A discourse of natural bathes, and mineral waters wherein, the original of fountains in general is declared, the nature and difference of minerals with examples of particular bathes, the generation of minerals in the earth, from whence both the actual heat of bathes, and their virtues proceed, by what means mineral waters are to be discover'd, and lastly, of the nature and uses of bathes, but especially of our bathes at Bathe, in Someerset-shire / by Edw. Jorden, Doctor in Physick.

CHAP. X. (Book 10)

Of Metals; Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, Ti•• Lead.

THe seventh and last sort are metals, mineral substances, fusible and malleablé. * 1.1 These are commonly distinguished into perfect and im∣perfect; perfect, because they have less impu∣rity or heterogenity in them, as Gold and Silver. The rest are called imperfect, because they are full of impurities, and they are either hard or soft. Hard, as those which will indure ignition before they melt, as Iron and Copper: Soft, which will not, but melt at the first, as Tin and Lead.

All these metals are found in His Majesties Dominions, and many of them I perswade my self, might be wrought to better profit, if our Smelters were skilful, or were not hindred by si∣••ister respects. * 1.2 But especially we abound in the imperfect metals more than enough to serve our own use. And for the perfect metals, I have seen both in Cornewall and at Crayfordmuir in Scot∣land, perfect Gold (which the Dutch call Gedi∣gen) in grains among Sparr. Also among other metals, it is ordinarily bred, as Iron and Copper, and Tin. But from Tin it is hardly separated without more waste of Tin than the Gold is worth. From Iron and Copper I see no reason but it might be separated with advantage.

For silver, there is much lost for want of taking ••t forth of Lead-Oars: for whereas those Oars which are rich in silver, * 1.3 are commonly hard of

fusion; our mineral men either neglect those Oars, and work them not, or else they mix some s••••••ll proportion of them with their poor Oars, which are easie of fusion, and so make the me∣tal so poor, as it is not worth the refining. Where∣as if they were wrought by themselves, they would yield in silver upon every Tun, some 20 ounces, some 40, some 60, some 80, more o•• less.

For Copper, Whereas we fetch our Pins an•• Tags of Points from other Countreys, yet n•• doubt we might be furnished of our own, bo•• for these and other uses. * 1.4 We have but one Cop∣per work that I hear of in all his Majesties Do∣minions, and that is at Kesnick in Gumberland but Copper Mines are found in divers other pa〈…〉〈…〉 as in Cornwall at Trevascus, and other places 〈◊〉〈◊〉 York-shire, Scotland, Ireland, &c. And no dou〈…〉〈…〉 many are concealed, by reason they are Min〈…〉〈…〉 Royal. If these were wrought, and wrought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ter a good manner, it is likely they would bri〈…〉〈…〉 a good advantage to his Majesty, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Kingdom.

For Iron, we have the Oar in abundance, 〈…〉〈…〉 it is pity that so much good wood should be w〈…〉〈…〉 sted upon it for so bad iron; and yet the g〈…〉〈…〉 which it holds, is lost. * 1.5 Many have propound〈…〉〈…〉 the melting of it with stone-coal, but perh〈…〉〈…〉 they have failed in their projects: yet this do not prove the impossibility of it. And for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 goodness of this metal, if it were rightly made, would melt as readily as other metal, and wo〈…〉〈…〉 be tough, and not so brittle as it is, and wo〈…〉〈…〉 not be so apt to rust. For these inconvenience

happen to it for want of separation of the impu∣rities which are bred with it.

For Tin, we have as good as any in the World, although it is not wrought to the best advantage. * 1.6 The Countreys where it grows, are barren of wood, and they are fain to fetch it far off. Now if it were wrought, as I know it may, by many experiments which I have made upon it, with stone-coal, there would be much saved, and the wood might be otherwise employed. The Tin also would be as good as now it is, and the pro∣duct not diminished.

For Lead, although for soft Oars the ordinary course of melting at Mondip and the Peak, may serve Well, and much better than their Baling at Alendale in Hexamshire and at Grass in the Bishoprick of Duresme: yet for hard Oars (which are commonly rich in silver) there might be bet∣ter courses taken, by common or proper Agents. Common agents are fire and water; proper are dissolvents or additaments. * 1.7 By fire they might amend their working, if they did roast their Oars well before melting, to breath away volatil and combustible substances which are mixed with their Oars. By water, after calcination or roast∣ing, they may separate all dissoluble juyces, &c.

