part eight

Tuns of Grain afford one Tun of the inspissated Juice, every Tun of Grain maketh a Tun and an half, yea, two Tuns of Beer, for every Tun of Liquor maketh at the least eight, ten, twelve, or more Tuns of Beer, according as you will have it stronger or smaller. Therefore it is easier and cheaper to carry in a ship one Tun of this Juice, than ten or twelve Hogsheads of Beer, which easily corrupts and grows sowre; but on the contrary, this Liquor being kept from the Air, retaineth its goodness; and this is of singular advantage, seeing that good fresh Beer may be made of this juice. To this also belongs another great Commodity, _viz._ that if this Juice be mixed instead of Water, with Wheat flower, and baked, it makes an efficacious Bread, which affordeth far more nourishment to sailers than their common Bread, and containeth in it self so great power, that it can refresh and cheer the Sick: For which reason our Ancestors did not in vain use to temper fine Flower with clarified Honey instead of Water, and make Bread thereof, which they called Cakes of Life, because they were a great support to the Humane Body, and as it were excited the Life it self: But in our daies all things being subservient to _Avarice_, you may see those sweet Cakes, made up with common, impure, and unclarified Honey, which cannot generate much good blood, or juices; but this our Bread will approve it self to be of a greater sweetness, nobility, and efficacy, inasmuch as the elicited juice of Grain, affordeth a far better nourishment than Honey. But if any desire to proceed farther with it, this concentrated Liquor of Corn will yet afford a greater utility, _viz._ if being inspissated or brought to a thick consistency, it be mingled with fine Flower of the best Mault, and Bread made thereof, which after it is baked, is to be cut into pieces, and again put into the Oven, till it be dry and hard, and then put up into Chests or Hogsheads, to preserve it from the Air, and so carried to Sea; for then this Bread, when necessity requires, may be infused in warm Water with a few Hops, and excited to the separation of its fæces, and it will acquire the substance of Beer: But that which doth not pass into the Liquor, nor become Beer, may be heat in a Kettle, and some Butter put to it, which will very much comfort the languishing stomachs of Seamen, as well, or better than the eating of Bread softened in Beer. But in regard that bitter Potions are not agreeable to all Palates, it may also be made into Beer without Hops, by mixing the bread with good water only, and afterwards boiling it for the evaporating the more phlegmatick part, which will have a pleasant taste. But this Bisket also, or twice baked Bread, may be ground small in a Mill, and put up close in Casks, and preserved on shipboard. Afterwards, when need shall require, you may temper it with warm water, and in an open Hogshead (which yet must have a bottom) suffer it to settle, and clear it self; so the flower ascendeth upwards, and the water attracteth the sweet liquor, and hence becometh excellent and wholsom Beer, which if it be drawn out at the bottom of the Hogshead runneth as clear, as if it had been made some Months; for there is now a separation made of the pure part of the Bread, from the impure or gross, and when that which is fine is drawn off, the gross part may also be drawn out of the Vessel, which being boiled with butter, affords a singular pleasantness to the taste; yea, also is of a greater salubrity, and better digestion in the stomach, than Pease, Beans, or French Barley boiled: So that here is nothing lost, Bread or Meal of this sort affording good Beer, and also a wholsom Food to eat. And thus on shipboard one may at any time of the year not only have good fresh Beer, but also thence may be made good Vinegar. And this may suffice to have briefly taught the manner of mitigating Hunger and Thirst by concentrated Corn.

I shall now treat of the Cure of Diseases, to which Seamen are liable, and which often bring death.

Now, if you regard the Nature of Man, you shall generally find, that he useth no measure or mediocrity in eating and drinking, but rather puts down so much till his belly will hold no more. Which Vice one man obtrudeth upon another, under the shew of kindness and good-will, from an old custom and enormous abuse, although in this one offends more than another. Therefore while the Appetite is more liberally indulged, than admitteth of a good digestion, the Liver assumeth a Chyle which is scarce half concocted: Whence also a gross blood is generated; and so in process of time the Viscera are filled and obstructed with crass and viscous humours; hence they cannot perform their office as they ought, but rather many and divers Diseases do arise, according as the heap of crudities encompass the Flesh covering the Joints, obstruct the Veins and Nerves, and deprave all the _mediums_ of nourishment; therefore when the Evil cometh to that pass, and grows prevalent, the whole body is sensible of it, but chiefly in that place where it fixeth its seat: And hence necessarily one part suffereth by the hurt of another, till at length all the powers go to decay, and the whole body languisheth, and cannot help it self, and unless succoured by Art, dyeth.

For these causes Physick was invented, that those Diseases arising from intemperate eating and drinking, might be met in the way, the perverse Enemy or primogenial Vice of the body be removed, the viscous and phlegmatick _Saburra_ of the depraved humours dissolved and opened, and the oppressed Members expurged, that so the body may again recover its former healthful estate; the which is wont to be done by divers means, and in various manners, according as the Physician understandeth the Disease to be, so he also affords his help, _viz._ taking it away by Evacuations upwards or downwards, by Sweat or Urine, or by other means, as the nature of the Disease requireth. But by which way soever the recrements of the malignity be dissipated and expelled, and the inward parts be freed from them, it is well, and the Physician hath performed his Office, also meriteth Thanks and a due Reward. Therefore whosoever well understandeth the nature, rise, and birth of diseases, and also possesseth a good Medicine, or can obtain one, is fitly qualified for a Physician; but he who knoweth not the disease, nor is also furnished with fit and efficacious Medicines, nor knoweth how to obtain them, grievously erreth by trying Experiments so long, till the Evil more and more encreasing, the Sick at length expires; the which is so well known that it needeth no proof; so that many who have contracted diseases from immoderate eating and drinking, are afraid to commit themselves to an unskilful Physician, but chuse rather to cure themselves by abstinence and fasting, which way is indeed safe, although it be tedious and full of delay.

Others again use vulgar and trifling Medicines, and yet recover their health, tho’ late, thinking that this happened by the use of their Medicine, when nevertheless the length of time, and the sparingness of their meat and drink, during their illness, whence the superfluous pravity of humours hath gradually wasted, hath effected this; which also sometimes happens to those who take no Physick; but by how much the greater the pravity of the humours is, by so much the longer it will be before Nature will be able without help to overcome and expel them. The which, if it take 4, 5, or 6 weeks to accomplish, a Physician (by the benefit of good Medicines) might effect it in 2 or 3 days. So great is the difference between a Cure which Nature performeth in a long time, and that which is quickly done by Art.

But here it may be objected, that all diseases take not their beginning so much from an evil and superfluous humidity, as from manifold other causes, one being derived from this, another from another cause. To this I answer, that all those affects of the Body which exist in the skin, and do not proceed from external accidents, as wounds, bruises, falls, _&c._ whence the bruising of the body, and also Death, at length happens, do draw their original from the intemperance of eating and drinking, which administer occasion, and furnish matter to noxious humours, which hence occupy and infect divers Members; for one part affecteth another, till the whole body abounds, and is imbued with a multitude of viscous humours. When the Stomach is over-gorged, and its tone is spoiled, it contracteth cold crudities, and falls into a dangerous estate, How then should it rightly digest the Food? and, What good can it transmit to the Liver? And seeing the Liver receiveth nothing but what is evil and depraved, What can that procreate of good, and diffuse throughout the whole body? Therefore as I have said, one Member must suffer by another, till the errour become common. Whilst a Tree or an Herb in the ground remains temperate, that it be neither too wet nor too dry, its root draweth from the earth virtue, and imparteth it to the trunk, and the trunk to the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit, and is able to produce fruit conducible to health, for many years. But if the root be ill placed, the Salt being ill disposed, whatsoever the stock there finds, it associates to it self, and also comnmunicateth the same, and no better to the branches: And if it stand too wet, it brings forth an insalubrious Fruit, which by reason of too much moisture, falleth off before it is ripe, in whose stead fungous protuberances arising from putrefaction, spring up, and such Plants do not endure long.

Again, if the Root stand too dry, it cannot thence have juice sufficient to nourish the Tree, and bring forth Fruit, but will by degrees wither away and die. So also it is with Men, and their Diseases; for according as their Bodies are treated, they are healthful and fruitful, or else diseasie. Now seeing that I have proved Diseases from redundancy or humidity, or from driness, it will be easie to provide preventive Remedies against them; or if any errour or delay should happen in this, it may be amended in the curative part, by which the Evil may be abolished. These are required to be of that nature and property, that they attract the superfluous and pernicious humours from all the Viscera and principal Internal Members of the whole Body, into the Ventricle, conciliate a new concoction or digestion, separate the pure from the impure, adjoin the one to the Liver, and eject the other by Seige: And so the body is not only freed from depraved burthensom humours, but also recovereth its strength, and is cured of all Infirmities. Which manner of Curing, at this day, the more the pity, is known but to few; seeing that it is not to be effected with common Herbs, but somewhat better is required, than what the Philosophy of old Women prescribeth: Nevertheless there is a great efficacy in certain Simples; as may be seen in _Hellebore_ or _Helleboraster_, by whose benefit the Ancients prolonged their lives, by the daily use of a certain dose of it. Moreover, Tabaco where it cometh to maturity, effecteth things to be admired, being rightly prepared and administred; yea, even that which (being crude) is taken in Pipes, cooleth and refresheth the body, and also in some measure relieves against Hunger and Thirst; which common experience daily witnesseth. But whence this Virtue happens, Tabaco-takers neither know nor care, but acquiesce, in that they either receive pleasure or profit by it: Therefore, if Tabaco, or any other vulgar Plant can perform so many and so great things, being yet crude, without any preparation, What would not an Extract or concentrated Essence of all the Vegetables do, being rightly made? which nevertheless ought to be of that nature, that it may not only dispel every heap of malignant humours, but also strengthen the inward parts, and preserve from all things which may happen in the generating of a Disease.

Such a Medicine is that which I here present to all those who continually use the Seas, and besides the Scurvy, undergo many other Diseases; by which they may not only efficaciously protect themselves against the assaults of Distempers, and hinder their progress when already began, but also under the present want of Meat and Drink, may make sound an infirm body: But how, and from what Ingredients this Euporist may be made and prepared, needs not to be manifested to every one. This is a great Gift of God, which ought to be honoured, and not prostituted to the Unworthy. Let it suffice at this time, that such a Medicament may be obtained at a small price; I will not suffer it to be buried with me, but will leave it to others, who may keep it, and sell it to those who desire it at a reasonable rate.

