THE FIRST PART OF THE Prosperity of Germany: Wherein is Treated of

The Concentration of Wine, Corn, and Wood, and the more profitable use of them, than hath hitherto been.

TO All those Patrons that Love GOD, and favour their Country, HEALTH.

Ye Pious, Prudent, and your Country-loving Patrons.

The Most Excellent Glorious God, and our most Merciful and Bountiful Father, hath (out of his great Love unto, and Fatherly Care of us, from Eternity) set Nature before our Eyes, that he might signifie to us his Will; which said Nature, is no other thing but the proper, eternal, and only Will of God. To this Nature, God hath (as to his obedient and faithful Instrument) absolutely delivered, and committed his Will and Command to be by her faithfully and diligently performed; she accomplisheth the Task imposed on her, without intermission, nor resteth she one moment of time from doing the Divine Will with her utmost study and endeavour.

Therefore, deservedly ought we to learn to know, worship, and love the Creator above all things else whatsoever, seeing the Creator is known by the Creatures.

If his Creatures be great, and unperceivable to our sight, and so wonderful; certainly it of necessity follows, that the Creator is far greater, and far beyond all Human Understanding; and this, everyone may easily understand: ’Tis therefore clearly and evidently manifest, that God Created all things for the service of man, that he might thereby acknowledge the Divine Bounty, and Honour, and fear the Creator, and bestower of all good things, and yield him due Thanks for his Gifts.

But seeing that it may so be, that the most just God will sometime or other, at last (being provoked by the perfidious malice of men, avenge himself on the most Impious living of this perverse World, by bringing scarcity of Food, (War, and the Plague); and seeing that it may so be, as that the small Company of the Pious, lying hid amongst the Impious Crew of the wicked, may partake of the same punishment: Therefore I thought it very expedient, with a cheerful mind to publish (to the Honour of God, and my Country, and for the comfort and solacing of its Pious Inhabitants,) the Talent that God hath vouchsafed unto me, by the help of which, very many such Calamities as may come, viz. Famine, War, and the Plague, may be prevented.

But the way I have pitched on to serve my Country in, doth chiefly consist in the manifestation and Revelation of those most great Treasures that lie hidden in Germany, being such as by the regardlessness of Men have been hitherto unknown, unsought, and not gotten forth. I have therefore endeavoured, faithfully to manifest in this present Treatise, by what means those Treasures are to be sought for, and rightly ordered for the profit of my Country; and withal, to open the Treasures of the Noble State of Germany, wherewith it is most abundantly enriched, beyond all the other Countries of Europe, and hath hitherto enjoyed, and used (but not so well as it should have done) viz. Wine, Corn, Wood, Minerals, and Metals. For Ungrateful Men have extreamly wasted unprofitably, the most wealthy, and rich Benediction of God, who hath bestowed Wine and Corn on them, in abundance, and the Relicks (which they spent not) have they suffered to corrupt and perish with lying. Nor is there any body that doth in the least entertain any thoughts, by what means such an abundance of so great Gifts, might be kept and preserved for future years, which may be accompany’d with extream scarcity and Dearth. Every one shifts for himself and his, with that plenty of Goods he enjoys; and leaves another to take care for himself, and to see for time to come, that he provide himself for things necessary whereon to live. And it is come to such a pass, that the overplus which remains of the abundance of the Blessing of God, is meerly cast away through a careless disregard, and so nothing is preserved for after times. And yet our Lord Jesus Christ himself when he fed many thousands of Men with Bread, commanded his Disciples carefully to preserve the remaining Crumbs, that nothing might be lost; the which without all doubt he did for no other end, but that we might have the Gifts of God in high esteem. But where shall we find such as will imitate, and do the same; certainly no where, which is inexcusable with God and good Men. Certainly such a largess of Divine Gifts, is not bestowed on us, that they should miserably perish, or be cast away; but we should rather labour and take care of diligent laying up and preserving (like so many Laborious Ants) all that overabundantness which we cannot make use of. Let it be but considered, I pray, in what great heaps Corn lies heaped hoarded up, and is spoiled. And is it not the same with Wine, which being gathered in such over-great quantities, is become vile and abject, or cast away?

What, cannot there be store laid up out of this very plenty (which now is grutched at, as ’twere) as so many great Treasures for future Calamitous Years?

Well however, though as yet this hath been left undone, yet I am confident, that some good Housholders will be found, that will not despise this Instruction and Admonition of mine, but will condense the so much superfluity of Wine, and Corn, and preserve it against future Years scarcity. Nor do I at all doubt, but that others, after they have by this Book well learned the manner, will turn the superfluous, and cast away Wood (which lies and rots, and is reduced to nothing) into Salt-petre in great quantities; that by its help the Enemies may be resisted, and the Inhabitants defended. But in the three following Parts, which treat of the Concentration of Metals, and Minerals, wherein all kinds of Medicaments resisting natural Diseases, shall be taught, I know that every one will find refreshment, and help, against the future Plague, and Contagious Diseases. So then, when we have Food and Drink necessary for a Livelyhood, and Salt-Nitre to defend us against our Enemies, and Medicines serving for the preservation of us in Health, there remains nothing else we can desire, save a little Gold and Silver, by which we may exercise Trade, or Merchandise, and furnish our selves with Outlandish Wares. The which, that we also may get out of those Mountains, we every where meet withal, and out of those abject, and given-over Mine-pits, I question not, but (God permitting) to effect it, and clearly to shew it in the three following Books of the Concentration of Minerals and Metals. Upon this account I would no longer keep by me this small Book of the Concentration of things, but publish it to the Honour of God and my Country, (it being a Talent vouchsafed me by God.)

I do therefore Dedicate it to all Pious, Faithful, and Good Housholders, hoping that my sincere Admonition, and Instruction, will find some place, and not be rejected.

The three Parts I promised, shall shortly follow: Furthermore, I offer my most faithful help to every one in the opening and revealing the said Concentration of Wine, Corn, Wood, Minerals, and Metals; for all things being in a readiness, I can easily shew the manner of Concentration. And seeing I am ignorant, how long a time the most Merciful God will vouchsafe unto me, the use of life and light; I would not willingly bury with me a Science so eminent, so Noble, and so profitable to my Country. But if now it should so fall out, that few or none should at all mind it, yet have I done my part, and satisfied my Conscience. Though indeed I do not in the least doubt, but that there will be some good and faithful Housholders, by whom these Profitable Inventions of mine, will be regarded, and be made use of for God’s Honour, and for the Conservation of the Country, and its Inhabitants.

This I certainly know, that if this Counsel, or Direction of mine, concerning the Concentration of Wine, Corn, Wood, and Minerals (which proceeds from the simplicity and sincerity of my mind) shall find any place of entertainment, that our most praiseworthy Country of Germany, will in a few Years space become most exceeding happy, and be so enriched, that both high and low will be much joyed, and praise God, and give him thanks.

But I easily conjecture with what various and different Judgments this Off-spring of my Brain, will be expounded. One will haply give credit to the things I have said; but another will condemn and disdain them, as mere Impossibilities, and Dreams. But however, the truth will at length break forth, and the work it self will purchase to its Master due Praise, and herein I content my self. The most Blessed, most Merciful God, and our Father, that great Housholder, bestow on us his Divine Benediction, that so we may institute in most places of this our most dear Country this Concentration of Wine, Corn, Wood, and Minerals; and may by the help thereof obtain such Treasures, as may serve for the sustaining of our life, in time to come, and for the resisting of our enemies, and for the Glory of God, and the help and succour of very many needy ones in Distress.

The PREFACE.

If the Proverbs of the Ancients are to be embraced as wholsom Doctrines, then certainly this (being none of the least) is not to be rejected; and is thus, That he that will not hear, ’tis fit he should afterwards feel. The meaning of it is this; If so be any one be regardless of a warning, and so come to damage, every one is wont thus to say of him, He is but justly rewarded, why did he not yield to a faithful warning? who will help him now?

But however, I have endeavoured (for the Honour of God, of the Magistrate, and of my Country, and the benefit of my Neighbour) to shew, by good Admonition, and by a profitable Testimony, by what means, that great plenty we have in these as yet prosperous times, wherein we have abundance of Corn, Wine, and other things in great plenty throughout all Germany, may not unprofitably be lost; but be preserved for support in those years of scarcity that are next to come, according as Joseph that most excellent Steward mentioned in Holy Writ is said to have done.

And now that there may be as much prevention as is possible, that the Wine, and Corn perish not with lying, but be preserved against a future scarcity, I have published this little Book for every ones view, concerning the Concentration of Vegetables, Animals, Minerals, and Metals, in which, the prosperity and felicity of all Germany, and indeed the Universal Treasure and Wealthiness of the whole World, is seated.

And because such an abundant plenty of all these things begets a nauseating and loathing, as it were, of those Minerals, Metals, Wine, and Corn, wherewith Germany exceeds all the other Countries of Europe; I judged it well worth while to constringe, or concentrate this plenty into a little room, and preserve it from the loss and destruction of the same, arising from Negligence and Contempt. For when such vile, or cheap things are driven into a small compass, the baser and unprofitable part goes off, and the nobler and better part is driven together, and preserved, and doth not so easily become corrupt as afore, when both good and bad are commixed together.

