be proved the Sculpture following shews Sculpture XXXVIII Deciphered 1. The Tub in which the Lee is to be made out of which Salt-Petre is to be extracted and the Can or Vessel to put water into that Tub. 2. The lesser Tub into which the Vessel doth run 3. 4. The Master with his Ballance by which he proves the goodness of the Lee or Suds 5. The Lamin 6. The Candle 7. Pincers CHAP. IV. How the Lees or Suds shall be made out of the above-mentioned Earths Section 1 IF you will make a Lee of Salt-Petre Earth then boyl it if you have a great quantity and let it be cut open as deep as it is found good after your Proof and put it among one another in a dry place then cause Tubs to be made of the bigness that one may contain 10 Wheel-barrows of Earth so that you may have Lees enough according to the bigness of the boyl-work or greatness of the Kettle now know that there usually appertains to a common great boyl-work when the Kettle weighs two Centners of Copper eight Tubs set them in such order that on every side 4. and so the eight one over against the other must stand so far from one another that one with a Wheel-barrow may run betwixt them and the Tubs must stand an half Ell high from the ground and every one shall have a Tap-hole below and on the side in which may be put a Tap of Wood to be pulled out and there must lay below under the Tubbs a Channel in which the Lee may run together into Tubs or Sinks placed in the ground so as the ground may be higher than the tops of the Tubs Section 2 When the Tubbs are set then lay in every one a bottom of Wood full of holes which doth not lye up from the bottom above two fingers high and upon the same lay a bottom made to it on purpose of Sticks or Reeds which grows by Rivers or Ditches bound together a quarter of an Ell thick but if such stuff cannot be had then put upon the bottom full of holes some chopt Straw a span long and upon the same Straw lay small little Boards that it may remain together thus the Tubs are prepared then run the Earth with a Wheel-Barrow into it and when you can have old long-layen Tanners or Soap-boylers Ashes from old holes put two or three Wheel-barrows full of them below in the bottom then put the other Earth which you have proved and brought in also upon it and so do untill the Tub be full to a span breadth then lay it upon an hurdle or frame of Reeds and tye it fast and let water be poured upon it so much that it may remain standing a good square hand above the Earth but if one could have a convenience of letting the Water upon it with a Channel it were better and do this so long until the Water may remain a good square hand above the Earth and that it may be poured upon the Reeds or Hurdle that no hole may be caused in the Earth but remain even then let the Water stand upon the Earth near 8 hours then let the Lee run gently off below through the Tap-hole till it doth run muddy then pour the first Lee again upon the Earth and so do till it runs clear then run the Lees quite off and retain it and this Lees is called the Weak-Lees Section 3 Then pour upon the once extracted Earth common Water again and let it draw out the other Water which the first Water hath left in the Earth and this that then comes the second time is the after Water and is called watering out and such Water one may use instead of fresh Water upon new Earth and that which runs from it is called raw Lees which is strong enough to boyl and a Centner made of this common Earth doth usually contain 3 to 4 pound of Salt-Petre or above then put the extracted Earth out of the Tubs and renew it again constantly that one may have Lees enough to boyl day and night and need not delay boyling for want of Lees. Section 4 Also there must be set above near the Kettle a Tub out of which may run so much Lees into the Kettle as is boyled that the Kettle may remain continually boyling and always full then boyl this one day and night until a Centner of Lee may be taken out of the Kettle and may contain in the like Proof a quarter of a Centner or 25 pounds of Salt-Petre which may be done in two daies and one night Section 5 Then take two Tubs more prepared with bottoms full of holes and the sticks or red bottoms as aforesaid only above the stuff must be laid again a bottom full of holes and put straw upon it and then Ashes of good Wood of the best Elm mingle it together and moisten it with good warm Lees before it be put into the Tubs then being prepared put it into the Tubs an Ell high above the straw but if you can have the Ashes for a small price 't were better to put them together in it and then pour upon them the boyled Lees containing 25 pound boyling hot water let it run gently off and it will first come muddy therefore put in more till it run clear Section 6 When all the Lees is gone through both Ashes which is done that the Ashes may take the fatness of the Lees and become fit for washing and so retain of that which runs first off a part and put upon the extracted Ashes common hot raw Lees and let the Ashes be watered out with the same Lees which goes the second time through the Ashes and is called strong Lees then water it out the third time with hot Lees and this is called weak Lees after this the Ashesmay be watered out with common Lees untill the strength comes out of it By the following Sculpture you are taught how the Tubs are to be set and the Lees made and boyld from it Sculpture XXXIX Deciphered 1. The eight Tubs into which the Petre-Earth is to be put 2. The Pipe with a Brass Cock by which the Water is let into the eight Tubs 3. The Channel by which the Lees falls from each Tub and so into the Receiver 4. The Sink or great Receiver of the Lees. 5. The ninth Tub from which the Lees runs into the Kettle 6. The Oven wherein the Kettle stands 7. The Kettle on the top of the Oven 8. The Iron Door by which the Wood is to be put into the Oven under the Kettle 9. The Wind-hole in the bottom of the Oven 10. The Hole where the Oven may be seen into 11. The Iron Grate on which the Wood doth lay 12. The form of the Door by which the Oven may be lookt into being more largely Described than in Fig. 10. CHAP. V. How to Boyl Lees or Suds TAKE the weak Lees and put it in the Kettle and
whose time the word Brass is first mentioned in the Sacred Story Exod. 25. 3. And it is observable That though in the composition of Brass there is more of the stone than of Copper and that Copper is a Metal and that other a Stone yet it takes a new name of Brass and not its own or of the Metal Copper and being thus made Brass it is an Imitator of Gold both in Colour and in many Virtues and in such esteem that the Roman Treasurers were call'd Tribuni Aerarij rather than Aurarii and Camerarius says that the Aegyptians long before the Romans had so great Veneration of Brass that they made Images of it and laid them in the graves of their Kings to preserve their Bodies from Putrefaction and to men of lesser quality they nailed their dead bodies with many brass nails Also Virgil Horace and Homer are all full of their Encomiums on Brass and therefore it may well have the honour of a seventh Metal though compounded of a Mineral Now as the common Brass is of a Goldish colour so Pliny l. 34. c. 11. tells us of a white brass which is no other as I conceive than Brass Tind-over and called Laten or Auricalcum See Latten BRICK A. Brick T. Gabachen-stein or a stone made by Art L. Later a side because 't is used both to outside and inside of Buildings as antient as the Aegytians who forc'd the Israelites to make it the Makers of it is called T. Bachen-strein-lin L. Laterculus l. 5. c. 7. s 1. BRICKLE T. Zee bruch-lech L. Fragilis and this we vulgarly call brittle but doubtless it come from Brick the nature of which is fragile or more easy to be broken in pieces and so made into Pouder which both whole and in Pouder as those from Tile are used by Assayers l. 1. c. 32. s 3. l. 2. c. 44. s 2. c. BRIMSTONE see Bitumen Sulphur l. 1. c. 16. s 1. thence Bitumenous Sulphureous BRITTAIN See Mines and Mineral Countrys l. 3. c. 28. s 5. BROOM T. Bassem L. Scopa A. Besom and Broom but I conceive this word is from the Plant which we call Broom T. Ginster L. Genista of a flexible nature and so used to sweep Rooms BROWN T. Braun L. Fuscus See Colours BRUSH T. Buerst and yet to brush they say Kethern L. Scopula and verricula vestes purgare scopulis Sculpture 7. BUBLING Ein Wasser blason from T. Blass a Bladder being but a more durable bubble L. bulla l. 2. c. 35. s 7. BUCK Bucking and up Bucking and to Buck used often in the 2 3 4 5 Books in the T. is Lawgen L. Lixivare from Lixivium or Lee see Lee of Ashes but the Italians call it Bucato or Washing from whence our word Buck or properly Buc to distinguish it from the Male of a Doe is called also Buck which may have its name too from Bucceto from his frequent mingency pissing or making Water oftner than Females and this word Bucking is applyed often to those that are Washers of the filth out of Linen or Cloaths which the common people use to do with a piece of broad and thick Wood which they call a Clapper or Bat-staff but for more Expedition the Fullers have invented Mills with several Stamps for their Cloths which by the force of water do raise and let fall their Stamps by which the fullers-Fullers-Earth with the Water do make our Cloaths fit for use but whether the Metallists did teach them that Art I shall not enquire only the Metalists which we converse with here have two ways of Bucking or Washing their Oars from the dirt or Earth about them one by a Mill which they call a Smelting-mill by which with the force of Water certain Stamps or Hammers do beat and wash the Oars and those Workers are called Smelters at the Mill and after that there are other lesser Buckings in Mortars and Tubs to prepare the Metal more free from Rubbish for the Melters See Smelting Melting and Menstruum BURNING of Metals i. e. reducing them to Ashes or Pouder for use l. 2. c. 2. See Ashes Calcination Roasting c. CA C CA CADMIA See Calaminaris CAKES T. Schiben or pieces of Metal melted into the form of Cakes l. 3. c. 26. By this word Cake we must not understand such Cakes as in Latine are called Placenta from placere to please the Pallat by their several pleasant Ingredients but here it relates only to the form of it sometimes round and Convex but mostly Flat like pieces of Plate and therefore the Refiners for distinction do call Lead cast into a solid body Sows and Pigs Tin Blocks and Iron Barrs but Silver Gold and Copper so cast they call Cakes and Copper sometimes Rose-Cakes or Cupri Rosa and though they be not Edibles or bear the name of Placenta yet without Mony which is derived from those metal'd Cakes we could not have such things as are placentious or pleasing to us To CALCINE Calcinate Calcinize and Calcination T. Calcineren L. Calcinare both Languages making it a compound of two Words Calx for Lime and Ciner Ashes which in a metallick sence is to reduce Metals by Fire to a friable or brickle temper like Lime therefore Lime is called onely in Latine Calx and we from the word call our Lime-stone Chalk which being burnt we call Lime and this burning we call slacking according to the Teut. and before it is burnt Vnslackt unburnt or uncalcin'd Lime and being burnt or slack't called also Calx viva which is oft mentioned by our Author and A. Quick-Lime or that which hath by Fire as it were an additional Life for metals seem to be dead in their Oars but by this Calcination revived to hint to us the advantages of our Resurrection by the general Conflagration 'T is true there are other ways of Calcination especially of Metals viz. by Corrosion Immersion Amalgamation Cementations Fumigations and Illinations See Salmon yet none of these can be performed without Fire but to return to the common Lime as it is fitted for the use of Architecture it is mingled with Water and Sand and then called Mortar and according as the Lime and Sand are in goodness so the Structures by it are made more durable and therefore it is thought That we had all our Sand for our Mortar with which our antient Churches were built out of Italy and the Fort of Plymouth built by his present Majesty recompensed my Journy thither the Graff of which is hewn out of Marble and the Mortar also made of alcined Marble and their Sand which makes that Mortar as compact as the Marble it self but what kind of Sand or what Proportions I did not then enquire Now there are two words in L. which pass under the same Orthography viz. Calx for Lime and Calx for the Heel of a man or end of a thing so as I may conceive that our Metallick and Artificial word Calx for Lime is borrowed of the Natural
Cude upon it then it was passable currant and Common and some would have it from the form of the Coin consisting of Angles as much of the French and Spanish Mony do and some say That from Angular Coins the Corners or Angles of Structures are called Coins because with such Mony the Architects were paid their Wages Now I conceive that I may add my Supposition also That the Word Coin may be the abstract of Coynobeline or Cunobeline one of the Kings of the old Britans and who is said to be the first that did Coin Mony at Malden in Essex Cambden where it is probable that their Mines in our Records since decayed or neglected did supply him with Metal for that purpose however in our later Ages the Word Coin is still applyed to Metals formed into Currant Mony made of Metals CONDENSE T. Dick-Maken A. making Thick L. Condensatio CONGEAL ver Breizon L. Coagulatio See Conglutinate CONGLUTINATE T. Lime from whence we have the word lime for a Dog and Bitch in copulation L. conglutinare A. to glew and join together now these words cement coagulate condense congeal and conglutinate are often but improperly applyed to one sense especially about metals for cementing is as I have shewn in Cement coagulation from coagulo to curdle i.e. where metals are joyned or curdled together by fire condensation when metals are made more hard or thickned congelation when they are by Fire turned into a Christaline Glittering and Icy form from gelare to turn into Ice which kind of Christal is often seen in refining of metals and Conglutination from Glutinare when they are joyned by a glewish temper and is more properly applicable to vessels made of Glutinous matter for the better holding of Metals in the Fire yet all these Words still signify the making of things thicker or harder than they were before Now as to Conglutination I cannot here but call to mind what I saw at Exmouth in Devonshire where upon little Rocks appearing somewhat above the Sands at a low Water there were Oysters sticking fast to them which at an high Water were all covered by the Sea so as we were forc't to beat them off with a Chizel and Hammer and these they call'd Rock Oysters the Shells being almost as firm as the Rock it self I confess I look't upon it as a wonderful Secret in Nature That the Oyster could fix it self so firmly having no outward parts to do it and this in 12 hours time for at the next low-Low-Water those very Rocks where at the former Ebb we had left no Oysters on them they were filled again with other Oysters and therefore it must be some glutinous matter which they cast forth upon the Rocks and so brood upon it to a condensation and I the rather believe this because Shell-Snails which we call Dodmans have an excellent white Cement always lying in the little end of the Cone of their Shells with which they often glew themselves so fast to Walls that they cannot get loose but dye in their Shells and so do's the Limpet another Shell-Fish on the same Coast cleave it self so hard to the Rocks that nothing but a Chizel can divide them from the Rocks now certainly if that part of the Oyster-shell which is so glewed were mixt with so much of the Rock on which it is fixt there might be made a very binding Glew or Cement for Metallick Vessels but there is another sort of Shell-Fish upon that Coast also which I cannot but mention because I do not find it amongst those that write of Shell-Fishes and it is called in that County the Long-Fish or Capa Longa the longest are not above 12 Inches and about an Inch in breadth opening at each end and contains in it a white-Worm for I cannot call it otherwise which is a very nourishing Food and being pickled up are sent as acceptable Presents to those that make their Gusts their delights these are caught in this manner at a Low Water that is when the Sands are clear of Water those Fishes do shew themselves above the Sands about 3 Inches so as 8 or 9 Inches remain in the sands and then those who make it their Trade to get them presently go against the wind very softly as in catching of Moles and with an Iron Engine somewhat like a Spade strike under them and so are caught but if they go with the wind the Fish presently retires into the Sand without possibility of being caught for that Tyde and though after their Escapes I have seen them digg'd for yet they vanish beyond the strength or agillity of labour to catch them Now these having no outward thing discernable to assist them in so quick a Motion I conceive it must be by some glutinous matter such as we see do attend snails in their motion but the snails cannot contract it again because it usually lies on some dry substance but the glutinous matter of these Capa longa's being fixt in their Repositories much under the superficies of the sand and so extended by them like a spiders thred may with much more agility than a spider rise or fall as they please in a moment there being a liquidity from their Repositories to make their motions of ascention or descention more agile and passable Now from Creatures of this constitutions certainly many excellent Cements may be made as may be judged by the Fish which Pliny lib. 32. cap. 7. calls Itchthiocalla and we Ising-glass Fish which besides other virtues the skin and other parts of it as he tells us and now we know by Experience do make an excellent Cement especially if it be mingled with aqua vita either for earthen Ware or Metals enduring both fire and water COLOUR T. Farb L. Color A. Colour signifying Beauty or Pulchritude of which there are two sorts natural and artificial wherewith the Limners and Painters in Imitation of the Beauty of Nature shews us the Beauty of their Art yet they cannot perform their Works without the help and mixture of other Substances as Oyls Gums c. but their best and most proper Colours are from Metals Whereof seven are accounted the chief produced from the seven chief Metals which are influenced from the seven Planets and these 7 Colours are used in painting by two sorts of eminent Artists in that Science viz. those who use them with Gum call'd the Art of Miniature or drawing in little and those which use them with Oyl called Limners or Painters or drawing in great and little for I meddle not with those who work with Pastils or in Frisco or Dyers or Tincturists so the first of these in an Alphabetical Order is Black otherwise White and Black are accounted the Principes Colorum Mensura Reliquorum Alsted And all of them produc'd from Metals and Minerals the Seven are these I. BLACK T. Schwartz l. 1. p. 6. from whence we have our word swarth or swarthy inclining to black L. Niger Plutarch calls it color
