Hiflorie of the Inches lib..]-. 



was a goodly helpe for the mines ; for by the meanes 

 of quickefilverthey drew an infinite quantity ofmcttal 

 from thefe mines, whereof they made no accompt, the 

 which they called fcrapings . For as it hath bccnc fold, 

 the quickefilver purifies the filver, although it be cine, 

 poore.anct of bale alloy ^ which ^an not bcdoonebv 

 melting in the fire . The CatholikeKingdrawes from 

 it quickefilver mines, without any charge or hazard, 

 almoft foure hundred thoufand pecces of a mine , thc_ 

 which are foureteene rialls a peece, orlittlc lefle,bdides 

 tHc rights that rife in Potozi , where it is imploycd, the 

 which is a great riches. They doe yearely^one with an 

 other , drawe from the(e mines of Guwcavrtca , eight 

 thoufand quintalls of quickefilver, yeaand more. 



The maner hw to drwt out fyvcke-filvtr , And bow 

 they refine Silver. CHAP. 12. 



LEtvsnow fpeake how they draw out Quicke-fil- 

 ver, and how they refineSilver therewith. They 

 take the ftone or mettall where they finde the quicke- 

 filver, the which they putinto the fire in pots of earth 

 well luted,being well beaten, fo as this mettall or ftone 

 commingtomeltbythe heateofthefirc, the quicke. 

 filver feperates it felfe, and ffocsforth in exhalation, 

 and (bnietimcs even with tHciliioalicFoiFthe fire, vm'dl 

 it incoimtcrs iomc body where it itaigsand congcales, 

 and ifit pate vp higher, without meetingbfany hard 

 fubftance, itmountesvpvntiilitbecoldej and then 

 congeled,itfallesdowne againe. When the melting is 

 finilhed , they vnftoppe the pottes and draw forth the 

 Aicttall,fometimes flaying vntill it be very cold, for if 



R a there 