This is given in form of an Electuary, and may be taken for a Preservative, daily, or every second, third, or fourth day, as occasion requireth, in the quantity of half or a whole Pease, upon an empty stomach, fasting two hours after it, if need be, but if not, Food may be taken presently after it, although it is better to abstain some hours: But when a Disease hath already invaded a man, whether it be _Fever_, _Scurvy_, _Headach_, _Catarrh_, or any other Disease infesting Seamen, let the Patient forthwith swallow down of this Electuary the magnitude of an ordinary Pease (for it hath no unpleasant taste) and sweat if he can; if not, let him keep however a very moderate Dyet all the day, and in Summer time, as much as he can, avoid the intense heat, and in Winter, the extremity of Cold; the next day let him take the quantity of a Pease or two, and so let him encrease or diminish the dose, according to the state of the Disease. These things being well observed, all Sicknesses will give place.

If a man carry with him but half an ounce of this Medicine to sea, in a long Voyage, he will possess a _Panacea_, both for the preventing and curing all Diseases incident to his body.

This is of very great use and profit especially for Masters of Ships, to whom I also highly recommend it as such, and not to them only, but also to all the Inhabitants of the Earth, to whom it promiseth no less success. If a Medicine can be invented, (besides that universal one of the Philosophers) accommodated to all diseases, truly this is one, and will perform all, or even more than I have attributed to my _Catholicon_ in the _Second Part of my Pharmac. Spagyr._ that is a Powder, but this, of which I now discourse, an Electuary prepared of certain good Ingredients and Sugar. I affirm again, That there is no disease, whether internal or external, for the curing of which this Medicine doth not suffice; for it doth not only resist the _Fever_, _Scurvy_, and _Pox_, but even the _Gout_ and _Leprosy_ it self, provided they be not too much fixed and radicated; yea, although they be very inveterate, and cannot be throughly rooted out by this Medicine, nevertheless it gives relief in them, and renders them more tolerable, and hinders the accession of the daily fits, and keeps it under. Certainly where this Medicine can yield no help, Nature must be wholly ruined and tired out. What I have here written, is the Truth, which I am able to prove by experience; however it is free for every one to believe or not believe me, as he pleaseth: Christian Charity to my Neighbour hath compelled me, if it be well taken, it is well, if not, I have done my part, and discharged my Conscience. Nor will I insist any farther on the praise of this _Panacea_, I have said enough to those who believe, or can understand me.

And thus I have set before the whole World, that Medicament which can preserve from, and cure the most grievous Diseases accompanying Ships and Voyages, and also relieve in the extremity of Hunger.

This being done, there yet remains another Remedy whereby the Body may be relieved, and refreshed in extremity of Thirst, when drink is wanting; and this is done by Water concentrated, which is of so great virtue, that it giveth such a refrigeration to a thirsty Palate, that in the whole World there is not the like. Seeing therefore that in long Voyages Water is often wanting, and putrefieth and stinketh, it will be very necessary here to declare and shew, how Thirst may be restrained and rendered tolerable in time of necessity. Then also how common Water may be preserved from corruption; moreover, that one Tun may effect as much for the quenching of Thirst, as otherwise 2 or 3 Tuns of common Water can. Which is not only my saying, but the Truth it self; as I will here prove by manifest testimonies: And this is to be done as I have said, by Water concentrated and coagulated. But what that is, I will first shew, and then by what means it is to be prepared and used.

To explain the genuine Property of concentrated Water to many, may seem unnecessary, in regard that Seamen are not skilled in such discourses, nor careful about them; and that they rather belong to Philosophers, and the Contemplators of Nature, that they may render the knowledge of them familiar to themselves: But this Treatise without doubt will come into the hands of wise and experienced men, as well as into those who use the Seas, and therefore perhaps I shall not lose my labour, if I somewhat more exactly describe the nature of that water.

It is sufficiently evident to all those who have saluted but the Thresholds of Nature, that the Omnipotent God, in the first Creation of the World, hath separated the Elements from the rude _Chaos_, as also the Elements from one another, placing the Earth in the bottom or foundation of the Center, and over that the Water, over the Water the Air, and over the Air the Fire; so that every of them holdeth its own receptacle and seat, from whence, without the will of God, it cannot recede. Nevertheless, we find that one alwaies participates of the other, and none is found without another, although one be predominant and visible; but the rest exist in it invisibly, and by the skill of an Artist, may visibly be deduced from it. So from the Earth we elicite Air, Water, and Fire; from the visible Water, natural Earth, Air, and Fire; again, from the Air, Earth, Water, and Fire; and from the Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Hence the Elements are continually circulated from one species into another, which indeed we do not observe or perceive, and no Element can want an Element, but draweth its life and nutriment from another. The Fire cannot burn without Air; the Fire operateth upon the Water, and of it maketh Air; the Water resteth in the Earth, and moisteneth the same; the Fire impregnateth the Air; the Air insinuateth the Seed into the Earth; the Earth nourisheth and cherisheth the Seed unto perfection, and afterwards bringeth to light what it hath conceived, and carried in its belly.

These things are only hinted at by the way, and not without cause.

But to return to our concentrated water, that we may explain its nature, know, that water is the _principium_ or beginning of all the Elements; which thing is sufficiently manifest, and may be seen daily, especially in the _subterranean_ Mines of Metals, whose inward bowels are so penetrated, that there is not only water, but we also see it to be quickly transmuted into various forms of Mineral Bodies, the which without is familiar; and the more limpid or clear the water is, the brighter Stones and purer Minerals it generateth: Of which you may read more in that Treatise, [_The Second Part of the Mineral Work_] where I have described the generation of Minerals; also that Flints and Sand, in the Earth, Rivers, and Seas, receive their encrease from water, is sufficiently manifest; for all sand was primitively water only, and hath passed out of water into hard sand or stones, and into which it may again be changed. But this is not to be used as a Remedy against Thirst, because it is now too hard, and difficultly returneth to its first matter, _viz._ Water, except by the benefit of another subject, which is a _medium_ between Sand, Flints, Crystal, and common water, _viz._ Salt, which hath an agreement with the nature both of common water and that of stones, and may be easily changed into either of them; as you shall hereafter hear. But this concentrated water, which I here propose for the vanquishing of Thirst, and refreshing of the body, is salt prepared and concentrated, either of the waters of Mountains, or of the Sea, which are of the same goodness: Of which afterwards is prepared by Art a water so excellent, that for repressing of Thirst and refreshing a languid body, there is no Remedy in the world may be compared to it.

Here some one ignorant of natural things may object, and say, How can it be that Salt should repel Thirst, seeing that when it is eaten, it exciteth and encreaseth the same? To this I answer, That common salt, as it is first extracted or boiled, can in no wise restrain the Appetite of drinking, but rather provoke it, except its pravity be first corrected and depurated; for every salt seems to have laid aside its nature and property, so long as it contains earthy and gross fæces, which nevertheless may be removed from it by solution, filtration, and coagulation; whence also it is bitter, astringent, and hard; but this harshness and terrestreity being removed, the salt remaineth no longer hard, but is reduced into a soft and fluid Liquor, not sweet, but pleasantly acid, tasting like an Apple or the stones of Grapes. And this purification must be made by the force of Fire, _viz._ when the salt in destilling is sublimed in earthen Vessels, by strong Flames; and then the purest and most noble part only ascendeth, and the more gross and earthy remaineth in the bottom, and is of no use; but the purer part is of great power and virtues, not only against Thirst, but is also very necessary for many other things, as shall hereafter be demonstrated. That otherwise in impure common salt a great Virtue is latent, let no man doubt, seeing that it may be daily observed: Wherefore that excellent Philosopher _Plato_ writeth, _That in salt there is somewhat divine_; and according to the opinion of other great and wise men, GOD hath openly manifested Himself in Fire and Salt, and the ancient Philosophers were hence taught to prepare their _Universal Medicine_; which Art of preparing they have called _Alchymy_, or _The melting of Salt_; but I speak not this by experience, in regard that I never yet durst attempt so great a Secret, being contented with smaller things; but this I know, and have divers times done, _viz._ that by a certain Artifice, I have precipitated from common Salt some corporeal Gold, although without profit, and only to see the possibility, which without those precipitations remaineth spiritual, and at length by them obtaineth a corporeal substance.

Indeed the greatest Mystery of the whole World consisteth in Fire and Salt, and with those two (after God) nothing may be compared; for the Flame raiseth Light out of Darkness, which otherwise none but God can do. It is also fit to restore life to the dead, no otherwise than the warm Sun or Oven reviveth Worms, Frogs, Serpents, Flies, and other Insects, which have been killed by the Cold; of which I have made mention in the second part of my _Pharmacop. Spagyr._ as also in _Miraculum Mundi_, and its _Explication_. Many men use Fire, yet know not what they have or use: So also it happeneth with salt, all men use it out of custom, but observe not what they taste. Salt is a thing of great moment; by it we give strength to resist Corruption, both to the living and the dead.

And so it is, that if men had not salt, or at the least those Plants and Fruits, in which it dwells, they would putrefie while yet living. Which would also happen to Cattel, if they did not eat Grass, which contains in it self its own salt, and sufficeth them in feeding; nevertheless if something better were given them with it, it would be very profitable for them; for if to horned Beasts, as also Hogs, some saltness were given with their meat and drink, they would thereby acquire much strength and fatness.

Seeing therefore that Salt, whilst it is yet gross and rude, and defiled with many impurities, performeth such things in living Creatures, and preserveth Flesh and Fish, as also all Herbs and Grass, long from Corruption; What could not such a salt do, which by the help of Art hath received a greater purity than Nature hath bestowed upon it? For the Fire containeth a power of correcting and purifying salt, and converting it into a finer and better substance. The common salts which we daily use, do indeed give a relish to all Edibles, and preserve them from putrefaction; yet nevertheless they dry, astringe, and bind the belly; also excite Thirst; but salt being rectified and depurated, communicateth a sweet and grateful taste, also more powerfully resisteth Corruption than the other, neither doth it bind the belly, but keepeth it soluble, expelleth Urine; nor doth it cause Thirst, but rather taketh it away both from the sick and sound: So great a difference is there between the common and corrected and depurated salt, which Rusticks little understand. The nature and property of common salt is known to every one, as far as concerns the Kitchin, but the rectified is known to few: And the Spirit of Salt, which is in use in Apothecaries shops, and which they also sell, being for the most part not rightly prepared, effecteth little, and therefore not frequently used: But if it were made and rectified as it should be, it would not only have a pleasanter taste, but also a better operation. So many things bear Names which are not agreeable to the thing, and therefore cannot perform what is expected from them.

