CENTURY IV. 161 



perate heat, as being in nature a subterrany work, 

 where little heat cometh ; but yet more to the 

 making of gold than of any other metal ; and there 

 fore that he would do it with a great lamp that 

 should carry a temperate and equal heat ; and that 

 it was the work of many months. The device of 

 the lamp was folly ; but the over-firing now used, 

 and the equal heat to be required, and the making 

 it a work of some good time, are no ill discourses. 



We resort therefore to our axioms of maturation, 

 in effect touched before. The first is, that there be 

 used a temperate heat ; for they are ever temperate 

 heats that digest and mature : wherein we mean 

 temperate according to the nature of the subject ; 

 for that may be temperate to fruits and liquors, 

 which will not work at all upon metals. The second 

 is, that the spirits of the metal be quickened, and 

 the tangible parts opened : for without those two 

 operations, the spirit of the metal wrought upon 

 will not be able to digest the parts. The third is, 

 that the spirits do spread themselves even, and move 

 not subsultorily, for that will make the parts close 

 and pliant. And this requireth a heat that doth not 

 rise and fall, but continue as equal as may be. The 

 fourth is, that no part of the spirit be emitted but 

 detained : for if there be emission of spirit, the body 

 of the metal will be hard and churlish. And this 

 will be performed, partly by the temper of the fire, 

 and partly by the closeness of the vessel. The fifth 

 is, that there be choice made of the likeliest and best 



VOL. IV. M 



