The Preface

If the Proverbs of the Ancients are to be embraced as wholsom Doctrines, then certainly this (being none of the least) is not to be rejected; and is thus, That he that will not hear, ’tis fit he should afterwards feel. The meaning of it is this; If so be any one be regardless of a warning, and so come to damage, every one is wont thus to say of him, He is but justly rewarded, why did he not yield to a faithful warning? who will help him now?

But however, I have endeavoured (for the Honour of God, of the Magistrate, and of my Country, and the benefit of my Neighbour) to shew, by good Admonition, and by a profitable Testimony, by what means, that great plenty we have in these as yet prosperous times, wherein we have abundance of Corn, Wine, and other things in great plenty throughout all Germany, may not unprofitably be lost; but be preserved for support in those years of scarcity that are next to come, according as Joseph that most excellent Steward mentioned in Holy Writ is said to have done.

And now that there may be as much prevention as is possible, that the Wine, and Corn perish not with lying, but be preserved against a future scarcity, I have published this little Book for every ones view, concerning the Concentration of Vegetables, Animals, Minerals, and Metals, in which, the prosperity and felicity of all Germany, and indeed the Universal Treasure and Wealthiness of the whole World, is seated.

And because such an abundant plenty of all these things begets a nauseating and loathing, as it were, of those Minerals, Metals, Wine, and Corn, wherewith Germany exceeds all the other Countries of Europe; I judged it well worth while to constringe, or concentrate this plenty into a little room, and preserve it from the loss and destruction of the same, arising from Negligence and Contempt. For when such vile, or cheap things are driven into a small compass, the baser and unprofitable part goes off, and the nobler and better part is driven together, and preserved, and doth not so easily become corrupt as afore, when both good and bad are commixed together.

And this is to be understood of the Minerals, and Metals, and of Wine, Corn, and Wood. For where the Water is separated from the Wine and Beer, and the more Noble Parts are concentred, as it were into a Centre, you may even preserve them as long as you list. And when you need either Wine, or Beer, the concentrated parts may be relaxed by the apposition of Water, and be enlarged, insomuch, that one Vessel will hold six Vessels of Wine; and this, taking up but one place, and yet contains six times the quantity, there will not need so much costs, nor will so much Wine be spoiled by vapouring away, as would be by six Wine Vessels, which must always be kept full. Besides, this farther benefit ariseth hencefrom, viz. That out of such concentred Juices (if they be at hand) there may be made every Autumn new Wines sooner than ordinary, 4, 5, or 8 weeks time or more, and be sold at a bigger rate, than in the very Autumn Season, when the Grapes are ripe, and every Body furnished with Wine.

NB. For such a work there is requisite a certain peculiar Instrument, and artificial knack, by the help of which the Must may be holpen to a speedy fermentation; there are also other Conveniences which arise from these thus concentred Musts, which for Brevities sake we here omit. So likewise Beer being after the same manner concentred, doth bring a many more Utilities than ordinary Beer. For that Corn which eight Barrels were scarce sufficient to contain afore, need no more but one here, the which being put in the Beer Vessel, will not turn into Vermin; nor will it flie out of the Barn, but may be used after 10 or 20 years. Such Artificial Factitious Ales, seeing they are (in their condensation) boiled a longer while, are far better than the common sorts which are made of dried Corn, or Malt. Whosoever therefore shall in a great plenty of Grain, buy up Corn, and condense it by such Artificial Concentrations, and so lay it by, till a scarcity comes, will gain abundantly, and will not only get to himself an honest, and to others no ways injurious profit; but will withal (being thus studious of Charity and Mercy) deserve exceeding well of his Neighbour, if he helps him in his great necessity, and he will readily pay him for his Corn, whereby he may get Money to sustain his Family and be a profitable gainer.

So then, no body is injured by this condensation, and concentration of Ale, or Wine, but both the Buyer and Seller are Gainers, and this should of right, be in every Man’s heart, what condition soever he be of. It would be well done of Noble Men, Princes, Kings, Emperors, and other Magistrates and Common Wealths, if they would provide in their Store-houses for Warfare, such kind of condensed Liquors, and Juices, that so the poor may in a time of scarcity be made partakers of that plenty, and they will have no loss thereby, but rather benefit.