And this is to be understood of the Minerals, and Metals, and of Wine, Corn, and Wood. For where the Water is separated from the Wine and Beer, and the more Noble Parts are concentred, as it were into a Centre, you may even preserve them as long as you list. And when you need either Wine, or Beer, the concentrated parts may be relaxed by the apposition of Water, and be enlarged, insomuch, that one Vessel will hold six Vessels of Wine; and this, taking up but one place, and yet contains six times the quantity, there will not need so much costs, nor will so much Wine be spoiled by vapouring away, as would be by six Wine Vessels, which must always be kept full. Besides, this farther benefit ariseth hencefrom, viz. That out of such concentred Juices (if they be at hand) there may be made every Autumn new Wines sooner than ordinary, 4, 5, or 8 weeks time or more, and be sold at a bigger rate, than in the very Autumn Season, when the Grapes are ripe, and every Body furnished with Wine.

NB. For such a work there is requisite a certain peculiar Instrument, and artificial knack, by the help of which the Must may be holpen to a speedy fermentation; there are also other Conveniences which arise from these thus concentred Musts, which for Brevities sake we here omit. So likewise Beer being after the same manner concentred, doth bring a many more Utilities than ordinary Beer. For that Corn which eight Barrels were scarce sufficient to contain afore, need no more but one here, the which being put in the Beer Vessel, will not turn into Vermin; nor will it flie out of the Barn, but may be used after 10 or 20 years. Such Artificial Factitious Ales, seeing they are (in their condensation) boiled a longer while, are far better than the common sorts which are made of dried Corn, or Malt. Whosoever therefore shall in a great plenty of Grain, buy up Corn, and condense it by such Artificial Concentrations, and so lay it by, till a scarcity comes, will gain abundantly, and will not only get to himself an honest, and to others no ways injurious profit; but will withal (being thus studious of Charity and Mercy) deserve exceeding well of his Neighbour, if he helps him in his great necessity, and he will readily pay him for his Corn, whereby he may get Money to sustain his Family and be a profitable gainer.

So then, no body is injured by this condensation, and concentration of Ale, or Wine, but both the Buyer and Seller are Gainers, and this should of right, be in every Man’s heart, what condition soever he be of. It would be well done of Noble Men, Princes, Kings, Emperors, and other Magistrates and Common Wealths, if they would provide in their Store-houses for Warfare, such kind of condensed Liquors, and Juices, that so the poor may in a time of scarcity be made partakers of that plenty, and they will have no loss thereby, but rather benefit.

But the Condensation of Wood, and turning it into Salt-petre or Nitre, is far more profitable than that of Wine or Ale; for wood may be had even as it were gratis, and be with a very small Cost transmuted into Nitre, the which may be kept without hurt in the Storehouses for a long time, seeing it is not wont to corrupt or perish, and be there conserved until it be made up into Gun-powder with Coals and Sulphur, both which are also not subject to corruption; so that it is not so very necessary (nay, rather it is hurtful) to have such vast quantities of Gun-powder in their Castles and fenced places. There are examples enough of Towers in which Gun-powder hath been stirred up, which either through negligence, or else by lightning, being fired, have in less than a moments time o’return’d whole Cities, and slain abundance of men. Now this mighty inconveniency may easily be prevented by this only Remedy, viz. If the Powder be not made up, but the matter thereof (viz. Nitre, Sulphur, and Coals) be only kept in readiness, wherewith the said Powder may be made, as necessity requires: Besides, herein also doth the concentration of Wood exceed (as to profit) the condensation of Wine and Ale, not only because there lie vast heaps of Minerals in Germany, (which not containing a fixt and corporeal Gold, are therefore disesteemed) that admit of a separation of their better part, and fixation of it by Nitre; but withal, the meaner Metals (their superfluous Sulphur being burnt up) may be transmuted into better; and the perfect Metals, viz. Gold and Silver, may (by the help thereof) be destroyed, and be enforced or concentred into a better part; the which thing the following Second, Third, and Fourth Parts treat of.

So then, this Transmutation of Wood into Salt-petre or Tartar, of both which not only great quantities may be sold, but may be also applied to sundry uses, will bring to our noble Country of Germany (in which there is an incredible quantity of Wood to be had almost every where gratis) a most notable encrease of Power and Strength, not only against its future, but its present Enemies.

Whosoever therefore shall have abundance of Wood, shall likewise be enriched with store of Wealth, provided he will but set his hand to the work, and not fear that ever Salt-petre will be such a Drug, as to be of no value, and not vendible: And yet if it should so be, yet in the Explication of my Miraculum Mundi, already published, I have manifested so much, and will, in the three following parts of this Book, manifest such things as concern the use of this Salt, that there will never want such, as penetrating into the knowledge of these Secrets, will not full well know its Use.

He that hath Eyes, let him look about, and use them, for the time comes, yea, and by little and little approacheth, in which Knowledge will be a profitable thing; and it will be well for those who are seasoned with the knowledge of things profitable. Verily, Knowledge is better than store of Goods, for no body can carry them with him, nor (in some cases) help either himself or his Friends with them. Happy is he that can say with the Philosopher, All that is mine do I carry with me: How injuriously do they speak of the most bountiful Lord God, who accuse Him for that He hath forborn the bestowing of Wine, plenty of Corn, Pome-Citrons, and Gold on some Countries, and yet fully as great Treasures are to be found there, if the Eyes of the Inhabitants were not darkened? If there were nothing else, yet certainly there is Wood to be found, which without any labour, costs, or trouble of Rich or Poor, doth grow night and day, and offers it self unto us, and as it were, saith unto us in these words; What! am I of no use? Do not I come forth to thy view, that thou maist by contemplating on me acknowledg the Divine Bounty, and make use of me with thankfulness? There is not therefore any reason why one Country should exalt it self before another, because it is better; or contrarily complain, that the Divine Benediction less regarded it than other Countries; no, each Country hath enough, if it would but be content with what it possesseth. As for those Countries which are even destitute of Wood, they do nevertheless abundantly enjoy the Divine Benediction; witness Island, and other cold Northern Countries, which have their Corn, and other Necessaries for Life, brought them out of other Countries. But now on the other hand, these Countries afford Cod or Stock-fish dried; and so, though they want Trees, Fruit, Corn, and Wine, yet they do not want, and are equally as well nourished by the Divine Bounty as the rest be. Though they want Wood, yet have they Pit-Coals; for the Earth there is very sulphureous, and at the Mountain Hekla it burns perpetually, and casts out fire, smoak, and ashes, and yields to the Inhabitants a great quantity of Brimstone, which they dig out and sell to our Country Mariners and Traffiquers, thereby sustaining themselves.

Some one or other may object to me and say, Seeing that Salt-petre is to be accompted of as an Universal Subject, and to be found in all things, it must necessarily be, that seeing Island has no Wood at all, the Salt-petre is to be found in the dry Stock-fish, for otherwise this Salt can’t be said to be Universal, as being not to be found in such or such a Country.

Well then, to clear this doubt, I do affirm, (as I said before) that Nitre is in Fishes also, though not in such plenty as in other subjects, viz. in Wine, Wood, and Corn: But it is found far more plentifully and potently in Stones, with which those Countries are well stored; and any one may easily guess what Riches they would produce, were they but versed in the knowledge how to extract it; for in Stones which by burning are turned into Lime, (the which may be done without Wood, even by dried Turf or Pit-coal, and that easily) Nitre is as abundantly hidden, as in Wood, and in other Vegetables: Nor is there ought else requisite, save the knowledge of the way of its extraction.

If therefore that harsh and wild kind of Country, wherein nothing grows, be put in the Philosophical balance, with the most rich Country, it would (seeing it contains hidden in its Earth and Stones such great Treasures) easily exceed it, and obtain the chiefest place. There is therefore no reason why any one should complain before God: A small man doth usually exceed, as to swiftness and agility, one that is big and tall: A weak man may oppose the acuteness of his wit against the strength of the lusty: A poor man enjoys Quietude, and patiently undergoes his more hard fortunes; but contrariwise, the rich is invironed with cares. And this may be also understood of other living Creatures. These things being well considered, every one may understand and perceive, that God hath satisfied every one, and that there is no Creature that can justly complain.

It is reported of the Peruvian part of America, That it is enriched with the most abounding Silvery Mountain Potosi, seated in a part of that Region, and is about some 50 German miles in compass, and that it doth by its exceeding cold Air hinder the growing of any Vegetables, and yet notwithstanding, there is such a notable power and excellency obtained by the Riches of that place, that the City there founded doth abound with the best Wine, Corn, Sugar, and other such-like necessary things, and is scarce inferiour in bigness and fair Buildings to any City of Germany, and from this very Mountain only receiveth it this felicity. It is hence evident, that all such things are not unprofitable, which (by reason of the meanness of the outward shape) are not so well known to every body; for sometimes a Countryman throws a Stone at a Cow, which is far more worth than the price of the Cow is, and yet it is contemned, because unknown.