Emeralds c. and Counterfeits of Gross Stones as Marble and other common Stones but I speak of such as are done by Nature and those of what I have seen which I conceive are only performed by a peculiar Water ordained for that purpose as at Poolls-Hole in Darbyshire where are great grey Stones like our Free-stones made by the cadency of Water and some of those stones also cemented by Water so as there are two or three large Arches of those stones cemented by Water and where they were not perfectly joyned by the light of Candles I could see through one Arch to the uppermost and so they lay promiscuously in the Vault as big as a little Church the lesser Stones are in the nature of Icicles but not bright and so encreased in hardness length and dimension according as the Water descends on them so as at the points are drops of Water still condensing into Stone The next which I saw was at Oky-Hole near Mindip-Hills in Sommersetshire where the nature of that constant dropping petrefy'd it self into a Christaline Form and so seem'd by the light of Candles of which I had store as so many Christal Icicles After this I had occasion to Visit Sir Robert Coke at his House called Durdans in Surry now belonging to the Honourable Earl of Berkly where I found an Artificial Groto made of Flint Stones and looking up to the top I perceived many little pendent Stones like Icicles hanging on the Arch Flints and calling Pool's and Okey Holes to mind I broke off some of them and found them to be congealed Stones and as the others were of a Free-Stone and Christaline temper these were Flinty drops of Water hanging at the ends like the other almost congealed stones These Observations I made of Lapidinous Waters condensing themselves from the matter through which they pass The next are of the like Waters penetrating other Substances so petrefying them and one of them is near Knasborrough Castle in Yorkshire where there is a Well which turnes pieces of Wood and Leaves into Stone and other things of a complying nature But I had a Honey-Comb presented to me from thence which was made perfect Stone by that Well which I the more wonder at because things of cerasious tempers are usually Resistables to Water The other is that at Deepham in Norfolk there is a Tree 13 yards about near the root and at least 80 Foot high which bears a flower very pleasing to the Ey and Smell Sir Tho. Brown Doctor of Physick eminent for universal knowledg call'd it while he lived a Teasle Tree and said That he never saw but one of them about the further part of Germany and that many had try'd to graft or inoculate part of it but without success Now at the bottom of this Tree there is a Spring of the like nature with that in York-shire for Petrefaction now I wish that a Graft might be carryed from thence into York-shire and planted near that petrefying Well by which it might be seen whether the Tree gave any such Virtue to the Spring or the Spring to the Tree from which and other Inquiries I have still been diverted by publick Imployments The last which I shall mention is of Earth which hath a petrifying quality and this I was only inform'd of by Mr. Castle a known person both for Integrity and Estate in one of whose Mannors near Cambridge there is an Earth where as he told me He had taken up several pieces of Wood which were turned into perfect stone and this is confirmed in Cambden's Brit. p. 401. of a Ladder turn'd to stone which he saith was taken out of the Earth at Asply Gowish I suppose in the same Mannor which was kept in the Cistertian Monastery near Asply as a great Rarity and I have both read and heard of the like Earth in other places But it is an Error to attribute this to the Earth whenas it is only a lapidinous Water which is in the Earth and infuseth it self into such porous Bodys and so makes it become stone and that which confirms me herein is That near this there is a Quarry of stone or Earth and water turn'd to stone but it is of that nature as Mr. Castle inform'd me That if it be digg'd by the Rule of the Compass and mark'd N. for North and S. for South c. and laid in any structure as it was digg'd from the Quarry it proves a very durable stone but if laid otherwise it moulters to sand which is of late years not only observ'd in digging and placing other Stones though more consolidated but also in removing Plants derived from Water and Earth Now I observe in the whole matter That this Water that thus petrefies it self or other substances is adapted with a lapidinous Nature not only to condensate it self but such other substances as may imbibe that quality so that it is not properly called cold as is commonly said that turns water into Icicles but a volatile lapidinous water that flyes about which as cold or coldness doth improve to petrefaction so Heat or other warmths do hinder from condensation and this petrefying water is of a salt and frigid nature as we may see that if Snow and Salt be put into a silver tin or pewter Pot and set on a Board wherein fresh water is to be pour'd and then move the liquor about in the Pot with a Stick and in less than half an hour the water under the Pot will be congealed to an Ice and so will glew or freeze the Pot and Board together of which you may read more in Berkley's Argenis So I shall referr the further Discourse of Petrefying to the word Waters PEWTER T. Speauter but the Pewterer or maker of it is called Kanngiesser L. Plumbus Cinereus Holliock and Argentanus Minsh but the Italians call it Stagnaro from Stannum Tin for it is properly an Art derived from the Stanniries or Tin Mines because the best Pewter is where all or the greatest part is Tin yet they put with it sometimes Silvery Lead but for want of that a little poor Lead or the Ashes or Dross of Lead but when it is much adulterated with Lead it is quickly discerned by the weightiness of it but the T. calls a Pewter Dish Dish Zienen schueshel which is a Dish made of Tin l. 2. c. 20. s 2. PIBBLES T. Keisel-steine from Kisel a Flint L. Calculus à Calcando because it may be kick't up and down and as they are little of themselves so they are of little use about Metalls otherwise then as they are beaten and mixt with Metallick Flints l. 1. c. 4. s 2. PICTURES T. Bilden-Geinaild-a-maklen L. Pictura and Imago the Makers of these are called Picture-Drawers Limners and Painters and these are of several sorts but the chief Composition of their Colours are from Metalls especially the Effigies on Coyns which may be numbred amongst Picturas solidas and this admirable Art of Picturing is
relation any correspondence between the Arm that was lost in Europ and that Legg which was lost in Africa or Asia score of years between One Humour of our Bodies produceth Worms and those Worms suck and exhaust all other humours and then all dyes and all dryes and moulders into dust and that dust is blown into the River and that pudled water tumbled into the Sea and that ebbs and flows with infinite Revolutions and still yea still God doth know in what Cabinet every seed pearl lies in what part of the World every grain and particle of every mans dust doth lye Now we are to believe that this scattered Dust over all the Elements shall in the twinkling of an eye have a glorious Resurrection far more glorious than what is producible by Metallick Art which serves here but as an Illustration of what may be expected hereafter but to return to our Chymical Dust Ashes and Pouder the dust of Diamonds is most remarkable because nothing can master cut or polish a Diamond but by its own dust and it is a delicate Art especially their Mills by which with the dust of it they make so many curious Angles as that they are all reflectionary glitterings and sparkling Lights to each other Then for Ashes the several Lixiviums or Lees which are made of the several sorts of them they are of great use in Chimistry especially those that are made for Salt-petre without which scarce any Metallick Operation can have good effects And for Pouder the most eminent is that which is made for Guns viz. of Salt-petre Charcoal and Brimstone and some other ingredients to heighten their tempers and when it is perfected for the use it doth as it were revenge its own Contusions by shattering the pieces of others almost into Atoms and therefore called T. Buechsen-pulver L. Pulvis tormentarius as if it had been invented by the Friar to torment others before their time Now seeing I am writing of Gun-pouder I have long since considered of the vast quantity that is spent in Salutes c. and it was my chance to meet with an Ingredient of a cheap rate with which supposing a pound of pouder to be used I took a 4th part of it and three parts of my Ingredient which was not of the charge of a 4th part of Pouder and with that mixture did make a Report rather greater than less than the whole pound of pouder would have done but this compounded pouder is more for noise than execution which is the chief use of Salutes or for Triumphs whereby half 3 parts of 4 in the charge of common Gun-pouder may be saved And seeing I have told you of a pouder of Salutation give me leave to tell you That I have found out a pouder of preservation such as without Salt shall keep Meat in its Blood and Gravy untainted or unputrified for more than a year of which some little experiment I have made but not sufficient to satisfy my self There is yet another Powder which I am to speak of viz. a Powder of Dulcification which is a peculiar Art but for that I shall conclude with Herbet that Divine Poet as an admonition for the good use it When Hair smells sweet through Pride or Lust The Powder hath forgot the Dust PURIFICATION purifying T. Rein Reinigen Saeuberung L. Mundatio Purgatio Purificare Clarificare Defaecare to separate Metals from dross either by washing by clarifying filtring digestion or distilling and this is done by water only or by fire only and somtimes by both joyntly See Cleansing Purging Clarifying PUTRIFACTION T. Verrottung Verfalung L. Putrifactio A. Rottenness Corruption Putrefaction c. as Bees from a Lions Carcass Judg. 14. 8. Snakes from the Corruption of Horse-hair Magots and Flies from corrupt Flesh Eels from corrupted Dews and in all Histories of Nilus it is said That the Mud thereof breeds besides other larger Creatures an infinite number of Mice in which Experiment we need go no further than the Island of Foulness in Dengy hundred in Essex where as my Author Mr. Bernard a very credible Gentleman affirm'd to me and it is confirm'd by Chiswell in his Britania Baconica that about the end of every year in his ground there a prodigious number of Mice were bred from the Soil of his Grounds so as he had often seen some of them not fully shap'd and these Mice about August did devour all the roots of the grass whereby the grass being withered the whole ground seemed like a bed of chaff wherein the Mice delighted themselves but whilst they were in their sports about the end of every September there came a sort of little Owls in great numbers but much less than those which are bred in England and so being fill'd and fatned they flew away again and what with the chaff and carrion of the Mice and dung of the Owls the next Spring the grounds produced again plenty of Grass which fatned him yearly many good Oxen Now this putrefaction is not only seen by producing such Insects but in Metals for the Rusts of them are but rots or putrefactions as when Ceruse is produced of Lead made rotten with Vrine or Vinegar and Verdigrise produced from Copper made rotten by fumes of Wine and many such like putrefactions See Pulveration c. QU Q QU QUARRY T. Steinegruben which word Grub is used in English to search for Stone c. L. Lapidicinia Latonia Latumia Lithomia and Fodina and for a Quarry of Mill-stones Cotaria It is not agreed from whence this word is derived but the French comes nearest to the matter viz. Querir from the Latine Quaerere to seek or pro qua re quaerit and so an Hawk is said to have her Quarry when she hath got what she flew at however it is called also fodina which is the title to a Mine and indeed the Mines for Metals Minerals and Stones are so near of kin that they may all be called properly Fodinae See Mines Minerals Stones Waters QUENCH or to Quench T. Ermorden that is to put to Death also Andeschen L extinguere which in Metals is when the heat of them are taken away by cold water so quenching thirst is the allaying of heat in the body by some cooling liquids and it may also come from the Quince Apple which hath the quality to allay flames thirstiness c. coming from hot causes QUICKSILVER T. Quecksilver L. Argentum vivum Argentum liquidum fufile Hidrargirum or Argenteum aqueum and this by Chimists is devoted to the Planet Mercury and so by them also called Mercury for its Agility and therefore the Heathens who worship'd it as a God yet put an humane shape on it with Wings to his Feet But our Metallick Mercury or Quicksilver is of two Sorts viz. Adulterated and Natural as for the Adulterated it is easily discovered by putting some of it into a Spoon and so over fire let it evaporate and if it leaves a black or duskishness
have enjoyed if they had not been disobedient I might instance more but it is enough for me that I have shewn the advantages which Metals have by their Obedience to their King or Regulus RETORTS See Utensils ROASTING of Oars or Metals l. 1. c. 10. T. Groesten Roesten A. Rost a Rore usta or the burning away the Dew or moisture of Metals RUBRIFIED l. 2. c. 44. s 2. T. Fast rotten L. Rubrificatus and I suppose the Red Sea is called Mare Rubrum from some red Mineral under it RUSSET cloath T. Vnbercite L. Pannus fusci coloris A. Russet cloath which is Brown or between a white and black colour it may come from Rusticus because Country-men seldom use dyed or undrest cloath but only the natural colour of Sheeps Wooll when it is neither black nor white but as a mix'd colour however this is recommended by Erckern for retaining of the Gritts or Sands of Gold so as they may not suddenly be wash't away with other Rubbish SA S SA SALT l. 1. l. 2. l. 3. l. 4. and l. 5. T. Saltz L. Sal which may come from salus Health according to the Verse Non sapit esca probe quae datur absque sale for indeed it gives not only to Humane bodies but to Metals a vivacity and sanitude Minshaw deduceth it from salire because it sparkles and leaps in the fire Now of Salts there are several sorts as may be read in Pliny lib. 31. cap. 7. to the 11. and in other places and Authors but most Chimists do agree that there are seven several sorts which are influenc't from the seven Planets to attend the seven Metals and these Erckern accordingly makes use of viz. Sal alkali or sandiver or Salt of Glass Sal Armoniaci Sal Nitri Sal Vitrioli Sal Petre and common Salt Sal Tartar or Argol of which I have spoken and also Sal Gem which is the seventh Metallick Salt and is produced from a Rocky Christalline stone and of these he speaks and of no more it being a subject of great extent for I conceive there may be as many sorts of Salts extracted as there are Terrestrial Creatures for all things do consist of Salt Sulphur and Mercury as I have said but that which I aimed at was to give an account of our natural salts from Springs in Cheshire and Worcestershire and from the Lands on the South sides of Devonshire and Cornwal which are full of Salts for with those Sands so mixt they manure their Lands to a great profit and of which most other Coasts of England are wanting and have only the Sea-water to make their Common-Salt but I cannot enlarge my observations upon any more words because the Printer calls for what I did write of a Metallick Dictionary after I first proposed the Printing of Erckern but intending within the compass of a year to publish Georgius Agricola de re Metallica being fully translated in English and also to add a Dictionary to it I shall reserve my remaining Essays if what I have done hitherto be approved till then and so I proceed in the Dictionary SANDS l. 1. 6 29 c. T. and A. Sand and so the Belgick but the Italian the Spanish and Latine call it Arena and the French Sables which in Heraldry signifies black also it is the name of the Furr of a little Beast called sabellus and mustulus sarmaticus of a sandy colour However sand is of various uses in Metallicks as sand-Ovens c. and consist of great varieties in England which may admit of curious speculations See Earth Gold Mortar Ovens Petrification Stones Water SANDIVER l. 2. c. 5. s 1. c. is the same with sal Alkali which Pliny l. 31. c. 7. calls the Tragasean salt and is the same with sal Vitri or salt of Glass SCALES are of a Ballance for weighing Metals whereof you will find two sorts in Erckern viz. Proof scales l. 1. c. 34. s 12. and inset scales l. 1. c. 35. s 2. T. Tung schuell L. Lanx also for scales which come from Metals T. schuepen being the same word which they use for the scales of Fish signifying the scurf or flaky matter taken off from Metals sometimes by filing but chiefly by fires l. 2. c. 26. s 2. and c. 36. s 2. See Fleaky and Flaky Shivery c. SKIM or skum l. 2. c. 47. s 2. and l. 5. T. schaum L. spuma A. froth but in Metals it is when they first rise into a drossy matter yet not so thick as dross till it is more condensed but in other things it hath only the name of Froth fit to be skimm'd or skumm'd off See Dross Scorias Yeast SCORIAS l. 2. c. 35. s 2 c. T. Trufer L. scoria A. drossy See Dross Skim SEARCE to searce T. salter L. cribrare A. to searce serce or sarce Skinner which is to express the operation of a seeve See Seeve SEEVE T. sib and sieb L. cribrum A. seive seeve or sive Skinner See Ratter SEPARATION T. Absouderen from souderin to soder or to joyn and so absouderen to disjoyn L. separatio A. separation and in the infinitive of separo it is separare or segregare from whence the T. call a separating Oven a sagar Offen l. 3. c. 15. and so sagar worke which is a distinguishing or dividing mixt Metals from each other or other matters adherent to the Metals See Quicksilver SHIVERY or to shiver l. 1. c. 34. s 3. T. schivern or schiffern L. disrumpere when Metal is loose and easy to break into pieces and sometimes light Oar is called shiffer Oar. SILVER T. silber from the Greek silbo Minshaw A silver now as to the inlarging the Etimology of this word used by the T. and Old Saxons and so continued here I must refer it to another time only I observe that the French and Italian do comply to the Latine word Argentum but the Spaniard calls it Plata probably from the chief City and Province of that name in America or from the great River Plata which runs 2000 miles through the American Mines before it unloads its Wealth to the Spanish Navy termed his Plate-Fleet which supplies himself and his Neighbours with its Treasures of Silver Gold c. I might also add many things about the fining and refining of their Silver before it comes unto that Fleet but I refer that to Erckern's four first Books and N. N's Survey of America for I know not the Author but I find it ingeniously writ See Metals Mines c. SLACK Slackstones and Slicks T. Schlack and Schlick often mentioned by Erckern l. 1 2 3 and 4 L. Laxus and all signifying the loose parts of Oars or the Oars made into Metals yet still do remain slack and shivery in some part and sometimes is taken for Dross and that Dross calcin'd goes for Calx or slack'd Metal See Calx Calcine Lime Dross Flakes SMELTING l. 4. c. 14. l. 4. c. 1. c. See Assaying