But the Condensation of Wood, and turning it into Salt-petre or Nitre, is far more profitable than that of Wine or Ale; for wood may be had even as it were gratis, and be with a very small Cost transmuted into Nitre, the which may be kept without hurt in the Storehouses for a long time, seeing it is not wont to corrupt or perish, and be there conserved until it be made up into Gun-powder with Coals and Sulphur, both which are also not subject to corruption; so that it is not so very necessary (nay, rather it is hurtful) to have such vast quantities of Gun-powder in their Castles and fenced places. There are examples enough of Towers in which Gun-powder hath been stirred up, which either through negligence, or else by lightning, being fired, have in less than a moments time o’return’d whole Cities, and slain abundance of men. Now this mighty inconveniency may easily be prevented by this only Remedy, viz. If the Powder be not made up, but the matter thereof (viz. Nitre, Sulphur, and Coals) be only kept in readiness, wherewith the said Powder may be made, as necessity requires: Besides, herein also doth the concentration of Wood exceed (as to profit) the condensation of Wine and Ale, not only because there lie vast heaps of Minerals in Germany, (which not containing a fixt and corporeal Gold, are therefore disesteemed) that admit of a separation of their better part, and fixation of it by Nitre; but withal, the meaner Metals (their superfluous Sulphur being burnt up) may be transmuted into better; and the perfect Metals, viz. Gold and Silver, may (by the help thereof) be destroyed, and be enforced or concentred into a better part; the which thing the following Second, Third, and Fourth Parts treat of.

So then, this Transmutation of Wood into Salt-petre or Tartar, of both which not only great quantities may be sold, but may be also applied to sundry uses, will bring to our noble Country of Germany (in which there is an incredible quantity of Wood to be had almost every where gratis) a most notable encrease of Power and Strength, not only against its future, but its present Enemies.

Whosoever therefore shall have abundance of Wood, shall likewise be enriched with store of Wealth, provided he will but set his hand to the work, and not fear that ever Salt-petre will be such a Drug, as to be of no value, and not vendible: And yet if it should so be, yet in the Explication of my Miraculum Mundi, already published, I have manifested so much, and will, in the three following parts of this Book, manifest such things as concern the use of this Salt, that there will never want such, as penetrating into the knowledge of these Secrets, will not full well know its Use.

He that hath Eyes, let him look about, and use them, for the time comes, yea, and by little and little approacheth, in which Knowledge will be a profitable thing; and it will be well for those who are seasoned with the knowledge of things profitable. Verily, Knowledge is better than store of Goods, for no body can carry them with him, nor (in some cases) help either himself or his Friends with them. Happy is he that can say with the Philosopher, All that is mine do I carry with me: How injuriously do they speak of the most bountiful Lord God, who accuse Him for that He hath forborn the bestowing of Wine, plenty of Corn, Pome-Citrons, and Gold on some Countries, and yet fully as great Treasures are to be found there, if the Eyes of the Inhabitants were not darkened? If there were nothing else, yet certainly there is Wood to be found, which without any labour, costs, or trouble of Rich or Poor, doth grow night and day, and offers it self unto us, and as it were, saith unto us in these words; What! am I of no use? Do not I come forth to thy view, that thou maist by contemplating on me acknowledg the Divine Bounty, and make use of me with thankfulness? There is not therefore any reason why one Country should exalt it self before another, because it is better; or contrarily complain, that the Divine Benediction less regarded it than other Countries; no, each Country hath enough, if it would but be content with what it possesseth. As for those Countries which are even destitute of Wood, they do nevertheless abundantly enjoy the Divine Benediction; witness Island, and other cold Northern Countries, which have their Corn, and other Necessaries for Life, brought them out of other Countries. But now on the other hand, these Countries afford Cod or Stock-fish dried; and so, though they want Trees, Fruit, Corn, and Wine, yet they do not want, and are equally as well nourished by the Divine Bounty as the rest be. Though they want Wood, yet have they Pit-Coals; for the Earth there is very sulphureous, and at the Mountain Hekla it burns perpetually, and casts out fire, smoak, and ashes, and yields to the Inhabitants a great quantity of Brimstone, which they dig out and sell to our Country Mariners and Traffiquers, thereby sustaining themselves.

Some one or other may object to me and say, Seeing that Salt-petre is to be accompted of as an Universal Subject, and to be found in all things, it must necessarily be, that seeing Island has no Wood at all, the Salt-petre is to be found in the dry Stock-fish, for otherwise this Salt can’t be said to be Universal, as being not to be found in such or such a Country.

Well then, to clear this doubt, I do affirm, (as I said before) that Nitre is in Fishes also, though not in such plenty as in other subjects, viz. in Wine, Wood, and Corn: But it is found far more plentifully and potently in Stones, with which those Countries are well stored; and any one may easily guess what Riches they would produce, were they but versed in the knowledge how to extract it; for in Stones which by burning are turned into Lime, (the which may be done without Wood, even by dried Turf or Pit-coal, and that easily) Nitre is as abundantly hidden, as in Wood, and in other Vegetables: Nor is there ought else requisite, save the knowledge of the way of its extraction.

If therefore that harsh and wild kind of Country, wherein nothing grows, be put in the Philosophical balance, with the most rich Country, it would (seeing it contains hidden in its Earth and Stones such great Treasures) easily exceed it, and obtain the chiefest place. There is therefore no reason why any one should complain before God: A small man doth usually exceed, as to swiftness and agility, one that is big and tall: A weak man may oppose the acuteness of his wit against the strength of the lusty: A poor man enjoys Quietude, and patiently undergoes his more hard fortunes; but contrariwise, the rich is invironed with cares. And this may be also understood of other living Creatures. These things being well considered, every one may understand and perceive, that God hath satisfied every one, and that there is no Creature that can justly complain.