The external and superficial Figure therefore of a thing is not alwaies to be regarded, but its inward parts are to be search’d into and viewed; and that we may attain hereunto, Alchymy points out to us the way, (she being the Instrument of the true praise-worthy Philosophy) and opens the Gate, whereby we may search into the inmost bowels of every thing.

He who well knows the fire, and the use thereof, will not be distressed with want. And he that has no knowledge of the same, neither will he throughly search into Natures Treasures: From these things it is evident what Treasures we Germans do unknowingly possess, and yet convert them nor to our use; And were not foreign parts as ignorant too of these things as we our selves are, they would readily have upbraided us Germans, that we spend more time in eating and drinking, than on good Arts and Sciences.

Now as concerning my writings about the concentration of Wine, Corn, and Wood, and the condensation of ’em, I shall never be better able to prove and confirm the Truth of the same, than by producing it to manifest light, that so the Eyes seeing it, all admiration may cease, and all incredulity vanish. There is credit therefore to be given to all the things mentioned in this Book, as to an experienced Truth, and which are not made publick for any other ends, save only that those natural Sciences may tend to the utility and benefit of my Neighbour. Whoever therefore shall believe them, will purchase Honour and Profit; and contrariwise, he that will not believe, will get only disgrace and detriment.

I will therefore predict or foretell, that this one only Artifice of making Salt petre in such great plenty, and the way of using it to metalline works, will bring incredible Treasures to our Country of Germany, if we be not too negligent, or let it slip by a sluggish slothful drowsiness. I do verily believe, that if God doth yet vouchsafe me one years life, that this said Artifice of Salt-petre will be profitable to very many; but if so be that it shall not please the Divine Majesty to prolong my life so short a time, it may however be accounted of, that God hath indeed shewed us Germans, as heretofore he did to Moses, the Land of Promise, but hath, by reason of our sins and incredulity, shut up the passage against us.

But that I may absolutely serve my Neighbour, and that he may have no cause to complain, as if I had served him but by halves, in that I have not described the Press for Wood, together with the appertaining Instruments, I do now therefore certifie every one, that all the things necessary and requisite for the concentrating of Wine, Corn, and Wood, are to be seen in my custody in perfection.

If now any one be desirous of receiving benefit from his Wine, Corn, or Wood, and that he find it highly to concern him to get this knowledge he will well know, by the inspection of the Work presented afore him, wherein lay the defect as to the getting this thing, and what means the said defect is to be holpen by; but the Instruments that I have mentioned, shall be no longer to be seen, than from the Calends of March to the Calends of September, this present year 1656. viz. six months time; for I have purposed to my self, not to render my life burdensome alwaies unto my self, by carrying such troublesome burthens about to and fro, but at last to get a quiet seat and abode. So then it will, by this here spoken, be evidently manifest to every one, what he is to do as touching this matter.

The three other Parts concerning the concentration of Minerals and Metals, shall (if God permit) shortly also follow.

But because Nitre is the alone Instrument of that work, and that no body can get any eminent profit, unless he can have Nitre at a very cheap rate, it is wholly necessary that some labour be bestowed about the procuring it, which if you can get good store of cheap, then will the hoped-for profit be perceived, both out of Minerals and Metals: If not, vain will it be for you to make your search into that Mineral kingdom.

Well, I do affirm, That by the benefit of Nitre, things wonderful may be effected in Metallick Labours; yea, ten times more than what I have described in my small Treatise, called Miraculum Mundi, or dare to describe for the future; for all things requisite to true Alchymy, may be perfectly accomplished in it, by it, and with it.

Herewith I conclude this Preface. Whatsoever is here wanting in this Treatise, for brevities sake, the demonstration visibly exposed to view, will afterwards compleatly recompence, insomuch that any one will easily wind himself out of all doubts. And here we rest for this time.

THE FIRST PART OF The Prosperity of Germany, &c.

In the Name of the most Holy Trinity do I begin to describe the most great Wonders of God, that I may manifest to everyone (without concealing ought) His Grace and Mercy, which He embraceth Mankind withal; and I pray God, the Father of us all, the merciful Creator of Heaven and Earth, to guide and direct this Work, that it may serve to His Divine Honour, and tend to all our welfares. Amen.

We will enter into Franconia, and see what a wealthy and large Benediction of God is to be found therein: And I will first begin with Wine, none of the least of the most noble Creatures of God, and will demonstrate how ungrateful we shew ourselves to the bestower of all good things, and how basely we abuse His Goodness.

Every one knows what a noble Creature wine is, how strained from the Grape and made, and therefore this thing needs no further description, forasmuch as others have heretofore sufficiently enough done this task and daily Experience is an abundant testifier of the use of the same. It is behoveful here, that we only signifie how it ought to be handled better than it has hitherto been, and may so likewise bring a greater profit and utility to the tillers thereof than hitherto. Every one knows, that wine is the noblest amongst all drinks, and most conducive to health, and may and ought to be called the Purest drink: It cherisheth old men, and heats the cold, but such as are of a tender age, should deservedly shun wine, because being drunk too soon, it easily inflames the Liver, and dries it up, and stirs up various Diseases, and at last causeth Death it self. So then, there is nothing so good, but may also do hurt, nor is any thing so evil, but doth sometimes bring some benefit, according as the difference of the use is which it is applied unto; as is here evident in Wine; the which being drunk moderately, and at due seasons, doth not only excellently well digest and concoct the Meat in the Stomach, but likewise evidently strengthens the Heart, Brain, and Vital Spirits, and generates pure and sound Blood and Flesh. Contrariwise, being immoderately taken, it overflows as ’twere the Stomach, Lungs, and Liver, fills those Vessels with many evil humours, and obstructs them, so that they cannot well perform that office whereto they are destinated by GOD and Nature, but are overwhelmed with whole Troops of Diseases; for the Heart and Brain is set upon by their spiritual efficacy and hot nature and property, and is weakened, and the vital spirit is overcome and suffocated, as we see in the fire, the which when greater doth alwaies suppress and overcome the lesser.

Hence it comes to pass, that men that load themselves with daily drinkings, do little differ from new-born Calves and Geese, and are wont to be neither profitable to God, nor to Men, nor to themselves.

In the Name of God, therefore we will proceed on in the matter we have proposed, and see by what means more profit may be reaped from Wine than hath hitherto been.

In the first place, he that aims at the bettering of any thing, must know what the thing is which he studies the amending of, and of what parts it consisteth.

Therefore, as concerning Wine, it consisteth as well as the other Vegetables of three principles, viz. of Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury (that I may use the Philosophers terms). The Mercury is its insipid moisture, and the Sulphur is that burning Spirit which is extracted or drawn out thereof. You shall thus know the thing, by this following Experiment. Put a Cucurbit full of Wine in a B. and with a gentle heat draw off what will come, but yet so, that the parts which in the destillation alter or change themselves, be each of them received apart in its peculiar Receiver. For example; If there were 12 parts of wine, or 12 measures, there ascends first only one part of spirit, which is the soul and life of the wine; after it, come ten parts or measures of insipid water; the remainder in the bottom of the Glass is a thick and austere or harsh matter, which being the Tartar or Salt of the wine, is also almost one part or measure of the wine. Of these three parts all wine is compounded, but yet partakes of one or the other of the Principles, more or less, according to its being more or less mature, or its growing in such or such a place. As for example;

The Austere Wine hath alwaies more Tartar and less Spirit than the Ripe Wines; and contrarily, the ripe wine doth abound with more Spirit than Tartar, as the Spanish and other extraneous wines witness, which do alwaies abide sweet, and plainly have no Tartar in them; the reason is this, Because in those warm Countries they are brought by the Sun to meer sweetness, and so are ripe; so that the austere Tartar or Salt is throughly changed, and concocted into a sweet Sugar. Hence it comes, that the said wines do not in the afore-proposed Examen leave any austereness, as our wines in Germany do, but rather yield twice as much spirit, and scarce the half part of insipid water: Whenas austere Wine yields about a twentieth part of spirit, the ripe German wine yields almost a twelfth part, and the Spanish a sixth part of spirit, four parts of water, and one part of fæces without Tartar. So that from good German wine there comes (as I said afore) one part of spirit, ten of water, and one part of austere or sowrish matter.

He that knows these things, will easily contrive and prepare for himself by the help thereof, at all times, be it hot or cold, good and constant, or durable wine. Neither is there any room left a man here of complaining, as if God shewed greater bounty to men one year than another. The fault of this defect is not to be imputed to God, but to our own selves, who know nothing, nor are willing to know, nor study how to help Nature; for Art can bring an assistance and help to Nature when she is impeded in her work, and is unable to bring her Fruits unto a maturity, provided the Artist removes away that which the wine naturally abounds withal, and addeth thereunto what it is destitute of.