The Ancients have ascribed great Virtues to Spirit of Salt in Medicine, which it indeed hath, if after its destillation it be well rectified and dephlegmed; but if it be administred so crude as it ascends the first time, it may perhaps do more harm than good, inasmuch as a great deal of terrestreity comes over with it, which in the rectifying remaineth in the bottom of the Glass, as an insipid, bitter, or astringent salt. And although this be well enough known to some, nevertheless they abhor to rectifie their spirit, because the spirit in rectification loseth a great part of its weight, by separating its superfluities.

I taught, many years since, how to prepare the spirit of salt in quantity, whose description is also exactly set down in the _first and second part of my Furnaces_. It also demonstrateth its utility in Metallicks; as manifestly appears in the _first part of my Mineral Work_, where the manner of extracting Gold from Stones, by its help, is taught. Altho’ the spirit for that work should be prepared after another manner, than that which is to be used at Sea, or on shore, for the curing Diseases or repressing of Thirst; wherefore I’ll first teach the way of making this, and then also shew its Use.

As for the manner of anatomising Salt by Fire and Art, and transmuting it into a pure and sweet spirit, it is various, for one useth this, another way, as I also have taught divers waies, in the _first and second part of my Furnaces_; but here I will appoint another, which is the best and most commodious for the uses treated of in this Book, and is thus to be performed.

Get some strong Retorts, made of good Earth (but Glass is better) fill them with the following mixture of Salt and Earth, then according to Art, destil thence a spirit gratefully acid, which duly rectifie, and it will be prepared for Use. The salt is to be thus prepared for destillation: fill a great Crucible with Sea-salt, which cover with an earthen Cover, and by degrees put Fire about it of flaming Coals, encreasing it, until the salt be all over red-hot; this being done, presently remove it from the fire, and let it cool; by this means, if any greasie sordes, or other combustible impurities, adhere to the salt, they will be consumed and vanish. Dissolve the salt in common water, filter or strain it through a fine close Linen Cloth, that the fæces may be separated; the clear Liquor evaporate in an earthen glazed Vessel, till the Cuticula appear, then make little balls of clay and sand, about the bigness of Walnuts or Pigeons Eggs; dry them, and heat them red-hot in an earthen Vessel, and so the fat spirit of the Earth will be burnt away; then imbibe those balls with your strong salt water, by letting them remain in it for some hours, that they may drink in as much of it as they can, then take them out, and dry them: With these fill your Retorts, and administer Fire by degrees, and at length urge with the strongest flames, so long, till they emit no more fume, for then all the spirit is come forth: The Receiver must be of Glass, and very large, in whose bottom must also be a little water, to attract and condense the spirit. The Destillation being finished, the spirit is to be rectified by it self in a low Cucurbit in sand, and first the water or phlegm will come over, (which you may keep for another destillation) then the pure and sweet spirit will rise limpid and clear, and an unpleasant salt will remain in the bottom, which is to be cast away, and the spirit to be kept for the uses to be shewed hereafter.

But if you desire to have the spirit yet more pure, and efficacious, you may rectifie it again upon calcined or powdered Flints, which will retain in the bottom whatsoever is yet gross or impure, and the spirit will be rendered very pure and subtile; for the Flint at the first was Water and Salt, and hence both contain in themselves so streight a communion. This may be seen among the Glass-makers, who reduce Sand or Flints into clearness by melting, that thence they may make pure Glass; for Salt in the Fire dissolveth sand, Flint, Crystal, and together with them receiveth the Essence of Glass; yea, and these very species and matters, by the help of an _Alkaly_ Salt, are resolved into a diaphanous Glass, which being put into common Water, melt like salt; of which I have discoursed in the _Third Part of my Furnaces_. When we destil the aforesaid rectified Spirit of Salt again from powdered Flints, from the innate love which it hath to the Flints, it carrieth some part of them upwards with it self, and is made better for use in all Diseases, especially in the _Dropsie_, _Stone_, and _Gout_ it is an excellent Medicine. The Flints remaining in the bottom, yield a water which dissolveth the hardest Crystals, and is acid like the spirit of Salt, and nothing else but part of it coagulated with them, and may be administred in all cases as the Spirit of Salt.

Let no man wonder that I ascribe more to this Spirit rectified with Flints, than to any other common spirit of salt; for few know what Virtues are latent in flints or sand. All Birds and four-footed Animals use sand. Many men administer the powder of Flints and Crystal, for the corroborating of weak stomachs. Hens devour Sand and small Pebbles, that they may thence have matter for their Eggshels, and being debarred of it, lay Eggs without shells. Wherefore I affirm, That this spirit of Salt, abstracted from flints, to be better in many Diseases than the common spirit, and especially the Crystals, or spirit of salt coagulated, of which we have above made mention.

Let this Suffice concerning the Preparation of spirit of salt. Now we will also teach, how it is to be administred either at Sea or on Shore, for the repelling of Thirst, and the Cure of Diseases: To what other purposes the spirit of salt serves, besides Medicine, I have shewed elsewhere; here my intention is only to signifie of what great use and profit it may be in Voyages to Sea, which was the only occasion of writing this Treatise.

_Of the Use of =Spirit of Salt= in Ships, against Thirst, and also the Scurvy._

In the first place, this spirit is profitable to the body, when a small quantity of it is put into the Hogsheads of Water, thereof Seamen and Souldiers drink, to which it gives a grateful acidity, like that of Wine, and is far more effectual in quenching of Thirst, and in less quantity than other Water, and besides preserves the Water from corruption and stinking, which otherwise in long Voyages it is wont to suffer, contracting a muddiness, blackness, and breeding Worms, which generate the _Scurvy_; for the Water containing the spirit of salt, cannot corrupt; which spirit also preserveth other things, both living and dead, from putrefaction. And because the water with the acid spirit of salt extinguisheth Thirst more than any other, it necessarily follows, that so great a quantity of water need not be carried for a Voyage, as otherwise is usual. Moreover, seeing that the spirit of salt resisteth all putrefaction, it suffereth not the _Scurvy_ to take root, for it refresheth and exhilarateth a man with great vigour, corroborateth the stomach, and all the members of the body, it consumeth pituitous matter in the Reins and Bladder, expelleth Urine and Stone, keepeth the Belly soluble, promoteth digestion; it suffereth no Disease to grow from corruption of the Blood, to which otherwise Sea-faring men are subject: Moreover, it exerteth its salutiferous Virtues, if a little of it be mingled with Wine and Beer, in Ships, which will long preserve it in its goodness and sincerity, causing it the better to repress Thirst, and therefore to go the farther in use. Also Beef, Mutton, and Veal may by it be preserved a long time, _viz._ if they be put into stone pots, and powdered or condited with some salt, dissolved in the spirit of salt. Nevertheless it behoveth that the Flesh be without many Bones, and that all the legs, shins, or shanks be cut off. Moreover, a very small quantity of the spirit being added to the water in which Fish is to be boiled, maketh the Fish eat firm and close, and of a much solider relish than when sprinkled with Vinegar. So also Raisins being put into water impregnated with spirit of salt, will grow soft, and swell, and will recover their strength and sweetness, as if they were fresh plucked from the Vine, which will afford a great refreshment to those who frequent the Seas.

In a word, this spirit may commodiously be used, not only in Water, Wine, or Beer, but also in all sorts of Food in Ships; for it giveth a very pleasant taste to all meat and drink, and correcteth them so, that they become more wholsom. It hath also another very profitable use, _viz._ If in hot weather but one drop, or so small a part of the coagulated spirit, as the magnitude of an Hempseed, be mixed with sugar and held upon the Tongue; for it so cooleth the mouth, and allayeth Thirst, that there will be no need of bad Water or Beer, by which the body is more violated than corroborated, through drinking often and much of them. Nor is this the least of its virtues, that when in a long Voyage there is a want of water, a little more of the spirit of salt may be put into it than will serve for a grateful acidity; for so it will quench Thirst for a longer time, and in a less quantity than otherwise a greater quantity of water can do. Yea, although the Ship should be cast away, and the men forced to betake themselves to their Boat, or broken pieces of the Ship, as it often happens, if they have but an ounce of the spirit of salt in a Glass, or half so much of it coagulated, in defect of Drink, they may sustain their lives and health therewith so long, till it please God to afford them a means of _getting_ to shore; nor will they be forced to drink their own Urine, or Sea-water, which is pernicious.

These and the like Virtues the spirit of salt sheweth in Ships, which for brevity sake, are not all declared.

I have also meditated how the _Sea-water_ may be made sweet and drinkable by precipitation, which would be very desirable in want of water: And so far I have _attained_, that I can precipitate a good quantity of the salt from the water, which also becomes much sweeter, but yet not so fully, but some saltness remains in it. Although in case of necessity this water may be used in Ships for the boiling of Pease and Beans, as also for the fermenting of _concentrated Corn_. What I now know concerning this precipitation, I will make manifest for the good of my Neighbour, and shew a good beginning how Sea-water may be made fit to drink.

There is a certain kind of Mineral called _Mary’s Ice_; it is not the _Muscovian_ Glass, as perhaps some may think, but another thing; when it is heat red-hot in the fire, and so cast into Sea-water, it is presently reduced to a tender and white powder; which being done, the Water will be agitated and moved hither and thither; then the Powder attracteth to it self part of the Salt from the Water, and settleth to the bottom of the Vessel, and the Water groweth clear, which may be poured out, and if this labour be once or twice repeated, the Water, by this precipitation, will indeed be made sweeter, but not altogether potable. Also the salt or solution of _Saturn_ dismisseth much of the salt from Sea-water, yet by that it is not rendered drinkable. The best way which I now know, is this which follows, but it is somewhat costly: Nevertheless when necessity urgeth, sweet and good water profiteth a man more than a Bond of an hundred pieces of Gold. Hence this Art deserveth to be honoured, although it be costly; for a man ready to die with Thirst would give all he hath for a draught of Water to save his Life: Wherefore somewhat of this precipitation may be committed to Ships, for their preservation, which may be used in great necessity, but if no such be, it may be brought home again, and kept for another Voyage, seeing that it will in no wise decay, but be as good after an hundred years, as the first day of its preparation.

