I 3\(jtturall Hiflory: 



ther Degree of Fixation, than any Condenfation. In the mean 

 time, by Occafion of Handling the Axiomes touching Maturati- 

 on, wewilldire&a Triatt touching the Maturing of Mttalls, and 

 thereby turning fome of them into Gold: For we conceive in • 

 deedi that a per feci; good ConcoBion, or Difgeftion, or Maturati- 

 00 of fome Metalls, will produce Gold. And here we call to 

 mind, that we knew a Dutch-man, that had wrought himfelf 

 intothebeleif of a great Perfon, by undertaking that he could 

 make Gold: Whofe difcourfe was, that Gvld might be made $ ! 

 But that the Alchymifts Over fired the Work : For (hefaidj the I 

 Making of Gold did require- a very temp rate Heat, as being in 

 Nature * Subterrany woik, where little Heat comethi But 

 yet more to the Making ofGold, than of any other Meta'T, And ; 

 therefore, that he would doic with a great Lamp, that mould 1 

 carry a Temperate and Equal! Heat .• And that it was the Work 

 of many Months. The Device of the Lamp was folly 3 Butthe 

 Over- firing now ufedj And the Equall Heat to be required 5 

 And the making it a Work of fome good Time, are no ill 

 Difcourfes* 



We refort therefore to our Axiomes of Maturation in Effect 

 touched before. The Firft ls^hat there be ufed a Temperate Heat; 

 For they are ever Temperate Heats that Difgefl, and Mature : 

 Wherein we mcane Temperate, according to the Nature of the 

 Subjetli For that may be Temperate to Fruits and Liquours> 

 which will not work at all upon Metalls. The Seeon d is, that 

 the Spirit of the Metallbe quickned, and the Tangible Parts open- 

 ed: For without thofe two Operations, the Spirit of the Me. 

 tall, wrought upon, will not be able to dilgeft the parts. The 

 Third is, that the Spirits do Jpreaa themjelDes Even, and ntoye 

 not fuhfultorily 3 For that will make the Parts Clofe and Pliant. 

 And thisrequirethaHeat, that doth not rife and fall, but con- 

 tinue as Equalhs may be The Fourth is, that no Part of the Spi- 

 rit he emitted, but detained.. For if there be E^wk of Spirit, the 

 Body of the Metdll, will be Hard, and Churlilh. And this will 

 be performed, partly by the Temper of the Fire.- And partly by 

 theelofenefs of the VeiTeL The Fifth is, that there be Choice 

 made of the likelieft and befl prepared Met all, for the Verfion- For 

 that will facilitate the Wprk. The Sixth is, that you give 

 lime enough for the W ork ■' k Not to prolong Hopes (as the Al- 

 chymifls do • but indeed to give Nature a convenient Space 

 , to work in. Thefe Principles moft certain, and true 



We 