For example, Let us examin a thin wine, which being not sufficiently concocted and ripened by the Sun, is endowed with too much sharpishness and water, and contrarily has but little of spirit; if now to such a wine, when it begins to boil or ferment, some spirit shall be added, so that it may work together with it, it will be even as well ripened in the wine-vessel, by the benefit of this fiery spirit, as if it had been ripened by the Sun, as it hung upon the Vine; insomuch, that by this means there mought be made excellent wines every year, if any had but the knowledge of thus helping them.

NB. But now such a spirit must not be such an one as that common Adult or Brandy-wine is, but a grateful and pure Essence of wine; the manner of making it I have described in my Vegetable Work. Now by how much the more this Spirit shall ferment or work with such a wine, so much the stronger and more efficacious doth the wine become: Forasmuch as all the Virtues of all the whole wine consist in the Spirit only, and the Tartar or Salt doth by its muchness make it austere and sharp. But Musts being by such an Artifice made stronger and more efficacious, do keep a longer time afterwards without corrupting, and may be carried or transported whithersoever one please; whence it comes to pass, that they are never spoiled, as they are otherwise usually wont to be, when ’tis not of ripe growth.

From these things ’tis evident, that out of one Must, grown in one and the same Autumn, there may with ease be made wines of 3, 4, or more kinds, according as there is more or less of this spirit added to the Must and fermented with it.

There is also another way, by the help whereof every austere wine is easily corrected and amended, thus: In the Vintage time, let the liquor of the Must, or of the expressed juice of the Grapes, be so boiled in peculiar Vessels, that the unprofitable moisture or tasteless water do exhale by little and little, until thou hast as much as thou wouldst, or as the efficacy of the wine, or the degree thou wouldst by correcting reduce it to, shall require: For, in the exhalation of the superfluous moisture nothing goes away, save that insipid water; but the sweetness and the austereness remains in that thick and condensate juice, like to Honey; so that that boiled mash comprehends all the strength and virtues of the wine, concentrated as it were, and condensate, and will again disclose them, if it doth again work, with water thereto added in a due proportion; but the use of this condensate Must, which as yet hath not wrought or fermented, is this, That it can be at all times carried, and most profitably sold in far remote Countries, which thing could not afore be done.

For every one knows, that when there is a cold Summer, Wines become immature and acid, and are not wont to keep; for as soon as they come to be a year old, they are covered over with a filmy skin, and being mouldy, corrupt, because they have not in them spirit enough. From whence it comes to pass, that many times Vintners, or Vineyard-keepers, suffer great loss, after that they have diligently betook themselves to dress the Vineyards for an whole year, and have lived sparingly and hardly, and working hard, have sustained their lives with Bread and Water, hoping that upon selling their wine they should scrape together a little Money, to buy them some Clothes and other Necessaries for their Family’s supportation; for the expected plenty of the wine hoped for, and of the profit accruing by the store of Money for it, when sold, hath prop’d them up with this hope; but now the wine fading and deluding their hopes, and turning into an acid and austere taste, they cannot sell it, seeing ’tis scarce worth the carriage; or if it be sold, ’tis at such a mean rate, as scarcely sufficeth to discharge the Cost of dressing it; and what shall now be done for Food, Drink, Raiment, and other Necessaries to sustain the Family?

And yet the Vines must be dressed for the next year too, and more Monies laid out upon them; but from whence shall Monies come for Food and Raiment, in the mean time? Alas, what course will they take if some such-like years should follow one another together? Either the poor miserable men must, together with their Wives and Children, famish, or else turn Souldiers, and be kill’d, or be made so desperate, as to betake themselves to thieving and robbing, and so finish their daies by an Halter: For the present world is so much estrangd from Mercy, that one will not use so much Christian Charity, as to help another in his necessity.

And besides, the ingratitude it self of men doth sometimes make others slow and fearful of administring and affording a mutual help; forasmuch as very many, when they are rid out of their incumbrances, do refuse to restore those things, or by labour to requite or make amends for the things by which they were delivered out of their Straits.

Hence it comes to pass, that he who does a friendly good turn, for such an ingrateful man, loseth his Money, and by reason of that so ill placed formerly, abhors the lending his helping hand again.

Now, that such great inconveniences may be removed, and the Vine-dressers somewhat holpen, so as that they might every year sell their wines at a beneficial price, and may never be oppressed with that foresaid detriment; it may very conveniently be done by the help of this concentration or condensation, by evaporating the Must to the consistence of Honey, the which may profitably be carried into far distant places, in which no wine is accustomed to grow, and be there sold. Such now as buy up such Must thus condensated by boiling, do now know how by dilating it with Water, to reduce it again into good wines. This Artifice therefore being so laudable, will be helpful to both, to the Vine-dresser, in yielding him presently ready Money for his Must, and to the Merchant, in easilier furnishing him with Wine, and quitting him of so much Charges in the Carriage.

But that the business may be yet the better and more clearly understood, let us see by making computation, what the benefit and profit of this condensation is.

Let us suppose then, that a Wine not ripe remains acid and weak, and that a Franconian Urn, or half an Hogshead of Frankfort measure, yields scarce a Florin, or a Doller at the utmost. Such a Wine as this will not quit the Costs of the Carriage, though but for 12 miles; [a German mile is three of ours.] for it degenerates by the carrying it, and becomes mouldyish, as ’twere, and turns sowre, so that the Huckster can’t sell the same, and he’l have a care how he buys such wines another time; and the Vineyard-keeper is even enforced to keep them to his great loss, forasmuch as all his safety or dependance is built thereupon.

As for the Rich men, tho’ they have some acid wine, they are not undone by the loss, for they have still by them other better wines, which they mix those worser and more acid wines withal, and so sell them off; or else they keep such thin wines till the Autumn comes, with more plentiful and riper Grapes, and to the Must proceeding from them, do they pour this thin Wine, and let it work therewith anew, and by this means it becomes vendible. But yet the Gain arising hencefrom, is sufficiently poor and mean: For by how much the thinner the acid wine is than it ought to have been, tho’ it be mixt with good Wine, yet doth this become so much the worser; nay, it sometimes happens, that both are corrupted and lost; for as much of help as the acid Wine gets from the good wine, so much of goodness doth depart even from the good wine. So that such a kind of bettering after what manner soever it be instituted, cannot be very profitable or advantageous.

For example, that I may be the better understood, let us instance in two pieces of Gold, each of which should be the value of 25 Imperials: Let them be put in the Balance and examined, and being examined, let one of them be the due weight, and let the other be less in weight or price the value of four Imperials. If now you are minded to take so much away from that piece which is of current weight, as to make them both of alike weight, you may indeed so do, but yet you are no waies benefited thereby, but rather suffer loss: Forasmuch as you took away from that piece that was of due weight, and added unto the other piece that wanted of weight, so much of its value is departed, and both pieces will be unfit to go in payment, as wanting their due value and weight. What profit therefore can hence redound unto any man? Even so is the case with the Wine, for if one should get some two load of wine, and could sell one of them for 20, and the other but for 10 Imperials, and yet should not be accounted of as vendible Wine, and now the Merchant should mix that thin wine with the better, that they may both be equal, would not that better wine become worse, and that thin wine be rendered not much the better? For my part therefore, I cannot see that such a kind of meliorating can bring much profit.

But as for my bettering and correction, it is always profitable, whereby the acid wines are not corrupted by the acid, but the good and superfluous humidity only is separated by the benefit of Art, and the good part being condensate in it self, and by it self is reduced into a narrower compass.

NB. He that is so minded, may separate from the sweet Must, a fourth part only, or a fifth or sixth part, by evaporation, and presently bring it to such a pass, as to work or ferment; for they become so much the better, by how much the more water hath been consumed by evaporation: If the Quintessence of wine be added to that working Must, the wines become the better, and the more generous. This kind of way may be made use of in those places in which the wine doth for the most part remain acid; for there needs not this Art to those Vines that Nature hath ripened.

Besides, the wines may be condensated to the thickness of Honey, that they may be thereby rendered the fitter for Transportation. Six Hogsheads, or Oma, of Must, may be so condensated, that one Hogshead will hold them; the which (if need be) may again by the apposition of 5 Hogsheads of water, which quantity it lost in the condensation, make 6 Hogsheads of wine of the very same goodness and efficacy as it would have been of before the condensation, if it never had been condensated, but been presently put out of the Press into the Barrels, to have fermented and work’d into wine after the usual manner.

NB. But now if any be desirous of making his wine better and more noble than it would have been afore the Concentration, then he must not put five, but only 4 parts of water; for should he add but three Hogsheads or parts, it would be yet better and nobler by one degree than the others: Hence is it manifest, That it is in the hands of the Artist to make and alter these wines at his pleasure, and to render them strong, stronger, and middling, and by the addition of water to give them even what efficacy and what virtues you list. But now, to all the mixtures he may add the soul of wine, if he has it, that the wines may thereby be the sooner clear and pure. For the Quintessence of any wine being conjoined with new Musts, and working with them, brings them in a short space of time to clarity and purity, so that they become transparent, but principally when they are tartarized, or full of Tartar, for the spirit of Wine brooks not any Tartar, but precipitates it in the fermentation to the bottom, or drives it away from it self, and so by consequence makes the Wine clear and transparent. But as concerning, what means the Tartarized (Spirit or) Essence of Wine is to be artificially prepared by, ’tis needless to repeat here, forasmuch as it is already described in divers of my Writings hitherto published, but especially in the Vegetable Work.