But what this is, there is no need openly to divulge, but he who desireth it, may come to me and have it: But for the information of those who are skilful in _Chymistry_, I will intimate this; That the precipitation of Salt from Water, is necessarily to be performed by a singular sand, which doth not only drive salt downwards, but also all Phlegm, Sordes, and Impurities; so that although the water should be like to a Fen or Dunghill in filth and stink, by the benefit of this precipitation, in a few hours, it should become like clear Fountain water, because the evil odour and taste would also be precipitated.

The same may be done in all Waters, how nasty and muddy soever, and not only in Waters, but also in all potable Liquors, as Wine and Beer, although the Wine were red, seeing that the precipitation casteth to the bottom all muddiness, colour, and stink. And hence not only those Liquors, which are changed red by corruption, or other accident, but also Crystals, which are red by nature, may be reduced to a perspicuous clarity; which is a thing very profitable for Vintners; for otherwise the Sea-waters become sweet when they are carried far through common sand, which imbibeth their salt; for those two have a mutual communion and communication, seeing that both are generated of Water; hence also, by the fire, they are resolved into a dry Water, or pellucid Glass. Whence any man knowing in the nature of things, may apprehend, that this precipitation of Sea-water is built upon a foundation agreeable to Nature.

My _Alexipharmac_, or Mineral-Electuary, before mentioned, as also the Spirit and Crystals of Salt, may be administred, as well at Land as on Sea, against the _Scurvy_, _Fevers_, and other Diseases.

And although in the _Second Part of my_ Pharmacop. I have already described a certain Mineral Remedy, under the Title of a _Panacea_, and commended it against all Diseases, by which admirable Cures are e’ry where done, yet I prefer my Mineral Electuary before that, because it is more accommodated to use, seeing that when need requires, it may be taken out of a Box with a Knife only; neither is there need of any Vehicle, as Wine, Beer, or others, which are necessary to be used with the _Panacea_; neither is there need of weighing it, but may be proportioned by the Eye, according to the age and strength of the sick. Those who are of full age and strength, may take as much of the Electuary upon a fasting stomach as will equal the magnitude of a Pease, and fast some hours after it, if time and opportunity permit; also let the Patient avoid the cold Air, and the heat of the Sun in hot seasons. It is to be taken twice, four times, or oftner, in a week, according to the necessity of the sick, to which it must also be proportioned by encreasing or diminishing the Dose; for if one grain should not work, the Patient may take two, ascending to 3 or 4, if need be. When a small Dose is administred, it works insensibly; if a little more, then it worketh by stool, and sometimes by vomit, when it findeth diseasie matter in the stomach; if it findeth depraved salt humours, it casteth them out by sweat, spitting, or urine, and throughly purgeth the body from every evil. In brief, I say, it greatly purifieth the Blood, openeth all obstructions of the internal principal members, as the _Liver_, _Spleen_, and _Lungs_, beyond all _Phlegmagogues_: It hindereth the growth of all _Apostemations_ both within and without the body; it consumeth _Fluxes_ and _Catarrhs_, which fall upon the Eyes, Ears, and Teeth; it exterminateth the venereal _Pox_ in a short time; it also cureth the _Dropsie_, _Leprosie_, _Gout_, and _Falling-sickness_, both in old and young; expelleth the _Stone_ both of the _Kidneys_ and _Bladder_; cureth all sorts of _Fevers_; and lastly, it healeth all inward and outward _Wounds_ and _Ulcers_, being taken inwardly, and a due Diet observed.

This is a safe and approved Medicine in the cure of all curable diseases, nor doth it fail to help in inveterate affects, _viz._ when a disease hath been long growing, and is now firmly rooted and fixed, that it cannot be totally expelled, as the _Gout_ and _Stone_, yet then this Medicine mitigateth the pain, and maketh the Fits slower and more tolerable, and suffereth not the _Disease_ to encrease, but to be more and more abated and diminished. It cures all _Scabs_ and _Ringworms_, or _Tetters_, proceeding from an impure Blood and Liver, only by taking it inwardly, without any outward unctions. What shall I say more? This Medicine cannot be sufficiently praised, seeing that it operateth universally against all the diseases both of Men and Beasts: But I must forbear, for if I should shew all its Virtues, this Treatise would swell to too great a bulk.

In _Maritime_ Towns, and other places where the _Scurvy_ is regnant, a better Medicine than this cannot be found, for it removeth all pravity of Humours, from which such diseases proceed; it preserveth from the _Plague_, and other Contagions, and happily cureth their Infections; it strengtheneth the Memory, Heart, and Brain; preserveth from the _Palsie_ and its Concomitants: In time it restoreth those who have their Members contracted, and their Nerves repressed and immovable, after the being anointed with Mercury, for the cure of the _Pox_. He that will take it every week or once in 3 or 4 weeks as a preservative, shall not have the _Tooth-ach_, nor shall his Ears be troubled with ringing or other noises, nor shall his Eyes be troubled with sharp Rheums; but by the benefit of this, those continual inveterate Corroders of the Body, _Catarrh_, _Fistula_, _Cancer_, and other almost incurable symptoms, are throughly cured.

Hence both Rich and Poor, and those especially who go long Voyages to Sea, and want Physicians, ought to esteem this _Alexipharmac_, and provide themselves with it against a time of necessity. If any man carries with him half an ounce of it, it will be sufficient for preservation and curation for more than a year, in many diseases. If a Ship going to the _East_ or _West Indies_, carry with them half a pound of it, they may save the Lives of many men; one of which is of ten times more value than the price of the Medicine, by help of which the lives and health of many Hundreds of Men may be preserved, and being sick, may be reduced to their former health.

Now it is farther necessary to describe the Virtues which the Spirit of Salt sheweth on Shore; for that which is profitable to the sick on shipboard, is not hurtful for those who dwell at Land: For this spirit may be used in all Houses in their usual drink, as Beer or Wine, especially in these moist Regions, where the Scurvy commonly reigneth; so that there is scarcely an House to be found, in which there is not one at the least infected with this Disease; for the drink is hereby made clear, so that it well dilateth the Urinary passages, moreover hindereth the growing of the stone in the Kidnys and Bladder; it also gives a pleasant taste to the Wine, removeth its superfluous Tartar and precipitateth it to the bottom, so that _Spanish_ and _French_ Wine acquire a clearness like to _Rhenish_ wine. In Summer time, after Liquors have once wrought, it suffereth them not to fret, grow mucous, or work again, but keepeth them from many Accidents. _French_ Wines, as sold in many places, have neither odour nor taste, but good Wine is endowed both with a Vinous relish, and a grateful odour; and when these are wanting, the name agrees not with the thing. But the Spirit of Salt, with the Essence of Wine, conciliates to _French_ wine the smell, taste, and colour of _Rhenish_ wine. Hence also being so meliorated, it will, like _Rhenish_, keep many years, which otherwise will hardly hold good two years. Moreover, by the spirit of salt that quality may be taken away from Honey, which renders its taste somewhat ungrateful, and its hidden Impurities may be precipitated, so that an excellent wholsom drink may be made of it. Which is a famous Art to be used in those places where there is no wine; for when Honey is well depurated, and the unpleasant taste taken from it, it becomes as a comforting Balsam to Man; as that old Souldier had experienced, whom _Alexander_ asked what he had used to prolong his Life to so great an Age, he answered, That inwardly he had used Honey, and outwardly Oil. And it is evident to many, that there is a great virtue in Honey, but by reason of the unpleasant taste, it is loathed; which yet is removed by the spirit of salt, so that a drink prepared of such pure Honey, is as wholsom as the best wine: which hath also this benefit, that every Housekeeper may have this drink at his Table, at any time of the year. This honied Nectar also holdeth good many years, after the manner of the best _Rhenish_ wine, and is made for a small charge, and will be a great comfort to those who are not able to go to the price of wine. Moreover, every one may make his own drink as strong and as sweet as he pleaseth; which is the principal head of the Art, to take away the ungrateful taste from the Honey, which being removed by the spirit of salt, the drink will become clear, to which you may add a little _French_ or _Rhenish_ wine for taste sake. You may thence also make good Beer, which will hold its goodness 10 or 20 years, or more, _viz._ if instead of common water you take the water of Hops, to dissolve the purified Honey, to which (if you please) you may give divers tasts, by putting into it divers Herbs, as is wont to be done in wine and beer. But this you are especially to regard, That for this business you do not use unrectified spirit of salt, for such would spoil the taste, and corrupt the drink, but alwaies take that which is well rectify’d, which I have sufficiently taught the manner of doing of, both in this Treatise, and divers other places of my Writings.

NB. There is no need to put the spirit into a Vessel of Wine or Beer, but it sufficeth to keep it in a small glass, and as often as you have occasion to put some drops of it into a Bottle of Wine or Beer, and so to drink of it. Every one therefore may make his drink as he will, by putting in more or less of the spirit, according to his Palate; which doth not only serve to make the wine and beer clear and diuretick, but may also be used in Fountain-water, in hot weather, for the allaying of wine: For if some drops of it be put into a bottle of water, it giveth it a grateful acidity, not much unlike to the natural Mineral acid waters, and in hot weather allayeth the over-great heat of the Blood, and quencheth Thirst, so that there is no need of burdening the stomach with much wine or beer. Also all those drinks, as wine, beer, and water, which are mingled with the well-rectified spirit of salt, are far wholsomer than other ordinary drinks. If a little pure Steel be dissolved in spirit of Salt, and then put to fair water, it will have almost the same taste with the _Spaw_-water, and if some quantity of it be drank, it looseth the belly, and evacuateth black Excrements, whence a man grows lively and vigorous, as if he had drank of the _Spaw_-waters.