It is reported of the Peruvian part of America, That it is enriched with the most abounding Silvery Mountain Potosi, seated in a part of that Region, and is about some 50 German miles in compass, and that it doth by its exceeding cold Air hinder the growing of any Vegetables, and yet notwithstanding, there is such a notable power and excellency obtained by the Riches of that place, that the City there founded doth abound with the best Wine, Corn, Sugar, and other such-like necessary things, and is scarce inferiour in bigness and fair Buildings to any City of Germany, and from this very Mountain only receiveth it this felicity. It is hence evident, that all such things are not unprofitable, which (by reason of the meanness of the outward shape) are not so well known to every body; for sometimes a Countryman throws a Stone at a Cow, which is far more worth than the price of the Cow is, and yet it is contemned, because unknown.

The external and superficial Figure therefore of a thing is not alwaies to be regarded, but its inward parts are to be search’d into and viewed; and that we may attain hereunto, Alchymy points out to us the way, (she being the Instrument of the true praise-worthy Philosophy) and opens the Gate, whereby we may search into the inmost bowels of every thing.

He who well knows the fire, and the use thereof, will not be distressed with want. And he that has no knowledge of the same, neither will he throughly search into Natures Treasures: From these things it is evident what Treasures we Germans do unknowingly possess, and yet convert them nor to our use; And were not foreign parts as ignorant too of these things as we our selves are, they would readily have upbraided us Germans, that we spend more time in eating and drinking, than on good Arts and Sciences.

Now as concerning my writings about the concentration of Wine, Corn, and Wood, and the condensation of ’em, I shall never be better able to prove and confirm the Truth of the same, than by producing it to manifest light, that so the Eyes seeing it, all admiration may cease, and all incredulity vanish. There is credit therefore to be given to all the things mentioned in this Book, as to an experienced Truth, and which are not made publick for any other ends, save only that those natural Sciences may tend to the utility and benefit of my Neighbour. Whoever therefore shall believe them, will purchase Honour and Profit; and contrariwise, he that will not believe, will get only disgrace and detriment.

I will therefore predict or foretell, that this one only Artifice of making Salt petre in such great plenty, and the way of using it to metalline works, will bring incredible Treasures to our Country of Germany, if we be not too negligent, or let it slip by a sluggish slothful drowsiness. I do verily believe, that if God doth yet vouchsafe me one years life, that this said Artifice of Salt-petre will be profitable to very many; but if so be that it shall not please the Divine Majesty to prolong my life so short a time, it may however be accounted of, that God hath indeed shewed us Germans, as heretofore he did to Moses, the Land of Promise, but hath, by reason of our sins and incredulity, shut up the passage against us.

But that I may absolutely serve my Neighbour, and that he may have no cause to complain, as if I had served him but by halves, in that I have not described the Press for Wood, together with the appertaining Instruments, I do now therefore certifie every one, that all the things necessary and requisite for the concentrating of Wine, Corn, and Wood, are to be seen in my custody in perfection.

If now any one be desirous of receiving benefit from his Wine, Corn, or Wood, and that he find it highly to concern him to get this knowledge he will well know, by the inspection of the Work presented afore him, wherein lay the defect as to the getting this thing, and what means the said defect is to be holpen by; but the Instruments that I have mentioned, shall be no longer to be seen, than from the Calends of March to the Calends of September, this present year 1656. viz. six months time; for I have purposed to my self, not to render my life burdensome alwaies unto my self, by carrying such troublesome burthens about to and fro, but at last to get a quiet seat and abode. So then it will, by this here spoken, be evidently manifest to every one, what he is to do as touching this matter.

The three other Parts concerning the concentration of Minerals and Metals, shall (if God permit) shortly also follow.

But because Nitre is the alone Instrument of that work, and that no body can get any eminent profit, unless he can have Nitre at a very cheap rate, it is wholly necessary that some labour be bestowed about the procuring it, which if you can get good store of cheap, then will the hoped-for profit be perceived, both out of Minerals and Metals: If not, vain will it be for you to make your search into that Mineral kingdom.

Well, I do affirm, That by the benefit of Nitre, things wonderful may be effected in Metallick Labours; yea, ten times more than what I have described in my small Treatise, called Miraculum Mundi, or dare to describe for the future; for all things requisite to true Alchymy, may be perfectly accomplished in it, by it, and with it.

Herewith I conclude this Preface. Whatsoever is here wanting in this Treatise, for brevities sake, the demonstration visibly exposed to view, will afterwards compleatly recompence, insomuch that any one will easily wind himself out of all doubts. And here we rest for this time.