Dissolvents do chiefly serve to separate the silver or gold out of the Oars: as in the quick∣silver work, or by Lyes of Nitre, Allum, Salts, &c.

Additaments are also of great use, whether they be segregatory for separation of spirits, or mean metals from our Oars, and so to facilitate

their fusion: or propugnatory to defend the Oares from consuming or vitrifying. Segregatory ad∣ditaments are either such as are more easie of fu∣sion than the Oare, and so draw the Oare into fusion with them, or such as will not melt at all, as Geber saith, Cujus intentio non sit fundi: which keeps the Oar asunder from clodding, and giyes it a greater heat, like fire in his bosom. By these means well applyed and used, all Lead Oares might be wrought, be they never so stub∣born, and none need to be neglected. Hitherto I have digressed out of mine intended course, through the desire I have to advance mineral works. Now I will return to shew the nature and qualities of these metals, as I have done of other minerals.

Gold of all Metals is the most solid, and there∣fore the most heavy, as having few impurities or heterogeneal substances mixed with it. * 1.8 And therefore it is not subject to corruption, as other metals are, neither will it lose any of his sub∣stance, either by fire or water, although it should be held in them a long time: so as it is an idle and vain perswasion that many have, who think by boyling Gold in Broth, to get some strength from thence, and so to make the Broths more cordial. * 1.9 The like I may say of putting Gold in∣to Electuaries or Pills, unless it be in case of Quicksilver taken into the body, which the Gold by touch may gather to it, otherwise it goes out of the body as it came in, without any concocti∣on or alteration, or diminution. And if it be dissolved in strong water, it will be reduced a∣gain to his metalline substance, without diminu∣tion,

much less will it be dissolved without cor∣rosive Spirits, to make Aurum Potabile, as some do undertake. * 1.10 Crollius doth acknowledge, that there is but one Menstruum in the world that may do it, and that he knows not. But if we had it dissolved, we are yet uncertain what the quality of it would be, or what use to make of it in Physick; only because it loseth none of his substance, we know it can do no hurt, and there∣fore we use it for Cauteries, & to quench in Beer or Wine, &c. to warm it, or to give it some a∣striction from the fire. * 1.11 Fallopius in these regards disclaims it in all mineral waters, as he doth all other metals: and will not believe that any metal doth impart any quality unto water. * 1.12 Claudinus holds otherwise, and so doth Baccius, Savanarola, Montagnana, Venustus, Solinander, and almost all that have written of Bathes. For if we should exclude Metals, we must likewise exclude Stones, and Bitumina and Sulphur, and almost all minerals, except concrete juices. For none of these, after they have attained to their full consistence, will of themselves dissolve in water, without the help of some concrete juice, as a medium to unite them with the water. But before they have their full consistence, whilst they are in Solutis principiis, as Earth, Juice, or Vapour, they may be communicated with wa∣ter. Gold is so sparingly bred in the bowels of the Earth, as in that respect it can hardly furnish a perpetual Spring with any quality from it: yet some Bathes are held to participate with Gold, as Ficuncellenses, Fabariae, Piperinae, de Grottae in Viterbio: Sancti Cassiani de Buxo, &c.

Silver comes next in purity to Gold, but is inferiour unto it, as appears by the dissolution of it, and by the blew tincture which it yields, and by the fouling of the fingers, &c. * 1.13 For the qua∣lities of it, there is not much discovered. But as all other things of price are superssitiously ac∣counted cordia••, so is this, especially in hot and moist distempers of the heart: for it is esteemed to be cold, and dry, and astringent, and yet emollient. * 1.14 We have no Bathes which do ma∣nifestly participate with it: perhaps, by reason, nature doth hot produce it in sufficient quantity to infect waters. John Baubinus thinks there may be Silver in the Bathes at Boll: because he faith there was a Pyritis or Marchesit exami∣ned by Doctor Cadner, and out of fifty pound weight of it, he drew two drams of Silver: a very small proportion to ground his opinion upon.