And this benefit may accrue by it to all Travellers, who carrying with them a little spirit of salt in a glass, may at all times, and in all places, correct and amend their beer or wine in their Tuns, and give it a better relish: But because this spirit is more liable to be lost in a liquid form by any accident befalling the glass, therefore being coagulated into a dry form, it may be more commodiously carried about in a Paper or Box, of which the magnitude of a small Pease drank in one cup of water, quencheth Thirst better than a great quantity of water alone. This spirit or salt will be serviceable to men of all sorts, but to none more than to Seamen or Souldiers, in war-like expeditions, of which sometimes more die through want of water, than by the sword, who also for the most part contract their Diseases from the filths in Ships, which might easily be prevented. What will it profit a Captain of a Man of War, or the Commander of a Merchant-ship to have many men for his defence and service, if they are disabled by a Disease? Were it not then better to use all diligence to preserve their health, and to restore it when lost? Which may be done with small Labour and Cost. A General brings an Army some time into the Field, of 10, 20, or 30 Thousand Men, and seeing that those observe no due order in eating and drinking, and being destitute of Medicines, if the _Plague_, _Fever_, or _Bloody-Flux_ comes among them, they drop off one after another like Flies in Winter; when notwithstanding they might be succoured and helped in those Diseases by my Electuary, [_This Electuary I think to be the =Panacea Antimonij= made up with Sugar._] Salt of Salt, or Spirit of Salt, inspissated or thickened with Sugar. The spirit of salt hath alwaies been highly esteemed, both by ancient & modern Physicians, for its great virtues which it sheweth both inwardly & outwardly; besides which, it is of great use in other Arts, as I have shewed in the _first and second Part of my Furnaces_. And that the Reader may see that I am not singular in what I have ascribed to the spirit of salt, I will here set down the Experience of that no less learned than famous Physician _Conradus Kunrath_; of the spirit of salt, as he hath expressed it in his _Medulla Destillatoria_, printed at _Hamburgh_, _Anno_ 1638. in these words, _Part_ 1. _pag._ 59.

The Great and Effectual Operations which are attributed to the Spirit or Oil of _SALT_.

_The Spirit or Oil of Salt is not of so acrimonious a taste, as Salt commonly is: Nor hath it so great an acidity as the Spirit of Vitriol, but it tasteth almost like the juice of wild Apples, with somewhat of sweetness intermixt. It discusseth, dissolveth, consumeth, and dryeth, yet it doth not heat too much, but hath a temperate nature, mitigating and comforting the natural heat, which it also encreaseth, and dispelleth all things contrary to Nature, preserveth the state of sound humours unhurt, especially profitable for those who are phlegmatick, whose viscous =Saburra= of humidities it consumeth, taketh away =Catarrhs= which fall from the Head, and preserveth from all Diseases which arise from a noxious Pituity, Mucor, and Fluxes. Yea, those who use labour and study, shall perceive their Strength to be restored by it, and as it were renewed._

_Experience, the Mistris of things, witnesseth, That it is a present Remedy against the =Falling-sickness=, being administred in good =Aqua-vitæ=: Against the =Apoplexy=, =Palsie=, or =loss of Speech=; as also the trembling and beating of the Heart, and all dejections of Mind; as also in the time of the =Plague=, or in any infectious Air, it may be administred with profit, by mixing half an ounce of the Spirit or Oil of Salt with two ounces of the Juice of Violets, and as much of the Electuary of Juniper-berries, in a Stone or Glass Mortar, and the Patient taking the quantity of a Filberd in the morning upon an empty stomach._

_This Compound-Medicine being given to Women with Child, facilitateth the Birth, and is highly profitable against various symptoms of Women in Child-bed, without any danger. If any desire to preserve their native heat, let them often use this =Alexipharmack=._

_Whoever is burdened with superfluous moisture, let him take this Spirit or Oil of Salt daily, in Wine or some other Vehicle._

_In Coldness, and continual Fluxes, which stop up the Breast, it conduceth much, and taketh away inveterate Coughs and grievous =Asthma’s=, which are stirred up by those Fluxes. It dissolveth, consumeth, and dissipateth depraved humours, collected and indurated in the stomach: and although of it self it communicateth little nourishment, yet it excites the Stomach to a good Appetite, and disposeth the Meat to a good digestion and passage through the body._

_It helpeth in the Tartarous and indurated =Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen=, which it openeth and relieveth, and hence removeth and taketh away the =Jaundice=, =Dropsie=, =Hypocondriack Melancholy=, and pains and affects of the =Ribs= and =Viscera=, and also whatsoever ariseth from Wind and Flatulency, and other symptomes proceeding from the said causes, it especially absumeth the =Anasarca=, or Water under the skin, and throughly removeth watery Tumours in the Genital Members or Legs, which for the most part happen to those who are Hydropical, Phthisical, or labour under a Distemper of the Liver. It also taketh away the great Thirst in those, which otherwise in this kind of diseases doth not lightly afflict, so that the Patient shall have no desire of drinking, but may remain some daies without. The same is also a Remedy against all putrid =Fevers=._

_In tormenting Pains of the Belly, and =Cholick=, which are excited by the viscosity of humours, or intemperature of flatulency, or force of cold, and a dense and tough Phlegm driven into the Intestines; this spirit resolveth and consumeth, and so openeth the stopt passages of the Bowels, and looseneth the Belly, that it easeth the Iliack pains, whether it be taken at the mouth, or administred Clysterwise. In the =Lientery=, =Dysentery=, or =Hæmorrhage=, it is to be given in Clysters; in like manner in =Nephritick= Diseases, and the dolorous =Stone in the Bladder=, which it dispelleth and exterminateth._

_In =Ruptures=, as the =Hernia= and =Enterocele=, let some drops be given daily in good Wine; let the Tumour of the =Scrotum= be also often anointed with this Spirit or Oil, and cherished by a fit Truss, or some other bandage, and in a few daies the sick will recover his former health._

_It killeth all =Worms= in the Body, casteth them out, and prohibits their breeding again._

_It is a most effectual preservative against the contagion of the =Plague=; and also is very conducible to those who are already infected. It also wonderfully profiteth such as have eaten Poisonous Mushrooms or Opium, as also those who are hurt by Serpents, Vipers, Spiders, and the like venomous Insects, it is accommodated both to inward and outward use, because it consumeth virulent humidities. For the stinging of Wasps and Hornets, it is to be applied topically._

_For fat Women, and those who are troubled with impurities of the Matrix, from a superfluous phlegmatic humour, it is very profitable; for by the benefit of it, every redundancy and incommodity of Phlegm is purified, consumed, and dried up, so that the seed may more easily rest in the Womb, and fertility be greatly promoted._

_In protuberant Excrescencies of the Eyes, =Films=, =Cataracts=, =Blisters=, =Pustles=, or =Spots=, =Dimness= or =Darkness of sight=, it is to be used in a good Collyry, or other commodious Vehicle. In =Blows=, =Bruises=, or =Falls=, when the Blood is congealed, (which we call black and blue) in the Eyes or Face, let a bit of a Sponge or Lint be wetted with the Spirit or Oil of Salt, and applied to the place affected; or else dissolve in the same a little red Myrrh, and with the Dissolution mix a little Honey, and anoint with it. It driveth away noise and pain of the Ears, also when the Ears send forth an ulcerous and purulent matter, the same Medicine may be administred with an happy success. And in these Symptoms it is to be mixed with Wine-Vinegar, and dropped into the Ears, and rubbed upon the diseased parts._

_In the =Thrush=, and other sore mouths of sucking Children, also in the glandular or kernelly Swellings of the Neck, foulness of the Tongue, swelled and rotten Gums, =Scurvy= in the Mouth, =Tooth-ach=, superfluous humours and filths adhering to the Teeth and Gums, this Spirit or Oil of Salt is an excellent Remedy; as also in preserving from those Evils, it is to be conjoined with clarified Honey, and the Mouth, or parts affected in it, to be anointed therewith. Against the evil Affects and Ulcers of Womens Breasts, some linen rags are to be humected with the Spirit or Oil of Salt, and they will be quickly healed. The moist =Itch=, =Tetters=, =Ringworms=, and other contagious Affects of the Skin, are happily cured by both the inward and outward use of this Spirit. =Ulcers= and fungous =Tumours= in the Venereal Disease, or others, if we would bring them to a suppuration, the Oil of Salt will effect it, being applied either alone, or mixed with other convenient Remedies. For the healing of venomous Ulcers, which pierce the Bone it self, as also all virulent Apostems, the Spirit or Oil of Salt is to be mixed with White-wine, and Barley-Flour, into the consistency of a Plaster, which is to be applied to the Sore._

_Also in cancerous, eating, and spreading Ulcers, it is very profitable, being mixed with the juice of Rhue, and aptly applied._

_That I may summarily express its use both inwardly and outwardly, it resisteth all fluid and corroding Vices, and layeth the foundation of their Cure. In luxated, shortened, or contracted members and joints, it affordeth present help, being used alone, or joined with fit fomentations or Epithems._

_In the taking away of =Warts=, this Spirit is to be mixed with the juice of Marigolds, and applied to them: It also taketh away Corns, if after they are softened with warm water, they be well cut and anointed with this Oil. In the =Erysipelas=, St. =Anthony’s= fire, this being mixed with Elder-Vinegar, and applied, is of great virtue._

_The Hands or Feet being corrupted or chapt by Cold, are recovered by the benefit of this Medicine. This Spirit or Oil greatly conduceth to help the weariness and weakness of the Feet and other Members, restoring to them their strength and vigour, if they be well bathed therewith before the fire._

_Moreover, in the dolorous =Gout= it is a famous Remedy, and a profitable =Anodine= for allaying the pain, if besides its internal use it be also applied topically: For to this our Medicine are to be joined Oil of Turpentine, Oil of Wax, Oil of Camomile, or also Oil of Cowslips, with which the parts affected are to be well anointed. But where the members are contracted by =Fluxions= and =Catarrhs=, fit Fomentations are also to be used, and besides our Oil or Spirit, the dulcified Oil of Vitriol, and pure Oil of Turpentine, are to be mixed together, and the parts to be therewith anointed before the fire. And hence the Nerves and Joints are so comforted, that they will not so easily admit such Fluxions again. Also if there be =Tophes= or =Nodes= in the Joints, they will be discussed beyond belief; being duly anointed with this Oil, mixed with the dulcified Oil of Vitriol._

_It is also used with great profit both inwardly and outwardly, against the =Cramp= and =Convulsion of the Nerves= by Cold._

_In external Wounds and Symptoms there often happens a Putretude, and also proud Flesh sometimes starteth up, and causeth great pain. These Protuberances being anointed with this Oil or Spirit, are presently dissolved and consumed, and also preserved from future corruptions._

_In brief, this is a most excellent Medicine, overcoming many Diseases. Moreover, the Reader is to know, that this spirit or Oil of Salt, (besides those Virtues which I have declared) if it be diligently prepared, and rightly prescribed, may be used for the preparing of many excellent and precious things in the Chymical Art; for it dissolveth Gold, Gemms, and other Stones, Pearls, Corals, =&c.= so that they are reduced into excellent Medicines, in a liquid or potable form, highly useful for Mankind: But how those Processes are to be instituted, I shall here pretermit, But he that hath drawn a good foundation of working from that information which my =Medulla Destillatoria= hath faithfully propounded, let him weigh the matter with an accurate mind, and put his hand to the Work, there is nothing in it so tedious, but he will easily conceive; moreover, let him associate himself with honest, sincere, and skilful Artists, and take their counsel, then he will find out many Secrets of Nature, and singular Arcana’s, and will see that his care and diligence hath not been in vain: Then let him use that Experience to the Glory of God, and the help of his needy Neighbour._

The Virtues or most efficacious Operations of the _Spirit_ or _Oil of Salt_, in which Gold is rightly dissolved, according to Art; or, when it shall be made an _Aurum Potabile_.

