Point V

Gold and Silver are easily drawn out of Old Tin or Pewter Vessels, the Tin being preserved almost in the same weight, and being made better than it was before, may serve for the same uses to which it is wont to be put.

This Process also is very well performed by the mediation of Nitre, viz. in this manner. Let the Tin, in which is ☉ or ☽, be reduced into Ashes, even as Lead is wont to be prepared, for the working of Minerals; and let there be mixed with it as much powder of Nitre, let the mixture be put in a strong Pot which will endure the fire, upon which put subliming Pots, let the mixture be kindled in the lower Pot (which is under the Subliming Pots, and must have a little hole in the side for that purpose) with an Iron Rod, red hot, then the Mass beginneth to burn, and sendeth many Flowers into the Subliming Pots, the Tin and Salt-peter remaining in the Pot, take out, and melt in a Crucible, if there be much Lead, then that falleth together with the ☉ and ☽, to the bottom of the Crucible, but the Tin with the Nitre passeth into Scoria, which if the melted Mass be poured out into a Cone, they are Separated from the Regulus of Lead, and after cooling maybe taken out, which Regulus of Lead, by the addition of other Lead, may again be wrought, and in a strong Crucible be reduced into Scoria with Nitre; then there will remain a little Regulus of Lead, which containeth the ☉ and ☽, which was in the ♃. The first and last Scoria may be reduced by a strong blast in a Probatory Furnace, then the Tin will be again obtained, better, harder, and whiter than it was before; the reason is, because the Nitre hath consumed part of the combustible Sulphur, and also separated the Lead. Although this Process is not done with any great profit, yet nevertheless it shews the possibility; but he that knoweth how to handle the matter, will suffer no loss, for those sublimed Flowers are of greater worth than Salt-peter and Tin, because they may be prepared into a good Medicine; they are also very available in those curious red Colours for Cloth [Scarlet, or Bowdy] exalting them in a wonderful manner, and firmly abiding in the Cloth, shining, and giving it a fiery ground.