OF THE NATVRE Of Things.

THE SECOND BOOK. Of the growth, and increase of Naturall things.

*IT is sufficiently manifest, and knowne to every one, that all naturall things grow, and are ripned through heat, and moisture, which is sufficiently demonstrated by rain, and the heat of the sun. For no man can deny that rain doth make the Earth fruitfully, and it is granted by all, that all fruits are ripened by the sun.

*Seeing therefore this is by divine ordination natu∣rally possible, who can gain-say, or not beleeve that a man is able, through the wise, and skilfull Art of Alchymie, to make that which is barren, fruitfull, and that which is crude, to ripen, and all things to grow, and to be increased. For the Scripture saith,* that God subjected all creatures to man, and put them into his hands as being his own, that hee might use them for his necessity; and rule over the fish of the sea, fowles of the aire, and all things upon the Earth, nothing ex∣cepted. Wherefore man might well rejoice that God should so endow him with the excellency of Nature, that all the creatures of God should be forced to obey, and be subject to him, especially the whole Earth, and all things which are bred, live, and move in, and upon it. Since therefore wee see with our eyes, and are taught by daily experience, that by how much the oftner, & more abundantly therain doth moisten the earth, and the sun doth again with its heat and warmth dry it, so much the sooner doe the fruits of the Earth come forth and are ripened, yea all fruits doe cleerly grow, and increase, what time of the yeer soever it be; Let no man henceforth wonder,* that the Alchymist also by a manifold imbibition, and distillation should not doe the same. For what else is rain but the imbibi∣tion of the Earth? and the heat of the Sun, but the distillation of the un, which drawes up those humi∣dities again? Wherefore I say it is possible by such a kind of Art, even in the midle of Winter to bring forth green Herbs, Flowers, and other fruit, through Earth, and Water, out of the seed, and root: If then this can bee done in all Herbs, and flowers, it may also bee done in many other like things, as in all mi∣neralls, Page  16whose imperfect metalls by vertue of a mine∣rall water may bee brought to maturity through the industry, and Art of a skilfull Alchymist.

*In like manner may all Marcasites, Granati, Zineta, Arsenica, Talka, Cachymie, Bisemuta, Antimonies, &c. (all which carry with them crude Gold, and Silver,) bee so ripened, that they may bee equalized to the most rich veins of Gold, and Silver, only by this Art. So also the Elixir, and tinctures of metals arc brought to maturity, and perfected.

*Seeing therefore, as it hath been said, moisture, and heat doe ripen all things, and make them grow, Let none wonder, that the beard, haire, or nailes of a ma∣lefactor hanging on a Gibbet, or Wheel do for a long time grow, neither let it be accounted for a sign of his innocency, as the ignorant beleeve; for this is naturall, and from naturall causes. For whilest that any moi∣sture remains in him, his beard, haire, and nailes grow, even till the second year, or till hee bee wholly putre∣fied, &c.

Wee must also know, that there are many things that grow for ever, and are increased in big nesse, weight, and vertue, in the Water, and Earth, in which they continue good, and efficacious, as are Metalls, Marcasites, Cachymie, Talka, Granuty, Antimony, Bisemuta,* Gemmes, Pearles, Corals, all Stones, and Clay. So also it may be ordered, that Gold may grow, and bee increased in weight, and body, if only it bee buryed in the Earth looking towards the East, and bee alwaies soiled with the fresh urine of a man, and pigeons dung.*

It is possible also that Gold, through industry, and skill of an expert Alchymist may bee so far exalted, Page  17that it may grow in a glasse like a tree, with many wonderfull boughs, and leaves, which indeed is plea∣sant to behold, and most wonderful.

*The processe is this. Let Gold bee calcined with Aqua Regis, till it becomes a kind of chalke, which put into a gourd glasse, and poure upon it good new Aqua Regis, so that it may cover it foure fingers breadth, then again draw it off, with the third de∣gree of fire, untill no more ascend. The water that is distilled off, poure on againe, then distill off a∣gaine. This doe so long untill thou seest the Gold to rise in the glasse, and grow after the manner of a tree, having many boughes, and leaves: and so there is made of Gold a wonderful, and pleasant shrub, which the Alchymists call their Golden hearb, and the Phi∣losophers Tree. In like manner you may proceed with Silver, and other Metalls, yet so that their calcination bee made after another manner, by another Aqua fortis, which I leave to thine experience. If thou art skilled in Alchymie, thou shalt not erre in these things.

*Know also that any flint taken out of River water, (and put into a gourd glasse, having River water poured upon it, that the glasse may bee filled, which Water is againe to bee distilled off as long as a drop will arise, and the Stone dryed, and the Glasse againe filled with this Water, and a∣gaine distilled off, and this done so long till the Glasse bee filled with this Stone) may in a few dayes by the Art of Alchymie bee made very great, which the Archeius of the Waters could scarce doe in many yeers.

If then thou breake the Glasse, thou shalt have a Flint in the forme of the Glasse, as if it had been put into the Glasse, and although this bee not for profit, yet it is a thing that is strange, and wonderfull.