every Oar may be certainly found out so that the very smelting melting refining and account thereof may be demonstrated both as to its worth and the Charges Now it is here necessary to be known that so many as there are Sorts of Silver Oars so many are their Natures and ways of melting and refining them and therefore the Tryals of Silver Oars must be ordered according to the Nature of the Oars because the hard harsh gross and crude Oars cannot be proved like those of an easier Fusion or of a more mild subtil and ductile nature because as an Oar proves either harsh or hard of fusion so it must be help'd in the proving by the Government of the fire or by other wayes as by much Experience in proving such Oars have been and may be discern'd according as they melt in the fire so that if there be not a knowledg of the Nature of an Oar before melting and how it will do in the fire such an Oar cannot be melted to profit Now for the better attaining the knowledg of the Difference of Oars as which are of an easy and which of an harsh and crude Fusion the most excellent and experienced Miners do give every Mine and Oar from thence Names according to their Natures all which according to the Terms used by them are hereafter named Section 2 First there are reckoned to the Easy-flowing Silver-Oars these Nominall distinctions viz. Glass-Oars as the cheifest of the leaden Coloured Oars almost to be compared to the best digested Silver for it doth not loose above a sixth part in the fire and the rest is pure and good Silver and this dig'd Oar is a ccounted the best Silver Oar. Section 3 Also there is found white-Goldish Oar not that it contains Gold but because it is good in Silver it hath this name in respect of its Goodness Section 4 Also the Horny Oar which is called so from its transparency or rather lucidation like Horn and is very rich in Silver next to the three last mentioned Oars Section 5 There is a Silver-Oar which is Brown-red almost like Cinabar but not so light and this they call Red-goldish Oar and this doth yield above half Silver and it is found that these Oars do break like one another and the difference not easily discern'd Section 6 As for all Oars which are gray and black in breaking and withall heavy they are often rich in Silver but such as break black and light or brown and yellow are not alwayes rich and it happens often that there is little or no Silver in them Section 7 All Ironish brown and Yellowish streamy Oars are from decaying Mines pierc'd by cold winterly Winds and these contain some but are not rich in Silver Section 8 Also the leadish or Oar that looks like mud and therefore call'd muddy Oar is somtimes rich and somtimes very poor in Silver and indeed all leaden horny stony Oars if they be yellow white gray black brown red or green do not contain in themselves if no other Oar be mingled with them much Silver and for the most part none at all Section 9 Also there is reckoned among the Easy-flowing Oars all such Lead-Oars as are of a bright glittering shining Nature or of a gray brown or white Colour yet these of themselves alone have little Silver but the small flaky glittering or Wismet Oars from the Mines in Bohemia as also the much flaky shining Oars from the Mynes of Fryburgh in Misnia do contain from 6 to 10 ounces in a centner Section 10 Also all float or Easy-flowing Oars that are Yellow white brown blew green or gray do contain near that proportion Section 11 Also Copper-grass Oar or Copper of a Mountain green or Copper glass-Colour do hold some Silver but the Course Oars of an Azure Mountain-Green Colour are comonly poor In fine all Silver Oars in all sorts of Mynes free from Flint Blent Cobolt Mispickle Glimmer Wolferan course spelter and Wismet or be spizy and Copery are called saft flowing mild Oars Section 12 On the contrary all flinty Oars are reckoned among the harsh gross and hard flowing Oars and of these Oars there are also several sorts namely the gross Flinty-Oar the water flinty-Oar and the square flinty-Oar these contain little Silver and the most part of them none or not above half an ounce in a Centner also Copper-flinty Oars that are yellow like Brass also the Brown and Blew-staind-Flinty Oars they do contain much good Copper as may be Seen in the third Book but such Oars contain little Silver yet one sort more than another Section 13 There are also rich-copper-Flinty Oars which have no Silver but the Blent Cobolt or mispickle Oars as in Section 11. if they be speckled or spotted with round black or gray spots they are sometimes rich in Silver and sometimes poor Section 14 Also all common-white Glimmer or wolferan as in Section 11. or glimmering or sparkling Oars or Talk or Cat-silver are very poor in silver yet the black Glimmers are sometimes rich but for the most part all such glimmery Oars are commonly poor so as I account these but as Paterns to other metalick Oars Section 15 Also all course-Spelter spizy or coppery-spizy Oars as in Section 11. or the like kind they are commonly poor in Silver and contain none at all Section 16 Also all spady Oars or such as may be dig'd with a Spade if they be red green yellow or white if there be no other mixt silver-Oars with them for the most part do contain little or no Silver in them Section 17 Also there is reckoned among the harsh or hard-flowing Oars the raw slack-stone and copper-stone spelter being alike in cleaving and splitting of Furnaces which proceeds from the stirring of the flinty parts as also from the scummy part in melting them Section 18 But how the Proofs of the above-named soft-flowing as also of the hard-flowing silver Oars are to be wrought I shall by the following DISCOURSE distinctly and exactly inform the READER Now because that in many places there are no Workmen who can well make Instruments belonging to the proving of these Oars I will for the better Information shew first what is chiefly necessary to be done in such proofs both in the whole and in parts as also what matter or stuff is to be used about them as also what Instruments are to be made and prepared for them CHAP. III. How the Assay Ovens to prove Silver and other Metals are to be prepared Section 1 THERE must be special Furnaces for Assaying made of good Potters Clay and bound with strong Iron wyre or Hoops that they may not fall asunder by reason of the strong heat which they must endure But some diligent Assayers which intend to carry on their Work effectually do form and adorn their Furnaces fairly and comely so as they may
a live Coal into it so it will burn out to a Fluss mingle also Salt Petre melted Salt and Sandover and crude Argol with it then is the Fluss ready CHAP. VII How Gold may be separated very clean from the Quicksilver Section 1 AFTER Gold is quickned and the Quicksilver press'd through a leather and forc'd from it yet there will remain commonly a little Gold with it especially when the Gold-slicks and Gold Oars have been poor and that the Quicksilver did not become rich such Quicksilver may be preserved for other Work of the like nature But if there were no more such slicks to be done yet the Gold which did go with the Quick silver through the Leather must be separated from it very clean by an Artificial Separation and such Quicksilver doth commonly contain two or three Loths of Gold in the Centner especially when the Quicksilver came from poor slicks and Section 2 such separation is done thus Cause an Iron Jug to be made which may be taken asunder at the belly lute the lower part of the inside about half a finger thick with very good and weighty Loam that will hold well in the fire and not crack cause it to dry set the upper part upon it and bind them both very fast and close together with an Iron Wyer and then do it all over on the outside with good Clay and when it is dry then set it in an Oven which is called an Athanor with which one useth to burn Aqua fortis and put in it fifty pound of Quick silver if you have such a quantity of it and place an Helmet upon it and also an earthen Jug before it in which there must be full three quarts of Water and all must be luted well on the outside and cause it to dry then let the fire burn by degrees to be stronger from one hour to the other untill at last the Jug be very red yet make it not suddenly hot that the Jug may not burst nor the Quick-silver fly out so the Quick-silver will all come over into the water in the Receiver which when the fire is kept in good order is done in seven or eight hours when all is come over then let the Jug cool well and take it out of the fire and open it so will you find all the Gold in the bottom then take it from the Loam and let it flow together After this manner now directed the Gold which remaineth in the Leather which hath Quick silver with it may be put in and drawn off and the Quick silver may return to Advantage Section 3 But because the Quick-silver will become a little weak from the drawing over so that it will not attract so soon as in the beginning and if you would have it fresh again then put it into a Vessel of Wood draw warm salt Water upon it grind it with your hand well together and dry it with a Spunge then it is as good again as it was before and you may use it again also there is no great loss by it in the drawing it off if the Pots and Glasses be well luted Section 4 In case you cannot have always in readiness an iron Jug cause one to be made of earth which will endure the fire and lute the same likewise with good and firm Clay as you did to the iron Jug so put the Quick-silver into it and Helmet upon it and set before it the Jug with water and lute it well altogether then force the Quick silver over it and you may have it again for use but such Labor is performed with Sorrow and danger because if such an earthen Jug should crack or spring then the Quick silver will be lost and will evaporate to smoak therefore there must not be so much Quick-silver put in it as into an iron Jug or Pot. Section 5 Some use to put upon such a Jug an earthy blind Limbeck that on both sides hangeth over and therein they put water and draw the Quicksilver from the prest Gold in it and when it is a little cool they put it out through the Pype which is above on the Helmet and then the Gold will remain on the Jug Now which of these that is found most serviceable and convenient to any one he may use only take notice That if you let the smoak away and the remaining Quicksilver from the Gold without distillation take heed the smoak or vapour go not into thy Belly because it is a poysoning and cold Vapour which lameth and killeth for he will find that it will there congeal and afterwards spoil his body Now that the Reader may know how the Jug and Instruments are to be made which are to be used for quickning and attracting he may find exactly in the following Sculpture which is thus Deciphered 1. The Athanor or great Furance 2. The Ovens on the sides of it 3. The earthen Receiver for it 4. The earthen Helmet for it 5. The blind Helmet with a Pipe by which water may be pour'd in 6. He that fitteth the matter 7. He that presseth the Quicksilver through a Leather 8. The lower part of the iron pot or Receiver 9. The upper part of it 10. The Leather purse for the Quicksilver 11. He that causeth the Gold to melt by help of the Bellows 12. The Pieces of Metal Sculpture XVII CHAP. VIII How Gold-Oars are to be proved for Gold Section 1 GOLD Oars are of two sorts one is partly flowing the other partly harsh as is discours'd in the first Book Now from the silver Oars the common Assayers have had in their proving two Processes namely upon the mild and flowing Oars viz. the Iron-streamy and bright Oars and such as are without flints their Process was thus They used to grind their Oar or slick very small and have weighed a Centner of the Fluss which they had prepared for the Gold-Oars as we shall discourse hereafter and have mingled altogether and did put it into a clean Crucible and covered it with Coals and have set it before the Bellows and did blow about it and when the Fluss was melted then have they put fifteen Centner of clean Lead into it and when it did begin to slack then they take the Crucible out of the fire and suffer it to cool then beat the Regulus with the slacks out of the Crucible and put it together upon a proof Test in an Assay Oven and have caused it to boil up and slack again as other silver Oars and have stirr'd it about with a clean Iron-hook and when it was vvell boyld up they did let it cool finally they have beaten off the slacks from the Work and upon a well nealed Coppel caused it to go off but they have made their fluss for such proving of one part of Litarge and one part of Antimony well ground together and melted them and when they did intend to use it with such Oars as were not Iron-streamy
in Order that the mouth of the Helmet may go out a pretty distance over the Oven then lay before it the Receiver that the mouth of the Helm may well reach into it that you may see how the water doth go and the drops fall Section 5 And that you may also know how much the Vitriol hath lost of its weight first in the Calcining you must ' put sweet or flowing Water in the Receiver else the Water will be too strong and very little water will remain also lute all very well over the Joynings on the Receiver and Helm thus Take some of the prepar'd Clay and lay it about the Joynings then put in the Clay through the joynings in the Receiver with a little smooth sprig of a Broom which will do this Service that the first and gross spirits as you shall hear hereafter may come through it then upon the Clay lay a little Cloth as abovesaid that the Joynings may every where be luted-over and let it be dry Thus also you may set into the Oven the Jugs with the stuff on both sides the Athanor and with one fire burn and make perfect two or three works and mannage every one according to its necessity without hindrance to the other of giving or taking heat as hereafter somwhat more may follow CHAP. XXIV How Aqua fortis is to be distilled in an Iron Jug or Pot. Section 1 BUT if you will put the stuff in an Iron Jug which is cast or hammered and distill Aqua fort in it then put the Jug with its short feet upon an Iron Grate or Roaster that it may stand firm and fast but if the Jug hath no legs then it must stand upon a three-legg'd Iron proportioned to the Jug and before you do put the Helm on it first place upon the Jugs neck an old broken neck of a glass Bottle and then put the Helm upon it so the Helm will remain whole in taking off But if you have not a glazed Neck as is said then lute the Jug's neck round about with the prepared Clay and lay over the Clay a Paper as abovesaid upon the Helm and over lute it the best you can then the Helm will go from it the better Section 2 When you have set into the Athanor the stuff with the Jug and all the over-luting is well dryed then put into the Tower of the Athanor live Coals upon the same with other dead Coals so that the Tower may be full to the top then cover the Tower with a thick Cover made of Potters-Earth but you must lay Ashes upon the Tower half an hand thick and so fit the Cover that no vapor at all may goe out and let the wind-hole below on the Athanor be open which is mark'd in the beforesaid Sculpture with Figure 3 and shut the wind-holes of the By-ovens and the Mouth-hole of the Athanor very close mark'd with the figure 2. and draw it not open too soon with the Instruments noted at Figure 6. Section 3 But when the Aqua fort doth begin to go then open but one wind-hole and if it will not go well then draw the Instruments a little nearer to the Tower so the heat will go through the same space under the Jug or Bottle which is set in and in which the Ingredients are and presently the water will begin to run better Section 4 Now if it thus proceeds then a Vapour will come into the Receiver these are the gross spirits then let them go out through the little Pin of Wood near the Lymbeck of the Helm then stick it in again and lute it over the best way you can that no more spirits may go out and when the drops fall into the Receiver to five or six so the water will go in the beginning from the calcination stuff with which governing shutting and opening of the Instruments you may alwayes keep the Oven in order that the water may go well But when you put the stuff raw uncalcined in then you must do it very gently in the beginning that the drops may fall in to 15 and 16 c. But 't is a tedious and long while in distilling and there can no more water be had than of the calcined stuff therefore it is always first to be calcined and when from the calcin'd stuff the drops are fallen one or two hours to 5 6 and 7 drops then you may draw a little more with the Instruments which are between the Athanor and By-Ovens and then the heat will be stronger and the Drops will fall faster Section 5 Now when the Drops come but to two and three it goeth too hot then with the mentioned Instrument shut the under wind-hole again very close whereby they will go slower again for in too hot going there is danger that the stuff should ascend and dash all in pieces whereby cometh Dammage and although the calcined stuff doth not easily ascend yet it may so happen in going on especially if the Jugg be filled too much with the stuff Section 6 And know that You must number the drops according as one beateth with a hammer or fist or keepeth a tact or time as in Musick viz. as many common stroaks as can be done betwxt the drops may be 4 or 5 or more they are to be called stroaks therefore govern the sire also in an equal heat untill the water come almost over and the Helm and Receiver become Cherry-brown Section 7 Then you must strengthen the fire with opening of the Instruments while the Spirits go through the Limbeck or Nosel of the Helm and Receiver of the water by which the Helm and Receiver as is said becomes brown Then hasten not with the forcing of the fire till at last when the spirit is gone an hour to six or more according to the quantity of the stuff and the Receiver be no more so brown then open the Wind-holes markd with the figure 8. and lay in the same holes under the Jug or Bottle small split Wood and force it with the fierceness of the flame that the rest of the spirits may come over and that all strength may come into the water so as the Helm and Receiver become white again and that also the Jug or Bottle which is put in may glow near an hour well with the Caput mort so that which remaineth behind in the Jug or glass may have no more sharpness in it but become dry and of a reddish Brown When the Aqua fort is thus distilled then let the Athanor be opened and cool well and lay over above the neck of the Helmet where it is luted a wet cloth also near the Lymbeck of the Helm over the Receiver mollifying the overluted hard Clay well that it may go off that you may not break the Limbeck of the Helm Section 8 which may use afterwards the Receiver being first to be taken away then put the made Aqua fort into