Besides, it is not so convenient, that every one should know, by what means the concentrated Musts may be prepared with water, and the Tartarized Quintessence. It is sufficient in this place, to know how the Musts are to be concentrated, or brought into a narrow compass, that so they may be transported and sold. Let this be the care of the Merchants to know how to use them when they have bought them. For the Brains of the Vineyard keepers are incapable of these things. Yet nevertheless, there will be some Men who will know how to make a due use of such boiled and condensed Musts, if they can but get them, and every one may be Master of this Affair, if he has but Coppers and Kettles, necessary for such an Operation; whereby he may make store enough of Juice. But yet every Countryman can’t get such Kettles, neither will it be worth while, forasmuch as a small Portion of Wine, will not be able to quit the Costs. But whosoever bestows his Study and Moneys in exercising this Artifice, will reap thence from a great deal of Utility and Advantage. But whether he does these things, or does them not, he neither benefits, nor injures me. ’Tis sufficient, that I have evidently demonstrated to the Vineyard Masters, by what means they may always sell their Wines, whether they be ripe, or have come short of their Maturity.

But for the better instruction of the Courteous Reader, I will compute the Charges of this Operation, and show, what gain is to be expected from the Condensation of these Musts.

In the first place therefore, let us buy some Musts in those places, in which they are thin, and are sold for a mean price, viz. twelve Urnes, or six Hogsheads, or Oma’s, for xij. Imperials; [an Imperial is about 4 s. 6 d.] this Must we will condense to the Consistency of Honey, so that there may be but one Hogshead, or Oma remaining. Let the Costs requisite to this Concentration (always provided you are furnished with the Copper Vessel) be valued at half a Dollar, or thereabouts; and the charge of the Wood we’ll count an Imperial for. The Wine Cask which is to be filled with this condensate Juice, we will value at half an Imperial, its carriage forty Miles, we’ll reckon six Imperials for. All which Charges being summed up, make nineteen Imperials and an half. And so much will be the Charges of one Hogshead, or one Oma of this Condensate Must, and its Carriage forty Miles. This Must now being brought into such a place where Wines are dear, you may at any time of the year, by the addition of Water, and by Fermentation, transmute into good Wine. And that one only Hogshead being the condensate Juice of six Hogsheads of Must, will yield thee so many Hogsheads of such Wine as the Must would have been afore its Concentration. And if thou desirest to have thy Wine stronger and nobler, than as it comes out of the Press, and than it could be afore this Condensation, you may omit the putting thereunto so much water as it lost in the Condensation, and lessen it proportionably, that so those six may make no more than four Hogsheads, and they will be the more generous; the which thou shalt far better have by this means, if viz. You know how thereunto to adjoin a Quintessence.

If now, that one Hogshead of juice, which afore its Condensation was six Hogsheads, doth again yield four [and no more] it must of necessity be much better, and more noble than otherwise it would have been, had it been made after a Natural manner, (viz. just as it came from the Press.) And by this means too, it will last the better, and may be the easilier transported and sold.

So then, if in such a place as is 40 Miles distant from Wine-making Countrys, an Hogshead, or Oma, is sold but for twelve Imperials, and you have of six Hogsheads of thin Wine, made four of better, and each of these you sell for but 12 Imperials, yet you shall have 48 Imperials, out of which substract your 19 and ½ Charges, you shall have clear Gains 28 Imperials, and ½. But I have set a most low price on this Wine, for in such places which are about some 40 Miles from those Countries, in which abundance of Wines grow, an Hogshead, or an Oma, is not usually sold at the Rate of 12, but of 24 Imperials. The gain therefore of about a Wayn-load of such a thin Wine, which haply would have corrupted with lying, and never yielded any profit, doth at the least yield above fifty Imperials.

Every one now may easily see how much Gains this Artifice of the Concentration of Musts doth bring. For besides this Commodity arising from this Labour, viz. That the Musts being presently sold, yield ready Money; there is this also, that the Money being again presently disburst, opens the way for the next years profit. The Merchant also has this benefit by this Labour, that he is not enforced to pay so much Water’s carriage so long a Journey; and that he may even at his pleasure make his Wine more or less strong and efficacious; for what a deal of profit is this, for to have all the Wine of six Hogsheads, carried in one Hogshead.

Besides, the Merchant doth not only gain the price of the carriage of those five Hogsheads, but also is quitted of the fear of the Carter’s corrupting, or spoiling that Juice by the way, as is usual with them to do with Wine, drawing it out, and filling up the Vessels again with Water. This danger these Juices are not subject unto; and may be kept in great plenty in fruitful years of Wine, until you need them. For they are not wont to be corrupted, if they are but kept in pure, and well shut Vessels. By this means every Vintner may in such exceeding plentiful years, furnish himself with a great Treasure, and store of Wines, and so afterwards, when a dear year comes, reduce his Juices into Wine, and enjoy a great deal of profit.

I have to this end described this so famous an Art, that the common Vine-Masters, may have present sale for their Musts, and not be enforced so long to keep them, till some Carrier comes and enquires after Wine, but may presently get their Moneys, and may profit themselves by bestowing them to the use of their Family. So then, it fares not only well, which the Vine-Masters, and the Merchants, but also with all such as dwell in those places which yield no Wine, because by the benefit of this Medium (or Artifice) they may also drink Wine at a cheaper rate. For if any Honest Citizen provides himself with an whole Hogshead, or half an Hogshead of this Juice, he may turn it into stronger, and weaker Wines, and all times of the Year make new, and as yet fermenting sweet Musts, whensoever he pleaseth, and as oft as his need requires; and may by the apposition of Spices, or Herbs, make Aromatical, or Physical Wines; which thing cannot be effected without these Condensate Juices; forasmuch as Sweet Musts, cannot be carried by Land to any other place, for that they presently ferment, and boil up, and will either break out of the Vessels, or rend the Cask, and be lost, which (by having these Juices) is not at all to be feared. I do therefore think that I deserve exceedingly well of very many, by the faithful manifestation of this Artifice; which deed of mine, whether it be praised, or dispraised, yet will it not be despised by such men as shall apprehend, and perceive the benefit and Commodity of so great an Artifice.

It remains now, that we also describe, and set afore your Eyes the Instruments and Vessels serving to this Condensation, (without which, this Concentration cannot be effected) and withal shew the manner of proceeding, which is to be thus ordered.

In the First place, provide a Copper of such a bigness as you shall judge needful for the great, or less quantity of Juice you have; let it have a plain and even bottom, and let it have the sides about a Span high, and get it well Tinned over in the inside, and not Leaded, the which Vessel you must put in a Furnace of a sizeable bigness, and so order it, that being set in the Furnace, the Flame may come but only to the bottom, and not be able to touch the sides. The Walls of the Furnace are to be some two foot high, and must have an Iron front, or Stone Door, serving for the putting in the Wood, and registring the fire, by opening and shutting it. At the backside is to be an hole of such a bigness, as may suffice for making the fire burn by the access of the Air, and for carrying away the Smoke and Flame. But it must be so ordered, as to be covered with a broad stone, if need be, that so the fire may on such wise be registred, that the Juices may not boil over by the overmuch fire, or taste of burning. These Juices are to be so long boiled with the wood, until they begin to wax thick, and then more new Must is to be thereunto added, this addition is to be so long made, and so often repeated, until the Copper be almost filled with those thick Juices. Then the holes of the Furnace that serve for giving air, are to be shut both above and below, that there may be no flame under the Copper, but the bare heat of the fire, and a sweet and gentle warmth, which will bring the Juices by a sweet decoction to the consistence of Honey, and will condense them without any adustion, insomuch that they will become as sweet as Sugar.

These Juices, you may let out by a Pipe, or Cock placed near the bottom of the Vessel, and shutting it again, pour in more to be condensed after the same manner, until all the Musts are condensed, but you must not presently put the Condensate Juices, as soon as ever they come hot out of your Copper, into your Barrels, but let them run first into some wooden Vessel, and be there left so long till they are cool, then put them up in your Barrels, and shut them up tight, and so may you keep them whole and sound, and free from Corruption, even as long as you list: For if you should put them hot into your Barrels, and so shut them up, the Barrels would burst, or else when you open them, would (by reason of the pent-up Vapours, which can have no exhalation) break or run out.

