An APPENDIX TO THE FIFTH PART OF THE Prosperity of GERMANY. (continued 2)

But admit that the Oars do contain as much Gold and Silver, as that the Costs of melting may be repaid by them; yet such a fusion, compared with this invention of mine of Extracting Gold and Silver with Waters and Salts, is as if you should compare Water with Wine, or the night with the most brightsome day, which have no comparison.

For, first of all, the common melting of Metals is accompanied with far greater Expences, than that Extraction of mine with Salts, which verily needs but a very little charge. Then farther, it can never be, that all the Gold should be so perfectly Extracted out of the Oars, but that some of the same will abide in the Scoria’s; besides, the volatile Gold and Silver, which must necessarily be blown off by the vehement blast of the bellows, and the acuteness of the fire, and so be lost.

Now amongst all the conveniencies that arise from the Extracting of Gold and Silver out of the poor Mines, that is none of the meanest, viz. that not onely all the fix Gold and Silver are conserved by the Salts, but also the Volatile too, and this latter is made fix and constant in the fire, together with that former fixt part, whereas by the Fusing fire it is all of it lost.

N. B. For the Waters of the Salts doe make the volatile Spirits of Gold and Silver, and which otherwise would vanish away fix and constant; for by a strong blast and force of fire are they rendred yet more fugacious. Hence comes it to pass, that [there is but the] one half part of that Gold extracted by the fire of the usual way of melting, that the Waters of Salts get out of the Oars. Upon this account my Invention doth not onely yield this commodiousness as to get both the fix and volatile Gold and Silver together, without any detriment out of the Oars, but also gets not a little in sparing Coals, (not to mention this, that one man does more in the Extraction of Gold and Silver by Salts, than three men are wont to doe in the common way of Fusion.

By what hath now been said, it is evidently apparent, what a deal of benefit and profit this invention will bring in all places of Germany. For this Extraction may be used commodiously and profitably, not onely in all Minera’s or Oars both rich and poor ones, but also may be used in Extracting the Gold and Silver out of all colour’d Flints, wherewith all Rivers, Brooks and Fields do abound.

But some or other may haply say here, by what means can it possibly be, that Gold and Silver should be extracted out of the Stones that lie too and agen every where in the Streets? I answer such, that indeed it is very rare to find fix Gold and Silver in such Stones, but yet they have in them a spiritual, unripe and volatile Gold, which is not onely made fix and constant in the extraction made by Salts, but it doth likewise turn some of the Lead it self that is added in the fusing and separating it into its own nature by Graduation. Hence ’tis evident, that in all places of the Terrestrial Globe wheresoever Stones are, good Gold and Silver may be gotten with profit, by a little labour and small costs. Praise and glory be eternally given to the most bountifull Lord God for such Inventions. Amen.

These are the Secrets which I publickly demonstrated and divulged [or communicated] in my Laboratory, for the benefit of my Countrey. And I do now again affirm and witness that if even the very bare Letter be observed, no body can err. And if so be that any one should change this or that order, and so think to better the Operations, and should err, let him not lay the fault upon me who have Written the naked truth, but let him blame himself.

I had several other things of no small moment, to have spoken to here at present, the which I shall God willing very suddenly dispatch in my second Century, for the present time does not permit it.

And in the said Century will I declare with a yet clearer and easier manifestation, those Secrets here disclosed, the which could not at present be done because of my too much hast.

And now I wish to all the pious Students after this so great an Art, a large and plenteous blessing from the mercifull Lord God, as to this so very excellent a Work, that the poverty and want of abundance of miserable People may be supplied in many places. Which if it be (as I hope it will) it will exalt the honour and glory of the most high, and will encrease the Prosperity of the Countrey, and withall will check and keep under the most base attempts of mine Enemies. But especially if the counsel that I have proposed in my first Century, (viz. that every one may have liberty to exercise such Operations,) takes place. This being granted, it cannot be, but that Gold and Silver and Copper will every where be gotten out of the Earth, with the help of these my Writings, to the great profit and benefit of all the whole Countrey.

And so I conclude this so much hastned Appendix, wrested from me occasionally by perverse Men. Those things that I have not in such or such a place clearly and evidently enough expressed for want of time, I will express God willing in my second Century with a clearer Explanation, and thither do I refer the well-minded Reader.

The End of the Appendix.