go well over the Gold and put it over again let it boyl well with the Gold calx then put it off in a particular Vessel clean and Section 3 pure that nothing come off from the Gold and put upon it another clean hot water let it boyl with it do this until the water goes off from the Gold very clean and clear and hath no sharpness at all in it and that it take to it self the remaining Silver which the Aqua fort hath left behind with the Gold in the moistness till it cometh clean this is called dulcifying but that you may be sure that you have the Silver sweetned clean prove it thus let fall a drop in a Coppery clean dish and if it do not stain it then 't is dulcifyed clean such sweet waters are all to be put together because of the Silver in it and use it for precipitation of which you shall have an instruction hereafter When the Gold calx after this manner is taken clean off then hold in your hand the Bottle and put the Gold or Gold calx very gently out into an half Glass Bottle with the last clean water together then put it again into the Bottle or Culb and hold your hand before it again and turn the Culb so that all the remainder of the Gold together with the water may flow against the hand then put it finely and gently to the other Gold in the half Bottle Section 4 When all the Gold calx is settled in the half Glass Bottle then drain the water off cleanly and put also the Gold calx being moist into a clean Crucible and set it on the fire and let the water softly evaporate and boyl in then set the Crucible warmer and at the last very hot that the Gold calx may glow clean out then the Gold will receive a fine colour let it be cold and weigh it then in the casting all together nothing will go from it Now if you will cast together the glowed Gold calx then mingle it with a little Borax and put it in a new clean Crucible but rub it at first very clean with chalk and set it in the Fire and when the Crucible gloweth blow to it that the Gold may come to flow of this you may use a little in the Fluss and when you will cast it then lay Section 5 a clean little Paper upon it which is Luted with Venetian Soap and Wax and while the Paper yet burns upon the Gold cast it out under the Flames so it will receive no scum but will casts it self also clean but if you will cast an Ingot then make the Ingot warm and Lute it with Wax and then quench the cast Ingot with Vrine and so the Gold will become fine and deft Section 6 But if one have much to separate if it be Golden grain'd or Gilt Silver and you would separate it in the water then it must be first burnt clean upon a Test and the burnt Silver must be Grained for it would be a hindrance to the Separator if all Silver should be beaten especially in a great quantity yet he who hath time and opportunity will do better to beat the Silver or cause it to be beaten whereby the separation will be done sooner and with less Aqua fort as above is signified but if you want time and opportunity to beat it then take the burnt Goldish Silver and set it in a Crucible in a Wind Oven and grain it with a split or round stick or stir the water with a stick fast about in the Vessel to make the Silver cast it self into Bubbles whereby it will Section 7 grain it self thin and hollow and when 't is drayn'd then dry and glow it and put it in the separating Glass and put Aqua fort upon it that it may go over it pretty well and set an Alimbeck upon it that it may begin to move of it self and when it ceaseth working then set the separating glass upon the Copels in the sand upon the Athanor and let the Alimbeck or Helm stand continually upon it and what Water goeth off from the Aqua fort keep that same by it self for 't is in the distilling of the Aqua fort to be put into the Receiver and is better than common Aqua fort and you must still govern the fire in the Athanor by strengthning and weakning it as the work requires and of this graind Silver put 9 or 10 Mark of it into a bottle at once for it will not take so much room as the beaten yet if there were a quantity to separate of the Golden silver one may prepare more of such Athanors than Section 8 one that divers of the Bottles may be set in at once but you ought to observe this that one must put upon the Graind more than three times fresh Aqua fort for the thick Grains sake that the Gold may be pure Section 9 And if it happens that a Glass Bottle should break and the Silvery Aqua fort run into the sand 't is not quite lost for one may boil most part of the Silver out of the Sand again with warm Water and that which remains in the sand may be mingled with that which is swept off and passes through the melt Oven and be made to profit but of such danger there is little Fear upon the Athanor especially if you have good separating Glasses and also are careful Section 10 When the Silver is separated clean from the Gold then sweeten the Gold Calx well out dry glow and cast it together as often as hath been mentioned and know if you have been diligent in separating and sweetning it the Gold which comes out by the separation will be 23 Carats and one grain but commonly it cometh to 23 Carats and 7 or 8 grains Section 11 Further I add as a Caution That you must not let the Aqua fort evaporate too dry upon the Gold as many times it happens by Negligence whereby the Silver can not set it self on the Gold Calx again which afterwards the other Aqua fort will hardly touch and therefore so soon as one part of the last Aqua fort be poured from the Gold one should quickly cast upon it hot flowing water before it be cold that the Silver Section 12 may not settle it self too hard on the Gold and turn to Cristals and though hot boyling water will dissolve those Crystals yet 't is better it may not be but be soon dulcified Likewise if it be neglected so that the Gold should come too white out of the separation and were not of a high Content then it is by the Cement as in next Sculpture is signified to be perfectly cleansed But that you may understand the Labour of the Separation and how the Ovens and separating Glasses use to stand you will also see in the following Sculpture Sculpture XXIV Deciphered 1. The Tower of the Athanor 2.
Then weigh with the great weight a Centner of the Lead put it upon a very flat Hearth and make a small fire of Wood upon it lay also a green wood before that the Lead may go and very gently pass away under the before laid wood Now when such lead hath copper in it if only two pound in a Centner so the copper will remain on the hearth and what you find is but leady copper but if you will have it very clean then blow it with a Bellows upon a hearth till it becomes ready but in the little proof 't is seen upon the Coppel for when the Lead which hath much begins to go then touch the Copper flowers and the coppels will become black after 't is gone off CHAP. XIV Twelve necessary Instructions for an Assayer to follow Section 1 FIRST whether Iron doth become Copper to which the Reader shall have this Answer That I have a long while supposed because the Iron in the Coppery waters as in Vitriol green Argol and such like do precipitate the Copper that the Copper only is precipitated in such iron water and not the Iron it self becomes Copper yet I have seen in Vitriol Mines in a Mine called Hesper when the nails and other Iron Pins fixt in the copper-Oar by length of time have become a good Copper mearly by Penetration therefore I must conclude That the Iron doth become Copper for though in the Vitriol and other copper waters the Copper precipitateth the Iron yet there is not so much of it therein as to turn it to copper only know this That while the Iron in such Coppery waters doth precipitate the copper so the copper will precipitate the Silver if it be in it therefore 't is fit that to the common precipitation of Silver in the Aqua fort that the copper with iron pieces or lamins be put into the cleansing as above is mentioned with which the Copper and silver are precipitated and what hath been in the Aqua fort cometh out whole CHAP. XV. Twelve Directions how to separate Silver from Copper in the great Work Section 1 TO separate thus is a curious ART which for many years the Refiners have kept as a great Secret how the Precipitations are to be made right But because the large Works are very great therefore Section 2 it could not remain secret but is now known yet there is still a difference for in one Furnace it is better refined and the prepared copper is made purer than in the other also the Additions are not every where alike and then many sorts of coppers cannot be refined all in one way therefore for their sakes who either know nothing or but a little of such things I will write somewhat as a tendency to that Art Section 3 First observe whether the black Copper be weak deft hard or brickle for if they be weak and brickle before the refining then the Silver will not come so soon out but if one will give it its just due and heat then the copper will flow under the lead through the Oven and may cause hurt therefore to the weak Coppers there is no better way than to mingle other hard or brickle copper among it that the one may hold the other Section 4 Secondly one must be instructed how much the Copper holds in Silver by a diligent Proof for according to it the Copper must be mingled with lead And if the Contents be unequal as from 24 Loths to 14 8 or 10 Loths then it must be made into a Cake by weight near 27 pounds and an half of rich Copper and 55 pound of poor Copper upon this make your Account how much Silver is in this 3 quarters of the Centners of Copper and how much the Lead containeth which is to be used to the Addition and then to every Loth of Silver which is in the copper and lead 17 pound of Section 5 lead is also to be counted and thus of the refined lead which is to be parted from the copper a Centner will not contain above six and a half or at the highest seven Loths of Silver But if the refined lead should contain more than 7 loths it is a sign that the Cakes remain too rich and that the silver is not all come forth of the copper and that there was not lead enough to the Addition Section 6 But that one may know how 't is with the Additions upon every Copper and what is to be observed in the refining Furnace I shall demonstrate it by Examples Section 7 Take two Centners of lead and three quarters of a Centner of Copper of a rich and poor Content either weak hard or brickle one among another if therein is not 12 or 12 and an half loths of Silver then take lead Oar or other lead to it which is silvery that you may have the above mentioned silver in the fresh piece and then add Lead or Littarge as much that there may come to four pieces 8 Centner of Lead and three Centners of Copper and of this there will come out in parting 6 Centners of refined lead every Centner of which contains 6 Loths and a half of Silver the other Silver and lead will remain in the cakes and lead which will almost all come to profit again as you will hear hereafter Section 8 Another Addition upon two and a quarter of a centner of Lead viz. take three quarters of a centner of copper and if there be not in it 15 or 16 loths of Silver then take to it rich lead which may enter in a fresh piece of such Silver or Take fresh and hard lead and Litarge so that from 4 Pieces upon an Oven may come 9 centners of Lead and 3 centners of copper of this there will be 7 centners of refined Lead of which a centner is to contain 6 loths and a half of Silver Section 9 Also take two and three quarters of a centner of Lead and three quarters of a centner of copper and if there be not 18 or 19 loths of Silver then take rich lead that it may reach the Silver and Litarge and hard and fresh lead so that upon an Oven in 4 fresh Pieces may come 11 centners of lead and 3 centners of copper and in dividing of this again there will be 9 centners of fine lead and one centner is to contain 6 loths and an half of Silver Section 10 Or take three Centners of Lead and three quarters of a Centner of Copper if there be not therein 20 or 21 loths of Silver then take rich lead which came in a fresh Piece of the silver viz. from 4 Pieces in one Oven 12 Centner of lead and three Centner of Copper and when this shall be separated then 10 Centner of pure lead and one Centner will contain seven loths of Silver in the Keinstocks and Thornells and there will remain 15 or 16 loths of Silver and they are further to
Instrument laid before it in water or other moistness thus the vapours or spirit will presently resolve it self in the coldness or wetness into Quick silver But if one hath no Retorts he may use a well luted glass Bottle and set upon the Bottle a Helmet which hangs over in which water is to be put and the joynings every where well luted that no spirit may go out then let the Retorts on the Bottle in a little Oven and make first a gentle fire with wood then stronger thus the Quick silver will drive it self from the Oar in the coldness or wetness for the Quick silver loves coldness and moistness and avoideth the heat as its Enemy Now when you have found Quick silver in the proof weigh it and then you may see how much the Oar was which was set in whereby your reckoning may be made accordingly But concerning melting of Quick silver in the great Work do thus beat the Oar small as a little nut put it into Juggs made on purpose in each about four pound then prepare a flat harth of moistned Coal-Ashes on which set round Tests three square fingers deep after one another and turn upon it the Jugs fill'd with Oar stop it well with the moistned dust about the Tests and Jugs then make a wood fire upon it and the Quick silver will avoid the heat and seek the cold which it finds in the Test below This Labour in the great Work is to be seen in Germany and in many places upon the Mine-works CHAP. XX. Of Iron and Steel-stone how to know and prove them IRON-STONE is brown and its colour is so that commonly it looks like roasted Iron but the best and richest Iron-stone its colour is blewish like to a dug Iron and some of these Iron-stones are Magnetish and draw the Iron apparently which proceeds from their hidden heat as shall hereafter be discoursed of CHAP. XXI How to prove whether the Iron-stone be rich in Iron Section 1 SO this by the Loadstone therefore if you will try the Iron-stone roast it though some take it unroasted grind it small and take a good Loadstone turn or draw it about with it and the good will hang all on the Magnet stroak it off with an Hare's foot and lift the Iron-stone up again with the Magnet as much as it can bear and if at last any remains that will not be drawn up that stone is drossy and not good Thus you may see whether a Mine hath Iron or whether the Iron-stone in it be rich or poor in Iron for the Magnet as is said lifteth up no other Metal but Iron and Steel The Steel-stone and Iron-stone are alike though not in colour some look like yellow sparr this the Magnet will Section 2 not lift up raw nor some Iron stone at all but if you roast the Steel stone it colours it self and is like the colour of the rich Iron stone and then the Magnet will lift it very easily and sooner than the Ironstone and then the Iron may be made with a long and strong heat and with hard Coals in a Secret glow without dammage to good Steel and the common Steel by Smith-working will turn into Iron again Section 3 When such proof is found by the Magnet that the Ironstone is good and rich then the Hammer-smiths with their Additions use further to prove and try it in the great fire Section 4 The Iron stone being of an hot Nature will not flow or melt with a small fire as Gold and Silver will but it must be a great and strong fire and when 't is forced to flow out of the Iron-Ovens many Instruments may be cast and its hot Sulphur will flow from it also upon melting of it somwhat of its substance will come out and though it be refreshed in the fire with fresh Ironstone yet so much of its substance will go from it as it hath lost in the first melting But when the Iron stone is to be melted in the high Ovens or in the running work with a true Addition as every Ironstone requires then let it force it self yet the twice melted Iron is best for use and most deft for to work Thus much of the Ironstone how to prove what it yields in the little work But how the Iron may be boyled into Crocum Martis as also to get Vitriol out of the roasted Iron of which the Philosophers write much and how the Iron is to be wrought after several Manners and Methods and hardned But all this belongs not to proving of Metals and so it falls not under my Instructions but the Reader is left to find out other wayes CHAP. XXII Of Magnets LOADSTONES or Magnets being mentioned in BOOK II. CAP. II. and in this IV. BOOK I will discourse something of its Nature and wonderful Properties because there is none amongst all Jewels which doth so naturally shew its Virtues as this Jewel or Magnet and therefore I will let the Reader understand what Serapion an old Philosopher writes of it in his Book De Simplicibus Mineralibus where he sayeth thus Take the Magnet lay it in an earthen Vessel and add much of Calx viva lute the Vessel well about with Plaster and make a great fire under it and let it stand in the heat till the fire goes through the earthen Vessel that it may well glow then set the earthen Vessel with the matter to burn in a Potter's Oven till the overluting be consumed on the Test then take the Loadstone out of the Vessel and mingle it again with Calx viva three or four times and let it burn as before and when 't is taken out of the Oven the fourth time then hold the Magnet in such a place that neither the Wind Water nor Dew may come to it nor any other Moistness till it be cool then beat it small and add yellow Sulphur in like weight Thus the Magnet is prepared and if one do drop Water only upon it a great fire will spring out of the Magnet which would burn all that it toucheth This was Serapion's Opinion against which I have nothing to say whence the Magnet doth so vehemently love the Iron and the Iron the Magnet as though they were both of one Nature and created one for the other the Magnet being very desirous of Iron and draws it to it self with its whole Power and the Iron presently shews it self by springing to it and so remains hanging on it The Magnet is also called the Sail-stone for the Sailors look upon it as their Chief Instructor in their way upon the Water far and near namely after they have touch'd the little tonge or Needle in the Compass with the Loadstone Also the Magnet is used to the Compass Needle in the Mine-work and to direct their Glass and Audits and also in the famous and worthy Art of Separation and also with common Miners the Sun-Compass is very useful