_Philosophers and Physicians, endowed with the great Exercise and Knowledge of Things, have attributed to the Spirit or Oil of Salt, in which Gold is rightly dissolved, or the =Aurum Potabile= made with it, very great operations in the body of Man, inasmuch as in all Diseases and Infirmities, of what name soever, it giveth present help, and in all dejections of the vital spirit, although they tend to the fatal period, it giveth such relief, that life and vigour may be yet somewhat farther protracted, if two, three, or four drops be administred as occasion shall serve in a good =Aqua vitæ= or Cordial Water. In like manner, if three drops be administred once a week in generous Wine, or =Aqua vitæ=, or other fit Vehicle, it renovateth a man, makes him youthful, changeth gray Hairs, produceth new Nails, and Skin, preserveth from various and diverse symptoms of Diseases, and preserveth the body in such a state, even to the prefixed hour of the Divine appointment._

These are the very words of that famous Philosopher and Chymical Physician _Conradus Kunrath_, in his _Medulla Destillatoria_; as the Reader may there see.

Now any may easily conjecture, that although this learned man had found out many things, yet that he knew not all, but what was known to him, that he divulged. But that as yet more might be done by that Spirit or Oil of Salt, than what he had set down, easily appeareth from that which he sheweth at the end, concerning the Oil or Liquor of Gold, prepared by the Spirit of Salt, which words are Truth it self, and much more may be done by the benefit of that solution. He hath written what Experience hath taught him, the rest he hath left to the study and searches of others.

Seeing therefore that I also (not to speak boastingly) have often handled Furnaces and Coals, and among others, have found this Liquor of Gold or _Aurum Potabile_, made with Oil of Salt, to be of great virtue, and knowing its great use, power, and virtue by experience, I will describe it in an open stile, lest so noble a Medicine should be buried. Such a Liquor of Gold as is here mentioned, is compounded of the purest Sol, and the most highly rectified and again concentrated Spirit of Salt: The Sol is to be first melted, and throughly purged with Antimony, then to be dissolved in _Aqua Regia_, and precipitated with ☿, to be edulcorated and brought into a subtile Calx, which must be heat red-hot (to free it from the ☿) and then dissolved in strong and well-prepared Oil of Salt; being dissolved, abstract part of the spirit of salt from it, and a very yellow Liquor of Gold will remain at the bottom, which yet is not, fit for use alone, seeing that the Oil of Salt containeth too much Acrimony; therefore a drop of it is to be mixed with a spoonful of Beer, Wine, or warm Broth, before it be administred to weaken the spirit of salt; but if any desire to have it sweeter, instead of Wine, Beer, or Broth, it may be mixed with melted Sugar, or syrup of Roses. The Dose for a man of ripe age, is two or three drops, which if he shall perceive not to operate sufficiently, he may encrease to three or four drops, so long, till he shall find an evident operation, which appearing, let him encrease the Dose no longer, but rather diminish it a drop; and when the Oil of Gold rightly performeth its operations, these signs will appear: In the first use, a certain loathing or nauseousness of the stomach, will be perceived, when the Oil of Gold findeth there a vitious pituity, and endeavouring to expel it, driveth it downwards, and ejecteth it by stool. 2. The Excrements are as black as a Coal, and during the use of the Medicine, the sick maketh a discharge by stools at least twice, sometimes three or four times, without any impediment or sence of necessity, as is wont to be in the working of Purges. The Urine will also be thick and turbid, because the Medicine dissolveth the Tartar and Phlegm in the Reins and Bladder, and by degrees expelleth it. NB. That by the black Excrements, it is manifest, that Gold may be radically dissolved in the stomach of a Man, which some think to be impossible. The humane stomach hath a greater power in the destruction of things than the strongest fire, as may be here seen by the Gold: Yea, all things which are eaten or drank, in the space of 24 hours, it throughly dissolved and transmuteth into a new form of Excrements.

If the stomach of a man can effect such things, why not Art also? Yea, hence it is expresly proved, that the colours of Gold, at length, when it is radically dissolved and destroyed, do appear, and may be known, seeing that in Colours Blackness hath as it were the first and chief place, and containeth all others hidden and concentrated under it.

NB. That these black Excrements should not be cast away, but the radically-dissolved Gold ought to be separated from them, with which perhaps some great thing may be effected.

I some time since administred this Oil of Gold, for eight or ten daies successively, to a certain Infant, for the freeing his body from Mercury, which had been imprudently given him for the Worms; I ordered the Excrements to be saved, for some Experiment, which nevertheless, because they stood long and bred Worms, I could not use, but commanded them to be put to the Roots of a young Vine, which had not yet born Grapes, being but of two years growth, which produced a small Grape with large stones, which had golden spots like Stars, admirable to behold. This Example is worthy of a profound consideration. It also seems to me, that the Urine of those who continually use the aforesaid golden Liquor should be auriferous, although it appear not in the colour. The thing is out of doubt, seeing that men, in the use of the said Medicine, attract only a certain hidden virtue from the Gold, and again send the rest forth of the body, that that Gold is better than other common Gold: The Benignity of the Divine Being hath disposed and ordained every thing in the World for the best.

Seeing that in the Stomach of Man or Beast the Food is destroyed and putrefied, Nature taking a little from it only for nourishment sake, casteth out the rest by siege, which yet is not of so abject a condition, as to want its virtues? for if these Excrements be mixed with any Earth, moistened with Rain-water, and exposed to the open Air, there will thence spring forth divers Herbs, without the addition of any seed; but if the seed of any Herb be adjoined, then is also brought forth fruit of the same substance and quality; so that these Excrements may degenerate, and be converted into whatsoever Fruits we will: From which Fountain the multiplication of Herbs and Metals may perhaps take its original. Therefore it is necessary, that Putrefaction should go before Multiplication; which our Saviour himself told his Disciples, saying, _Except a grain of Wheat shall fall into the Earth, and die, it remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit_. The Axiom of Philosophers is, _Where Nature endeth, and leaveth the Work imperfect, there Art ought to begin_. But the manner of proceeding farther they have involved in silence. Nature from the beginning hath sublimed a Mineral _Ens_, or first matter of Metals, as much as it could, and brought it to the royal seat, or highest perfection: Art hath destroyed the most perfect body of Gold by corrosives, and being destroyed, hath again dissolved it in the body of Man: But if any know the manner of proceeding farther with it, he may easily reduce that Essence of the dissolved Gold into a better, and multiply it: But I would not have this taken for an Oracle, seeing these are only my Cogitations.

The Use of this Medicine is to be continued till the body is freed from all ill Symptoms; nor are any other Remedies to be intermixed with it, that its operation may not be hindered: But before this Medicine be administred, a Dose or two of my _Panacea_ ought to be given, (of which the _Second part_ of my _Pharmacop._ treateth) for then its effects are to be admired.

This Oil of Gold, or _Aurum Potabile_, is of much greater force in all those Diseases, in which the simple spirit of salt is conducible, because the Oil of salt hath double the strength of the spirit, and also diffuseth its virtues much better, by reason of the Gold which is anatomized in it; the which, because it is of a hot and dry property, agreeth very well with the Oil of salt, whose nature is hot and moist: and hence it effectually resisteth all Corruption which may arise in the humane body.

[Sidenote: Spirit of Salt, a Remedy against Drunkenness.]

Besides, the Virtues which the spirit of salt, and especially the Oil of Gold prepared with it, manifest both within and without the body; it is an egregious preservative against Drunkenness, which is the root of many Diseases, and the gate by which many evils enter: For strong Wine or stale Beer being drank, suffer nothing in the stomach, because it cannot restrain their subtile spirit, which presently flieth up into the Head, and disordereth and confoundeth all the senses. But if in the drinking, a little spirit of salt be mixed with the Wine, it openeth the Orifice of the stomach, and suffers not the spirits to fly upward, but restraineth and bindeth them, also mitigateth and represseth that unnatural Thirst, which otherwise the Wine causeth in excessive drinkings: Nor doth the Wine, which is mixed with spirit of salt, so easily hurt the Liver; for as the spirit of wine heats and inflames the Liver, so the spirit of salt corrects and cools it. Add that the spirit of salt permits not the liquor to lie lurking in the stomach, but presently casteth it out by Urine: and the sooner the superfluous Wine is cast out of the body, the less hurt it can do. But this is to be understood of the spirit of salt well rectified, and subtilly prepared.

In short, I might sooner want Paper to write, than matter to express what good the spirit of salt coagulated can do, being taken in drink; I have said enough for the present; in my _Vegetable Work_ I will more fully discourse of this matter, in which I now acquiesce. Whatsoever I have here written of a Medicine against all Sea-faring Diseases, and of the concentration of Corn and Water, against Hunger and Thirst; as also of the most efficacious use of Spirit of Salt, against Drunkenness, and of the melioration of Wine, Beer, Water, and other Drinks, is built upon the pure foundation of Truth, which Experience it self will sufficiently testifie; with which I put an End to this Discourse.

