10672Natural Hiſtory;
greatperſon, by undertaking, that he could make Gold:
Whoſe diſcourſe
was, That Gold might be made, but that the Alchymiſts over-fired the work:
For (he ſaid) the making of Gold did require avery temperate Heat, asbe-
ing in Nature a ſubterrany work, where little Heat cometh; but yet more
to the making of Gold, than of any other Metal: And therefore, that he
would do it with a great Lamp, that ſhould carry a temperate and equal
Heat, and that it was the work of many Moneths. The deviſe of the Lamp
was folly, but the overſiring now uſed, and the equal Heat to be required,
and the making it a work of ſome good time, are no ill diſcourſes.
was, That Gold might be made, but that the Alchymiſts over-fired the work:
For (he ſaid) the making of Gold did require avery temperate Heat, asbe-
ing in Nature a ſubterrany work, where little Heat cometh; but yet more
to the making of Gold, than of any other Metal: And therefore, that he
would do it with a great Lamp, that ſhould carry a temperate and equal
Heat, and that it was the work of many Moneths. The deviſe of the Lamp
was folly, but the overſiring now uſed, and the equal Heat to be required,
and the making it a work of ſome good time, are no ill diſcourſes.
We reſort therefore to our Axioms of Maturation, in effect touched be-
fore.
fore.
The firſt is, That there be uſed a Temperate Heat;
ſor they are ever
Temperate Heats that Diſgeſts, and Mature; wherein we mean Temperate,
according to the Nature of the Subject: For that may be Temperate to
Fruits and Liquors, which will not work at all upon Metals.
Temperate Heats that Diſgeſts, and Mature; wherein we mean Temperate,
according to the Nature of the Subject: For that may be Temperate to
Fruits and Liquors, which will not work at all upon Metals.
The ſecond is, That the Spirit of the Metal be quickned, and the
Tangible Parts opened: For without thoſe two operations, the Spirit of the
Metal, wrought upon, will not be able to diſgeſt the Parts.
Tangible Parts opened: For without thoſe two operations, the Spirit of the
Metal, wrought upon, will not be able to diſgeſt the Parts.
The third is, That the Spirits do ſpred themſelves even, and move not
ſubſultorily, ſor that will make the parts cloſe and pliant. And this requireth
a Heat that doth not riſe and ſall, but continue as equal as may be.
ſubſultorily, ſor that will make the parts cloſe and pliant. And this requireth
a Heat that doth not riſe and ſall, but continue as equal as may be.
The fourth is, That no part of the Spirit be emitted but detained:
For if there be Emiſſion of Spirit, the Body of the Metal will be hard and
churliſh. And this will be performed, partly by the temper of the Fire, and
partly by the cloſeneſs of the Veſſel.
For if there be Emiſſion of Spirit, the Body of the Metal will be hard and
churliſh. And this will be performed, partly by the temper of the Fire, and
partly by the cloſeneſs of the Veſſel.
The fifth is, That there be choice made of the likelieſt and beſt pre-
pared Metal for the Verſion; for that will facilitate the Work.
pared Metal for the Verſion; for that will facilitate the Work.
The ſixthis, That you give time enough for the Work, not to prolong
hopes (as the Alchymiſts do, but indeed to give Nature a convenient ſpace to
work in.
hopes (as the Alchymiſts do, but indeed to give Nature a convenient ſpace to
work in.
Theſe principles moſt certain and true, we will now derive a direction
of Tryal out of them, which may (perhaps) by further Meditation be
improved.
of Tryal out of them, which may (perhaps) by further Meditation be
improved.
Let there be a ſmall Furnace made of a Temperate Heat;
let the heat be
11327. ſuch as may keep the Metal perpetually molten, and no more; for that above
all, importeth to the Work: For the Material, take Silver, which is the
Metal, that in Nature, ſymbolizeth moſt with Gold; put in alſo, with the Sil-
ver a tenth part of Quick-ſilver, and a twelſth part of Nitre by weight:
Both theſe to quicken and open the Body of the Metal; and ſo let the Work
be continued by the ſpace of Six Moneths, at the leaſt. I wiſh alſo, That
there be as ſometimes an Injection of ſome Oyled Subſtance; ſuch as they
uſe in the recovering of Gold, which by vexing with Separations hath
been made churliſh: And this is, to lay the parts more cloſe and ſmooth,
which is the main work. For Gold (as we ſee) is the cloſeſt (and there-
fore the heavieſt) of Metals; and is likewiſe the moſt flexible and tenſible.
Note, That to think to make Gold of Quick-ſilver becauſe it is the heavieſt,
is a thing not to be hoped; for Quick-ſilver will not endure the mannage
of the Fire: Next to Silver, I think Copper were fitteſt to be the Ma-
terial.
11327. ſuch as may keep the Metal perpetually molten, and no more; for that above
all, importeth to the Work: For the Material, take Silver, which is the
Metal, that in Nature, ſymbolizeth moſt with Gold; put in alſo, with the Sil-
ver a tenth part of Quick-ſilver, and a twelſth part of Nitre by weight:
Both theſe to quicken and open the Body of the Metal; and ſo let the Work
be continued by the ſpace of Six Moneths, at the leaſt. I wiſh alſo, That
there be as ſometimes an Injection of ſome Oyled Subſtance; ſuch as they
uſe in the recovering of Gold, which by vexing with Separations hath
been made churliſh: And this is, to lay the parts more cloſe and ſmooth,
which is the main work. For Gold (as we ſee) is the cloſeſt (and there-
fore the heavieſt) of Metals; and is likewiſe the moſt flexible and tenſible.
Note, That to think to make Gold of Quick-ſilver becauſe it is the heavieſt,
is a thing not to be hoped; for Quick-ſilver will not endure the mannage
of the Fire: Next to Silver, I think Copper were fitteſt to be the Ma-
terial.
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