boyl it and then let the strong be gently put into the Kettle and so boyl the first strong Lee which did run off with it till all comes in the Kettle and the Lees be strong enough and you must sometimes with a great Copper-Spoon full of holes stir the Lees about in the bottom of the Kettle for when the Lee yeilds Salt it will fall on the bottom of the Kettle then lift it out with the great Ladle and always take the scum from it then prove the strong Lee by droping one two or three drops upon a cold Iron and when the drops stand upon it like Butter that is when they flow not off when you turn the Iron then the Lees is strong enough or set the Lees in a little Copper Vessel upon cold water till it becomes cold then the raw Salt-Petre will show it self whereby you may see alwayes whether the Lee be strong enough which may be seen also upon the great Spoon wherewith you scum it for if the Lees draw it self into a Body like an Oyl the proofs are right now when the Lee is thus prepared then a hundred pound of it will contain in the proof very near seventy pound of Salt-Petre CHAP. VI. How to prepare Lees for the crude and raw Salt-Petre WHEN the Lee is prepared as above Section 1 put it out of the Kettle into a very strong Tub of good Wood let it stand in it till it cool a little and the dirt settles then the Salt will fasten it self in great Grains on the Wood and when the Lees is cool so that you may hold your finger in it then draw it off through a Tap which is to stand a span high from the bottom and put it into great deep Wooden Troughs or into Copper Kettles which must stand in the ground the colder they stand the better till the Salt-Petre grows and in this the raw Salt-Petre will grow almost two fingers thick partly white partly yellow and partly very black-brown When the Lee hath stood in the growth two daies and two nights draw off the Lee from the Salt-Petre and put it the second time over Ashes again with other strong Lee else it will be too fat and will not grow but when the Ashes are not good so that the Lee cannot grow then put strong Lee with other Lee over new good Ashes and boyl it again to grow as above likewise when the strong Lee in the making is very muddy in the Kettle and the Salt cannot fall because of the muddyness if this happen then only take out the Lee to the growth and let the remaining Lee purify through the Ashes Now how the Salt is to be taken out and how the strong Lee stands growing this following Sculpture will shew Sculpture XL. Deciphered 1. The long narrow Tubs wherein to cool the Lees. 2. The Oven wherein the Kettle is placed 3. The Master that makes and takes out the Petre and puts it into separating Baskets 3. The separating Baskets 4. The Tub out of which the strong Lee runs into the Kettle 5. The Melters in which the Salt Petre Improves 6. The four Kettles standing in the Ground wherein the Salt-Petre also improves it self 7. A strong Tub into which the Salt-Petre is to be cast as it improves CHAP. VII How to purify and cleanse the raw Salt-Petre WHEN the Salt-Petre is thus made and Section 1 the rest of the Lees drawn off lift up the Kettles or Trays and turn them to one end that the remaining Lee may run clear off then take a great Iron Spoon such as Bricklayers use and lift out the Salt-Petre with it out of the Kettles or Trays put it into a Tub with a hole below that the Lees may run clean off Section 2 Some Salt-Petre Boylers who sell the raw unpurified Earth-Petre they pour clean Well-Water upon it that it may be well washed from the most part of its redness and become white what is run off they put again to other strong Lee and boyl it the next boyling But if you will purify the raw Salt-Petre right and well Section 3 from its Salt and uncleanness to become fair and white do it thus When the raw Salt-Petre is a Centner or four cause the purifying Kettle to be cleansed and dryed pour in it so much Well-Water that the Salt-Petre may be dissolved in it then make a fire under it let the water be boyling hot and then put the Salt-Petre gently and easily in it and turn it about with the scumming Spoon that the Salt-Petre may be the sooner and easier dissolved But while you are pouring it into the Kettle let there Section 4 be but little fire under that the cleansing may remain warm and when the Salt Petre is almost all put into the water and melted and the cleansing begin to boyl then with the scumming-Spoon put some upon the ground and when the Salt-Petre hath set great Grains of Salt then lift it out which is better for it Section 3 When this is done and the cleansing begins to boyl then it brings up a black scum take that off and take a Copper Vessel which holds near 8 Loths of strong Lees and make it half full of the cleansing put it in cold water to cool it suddenly so the Salt-Petre will begin to shoot and this is called a Proof made then you will see whether the cleansing be yet too strong if it be there will come a skin over the Proof in the Vessel and if so then fill more warm water into the Kettle and keep it in such a strength that the cleansing in the Kettle may bubble then make a Proof out of the Vessel and when the cleansing shoots in it and in the midst do remain open so that it doth not close together then the Proof is right but if it grows together then fill more water till the Proof remain open and pour near a pint of Vinegar in the cleansing into the Kettle which will bring up a black scum for the cleansing will purify it self of it and when the scum is thick take it off and when the cleansing hath bubled a while longer pour in it so much good Vinegar as may keep it in continual bubling and then take the black off as at first this you may do the third time and pour on Vinegar till the cleansing be very clean and do cast up no more black scum Then take 3 or 4 loths of burnt-Allum beaten small and put it in the cleansed water stir it about and of this the Salt-Petre useth to yield fine long slacks and it hurts not the Salt-Petre then pour the cleansing in the before mentioned high slender Tub and cover it that it be not cold in the Tub let it stand an hour or two at most thus the yellow dirt will settle it self in the bottom then let the cleansing run out while 't is hot and pour it into a great wooden Tray or
sacris numeris and Jonston de sacris Arboribus with Sculptures I wish some would write De sacris Instrumentis Musicae with their Sculptures especially of those wherein metals are imployed for doubtless the subject would afford excellent variety But besides this musical part of Metals the word Bell is also applyed to a Glass with a round bottom and long neck which the Chimists call a matrass glass or long Bell Sculpture I. BELLOWS T. Blaszbalgh and to blow Geblasz L. Follis follescere of these there are three sorts mentioned in Erckern 1. the Philosophical Bellows 2 The great Bellows which requires eight Ox-hides and 3. the common Bellows which Smiths also use and others for common fires as you often find in the Sculptures and all these in imitation of the nature of a Cow Beast which in drawing in and forcing out her breath is said to Bellow BLANCH T. Blanck Weiss and Bluk all signifying white or a white Silver or Tin when it is melted for the meer Oar of Tin is of a ruddy colour and white when melted and this by the Translator of Weckerus is called Blenck which word I like though I find it not in any Dictionary for I had a Mannor in Suffolk called by the name of Blenches and it appeared so in my Antient Court Rolls for that the Soyl of the Mannor consisted of a white Clay and Chalky temper and the next Village is Wisset which consisted also of the like Soil Blench and Wiess both signifying white so that Blench and Blanch have the same signification of white and so the word is used for the whitening blenching or blanching of Silver the word is also used to Almonds viz. when the superficies or dull part is taken from them by boyling Water they are then called blencht or blancht Almonds See Bone Ashes BISMUTH is a Crude Oar or kind of Silver Marchasite and of a white hard and brittle Body and I conceive is the same which Erckern calls also Wismut or Wismuth Oar and Spelter l. 4. c. 10. and sometimes called Tin Glass See their Alphabets BITUMEN is accounted both among Gums and Pixes and also among Sulphurs but that which Erckern speaks of intends Brimstone which the T. calls Schwebel L. Sulphur and this is either Natural from the Lake called Asphaltis where once Sodom and Gomorrah stood also from the vomiting of the Hill Aetna and Visuvius or Artificial made by Fire See Minerals BLACK See Colours BLEND or Blent T. Ablinderne L. Miscere A. to Mingle that is when Metals are blended or mingled in lumps l. 4. c. 2. c. And this word is much used in the North parts of England for mixt or mingled matter which some call Hots-Potch BLEW See Colours BLINK T. Blinkin or Blicken L. Micare and Nictare A. to Shine it is commonly used to those that are blear Ey'd or often twinkle with their Eyes it is also applyed to dead and sharp Beer and to the brouss or loppage of Trees given to Deer see Skinner but in our Author only applyed to bright Oars or melted Metals l. 1. c 23. c. l. 2. c. 24. viz. blink Gold and blink Silver that is bright or clear Gold or Silver BLOUD T. Blut L. Sanguis apply'd to the Bloud of Oxen c. and is often mentioned as a good mixture for Instruments and Cements for Metalick uses See l. 2. c. 20. and Ox. BOYLING T. Seiden and Kochen L. Coquens l. 5. c. 7. s 1. we have many words for this tending to the same sence and yet with some Gradations as when any liquid matter begins to stir with the heat of the Fire we call it simporing it may be from simpo a Pot wherein the old Roman and Gretian Priests were wont to drink their cheering Liquor and therfore the word simporing is used for smiling and when it stirs more 't is called seething which differs little from the T. Seiden when it stirs to bubble it is called Boyling from bulla and bullire but antiently Boyling was called Plawing from L. Plaudere to rejoyce because the fire had the full effect of the heated liquor and therefore the Psalmist saith Plaudent Flumina vola let the Floods clap their Hands i. e. let them plaw or rejoyce in their plawing or boyling waves but I do not find my sense of the word plawing confirmed in any Dictionary as I can now peruse but this I shall affirm for the Sence and Antiquity of the Word That there is a Marsh in South-Walsham in Norfolk belonging to the now Duke of that County which with other Marshes were gain'd from the Sea in the time of the old Romans as 't is generally said to which my Grandfather and my self were Tenants for near an 100 years and in these Marshes there was one parcel called by the name of Plawing-Well Marsh within 3 miles of Yarmouth and about a mile from the Sea and the Marsh is so called and stiled in Writings from a Well or place in it of about two yards broad and about 18 Inches deep only in the middle of it is a little hole the bottom of which I could not then fathom by any Pole or Instrument that I could get and from that hole the water constantly bubbles boils up and playes which was the word used in the Lease and in other Records sufficient to justify the Antiquity of the word Now having spoken what I can of the word give me leave to speak of the water which keeps at one scantling neither swelling higher nor decreasing but if it decrease at any time it foretels a dearth so that the motions of it cannot be attributed to the neighboring Motions of the Sea which are regular lunary or ventilary nor any other cause that I could find unless it be from a constant motion of Cattle grazing in these and the neighboring marshes which being only thin grassy coverings of the waters those beasts by quassation and constant compressure of such flexible grounds may easily cause this Ebolition or plawing I confess I am the more content with this reason because we daily see that a little Compressure in a large vessel of liquids will make it rise and run over and we often find in solid Bodies Compressure will have great effects at distance as in the year 1648. when the Committeehouse at Norwich was blown up by the firing of 40 barrels of Powder it caused by compressure such a motion in the Earth that at Thorp Market 15 miles from Norwich near Cromer Mr. Allen who dwelt there in good repute told me that as he was sitting in his Parlor there he was very sensible of the quaking of the Earth which upon Information of what had past the day before at Norwich and comparing the punctual time he found the shaking was caused by that Gun-pouder and I being then in the Country soon after went into the City where I observ'd that all the lower windows of the City-houses were shattered by the
are Oval so as I find this difference that the Camelions Eggs are Oval within and are cast out of the Mouth round but Hens are round within and are cast out of the Fundament Oval and the reason may be that the Camelions Eggs comes out of its Throat the extention of which is of one constant Globular form and so Snakes and Fish whose Eggs are round do send them out of their Mouths and then take them in again as they perceive any danger to their Spawn or Eggs but Hens Eggs come out of an Orifice which opens by degrees which makes the first part of the Egg narrow for the little end comes ever first and so the passage extending gently the pliable Egg encreaseth in bigness and at the exclusion doth narrow it again but not so much as at the first egress Now it is to be observed That when the Egg is unloosned from the Knot or Cluster of the little round Eggs it soon receives extention into an Oval form even whilst it remains in the Body in complyance to its passage through the Fundament and whilst it is in the Body it is prepared also with a white Film over the whole Egg resembling but is not a shell because it must endure compressure and being now ripe to be expulsed then by a certain spirituous liquid Cementation or glutinous varnish from its Dung which passeth out with it and by the ambient Air at its coming out it is crushed in an Instant into a solid shell which will not endure compression And this I mention the rather because I find that the Learned Dr. Harvy attributes the hardness of the shell to the approaching Air and not to the Cementing Dung and doth not in the least Discourse of the causes of oval and round forms of Eggs. ELECTUARY of which there are near an hundred mentioned in the New London Dispensatory whereof the chief are from Metals or Minerals ELIXAR is exalted Quintessences made by infusion and Digestion of Metals c. whereof there are also 25 sorts in the aforesaid New London Dispensatory the chief of them also are from Metals See Quintessence ELL T. Elen Eblen L. Vlna Cubitus A. Ell. Now it is here to be noted that the English Ell is as long as two German Ells and so it is to be applyed proportionably to the making of Furnaces c. See Finger Hand Measure ENAMEL See Amel. EQUILIBRIO See Weights ESSENCES Doct. Salmon are the Balsamick parts of Metals or of any other thing clearly separated from their gross parts whereof 16 are numbred in his London Dispensatory and the chief of those from Metals or Minerals See Quintessence Elixir ESUSTUM T. or Copper calcined and then called Calx Veneris See Products of Metals EVAPORATION and to evaporate T. Dampffein or to take away the Dampness or exhaling of the humidous parts of Metals by a gentle fire or heat D. Salmon L. Evaporare or to take away vapors See Fumigation EXPRESSION T. Ansz Trucken L. Expremere i. e. a straining or drawing forth Metals or Liquids by pressing and this done either with Linnen or Leather See Filtration and Quick-silver the word is also applyed to the speaking fluently EXTERN T. Avez wendig L. Externus or the outward part of Metals or things EXTRACTION T. Ausz Zichen L. Extractio and extrahere that is the drawing the Essence life or vertue out of any Metal by a fit Menstruum or Liquor from Oyl Tartar Calx viva Vinegar c. whereof above 60 are in Dr. Salmon's New London Dispensatory and have peculiar names viz. the Extraction from Iron is called Crocus Martis and so of the rest FE_FFI FECES T. Trusen L. Feculae or certain setlings which remain at the bottom of melted Metals which may be reduced to a profitable Pouder and we also call faeces from facere or that which is made to flow or float on the top or sink to the bottom of metals and the word Dross seems to come from Ros or thick dew which ariseth from Metals and condensed bodies also the word slacks T. is Slacken L. Scorias which signifieth also Dregs and these are so called before the Metal it self is by Praecipitation cleared from them and it may be observ'd that Argol the Dregs of Wine which is faeces of another Nature for it hath this Property that as the scum dregs or faeces of Metals fly to the top or bottom this betakes it self to the sides of Vessels as if it scorn'd to be called either Scum or Dreg FERMENTATION T. Saurmachen L. Ferment or to leaven raise or improve but as to Metals it is used for rarification ripening or flowring them by addition of Ingredients as our Bread is ripened by Leaven and Beer is flowred by Yeast and in many parts of our Author it is used See Dregs Dross Scoria's Yest c. FILE T. Feile L. Lima A. File or Rasp to file metals to a Pouder and the filings are called Limations but we use the word File in three other senses viz. File from filum Thread a File of Souldiers which may also come from filum because they stand in a direct Line like an extended piece of Thread FILTRATION also from Filum a Thread because Cloths woven of Thread are used for straining Quick-silver c. but that is more properly called Expression as before for this Filtration is done two ways either by brown Paper or Pendent Lists of Cloth whereby the liquid Water may drop guttatim from one Vessel into another See Expression FINGER T. Finger See Measure FINING Refining and Clarifying T. Saeuberung and Reinguns L. Purgare Mundare and are only the making the Metals more perfect in their Species or Kinds by often melting them from their Dross or Dregs l. 1. p. 18. FIRE T. Fewr L. Ignis is the chief Operator in the Dissolving of Metals still shewing its power and activity on the sulphurous part of Metals and makes it fly away or submit FISH BONE T. Fisck bein L. Os piscis See Bone-Ashes FIST T. Taust L. Pugnus See Measures FIXATION to Fixt T. Hesten L. Figere is the making of that which is volatile in Metals to be Fixt and endure the fire and not fly away and this is done by sublimation still adding some fixt Metals as Lead-Glass Lead c to the Volatile FLAME T. Flam L. Flamma or the Oyly part of Wood or combustibles impregnated by fire for the more easy passing it self into all the porous parts of Metals FLEAKY Flakes flaky T. Floken L. Floccus Fragmen and Strictura A. Flaky See Shivery and Shivers FLEGM T. Rhoden L. Flegma Pituita or the waterish volatile and unfixt part of Metals and as in Man it is of a thicker substance than spittle so in Metals it is of a thinner than the Scoria's or Dross and that which ariseth from Sulphur or Vitriol is commonly acid sharp and salt FLINTS T. Fewerstein and sometimes in the T. they are called Hornestein from the colour L.