A True and Perfect DESCRIPTION OF Extracting good TARTAR FROM THE Lees of Wine, And that after a Plentiful Manner.

_To the most Reverend =PRINCE JOHN PHILIP=, Lord Arch-Bishop of =Moguntina=, High Chancellor of the Empire, and Elector, Bishop of =Herbipolensis=, Duke of =Franconia=, &c. my most Honoured Lord._

I presume, you remember (most Reverend and Noble Lord Arch-Bishop and Elector) that about Two Years since, I crav’d Your Lordship’s Licence, to Extract _Tartar_ from the Lees of Wine; which your Highness was pleased to grant me. From which Work, seeing I have been hitherto hindered by the multiplicity of other business, and the great Waste and Loss which is daily sustain’d in the Electorate of _Moguntina_, and Bishoprick of _Herbipolensis_, proceeding from the ignorance of the Lees, daily troubles me; I have determined to dedicate this gainful _Extraction of Tartar from the Lees of Wine_, to your Electoral Reverence, under whose Patronage I may be safe, and for this Reason especially, Because none of the Princes of _Germany_ enjoy a greater Vintage than your Reverend Highness; to whom not only a good part of the Tract of the _Rhine_, but almost the whole Jurisdiction of _Mœne_, together with _Franconia_, by Divine Providence, belongs; being very fruitful in Wines; where also much Lees are cast away, thro’ Ignorance _of the way_ of extracting their _Tartar_, for the Good of the Country, from which a good Spirit of Wine might first be drawn by Destillation; the _Tartar_ contained in the thick Lees, and remaining in the bottom of the Still, is by all Men cast away, as unprofitable, a few excepted, who with great Labour dry them, and of them make clavellated Ashes: Which Waste or Loss of the Lees, seeing that it makes every year an incredible Loss of _Tartar_, I have thought fit to expose the Knowledge of this Mystery to the Eyes of all Men, for the Good of my Country, by which some being instructed, may set about the _Extraction of Tartar_ with great Gain, not doubting, but many, when they shall see this Labour to be profitable to others, undertaking the same, will bring great Profit to their impoverish’d Country.

Therefore I trust, this Little Work will be acceptable to your Reverend Highness. And I pray the Giver of all Good Things, to furnish both your Soul and Body with His Gracious Benefits, who study to be

Your Highness’s most

Humble Servant,

_J. Rud. Glauber_.

_A True and Perfect Description of Extracting good TARTAR from the LEES of WINE, =&c.=_

First of all, we must know what Dregs are, or what is their Essence and Nature, how they are resolv’d into Parts, and the Good separated from the Unuseful, because without the knowledge of the thing we can’t give a right judgment of it, but must erre: Therefore it is necessary that we know what we have in our hands, that we may the safer handle it. For this cause I shall shew the Ignorant what are properly Dregs, and which way the better part may be extracted, that hereafter so great a Good may not by ignorant sluggishness be laid aside, but converted to the profit of all.

All thick matter, whether it be of Wine, Beer, Vinegar, or the like, when it has stood a little, sends the earthy, heavy, and more thick part of it, to the bottom, which we call Dregs or Lees, upon which the clearer part flows, to be separated from the impurity, as in the making of common drinks may be seen.

There was no use of these Dregs heretofore, except the making Brandy with ’em, and the rest to be thrown out of doors, in which was much Virtue, which Men did not think of: But that all things are not unprofitable which the Vulgar pronounce so, and that there may be great Virtue in ordinary Matter, I shall demonstrate by this Excrement of Wine.

When the Juice out of the Winepress is put into Hogsheads, that there working, the dregs falling to the bottom, the clean Wine may come out, the superfluous Salt of new Wine, while it is squeez’d out of the Grapes, with the same labour is separated, part sticking to the sides of the Vessel, which we call _Tartar_; but the greater part of this Salt or Tartar, imply’d in the turbid dregs like Sand, sinks to the bottom. Besides, this is the property of Salts, that by a hot humour they make a thin water, the humour growing cold, not being able to keep all the dissolv’d Salt that is compell’d to separate, which excluded the Vehicle, seeks a new place. If you put into the Solutions Sticks or Strings, that Crystalline Salt, in a cubical or angular figure agreeable to its nature, will stick to them; or otherwise it cleaves to the sides of the Vessel.

’Tis beyond all Controversie, that the Grape above all Vegetables has much Salt, not sensible, unless it is fermented with a minute heat, which working by Nature, endeavours a separation, while the purer and more liquid part retains so much Salt as the Wine has need of, the thicker Salt being exturbated, part of which incrustates the sides of the Vessel, part of much thickness sticks, and subsiding with them, gets the appellation of dregs, from which the vulgar are wont to destil a Spirit or Brandy Wine: But these dregs are not a useless matter, as they have been hitherto thought, for much _Tartar_ may be extracted out of ’em with little cost.

But he that shall search more narrowly into the thing, will find a way whereby poor and decaying Wine may be made good.

In some places, as suppose in _Franconia_, _Alsatia_, _Austria_, and the _Rhenish Tract_, most fruitful for store of wine, these lees of wine are made nothing of, but are given to Swine and other Cattel to drink, by which means the Tartar in it so purges ’em, that they are soon fat; they seldom try to draw the spirit thence. Otherwhere, where wine is not made, especially where they fetch their wine a great way, they are much esteemed of, not only because wine may be drawn from ’em, but also put in small Hempen sacks, are pressed in adapted Presses, a good mixt wine flowing thence saleable to others; yet this being but a small wine, many have destinated it for Vinegar, to which it best agrees; but he that knows how to restore to it what it lost in pressing, may make a palatable strong wine, not inferiour to what it was at first: But this Secret belongs to another place, I shall here only treat of Vinegar and Spirit of Wine.

In _Holland_, _France_, _Italy_, this pressing of the dregs and preparation of Vinegar is of frequent use, and very profitable to many, who get nothing but what they squeeze out of the dregs they have of the Vintners, and convert the Wine into Vinegar; the residue of the dregs they put into Barrels, and sell it to Hatters, which being boil’d in water, they thicken rough Hats with it; for Wool is brought into a little compass by hot water, and by how much the hotter that is, the Hats are made the thicker by it: For since it is the nature of Tartar to make the water wherein ’tis diluted hotter than fire, and since there is much Tartar in the dregs, by virtue of which, water acquires a more intense degree of heat, which the ignorant Hatters ascribe to the limosity of dregs, rather to be attributed to the inherent Tartar, hence they put so much dregs in every pot as they know to be needful to the constipation of the wool.

And this is the use to which prest Lees are put, but if they have a greater quantity than the Hatters use, sometimes they are corrupted, part turns to Worms, and afterward to a most stinking dirt fit for nothing. When they sell them to the Hatters, then the Vinegar made of the wine prest out of them, which cost them little, brings ’em great profit, otherwise they would not gain much by their own Art, if they were not eas’d by the Hatters taking the residue.

But after what manner Vinegar may be made, I shall briefly shew: Vinegar-makers dispose many Hogsheads upon Stands a foot high from the ground, under which a pot to receive the Vinegar is set, erected in a hot place, the upper head being taken out, about the middle of the Hogshead they place two pieces of Wood across, sustaining another foraminous bottom, upon which they put the Vinous dregs, filling the Vessel even to the top, then they cover it with the head or some good square Cover, that little Air may enter; when in two or three daies, by putting in your hand, sufficient heat is perceiv’d, the wine which before was prest out of the dregs, is to be pour’d to it, so that the wine may be above the dregs, so the Hogshead close covered is left, till on the opposite row another Hogshead can be filled with the like dregs and grow hot; then the Wine being drawn out of the first hogshead, is poured into this, till the dregs in the first hogshead begin again to be hot, which are again to be macerated in the first Wine. This mutual affusion and depletion of the Wine is to be repeated till a just acidity follows, which may be done in the space of two or three weeks, according to the heat of the Air; which will be good and permanent Vinegar, to be kept for sale in another Hogshead. Presently the first dregs being hot, fresh wine is to be pour’d to them, doing all things as before, till this wine also shall become good Vinegar. If you have many Hogsheads, you may make Vinegar all Summer only, but if you will also work in Winter, the place may be made hot by the help of a Furnace.

After this manner in _France_ and _Holland_, many Families are maintain’d and enriched, by the dregs of Wine prest and converted to Vinegar.

And now I shall produce my Invention, a good Gift of God, as I take it, to good men; ’Tis certain, that in Viniferous Countries, where much dregs are bought for a small price, they may obtain a profit to themselves not to be despis’d; for which (next to God) they are beholden to me, who by unwearied toil have found this Science, and let ’em shew their gratitude towards Needy Persons, lest they incurr the displeasure of God, and so turn this Blessing into a Curse.

First of all, let there be a good Press, with a long Beam, from which hang weights, let there be put in small bags at least 5 or 6 Firkins of Lees, and them soundly prest.

The wine that comes out by pression, you may turn to Vinegar, either by the help of other Lees, or some other method; pour as much of the thick in the sacks with a due proportion of water into a Still, let it not boil in stilling, the Head being on, apply the refrigeratory, manage the destillation as otherwise Spirit of Wine is wont to be drawn, keep the Spirit proceeding thence till there is a good quantity of it, which you ought to rectifie or clarifie by several destillations: (tho this Spirit is not abundant in the dry dregs, yet there is sufficient to pay for the making of the Vinegar and Tartar) when there comes an insipid water, take out the fire, open the Pipe or Cock coming from the Still, let the water with the dregs run through the Channel into a great sack put to the Press, when ’tis close ty’d, press it, that the moist may be separated from the dry: the Liquor cooling in a peculiar Vessel, and congealed into Tartar, will stick to the sides, the rest falls down like sand: Take out the dregs remaining in the sack, dry them in the heat of the Sun, burn them under a Still as wood, and you will have very sharp ashes, commonly called clavellated ashes, useful for _Dyers_, the price of which (at least) exceeds the pression and preparation of Tartar. When you have finished one destillation with the Press, fill the empty Destillatory with fresh water and dregs, as before, and while you draw spirit thence, press the first dregs, and continually put the destillation to the same Press, which coming out hot, don’t put it to the former, but give proper Vessels to each destillation. The day after, put the first water from which the Tartar went to the bottom, to the third destillation, instead of fresh water, that is, by dissolving and destilling new dregs in it, as I have taught: Let the fæces of the fourth destillation be pour’d in the second water, which hath let fall its Tartar, and so afterwards, by which Compendium you will make no waste of Tartar, but what remains in the water, may take encrease from the new dregs to which it is pour’d, and it will give its Gain: But if you will, you may animate that acid water from which the Tartar is separated, and with a small charge, by Grain and Fruits of Trees, give it life and soul again, that it may again be made Wine, not unlike the first prest from the Lees, after the same method it is turn’d into Vinegar, (because ’tis already sharp, the life or soul only that preserve from Corruption being wanting) the way of proceeding will bring great Gain to him that understands it.