NB. And here comes a notable Secret, which I think good to add. When the Juices have rested some two or three weeks, and be afterwards dissolved with warm water, the residue of the Tartar which would have made the wines acid, will fall down undissolved to the bottom, in the form of small and big Crystals, and being washed with common water, may be used instead of Tartar forasmuch as it is nothing else than a meer absolute Tartar. Now this separation of the Tartar, is of great concernment as to the Wine, for it thereby becomes much better than if those Crystals had remained dissolved with it. Nor is any thing lost by this means, for that the Tartar is of as much value as the Juices: And besides, the Wines will be by this means freed from their acidity, and rendred better and sweeter; which thing verily deserves to be esteemed of as a great and profitable Artifice; and which, many there are that will know to use it to their great profit.

Verily, he that is of so dull an Apprehension, as not to be capable of understanding these things, that are so clearly, and evidently manifested, will not be any whit the better by larger Discourses. But he that has a desire of setting about this work, will insinuate, or work himself by a farther Meditation into the inmost centrality as ’twere of this so great an Artifice, and will with a far juster mind bear with me, in that I have not so much time at present, as to use a more prolix, or larger Stile.

But if so be, any do desire to have this Artifice declared unto him, by a more clear delivery, let him read my Explication of the Appendix adjoined to my Fifth part of the Philosophical Furnaces; as also the Vegetable work, and there he shall find more such Artifices. Or if haply it concerns him, he may see in my Laboratory, the Furnaces and Coppers requisite to such a work, together with the Manual Operations.

I am even constrained briefly, and as it were by the bye, to insert thus much, that if some more than usually unskilful Men cannot understand those things which I have declared concerning the three Principles, viz. That all Wine must needs consist of the same, to wit, Salt, Water, and Spirit; I dare boldly and confidently averr, that he who knows how to conjoin (according to art) these three Principles, may every where make good Wine.

NB. But yet I would not have such an one perswade himself that he can do any good, if he mixeth Tartar, Water, and Spirit of Wine together, no, no, that is not the way for him to be Master of his desire. There are far other-guise Manual Operations, requisite to this Artifice, and such as I think it inexpedient to manifest in this place. Let every one be content with the things at present shown him, haply God will sometime or other bestow (on him) better.

CHAP. II.

Treateth of Corn: Shewing what means it is to be Concentred, and Condensated by, so as to be Exported in great Quantities into other Countries, whereby both Gain and Moneys may be thereof made.

I have instructed you in the foregoing Chapter, after what manner such Wines as are of a mean price, may by the help of Concentration be conveniently transported out of one Country into others more remote, where no Wines grow, and produce good profit. The which Artifice may be of most great benefit to the Inhabitants of such Countries as abound in Wine, and want sometimes Chapmen or Merchants for the same.

’Tis very well known to every one, that in most places of Germany (but especially in Franconia, and in the other Countries adjoining) Corn is so exceedingly plenty, and of so vile a price, that the inhabitants know not what to do therewith; and for that reason it lies and rots in their Barns and Granaries, the exceeding abundance thereof either hindring the sale of the same, or the great costs and charges of Carriage hinder the Transportation of it into the lower Countries of Germany, where ’tis dear enough.

Hence comes it to pass, that the miserable Inhabitants have indeed Wine and Corn enough, but want Moneys to pay the Tributes due to the Magistrate; so that tho’ they have such plenty of the Divine Gifts, and so much Riches, yet for all that they are in great penury and want, in that they cannot sell off so much as to pay their Family’s expence, viz. Men-servants and Maid-servants wages, or so much as to sustain them. Verily, this is a punishment from the hand of God, and a singular one too, by which he corrects us ungrateful men. In time of the Wars, when a huge Scarcity pinched the Inhabitants of Germany, then the common outcry went up to Heaven, and promised largely an amendment of life; but when the War was over, and all quiet, and a most wisht-for Peace returning, then all men generally became worser, and more wicked, tho’ the goodness and bounty of God had bestowed on them such a great plenty of things so exceeding necessary: And now such great Fulness being enjoyed, they now gape after Money too, and murmur against God, as the Israelites did, who loathing, as ’twere, the plentiful abundance of things necessary, murmured at Moses.

The reason why Corn is so exceeding plenty, is this:

After the making of Peace, and sending away the Souldiers, many Commanders being weary of warfare, and abounding with Money and Horses, bought (or rather squeez’d out) of the poor Inhabitants, every where destitute of Money, most notable Farms, for a very mean price, and did set themselves with the utmost of their Industry to till the Earth, which had lain fallow a long time; which Lands became so fruitful that it even amazed all men. The poor Inhabitants too, who now had gotten a little Money, they also set their hands to the Plough, and used even the utmost of their endeavours in the tillage of the Earth: From hence it came to pass, that they were so furnished with such a vast deal of Corn in a few years space, that they knew not at all what to do therewith. As for carrying it into far distant Countries, the troublesomeness and charges of the Carriage were too great an hindrance: To lay it up in the Granaries, that the Air will not suffer them to do, tho’ in the time of Joseph such a thing was done in Egypt, where the Air being Nitrous, dry, and not so easily subject to corrupting, as ours is, preserved the Corn from Corruption.

What I have here written, hath proceeded forth from a good mind and sincere intention, and I hope ’twill do more good than hurt. I know that the eyes of many will be opened to see what a Babylonish Confusion the present World is in; I pray God to be an helper to the Good, and to be a reducer of the Wicked from the course of their Impiety, into the Right way.

The Process of Concentrating Corn is this:

In the first place, you are to make a Malt of your Barly, Wheat, Oats, Spelt, or any other kind of Grain or Corn, the which dry either in the Sun or in the Air, or else in an Oven heated a little, and not to be scorched and parched as it were after the Brewers custom; for so the sharp fume of the wood would stick thereunto, and make it black and bitter, and it may easily be conjectured, that there would be no good come of it, for by this means the smoak of the wood would stick on to the Corn and the Sprouts it has thrust forth, and are moistened, and so would make the Ale that is boil’d thereoutof unwholsome, and of an ungrateful bitter flavour: But now such Malt as is dried in the Air, Sun, or in a warm Stove or Oven, has no such ungrateful taste as comes from the smoak of the wood, but remains sweet and pleasant.

NB. Else you may do thus; The Corn, after it hath sprouted and hath been thrown abroad on some Floor, open to the air, and thereby been a little freed of some of its moisture, may be dried purely and quickly too in the Brewers great Coppers, in which they are wont to boil their Ale or Beer, provided it be continually stirred about with some wooden stick without ceasing, that it may be all over hot, and so become dry. But yet you must have a care that your fire be not too strong under your Copper wherein you dry your Malt, and so burn the Corn, and make it taste untowardly; this done, the dried Malt is to be ground as other Malt which is used to make Ale withal is wont to be, but yet so, that it be not too finely ground nor too grosly; for if it be too gross, and the Grains be unbroken, the water cannot sufficiently get out the Virtues and Juice in the boiling, but that the best part will remain in the boiled Grains, and so be thrown away on the Beasts in their nutriment; but if it be ground too small, it will run into heaps, and hinder the straining out of the Ale; therefore a mean is to be observed, and care taken that no errour be committed, by either excess or defect. The Malt being on this wise prepared, every one may boil his Ale according to his custom, and so much thereof as his Vessels, Coppers, and Coolers will admit of: Some do pour boiling water on their Malt, and mix them both by stirring them well together, and then let them settle for some time that the water may take into it self the strength of the same; then they draw out that water by a Tap, and pour on more, and repeat the Infusions so often, until the water can get out no more sweetness, and there remain nothing but the insipid Husks, the which are nourishment for Cattel.

NB. Othersome that have no Vessels to extract the Virtue out of the Malt in, by boiling water, do put the prepared Malt in wooden Vessels or Tubs, and pour thereon warm water or cold, and stir it very well about, and leave it so for some hours, that the Malt may be macerated; then do they put it in a Copper, and pour thereunto so much water as may keep the Malt from burning to in the boiling; and having boiled it for half an hour, they pour it out upon a bed of straw, fitted for that purpose, and placed over a Cooler, and so strain the Ale: This Labour of pouring on, boiling, and straining, is so oft repeated, till the water sucks no more sweetness out of the malt. This manner of boiling Ale is used by those only who want store of Vessels, and pretty large ones: The former way is not only better and more commodious, but likewise more fit for the boiling of a greater quantity of Ale.

NB. This is to be observed in this place, when the best and first Juice or Extraction is drawn out of the Vessel by a Tap, and fresh boiling water poured a second time on the malt in the Copper, and again drawn off by the Tap, those two waters in which the chiefest Virtue of the malt is, may be boiled and thickened by little and little in a plain or flat Copper. The third and fourth pouring on are indeed as yet good, but yet not fat enough, and seeing they are not very strong, are not worth the boiling away, for they won’t quit the costs of the Fire, and therefore are to be applied to some other uses. Now when a man is about this work, he may so order his boilings, as to have several of them one after another; and then those pourings on, viz. the second and third, remaining of the first course of boiling may be poured on the second course of boiling, in the stead of bare water: And so is it to be handled, that alwaies the first and second pouring on (and which contain in them the chiefest Virtues of the malt) may be boiled to the consistency of Honey in a Copper made for that purpose, of Evaporation; and the third and fourth pouring on may be alwaies kept for the next following course of boiling, and be poured on the malt in the room of bare water, and so are to be condensed by evaporation in a Copper, as the first and second pouring on were done withal in the first course of the boiling; and so always the 3d. and 4th. pouring on of the former course of boiling, is to be the first and second in the next following course of boiling; and this way of proceeding draws out of the malt its best and chiefest Virtues, and lessens the charge of the boiling: For the Costs would be far greater, if the third and fourth pouring on were to be boiled off per se.

