Century IV. 



7? 



we will now derive a direction of Trial out of them , which 

 many (perhapsjby further Meditation, be improved. 



Let there be a Small Furnace made, of a T emperate Heat^ Let the Heat be 

 fuch as may keep the Metall perpetually Mottlten,md no more; For that above 

 all importeth to the Work. For the Materiall, take Silver, which is the Me- 

 tall that in Nature Symbolizeth moft: with Goldtfut in alfo, with the Silver, 

 a Tenth Part of Quick-Silver, and a Twelfth Part of Nitre, by weight>,Both 

 thefe to quicken and open the Body of the Metall And fo let the Worke 

 be continued by the Space of Six Monet A, at the leaft.I wifli alfo, that there 

 be, as fometimes, an Injection of fome oyled Sublbnce^ Such as they ufe in 

 the Recovering otGold, which by Vexing with Separations hath been made 

 Churlifti And this is, to lay the Parts moreGofe and Smooth, which is 

 the Maine Work. For Gold (as we fee )is the Cloleft ( and therefore the 

 Heavieit ) of Metals : And is likewife the moft Flexible, and Tenfible. 

 Note, that to think to make Goldoi guick-fdver, becaufe it is the heavieft, 

 is a Thing not to be hoped ; For guick-filver will not endure the Mannage 

 of the Fire. Next to Stiver, I thinke Copper were fitteft to be the Mate- 

 rial 



GoWhath thefe Natures-'Greatnefe of Weight; Clofenefie of Parts -^Fixati- 

 on-, Plaint nefi, or Softnef; Immunity from Ruft; Colour or Tinclure of 

 Tcllorv. Therefore the Sure Way, ('though moft about,; to make Gold, is to 

 know the Causes of the Severall Natures before rehearfed, and the Axiomes 

 concerning the fame. For if a man can make a Metall, that hath all thefe 

 Properties, Let mendifpute, whether it be Gold, or no ? 



The Enduring and Accelerating of Putrefaction, is a Subject of 

 a very Univerfall Enquiry .• For Corruption is a Reciprocal! to 

 Generation • And they two, areas Natures two Terms or Boun- 

 daries; And the Guides to Life and Death* Putrefaction is the 

 Worke of the Spirits of Bodies , whichever are Unquiet to Get 

 forth) and Congregate with the Mre % and to enjoy the Sunnebeams. 

 ThcGetting forth, or Spreading of the Spirits^ ( which is a De- 

 gree of G ecting forth ,) hath five Differing Operations, H the Spi- 

 rits be detained within the Body , and move more violently, 

 there folio wczhColliqmtion . As in Metals* &c . If more Milde- 

 ly, there followeth Difgeftion, or Maturation. As in Drinks, 

 and Fruits, if the Spirits be not mcerly Detained, but Protrude a 

 little, and that Motion be Confufed, and inotdinare, there fol- 

 loweth Putrefaction ; Which ever difTolveth the Confidence 

 of the Body into much Inequality. AsmFIefb, Rotten Fruits, 

 Shining Wood, S<c, And alfo in the Rufl of Metals, But if that 

 Motion be in a certain Order, there followeth Vilification^ and 

 Figuration. As both in Living Creatures bred of Putrefaction, 

 and in Living Creatures Perfect* But if the Spirits iflueoutof 



H the 



327 



Experiments 

 Solitary , 

 touching the 

 Nature of 

 Gold. 



328 



Experiments 

 in Confort, 

 touching the 

 Enduring Jand 

 Accelerating 

 of Putrefatti- 