Iron is the most impure of all metals, as we have it wrought, and will hardly melt as metals should do, but with additaments and flusses. * 1.15 Neither is it so malleable, and ductible as other metals are, by reason of his many impurities. Yet we see that at Damasco they work and re∣fine it in such sort, as it will melt at a Lamp, and is so tough, as it will hardly break. And this is not by reason of any special Mine differ∣ing from other Iron Mines, for they have no Mines of Iron near to Damascus, as Bell••nius re∣ports, but have it brought thither from divers other places, only their art in working and pu∣rifying it is beyond ours. So the Spanish Steel and Iron is purer then ours, and we do esteem of

Bilbo-blades beyond others, which are quenched in the River Bilbilis: as Turnus his Sword in Virgil was quenched in the River Styx.

Ensem quem Dauno ignipotens Deus ipse parenti Fecerat, & Stygia candentem extinxerat at unda. * 1.16

A Sword the god of fire, of his own make, Gave Daune, Turn's Father, quench'd in Stygian Lake.

But the hardning of Steel lyeth not in this point: other waters no doubt may serve as well. But I perswade my self that our Iron may be made much purer, and perhaps some Gold ex∣tracted from it which it holds.

Concerning the temperature of Iron and Steel, Galen reckons it among earth, and there∣fore it must be cold. * 1.17 Manardus is absolutely of that opinion, and so are most of our Physitians. * 1.18 Only Fallopius holds it to be hot, because Scri∣bonius Largus prescribes it in Ulcers of the Blad∣der, which it doth cure, not in regard of heat∣ing, but drying; for it dryeth and bindeth much, and therefore by Galens rule it must be cold. * 1.19 Astringentia omnia frigida; all binding things are cold. I have observed in Iron and Steel two distinct qualities, the one opening, or deo∣pilative; the other astringent. * 1.20 The opening quality lyeth in a volatile Salt or Nitre, which it is full of, the astringent quality in the Crocus, or Terrestrial part. These two substances are thus discerned and severed. Take of the fylings of Steel or Iron, and cast it into the flame of a

Candle, and you shall see it to burn like Salt∣peeter or Rosin. Take these fylings, and infuse them three or four times in Water or Wine, as we use to make our Chalibeat Wines, till the water or wine have dissolved all this Salt, and then dry it and cast it into the flame, and it shall not burn, but the liquor will have a strong taste from this Salt. And this is it which opens ob∣structions. The astringent quality lyeth in the terrestrial substance, as is evident, after either, by infusions, or by calcination, the volatile salt is departed from it, that which remains, is very astringent, and stayeth all manner of fluxes, &c.

Concerning Bathes participating with Iron, we have too many examples of them for Fallopius to contradict. We may let him injoy his opi∣nion of the Calderiana, Veronensia & Villensia, Lucensia; although it be against the judgement of all other who have written of them, and it is hard for him to be confident in a negative. * 1.21 We have examples more then enough to prove the quality of Iron in our mineral waters. Balneum Reginae in agro Pisano is actually hot, and from Iron. So is Balneum Sancti Cassiani in agro Se∣nensi: So is Balneum Ficuncellae, de Russellis, Bora in agro Florent. Brandulae in agro Regi∣ensi, Visicatoriae in Tuscia, Isenbrun by Liege, Forgense in Normandy: the Spaw-water, Tun∣bridge-water, Bristol-water by S.Vincents Rock: all which, some being hot, and some cold, par∣ticipate with Iron, as may be proved, not only by the consent of all writers, which have made mention of them, but by the Mines from whence they come, or by their taste, or by their virtues.

