tt$orie of the India, lib.^ ^^ > <j 



ioynes with gold in a ftrange maner , it feekes it where 

 it lies, and invirons it in fuch fort, as it doth diftinguifli 

 and feperate it from any other body or mettall where 

 with it is mixt : for this reafon fuch take gold as will 

 preferve themfelves from the dangerrs and difcommo- 

 dities of quicke-filver. They have vfed a remedic to 

 thofe (in vvTiofe eares they had put quicke-filver, to 

 caufc them to die fecretTy, ;"io putlittle plates of gold 

 into their eares, (for that gold hath the vertue to draw 

 out Mercurie,}jnd[after they drew out thefe plates all 

 whltewith the quicke-lilver, itdidftickcvntp .them.. 

 Being one day at Madril, Invent to fee theexquifitg 

 workes which lacomo deTreco, (a rare worke.man of] 

 Mila# y ) made for S.Laurence theJfc&r//, itwas my haj 

 to be there one day, whenas they gilded certainep< 

 ces of a counter table of brafle, which is done wit! 

 quicke-filver ; and for that the fume of Mercuric is mor- 

 tall , he told me that the worke-men preferved them- 

 felvesfrom this venome, by fwallowing a double duc- 

 katofgoldroledvp; the which being in tHefiomacke, 

 draw^ vnto it all the quicke-filver that enters in fume 

 by the eares, eyes, noftrilles, and mouth, and by this 

 meanes freed themfelves from_ the danger <of quicks 

 filver,which the gold gathered in the ftomacke^nd af 

 ter caft out by the excrements : a thing truly worthy of 

 admiration. After the quicke-filver hack purified and 

 purged gold from all other mettallsand mixtures, he 

 islikewife feperated from the goldehis friend by the 

 heate of the fire , the which purifies it from all quicke- ^ 



filver. P//#/Vfaies.jtatb^ 



they did fepera'tegoldTfrom quicke-filver . It feemes to 

 me the Ancients had no knowledge to refine filver by 

 quickc-filver, which at this day is the greateft vfe, and 



chiefc 



