burning up the superfluous Sulphur.
And all the aforesaid perfections of metals are but particular. For every particular medicine, as well humane, as metallick, purgeth, separateth and perfecteth or amendeth by the taking away the superfluity. For a universal medicine worketh its perfections and emendations, by strengthening and multiplying the radical moisture as well of animals as metals, expelling its enemy by its own natural vertue. But thou sayst excellent examples indeed are delivered by me, but not the manner of doing them. R. I have delivered more then you think, although you don’t perceive it: for I am sure after my death that my books will be in greater esteem, from which it will appear that I have not sought vain glory, but the profit of my neighbour to the utmost of my power. But do not, seeing my freeness of writing, think that you may wrest many things from me. For assure your self, that although I have written many things for the publick good, yet I intend not by this means to trouble my self. For I cannot satisfy the desires of all men, nor answer their Epistles, nor inrich all men, who neither am rich my self, nor have sought riches. For although I have gotten the knowledge of these things by Gods blessing, and have tryed the truth of it in small quantity, yet have I never made experience in great store for wealth sake, being contented with Gods blessing.
And let this suffice concerning the several purifications of metals according to my experience; as for that universal medicine so famous, I cannot judge of it, being a thing unknown to me; but the possibility thereof I am forc’t to affirm, being moved with the several transmutations of metals; which being unknown, it behoves us to be contented with that favour which God hath bestowed on us. For oftentimes questionless it is better to know little, for Eternal Salvations sake; for most commonly wealth and learning puff up. And pride brings to the Devil the Author of it, from whence God of his mercy preserve us.