NB. The Coppers and Pans necessary for the thus reducing these extracted Juices to the consistency of Honey, are already described, where mention is made of the Concentration of Wines. He that can’t well enough understand me, may take the pains to come and see my Furnaces, Coppers, and other Instruments appertaining to this work; as likewise the manual Operation, for I cannot help him any other way. And as for a larger description of these things, my time will not permit me at this instant to make it. The Juices being condensate, are to be drawn out of the Copper by a Tap fastened therein, or laved out, and being cool, put them up in Barrels, and shut them up tight, that the external air may not get thereinto; for thus may you keep them uncorrupt, even as long as you please.

NB. In your boiling them you must be very diligent that the Juices be not burnt to, by the overmuchness of your Fire, or that by being heat too hot, they boil not over; all which may be prevented by Registers (as the Chymists call them) destinated for the regulating of the Fire. This is a most compendious way of extracting the Virtues out of Corn, and of reducing them into a narrow room, the which if you order according to Art, that nothing of your Juices be spilt or lost, 8 Barrels of Malt will yield you one full of Juice, and which contains all the Virtues that were in those eight Barrels; the residue serves to fatten Beasts withal.

NB. He who knows how to convert those remains to his use, in another kind of way will do better, and extract thereoutof so much as he is constrained to lay out in buying his Corn, insomuch that he can have his Juices as it were even gratis. But of these things more hereafter.

As touching these Juices, they comprehend in them the whole Virtue of the Corn, out of which you may when you please boil Ale, make Adust or Brandy-wine or bake spiced Cakes; for if it be used to them instead of Honey, it makes them much the sweeter. These Juices therefore are to be prepared in those places in which Corn is sold at a very mean rate, and which cannot be exported to foreign parts, and is there in such great plenty, as that the Country-men know not what to do therewith, but there it lies in great Stacks and rots. Farther, they are yet prepared with greater benefit and more gain where the plenty and cheapness of wood is, the which yields no small encrease and addition to the Gains.

But that the nature and condition of this Labour may be the better understood, the following Computation will shew. Suppose I take 8 Barrels full of Corn and bring them into Malt, then boil it into Ale after the aforesaid way, and condense it into a Juice, wherewithal I fill one Barrel: This one Barrel now is far more commodious to be carried into foreign places either by Waggon or by Ship, than those 8 barrels, and will bring me double or treble the profit that 8 Medimni (a Measure containing some six bushels, or the eight barrels) of Corn. Why? because the greatest labour is already over, and there remains but very little to boil the Ale out of the Juice, as the following Example will demonstrate.

I buy me eight barrels in that place where Corn and Wood are to be had at a mean rate, and there passeth some River or other by the place, as the Mhene in Franconia, Nicer in Suevia, Visurgis in Hassia, and the Dukedome of Brunswick, Albis in Saxony and Misnia; for in all these places there is abundance of Corn, and store of Wood, and the price of each, mean enough in conscience. If now one Medimnus (or six bushels) of Corn be esteemed at the price of one Imperial, eight Medimni will yield eight Imperials; the Wood will cost one Imperial, the Labour one Florin: The juice out of the 8 barrels of Corn may be put in a Fir-Cask, as they use to do with Honey, that so in paying the carriage, it may not be accompted for Wine or Ale, but some dry Goods, and so valued by the hundred, as other dry Wares are priced; so then the Barrel will cost the Carriage by Water to some of the Maritine or Sea-coast Cities, two Florins. Now if we sum up all these Expences upon the Corn, Carriage, Fire, and Labour, they come to 12 Florins or 8 Imperials. But now, out of that one Barrel of Juice there may be made eight Barrels of the best Ale, and if you will have it somewhat smaller, then ’twill make 10 or 12, according as you boil your Ale to a stronger or weaker degree. However, this is certain, that one Barrel of Corn will yield more than a Barrel of good Ale; so that out of one Barrel of Corn may be made one and an half of strong Ale. Now then, if one of those Barrels of Ale yield three Imperials, the eight Barrels, which cost the buying, and reducing into one Barrel, and the transporting it, eight Imperials, may there be sold for 24 Imperials; from which the eight being subtracted, the remainder of the Gains is 16 Imperials, which verily is enough upon those 8 Barrels.

But put case the Corn were dearer, and the Carriage of the Juices to those places did cost more, and that those 8 Barrels of Corn, or one Barrel of Juice, did yield (besides all the costs) only 8 Imperials profit, yet would this be profit enough, and may well content a Man. I forbear to mention the other benefits and profits arising over and above besides this Gains; for by this kind of way is saved and made vendible that Corn which would else be spoiled: Besides in a plentiful time the mean-prized Corn may be bought up, concentrated and kept till a scarcity come. Nor is there any cause of fear that it will be devoured by the Mice and Rats, or be spoiled with lying, or wax mouldy, or be any other way corrupted.

Nay more, it occupies less room than the Corn would; for where one Barrel of Juice lies, there should have lain eight Barrels of Corn.

Besides, the Magistrates and Subjects may by this means reap much profit and help. The Magistrate may be satisfied by taking Corn of the Inhabitants instead of tribute. The Subjects may by the benefit of this Medium satisfie the Magistrate, and there will not need the selling his Cattle, or Sheep in the Fold, or to borrow Money upon use, and to give his Wife and Children for pledges. For there is requisite no other labour than that the Magistrate appoint a place to boil his Ale, in which the Corn may be malted, boiled and thickned into Juices. As for Wood, that he has himself and needs not lay out a farthing upon that. So now, by this means may a Country be brought to that degree of happiness as never to want Money, Corn, or any other necessary things. For where the Juices can be but brought to the Sea-towns many thousand Barrels full may be sold to those Magistrates and Merchants which send their Ships into the East and West-Indies; in which Countries may be made good Ale at any time of the Year, even in the midst of Summer, or in the Dog-daies themselves, if you have but Hops and Water at hand; the which is far better and more profitable.

For in the room of this one Barrel of Juice, there must have been stowed 8 Barrels, and yet that sometimes turns sour too, and is spoiled, the which never betides these Juices. Now such Ale prepared of the Juices by means of Hops and Water are much wholsomer than the common Ales are, because that the Fire hath consumed all the Crudities; in the boiling of the Juices or hath corrected them, and this every one will readily believe or assent unto.

Nay more, these Juices may (and that with very great profit too) be sent into those places wherein (by reason of the abundance of People there) Corn and Ale is much esteemed, as in Holland, and the bordering Countries. If the Ale-brewers could but once get such Juices, without doubt they would not be at the costs to brew it out of the Corn, for they would not need so much time to brew in, nor such Coppers, nor so many Mens help, all which they must necessarily have in the common way of brewing. In these Juices, there is much sparing of Fuel, (the which makes the common way of brewing Ale, more costly,) and of Men’s labour which doth likewise prove chargable. Nor are we silently to pass over that great benefit which they have hereby, for that good Ale and such as will not sour may be made without any danger even in the midst of the Dog-days. Every one knows what it is to brew Ale (then,) and that the brewing is at other times sufficiently troublesome, viz. so to order it as to prevent the danger of souring. But now this brewing (that I mention) is void of all this kind of fear of souring; whereas the usual kind of brewings do for the most part (in the Summer season) become sour either in the straining it through the Grains, or by standing in the Coolers: but these labours are in our brewing already dispatched, and that in those places where the charges of Labourers, Wood, and Room fit for boiling it in, are not so great.