the Commentators gives but little account passing it in general only as a Water of Purification whereas there were two sorts of Water of Purification viz. that which is mentioned for purifying Metals and this other for purifying Men and Women which in Numb 29. unto verse 11. is plainly set down how in what manner and with what Ingredients it was composed viz. that a young Red Heifer without spot and without blemish and which was never put into a Yoak was to be brought to the Priest and one was to slay her before his Face and the Priest was to take some of her Blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times before the Tabernacle of the Congregation and then the Heifer with her Skin Flesh Blood and her dung was to be burnt in his sight and whilst it was burning he was to cast into the midst of its fire Cedar-Wood Hysop and Scarlet and after that both the Priest and he that burnt the Heifer washt their Cloaths with Water and bathed their flesh also in Water and yet they remained unclean until the Even by which time it may be supposed that all was dry'd in the mean time one that was clean was to gather up the Ashes of the Heifer and lay them up clean without the Camp and he also for this act was to be accounted unclean until the Even and these Ashes were kept as Lees to put into Water which was call'd the Water of separation for the Congregation of the Children of Israel as also for Strangers so journing with them to be sprinkled with and thereupon also called the Water of Purification for Sin ver 9. so as we see clearly this Water of Purification of Men was a distinct Water from the water of Purification and Separation of Metals and the Ingredients of one is communicated to us but the Holy Spirit thought fit to conceal the other from us However this Science of Purifying Metals did dayly improve which Historians and Phylosophers shews us before David and Solomons time which two Kings are plentiful in their expressions of fining and refining Gold and Silver and these Arts David most Divinely applys to our Souls which by often refining like Metals are brought to Perfection and this Science did so encrease in Nehemiah's time Chap. 3. that it grew to a Trade and the Professors thereof called Gold-smiths and so GOLD and the Trade for it continues still in the World But I perceive since Christ said to the Thief That he should be with him that day in Paradise there hath been more search after the place of Paradise than before not for the Pleasures in that place but for its Neighbourhood to Havilah wherein 't is said There was Gold which was good And therefore in this Discourse having traced the four great Rivers of three parts of the World for it I may venture the fourth viz. America and ask whether Pison be not the Ocean or one of the four streams or Sea's which encompass Havilah or a Countrey abounding with good Gold for seeing it is not agreed where Paradise is and what were the four Streams I hope I may not give Offence in rendring this great Iland or Continent of America surrounded with a Pisonick Ocean to be the same or some such like place as Havilah and well may we trade thither for gold where Religion shews us the way for Divine Herbert in his Church Militant tells us That Religion stands on Tip-toes and from our Land Ready to pass to the American Strand Now if Religion goes thither we may safely follow it so as it be in pursuit of Paradice or Havilah and seeing it is not agreed that they are in Asia Africa or Europe though Lombardy in Europe is called The Garden of the WORLD we may try whether there be any Havilah or something equivalent to it in America and leave Paradice to the prognosticated Religion to find it out Now if we may Credit the Writers upon that great Continent or Island Nicols it extends from the Artick to the Antartick Circle and hath its breadth in some parts proportionable and in this great spot of Earth there is a greater plenty of Gold and other Metals than we can find from the other Havilahs but I shall conclude here because I shall speak more on this Subject in the manner and way of getting and washing the Seeds of Gold and other Discourses of Gold See the VVords Metals Mines VVashings GRADUATION T. Gradierung L. Graduatio from Gradus A. Degrees but in its Metallick sense it is applyed to the melioration of Metals by certain degrees either to that colour or virtue which is most proper and natural to them l. 2. c. 9. c. 45. c. and the Word is also applyed to Graduates in the Vniversities who by degrees are sensibly Refined by the Liberal Arts and Sciences GRAINES T. Koernleine L. Granum and both in the notion of Weights have reference to a grain of Corn from which Weights have their original See VVeights GRANULATION T. Kuernen from whence I suppose we have our word Cornel or grain of Wheat Barly c. and it comes from the former Latine Word granum in the Metallick sence it is considered as a certain proportion of melted Metals made by Art into the smallness of such grains so as they may be the better weighed and is a peculiar Art in performing them l. 1. c. 19. c. See VVeights GREY T. Graw L. Glaucus Cinereus c. See Colours GREEN T. Greisen L. Viridis but it hath its particular names according to its Resemblances viz. grass Green Herbeus Leek-green Prosinus and so of the rest See Colours GROUND this Word hath many senses in our English viz. Ground or Earth Foundation or Principle or Reason but here it doth signify such Metals as one doth grind small T. Malen and Gerienen L. Molare that is being ground it is a Foundation to other proceedings HA H HA HAND See Measures HEARTHS See Ovens HELLER See VVeights HELM Helmet T. Helm L. Tegumentum made of Clay or Iron used in the Metallick Art for covering of Ovens c. as in Sculpture XVII c. the Word is also used for an Head-Piece in time of War and for the chief Rudder that guids a Ship all signifying something of a Defensative or Preservative Nature HEMATHITE which is no other than the Blood-stone of a dark-red colour L. Hematites T. Blutstein Pliny saith It is of Kin to a Load-stone of which there are ten sorts but that which is called Hematites Fossilis digg'd out of Iron Mines is of a Purple Colour which we do not find in England and but some few of the other See Glass-Cup HERMETICK SEAL that is to joyn the Mouth of a Glass first heat in the fire and then nipt together by Pincers so called from Hermes the first Inventor Pliny See Cement HORNY See Horny Oars IN I IR INCH See Measures INCINERATION and Reverberation are two sorts of Methods in Calcining
Metals See Calcine and Ashes INCORPORATE or Incorporation that is when Metals are mixt they are called Incorporated or their Bodies joyned together and from hence Bodies Politick or a number of Men joyned in a Fraternity are called Incorporations because they consist of all sorts of Tempers and Metals l. 2. c. 1. s 2. INFUNDING Infusing and Infusion lib. 1. that is a pouring or putting in but the Infusion of Metals and of Plants have two ways of proceedures See Fusions INGOT called by that name in the Teutonick and English and is a little long Vessel wherein Gold is cast which Vessel is called an Ingot and the piece of Gold taken out of it hath the same Name l. 2. c. 47. and Sculp XXVIII Fig. 5. INSPERG is oft used in Erkern from Inspergo when one Metal hath certain parcels or sprinklings of other Metals whereby their goodness is seen before proving l. 4. c. 1. INSPISSATION is the method of Fixation of Metals INSTRICK is a Term of Art used to signify the first work in separation of Metals l. 3. c. 22. IRON and Steel see Metal T. Eysen Iron-man L. Ferrum and Chalybs l. 2. c. 20. s 2. See Oars JUG T. Krug Heb. Chug A. Jug or Pot so it seems we do retain the Word which is of little difference from the Hebrew KE K KE KETTLE T. Kessel L. Cacubus See Utensils KELL or Kiln or Kill for metallick Matters T. Kalck-Ofen L. Fornax and Calcaria A. Kill they are also used by that name for drying Malt c. See Furnaces and Ovens KEINSTOCKS I retain the word as very proper and is fully explained l. 3. c. 22. See Thornels LA L LA LADDER See Utensils LEACH l. 3. c. 26. this word I retain signifying hard work often mentioned by Erkern and the Etimology may be because such hard Work do occasion Le Ach on the Ach in the Joynts of the Operators LAMINS T. Bleck L. Lamina A. the Plates of Metals l. 4. c. 4. LAPIS LAZULI l. 1. of which Blew Vitriol is made LAPIS CALAMINARIS L. Cadmia see Cadmia Calaminaris and Stones LAPIS TUTIJ a Compound made of Calaminaris good for sore Eyes See Calaminaris and Stones LATTEN T. Latton Auri Chalcum and Orichalcum also Coronarius and is a Compound of Copper and Lapis Calaminaris and so cast into Forms and not wrought with Hammers in respect of its friableness or brittleness that which is also made of thin Plates of Iron and so Tin'd over is vulgarly called Latton See Plates Iron Tin LEAD T. Bley L. Plumbus it is called also Howel Aurum Philosophorum because it doth as it were govern Gold and other Metals in their Precipitations and from thence wee use this word to lead or conduct because this Metal doth as it were lead and conduct us to the knowledge of all other Metals l. 4. and several other parts see Metals and certainly no Metal hath more excellent effects in Chyrurgery than the Artificial Leads made of it under the names of white and red Lead and therefore it is put under the highest Planet Saturn slow in motion and sure in operation and of this virtual metal we have as good and as great quantities in England and Wales proportionably as in any parts of Europe besides the great quantity of Silver contained in it But before I close this Discourse because it was omitted in the word Ceruse I must inform you that for this common Lead which is a natural Metal and plentiful in all our Mine-Countries there are Mills erected such as the Society for the Mines Royal have in Wales where they make white Lead which is only a product of that Metal Lead corrupted with Vinegar or Vrine and afterwards being ground in the Mills and formed into a white colour is called white Lead and after that Refined and then hath the name of Ceruse which yields the best and most perfect white and at these Mills there is made also red Lead of the common Metal Lead and is brought to that colour only by the Art of using Fire to it and both being thus made as well the red as the white are of excellent use not only for Painters c. but to all Chirurgeons as I have said There is also a mineral Lead which we call Black Lead something like Antimony but not so shining or sollid of which sort I know but of one Mine in England and this yields plenty both for our selves and other Nations and this Mine is in Cumberland which they open but once in seven years I suppose the reason is least they should dig more then they can vend this also is used by Painters and Chyrurgeons c. with good success especially being mixt with the products of Metals and of late it is curiously formed into cases of Deal or Cedar and so sold as dry Pencils something more useful than Pen and Ink. There is also a white Mineral in England called white Chalk tending to a transparency but of a Leadish quality and therefore I place it here rather than under Earths or Stones LEAD GLASS See Fluss LEATHER See Utensils LIMBECK T. Alimbick L. Alimbicus quia extrahendo materiam lambit Minshaw and also called sublimatorium quia materiam evehat in sublime and he saith it is an Arabian word but in short it is a kind of an Oven or Furnace made of Metals vulgarly called a Still and used more for distilling Waters than Metals and is sometimes mentioned by Erckern but chiefly as an Helmet to the Athanor or great Furnace l. 2. c. 32. s 7. Now of these Stills I deny not but those which we commonly use are very fit for their purposes but I have contrived one whereof I have made often Tryals which perform the like with much less fire and less trouble because the fire need not to be tended but once in 10 or 12 hours and the Waters of several sorts which I have Distilled in it are every way as effectual but the manner and way of Distilling therein doth every day improve in my Experiments and when it is fitted to effect all the intents and purposes of the common Stills with some additions which they cannot perform I shall divulge the Invention without Patent or any expected Reward but thanks See Quick-silver LIMETS See Files LIME CALX I have writ something of this under the word Calcine but now I shall speak of Lime or the Calx of Lime-stone or Chalk-stone which Calx is used both in Cementings Lutings and in melting of Metals with other Ingredients but the great use of this Lime is to make Mortar for Buildings and therefore I shall refer it to the word Mortar only observe this That when Lime-stone or Chalk whilst it is immediately from the Pit or Quarry because it is properly a Stone though of a soft nature is called unslack't or unburnt Lime but when it is burnt called slack't and so all Metals unburnt or burnt may be also called unslack't or slack't and the
pieces slackes which word is often used LINNEN See Utensils LIQUATION L. Liquatio from Aqua liquidus A. liquor or moisture and liquation is a term in this Art of Chimistry for one of the Methods in dissolving Metals and the word liquifaction of the like sense and from the same Radix is also applyed to Metals when they are melted by the heat of fire or Sun See Conglutination LITTARGE T. Blegg Leidt or Glet L. Lithargicus or the stone of Gold or Silver from the Greek Lethos and sometimes called the spume or froth of Gold and Silver but generally the Excrements Scoria's or Dross of Gold or Silver caused by Lead and if it be Gold-Litarge it looks of a Yellow Colour and tho it be dross yet the Metallists give it this distinct name because it hath more excellent Virtues than any other Excrement Recrement or other Dross and that it may be cleared from other words of almost the same sound I think it fit to distinguish them here This word is written Littarge and by some Lithargy and that which signifies the publick Office of Devotions LITTURGY and the sleepy Disease LETHARGY with an E and I wish that the plenty of our Littarge or Lithargy may raise up our Litturgical Devotions to be delivered in all times of our Wealth and from the Lethargical or sleepy hours of Death as well by our Devotions as by the excellent spirits c. made of our Littarge peculiar to that Apoplectick Distemper See those words LIXIVIUM See Menstruum Lee or Lees. LYE called also Ligh or Lees to distinguish from a lye or to lye or to speak untruth or to lye or lay down to rest T. Langen L Lixivium from Lix signifying Ashes or as Minshaw calls it Humor Cineri mistus of which see more in Buck and Menstruum And here I may observe that as in Latine Lix signifies Ashes so lixa is Water and those two mixt makes the lees with which women wash and buck their cloths for so lixa also signifies LOAD STONE or Magnet lib. 4 cap. 21 and 22. s 4. T. Magnet-steine but when it hath relation to Navigation 't is call'd Segel-steine or sail-stone but the Latines Magnes and Magnifficus and A. from the Saxon Load or Leading stone or lapis cujus ductu Nautae instituant cursum and Erckern for this and many other qualities calls it a Jewel and 't is pretty to see how the Latines quibble about this word Magnes for they call a great Man Magnas on the account of Honour and Magnus great on the account of bulk c. and this stone Magnes being of so great Virtue that it is scarce comprehensible and 't is probable that the other two words do borrow their titles from it Pliny tells us lib. 7. That this word Magnes was given from Magnes the Name of a Shepherd who was the first finder of it and makes five kinds of it lib. 36. cap. 16. Cardanus but three kinds who observes That Aristotle was altogether ignorant of the maratine use of it and that Galen and Al. Aphrodosius two great Inquirers into the secrets of Nature have not so much as once mentioned the wonderful Nature of this Stone but now Authors do abound in their discourses upon it and make all things easy and plain in their Naratives of its Virtues and Operations only when their Discourses are applyed to its Variation by the Needle touch'd with it for the use of Navigation there they disagree very much in their Opinions and amongst the rest Boetius tells us cap. de Magnete that there are two magnetick Mountains and that those magnets which are digg'd nearest to the Artick Pole have most of the Artick Virtue and such as are digg'd nearest to the Antartick have most of the Virtue of the Antartick which is the cause of their Variations and many other pretty and plausible notions are writ of them but I shall only mention some of my own Observations 1. That this Stone is found in most Iron-mines in England but are not so effectual in their attractive power as those which we have from foreign Parts and therefore ours need to be nourished with filings of Iron for stones have a vegitable life to be preserv'd and to be kept from the Juyce of Onyons and Garlick and moist places which do unglutinate and so destroyes or subdues their Virtues and therefore those Lapidists whose Art it is to fit Loadstones for Navigation or other uses will not suffer those Plants to be near them and I have often try'd That when I have touched my knife with a Loadstone and thereby impowred it to take up Needles or small Weights and so it holds its Virtue many dayes but the Knife once touch'd with an Onion doth utterly loose the Virtue which it borrowed I confess I never tryed Onions or other acid things to the Poles of my Loadstone because I chose rather to believe than hurt the Stone especially a Lapidist of my Acquaintance affirming the Truth of it who was so great an Artist that he told me That with a Magnet of the bigness of my head he could drive the Soul of it into as little a compass thereof as a Nutmeg but before I could see the effects of his Art I was diverted with other Occasions and could never find him after Yet it was my good fortune to be acquainted with a worthy Gentleman Francis smith Esq of Rushoke in Worcester-shire since deceased who was Master of much sound learning and very ingenuous in his Discourses when he thought fit to expatiate himself or otherwise reserv'd and we happened upon the Discourse which I had with the Lapidist upon which he produced a Loadstone fixt with its irons for the North and South points which I had the freedom to weigh in my Gold-Scales and the Iron pieces and points and Gold for Ornament which embraced it weighed just eleven grains and it attracted a piece of Iron of an ounce weight Now there being according to the Venetian account 6912 Grains to a pound every ounce is 576 grains which is 52 times 11 grains so that it took up an Iron of above 52 grains more than its own weight considering its embracers and by my description of the Lapidist he believed it was bought of the same person and looking upon it as avery great Rarity I took upon me the Confidence to tell him That it was pity so great a Jewel should lye concealed and added that I believ'd it would be a very acceptable Present to his Majesty He approved of my Proposal and accordingly did present it and it was so accepted and got a good Office soon after I cannot say for that though it deserved it but for his own Deserts and I hope it is still preserv'd amongst his Majesties Rarities Another piece of Curiosity I saw in the Hands of Sir William Persal since Deceased also viz. a Terrella or Load-stone of little more than 6 Inches Diameter turned into a Globular Form