If you know not the administration, do as I have order’d, and instead of common water, dissolve the hard dregs in this acid, and you will have good Tartar; but that languid water may also be adhibited to other uses, which I shall set down in the end of this Book: This do, that the fæces be not burnt by too great a fire, nor the spirit stink, and the still be spoil’d, which you may prevent if you anoint the bottom with Lard before you put in the heavy water, and draw off the spirit. Here I might shew a Compendium whereby the dregs, tho’ dry, should not be in danger of burning, but it would be long and tedious to the Reader. But if you mind diligently what I have written, you will get enough.

When you have gotten a good quantity of Tartar from the Lees, not neat to outward appearance, but very like dirt or sand, purge it yet more, that either it may be reduc’d to a very fair Crystal, or till it cleaves in great Fragments to the sides of the Vessel, which you may effect by the following Way. Fill a _Vesica_ with limpid water, almost to the top, put a little granulated Tartar into that water, soundly boiling to dissolve, putting a stick to the bottom, you may see when it is dissolv’d, add more by degrees, till no more will melt in the water, which you may thus find out: Fill a Pewter Saucer with this Liquor, if it contracts a little skin or cream, it shews that it has enough Tartar to produce Crystals, but if not, add more Tartar, till you see this sign in the pot; while it boils, add the scum taken off with a perforated Brass Ladle, to the dry Lees, which by reason of the Tartar adhering, when burnt, conduces to the clavellated ashes; when the boiling has drawn Tartar enough, let it be let out thro’ the Pipe of the Still into a clean Receiver, where while the water cools, the Crystals will incrustate on the sides; apply the rest of the water to the same uses, you will do better; if you shall change it into Wine or Vinegar, let the Crystalline roughness remain in the Vessel, for if you add a new boiling, greater and fairer sorts of Crystals will be made, because by how much the thicker this Tartar is, so much the dearer ’tis held; and thus you may conciliate thickness to your Crystals. When it shall seem enough, pour the rest of the Solutions into another Vessel, in which the first Tartar has concreted, let it dry of it self, afterwards strike the sides of it with a great blow, and great Fragments of Tartar will fall down, which you may sell for profit, put the vessel to the same labour again.

This is the exact description of producing good Vinegar and Tartar necessary for many Arts, from the basest dregs, and of justly getting much profit with little pains.

Now I proceed to make the Wine which some call Adust, or Spirit of Wine, of the Lees of Wine, without any Costs.

After the defecated Wine is pour’d out, put the fæces into the Still, add as much water as the dissolution of the inherent Tartar requires, kindle a fire, stir it at the bottom with a wooden Ladle, that it may not burn to; when you can no longer bear the heat of the water with your hand, and the spirits break forth, take out the Ladle, put on the Head, and destil till you perceive no spirit, but meer Phlegm; the remaining Liquor draw out into a sack close ty’d, work it in the Press, and you will have spirit of wine by destillation, and also Tartar by expression, concretion, crystalisation, with double encrease; as I shall shew more clearly by and by, that before you begin to work, you may be sure, how much you hope to gain thereby, lest you labour in vain, maturely consult that you may discern by a premis’d computation what is to be done.

For instance, If five Firkins of Lees cost half a Doller each, five Firkins will yield two R. Dollers and an half; from these I press out two Firkins of Wine, two Firkins remain in the sacks, one Firkin is supposed to waste in the transfusion, when yet a Vessel seldom soaks up four quarts: I turn the two Firkins of Wine into Vinegar; the two Firkins of thick Lees being diluted with Water, I draw Spirit of Wine, and press out the Tartar; this Wine drawn by the Fire, together with the dregs left of the Tartar, being reduced by burning into clavellated ashes, do equal the Charge of making the Vinegar & Tartar, but two firkins of dregs afford from 40 to 100 pounds of Tartar, as the Wine is sweeter or more acid, (tho’ the harsh affords more Tartar than the sweet) but if they yield but 40 pounds, this Tartar refunds the price of the Lees; the Spirituous Liquor and clavellated Ashes, recompence the Wood, and the two Firkins of pressed wine you have over-plus to be turn’d into Vinegar.

Or if you buy two Firkins of Lees for one R. Doller; first you may draw off the spirit; after that, you may press out about ten pounds of Tartar, both together saleable at one Doller, as much as the Lees cost; all the Liquor of the Spirit will be clear gain, by an egregious short labour to grow Rich. Suppose a Firkin to cost a Doller, and to yield not above 9 pound of Tartar, each of which is worth two Bazeins; tho’ some Lees are better than others, yet seldom any are found so poor, that do not afford their value in Tartar; even the _Rhenish_, _Franconian_, and _Austrian_, one Firkin yielding one Doller, oftentimes affords fifty pound of Tartar, or more. Besides, we must note, if the Lees are dear, Tartar and burning spirit of wine can’t be cheap, because the dearness of them depends on the scarcity of wine: But if the Lees are dear, the Vinegar, Spirit, and Tartar cheap, (which yet was never known) so that the quantity of Tartar will not yield the price of the Lees; neither also can you have the Vinegar and spirituous wine _gratis_; yet you shall have this profit above others, living on Vinegar and burning wines only, that the Tartar and clavellated Ashes collected from the refuse of the eliquated wine, by others rejected, you may get an help, that you may sell the spirit of wine, that cost you little, for more than otherwise. If therefore he gains by only pressing wine, or destillation of the spirit, how much rather you that acquire both Vinegar and spirit of wine from those dregs for a gratuity?

One thing more I add for confirmation: If 8 Firkins of Lees, that cost 4 Dollers, make 4 or 6 Firkins of vinegar, or one of burning wine or brandy, that vinegar or brandy yields 10 or 12 R. Dollers: The prest or destilled dregs, if they give fifty or sixty pound of Tartar, they equallize the first price of the dregs; but if there be a less quantity of Tartar, the vinegar or spirit will stand you in but little, which being made better, or sold cheaper than ordinary, you (the seller) will allure buyers before others.

Some man may say, the Art indeed has been unheard of, and is gainful, but does not agree with every age and condition; for all don’t understand Merchandising, but rather some abhor it, seeing the Scriptures compleatly testifie, that the fraud between the buyer and seller sticks as fast as a pin between the stones of a wall; to whom I answer, that to every Christian an honest Occupation is permitted by Divine Providence for the sustentation of him and his, but he need not burden his Neighbour in any case. For that it is lawful to endeavour a livelihood this way, or that, is attested to by a laudable example, in both the Old and New Testament.

This is the true way of pressing wine from Lees, and reducing it to Vinegar, and drawing out Brandy and Tartar, and incinerating the refuse.

It remains that I set down the uses to which the rest of the water from the Tartar may be adhibited with profit; but we must know by the way, that the sourness in that water is nothing but Tartar dissolved, which does not take a Crystalline form at the sides of the Vessel: therefore this acid water performs whatsoever is effected by Tartar diluted in common water.

Since there is no man but knows how to dissolve Copper in tartarised water, without the help of salt, as in the dealbation of ordinary Coins and Silver Vessels among the silver-workers may be seen, who take away the Copper sticking in the superficies of money or silver-vessels by boiling, the silver appearing as if it had nothing of copper mix’d with it: to this work the aforesaid water may be very profitably applied; and seeing that a great quantity of it remains in the working of the Lees, it can scarcely be better imploy’d than by the following method. If the viler Marcasites of Copper, every where obvious, and which cannot otherwise be melted with profit, as also the _Scoria_ or dross of Copper, which is thrown away, be boil’d in this water, it will attract the Copper to it self; cast in Filings of Iron, and they will be exalted into Copper, and the extracted Copper will be precipitated from the water by the addition of the Iron. This gradation of Iron into Copper being done, which in outward appearance will be like a dirty Mudd, it is to be edulcorated with clear water, and then throughly melted by the force of fire, which will yield a very fair Copper, no way coming short of other Copper in goodness. Which Labour is very profitable, because a great quantity of tartariz’d water proceeds from this Work; but that it may the more easily act upon the Copper, in extracting it from the stone or Marcasite, a little salt is to be added in the boiling.

But if the Marcasite or Copprious-stone abound with too much sulphur, which yet seldom happens in the more ignoble Marcasites, they must first be torrefied, that the sulphur may be burnt, then to be ground, and boil’d with the tartaris’d water, and precipitated with Iron; which way more Copper is acquir’d than was in the Copprious-stone it self, because while it is precipitated, part of the Iron is exalted to Copper, part turns to Vitriol unlike to the natural in hardness; for a green solution remains, whereby Cloth and Yarn are made as black as with common Vitriol; also it affords the best Black for Shoemakers to colour their Leather, and is naturally adapted with Oak to conciliate a black colour to Wood.

If this vitriolated Water be boil’d in an Iron Pot till it be dry, and the residue melted in a strong fire, you will obtain a most tenacious or tough Iron of wonderful virtue, if not to be preferr’d to good Copper, at least to be compar’d with it. And so the common Copprice-stone of Iron is better than the filings or scales of Iron, if with the Lees of wine it be reduc’d by the spirit of the world into small Balls, when you melt them, a very ductile and pure Iron will come out, fit for more uses than common Iron; which labours if any will enter upon, they will reap fruits not to be despis’d.

It would not be beside the matter to annex the manner how you might use both your Tartar and Ashes at home, neither that you might be forc’d to sell them abroad, but it would be too long, and rather hurtful than profitable to the present business. This I think to treat of farther another time, by the Grace of God.

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 o