Fleta minor the laws of art and nature, in knowing, judging, assaying, fining, refining and inlarging the bodies of confin'd metals : in two parts : the first contains assays of Lazarus Erckern, chief prover, or assay-master general of the empire of Germany, in V. books, orinally written by him in the Teutonick language and now translated into English ; the second contains essays on metallick words, as a dictionary to many pleasing discourses, by Sir John Pettus ... ; illustrated with 44 sculptures.

CHAP. XIX. How to prove Quick-silver-Oar for Quick-silver.

FOR the accomplishing whereof, the best way is to take half a pound of it, or somewhat less, beat it as small as half a Nut, and put it into a Retort or other well luted Instrument, and drive the spi∣rit into another Instrument laid before it

in water or other moistness, thus the vapours or spirit will presently resolve it self in the coldness or wetness in∣to Quick silver: But if one hath no Retorts, he may use a well luted glass Bottle, and set upon the Bottle a Helmet (which hangs over) in which water is to be put, and the joynings every where well luted, that no spirit may go out, then let the Retorts on the Bottle in a little Oven, and make first a gentle fire with wood, then stron∣ger, thus the Quick silver will drive it self from the Oar in the coldness or wetness, for the Quick silver loves cold∣ness * 1.1and moistness, and avoideth the heat as its Enemy: Now when you have found Quick silver in the proof, weigh it, and then you may see how much the Oar was which was set in, whereby your reckoning may be made accordingly.

But concerning melting of Quick silver in the great * 1.2Work, do thus, beat the Oar small as a little nut, put it into Juggs (made on purpose) in each about four pound: then prepare a flat harth of moistned Coal-A∣shes, on which set round Tests, three square fingers deep after one another, and turn upon it the Jugs fill'd with Oar, stop it well with the moistned dust, about the Tests and Jugs: then make a wood fire upon it, and the Quick silver will avoid the heat, and seek the cold which it finds in the Test below.

This Labour in the great Work is to be seen in Ger∣many, and in many places upon the Mine-works.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ☞
• * 1.2

  Jugs.