so allay'd may by the deduction or allay be paid the full charge for the Coynage or Minting of it Now the less allay that is put to the Coyned Gold or Silver doth render the Government the more Honourable and the Soveraignty of a greater Esteem than in other parts where they have greater allay Vaughan It is good for a Traveller to be skillful in the different allays whereby as a Friend of mine told me That he carried out an 100 l. with him and with his art of Exchanges in Countrys where allays differ'd he bore his Charges of Travel and brought his stock home again however this Mony thus allayed is called Coyn when the Soveraign Stamp is upon it which is a Legal Stamp and every Soveraignty useth a different Stamp as here in England and in the Empire France Spain c. proper to its Soveraignty and every piece of money so stampt hath almost a different allay yet all Princes do agree in severe yet just Penalties for Counterfeiting allays or stamps and make it as in England High Treason vid. Coke 2. In. p. 575. MONYERS see Money lately called Bankers MORTAR T. Gips. L. Gibsum made of Water Calx viva Lime and Sand and used in all sorts of Structures to cement Bricks or Stones See Calx and Sand. MORTER T. Morsell Morsner L. Mortarium which Minshaw says is morte earum rerum quae in illo teruntur and though we write one with an A. the other with an E. for distinction yet the Beaters for that and Pestles for this makes Minshaws discription serve for both of them See Sand and Pestle and Sculp II. and IX MOULD T. Model L. Modulus A. Frames c. See Utensils MULLET T. Mallen schleifer L. Molarius marmorius a little flat piece of marble stone on vvhich Painters grind their Colours and Metallists their Metal to dust from molare to distinguish it from the Mullet fish MUNK T. Munich which I conceive comes from the L. Munitus and not from Monicha as an Instrument that guards and strengthens the Operation of Metals by covering it from the Air and therefore though A. write it munk it were more proper to be writ munt as an abreviation of munitus NE N NE NEALING or Anealing T. Abgeadnet I find it not in our Dictionary but in Cotgrave it is Nelleure and signifies a vernishing and enameling the difference is in the Arts that enameling is upon solid Bodies as Gold Silver c. but anealing is usually apply'd to the coloring of Glass such as we had in former times and still have in Church Windows in excellent Varieties and sometimes 't is used for tinging or coloring of Stones where it is done by fire but here the word is applicable only to such Coppels c. which are covered and strengthned with Clar for resisting the fire and the manner of anealing them is allwayes done by a gradual and not a violent heat l. 1. c. 10. s 1. See Amel and Clar. NEEDLE And it is applyed to several things and hath thereupon several Names in several Languages but in Latine it is called Acus from its Acuity or sharp point and is sometimes applyed to ingenuous satyrick Wits the French call it Aquila quasi Anquilla as Minshaw because it is proportioned like an Eel fish but the German here calls it Nadelen from Naeden or Naen suere i. e. to sow or stitch together and this word Nadelin is the nearest to our word Needle Which word being used in the New Testament to shew the difficulty of a Rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven It stands such men in hand that deal in Metals in order to make themseves rich to see how far they are concern'd in the impossibility mentioned in the Text now St. John makes no mention of a Needle but St. Matth. ca. 19. ver 24. saith It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle per foramen acûs transire Sept. than for a rich man that is he that abounds in Money made of metals to enter into the Kingdom of God and so St. Mark cap. 10. v. 24. and in St. Luke 18. 25. but the Latin is foramen acûs the Needles eye which my Author whom I cannot readily call to mind or else I should own him saith there was a little Postern Gate in the Wall of Jerusalem which was called foramen acûs or the Needles eye through which a Camel could not pass without Kneeling which saith Pliny Camels are taught to do so as by going on their Knees a Camel might pass through that Gate which otherwise it could not do and so the Story alludes to a rich and humble man who by Humility may easily enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but not a proud rich man that will not stoop but puts more confidence in his money or metals than in an humble or devout mind which is imply'd by the bending of the Knees of the Camel Now this word Needle is once only used in the New Testament by those three Evangelists and no more but it is used oftner in the Old Testament to other purposes and is alwayes joned with the word work as Needlework But in the Translations of the Oriental Languages the Translators differ for Dr. Walton in his Polyglot renders Needle-work Opus recamantis Opus Polymatrii Opus Varietoris Opus picturarum Opus Imaginum so as there is nothing of a Needle but from the Chaldee and there he translates it opus acu pictum and from the Arabick which he renders Phrigianum and Junius and Trimelius published before that Poliglot in every place of the Old Testament where the word Needle-work is used as in the 26 27 28 36 38 and 39 Chapters of Exodus and in the 5th of the Judges and in the 45 Psalm ver 14. for it is used in no other places do follow the Chaldee and Arabick in the words Opus and Artificium but not in acu pictum yet the two most eminent Poets of their time in England and Scotland concur'd in the uniting of those words for Sandys writes thus Psal 45. 14. Shee shall unto the King be brought In Robes with Phrygean Needle wrought And Buchanan Dives opum dives Pictai vestes auri where note he useth Pictai for pictae as Virgil Lucullus and other Latine Authors do oft change the Diphthong ae for ai so that Sands hath the Needle-work in the word wrought and that he calls Phrigian from Phrigia where it is supposed that Art was first taught answering the Translation of the Arabick and Buchanan Pictae answering the Translation from the Chaldee and these Needle-Works are there also called faeminalia torta because the Art is mostly used by Women and therefore Acus for a Needle is properly declin'd in the feminine gender Now the shape of the Needle was taught us by Nature for there is a fish which I have often seen on the Coast of Suffolk which commonly comes there with the
Mackerel and differs only by having a snout of about 12 Inches in length being a firm bone in the shape of a Needle Now whether this be one of the Needle fishes mentioned by Pliny l. 32. and call'd Acicula and one of the 176 sorts of Fishes which he there enumerates or the Acus Aristotelis or the Acus Opiani mentioned by Jonston lib. de Piscibus I cannot say but Cooper from Pliny yet I find it not in Pliny describes it just like the Suffolk Fish Acus saith he is a Fish long small and smooth on the back colored as it were with green and blew his Beak long and sharp and makes this of the masculine Gender and we call it the Needle fish Acus also sometimes signifys an order in Battle and so called Acus belli when they are at point of Fighting Acus also signifys the spiral parts of Wheat Oates Barly c. being like so many Needles and not chaff as most Dictionaries have it And there is an herb called Acus pastoris or Acus moschata being full of Prickles like Needles but vulgarly 't is call'd Venus's Comb or Charvell the chief Virtue of which is to provoke Lust and so may be called Acus libidinis There are many other Instruments of this name Needle which are used by Carpenters to cripple graple or joyn houses together and Thatchers Needles to thatch withall c. But the chief Application of this word Needle is in Navigation and there called Acus Navigatoria or the Mariners Needle or Compass in respect that he compasseth the Seas by the Virtue which it borrows from the Loadstone of which I have spoken at large and is of such a transcendent Nature that which way soever the ship moves still the head of the Needle fixeth it self to the North and the other point to the South and this admirable Instrument hath no other title in our Language than Needle I hope that none that shall read this long Discourse of Needles will think it needless but it was from Erckern's Touch-needles which he calls Streith Nadelen and Agricola de re Metallica calls them sometimes Gold or Silver or Copper Needles by the touch of which the worth of each Metal may be known and they differ in the making forming and shaping of them as may be seen in Sculpture 8. 18 and in G. Agricola p. 199. which shews them in an acular or Needle form Now there being great trouble and nicity in making of them either way for indeed it is one of the most curious pieces about the Metallick Chimistry therefore the Chimists Goldsmiths or Tryers of Gold and Silver to save trouble do make use of a Touchstone being a kind of soft Marble of which you may read more in Stones I read but of one sort of Needles more which Cambden speakes of in his Britania p. 700. viz. of a Vault under the Church of Rippon where there was a little hole called St. Wilfred's Needle through which a virtuous Woman might pass with ease but if she were otherwise disposed she did not pass but stayed below to be tryed of what Metal she was made NILE or the River Nilus See Gold Metal Mine NITRE a light ruddy yet white substance full of holes like a Spung and resembling common Salt almost in colour but quicker of Taste and is mistaken by some for Salt-Petre there is also a Nitre which comes out of Africk of a purple Colour but that which is now commonly sold to us for Nitre is Salt Petre refined and candied and used sometime in stead of Borax NOSEL See Vtensils NUMBER See Arithmetick NUT See Measures OA O OA OARS T. Erkes A. and Saxons Oar. Danes Aare and Aaure the L. Metallum Crudum Skinner for I find no single word for it unless it be Fodina which may be applyed to other dig'd things but in our Patents for the Mines Royal is writ Ewre which signifies a place where Water is for Water allways attends Metalls and from thence the Ewres which was formerly made of Silver to pour Water into Basons is called Ewre and from thence comes Sewer or one that takes care for drawing of Water where any Land or place hath more than is necessary but generally in our Language we call that which is digg'd from the Bed of any Metal Oar as if one should say O admirablilia Rerum Metallorum for most of our Monosyllables are but abstracts of many words compacted into one as may be seen in Sir Edward Coke's Instit and other Learned Etymologers also we usually call those Oares wherewith Watermen Row their Boats aluding to the pains and labour which is used with the Arms in both Professions by Digging and Rowing there is also Leimster-Oar of which I have spoke under the word Flocks but of the Metallick Oars there are as many sorts of them as there are Metalls yet I find but four Latine Words and those compounded viz. Balluca for Gold Oar Pomphilix for Copper or Brass Oar Stricturae for Iron Oar and Plumbago for Lead Oar Holliack and therefore Erckern sometimes calls the Products of Metalls from the Mines Erks and Oars and sometimes Stones Goldt-stein for Gold Erk or Oar Silver-stein for Silver Erk or Oar Kupfer-stein for Copper Erk or Oar Bley-stein for Lead Erk or Oar Zein-stein for Tin Erk or Oar Speiz-stein for Quick-silver Erk or Oar Ein-stein for Iron Erk or Oar Slack-stein for Steel Erk or Oar But I conceive that when he useth the word ERK it signifies the OAR joyned with the Excrement and when STEIN it signifies the intire Metal separate from the first crude and heavy Matter Now the Names that he gives for distinction of OARS are these as they are variously dispersed in his V. Books viz. Blent Oar Cat-silver Oar Cobolt Oar Copper and Coppery Oar Crude Oar Fleaky or Flacky Oar Float Oar Fresh Oars Glassy Oars Glittering Glistering and Glimmering Oars Gold and Goldish Oars also white red brown Goldish Oars Grey Flints called Iron-man-Oars and gross Oars horny hard harsh Oars Lazure Oars Leadish or Lead Oars mild and muddy Oars Slate-stone Oars Silver silvery spady sparkling spelter spizy and sulphury Oars also Talk Tinny Oars Washt and Wolferan Oars and many others which are dispersed in several parts of his V. Books and some of them discoursed of here also in their Alphabetical order especially where we retain the same Apellations for the like Oars to which the Reader is referred ORANGE Orpiment See Colours OVEN T. Offen L. Furnax and the same words are used for Furnaces but Kilns which are a kind of Ovens are called T. Calk and L. Calcaria and Furnax of the several sorts of these you may see in the Sculptures in their proper pages viz. the Athanor in page 2 123. 161. 172. 177. 185. 207. a Wind Furnace p. 2. 56. 200. an open Furnace p. 2. an Assay-Oven used by the ancient Refiners p. 13. an Assay-Oven used by the Norimbergers p. 13. an Assay-Oven made of