This work therefore is of mighty profit both to the buyer and seller: For the seller can afford his Corn at a reasonable rate. And the buyer need not be at any other charges in brewing good and wholsome Ale at any time of the Year save only the hire of one man that may prepare or sit the Juices, and Hops, and Water for the boiling, and set it a-working or fermenting and pour it into the Vessels. Whereas on the contrary in the common brewing of Ale there needs many mens help, huge Coppers, and wooden Flats and a great deal of room to brew in, and store of Fire which is sufficiently dear in some Countries; all which are avoided in the brewing with the Juices. Do but consider I pray what a notable and profitable thing this would be in great Cities, and especially in those places where Houses, Fuel, and Mens labour are very dear, if such kinds of Juices were set to sale; that so every Master of a Family might buy up some Barrels of this Juice, and dissolve them at his own home with Water and Hops, in a small Copper according to his pleasure, and make the said Juices into Ale, as fat or as lean or small; and as bitter or as sweet as he listeth; and then put it up in his own purified and well cleansed Vessels, and he and his, drink thereof all the whole year; and if need be, might make either Physick-drink or Spiced-ale. And would it not be much better than the buying such Ales of the Brewers, which are sometimes either too new or too stale, and oft-times acid, impure, not well boiled, and stinking, and instead of Hops have Aloes, Xanthium or Burr, Henbane and such like Herbs put in them. For in some places, the Brewers use such kinds of Herbs and the like hurtful things, instead of Hops, to make their Ale bitter, and to save a few charges in the making their drink. Therefore all such as use to drink of such kind of Beer are never wont to be in compleat health; and especially in watery and moist places they are for the most part afflicted with the Scurvy, Melancholly, &c. which is the usual fruits of such kind of Drinks, for they obstruct the internal parts of the body and the principal members, and stir up such Diseases. But our Ales that are made of the Juices and good Hops do not only not stir up such Distempers, but do even (by their purity and clearness) resist them, and preserve men from them; but especially if such Juices be made of such Malt as has not a smatch of the smoke of Wood, but is dried in the Air, and which are so handled in the fermentation or working of them as that all the defilements settle to the bottom; for then will you have such Ale, as doth both in wholesomness and sweetness exceed such Wines as are infected with, or have a tang of, Sulphur, or that grow in a soil abounding with Chalk. They dull not the head, they do not cause windiness, they puff not up the body after the manner of other Ale; they do not stop the Urine but provoke it, and keep the Belly soluble: They are Medicinal without the addition of Physical Herbs, are sweet and wholsome, and of an excellent tast, and such as the like of them cannot be made without this medium or way.

Such Ales deserve a peculiar praise, and many would there be who would drink of Ales often, could they but get such: and would leave off the drinking troubled, unwholsome, and sulphured Wines. For my own part I will make use of such kind of Ale, and Wine, in my own house for the sustaining of mine own Family.

I could mention much more concerning such Ales if the time would permit me, but I have spoken enough already. And as for what remains unwritten here, may be gotten out of, (or understood by) the things here described. I question not but that good (or provident) Masters of Families will set about this business of preparing these Juices, and of sending them into such places where they may be sold to Ships that are bound for far Countries, and so mightily enrich those Countries with store of Money that abound with Corn.

Besides, the Brewers of Ale or Beer that are in great Cities will not disdain such an excellent Art, but will themselves buy such Juices at a considerable rate.

Princes, Nobles, and great Cities, will also provide (or buy up) great quantities of such Juices, and lay them up in their Forts and Castles, and in their Store houses as a good Treasure, that so they may have it to use in time of necessity. Nor will good (or provident) Housholders neglect to furnish themselves therewith, that so they may have wherewithal to sustain them and theirs in a time of scarcity.

In the time of Wars, eminent Captains and other Military chieftains will take care to have them, and carry them into their strong holds, and there loosen them (or put a proportionable quantity of Water to them) and turn them into good Ale; as for Water, there’s to be found (enough) of that every where, and so need not store up that, and as for Hops that is easie enough to be bought.

So then, there will be a notable benefit by this Artifice to strong Holds and Castles, and such fenced Places as fear a Siege. Briefly, Words cannot express the benefit and profit which will redound to all places, by these Juices, in times both of Peace and War.

Therefore every Magistrate who has a care of his Subjects health and preservation, will worthily and with his utmost diligence carefully provide for the having such prepared Juices, that so in times of necessity they may be at hand for use.

But now, some may object and say; I perceive and well see that this Artifice is good and profitable, but ’tis not so easie a matter for every one to purchase himself Coppers requisite for this work? To such I answer. ’Tis not so needful that every one should furnish himself with such (utensils); if there be in every City but one man only that is imployed thereabouts, who may buy off his Neighbours Corn and pay them their Money for the same, ’tis sufficient. And if others also betake themselves thereunto, there will be the more Money gotten, and the Country made the richer; neither is any reason to fear or doubt, but that, if he shall bring eight thousand Barrels of Corn condensed into a thousand Barrels of Juice unto the Cities on the Sea coast, he will sell it off for ready money. Will a thousand Barrels (think you) be sufficient (or be a drug) in some populous City wherein are daily drunk some thousands of barrels of Ale? Verily he that shall expose to sale in such a like City many thousand Barrels, would not stay long there, but would be loaden (or furnished) with ready Money for the same, by those who knew the Art of making Ale with such Juices.

I do verily believe that it would be altogether much better to sell Corn after such a manner, and so to have profit by it, than let it perish with lying; which is a great sin before God, and a shameful disgraceful thing before Men.

But further, It may be objected and said. If this Artifice of making Ale were set up in those places, in which there is wont to be a certain Tribute paid the Magistrates for every Barrel (of Ale,) it would not be allowed of, because by this means the Tribute or Customs due to the Magistrates would be diminished. This inconvenience is easily prevented, if the Magistrate impose the same Tribute of Ale on the Juices. For by this means the Tributes or Customs would not be at all diminished, but be equally as profitable upon the Juices, as upon Ale. The like may be done with the condensate Juices of Wine.

So then ’tis clearly evident, that there cannot possibly arise any detriment from these Juices, but rather infinite profits and commodity. And therefore every Magistrate should seriously cause his Subjects to make these kind of Juices of such Corn as they cannot sell, and instead of spoiling it get riches by it. Certainly this would be far better, and far more profitable for such Subjects as are very poor and go miserably tattered and naked, and have nothing to help themselves (of which sort there are not a few.) Verily there would be no want of any thing, but the Subjects as well as their Rulers would have enough: And for this reason have I willingly undergone this trouble and this labour in manifesting and laying open this Artifice.

And although I am not to expect any reward from any body for manifesting a thing of so much concernment (for this is an unthankful World) yet have I obeyed the will of God and have out of a Christian love benefited my Neighbour, and in this well-doing do I rest, no ways doubting but that God the rewarder of every good (action) will recompense in another place, this my well-doing which I bestow upon the World.

Farther, I can in a kind of a Prophetical manner predict, that if regard be had of this my wholsome Doctrine and Admonition, many Countries will in a very short time recover their former happiness, and both the highest and lowest will live in a prosperous condition; but especially those who first set upon this business afore it becomes common, will get great riches. Now then, whosoever they be that by the help and benefit of this way shall get the blessing of God, let them not forget the poor, but bestow that blessing on the cherrishing and comforting poor Orphans and Widows, to the Honour of God. For the Treasures and Riches in this temporal Life cannot be better laid out, and laid up, than in distributing them amongst the poor. For by that means there’s no fear of being spoiled of them by Thieves and Robbers; And more, in the Life to come, they shall be recompensed with a ten-fold reward.

CHAP. III.

Of the Concentration of Vegetables.

We have already taught in the two foregoing Chapters by what means Wine and Corn are to be by an Artificial condensation reduced into a narrow compass, and brought to be a gainful Merchandice. It now remains to shew the way conducing to a condensation of the Virtues lying hid in Herbs, Bushes, Shrubs, and Trees: (which Vegetables do most plentifully abound in most places and yield no profit) that so even out of them as well as from Wine and Corn may be reaped a very great profit. No body is ignorant of this, viz. That there is nothing more vile and of less esteem than the Grass (or Herbs) of the Field, and Briars or Bushes, and Shrubs, and lofty Trees too, especially when being at a good distance from Men’s dwellings they cannot be applied to any use, and upon this account are they not valued at all, nor by reason of their distance profitable to any, but there they grow and perish in those vast woods and desart places. And this is to be seen in those most huge Woods of Germany, such as are the Ingriones, the Wood Ardenne, the Ottonicane, Hercinian, Semane, and Bohemian Woods, and the woods of other Countries, in which woods there rots and is spoiled above ten times more wood than men make use of.

Now no body hath hitherto known what use to put those Woods unto; such Woods as are not too far off from Cities or Villages, do Men make use of for building, for firing, for boiling, or brewing, and for baking, and other occasions, so that the Wood which is daily used, and every year fetch’d from the bordering Woods or Forests, is thereby saved from rotting and being spoiled.

But as for such wood as is in Mountains and Woods scituated far off from mens dwellings, and which are not frequented, that is not of any use at all, they are Dens and lurking places for cruel Beasts, as Bears and Wolves; which said wild beasts do annoy and hinder other profitable ones, as Staggs, Does, Boars, Hoggs, Sheep, &c. from feeding on the wild Fruits of such places. But who is there will amend it, and bring such places to a due or good use? What! should such vast Woods, which are the receptacle of those cruel wild Beasts be cut down and lie a rotting, or be consumed by Fire, so to destroy those wild beasts? Surely no body will attempt it, as fearing the toilsomness requisite hereunto: And besides, forasmuch as no other profit is to be thereby expected, save an extirpation of those wild beasts, there’s no body will take that Task upon him. Nor is it a thing so behoveful to Fire, and burn down such huge Woods, as we read in History, that some have heretofore done, viz. most great Woods have been burnt, meerly to destroy Insects and other hurtful, wild, and ravenous beasts. There is an hazard run in so doing, for such a Fire may spread wider, and do a great deal of mischief.