Copper comes nearest to the nature of Iron, but is more pure, and more easie of fusion, and will be almost all converted into Vitriol. * 1.22 They are convertible the one into the other, as I have shewed out of Erker, in Vitriol. * 1.23 And by the practice at Commataw and Smolnicium: The like also hath been shewed in Cornwall, at the Confluence by Master Russel. Aristotle also tells of a Copper Mine in Thalia, an Island of the Tyrrhen Sea, which being wrought out, turned into an Iron Mine: in this similitude of nature, we cannot but judge that there is a simi∣litude in qualities, and that Iron being cold, Copper cannot be hot. Temperate it may be, because less astringent then Iron, and more cleansing: Rhasis saith that it purgeth like a Ca∣tharticum, and in his continent, prescibes it to purge water in Dropsies. Another argument that all purgatives are not hot: it dryeth exceeding∣ly, and attenuates and digests. We have divers waters which participate with it, which if they be pure from Copper it self, are very safe and wholsome: but if they be foul, and proceed from the excrements of Copper, they are not whol∣some to drink. Balnea Collensia sen ferina in Martiana Silva, do consist in Copper and Al∣lum. The Bath of Faberia in Rhetia, of Cop∣per and Gold. Aqua de Grotta in agro Viter∣biensi, is full of Copper; so is Aqua Jasielli, Balneum Lucense in Valesiis: Marcus Paulus Venetus, tells us of a greenish Fountain in Per∣sia, which purgeth exceedingly, and is held to come from Copper.

Tin and Lead are two of our Staple Commo∣dities

which our Countrey yields plentifully, not only for our own use, but to supply other Na∣tions. * 1.24 Tin is bred in Cornwall, and part of Devonshire, and in the Isles of Scilly, which from thence were called Cassiterides. It is melt∣ed out of little black stones, which the Dutch call Zwitter, with great charge, because they cannot melt it, but with wood coals, which is brought them far off, and they are fain to run it over two or three times, before they can get out all the Tin, and yet much of it is wasted in the blast. I doubt not but it might be done with Sea-coal, if they knew the Artifice, and with as great a product of Tin. There is both Silver and Gold found in it, but without wasting of the Tin, we know no means to sever it. It is in quality cold and dry, and yet moves sweat abua∣dantly, as I have proved.

Lead is melted commonly out of an Oar com∣mon to Silver and Lead, as Pliny saith called Ga∣lena. * 1.25 And although Agricola saith of the vil∣lachar Lead, that it holds no Silver, and there∣fore fittest for assayes; yet Lazarus Erker con∣tradicts it out of his own experience. Our Countrey abounds with it every where, especial∣ly at the Peak in Darbishire, and at Mendip in Somersetshire; Wales also and Cornwall, and Devon, are full of it, and so is Yorkshire and Cumberland. The qualities of it are cold and dry. But for these two metals, we find no wa∣ters which are infected with them. In Lorain, they have Bathes called Plumbaria, which some think by reason of the name, to proceed from Lead: but John Bauhinus thinks they should be

called Plumiers, as Pictorius writes it from the French word Plumer, a deplumando, because they are so hot as they use to scald fowls in them, to take off their feathers. * 1.26

Thus much for metals, and all other sorts of Minerals, with their several Natures and Baths infected with any of them. As for mixed bodies, and flores, and recrements, &c. they are to be referred to the simple bodies from whence they proceed: As Tutia, Pompholix, Minium, Ce∣russa, Sublimatum, Praecipitatum, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fallop. de me∣tallis cap. 10. Libav. de nat. metall. part. 3. cap. 5.
• * 1.2

  Gold.
• * 1.3

  Silver.
• * 1.4

  Copper.
• * 1.5

  Iron.
• * 1.6

  Tin.
• * 1.7

  Lead.
• * 1.8

  Nature and qualities of Gold.
• * 1.9

  Bascius lib. 6. cap. 8.
• * 1.10

  Basilica chimia Pag. 204.
• * 1.11

  De Thermis cap. 8.
• * 1.12

  In ingressu ad infermo, pap.373.
• * 1.13

  Of Silver.
• * 1.14

  Theod Taberno∣monta••us, p. 2. cap. 8.
• * 1.15

  Of Iron and Steel.
• * 1.16

  AEnead 12.
• * 1.17

  Simpl. lib. 9.
• * 1.18

  Libs 16. Epist. 5. De motallis cap. 20.
• * 1.19

  Simpl. l.7.c.4.
• * 1.20

  Two distinct qualities in Steel.
• * 1.21

  Solinander, pag. 193. Ve••ustus, pag. 159. B••••cius lib. 6. cap. 3. S〈…〉〈…〉rola. Rea〈…〉〈…〉eus pag. 305.
• * 1.22

  Quality of Copper.
• * 1.23

  Libav. de nat. metall. c. 10.
• * 1.24

  Of Tin.
• * 1.25

  Of Lead.
• * 1.26

  Pag. 90.