borrowed from Nature so that in this Age the Art is come so near to the Original that nothing but want of Life seems to distinguish them l. 2. c. 48. s 2. See Sculptures PINCERS T. Zangs from thence we have our word Tangs or Tongs that is to hold fast L. Forceps and Volsella these are of several sorts and sizes according to the uses for common Fires they are called Tongs for small Works Plyers and Nippers but in Metallick Work Pincers or Tongs see Utensills and Sculpt 11. c. PIPKIN T. ein Topfein from whence our word to tope or to drink and the Potters Clay of which these Pots are made is called Toepff L. Ollula a little Pot and these are used about Metalls See Utensils PITCH T. Pech according to Minshaw but Erckern Bech L. Pix and so most of other Languages writ with P. and this Pitch is a Black Gum which comes from a Tree of that Name but are of the sort of Pines whereof we have none in England but have the Gum plentifully from other parts the white Pine yieldeth a white Gum the Pitch or black Pine a black Gum we have several uses of this Word viz. the pitch of an Hill to pitch a Bar to pitch Tents and a pitch't Battle and all are but Allusions to the glutinous nature of this Gum used in Luting of Metallick Vessels l. 4. c. 12. s 2. PLANCHES see Blanches both of them signifying white pieces of Silvery Tin-Plates and sometimes for Wedges of Gold or Silver or other Metalls and from thence the word Planks are used for flat or plain pieces of sawn Wood thicker than Boards l. 1. c. 1. s 1. See Blanches PLATES of Metal T. Ein Blat ven Metal also Blech L. Lamina l. 4. c. 4. s 4. or pieces of Metal made flat and smooth and these are of Iron Tin Brass Copper and such as are of Silver or Gold wrought in various shapes as Cups Dishes c. are still called PLATES PLASTER T. Gips and Tinchwerk L. Gipsum and Emphlastrum this is a composition of Quicklime made of common Lime-stones but the best is of Alabaster and this is used without any mixture of Sand and is an excellent Fence against Water but Pliny tells of a natural Plaster in Cyprus but we have none such and therefore do use Alabaster or Talk both of which he mentions l. 36. c. 24. wherewith in those days they made Fret Works and Images but of later years they are grown to a great Perfection by a Past of that Plaster to mould and fit it to any part of Man or Woman and so take the perfect proportion of that part be it of Face or Hand and when that is dryed they put a like past into the Mould so as by joyning of the part so moulded the whole Body of a Man or other Creature may be represented in a pure white shape which may be coloured as they please These are graceful Figures and may be seen at many Stone-Cutters but very subject to break yet much less than those of Wax which Art is also come to great Perfection See Utensils POLISH T. Polieren and Polirs L. Polire l. 1. c. 34. s 6. and this is done by rubbing Metal with Puttee made of calcin'd Tin or withother Stones as the Hemathite c. see Blood-Stone or other smooth and hard Metals as Steel Iron c. to make it render its natural or artificial colour more beautiful and it may have a just relation to Policy by which Art even Governments of Kingdoms States or Cities are made smooth and pleasing to the Judgments of Men. See Hemathite POTTERS work and Pots T. Toepffer Zeug or Werck L. Figulus and Operator Figuli l. 1. l. 2. l. 4. that is a maker of Pots which the Jews well knew when they wrought in that ART under Pharaoh but whether they were metallick Pots as Crucibles Tests c. it is not said and he that is a good Assayer as Erckern was will see them made himself and not trust to the Potter See Clay Pots Cruises Jugs and Utensils PRECIPITAION T. Nider Schlag l. 1. c. 33. s 3. L. Precipitatio or to beat or to make that Nider or Nethermost which was uppermost and I do use the words often to cast down for so L. precipitatio signifies Now how Metals are thus cast down or precipitated is seen in several parts of the four first Books but the general way of Metals is first to dissolve them in Aqua fort or Aqua Regis or Spirit of Nitre or Vitriol and then they may be precipitated with Sea water and Alcalious Lixiviums PROCESS l. 2. c. 45 is no other than the proceeding in the Metallick Art as it is in the proceeding of the Civil Law till Judgment c. PROOF proving l. 1. l. 5. Vid. Assaying of little difference for Proving is but an Assaying PULVERATION and Pulverising l. 1. c. 8. s 4 signifies the beating of any Oar Metals or other things to dust somtimes called T. Slaut L. Pulvis or to ashes T. Aschen L. Cinis or to Pouder T. Pulvir L. Pulvis and these three are made by natural or artificial Fires or Heats for contunding or beating things to dust ashes or pouder is but an artificial motion of Heat for no motion is without heat and these dusts ashes or pouders are but the last Works of Nature upon all Bodies for the next work is a metaphysical reducing the Ashes of all Bodies to a Purity and as we see here the dust of Metals and other things by Calcination Incineration or pulveration what admirable products are from them so we may thereby be convinc'd that the Omnipotent Chimist of all Creatures will shew his Divine ART in improving the Dust and Ashes of our Bodies into a greater Purity than what we in this World or terrestrial Mine can injoy for here we are subject to all impure Mixtures till a super-celestial fire shall purify us and who knows but that the Spheers of the seven Planets are the Gradations of those seven Fires which David speaks of with which we must be seven times refined before we can be admitted into St. Paul's third Heaven or the Heaven of Heavens and I cannot here but call to mind the Rapsody of Dr. Donne Ser. vol. 2. speaking of the Resurrection of our Dust saith thus Where be all the splinters of your Bones which a shot hath shivered scattered in the Air or of those Bones which the Metallick fires have consumed to ashes where be all the Attoms of the Flesh which a Corrosive hath eaten or a Consumption hath breathed and exhal'd away from our Arms or other Limbs in what wrinkle in what furrow in what bowel of the Earth lye all the grains of the ashes of a Body burnt a thousand years since in what Corner in what Ventricle of the Sea lies all the Jelley of a Body drownd in the general Flood what Coherence what sympathy what dependence maintains any
the Veins of its body but of the nature of Metallick Veins G. Agricola gives the most exact account VENETIAN Glass l. 2. c. 16. s 5. T. Venidischem-glassz L. Vitrum Venetianum from the City Venice where Erckern speaks that the best Glasses for Metallick use are made and probably so in his time but now that Art in Venice is thought to be equall'd in England See Glass VERDIGREASE l. 2. c. 27. s 1. T. Gruen-span A. Spanish green L. Aerugo or the Rust of Copper by hanging plates of it over the fumes of Wine from whence a Crocus will arise which we call Verdigrease See Brass Copper and in Colours Blew Green VIAL or Glass Bottle l. 2. c. 30. s 1. T. Roelblein Fiale and Angster according to the proportions L. Phiala and Ampulla A. Vial to distinguish it from the Musical Instrument call'd Violl VINEGAR l. 1. c. 33. s 1. T. Essig L. Acetum A. Vinegar now the various ways of making and using it in Metallick experiments may deserve a large Discourse as being one of the great secrets of Nature VITRIOL l. 2. c. 33 c. T. Schuster-schwaeitz L. Vitriolum and Calcanthum which latter makes a black colour Now of Vitriol there are many natural sorts but the three chief are 1 of a Saphire colour which comes from Hungary and Cyprus 2. of an Emeral or green colour from Swethland and Goslar often mentioned by Erckern 3. a white from Denmark c. there is also an Artificial Vitriol made from Copper or Iron or both which is called Roman Vitriol or Lapis Coelestis from its transcendent vertues of which besides what Sir Kenelm Digby writes I could add many from my own experiments but must refer them also to my intended Essays on Agricola See Brass Copper and in Colours Black ULTRAMARINE which the Italians call Azuro ultramarino and is a Gem found in Mines sometimes called Lapis Luzuli often mentioned by Erckern l. 1. c. 2. s 11 c. and is of a pure blew and of which either considered as a Gem Oar or Stone the Italians do make a pretious Blew for Painters sold beyond the price of Gold VOLATILE l. 1. c. 10. s 9. T. Flutch-tigon L. Volatilis which signifies a Bird Holiock according to Paracelsus it is used for any light matter either ascending from Metals or other light substances See Quicksilver UPBUCKING l. 4. c. 14. signifies some extraordinary washings of Metals and so the word upboyling is more than ordinary boyling URINE l. 2. c. 8. s 2 c. T Dertlarne and Bruntz L. Vrina from Vro because it is of a scalding and burning nature of great use about Metals it is distill'd and extracted by a natural heat and internal Furnace in all Creatures by which natural extraction we learn the method of all salous productions See Salt c. UTENSILS T. Brauchers L. Vtensillia A. Instruments useful tools or houshold necessaries but I must refer those which are mentioned by Erckern to the Contents of the Sculptures placed immediately before his first Book where you will find most of them recited and referr'd to their pages as also in the second part to their Capitals only there is an omission of the T and L. words for them which will be rendred in Agricola WA W WA WARDENS l. 1. c. 1. T. Gwardeins L. Guardianus A. Guardian and Warden I intended an addition herein to shew that the Original of this word as to an Official duty was first given to the Warden of Mines and that all other Offices which bear the Title of Wardens were derivatives from thence viz. of the Mines Mint Stanneries Church Ports Fleet Colledges and Companies which I shall hereafter inlarge and place according to their Antiquities WARM T. Warme and waerm L. calidus A. warm that is to bring Metals into a moderate warmth or heat WARTZ l. 1. c. 35. T. Wartz A. the Pin of the Beam and these are little pieces of Iron like Excrescencies filed out of the Centre of the Ballance on each side of it which are fitted for the two little holes of the Fork whereby the Ballance is made capable to move and from hence our English word Warts for excrescencies on the hands or other parts is used WASHING l. 3. c. 2 c. T. washein L. Lavare A. Lavations and Washings Now you may have a full account of the manner of washing Metals in N. N. before recited WASTE T. Vermuesten L. Vastare A. to waste consume or lessen the bulk of Metals WATER T. Wasser L. Aqua ex qua omnia as Scaliger and other more antient Philosophers define it See Erckern in many parts and this subject of Waters might afford many pleasing Discourses of ours in England and of such also as are of great natural uses in Metallick Operations besides Artificial yielding curious varieties especially from some Waters in those Countreys which do not consist of Mines where the waters only by heat of the Sun without their fire do yield a perfect sediment of Gold Sands WAVER T. Schwenneken L. vagilare A. to wag to and fro See Trembling WAX T. Wachz L. Cera A. Wax See Cement and Glutination WEATHER l. 1. c. 34. s 8. T. Wetter L. Aether this hath great operation in Metals for as the Weather so Metals are hard or more ductile c. WEIGHT l. 1. c. 36 c. on which subject I did intend to enlarge See Measures and Agricola de mensuris WELL T. Brun L. Puteus A. Wells for Springs of Water and called Shafts for Metallick Wells See Mines WHEEL for waters l. 4. c. 8. T. Wasser-Radst L. Haustrum used for the raising of Waters out of Springs or Wells with which the Miners wash and purge the Oars from the earth or rubbish and then the Miners may say well the Oars are well wash't with Well-water but of the description of the several sorts of Wheels you will see more in Agricola WHETSTONE l. 1. c 34. s 9. T. Wetzsteine L. Cos which is used to Metallick Instruments and to rub Metals WHITE T. Wize and blank L. Albus See in Colours White WINE T. weine L. Vinum of various sorts and uses in Erckern See Pliny WINE stone See Argol Tartar WOOD T. Wald and Haltz L. Lignum A. Wood of several sorts for Metals See Charcoal Coals WOOL T. Wolt L. Lana used about Metals WRINCLE T. Runtzel L. Ruga that is Metal not polite but shriveled distorted and full of contracted parts unusual to its natural smoothness as in hands faces c. WYRE T. Kufforn dratt or Copper drawn L. Aurum netum i. e. Gold Wire or Gold drawn or spun out of Gold and Filum Auricalcum or a kind of Thread drawn from Copper A. Wyre but I find no Monosyllable for it in any other Language XA X XE XANTHUS a pretious stone which Pliny l. 37. calls also Henui of great virtue to give success in Mens Imployments and consequently to Metallick Works Erckern doth not mention this but speaks of Hazel-Nuts
enough lib. 1. cap. 2. 5. 11. lib. 2. lib. 3. 7. 4. See Oars and sometimes it is taken for Tallow lib. 2. cap. 28. GOLD lib. 2. c. It was writ so by the old Saxons and Britains and still so by the Danes but the T. now Goldst and Belgick Gout and if we observe what little difference there is between Gott Gut and Gud used in these two Languages for God and Gout and Goldst for Gold We may well think those Ancients did make this Metal their GOD and that we may not altogether blame them we may well bring-in the Spanish and Italians who call this Metal ORO signifying to pray as if it were a Metal to which their Fore-Fathers did pay their Devotions and Prayers and all of us seem at this day to be guilty of this Metallick Idolatry but to prevent that Imputation the Latines call it Aurum and We Gold being of a different Dialect from almost all the present European Languages except the old Saxons as I said and Danes Now as Quicksilver is called Mater so this is called Pater Metallorum and therefore there may be some Dispensation for a filial Love to the nobler Part of our Mother Earth especially if it be without idolatrous and covetous Applications We have little natural Gold in England from any of our Mines yet we are not altogether without it for I am assured from a Cornish Gentleman that hath a considerable Interest in the Stanneries of Cornwall That in digging for Tin they often find little Grains of Gold not in the Tin-metal but in the outward sandy circumjacent parts of their mines and that the biggest he ever saw was not above the bigness of a small Pea nor need we much to search for it or labour artificially to make it for what we have from other parts in Africa Asia and America do sufficiently supply us especially our late Trade with Guinea in Africa from whence 't is brought to us in little Grits or Seeds yet I was told by an eminent Goldsmith That he had often bought pieces of above an ounce in Weight and that was so good that though it had not an high Colour yet the Colour was recompenced by the little loss in melting Whereas the Seeds of other Gold are much adulterated with the filings of Iron which they draw off by the Loadstone but when they bring their Artificial Gold made into Duccates they are first to use their skill in separating a considerable quantity of Silver from the Gold which is commonly made by Art to contract the Gold whereby it will indure the touch like Gold but their Scissers soon decide the Controversy and cheat so as Art discovers the Artificial Gold from other mixt Metals Our Author saith lib 2. c. 1. That the seed of Gold came out of India by Nilus wherein he is mistaken as other former Antients were in taking Gehon in India to be in Asia of which Mistake Sir Walter Rawligh hath convincingly shew'd their Error H. M. l. 1. c. 6. Yet very probably Nilus may afford Variety of Gold in respect it hath its Heads from the two great Lakes of Zambre and Zailar and not Zambre alone as Dr. Heylen would have it in the lower Aethiopia and passeth the upper Aethiopia or Habasines Empire which is full of Gold and then running above 2000 miles and so may well bring it into Aegypt and from thence cast it into the Mediterranean Sea and by that Sea tost into Asia and Europe But as I said We have a shorter and better way for it to Guinea in Africa from the river Nigro and the Coasts of it and that we may the better credit a greater Efflux of seeded Gold from thence than from any other in Africa 't is found by late Geographers that this River doth rake the very Bowels of the Earth for it for it seems as they tell us that it hath its rise from a great Lake called the Black Lake within two Degrees or 120 Miles of the Equinoctial and within four degrees Eastward of the River Nile and so it runs Northward about 600 Miles whereof under ground about 60 miles and then riseth again and falls into the Lake Borneo from whence it bends it course directly Westward differing from the course of Nile which runs directly North and so after it hath run above and under ground more than 3000 miles through many Kingdoms and Countries rich in Gold it unlades its Treasure into Guinea by many lesser streams where the Natives are always dealing for Gold and it self at last in the Atlantick Sea over against the Islands called Hesperides so as we never cross the Equinoctial to go thither which is less trouble than unto the farthest part of the Mediterranean Sea where Nile vents it self or to the Mouth of the two Eminent Rivers of Ganges or Indies in the East-part of Asia and therefore called the East Indies Now where the land of Havilah which Pison encompasseth mistaken for Ganges wherein there was Gold and the Gold was called good as also where Paradise was or is whether beyond our known World or the Middle Region of the Air or elevated near the Moon or as far South as the Line or as far North as that Line or whether near Havilah in Africa or Havilah in Asia or whether a place called Eden or Paradise was peculiarly created for the Reception of Adam after his Creation and Christ Jesus after his Resurrection I shall leave to Sir Walter Rawleigh and others to determine but we are assured from the sacred Story that there was Gold near that Place and that then in the Innocency of times the Gold was good which must be known by Assaying and doubtless that Knowledg was communicated to Adam yet we hear no more of Gold in that Holy Writ till 2800 after Adam though it was accounted the Golden Age and then Gen. 24. 22. Rebeccah was presented with Gold-Earings and shekles of Gold so it seems they had the Art of Melting and casting Gold into Assayings and Forms as may be collected from the several Distinctions in the Sacred History concerning Beaten Gold pure fined and refined Gold and crown Gold And we are assured that in Moses's time they had the knowledg of all Metals as may be read in Numb 31. 21. where Moses taught the Soldiers how the Spoils of their Heathen Enemies were to be purified commanding as from GOD That all their Gold Silver Brass Copper Tin and Lead and every thing that endureth the fire in the furnace according to the Syriack should be purified by fire and then to be accounted clean yet it is also said in that Text That it shall be purified by the Water of Separation by which water certainly is meant Quick silver because this doth purify cleanse and devour Metals and so Dr. Salmon calls it a Volatile Juyce or Liquor for nothing but Fire or that Quick silver or Aqua fortis can seperate those Metals Now of that Text